I found the premise of this story to be really interesting and wondered how the author could get the reader to buy into the notion that there is a time limit on love. As I was reading through the flashbacks of Daphne’s past relationships because I knew the ending before the story began I didn’t get too invested in that partner for Daphne. But that was kind of the point, right? I was feeling Daphne’s own ambivalence. This created a great contrast to the emotions Daphne felt when she received the slip of paper with no date for Jake.

I always love these little hints of magic that this author puts into her stories. They elevate the mundane, and in this case built up hope that fate is real and that we all have that chance to find our one true love. This is actually what I loved about this book the most. That after an existence filled with deadlines our heroine was given hope and after a couple of life’s twists and turns, would be allowed her own happily ever after.

"Expiration Dates" by Rebecca Serle is like a rollercoaster ride through the highs and lows of love, with a twist you won't see coming. Daphne Bell's got this quirky habit of receiving notes predicting how long her romances will last – talk about adding some spice to dating! But when she meets Jake, suddenly those predictions don't seem so reliable anymore. It's a wild ride as Daphne grapples with whether to trust the notes or follow her heart.

Serle's writing is like a warm hug, pulling you right into Daphne's world and making you feel like part of the gang. The chemistry between Daphne and Jake crackles off the page, and you'll find yourself rooting for them through every twist and turn. With its mix of humor, heart, and a healthy dose of drama, "Expiration Dates" is the perfect read for anyone who's ever wondered if love really has an expiration date. So grab a comfy spot, a box of tissues (just in case), and get ready for a romance that'll keep you guessing till the very end.

I feel mixed about this one! This was my first book that I’ve read by Rebecca Serle, the writing was amazing and I couldn’t put the book down. The first half had me hooked but it took some turns that I wasn’t expecting and then, it kinda fell flat for me. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the FMC, she annoyed me tbh. The ending was meh, simply was just expecting more from it! It was a very unique romance, that’s for sure!

Expiration Dates-a standalone

By Rebecca Serle- never read author

Rating: 4/5  

📖Page Count: 268 kindle

🌍Setting: LA

Publication 3-19-24,  Read 3-18-24

🙏🏾 Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Atria Books for this ARC 🩷! I voluntarily give my honest review and all opinions expressed are my own.

🤷🏾‍♀️What to Expect: 

✔️Adult/Women's Fic
✔️Romance
✔️Magical Realism
✔️Female friendship
✔️My BFF

Summary: Daphne has a little quirk where she receives a note or postcard with her next boyfriend's name on it, and how long they will be together. This has happened since Daphne was in 5th grade, which is 42 notes with 6 serious relationships including Hugo, her BFF. Her work colleagues and friends Irina and Kendra set her up on a blind date. She received a note with the name Jake and no time limit. Is he her soulmate, or could there be other possibilities?

🎭The characters:
 Daphne Bell-33 works in entertainment as a production assistant. Has had some health issues, which her mother Debra and father have supported her.
Jake-35 works in entertainment as a TV executive. The perfect boyfriend, wants a serious relationship w/ Daphne.
Hugo-40 met Daphne outside acting class 5 years ago. They dated for 3 months and became best friends after.
Murphy-Daphne's rescue dog

🤔My Thoughts: I liked the premise of anonymous notes. I couldn't connect with Daphne and Jake's relationship because they just didn't have passion. Daphne and Hugo had the better chemistry . They were playful and comfortable with each other, and after their talk about the past, I knew he still had feelings for her. The ending was satisfying because Daphne did away with fate and destiny, and chose her heart.

This was an enjoyable romance novel with a bit of magical realism. Daphne is in her early thirties and gets notes to tell her how long her relationships will last and with whom. She totally trusts these notes and they guide her decisions and love life. She finally gets a note with no end date and moves forward with that relationship but is it what she truly wants?

Searles has written a novel with heart and obstacles that makes us want to believe in true love. The characters are likeable and relateable which help the story feel genuine. Thank you Netgalley for the chance to review.

Expiration dates by Rebecca serle

3.5 stars

I really enjoyed this book. The synopsis really sparked my curiosity.

Daphne goes through life knowing how long each of her romantic relationships will last. Each time she develops a connection, a piece of paper with the relationships expiration date shows up.

