Daphne Bell's future seems to be planned out for her. Every time she meets a new guy she receives a piece of paper. The paper has his name and a number on it. The number represents the amount of time she will spend with him. Daphne keeps this and a few other secrets from all the guys she dates for a long time. This is an easy read but is also confusing at times. I enjoyed it but it is not my favorite Rebecca Serle book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

Rebecca Serle is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and I wait eagerly for each new book to be released. Expiration Dates has the same underlying whimsical magic that Serle is able to weave into her previous novels. She writes in a way that you forget that there is a layer of fantasy involved. In Expiration Dates, we meet Daphne Bell who has dated many men, but hasn’t met the one. Which is no surprise to her because she always receives a piece of paper with her next beau and the length the relationship will last. This has helped Daphne sidestep serious heartbreak, maintain cordial breakups and basically see the future. So when she’s set up on a blind date with Jake, she’s shocked when her note is delivered with a name and without a length of time. With eyes wide open, Daphne jumps in head first with Jake, knowing that he’s “the one.” Serle’s done an amazing job creating twists and turns throughout the novel. Telling both the story of Daphne and Jake, but also of Daphne’s past relationships and how they’ve shaped her into who she is. Admitably, I was not prepared for one of Serle’s largest twists and this added additional layers of depth in my understanding of Daphne. I love that Serle’s forced us to question what it means to let ourselves fall in love and how can we ever truly fall if we don’t have a safety net in place? I adored Expiration Dates and recommend putting it at the top of your TBR pile!

A sincere thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story I read in two days. I enjoy Rebecca Serle's writing style. A story about exploration of self-worth, love, and destiny, presented through the life of the relatable main character, Daphne. The unique twist of receiving letters or postcards predicting the longevity of her relationships adds an air of mystery to the storyline. As the letters arrive in Daphne's life, each revealing a length of time, signifies how long Daphne will be in a relationship with the person. As I am reading this, it was confusing with the present day to flashback, to understand what is happening but this enigmatic element serves as a powerful metaphor for the unpredictability of love and life, a theme that resonates strongly throughout the book.. It was kind of hard to follow the meaning or why she receives them, but as the story unfolds we learn that Daphne has a defective heart issue and does not feel she is lovable. It is certainly fitting to how Daphne sees herself and how she involves herself with others who are not suited for her. Daphne certainly develops her character and uncovers a deeper meaning about herself and love. The intrigue and curiosity sparked by the letters keep the pages turning, yet at times, the reasons behind their existence and purpose can feel elusive. However, as the story gracefully unravels, Daphne's inner struggles are revealed. Her heart condition becomes a powerful symbol, representing not just her medical ailment, but also her emotional barriers and her belief that she is unlovable.
Daphne is a woman burdened by self-doubt to someone who uncovers her own worth and potential for love. Overall, I enjoyed the depth of the story.

I mostly enjoyed this and landed somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.
Serle’s brand of magical realism is very hit or miss for me and I thought it worked well here.
Daphne has many reasons for struggling with commitment, not the least of which is the notes she receives with the “expiration date” of each relationship she starts. I actually would have loved to have more background on this and felt that it ended up taking a backseat to Daphne’s health issues.
I struggled most with the reveal about Daphne’s health about halfway through. It felt unnecessary and like it took away from the plot. Personally, I also don’t think we need more stories where disabled/chronically ill main characters question if they’re a burden to their partners or deserve love. I get that the ultimate takeaway is not that, but it’s not my favorite theme.

YES! I liked this book immediately. It is LOVELY!

Expiration Dates is a book about love - the way people define and experience relationships. I read it in one sitting!

As this is a Rebecca Serle book, I knew some big emotional punch would come along, and when it did…. ooph, my heart! So good.

I, admittedly, still don’t know how I feel about Daphne’s choice at the end. I loved ALL of the characters in this book, so it was hard for me to come to terms with her decision. However, I respect the way everything resolved and the final chapter made my heart squeeze!

Thank you Atria Books for this ARC! I highly recommend grabbing a copy of this book in March 2024!

This is the kind of Romance, Chick Lit, etc., that makes me want to read more of them. Daphne's story is filled with delightful characters, her parents, her boss, her friends and of course, the inevitable cute dog.

But Rebecca Serle knows what she's doing and keeps the novel jumping with surprises and unexpected depths of ideas. Daphne is 33 and has had many relationships. Each new one is accompanied by the mysterious appearance of a note that mentions the name of the new man, along with the amount of time this new relationship will last.

Clever plot point? Absolutely! But it is not the only unusual plot twist,. They keep coming, along with a healthy dose of philosophies of life. and thought-provoking situations.

So why only four stars, you might well ask? Because Serle's writing also includes what I call the Nancy Thayer "extend the word count" method of listing every single restaurant, bar, and scenic location, along with everyone's outfit from hair to shoes. (Lots of "dark jeans" and button-down shirts, eye colors and personal aromas.) Maybe I'm missing something, and that style is now de regeur for this genre.

