Five stars, I loved the book. Great use of storytelling with some good twists and perfect dollop of magical realism. I enjoyed Searle's previous book, In Five Years (though not One Italian Summer, so much). I'm looking forward to Serle's next book..she's established a place on my "read the next book" list of authors.

****Publishing March 19, 2024****

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Imagine receiving pieces of paper since 5th grade with your date’s name on them and how long this date would last? This is exactly what has been happening to Daphne. Until one day, the paper only had Jake’s name with no end date. Could this be the one? After she is engaged to Jake, she is confronted by Hugo, a date turned best friend, who wants to spend the rest of his life with her. How will she take Hugo’s confession? In the end, who will she end up with? After years of dating, how do you choose after being told who to date?

A clever, funny, and entertaining take on dating life! If you need a lighter and entertaining story, then add this to your TBR list! A great book to read on vacation or discuss at your next book club!

Thanks to Atria Books, I was provided an ARC of Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. #Netgalley

The book description says, "The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves."
This encapsulates the emotions and feelings I had while reading this book. Daphne has a best friend, Hugo, who she did date for the allotted 3 months at one point. Their friendship they built post-dating is really lovely. Jake was a sweetheart, and perfect on paper, but the question was, is he perfect for Daphne? I also appreciated Daphne's sense of trying to determine what she wanted for her future, not just with a partner, but for her career. It added another layer to the story that already was addressing uncertainty about the future. It broke my heart, but then put it back together by the end. It was truly an emotional journey.

Rebecca Serle has done it again! EXPIRATION DATES feels like a warm hug against the chill of a winter night. We follow Daphne as she receives magical notes from the universe with the length of her romantic relationships. This time Daphne receives a note with just a name and no timeframe, leading her to believe she’s found her forever person.

This is not a romance, but it is a love story of self love and the reality of life. Serle writes grief and emotion so well, and EXPIRATION DATES is no exception. Marvelously crafted with an easy character to delve into, and a couple twists that add infinite value to the story. I’m not 100% convinced by the end, but I can see why it was chosen so I’m not too pressed by it. Those who loved Serle’s other works and who want something tender and gritty all at once should absolutely have EXPIRATION DATES on their radar.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle out 3/19/24.

(3.5 stars) Would you want to know how long your romantic relationships would last before they even got started? That’s the reality for our main character, Daphne, who has been receiving a note with the name of her new romantic interest and the duration of their relationship since she first showed interest in guys. I was drawn in by this premise and also by the fact that I have enjoyed Rebecca Serle’s previous novels, In Five Years and One Italian Summer.

Daphne receives a note with a name, but no timeline. For the first time in her life, Daphne enters into a relationship that isn’t supposed to end. But as she experiences fully embracing her relationship with a stand-up guy named Jake, she can’t help but be faced with questions she had never asked herself about what she wants from a life partner and what she truly envisions for herself. There’s only one other person who knows about the notes, her ex turned close friend, Hugo. Interspersed within the story are Daphne’s past relationships, ranging from one night to over two years.

I enjoyed this book, but I was left wanting more from it. The topic is so unique, however, I was left feeling like I had read similar tropes before: what do you do when your heart and head are telling you different things? And what do you do when you finally get everything you ever hoped for? And although I didn’t see the twist coming, I felt that it led us to an ending that was more predictable than I would have liked. Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

This book was like a breath of fresh air. It was a feel good, hard to put down, smile inducing, gripping read! Plus, it also felt like a love letter to the City of Angels!

Daphne Bell has been receiving little slips of paper for quite some time. These little pieces of magic let her know who long she is going to be with someone. But when her friend sets her up to meet a man named, Jake, the piece of paper has no date. Nada. Could he be the one??? He is a great guy! Is he Daphne’s happily ever after?

While learning more about Daphne and her meet cute with Jake, readers are given glimpses into Daphne's past relationships. Plus, we see Daphne hanging out with Hugo, her best friend and former boyfriend. He also happens to be the only person she has confided in about the slips of paper.

This was a unique and original book. It can easily be read in one day. It was entertaining and had me smiling. It also had me reminiscing as I lived Los Angeles for almost 20 years. It is always fun to read a book and recognize and have been to the places being mentioned. My only quip, I would take Bristol Farms any day of the week over Erewhon. But I digress.

This was my first book by Serle, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Expiration Dates was a fun read with a neat concept for the main character Daphne who each time she meets in a new love interest she would receive a piece of paper with a number, representing how much time she would have with that man.

Did I enjoy the book, yes. Did I live it no.

Expiration Dates was unlike anything I’ve ever read. Daphne’s story was so multifaceted and explored the various types of love one experiences in life. The story moved a bit slowly at times, but I enjoyed learning about Daphne’s history and journey. Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced copy!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Expiration Dates. This is my third read by Rebecca Serle. Although Expiration Dates was an easy, quick read. I found it underwhelming. I was hoping for more. I appreciate the work that went into writing the book. Maybe I am just in a time where this wasn't the right read for me as I am a mood reader.

