Five Summers from Now

by Michelle Dayton

Perfect for fans of heartfelt second-chance romance, emotional time-slip stories, and love that refuses to fade.

They were supposed to spend the Fourth of July weekend with their closest friends—fireworks, laughter, traditions. Instead, Merritt Sullivan and Ben Samuels broke up on the drive to the lake, before the first spark lit the sky.

But after a strange accident on the dock, they wake up to find that everything’s changed. It’s five years later. They’re no longer a couple. Their friends’ lives have shifted in ways they never saw coming. Careers, relationships, even loyalties have rearranged—some for the better, some painfully worse. And neither of them remembers the years in between.

Forced to navigate a future they don’t recall, Merritt and Ben must work together to understand what fractured not only their relationship, but their entire friend group. The only way back—if going back is even possible—is to face the heartbreak they once tried to outrun.

As old feelings resurface and new truths come to light, they’ll have to is the future worth keeping…or worth rewriting?

Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2026

About the author

There are only three things Michelle Dayton loves more than sexy and suspenseful novels: her family, the city of Chicago, and Mr. Darcy. Michelle dreams of a year of world travel – as long as the trip would include weeks and weeks of beach time. As a bourbon lover and unabashed wine snob, Michelle thinks heaven is discussing a good book over an adult beverage.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Summers From Now is a fabulous new book by Michelle Dayton. It is the second book in her series, Any Time Now. Like the first book, this is another very unique and creative story. When I first started reading the book, I was pleasantly surprised to recognize several things that were mentioned as they are real places, very close to my home. The couple, Merritt Sullivan and Ben Samuels are driving from their apartment in Chicago’s north side to Wisconsin. They are on the Edens Expressway and then on the tollway where they pass Six Flags Great America and Gurnee Mills as they head to Kenosha, Wisconsin. They then drive to the Geneva Lake area and Lake Geneva, Williams Bay and Fontana. I find it extra exciting when I personally have been to the places mentioned in a story.

We learn that Merritt and Ben are heading to their annual Fourth of July celebration week with their 3 best friends: Rachel, Ty and Lola at Rachel’s place in Fontana. They call it Firework Five. Both have been unhappy and have been thinking about breaking up after three years. Ben is running for state senator and Merritt isn’t supporting his decision. Merritt is a Chicago Public School teacher for first grade and has been asked to be a foster parent for one of her students who is having a bad situation at home. Ben doesn’t want to be a parent. They decide to call it quits and will tell their friends when they arrive. When they get there, Rachel is acting strange and sends them on an errand down to the lake to go pay the guys handling the fireworks. They give the guys the money and are both wishing they could avoid the pain and heartbreak they know is coming and skip ahead to the future. The guys transform into hooded Irish men who are chanting weird words. Then the couple falls into the lake.

The next morning neither remember how they got to their rooms. They also discover that it’s not 2026 but 2031. They were transported 5 years into the future. Merritt learns Rachel and Ty are married with a four year old daughter. Neither seem happy with their spouse. Lola isn’t included at the event this year and they don’t know why. They discover they hadn’t had this Firework Five since 2026 as something happened besides them breaking up. Neither Ben or Merritt have any idea what has happened in the past five years and they can’t let the others know this. As they go through the same events they’ve done in the past, they realize they have to work together. They need to get themselves back to 2026 so they can figure out what caused their break up and the choices made by their friends.

It is a very exciting and dramatic story. Merritt and Ben are so in love but both are trying to escape the tragic events of their pasts. Both of them are looking to embark on changes in their professional or personal lives but the other isn’t on board with their choices. The friend group is wonderful. I enjoyed seeing the different people interact with each other. Michelle has once again given us a very unique story. It is well written and so engaging and enjoyable to read. It was fun to see the main couple from the prior book included here also. I loved the whole story, especially the ending. It was terrific. I’ve given it five stars and highly recommend it.

I was fortunate to receive this ARC from Tuke Publishing Company in exchange for my honest review.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Much respect to the author for threading the needle on this one. Things could have gone sideways so easily. Instead, this story hit all the right notes and left me immensely satisfied.

