This book is really good! The premise of the notes is so intriguing, but there’s a deeper story about loving and living that absolutely tugs at the heartstrings. Daphne learns so much about herself along the way; she’s one of those characters that you root for! This is the second book I’ve read by Rebecca Serle and I will be reading more!

this was a very sweet book. rebecca is a very emotional writer and I look forward to more from her. I loved this so much.,

This book is SO descriptive. Unnecessarily so. While I usually appreciate writing and details and all of the intricate little nuances, there were entirely too many. The first half of the book could have been consolidated down to maybe a chapter, at most. It took so long. I almost DNF. Ending was good, but predictable.

Every time Daphne meets a new guy she receives a slip of paper with their name and a number. This number turns out to be the exact amount of time they will be together. This has been going on for two decades and Daphne has been anxiously awaiting for the day when she will receive a slip that is just a name, no expiration date. Finally on a blind date in LA she she gets that slip with just the name Jake. At first she is ecstatic but as the pair get to know each other better Daphne starts to have her doubts about the slips prediction because Daphne knows somethings that Jake doesn't and these things have the potential to hurt him. Daphne must grapple with what it means to be committed and whether or not telling the truth is always the best option.

3 stars- this was okay!

Thank you to Atria Books, the author, and Netgalley for the #ARC in return for an honest review!

What did I enjoy?
🌸unique idea regarding the notes and traveling
🌸super quick paced! I read about 50% of this book within a few hours.
🌸good palette cleanser
🌸there were some very memorable and honest quotes throughout this book. I felt connected and seen at times.

What could have been better?
🏷️josh deserved better
🏷️the characters did not have a lot of depth for such a creative, emotional, raw read...oops
🏷️things could have been better explained for a novel calling itself magical realism

This book has an interesting premise like her previous book In Five Years which I find delightfully creative. Her love life is guided by these pieces of paper indicating how long the relationship will last, and then she receives one without a date. Is this the one? I enjoyed the characters and her journey as she tries to find a meaningful relationship. Her male best friend is a great character, too. So far, I've enjoyed all the Rebecca Searle books I've read, and I'd recommend this one. The audiobook is narrated by Julia Whelan who always is fantastic.

Thank you to Net Galley for a copy of this book to read for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

Loved this one…also loved the surprise about halfway thru…really wasn’t expecting that. I’m not often surprised by stories anymore but this one got me

I loved this book and hate that I left it sitting on my shelf for so long. Rebecca Searle’s writing is in another league, and she continues to be a master of magical realism. If you liked her previous books like In Five Years, you’ll like this poignant, non-linear, multi-timeline love story. If you passionately hate the ending of How I Met Your Mother, this one is not for you.

What if you knew exactly how long every romantic relationship in your life was going to last? That is what Daphne experiences in Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle. Right before or not long after she meets someone, she finds a small slip of paper with the man's name and a length of time. It might be three weeks, or five months, or one night. She always knows exactly how long it will last. But does knowing change her behavior and possibly the outcome? How would she even know?

This was a sweet book that was just the light read that I needed. It had plenty of heart and a wonderful depth, but it also provided the escape I needed. Daphne is darling, working hard and enjoying the work. She has a sweet old dog who doesn't seem to know he's a dog. And she has parents who are always there for her, even though she's relieved to be living on the other side of Los Angeles from them; close, but not too close. Loveable characters, all. I liked this one.

It's life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play.

Really cute and unique premise. Charming and loveable characters. I appreciate the opportunity to review.

There's something about Rebecca Serle's writing that effortlessly keeps the pages turning.
Is it the way she sets the story up in the beginning, then unfolds it across the pages? I am not sure but per usual, this was excellent! I had to keep going, I had to know the history of the notes and the men they were attached to.
Very well written, I loved it!!!!

One of my favorites so far this year! I love the unique plot. It makes me want to reread The Dinner List although I definitely liked this one more. This was a quick read. I loved and rooted for the characters the entire book. It makes you think what if you knew how much time you’d have with someone. If it wasn’t forever, would you still enjoy the dance?

