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The Fifth Year
One diagnosis. One final adventure. One last chance at forever.
Luci and Tristan Worthington were supposed to have forever.
But five years into their marriage, they have become strangers beneath the same roof—divided by unspoken grief, buried resentment, and secrets neither has been brave enough to confess.
When Luci receives a diagnosis that changes everything, time becomes the one thing neither of them can afford to waste.
Determined to face what comes next on their own terms, Luci and Tristan embark on one final a chance to see the places they once dreamed about, finish the life they kept postponing, and remember who they were before their marriage began to break.
But the farther they travel, the harder it becomes to ignore what still lives between them.
Old wounds reopen.
Buried secrets come to light.
And the love they thought was lost proves much harder to leave behind.
Now Luci and Tristan must decide if a marriage broken by pain can find its way back before time runs out.
Luci and Tristan Worthington were supposed to have forever.
But five years into their marriage, they have become strangers beneath the same roof—divided by unspoken grief, buried resentment, and secrets neither has been brave enough to confess.
When Luci receives a diagnosis that changes everything, time becomes the one thing neither of them can afford to waste.
Determined to face what comes next on their own terms, Luci and Tristan embark on one final a chance to see the places they once dreamed about, finish the life they kept postponing, and remember who they were before their marriage began to break.
But the farther they travel, the harder it becomes to ignore what still lives between them.
Old wounds reopen.
Buried secrets come to light.
And the love they thought was lost proves much harder to leave behind.
Now Luci and Tristan must decide if a marriage broken by pain can find its way back before time runs out.
- GenresRomance
368 pages, Paperback
Published October 31, 2026
About the author
Jordan C. Byrd
2 books37 followersJordan C. Byrd has been writing stories since the ninth grade and has been chasing emotionally rich, unforgettable love stories ever since. Based in Southern California, she writes romance filled with heart, longing, and the messy beauty of love that refuses to be forgotten.
Outside of writing, she loves time by the ocean, a good winery and traveling with her husband, also named Jordan, and their two young daughters.
Outside of writing, she loves time by the ocean, a good winery and traveling with her husband, also named Jordan, and their two young daughters.
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October 21, 2026Update :
Ugh, okay, so this guy was a fucking asshole to her when she was at her absolute worst, like during the miscarriage and the heart issues. I cannot trust a man who leaves his depressed wife after a miscarriage and then ghosts her during another fucking awful moment. There’s also the perceived cheating, and from what I can tell it was handled like absolute immature bullshit. The last 30 percent or so is apparently very emotional, but nah, I’m probably not reading it. Why the hell would I put in almost 500 pages just for the good stuff to show up only in the last 30 percent? Hard pass, babe. Shoutout to my Goodreads bestie SI who read that mess so I didn’t have to. Her review saved me from wasting my damn time.
Note to self: spotted this marriage-in-crisis maelstrom on Insta reels and my little black heart skipped a beat because the man is down so catastrophically bad he’s practically drowning in it, and oh mon dieu, the way one snippet had him straight-up giving some side-piece the coldest shoulder in existence because literally nobody else holds a candle to his wife and every single molecule of his soul belongs to her had me internally foaming at the mouth praying there isn't even a molecule of emotional fuckery going on here since we do not tolerate infidelity in this household, absolutely zero infidelity allowed, capiche? 💀🔥
I Adore the it is always been you trope when it is written correctly because by Jove nothing compares to a man whose entire universe stops turning without his favorite person.Honestly, to bark up that specific tree of lifelong, single-minded devotion hits different when an author actually cooks without burning the meal, so by all the gods of the bookish realm, I pray this novel delivers the goods and let me feast on that delicious slow-burn agony of a simp husband who better have kept his dick locked in a chastity belt collecting dust this whole damn separation because if we are doing this trope, I need him miserable, loyal, and completely celibate in the privacy of his own home, thank you very much(by the looks of it all,I think that might be true here and ) 😂🤌🏻 HOWEVER, having been burnt before, I shall be exercising a modicum of self-preservation and waiting for a few reviews after publication before I emotionally invest in this marriage and its allegedly well-behaved husband because I may be a hopeful little clown, but I am NOT paying good money to discover chapter thirty-two contains some bullshit I should have seen coming 😭😂📚
Ugh, okay, so this guy was a fucking asshole to her when she was at her absolute worst, like during the miscarriage and the heart issues. I cannot trust a man who leaves his depressed wife after a miscarriage and then ghosts her during another fucking awful moment. There’s also the perceived cheating, and from what I can tell it was handled like absolute immature bullshit. The last 30 percent or so is apparently very emotional, but nah, I’m probably not reading it. Why the hell would I put in almost 500 pages just for the good stuff to show up only in the last 30 percent? Hard pass, babe. Shoutout to my Goodreads bestie SI who read that mess so I didn’t have to. Her review saved me from wasting my damn time.
Note to self: spotted this marriage-in-crisis maelstrom on Insta reels and my little black heart skipped a beat because the man is down so catastrophically bad he’s practically drowning in it, and oh mon dieu, the way one snippet had him straight-up giving some side-piece the coldest shoulder in existence because literally nobody else holds a candle to his wife and every single molecule of his soul belongs to her had me internally foaming at the mouth praying there isn't even a molecule of emotional fuckery going on here since we do not tolerate infidelity in this household, absolutely zero infidelity allowed, capiche? 💀🔥
I Adore the it is always been you trope when it is written correctly because by Jove nothing compares to a man whose entire universe stops turning without his favorite person.Honestly, to bark up that specific tree of lifelong, single-minded devotion hits different when an author actually cooks without burning the meal, so by all the gods of the bookish realm, I pray this novel delivers the goods and let me feast on that delicious slow-burn agony of a simp husband who better have kept his dick locked in a chastity belt collecting dust this whole damn separation because if we are doing this trope, I need him miserable, loyal, and completely celibate in the privacy of his own home, thank you very much(by the looks of it all,I think that might be true here and ) 😂🤌🏻 HOWEVER, having been burnt before, I shall be exercising a modicum of self-preservation and waiting for a few reviews after publication before I emotionally invest in this marriage and its allegedly well-behaved husband because I may be a hopeful little clown, but I am NOT paying good money to discover chapter thirty-two contains some bullshit I should have seen coming 😭😂📚
November 5, 2026
I am 62% and absolutely FUMING at where I left.
Let’s back it up.
I went in blind into this marriage in trouble romance. It started off cute albeit the writing was a bit boring and the dialogue felt a bit formal for everyday use for me but I persevered. We get alternate chapters from the past and future and from both POV’s.
1) From the Past, we gathered the Hero was very much down bad for the heroine from the get-go and it was super cute! I’m talking going against the family wishes, choosing her, supporting her (the period scenes were cute etc.), shutting down other girls etc so it leads to this big question as to what happened that got them into the present where they have not had sex in a year and live in separate bedrooms??
2) At 62%, it hadn’t been revealed but we can obviously deduce that there was a miscarriage/ loss of child (they got married when they were in college because she got pregnant and in the present there is no child) and perhaps their marriage was strained after the fact.
Now this is where it gets dicey for me. We are more at the halfway mark and I still cannot find any redeemable trait for the hero. He is worlds away from the man he was in college.
Let me break it down. At this point, we have not yet gotten to the breaking point of the marriage in the past flashbacks. But in the present the Hero has:
1) Prioritised work over the heroine. They have lived in separate bedrooms for over a year.
2) Knew the heroine has a heart problem and when her cardiologist asked the heroine to bring a family member to an appointment for moral support, he told the doctor to hurry up with the diagnosis because he had to rearrange a lot of meetings. What the actual hell. Questions if the heroine is pregnant even though they haven’t been together in a year (why would your cardiologist call you in if you’re pregnant).
Post life threatening diagnosis discovery:
1) Continues to forget the heroine’s birthday. Missed heroine’s career milestone.
2) Blames heroine for checking out emotionally from the marriage first (presumably after loss of child). Nice work, pal.
3) Continues with work as usual- has a long work trip in Asia. Had to be TOLD by his grandmother to bring heroine along and not leave her behind.
4) There was barely any mention of the heroine’s health during the travels. Holy hell man, this chick was literally given a life sentence and not once during the arduous travels did he ask about her health/ if she could cope with the travel. The only time he told her to not drink so much was so they could have sex later. And by the way when they finally fooled around, he literally answered a work call and left her hanging and naked in the bed (especially after not having sex in a year!!) for an hour before she gave up.
5) This is where I had to stop and take a breather to see if I wanted to continue. A month before her heart diagnosis, Hero gets drunk and “sleeps”’with his ex. He woke up with his boxers on and is unsure if they actually had sex and his ex was also too hammered to remember. Heroine is all ok with it because she doesn’t want to spend her last year resenting him and that he is her “home”. Someone save me please. She trusts her “gut” that he didn’t actually have sex with the ex. Anyway, you are keeping this HUGE secret from your wife but at the beginning you asked if she could potentially be pregnant?? You were accusing her of cheating. Projecting much, my dude?
At 62% and struggling to finish.
UPDATE. I finished it. It gets worse. Rage read of 2026 for me.
Hoooooboy where do I begin (again).
1) Basically, after they get married he turns into a bit of a POS whiny baby. If they fight - he walks out. He’s upset that her pregnancy hormones make them fight. Where is the super considerate college dude???
2) She lost her baby AND almost her life trying to give birth to the baby. It happened after they had a fight about the OW, and H walked out. She had to call their driver to bring her to the hospital. Unclear when he finally made it to the hospital because it wasn’t mentioned. h becomes depressed, gets pregnant again and finally happy a bit (without telling the H) but has a miscarriage when H was away and she never told him. She became depressed again and H thought she had gone back to her dark place. All this time whilst battling all this, h feels bad that H was only getting bits of the woman he fell in love with. Sis, please.
3) Anyway, there was another bit about H’s brother (TW: there was attempted SA). Brother became unhinged, tried to attack h but again h kept it quiet to protect H’s family. Unhinged brother schemed with OW to say H is the father of her baby to break them apart. They actually never slept together.
4) When OW said she was pregnant, h finally said I’m out and grew a spine for half a second. Anyway h reams H a new a-hole and H was all like yep, you’re right, hope you find someone better and peaces out. After everything H has pulled, this is finally her hard limit. H Loves h but gives up as to not bother to fight for the h because she “deserves better” (don’t you just love that kind of hero??).
Wants OW to take a paternity test after giving birth but both families pretty much bulldoze and try to set them up since they’re going to be connected forever. H is all like I love h but yeah we’re going to be connected forever so Im not going to fight this so yeah let’s have dinner as a family like the spineless weasel I am.
5) then there was a bit of health scare for h and at that point h is all distraught that she pushed H away because he is the love of her life. So she grew a backbone for approximately 1.5 chapters. Anyway, crisis averted for a sec and H came and they were all like I love you and make up.
6) OW comes and h is all like I guess I gotta woman up and be nice to OW since we’re all going to be a family. OW admits baby is not H. h’s first thought? That her gut was right that he never did cheat on her. OW drugged h.
Anyway at about 80% of the book is when it starts for me. That is what I thought I signed up for reading a second chance, marriage in trouble, health crisis romance. The last few chapters will make you tear up, and finally feel H’s love for the h. Wished it was slightly earlier to make up for all the crap he had put her through before. But the journey to get there?? It was rough.
Let’s back it up.
I went in blind into this marriage in trouble romance. It started off cute albeit the writing was a bit boring and the dialogue felt a bit formal for everyday use for me but I persevered. We get alternate chapters from the past and future and from both POV’s.
1) From the Past, we gathered the Hero was very much down bad for the heroine from the get-go and it was super cute! I’m talking going against the family wishes, choosing her, supporting her (the period scenes were cute etc.), shutting down other girls etc so it leads to this big question as to what happened that got them into the present where they have not had sex in a year and live in separate bedrooms??
2) At 62%, it hadn’t been revealed but we can obviously deduce that there was a miscarriage/ loss of child (they got married when they were in college because she got pregnant and in the present there is no child) and perhaps their marriage was strained after the fact.
Now this is where it gets dicey for me. We are more at the halfway mark and I still cannot find any redeemable trait for the hero. He is worlds away from the man he was in college.
