This review contains spoilers!

I when I began Expiration Dates, I had high hopes for the book. Reading the provided synopsis I was certain I would love it. And I did, until I was about 60% of the way through.

We follow Daphne Bell, a young woman living and working in California. All her life she has been receiving small notes with only a name and length of time. The name is the name of someone she will meet and date for the specified period of time. I was instantly intrigued because how on earth does this happen? And who has been dictating her love life?

The book is full of plot twists, which normally I find to be a good thing, except the plot twist in this book hit a little too close to home and its inaccuracies enrage me.

At 21 years old, Daphne suffers a widow-maker or sudden cardiac arrest. She learns that she has a congenital heart defect (also referred to congenital heart disease, but I prefer defect in place of disease). All CHDs occur in utero before birth**. They are among one in thousands of types of birth defects.

In Daphne's case this defect went undetected until she was 21 when she had a severe heart attack. This is not common, but it isn't uncommon either.

I give you this background to provide the back drop for the inaccuracies - The author indicates the defect is genetic and unexplainable. This isn't completely correct; not all heart defects are genetic but they are usually unexplainable.
The author explains that Daphne is in stage 2 heart failure which will only get worse over time. NOT TRUE! Some CHD adults do recover and come out of heart failure with lifestyle changes and the right medications.

The placement of her scars from surgeries are circumspect. The author tells us Daphne hasn't had open heart surgery yet there is a scar on her sternum; that is generally associated with open heart surgery. One of her scars is under her left breast. In fact, the author tells us her scars are hidden by her breasts/have faded considerably.
The fading I believe. However, your breasts don't usually hide scars associated with an ICD placement as those are generally placed in the upper left side of the chest, below the clavicle but above the heart. This means her breasts wouldn't be able to hide said scar. Devices generally only last 7-10 years (at the most!) so the likelihood of Daphne having at least one device change between her diagnosis and the present is about 75-80% possible, which means her scar would be relatively fresh.

Once the author made that jump in the plot, I lost quite a bit of interest in the book. It was easy to see she was trying to make the correlation between the heart defect and the slips of paper of would-be boyfriends. But it was a very thin comparison.

To firm up that comparison the author began flashbacks of other boyfriends and their expiration dates.

Linking the heart defect to the boyfriend papers was a poor attempt at drawing inferences and similarities between the two. In my opinion, the reasons for the papers was never really explained or solved adequately.

I could however, understand why she didn't want to tell each boyfriend about the heart defect. The fear of rejection is strong when you have a birth defect that can easily define your life but that's where I draw the line on plausibility.

Again, I really wanted to like this book and I had high hopes for it UNTIL the heard defect plot twist. Once that happened, all credibility in the story was lost.

** I provided all the information on congenital heart defects because I have one. I have a pacemaker as a result of my congenital heart defect and have had one since I was four months old. I'm also in heart failure.

Thank you to Atria books/Simon & Shuster as well as Netgalley for providing me with a digital Arc of this book.

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together.

I was intrigued immediately from that synopsis and the book did not disappoint. I found Expiration Dates to be a quick, easy read that I did not want to put down. I really enjoyed Daphne's love story - with the men in her life and ultimately with herself. I was pleasantly surprised with the direction the book took and where Daphne ended up. Very enjoyable read. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for this ARC.

"Love is a net." Daphne Bell receives notes from the universe. Each note contains a name and a number. We soon realize these notes correspond to the men she dates and the amount of time she will date them for. (Ex. Josh, three weeks.) In other words, each relationship comes with an 'expiration date.' Is this a gift or a curse? That's for you to decide. When Daphne meets Jake, the note she receives says his name but there isn't a number. Could he be the one? Her forever? As their relationship grows, author Rebecca Serle details Daphne's previous relationships through a series of flashbacks. There is also an unexpected twist I did not see coming - which changes the narrative in a big way.