It’s crazy to think that when you have a really good relationship that you feel might blossom into more, turns out to be over within months or weeks.

Just imagining that is crazy to me. Waiting for a relationships demise.

Certain information came forth during the later parts of the book that I wished came earlier. The beginning was filled with Daphne’s experiences that I really enjoyed reading.

The ending also did fall a little flat. I wanted just a bit more since 75% in, the plot thickens.

Overall, it was a great read! Thank you NetGalley and Rebecca Serle for the opportunity to read this ARC

The thing all of Rebecca’s book have in common for me is this easy flow of the story, certainly a novel but read more like poetry at times. They start straight forward and almost unassumingly. Then suddenly the rollercoaster picks up speed and there’s no stopping it until suddenly it goes upside down in the absolute best way possible.

This book was a wonderful interpretation of the powers of fate and what happens when we get in our own way. It’s a story about love and self and honesty in all its difficult forms. There is something special about a book that grabs you tight and shakes you like this one did. For everyone who has committed the “why did you drop out of Yale?!” Scene to memory…. This one’s for you.

4 is it better to know? stars

The main character, Daphne Bell, has a special thing that happens as she embarks on each new romance. She receives a piece of paper that tells her how long the relationship will last. It could be one night, six months, or maybe forever.

Chapters are devoted to these men, and we see how they impact Daphne. Would you want to know how long your relationships would last? She has a long relationship with Hugo. It ultimately ends, but they become very close friends.

She finally gets a note with no expiration date, just the name Jake. Could this be the man she spends the rest of her life with? Will this finally be her happy ever after? Or should she find a way to be happy single?

I liked the concept of this one—unrealistic, though it is! I also liked the friendship between her and Hugo. I did get a bit teary-eyed at one point, so I was definitely invested and rooting for Daphne to find happiness!

Every time Daphne meets a new romantic partner, she gets a paper that tells her how long she'll be in a relationship with them. One day, she goes on a date that doesn't come with an expiration date, and believes she has finally found the one.
After reading her last few books as fast as I could, I would read and recommend anything by Rebecca Serle at this point. Expiration Dates is about finding that love, being open to love, and taking a chance on love. I appreciated this look at what it means to open up yourself to the chance of falling in love, and can't say enough positive things about this book that was somehow surprising in spite of what I thought I knew was coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!

This is my third Rebecca Serle book and honestly, it left me feeling the same way the other two have. I want to say that overall, I enjoyed the book. Like In Five Years, I loved the premise of Expiration Dates. The idea that the universe was giving Daphne a glimpse into each relationship was something I feel like everyone has wished could happen. Uncertainty is one of my biggest fears but having the notice of when something would come to an end would also be so difficult as portrayed in this book.

There were a few twists I didn't see coming and some that I definitely did. I really disliked the relationship between Daphne and Jake. I don't know if it was the style of writing or not, but there was just no chemistry. I rooted for Hugo so much, but everyone knows I'm always rooting for the inconsistent f*** boy who found the girl he truly loves. I will say, when it comes to Daphne's personal twist (and not the notes) I do wish there would have been some sort of trigger warning in the beginning of the book about the level of detail in those scenes. I feel like trigger warnings can play a big role in a book and as a person with vasovagal syncope, I was triggered and ended up needed to skim read some of those sections. Even if there was something in the description that could have prepared me for it would've been nice, but I also know I'm not the majority, so it is only my opinion not an actual critique.

Overall, I think I did like the magical realism for this story and all I wanted was for Daphne to sit with herself and discover what she truly wanted. I'm happy she did just that and the book felt resolved.

Another exceptional read from Rebecca Serle! This is the type of book that will keep you up all night, hanging on to every word, and filling all of your thoughts when you’re not reading it. I’ve always known this author for her original and intriguing stories and this book does not disappoint! Very possibly one of the best books of the year!

Whenever Daphne meets a new man in her life, she gets a piece of paper from the universe with the guy's name on it and the length of time that they will be spending together. Whether it's three months or one night, she always receives a piece of paper.

Her ex-boyfriend Hugo really stood out to her. She seems to have a special place in her heart for him even after the breakup, and he feels the same way. Hugo is also the only person in the world that knows she receives papers from the universe. I like how their relationship turned into a friendship, someone Daphne could turn to and rely on.