Let me break it down. At this point, we have not yet gotten to the breaking point of the marriage in the past flashbacks. But in the present the Hero has:
1) Prioritised work over the heroine. They have lived in separate bedrooms for over a year.
2) Knew the heroine has a heart problem and when her cardiologist asked the heroine to bring a family member to an appointment for moral support, he told the doctor to hurry up with the diagnosis because he had to rearrange a lot of meetings. What the actual hell. Questions if the heroine is pregnant even though they haven’t been together in a year (why would your cardiologist call you in if you’re pregnant).
Post life threatening diagnosis discovery:
1) Continues to forget the heroine’s birthday. Missed heroine’s career milestone.
2) Blames heroine for checking out emotionally from the marriage first (presumably after loss of child). Nice work, pal.
3) Continues with work as usual- has a long work trip in Asia. Had to be TOLD by his grandmother to bring heroine along and not leave her behind.
4) There was barely any mention of the heroine’s health during the travels. Holy hell man, this chick was literally given a life sentence and not once during the arduous travels did he ask about her health/ if she could cope with the travel. The only time he told her to not drink so much was so they could have sex later. And by the way when they finally fooled around, he literally answered a work call and left her hanging and naked in the bed (especially after not having sex in a year!!) for an hour before she gave up.
5) This is where I had to stop and take a breather to see if I wanted to continue. A month before her heart diagnosis, Hero gets drunk and “sleeps”’with his ex. He woke up with his boxers on and is unsure if they actually had sex and his ex was also too hammered to remember. Heroine is all ok with it because she doesn’t want to spend her last year resenting him and that he is her “home”. Someone save me please. She trusts her “gut” that he didn’t actually have sex with the ex. Anyway, you are keeping this HUGE secret from your wife but at the beginning you asked if she could potentially be pregnant?? You were accusing her of cheating. Projecting much, my dude?
At 62% and struggling to finish.
UPDATE. I finished it. It gets worse. Rage read of 2026 for me.
Hoooooboy where do I begin (again).
1) Basically, after they get married he turns into a bit of a POS whiny baby. If they fight - he walks out. He’s upset that her pregnancy hormones make them fight. Where is the super considerate college dude???
2) She lost her baby AND almost her life trying to give birth to the baby. It happened after they had a fight about the OW, and H walked out. She had to call their driver to bring her to the hospital. Unclear when he finally made it to the hospital because it wasn’t mentioned. h becomes depressed, gets pregnant again and finally happy a bit (without telling the H) but has a miscarriage when H was away and she never told him. She became depressed again and H thought she had gone back to her dark place. All this time whilst battling all this, h feels bad that H was only getting bits of the woman he fell in love with. Sis, please.
3) Anyway, there was another bit about H’s brother (TW: there was attempted SA). Brother became unhinged, tried to attack h but again h kept it quiet to protect H’s family. Unhinged brother schemed with OW to say H is the father of her baby to break them apart. They actually never slept together.
4) When OW said she was pregnant, h finally said I’m out and grew a spine for half a second. Anyway h reams H a new a-hole and H was all like yep, you’re right, hope you find someone better and peaces out. After everything H has pulled, this is finally her hard limit. H Loves h but gives up as to not bother to fight for the h because she “deserves better” (don’t you just love that kind of hero??).
Wants OW to take a paternity test after giving birth but both families pretty much bulldoze and try to set them up since they’re going to be connected forever. H is all like I love h but yeah we’re going to be connected forever so Im not going to fight this so yeah let’s have dinner as a family like the spineless weasel I am.
5) then there was a bit of health scare for h and at that point h is all distraught that she pushed H away because he is the love of her life. So she grew a backbone for approximately 1.5 chapters. Anyway, crisis averted for a sec and H came and they were all like I love you and make up.
6) OW comes and h is all like I guess I gotta woman up and be nice to OW since we’re all going to be a family. OW admits baby is not H. h’s first thought? That her gut was right that he never did cheat on her. OW drugged h.
Anyway at about 80% of the book is when it starts for me. That is what I thought I signed up for reading a second chance, marriage in trouble, health crisis romance. The last few chapters will make you tear up, and finally feel H’s love for the h. Wished it was slightly earlier to make up for all the crap he had put her through before. But the journey to get there?? It was rough.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2026
𝓡𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓰 5/5 ⭐️
The Fifth Year by Jordan C. Byrd
My freaking goodness! This book was so freaking emotional! Talk about a rollercoaster! The ups and downs of marriage, life, and loss. I can’t help but think this would make such an amazing movie! I honestly loved everything about this book. It just pulled every single emotion from me. The way these two broke my heart and put it back together again. Tristan and Luci love each other so deeply and watching them find their way back together was so heartfelt and such a journey. I just will never get over this book. The writing, the characters, the raw emotion was just so fantastic. I would say if you like emotional books with real feeling characters and real emotion this is for you.
Thank you to the author and Books and Bloom PR for the gifted copy.
The Fifth Year by Jordan C. Byrd
My freaking goodness! This book was so freaking emotional! Talk about a rollercoaster! The ups and downs of marriage, life, and loss. I can’t help but think this would make such an amazing movie! I honestly loved everything about this book. It just pulled every single emotion from me. The way these two broke my heart and put it back together again. Tristan and Luci love each other so deeply and watching them find their way back together was so heartfelt and such a journey. I just will never get over this book. The writing, the characters, the raw emotion was just so fantastic. I would say if you like emotional books with real feeling characters and real emotion this is for you.
Thank you to the author and Books and Bloom PR for the gifted copy.
November 5, 2026
4.5🌟 | 1🌶️
A marriage-in-crisis romance with a seriously good slow burn and enough twists to keep me glued to my Kindle!
The dual timelines were such a great addition, letting us see how Luci and Tristan fell in love while slowly uncovering what brought them to this point. I was completely invested in both sides of their story, and some of those revelations genuinely caught me by surprise.
Luci was an absolute sweetheart, and watching her navigate everything made me adore her even more. Tristan took a little longer to win me over, but seeing more of his perspective and just how deeply he loved his wife made all the difference. Their chemistry, shared history and the little moments of tenderness between them were lovely, especially as they slowly started finding their way back to each other.
And the emotions! I went through just about everything reading this one. Between the unexpected turns, difficult truths and all that yearning, there were several moments that had me reaching for tissues. I especially appreciated how much focus was given to rebuilding their relationship and choosing each other again.
Such a beautiful, emotional slow burn that reminded me why I love this trope so much!
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Jordan C. Byrd and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
A marriage-in-crisis romance with a seriously good slow burn and enough twists to keep me glued to my Kindle!
The dual timelines were such a great addition, letting us see how Luci and Tristan fell in love while slowly uncovering what brought them to this point. I was completely invested in both sides of their story, and some of those revelations genuinely caught me by surprise.
Luci was an absolute sweetheart, and watching her navigate everything made me adore her even more. Tristan took a little longer to win me over, but seeing more of his perspective and just how deeply he loved his wife made all the difference. Their chemistry, shared history and the little moments of tenderness between them were lovely, especially as they slowly started finding their way back to each other.
And the emotions! I went through just about everything reading this one. Between the unexpected turns, difficult truths and all that yearning, there were several moments that had me reaching for tissues. I especially appreciated how much focus was given to rebuilding their relationship and choosing each other again.
Such a beautiful, emotional slow burn that reminded me why I love this trope so much!
~~~~
A sincere thank you to Jordan C. Byrd and Love Notes PR for the ARC! 🥰📚
I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received an ARC copy from the author.
The Fifth Year!! Omg, what a SLOW BURN, but truly in the BEST way!!!
I was so nervous going into this one because I wasn’t sure how I felt about Tristan, the MMC. There were definitely moments where I was like, yes, absolutely YES and then other times I was SO frustrated with him 😂
Luci, though? A literal saint. She seriously couldn’t be sweeter, and I just adored her!
The twists and turns in this book completely BLEW ME AWAY. I was on the emotional roller coaster and DEFINITELY wasn’t getting off until I finished the book because I needed to know how it was going to end.
And when I tell you I SOBBED at several parts of this book… I mean I was a MESS. From about 50–60% on, I’m pretty sure I didn’t stop crying. 😭
If you love an emotional, angsty, slow burn romance that takes you on ALL the feels, book besties, this is a MUST READ!!!
The Fifth Year!! Omg, what a SLOW BURN, but truly in the BEST way!!!
I was so nervous going into this one because I wasn’t sure how I felt about Tristan, the MMC. There were definitely moments where I was like, yes, absolutely YES and then other times I was SO frustrated with him 😂
Luci, though? A literal saint. She seriously couldn’t be sweeter, and I just adored her!
The twists and turns in this book completely BLEW ME AWAY. I was on the emotional roller coaster and DEFINITELY wasn’t getting off until I finished the book because I needed to know how it was going to end.
And when I tell you I SOBBED at several parts of this book… I mean I was a MESS. From about 50–60% on, I’m pretty sure I didn’t stop crying. 😭
If you love an emotional, angsty, slow burn romance that takes you on ALL the feels, book besties, this is a MUST READ!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Fifth Year 🎢
Firstly,I would like to thank LoveNotes PR & Jordan C.Byrd for trusting me with this ARC!🫶🏻
I think I can literally count how many times I have read this trope,but this time the experience was elevated.There is just something about seeing two people re-falling in love with a new version of each other,while deeply respecting the one that today is gone&taking into consideration the different parameters on the story I surely say that it gets the gold medal.
The Fifth Year is a second chance romance in my mind,but this time it was not given to another person but in the feeling itself.
Luci & Tristan,were also a remarkable couple.They were coming from two completely different backgrounds and lives,but at the same time they managed to create a Love story that same has not ever been.Time,experiences,hardships tried to test them,to break them,yet in the end they stood more than together more than a couple but as a single,with this idea in their minds being the only one they need in order to fulfill their marriage.
Lastly,what completed the book for me was the back & forth narration who at the same time could destroy me with every new info that was added in this really confusing puzzle,as totally make me fall in love with a love story some only dream of.
Out,On Nov 3rd💐
5⭐
Firstly,I would like to thank LoveNotes PR & Jordan C.Byrd for trusting me with this ARC!🫶🏻
I think I can literally count how many times I have read this trope,but this time the experience was elevated.There is just something about seeing two people re-falling in love with a new version of each other,while deeply respecting the one that today is gone&taking into consideration the different parameters on the story I surely say that it gets the gold medal.
The Fifth Year is a second chance romance in my mind,but this time it was not given to another person but in the feeling itself.
Luci & Tristan,were also a remarkable couple.They were coming from two completely different backgrounds and lives,but at the same time they managed to create a Love story that same has not ever been.Time,experiences,hardships tried to test them,to break them,yet in the end they stood more than together more than a couple but as a single,with this idea in their minds being the only one they need in order to fulfill their marriage.
Lastly,what completed the book for me was the back & forth narration who at the same time could destroy me with every new info that was added in this really confusing puzzle,as totally make me fall in love with a love story some only dream of.
Out,On Nov 3rd💐
5⭐
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really loved the dual timeline in this to see how they fell in love and how they got to where they were present day and then seeing if they could find their way back to each other. This book had me messed up in the best way. Going through every emotion and wanting to shake the characters at certain points to get them to see things clearly. I stayed up until 3am reading because I couldn’t stop, each time I thought I could pause a new twist sucked me back in. It felt like I was watching a movie in my head and had my full attention. Still thinking about this book!
