I could not put this book down at all, it was such an original and fun concept to me, could you imagine having full knowledge of your 'expiration date' with each person you meet? I don't think i'd like that. I enjoyed the writing style and where the story was going but at the end it felt a little flat to me? I still had some questions or just wanted a little but more i suppose. Still very enjoyable and happy to have read it.

This book is a mix between women's fiction and magical realism. It’s an interesting concept considering this is my first book from this author.

Daphne gets little notes that tell her how long her relationship will last. There were some sweet moments, some emotional ones as well, but the story felt so slow for me… I did enjoy the cute ending and definitely liked who she picked at the end but we have no clue how it happened. Also the whole plot is about Daphne, her relationship and the letters and during majority of the book I was expecting to get a answer on who sends those them and why but that never happens which makes the story feel unfinished.

Overall, I enjoyed the cute love story but I expected a little more. 3.5* stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for a digital ARC copy.

#ExpirationDates #NetGalley

I went into this with so much anticipation, I absolutely love the concept behind it and was really looking forward to it. I love a bit of magic realism 🙏
However the execution really let me down- I don't know if it was Serles writing style or because my netgalley copy appeared to have a few glitches and sometimes I couldn't even finish the chapter because of issues with the proof. For this reason I found myself struggling to read on and not inspired to pick it up 😭

I devoured this book in 2 days - which indicates how much I hated to put it down despite working full time and other commitments!

A love story that explores the concept of fate verses free will. I got the ending I was hoping for whilst exploring the concept of love, for others and yourself.

This is my second Rebecca Serle book. I read One Italian Summer two years ago, and I didn't love it. Not that it wasn't entertaining, but there were some plot holes and some of her choices plot wise irked me a bit.

With this new book from her, Expiration Dates, I had a better reading experience. It wasn't life changing and I don't see myself thinking about it in the near future, but I liked the writing and it was a really interesting concept. Her books tend to be a mix of genres, and this one is no different. I'd categorize it as a contemporary romance / chick lit with some magical realism. it's the magical realism part that really doesn't work for me. The origin of the notes is never explained or given any context and it feels like it was just added in the narrative to give a little bit of spice. I get the meaning and the message conveyed through this, but if we're going to have a magical realism aspect, we need to feel like it's there for a reason.

Expiration Dates talks about relationships, pain and self-love and understanding. I like that it delved into deeper subjects and that it was more than a 'simple' romance, but I can't help feeling like there was something missing.

This book had a really good concept but the execution was not great and the writing style was not for me.

Amazing book!
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this book and I didn't want to put it down! The author captured my attention from the get go! Five stars from me :)

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. This was a quick and enjoyable read. I was interested in the storyline and although I didn't feel there was much story or character development, I felt Serle wrote engagingly and sensitively.

I loved In Five Years but really disliked One Italian Summer so I was excited but nervous about this new book from Serle!

The plot is Like that black mirror episode with the dating watches but instead of being dark and dystopian this story is more lighthearted and whimsical-although it is emotional as well.

I was pulled in immediately and finished in 2 days, I devoured this book! Sometimes too much detail that feels unnecessary and telling over showing. I enjoyed the story and characters enough that it didn’t bother me quite as much as it normally would!

Such a unique plot and already making me reflect on fate, free will, and if Daphne used these pieces of paper to sabotage relationships when the notes could’ve been wrong-what if things were going well and she cut them off at the deadline because that’s what the paper said, or it was a bad relationship but she stayed because their time wasn’t up yet?! This novel clearly made me reflective on life and love and the universe.

The plot twists?! Did not see coming at all (except for one). I cried quite a bit with this book as I always do with Serle’s novels. The characters were all well written, although Kendra felt one dimensional as a friend only present to serve a purpose for the MC. I also enjoyed that we got to see glimpses of Daphne’s past relationships as it gave us a chance to get to know her character better!

I was slightly disappointed towards the end as I felt like Daphne didn’t have much character development but that’s all I can say without giving away any spoilers

Overall an entertaining, quick read that I loved right up until the end! I didn’t enjoy as much as In Five Years but was waaay better than One Italian Summer. I look forward to reading more from Serle in the future 💖

After loving Rebecca Serle's "In Five Years," I had high hopes for "Expiration Dates." The concept is interesting, especially if you're into magical realism, and the book has its cute and creative moments. However, I couldn't connect with any of the characters and I wasn't rooting for either love story. A major plot point revolves around mysterious notes sent to Daphne, but we never find out who's behind them, which left me feeling unsatisfied.

