This was unlike anything I’ve read before and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The premise was different than most romance books, which makes it stand out.

4.5 stars

In Expiration Dates, Rebecca Serle brings her trademark magical realism + emotional devastation (kidding, sort of) to the romance genre. Daphne Bell has the gift (curse?) of knowing how long each of her relationships will last before they begin. Whenever she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and exactly how long they’ll be together. It’s sometimes days, sometimes months, but there’s always an end date. So when she gets a slip of paper that says simply “Jake”, Daphne wrestles with what it means and how to move forward.

I loved this story for a few reasons:
It’s exceptionally unique in a genre full of cliches and tropes. Don’t get me wrong - I love the cliches and tropes! But it’s nice to read a romance that’s wildly outside the box.
I had no clue where the story was headed, much less how it would end. I wanted to know what would happen and just couldn’t put it down.
Speaking of the ending… It was satisfying without being too cutesy or cookie-cutter perfect.

In true Serle fashion, there were tears, but I wasn’t sobbing. It’s not as emotionally devastating as some of her prior works. I’d recommend it to anyone who’s enjoyed her other books, loves magical realism, or wants a fresh take on the boy-meets-girl story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Not suitable for students in a public school. Schools are very strict. Library’s would be able to loan out

Daphne Bell is able to know how long her relationship with each new boyfriend is going to last. She magically receives a piece of paper with the time on it. When she meets Jake, he comes with a blank piece of paper leading her to believe he is her forever love. But is he or is she trying to make it so?

Beautiful. Rebecca Serle has done it again. She’s written something with that tiny bit of magical realism, and done it well. I cried, and I laughed. I thought long and hard about love. The ending was perfection. Highly recommend. 4.5 stars!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of Expiration Dates. As with all of Rebecca Serle's books, I absolutely loved it. It had a unique premise of a woman receiving a slip of paper indicating who she would be dating next and for how long. I loved how the author wove the different men's stories throughout the book and spoke to how each made her feel or what she got out of the situation. I really enjoy her writing, as I have with her other books, and find the flow so natural. I read it in two days and would have read it faster, given the chance! Can't wait for her next book... whenever that might be!

This book was a bit slow and choppy for my taste, but I appreciated the change up. It was definitely enjoyable and I'll keep reading Rebecca Serle's books as they come out, but it wasn't my favorite of hers.

Rebecca Serle can do no wrong in my eyes! This was so so good and I highly recommend. I hope it is a book club pick!

I loved the plot premise for this book! Getting a paper note with your dates name and how long your relationship will be is so intriguing! This book moved very fast and read quickly. It did get a little confusing in the romance area as I wasn’t sure who was the real interest. I won’t expand on that due to spoilers but it got a little complicated.

I did love how Daphne had character growth and took back her life. I still found it weird that she wouldn’t tell her bfs about her condition and that felt borderline like lying.

Overall, an interesting quick read that will have you thinking and appreciating life a little more. 3.75/5

Thank you to Netgalley & atria books for this opportunity to review this arc! All opinions are my own.

In this sorry we’re following Daphne. A young Los Angeles native, dating in the city. What is different about Daphne is that since her early teens, every time she starts to date someone new, she receives a piece of paper with the name of the guy and a date. And “expiration date”, Daphne has always known when her relationships will end, until one day she gets a note with just a name, “Jake” no expiration date. Is Jake “the one”? Are her “endings” finally over?
I should start by saying I’m not a “romance” reader, but I did love this authors previous book “In five years” so I’m so happy I got to review this for Netgalley. I did enjoy Daphnes story, this story had good character development, was VERY heavy in L.A references (maybe a non L.A native would be more interested in that), but the end left me wanting more.

🎧Song Pairing: Blank Space - Taylor Swift (perfect song for this book and a personal fav)

💭What I thought would happen:

I will forever chase the high that was In 5 Years. Ruin me!!!! 😂

📖What actually happens:

Daphne has never truly committed to a relationship, never fallen head over heels because she has always known exactly how long her beaus will last. The universe sends her notes with a name and an amount of time. Until she gets a note with no end date…this must be her forever?!

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

I got too excited, there was too much pressure…poor little book. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy but in no way did it make me weak in the knees.