Serle is a master of blending women's fiction with magical realism. While I was not a big fan of 'In Five Years,' I really enjoyed this book. In fact, I read it in one day! Even if you haven't enjoyed Serle's previous works, give this one a shot. It is so much more than another romance.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own,

emotional hopeful informative mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0

This was such an interesting premise, and I really enjoyed it. Rebecca's prose is so romantic and soothing — it feels like drinking a warm cup of your favorite tea. I loved the slips of paper, the flashbacks to all her previous romances and how her current one unfolded. I know the point of the ending was to be a unfinished, but it did feel slightly too unfinished for me. That said, the twists in this book really surprised me!! I just want to know how the papers work. I also want to know what was on the last slip. And knowing that things could keep going after the paper said things would end?! Wild. Hugo was messy for real. I love him. And he fell SO fucking hard for her. "I wish I knew it was finite for you," or whatever that quote was?? Absolutely wrecked me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my review.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Expiration Dates was one of my most anticipated books of the year (https://www.julesbuono.com/most-anticipated-books/) Rebecca Serle has become known for emotional stories involving magical realism, grief/trauma, and a quick, fast-paced plot. This book has all of those things. But, it's also lacking in many ways and isn't her best work.

The basic premise is that Daphne magically receives notes telling her how long she will be with a man when she meets him, and when she finally gets a piece of paper that says "Jake" with no expiration date, she's thrilled. As the relationship progresses, she also balances her time with her best friend, Hugo, who happens to be one of her "expired" exes. Along the way the the end of the story, there are two big twists.

The Pros:
- I LOVED the Los Angeles setting. It felt so escapist to me here in the Northeast in January.
- I loved the unique premise.
- I loved that it was a quick and breezy read. It was a treat to fly through it with ease.

The Cons:
- Practically zero character development. Jake, in particular, felt almost robotic.
- Zero chemistry between Daphne and Jake. It was like he just really wanted a girlfriend and she just relied on the paper's prediction.
- For a short book, the story should have been super tight, punchy, and impactful. Instead, it felt more like a short story or novella that was fleshed out with fillers, like random descriptions and portraits of Daphne's exes.
- The theme of fate versus free will could have been fleshed out a lot more, and more deeply. It could have been another "The Midnight Library" and really made an impact on how we think about life. But it never went there.
- I didn't totally like Daphne's secret or her decisions to keep it a secret. It felt mean and unfair to Jake, who had already been through a lot. It also felt more like trauma for the sake of trauma than a legitimate plot point.
- Tons of plot holes. I kept wanting gaps to be filled in or things to be answered better.
- Unclear whether this was meant to be a love story or a story of self-love / acceptance / discovery, especially since it ended fairly abruptly.

Overall, I did enjoy it, and if there's a sequel, I will definitely read it. There's still something I really like about Serle's books. But, I just thought this particular one could have used a few more rounds of editing. I'd recommend it as a really quick read if you have a plane ride, etc., but otherwise, I'd recommend her other work above it.

With each man that Daphne dates, a piece of paper shows up with the man’s name and the length of time she will date them. It could be hours, days, months. Each paper is different and kept in a little box under her bed.

One day she received a paper with the name Jake but no length of time. Does this mean he’s the one? Is this forever?

The Dinner List is one of my favorite books, and One Italian Summer was wonderful. This book was ok, but it did fall short. I didn’t connect with the female lead at all. Her best friend Hugo was great, but Daphne didn’t do much for me. I also wish we could have gotten more background on the notes. That really could have developed into something interesting with the “twist” that was also presented.

I did predict what would happen in the end. I’m glad it all worked out how it did, but as I said before, I wasn’t really invested in Daphne too much to care.

Expiration Dates is the latest sweet, sad, romantic magical realism book by Rebecca Serle. Every time Daphne meets a man she will have a relationship with, she gets a slip of paper with the length of their relationship on it. As she enters each relationship, she knows if it will last a weekend, a few weeks, or a year. Finally she gets a piece of paper with a name and no end date on it. As we follow her into this relationship, we get to see her relationship history with the men of her past through flashbacks. I thought it would end as expected but there were reveals and twists that kept me interested and surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and will continue to pick up everything Rebecca Serle writes.

