Expiration Dates is a wonderfully written magical realism novel with a unique romance storyline. I absolutely loved the way Rebecca Serle used expiration dates to convey so many lessons in this book. In the book, we meet Daphne who believes her current relationship has no expiration date, meaning it should last forever in her mind. Not knowing what that means for her, she explores her feelings and faces different issues she hasn’t had to face in other relationships. I loved watching her story unfold and the ending was just what I was hoping for. Read this if you like romance with some magical realism mixed in. Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

This book just wasn't for me. I have read all of this author's books and my favorite is In Five Years. The audio was well done. I just did not love any of the characters or the direction of the story.

I'm going to be completely honest. This received 3 stars for the simple fact that I didn't DNF it. The plot was interesting enough and should have been a great read for me however I didn't like the direction Rebecca sent this story. This was my first time reading Rebecca's work but if you have read her before and loved it then this will be for you. ai didn't like the giant surprise at 50% of the book that completely derailed the plot. You never get any resolution to the mysterious and part of the story is completely guessable by the time you read 1/4 of the book. I also didn't like how it felt like nothing was happening. We got more descriptions of what people were wearing than we did anything else. This was not for me.

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for the arc.

This was a really fun and unique romance. I loved the themes of friendship that were woven in. I will definitely be picking up more by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy.

I loved Serle’s prior books and thought this one had an Interesting storyline. I was invested to start but eventually the book fell flat for me

Life is crazy and chaotic and I'm struggling to find anything that sticks for me right now. I decided to give this one a try because I have really enjoyed Rebecca Serle's books in the past.

I'm happy to say this one landed for me! I really enjoyed getting lost in the story. It kept me entertained (which is really hard to do right now); I kept wanting to fly through things so I could return back to the pages.

I feel like Serle writes relationships so well. I find myself rooting for the characters, and while there are some qualities that feel the same between all of her books, the details are fresh and welcome new ideas to ponder.

I also love how Serle wrote about California in this book. I lived in the Bay Area during college, and visited my brother a lot who lived in LA. I feel like CA gets a bad rap sometimes, but Serle painted a picture of this state that made me realize I kinda miss it! After reading One Italian Summer, I wanted to book a vacation asap, and I feel like I could use a vacation to CA after finishing this one! Serle writes a sense of place so well; sometimes, the cities become characters themselves in her books.

Serle has become an autobuy author for me - I can count on her to deliver a story with substance, but one that doesn't require a lot of work and attention on my end. Simply just a story to sink into...which is absolutely perfect sometimes!

I think this is my favorite new Rebecca Serle book. I loved the way the story was told between past and present and the commentary of spending the time we get here wisely and enjoying your life. There were a couple of big twists that I didn't see coming. The writing was beautiful and I found myself notating a lot of really great life quotes. I enjoyed all of the different relationship backstories compared to what was going on in the present. The pacing and length of the story were perfect in my opinion. The only reason it wasn't a solid 5 stars for me was the ending. It felt a bit rushed. I was really impressed with this new release!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria for my digital ARC of this story which published 3/19.

4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this one—much more than the author’s last, One Italian Summer. This one was sweet and sentimental and made me feel all the things. The premise that Daphne always knows how long a relationship will last at the very beginning makes for an interesting dating life. I loved the exploration of expectation vs reality and how love can take many forms. There was a twist or two and I loved the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book. The universe has Daphne Bell’s love life mapped out for her. When she meets a man, she knows exactly how long their relationship will last. There are a few twists that I did not see coming.

This book was cute, smile inducing, and overall just a feel good read!

I enjoyed the set up and thought the plot of her getting these letters about her relationships was really interesting. Of course the author likes to throw twists in, and this is no different! This was a very intriguing and interesting story, although In Five Years remains my favorite.

Rebecca Serle is an author that when a new book is coming out I don’t even have to know what it’s about, I just know I’m going to read it. This is another amazing novel from her. This book had me feeling a range of emotions and I couldn’t get enough. This was a definite five star read for me.

“Life is a catch-22,” Irina says. “That’s why God invented female friendship.” 😭❤️

This. Book.

