In Five Years Audiobook By Rebecca Serle cover art

In Five Years

A Novel

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In Five Years

By: Rebecca Serle
Narrated by: Megan Hilty
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A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

A Good Morning America, FabFitFun, and Marie Claire Book Club Pick

“In Five Years is as clever as it is moving, the rare read-in-one-sitting novel you won’t forget.” —Chloe Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Immortalists

Perfect for fans of Me Before You and One Day—a modern classic and powerful love story following an ambitious lawyer who experiences an astonishing vision that could change her life forever.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

Dannie Kohan lives her life by the numbers.

She is nothing like her lifelong best friend—the wild, whimsical, believes-in-fate Bella. Her meticulous planning seems to have paid off after she nails the most important job interview of her career and accepts her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in one fell swoop, falling asleep completely content.

But when she awakens, she’s suddenly in a different apartment, with a different ring on her finger, and beside a very different man. Dannie spends one hour exactly five years in the future before she wakes again in her own home on the brink of midnight—but it is one hour she cannot shake. In Five Years is an unforgettable love story, but it is not the one you’re expecting. Contemporary Fiction Friendship Heartfelt Women's Fiction Romance Genre Fiction Family Life Feel-Good

Critic reviews

"Megan Hilty delivers a stellar narration as Danny in this unforgettable story of love and friendship. The novel opens on the last day of 2019, when an engagement is on the horizon. Danny dozes off and wakes in a new apartment, with a new guy, five years in the future. Hilty adds so much to the narrative and dialogue with pauses and emphasis that listeners will feel Danny's anxiety and perplexity. Back in 2020, the story takes a sad turn, and Hilty adjusts her pacing and tone to enhance the mood. Hilty's talent especially shines again at the end, when listeners revisit the scene from five years earlier. Now, knowing the path that led to that night, Hilty delivers the same scene with reverence, clarity, and longing."

Featured Article: 10 Outstanding Contemporary Fiction Authors for Fans of Nicholas Sparks


Nicholas Sparks is a bestselling and widely beloved author of contemporary fiction—23 novels and counting! His stories about complicated relationships, unexpected love, loss, sacrifice, and rediscovery are written in a descriptive, emotional, and earnest style. There’s no other author exactly like Sparks, but if you’ve already made your way through his catalog and you’re looking for more listens of similar appeal, here are 10 other fiction authors you might enjoy.

Featured Article 10 Outstanding Contemporary Fiction Authors for Fans of Nicholas Sparks

Editor's Pick

Only time will tell
"What would you do if you had a glimpse into your future and nothing was as it should be? In Rebecca Serle’s latest novel we meet Dannie Kohan, a woman who has it all together: the high-powered job, the doting boyfriend, and the locked-in future. That is, until she falls asleep and wakes up in an entirely altered existence, with a different man, and a life that she did not plan fastidiously for. From the moment you lay ears on this one you’re hooked. Voiced by Megan Hilty (#smash4eva), Dannie’s spirit is perfectly embodied. You hear her calm assuredness alongside the intensity and desire of someone who didn’t know they were lost until they were found. I caught myself holding my breath several times as she recounts the tension of idling through status quo days and ruminating on this alternate reality she can’t shake and its implications. Cancel your plans for the weekend when you press play on this one, as you won’t be able to pause this unexpected, heartbreaking love story." —Kelley S., Audible Editor

Unexpected Twists • Emotional Depth • Excellent Narration • Deep Friendship Portrayal • Beautiful Writing

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I chose this book because I thought it was going to be uplifting , but this was definitely NOT a feel good story.
It was an interesting story, and well performed, but it was very sad, and in the end some very important questions went unanswered. I'm not sorry I listened to it, but also not sure I would recommend it... especially if, in these uncertain times, you are looking for a little bit of happy. Be warned this is not that kind of story.

Be Warned !!

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This novel was not exactly what I expected. To be honest, I was kind of bored the first two chapters. Then the story took a twist and I was pleasantly surprised. I listened to it quickly and was hoping for more when it ended. I think those are definitely signs of a good book. I wouldn’t exactly say this is romance novel. It’s definitely not traditional by any means, but it’s still what I needed right now. It was kind of realistic about relationships with some “darker” subplots interwoven into the story, but not depressing by any means. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was easy to listen to. Was it the best book I’ve ever read? No, but I am very picky about what I include on that list. Would I recommend it to a friend? Yes.

Worth the Read

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I have to say — what this book is actually about is SOOOOO much deeper than the summary let’s on. I started this thinking it was a romance novel — I love the trope — but it was much more than that and far heavier. I sent it to several of my best friends to read. I think the author did a wonderful job of world building and the descriptions were lovely. I always want to know what people are wearing, what the air smells like, whats happening around the characters in a scene and she does that for us. Dannie is very likable and her inner thoughts and truly understandable and easy to follow. It ended beautifully. Unexpected but beautiful. I think this book truly tells us to look at our life and appreciate what’s around us, to not waste any time, to love hard and pay attention to what makes us most happy and fulfilled in life. At least that’s what I took from it. Exceptional performance as well!!!

Highly recommend

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I absolutely loved this and the narrator did a great job performing this beautiful story. I am not usually one to pick up a heart tug of a story but I am so happy I did. I was able to relate to the main character so much I couldn't help but cry in the last few chapters. Live for the moments, love with everything you have, and most importantly the future has already been decided so choose not to live in fear of the things we do not understand. Life is about expericing all of it both good and bad. Living your best, most precious life with love and happiness as your true guide. All is what makes life beautiful, what makes this novel so beautiful really.

I never wanted the story to end 💔

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Rarely do I wrote a review!

But, this one was really great, to me! I didn’t want to stop when real life got in the way and I had to... work, etc. This is the best book I’ve listened to in quite some time. The narrator was absolutely perfect.

Rarely do I wrote a review!

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