This is a time-travel book in which the characters go to the future, but it also includes flashbacks. Merritt and Ben are introduced in the present day, on the precipice of breaking up. Eventually, they are thrown five years into the future, post-breakup, when they would hypothetically have gotten over each other. But we also get flashbacks to how they met and built their relationship at the beginning, and how it all started to crumble. Sound confusing? It’s not. As I said, the author did a great job of keeping it all flowing smoothly and meted out information as it was needed to not just tell, but also show the connection this couple has.

Honestly, there was a time in the beginning when I wasn’t sure if the connection was going to be established. Ben is so very stoic, and Merritt has totally shut down in the relationship. She has so many guards up, it’s hard to get a read on her or where she stands regarding Ben. But once the mystical, magical time jump happened, I was locked in.

Merritt and Ben work together to find their way back to the proper year, but while doing so, they remember why they fell in love in the first place. As much as they try to avoid the past 5 years, so as not to influence anything once they return, they cannot help but get a unique understanding of certain things that have happened over those years. Good and bad. That not only affects them, but also their friend group. Is it right to disrupt these other lives if they can help them to find another, possibly happier, path forward? Or do they let things be and pretend they don’t know how it will all end up for all of them?

I love the character growth Ben had, and especially the work he did to correct some bad behaviors. He was never a bad guy. In fact, he’s pretty amazing. Yet his lack of sharing the hard times led to more hard times instead of protecting him and his loved ones. He learns so much on this journey and doesn’t just pay lip service to those lessons.

As much as I love this story, there was something that bothered me every time it was mentioned. At first, it seems this couple has been together a very long time, and the annual trip for the 4th of July has been a long-standing tradition. Those words may even be used in the text. Yet Ben and Merritt had only met three years and some change from the current day. While I never felt the author was telling me and not showing me the love between the couple, I did feel I was being told that three years was a lifetime.

**I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely**

[Reading by Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merritt and Ben were on their way to their annual Firework Five week at her friend's family cabin. Only this was the most uncomfortable ride of her life. She knew they were broken three months ago, but has never said the words 'over'.

How could they spend time with their friends and act like everything was fine? Just before their final turn, Ben pulls off the road and turns off the car. He knows the shock on Merritt's face isn't that he was breaking up, but that she can't believe that he is the one saying the words.

Their plans are to wait for Reagan, Ty and Lola to be there before breaking the news and then Ben will leave and return to the city.

Only when they arrive, Reagan is acting weird and sends them on an errand. Since Ty is taking a shower and Lola hasn't even arrived, they agree and start walking to the lake to pay for Reagan's portion of the fireworks.

Merritt wakes up with the sun blinding her and confused how she got back to the cabin. The last she remembered was giving the Murphy brother's Reagan's envelope and being thrown off the pier.

More surprising was her image looking back at her in the mirror. Why did she look like she had aged overnight? But when she goes downstairs where Reagan is making breakfast, the date of the newspaper is what catches her attention. 2031... five years from when she left with Ben last night.

When he arrived from at the door with Ty looking just as confused as her... they realized it wasn't a dream. They had lost five years of their life because they had wished for a time when they were over each other and the pain of breaking up.

Now, how do they get back to 2026? And what if they can't get back and have to live their new reality without knowing all that had happened in the last five years?

I loved this book! It will keep you laughing as Merritt and Ben try to figure out how to get the Murphy brothers to send them back. Both realizing there would never be a time they wouldn't be in pain from losing the other, but seeing how amazing their future had turned out to be.

This book is action-packed and full of twists. It took me a while to realize the connection to the previous book in this series, but it was a great light bulb moment. I loved how Merritt and Ben had to flip conversations so that it wasn't obvious they had no clue what was going on and their journey to finding out the secret to getting back.

Highly recommend. Book one is Ben's sister, Paige's story, and is a different time warp story, but I highly recommend both books. They are both great 'what if' stories that will have you turning the pages.

[Rose Seals · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, full of drama, love, hurt, friends, family, intrigue and time travel. Ben and Merritt have loved each other but have come to some drops to their feelings. Both have noticed that things for them has come to a stand still and going nowhere. So when invited to head to the lake for a 4th of July reunion, a weekend that they have done for years, each has their own reason to go. On the way there , Ben tells Merritt that he thinks the relationship has come to an end, she agrees. Once they get there they delay it but know there is going to be hard feelings for the rest. They are asked to run an errand to pay the people for the fireworks down by the docks for the up coming events. They both see the two workers on the docks and somehow make a wish at the same time - what they would be doing in 5 years in the future. The two strange workers grant them their wishes and they are sent into the future. Both notice how things change for all of the friends and the mistakes or bad choices they make. Both want to go back to their own time. Ben and Merritt have learned a lot of what they want and what each went thru in their childhood. Both will need to adjust their ways of doing and thinking. Great story and if only we could time travel be it to the future or the past, WOW what a time it would be. Would highly recommend this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Hard Road to a Happy Ending

I read this one on vacation, so this won’t be a super long review, but I’ve got thoughts.