I enjoyed Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle just fine, but it didn't feel as exciting and I wasn't as interested as I was hoping. I found the main character, Daphne, to be whiny and frustrating. The overall themes of the story are important, but watching Daphne take so long to get to that place made the book overall less enjoyable.

DNF at Chapter 15. I really tried with this one; however, I couldn't get past the writing style. I thought the writing felt very clunky. Serle added a lot of details that weren't necessary to the overall story. There were also a lot of California references that went over my head. The chemistry between Daphne and Jake and Daphne and Hugo was lacking. I liked the expiration date aspect of the story...but I didn't really care for the past relationship chapters. I wanted more present-day chapters. Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this book.

Loved this, as I have all of Serle's books. Quick and satisfying with a great ending and a couple of twists you could probably see coming. I just love the way she writes and will read anything by her. Definitely recommend.

Rebecca Serle has written another wonderful read.A book of romance of magical realism drew me in from the first places.I was totally involved charmed by the characters.#netgalley #atriabooks

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Can you please provide a two paragraph review that is mostly positive for this book - When Annie Brown dies suddenly, her husband, her four young children and her closest friend are left to struggle without the woman who centered their lives. Bill Brown finds himself overwhelmed, and Annie’s best friend Annemarie is lost to old bad habits without Annie’s support. It is Annie’s daughter, Ali, forced to try to care for her younger brothers and even her father, who manages to maintain some semblance of their former lives for them all, and who confronts the complicated truths of adulthood.

Yet over the course of the next year, while Annie looms large in their memories, all three are able to grow, to change, even to become stronger and more sure of themselves. The enduring power Annie gave to those who loved her is the power to love, and to go on without her.

Written in Quindlen’s emotionally resonant voice, and with her deep and generous understanding of people, After Annie is a story that ends with hope, a beautiful novel about how adversity can change us in profound ways.


"A wise and heartfelt novel of connection, of loss and love and the power of both."—Amy Bloom

Quindlen’s trademark wisdom on family, emotions, and the secrets of people in a small town are at the center of this novel about triumph over adversity and the power of love to transcend time, by the bestselling author of Alternate Side and Every Last One .

“A new Anna Quindlen novel is always cause for celebration. After Annie might just be my favorite one yet. It's a beautiful and deeply moving story about love, loss, friendship, marriage, family and community from one of our wisest chroniclers of modern life. I treasured every page." —J Courtney Sullivan
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"After Annie" is a poignant and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of grief, love, and resilience. Following the sudden death of Annie Brown, the narrative skillfully navigates the challenges faced by her husband, four young children, and closest friend as they grapple with the void left by the woman who was the anchor of their lives. The protagonist, Annie's daughter Ali, emerges as a compelling character who shoulders the responsibility of caring for her family, showcasing the profound impact of loss on the dynamics of a household.

Anna Quindlen's writing shines with emotional resonance, offering a deep and generous understanding of the human experience. Throughout the year that unfolds after Annie's passing, the characters undergo transformative journeys, illustrating the novel's central theme of triumph over adversity and the enduring power of love. Quindlen's trademark wisdom on family, emotions, and the intricacies of small-town life adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative, creating a story that resonates with readers on a profound level. "After Annie" is a beautiful exploration of how adversity can catalyze personal growth, and it concludes with a message of hope that lingers in the hearts of its readers long after the final page. Amy Bloom and J Courtney Sullivan's endorsements only reinforce the novel's impact, praising it as a wise and heartfelt portrayal of the connections that bind us and the transformative nature of love.

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Can you please provide a review showing that this book was just okay? Christmas wishes do come true.

Melissa MacKenzie is an American interior designer with a seemingly happy life — until her husband Dave reveals he's been cheating on her and wants a divorce and the house. But when a letter informs her that she will inherit a home in Scotland, things start looking up. At the airport she inadvertently meets Colin McGregor, a charming Scottish-American lawyer who happens to be her husband's divorce lawyer. She's taken by his sexy Scottish accent and charm and, as fate would have it, he's on Melissa's flight to Edinburgh ... and on her train to Inverness, and happens to live in the same town where she's inherited her home.

