Rebecca Serle’s “Expiration Dates” captivates readers with a unique premise and an unexpected twist that keeps you hooked until the very end. As a fan of Serle’s emotionally charged storytelling, I found this novel to be one of her best yet.

The protagonist, Daphne Bell, is instantly relatable, navigating the complexities of romance while grappling with a mysterious gift that predicts the duration of her relationships. Serle expertly weaves together past and present timelines, allowing readers to witness Daphne’s journey through love and self-discovery.

What sets “Expiration Dates” apart is its exploration of the impact of foreknowledge on relationships. As Daphne confronts the limitations of her gift, readers are drawn into a thought-provoking exploration of commitment and truth.

The revelation of Daphne’s secret midway through the book adds an unexpected layer of depth to her character, challenging readers to reassess their understanding of her motivations and actions. Serle’s portrayal of Daphne’s conflicted emotions adds richness to her character, making her journey all the more compelling.

Additionally, Serle excels in depicting the complex dynamics of family relationships, particularly Daphne’s bond with her parents. Their influence on her life adds a touching dimension to the story, highlighting the importance of familial support in times of uncertainty.

Overall, “Expiration Dates” is a gripping, emotional, and ultimately heartwarming tale that delves into the complexities of love, commitment, and self-discovery. Serle’s masterful storytelling and well-developed characters make this novel a must-read for fans of contemporary romance.

I received a DRC of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

I absolutely loved this story and it is my favorite of @rebecca_serle yet.

This story was so thought provoking and explored so perfectly the concepts of free will and the choices we make.

I annotated so much of this book. Serle’s words made an imprint on my heart.

“It's hard to hold on to people the older we get. Life looks different for everyone, and you have to keep choosing one another. You have to make a conscious effort to say, over and over again, “You.” Not everyone makes that choice. Not everyone can”

“Love is a net.”

“We are powerful because we affect each other's stories all of us. We are here to impact each other, to knock into each other, to throw each other off-balance, sometimes even off track. I've always hated the phrase “There's a reason for everything.” But here, now, I think even if there's not a reason for everything, there may be a reason for everyone.”

Daphne is a complex character. She is tough and stubborn and makes you frustrated and then understanding. She is relatable and deep and her vulnerability is always my favorite character trait. This story is perfect. There are twists and turns and times when you really cannot understand why the characters are doing what they are, but that's life and I loved it.

Read this one. Definitely going to be one of my favorites of the year.

For more than twenty years Daphne has randomly received pieces of paper with the name of the next man in her life and the amount of time they will spend together – be it one night or three months. Receiving a paper with only a name (Jake) and no date sends Daphne into a tailspin. What does it mean? Is Jake “the one”? What transpires next is not a romance, and not a love story, but Daphne’s examination of her past, and her journey toward a future of her own making.

With the intriguing premise, I had high hopes for Expiration Dates. Unfortunately, this one did not work for me at all. The frequent name-dropping of Hollywood locales and the recitation of what everyone was wearing grew tiresome quickly. Instead of giving a nod to setting and characters, it lent a feeling of superficiality to both. The flashbacks of Daphne’s prior relationships never seemed to give me any further insight into Daphne. There is a twist that comes more than halfway through the story and felt so completely out of left field. It shifted the focus with a jolt and had me wishing for a smoother transition. Lastly, there was a significant character that acted so atrociously and delivered a betrayal that was, for me, unforgivable. The blurb calls this “the romance that will define a generation.” I beg to differ.

Expiration Dates is a good fit for readers looking for a heartfelt exploration of love, fate, and the challenges that come with relationships, presented in a unique and engaging way through magical realism.

Imagine a world in which only you received a piece of paper with the name and length of time you would be with someone. It’s not a proper Rebecca Serle novel without a little bit of magical realism! The plot of this book blew me away. Following past and present loves, Rebecca Serle beautifully weaves in the letters and how they impact our main girl Daphne’s decisions when it comes to relationships.

I really enjoyed reading and embracing the magic, heartbreak, and growth that Daphne goes through. This was the perfect light read that got me thinking about so many different themes. I do wish that the book had an epilogue. I am so curious to see where Daphne’s life heads and would have loved a sneak peek into that!

Thank you so much to Atria and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. I just adored this book and can’t wait for others to read it later this month!

