I really loved Serle's previous books, One Italian Summer and In Five Years. Because of this, I was very excited to read her newest, Expiration Dates. I found Expiration Dates to be an enjoyable read but it did not have the same emotional punch for me that the author's previous books had. The first part of the book seemed to rotate around the mysterious papers that arrived, and halfway through, once the heart condition was made known, the papers disappeared from the discussion. In this way, it felt like I was reading two different books.

This book is perfect for those seeking a happy for now romance, with a bit of magic and a couple of twists along the way.

The premise of knowing how long each relationship lasts had me questioning if Daphne really gave each one a solid try, or if the relationship fizzled as predicted simply because her level of effort fit the expectation. That theory was proven over the course of the story.

I have to admit I didn’t care much for Jake. He was nice enough, but the chemistry seemed forced. I really liked Hugo and was rooting for him to make a comeback. The beginning of the story kept alluding to Daphne’s big secret, which led to an unexpected revelation that threw the story in a different direction. Overall, I liked the story and thought it had a really great ending.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read and review the book prior to publication.

I love the premise of this book! Having a message from the universe for how long a relationship is going to last would definitely put some dating anxiety at ease.

While I enjoyed getting to know the characters, I didn’t feel the spark between Daphne and Jake from the start. Immediately she clocked his height. I get that, 100%. Jake was an altruistic character, and I would like to have seen justice for him. He really did deserve better after the heartbreaking loss he had already experienced. Even if he did leave her shoes in the closet…

The passion between Daphne and Hugo was evident from the start; however, he was painted as a sort of philandering playboy. I’m not sure what arc would have gotten him to the place of being all in for her. I appreciated that Daphne didn’t run straight back into his arms after letting Jake go.

This was an interesting concept and an overall delightful story! At times I got bogged down in the dating histories and had to pay close attention to the timelines. I definitely saw Hugo coming, but I can’t say I saw the twist that it was him who wrote Jake’s paper. There is a satisfying frustration in not knowing what that piece of paper said….

Thank you to Rebecca Serle and NetGalley for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an ARC of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle in exchange for my honest review.

I love Rebecca Serle's writing style. This book has it all: friendship, romance, magical realism, and so much love (between parents and children, friends, lovers) and hope. There were a couple of surprising twists, but they worked.

My big question: where were the notes coming from?

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle in exchange for my honest review.

Rebecca Serle always tells an intriguing story. Her concepts are unique, varied, and interesting, and Expiration Dates is no exception. The premise of receiving slips of paper with the expiration dates of relationships was very engaging; Serle knows how to tell a tale and utilize the unexpected twist for the utmost impact. It was a quick and enjoyable read, but that being said, it was not as memorable as In Five Years or One Italian Summer. 3.5 star rating rounded up to 4 stars.

This is the second Rebecca Searle book I've read & although I believe she is a talented writer, her storylines are sometimes difficult to follow. Expiration Dates is a fictional story about a woman named Daphne that comes to realize some important life lessons throughout this book.
A little romance, friendship, & some major self discovery are all key components in this story. A couple things I'm definitely taking from this book is a strong desire to live life to the fullest & go visit California cause Rebecca Serle does an amazing job on setting all the beautiful scenes. Thanks you #NetGalley for the ARC.

Romance with a twist! Would you want to know when every relationship was going to end? Daphne has received notes with special dates on them her entire life. Now it’s time for her to commit to putting the pieces of her life together.

This is a cute romance with a twist. It almost gave me some (more cheerful) The Measure vibes. Fun, enjoyable and emotional.

Love, love, love the cover. Thanks to NetGalley for gifting me a Rebecca Serle book— score!

This was a solid four stars for me! The magical realism was just so special in this! It was really easy to get into and I loved it

A solid 4+ stars. What if you were given a piece of paper every time you began a relationship with the name of the person a time period on it? The time period was exactly how long that relationship would last. And it’s always been correct. Daphne has always received these pieces of paper and lives her life knowing this is how it is.

I don’t want to give any more away because you just have to read it.

I have to say that I thought I knew how this was going to end … but I was wrong. And I’m so glad I was. The author wrote with grace and insight that I really liked.

Thank you to Rebecca Serle and Atria and Simon and Schuster for the very enjoyable ARC.

Mix a little bit of magical realism with several heaping spoonfuls of romance. Add lots of heartfelt emotion and a pinch of twists. Pour into the protagonist Daphne Bell and stir well. Now sit back and enjoy this wonderful and poignant story .

Throughout her life, each time Daphne met a new man, she would find a slip of paper on which was written his name and the length of time they would have together, until the final slip arrives with only a name. Daphne’s story will take you on an emotional journey filled with a host of great characters, fun locales, lots of adventure and even more romance. I laughed, I cried and I enjoyed every minute.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Rebecca Serle for the opportunity to read this delicious book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Have you ever wished things could just be laid out for you, answers to the unknown, decisions made? Daphne, in “Expiration Dates” got just that, except only in her love life. A piece of paper would tell her just how long her relationship was going to last.