October 14, 2026
a marriage in crisis may be my new favorite trope.
wow this book was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! this is the type of book you pick up and refuse to put down. anytime I had to stop reading I was longing to get back into this story.
you get to see Luci and Tristan fall so beautifully in love in the flashback chapters and it has you rooting for them and their marriage so hard. the flashbacks were so SWEET, flirty banter and the way they met was kicking my feet giggling worthy! yet you also see so much pain and heartbreak and what these two go through to end up present day.
my heart broke for them both, feeling the love they have yet so many things have pushed them apart and with not much time left the effort these two put in to finally be honest with each other and work on coming back to one.
i will always be amazed in how Jordan writes her books, they are romantic, heart breaking, beautiful and so so real and raw. This feels like a story that in years to come could be considered as classic as the Notebook. highly recommend 💜
wow this book was absolutely INCREDIBLE!! this is the type of book you pick up and refuse to put down. anytime I had to stop reading I was longing to get back into this story.
you get to see Luci and Tristan fall so beautifully in love in the flashback chapters and it has you rooting for them and their marriage so hard. the flashbacks were so SWEET, flirty banter and the way they met was kicking my feet giggling worthy! yet you also see so much pain and heartbreak and what these two go through to end up present day.
my heart broke for them both, feeling the love they have yet so many things have pushed them apart and with not much time left the effort these two put in to finally be honest with each other and work on coming back to one.
i will always be amazed in how Jordan writes her books, they are romantic, heart breaking, beautiful and so so real and raw. This feels like a story that in years to come could be considered as classic as the Notebook. highly recommend 💜
November 4, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars — Wow. Just WOW. ❤️
Spoilers ahead!
I genuinely have no words. What an emotional rollercoaster this book was! I laughed, I smiled, I got angry, I cried, and by the end I was completely in love with these two characters.
I first came across this author when I read The Band Boy, which wasn’t necessarily my favourite. But I kept seeing little snippets of this new book, and when I realised it was a marriage-in-trouble romance, I was sold. That is one of my absolute favourite tropes, so I’d been patiently waiting for its release. When I realised it had come out today, I immediately picked it up.
And my God, I’m so glad I did.
Before I get into the story, I have to admit that I did skim certain parts. Not because I was bored or because I didn’t enjoy the writing, but because I’m feeling particularly emotional at the moment, and I genuinely couldn’t cope with the suspense. I just needed to know how it ended! 😂
But this book is staying on my Kindle because I absolutely intend to go back and read every single word properly. And if it ever comes out on Audible, I’ll be first in line.
Tristan and Luci ❤️
This is the story of Tristan and Luciana (Luci), two people who meet in college and fall completely, hopelessly in love.
Tristan comes from a wealthy American family, while Lucy has a very different background. He’s got a bit of a reputation as a playboy, so naturally she’s cautious. She’s not interested in being another notch on his bedpost. She wants something real.
But these two fall hard and fast.
Their relationship moves quickly. They fall in love, she becomes pregnant, and they get married. And although everything happens rather suddenly, you genuinely believe in their love. These two are soulmates.
But love doesn’t always mean life is going to be easy.
They experience devastating losses, including miscarriages, and slowly their marriage begins to fall apart. Lucy becomes withdrawn, Tristan doesn’t know how to reach her, and the two people who once couldn’t keep their hands off each other have become practically strangers.
By the time we meet them in the present, they’ve barely been intimate for around a year, and Tristan is busy with work and is actually contemplating divorce.
And then everything changes.
Lucy receives the devastating news that her heart condition is deteriorating. She needs a transplant, and without one, she may only have a year left to live.
I mean, can you imagine?
Suddenly, the possibility of losing his wife becomes very real for Tristan.
He decides to take her on a trip around the world, something they’ve always dreamed of doing together. What starts off feeling like a pity trip to Lucy slowly becomes something so much more.
And this was where I really started falling in love with their relationship.
They begin reconnecting. They talk. They laugh. They rediscover each other. But most importantly, they finally start having those difficult conversations they’ve spent years avoiding.
Lucy admits that she’d always been the optimistic one in their marriage, always trying to see the bright side, but sometimes she needed Tristan to be that person for her. She needed him to carry some of that hope when she couldn’t.
And I loved that.
I also loved that neither character was completely innocent when it came to the breakdown of their marriage. They both made mistakes, and they both had to take accountability.
And then came THAT revelation…
Oh. My. God.
Throughout their trip, Tristan keeps alluding to a secret he’s been keeping. Something he knows could completely destroy Lucy.
And when we finally find out what it is, I was FURIOUS.
Five months earlier, he’d gone out celebrating a business deal and ended up drinking with Steph, his ex-girlfriend and family friend.
He remembers drinking, but everything afterwards is a blur. The next morning, he wakes up in bed wearing only his boxers, with Steph naked beside him.
He has absolutely no recollection of what happened.
And he admits this to Lucy.
I cannot tell you how angry I was at this point. I already hadn’t particularly warmed to Tristan at the beginning, and this revelation nearly finished me off.
Lucy is understandably heartbroken, but she chooses to believe him when he says he doesn’t know what happened.
I’ll admit, I thought she moved past it a little too quickly. But at the same time, I understood why. She knew the man she’d married, and she wanted to believe that he wouldn’t willingly betray her.
As if their marriage wasn’t already complicated enough, we also discover that Lucy has been keeping a devastating secret of her own.
Tristan’s younger brother had attempted to sexually assault her, and another brother intervened. Lucy, along with the family members who knew, chose to keep it from Tristan because she feared what the truth would do to his family.
I found this heartbreaking, particularly because it showed just how much Lucy had been carrying on her own.
And just when you think these two might finally get their happy ending…
STEPH IS PREGNANT.
Honestly, I nearly threw my Kindle.
Lucy discovers this after bumping into Steph in a baby shop, where Steph insinuates that Tristan is the father.
And Lucy finally draws a line.
She might have been able to forgive what happened that night, but she cannot accept him having a child with another woman.
So they separate.
And my heart absolutely broke.
The secrets, the heartbreak and the second chance
Meanwhile, Tristan and Lucy are separated, her health is continuing to decline, and he is absolutely miserable without her.
There’s a scene at a baby shower where Tristan tells Lucy that he knows she’s spoken to a lawyer and that he’ll agree to whatever she wants. Not because he wants their marriage to end, but because he believes she deserves someone better.
Someone who can love her the way she deserves.
That scene broke me.
We see her faint and her health to become the main focus of the story after her brother in laws birthday.
And this is when Tristan really shows his love and devotion;
Because by this point, I could finally see just how much this man loved his wife.
And then there’s the wedding.
Their original wedding had been rushed, a courthouse ceremony while Lucy was pregnant. So when her health deteriorates further, Tristan surprises her with the beautiful wedding she’d never had.
It was romantic, thoughtful and absolutely heartbreaking, especially knowing how uncertain their future was.
And then things get worse.
Lucy’s health continues to deteriorate until she eventually needs to be hospitalised. Just when it feels like we’re running out of time, she receives the call that a donor heart has become available.
And honestly, I was terrified.
Because right up until the end, I genuinely didn’t know whether this author was going to give me a happy ending or completely destroy me.
That epilogue 🥹
FIVE YEARS LATER.
She’s alive. She’s healthy. She’s had her transplant.
They’re living in the beautiful home Lucy designed and Tristan built for her.
They have a two-year-old daughter, and Lucy is pregnant again.
After everything these two went through, seeing them finally get the life they’d dreamed of was just beautiful.
I cannot explain how relieved I was.
My final thoughts ❤️
I absolutely adored this book.
And what surprised me most was how much my feelings towards Tristan changed throughout the story.
At the beginning, I wasn’t his biggest fan. I questioned his behaviour, his decisions and even how much he truly loved Lucy.
There were moments when I genuinely believed she loved him more than he loved her.
But by the end? I couldn’t have been more wrong.
These were two people who loved each other desperately but had lost their way through grief, miscommunication and heartbreak.
And watching them find their way back to each other was beautiful.
I particularly appreciated that the author didn’t make one person responsible for everything that went wrong in their marriage. Both characters had their flaws, both had things they needed to acknowledge, and both had to work towards rebuilding what they’d lost.
And the twist involving Steph? That completely changed how I viewed the situation. What initially looked like a straightforward betrayal turned out to be something far more complicated, and it made me reconsider my anger towards Tristan.
The romance was beautiful, the chemistry was there, and the spice was just right for this particular story. It never felt excessive or out of place. The emotional connection was always at the heart of everything.
And that’s exactly what I want from a marriage-in-trouble romance.
I want the heartbreak. I want the difficult conversations. I want to feel frustrated with the characters. I want accountability, growth and genuine effort.
But above all, I want to believe that these two people belong together.
And I absolutely believed that about Tristan and Lucy.
Maybe I’m particularly hormonal and emotional right now, but this book made me feel EVERYTHING. I was smiling one minute and crying the next.
It’s genuinely the best book I’ve read in a while, and I cannot remember the last time a romance had me this emotionally invested.
An easy five stars from me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I know I skimmed parts, but that was purely because I couldn’t handle the suspense, and I already know I’ll be going back for a proper reread.
This is a standalone, completely separate from The Bad Boy, and I’m so glad I gave this author another chance.
What a beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional love story.
Tristan and Lucy really were soulmates.
And I loved every minute of their journey.
Well done to the author. I cannot wait to see what you write next! ❤️
Spoilers ahead!
I genuinely have no words. What an emotional rollercoaster this book was! I laughed, I smiled, I got angry, I cried, and by the end I was completely in love with these two characters.
I first came across this author when I read The Band Boy, which wasn’t necessarily my favourite. But I kept seeing little snippets of this new book, and when I realised it was a marriage-in-trouble romance, I was sold. That is one of my absolute favourite tropes, so I’d been patiently waiting for its release. When I realised it had come out today, I immediately picked it up.
And my God, I’m so glad I did.
Before I get into the story, I have to admit that I did skim certain parts. Not because I was bored or because I didn’t enjoy the writing, but because I’m feeling particularly emotional at the moment, and I genuinely couldn’t cope with the suspense. I just needed to know how it ended! 😂
But this book is staying on my Kindle because I absolutely intend to go back and read every single word properly. And if it ever comes out on Audible, I’ll be first in line.
Tristan and Luci ❤️
This is the story of Tristan and Luciana (Luci), two people who meet in college and fall completely, hopelessly in love.
Tristan comes from a wealthy American family, while Lucy has a very different background. He’s got a bit of a reputation as a playboy, so naturally she’s cautious. She’s not interested in being another notch on his bedpost. She wants something real.
But these two fall hard and fast.
Their relationship moves quickly. They fall in love, she becomes pregnant, and they get married. And although everything happens rather suddenly, you genuinely believe in their love. These two are soulmates.
But love doesn’t always mean life is going to be easy.
They experience devastating losses, including miscarriages, and slowly their marriage begins to fall apart. Lucy becomes withdrawn, Tristan doesn’t know how to reach her, and the two people who once couldn’t keep their hands off each other have become practically strangers.
By the time we meet them in the present, they’ve barely been intimate for around a year, and Tristan is busy with work and is actually contemplating divorce.
And then everything changes.
Lucy receives the devastating news that her heart condition is deteriorating. She needs a transplant, and without one, she may only have a year left to live.
I mean, can you imagine?
Suddenly, the possibility of losing his wife becomes very real for Tristan.
He decides to take her on a trip around the world, something they’ve always dreamed of doing together. What starts off feeling like a pity trip to Lucy slowly becomes something so much more.
And this was where I really started falling in love with their relationship.
They begin reconnecting. They talk. They laugh. They rediscover each other. But most importantly, they finally start having those difficult conversations they’ve spent years avoiding.
Lucy admits that she’d always been the optimistic one in their marriage, always trying to see the bright side, but sometimes she needed Tristan to be that person for her. She needed him to carry some of that hope when she couldn’t.
And I loved that.
I also loved that neither character was completely innocent when it came to the breakdown of their marriage. They both made mistakes, and they both had to take accountability.
And then came THAT revelation…
Oh. My. God.
Throughout their trip, Tristan keeps alluding to a secret he’s been keeping. Something he knows could completely destroy Lucy.
And when we finally find out what it is, I was FURIOUS.
Five months earlier, he’d gone out celebrating a business deal and ended up drinking with Steph, his ex-girlfriend and family friend.
He remembers drinking, but everything afterwards is a blur. The next morning, he wakes up in bed wearing only his boxers, with Steph naked beside him.
He has absolutely no recollection of what happened.
And he admits this to Lucy.
I cannot tell you how angry I was at this point. I already hadn’t particularly warmed to Tristan at the beginning, and this revelation nearly finished me off.
Lucy is understandably heartbroken, but she chooses to believe him when he says he doesn’t know what happened.
I’ll admit, I thought she moved past it a little too quickly. But at the same time, I understood why. She knew the man she’d married, and she wanted to believe that he wouldn’t willingly betray her.
