Imagine you knew the expiration date on all new relationships… Would you go all in, or would you hold yourself back?

Daphne has been receiving anonymous notes for many years that each contain a guy’s name and a time period, which is always the exact time she will date or spend time with that guy. Something is different though with the note she receives at the beginning of the novel, as it simply says the name “Jake,” without a time period. She and her former boyfriend-turned-best-friend, Hugo, dissect the meaning behind this as she embarks on a relationship with Jake, while Daphne also reflects back on her prior relationships and how they affected her. As her past reveals, Daphne has tended to distance herself and avoid close relationships, and even has held back from realizing all of her potential, in an effort to protect herself and others. But can she now learn to love and be in an open and honest relationship without any limitations?

Expiration Dates can make a reader reflect on the importance of living life to its fullest, and searching for and maintaining meaningful relationships, whether they be romantic or platonic. I have read all of Rebecca Serle’s four most recent novels, and I enjoy the touch of magical realism that she includes in each. It sets her apart from the typical romance author. I definitely would not categorize this as a “rom com” or light story, although it is a quick read. Serle also does a great job with the setting in Los Angeles, so much that it almost feels like a love letter to the city. Of her novels I have read to date, I would rate this my second favorite (In Five Years remains my favorite). I didn’t feel emotionally invested in the Daphne and Jake relationship, as their chemistry was a bit lacking. But I did enjoy the story and the couple of unexpected twists in the storyline.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first Rebecca Serle book I've read and I'll for sure read more.

For years, Daphne has been getting random notes with guys' names and how long she'll date them - 8 days, 3 months, etc. Then comes Jake who was a blind date with a note that just has his name... no end date.

This book follows Daphne as she figures out this whole no end date thing with Jake. We also see flashbacks to her past relationships, where she knew the end date. I don't think it made it easier.

This story was really good. It's funny, sad, happy, all in one. I loved every minute of it!

Expiration Dates, by Rebecca Searle, is a contemplative work of fiction with a side of romance. It’s thoughtful, emotional and carries a worthwhile message. This magical realism story is an easy, relatively short, but engaging read.

Daphne receives slips of varying types of paper before, or around the time of meeting a new romantic interest. These slips ever only have two things written on them…the person’s name and how long they will be together. Daphne has built her life around the dictation of these messages.

In this novel we get the backstories of her past romances and what she learned along the way. Likewise, there are chapters devoted to her current romantic situation and it’s development to date. Upon meeting Jake, she receives a note with name and no ending date. Has she finally found the one?

Her past relationships are varied and interesting and reveal intriguing bits of Daphne’s life. But beyond this narrative, there is something deeper, a message more profound, a secret that Daphne keeps hidden and rarely acknowledges, one that impacts her everyday.

Expiration Dates showcases strong friendships and explores family dynamics. It is mainly character-driven, showcasing personal growth and offers depth and insight while exploring various, thought-provoking issues. Life is hard for all kinds of reasons and how we face those difficulties matters.

I truly enjoyed this story, as I do all of Rebecca Searle’s unique, provoking plots. I do wish we could have had a bit more from the conclusion, though I did like the direction it took. I would also have appreciated an explanation for the mysterious dates, but I now know that this author rarely explains those magical elements in her stories. On first glance, at a surface level, Expiration Dates is one thing, but after some time and reflection, the story becomes something else, and in that light, the ending is quite perfect.

So so good, but definitely not what I was expecting.

The premise was so fascinating. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story quite like this one. This story centers around Daphne, but unlike most romances which focus on relationship between two characters, this story was about Daphne and her relationship with love/relationships.

For as long as she can remember, whenever Daphne encounters a new man/love interest she receives a slip of paper with a name and expiration date. This means that whether one night or two years, she knows upfront the exact duration of each relationship. One day though, she gets a paper with a name, but no date. Taking this to mean he is the one, she finally lets down her guard and embraces the idea of love and happiness. Through Daphne you learn that sometimes knowing the end prevents you from enjoying the journey and the importance of not taking a backseat in your own life.

