Daphne is familiar with plans. Every time she meets a new guy, she receives a piece of paper from the universe with his name on it and how long their time together will be. Sometimes it’s short, sometimes it’s longer. When Daphne receives a paper with just “Jake” on it and no end date, she feels sure he must be the one.

As she gets to know Jake, it’s clear to Daphne that he’s a great guy and she wonders when it’s the right time to share everything with him.

Expiration Dates is easily now my second favorite Rebecca Serle book after In Five Years. The story was fast and engaging. I saw one big element coming early on, but another surprised me, and I enjoyed the story and its message about personal timing, living life, and finding love.

I loved the premise of the book- that Daphne randomly receives a note with a name and an amount of time she’ll spend with each man she becomes romantically involved with.

Following her path throughout the years and the men definitely was entertaining!

This was a quick and easy read, and an enjoyable one too!

Thank you to #netgalley for this ARC of #expirationdates

Some nice turns of phrases and an interesting concept, including the flashbacks. Altogether, it was simply an ok read.

So, I don't really like giving a rating below a three - for one thing, I don't usually like reading a book below a three, and for another I just feel bad for the low rating. I really, really wanted to give this a three, and it is so close... but just not quite there.
The fantasy-like premise was just a bit too much, the writing was descriptive in the wrong places (outfits, meals, locations), but not descriptive enough in the important places (people, relationships.)
Daphne gets notes from who-knows-where whenever she meets a new man she is about to embark on a romantic relationship. These notes tell her exactly how long the relationship will last. I get it, it's fiction, that's the premise of the story, but it just seems a little over the top; I just couldn't quite wrap my mind around the unreality of it.
Anyway, Daphne finally gets a note with no expiration date! She thinks this must be "The One". Thus progresses the story of their rather bland relationship. Her beau, Jake, was way too good to be true but his character development was a bit sub-par. Then there is Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. And of course, it eventually becomes somewhat of a triangle with the three until she works it out at the end.
I guess I enjoyed it, I mean I didn't mind it. But would I recommend it? Not really...

At the beginning of all of Daphne's relationships, she receives a note with his name and how long it will last, until one day she receives a note that says "Jake" and nothing else. Daphne has finally met her forever and everything is perfect, but what will happen when her secrets she's been harboring finally come to the surface?

A whimsical look into what would happen if we knew our fate and what we would do to keep it or change it. A modern take on the idea of fate and where it can take you or where you will take it.

I was given an arc of the ebook through NetGalley.

I loved this book and I love Rebecca Searle’s writing. It’s almost poetic and just really beautiful. I love that her books have a little magic in them, usually with no explanation, which occurred in this book.

Daphne was a great main character. Not perfect but I loved all her philosophies on life. There was definitely a twist about 2/3 the way through that I was not expecting!

I gave it 4 stars because the beginning started out slow for me. I wasn’t immediately hooked. It took a little time for me to be fully invested but by the end of it I definitely was!

could not get past the magical realism of someone actually believing things like this can happen. ugh.

I don't know why I requested to read this. This author is not for me. I have read serval of her books and did not like them. I did not like this one either.

Important details about Expiration Dates

Pace: Medium

POV: 1st person (Daphne)

Trigger Warnings: Expiration Dates contains themes that include chronic illness, medical content, medical trauma, death, grief, cancer, infertility, and infidelity.

Language: There is mild swearing in Expiration Dates. There is also language used that might offend some people.

Sexual Content: There is mild sexual content in Expiration Dates.

Setting: Expiration Dates is set mainly in Los Angeles, California. There are also chapters that are set in Paris, France and San Fransisco.

My Review

When I read the blurb for Expiration Dates, I knew that this was a book that I wanted to read. It hit all of my likes (romance, magic) and there was enough in the blurb that made me even more interested to read it. Well, I am glad that I accepted the invite because this book was fantastic.

The main storyline of Expiration Dates centers around Daphne. Since she was in middle school, Daphne had been receiving papers with the name of the person she just started dating and how long the relationship would last. This information has caused her to not be as invested in her relationships as she should have been. I absolutely loved the concept for this storyline and I loved how the author executed it. Of course, there are a couple of twists in the storyline did further shed light on Daphen’s attitude. But, it was the admission at the end of the book that surprised me. I didn’t expect not only the admission but what was admitted and by who.

I loved the romance angle of Expiration Dates. Daphne’s dating life was interesting (and honestly, at times, heartbreaking). The author did show how knowing how long a relationship would last affected Daphne. By the time she met Jack, Daphne no longer got emotionally connected to any of her boyfriends. The only one she really kept in contact with was Hugh (who was her best friend). Of course, there was a significant twist that also figured into her not wanting to get attached. Once that was revealed, her reluctance made more sense.

The end of Exipiration Dates was interesting. Not only did Daphne make a pretty big decision but she found out something that blew her mind. It also blew my mind because of how much of a game changer it was for Daphne. I loved the very end. It showed a very different Daphne than the one we got to know throughout the book.

Many thanks to Atria Books, NetGalley, and Rebecca Serle for allowing me to read and review this ARC of Expiration Dates. All opinions stated in this review are mine.

Some interesting questions about fate vs self-fulfilling destiny, but ultimately, the magical elements of this contemporary romance are more of a distraction than an enhancement. I really liked the main character and what we learn about her life, but the story itself is perhaps trying to do too much.

This wasa much better book than someothers i have read by this author. it wa slightly more relatable and believeable. thank you!