Expiration Dates, by Rebecca Serle, starts out as an entertaining rom-com, featuring a thirty-something single woman who receives mysterious notes alerting her to the exact length of time a particular relationship will last. Each relationship, from start to finish, is seen through her eyes. Midway, the story takes a deep emotional swerve as the reader discovers a different dimension to the main character, her relationships with family, friends, and lovers, and the novel’s title. Serle is one of those incredibly talented authors that can layer a story with nuanced primary and secondary characters, humor, pathos, and a profound understanding of the human condition. The plot twist was unexpected as was the positive and gratifying conclusion. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and the author Rebecca Serle.
At every new relationship, a note is left to you telling you its expiration date, how do you handle it?
Daphne has this quandary. I loved the characters, loved Daphne and Hugo.
Well-written story of the search for love we all have. Will he/she be the one, our everlasting love?
Quick read.
This is the third book I have read from this author and enjoyed them all.
Recommend 4 stars

3.5 . I would first like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the arc I received of this book! Expiration Dates tells the story of Daphne who has a unique relationship with the universe and receives letters telling her how long every relationship is destined to last. Although this all comes to a head when she receives one with no timeframe at all.

I think the premise of this story was very cool and one of my biggest complaints is just that I wanted more. I think the way her relationships over the course of her life were described was a tad lacklustre and I found myself looking for a bit more structure. I also found the twist to be fairly predictable. Although I did find myself rooting for her throughout the book I wasn't 100% invested.

Overall it was an a enjoyable read but I don't think this is a story that's going to stick with me for very long.

✨ ARC REVIEW ✨

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
OUT: 2024-03-19

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

THIS. BOOK. ❤️😭

In Five Years is one of my favourite books of all time and Expiration Dates gave me all of the same warm fuzzy feelings!

I absolutely love that I have been taken on a different journey of self-discovery with each of Serle’s characters and that their lessons always come at the exact moment I need them most!

Daphne’s story was no exception…

A series of mysterious notes presented throughout her life have Daphne convinced that the universe has a plan for her, but is this the path that is meant for her and does she have the power to change it?

We have it all: romance, self-discovery, strong female friendships and a bit of magic to boot… seriously? Is there any better combination??

Huge thank you to the author @netgalley and @atriabooks for the chance to read an ARC of this fantastic story in exchange for my honest review!

This was my first Rebecca Serle book, so I am unaware if her writing style is formulaic. But, I *loved* the layout of this book. What was first a rom-com, light-hearted book became something much deeper and more heart-wrenching. Expiration Dates exceeded my expectations on what I thought would be a simple "beach read" for this summer. I enjoyed this book and returned to it at any spare moment.

Imagine always knowing when a relationship is going to end. Will it last 2 hours, 2 weeks, 2 years? For Daphne, that is her reality. Whenever she meets a man, she gets a piece of paper with his name and the date the relationship will end. But what happens when the paper just has a name?

Rebecca Serle's "Expiration Dates", like her previous books "In Five Years" and "One Italian Summer", blends love and a touch of magic in a compelling way that led me to devour the book in a day. In the end, I still wanted more of the story. This was a solid 4 star read, and as always, I can't wait to see what bit of magic Serle comes up with next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Publishing for allowing me to be an early reader!

Expiration Dates
⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

ARC Review:
From the beginning this book had me hooked and intrigued. A woman named Daphne receives notes of how long her relationships will last. How crazy is that to know who is worth and not worth your time?

The middle got a little slow for me and I felt like some of the male characters and their stories weren’t necessary. It was a little hard to keep up with all of her past relationships. I wish we had details on why she received these notes because there was no explanation at all.

I had mixed feelings about the last 20% of the book. A part of me felt really bad for one of the male characters and I thought the FMC was a bit selfish in her reasoning for what she did to him. But another part of me liked how it ended because I was rooting for these specific characters and their HEA. Overall, I enjoyed the book and it had some really great moments.

Thank You NetGalley, Atria Books, and Rebecca Serle for sending me this ARC for an honest review.

Expiration Dates was a novel I could hardly put down. I started it at bedtime, read until after 1:00 am, and was awake again at 6:30 to finish it. I couldn’t wait to find out more about the main character, Daphne, and her path to find love. I have read all of Rebecca Serle’s novels, and this one is her best yet! Daphne is such a loveable character, and her friends add a lot to the story. The story ended in the best possible way—with me in tears! Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the advance reader copy of this book.

If you knew exactly how long your relationship would last would it be a blessing or a curse?

WOW. Rebecca Serle is one of my favorite authors when it comes to romance and magical realism and she does such a good job combining the two in beautiful, unique, and emotionally packed stories and this one is probably my new favorite.

There's emotion, there's romance, and there's that magic that Rebecca Serle is known for.

