A Story of Love, Fate, and Missed Timing; Five Years From Now by Paige Toon

Some books stay with you long after you turn the final page. Five Years From Now by Paige Toon is one of those books for me. I first read it in my early twenties, and I’ve since returned to it multiple times, each reread reminding me why I fell so deeply in love with this story. There’s something absolutely gorgeous about the way Toon writes—her prose is beautiful, her storytelling immersive, and her ability to evoke emotion unparalleled. This book, in particular, felt somewhat innocent, yet so deeply poignant, filled with heart-wrenching what if? moments that made me reflect on love, fate, and the passage of time.

Five Years From Now follows the lives of Nell and Van, who first meet as children when their parents fall in love and get married. From the start, their connection is undeniable—they share something special, an understanding that goes beyond mere friendship. As they grow older, their bond deepens, and eventually, they fall in love. But as in so many great love stories, life has other plans. Circumstances, distance, and personal struggles pull them apart, only for fate to bring them back together every five years.

After Van’s mother dies, he moves to Australia with his dad, leaving Nell behind, leaving Nell behind in England. The distance puts a strain on their connection, but fate continuously finds a way to bring them back into each other's lives. Nell eventually visits Van in Australia, and for a brief moment, it seems like they might finally be on the same page. But just as quickly, reality intervenes—timing is never in their favour. Each time they reunite, one of them is in a relationship while the other is single. Their paths cross at the wrong moments, making their love story even more heart-breaking.

At one point, Van is in a serious relationship, and Nell is left grappling with her lingering feelings. Then, when Nell finds herself in a committed relationship, Van is the one yearning for what could have been. It’s an endless cycle of longing, misaligned timing, and circumstances preventing them from truly being together. Their love is always present, but the question remains: will they ever be able to be together at the right time?

Nell and Van’s relationship feels so incredibly relatable, almost like the dynamic in One Day, where two best friends are secretly in love but never quite manage to tell each other at the right time. They go on separate journeys, forging different paths while silently waiting for the other to confess their feelings. It’s that agonising tension of knowing they belong together but watching them continuously miss their chance that makes this story so affecting. So many readers will see themselves in this push-and-pull dynamic—the fear of ruining a friendship, the uncertainty of timing, and the quiet longing for something just out of reach.

One of the things I adore about Paige Toon’s writing is how she weaves such authentic emotions into her stories. She doesn’t just tell you what the characters are feeling; she makes you feel it alongside them. Nell and Van’s journey is bittersweet, filled with tender moments, deep yearning, and the kind of heartbreak that lingers. There’s a purity to their love, something so raw and real, that makes you root for them even when everything seems stacked against them.

The what if? element of the book is what makes it so powerful. We all have moments in life where we wonder how things might have turned out if circumstances had been just a little different. Five Years From Now plays with this idea so beautifully, making the reader question whether love is truly enough or if timing really is everything.

Reading this book in my early twenties, I was completely swept away by the romance, the emotional depth, and the sheer beauty of the storytelling. Even now, it remains one of my favourite books—one I think about often and revisit whenever I need to experience that kind of heartache and hope all over again.

If you love books that explore fate, destiny, and the idea that some love stories are meant to last a lifetime, Five Years From Now is an absolute must-read. Paige Toon’s writing is simply stunning, and this book is a perfect example of how she captures the complexities of love in the most breath-taking way.