This makes me so sad to say but the synopsis was better than the actual book. I was really rooting for this book too.

One thing I love about Rebecca Serle’s books is the unique twist she puts on everyday situations. In this story, Daphne keeps getting letters that tell her how long she will dye the next man she meets. But what if the letters are wrong? What if she wants more? It is a great read with fun twists to it!

Content warning:

- Ableism
- Disordered eating
- Mental illness

In Expiration Dates, Daphne, our main character, receives notes that tell her who she’ll date and when the relationship will end. It seems like this system is working out for her, until she gets a note like one she’s never seen before.

The pressure of this new note and relationship combines with Daphne’s already complicated life, making it more difficult for her to navigate her romantic options. this book is all about what it means to make your own choices, and how to know when you’ve met “the one.”

Before I give you my rating for Expiration Dates, let’s do a quick run through of my rating system. One star means that I couldn’t finish the book, two stars means that I struggled to finish, three means it was good, four means I really liked it and would recommend it to a friend, and five stars, my highest honor, means I would read the book again. I gave Expiration Dates a four star rating because I enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t read it again.

We’re now entering the spoiler-y part of this video. If you think Expiration Dates sounds like your cup of tea, click away from this video, read it, and come back for my deep dive to see if you agree or disagree with my thoughts. If you like the sound of the book but you don’t want to read it, don’t worry, I’ll give you the full rundown.

This book starts out with Daphne’s note—the first one she’s ever received without a date for the end of the relationship. Throughout her life, she’s received notes that detail her next boyfriend and how long he’ll last. Sometimes it’s a single night, and the longest was two years.

This note simply reads “Jake,” and so she goes into her date that night with the knowledge that the universe thinks she and Jake are endgame, and the notes have never been wrong. The date goes reasonably well, and Daphne immediately meets up with her best friend, Hugo, to tell him about this new, blank note.

Daphne met—and dated Hugo—years before. She wasn’t even going to give him her number until he plucked the note out from under her windshield wiper, thinking she got a ticket, and handed it over. It read: Hugo: Three months.

Though their relationship ended along time ago, Daphne and Hugo are still inseparable, going to the farmer’s market together and meeting frequently to talk about Jake and their lives.

Throughout the book, we watch as Daphne and Jake get closer. We also learn about her previous relationships, and how they always seem to prove the notes right. Even when Daphne decides to ignore them and try with the person, they’ll surprise her and end it right at the time the note said the relationship would stop.

Jake shares that he lost his first wife to an aggressive disease, and Daphne isn’t sure how to handle it at first. She likes Jake—he’s honest, straight-forward, and very genuine, and their relationship continues to progress until he asks her to move in with him.

This is right around when we find out that Daphne has a severe heart condition. The first time she collapsed was in college, and it places a lot of limitations on her life. She has to closely monitor her salt intake and be careful with alcohol.

When she tells Jake about this, he’s very supportive of her, and says that it doesn’t matter. He asks her to marry him. Daphne can’t shake the feeling that they aren’t right for each other—Jake wants kids, and she doesn’t, really. She also can’t shake the feeling that Jake doesn’t deserve to go through losing another wife.

Hugo becomes more and more distant as the book goes on, and we get more backstory into his relationship with Daphne. Right around the three month mark of their relationship, she’s rushed to the hospital. When Hugo gets worried after not hearing from her, she tells him her dad is the one who’s sick. He asks to come and see them, and she says not to.

But Hugo does show up at her parents’ house with flowers, asking how her dad is doing, and that’s when he finds out that it was actually Daphne who was in the hospital. Daphne realizes that this is right around the three-month mark, and when she sees Hugo hesitate for a moment, she breaks it off with him, thinking he can’t handle the stress, or that he might just leave her anyway.

Daphne also reveals the secret about the papers to Hugo, who takes the info

Fast forward back to the present and Jake and Daphne are fully moved in together and planning their wedding. Hugo and Daphne go for a walk with Daphne’s dog, and Hugo asks her if she’s really going to get married. They start to argue, and Hugo says that he wants to be with her.

This shocks Daphne, but what shocks her even more is when Hugo admits he’s the one who wrote Jake’s note. He found the real one, which specified that Daphne and Jake would last only a few weeks, and replaced it with a blank note.

