✨Book Review✨
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
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Spoilers ahead. While I do enjoy Serle's writing style and story ideas, I really don't think I can continue reading her books.
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Illness is NOT A PLOT TWIST. Stop using it as one! As someone with health anxiety, I cannot read books that delve deep into illness. This book did not get too deep, but it is still so problematic for so many reasons to use illness as a plot twist AND as the conflict in a story. "Do I tell him I'm sick?!" was literally the entire tension. Not ok.
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Rebecca, sadly I think this is where we part ways. This makes me incredibly sad, as I really do enjoy your books in all other aspects. If you can promise to stop these twists and stop using illness for shock value I would love to come back.

While I've loved some of Rebecca Serle's books, I've also felt indifferent about others. That being said, I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and the whole plot was very cute. I recommend giving this a read.

Creative story and exactly what I expect from this author. I love her unique stories and this one was great! I really enjoyed it but it isn’t one I will think about often afterwards, however I will be recommending it to others at the library. A good mix of romance, women’s fiction, and some emotional depth. This can connect with multiple age groups.

When Daphne was a kid, she received a mysterious slip of paper with a boy’s name on it and a number—the name of her first boyfriend and the duration of how long their short-lived romance would last. Ever since then, Daphne has continued receiving these secret notices about her boyfriends, and every time, the expiration dates for her relationships have been correct. But for the first time in her life, she’s received a man’s name without an expiration date, and she knows that Jake must be the one. But as Daphne and Jake’s relationship plays out, she begins to have doubts. Maybe the expiration dates were self-fulfilling prophecies, and maybe we can’t always predict the outcome.

This was an emotional and unexpected story about love, how we define it, and what we shouldn’t take for granted. But I felt quite thrown when reading the novel because the story took a turn that shifted the entire plot. I felt as though the novel I thought I was reading was quite different than the one I was actually reading. I was still on board for the ride, but I do feel like this book was not marketed very well. Still, readers of contemporary romance will enjoy this.

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun romp of a read! I enjoyed the build up, the character development and the romance that was in this story. It had the right amount of conflict with a very interesting plot line that I did not expect. I look forward to the next book from this author!

I loved the premise behind this book, I loved the characters and how they grew and developed throughout the story. I am a sucker for dual timelines and this one checked all the boxes. The only reason it isn't a 5 star for me is because I saw the ending coming from the start. There were a few turns I didn't anticipate but for the most part I knew what was going to happen. Still a great story that any contemporary romance reader will enjoy

Serle is an author as dependable as Emily Henry for romance novels that aren't treacly and read as so genuine that it's almost painful to read. Like her others, this one has a heartbreakingly sad plot point about halfway through (can't say more without spoilers) but the premise is so original I can forgive a bit of deus ex machina. Perfect summer read, just have some tissue nearby if you're an emotional reader.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Daphne's entire romantic life has been predicted by a slip of paper with a name and length of time. Now she finds a paper with just the name Jake and no date. So he's the one, right? The paper says so. The story is told in the past and the present so we learn about all the other names that Daphne paired with and how she makes the most of that limited time.

I flew through this book and did not want it to end. There were three very likable main characters in Daphne, Jake, and Hugo. The behind the scenes of Hollywood movie and tv production was an interesting setting and helped play into notion of a happily ever after with a little magical intervention.

If you are looking for a contemporary fiction with some romance and a touch of magical realism, I highly recommend Expiration Dates.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

4 stars. Loved the premise and incredibly fast read. Because the book was short it didn’t delve as deep into some of the themes as I would have liked. I love a magical realism element but felt there could have been more exploration. Still loved the characters and the story overall!

This was my second read Rebecca Serle, after finishing In 5 Years last year! As always I loved Rebecca’s writing style and story pacing. I am a huge fan of literary fiction that adds in a hint of magic - it’s always a very whimsical way to tell a story and I really enjoyed it! The relationship between Daphne and Hugo was very realistic and I loved their chemistry! Overall the plot of this story was very unique and reminded me a lot of in 5 years! I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is looking for a cute beach read!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

"Expiration Dates" is a captivating exploration of love and fate. Daphne Bell's life is marked by slips of paper predicting the duration of her romantic relationships, until she meets Jake, whose paper bears only his name. As their relationship unfolds, Daphne grapples with the complexities of honesty and commitment, harboring a secret that could shatter their connection.

Serle's narrative is imbued with warmth and insight, inviting readers into Daphne's world of numbered destinies and uncertain futures. The author delicately navigates themes of destiny versus free will, challenging readers to consider the nature of love and its inherent uncertainties.