It seemed as though the intention of this book was to made the reader weep. I did not shed a damn tear and I have been a sappy puddle of a human lately…

The concept 🤌🏽🤌🏽 original and well done right through to the end.

I felt as though a “twist” in this book felt like an after thought and didn’t quite work. Square peg, round hole situation. A page filler/tear inducer.

The chapters and book itself was a shortie so this is easily crushable if that is your mood.

This one will be popular so I think my powers of persuasion are not @ their mightiest right here and now.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Daphne, a woman in her early 30's, has been receiving slips of paper at the beginning of each relationship she's in - detailing how long they usually last for. However, one day, she receives a slip that is simply blank and assumes he is the end all be all. Will she follow fate? Or will she stray away from what the paper says?

I absolutely am a sucker for a bit of magical realism in a romance novel and just simply reading the synopsis had be excited to be enthralled with the story. I really enjoyed the flashbacks of each relationship and the real-time of meeting Jacob. Her friendship with Hugo was great to follow and thought the concept was unique! I think where it fell a bit flat for me was the plot twist and the lack of character development from Daphne. Rather than growing from past to present, she felt a bit one dimensional at times and there needed to be a bit more personality.

Otherwise, I liked the direction the author went in - just wish there was a bit more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Simon and Schuster for gifting me with and ARC of this book.

I have a very hit or miss relationship with Rebecca Serles books, however by the end of this book I realized this one is a hit.

I didn’t love the surprise terminal diagnosis trope, but the main characters adventures in dating felt very real.

Definitely think anyone who enjoys Rebecca’s books will love this one!

An unusual premise because Daphne has been receiving these notes since she was a teenager. Each note gives the name of the man she will date and how long the relationship will last. Until one day she receives a note with a name and but no expiration date. But in knowing the expiration date of all of her relationships, has she been sabotaging them all along?

I was surprised a couple of times in this book. I'm the worst at predicting and foreshadowing, I just happily read along and then BAM. LOL I really loved Jake, but then there is Hugo....

It's written in present time, but then alternates back to each relationship and how they started then ended throughout. The writing is so fluid and easy and beautiful. I rarely tear up or get emotional while reading a book, but this one got me. It's a beautiful story about finding love.

I have not read any of her other books, but I will now.

Thank you Netgalley for an advanced reader's copy of Rebecca's latest book! This book had me at the edge of my seat for most of the book. It was heartbreaking at times and made me think about what is important in life. I loved the concept of the book where the main character gets notes of all the men she is going to date in her life and how long that relationship will last until they break up. I won't give away the twist but dang was it emotional. I loved the main character's dog in this book. This book teaches you to appreciate life and every single second because no one is guaranteed time on this earth. My favorite Serle novel I have read so far!

I adore all the novels I have read by Rebecca Serle and this one was even better than the last. I couldn't put it down. Honestly, the magic realism that she puts in the book makes this a perfect choice for someone who isn't a huge romance reader but enjoys fantasy. There is that little touch of magic that is unexplainable but gives the story that something extra and separates itself from other romance novels. The only thing I didn't care for was the focus on material things but I guess that's L.A.

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man , she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake.

But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

At first sight, I knew I wanted to read this. I mean, the cover itself is just so pretty, but it's what's inside those matters. This was such a great book; I truly love these characters. This is my favorite book and I highly recommend, five stars!

*Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rebecca’s books are an auto read for me. I love the magical elements in all her stories and they always make me cry. This book was l delightful. Love all her books!

What a fun premise! A woman in her early 30's has, since high school, received little slips of paper at the beginning of every relationship she's ever had telling her how long the relationship will last. And then she gets a piece of paper with the name of her relationship prospect *but there is no date* and she assumes this to mean that he's the one. Throughout the course of her relationship with this man, she starts to learn what it means to make her own fate and not rely on those little slips of paper, that she is not bound by what they say. And it isn't until she lets go of those set parameters that she finally finds her happy ending.

This book! I thought I knew what this was about going into it. I. WAS. WRONG. I loved the journey it took me on. My only complaint was that there were a lot of specific references to places in LA. Those took me out of the story a bit. Overall, great book.