As if their marriage wasn’t already complicated enough, we also discover that Lucy has been keeping a devastating secret of her own.
Tristan’s younger brother had attempted to sexually assault her, and another brother intervened. Lucy, along with the family members who knew, chose to keep it from Tristan because she feared what the truth would do to his family.
I found this heartbreaking, particularly because it showed just how much Lucy had been carrying on her own.
And just when you think these two might finally get their happy ending…
STEPH IS PREGNANT.
Honestly, I nearly threw my Kindle.
Lucy discovers this after bumping into Steph in a baby shop, where Steph insinuates that Tristan is the father.
And Lucy finally draws a line.
She might have been able to forgive what happened that night, but she cannot accept him having a child with another woman.
So they separate.
And my heart absolutely broke.
The secrets, the heartbreak and the second chance
Meanwhile, Tristan and Lucy are separated, her health is continuing to decline, and he is absolutely miserable without her.
There’s a scene at a baby shower where Tristan tells Lucy that he knows she’s spoken to a lawyer and that he’ll agree to whatever she wants. Not because he wants their marriage to end, but because he believes she deserves someone better.
Someone who can love her the way she deserves.
That scene broke me.
We see her faint and her health to become the main focus of the story after her brother in laws birthday.
And this is when Tristan really shows his love and devotion;
Because by this point, I could finally see just how much this man loved his wife.
And then there’s the wedding.
Their original wedding had been rushed, a courthouse ceremony while Lucy was pregnant. So when her health deteriorates further, Tristan surprises her with the beautiful wedding she’d never had.
It was romantic, thoughtful and absolutely heartbreaking, especially knowing how uncertain their future was.
And then things get worse.
Lucy’s health continues to deteriorate until she eventually needs to be hospitalised. Just when it feels like we’re running out of time, she receives the call that a donor heart has become available.
And honestly, I was terrified.
Because right up until the end, I genuinely didn’t know whether this author was going to give me a happy ending or completely destroy me.
That epilogue 🥹
FIVE YEARS LATER.
She’s alive. She’s healthy. She’s had her transplant.
They’re living in the beautiful home Lucy designed and Tristan built for her.
They have a two-year-old daughter, and Lucy is pregnant again.
After everything these two went through, seeing them finally get the life they’d dreamed of was just beautiful.
I cannot explain how relieved I was.
My final thoughts ❤️
I absolutely adored this book.
And what surprised me most was how much my feelings towards Tristan changed throughout the story.
At the beginning, I wasn’t his biggest fan. I questioned his behaviour, his decisions and even how much he truly loved Lucy.
There were moments when I genuinely believed she loved him more than he loved her.
But by the end? I couldn’t have been more wrong.
These were two people who loved each other desperately but had lost their way through grief, miscommunication and heartbreak.
And watching them find their way back to each other was beautiful.
I particularly appreciated that the author didn’t make one person responsible for everything that went wrong in their marriage. Both characters had their flaws, both had things they needed to acknowledge, and both had to work towards rebuilding what they’d lost.
And the twist involving Steph? That completely changed how I viewed the situation. What initially looked like a straightforward betrayal turned out to be something far more complicated, and it made me reconsider my anger towards Tristan.
The romance was beautiful, the chemistry was there, and the spice was just right for this particular story. It never felt excessive or out of place. The emotional connection was always at the heart of everything.
And that’s exactly what I want from a marriage-in-trouble romance.
I want the heartbreak. I want the difficult conversations. I want to feel frustrated with the characters. I want accountability, growth and genuine effort.
But above all, I want to believe that these two people belong together.
And I absolutely believed that about Tristan and Lucy.
Maybe I’m particularly hormonal and emotional right now, but this book made me feel EVERYTHING. I was smiling one minute and crying the next.
It’s genuinely the best book I’ve read in a while, and I cannot remember the last time a romance had me this emotionally invested.
An easy five stars from me. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I know I skimmed parts, but that was purely because I couldn’t handle the suspense, and I already know I’ll be going back for a proper reread.
This is a standalone, completely separate from The Bad Boy, and I’m so glad I gave this author another chance.
What a beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional love story.
Tristan and Lucy really were soulmates.
And I loved every minute of their journey.
Well done to the author. I cannot wait to see what you write next! ❤️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was everything. I am literally crying. The rollercoaster of emotion…Jordan Byrd, why do you do this to us? You think that you are in your feelings one one topic…nope, buckle up here comes another wave.
When you think about a marriage in crisis, you think about perhaps mini speed bumps. This story definitely told the story of the WORK that’s put in daily to not only maintain but when you work to get back to each other. Layered with all the other dramas.
And just let it be known that our FMC Luci may have had grace for Steph but it would have been on sight every time!!
Jordan Byrd is literally becoming one of my faves Indie Authors. This is the 2nd book of her that I read and ever time she plays with my feelings but I keep coming back asking for more. It never fails!!
When you think about a marriage in crisis, you think about perhaps mini speed bumps. This story definitely told the story of the WORK that’s put in daily to not only maintain but when you work to get back to each other. Layered with all the other dramas.
And just let it be known that our FMC Luci may have had grace for Steph but it would have been on sight every time!!
Jordan Byrd is literally becoming one of my faves Indie Authors. This is the 2nd book of her that I read and ever time she plays with my feelings but I keep coming back asking for more. It never fails!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
EMOTIONAL, REAL, & HEARTFELT
I loved everything about The Fifth Year. This book gave me all of the feels, and the emotion is woven through every page. Jordan C. Byrd tackles so many real-life relationship struggles, and she does it in such an amazing way.
Tristan’s love for Luci is so deep and so real. He has those “always been you” and “that’s my wife” vibes that had my heart completely full. It’s honest, heartfelt, and the kind of love story that sticks with you after the last page. LOVED it!
Thank you to Jordan C. Byrd and Books & Bloom PR for the gifted copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
🌟 Rating: 5/5
Would recommend to: Readers who love emotional love stories, “always been you” romance, and books that give you all the feels.
I loved everything about The Fifth Year. This book gave me all of the feels, and the emotion is woven through every page. Jordan C. Byrd tackles so many real-life relationship struggles, and she does it in such an amazing way.
Tristan’s love for Luci is so deep and so real. He has those “always been you” and “that’s my wife” vibes that had my heart completely full. It’s honest, heartfelt, and the kind of love story that sticks with you after the last page. LOVED it!
Thank you to Jordan C. Byrd and Books & Bloom PR for the gifted copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
🌟 Rating: 5/5
Would recommend to: Readers who love emotional love stories, “always been you” romance, and books that give you all the feels.
November 6, 2026
My first ARC, and what a lovely reading experience!
The prologue had me questioning everything, coming up with theories and trying to piece together what was happening. I loved how the past and present timelines intertwined, giving the story so much more depth.
And the romance? A perfect balance between fairy-tale love and the very real ups and downs that come with a relationship. A reminder that true love doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
I’m usually not the biggest fan of third-person narration, but the writing was so well done that it never bothered me.
This book made me gasp, left me in awe, and made me a little sad. Definitely recommend it if you’re a romance girly or a hopeless romantic!
The prologue had me questioning everything, coming up with theories and trying to piece together what was happening. I loved how the past and present timelines intertwined, giving the story so much more depth.
And the romance? A perfect balance between fairy-tale love and the very real ups and downs that come with a relationship. A reminder that true love doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.
I’m usually not the biggest fan of third-person narration, but the writing was so well done that it never bothered me.
This book made me gasp, left me in awe, and made me a little sad. Definitely recommend it if you’re a romance girly or a hopeless romantic!
October 14, 2026
Thank you so much @authorjordancbyrd and @booksandbloompr for the gifted ARC!
The Fifth Year by Jordan C. Byrd completely shattered me. I expected an emotional marriage-in-crisis romance, but Luci and Tristan’s story absolutely twisted my heart.
They are college sweethearts lost in unspoken grief, until a devastating medical diagnosis forces them onto a forced-proximity, bucket-list adventure. The contrast between how they fell in love and their present rift is incredibly moving. The "husband yearning" trope and protective, touch-starved tension on the road had me tearing up.
It is a raw, heavy, and beautiful five-star read. If you love healing second-chance romances, add this to your TBR immediately!
The Fifth Year by Jordan C. Byrd completely shattered me. I expected an emotional marriage-in-crisis romance, but Luci and Tristan’s story absolutely twisted my heart.
They are college sweethearts lost in unspoken grief, until a devastating medical diagnosis forces them onto a forced-proximity, bucket-list adventure. The contrast between how they fell in love and their present rift is incredibly moving. The "husband yearning" trope and protective, touch-starved tension on the road had me tearing up.
It is a raw, heavy, and beautiful five-star read. If you love healing second-chance romances, add this to your TBR immediately!
November 4, 2026
I absolutely loved Luci and Tristan. Their marriage wasn't perfect, and neither were they. There was grief, resentment, and so much left unsaid between them. Watching them try to find their way back to each other while facing an uncertain future was heartbreaking.
I was completely invested in these two. Their story was messy, emotional, and sometimes painful to read, but I couldn't put it down.
And even after turning that last page, I wasn't ready to let them go.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I love reading, even when a book leaves me an emotional mess.
Luci and Tristan are going to stay with me for a while.
I was completely invested in these two. Their story was messy, emotional, and sometimes painful to read, but I couldn't put it down.
And even after turning that last page, I wasn't ready to let them go.
This is one of those books that reminds me why I love reading, even when a book leaves me an emotional mess.
Luci and Tristan are going to stay with me for a while.
October 16, 2026
First off.. I wasn’t expecting to be this emotional while reading this. I had a feeling it would be one of those books for s good crying session, but it was more than that. Marriage crises trope in this book touched me in a way that I was unwell. I couldn’t stop reading it and looking forward for a happy ending.
Thank you so much Jordan C. Byrd and Books and Bloom PR for the arc of this incredible book!
If you like romance books, with big emotional damage that also have dual timeline. And if there’s plus of bucket list and forced proximity. You’ll fall in love with Luci and Tristan.
Thank you so much Jordan C. Byrd and Books and Bloom PR for the arc of this incredible book!
If you like romance books, with big emotional damage that also have dual timeline. And if there’s plus of bucket list and forced proximity. You’ll fall in love with Luci and Tristan.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I would read anything Jordan C. Byrd writes at this point.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am a sensitive person. I feel things deeply, I get ridiculously attached to fictional characters, and when they hurt, I hurt right along with them. So if you're anything like me, PROCEED WITH CAUTION!! 🥹
But if you also love angsty, messy, emotional stories about two people who truly love each other, who ache for each other, who yearn for each other even when everything seems to be falling apart... THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!
The Fifth Year is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, tragic, and genuinely lovely books I have read in a very long time. I honestly don't even know how to put into words everything this story made me feel.
Marriage in crisis can be a hit-or-miss trope for me. It really has to be done right for me to love it, but when it is, it can absolutely destroy me in the best possible way. And Jordan C. Byrd did exactly that.
What made this story so powerful was that everything that brought Luci and Tristan to this point felt real. Their grief, their pain, their resentment, and the secrets they carried weren't thrown in for shock value or to create unnecessary drama. There were reasons for everything, and some of those truths were incredibly heavy and heartbreaking.
From the very first chapters, it was clear to me that Luci and Tristan were IT for each other. These two were meant to be. Even when they were hurting, even when they couldn't seem to find their way back to one another, the love was always there. And somehow, that made everything hurt even more.
TRISTAN WORTHINGTON!!❤️
Oh, this man!! I will admit, I wasn't his biggest fan initially. But as the story unfolded and I began to understand him, his pain, and just how deeply he loved Luci, I fell HARD. The comparisons to The Notebook are absolutely valid, and considering that's my favorite movie, you can imagine how much I loved that connection.
Tristan is Noah. PERIODTTT!!
And Luci. Sweet, beautiful Luci. 🥹 She truly was the sun. Her heart was so pure, so full of love, and I absolutely adored her. I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her so many times.
I loved the chapters that took us into their past. Watching them fall in love and seeing the beautiful beginning of their story made my heart so full. But watching those same two people slowly become strangers, never actually falling out of love but somehow growing further and further apart? Absolutely devastating.
