Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

I moderately enjoyed One Italian Summer by this author. Unfortunately, this one did not land for me. I expected a whimsical, romantic magical realism story. This was not it.

The FMC, Daphne, is in her mid 30s and is about as immature of a character as I've ever read. I did not think she had any personality whatsoever, other than being "not like other girls." Her best friend, whose name I've already forgotten, also had no personality. The dialogue with her friends had nothing to do with anything except her dating life. And with that, these slips of paper she keeps getting...I'm not sure why it was necessary to go through every single relationship or sexual encounter since ever. It was so unnecessary. So many of these interactions had absolutely no bearing on the story whatsoever. I mean, I get the element of redundancy for the sake of the notes, but that could have been scaled back so much or combined into one chapter.

The writing also did not work for me. Most of the characters are vapid and one-dimensional. The amount of minor things that were described in MAJOR detail was hard to read. We got to hear about everything everyone was wearing in detail and everything everyone was eating in detail. And much of the time, that's all we know about them. And the constant LA drops were rammed down readers throats, how LA is the best and greater than every city that has ever existed in the history of time, and no one understands unless you're from there. I actually hated that.

The last third of the book threw in this "surprise" element, which I think was intended for the reader to gain sympathy for the character. I just didn't care. The ending was predictable and unsatisfying. The only character I really liked was Murphy, the dog.

This was a quick read for me.

I really enjoyed Daphne and Hugo’s relationship and was a little disappointed with how their relationship developed.
I struggled to feel the chemistry between Daphne and Jake.
Overall it was a good read with an interesting twist that I didn’t see coming.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC

I thought this book had a unique and delightful premise and I zipped through it, eager to see where it would go.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

I didn't realize how short this book was and was hoping for more. This was a cute book and was great overall.

I suggest reading this one.

Such a fun read. Magical & intriguing. I enjoyed it very much and have recommended it to several friends.

It’s a sweet premise but I wish the writing was a little bit richer. I liked the way it ended and who she ends up with!

This book had so much potential. It wasn't bad, but it was lacking. Daphne’s love story/journey was packed into 250 pages. I saw the ending coming from a mile away, which it was a cute ending, but how did we get there? And we’re just not going to explain the letters?? Like the whole plot of the book?

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle was such a thought-provoking read. The idea of knowing the end date of every relationship was unique and made me reflect on how we approach love and time. Emotional, beautifully written, and perfect for those who love deep, introspective stories.

This wasn’t my favorite Rebecca Serle (The Dinner List still holds that title), but I did enjoy the story. It was a unique premise and kept me engaged. It was not an overly memorable story, but was an easy on the brain type read.

3.5 stars!
Rebecca somehow always has me tearing up and her writing style is what keeps me hooked through the start until the end

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle is a beautifully crafted contemporary romance that blends magical realism with heartfelt emotions. Daphne Bell, the main protagonist, receives notes from the universe—each one containing a name and a number, marking the duration of her relationships. It’s a quirky premise, but Serle does a fantastic job pulling the reader in from the very first chapter. I was hooked as we followed Daphne’s ups and downs in her search for true love, with the chapters shifting between the present and past, revealing her journey and the men who came in and out of her life.

As the story unfolds, it’s clear that Daphne’s relationship with Jake is different—there’s no expiration date attached to his name, which makes us wonder if he could be “the one.” I really appreciated how Serle brought Daphne’s previous relationships to life through flashbacks, giving a well-rounded view of her character and her growth. The twists were unexpected and kept the story exciting, though I was left wanting more answers regarding the slips of paper. Who is writing them? While these unanswered questions were a bit of a letdown, the emotional depth of the story more than made up for it.

Overall, this was a fast and enjoyable read. It’s more than just a romance—it’s a thought-provoking story about fate, love, and the choices we make. Though I wished for a bit more depth regarding the universe’s notes, the ending was beautifully done and left me with a few tears.

I’d give this one 4 stars—it’s a lovely, emotional ride that I would recommend to fans of contemporary romance and magical realism.

thanks to Gnetgalley for the ARC of this. I only read it a solid year after it was released.
Oops? Anyway this was very enjoyable. Her books always have a nice bit of magical realism, and they're very well written.