Regardless, I would like to thank Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy of this book. I inhaled it and couldn't put it down..

I couldn’t put this down. I had high expectations as I loved In Five Years and I was not disappointed. Daphne’s journey is relatable on some levels and the underlying lessons/messages are spot on. Definitely a wonderful book to curl up with on the sofa.

Rebecca Serle writes the most heartfelt (but not cheesy) romances! I recommend her works to everyone and I think fans will love "Expiration Dates".

This was a sweet quick read. Our heroine, Daphne, receives notes that tell her who she wooo date next and for how long. We follow her through those relationships some as quick as one night. We also meet side characters like her male BFF, her parents and girlfriends.
Overall I thought this was cute- it would make a great beach read and is a sweet romance that’s pretty predictable but you still fall for anyway.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of Rebecca Serle's newest novel, 'Expiration Dates'. This was a super cute book filled with love and laughs. It was beautifully written and I couldn't put it down. The boyfriend "expiration notes" reminded me of the movie, 'In Time' where their death date is written on their wrist and then end is foretold. It was a neat concept and I loved how Serle incorporated love, fear, romance and magical realism.

I'm a big fan of Serle's work but am sad to say this didn't quite work for me. The concept itself is great but I felt the execution left a lot to be desired. I didn't connect with Daphne and the twist about her health felt like a cheap shot so far into the book, maybe I should've seen it coming, but I wish it was told upfront. I also felt I needed more of a background about how she first started finding notes and how it impacted her early on, that could have been expanded on. This could have had more meat to it and been much better.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love the West LA and So Cal “characters” in this book. I went to UCLA and worked in Holmby Hills so I spent a lot of time in these areas. You can tell she knows this city and surrounding areas well! Her descriptions are spot on.

All the chapters about the different guys…meh. I didn’t get why those were necessary. Seemed like filler. Give me more of Hugo, Jake, Kendra, Irina, and parents..those are who I cared to read about.

Overall, this kept me engaged enough to read it in a 24 hour period, but didn’t knock my socks off. Cute, but not wow.

I’ll still be there for her next one, though!

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

Thanks so much Atria Books and NetGalley.

Daphne believes the universe has a plan for her love life. She receives a note with a name of a guy as well as a date when their relationship is going to end. She goes on a date with Jake and gets a card. There is no expiration date. Is this the one for her?

This was a fun read. It was interesting to see how much Daphne let herself be herself around Jake when she realized the card had no date on it. I liked her friendship dynamics with Hugo. This book does feel like it's driven by a formula - there's a secret she cannot reveal and there is also a twist! I liked all the characters but I cannot say that I felt deeply connected to them. It felt like it was following Jake and Daphne and wondering if something was going to happen. I also thought it was similar to Hannah Orenstein's Meant to Be Mine, except that book doesn't have expiration dates, it has the date the main character will meet their soulmate. What twists!

I enjoyed this a lot overall. Rebecca Serle is a fantastic storyteller, and I cannot wait to read more!

This book is an ode to life and love and how we define them. T he characters are interesting and the plot moves swiftly.

Los Angeles is described in vivid detail from the perspective of a middle class native.

Ms. Serle adds a touch of magic, making this an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle.

Rebecca Serle never disappoints; readers are going to love this one (bring tissues).

A delightful, breezy, and fun read! Daphne is looking for the One. For better or perhaps worse, she knows exactly how long each of her relationships is destined to last (via a slip of paper she receives with her date’s name and the duration of their romance). While her latest date with Jake goes well enough, she is shocked to discover there doesn’t seem to be an end date. Daphne seems to be getting everything she wanted…so why doesn’t it feel that way?

This was great - I enjoyed the vivid scene setting and plot. I predicted where Daphne’s story was heading early on and kept turning the pages in excitement (and hope that I was right!). Recommended to anyone looking for a satisfying journey of self-discovery mixed with romance and magical realism.

Thank you very much to Atria for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

BOOK REVIEW: Expiration Dates by @Rebecca Serle

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First of all i want to thank Rebecca @Atria Books and @NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book! I really loved this story it was such a great read Jake & Daphne ‘s story was so cute I really loved reading it every page has me coming back for more!!

Yesterday when I got the email from Atria giving me access to an early copy of this book, I screamed!! Rebecca Serle is one of my favorite authors, and this book is one of my most anticipated 2024 reads.

This book was a warm hug. I laughed. I cried. I felt all the emotions. This was beautifully written, and I could not stop reading. I love how Rebecca weaves magical realism elements into her stories. Our main character, Daphne, receives notes that tell her how long each of her relationships will last. However, one day, she receives a note with a name but no expiration date. Add the twist in the middle, which brought out even more emotions, and you have a perfectly written story. Definitely grab this one in March. I can’t say enough good things about it!!