Expiration Dates was a pretty average read for me. I enjoyed parts, but also felt that some sections of the book dragged on. I specifically liked the second half of the book more than the first half, but I had some trouble connecting with the characters, especially the female main character, Daphne. Overall, this was an easy and light read, perfect for summertime or for reading in between two more serious books, but probably won't be one of my favorite books of the year.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

This was a sweet story about finding yourself, and be willing to open yourself up in relationships to find love.

I loved the magical part of this. The idea that Daphne receives notes to let her know how long her current relationship will be. It includes the name, so there's no confusion on who it means, and then a timeframe - 3 weeks, 2 years 1 week, etc. Would you be as willing to throw yourself full into a relationship if you started it already knowing the end date?

I found the story sweet, in the way Daphne detailed all the little moments of each relationship and little things she learned about herself and them. I liked how Daphne really struggled to open up once there was a possibility that this one might be The One. It was a quick read and I liked it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

This was such an intriguing concept—every time Daphne meets someone new, she magically receives a note with their name and the exact length of time they’ll be together. But when she meets Jake on a blind date, the note only has his name… and no end date. For the first time in her life, the future is uncertain, and she has to decide whether she can trust something other than fate.

I loved how the book made me think—are the notes predicting what will happen, or are they causing it? Daphne’s internal struggle was really well done, and even though we never find out where the notes come from, that mystery didn’t bother me at all.

The writing was great—engaging, thoughtful, and just the right amount of heart. A really entertaining and unique read.

This was so good! I love romance, and I love magical realism. Combine them and it's an absolute recipe for success. 4 stars, and I'll be checking out her backlist also!

A high-concept premise delivered with Serle’s signature emotional depth. The idea of love with a known expiration was both heartbreaking and beautiful. A couple of character choices left me conflicted, but the ending stuck with me. Thought-provoking and moving.

A romance with magical realism, something I really enjoy! The book takes place in California featuring a character named Daphne who receives slips of paper when she meets a man with the timing of their relationship. Is it fate when she meets a man that has no time? Read this book and find out! It’s a sweet story of growing and accepting who oneself is and facing hard realties and also going after what you want.

I was not impressed with this title at all. The characters weren't really deep, and the story felt highly unbelievable and I just could not immerse myself in this world. I really wanted to like it, but it took everything in me not to DNF.

I tried to read this book several times but I just couldn't get into the plot. I usually enjoy this author's books but for some reason this one didn't work for me. Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy. #ExpirationDates #NetGalley #Didntfinish

This author knows how to do magical realism! Just the perfect amount to suck me in and make me believe. I loved this book!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a gifted copy of this book.

I still think about this story by Serle. It was so clever and sweet . I'm not big on magical realism but I thought she did a fantastic job.

Can't wait for more!

I picked up Expiration Dates because the premise caught my attention: everytime Daphne meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on - signifying the exact amount of time they will spend together. But on the night of her blind date with Jake, the paper contains only his name.

I enjoy contemporary books that have love/romance/relationships at their center but are not romances. I’m drawn to them because they tend to have more emotional depth. I like books that make me feel something and don’t necessarily have a happy ending. Expiration Dates falls under that category as the primary focus is Daphne and Jake’s relationship but it is not a romance. There are flashbacks to Daphne’s previous relationships and how they ended. It reminded me of The Husbands, which I also rated 4 stars. Both have magical realism elements that I was drawn to. That said, I had a few minor issues with Expiration Dates. Some of the emotional beats felt heavy-handed and the ending was predictable and a bit cliché. But it was an overall enjoyable read.

Wow Rebecca Serle has truly done it again!! With being such a huge fan of One Italian Summer, I had high expectations going into this book, and it definitely did not disappoint. This book was truly such a beautifully emotional story that had such a unique premise from anything I’ve ever read. I loved the magical realism aspect that paired so well with the romance, and it was truly so thought-provoking and heartfelt with its delivery. I thought the writing was so well done, and I can’t deny that the ending gave me butterflies. While I felt that there was just something missing from this story to give it a 5 star, this book was truly so easy to get through and just very fast paced, and overall I really loved it.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for my copy of this book!

I always enjoy the magical realism in Serle’s stories, and Expiration Dates was no exception. In this novel, the protagonist, Daphne, receives a note revealing how much time she’ll have with each romantic partner who enters her life, a premise I found really intriguing. However, despite the compelling concept, the characters felt somewhat one-dimensional to me. For those new to Serle’s work, I’d recommend One Italian Summer as a better introduction to her writing.

Expiration dates reminds us that we actually don’t want all the information to enjoy the journey. Another author that has never disappointed me!

What would it be like to know exactly how long you would date a guy for? Encouraging? Heartbreaking? That's Daphne's life. Every time she meets someone new she gets a slip of paper with his name and number (exactly how long she'll date him for). Until one day the paper only has a name. This is what she's been waiting for, her soulmate. But as time goes on she finds it hard to be completely truthful and committed.

While I really enjoyed the magical storyline of the date cards and the friendship between Daphne and Hugo, I found myself getting bored rather quickly and was not impressed with the ending. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC!

Once again Serle does it! I adored this book. It is the perfect amount of magical realism. The concept itself I was somewhat skeptical of but it was executed perfectly. Can’t wait for the next one!

I absolutely devoured this book and enjoyed every single page. The premise was so unique, Daphne receives mysterious notes from the universe, each with a name and a length of time, predicting the duration of her next relationship. It was such a fun and intriguing concept, and I often found myself wondering: are the notes truly fate, or do they only feel real because Daphne believes in them? Overall this story captivated me and have me questioning how her story would play out until up until the very end.

This book had a lot of potential. I’m a little surprised she didn’t go all the way with it. It kind of fell flat and didn’t really excite me. I don’t know, just something about it annoyed me

This is my 1st time reading Rebecca Serle and I really enjoyed the book. Expiration Dates is a nice short romance with a touch of magical realism and a little twist in the middle that keeps the story interesting. I will definitely be adding Ms. Serle's other books to my TBR!

Once I got over the magic realism part part of Daphne receiving notes/postcards with expiration dates of each man she meets being so unrealistic, I actually thought this was super cute. I adored Hugo. This was an easy to read, feel good book, which I was able to binge in one sitting. If you are looking for something light-hearted, fun, and a little different, I would recommend