Rebecca Serle, the author of “Expiration Dates” , takes us on a playful ride as we wonder if ever, Daphne will get the note with destiny as the date.

A clever read giving hope in what seems a hopeless situation. A few surprises kept me engaged and rooting for the underdog.

My favorite character was Daphne because she was optimistic in her career, hopeful even when her paper said “one night” and ultimately listened to her gut.

The plot was fun, interesting and favorably fictional. I appreciated the twist and kept me turning the pages.

The thing I liked most about the book is that it touched my heart, that feeling of love and hope and sincerity.
I am intrigued by Rebecca Serle now and want to read “ In 5 Years”.

Thank you @atriabooks @rebecca_serle @netgalley for this eARC for my honest review.

3.5 rounded down. This was an easy read with a really interesting premise. I think the ideas were all there and if they had been fleshed out a bit more, I would have enjoyed this book a lot more. I didn't enjoy the "twist" about halfway through the book that then turned into the only plot point for the remainder of the book. Without revealing any spoilers, the ending wasn't what I hoped for and the beach scene was honestly rude. Murphy was my favorite character and I'm still very confused about the Doc Martin's.

"In Five Years" ripped out my heart and left me sobbing so I was expecting more of that energy here but I think it was just lacking in some areas. There were a couple of points where the author tugged at my heartstrings so I'll give her that!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed Rebecca Serle’s previous books and liked this one just as much! There were times I was annoyed with the main character and her relationship with Hugo and Jake. I found myself wanting to better understand more about the papers and the story behind them! Overall I really enjoyed this book and was a great quick read to get lost in.

Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC.

First off please note there is a mystical element to this book that is never explained, questioned or given much background.

If you can get behind that you might enjoy this book. It is captivating enough and while I could clearly see where the book was going to go, I enjoyed getting through it. I didn’t ever connect with one of the main relationships and honestly preferred the friendships over any relationship. But I was cheering for our main character the entire time.

"Expiration Dates" by Rebecca Serle is a romance novel that follows the life of Daphne Bell. Daphne has a unique belief that the universe has a plan for her love life. 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. These papers have been guiding her romantic life for over twenty years, dictating the duration of her relationships.

The story takes an intriguing turn when Daphne, on the night of a blind date, receives a slip of paper with only a name—Jake—without a specified expiration date. As Daphne's relationship with Jake unfolds, she begins to question the predictions of the numbered papers and grapples with the complexities of commitment and honesty. The narrative explores themes of love, fate, and self-discovery, offering a gripping and emotional journey through the intricacies of romantic relationships.

Rebecca Serle, known for her bestselling novels like "In Five Years" and "One Italian Summer," brings her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart to "Expiration Dates." The novel promises to be a passionate and heartwarming exploration of what it means to be single, find love, and define these experiences for oneself. Fans of Rebecca Serle's work and readers who enjoy emotionally charged romance novels are likely to find "Expiration Dates" a compelling and satisfying read.

Daphne receives a piece of paper every time she gets involved wish a man that tells her how long the relationship is going to last.

I gave this book 2 out of 5 stars. I didn’t really enjoy this book but it was not bad. The story kept bouncing between timelines and the romance was rushed. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and I felt like there should have been more explanation to the notes. This book was very short so it didn’t really have a deep plot which is not for me. Overall, I would not recommend this book to others. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Rebecca Serle has done it again! Her sharp, witty writing makes this a standout story for 2024. If you loved the One Italian Summer and Five Years From Now, you will love Expiration Dates! Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

Loved the premise of this novel and really enjoyed reading it! I have to say I definitely didn’t see the twist coming at all because I was so wrapped up in the story.

I was very excited to receive an advanced reader copy of Expiration Dates. I was highly intrigued by the premise of the book. I love (and hate) the idea of knowing just how long a relationship will last. This was a quick read that held all of Rebecca's usual heart. Unfortunately, I didn't get really into the story until about 50 or 60 percent of the way through it. I enjoyed the read, but I've enjoyed some of her other reads more. I wasn't super tied to any of the characters or the storyline. However, I was very pleased with the way it ended. Overall, I ended up rating this three stars.

Thank you to Atria Books for this ARC of Expiration Dates!

Honestly this wasn't anything great, which surprised me considering how any great things I've heard about Rebecca Serle's other books. I didn't vibe with Mallory's character too much, she just seemed like a regular white woman (lol) who just so happened to fall in love with a lot of people. What really bugged me about this book might have been the writing. It was just so descriptive of places and thigs I already knew (like ofc Daphne and her main love interest went on a date to the Comedy Store lol.) It just kept taking me out of the book. I didn't really think the "plot twist" was anything crazy, it actually seemed a bit random and out of place considering the whole second part of the book surrounded it. I did really like Daphne's exchange with her father towards the end of the book, but honestly that was it. Nothing special for me I am afraid.