"Expiration Dates" is a must-read for contemporary romance fans searching for a story that lingers long after the final page.

I know this is hard to believe, but this was my first Rebecca Serle novel. I've had In Five Years and The Dinner List on my TBR forever, but never jumped in. If you're reading this, do not be like me. Read these books. Read this author. Dump your TBR and put this one at the top.

I can tell you about the plot of this book, but you can read that easily enough, I want to talk about how this novel makes you feel, because at the end of the day, that's what its really about. The magical realism in this book in threaded with so many real emotions. I felt hopeful for Daphne when she finds the note with no end for her relationship with Jake. I felt sad when she alludes to the other complications in her life, and absolutely gutted as she shares with the reader how her health has affected her life and relationships. I felt so much love for her relationship with Hugo and charmed at their ease in doing the normal stuff -- chatting after a date, going to the farmer's market, or making breakfast at home. Serle wraps you up in so many emotions and carries you through this story in a truly beautiful and unique way. I'm putting her to the top of my TBR.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Five stars. No notes.

First Rebecca Serle and I loved it! This was a very unique concept for a story and it was executed so well.

Loved that I did not see the twist in the story coming at all, and the ending was perfect.

Can’t wait to read her backlist!

This was such a hard one for me. I think I was left with something to be desired by the end. I didn't NOT enjoy it, but I also was ready for it to end? The concept was so strong and I was initially excited to see where Serle took it and I was hoping for some philosophical and self growth around blindly trusting what was on the papers versus not. Like a battle of self will and trust. But it ended up just being a more typical storyline and history of Daphne's dating. Add on to that that Jake was so bland and boring that it made it hard to invest in their relationship but Hugo was just kind of an asshole so I wasn't really rooting for them either.,
Overall, I just feel like Serle's stories always lack that last little bit of something, whether it's depth, connection, character development, I can' say. I don't know how to articulate it but it just feels so hard to be actually invested in these characters. I wished Daphne had had more character development and self realization but, instead, I felt like she was boring and lacked a lot of self awareness. Instead of growing or realizing things she could learn and take from all her past relationships, she just continued to go through the motions.
All in all, I think Serle has an interesting writing style. I just wish there was more depth and development in her concepts.

After reading One Italian Summer, I could not wait to read Serle's new book. Written in the same magical realism as her last book, Expiration Dates was a delight. Daphne would receive a slip of paper at the beginning of each relationship letting her know how long it would last. Mixed with stories of from past relationships to her current love interest, it is a heartwarming story of true love and following your heart.

This is by far my favorite book by Rebecca Serle! I loved the magical realism and found the overall story to be very cute and entertaining. I will note that this took me a bit to get into. It felt a little slow up until the 30% mark or so, but around then, I just couldn't put it down!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What would you do if you knew your romantic fate? Daphne Bell has always received a message from the universe letting her know exactly how long her romantic entanglements will last. When she receives a card that says "Jake" with no date, she's pretty sure it means he'll be the man she'll spend the rest of her life with. And he's pretty perfect, but Daphne has secrets that no one except her best friend Hugo knows - and he seems less than thrilled about the new man in her life. Serle's writing is smart and accessible, and her trademark sweetness and wit is present here. This will work well for fans of Serle's previous works, and will likely garner her some new ones. The trademark plot twists are present here, though they're easier to swallow than in some of her previous novels. If this reviewer has one quibble, it's that Jake is so thinly drawn that it's impossible not to see the book's ending coming from a mile away. Recommended to fans of romance who like their characters on the complicated side.

Rebecca Serle is one of the few authors who can convince me to read something that includes a touch of magic. Expiration Dates and her previous books all include it and the way she writes brings me on board every single time. Expiration Dates is really a beautiful story and the ending was perfect.

I loved Rebecca Serle’s books One Italian Summer and In Five Years - both five star reads for me. I was hoping for another wow book with Expiration Dates. Certainly an easier read, and a good choice as a mix in with heavier reads. Overall I found this very predictable with a story that plodded along. So much potential here - this story just fell flat. Still a huge Serle fan - this one was not super memorable for me. Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the arc.

This is an auto buy author for me. I love her writing style and I love how she adds a touch of magical realism in each book. She makes astute observations without being too flowery.

This story is such an interesting look at how knowing the outcome can influence the process. How we put limits on our relationships and how easy it is to make assumptions. Loved this one.