I think this book is great for people who love magical realism. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief in this book and don't think this was necessarily the book for me. I enjoyed many of the aspects of this book but overall, it was not the great book I was hoping for. I think it was a more me thing and think the right reader for this one is definitely out there.

Another touch of magical realism done well with a twist I didn’t see coming. This story was beautifully written and I especially loved the theme. Rebecca Serle encourages readers to make the most of every day, living and loving without abandon. My only wish was for the ending to a bit more fleshed out for my own natural curiosity. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable feel-good read.

I think the premise of this book was very intriguing. Just the idea of knowing how relationships go was really thought provoking and there were a few different ways this could have went, but this author added a couple of twists in this book to throw it off track.. The chapters where the past relationships did not really work well for me and did not seem to add a whole lot to the story other than examples of how knowing the dates affected the main character in the present. This book was a good palate cleanser for me as I have been doing a lot of heavy reading here lately. The only real downfall were the interspersed past relationships thrown in. It did not really add much in my opinion. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. I enjoyed this one.

I have been a really big Rebecca Serle fan since I first read The Dinner List. The magical realism in her books is always phenomenally done. I wanted to love this one, but I just didn't. I didn't connect with the main character at all and I never felt the chemistry between Daphne and Jake. I did enjoy her internal monologue as she went through the motions of each of these notes - I could definitely relate to thinking "is this is right choice?" type of things she thought. I'm still excited for her next work!

Expiration Dates follows Daphne Bell, who has spent her life receiving slips of paper predicting the expiration dates of her relationships. When she receives a slip with only the name "Jake" and no date, she believes he's "the one." As their relationship deepens, Daphne grapples with whether to challenge fate. The story explores love, destiny, and the complexities of relationships.

The writing is simple and quick-paced, but the narrative structure jumps between Daphne's present and past relationships, slowing the story’s momentum. While these flashbacks offer insight into her growth, they sometimes lack emotional depth.

The book touches on themes of fate, love, and personal growth, with a unique twist of magical realism, but the emotional impact is lessened by a lack of character chemistry and uneven pacing. Daphne's development is relatable but can feel flat, and the shift in tone midway through the book feels abrupt.

Final Thoughts: Expiration Dates has an intriguing premise but doesn’t fully live up to its potential. While it offers sweet moments, the chemistry and pacing fall short, leaving mixed feelings. It’s a quick read, and while not my favorite from Rebecca Serle, I’d still recommend it.

Oh wow, this book had me feeling all kinds of things! Expiration Dates is such a cool concept! Daphne gets these little slips of paper that tell her exactly how long each relationship will last, and honestly, that premise alone had me hooked. The magical realism feels so natural, and I loved how this book explored fate, love, and timing.

Daphne Bell has been given a gift -- or a curse, depending how you look at it. The universe sends her pieces of paper saying the amount of time she'll spend with each man she dates. Daphne doesn't know how or why these relationships end, only that they will.

But Daphne isn't just a thirtysomething looking for love. Because this is Serle, who delivered a doozy of a gotcha in One Italian Summer. In Expiration Dates, she does it again, and I didn't even see it coming. But once I processed the say what? of it all, I appreciated how it deepened the story.

I don't think I can say more without being a spoiler. I will say that Serle's writing is beautiful, lending magic to an already enchanted premise.

Expiration Dates reminds us that time is as infinite as it is finite -- but ultimately what we make of it.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle is a beautifully crafted exploration of love, fate, and the mysteries of timing. With her signature blend of magical realism and emotional depth, Serle delivers a story that feels both whimsical and deeply grounded in human connection.

The premise is fresh and thought-provoking, posing the question of how we might approach love if we knew its end date. Serle’s writing is lyrical and heartfelt, filled with tender moments, emotional twists, and reflections on what it truly means to find “the one.”

5 stars — a clever, moving, and unforgettable love story that lingers long after the final page. Serle once again proves she’s a master at blending the magical with the deeply personal.

The idea was fun but felt like the story lagged and was a little slow in developing. I've loved her other books so I still recommend the author.

Rebecca Serle does it again - fantastic book, unique premise and likeable characters. I didn't want this story to end!

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I loves One Italian Summer and In Five Years, so I was excited for this one to come out. I love the time travel aspect of Rebecca Serle’s writing but this one fell short for me. I could not get invested in the storyline and the time travel in this ones was confusing. I had to force myself to pick this one up. That being said it was still a beautiful love story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I have only read "In Five Years" by Serle before, but the premise of this one sounded quite interesting and I loved IFY, so I thought I'd give it a try. The idea was different and I liked it, this book had a lot of feels and I can't wait for her next release!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle in exchange for my honest review and opinion. I've read every single book Rebecca has written and they have all been SO good! Loved this one so much! This book will literally give you all the feels and make you never want it to end. I absolutely loved this and will be patiently waiting for her next release.

I did not find this book very captivating. I loved Serle’s other book so I had high hopes but alas. Still, the book was beautifully written and I would recommend.,

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle is such a thought-provoking and whimsical read! The premise is so unique—what would you do if you knew exactly how long a relationship would last? It’s a great blend of romance and self-discovery, with Serle’s signature emotional depth. This one will have you turning pages and wondering about fate, love, and the choices we make.

I really loved the premise of Expiration Dates - what would you do if the universe told you how long your relationship would last? Would it change things? For Daphne, that's all she's ever known, until one day a note shows up with a name and no "expiration date" listed. Does that mean it's forever? What other factors are at play? The friendships and romances in Expiration Dates were very well portrayed, and so unusual in some ways that it was a very fun and engaging book to read. I was actually taken quite by surprise by the ending, but it worked perfectly overall.

This book was more relatable to me than I could have expected. It was a quick read and had more feelings than I expected. I enjoyed thinking about how knowing would affect your relationships. I am a Serle fan! Bring on more.

As a librarian who loves thought-provoking romances, Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle intrigued me with its unique premise—what if you knew exactly how long each relationship would last? The mix of magical realism and emotional depth kept me engaged, and I appreciated how it explored fate, love, and personal growth. However, some plot twists felt predictable, and I wished for a bit more depth in certain character arcs. Still, it’s a compelling, reflective read that will appeal to those who enjoy introspective romance with a touch of the surreal.

The premise of this was a little strange, but it all came full circle in the end. This book is about self imposed limits and once we let go, we truly find what we are looking for!

Rebecca Serle is an auto read. No matter what. She hits ya in all the feels, her stories are unforgettable, (I’m still thinking about some of hers… over a year later) and was not disappointed with this one!

Thank you to all involved for allowing me early access.