Oh Rebecca. I love her writing so dearly. One Italian Summer is one of my all time favourites. Her writing is so easy to follow yet beautiful. The stories are always so interesting and magical. And this book is no different.

How would you react if you knew how long all of your relationships were going to last? Would you cut it off at that point and withdraw? Would you try to make it work by pleading and begging, or would you simply live your life and see how it works out.

This was such a beautiful and interesting story, I wish it were longer and I wish we got a bit more info on each of the dates our main character went on. Especially with her best friend Hugo and main romantic interest Jake. The storyline moved very fast. The chapters were short and sweet. Plus the big twist and the ending twist. Unexpected yet super cute and how I had hoped the book turned out.

This is appropriate for pretty much all ages. And I think everyone especially teens and young adults will enjoy this story. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is quite the page-turner with twists and emotional beats that will likely make it a chart-topper in 2024. While I wish there was more of a closed ending, I get why it’s left open. At the beginning of the story, I had trouble connecting with the character, but soon I understood why.

I was slightly triggered, so please check the trigger warnings first. I normally don’t because I have few triggers, but I was surprised by where the book went, and it caught me unawares.

What does not make the book perfect, which is likely just a “me” problem, is all of the name-dropping of L.A. hotspots, clothing brands, etc. I like it when a story is timeless so I can appreciate it years later when I pick it up back again. The multiple Erewhon references, for example, were cringe for me. Also, the vendetta against Brita filters.

I would like to thank Atria Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is a book I was sad to finish. I just really loved it. It was fun, and happy, and sad, and hopeful. It just made me feel all the things. I never expected the twist that came, and after finishing the book, I can’t imagine a better twist.

Daphne is someone I could imagine being friends with, and going for drinks, and fishing about guys and dating. I was rooting for her! I was totally invested in her. I could picture her apartment, and see her with her parents, and on walks with her dog.

I don’t want to give anything away. I just want to say if you are looking for a book to curl up with and laugh and cry, and take you on an escape for a few hours, you will love this book.

I was SO excited to have the opportunity to read the newest Rebecca Serle book. EXPIRATION DATES follows Daphne Bell, who isn’t quite like other women; whenever she meets a new man, she mysteriously finds a slip of paper with just a name and a length of time symbolizing how long their relationship will last.

Until she meets Jake, that is. His piece of paper has one word: his name.

Filled with Rebecca Serle’s characteristic mix of magical realism and emotional depth, this book follows Daphne’s relationship with Jake, but it’s so much more than just that. EXPIRATION DATES explores what it means to know someone is “the one” and how each person we love changes us. My interpretation of the notes changed throughout the book, and I thought they were a clever mechanism through which readers could explore Daphne’s history and growth. I really enjoyed this book, and I’m happy that it lived up to my hopes!

EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle is out March 5, 2024.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

This was my first time reading Rebecca Serle’s work, and I truly loved it. The plot was intriguing and very different from anything I’ve read before, which kept me turning the pages and completing the book in only a couple of days. Daphne is a remarkable heroine with a medical condition, who overcomes many odds, and her circumstances reminded me so much of my oldest son, who is a Type 1 diabetic. (I caught myself ugly crying during parts of this story that hit really close to home.) Even though I predicted the ending halfway through the book, I was so happy it turned out the way I hoped it would. I would highly recommend Expiration Dates to everyone, and I can’t wait to read more of Rebecca’s work in the near future.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I ended up DNF’ing it at 30%. The book was nicely written and I think this would be a great one for a lot of people but unfortunately I was not vibing with the story line. I might pick this up again at a later date but for now I can’t do it.

Rebecca Serle is an author who writes with passion as she creates unusual plots. Her books never disappoint and this love story once again caught my attention right from the start. Yes, she receives notes detailing the time limit for each of her romantic relationships but the story is so much more. We experience her growth as an individual as past romances and boyfriends are revealed. Finally she is able to power through her the problem that is holding her back and move forward into her new life. #ExpirationDates #RebeccaSerle #NetGalley

Rebecca Serle has been a favorite for me ever since I read In Five Years and The Dinner List. I was SO excited when I was approved on NetGalley to read her newest - and in my opinion, one of her most mature, heartwarming novels to date!