There were people and circumstances that contributed to that distance, and I cannot tell you how frustrated and angry I was at times. There were a few moments when I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room and immediately message Jordan to express my frustration!! 😂 I was THAT invested in these two!! I just wanted to reach into the pages, shake a few people, and tell everyone to get it together!!
And watching them reconnect? Seeing those walls slowly come down, the vulnerability, the tenderness, and all that beautiful yearning? EVERYTHING!!
I also absolutely loved the relationships Luci formed with Tristan's brother Fitz and his wife Michelle. Those connections were so beautiful and added another layer of warmth and heart to an already incredibly emotional story. By the end, I genuinely felt like I knew these people. Not just Luci and Tristan, but the people who loved them, too.
As if Luci and Tristan hadn't already been through enough, Luci's diagnosis adds another layer of heartbreak as they're suddenly faced with the possibility that time might run out before they get the forever they were supposed to have.
Will they find their way back to each other? And will they have enough time? 🥹
I can't say much more because I refuse to spoil this story for anyone. Some books just need to be experienced, and this is absolutely one of them.
Can we also talk about Jordan's WRITING?!
Third-person POV isn't usually my favorite, but her writing was so incredibly beautiful that I completely forgot about it. It's emotional, poetic, and so full of feeling. I connected with it on such a deep level. I felt their heartbreak, their longing, their love, and every bit of pain in between. I was completely immersed in their world.
This was my very first book by Jordan C. Byrd, and I can confidently say I am a FAN!! I will read absolutely anything this woman writes from now on. No questions asked!!
When I finished this book, I literally sat there staring at the wall for 30 minutes. THIRTY MINUTES!! I didn't know what to do with myself. I just needed to sit with everything I had read and felt.
This story packs one heck of an emotional punch. It's heartbreaking, tender, messy, tragic, and so incredibly beautiful. It's about love, loss, grief, forgiveness, and two people trying to find their way back to each other when time is no longer something they can take for granted.
Luci and Tristan's story will stay with me for a very long time. I loved these characters, I loved their love, and I am nowhere near ready to let them go.
Five stars. Without hesitation. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much, Jordan, for the gifted e-ARC, and to Books and Bloom PR for allowing me to be part of this feature tour!! I'm always so grateful for these opportunities and the chance to discover such beautiful stories! ❤️
And now, if you'll excuse me, I need some time to emotionally recover. 🥹
But if you also love angsty, messy, emotional stories about two people who truly love each other, who ache for each other, who yearn for each other even when everything seems to be falling apart... THIS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU!!
The Fifth Year is one of the most beautiful, heartbreaking, tragic, and genuinely lovely books I have read in a very long time. I honestly don't even know how to put into words everything this story made me feel.
Marriage in crisis can be a hit-or-miss trope for me. It really has to be done right for me to love it, but when it is, it can absolutely destroy me in the best possible way. And Jordan C. Byrd did exactly that.
What made this story so powerful was that everything that brought Luci and Tristan to this point felt real. Their grief, their pain, their resentment, and the secrets they carried weren't thrown in for shock value or to create unnecessary drama. There were reasons for everything, and some of those truths were incredibly heavy and heartbreaking.
From the very first chapters, it was clear to me that Luci and Tristan were IT for each other. These two were meant to be. Even when they were hurting, even when they couldn't seem to find their way back to one another, the love was always there. And somehow, that made everything hurt even more.
TRISTAN WORTHINGTON!!❤️
Oh, this man!! I will admit, I wasn't his biggest fan initially. But as the story unfolded and I began to understand him, his pain, and just how deeply he loved Luci, I fell HARD. The comparisons to The Notebook are absolutely valid, and considering that's my favorite movie, you can imagine how much I loved that connection.
Tristan is Noah. PERIODTTT!!
And Luci. Sweet, beautiful Luci. 🥹 She truly was the sun. Her heart was so pure, so full of love, and I absolutely adored her. I wanted to reach into the pages and hug her so many times.
I loved the chapters that took us into their past. Watching them fall in love and seeing the beautiful beginning of their story made my heart so full. But watching those same two people slowly become strangers, never actually falling out of love but somehow growing further and further apart? Absolutely devastating.
There were people and circumstances that contributed to that distance, and I cannot tell you how frustrated and angry I was at times. There were a few moments when I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room and immediately message Jordan to express my frustration!! 😂 I was THAT invested in these two!! I just wanted to reach into the pages, shake a few people, and tell everyone to get it together!!
And watching them reconnect? Seeing those walls slowly come down, the vulnerability, the tenderness, and all that beautiful yearning? EVERYTHING!!
I also absolutely loved the relationships Luci formed with Tristan's brother Fitz and his wife Michelle. Those connections were so beautiful and added another layer of warmth and heart to an already incredibly emotional story. By the end, I genuinely felt like I knew these people. Not just Luci and Tristan, but the people who loved them, too.
As if Luci and Tristan hadn't already been through enough, Luci's diagnosis adds another layer of heartbreak as they're suddenly faced with the possibility that time might run out before they get the forever they were supposed to have.
Will they find their way back to each other? And will they have enough time? 🥹
I can't say much more because I refuse to spoil this story for anyone. Some books just need to be experienced, and this is absolutely one of them.
Can we also talk about Jordan's WRITING?!
Third-person POV isn't usually my favorite, but her writing was so incredibly beautiful that I completely forgot about it. It's emotional, poetic, and so full of feeling. I connected with it on such a deep level. I felt their heartbreak, their longing, their love, and every bit of pain in between. I was completely immersed in their world.
This was my very first book by Jordan C. Byrd, and I can confidently say I am a FAN!! I will read absolutely anything this woman writes from now on. No questions asked!!
When I finished this book, I literally sat there staring at the wall for 30 minutes. THIRTY MINUTES!! I didn't know what to do with myself. I just needed to sit with everything I had read and felt.
This story packs one heck of an emotional punch. It's heartbreaking, tender, messy, tragic, and so incredibly beautiful. It's about love, loss, grief, forgiveness, and two people trying to find their way back to each other when time is no longer something they can take for granted.
Luci and Tristan's story will stay with me for a very long time. I loved these characters, I loved their love, and I am nowhere near ready to let them go.
Five stars. Without hesitation. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank you so much, Jordan, for the gifted e-ARC, and to Books and Bloom PR for allowing me to be part of this feature tour!! I'm always so grateful for these opportunities and the chance to discover such beautiful stories! ❤️
And now, if you'll excuse me, I need some time to emotionally recover. 🥹
November 7, 2026
Started out good, but when they started traveling the story took a major nosedive. It had way too much information on places they were visiting. Instead of the author showing the MMCs Tristan and Luci coming together, it felt more like listening to a UN ambassador giving us a tour. I know the author was trying to show the H Tristan was nothing like his father, but it took up way too much of the story and I became extremely bored that I didn't even care, and started skimming until they returned home. So much could have been cut out honestly.
As far as the plot goes it's a marriage in trouble book with the h Luci being told she has one year to live because of her heart condition. At the beginning of the story neither like each other anymore and they've only been married for five years. They haven't had any intimacy for a year due to resentment for one another. Tristan feeling Luci has completely pulled away from him, and Luci feeling that his work comes first before her. Not going to lie he was an asshole in the beginning, but it had past and present chapters, and you could definitely see that he really loved Luci.
Tristan, on his grandmother's advice, tells him to take Luci with him on his next work trip and spend time finding one another again. During that extremely boring time different pieces of the puzzle on why they had started pulling apart were shown. Tristan's constant work schedule and never being home. Luci with her two miscarriages with one Tristan wasn't made aware of. To Luci keeping quiet about being attacked by his older brother to save face, and then to the bomb of Tristan having had a drunken night waking up fully clothed next to his ex girlfriend. The ex who has always tried to come between them. They both forgive one another and proceed to make their way home. Once back in America his ex comes to their door telling them she's pregnant. Luci kicks him out, some drama happens. Luci is getting sicker. And once the ex sees Tristan will never marry her only support the baby after a paternity test, the ex's conscience gets the best of her and she tells the truth. That her and his older brother concocted a plan to drug Tristan and make it seem like he cheated. Though like I said before he was fully clothed after waking up and no evidence was shown that he had intercourse. The ex disappears who is actually pregnant with the older brother's baby. Tristan and his family realize Troy the brother needs to be put in rehab for drugs and alcohol.
Luci's health starts to decline when she's finally admitted to the hospital after a heart donor match has been found. Ends with the epilogue five years later with Luci healthy and pregnant. The end.
Overall this was just ok. I usually do not like when there's past and present chapters, but it was good here. It lost me when they started traveling. Then brought me back once they were back home. Way too long with unnecessary information to move the romance forward. I wouldn't say I entirely recommend it. There are a ton of other books with this kind of plot. Well maybe not the heart condition. Both characters were too perfectly described as being saints basically. Especially Luci. It got a little old.
Safety: heart condition and near death. SA but not rape. Perceived cheating, and miscarriages.
As far as the plot goes it's a marriage in trouble book with the h Luci being told she has one year to live because of her heart condition. At the beginning of the story neither like each other anymore and they've only been married for five years. They haven't had any intimacy for a year due to resentment for one another. Tristan feeling Luci has completely pulled away from him, and Luci feeling that his work comes first before her. Not going to lie he was an asshole in the beginning, but it had past and present chapters, and you could definitely see that he really loved Luci.
Tristan, on his grandmother's advice, tells him to take Luci with him on his next work trip and spend time finding one another again. During that extremely boring time different pieces of the puzzle on why they had started pulling apart were shown. Tristan's constant work schedule and never being home. Luci with her two miscarriages with one Tristan wasn't made aware of. To Luci keeping quiet about being attacked by his older brother to save face, and then to the bomb of Tristan having had a drunken night waking up fully clothed next to his ex girlfriend. The ex who has always tried to come between them. They both forgive one another and proceed to make their way home. Once back in America his ex comes to their door telling them she's pregnant. Luci kicks him out, some drama happens. Luci is getting sicker. And once the ex sees Tristan will never marry her only support the baby after a paternity test, the ex's conscience gets the best of her and she tells the truth. That her and his older brother concocted a plan to drug Tristan and make it seem like he cheated. Though like I said before he was fully clothed after waking up and no evidence was shown that he had intercourse. The ex disappears who is actually pregnant with the older brother's baby. Tristan and his family realize Troy the brother needs to be put in rehab for drugs and alcohol.
Luci's health starts to decline when she's finally admitted to the hospital after a heart donor match has been found. Ends with the epilogue five years later with Luci healthy and pregnant. The end.
Overall this was just ok. I usually do not like when there's past and present chapters, but it was good here. It lost me when they started traveling. Then brought me back once they were back home. Way too long with unnecessary information to move the romance forward. I wouldn't say I entirely recommend it. There are a ton of other books with this kind of plot. Well maybe not the heart condition. Both characters were too perfectly described as being saints basically. Especially Luci. It got a little old.
Safety: heart condition and near death. SA but not rape. Perceived cheating, and miscarriages.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Fifth Year by Jordan C. Byrd
I never stood a chance with this book. A marriage-in-crisis trope? Sign me up. Every single time. ❤️🩹
I read this trope at least once a month because there is something about it that speaks to me on a level I can never quite put into words. The groveling, the slow realization of where things went wrong, the difficult conversations, the vulnerability of looking at a relationship and asking yourself whether it is worth another chance. The forgiveness, the hesitation, the choice to love someone again while knowing exactly how much they can hurt you. I love seeing characters take a step back, look at their relationship from a deeper perspective, and genuinely question what it means to forgive and try again.
And The Fifth Year gave me all of that and more.
I cried. A LOT. Because somehow, every time I pick up a marriage-in-crisis story, it heals something in me. There is something incredibly moving about watching two people navigate the aftermath of their mistakes, confront the things that broke them, and try to find their way back to each other. It's never just about getting back together. It's about understanding, growing, choosing differently, and learning to love each other better.
Every author brings something different to this trope, and I love seeing the different ways they explore the beauty and heartbreak of it. Jordan C. Byrd did that so beautifully here.
