This was a really great read. Serle has perfected the genre of magical realism romance that isn’t actually romance. The idea of the expiration dates was really interesting. If you knew exactly how long a relationship would last, would that affect how you felt about that person?

I loved all of the characters, and how the relationships were handled. And then of course there was a plot twist halfway that shook up everything.

This is a nice, short read that packs an emotional punch. I wanted to feel a bit more emotion and angst, but overall I really loved it.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a deeply frustrating book. The premise is super cool - the female protagonist gets a slip of paper with a name and an amount of time everytime she begins a new relationship. Unfortunately, the execution was not great. Daphne did not have any real personality traits, and neither did any of the side characters. The messaging of the story felt cheesy and it was not particularly romantic. I also did not see the plot twist in the middle coming at all because it was so out of the blue.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really like Rebecca Serle's writing style, and I liked this book overall. It wasn't quite what I expected but had some truly touching moments. The hard part for me is it didn't feel like Daphne and Jake had any chemistry, and the parts about their relationship were somewhat boring. It was still a solid read, though.

I wasn't sure how I initially felt about this book prob due to the concept of how she lives her love life based upon mysterious paper/notes that she receives that tells her how long each relationship will last. It felt a little different but as I continued-I learned to appreciate and see how Daphne viewed her life/love life due to her fate (messages).

I read this book in a matter of 2 days I was hooked after the first few chapters.

I absolutely loved this book and a satisfying ending. I would love another epilogue more of Daphne and her relationship with the man she finds herself with in the end.

This was the first book I've read by Rebecca and I look forward to reading more of her books.

Thank you Netgalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read this story early..

I needed a fast read that was mostly plot driven to fill in some time after reading two excellent pieces of literary fiction. I always think the
author is capable of something more but really in the end I am let down by all her books which I know are escapist but read to me like a tv movie. It could be that illness and relationships as a theme have lost every creative spark…I felt it was a bit like reading one of the less good modern love columns. I did finish it, unusual now when I am underwhelmed..which does up the stars to three.

Daphne knows exactly how long her romantic relationships will last thanks to a mysterious paper that will show up soon after meeting the man. Now, she receives a paper that has no end date on it.

Wow. What a beautiful book.
Here's what I loved.

The relationships. You don't just get to delve into Daphne's current relationship but you also go back and meet some of the men that didn't work out. Along with that, you also get to see into her life with her parents and friends. All of this gave the book such depth.

The audio. Julia Whalen does an amazing job with this audio. She gets into all of the characters so well.

A look at life. This book poses so many questions about life in general. What would happen if you know the outcome of something? Serle does an amazing job digging deep with this idea and really giving some good insights.

All in all, this was an amazing novel!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy

I really enjoyed Rebecca Serle's In Five Years and this is another good one. The premise was fun and interesting - every time Daphne Bell meets a new guy, she gets a piece of paper with his name and the amount of time they will be together. Her ex-boyfriend Hugo is now her best friend - his paper said 3 months and that's exactly how long their romantic relationship lasted. After 20 years of receiving these papers, Daphne is wondering if there will ever be a name with no expiration date. When Daphne's best friend Kendra sets her up on a blind date with Jake, that paper finally arrives. "Part of the beauty of the paper is that it allows me to be present. To not plan ahead too far, not further than specified. Until now." Daphne and Jake's relationship quickly becomes very serious, but Jake not only doesn't know about Daphne's "papers", there's something else that's much more important that she's not telling him. This is a quick, easy read that I finished in two days. Thanks to #netgalley #atriabooks and #rebeccaserle for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars. This is my fourth and favorite book thus far by Serle!

Synopsis: Every time single Daphne meets a potential new boyfriend, she mysteriously receives a piece of paper with his name and a number on it, which corresponds with the amount of time their relationship will last. That is, until she meets Jake, and the paper only contains his name, with no length of time on it. Does this mean he is The One?

Without spoiling the story, I really enjoy how she always takes what appears to be a simple, light romance story, but she adds complexity and a touch of magical realism that make for a much more meaningful, moving, and memorable work!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book to review.

This is hands down my favorite Rebecca Serle book, and I devoured it in one sitting! There are some incredibly relatable and beautifully written passages in this novel that hit way too close to home - perhaps that's why it left me feeling so emotional!

Similar to "One Italian Summer," "Expiration Dates" incorporates magical realism, but it's executed with such finesse! The book encapsulates so many essential themes. Daphne has been receiving letters since she was very young, each containing the timeline of their relationship (e.g., three weeks, 1 day, 3 years). However, one day, she receives a blank piece of paper, implying there is no expiration date. Could this mean she's finally found "the one"?

What makes Daphne so relatable is her adherence to the timelines provided on those pieces of paper - almost as if she's self-sabotaging her own life. In her most vulnerable moments, she questions whether she truly deserves love and affection. Yet, something within her prevents her from fully believing otherwise.

While the plot may be somewhat predictable, I found myself completely engrossed in Daphne's journey toward happiness. The conclusion involving her dad was incredibly heartfelt and left a lasting impact.

Rebecca Serle has a knack for writing a romantic story wrapped up in magical realism. While I was reading it, I enjoyed it and really liked the story. I never quite felt a connection to Daphne but it was an intriguing story, particularly when you got to the 'twist' of why she is so obsessed with getting the notes. The ending was perfect and made me smile. It's one of those stories that makes you question our own life choices. How would you live differently if you were given the same notes as Daphne?