Expiration Dates is about Daphne, a single woman in her 30s who has special insight into each relationship due to mysterious notes that arrive telling her exactly how long the relationship will last. The story opens with Daphne meeting Jake - the first ever note that had no time limit attached...so does this mean Jake is "the one"? Is this her forever match?

As Daphne's story unfolds, she realizes that maybe knowing her future isn't always what it's cracked up to be. This is a book about love, yes. But this is also a book about choices. It's a book about ignoring the background noise and following your heart. This novel made me laugh and cry and everything in between.

One of Serle's best, in my opinion! I devoured this in a couple of days. I am already in book hangover mode!!!

You know that episode of Black Mirror, called Hang the DJ, where they have the app that tells them how long their relationship will last?

This is basically that except it’s only Daphne that gets little notes out of the blue with a name and a timeframe of her next relationship.

Because I initially felt like I’d heard this story before, I went into it with very middle of the line expectations. I thought I predicted the ending perfectly. And I ALMOST did but the one piece that I didn’t see coming was why I ended up loving this so much.

In my opinion, this is Rebecca’s best work so far. It’s smart and funny and had me shedding an expected tear or two in the airport waiting to board my flight.

Would recommend, very very much so.

“I thought if I had all the answers, if I was always one step ahead, if I knew my hand, then I’d never lose. But being surprised by life isn’t losing, it’s living. It’s messy and uncomfortable and complicated and beautiful. It’s life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play.”

4.5 stars! As someone who doesn’t usually gravitate toward the romance genre, this book had me eating my words. It completely captured my attention from beginning to end - I read it in a day! Huge thanks to Atria Books for emailing me with access to an advanced copy - I loved this story and I think you will too.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Expiration Dates. I have been a devoted fan to Rebecca Serle since I read her wonderful novel, “In Five Years.” She is a fantastic writer and really great at developing interesting and surprising plots!

In her latest book, “Expiration Dates,” she doesn’t disappoint. Daphne is a woman in her early thirties. Since she was young, she received a note or postcard out of the blue that tells her the name of someone she will have a relationship with and how long it will last. This may or may not cause her to terminate relationships at their expiration date. She meets people she wish she could love for longer and those who the time allotted is enough. What would you do if you loved someone but you knew it was destined to end?

I won’t say more because each layer to this novel is important to the end and I don’t want to give anything away. This is a terrific and satisfying read and I believe will generate a whole new group of Rebecca Serle devotees.

Rebecca Serle is a master of the feel good women’s romance book. The way she writes about how real complex women operate in the world and how they view love really hits a cord with me. I loved this book and how Daphne’s notes with how long her relationships will last affects her view on the men she’s with. This book (along with her others) always have a touch of magic but she writes it in a way that seems like it totally possible. This book was absolutely wonderful and the way the story progressed kept my guessing as to what the ending was going to be up until the last page!

This is A book that puts you through the wringer of emotions but by the end of it you’re re-examining all of that emotional turmoil and the journey you went on of self discovery without even knowing you were slowly becoming a different person from who you were when you first started reading the book to when you finished it. Absolutely superb.

Thank you so much to Net Galley and Artia Books for giving me an ARC for this book in exchange for a review! I was excited to read this since this is one of the first Rebecca Serle books I've read, but unfortunately, I wasn’t a big fan.

In my opinion, the execution of the story was lacking. I felt that some significant scenes were glossed over and not given enough attention. The writing style had a lot of unnecessary details about houses, white shirts, blue jeans, and smells. I was hoping for more character development, specifically for Daphne, Jake, Kendra, and Hugo. These characters have great potential, but their stories fall flat. The plot regarding Daphne's health could have been introduced earlier instead of revealing it much later on. Overall, I found it difficult to connect with the characters and the story.

The chapters jumping between Daphne's current relationship and her previous ones seemed unnecessary. I wished her relationship with Jake was more flushed out, but in the end, it felt a little rushed. At the climax of the story, there was an important moment and all the tension was gone because of an inside joke Jake had. It took away a lot of the build-up and seriousness of the situation and made it seem like it wasn't important.

This book had so much potential but unfortunately fell short with its execution. This disappointed me because I wanted to love this book so much more than I did.

