I typically find Rebecca Serle's novels to be hit or miss as I'm not typically one for magical realism themes. However, I mean it with my whole heart when I say that this is Serle's best book yet. I could not put it down and found the concept to be unique and refreshing. This book was a tad predictable (we all knew she was ending up with Hugo by the book's end - even if she set the reader up to second guess in the epilogue!) but I think it made it all the more charming. It also allowed the reader to focus on the real theme of the story - loving yourself first and trusting your heart, not letting the world tell you who you should or shouldn't love or have in your life. I have been singing this book's praises in the week since I finished and I can't wait for all of my friends to have a copy in their hands. Heartbreaking, honest, and happy - this book is IT!

This one is definitely 3.5 rounded up. Some of the chapters felt unnecessary to me. I honestly didn't read any of the chapter about her past relationships. Only the Hugo chapter. And Hugo...he was just perfect. I loved him so much. And I loved him and Daphne together!

Rebecca Serle is an auto buy author for me and I am so genuinely excited when I see she is releasing a new book! Her novels are so inquisitive and make me think how they would apply to my life and I love that! They all have some magical realism and are done so perfectly! I am not a huge romance reader, but this book is my favorite of hers, hands down. It takes a lot for me to truly invest in a book that isn’t in the thriller genre, but this one has such an original plot and not one bit two twists that were truly shocking! I couldn’t believe she pulled it off so effortlessly! Daphne is one of my favorite characters that Rebecca has written and I couldn’t help but root for her! I finished this book in less than 24 hours and that is not my normal, I just enjoyed it so much and couldn’t put it down.

A different, a bit confusing story of Daphne Bell and her journey through life. The story surrounds her search for love and every time she is about to meet a man, a slip of paper mysteriously appears with the name and number of how long the relationship will last. This bounces back and forth, past and present. Which I wished would have more clearly written. I almost DNF since this is was all about Daphne’s one night stands, short weekend affairs and a few longer ones. But stick with it! The last third will reveal a secret that Daphne has hidden from the world. And explains why she has relied on fate.
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #ExpirationDates

In Rebecca Serle's Expiration Dates protagonist Daphne gets a unique sign from the universe. A piece of paper appears, telling her the exact amount of time her relationship will last. When Daphne receives a paper with the name of her latest date and no time frame, she thinks she may have found the elusive "one."

Serle blends fantasy and contemporary fiction seamlessly. The fantasy drives the plot but doesn't distract from it. The magical realism element was a unique device for Daphne to explore her feelings about how she shows up in relationships. 

Serle delivers a twist mid-book that turned my expectations upside down. This unexpected turn added new depth to the second half of the book. It gave me a new lens to view Daphne's perspective. Serle balances heartfelt humor with realistic drama, and it works in the context of the story. 

Miscommunications and timing were motifs explored throughout the book. The events in the plot believably drove Daphne toward her revelations without being too obvious. Serle has a masterful command of language. Her writing flows seamlessly, making this a book that is difficult to put down.

Daphne's interactions with her best friend, Hugo, were some of the most heartfelt in the book. Some friends bring out the best of us, and Serle did a great job illustrating this with Daphne and Hugo. It can be easy to typecast certain characters in the "best friend" role, but Hugo had the charisma to stand on his own. 

Serle also integrated Los Angeles as a character in its own right. Settings can often become muted around characters and plot points. However, Serle described the setting and its place in Daphne's character arc so vividly that it served the story well. As someone who has yet to visit Los Angeles, Serle's descriptions gave me a vivid understanding of the city's look and vibe. 

The ending was a satisfying conclusion to Daphne's narrative. Her relationships with friends, family, and love interests added zest to her character arc. As a reader, you're left with the feeling that Daphne has a new beginning, rather than a happy ending.

I would give this book 10 stars. Daphne is in her late 20s, living in LA. Since she was young, mysterious pieces of paper come to her telling her the name of her next boyfriend and the duration of the relationship. The novel opens with a paper arriving with just a name, no time period. This book took me on such a fun journey. I loved Daphne, and Jake, and Hugo and Murphy. I really loved seeing what @rebecca_serle would do with Daphne. This book made me gasp, made me ponder and it really made me smile. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It releases on 3/19. Thank you to @atriabooks and @netgalley for the arc. #expirationdates #rebeccaserle #romancereaderofinstagram

This is my 3rd Rebecca Serle book and most likely my last. I have always been drawn to her books because of the magical realism premise but every single time, it just doesn’t do it for me. I think it's her writing style that makes me lose focus. I hate to give a bad rating as every single author pours their heart and soul into their work. I know I am in the minority so do not let my review deter you from reading and loving her work.