4.5 stars! This was such an emotional book for me. I enjoyed it so wholeheartedly because it examined how we really can stand in the way of our own happiness. I really enjoyed Daphne’s story of finding out what she truly wanted and making it happen for herself. Also what a unique idea that she gets notes that tell her how long her relationships will last. I liked seeing how this affected Daphne’s choices. I felt a lot of emotions throughout this book but I don’t want to say too much. I loved Daphne and think you will too!

Every time Daphne meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper. On it is his name and the length of time they’ll be together. For two decades she’s been receiving slips with expiration dates. Until one night, as she’s preparing for a blind date with a man named Jake, she receives a slip with only his name. Surely this can only mean that he’s the one. But as their story unfolds, she finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and torn between being committed and truthful.

Told with the touch of magical realism that Rebecca Serle is known for, the premise of this story (and this gorgeous cover!) really piqued my interest. Unfortunately, the execution wasn’t quite what I had hoped for. Like many reviewers, I felt like the story wasn’t fully fleshed out, like there were still elements missing, and it just didn’t live up to its potential.

I will say, there are two twists, both of which made my jaw drop. I felt like they worked well for the story, but I didn’t love all the elements of the second one.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for my copy!

3.25⭐️

Rebecca Serle is an auto-buy author for me, so this was a highly anticipated read for me. It delivered in many ways. I enjoyed the magical realism aspect of it. It was also great to finally get a true romance novel from Serle. As with her other novels, this book made me think and truly contemplate fate and destiny and what I would do if I was in the same situation as the main character. I will definitely be recommending this to my followers, friends and family.

This was a good, quick read that I enjoyed. I think my biggest quip with this book is that I wish it was longer! Even 50 more pages would’ve really added some good sustenance to this story. I did enjoy the writing and the characters though, and I would definitely recommend this book to one of my friends if they wanted an easy and light read!

Rebecca Serle has made me weep again. I eat up her combination of a sprinkle of magic realism, real, complex characters, and drama. Each story of hers I have read is an incredible love story, but this is the first time she centers romantic love. To be clear this is NOT a romance, but a love story. It tracks the romantic love stories of a woman who knows how long a relationship will last because she always gets a postcard that tells her. One day she gets one with just a name and no “expiration date.” As with everything else I’ve read of Rebecca Serle’s this story is deeper than it appears on the surface.

I loved going on this journey, but another theme with this author is that I felt like one of the love interests deserved better than he got. I wouldn’t want a different outcome, but it never felt like he got the full truth and was instead given half baked excuses.

On another note, the length (long novella) is perfect for this type of story, while still packing an emotional punch and the ending was a bit on the nose, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

I enjoyed having the opportunity to read this ARC on NetGalley! And what a great read it was! This book kept me interested and wanting to read the next chapter, especially after the little twist. Rebecca Serle never disappoints!

Reads like a novella but with a punch. Daphne knows how long she'll get to be with each man she dates based on a piece of paper she is delivered at the start of their relationship. She finally gets one with no date and wonders if that means they'll be together forever.

Daphne and Jake's relationship was so vanilla and forced at first it was hard to get into, but once it hit about halfway and her big secret is revealed it really picked up. The second half destroyed me the way In Five Years did at the end.

“𝘐 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮. 𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴. 𝘜𝘴, 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘴? 𝘐𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩, 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘰𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”

Books with magical realism elements are hit or miss for me. Some make me wonder so much about the why of the magic that I can’t get past it to enjoy the story (*cough* 𝘐𝘯 𝘢 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘥𝘢𝘻𝘦 *cough*) while others use it in a way that feels natural and suck me right in. 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗜𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 did just that.

Daphne Bell receives notes from the universe that tell her the name of the man she’ll next be involved with and the amount of time they’ll be together - 24 hours, 6 weeks, 2 years, etc. But when she receives a note with the name “Jake” and no date, Daphne isn’t sure if he’s the man she’ll be with forever or if there’s another meaning behind the message.

Alternating between the present where she’s trying to figure out whether Jake could be “the one” and the past where we see how Daphne’s other relationships played out, Rebecca Serle throws in some twists I wasn’t expecting. They surprised me in the best way, and how she tied everything up in the end was perfection. If you’re looking for a romance that reexamines what it means to love and be loved, this one’s for you.