This story had a lot going for it right out of the gate. I loved the premise, the characters pulled me in, and the time magic element was hands down my favorite part. It added such an interesting layer to everything and kept me really invested in how it would all play out. At the same time, this book leans heavily into themes of loss grief, and fear, and you definitely feel that weight throughout.

I was absolutely rooting for Ben and Merritt the entire time, even when they were making me want to yell at my Kindle to get it together already. You can really feel that they’re meant to be, even when they lose their way for a bit, which made it easy to stay emotionally invested in their story.

That said, this is one of those tough ratings for me. It’s well written and I did genuinely like it, but the road to the HEA is a heavy one. There’s a lot of sadness and relationship loss along the way, and it did impact my overall enjoyment more that I expected. I got the happy ending my romance loving heart wanted, but it still had a bit of a bittersweet edge.

In the end, I’m landing at 3.5 stars. If you love emotional romances with a side of time magic and don’t mind a heavier, more melancholic read, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.

[Susan Hamann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the previous book in the series, Every Other New Year's Eve, so when I had to opportunity to read an early version of this e-book. I jumped at the chance to read it. Many thanks to Indie PR and the author.

This book is a time-slip, so you have to be open to a little magic. Merritt and Ben had been the perfect couple, but things have gone really wrong the last few months. Merritt has already decided to break up with Ben and they agreed to split on their way to a Fourth of July weekend. They didn't tell their friends yet, but they were both unhappy so it was for the best.

Only, on the night of the fireworks, they both got zapped forward in time. Exactly 5 years and they were at the same house with two of their friends and the friends' young daughter. They were at a disadvantage because they had no idea what had happened in the intervening years. Slowly they learned what had happened to their friends - and their own lives. They had the advantage of looking back at was, and what now is.

I loved the characters. I loved their backstory, and their brand new relationship. How were they going to move forward in this new reality?

What would any of us do if we had the advantage of looking back at our lives and seeing what we could have done differently?

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wishes, magic, and a glimpse into the future? Sign me up.
Ben and Merritt have decided to break up. Their relationship hasn't been good for awhile and neither of them had the guts to end it until their annual 4th of July trip with their friends. Breaking the news to their friend group will have to wait though because the errand they are sent on before everyone arrives ends with them being whisked 5 summers into the future. What they find there has them rethinking their relationships with each other, their friends, and ultimately themselves.
I will admit that this seemed a bit muddled at the beginning but as it carried on, things became so crystal clear and I was hooked. It's easy to find fault and root for all the characters at the same time. It was so well written that it tugged on my heart and made me want to scream in their faces all at once about how dumb they were being. But of course, it all came out right in the end. Highly recommend.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elaine Coghlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Summers from Now (Any Time Now #2) by Michelle Dayton is a fantastic second installment in this series. This story follows Ben and Merritt, a couple who have been together for several years but are starting to drift apart due to the pressures of work and life.

On their way to a cabin to reunite with friends for their annual summer weekend—complete with fireworks—they reach a breaking point and decide to end their relationship. But everything changes later that evening. While sitting on the dock as the fireworks light up the sky, something unexpected happens, and they are suddenly transported into the future.

From there, the story unfolds in a compelling and emotional way, exploring love, timing, and second chances. Michelle’s writing is beautiful, with richly developed characters and a strong, engaging storyline that keeps you invested from start to finish.