I loved the travel, the devotion they had for each other, their dedication to their work, and the way their individual personalities came through. Everything felt like it belonged. All the different elements came together in just the right proportions to create a story that felt emotionally rich and deeply meaningful.
And their devotion? That really got to me. Because beneath all the hurt and everything that went wrong, there was so much to feel, so much to understand, and so much that made their journey worth experiencing.
This book reminded me once again why I keep coming back to this trope. Why I willingly put myself through the heartbreak, why I cry over fictional couples, and why I will always root for characters who are willing to do the hard work of understanding each other and finding their way back to love.
Sometimes, these stories hurt. Sometimes, they heal. And sometimes, they manage to do both at once.
The Fifth Year was one of those books for me. 🥹❤️
Thank you, Love Notes PR, for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
I never stood a chance with this book. A marriage-in-crisis trope? Sign me up. Every single time. ❤️🩹
I read this trope at least once a month because there is something about it that speaks to me on a level I can never quite put into words. The groveling, the slow realization of where things went wrong, the difficult conversations, the vulnerability of looking at a relationship and asking yourself whether it is worth another chance. The forgiveness, the hesitation, the choice to love someone again while knowing exactly how much they can hurt you. I love seeing characters take a step back, look at their relationship from a deeper perspective, and genuinely question what it means to forgive and try again.
And The Fifth Year gave me all of that and more.
I cried. A LOT. Because somehow, every time I pick up a marriage-in-crisis story, it heals something in me. There is something incredibly moving about watching two people navigate the aftermath of their mistakes, confront the things that broke them, and try to find their way back to each other. It's never just about getting back together. It's about understanding, growing, choosing differently, and learning to love each other better.
Every author brings something different to this trope, and I love seeing the different ways they explore the beauty and heartbreak of it. Jordan C. Byrd did that so beautifully here.
I loved the travel, the devotion they had for each other, their dedication to their work, and the way their individual personalities came through. Everything felt like it belonged. All the different elements came together in just the right proportions to create a story that felt emotionally rich and deeply meaningful.
And their devotion? That really got to me. Because beneath all the hurt and everything that went wrong, there was so much to feel, so much to understand, and so much that made their journey worth experiencing.
This book reminded me once again why I keep coming back to this trope. Why I willingly put myself through the heartbreak, why I cry over fictional couples, and why I will always root for characters who are willing to do the hard work of understanding each other and finding their way back to love.
Sometimes, these stories hurt. Sometimes, they heal. And sometimes, they manage to do both at once.
The Fifth Year was one of those books for me. 🥹❤️
Thank you, Love Notes PR, for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
October 24, 2026
Thank you Jordan C. Byrd for an arc read of The Fifth Year. This is such an emotional yet beautiful story about a relationship and marriage of two people over the course of five years.
Summary:
Luci has just received a life-altering diagnosis shortly after she and her husband, Tristan, decide to divorce. Yet, in the wake of this devastating news, they are given one unexpected gift: more time together and the chance to embark on one last adventure. They set off on a summer vacation to visit the places they dreamed of exploring during the early days of their relationship, hoping to rediscover one another and rebuild the love they once shared. But the journey will be far from easy. As old emotions resurface, long-held truths come to light, and unexpected secrets are revealed, Luci and her husband must confront the past, navigate the uncertainty of their future, and decide whether the love they once had is worth fighting for.
Thoughts:
• The way this book had my heart right from the beginning! I was instantly questioning just how big a box of tissues I was going to need.
• Thank goodness this book is dual POV! I knew from the first chapter that I was going to need both Luci and Tristan’s thoughts.
• The dual timelines also added so much more emotion to their story, both in the past and the present. I found myself racing to stay in the present while also anxiously awaiting the moments that would reveal where and how their story began and what led them to where they are now.
• The number of gut-dropping moments in this book! It’s a freaking roller coaster, and I was smiling, tearing up, full-on crying, grinding my teeth, and experiencing so many other emotions as I read through their past and present.
• Marriage in crisis just might be a new favorite trope of mine!
•The characters, settings, and plot were all written so beautifully. I thought I was getting a typical marriage-in-crisis story, but there is so much more depth to this one. It’s truly a story that will stay with me for a long time, and one I’ll be recommending often!
• Books like this get my mind racing, and once I start, I have to binge-read them. Jordan’s writing is so captivating and truly left me in my feels. The way she tells a story keeps you on the edge of your seat while taking you through a whirlwind of emotions.
Summary:
Luci has just received a life-altering diagnosis shortly after she and her husband, Tristan, decide to divorce. Yet, in the wake of this devastating news, they are given one unexpected gift: more time together and the chance to embark on one last adventure. They set off on a summer vacation to visit the places they dreamed of exploring during the early days of their relationship, hoping to rediscover one another and rebuild the love they once shared. But the journey will be far from easy. As old emotions resurface, long-held truths come to light, and unexpected secrets are revealed, Luci and her husband must confront the past, navigate the uncertainty of their future, and decide whether the love they once had is worth fighting for.
Thoughts:
• The way this book had my heart right from the beginning! I was instantly questioning just how big a box of tissues I was going to need.
• Thank goodness this book is dual POV! I knew from the first chapter that I was going to need both Luci and Tristan’s thoughts.
• The dual timelines also added so much more emotion to their story, both in the past and the present. I found myself racing to stay in the present while also anxiously awaiting the moments that would reveal where and how their story began and what led them to where they are now.
• The number of gut-dropping moments in this book! It’s a freaking roller coaster, and I was smiling, tearing up, full-on crying, grinding my teeth, and experiencing so many other emotions as I read through their past and present.
• Marriage in crisis just might be a new favorite trope of mine!
•The characters, settings, and plot were all written so beautifully. I thought I was getting a typical marriage-in-crisis story, but there is so much more depth to this one. It’s truly a story that will stay with me for a long time, and one I’ll be recommending often!
• Books like this get my mind racing, and once I start, I have to binge-read them. Jordan’s writing is so captivating and truly left me in my feels. The way she tells a story keeps you on the edge of your seat while taking you through a whirlwind of emotions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh my heart! I had to take 24 hours to digest this book to figure out what to say because wow. Holy emotional roller coaster! What an incredibly real, raw, heart achingly beautiful journey Jordan took me on reading this book. I have no clue how survived because I felt every single emotion possible. Not only was the writing flawless (even in third person), but the way she evokes emotions so easily from you was insane. I never thought I could relate to a character going through something so real, and nothing I’ve experienced before, but here I am feeling every single bit of their feelings. Right down to my bones!Truly a work of art!
Luci. She truly is magic. She became someone I really felt for and wanted everything good to happen for her because she honestly deserved it. Meeting Tristan was the cutest meet cute. I really loved their interactions and their flirty banter. Tristan is one of the most down to earth guys, and I even had a moment of not liking him. But once you get to see his real, deep, and true feelings for Luci, he will become one you will fall for. These two really go through the wringer in their short time together. But I what I really enjoyed was how they overcame each obstacle. You can really feel their love and for one another and that is something so special. I truly related to their marriage problems, because I think even if it’s taboo to discuss, it really hits home for a lot of people. It really gave me hope for the future, and then made me want to go hug my husband.
Although there is no spice in this book, you can still feel the admiration, love, connection, and pull that these two have for each other. It’s unlike anything else, and something I really enjoyed seeing at all stages of their relationship.
Another part I enjoyed was the dual timeline. It was refreshing to see their past and present and enjoy all the moments of their time together.
Just do yourself a favor and read this. Go into it blind. Know that it will have your heart aching for the sweet and the raw moments. It will have you smiling and definitely producing tears. But it will leave you with the most content feeling and have you obsessed.
Thank you so much Jordan and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to ARC read this. These are my honest opinions.
Luci. She truly is magic. She became someone I really felt for and wanted everything good to happen for her because she honestly deserved it. Meeting Tristan was the cutest meet cute. I really loved their interactions and their flirty banter. Tristan is one of the most down to earth guys, and I even had a moment of not liking him. But once you get to see his real, deep, and true feelings for Luci, he will become one you will fall for. These two really go through the wringer in their short time together. But I what I really enjoyed was how they overcame each obstacle. You can really feel their love and for one another and that is something so special. I truly related to their marriage problems, because I think even if it’s taboo to discuss, it really hits home for a lot of people. It really gave me hope for the future, and then made me want to go hug my husband.
Although there is no spice in this book, you can still feel the admiration, love, connection, and pull that these two have for each other. It’s unlike anything else, and something I really enjoyed seeing at all stages of their relationship.
Another part I enjoyed was the dual timeline. It was refreshing to see their past and present and enjoy all the moments of their time together.
Just do yourself a favor and read this. Go into it blind. Know that it will have your heart aching for the sweet and the raw moments. It will have you smiling and definitely producing tears. But it will leave you with the most content feeling and have you obsessed.
Thank you so much Jordan and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to ARC read this. These are my honest opinions.
November 3, 2026
A Beautiful, Heart-Wrenching Love Story! ❤️🩹
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Fade to Black
Some books just make you feel everything, and The Fifth Year was absolutely one of those books for me. Jordan C. Byrd's writing is beautiful, heartfelt, and so full of emotion. I was completely swept up in Luci and Tristan's story, and I honestly can't say enough about how much I loved this one.
Luci and Tristan are approaching the end of their fifth year of marriage, but the relationship they once had feels like a distant memory. With their marriage hanging in the balance, a life-changing diagnosis gives them an unexpected opportunity to spend time together and revisit the dreams and places that once brought them closer. But finding their way back to each other means confronting everything that has happened along the way.
I absolutely loved the way this story was written. Moving between the past and present, we get to see how Luci and Tristan fell in love while also uncovering the things that brought them to this point. It made their journey that much more meaningful, and I found myself so invested in both the love they shared and the possibility of finding their way back to it.
And the EMOTIONS. This book really does put you through it. There is so much heartbreak, love, grief, hope, and vulnerability woven throughout the story. It felt incredibly real, and I loved that their relationship wasn't presented as perfect. It takes work to understand each other, to face the things that have hurt you, and to choose to keep showing up. Watching them navigate all of that made their story so incredibly heartfelt.
Jordan's writing is truly something special. Every moment felt intentional, and the way she brought out so much emotion in the characters and their experiences had me completely immersed. This is one of those books that reminds you why you love reading in the first place.
I went into this expecting a marriage-in-crisis romance, but came away with so much more. A beautiful story about love, loss, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the person who has always meant so much to you. Five stars, without hesitation!
Thank you so much to Jordan C. Byrd and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this eARC! ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Fade to Black
Some books just make you feel everything, and The Fifth Year was absolutely one of those books for me. Jordan C. Byrd's writing is beautiful, heartfelt, and so full of emotion. I was completely swept up in Luci and Tristan's story, and I honestly can't say enough about how much I loved this one.
Luci and Tristan are approaching the end of their fifth year of marriage, but the relationship they once had feels like a distant memory. With their marriage hanging in the balance, a life-changing diagnosis gives them an unexpected opportunity to spend time together and revisit the dreams and places that once brought them closer. But finding their way back to each other means confronting everything that has happened along the way.
I absolutely loved the way this story was written. Moving between the past and present, we get to see how Luci and Tristan fell in love while also uncovering the things that brought them to this point. It made their journey that much more meaningful, and I found myself so invested in both the love they shared and the possibility of finding their way back to it.
And the EMOTIONS. This book really does put you through it. There is so much heartbreak, love, grief, hope, and vulnerability woven throughout the story. It felt incredibly real, and I loved that their relationship wasn't presented as perfect. It takes work to understand each other, to face the things that have hurt you, and to choose to keep showing up. Watching them navigate all of that made their story so incredibly heartfelt.
Jordan's writing is truly something special. Every moment felt intentional, and the way she brought out so much emotion in the characters and their experiences had me completely immersed. This is one of those books that reminds you why you love reading in the first place.
I went into this expecting a marriage-in-crisis romance, but came away with so much more. A beautiful story about love, loss, forgiveness, and finding your way back to the person who has always meant so much to you. Five stars, without hesitation!
Thank you so much to Jordan C. Byrd and Love Notes PR for the opportunity to read and review this eARC! ❤️
November 5, 2026
Three cheers for a book I actually enjoyed!
