The ending was not at all what I would have expected and I'm not sure I fully enjoyed. It's a very quick read and overall enjoyed it. I think that the main factor holding me back from a 5 star is the magical realism element of the papers is not explained at all and it somehow only affects our MC. I enjoyed the overall premise but wish that more was shown to us.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 1/2 stars

This book is a good depiction of why you should never know when things in life will happen. Daphne receives a note each time she starts a relationship with the name of the boy/man and the amount of time their relationship will last. So, right off the bat, she knows the end time and when you know that, can you ever truly attach?

Throughout the story, it goes back and forth in time so that you follow Daphne in the current timeline but also go back to each of her previous relationships to see how they each impacted her. It was important because you saw how she gradually started hardening herself to relationships and accepting that they all had an end date. Initially she didn't do that. It's as if she still hoped against hope that if it felt special enough, it would outlast the time. When that never happened, her view became tarnished.

There's so much that has happened in Daphne's life to make her the person she is today. The only boyfriend she's kept in contact with is Hugo who she dated for three months and then over time he became her best friend. When Daphne meets Jake and there's no expiration date written on his note, she doesn't know exactly what that means but since it's never happened before,

This storyline was really lovely. It explores the need for self love along with that of friendships. It demonstrates that you can trust your friends with who you truly are - - all of yourself - - and they'll still love you. And it's got some romantic love thrown in too. A really sweet book.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. 4.25 stars. I really enjoyed this book! The storyline was unique, and I liked how the timeline alternated between past and present. There were a couple of twists I did not see coming at all, which was a pleasant surprise.

It’s a quick and easy read but also full of depth. This was my second Rebecca Serle book and certainly not my last!

Pub date: March 19, 2024

I just love Rebecca Serle’s writing!
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
I fell in love with this book almost immediately. I was not expecting the story to be what it was. But it sure did captivate me. I read this novel fairly quickly, which I believe speaks to the flow and the novel. I wanted to keep reading as I was getting more invested and drawn into the story by the characters and their development throughout the novel. The writing style and the flow of the words seemed to come effortlessly to Serle.
The characters are all very intelligent and the way they were described brought them to life.
Serle is an amazing writer. Her last book, One Italian Summer, also blew me away and left me an emotional mess. She's definitely an author worth reading.

Thank You NetGalley and Atria Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

You can either choose to accept the cards you’re dealt in life or make what you can of it. Daphne accepts her fate every time she gets a note from the universe telling her who she will date next and for exactly how long. Whether its a one night stand or two year relationship, she knows that it’ll end at some point.

The premise of the book was cute but I felt like it was too fast-paced and there was not a lot of connection between Daphne and her love interest(s). I wish it built on the romance more, especially between certain characters, but I do understand that two of the most important themes of the book is self-love/acceptance and making the most out of every situation.

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a review!

Expiration Dates is a story about love and how connections and relationships affect and shape us.
Daphne knows how long she’s gonna date somebody before the relationship really has a chance to get started. When there’s constantly a timeline and end in sight, Daphne focuses more on enjoying the time she has without looking into the future she knows she doesn’t have with each partner. Until one day she receives a note with just a name on it and no end date. Has she finally met her perfect match? Now Daphne will have to face her fears and look towards an unknowing future for the first time.
I absolutely loved seeing Daphne’s growth as a character throughout this book. The ending was painful to read and the time jumping was sometimes confusing until you realized where you were again in the story. Overall, I thought this was a beautiful story and will be picking up more Rebecca Serle in the future!
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for my honest review

What if you knew how long your current relationship was going to last - often before it even officially started? For Daphne Bell, each relationship has its own "expiration date." Daphne is never caught off guard when the relationship comes to an end; instead, she knows exactly when the day is going to come and can experience a clean break. However, when she receives a letter about her newest relationship, Jake, there is no expiration date on the letter. Is this her soulmate? Has the universe finally given her the true love she wants? As Daphne dives headfirst into this new relationship, readers learn about her past and what makes her life unique - aside from the letters that dictate the length of her relationship. However, Daphne is hiding something from Jake. Something that could break their dictated "unbreakable" relationship. Is this really what she wants? Has the universe led her astray?

