Ever since she was in fifth grade Daphne Bell has been receiving signs from the universe. What signs you ask? Well a piece of paper will almost magically appear with a name and a timeframe. Her first one: Seth, eight days; predicted she would date a boy Seth in her grade and it would only last for eight days. Well, the paper was right and ever since then Daphne has been living her life led from one relationship to the next based upon the fate of the universe. Even when she wants it to last longer - for example with her ex (now close friend) Hugo who only got three months - something has always happened to ensure the papers never lie.

But then one day Daphne's piece of paper only has a name listed. Jake. No date, no time. Daphne doesn't know what to think of this open possibility. Does this mean that she's finally found "the one"? As she navigates this new sense of freedom she's reminded of why she's held herself to the structure of the papers in the first place.

Rebecca Serle writes some of the most easily accessible thought-provoking stories I've ever read. Taking an idea such as free-will and fate and adding a magical element to it is her specialty at this point. The idea of how we would decide to do things if we had the knowledge beforehand. Would we feel less insecure if we knew a relationship - however briefly it may last - was a sure thing? Or would that pull us inward even more, the idea of not getting to settle in the way we want?

How does knowledge and foresight effect our present into our future.

Of course, as in all of Rebecca Serle's books there are other layers to take into account, but unfortunately those would be a bit too spoilery.

I think going into this one with just the base knowledge works perfectly for any other big reveals that may follow.

I started reading this book because I was in kind of a slump with another book I was reading and Expiration Dates pulled me right out. I so appreciate the pacing of the story. Once it started, I couldn't help but be compelled to read until I knew where things would end up for Daphne. As she is faced with the possibility of her future being set in stone, she cannot help but looking back at her past to see how she got to where she is and whether or not she could have done anything differently. I liked how the book was broken up between Daphne's past and present. Reliving previous notes and what made those moments special on their own put a lot about her life into perspective which helped me form how I personally wanted her story to go.

For me, this was a quick read. I easily read it in a weekend. If things like life didn't get in the way I probably could have gotten it done in a few hours :)
I feel the same about all of Rebecca Serle's books that I've read. This one, however, felt a bit lighter than some of her previous books which took a too-heavy turn at times. It's exactly what I needed to read, when I needed to read it.

Definitely an author I know I can pickup and enjoy even if I have no idea what I'm getting myself into.

🗒️Happy Pub Day 🗒️

Expiration Dates
Pub date: 3/19/24

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Daphne’s love life depended on the note she receives with a name and date telling her how long the relationship would last. This was such a cute romance/magical realism story. I’m not a huge magical realism lover but I really did enjoy this! I loved the unexpected twist and the element it added into this story. I didn’t feel as emotionally connected to the characters. I was hoping for a bit more in the end and thought the ending was a bit abrupt. In Five Years is still my favorite by Serle.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria books and Rebecca Serle for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have loved all of Rebecca Serle books and Expiration Dates is no exception. I love that she always has a unique premise and delivers with heart, humor, and emotional devastation! Read this fast paced romance and I hope you love it as much as I did.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC of Expiration Dates!

Daphne Bell wants to fall in love just as much as anyone else. Unfortunately when she begins seeing someone new the universe sends her a slip of paper with the length of time the relationship will last. Until she gets a slip with just a name and no end date. Is Jake the one? The last slip of paper she will ever get?

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle was one of my favorite reads last year so I was ecstatic to get the ARC for this one. Unfortunately this one fell a little flat. Daphne was a mildly interesting character at best and the chemistry between her and Jake was nonexistent. I was shocked when I realized I was halfway through the book and not invested in a single character. Hugh is the most interesting character in the book and while I don't necessarily reach for love triangle stories, this book may have benefited from focusing more on Hugh's obvious feelings for Daphne instead of being as oblivious to them as Daphne is. The book does become about something else entirely part of the way through and that was fine but also told with the same sense of urgency as ice melting on a mild spring day. A lot of the novel feels like a love letter to Los Angeles. Serle is great at writing about places. After reading One Italian Summer I was looking up flights to Italy. Unfortunately for this story, LA was the most intriguing part.

