Overall, I enjoyed this read- however, the beginning was a little slower than I would have liked but I’m glad I stuck to it.

My favorite Rebecca Serle book! Loved the concept for this plot & enjoyed the different chapters of past relationships. Daphne is a great character that I’d absolutely want to be friends with. Wish the ending had a little more to it, but overall really enjoyed it.

I've read a couple of her books before, and I must say this one is the one I disliked out of them all. I found the story dragging and the previous ex boyfriends overall did not make a difference with her story other then when she developed the heart condition symptoms. I liked it was a quick and easy read, just wasn't for me.

Overall, this one landed on a solid 3.5 stars for me. I enjoyed it and read it fully in one day, but it wasn’t a favorite. In Expiration Dates, we see Rebecca Serle’s writing and how it is absolutely immersive and really places you into the story/story setting, which was my favorite part of her previous work, One Italian Summer. Unfortunately, Expiration Dates left me wanting more than we got, especially towards the end of the book. I understand the message that Serle was trying to portray, but for me the execution just wasn’t there. I did enjoy getting to know Daphne, however I felt like we only got the tip of the iceberg with her and that there was room for a deeper dive into her growth, journey, etc.

On a side note, I’m disappointed that we never figured out who or what or how Daphne was receiving the expiration date notes all these years. Did I miss this in the story? I just feel a little confused and I’m left a little sad, to be completely honest. I did enjoy the story and the premise is super unique and intriguing, but overall this just didn’t play out the way that I thought it would’ve/wanted it to!

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have read a couple of this authors books now. Hey writing really gives a lighthearted feel, but smacks you with such emotion! I really enjoy her writing. This one can be added to the list of greatness.

Rebecca Serle's latest novel, Expiration Dates, has the heart, romance, small bit of magic, and of course emotional devastation we've come to expect from Serle. The universe seems to have a plan for Daphne Bell, every time she gets a new boyfriend, she receives a piece of paper with the name of the man and the length of the relationship. Three days, five weeks, six months- she is able to go into relationship with a finite amount of time predestined. Until she receives a paper with just the name Jake- no time line. Does this mean Jake is the one? Daphne leans on her friend Kendra, boss Irina, and ex-boyfriend Hugo as she enters this new relationship and discovers if this could last forever. Set in Los Angeles, which becomes a character in itself, Expiration Dates will leave you crying and smiling.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. A nice little romantic ditty about fate vs freewill. As always, add one magical twist. A solidly enjoyable read.

Anytime I read a Rebecca Serle novel, I know I’m going to be transported and experience unexpected layers of depth and whimsy. Expiration Dates does exactly that. A touch of magical realism, compelling characters, and fun twists mean this isn’t your cookie cutter romance novel, and I am so grateful for it. I love the creative risks, the nuanced emotions, and the crisp, clear prose. That all makes anything by Rebecca Serle an auto-read for me.

Thank you to Atria Books for gifting me with an ARC to review! All opinions are my own.

This book was a quick read but I wish it had a little something more. I enjoyed the premise and the characters but I wish there was a tad more to the book to keep you interested and turning the page.

In “Expiration Date,” Daphne, the first person narrator, has received mysterious notes with the name of a man and the length of time her relationship with each one will last. The duration of the relationships range in length from a day, a few weeks, a few months and a few years. Then she receives a note with the name “Jake,” a blind date she has been set up with by a friend, with no “expiration date.” She is mystified by this sudden change in the notes’ content, and can only surmise that Jake is “the one.”

The novel goes back and forth in time, describing the various relationships and their endings, which always correspond exactly with the time specified in the notes. During the present time frame, Daphne describes her developing relationship with Jake, with whom she feels comfortable and safe. She also has a continuing friendship with Hugo, who had been her boy friend until their relationship reached it’s “expiration date.” Halfway through the book, a sudden revelation about Daphne sheds more light on the title of the book.

The narration draws you in with its elegant prose, (including beautiful descriptions of Los Angeles and the surrounding area), the great dialog, and the well drawn characters. Although this wasn’t a thriller, I couldn’t put the book down and ended up finishing it in one day. I have read all of Rebecca Serle’s previous books and loved them, so I was gratified that this book was also delightful. I highly recommend this book for those who like a well-written book with a hint of magical realism, and appealing characters.

