Five Years Later by Sarah Kraft

A woman is forced to reexamine an old heartbreak she thought she understood in Five Years Later by Sarah Kraft, a uniquely crafted, emotional thriller.

Elle Fox is a relatable and charming protagonist whose past and troubled present are slowly revealed through dual storylines set five years apart. Recounting a painful loss on one side and an unexpected reunion on the other, the execution is excellent, when it could be muddled or lose momentum. Bouncing between timelines is an ambitious choice, but it gives this story a great sense of dimension and emotional impact.

Kraft is also unafraid of dark themes and delicate subjects, revealing herself to be a sensitive, trauma-informed writer who deftly explores sensitive topics. The intimate narration – as though Elle is confessing this whole story to a friend – lends the storytelling a rawness that draws readers in from the start, while the setting descriptions are vivid and well-chosen.

However, that same believability isn’t always reflected in the dialogue, which at times can feel unnatural, or out of character: “Your eyes are ignited like sparklers on New Year’s Eve.” Stilted phrasing in the dialogue isn’t uncommon, nor are grammatical mistakes, including missing hyphens, unnecessary commas, choppy syntax, repetitive word use, and tense slips.

That said, the strings of excellent prose outshine these errors, particularly in passages of self-reflection, which are woven in with powerful moments of confession. Despite some flaws, Kraft appeals to the hopeless romantics among us, as well as those left with scars of many kinds; this is a page-turning read, but also a deep one.