Overall this was a short little story that entertained me but is fairly forgettable. I do look forward to reading what Serle writes next.

This was a fast paced romance with magical realism. I enjoyed the notes Daphne received they helped guide her and eventually helped her make some decisions on her life.
Serle always writes books that takes us on a journey and this one surely does. I was pleased with the ending as well.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

EXPIRATION DATES
Rebecca Serle


EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle is an exceptional way to spend an afternoon. I had the pleasure of doing so recently, and I highly recommend it.

EXPIRATION DATES stars Daphne. When Daphne meets a new love interest she receives a piece of paper with a date on it. That is their relationship expiration date. With Martin it was three glorious days in Paris, for Noah, it was five weeks in sunny California.

Now she’s met Jake and Jake has no expiration date. She receives a paper with just his name on it. Daphne wonders if he could be the one or if the papers could be wrong. We follow along as she explores her feelings and relationships to find the answer.


EXPIRATION DATES makes the West Coast sound romantic and makes Paris sound like a good place to visit, at least for a few days. I liked the idea behind the expiration dates and the questions it posed.

Would you like to know the expiration date if there were one?
Would your behavior change and how if you know the expiration date?
How would your life be different if you knew every expiration date?

I had an enjoyable time reading EXPIRATION DATES. You may think Serle is not going to get you because you’ve seen a few of her tricks. But she surprises in the best of ways, just like she did the last time.

And just like the last time I’m giving EXPIRATION DATES four stars. I loved it, and I think you will too.

It’s available now where books are sold and is linked down below.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy!

EXPIRATION DATES…⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy!

As far as rom coms go, I liked it. The ending was obvious, even from the beginning, but it didn’t deter me from the story. I loved Daphne, the main character, but have a lot of questions for her as far as the decisions she makes throughout the story. The plot is solid, just a touch of magical realism, which I loved. But it was also really frustrating. I just wanted more of some things and less of others. I’m glad my guess at the ending worked out. That hardly ever happens. I can’t say I’d read anything else from the author, but it was the perfect read for a plane ride, or a couple hours sitting at the beach.

4.5/5⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley & Atria Books for the eARC!

I love Rebecca Serle because her romance books are never your typical romance! The characters & storylines are always so complex with so many layers. There’s always a hidden twist in her books that makes them anything but straightforward & this one was no different! There were a couple of twists in this book & they both caught me by surprise.

I was immediately captivated by this story & I flew through it in less than 24 hours! Serle’s writing is incredibly immersive. The details made me feel like I was actually drinking coffee with Daphne in LA. I became so attached to these characters. My heart was so torn when I got to the ending. It was unique, emotional, & inspiring🥹.

This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited to read this one since I loved In Five Years so much! Overall, this one was pretty good! I really enjoyed how unique the story was and that it really made me think about decisions everyone makes and what I would've done in Daphne's position. I think my biggest issues with it were that I never really felt completely connected to the characters the way that I had hoped I would. I think Daphne was a little hard to get to know, and the people she dated were only there for one maybe two chapters, so I never really got a chance to get to know them that well (even Hugo and Jake!). I really enjoyed the ending but it felt a little rushed, I think I just wanted a little more of the romance story than what I got!

*thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I usually love Rebecca Serle’s books (One Italian Summer is one of my favorites!) but this one didn’t hit quite as hard for me.

I loved the premise! Daphne knows how long each of her relationships will last because she always find a piece of paper right before the relationship starts with the name of the guy and how long it will last (e.g., Hugo, 5 months). She finally gets a piece of paper with the name Jake and no time frame, so she thinks he must be the one she ends up with. Later in the book we learn another reason why there could be no time frame and this becomes the big secret Daphne keeps from Jake. This becomes a big thing & I honestly just got frustrated with the main character not being honest.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the chapters that focused on Daphne’s previous relationships. I understand that they help provide some background on her character, but I was just kind of bored reading them.

I just expected a little more from this book and to be able to fully connect with the characters.