Thanks Atria Books for the copy to review.

Since she was a young girl, Daphne Bell received notes with a name and a number, indicating how long the relationship would last. When she gets a piece of paper with Jake’s name on it, but no number, she wonders if she found her soul mate. The plot points were not surprising–it was obvious to me who Daphne was going to end up with. However, there were a few twists that I was not expecting, and I love to be surprised when I read.

EXPIRATION DATES was my first Rebecca Serle book, and I finished reading it in less than a day. I would pick up her earlier books when I’m looking for a quick, easy, and enjoyable book. Serle’s descriptions, especially every single outfit, painted a clear picture and I could imagine it as a successful rom com movie. It’s a romance, so I knew what to expect from the genre, and it delivered. The magical realism element - the note that tells her how long her relationship will last–added an interesting dimension to the book, but it’s just a small piece and isn’t explored in a deep or meaningful way.

My thanks to NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in any way.

What if you were able to know if a relationship would work out on day one? If  some magical note dropped in your lap, telling you exactly how long you would be together. 
Expiration Dates is about Daphne, who when she begins a relationship with someone, a note appears. This note gives the amount of time she will be in a relationship with that man. On Daphne's first date with Jake, the note appears but there is no end date...is he the one?
Rebecca Serle has this way of writing magical realism that hits you right in the heart. In her previous novels, I have loved how she combines magic and love into incredible stories. 
I really enjoyed Expiration Dates. The story goes back and forth between present day Daphne and stories of previous boyfriends and how the mysterious note impacted her life. 
This story is much more than meets the eye. Prepare to shed some tears.

I enjoyed Rebecca Serle's prior books so was excited to give her another shot! Expiration Dates ended up being so much cuter and entertaining than I anticipated. It was a super quick read, but it packed a lot in. I was looking for a lighter read and this was it, but it had a few heavier topics sprinkled in to ground it a bit. Some of the parts were overly detailed, like describing Daphne's entire outfit and accessories, but that was really my only complaint! I appreciated the flashbacks from her previous relationships, and I really enjoyed her parents and Hugo. There were a couple twists I didn't see coming, and I truly loved the ending. I would absolutely recommend this one, and I can't wait to see what the author does next! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Without spoiling anything, I'll simply say that this book was a delightful journey through the unlikely (but not unreasonably so!) love life of its main character, Daphne. Daphne has had a very unusual experience throughout her adult relationships that, for better or worse, has severely limited her ability to connect truthfully and authentically with any romantic partner. As usual in a Rebecca Serle novel, I found myself loving Daphne, in spite of her flaws, and cheering for her to the end! While there were a few predictable outcomes, I enjoyed this novel and certainly found it entertaining and engaging. I think this is a perfect read for drowning out the other not-as-fun distractions of life and will always look forward to and recommend anything the author publishes!

Title: Expiration Dates
Author: Rebecca Serle
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4.0 out of 5

Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.

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.

This was a bit hit-or-miss for me. I loved the premise and thought it was awesome, but how Daphne used it as an excuse to just check out and not get emotionally invested was pretty…cowardly, frankly. Jake seemed nice, but the two of them together felt very bland, while her friendship with Hugo was fantastic and compelling. I was supposed to be rooting for jake and Daphne, but I really wasn’t. I just wanted Daphne to wake up and realize what had been waiting for her all along, while she was busy shutting everyone out.

Rebecca Serle is a bestselling author. Expiration Dates is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.)
(Blog link live 4/5).

I’m a little surprised by how much I ended up loving this book. The concept and execution of the story was done really well and I felt an emotional connection to the character. And that midpoint twist? Shocked me.

4.5/5

I liked the last novel, In Five Years, so I was disappointed when I found this one uninteresting. I really didn't care about the main character and you can figure out what will happen. Skipped a chunk of the middle. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel. This was an exceptionally quick read for me and definitely falls into the chick lit genre for me. I was not expecting the "twist" in the middle which does improve some of the novel and where it is going. This is not my favorite book but it was good enough to while away the time. If you are looking for a quick read that is firmly deemed "women's literature", this is the book for you. For me, it is 2.75 stars.