Rebecca Serle has a unique talent for weaving magical realism into her stories in a way that feels grounded and relatable. Expiration Dates is no exception, delivering a thought-provoking and heartfelt narrative that explores love, destiny, and choice. As someone who enjoyed In Five Years and found One Italian Summer good (though not my favorite), this book hit a sweet spot for me.

The story centers around Daphne, a young woman whose life is influenced by mysterious pieces of paper that dictate the "expiration dates" for all her relationships and situationships. This intriguing concept drives the narrative as Daphne eventually receives a slip with only a name—Jake. Could Jake be "the one"? This question propels Daphne on a journey of self-discovery and love.

The novel unfolds through alternating timelines, giving readers a glimpse into Daphne's past relationships while simultaneously exploring her present-day experiences with Jake and her best friend, Hugo (a former partner). These dual timelines paint a comprehensive picture of Daphne’s emotional growth and the complexity of human relationships.

Serle’s writing captures the nuances of love, heartbreak, and hope in a way that feels authentic. While the element of magical realism is central to the plot, it never feels over-the-top or implausible. Instead, it serves as a metaphor for the choices we face in love and life, reminding readers that destiny isn’t something handed to us on a silver platter—it’s something we actively shape.

This book left me reflecting on the power of choice and the importance of living in the moment. While the story was captivating and heartfelt, there were a few moments where the pacing felt a bit uneven. Nevertheless, Daphne's journey is an emotional rollercoaster that is sure to resonate with readers who enjoy stories about love, fate, and self-discovery.

Overall, Expiration Dates is a strong addition to Rebecca Serle’s repertoire. Fans of her previous works and lovers of magical realism will find much to appreciate in this compelling and bittersweet tale.

Love, love, loved this book. Rebecca Serle has a way with creating characters that you get invested in quickly and get immersed in their world. I really loved this story and was rooting for both the main characters. Can't wait to read what is next!

Another original and unique story from Rebecca Serle. Expiration Dates was everything I could want and everything I didn’t even know I wanted.

Daphne knows how long her relationships will last, she always has. Is this a gift or a curse?

Daphne receives her first note in the form of a postcard at a young age. The note contains a boy's name and a number of days, and the sender remains a mystery. However, as she finds herself dating the boy, she realizes that her dates correspond exactly to the number on the card. Is the universe playing a game with her, sending these anonymous cards as a warning about who she might date and how long the relationship will last?

Hugo, her best friend is the only that knows about these notes. When she gets a note with the name “Jake” with no expiration date. What does this mean?
What will she do? Does she have a choice to her own path or is it already decided?

I loved the premise of this book so much and highly recommend.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

One of my favorites of 2024! I love Rebecca Serle's writing style and her books are bingeable. I enjoyed the story and the characters.

I really enjoyed this book. It was definitely a different premise than your typical romcom with the FMC receiving the mysterious love notes. I thought the twist of her health condition was a really interesting plot point. It made the idea of the notes and the timeline of her relationships so much more interesting. The ending was a huge surprise to me (the fake note) and I really enjoyed thinking through the plot of the book to see what the ending was supposed to be instead of how it had gone.

Expiration Dates was just.... perfect. I loved it so so much. I think this might be my new favorite Rebecca Serle? Maybe? (One Italian Summer is my old favorite of hers). There were just so many layers and I was continually surprised by the story. Daphne was a perfect MFC. Rebecca just has a way of writing these magic realism stories that just hit so hard and I always feel like I walk away having gained something. Love, love loved. Rebecca is an autobuy auther for me and she will continue to be.

between 3.5-4 stars!

I love Rebecca Serle's writing and how she weaves in touches of magical realism. This was such an interesting premise, I really enjoyed it but selfishly was left with some questions at the end. I think leaving some things unanswered makes sense with the story - but again, selfishly, I wanted a little more.

Thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for the eARC!

I really love Rebecca Serle and I didn’t think this book was bad by any means but it lacked for me the same “it” thing that In Five Years or The Djnner List did. Those books both made me sob and this was just a fine story.

Daphne gets a note from the universe letting her know how much time she will have with each suitor she meets. She has to decide if she trusts the notes or if she can decide for herself.