I think this book is great for people who love magical realism. I had to suspend a lot of disbelief in this book and don't think this was necessarily the book for me. I enjoyed many of the aspects of this book but overall, it was not the great book I was hoping for. I think it was a more me thing and think the right reader for this one is definitely out there.

Another touch of magical realism done well with a twist I didn’t see coming. This story was beautifully written and I especially loved the theme. Rebecca Serle encourages readers to make the most of every day, living and loving without abandon. My only wish was for the ending to a bit more fleshed out for my own natural curiosity. Nonetheless, this was an enjoyable feel-good read.

I think the premise of this book was very intriguing. Just the idea of knowing how relationships go was really thought provoking and there were a few different ways this could have went, but this author added a couple of twists in this book to throw it off track.. The chapters where the past relationships did not really work well for me and did not seem to add a whole lot to the story other than examples of how knowing the dates affected the main character in the present. This book was a good palate cleanser for me as I have been doing a lot of heavy reading here lately. The only real downfall were the interspersed past relationships thrown in. It did not really add much in my opinion. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley. I enjoyed this one.

I have been a really big Rebecca Serle fan since I first read The Dinner List. The magical realism in her books is always phenomenally done. I wanted to love this one, but I just didn't. I didn't connect with the main character at all and I never felt the chemistry between Daphne and Jake. I did enjoy her internal monologue as she went through the motions of each of these notes - I could definitely relate to thinking "is this is right choice?" type of things she thought. I'm still excited for her next work!

Expiration Dates follows Daphne Bell, who has spent her life receiving slips of paper predicting the expiration dates of her relationships. When she receives a slip with only the name "Jake" and no date, she believes he's "the one." As their relationship deepens, Daphne grapples with whether to challenge fate. The story explores love, destiny, and the complexities of relationships.

The writing is simple and quick-paced, but the narrative structure jumps between Daphne's present and past relationships, slowing the story’s momentum. While these flashbacks offer insight into her growth, they sometimes lack emotional depth.

The book touches on themes of fate, love, and personal growth, with a unique twist of magical realism, but the emotional impact is lessened by a lack of character chemistry and uneven pacing. Daphne's development is relatable but can feel flat, and the shift in tone midway through the book feels abrupt.

Final Thoughts: Expiration Dates has an intriguing premise but doesn’t fully live up to its potential. While it offers sweet moments, the chemistry and pacing fall short, leaving mixed feelings. It’s a quick read, and while not my favorite from Rebecca Serle, I’d still recommend it.

Oh wow, this book had me feeling all kinds of things! Expiration Dates is such a cool concept! Daphne gets these little slips of paper that tell her exactly how long each relationship will last, and honestly, that premise alone had me hooked. The magical realism feels so natural, and I loved how this book explored fate, love, and timing.

Daphne Bell has been given a gift -- or a curse, depending how you look at it. The universe sends her pieces of paper saying the amount of time she'll spend with each man she dates. Daphne doesn't know how or why these relationships end, only that they will.

But Daphne isn't just a thirtysomething looking for love. Because this is Serle, who delivered a doozy of a gotcha in One Italian Summer. In Expiration Dates, she does it again, and I didn't even see it coming. But once I processed the say what? of it all, I appreciated how it deepened the story.

I don't think I can say more without being a spoiler. I will say that Serle's writing is beautiful, lending magic to an already enchanted premise.

Expiration Dates reminds us that time is as infinite as it is finite -- but ultimately what we make of it.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle is a beautifully crafted exploration of love, fate, and the mysteries of timing. With her signature blend of magical realism and emotional depth, Serle delivers a story that feels both whimsical and deeply grounded in human connection.

The premise is fresh and thought-provoking, posing the question of how we might approach love if we knew its end date. Serle’s writing is lyrical and heartfelt, filled with tender moments, emotional twists, and reflections on what it truly means to find “the one.”

5 stars — a clever, moving, and unforgettable love story that lingers long after the final page. Serle once again proves she’s a master at blending the magical with the deeply personal.