About Books #113: The Five Year Plan

As I’m writing this, it’s 36°C and utterly too warm to do much of anything. Except, apparently, to read The Five Year Plan. That, I couldn’t stop doing!

I was offered an ARC by Book Sirens in exchange for a review. All opinions are strictly my own.

The story

Orla is a trainee reporter with a five-year plan: work her way up the career ladder, move to London and secure a job on a big national newspaper. She doesn’t want a boyfriend, he’s only going to hold her back anyway.

Aiden spends his life travelling the world and living in a tent. He knows his goal: to photograph animals and raise awareness of global warming and wildlife conservation. He’s definitely not looking for a relationship past the odd casual hook-up!

So when Orla and Aiden’s lives collide, they do everything to not fall for each other – with the opposite effect. But they stick to their plans, and go their separate ways..

Five years later, they meet again.

The opinion

C – characters A – atmosphere W – writing P – plot I – intrigue L – logic E – enjoyment	7 7 6 7 6 7 7
TOTAL SCORE	6,7

In all honesty, it would probably be easier if I could discuss this book as two different stories: on the one hand, there’s the present, on the other, there’s 5 years ago.

That second story? Just about the perfect summer story. From the characterisation of Aiden and Orla to the descriptions of the summer they spend together (and of course: all the nature!)… How they met and got together was absolutely captivating, and might just be one of my favourite summer love stories – ever.

Unfortunately, the “present day” narration, I liked less. The opening scene is a strong one, certainly, but maybe that’s why the second half of the story, and certainly the final couple of chapters, felt like a bit of a let-down. Although this story is already 555 pages long, it felt like the author got stuck in a bit of a rush, trying to reach the end of the book.

Where the world-building in both the opening scene and the “five years ago” were brilliant? That was much less the case once Aiden and Orla got to talking again. Orla’s doubts seemed at times repetitive, while Aiden’s response to them struck me as almost childish in his stubborn-ness.

The rating: 3/5

I really wanted to give this a four star-rating, and up to the last couple of chapters, I probably would have done so. Other than that feeling of being rushed, though, I really, thoroughly enjoyed The Five Year Plan. I fell in love with Orla and Aiden’s love, with their time spent spying on otters, and of course… A happy ending’s never a bad thing, is it?

If you’re in need of a fluffy summer read that’s fun, just a little bit quirky, and altogether really enjoyable? The Five Year Plan is definitely the book for you! (Goodreads)

-Saar