It felt more character driven for me than plot driven romance. Enjoyable 7 hours but didn’t elicit much emotion for me.

What a tragically beautiful gift to have. There are so many relationships that you may not enter if ypu knew the ezpiration date! This is one of Serle's best and would give this book to many people young & old.

I absolutely loved One Italian Summer, so I couldn’t wait to read Expiration dates. I love how her books always have a bit of magical realism.

The main character Daphne receives a piece of paper every time she starts to date someone that tells her exactly how long they will be together. Until one day she receives a note with just a name and no expiration date to the relationship. Could this be her soulmate?

Funny, sad, and honest. This book takes turns you don’t expect. I highly recommend reading. Great for when you want a quick read with substance. The first half of the book is completely different from the second half. If you are not enjoying the first part, keep reading! It’s worth it. It’s

Anything written by Rebecca becomes a must read for me. I love the story between Jake and Daphne and how it develops across the pages. You will always find her stories full of passion, realism and heartbreak (the perfect combination).

Expiration Dates is a contemporary romance novel with a touch of magical realism. The story follows Daphne Bell, a woman who receives mysterious slips of paper predicting the exact duration of each of her romantic relationships. This pattern continues until she meets Jake, whose note intriguingly lacks an end date, suggesting a potential for permanence. As their relationship unfolds, Daphne grapples with the implications of the missing expiration date and the secrets she harbors that could impact their future.

Rebecca Serle's engaging writing style and exploration of fate versus free will make this novel both thought-provoking and heartfelt. The blend of romance and magical elements adds a unique twist to the narrative, keeping readers intrigued throughout.

This book is recommended for fans of contemporary romance who appreciate a dash of magical realism.

I had a really tough time being hooked right away but I think that’s a personal issue with the idea of a “fantasy” romance situation that I know could never happen in real life. But overall for what it was I’m glad I stuck with it and saw it through because it sent Dell like it gets wrapped up nicely.

I loved that this story veered from the implausible to realistic- never feeling goofy. I enjoyed this totally- the characters were well
Developed and the story kept me
Reading. I definitely recommend this to
Others!

Imagine if you got a slip of paper with an expiration date every time you met a potential romantic partner? How would you live your life? How would it change your perception of love and relationships? It's such an interesting way to think of things because no matter what, everyone is on a timeline and has an expiration date...with this, you're just getting told upfront.

I loved every moment of the book, until the ending. It was a beautiful, perfect ending but it felt too sudden and I wanted more from it, but I think that's also the beauty of it...it left you wanting more with unanswered questions versus having everything wrapped up in a neat bow.

Expiration Dates was beautiful, shocking, interesting and just a delight to read. Rebecca Serle has a way of making emotions jump off the page and having you believe the magical things in her books can actually happen.

Expiration Dates is a delightful and charming rom-com that had me smiling from start to finish. The story centers on a quirky yet relatable protagonist navigating the ups and downs of modern dating with a unique twist: every potential match comes with a literal “expiration date.” The premise is both humorous and heartfelt, offering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments alongside tender reflections on love, timing, and self-discovery. The banter between characters is sharp and witty, and the romantic chemistry practically leaps off the page. It’s the kind of feel-good book that’s perfect for cozy afternoons, leaving you with a warm, happy glow and the belief that love might just happen when you least expect it.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this advanced copy. I actually met the author at a book signing event in NYC. I enjoyed this book. However, it wasn't my favorite of her titles. I think this one is more intended for a younger audience rather than a 50+ reader. I couldn't get deeply invested in the character's journey since I could not relate to it. But, I am sure it would appeal to a young adult, single audience.

While I expected someone to die in this story, I will admit that the plot was not what I was expecting. I did find the main character frustrating at times and so blind to what was in front of her I wanted to shake her. But overall this was an enjoyable quick read, with romance and learning to take leaps of faith regardless of the signs, and just a hint of magical realism thrown in for flavor.

Expiration Dates is a novel in which the protagonist, Daphne, receives a paper with a name and a number. The name refers to the man she will meet, and the number refers to how long they will be together. That is until she receives a paper with just a name on it. The novel is an interesting introspection on romance, fate and the basis for forming relationships.