This was my third Rebecca Serle novel, and I was very excited to see that this iteration revolves around Daphne Bell and the mysterious notes that foreshadows the name of a love interest and an "expiration date" of that relationship. She receives a note with "Jake" and no time stamp, leading her to believe that no ending means she's finally met the one. This is where everything goes awry for me—I found it incredibly hard to believe that Daphne was willing to go all in with Jake, whose character development was essentially zero aside from Daphne trying to convince herself to settle for this stale but safe pick. A plot twist comes in predictably late to afford Daphne a few extra chapters to lament her victimhood and make a laughable decision concerning Hugo, her ex turned meddlesome and haughty best guy friend. The concept was promising and I wanted to acquire the taste for Serle's work but unfortunately, Expiration Dates joins its predecessors as another failed execution of magical realism.

This was a beautiful story. It was so much more than a romance. It was a powerful story of self discovery and gaining the love for oneself despite your struggles. Daphne has a past and some issues that will follow her always but only one person knows about it. Hugo is a genuine, caring, amazing friend to Daphne and he is the only one that knows Daphne 100%. When she meets Jake, he truly seems perfect.

What kept this from a five star for me was the beginning was very slow. I’m not sure how since it was a shorter book but i couldn’t really tell where the story was going until halfway in. I enjoyed the look into the past and the mystery of the relationship expiration date postcards and notes. All in all I definitely recommend this one as I would for all of Rebecca Serle’s books!

HOLY COW HELLO FAVORITE BOOK OF 2024!!!!!!!!!!!

This was so unique. So cute. So easy to read. So easy to love.

I absolutely loved this book. Every Serle book has been adorable and intriguing with the magical realism sprinkled in. This book is just magical enough to be believable. I fell in love with Daphne and Hugo. I was like omg wait is she not supposed to end up with Hugo? I went in blind and had zero clue what this was about.

Seriously the CUTEST book ever. I loved the ending. I loved everything. This would make the best movie ever.

Thank you so much for the ARC. Five easiest stars I've ever given.

Daphne's story is an unusual one. If you could find out the expiration date of a relationship upon its conception simply by opening a letter and reading it, would you?

This is reality for Daphne Bell. Similarly to Rebecca's other books, Expiration Dates melts together elements of magical realism with the storyline flawlessly. Although this story seems complex, it's quite normal for Daphne who has lived her life according to The Universe's plan. That is, until she meets Jake who throws her whole life for a loop. With the help of her best friend, Hugo, she begins to navigate new territory and learns more about herself, and about love, than she ever imagined.

While I found some of the storylines and details a little confusing, and some unnecessary, through the past/ present POV, I really enjoyed one particular twist at the end. At first, I was really upset and felt completely heartbroken but I've read Rebecca's work enough to know that the ending never disappoints!

Overall, I thought this book was enjoyable and did a great job at combining romance and magical realism, with a bit of mystery. It was a quick read and would make for a great poolside or beach-read. Pub day March 19th.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the eARC and ALC.

This book captured and entertained me until it shredded my heart and then patched it back together again….here….READ IT! Seriously, how is this my first book by Rebecca Serle? I have some books to read! In this charming and heartbreaking novel, Daphne is single and good at it. Every man she dates comes with a magical message so she’ll know when Mr. Right has arrived. Her best friend, Hugo, is very supportive and helps her realize that Jake is THE ONE, when Daphne doubts the wisdom of the Universe. This story is NOT the story you think it is in all the best ways! I loved all the characters, especially Hugo and I will not be able to see a pair of Doc Martens without thinking of Jake. Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This very special book will finally be available for purchase on March 19, 2024, preorder now so you can be reading it as soon as possible!

This book was so cute! I loved the magical realism vibes and how Daphne’s love life really depended on the letters she got. This one had second chance romance, deep conversations and even health concerns. While it wasn’t my favorite by Serle I still really enjoyed it!

Daphne Bell's life is unusual, but very interesting. When it comes to dating every man she has dated, she found a piece of paper with his name and how many dates they would have. Her career is interesting too. When she gets the piece of paper with Jake written on it, she knew this was the one the universe wanted her to be with.
They date and start their journey to see where it goes, She still believes this is what the universe wants for her, but she is thinking about things now, and life always has unexpected surprises, so what will she discover, what will she decide, you will have to read the book. It did make me think about if I would want to know expiration dates and other things that would happen.
I received an ARC from Atria Books through NetGalley.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
I have wanted to get more into romance books and decided to start with this one. The premise is unlike anything I've heard of before and I was really hoping it would be a unique book. Unfortunately, I ended up DNFing this book about halfway through. I just couldn't get into it and it was reading like the typical romance book which is not what I was looking for.
I think people who read romance more often would like this book better. The idea was cute - it just wasn't for me.

Rebecca Serle can do no wrong! Just like every other book written by this author, this was so creatively written. This story captured my attention from the beginning and I just didn’t want the story to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I love Rebecca Serle’s
novels, so I was thrilled to be able to read this in advance. I am not 100% sure where I land on this one. The premise of the book sounded so interesting, but it didn’t really end up being what the book was about. I guess I should have expected that as Serle often throws in some type of illness or unexpected loss in her books. This particular twist just didn’t work as well for me. Overall, I love Serle’s writing and the way she keeps her books concise. I think many other authors would have dragged this one out for another 50-60 pages, but it definitely didn’t need it.