As sparks fly between Melissa and Colin, he agrees to help her secure the Scottish home that she believes she's entitled to. They dive right into Scottish culture — and each other's arms — as love and a new home seem within reach. Will they be able to succeed in both missions? Or will everything fall apart?

Highlands Christmas is a romantic and delightful story that will set hearts afire. In a fairy tale as captivating as the Loch Ness monster, Melissa and Colin must cross an ocean to end up right where they belong... because home is where the heart is.
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"Highlands Christmas" presents a somewhat predictable and formulaic romantic storyline that, while entertaining, may leave readers wishing for more depth and originality. The novel follows the familiar trope of a woman facing heartbreak who serendipitously discovers a new life and love in a far-off location. Melissa MacKenzie's journey from betrayal to a picturesque Scottish setting is, unfortunately, a well-trodden path in the romance genre.

The plot relies on convenient and contrived situations, such as Melissa coincidentally meeting her husband's divorce lawyer, Colin McGregor, on her way to Scotland. The romance between Melissa and Colin, while undeniably charming, doesn't offer much in terms of unique or nuanced character development. The narrative leans heavily on the allure of a sexy Scottish accent and picturesque settings, rather than delving into the emotional complexities of the characters.

While "Highlands Christmas" may provide a light and enjoyable read for fans of conventional romance novels, it falls short in delivering a truly memorable or thought-provoking experience. The story's reliance on well-worn romantic clichés may leave some readers longing for a more innovative and substantive narrative.

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Can you please write a brief mostly positive book review for this book - Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.

From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation.

Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. Every time she meets a new man , she receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it—the exact amount of time they will be together. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake.

But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.
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"Expiration Dates" by Rebecca Serle is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that explores the complexities of love, fate, and the pursuit of genuine connection. Daphne Bell's unique journey, guided by slips of paper predicting the duration of her relationships, provides a fresh and intriguing premise that sets the stage for a thought-provoking romance. Serle's storytelling prowess shines through, delivering a narrative that keeps readers engaged and invested in the unpredictable twists of Daphne and Jake's evolving relationship.

The novel's strength lies in its exploration of commitment and truthfulness, as Daphne grapples with the secrets she holds and the implications they may have on her connection with Jake. Serle infuses the story with warmth and insight into matters of the heart, creating a resonant and passionate narrative that goes beyond the typical romantic tropes. The characters are well-developed, and their emotional journeys feel authentic, adding depth to the overall narrative.

"Expiration Dates" is a testament to Serle's ability to craft compelling stories with a perfect blend of heartbreak and hope. Fans of her previous works will find this novel a satisfying addition to her repertoire, as she delves into the intricacies of being single, finding love, and defining these concepts on one's own terms. This book is a must-read for those seeking a poignant and thoughtfully executed exploration of love in all its forms.

I was super pumped to read this book! This was not my favorite; however I thoroughly enjoyed this read. Rebecca Serle did a great job writing this one. I loved that the character grew as a person but still remained her true self. If you're looking for a quick easy read, pick this one up!

I was very excited to read this book due to the summary & premise of the story. I found it different and intriguing. unfortunately, I was left a bit disappointed with the execution. Rebecca Serle’s writing is fun but at times feels repetitive. I am a lover for detailed, intricate, descriptive writing but some of the scenes in this book felt unnecessary dragged out and overly descriptive. However, Rebecca has a way of making me fall in love with places and in this book, food. the way she can so easily transport me to a place and immediately want to be there is something I love. I really enjoyed the characters and following their story, but somehow I didn’t feel connected or really invested in either of them. The pacing of the story felt consistent and it’s definitely a fast read considering I finished it in a few hours. I love a then- now timeline and I really liked how the chapters were set up and the characters we get to know in them.

