Daphne Bell’s dating life has always been shaped by a unique dynamic — every time she meets a man, she receives a piece of paper with his name and the length of time they’ll spend together.   The papers have never steered her wrong.  For as long as she can remember, Daphne has been awaiting the paper with a name but no expiration date.  Then, that day arrives.  She receives a piece of paper with the name Jake but no date.  So as Daphne starts dating Jake, she believes it will be forever — even as their dates, while nice, do no spark the magic she’s felt with others she has dated.  Daphne and Jake’s relationship nonetheless gets increasingly serious, she can’t help but begin to question the paper — and wonder if their relationship can survive the truth she has been hiding from Jake.  

I have enjoyed several of the author’s previous novels and, like her earlier works, this book is a highly readable and perceptive exploration of first love, relationships, and family.   

Highly recommended.

A sweet read that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a good romance, soft read.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. I’ve previously read In Five Years and actually really enjoyed it, her writing and the concepts leave you thinking a little outside of the box; I will say this was a simple read for me. Daphne has all her life received notes dictating the length of her relationships, from days, to months, to years. She’s always held out for the one that’s forever, the hope of that everlasting love we all hope for. And then she gets set up with Jake. His note is no date of expiration. She’s cautiously optimistic but why shouldn’t she listen to the notes? They’ve dictated her whole life.
I will say it seemed like we had to have so many details about certain things, certain men and then so little connection between the two man characters. And then throw in a medical issue about half way through the book seemed like an after thought or at least a part of the plot that made you think okay this is a twist; but it didn’t really make much sense.
I loved the concept, would you want to know the future? Would seeing you are only with someone a short time make you love each moment in a more intense way?
It’s not all bad, the writing is okay and if you’ve read her other books I’ll say you’ll definitely enjoy it. It’s a cute, quick read even if some of the plots and the ending left me with a sour taste.

What a good book. It was well written and thought provoking! It was a love story that had tragedy woven through. It felt like real life. A story about a girl who knows the length of time a relationship will last, even before it starts. Does she want to know this and how does this shape the relationship, itself. This authors writing style is easy yet captivating! Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

BOOK REVIEW: EXPIRATION DATES

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“Cause I’ve got a blank space baby, and I’ll write your name.”🎶

Imagine if the universe told you how long each of your relationships would last…. Well that is exactly the case for Daphne Bell. Each time she meets a new man, the universe delivers a piece of paper with his name and how long they’ll be together. Until she meets Jake, whose note has his name but no date…

I have loved Rebecca Searle’s other books— In Five Years and One Italian Summer, so I was so excited to dive into this one! Her writing style is right up my alley and I adore the magical elements to her stories as well as the heartfelt moments. Her books always make me reflective and I love that about them!!

I will say for whatever reason, it took me a little bit of time to get into this one, but once I was about halfway in I was HOOKED! This story was all about what it truly means to find love and it was beautiful, heartbreaking, and unique! I’d def recommend picking this one up! It’s out March 19th!

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this book. This has a really ableist bent to it and I’m sad to see that this type of content is still being published. It’s honestly harmful for not just disabled readers but also abled readers who learn a specific harmful message about chronic and terminal illness and relationships while reading this. That type of thing is internalized and then makes the world worse off for disabled people. I highly recommend getting sensitivity readers and critically thinking about the contact being produced and who is producing it. Please stop using disability as a twist.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this ARC. Rebecca Serle is an automatic buy for me and it did not disappoint! I loved it. What a unique story and concept! And mostly the important message of living in the moment! If you loved In Five Years, you will love this one! First five star read of 2024. What a great way to start the year!

I loved Rebecca Series’ In Five Years and was excited to see that I was just as wowed by Expiration Dates! This is such a unique twist on this trope that it was super enjoyable and readable.

I…. I don’t know how to write a review for this. I did enjoy it, the story is well done and captivating. I enjoyed the characters…, I just kind of feel like I needed more? The resolution at the end just felt flat? Maybe that is why I just don’t know how to feel. Overall I did enjoy it and would recommend it.

Rebecca Serle's books are always thoughtful, fresh and thought-provoking. She brings an interesting take to a universal story line we might think we have figured out. Even if you think you know exactly what's going to happen, there's always some little twist or mic drop that leaves you with your jaw hanging on the floor.

"Expiration Dates" is another quintessential Serle book, and one I have been anxiously awaiting since it was announced.

The log line of the book says it all — "Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all."

