The premise of this book is unique to any other book I’ve read. It begins with a description of the “gift” of Daphne. She gets a note every time she is to begin a new relationship telling her exactly how long it will last. Throughout the story she takes the reader back through some of those relationships and how they played out. When she receives one with a different “message” she begins to think about all of her other romances and how they began and end. The plot twist in the middle of the book was one I didn’t see coming. The book shows a strong female character with quirks that make the reader realize that Daphne is much like all of us, with a mismatched apartment and a love of sleeping in. This story was a quick read and I really enjoyed it. Thank you to the publishers for the ARC!

Rebecca Searle has a special way with magic realism that creates just enough of a spark of enchantment. Daphne believes that her fate is written and leans on a notes left which describe her love interests and how long it will last. Trapped by her assumed destiny, she may miss the real love of her life. Hugo is a well written male protagonist that while he has flaws, is so easy to love. The start to this story is a little difficult to follow as you pop around different timelines and learn about how Daphne’s notes play into her story. I recommend for a quick read with a little magic.

I always enjoy Rebecca’s books. They’re escapist while also being full of emotion. Without spoilers this one hit too close to home and I definitely struggled to get through it. Not because of the writing or story but just because one story line was too similar to something I am dealing with right now. So no stars review bc it was just not what I needed to read right now.

I will say I could have had more backstory and character development throughout. But I would recommend it and it will probably work for lots and lots of people.

DNf at 51%
I didn’t love all the exes stories mixed in. It’s an interesting concept, I just didn’t have enough attachment to the fmc to care much. I would have liked more in depth content about her and Jake with those other exes sprinkled in, instead it was just sprinkles of everyone. I also felt like her experiences with everyone was just told to me rather than a story painted about it. I ended up skimming to get to the parts with Jake then got a weird vibe and skipped to the end which reaffirmed my decision to put the book down.

Thank you so much Atria for allowing me to read an advance copy of Expiration Dates. My review may contain spoilers - proceed with caution!

Are our lives pre-determined? Is finding true love fate or is it destiny?

Daphne Bell has never been allowed to choose when to stay or when to leave a relationship - it's been chosen for her. Each time she meets someone new she receives a mysterious slip of paper with the man's name and length of their relationship. That is, until she meets Jake...

What an interesting and thought provoking premise! This story really makes you think about making choices and how much is in your control and how much is not. Up until now, Daphne truly believes that her fate is determined by the slips of paper that mysteriously show up. She never allows herself any more than that. For some of her relationships, this has been a relief and made it easier for her to walk away. Jake is a nice guy, but there is really no chemistry between him and Daphne. But she believes he is her fate because there is no time limit on their relationship. This clouds her ability to see the right man right in front of her. Was the story a little predictable - sure, but it was no less beautiful (hello, that scene with her Dad - tears!) and I really enjoyed it.

I have read and loved all of Rebecca Serle's books - she never disappoints! Expiration Dates is especially good and will, no doubt, spark many interesting conversations.

This was such a heartwarming and unique book!

The idea of the main character receiving letters that told her how long the relationship would be was definitely unlike anything I’ve read before!

Her books always have themes of loss, grief, and some health issues, and this one is no different

Overall really really enjoyed!

I was excited to read Expiration Dates since I enjoyed Serle's previous work In Five Year.

Daphne Bell has lived an interesting life. Whenever dating, Daphne receives a piece of paper and it has the man's name and the length of their relationship. Daphne believes the universe is telling her.
She has been receiving these papers for over twenty years. So when she receives a paper with her date's name and no date, she assumes he is The One.

As Jake and Daphne's relationship progresses, Daphne starts to question their bond.

This story is full of friendship, struggle, and love.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

An easy ready from this author. I enjoyed it but I do feel like a lot of her novels have a very similar theme and I would like to see her expand and broaden her range.

Rounding up to 3.5. I loved this book at times but it could have been so much more. I felt like it had so many missed opportunities. The ending was abrupt and I wasn't finished with the story. Rebecca Serle is a favorite author so I will continue tuning in to her books.

I’ve loved every book I’ve read by this author and this one was no different. She pulls at your heartstrings. This book was so good, I read it in one day. I couldn’t put it down. I had to know what would happen next. This was such a great love story.

Yet again, Rebecca Serle knocks it out of the park. No one writes compulsively readable, unexpectedly and perfectly plotted books as well as she does. I never quite know where Serle’s going to take a story, but I know I can just buckle up and trust that wherever’s she’s going to take me is going to be good. I loved watching Daphne’s story unfolding, of how she really works to love and accept herself as she finds love outside of herself. Like with all of Serle’s novels, it’s not quite what it seems at the start, and that makes it all the better.

I was really excited to dive into Rebecca Serle’s newest novel, Expiration Dates, after having previously read and loved both The Dinner List and In Five Years. Like these books, Expiration Dates, has a unique and promising concept that includes an element of magical realism.

The novel follows Daphne on her search for love in LA. Like many other single 30-something, Daphne is looking for love and the novel flashes back and forth between her previous relationships and the current day. But unlike others, Daphne walks into relationships knowing exactly how long they’ll last. Before any first date, a magical note appears with her date’s first name and a length of time, how long the relationship is destined to last. Until one day she receives a note with just a name and no expiration date.

I was hooked by this concept and so eager to pick up the novel. But unfortunately, I felt like the execution fell a bit flat.

