My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Atria Books. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Magic Realism

There are things in this romance that will draw readers in. The magical realism of having an expiration date for every relationship is a lot of fun.

I was surprised when the main character, Daphne, rehashed her past relationships in her mind. I was much more interested in moving forward and seeing the new guy, Jake. After a few chapters in, we'd only seen him once. I guess the past relationships set us up for where she is and where her head is going into this new relationship. I thought it would have more comedy of how she's working on Jake.

Daphne's failed romantic relationship with Hugo led to them becoming best friends. I was a little confused because they seemed to have great chemistry.

The first scene where she talks about having sex made it sound transactional—and I think it was meant to because when you know the ending, why invest too much in the present.

Anyhow, it wasn't my favorite read but I think other romance readers will like it more. (I'm more of a sweet romance reader.)

Happy reading!

One thing I know is a guarantee from a Rebecca Serle book is the visceral reaction her words and stories create. There’s something about her clipped writing and the unreliable narrators she breathes life into and the magical surrealism guiding the narrative. I always appreciate the perspective - even if the stories themselves don’t fully resonate personally, her novels always read from an authentic (albeit biased and messy) point of view, and Expiration Dates was no different.

The magical surrealism in the book lends a certain anticipation, but the tension the premise creates sort of fizzles out without fully peaking. The premise was promising but the plot was mostly aimless, I felt simultaneously placated and somewhat dissatisfied with how events unfolded, and was mostly frustrated but also understanding of how Daphne, our fmc, accepts her fate without actually committing to anything at all. Daphne’s story is messy and surprising, but the ending was predictable and left somewhat open. If you’ve read Serle’s other adult novels, yktv.

Though this is advertised as a *true* romance (her other novels are not considered as part of the genre), I find this a bit misleading. While centering a woman and her various relationships over time, the heart of this story is not the romance, but rather a young woman’s perspective on what it means to love and be loved. All in all, a thought provoking novel of love and life with its fair share of twists and frustrations. While some plot choices were not my cup of tea, I would recommend this title to those who’ve enjoyed Serle’s other works.

3.5⭐️

**thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC**

As a reader who has delved into this authors previous works, I approached this novel with high expectations, drawn by her signature blend of enchantment and reality. While this book certainly delivers on the magical front, its impact left me somewhat underwhelmed, ultimately earning it a modest three-star rating.

One of the standout qualities of this authors storytelling is her adeptness at infusing ordinary worlds with extraordinary elements, and this book was no exception. However, despite the enchantment woven throughout the narrative, this book struggled to leave a lasting impression. As I journeyed through, I couldn’t shake the feeling of its forgettable nature. This sentiment is compounded by a significant tone shift in the middle of the book, which caught me off guard and disrupted the flow of the story. While unexpected twists can often enhance a narrative in this case, it felt jarring and disconnected.

Despite its shortcomings, this authors talent as a writer remains evident. I’m eager to explore more of her work in the hopes of discovering a true gem.

Ever since her first relationship in fifth grade, Daphne has known exactly how long her relationship will last thanks to series of mysterious notes. Soon she gets the note she thinks she's been waiting for - it contains only a name and no date. Is this her happily ever after? As we follow Daphne and Jake's burgeoning relationship, we also get looks back at Daphne's past loves and some of the lessons she's learned along the way.

I found the premise of the book to be extremely interesting and was excited to read it. But after reading it, I have some really mixed feelings about the book. There's not a lot I want to say about the plot that doesn't spoil things for the reader. I felt like what was supposed to be "the big twist" was pretty obvious and that the overall execution of the story was lacking any emotional depth. Also, some of the writing really bothered me. For example, the author was weirdly obsessed with describing outfits in such a way that it took away from the flow of the story and I didn't understand the purpose of including so many references to her "quirky" boss and her on-again/off-again relationship. Overall, I'd say this was an excellent premise that needed more emotional development and a better editor.

Overall 3.5/5
Spice: 0.5/3

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Short synopsis: Each time Daphne meets a man, she receives slips of paper that tells her how long the relationship will last. That is until she meets Jake and receives a paper with only his name and no end date, but is he the one?

