This was a surprisingly delightful piece of contemporary romantic fiction that really touched my heart. It contains the smallest bit of magical realism, which will probably make staunch realists cringe, but if you can put improbability aside and go with the flow of the story, I think that you may feel rewarded in the end.

This isn't a romantic comedy, but instead, it is an emotional and captivating story of love and friendship. Warning: You may want to keep a box of tissues near your favorite reading spot. A big plus for me was that halfway through the book I was totally caught off guard. POW! I didn't see that coming! Ultimately, I think that the MC, Daphne, was very likable and easy to root for, as well as memorable thoughts and feelings that every reader can take away from this story.

I've read three of Ms. Serle's other books which I really enjoyed: The Dinner List, In Five Years, and One Italian Summer. Expiration Dates has now cemented my position as a loyal fan, and I will be eagerly waiting for her next book.

My sincere thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Expiration Dates was the first book that I read in 2024 and let me just say that it has set my expectations very high. There’s nothing better than beginning a new year of reading with a five-star novel. I already know that this book will have a place on my list of favorite books of 2024.

I want to simultaneously scream my love for this book from the mountaintops and tiptoe very gently with this review. I definitely don’t want to spoil this wonderful book for any potential readers but do yourself a favor and read this book.

Everything about this book’s synopsis just spoke to me. Every time Daphne meets a potential romantic interest, she receives a random piece of paper with the man’s name and the amount of time that she will be in a relationship with him. Is it a gift or a curse? Some people could argue that it takes the guesswork out of the relationship, you only have to put in as much as it will be worth in the end. But what if you fall in love with someone who you are only destined to be with for a few months? Oh, the heartbreak! Daphne was always waiting for that special paper that didn’t have an expiration date, so when it finally arrived, she was resigned to this new fate.

I loved how the author wrote this novel. I enjoyed going from Daphne’s present-day story to her previous relationships. This gave me an insight into her life and the romantic relationships that she had experienced. I was invested in her story from the very beginning and there were quite a few times where I had no idea where the author was going to take this story, but I was definitely all in for the journey and what a journey it was!

Expiration Dates was everything that I had hoped it would be. It was heartfelt, emotional, and completely captivating. I adored every minute that I spent within its pages.

*5 Stars

I really struggled with this book. There was so much in this story that didn't pertain to the actual story.

4 ⭐️

"'I wish I would have known,' he said. 'What?' 'That is was finite for you.'"

Rebecca's books are always so beautifully written and this was no different. The premise of Expiration Dates was so intriguing - with just the subtle touch of magical realism but also a very emotional storyline. I love how her FMCs always go on such a growth journey in each book, and Daphne's story was no different. I sometimes feel a little bamboozled by her endings, but this one actually concluded exactly how I wanted it to!! Despite this, I didn't feel as much of a connect to the storyline as I had with In Five Years and One Italian Summer, which is the only thing holding it back from being a love. There was just *some tiny thing* missing in the depth of the storyline.

I have read books by Rebecca Serle in the past and enjoyed them, but her latest book Expiration Dates was not one of my favourites. It is a good book to read but it took me a long time to get into it and I did not enjoy the expiration notes part of the story and I knew pretty early on in the book who Daphne would end up with at the end. It was a challenging read for me, but I would recommend this book for anyone interested in reading Rebecca. Serle’s latest novel.

Wow! I did not want this to end. Daphne Bell receives a note every time she’s about to go on a date with a love interest or shortly thereafter. The notes provide details on how much time the relationship will be. The book chapters alternate between current and previous timelines giving background to her short and longer loves. Then Daphne receives a note with no end date, and the turmoil of knowing something is forever begins. With a former boyfriend as her closest friend and the only person to know about the notes the dynamic between them changes as she becomes connected to her new life. Is it what she wants? I instantly fell for all of the love interests over time in Daphne’s life and the lessons they taught her. Such an addictive read that I didn’t want to put down.

Thank you Atria Books, NetGalley, and the author for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another great book from an author I love. I always love her characters which are rich and full of depth. Thank you Netgalley for this copy.

This is the second book by Rebecca Serle I have read and I enjoyed this one much more than One Italian Summer. I enjoyed this very quick book. My only complaint is that I feel like we could have gotten a bit more depth into Daphne's story. There is a big reveal more than halfway into the book, not really a twist, but a very important character development and I wish that maybe the reader would have gotten more of that in the beginning. It would help explain the character of Daphne more and her motivations I feel like. I enjoyed the caveats about Daphne's previous relationships. I also enjoyed her descriptions of LA. Serle is very good at setting a scene, and I felt like I was there with Daphne as she navigated her dating life. All in all, I enjoyed this book because it was an easy read and had just a touch of magical realism that made it interesting. The ending was a bit abrupt, and I wished that it ended different but I can still appreciate what Serle was doing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

It took me a little bit to get into but .once I got to the 50% mark I was definitely invested. My heart was getting tugged In so many directions with our MC, Daphne. During the whole book we see Daphne trying to plan her life based on how long these pieces of paper would tell her she was going to be in a relationship and she really put them in boxes. I could kinda see how it was going to end but not how we’d get there. I loved that there was a touch of magical realism as well.



Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daphne receives a mysterious piece of paper with a name and a number on it. The name is her newest boyfriend and the number is how long they will be together. Until one day, Daphne receives a name and no number so obviously she believes this to be her forever match, or is it? Each relationship is recapped as the new one begins. This is my favorite Rebecca Serle book to date! Serle has a way of bringing you in fully to her character's lives and makes you root for the best for them.