Seriously, I had a lovely time reading this story, and despite there being some areas that weren’t executed as well as I’d have liked, I 💯 percent recommend it.
The story follows Luci and Tristan, a married couple who we meet during a particularly difficult period in their marriage—so much so, the D word is thrown around. They’ve been sort of estranged for about a year, and neither see a way to move forwards (or in this case, backwards to what they used to be), despite there being genuine love present.
Then health hits hard…
Luci has a pre-existing issue with her heart, and shortly after a tough conversation with Tristan, they both receive the news that she may not survive past a year of she does not receive a new heart…and then everything shifts.
We spent the rest of the story bouncing between the past (when they met and fell in love), the recent past (where serious issues occurred that changed them as people and a couple), and the present, when they’re working through (or trying to) their issues to see if there’s anything worth saving.
I won’t spoil the things that happened to rock their world (there’s awful family members, a vile OW, loss, and of course health issues) but what I will say is the journey they go on is far from perfect, but emotional none the less.
In terms of the areas that caused a drop in stars (for me), I’d say it was how some of the scenes dragged a little. I must admit, there were parts I skimmed so that I could get to the characters engaging or talking, because I’m not a huge fan of overt descriptions and seemingly random moments that don’t add huge amounts of value (there’s a part with hair, and whilst it’s sweet, it just wasn’t needed). I probably wanted more heartfelt conversations about the possibility of Luci not getting her transplant—being honest that was skipped entirely with her friends and parents—to really dial up the lump on my throat, y’know?
Anyway, aside from it feeling a little drawn out due to the over done filler scenes, I thought the couple were lovely, and for the cheap seats at the back… TRISTAN IS GLORIOUS (the snippets online live up).
Seriously, I had a lovely time reading this story, and despite there being some areas that weren’t executed as well as I’d have liked, I 💯 percent recommend it.
The story follows Luci and Tristan, a married couple who we meet during a particularly difficult period in their marriage—so much so, the D word is thrown around. They’ve been sort of estranged for about a year, and neither see a way to move forwards (or in this case, backwards to what they used to be), despite there being genuine love present.
Then health hits hard…
Luci has a pre-existing issue with her heart, and shortly after a tough conversation with Tristan, they both receive the news that she may not survive past a year of she does not receive a new heart…and then everything shifts.
We spent the rest of the story bouncing between the past (when they met and fell in love), the recent past (where serious issues occurred that changed them as people and a couple), and the present, when they’re working through (or trying to) their issues to see if there’s anything worth saving.
I won’t spoil the things that happened to rock their world (there’s awful family members, a vile OW, loss, and of course health issues) but what I will say is the journey they go on is far from perfect, but emotional none the less.
In terms of the areas that caused a drop in stars (for me), I’d say it was how some of the scenes dragged a little. I must admit, there were parts I skimmed so that I could get to the characters engaging or talking, because I’m not a huge fan of overt descriptions and seemingly random moments that don’t add huge amounts of value (there’s a part with hair, and whilst it’s sweet, it just wasn’t needed). I probably wanted more heartfelt conversations about the possibility of Luci not getting her transplant—being honest that was skipped entirely with her friends and parents—to really dial up the lump on my throat, y’know?
Anyway, aside from it feeling a little drawn out due to the over done filler scenes, I thought the couple were lovely, and for the cheap seats at the back… TRISTAN IS GLORIOUS (the snippets online live up).
November 7, 2026
💜 The Fifth Year 💜
((SPOILER-FREE ARC REVIEW))
Title- The Fifth Year
Author- Jordan C. Byrd
Genre- Emotional Contemporary Romance
Series- Standalone
Format- Paperback
Page Count- 370 Pages
Published by- Jordan C. Byrd
Pub Date- November 3, 2026
Trope City-
💜 One last chance at forever
💜 Second-chance romance
💜 Marriage in trouble
💜 Emotional healing
💜 Bucket-list romance
💜 Forced proximity
💜 Dual POV
Content Warnings- ⚠️
⚠️ Serious heart illness
⚠️ Serious heart illness
⚠️ Heart transplant-related medical trauma
⚠️ Pregnancy loss
⚠️ Sexual misconduct
⚠️ Marital conflict
“And if for some impossible reason you and I are separated, my soul will search for yours in every quiet moment, every sunrise over the horizon, every Latin song I hear and every firework I see.”
Huge thank you to my sweet friends Jill and Jordan Byrd for gifting me this incredible book. I’m so honored. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time, again. Congratulations Jordan! This is an absolute masterpiece. 🫶🏻
The Fifth Year is a beautifully crafted reminder that sometimes it’s not the falling in love… it’s the continuing to choose the love. Find the true love and then work like hell to keep it going to an eternity. Luci (FMC) is a sassy junior in college who transferred to University of Washington from UCLA. Her first bit in Seattle does not lack excitement. She gets in a little car accident with the king of the school. Tristan Worthington (MMC) is also a transfer. He’s the other car in the incident. Little did they know, that minor inconvenience gave them both the rest of their lives. Tristan is certain Luci is the one that changes his entire life. The two have some pretty life changing accidents happen. They marry quietly. The trauma, the pain, the torment that they experience in 5 short years is more than most couples experience in a lifetime. The biggest surrounds life and death. I can’t say too much without revealing details. I like my reviews to be spoiler free! This story will truly stay with me forever. Please support this brilliant author friend of mine. You won’t be sorry you did! She’s pure creative genius on a page.
XOXO,
The Calm Chapter
((SPOILER-FREE ARC REVIEW))
Title- The Fifth Year
Author- Jordan C. Byrd
Genre- Emotional Contemporary Romance
Series- Standalone
Format- Paperback
Page Count- 370 Pages
Published by- Jordan C. Byrd
Pub Date- November 3, 2026
Trope City-
💜 One last chance at forever
💜 Second-chance romance
💜 Marriage in trouble
💜 Emotional healing
💜 Bucket-list romance
💜 Forced proximity
💜 Dual POV
Content Warnings- ⚠️
⚠️ Serious heart illness
⚠️ Serious heart illness
⚠️ Heart transplant-related medical trauma
⚠️ Pregnancy loss
⚠️ Sexual misconduct
⚠️ Marital conflict
“And if for some impossible reason you and I are separated, my soul will search for yours in every quiet moment, every sunrise over the horizon, every Latin song I hear and every firework I see.”
Huge thank you to my sweet friends Jill and Jordan Byrd for gifting me this incredible book. I’m so honored. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time, again. Congratulations Jordan! This is an absolute masterpiece. 🫶🏻
The Fifth Year is a beautifully crafted reminder that sometimes it’s not the falling in love… it’s the continuing to choose the love. Find the true love and then work like hell to keep it going to an eternity. Luci (FMC) is a sassy junior in college who transferred to University of Washington from UCLA. Her first bit in Seattle does not lack excitement. She gets in a little car accident with the king of the school. Tristan Worthington (MMC) is also a transfer. He’s the other car in the incident. Little did they know, that minor inconvenience gave them both the rest of their lives. Tristan is certain Luci is the one that changes his entire life. The two have some pretty life changing accidents happen. They marry quietly. The trauma, the pain, the torment that they experience in 5 short years is more than most couples experience in a lifetime. The biggest surrounds life and death. I can’t say too much without revealing details. I like my reviews to be spoiler free! This story will truly stay with me forever. Please support this brilliant author friend of mine. You won’t be sorry you did! She’s pure creative genius on a page.
XOXO,
The Calm Chapter
October 29, 2026
Luciana Melnick (Luci) é uma mulher cheia de energia, com uma presença que não passa despercebida e apaixonada por danças latinas. No entanto, a sua vida acaba por mudar quando é confrontada com o diagnóstico de uma doença cardíaca.
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Tristan Worthington pertence a uma família influente no mundo dos negócios. É ambicioso e bem sucedido, mas acaba por dar demasiada prioridade à carreira, deixando a vida pessoal um pouco para segundo plano. Com o tempo, isso reflete-se no casamento, que atravessa uma fase cada vez mais difícil.
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A história vai alternando entre o passado e o presente, revelando aos poucos o que aconteceu entre os dois e como o casamento chegou a este ponto. A autora tem uma escrita madura e profunda e confesso que, nos capítulos do presente, ficava sempre com vontade de voltar atrás e descobrir mais sobre o que os tinha levado até ali!
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Gostei bastante da forma como a relação dos dois não é apresentada como algo perfeito. Há muita vulnerabilidade, conversas profundas e espaço para reflexão, o que mostra que nem tudo são momentos felizes e que uma relação também passa por fases difíceis.
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Outro dos pontos de que mais gostei foi a parte das viagens, porque se nota o cuidado e a pesquisa por trás de cada destino e a preocupação de apresentar as suas culturas e tradições da forma mais fiel possível! Além disso, estas experiências não servem apenas de cenário à história, mas acabam por ter um impacto na relação de ambos.
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Apesar de ter gostado da história, houve alguns aspetos que tornaram a leitura menos agradável. São abordados vários temas pesados e, por vezes, senti que era um assunto difícil atrás de outro, o que acabou por se tornar cansativo. Alguns dos temas e tropes também não são propriamente os meus favoritos e, em certos momentos, senti que se repetiam bastante. A falta de comunicação foi também outro aspeto que me irritou um pouco.
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No geral, é uma história intensa, com momentos muito bonitos, que nos mostra as várias facetas do amor e de uma relação, mesmo quando as coisas estão longe de ser perfeitas.
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Avaliação: 4/5 ⭐️
Data de lançamento: 3 de novembro 🆕
Para mais, acompanha o meu bookstagram em:
https://www.instagram.com/cassetelite...
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Tristan Worthington pertence a uma família influente no mundo dos negócios. É ambicioso e bem sucedido, mas acaba por dar demasiada prioridade à carreira, deixando a vida pessoal um pouco para segundo plano. Com o tempo, isso reflete-se no casamento, que atravessa uma fase cada vez mais difícil.
⠀
A história vai alternando entre o passado e o presente, revelando aos poucos o que aconteceu entre os dois e como o casamento chegou a este ponto. A autora tem uma escrita madura e profunda e confesso que, nos capítulos do presente, ficava sempre com vontade de voltar atrás e descobrir mais sobre o que os tinha levado até ali!
⠀
Gostei bastante da forma como a relação dos dois não é apresentada como algo perfeito. Há muita vulnerabilidade, conversas profundas e espaço para reflexão, o que mostra que nem tudo são momentos felizes e que uma relação também passa por fases difíceis.
⠀
Outro dos pontos de que mais gostei foi a parte das viagens, porque se nota o cuidado e a pesquisa por trás de cada destino e a preocupação de apresentar as suas culturas e tradições da forma mais fiel possível! Além disso, estas experiências não servem apenas de cenário à história, mas acabam por ter um impacto na relação de ambos.
⠀
Apesar de ter gostado da história, houve alguns aspetos que tornaram a leitura menos agradável. São abordados vários temas pesados e, por vezes, senti que era um assunto difícil atrás de outro, o que acabou por se tornar cansativo. Alguns dos temas e tropes também não são propriamente os meus favoritos e, em certos momentos, senti que se repetiam bastante. A falta de comunicação foi também outro aspeto que me irritou um pouco.
⠀
No geral, é uma história intensa, com momentos muito bonitos, que nos mostra as várias facetas do amor e de uma relação, mesmo quando as coisas estão longe de ser perfeitas.
⠀
Avaliação: 4/5 ⭐️
Data de lançamento: 3 de novembro 🆕
Para mais, acompanha o meu bookstagram em:
https://www.instagram.com/cassetelite...
October 31, 2026
✨3.5/5
Firstly I want to thank Love Notes PR & Jordan C. Byrd for this ARC 💜
Wow was this book a clusterfuck with my emotions. Luci is one of the strongest FMC I’ve ever read bc if I ever had to endure half of what she endured I would’ve killed somebody.
I really enjoyed the writing of this book, but the third act & the plot twists were genuinely so frustrating I actually got a headache while reading.
Tristian’s brother Troy can actually DIE! I can’t believe how sick and twisted he ended up becoming and quite honestly when we first met him I totally thought he was playing around and was going to be the fun, love able brother and wow was I fucking wrong.
