Book Review: The Five Year Plan by Carla Burgess

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…

Orla has a five year plan. Advance in her journalism career, move to London and work at one of the national papers. What she didn’t count on was Aiden.

He’s a wildlife photographer who spends his life traveling the world. They don’t plan to fall in love but they do.

However, they stick to their plans and go their separate ways, meeting five years later.

I am excited to be part of the blog tour for The Five Year Plan by Carla Burgess.

Oh this novel. From the first page, I fell in love with Orla and Aiden. Their relationship is so sweet.

I liked the structure of this book; how it begins in the present day and then we learn about Orla and Aiden’s relationship through a flashback.

They are both well-developed characters and the plot paces well.

Orla is immediately very relatable and like me, is a little clumsy. I loved that about her.

Aiden is a great guy. Who doesn’t love a guy who loves animals like he does.

Both characters are complicated. I became so invested and wanted the happy ending for them. I couldn’t quite see how they were going to get there though. They both get in their own way a lot.

This book warms the heart. It has laugh out loud moments and it has lovely characters.

It’s an adorable love story and is jammed packed with emotion.

The Five Year Plan is an endearing love story about finding love at the wrong time, the what ifs and not taking the chance when it presents itself.

It’s escapism at its best. I loved it.

About Carla: 

Carla Burgess was born in Solihull and now lives in Chester, UK, with her husband, three children, dog and bearded dragon. She has a degree in English Literature and Psychology and started her working life as an editor on a magazine.

Say hi to Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsBear123 or via her website, http://www.carlaburgessauthor.com

The Five Year Plan was released by HQ Digital on eBook on 20th March 2020 with a paperback release due in May. Click to view on Amazon UK.  

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Laura

I’m Laura. I started Novel Kicks in 2009. I wanted a place to post my writing as well as give other writers like me the opportunity to do the same. There is also a monthly book club, a writing room which features writing prompts, book reviews, competitions, author interviews and guest posts.

I grew up by the sea (my favourite place in the world) and I currently live in Hampshire. I am married to Chris, have a cat named Buddy and I would love to be a writer. I’m trying to write the novel I’ve talked so much about writing if only I could stop pressing delete. I’ve loved writing since creative writing classes in primary school. I have always wanted to see my teacher Miss Sayers again and thank her for the encouragement. When not trying to write the novel or writing snippets of stories on anything I can get my hands on, I love reading, dancing like a loon and singing to myself very badly. My current obsession is Once Upon a Time and I would be happy to live with magic in the enchanted forest surrounded by all those wonderful stories provided that world also included Harry Potter. I love reading chick lit. contemporary fiction and novels with mystery.