Still a solid read & I look forward to reading Rebecca’s future work! 🫶🏼

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑫𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑹𝒆𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒄𝒂 𝑺𝒆𝒓𝒍𝒆
★★★★ 4/5 stars

⟡ synopsis
Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. For 20 years, Daphne has been receiving random notes - each just a slip of paper with a man’s name & a number on it - the exact amount of time they will be together. Until one day, it’s different. She receives a note with just a name, no dates: Jake. Does this mean he is her forever?

⟡ Read if you like :
•Doc Martens
•pet soulmates
•light, fun reads
•fate vs free will
•a touch of magical realism
•LA setting
•chronic illness/disability representation
•surprising twists

⟡ my thoughts
Reading this book felt light & fun. I thought it was a great combination of whimsy, romance, & reality. The plot is original & so incredibly relatable. There was surprising depth to the story with well developed, lovable characters. I loved the character growth. I couldn’t help rooting for Daphne as she navigated life’s curveballs.

I can honestly say I wasn’t looking for a jaw dropping plot twist but that’s exactly what I got! Totally unexpected but yet tied in so perfectly, leading to one aha moment after the other as I connected the dots. I thought the ending was just right - “being surprised by life isn't losing, it's living.”

This is one I’ll definitely be adding my my bookshelf! Thank you to @netgalley, @atriabooks + @rebecca_serle for the opportunity to read this ARC ◡̈

Happy Pub Day to this little gem! I really enjoyed Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle. I went into it blindly just because I love this author and trust her completely with my precious reading time. I am a fan of the genre Magical Realism and she’s never let me down. Once again, I was not disappointed!

I really couldn’t put this one down. I enjoyed following Daphne on her dating journey— both current relationships and those in her past. I loved the friendship between Jake and Daphne. I really don’t want to say much more because I think this one is best enjoyed when having little to no information about it.

𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🧚🏼 Romance with a touch of magic
👏🏼 Likeable characters you naturally root for
🏃‍♀️ Quick read with short chapters
🕛 A brush with past, present, & future timelines
🥰 Following a person’s dating journey

I think everyone needs to read at least one Magical Realism book. It may surprise you how sweet and endearing these whimsical reads can be; so, check these out:

𝙈𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙢 𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨:
* In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
* The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie by Rachel Linden
* The Good Part by Sophie Cousens
* The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
* One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

Thank you @NetGalley and @atriabooks for my advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. I read the digital copy but recommend listening to the audiobook of Expiration Dates because it’s NARRATED BY JULIA WHELAN and IYKYK!!

Daphne Bell goes into every relationship knowing exactly how long it will last. One night, three weeks, six months, two years - a postcard arrives at the start of each relationship to prepare her for the duration. Then one day, the postcard arrives with just a name, no expiration date.

The question at the heart of this book is: will we be content living within constraints placed on us, or can we be daring enough to break through them and find greater happiness?

Like In Five Years and One Italian Summer, this book is a little heart wrenching. Unlike those stories, Expiration Dates is more hopeful, more real, more moving. Rebecca Serle created a deeper heroine in Daphne Bell - her problems are grounded in reality, her circumstances believable. I really couldn’t put this book down, and would definitely recommend it for a quick but thoughtful read!

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Rebecca Serle for the ARC of Expiration Dates!

This was such a beautiful story and lesson on how important it is to be in charge of your life and how sitting back and letting life happen to you will have you miss out on amazing moments and people. Rebecca Serle did it again with Expiration Dates. She knows how to mix magic within her stories to give the reader a wonderful experience.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC by one of my favorite authors! Rebecca Serle has yet again captivated me with her writing. This book was so intriguing from the description, I had to read it and I am so glad I did. The story is about Daphne and her love interests through time. But Daphne's story is a bit different - for every man she meets and spends time with, she knows exactly how much time it will last. She is given a slip of paper for each new relationship and on that slip of paper is the amount of time she will spend with this particular man. We get to experience each relationship (some last a night, others last months). Daphne seems content with this life, always knowing what to expect, until the unexpected happens and she is given note that is blank. Her only conclusion is that Jake is the one. If the note is blank, it must mean forever; this relationship has no expiration date. But she still has doubts, is Jake the one? And then Hugu (her one time boyfriend for three months, turned best friend), make an unexpected announcement that leaves Daphne wondering if she has more control over her relationships than she realizes. I absolutely adored this novel from start to finish and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Happy publication day to Expiration Dates, the latest release from Rebecca Serle. This romance has the fantastical element that we’ve come to expect from Serle, but also has a healthy dose of sobering reality to keep it grounded.