OH. MY. GOD. I could not put this one down. I was invested in Daphne and her unique dating life from the very first chapter. Yes, the fact that she receives advanced notice about the length of her relationships is unrealistic, BUT is such a refreshing take within the romance genre. I did not want this book to end!! I want more from Daphne - especially with the way the book ended. It was a heartwarming, yet heartbreaking, read that I didn't know I needed. I knew halfway through that this was going to be at least a 4.5-star read. This has to be my favorite Rebecca Serle book yet!!

If you could know the length of any of your relationships before they even begin, would you want to?

I am a huge fan of Rebecca Serle and her beautiful storytelling. The mixture of magical realism and romance was masterfully done. This was a unique storyline and I was rooting for Daphne throughout. Her journey and growth were lovely to witness and I found myself turning the pages to discover where her path would lead. Fans of Serle will love this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for this eArc in exchange for my honest review!

I loved her novel In Five Years, and was excited to read her newest. There was a magical realism element to it that I was just not a fan of. I loved Daphne but didn’t care for Hugo at all.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was super interesting-some cool magical realism at play. Daphne's life is seemingly ruled by the notes she receives-telling her how long she'll be with a particular partner. And then 3/4 through Daphne reveals another type of expiration date that adds some depth to her story.

Summary: Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. 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. 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. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake.

Expiration Dates begins with an unusual premise. Since her youth, Daphne has received a note stating her next boyfriend’s name and how long they will be together. All have been true. One day in her thirties, Daphne receives a note with a name but no date. Is this Jake her soulmate? Is she meant to stay with him forever? Daphne turns to her ex-boyfriend and current best friend, Hugo, for advice. He tells her to go for it. How will Daphne navigate a new world of commitment after so many short relationships? Is Jake truly her last boyfriend?

It is obvious from the beginning where this novel, and Daphne, will end up. But that doesn’t negate the pleasure of seeing Daphne slowly reach that conclusion for herself. Expiration Dates is a sweet romance with characters you can’t help but root for. 4 stars!

Thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

This book was not what I expected it to be when I started reading it. The self discovery and the emotion of life, love, and managing expectations. Finding your path when it doesn't turn out the way you expect it to. This story broke my heart, and I wish we had seen a bit more of Daphne's future and the happiness she deserves. It's definitely a book I would recommend, but be ready for a good cry before the ride is over.

I enjoyed this read but wanted more! I'm a sucker for a good, meaty epilogue and wanted more from the end of this story. I really liked the characters and the premise of the slips of paper. Some bits felt a little flat to me and I wanted just more overall from this. But will definitely still be reading Rebecca Serle's next book!

Such a unique and enjoyable read, exploring what defines a lasting love. Started a little slow for me but I was intrigued with the premise from the start. We follow the FMC, Daphne, as she navigates dating with a unique twist, she always receives a note with a name and length of time the relationship will last.

Expiration Dates gives us Rebecca Serles characteristic atmospheric writing, I absolutely love the way she describes food and restaurants. There was also surprising depth and some heavier topics, including chronic illness and the impacts it has on all areas of a persons life.

I would highly recommend if you are a fan of magical realism and Rebecca’s other novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I devoured this book. In one sitting I was easily 35-40% in. It is a short quick read for sure. So if you’re on the fence, know it won’t take long. It would be an understatement to say this is exactly my kind of book. I have in my notes that I actually texted someone about the book while I was reading it and said “You will love! The premise is chefs kiss and the set up of the book and how she tells the story is amazing.” I also loved the location descriptions and places she visits and mentions. I found this to be super unique and original which made me all the more excited to read it. This right here is why I love reading so! The anticipation of what happens next and the full circle of emotions. I related strongly to some parts of the storyline but due to spoilers will not elaborate.


Thank you to our author, Netgalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advanced eGalley copy of the book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This will be available March 19th 2024, I hope if you choose to read it you enjoy it as much as I did.

This is my second romance recently I've read that had magical realism in it (The Seven Year Slip was the other) and now I'm wondering if I'm a fan of magical realism!? I didn't think I was but I loved this book, as well as the other one. I didn't know this book had magical realism when I picked it up so that was a surprise, which thankfully turned out to be a pleasant surprise.

This is the story of Daphne, whose dating history has been interesting. Ever since her first boyfriend, she has been receiving slips of paper with her next date/boyfriend and a time limit on it. That is until she meets Jake and the paper just says his name without the expiration date. Does this mean he is the one she is going to marry???