Stephanie…. She’s lucky she’s pregnant bc she’s another one I would’ve slaughtered. That bitch got on my nerves so badly it was so annoying every time her name was brought up. I knew she was a freak, but when she confessed what she and Troy did I genuinely wanted to reach through the book and choke her. Finally, in that moment Tristian STOOD up for Luci & him bc HELLOW???? They lost TWO months bc of her omg like I can’t stand her.
Michelle & Fitz: 😍😍😍 AH loved them. They are REAL AS FUCK!!! I loved Michelle and Luci’s bond. More importantly I will always respect the way Fitz handled that disgraceful situation, he stood up for Luci like a REAL man ! They are actually angels .
Tristan….. god it was going so well for a while but honestly I lost respect for him with the whole Stephanie situation. I understand nothing happened now but regardless you should’ve never even been near her for that to happen and honestly I just looked at him so differently after that. I will say I’m so glad they ended up working out because I do think Luci & Tristian genuinely love one another and are actually meant to be together.
Firstly I want to thank Love Notes PR & Jordan C. Byrd for this ARC 💜
Wow was this book a clusterfuck with my emotions. Luci is one of the strongest FMC I’ve ever read bc if I ever had to endure half of what she endured I would’ve killed somebody.
I really enjoyed the writing of this book, but the third act & the plot twists were genuinely so frustrating I actually got a headache while reading.
Tristian’s brother Troy can actually DIE! I can’t believe how sick and twisted he ended up becoming and quite honestly when we first met him I totally thought he was playing around and was going to be the fun, love able brother and wow was I fucking wrong.
Stephanie…. She’s lucky she’s pregnant bc she’s another one I would’ve slaughtered. That bitch got on my nerves so badly it was so annoying every time her name was brought up. I knew she was a freak, but when she confessed what she and Troy did I genuinely wanted to reach through the book and choke her. Finally, in that moment Tristian STOOD up for Luci & him bc HELLOW???? They lost TWO months bc of her omg like I can’t stand her.
Michelle & Fitz: 😍😍😍 AH loved them. They are REAL AS FUCK!!! I loved Michelle and Luci’s bond. More importantly I will always respect the way Fitz handled that disgraceful situation, he stood up for Luci like a REAL man ! They are actually angels .
Tristan….. god it was going so well for a while but honestly I lost respect for him with the whole Stephanie situation. I understand nothing happened now but regardless you should’ve never even been near her for that to happen and honestly I just looked at him so differently after that. I will say I’m so glad they ended up working out because I do think Luci & Tristian genuinely love one another and are actually meant to be together.
November 7, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (6 stars if Goodreads would let me!)
Jordan C. Byrd did it again!!! I genuinely don't know how she manages to pack this much emotion into her books, but The Fifth Year was absolutely incredible. From beginning to end, I was completely captivated.
Marriage in crisis is my absolute weakness when it comes to romance tropes, and this book gave me everything I could possibly want from one, and then somehow gave me MORE. The heartbreak, the longing, the second chances, the raw vulnerability. Every bit of it was so beautifully written, and the emotions were so intense that I found myself crying more than once.
It's the little moments, like Tristan learning to dance for Luci, that make your chest ache in the best way. And then there are the big moments, the ones that have you sitting on the edge of your seat, desperately turning pages because you need to know if Luci ends up... Nope. I'm stopping myself right there because I was dangerously close to spoiling something. 🤐
What I will say is that Jordan knows exactly how to make you feel. The love, the grief, the desperation, the hope. Nothing about this story felt surface-level. It was intense, emotional, and at times downright agonizing, but in the most beautiful way.
If you love romance that puts your emotions through the wringer, especially a marriage-in-crisis story, please read this book. You will not regret it.
And while I'm here, do yourself a favor and pick up Jordan's other book, The Band Boy. It's equally incredible, and it'll absolutely blow your mind when you realize that was her debut novel.
Jordan C. Byrd has officially become one of those authors whose books I will read without even needing to know what they're about. Just give me the book. I'm reading it.
An easy 6 stars in a 5-star world.
Jordan C. Byrd did it again!!! I genuinely don't know how she manages to pack this much emotion into her books, but The Fifth Year was absolutely incredible. From beginning to end, I was completely captivated.
Marriage in crisis is my absolute weakness when it comes to romance tropes, and this book gave me everything I could possibly want from one, and then somehow gave me MORE. The heartbreak, the longing, the second chances, the raw vulnerability. Every bit of it was so beautifully written, and the emotions were so intense that I found myself crying more than once.
It's the little moments, like Tristan learning to dance for Luci, that make your chest ache in the best way. And then there are the big moments, the ones that have you sitting on the edge of your seat, desperately turning pages because you need to know if Luci ends up... Nope. I'm stopping myself right there because I was dangerously close to spoiling something. 🤐
What I will say is that Jordan knows exactly how to make you feel. The love, the grief, the desperation, the hope. Nothing about this story felt surface-level. It was intense, emotional, and at times downright agonizing, but in the most beautiful way.
If you love romance that puts your emotions through the wringer, especially a marriage-in-crisis story, please read this book. You will not regret it.
And while I'm here, do yourself a favor and pick up Jordan's other book, The Band Boy. It's equally incredible, and it'll absolutely blow your mind when you realize that was her debut novel.
Jordan C. Byrd has officially become one of those authors whose books I will read without even needing to know what they're about. Just give me the book. I'm reading it.
An easy 6 stars in a 5-star world.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I hadn’t cried while reading a book in such a long time in fact, I don’t think a single book had made me cry yet this year until I picked up The Fifth Year. I honestly can’t remember the last time I read a love story this breathtaking, raw, and deeply rooted in empathy, forgiveness, and personal growth.
Luci and Tristan’s journey is not an easy one. Every battle thrown their way tested their love, their marriage, and their own personal well-being. Just when their marriage seems to be at its breaking point, Luci’s diagnosis arrives like a devastating blow yet, in a bittersweet way, it becomes a blessing in disguise. It forces them to pause, reconnect, and remember why they fell in love in the first place.
One of my favorite messages in the book comes from a couple they meet in Florence: the idea that you have to rediscover your partner every single day, because people grow and change, and true love means learning to love each other through every new version of yourselves.
The emotional weight of their pregnancy losses and the heavy secrets they kept from one another could have easily shattered them for good. Instead, facing that pain together ultimately made them stronger. The character complexity is incredible, and witnessing their evolution from when they first met in college to the present day is nothing short of beautiful. She truly is his sun, and he is hers.
My heart ached so many times while reading about everything they had to overcome, but the ending was absolute perfection-giving both of them, and their shared grief, the healing they deserved. Without a doubt, this book is an absolute highlight of my reading year!
Luci and Tristan’s journey is not an easy one. Every battle thrown their way tested their love, their marriage, and their own personal well-being. Just when their marriage seems to be at its breaking point, Luci’s diagnosis arrives like a devastating blow yet, in a bittersweet way, it becomes a blessing in disguise. It forces them to pause, reconnect, and remember why they fell in love in the first place.
One of my favorite messages in the book comes from a couple they meet in Florence: the idea that you have to rediscover your partner every single day, because people grow and change, and true love means learning to love each other through every new version of yourselves.
The emotional weight of their pregnancy losses and the heavy secrets they kept from one another could have easily shattered them for good. Instead, facing that pain together ultimately made them stronger. The character complexity is incredible, and witnessing their evolution from when they first met in college to the present day is nothing short of beautiful. She truly is his sun, and he is hers.
My heart ached so many times while reading about everything they had to overcome, but the ending was absolute perfection-giving both of them, and their shared grief, the healing they deserved. Without a doubt, this book is an absolute highlight of my reading year!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
𝑹𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒚. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏.
TlDr: This book is amazing and I will be recommending it to every single person I know.
It is very rare that a book leaves me speachless. And when it does, it's normally because the MMC did something feral or the FMC did something insane (but usually warrnated) to the MMC. This book, however, left me speechless for an entirely different reaason. I can say with no doubt in my mind this was the most beautiful book I've ever read.
My heart broke for these characters over and over and over again. THIS is what a good marriage in crisis trope looks like. There's no fluff. No bs. Just pure pain and love.
To Tristan - I am so sorry I EVER doubted your love for Luci. And to Luci - you are quite possibly the strongest woman I have ever read about.
These characters are put through the ringer. And not just once, but multiple times. Their love for each other was tested over and over and over again. There were definitely times I thought they wouldn't make it. That it was the final straw. I found myself laughing with them, crying with them, and getting angry with them. My heart physically hurt for them.
This is also closed door romance. And to be quite honest, I enjoyed it more than I thought I did. I think the biggest reason is because I wanted them to have those moments private. They had been through so much and I felt like that needed to happen behind closed doors....ikik it's just a book and they are just characters. But I have never related to characters as much as I did with Luci and Tristan. They are two I will never, ever forget.
Happy Reading 🌻
TlDr: This book is amazing and I will be recommending it to every single person I know.
It is very rare that a book leaves me speachless. And when it does, it's normally because the MMC did something feral or the FMC did something insane (but usually warrnated) to the MMC. This book, however, left me speechless for an entirely different reaason. I can say with no doubt in my mind this was the most beautiful book I've ever read.
My heart broke for these characters over and over and over again. THIS is what a good marriage in crisis trope looks like. There's no fluff. No bs. Just pure pain and love.
To Tristan - I am so sorry I EVER doubted your love for Luci. And to Luci - you are quite possibly the strongest woman I have ever read about.
These characters are put through the ringer. And not just once, but multiple times. Their love for each other was tested over and over and over again. There were definitely times I thought they wouldn't make it. That it was the final straw. I found myself laughing with them, crying with them, and getting angry with them. My heart physically hurt for them.
This is also closed door romance. And to be quite honest, I enjoyed it more than I thought I did. I think the biggest reason is because I wanted them to have those moments private. They had been through so much and I felt like that needed to happen behind closed doors....ikik it's just a book and they are just characters. But I have never related to characters as much as I did with Luci and Tristan. They are two I will never, ever forget.
Happy Reading 🌻
October 30, 2026
Review of advanced copy.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for sending me the ARC of this book.
Wow! I’m honestly not sure where to start. I signed up for this book ready to read about a marriage-in-crisis and yes, that’s what I got. Along with one of the most meaningful love stories.
Tristan and Luci’s relationship felt so real and raw. There were times throughout reading the book that it felt like I was reading about two real people and maybe it’s because the author did an excellent job of depicting real-life trials that relationships face.
Jordan C Byrd takes you through such a deep and intricate journey from the minute we’re introduced to these two main characters and their broken marriage all of the way through them peeling back the layers of the last 5 years they have been together. Seeing how they fell in love to then how they got to this point of turmoil had me completely invested in how they would overcome it all and if they even could.
I cried my eyes out multiple times during the last 25% of this book just hoping for a miracle. The words they exchanged, the actions they took, touched me so much that I was a blubbering mess.
This is a true ROMANCE book. It has the good, the bad, the even more difficult and the light at the end of the tunnel so many of us seek in similar situations.
This author has made a fan out of me and i’m thankful for the opportunity to have read this beautiful story.
Thank you to Love Notes PR for sending me the ARC of this book.
Wow! I’m honestly not sure where to start. I signed up for this book ready to read about a marriage-in-crisis and yes, that’s what I got. Along with one of the most meaningful love stories.
Tristan and Luci’s relationship felt so real and raw. There were times throughout reading the book that it felt like I was reading about two real people and maybe it’s because the author did an excellent job of depicting real-life trials that relationships face.
Jordan C Byrd takes you through such a deep and intricate journey from the minute we’re introduced to these two main characters and their broken marriage all of the way through them peeling back the layers of the last 5 years they have been together. Seeing how they fell in love to then how they got to this point of turmoil had me completely invested in how they would overcome it all and if they even could.
I cried my eyes out multiple times during the last 25% of this book just hoping for a miracle. The words they exchanged, the actions they took, touched me so much that I was a blubbering mess.
This is a true ROMANCE book. It has the good, the bad, the even more difficult and the light at the end of the tunnel so many of us seek in similar situations.
This author has made a fan out of me and i’m thankful for the opportunity to have read this beautiful story.
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