Daphne drops Murphy’s leash and her dog goes running off. Hugo is chasing after him and trying to talk to Daphne, and after the dog returns, Hugo admits that he wanted Daphne to know that she didn’t have to have a limit on her relationships, or follow the instructions from the random notes.

After this interaction, Daphne goes to see her dad, who gives her some wisdom about life and relationships. Then she talks to Jake—and tells him that they can’t get married. He’s not happy about it, but Daphne is insistent that it’s not right.

At the end of the story, we see Daphne with a promotion at work, talking to Hugo on the phone and going to meet a date in the cafe. Her date ends up being Hugo, and when she gets to the door, someone says she dropped a piece of paper.

Daphne goes to take the paper, but it slips through her fingers, floating away on the wind. Without knowing what the paper says, she turns and goes to meet Hugo for their date.

Okay, so now that you know what happens in Expiration Dates, let’s get into some of my thoughts and opinions on this book.

First of all, I think the concept for this book is very interesting. This element of magical realism sets the structure for the story: allowing us to see Daphne through her past and present relationships. By showing us both the present, with Jake, and the past, with her other boyfriends, we can see how the expiration dates affect her romantic connections, and how she’s come to let the papers lead her decision making.

While I thought the concept was very interesting, I think it’s worth noting that you can figure out the end of the story pretty much right at the beginning—it’s obvious that Daphne and Hugo are still in love with one another, and any ending other than them being together would make this a very awkward romance. But I will say that even though the ending with Hugo was obvious, I still enjoyed the journey getting there.

There were also a few moments in this book that I thought were refreshing by not following what I assumed would happen in any moment. For example, when Hugo and Daphne are walking at the park together, the book mentions that it’s really hot, and Hugo drops the huge bombshell that he wrote Jake’s note, which resulted in Daphne saying yes to a wedding proposal.

What seems obvious in this scene, and what I expected, was for Daphne to collapse for the drama. But I appreciated that the book did something different with this, allowing her condition to exist without being a plot-driving device.

Speaking of Daphne’s condition, I also like how this book offers a unique perspective. I thought it was an interesting decision to leave this information out until the middle of the book. Maybe it’s an intentional choice so the reader can see what it’s like to know Daphne, and not to learn about her condition until after knowing everything else about her.

One critique I had for this story was just wanting more of Daphne and Hugo. I enjoyed the scene at the park, when Hugo admitted his feelings, but I think it may have been a bit more impactful if we had seen them interacting more and gotten a little more spark from their relationship.

As Daphne and Jake get closer, Hugo is more absent, and I think the idea behind this is that it was too painful for him to watch Daphne falling in love with someone else, but I’m not sure it was the best choice for making the reader invested in that relationship.

All in all, I liked Expiration Dates and would recommend it if you’re looking for a romance book that really focuses on our decisions in relationships.

At the start of every relationship Daphne receives a slip of paper that states exactly how long she will be in the relationship. Her longest relationship has been two years and two days; until she receives the most recent slip with no end date. Daphne takes this to mean he is her forever.

This book is similar to In Five Years in that you are lead to believe one thing and in the end you get something else. So this time I knew to expect the unexpected and was less surprised with the ending. I enjoyed the story, but also similar to In Five Years, it was more a story on self discovery than romance. It kept me coming back for more and was a quick read.

This was my first Rebecca Serle story and it won't be my last. When I read this blurb I knew I had to read it. I love a bit of magic in my stories every now and then. How fun would it be if you were Daphne? I don't know if I would get sick of knowing or not. I think this unique story line allows you to open your mind to the magic that sometimes floats through life. Grab this story so you can find out if the universe is actually in Daphne's favor or not.

I was provided a free advanced copy of this book from @netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Daphne is your typical woman looking for the love of her life. Except, there's one difference... Whenever she meets a man she will have a relationship with, the universe delivers a note letting her know how long the relationship will last. Three weeks, One night, Six Months... There's always a name, and a number. Until, she gets one without a number. Finally, this is who she is supposed to spend the rest of her life with... So why does she still have worries and doubts?
This is a fun romance with an interesting concept. I will say, it's not all fluffy romance. As the story progresses we learn some tough stuff that Daphne is dealing with that helps explain her feelings and struggles. But working through those tough circumstances makes her and all of her relationships (with friends, parents, and even her love interest) stronger! Pain doesn't have to be bad.
This was published today! 🥳 So if it sounds like your type of book, go get it!
#NetGalley #ExpirationDates

I liked this book but didn’t fully connect to the main character. I think if her sickness had been revealed earlier then I might have connected more to her. The storyline was very unique though. I appreciated the magical realism and I enjoyed the perspective on modern dating.