I think Rebecca Serle keeps getting better with each new release. This story continued her ongoing book themes of magical realism by having the main character get a notice of each new boyfriend and the amount of time she will have with him. I love the idea of it and really liked the main character; however, I always find myself wanting a bit more substance when I read her books. Like, I would have loved to see her build out more of the primary relationships. Each one was very short and we never really got to know any of them so it was really hard to root for any one guy. The sporadic moments she did get into it were so sweet. All I would say is, "more of that, please!" But even having said that, I have a feeling this will be rated higher than her previous titles.

Since she was old enough to date, Daphne has received mysterious pieces of paper with a name and the relationship length. But, what happens when the latest paper says only a name and no length of time? Has she finally found the one?

The premise of this book was so intriguing. What if you knew exactly how long you'd be dating your current love interest? Would it affect your relationship? Would it affect how you think about and treat that person? Would it encourage self-or-relationship-sabotage? It definitely provided much food for thought and would make an excellent book club choice. This author has such a special and poignant way of expressing and thinking about grief and life and love, and I would highly recommend it even if you're not typically a big romance reader.

If you loved this book, then I would highly recommend my favorite by this author, One Italian Summer (5 stars)... but really, you can't go wrong with any of them!

Location: Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; Paris, France

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Not for me

I slogged my way through this, reading a bit, setting it aside for something else, trying again. I couldn't connect with the MC, felt something was very off about the writing. For example, at one point the MC enters her boss' house and "unalarmed" the system. Huh? The word is "disarm". I hope this gets corrected during the edit process.

Anyway, I am sure there are many others to whom this book will appeal, resonate and be loved by, just not me.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

Fans of Rebecca Serle's work will absolutely adore and devour this book. In her true fashion, she is giving her fans exactly what they are asking for. This was a solid romance, but it was not my favorite of hers. I felt a disconnect from the characters and kept putting this book down to read others on my list. It's not terrible, just not for me.


Arc received from the publisher; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Daphne Bell goes into all of her relationships knowing exactly how long they are going to last thanks to notes from the universe with a name and an amount of time. Before her first date with Jake, the note she gets only has her name on it. No expiration date.

I really enjoyed the premise of this story. I liked getting to know Daphne through some of her past relationships. The timing of some of the reveals felt a little off to me. I thought there were some big moments that would've made more sense to me if they'd been incorporated earlier. Overall, it was a good read, but it didn't live up to some of Rebecca Serle's other novels for me.

Rebecca Serle is becoming one of my favorite new writers! This one did not disappoint! Good storyline, characters, etc. I could get lost in her writing for hours.

Rebecca Serle’s “Expiration Dates” captivates readers with a unique premise and an unexpected twist that keeps you hooked until the very end. As a fan of Serle’s emotionally charged storytelling, I found this novel to be one of her best yet.

The protagonist, Daphne Bell, is instantly relatable, navigating the complexities of romance while grappling with a mysterious gift that predicts the duration of her relationships. Serle expertly weaves together past and present timelines, allowing readers to witness Daphne’s journey through love and self-discovery.

What sets “Expiration Dates” apart is its exploration of the impact of foreknowledge on relationships. As Daphne confronts the limitations of her gift, readers are drawn into a thought-provoking exploration of commitment and truth.

The revelation of Daphne’s secret midway through the book adds an unexpected layer of depth to her character, challenging readers to reassess their understanding of her motivations and actions. Serle’s portrayal of Daphne’s conflicted emotions adds richness to her character, making her journey all the more compelling.

Additionally, Serle excels in depicting the complex dynamics of family relationships, particularly Daphne’s bond with her parents. Their influence on her life adds a touching dimension to the story, highlighting the importance of familial support in times of uncertainty.

Overall, “Expiration Dates” is a gripping, emotional, and ultimately heartwarming tale that delves into the complexities of love, commitment, and self-discovery. Serle’s masterful storytelling and well-developed characters make this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

I received a DRC of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

I absolutely loved this story and it is my favorite of @rebecca_serle yet.

This story was so thought provoking and explored so perfectly the concepts of free will and the choices we make.

I annotated so much of this book. Serle’s words made an imprint on my heart.

“It's hard to hold on to people the older we get. Life looks different for everyone, and you have to keep choosing one another. You have to make a conscious effort to say, over and over again, “You.” Not everyone makes that choice. Not everyone can”

“Love is a net.”

“We are powerful because we affect each other's stories all of us. We are here to impact each other, to knock into each other, to throw each other off-balance, sometimes even off track. I've always hated the phrase “There's a reason for everything.” But here, now, I think even if there's not a reason for everything, there may be a reason for everyone.”

Daphne is a complex character. She is tough and stubborn and makes you frustrated and then understanding. She is relatable and deep and her vulnerability is always my favorite character trait. This story is perfect. There are twists and turns and times when you really cannot understand why the characters are doing what they are, but that's life and I loved it.

Read this one. Definitely going to be one of my favorites of the year.

For more than twenty years Daphne has randomly received pieces of paper with the name of the next man in her life and the amount of time they will spend together – be it one night or three months. Receiving a paper with only a name (Jake) and no date sends Daphne into a tailspin. What does it mean? Is Jake “the one”? What transpires next is not a romance, and not a love story, but Daphne’s examination of her past, and her journey toward a future of her own making.

With the intriguing premise, I had high hopes for Expiration Dates. Unfortunately, this one did not work for me at all. The frequent name-dropping of Hollywood locales and the recitation of what everyone was wearing grew tiresome quickly. Instead of giving a nod to setting and characters, it lent a feeling of superficiality to both. The flashbacks of Daphne’s prior relationships never seemed to give me any further insight into Daphne. There is a twist that comes more than halfway through the story and felt so completely out of left field. It shifted the focus with a jolt and had me wishing for a smoother transition. Lastly, there was a significant character that acted so atrociously and delivered a betrayal that was, for me, unforgivable. The blurb calls this “the romance that will define a generation.” I beg to differ.