Daphne, and the supporting cast of characters, all read as very one-dimensional. I struggled to connect with Daphne and I often found myself rolling my eyes as she would tell others, men in particular, that she “wasn’t like other girls” while having no personality traits behind it.

The book is short, under 300 pages, and a quick read. But I felt like where I wanted character development and relationship building in a novel that should be centered around the relationships, I would get paragraph upon paragraph that felt like they could be ripped out of a Los Angeles travel guide. I’ve never been to LA, but I don’t need a two paragraph explanation of what The Grove is. The lack of character development in lieu of a focus on random overly-detailed and repetitive descriptions of settings, outfits, food, and drinks made the novel feel elementary and boring despite having such a great concept.

Perhaps because of the lack of character development I felt like none of the characters had any chemistry. The primary relationship of the novel felt shallow and to be composed solely of small talk that felt as dull to read as a mediocre first date is to sit through.

There is a giant plot twist halfway through the novel. But to me, it didn’t feel earned and the character’s behavior for the first half of the book really does not make sense when it is revealed. If anything it made me actively dislike the MC and find her to be cruel hearted.

Overall, I think this novel had the potential to be great, unique, and strike a perfect blend between being lighthearted but it fell short and flat for me. However, if you’re looking for a short, sweet, and quick read with a touch of magical realism, this may be a great option for you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle in exchange for a honest and fair review.

This is my third book by Rebecca Serle and as always, I really enjoyed it! I love how Serle intertwines women's fiction with magical realism in a way that leaves readers totally immersed in the story.. I thought this one would be a light, fluffy romance but boy was I wrong...this book was so much more than that!

Thank you Netgalley, Rebecca Serle, and Aria books for the privilege of receiving an advance copy of Expiration Date by Rebecca Serle. I was extremely excited to read my first novel by Rebecca Serle because she has been so highly recommended to me.

The main concept of the book was about Daphne receiving notes in varies forms to allow her to know how long she will have with each relationship she experiences. It is a cool concept to know the duration a person is expected to be in your life and definitely had me thinking if I would want to know that. The cover of the book provided a good visualization of how the notes would randomly find Daphne. The flow of the book kinda reminded me more of a short story because everything happened more rapid and some of the concepts I longed for them to be more elaborated on; just were left unanswered.

This book is available March 19, 2024
Thank you again for the advance copy for an honest review.

Rebecca Serle often incorporates some sort of illness or death in her stories. This book follow the same formula. While I enjoyed the idea of Daphne's magical notes and the details of each relationship interspersed throughout the story, the ending left me wanting more.

Rebecca Serle often incorporates some sort of illness or death in her stories. This book follow the same formula. While I enjoyed the idea of Daphne's magical notes and the details of each relationship interspersed throughout the story, the ending left me wanting more.

3.5 stars rounded up. I had a bit of a love-hate relationship with this book, but it ended up being much more love than hate. I'll get the negatives out of the way first. I NEEDED an explanation as to how or why these notes were happening. At the very least, why just to Daphne? I felt like the fact that there was no conclusion to that at all was kind of a cop-out. Next, I hated that she ended up with Hugo. Jake was textbook perfect and Daphne loved him and was happy with him, so there was literally no reason for her to break off their engagement besides...what? She thought she didn't deserve him? She wasn't ready to commit? And let's be real, Hugo sucked. I don't think the author presented us with even one redeeming quality besides maybe the fact that he was good in bed 5 years ago. It was just the epitome of "Meet my opposite sex best friend that you don't have to worry about at all." just for that person to cheat on you with said best friend or get with them after you all break up!!

Okay, let's end this on a positive note since this was a 4 star read after all! I loved the writing. I loved the pacing. I loved the flashback chapters to old boyfriends and flings Daphne had and could actually have even used more of it. I loved Jack and Daphne's relationship and actually wish that it had been fleshed out even more. I was really only sad when it ended because I was enjoying where their story was going.

Overall, this was another Rebecca Serle hit for me and I'm already ready for what she comes up with next. Her combination of contemporary fiction, romance, and magical realism is so fun and intriguing for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

All of her life Daphne has gotten these mysterious slips of paper that foretell the length of time she will be with her next boyfriend. When the story opens, she has gotten the strangest one of all about her new boyfriend, Jake, and she doesn't quite know what to do. As the story unfolds, it flashes back to the past and gives us glimpses of the other boyfriends who have come before Jake, including, Hugo who still remains a friend to Daphne. The book held my interest in the beginning. We learned about her history while also seeing Daphne and Jake's relationship grow more serious. I had just started getting a bit bored when they dropped a bomb. Daphne has a BIG secret! Now we realize why these little fortune telling notes really have meaning in her life. What was she going to do now? I loved the twists that I didn't see coming but I did feel that the ending was a bit abrupt. Another very interesting story by this author! Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me have an advanced copy to read.

This was a fun, solid read - a lot of romance mixed with a bit of magical realism, set in Los Angeles.

It wasn't particularly memorable, but I did enjoy it. It was quick and rich with a heartwarming message - live life to the fullest & embrace the unexpected joys and heartbreaks.

I think the issue I had was that I didn't feel all that connected to the characters. Daphne reveals a "twist" halfway through the book that wasn't exactly shocking (I wasn't expecting it, though), but it was a bit weird to me that the main character had kept this secret from us for half of the book.

I do think Rebecca Serle is a solid writer, and I liked how creative the story was!

I enjoyed this book quite a lot. It wasn’t the kind of book I usually read but it pulled me in and I liked the ride. I think if you enjoy women’s literary fiction you will enjoy this story.