An incredibly beautiful story. Lovely characters and very heartwarming. I couldn’t put this down. Loved it.

This story offered romance and magical realism and even though it took me a couple of chapters to get into, once I was invested, I then quickly devoured this book.
I really liked Daphne's character and you could sense the vulnerability that she has. However, she didn't let things affect her and you could really see her strength and character progression as the story progressed and I liked how Daphne began to not let the notes dictate her life.
I thought the storyline of the book was so unique, as Daphne recieves prices of paper at the start of relationships, telling her how long they will last. This was such a real magical and mysterious twist on romance and liked how the story was told around these. The writing style of the book was really good and I liked how the time frame jumped around, as this gave us background and insight into Daphne and her relationships.
The story had some real twists within it, but the ending really got me. I liked how it ended for her and you could predict that she would end up with the person she did but my heart really felt for Jake 😢.

Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Now I’m a big fan of Rebecca Serle’s beautiful, atmospheric & captivating writing. She can truly bring a story to life & highlight such depth which makes the reading of it all the more enjoyable. However I just felt that this story was disjointed. From the moment we learn of Daphne’s heart condition, it feels like a completely separate book. There’s the before & the after. And for me, it just threw me for a ride. I would have picked up a story with magical realism in the form of dating notes (loved this unique concept), & then also picked up a story where the main character struggles with a heart condition whilst the reader delves into how this affects their relationships & livelihood. But I don’t think both plot lines necessarily worked together. Furthermore, the multiple references to LA landmarks & places felt jarring to me & kind of pulled me out of the story. It became this repetitive list of naming streets or restaurants & I missed the descriptive, evocative imagery that Serle usually writes & has done so well in her other works. I hate to say it but I was a bit disappointed reading this one, & for these reasons I rated this book 3 stars. But at the same time, I absolutely adored ‘One Italian Summer’ so would be interested to pick up a book by Serle in the future.

Daphne has two things that rule her life, primarily the big one is the notes that tell her who her next relationship will be with and how long for.... What a premise for a book!

This is an easy read but an interesting one, it fits between the current and the previous relationships and does have a couple of good twists along the way! It's not entirely predictable, the characters are likeable and there's enough 'glamour' in the jobs the characters hold that give it a little escapist vibe too.

It's not as good as 'In Five Years', but if you enjoyed that, you'll enjoy this one!

A Breathtakingly Original Love Story That Stays With You

I was utterly captivated by Expiration Dates from the very first page. Rebecca Serle has a way of blending the magical with the deeply emotional, and this novel is no exception. It’s a love story unlike any other—haunting, hopeful, and heartbreakingly real.

Daphne’s gift (or curse) is the ability to know exactly when a relationship will end, thanks to the mysterious notes that have dictated her love life for years. It’s a concept that immediately hooks you, and Serle executes it with such finesse that you find yourself questioning fate, free will, and the nature of true love. When Daphne finally receives a note with only a name—Jake, and no end date—it seems like destiny is finally working in her favour. But, of course, things are never that simple.

What I loved most about this novel was how Serle weaves in deeper themes of self-discovery, vulnerability, and the risks we take when we truly open our hearts. Daphne is a protagonist who feels so real—flawed, relatable, and achingly human. And Jake? He’s the kind of character you can’t help but fall for. Their chemistry is electric, but the shadow of Daphne’s secret looms over their love story, keeping you turning the pages, desperate to know how it will all unfold.

The ending left me in pieces—both shattered and satisfied in the best possible way. Serle is a master at delivering emotional gut punches just when you least expect them, and Expiration Dates is no exception. If you love stories that make you feel everything, this book is an absolute must-read.

I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

First of all, I would just like to thank Netgalley, Rebecca Serle and Quercus books for a digital ARC of “Expiration Dates” in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me at all, which is such a shame because I was really excited by the premise.

The writing really didn’t work for me, it didn’t flow or read well. The descriptions were too much and so unnecessary, particularly with locations and outfits.

The dialogue was very bizarre and unrealistic, which made the already unlikeable characters very bland. It’s hard to root for characters when you don’t like or care for them.

Overall, a brilliant concept with poor execution.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle, newly published by Quercus Books, is a sweet, heartwrenchingly beautiful story that gives all the feels.
Daphne and Jake's journey is intriguing, literally unputdownable.
I greatly enjoyed reading this book, 4,5 stars.

I sped through this book and overall I enjoyed it. I expected it to be really emotional but I was finding myself getting frustrated with Daphne and the notes she was receiving. I did feel that I predicted what the ending would lead to but if you are looking for a easy, romantic read this is the book for you.

Rebecca Serle's world building is pretty impeccable. We really take a journey with Daphne Bell through many dates in various cities and stages of her life. Expiration Dates really makes us hungry (and thirsty) as most dates involve both food and drink. The big twist of her health problem (and her identifying that Jake wants to help her because his previous wife is gone) really adds depth to the story and also demonstrates Daphne is a self-aware character. Serle really takes the message of "go with the flow" to the next level in this book. Daphne's parents have an adorable dynamic, and clearly the bar for Daphne is set pretty high. Overall, it was a very unique and lovely reading experience.

This book had an interesting premise and I was quite intrigued and pulled in from the get go. But I felt like I wanted more from it.

This was a thoughtful and original love story with more than one twist. Daphne always knows how long a relationship will last due to receiving notes with timescales on them however her latest note has no timescale and it seems her she’s found her partner for life… however as the story evolves it becomes apparent that not everything is as it seems. Although some relationships do come to a natural close there are some where Daphne has clearly realised the predicted time is up so ends things which does leave you wondering if it’s predestined after all. There is more to the story than the notes and it’s an element that also affects her attitude to relationships. As the story progresses there’s increasing depth to it and it becomes a beautiful, emotional and uplifting read.

Another beautiful book from Rebecca Serle. She always comes up with the most gorgeous concepts and swoosh worthy love stories that are so unique from the usual romances that grace our shelves. Beautiful work! Highly enjoyed