Daphne’s romantic life has always been guided by an unseen force. Without fail, every time she enters into a new relationship, she receives a note from the universe which includes her lover’s name and a duration - the length of time the relationship will last. So, when she receives a note with only a name a few hours before going on a first date, she has to wonder what it means. Is this a sign that this is the relationship that will last? Is there no forecasted end date because this is the one meant to last, til death do you part? She leans into her relationship with Jake while also constantly questioning whether he really is the right one, and she never shares the truth of her magical romantic guidance with him. Can they overcome the secrets between them?

I won’t say more here, because I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that this may be a book where you want to read the trigger warnings. There’s more to Daphne than just the magical secret she’s keeping from Jake, and that element of the plot was a little tough for me, as it’s something I do find triggering at times. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed this story and definitely recommend checking it out. It’s definitely a romantic drama, and I was fully swept up in Daphne’s world.

I love it when books veer off the suspected course in a good way. The surprise trajectory of this book made for one heartfelt, witty, and connective romantic tale that I was completely invested in.

The story opens up with Daphne headed on a date. Specifically what she thinks is her last first date. You see, the universe gives Daphne the exact duration of all of her romantic relationships. Every note or card she finds has a name and a length of time. Until now. You’ll see her venture on what she thinks is forever. You’ll also journey with her through her past relationships-even the one she had with her best friend Hugo. I dare not say too much. I’ll leave you to discover Daphne’s outcome on your own, but I can say it’s a beautiful unfolding.

A dash of magical realism and a whole lot of determination. That winning combo in story and characters gets me every time. Expiration Dates is such a tenderly written and endearing tale of seeking your own destiny and following your heart. I would’ve loved an epilogue on this one, but the ending leaves you content and smiling. 4.5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I was gifted an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

“When do we stop believing in the things we do? And why does it happen so slowly instead of all at once?”

While magical realism is not my go-to genre, I know to expect it in small doses in books by Rebecca Serle.

Expiration dates was my third book by this author. I loved In Five Years, thought One Italian Summer was a little strange, but OK, and this one was OK, but didn’t wow me like I’d hoped it would.

Daphne receives a piece of paper - from where is a mystery - every time she starts dating a new person, so she knows exactly how long each relationship will last - anywhere from one night, to a few years, to the time when she receives a piece of paper with only a name and believes she has found the man she will spend her life with.

It reminded me a bit of The Measure, which I loved, but something about it didn’t click. It’s short, and I read it very quickly - I would have preferred more depth, especially from the ending. It might make a good summer/beach book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review. [Quote is from the uncorrected review copy.] Expiration Dates is available now.

I did it! I read my first audiobook and although it took me over a week, I loved it. Shockingly, I LOVED the story of Daphane Bell, a woman who receives a slip of paper right before she gets into a relationship that tells her the name of the man and the length of the relationship. It’s a message from the universe that she hasn’t told anyone about except for her best friend Hugo.

Ok, I admit this sounds like something that would get a huge eye roll from me. Not my genera. But I loved the story, the characters and I SAW NOTHING COMING. The story was fresh and I was fully engaged. I already knew that Julia Whelan was a master from my friends who do audio books. I especially loved her deadpan voice of Jake.

At first I could only listen at 1.2, but by the end I could do 2.0 speed. It took a little getting used to.

4.5 stars of pure enjoyment.

What an interesting premise to a book! I love Serle’s writing and this book was no exception. Her descriptions of her characters were so developed and the magical realism element of the book just felt real! While I wish there was a little more explanation of the notes by the end, I love that it was up to the reader to make decisions about it.