This is a must-read for fans of romance with a unique twist. Highly recommended!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

My gosh, the Fireworks Five,I loved it, up in Geneva Lake, Wisconsin Reagan,Ty, Lola, Merritt, Ben, Lizabeth, Lenora. Ben and Merritt intended to tell everyone up at the Lake that they were breaking up. Reagan asked them to go find the men preparing for the fireworks an pay them for the fireworks on July 4, 2026. Boom, the Twilight Zone ensues straight to July 4, 2031. Wow,I most identified with Merritt as an only child.my parents were teenagers without a clue so my Dad went into the Air Force. Ben was so in love and such a sweetheart however he needed to find away to reverse the “Time Jump.”
Time - weirdness - susceptibility or genetic. Clinical neurological sensibilities that feel supernatural. Hence, 5 summers from now. Fast paced, page turner, romance, mystery, political and love. I could stay and live in there time jump for a continuation and part two.
An Honest Review for a. ARC from an independent publisher

[Shari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merritt and Ben are on their way to the annual Fourth of July get away with friends. Their relationship had changed in the last few months but neither knew how to say it's over. On the way Ben decides to announce it's over. Both are relieved but now how to tell their closest friends. The first night at the cabin they go down to the lake to talk, when suddenly they are transported into the future five years later. Many things have changed but one thing that has stayed constant is the love that they share for each other. Can they figure out how to find that love again along with their friends?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and kept me turning the pages. Loved the friendships of these five people and how wounds were healed in the end. I enjoyed the location of the book, I spent many of summer days in the area growing up.

[Lindy Dierks · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the heck Michelle Dayton, where have you been hiding? I devoured this book in a week. I have three kids, three pets, a full time job and a husband who travels. I do not have time to read a book in a week! LOL
This book was so much fun to read! It was kind of mysterious because when the characters went forward in time you had to find out all the details of the past. I was super glued to this darn story! Great tension. Fantastic conflict. Fabulous characters. It had the best twists and turns that kept me opening my kindle every chance I got. I loved the ending. This is a very fun time travel, second chance romance. The concept was unique and interesting. I absolutely loved this story. I received this book from Tule Publishing. All opinions are my own.

[Sherri Babb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Summers from Now is a well-written and emotional romance filled with drama, love, and heartbreak. The story focuses on second chances and how love can last even when life pulls people apart. The time-slip element adds an interesting touch, but the real focus is on the characters and their feelings. There’s a strong sense of longing throughout, and the story does a good job showing both the hurt and the healing that come with love. It’s emotional, sometimes bittersweet, and easy to get invested in. Overall, it’s a heartfelt and dramatic romance that will appeal to readers who enjoy love stories with depth and emotion. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five Summers from Now by Michelle Dayton is a mystical romance where one day becomes five years later. So the couple involved find that they are no longer together, what are they to do. They work together to see what went wrong, what can be corrected and how to get their group of friends back together. A lot to do when only Merritt Sullivan and Ben Samuels are missing the five years. There are lots of flashbacks which could be confusing but actually is not. It is truly a Time-Slip romance. It is engaging and readable, while these characters are given a second chance, they must weigh their actions to leave life as is or try to change it back. Which is better for all. Good but hard questions.

[Debra M · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting,how many times have we wonder in our own relationship how long will this last , is it going anywhere or should I get out before it's too late with my heart still intact or you feel stuck but you don't want to be alone. There are little signs in a relationship that things aren't going well, things your partner is doing that gets on your nerves , that's what was happening in Ben & Merritt's life. I disagree about how they broke up ,right before they get to the cabin,why ruin everyone's weekend , either you call them in advance and say you're not coming ,or just have Merritt go up since they're her friends.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an absolutely original and creative story. I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this one. But I’m so glad that I decided to take a chance on it.,
Been and Merritt were really great characters. It was sad that they broke up, but I get it. But what really captivated me was when they woke up on the dock and five summers had gone by. Things were so different. Friendships changed, and Ben and Merritt were left trying to navigate life and see where they went wrong.
I truly enjoyed reading this one. I found it to be really interesting and loved the way it was written. This is a definite must read.

[Laura D · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this autor's time travel stories. This is a story about What If's. Ben break up on the drive to their annual 4th of July weekend with friends. Now they have to break it to their friends and Ben wants to head home without her. Then an accident on the dock transports them five years into the future where they are no longer a couple. They discover who they have become without the other. Not only have they been changed, but their friend group dynamics has also changed and is no longer intact. Now they work to discover what caused the group to disolve and figure out what they really want for themselves.

[Janine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining and imaginative story.