It was (mostly) sweet and warm and light. It felt like a simple love story, but I should’ve known it would be so much more. I’ve read her other books and they made me as equally confused by all the emotions they brought up. The amount of times I scream-whispered (think: omg, wtf, etc.) while reading this during nap traps/bedtime is insane! Kind of shocked to read a 3rd 5 star in a row, but not surprised at all that this was one 5 stars. Is Rebecca Serle becoming a must read author for me?!

Again - This. Book.

Could a single piece of paper truly decide your future?

Daphne Bell has been letting the universe take control of her love life. For the past 20 years, Daphne has understood that she is given a name & an amount of time - no more and no less. 3 days in Paris with Martin, five weeks with Noah in San Fan, until Jake arrives.

Daphne has not decided if this is a gift or a curse, she feels that all the emotions when in these relationships. Yet, one has to wonder if you only have 3 days in Paris is it worth it? But can Daphne shield herself from heartbreak or let people all the way in.

Daphne also holds secrets, buried under her bed in a box, that’s just waiting to exploded.

Over the past 20 years, she turn one boyfriend into a friend - Hugo. Her Saturday morning market buddy. Someone who understands what she is going through.

But will Daphne continue to let the papers dictate her love life, is Jake the final one!

Great love story Rebecca. It truly makes you wonder …. Is it worth it? What is you meet “the one” while only spending 3 days in Paris. What do you get out of a 3 year relationship? Do you have to let the paper decide or can you/ Daphne truly choose your own fate.

I ended up pairing this with the audiobook and it was such an excellent reading experience. I didn’t want it to end! I loved the non-linear timeline and felt it was all so well executed. It was charming, fun, emotion, and totally unique.

3.5

"Something else has always called the shots in my life — call it the universe, fat, the comedic force of timing..."

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The concept of this was honestly so cute — Daphne, our FMC, has always believed in love and whenever she meets someone she receives a piece of paper detailing how long she will date them. It's been this way her entire life, through everyone she's dated, until she meets Jake and there is no expiration date for their relationship. He's her soulmate — her last first date.

I love in romances when you get to see even the little day-to-day aspects of the characters' relationships. The easy, little things that sometimes slip through the cracks if you don't notice them. They fit so well with this story, and made it all the more heartwarming.

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Expiration Dates was published on March 19th, 2024. Thank you to Atria Books, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

NetGalley Review — my rating ⭐️⭐️/5
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“Expiration Dates” by Rebecca Serle follows Daphne, a woman who meets a man & then gets delivered a paper with their name and an expiration date of their relationship. Until she meets Jake & the paper doesn’t have a date. Has she met the one?
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I was expecting so much more from this one after reading “In Five Years” but sadly, I was let down. It felt all very one note to me. Maybe that’s just how she tells a story and it missed the mark for me this time but I was definitely disappointed in this one.
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This novel released last week so give it a shot and let me know how you feel! Thanks to Atria Books for the ARC!
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#netgalley #expirationdates #rebeccaserle #arc
37s

“Expiration dates” hold so much meaning in this story. Knowing an expiration date could allow you to live in the present freely but could also hold you back from exploring more. Rebecca Searle explores free choice vs determination through the lens of magical realism. The outcome is a delightful and light-hearted romance/women's fiction story that would be perfect for a beach read.

I personally enjoyed listening to the audiobook version, narrated by Julia Whelan, who skillfully conveys a range of emotions, from heartbreak to pure joy. I'm always impressed by her narrations!

My final recommendation would be to avoid as much of the synopsis as possible, but if you love magical realism, self-discovery journeys, and second-chance romance, you should add this to your TBR.

I really enjoyed this book! The premise and plot were engaging and kept me wanting to get to the ending. The twist/reveal was well done and unexpected. I did find myself wanting a bit more from the ending. I also don't think this should be considered a romance novel.

This was a classic Rebecca Serle book. Great writing, a dreamy setting, and some twists. The characters were likable and the plot was intriguing. I did think the ending was a bit rushed, but I enjoyed it overall.

I had a difficult time getting into this book, unlike her previous novels. I would still recommend reading it, though.