This was a very unique premise so definitely one I will remember for a while. I enjoyed the way this story unfolded and I loved her boss, Irina, and her friends Hugo and Kendra. I felt like the overall plot was predictable but smaller details were not. There was one twist that I really enjoyed! Even though the book was fairly predictable (like most all romances), I loved it. This was a very quick read. I was left with a few unanswered questions but overall I enjoyed this book! Probably a 4.25.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

I loved the first 60% of this book. Where was it going? What was Daphne's journey going to be? What revelation about love was she going to have? Would she decide to trust in the notes or forge her own path in defiance of the universe? Would she figure out what her career dreams were? I was sold on that Daphne.

And then a twist. More than halfway through the book, one that wasn't even hinted at until this point, and I was like WTF on a narrative level. It changed the ENTIRE TONE OF THE BOOK. This was no longer about love, it became a truncated narrative about accepting yourself. Not that it's a bad thing to have a book about, but it felt like an odd turn. It felt shoved in for character development.

I'm sorry, but someone doesn't need to have a medical condition to need to evaluate their acceptance of themselves, or their views on love. It was lazy writing.

And honestly, painful, as someone who has a similar condition to the one in the book. While I am lucky enough to currently not need surgery, it still made me feel like I should feel even worse about something I'm living through every day.

This book really felt like a rollercoaster of emotions. The first half was a sweet romance story and I was flying through the pages. Daphne and Jake make a great combination and I loved the premise of the expiration date slips of paper. Then the second half is a much more heart wrenching story. It is every bit as compelling but very different than the start. I really enjoyed this book and it's twist on the traditional love story/soulmate idea. Rebecca Serle always finds a way to keep the plots of her books fresh and this really worked well for me. I do think it's important for readers to go into the experience ready for a heavier subject matter but I definitely recommend this one. Thanks to Rebecca Serle, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Expiration Dates was the spring book I was most excited to read. I loved Serle’s book, In Five Years, and was thrilled to receive her latest book as a digital ARC from Netgalley and Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.

This book had so many things I liked so, it kept me turning pages, finishing it in one day. The premise is what hooked me, though….”Daphne Bell believes the universe has a plan for her. 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.” I loved Serle’s sense of place, the descriptions of real-life places her characters went. (I Googled up a few!) I loved her bff/ex, Hugo and the prospect of Jake being her forever love.

But then, at almost 60%, the twist came, and my light, romantic book turned heavy. A severe medical condition, that had been kept secret comes to light and overtakes the story. I didn’t see that coming and did not appreciate that surprise. Yes, I know that this is something that can and does happen in real life, but not when I’m led to believe I’m going to read a happy romance with magical surprises. It was a jolt and a trigger, having the story turn from fun to worrying how far the author was going to take this medical crisis. Instead of thinking Daphne getting her HEA, I was questioning whether she would be alive to get one. (BTW, should she really have been drinking all that caffeine and alcohol, in light of her condition and medicines??)

Towards the end, another twist comes and Daphne is confronted with a revelation. I’m glad Daphne made the resulting decisions, but felt, the readers needed more depth than Serle gave us, both about the revelation and the decisions. I did like the last chapter and who she meets, for what we are left to assume will be her HEA. But, why wasn’t the answer revealed as to who or what sent all the notes?? This had so much more promise than it delivered. 3 1/2 stars….rounding up to 4.

I've enjoyed Rebecca Serle's previous books and was very excited to read her latest book, Expiration Dates. The premise of this book is certainly intriguing. Imagine for every romantic relationship to start knowing exactly how long the relationship will last. That is the life of Daphne, a young woman living in Los Angeles. These magical slips of paper appear in different ways but all provide the name of a lover and the length of time the relationship will last. But what happens when a slip of paper only has the name but no expiration date?

What I liked about the book: I really appreciated the premise of the book and enjoyed the format of the story--how the reader got to know Daphne through her various relationships. There was a twist or two I didn't see coming that kept me motivated to continue reading. I enjoyed the relationship that Daphne had with her family and found the moments between her and her parents very endearing.

What didn't work for me: I didn't really feel any connection to the main characters so I didn't feel as invested in this book as I have with her previous books.

Overall, I enjoyed the premise, the story, and the twists. While not my favorite book by this author, I would still recommend it.

3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.