I fell in love with Rebecca Serle's writing after reading " In Five Years" ( I think most of us did, right? ). I did not love the twist at the end of in five years and that book broke my heart in ways Expiration Dates just healed it. This cute lovely romance was perfect. This was such a sweet book with a touch of magical realism, my favourite.

the premise of this book was so intriguing and the short chapters and less than 300 pages of this story made it such a quick and fun read! EXPIRATION DATES follows daphne bell who gets a letter every time she starts a relationship that tells her exactly how long she will be together with that person. however, one day she just receives a note with a name and no date. what does this mean? is he going to be her forever?

this concept was so different than anything I have read before and added such a cool layer to the story. we get some flashbacks to prior relationships, ranging from 5 days to 2 years, and get some insight into how this strict timeline affects her relationships over the years. we also see her grapple with her future, coming to terms with the fact that this might be her last relationship and finally opening herself up to a relationship without a predetermined end date.

while I thought the plot was really interesting and it was a fun, fast-paced, well-written story, there was something about this book I couldn't fully connect with, potentially due to how short the book is. I didn't feel that strong connection to any of the characters throughout and got confused at times due to the quick jumps between various time frames. ultimately, I would recommend this fast read though for fans of other rebecca serle books, magical realism, and contemporary romances!

final rating: 3.5 stars

After enjoying a few of Serle’s previous novels, I’m confused as to what happened here! the concept/synopsis is incredible and unique but this REALLY fell flat and was full of plot holes. I have no idea why Serle’s writing seems so amateurish here, especially in dialogue scenes, when I’ve read other great books from her and know what she is capable of!

How would you feel if you knew the end dates of all your relationships? That's what happens with Daphne Bell. When she meets a new man, she receives a piece of paper with the length of time the relationship will last. She seems all right with this until she meets Hugo. He is supposed to last only three months, but when the relationship is over they remain friends. When Daphne meets Jake, the piece of paper has no numbers on it and Daphne feel this is the one. But is it? Very enjoyable and entertaining novel.

Expiration Dates was an enjoyable read. I loved the magical elements of the plot. There were a few reveals in the story that kept my interest. Overall, I predict this will be a popular summer read! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Having read two of the author’s previous books (In Five Years and One Italian Summer), I looked forward to reading an advanced copy of her latest book. I remember that I enjoyed her engaging writing style and character-driven storylines. When I read the description of this book, I thought it would be a great, light romance. It wasn’t until I was halfway through the book that I remembered that I thought the same thing about those other two books, and that is not how things played out. But that is not a bad thing.

Every time she meets a new man, Daphne Bell receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it--the exact amount of time they will be together; usually, she is correct, but when she meets Jake, her whole system is thrown for a loop.

I enjoyed the “magic” that the author weaves into the story, which is probably why I thought it would be a lighter romance. However, we find out that Daphne has a complex backstory and craves romance and connection like the rest of us. This backstory has affected how she makes those connections.

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

Overall, I loved the book, even though I sort of predicted the ending. I liked the well-developed characters and Daphne’s emotional growth. It was a well-rounded story.

Review posted to:
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6277232154
StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/b5ff9584-f2a3-466f-ba56-ae1cc9f22130

will post to Instagram (@read.rest.recharge) closer to publication date

Daphne lives in L.A. She periodically receives notes "from the universe" telling her who and how long her next relationship will be (suspend your disbelief). Daphne blindly believes these notes, even sometimes ending relationships on the timing dictated by the cards. When she receives a blank card, she hopes that this one is her forever.

I thought the premise of this one was pretty far-fetched, but the execution of it actually worked. I loved all the L.A. sites and mentions. I've never been interested in visiting LA, and now I would consider it. I loved Daphne's optimism and work ethic and friendships. I have liked Serle's previous books, and this one exceeded my expectations. I was pleasantly surprised by this book that was more than its premise.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy for review.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the premise of this book and was really excited to read it. I have enjoyed all the other titles by the author. I am always up to read a book that has an original concept. I primarily read women's fiction so the plots can seem a bit stale. I was originally pulled in by the idea that you would know how long your relationships were going to be, before you even entered into them. But that had me wondering the whole time, did Daphne the main character do things to end the relationship at the end of that expiration date? This idea would mean there is only one person for everyone to be their true soul mate and I am not sure I believe that. And would you be less invested on the whole if you knew a relationship wasnt going to be long lasting?
The only negative feelings I had about the book was I was not totally convinced she should be with the man she ended up with at the end of the book. I wasnt completely sold on their relationship. The flashback to them being together helped, and I could also understand why it didnt work out the first time but I just wanted a little more.

Thanks to Atria Books, the author, and NetGalley for the free gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this cute rom-com - with a creative magical realism element which is a common theme in Rebecca Serle’s romances. In this one, the main character gets a note with the timeline of the next person she’ll be dating.

I loved the friends-to-lovers romance intertwined with this magical realism. I loved the main characters so you were truly rooting for them which is sometimes rare in romances.

This was a super cute and quick romance that is perfect for when you need a little mood booster or an escape from reality.

Rebecca Serle knows how to write magical love stories. "One Italian Summer" is one of my all-time favorite books, so I was looking forward to reading her follow up and "Expiration Dates" did not disappoint. Daphne is a thirty-something living in Los Angeles who feels behind in both love and life. She likes her job as a producer's assistant, but can't get ahead in the love department because all of her relationships come with an expiration date, delivered via mysterious messages. But when she finally meets someone whose message is blank instead of having an end date, will she trust the message more than her heart? There are a couple of surprise twists that add to Daphne's story, which is heartwarming without being schmaltzy. I also liked all of the secondary characters in her life - her parents, her boss, and her friends.

4.5 ⭐️.

Loved this overall! It took a turn that lost me for a moment in the middle, but I was able to bounce back quickly and click back in. Here's why it worked so well for me:
🏝️ The details: The specificity of the LA setting made this book instantly come so alive to me. I could picture everything so vividly and want to make a bucket list of the few places I haven't been. It’s not even just LA, though. The details of Daphne’s life are so specific, it made it so easy to slide into her shoes (so don’t worry that you won’t like it if you don’t know all the places she references in LA).
💖 The overall message: The message of this one really hit for me. It's about dating in your 20s and 30s, yes, and I thought that it painted that picture really well. But more than that, it's about fear and how that holds us back from knowing ourselves and opening ourselves to others fully.
✡️ The Jewish rep: LOVE the casual Jewish rep and the amount of bagels devoured in this book.