This was such a cute and fun read. Such witty banter and it was done quite well! I loved all the detail about California and all the places mentioned in the book. If you are looking for a quick and easy read then this is for you.

Oh my goodness, this was the most incredible book. I loved it so much I’ve gone ahead and purchased her previous books to enjoy. I fell head over heels in love with this story. Daphne could be any of us, Hugo is who we all want and Jake is what we think we should settle for, even though it’s not settling! My mouth dropped when the second box was mentioned, and I cried when her final letter blew away. This book hit every mark on the must have list and I am forever grateful I was given the chance to read it.

This book thinks its being profound and full of feels when all I felt when reading was rage and loss of brain cells.

'Expiration Dates' began with an intriguing concept, then went off in so many directions without explaining any of it. We never even get reasoning behind why this magical realism exists because the most unnecessary plot twist overtakes the story 60% in. TERMINAL ILLNESSES DO NOT MAKE WRITING DEEP. It is an overdone trope done in terrible taste here, and it wouldn't have worked even if it was introduced on the first page.

Daphne's condition and how it impacts her perception of the notes is a cheap way of justifying her actions and mindset. To stay with and almost marry someone solely because it'll supposedly prolong your death by a few years is shallow and impossible for me to wrap my head around. I tried to sympathize with her and understand the fear she must feel in this narrative, but she is quite frankly the most unlikeable protagonist. She is selfish, manipulative and whiny, ESPECIALLY when it comes to Hugo or Jake.

Speaking of Hugo and Jake, they are also incredibly obnoxious and immature in their respective ways, but I shockingly felt more for Hugo at the end. The red flags were immediate with Jake trauma-dumping on the second date and subsequently moving the relationship at lightspeed. His backstory is understandably painful but he projects too much due to needing a crutch. I'm not even going to TOUCH the weird/cringy Doc Marten thing. With Hugo, I wasn't a fan of his narcissism during the actual relationship, but I did appreciate their friendship in the following years. THAT relationship was the only authentic thing in this book. While I don't condone him forging the note and hiding it (a ridiculous plot twist that's never properly explained because what even is this magic system?), what Daphne does to him throughout the story is far worse. Justice for Hugo and the lack of character arc he deserved.

I will say, as a SoCal native, I enjoyed some of the LA references. I also enjoy vivid descriptions that set scenes, when done right. But incessantly describing restaurant interiors, shops that we must know are on Melrose, and every. single. outfit. characters wear? Sometimes Daphne would be in the middle of having a legitimate big-girl thought, then interrupt herself to describe a guy's button-down. It was in every damn chapter. Yet the ending was somehow rushed? How do we go from dumping and gaslighting poor Jake to reaching self-actualization to apparently running back to Hugo for a second chance? It was meant to be some grand decision in the name of love but was unsatisfying and stiff in its execution.

Overall, this left so many questions unanswered; questions I can't even bring myself to care about because Daphne is so insufferable. Thank god this was less than 300 pages, but then again, half of that was unnecessary details to compensate for the lack of plot. I must be too refined for this specific type of love-triangle trope... Or I just have standards. This is very reminiscent of the problematic (yet romanticized) relationships in 'The Notebook' and Taylor Jenkins Reid's entire backlist.

4.5⭐

I have an on and off again relationship with Rebecca and right now it is on. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and how it explored if life is something that happens to you vs if it's something you choose. There were the classic Rebecca Serle twists and some beautiful prose and some underdeveloped characters, but at the end of the day, I will be thinking about this book for a very long time and how a soulmate is so much more than just destiny.

This is such a wonderful book. I want to read it again and I’m sad it’s over.

Even before I finished this book I knew it would be one of my favorites - probably for all time, not just this year.

Love and the uncertainty of life is portrayed so beautifully. There is grief too but it’s not the scary kind.

Not spicy but it didn’t need to be.

I really want to know what that last card said but I get why Daphne didn’t chase after it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

📚"Expiration Dates" by Rebecca Serle offers a unique blend of romance & magic that intrigued me from the start. Serle's writing style is engaging, & I found myself drawn to the well-developed characters & their intertwining stories. However, the pacing felt a bit slow for my taste, leaving me on the fence about fully embracing the book. Despite this, I appreciate the creativity & will certainly explore more of Serle's work in the future.
Overall, a solid read for those seeking a fresh take on romance with a touch of enchantment.
⭐⭐⭐✨

Many thanks to #NetGalley, #ExpirationDates, & Rebecca Serle for the captivating ARC experience. My opinions are voluntary & entirely my own.

This is my favorite Rebecca Serle book to date. Love the unique concept and all of the characters. Tear jerker for sure- worth the read!

REVIEW: Expiration Dates ⭐⭐⭐.5 (3.5)

“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.”
― Rebecca Serle, Expiration Dates

When I received this arc, I was very intrigued by the premise. Daphne has something unique about her; whenever she dates someone, she gets a piece of paper telling her how long their relationship will last. One day, however, she receives a paper with just a name, Jake, and no time length. Does this mean forever? How can she be with someone forever with her secrets to hide?

Reading Expiration Dates, I had a lot of mixed emotions. First I really liked how the story switched from the current time. It was so interesting to see how some of her past relationships affected her current one. I also liked how deep and reflective some of the story got. There was some great dialogue discussing things like time in life and relationships. I also really enjoyed the relationship with Daphne and Hugo. Hugo was one of Daphne’s former dates who became her best friend. They had some fun banter as well as heartful moments.