Thoughts: When you pick a book by Serle you know there is going to be some blend of magic realism, romance and self-discovery, and the way she executed this story was unique and beautiful. Narrated by Julia Whealan, the perfect pick for Daphne’s character, I was completely immersed in the story and at the edge of my seat rooting for her HEA. At only seven hours, be prepared to binge this one and just smile, laugh and feel. Plus, the Jewish representation in this was great, especially when it came to family traditions and being culturally Jewish.

Read if you like:
-Love triangles
-Magic realism
-Second chances
-Jewish rep
-LA setting

3.5 stars rounded up to 4! I love her style of writing and how easy it is to get into the story and breeze through it.

It was a little hard to follow at times because it wasn’t evident when a chapter was flashing back to the past. I got used to it about 75% of the way through though.

Wish there was more about where the notes were coming from… still just remains a mystery?

Overall, enjoyed it but In Fiver Years still remains my absolute fav.

This was an absolute gem. One of the most beautifully vulnerable books I’ve read in a while. I could relate to the character though many of her seasons and cried many times with her. The ending was adorable and the bow top the readers at the end couldn’t have been written any better. Definitely recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley (THANK YOU) and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rebecca Serle's book premises are always unique and intriguing. I'll read a book description and be captivated by her ideas enough to want to read them.

Expiration Dates is no exception here. The premise is that our female main character, Daphne, receives notes every time she begins a relationship that tells her how long the relationship will be. She constantly navigates relationships knowing that heartbreak is going to come.

For me, the execution of the idea here did not quite meet my expectations. An obvious problem was that I never got particularly tied to the characters Daphne entered a relationship with because I knew things were going to end. There's also an obvious strong supporting relationship that leaves the reader wondering how these two will end up together.

What I didn't expect was a huge twist about 60% of the way into the book. This twist added a layer of vulnerability to Daphne that I didn't see coming and another barrier in finding her forever love. The timing of this revelation was so startling that I had to go back and read it again.

Ultimately this book explores the human desire for connection, the fear of vulnerability, and the pursuit of lasting love in a life where expiration dates dictate the course of romance. If you've enjoyed Rebecca Serle's books in the past I think you will enjoy this one. My mind can't seem to jump on board with the execution of her ideas.

I have grown to love Rebecca Serle's novels and look forward to each new release. This one, set in LA, featuring our heroine Daphne, as she works her way through each relationship of her life. The caveat is a bit of mysticism that send her an "expiration date" for each relationship. This is a unique plot twist that calls into question the serendipitous nature of early relationships and the emotional investment in a relationship that you "know" is going to end. While this was a good novel, it wasn't her best work. It lacked a depth to the characters and left me feeling that I didn't really get to know Daphne or Hugo or really anyone in the book. It felt very surface level.

Overall this was not a bad book, I think I was just expecting to feel more. I absolutely loved the premise of the novel but something was missing for me. While I liked the characters in their own respective roles I didn't feel any chemistry between them and really found myself not caring about how it ended. I did really love her female friendships and that was probably the best part of the book for me. If you like her other books you will probably love this one so please give it a chance and read it.

This was such a cute read. A little magic. A little love. A lot of smiles and strong friendships. So grateful for the opportunity to read an early copy of this one!

Wow, is literally what I said to myself out loud after I finished this book. It was such a unique premise, and the writing was so deep and philosophical, I found myself highlighting quotes left and right! This was a perfect story to take readers on a self-reflection journey of life, love, and self-acceptance. The roller coaster of emotions and twists and turns kept it interesting! This was my first Rebecca Searle book, but it won’t be my last!

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

If you could find out how long each of your romantic relationships would last, would you want to know?

Each time Daphne meets a new guy, the universe sends her a note that tells her the length of the relationship (aka the expiration date). This is an interesting concept because I’m unsure which is more painful, being blindsided by a relationship suddenly ending or always knowing the relationship’s end date from the start.
I wish we got to know Daphne on a deeper level and that her “secret” would’ve been omitted. I also wanted more information on why/how these notes from the universe came to be.

Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book in 24 hours. I really enjoyed it. The premise is so interesting and unique. Every time Daphne meets a love interest, she is presented with a piece of paper telling her how long the relationship will last. How would you approach a relationship if you knew exactly how long it would last or knew it wouldn’t last forever? I was definitely intrigued and I loved how Daphne dealt with these experiences. My 1/2 star deduction was really because I felt like Daphne and Jake’s connection was just a bit blah and it made parts of their story (decisions) not seem believable. Serle’s writing style is so easy to read and I enjoyed the short chapters and pacing of the book. The wrap up of the ending also felt like such a satisfying conclusion and it left me smiling as I turned the final page.