Every year, Merritt and Ben join their friends at the lake for Fourth of July. This year is different, they broke up during the drive and don’t know how to tell their friends. Suddenly, they are transported five years into the future and a lot has changed. But one thing remained, they were still in love, they just didn’t want to admit it. Will the lessons they learned, in the future, help them rekindle their love when they go back to the present day? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to see how the story ended.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben and Merritt had a spark when they met after she defeated his trivia team but their relationship has been strained and their goals have diverged. Her parents did a number on her so focused on their public image that I can understand why she was unhappy Ben went into politics. Ben never got over losing Colby so he’s never wanted kids and when Merritt is suddenly given the opportunity to foster a bright neglected student he wants nothing to do with it. But a magical glimpse into the future five years from now may have them reconsidering their present in this paranormal romance.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 2 in Dayton's Any Time Now series and a great addition to the series but can easily be read as a standalone. Our main characters are Merritt and Ben. Dayton delivers a time travel romance with flashes of a future where they broke up and flashes of a past where their connection was made and built. The story is unique and captivating and delivers thought provoking scenarios and delivers great character growth.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I literally finished this book in two sittings! While it was a fun lighthearted read, it was also a reminder that life gets busy, we are often focus on “getting through the day”. But it is those exact days that create so many wonderful memories. Loved the reference back to the other book in the series (every other New Year’s Eve) with the Paige appearance. And, of course, I am a sucker for a group of friends that creates the foundation on the story and hold each other accountable to be their true self

[Kellie Waldron · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so intense.

Five friends that always get together for fireworks. This year, Ben and Merritt are having a hard time being together. On the ride up to the fireworks, they decide to break up. In trying to tell their friends they encounter people that start acting strange. Then in a blink of an eye they are jumped 5 years to the exact same weekend. They are not together and so much has happened. They spend the weekend trying to figure things out and how to get back to the current year. Along the way things come to light and things get changed. Great read .

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first received a copy of this book I put it in my TBR and didn’t go back to it for a while because I was not in the headspace for fluffy magical romance. It’s a shame that I did because this was anything but fluffy and I ended up really enjoying it.

Though it seems a bit slow to start I really got wrapped up in learning alongside Ben and Merritt all the things that had changed over the last five years. The mess, the heartbreak, being swallowed up by fear, all of these things are so realistic and despite the touch of magic so darn relatable and believable.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Summers from Now is an enjoyable time slip romance between Merritt and Ben, a couple in a relationship, who know a break-up is inevitable as they are vacationing at a cabin and lake. They mysteriously move forward in time where everything has changed including their friends. This quick read has amazing characters, a unique and creative plot, and a wonderful second chance for love.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ate this up. Just like the first book of the series, the magic of time is really so special in this book. Ben and Merritt are broken up but then a weird cloaked twist of fate brings them into the future where they see how great their lives ended up without the other in it. I adore a good second chance romance and this one really hit the spot. I loved Ben he was so sweet, I’m so glad he finally got to grieve his brother and move forward with his life. A great read for summer 💜

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this time slip book is a very different genre than I usually read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the concept of seeing the future and being able to correct it in the present. Nothing is guaranteed, and each day is a gift. To be able to have the opportunity to realize that and make corrections is amazing! Good book!

I received a free copy of this book from the author. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very creative second chance romance. The idea of an event causing a five year gap in two lives and of the particulars of where they are in the future is so engaging. After you read this, check out Every Other New Year’s Eve by Ms. Dayton. Both books are great.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kathleen J Hempel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads this year. A compelling story of love with all of life’s personal and professional priorities that can sometimes get in the way. The characters are completely believable and the fantasy time slip adds to the complexity of their competing goals, but also gives them needed perspective in addressing them. This is a very wise author’s take on love and life.

[books_n_ink217 Elizabeth Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Summers from Now by Michelle Dayton is such a sweet and emotional read. The time travel part adds a fun twist, but it’s really about love, timing, and hard choices. The story feels real, the feelings hit deep, and the ending is worth it. It’s simple, touching, and easy to get lost in—five stars for sure. Thank you to Indie Pen Pr for the gifted copy!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about a couple who end things on their way to their friend vacation at the cabin who wake up realizing they are the obit ones missing 5 years of their because they wanted to move past the heartbreak.

[CS · Rating 4 out of 5]

fantastic give me fourteen more of these.