One day she meets Jake. When she gets that paper from the universe it has no expiration date. She believes Jake is the one she is meant to spend forever with. Jake is genuinely a nice guy and is in love with Daphne. I loved how easy their relationship was.

The ending did not play out the way I expected but overall I was so happy with the turnout. It is very easy to get attached to Daphne's story and want the best for her.

This book is filled with so many great quotes that make you think about life and living in the moment. This book will tug on your heartstrings but it is so worth the read. I think this is a book that would become a reread for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rebecca Serle for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Expiration Dates coming out March 19, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I love Rebecca’s book One Italian Summer, so I was really excited to receive this book. I thought this was a really heartfelt, lovely story. I thought that the magical elements were very minimal, but went well with the themes of the story. Daphne was a strong character. There were a couple times I didn’t understand her motives like when she didn’t tell certain people things about herself. But maybe it was because she felt she was tied to her fate. Overall, I loved it though! I thought it had a wonderful message about the choices humans make in life and how they can lead to different outcomes.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary stories about love and life!

Wow! Such a beautiful yet at times heartbreaking story! I loved this one so much. It was different than your typical romance and felt so romantic and intimate.

Daphne the main character has always wanted that happy ending. When she starts dating someone, she receives a paper stating their name and how long the relationship will be. When she meets Jake and receives a blank paper, she must work through her feelings and work through some secrets that have kept her from having fulfilling relationships.

This book is for those who love magical realism and a unique love story. There were a few twists in the story which I did not expect but added so much to the plot. I loved Daphne as a character and her wittiness. Overall, this was such a great read and I truly could not put the book down once I began reading.
Thank you netgalley for an arc in exchange for a review.

Since reading “In Five Years” by the author, I have fallen in love with the writing style. Rebecca makes you authentically feel like you’re inside the story. I absolutely adored the premise of receiving a piece of paper for every man she meets and how long it’s going to last. Although, I was really drawn in for the romance, Daphne’s journey is what influenced me to continue reading. I think the concept of knowing when a relationship is going to end is something all girls wish they knew to help protect themselves from heartbreak. And this point is pointed out so well in the book. I think there’s a lot of self-reflection within this story that made me love the female main character and relate to her. Ugh, I have experienced all the emotions while reading this book! The Los Angeles vibes are definitely making me want to visit the city. Look out for the twists that definitely added more fun to the reading experience!

One of her best!!

Daphne gets notes. Randomly. And every note tells her how long her next relationship is going to last. She’s used to trusting these notes until she gets one that isn’t like the others.

Rebecca Serle always tells a story with a little bit of psychic magic and precognition. You think the story’s going one way and it takes an unexpected turn.
I love her writing.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was beautifully written! Very relevant and important life lessons and perspective. I could definitely relate to Daphne always wanting to know what comes next and to have a timeline. This was a great reminder that the beauty of life is in living it, however unpredictable it might be.

“I thought if I had all the answers, if I was always one step ahead, if I knew my hand, then I’d never lose. But being surprised by life isn’t losing, it’s living. It’s messy and I uncomfortable and complicated and beautiful. It’s life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play.”

I thought this was well written, but overall just didn’t suck me in like I hoped it would. It should be said that magical realism typically is not for me, so my lack of interest could definitely just be a me thing. I can see why other readers would love it… for me it was okay.

Expiration Dates is a beautifully written, whimsical, and emotional love story with a touch of magical realism. The story alternates between the present and flashbacks to the past, revisiting all of Daphne's romantic relationships. I enjoyed the book very much, but I wouldn't call it a romance because it doesn't have a traditional HEA. It has an ambiguous but hopeful ending. I recommend Expiration Dates to readers who appreciate unique love stories.

I really enjoyed this book! It was the first book I read by Rebecca Serle and I definitely would like to read more!

This book had a fun element of magical realism with the little notes that were being delivered to Daphne to tell her the fate of her relationships. There was a big element of depth with the plot twist (I don’t want to spoil it, but it made the second half of the book FLY because I needed to know how everything would wrap up).

I also loved the Jewish representation here. I love being able to really relate on that level to the books I read. I love using books to explore other cultures and holidays, but it also feels nice to see my culture represented in the characters in the books I read.