4.5⭐️ rounded up to 5!

Read if you like:
▫️a touch of magical realism
▫️character growth
▫️Los Angeles setting
▫️alternate timelines

I've been on a huge romance kick lately and this book did not disappoint! I loved the flashbacks as Daphne explains when she first started getting the slips of paper and talks about her previous relationships. The entire concept of this book was so interesting to me. Imagine entering into every relationship knowing exactly how much time you have with that person. Would you fully invest yourself into the relationship or would you find yourself detached all the time because you know when the relationship will end?

This book had quite a few twists and turns that kept it interesting and made me want to keep reading to find out what happens next. I had no clue how this book would end and it definitely packed a punch considering how short it is. I'm giving this book 5 stars based on the uniqueness of the plot as well as the multiple twists that it had.

The only negative thought that I had was that I wish that this book was longer so I could continue following Daphne's adventures.

I was really excited by Expiration Dates, as the premise seemed to be 100% up my alley. I loved how it approached the concept of fate vs. free will, and particularly loved the timeline shifts between Daphne's past and present day. That being said, I did find Daphne to be annoying, and particularly struggled with being invested in her relationships as I felt like Serle employed a more tell than show style.

This is my 1st Rebecca Searle book but it wont be my last. This was a lovely and whimsical story about finding love. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends!

If you've read Rebecca Serle, you know what you're getting into, a romance with some magical realism thrown in. Expiration Dates is a fast read. The premise is that Daphne, for her whole dating life, receives a mysterious piece of paper telling her when she's starting to date someone, with how long it will last. The question is, is she deciding the length of relationships based on this, or is her fate already determined? There is another surprise midway through the book, and I don't know why it wasn't shared from the beginning, but it complicates matters. Daphne starts dating Jake, who sometimes seems perfect, but is it just because he's the first one without a date?

✨ Magical Realism
✨Fate Based Love Stories
✨ Unique Plots
✨Dual Timelines
✨Quick Reads

When Daphne gets a new boyfriend, the universe gives her a note with the amount of time they will be together for. It's happened since she was a kid, that is, until Jake comes along and she gets a note with just his name.

This one was super cute, I adored the concept, and the execution was spot on. The friends are lovely, the secrets are perfect, and her relationship with her parents is heartwarming. And as someone who dreams of living in LA, this made me fall in love even more. The only reason it's not 5 stars is I wish we had a little more time with the characters before the end, but all in all it was a fun quick read and I cannot wait to get a shelf trophy when it releases March 19.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for letting me read this early!

When I started this book I was SO excited for the premise of knowing who the FMC would end up with and for how long. At about 40% I noticed the FMC had a few 'quirks' to her that were really just red flags. I don't know when the last time was that I read a book and disliked the main character wholeheartedly. A man's height is mentioned at least three times in the first half of the book, her lying is a recurring theme, she gaslights people, her way is the only way, she is quite shallow, and she is portrayed as very self-centered throughout the book.

It's really saddening as I can see the thought that went into strategizing when to share flashbacks, when to add certain characters back in, etc., but I don't think any thought went into making sure the fmc appears likeable. By the end I was rooting more for her exes than for her (#justiceforHugo). Hugo was my favorite character, followed by Murphy, and they didn't get the spotlight they deserved with how short this book was.

There were parts of this book that really made me wonder whether this was just written for a very particular audience that I am not a part of. I found I did not relate to the main character's way of thinking. Recurring religious and generational themes that popped up or were mentioned nonchalantly were foreign concepts to me.

Finally, I feel that there were multiple points in this book where I was grasping at air hoping for more. Daphne's illness was really just a filler and was not needed for the overall plot whatsoever. It took away from the magic and mystery or her knowing how long she had with the men. In the end the illness never came back to affect her and proved that it was still an issue. Other instances of this are when Hugo tells her he wrote Jake's note (did they really just get over it after a brief discussion and it never come up again?), and Murphy running back to her (even though she boarded her dog rather than leaving him with her parents on multiple occasions, smh). It felt really rushed and could've done with an extra 50 or so pages.

I am very sorry to say this book left a bad taste in my mouth.