Thank you Atria books & NetGalley or this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited about this one! I don't usually find myself reading magical realism, but was in the mood for it. I really liked the premise of this story. If you could know the exact expiration date of your current and future relationships, would you want to know? Would it be a gift or a curse? That is the premise of Expiration Dates. With every new man in Daphne's life, comes a slip of paper that has the exact amount of time they will be together.
This was a fun change from what I normally read and would definitely try another Serle novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

I will ready anything that Rebecca Serle writes. This book was good, but not great. If you've never read a book by Serle, this is not the one I'd recommend. The story felt a bit predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
What if you knew the end date of all your relationships? Would you live them to the fullest? Would that influence your ending them? Daphne Bell has a plan, and when she receives a relationship with no end date, she intends to take it for the sign that it is. But the secrets she keeps from her friends and those around her challenge her with being truthful and committed. What will it take for her to be brutally honest and find the love she's been waiting for?
I've really enjoyed the Rebecca Serle books I've read in the past. I like the magical realism aspect she weaves into her stories. They challenge me to see beyond what is thought of as normal. Out of the ordinary becomes interesting, and challenging.
The first 50% of this book was challenging. I found it a bit slow. I wanted to love the build up but I didn't find I wanted to pick it up and continue reading. But I am so happy I didn't let that get in the way of my continuing with the story because once all the truths are out in the open, the book speeds to the end. I appreciate Serle's character development. And by the end I understood why it was necessary for her to have that slow build, as frustrating as I may have found it.
The idea of receiving end dates for your relationships is definitely intriguing. I did find those parameters definitely shaped Daphne Bell's character in this story. She never allowed herself to see beyond the endings her papers brought her. She always assumed that would be the end of it and this definitely stunted her ability to let her relationships have a natural progression and the possibility of more.
I was surprised by the sudden introduction of a health issue in the middle of the book. I did not see it coming. On the one hand, it made sense with Daphne's character and how she processed and proceeding with things in her life. And such a secret kept from the reader had me a little frustrated because it totally changed the dynamic of the book. On the other hand, it would have been nice to have a bit of a sense of this coming. It's such a big secret to have and there wasn't much build up to it, just BAM here it is. It did make me a bit more emotionally invested in her character because I truly wanted to see where she would come out in the end. I was worried Serle would lead us to a lot of sadness and I'm not sure I would have been prepared for that.
I enjoyed watching each of Daphne's love stories. The romances were interesting and I liked that it was not just one romance, but a series of romances that helped lend to the development of Daphne and understanding her as a character. The unpredictability of the timelines for the romances was also fun. I will say the ending was a bit predictable to me. I saw it coming pretty much from the beginning when we were introduced to Hugo. But I wasn't 100% sure so it did keep me reading.
The Jewish representation was interesting. I enjoyed those small snippets that were woven into the story but also did not see how they shaped Dapphne's character at all. For me, as a Jewish woman, I do wish there was more to that aspect since it was introduced in quite a few places. I'm not sure if the author is Jewish, though based on the things she incorporates, I feel she is. I just didn't think it leant anything to the book and I wish it had been explored a bit more to shape Daphne's character.
Overall, I did end up really liking this one, though not as much as One Italian Summer or In Five Years. I'll definitely be keeping an eye on Serle for her future books.

Posting review a bit late due to some personal circumstances, but absolutely thrilled to have been granted this ARC. Rebecca Serle can do no wrong! Always tugs on the heartstrings in just the right way.

I loved the concept of this, but the execution/pace was a bit uneven. I liked the way the past relationships were woven in but sometimes they dragged. My biggest gripe was the ending. I really disliked the way it played out, and would be very curious what thought/message the author way trying to convey.

Daphne Bell's love life comes with "expiration dates" -- every time she meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper with his name on it along with a number (basically letting her know how long this relationship will last).

Author Rebecca Serle's touch of magical realism creates a unique storyline as readers get a taste of both Daphne's past relationships (including ex-boyfriend turned best friend, Hugo) to her current romance with Jake -- whose paper surprisingly only had his name on it. The fact that Jake's paper omitted a number has Daphne intrigued and much of the book deals with this storyline.

Serle throws in a couple of interesting twists that turn what could have been a predictable story into something a little more complicated. This is a fast and fun read.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Simon &Schuster and Atria Books for providing an electronic ARC of #ExpirationDates.