This book took a bit for me to get into. It was hard to keep track of the characters l, what was current day and the past. Once I figured out exactly what was going on it did become easier to get into. I just felt like I was waiting for something more that never came, especially in the end. I really felt like I was left hanging.m more then I hoped for!

Ms. Serle does it again! This is a compulsive read that I devoured in one day. It's heartfelt, fun, and of course a little magical. I am probably the biggest Serle fangirl at this point. Every book is perfection and something I read in a day. Expiration Dates explores love and life in a way that grounds you as the reader. Of course, I recommend EVERYONE read this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an early copy of this book. It is out March 19th!!

Rebecca Serle has a beautiful way of weaving a story together. I absolutely adored this book. There were times I didn’t feel the connection between Daphne and Jake and I realized quickly that it was fully intentioned. Serle could write my grocery list and I’d probably cry.

I thought the premise of this book was interesting, mysterious notes from the universe telling how long someone is meant to be in your life. Magical realism is my favorite thing when executed well, but this book left me wanting.

I think it's because I disliked the characters. I did not like nor empathize with Daphne and her bad attitude. Being one foot in a relationship while the other foot is out the door is just crappy. She uses the notes from the universe as a reason to not get attached, instead of enjoying the course of a relationship no matter how finite. Love is love and it touches us no matter how short. Also, the way she uses her heart condition as a way to push everything and everyone away is just horrible. I have congenital heart disease, and have had four open heart surgeries. The fiction that is this protagonist’s life is actually my reality.

I can say from experience that having a diagnosis that is life changing only changes how time is viewed. Time is precious because life is short, but love outlives life. Life is hard and scary and difficult, and having someone to love and love us, makes life easier. I do not see myself as a broken person because my heart doesn't function normally – but Daphne does and she uses it to hold people at arm's length. She doesn't tell them about this huge health issue when she dates them, as if it's some test of the man's mettle. But in reality, it's manipulative and shitty. Oh let's fall in love and get engaged and THEN I'll tell you I have a lifelong, life changing heart condition. So messed up.

Also Hugo. There is nothing about Hugo that felt genuine. He is a shallow stereotypical character in a shallow stereotypical city. And no amount of charming writing about a place is going to make me like it. Same goes for Hugo. Their relationship was predictable because of the structure of this book. The fact that Hugo remains a constant in between each ‘note,’ lets the reader know how the book ends before it even starts. I am not a fan of love triangles because one of the characters gets strung along and gets hurt. This happens to Jake and it just felt so shitty the entire time.

The characters are not morally gray, they just are indecisive and flat. Their actions have consequences that the readers feel. And the way the author views/writes about people with illnesses is not inclusive. It is like she has never met a heart patient before, but googled WebMD.

Overall, I was not a fan. Luckily it was a quick read. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I went into this expecting a happily ever after romance and got so much more. A few serious twists and lots of magical realism propelled this story. While I really liked the premise, the pace felt off at times. It dragged and jumped around, then I got whiplash with a few twists. The ending was too abrupt for me. I wanted more for Daphne, but also for Jake and Hugo.

Rebecca Serle is such a poetic author. Expiration Dates is a story about Daphne who gets little notes with her next love interest and their duration, until one day, the note is blank with the name Jake.

While I really enjoyed the story looking into past romances, and I loved her love with best friend Hugo, I never felt the chemistry between her and Jake. Probably because at some point, the chapter opens with the fact we fast forwarded 7 or 8 months without getting to see their relationship growing. But the book is so much more than this plot line, it wouldn’t deter me from reading again.

There were 2 big twists in the book, one I maybe saw coming. It was an easy and enjoyable read with several poignant moments.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.

This was a cute, enjoyable read but nothing super special for me. A lot of unanswered questions and slightly predictable. Overall, it was ok!

Quick read, short chapters - and a little depressing. No unlikeable characters but didn’t particularly love anyone (except maybe Hugo). Proceed with caution!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this for a honest review.

This is a very original concept and I couldn’t have loved it more! Every time Daphne meets a new man, she receives a note with his name and a number. The number is the amount of time they will be together. So she enters these relationships knowing there’s an end date and when it is.
Hugo is a 3 month relationship, but turns into her years king best friend who is still very much a part of her life. Finally, she gets a note with the name “Jake” and no number, so he must be the one. There are some twists (don’t want to spoil). From the start, I was drawn to the relationship between Daphne and Hugo. A very fast read that you won’t regret reading!

This started as a quick easy read but I began to lose interest until halfway point. I couldn't tell if we were shipping the love interest or the ex for at least the first quarter of the book. She seemed too close to Hugo to be persuing someone else. I didn't feel the romance with Jake at first but I got there in the end. By the time we are told about the second box, it feels a little late in the story. This certainly adds to the drama, and made me much more intrigued in the story that was a bit lacking until then. When we find out the twist with Jake's note, I was over Hugo. I was fully rooting for her to be with Jake. The book felt off for me. I don't think I was feeling it the way the author intended for it to be felt. There is a moment when Daphne calls herself a discombobulated whole and that's what it feels like to me. I wanted to like this one. I was very excited to read it, and I'm sure some bits will stick with me but I have too many notes to call it love. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the ARC!