Rebecca’s books always have that little extra piece that make her novels quintessentially hers. Expiration Dates is no different.

It was not my favorite book she has ever written, but I enjoyed it nonetheless and I think it would appeal to her audience overall.

I really liked the idea of this book, but wished it was happening all in the present instead of some retrospect. There were times that it also felt like two different stories, when we were given an unexpected detail about the MC’s life that just really shifted the rest of the time of the book. Overall, I still liked it, but wanted a little more.

Eh this didn’t work out well for me. The whole book felt oddly dated. Who is still wearing sleeveless turtlenecks and with jeans and strappy heels? This look appears more than once in the book. Also there was a weird brag about Wolfgang Puck of all people. Nothing really worked with the characters either. The characters just didn’t feel right.

Rebecca Serle has done it again — crafted a beautiful story, dreamy characters, and heart-wrenching twists.

Expiration Dates has a compelling premise — Daphne receives anonymous notes with the name of her next boyfriend and a timeframe for how long the relationship will last. However, one note is different from them all and changes everything.

Serle’s easy yet exquisite writing style shines through. I know her books will be enjoyable while leaving me pondering real life and relationships. Of her books, I most enjoy the slight supernatural aspects that add a level of wistfulness and imagination.

I would recommend Expiration Dates for the reader looking for a thought-provoking and imaginative novel, as well as I would recommend any of Serle’s books.

I was honored to receive an advance copy from NetGalley and Atria.

It was a slow burn for me. While I liked the story, I didn't love it. I think I was more annoyed with Daphnes and Jake's story cause it seemed off from the beginning. Just felt like it was lacking. The ending really made up for it. I liked the moral that love can't be hurried or pushed

I went into this book blind (only knowing that I’ve loved Rebecca Serle’s previous work).

What I found was a romance with bits of magic realism and a heartfelt storyline…

Daphne Bell’s romantic life has always been dictated by what the universe had in store for her. Every time she meets a new man, she receives a note with a name and the time that they’ll be together. One day, Daphne receives a letter with no expiration date… As the relationship continues, she starts to doubt the letter’s prediction…

What I liked:
💌 magic realism elements from the envelopes
💌 the back story to each of her precious relationships
💌 LA setting — I’ve only visited but I could clearly visualize the setting
💌 Daphne’s friends, Irina & Kendra (+ Hugo)

Thanks to Net Galley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Imagine if you knew how long your relationship would last from the first moment. While I don’t think I’d like that in real life, I loved this idea for the book. Daphne has always received a card telling her the length of the relationship. So technically she has never been dumped. She is always prepared for the end. Does that change her actions?

This is a book about relationships. Both romantic and non. I found Daphne relatable as she navigates her “gift”. Taking place in both the present and the past, we see how she develops into the person she is today. And how her past relationships have played out.

Daphne has a secret other than these cards, that she doesn’t trust with many in her life, and I was thrown for a loop when it was revealed. It made me reevaluate what I knew of both her and her relationships.

I knew where this one was heading from the start, but that didn’t alter my enjoyment. I was all in for Rebecca’s self discovery and journey. You really do control your own destiny and I waited for Daphne to figure this out.

Julia Whelan is one of my favorite authors, so I was delighted when I realized she was the narrator. She brought Daphne to life and was a perfect fit for the story. Some books are better read and others listened and I believe this one works either way.

3.5 stars
I struggled with this book and honestly almost DNF. The first half really bothered me. The book goes back and forth between chapters as her relationship with Jake slowly builds, and chapters about what happened with various exes. Daphne seemed to be dating people that felt obviously not good for her, simply because a note with a timeframe appeared out of nowhere. The one person who knew the truth was her ex boyfriend Hugo, and after their breakup five years earlier, they have become best friends who see each other frequently.
Even when Daphne meets Jake, it felt really off to me, like she was trying too hard to create a relationship because of the blank timeframe.
More surprises come in the second half of the book, and I enjoyed it more. I liked the way the story ended, and I am glad I kept reading.