This may be my favourite Rebecca Serle book to date. It’s a unique concept where every time the main character, Daphne Bell, meets a man, she receives a piece of paper telling her how long they will spend together. I really wasn’t sure what to expect but it had me intrigued. The magic in the concept was in the richness of how Serle unfolds the story. Each relationship was fleshed out and held their own. The six-month relationship with Josh, the founder of a tech-venture start-up in San Francisco left me wanting more and wishing it was a full novel unto itself. Serle left easter eggs throughout, which really pulled the story together at the end. I won’t spoil anything but I will say I was surprised by the ending.

Now a note on length – I read the ARC on NetGalley on my phone and it came in at 196 pages. While I often like a chunky book, this one was an enjoyable ride on the shorter side and I think it really worked. You can tell the author did a great job on keeping it tight and editing it so it fit perfectly. I wish there was more books out there like this.

Although this didn't quite measure up to In Five Years and One Italian Summer, this was an okay read. The plot about a women receiving notes with the name of a future partner and the amount of time she'll be involved with that partner was intriguing the lack of explanation as to why it was happening left me feeling confused. There was a twist that occurred about halfway through that was interesting, but there still wasn't a whole lot of depth to the book. It was a quick read and some sweet parts.

4.5 stars. Are you kidding me? Rebecca Serle did it again. I absolutely adored this book, and like Rebecca's other books, she really pulled me into the world and wanting more. I read this in one sitting, I had to see what would happen with the papers and how they shaped the way Daphne acted in those relationships. And how she would never fully get close. And how even when she doubted herself in a relationship, she trusted in those mysterious papers. The character development was on point, I thought the pace was great, and even though the overall premise is not realistic, I was made to feel like it was. 10/10, would recommend to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Serle, and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This book was a joy - I really, really loved the characters and the premise. Definitely my favorite of the author's booksI also read the Author's Note at the end, and as someone who was also single and looking for my person for what felt like forever, I found all of this to be incredibly poignant and moving. However, I was certainly left with unanswered questions - I think I need to learn that Serle's MO is writing these short, powerful little books with unexplained magic that tug at your heartstrings. Answers will not be found but tears will be shed, and that's okay! 4.5 stars :)

Imagine an expiration for every relationship… would you bother to even try knowing when it will end? Every relationship that Daphne has had revolves around a piece of paper. It holds all the control over her and she uses it to protect her heart. I enjoyed this story and the twists I didn’t predict. Be prepared tho, once you start it you won’t be able to put it down until you turn the final page.

Thanks to Atria Books and Simon Audio for an advanced copy of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle.

I listened to this in one go because it was so quick and I enjoyed it. It was such an interesting premise and had the right amount of magical realism.

Daphne believes the universe has a plan for her. When she meets a new man, she receives a piece of paper with the guy's name and a number on it - the amount of time they will be together. So when she goes on a blind date with Jake, the piece of paper has only his name. Told in the present as she dates Jake and wonders/doubts the paper along with stories of the men of her past.

I liked the questions this book raised and some of the surprises that made me gasp out loud as I was listening/driving. I loved chatting with friends as they read this book. Knowing how long a relationship would last and whether it changes how you feel about it or how you act was so fascinating to me!

I liked it, didn't love the ending but liked Daphne's character and found her job fascinating.

ARC READ THROUGH NETGALLEY. I really enjoyed this book. I almost immediately liked Daphne, even though I thought she was putting a little bit too much stock in those papers she kept receiving about her love life. I was already into the story when there was a plot twist and then I was even more invested. I also didn’t necessarily see the ending coming, I thought it was maybe a possibility, but only got hints of it and it seemed like there were too many other things in the way, so I was pleasantly surprised there too. All in all, a good read.

