What if you knew how long every romantic relationship would last? At the beginning of every new relationship, Daphne receives a paper with nothing but a name and duration of time written on it. These expiration dates define her romantic history for most of her adult life.

No one does magical realism quite like Rebecca Serle. It’s natural, and believable and not at all over the top. It’s easy to suspend your disbelief, and fully immerse yourself in the story.

Expiration Dates is told with a nonlinear timeline. The first half of the book I felt like something was missing, but then the second half of the book, as more of the story unfolded, everything came together. I do wish there had been more chemistry between the characters, but I also feel that this book wasn’t as much a love story as it was Daphne’s story.

This was a unique story that made me think about expectations. I adore Rebecca Serle’s writing, and at this point she has become an auto-read author for me. A sincere thank you to Atria books and Netgalley for this electronic arc of Expiration Dates. This review is entirely my own thoughts.

I am a @rebecca_serle fan through and through! Her books always include some fun magical element, friendship, romance, and self-discovery which has me returning every time!

A quick and bingeable read filled with second chance love, chronic illness, multiple and nonlinear timelines, and a unique premise! She just has a way of sucking me into a story!

Hmm, this one is a tough one to rate for me. Rebecca Serle is an auto-buy author for me, so I was extremely excited for this book.

Like her other books, it was a quick and easy read with a touch of magical realism. I love those aspects of her books. Yet something about this one slightly missed the mark for me. I felt that something more could've been done with the premise of the book, regarding the notes she receives before meeting the next person she'll be in a relationship with, that tell her exactly how long each relationship will last.

There's a lot I can't say without spoilers, so I will just say that I suspected the ending from VERY early on in the book, just didn't know how it was going to get there.

There was a strange amount of focus on name-dropping restaurants in the LA area, as well as listing exactly what food and drinks were ordered at every place they ate (and there was a lot of eating out, so this was a repeated occurrence throughout the book). There was also a lot of attention given to describing in detail what the main characters were wearing in many different scenes. It certainly wasn't necessary to the story, and I suppose the author was just trying to paint a picture for us, but it just seemed like a LOT of attention was giving to those insignificant details (there was one clothing item/style that had a reason behind it, but it was still a minor detail that really wasn't necessary to the story). The story also repeatedly referenced all the "stuff" that the main character owned, but again, this detail felt unnecessary to the story and it became weird that it was brought up so often.

All of that aside, I did still like this book. Because it was a quick and easy read, I don't regret putting in the time to read it. I like the premise of the story and I enjoyed seeing the main character's journey throughout the book, though it didn't elicit an emotional response from me in any way. I still really like Rebecca Serle's writing style, but this book was not my favorite from her. I think a book with this premise could've had the potential to be a 5-star read for me, but unfortunately it ended up falling a little short, and was instead a solid "good" read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I always enjoy Rebecca Serles use of time hopping, or some sort of time related magic (in this book, the notes with names and dates). It’s such a creative way of writing and none of her books remind me of anything I’ve read before. This book had an intriguing premise, where Daphne would receive notes telling her the “expiration date” of her next relationship. RS’s books always seem to have a theme of living life completely and not taking things for granted or at face value, but really seeking deep down. There was a surprise complication in Daphne’s life that I did not expect, but thought fit the theme well. Overall I liked the story, but I didn’t love it.

This was…fine. I like the premise, and it had the touch of magical realism that I love from Rebecca Serle, but the book lost me towards the middle and the end.

Did I like this book? I think so. But I find myself thinking that I was expecting more from it than what I got.
Daphne has an unusual life in that just before she meets a new man, the universe delivers her a piece of paper with his name and the exact amount of time that they will be together on it and it’s always right. Until she gets a paper with only the name Jake on it and no time frame so she’s left thinking that he is it, he’s the last one she will be with-her forever. But as their relationship progresses, Daphne starts to wonder what it’s means to be in a relationship with someone that she hasn’t been completely honest with-she hasn’t told him about the papers, or another really big secret as well. And then of course there her relationship with her best friend, Hugo, who happens to be her ex and her last long term relationship.
With that kind of premise I was expecting something super special because it’s so unique. To know your relationship destiny is a double edged sword-do you try and direct it or just let the chips fall where they may?
But unfortunately Jake and Daphne lacked chemistry so their relationship felt bland to me, and though they described it as comfortable, I wanted more! I wanted romance and chemistry and love oozing out of the page and there was none of that despite Daphne’s ideal of living your best life because it’s the only one you’ve got.
So yes, I did like it even if it lacked the oomph I was hoping for. There were some emotional moments and some food for thought that resonated with me.
Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Expiration Dates’ plot hooked me from the beginning. What if you knew the expiration of every love interest you had? Would this shape how you would approach the relationship. Would you refuse to be all in knowing you only had two weeks? Daphne, the main character receives a note with a person’s name on it and a date reference- typically weeks or months. She realizes early in life this is a premonition of the length of their romantic relationship. This was such a unique story concept to me and I loved it! I love when a book makes you think about every day life in a different point of view. This book covers so many great aspects of living life in the moment, being honest with yourself but also trusting those you are closest to, taking chances and finding true love. It’s a beautifully written story and I felt like I was cheering Daphne along as the story went on. This would be a phenomenal book club book! Many thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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.