The concept of this one was really unique. Daphne has the ability to know how long each of her relationships is going to last. When she receives a piece of paper with a name but no time, does that mean he’s her forever?…

There was an aspect of the plot that I felt came out of nowhere, was king of random, and didn’t really contribute to the overall story. It was still an enjoyable read, though!

this one was interesting. it took awhile to get into it. it had so much potential but fell a bit flat in my opinion. character development was nonexistent and springing a major thing at the 70% mark and making it basically the while book from there until the end felt odd?

thank you netgalley for the ARC!!

Thank you Atria books for the advance copy of Expiration Dates.

Rebecca Searle’s books are transformative and Expiration Dates is no exception. I loved following Daphne and she explored various relationships through the lens of time. Searle’s character development was phenomenal and I felt like I was reading about friends of mine. I couldn’t but the book down and did not expect the outcome at all!

Daphne knows how long each of her new relationships will last, every time she meets her next boyfriend, she receives a piece of paper with their name on it and a time frame indicating how long the relationship will last. Some only last a few days, while there have been some that lasted several months. When Daphne meets Jake she receives her note with his name, but this one is different, there is no timeline indicated. This leaves Daphne to wonder if she finally found the person she is meant to be with.

The book alternates between Daphnes current relationship with Jake and showing her previous relationships. One of Daphnes previous relationships was with Hugo, who is now her best friend. As you see her current relationship grow with Jake, you see a lot of her relationship with Hugo and how theirs ended. Daphne has always believed that the notes were a sign and to help guide her. As the book progresses Daphne begins to question whether the notes really determine her next relationship or whether things should be left up to fate. I really enjoyed the friendship between Daphne and Hugo and how much support he offers her throughout the book.

This was a quick, fun read with some interesting revelations along the way.

WOW!
What a fantastic book. Again, another Rebecca Serle book I cannot put down. Finished it in 2 consecutive nights, and I had to force myself to turn my kindle off.

I truly loved this book. It was full of gems, and the magical realism we have come to love from Rebecca's writing. I don't even know how to start to describe how this book has touched me. I love the discovery of self, the unexpected twists, and the endless possibilities in the ending that make it such a delight to read.

We meet Daphne, who has been receiving notes when she begins dating someone that will tell her how long that relationship is going to last. She lives her life, and how much she invests in the relationships, based on this. Now, she receives a card with just a name. We discover what this means and how it affects Daphne's present and future.

All in all, it was a fantastic book. Highly recommended.

3.5 stars!

The idea behind this book was extremely amazing. It reminds me of the question that's like: would you want to know when you're going to die? It was interesting to see how when Daphne got the papers with the amount of time her relationships would last, it would affect the actual relationship. In some, she was trying to make the best out of it, and in others, she was deflated and just went along with it. She always had the choice to not do as the paper said, so it was interesting to visit the destiny/free will argument. I can honestly say that I didn't expect that plot twist, but Hugo definitely proved his point. I'm not going to lie, the relationship she had with Jake was incredibly too boring and lacked chemistry. I don't know if this book has a playlist, or if there was any inspiration from the song, but it reminded me a bit of The Way I Loved You by Taylor Swift. This could've been a 4 ☆ for me but it just slightly missed the mark, either way, I'm rounding up.

This was a quieter read than Serle's previous books, but I still enjoyed it. Like always, her prose is thoughtful and measured, and the twists go straight to the heart.

Would you want to know when a relationship is going to end?
For years, Daphne has been getting postcards with a name, and the length of time the relationship would last, that way she knows how to get herself involved, I mean, why would you get involved if it’s only going to last six weeks or six days
This has been Daphne’s dating life all along.
Would you want to know?

I enjoyed this book. It did raise a lot of questions like if you know it’s going to end how much of yourself do you invest?

Thank you so much for the ARC of Expiration Dates! I flew threw this book. I could not put it down. I loved it so much -- my favorite Rebecca Serle book!

Yet another book by Serle, that shows me how much I adore her novels, especially because of the magical realism components found in each of them. I especially enjoy the uniqueness of each of her books and this one was no different! I was entertained by my own feelings while reading this book because I found myself rooting for a certain person, but yet I wasn't quite sure if I was supposed to be doing that or not. Her books always make you think "what if..." and this book does just that. This one was short and fun, emotional and sweet. <3

A must read of 2024 for romance lovers for sure!