This is a sweet, fun, emotional read that will pull at your heartstrings. I read the whole thing in one sitting and had a huge smile on my face the whole time.

5/5 beautiful and magical stars!

*4.5 Stars On My Instagram Account*

"Why are you doing this...We're just getting started."

"Because our time is up."

Time and love are the themes in the very deeply thoughtful often surprisingly gasp worthy Expiration Dates by gets in your head and stays there rent free author Rebecca Serle.

In her previous squeezed my heart books she explored the love of best friends and the love of mothers and daughters. Now she is tackling romantic love but like her other books this is not a straight line love story. Besides many flashbacks to past relationships it's also about loving yourself, trusting yourself and balancing fate and who your heart truly loves.

Daphne considers herself a serial dater. She started young and felt it was really out of her hands. From her very first time she received a postcard with nothing on it but the name of her guy and a time frame. It was how long the relationship would last. This phenomenon happens every time and Daphne accepts the finality of it. Never challenges it until...

Voice actress Julia Whelan is beyond her talented self especially the last half of the story when shocking truths are revealed and Daphne's heart is rocked to the core. Of course, as is the usual, this writer destroys, teases, and leaves us catching our breath with her twisty turns.

The first line of this heartfelt story is, "The paper is blank save for the name Jake." There's no time frame on it. Is he the forever love? Or is he the never will work one? Or is her time up to find love? This story takes its time to build to a philosophical and emotional last half that acknowledges we all have an expiration date so how do you want to live it?!

I received a free copy of this book/audiobook from the publishers via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Expiration Dates releases March 19, 2024

3.5

Dating back to the fifth grade, Daphne has always received cards with the name of a boyfriend and a timestamp for how long the relationship will last. But at the age of 33, she receives a slip of paper with just the name JAKE printed on it. Does the absence of a timestamp mean forever? Or is it the universe telling her that she no longer gets to know?

Would you want to know the exact end date of every relationship you ever had?
Would knowing make it hurt less when it came to an end? Or would it take away from the natural spontaneity and excitement, thus making you feel forced to settle and be less invested?

Living with a congenital heart disease, Daphne doesn’t mind the timestamps — in fact, she likes the measure of time and the guarantee it gives her.
She’s been waiting for an epic love her entire life, but now that she’s given the possibility of forever with someone, is she willing to give it her all in return?

In the back of my mind, I knew the book would play out like it did, but I still held out hope that somehow it would end differently.

Expiration Dates has a fresh concept with a hopeful outlook, but I do think Serle’s novels lean more towards women’s fiction than romance and this is not the “romance that will define a generation.”
The magical realism element was a little too loosely handled and I have a very hard time believing the plot twist, and how fate (or whatever was at the hands of the notes) didn’t intercept after the 3 week mark.


“Maybe I just wanted you to feel what it felt like to choose.”

“What is blank space, really, but an invitation?”

3.5 stars rounded up. I think this is an objectively good version of a romance-ish novel that is both pretty well written and a little too schmaltzy and sentimental for my tastes. I liked the way the story unfolded, and the secrets that are revealed, and I liked Daphne, Josh, and Hugo. I do think that the revelations are often told and not shown, and not exactly believable, in part because the use of third-party limited narration limits out the reader from Daphne's thought process a lot. But I loved the references and the sense of place and it was a good way to spend an afternoon/evening.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rebecca Serle's novels get better and better! Expiration Dates is wonderful and will have you laughing and crying. Daphne Bell believes the universe, or fate, has a plan for her. For the last 20 years, she has been receiving slips of paper with a man's name and the length of time they'll spend together. Stuart, 1 night, Noah, 5 weeks, and even Hugo, her best friend, 3 months. One day, Daphne receives a piece of paper with the name Jake and no expiration date. Jake is perfect but is Daphne ready for forever? Daphne has another secret as well, one that will probably break Jake's heart.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this e-arc.*

I’d seen so many great reviews for this one I had to pick it up! So much packed into a short read. Serle told a beautiful and unique story. The characters were all lovable and I was hooked from the start. I was so curious about the letters! I loved how Daphne’s story slowly unfolded and we learned more about her and her past as the story went on. Can’t wait to read more by this author!

How easy would it be, if you knew exactly how long your relationships would last? You’d never be surprised, and even if it hurt, it probably wouldn’t break your heart.
Daphne has been receiving sips of paper with the name of a man and an amount of time, since middle school. But then she gets one with just a name. Does that mean he’s the one?

I love how thought provoking Rebecca Serle’s writing is, and that final chapter though… “Here we are.”