There were a few things that I wasn’t a fan of. We didn’t get a ton of background on why Daphne was receiving these notes and their limitations. This affected some of the ending for me. A lot of the story felt very one note. There were a few twists along the way, but it generally felt pretty predictable and without too many major challenges. Some of the characters, especially Jake, didn’t have much depth to them. He didn’t do a whole lot and honestly was boring at times. I liked the ending, but I do wish she wrote just a little bit more to it just to wrap it all up.

Overall I did enjoy reading Expiration Dates, but there were a few things I thought could be improved upon. I’m glad I picked up this book with this fun premise.

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books, and Rebecca Serle for the advanced copy for my honest review!

#bookreview #bookrecommendations #arcread #bookstagram #alwaysreading #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookishpost #booksofinstagram #bookaholic #booklove #bookcommunity #igreads

Expiration Dates is a heartfelt romance about Daphne Bell who receives a slip of paper every time she meets a new love interest that tells her how long the relationship will last. I enjoyed the characters and the dynamics between them, especially with the non-linear timeline of Daphne's past relationships. While I really enjoyed the premise of this book and the idea of story, some of the plot twists just seemed out of left field and not set up very well.
This would be a great read for anyone looking for a romance book about taking fate into your own hands and just a little bit of magic.

Nobody does magical realism with Rebecca Serle! Every time our main character, Daphne mets a new romantic interest, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it, which happens to be the exact amount of time they will date each other. Then she finally gets a paper with a name and no end date. This was such a fun and satisfying read and I loved the concept. Rebecca Serle is an auto-read author for me and this one was no exception.

This was a super cute read! I enjoyed it and it’s little bits of magic and hope within. It was a quick read that was the first one of hers truly about love and I adored it!

Rebecca Series’ latest book Expiration Dates is an engaging read about Daphne and her life and relationships. The twist is she always gets a note that tells her how long her current relationship will last until she finally gets one that doesn’t show an expiration date. The story largely centers on Daphne’s relationships with Jake and Hugo though there is another storyline that adds additional depth to the book.
The author writes in a very readable style and I whipped through this book and appreciate that she didn’t belabor the story. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Expiration Dates is available now.

Thank you to netgalley for the e-arc 🤍

This book peaked my interest right away with the interesting concept of these expiration dates, but unfortunately the execution was not great.

Thinks I liked:
- the concept was neat! Learning about it in the first few chapters of the book was really interesting and gave me lots of hope.

Things I didn’t like:
- too many little details that didn’t really matter. It made the book feel boring at times. There were so many parts I wish we got more of instead.
- There is something that pops up midway (to 75% even) through the book and it alters the entire story. It felt like didn’t fit well with the plot, but then it became the entire focus of the story. It was just a weird shift in plot when the plot was going so well. It’s not the fault of the actual ‘something’ itself, it’s just the way it was executed.
- The ending… wow. I don’t want to say much because I don’t want to spoil it but I felt like it thew any of Daphne’s character development out the window. It felt like such a let down.

Overall I didn’t really enjoy this one much. It started out so good and the main character Daphne was so likeable and strong, and then seeing the way she dealt with these expiration dates and also her character yet development were just not great.

I really enjoyed other books by this author, but this one left me with so many feelings. I would suggest checking out ‘One Italian Summer’ or ‘In Five Years’ if you are looking for other books by this author.

This needs to be a movie or a limited series like immediately.

I flew through this book. It is written so beautifully and it had just shock after shock after shock. I loved Daphne and I loved all of the side characters. I seriously just fell in love with this book.

I have no bad words. I think this will be a fave of the year.

4.5 stars- I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is my first book by Rebecca Serle and to be honest, the first half of the book I found a bit unrealistic and cheesy. But when I got to the middle, it all made sense and I couldn’t put the book down.

Rebecca Serle does it again! I laughed, I cried. She has a real gift for creating characters that feel relatable and so easy to love. This novel is pure magic. I adored it.

I had a complex experience with "Expiration Dates" by Rebecca Serle. The premise of the book, with characters knowing the duration of their relationships, seems intriguing and likely drew you in initially. It's understandable that you were invested in the first half, given the unique concept and the development of the characters.

Jake and Hugo seem to have left strong impressions on you as characters, which is a testament to Serle's skill in crafting relatable and engaging personalities. However, it seems like the later twists in the plot and the ending didn't quite meet your expectations. The unexpected turns may have disrupted the flow or the enjoyment of the story for you.

The chapters detailing Daphne's previous relationships might have felt unnecessary or distracting to you, especially if they didn't seem to contribute significantly to the overall narrative. This could be a matter of personal preference in storytelling style.

It's commendable that despite not loving certain aspects of the book, you still found elements to enjoy and appreciate. Serle's writing style and the unique concept of the novel seem to have resonated with you to some extent, even if the execution didn't fully satisfy your expectations.

Overall, it's a testament to the complexity of storytelling and the subjective nature of reader preferences. While "Expiration Dates" might not have been your favorite from Serle, it still offered a unique take on romance that intrigued you despite its flaws.

I fell in love with Rebecca Serle after reading In Five Years, and while none of her books have lived up to that one for me, I’ve still immensely enjoyed reading her other works.

Expiration Dates was a fun concept and I enjoyed reading along as Daphne received each new slip of paper. Is it a curse or a gift? Who’s to say, but once Daphne finally took control of her life and stopped letting the papers dictate it, she was finally able to find herself and true happiness.

Thank you @NetGalley and @atriabooks for the digital arc for my honest review.

4/5 stars

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the e-arc of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle. I wanted to like this one so much, but the writing style made it hard for me to get into this story from the first few chapters.

Magical realism is not usually my jam but this book was MAGIC! Absolutely my favorite one this author has put out so far.