Every time Daphne Bell meets a new man, she also receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it, signifying the amount of time their relationship will last. However, on a blind date with a man named Jake, the slip of paper has no number, just his name. Is Jake the one, or will Daphne begin to doubt the notes predictability?

I always love Rebecca Serle’s novels, and this one was no exception! I like how she incorporates a touch of magical realism into her stories, and the emotional punch she continually delivers with her heart-wrenching stories. I really liked Daphne as the protagonist, and the depth to her character. The book is a shorter novel that delivers a powerful, complex story in less than 300 pages. I absolutely loved this book and flew through it—I’d highly recommend it!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I often wonder what our responsibility is to other people, how much we owe them. Whose job is it to look out for our own happiness. Us, or the people who love us? It’s both of course. We owe ourselves and each other. But in what order?” {pg. 215}

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for my gifted copy + e-ARC!

Every time Daphne Bell meets a new man, she receives a slip of paper, a postcard, something with the person's name on it and number - the length of time that relationship is going to last. So far it has been completely spot-on, and after twenty years she has begun to rely on the slips of paper, living her life around those dates. The papers told her she’d spend three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Then, one night, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake. But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself doubting the paper’s prediction, and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that—if he found out—would break his heart.

This was fresh take on a romance novel. I am not one who enjoy icky romantic stuff, but this had a good storyline behind it, with an unusual premise, so that kept my attention. I really liked Daphne. It wasn't until over halfway in that she revealed the secrets that she was hiding from Jake, and why she was reluctant to stay with him even though it seemed like she was fated to be with him. The story goes back and forth between past boyfriends and the present day with Jake, so you can see all of the notes she got, the ways she got them, and just how accurate they were. This is perfect for fans of Cecelia Ahern, Kate Storey & Karen Hawkins. I highly recommend it!

How it the world do you approach relationships when you know the expiry date from the start? Daphne Bell believes in the universe’s plan for her love life. With each relationship she enters, whether it’s a one-night stand or two years, she gets a slip of paper with a heads up each time. Because of this prior knowledge, she approaches with caution, never fully giving her whole heart. When she is set up on a blind date by her friend Kendra, she waits for the slip of paper with the expiration date and finds that it only has the name Jake.

Is this forever? What is the universe trying to tell her? Is Jake the one? After their first few dates she isn’t sure he is. Daphne must decide how truthful she should be, and whether or not she will finally be all in—no secrets.

With a strong protagonist that you want to root for and a fantastic cast of secondary characters, Serle has created a community you can’t help loving. Though Daphne’s slips of paper may seem like a gift, we watch how they influence every aspect of her life good and bad. With a few unexpected twists thrown in, Expiration Dates is quick read that will break your heart a little, but also provides hope.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author Rebecca Serle for the advanced copy of the book. Expiration Dates is out today! All opinions are my own.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Thank you so much Atria Books and NetGalley for the free ARC.

Blurb:
Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.

✨ My thoughts:
I read this in one sitting. I absolutely inhaled this story without coming up for air and it was worth it! There’s something about magical realism that just does it for me and this was an easy five star read. This story was beautiful, meaningful, and touching… in ways that I will always remember. AND I only cried once! I cried when Daphne was having a heart to heart with her father and the things he was saying just about wrecked me. I don’t know why I keep reading books that make me cry but… here I am. I loved this book so much that I will absolutely be buying myself a finished copy to keep on my shelves forever. Expiration Dates is out TODAY! Happy publication day, Rebecca Serle!

“Pain and bad are not the same thing. 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 beautiful. It’s life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play.”

Happy reading 📖

Another wonderful, touching story from Rebecca. What would you do if you knew how long each relationship with a person would last if you knew in advance? Would you avoid it or just go with it and enjoy the time you have, no matter how long or short? Our main character Daphne is presented with a simple sheet of paper just as she enters a romantic relationship with every partner she has. Some are longer than others, some could be months, days, or hours. It was a very interesting premise and honestly I don't know if I would have been as open as her knowing that it could really hurt not being able to stay with someone that you quickly fell for. We do still have the same odds when we start a relationship, we are just not told how long it will be.
An interesting thing for me in this story was that for the first 70% of the book I did not like Daphne. I liked all the other characters in the book but I felt like she was so stuck up. However, you get to a part where it all starts to make sense for her actions. I really enjoyed this and if you are ok with suspending disbelief and enjoy reading a touching story of love and life, you will enjoy this.