Thank you Netgalley and to the publisher! This review copy was an absolute delight!

Expiration dates is a story about promises and people. It follows Daphne’s and the strange circumstances around her personal life that allow her to measure time in a peculiar way.

The book begins with meeting Jake on their first date, and follows the relationship from there. There are flashbacks to previous times in her life that add depth to her story, and her personal relationships with her friends and previous lovers. There is a curveball at the end that was unexpected and uncomfortable but overall was a great addition.

I enjoyed Expiration Dates, but tend to forget this author’s style and emotionality, which is not a negative thing in any way, it just calls for me to be prepared! The openness of the ending to possibilities is a balm and I love how it was captured. I’ll Definitely recommend to any fiction reader and will always read this authors material!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.

Much like Rebecca Serle’s book One Italian Summer felt somewhat like a travel guide for the Amalfi Coast of Italy, Expiration Dates could be used as a travel guide for LA. You can tell she loves the city. I really enjoyed this story and its characters.

“I thought if I had all the answers, if I was always one step ahead, if I knew my hand, then I’d never lose. But being surprised by life isn’t losing, it’s living. It’s messy and uncomfortable and complicated and beautiful. It’s life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play.”
— Rebecca Serle, Expiration Dates

overall rating: 3.5 stars

Daphne has always received mysterious slips of paper with a name and an amount of time on them right before she meets someone with that name. The paper details how long they will spend together. This is how all of her relationships go - until she receives one with no amount of time on it.... will this be forever love?

The premise intrigued me and I loved [book:One Italian Summer|58438583] so I picked this one up. It was a bit slow to start for me but I eventually became wrapped up in the plot. I loved how Serle takes us forward and backward in time to see how Daphne's current and previous relationships have played out.

Personally, for me Jake was a bit lackluster. He just seemed boring - he didn't have that magical quality that all other romance MMC's have that make them irresistible. He just seemed like your average nice golden retriever-style man. I was secretly rooting for Hugo the entire book because their prior relationship and friendship seemed to blossom into something so perfect.

I did love the character development on Daphne's side of the story. She truly begins to get a grasp on her current situation and how she has let these papers rule her life. I loved seeing her come to terms with her illness and how that effected her towards the end of the book.

The ending for me was too open ended. I wanted a definite ending and to know where things were going. Serle kind of left it open to interpretation - which some people might love - but I am not one of those people. I want cold, hard facts about where the ending went when I finish a book.

While this was not my favorite book of hers, I will still continue to pick up whatever she writes next. This book will be enjoyed by those who love a good women's fiction novel with touches of magical realism that comes with a side of romance. The writing is good and weaves you through the story and the audio version has a fantastic narrator.

Thank you netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

If you enjoy magical realism, you might like this one. The pacing was just a little too slow and I couldn’t get into their chemistry.. it had some sweet moments but overall not for me.

I like Rebecca Sarrell’s books. I always find them a little bit magical realism and a little bit tragedy. This book definitely has the reader suspending reality as Daphne has lived her life receiving notes about how long each relationship will last. It’s so odd but it works. Until she receives a note with just the man’s name and it’s empty does this mean forever? We get to know her family, her best friend, her boss and many of her past dates and lives. I read half of this book and finished it by borrowing the audio from the library read by Julia Whalen what could be bad about that! Worth the read if you’d like her work or if the premise draws you in Recommend .

Loved the premise of the book but it was lacking something for me maybe I expected more. However I enjoyed the book. It pulled at the heart strings 🥺. Daphne was in a unique situation with the notes and it made me curious to see how it all played out. The ending was predictable but I loved it. Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This was a warm and cozy romance with a twist. The story had the clean cute easy to read ease that I love in a contemporary romance. The magical realism here was a wonderful touch that made this story memorable. This is an easy book to recommend to romance lovers looking for something a little different!

3.5/5 stars!

The idea behind this book was so unique and magical!!! I really loved the way this flowed, and Rebeccas writing. It kept me sucked into the book the entire time! However, the reading itself was a bit slow, and i found myself struggling at some luls in the book. This was a great summer read!