What would you do if you knew what to expect of any given romantic relationship? Daphne Bell finds out. Every time she meets a romantic interest, she receives a slip of paper noting the amount of time they'll be together. Knowing this information, she often lets it determine how their time together plays out rather than listening to her heart and trusting what it could be. But, it's more than a book of girl meets boy and they live happily ever after. It's about self-discovery, trusting yourself, not giving in to the appeasement of others to keep them happy, but considering our own happiness throughout the journey. Our time isn't guaranteed, no matter what a slip of paper says, but the decisions we make are still up to us.

This is a love letter to Los Angeles, a love letter to true love, a love letter to happiness and a love letter to friendship.

I found myself highlighting so many nuggets of wisdom, including a couple of my favorites:

"It's hard to hold on to people the older we get. Life looks different for everyone, and you have to keep choosing one another. You have to make a conscious effort to say, over and over again, 'You.' Not everyone makes that choice. Not everyone can."

"Protection and love are not the same thing. Love says, I will try and I will fail. Love says, Despite. Love says, and yet, and yet, and yet."

Throughout my read, I was constantly thinking about this book. Even when I wasn't reading it. That is the mark of a great book. I want my books to inspire me and Rebecca Serle's books always do just that.

I can't wait for others to read this and highly recommend pre-ordering and reading ASAP. This title will be released on March 19, 2024. You can pre-order on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million (BAM!)

*Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy*

I received a physical copy of this book! Really loved this one, and the author never lets me down. Will be fully reviewing in my IG page. Loved it!

Expiration Dates was such a good book. I loved how we get the see the backstory of Daphne’s previous relationships. I’m glad that was a part of the book. I also really liked Daphne’s boss Irina. She was very supportive and a good addition to the story. Daphne’s dog was also a character I really enjoyed. Overall I thought the book was a great concept and the delivery was nice. There was an unexpected twist in the book I definitely never thought of. I enjoyed this book thoroughly. My only complaint is I wish the ending had more details and didn’t end so abruptly.

Thank you to NetGally and Atria Books for an advanced copy of Expiration Dates in return for my honest review.

I binged this book. Serle has a way with words that brings the reader right in. I loved how much Daphne grew to not having rely on the notes. My only dislike was that by the end I was over the notes!

This was such a great book. I love that there is always a touch of magical realism in all of Serle's novels. I think the characters in this book were very likeable and even the ones that were questionable ended up turning out to be good people. Definitely not a typical rom-com (which I love) but even better.

Rebecca Serle can do no wrong! EXPIRATION DATES was another hit for me from this auto-buy author. Her stories always have an unexpected twist that'll tug at your heartstrings. I'll never forget this beautiful story and super unique concept!

Each time Daphne gets a new boyfriend, she also gets something extra--a note that tells her exactly how long her relationship will last. Each new man comes with an expiration date. But when she meets Jake, the note is blank. Is Daphne destined to be with Jake forever? Expiration Dates unfolds as a typical romance, with the "is this the one" question dangling in the back of the reader's mind, complicated by a secret that Daphne holds. Serle writes lovely romance fiction, lighthearted and easy to read. A decent quick end to a 2023 year of books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

Author Rebecca Serle is so so good at taking a universal life event, adding a touch of magical realism, and spinning that period of life for the central character around and watching what happens next. As readers, we can’t help but join in wonder, really, as the characters respond to the sudden weirdness in normal ways and seek to set their world right again, with hope and renewal. In EXPIRATION DATES, the main character, Daphne, receives advance notice about paramours and the exact amount of time they will have with her. Yes, months, days and hours are spelled out for her in advance. We can’t help but wonder what else might be going on in Daphne’s life that is also carefully calibrated in units of time. This is a short and sweet book that packs a punch; Daphne’s single life and attempts at romance will strike a chord with everyone who has ever searched for love and meaning in companionship. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

This was a solid romance novel, but typical Rebecca Serle style - not my favorite of her books, but yet I found myself turning those pages to see what would happen with Daphne and her love life.

Rebecca Serle fans with adore and devour this!

Speculative romance with a twist.

For over 20 years, Daphne Bell has received slips of paper that tell her the duration of that relationship. Until one night when the paper simply says "Jake." Is Jake her final and true love?

Loved this story, although I knew I would because Rebecca is one of my favorite authors. You can’t help but get hooked on the first page. Daphne steals your heart and her story is captivating! Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. .