Rebecca Serle is one of the most original romance writers out there (and the most talented by far). Her stories are always so much more than romance, the feelings seem to run deeper, the romance is stronger and more heartfelt, the characters so well-drawn they could be your friends in real life. I loved this book. It had such an original premise and was flawlessly drawn and I couldn't put it down. I was smiling and crying through the entire thing. It was wonderful. Do yourself a favor and get this book. You won't regret it!!! You will want to read it over and over again.

Protagonist Daphne, a recipient of mysterious romantic timelines since grade school, embarks on a life-altering journey when a blind date yields a name without a predetermined romantic duration. The prose effortlessly weaves together the ordinary and the extraordinary, infusing the story with cozy elements of magical realism. This blend adds a layer of enchantment while reflecting the unpredictability of life and love.

The storytelling prowess shines, capturing Daphne's authentic quest for love and truth. . This book was a heartfelt appreciation of love's mysteries and life's uncertainties.

Thank you, Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Daphne Bell's future seems to be planned out for her. Every time she meets a new guy she receives a piece of paper. The paper has his name and a number on it. The number represents the amount of time she will spend with him. Daphne keeps this and a few other secrets from all the guys she dates for a long time. This is an easy read but is also confusing at times. I enjoyed it but it is not my favorite Rebecca Serle book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Rebecca Serle is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I wait eagerly for each new book to be released. Expiration Dates has the same underlying whimsical magic that Serle is able to weave into her previous novels. She writes in a way that you forget that there is a layer of fantasy involved. In Expiration Dates, we meet Daphne Bell who has dated many men, but hasn’t met the one. Which is no surprise to her because she always receives a piece of paper with her next beau and the length the relationship will last. This has helped Daphne sidestep serious heartbreak, maintain cordial breakups and basically see the future. So when she’s set up on a blind date with Jake, she’s shocked when her note is delivered with a name and without a length of time. With eyes wide open, Daphne jumps in head first with Jake, knowing that he’s “the one.” Serle’s done an amazing job creating twists and turns throughout the novel. Telling both the story of Daphne and Jake, but also of Daphne’s past relationships and how they’ve shaped her into who she is. Admitably, I was not prepared for one of Serle’s largest twists and this added additional layers of depth in my understanding of Daphne. I love that Serle’s forced us to question what it means to let ourselves fall in love and how can we ever truly fall if we don’t have a safety net in place? I adored Expiration Dates and recommend putting it at the top of your TBR pile!

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story I read in two days. I enjoy Rebecca Serle's writing style. A story about exploration of self-worth, love, and destiny, presented through the life of the relatable main character, Daphne. The unique twist of receiving letters or postcards predicting the longevity of her relationships adds an air of mystery to the storyline. As the letters arrive in Daphne's life, each revealing a length of time, signifies how long Daphne will be in a relationship with the person. As I am reading this, it was confusing with the present day to flashback, to understand what is happening but this enigmatic element serves as a powerful metaphor for the unpredictability of love and life, a theme that resonates strongly throughout the book.. It was kind of hard to follow the meaning or why she receives them, but as the story unfolds we learn that Daphne has a defective heart issue and does not feel she is lovable. It is certainly fitting to how Daphne sees herself and how she involves herself with others who are not suited for her. Daphne certainly develops her character and uncovers a deeper meaning about herself and love. The intrigue and curiosity sparked by the letters keep the pages turning, yet at times, the reasons behind their existence and purpose can feel elusive. However, as the story gracefully unravels, Daphne's inner struggles are revealed. Her heart condition becomes a powerful symbol, representing not just her medical ailment, but also her emotional barriers and her belief that she is unlovable.
Daphne is a woman burdened by self-doubt to someone who uncovers her own worth and potential for love. Overall, I enjoyed the depth of the story.

I mostly enjoyed this and landed somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.
Serle’s brand of magical realism is very hit or miss for me and I thought it worked well here.
Daphne has many reasons for struggling with commitment, not the least of which is the notes she receives with the “expiration date” of each relationship she starts. I actually would have loved to have more background on this and felt that it ended up taking a backseat to Daphne’s health issues.
I struggled most with the reveal about Daphne’s health about halfway through. It felt unnecessary and like it took away from the plot. Personally, I also don’t think we need more stories where disabled/chronically ill main characters question if they’re a burden to their partners or deserve love. I get that the ultimate takeaway is not that, but it’s not my favorite theme.