This is my first @rebeccaserle book (even though I have her other two they sadly not been read - but will be now because I really enjoyed Expiration Dates

Daphne receives notes from the universe with a name and length of time and they directly correlate to her next relationship. It was such a fun idea and I often caught myself questioning if the notes were accurate because Daphne believed them to be truth or if they were actually destiny. This is one of those romance novels that actually surprises you! There were many times I wasn't quite sure who the love interest was and there was a jaw dropping moment I totally wasn't expecting. I absolutely loved that this didn't follow the conventional love story arc - meet, fall in love, major blowout, reconnect. We've all read that before and I was waiting for the fight around 75% in and was pleasantly surprised to be surprised!

I couldn't put this book down. It's short, but not in a way that detracts from the story. It's a super quick read that you really could binge in one sitting if you have the luxury, I certainly wanted to! It kept me up late at night because I didn't want to put it down. I really liked Daphne. She felt relatable but also a little mysterious. I like that she withheld information from the readers and that we slowly got to know her and unravel some of the tidbits we had learned.

I loved this one! I have read each of Rebecca Serle's books and was super interested by the summary of this one. And it lived up to what I was hoping for! I grew so attached to Daphne and I just kept rooting and begging for her to choose herself for ONCE!! I loved this story. It was magical, romantic, charming, and witty. My one drawback is I wish we had more backstory on the notes. Who wrote them? Why? Overall, a great read!

Daphne has a leg up when it comes to love over anyone else. Every time she meets a new guy, the universe sends her a note telling her how long she has with him. One day she finally gets a note with no date on it with a guy named Jake. Jake is a sweet, devoted man that Daphne is afraid will be hurt if he knew *everything* about her. She is scared to show it all to him despite the note. Luckily, she has her best friend (and ex) Hugo to talk about everything with. He is the only one who knows about the notes. Daphne will wrestle with her idea of taking fate into her own hands.

I love Rebecca Serle and have read a lot of her work. I thought this was an inventive idea- who wouldn't want notes telling us how long a relationship will last. Serle unveils Daphne dating history while also letting us gradually get to know Daphne. We get to know the part of Daphne that she doesn't want anyone else to know. I also enjoyed the love story throughout- I thought it was cute. I did think the writing got a little cheesy toward the end, like quotes you would stitch on a pillow. But overall, a fun story about fate and love.

I will read anything by Rebecca Serle and Expiration Dates did not disappoint! I love how she writes well-written women’s fiction with a touch of magical realism.

The book centers around Daphne Bell, a 30-something who receives notes informing her how long each romantic relationship she enters will last. Most of the story is told from present time, but we get glimpses of past relationships every few chapters.

I was rooting for Daphne and wanted her to have her Happily Ever After. This was a sweet story with sprinkles of life lessons throughout the book. I particularly liked the concept of love as a safety net. You’ll understand after you read the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Just imagine meeting a possible love interest and finding out right away how long the relationship will last. It would seem to put a damper on the fun of dating. This is exactly what happens to Daphne.

She began getting postcards in middle school that had a name and a length of time written down. As the years passed by, she began to expect the cards and resigned herself to the situation.

Hugo was one such love interest and the only one she confided in about the “love notes.”
After Daphne and Hugo broke up, they kept their friendship in tact and saw each other on a regular basis.

Eventually Daphne meets Jake through a mutual friend, but this time her post card only has his name and no time frame. Puzzled, Daphne begins to think he’s the one to go the distance.

But there are some twists coming that made this story well worth reading. Light-hearted, but with some sobering content, this was a pleasure to read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am pleased to recommend this and give my honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria for this gifted digital ARC of Expiration Dates.
This is my first Rebecca Serle read and quite possibly, my last. I went in knowing that this author's books have reviews that swing from one end of the pendulum to the other. I figured this would be a good one to get my feet wet and find out what end my review would land on.
I began this book enjoying it. I thought the premise was kind of fun, and I was thoroughly entertained. Then at about 35% of the way in, it started to lose me. I became too annoyed with the disjointed chapters, the jumping around between Hugo, Jake and the others, and I was no longer entertained. The characters weren't loveable. The relationships were confusing and lacking depth. And I just didn't care to read anymore. I stopped at 50%.
This one missed the mark for me.