Despite these issues, "Expiration Dates" is still a quick and easy read. It's perfect for something light and non-stressful, like a beach day book. It didn't move me like "In Five Years" did, but it's not a bad way to spend a few hours if you're looking for something simple and sweet.

Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy of this book.

Given this was a Rebecca Serle book I was pretty much guaranteed to enjoy it, and there was no disappointment. A really interesting premise for a book with twists along the way. A sure fire romance with enough grit to make it not sickly.

My first Rebecca Serle book and I adored it 🫶🏻 I think the concept is so interesting and unique, it’s what attracted me to the book in the first place and I wasn’t disappointed.⁣
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Daphne Bell is our MC, a woman who has been receiving mysterious slips of paper from the universe for the majority of her life. The papers consist of the name of the man she is currently dating and the length of time they will be together (24 hours, 8 days, 5 months etc.) until one day she is set up on a blind date with Jake, and the paper she receives has only his name on and no length of time… ⁣
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I found myself so easily absorbed in this story; we follow Daphne on her journey in the present day with Jake while also getting flashbacks to some of her previous relationships which help to provide backstory for who Daphne is today. I really resonated with Daphne’s character and the absolute emotional turmoil she experiences following the chaos of her dating life. ⁣
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This book is excellent with well-timed twists I didn’t see coming, thought-provoking scenarios and ultimately the happy ending I was rooting for 💗 I thoroughly enjoyed it!⁣
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Thank you to Quercus and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Expiration Dates its fresh and surprising take on dating. I had read a previous book by Rebecca Serle, In Five Years and this has the same slightly magical element but so believable premise. The characters were so engaging especially the main character, Daphne. We watch her grow up and meet partners and go almost the same pain she does when they break up because we feel the connection. I think anyone who enjoys RomComs would enjoy this. I can certainly see Expiration Dates turned into a series on Netflix. But the book is always better.

I love magical realism books and enjoyed reading Expiration Dates. I loved the book's premise and the way Daphne's relationships were presented. The opportunities and dilemmas brought about by the notes she received made for a very interesting story arc of "what-if", potentials and "fate".

I wish that there was more backstory to the notes that magically appear.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys magical realism, romance and a quick read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus Books for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion.

It’s been a while since a romantic novel has made me shed tears but I reached just over half way through Rebecca Searle’s new novel and I felt a lump forming in my throat. My reaction was possibly more emotional than the average, because I felt seen. Rebecca has this habit of taking what seems like a simple romance and adding an element that immediately elevates it to something more. Daphne lives in L.A. and works as an assistant to a film maker, outside of work she is a busy bee flitting between visiting her parents, spending time with her dog Murphy and roaming flea markets for quirky household items. However, her favourite weekend mornings are those she spend with her ex-boyfriend Hugo: he wakes her early, they get to an early farmer’s market for the best choices such as the sunflowers that are always gone by ten am. Her career hasn’t changed much over time and she has chosen to stay in the area to be close to her family. Daphne is single, at a point in life where people she knows are staying together, having babies and getting married. Daphne tends to have short term relationships, but she is starting to wonder about all these things. Are they something she’ll ever find? Her friends can’t understand it, she’s a great girl, and have started to offer to their friends and work colleagues as potential dates. What they don’t know is that Daphne keeps a box under her bed and in it are post-it notes, drinks coasters and theatre tickets all which have the name of a boyfriend and a length of time, an expiration date. From one night to several months these cards enter her life around the same time as a new man and Daphne knows the finite amount of time they have together. This bit of magic from the universe is amazing in some ways, but in other ways she’s starting to think they hold her back. Are they starting to become a self fulfilling prophecy? Then her friend Kendra sets her up with Jake and Daphne waits for her expiration date to arrive. This time though, it’s just a name; no date. Does this mean Jake is the one?

Aside from the magical expiration dates, I was beginning to wonder whether this was a straightforward romance. Much as I was enjoying Daphne’s life, I was missing that extra element that grabs me and makes me feel something. I shouldn’t have doubted the author, because when it did arrive the impact was huge. Having had a similar experience at the same age as Daphne made her story even more compelling because I ‘got’ it and completely understood her emotions and reasoning. There are momentous experiences in life that divide it into a very clear before and after and you can never return to who you once were. Yet on the outside, the change isn’t visible. There is always something there to be revealed, something that can be ‘outed’ and only you can choose when and if you reveal it. Jake’s open ended expiration date is ambiguous, but what it does is leave Daphne to make choices in a way she never has before. Previously, short expiration dates have meant she doesn’t have to make a choice. If it’s one night, the chance to know another person is limited. If it’s three months Daphne doesn’t have to invest too much emotionally. It’s both freeing and restricting at the same time. Daphne doesn’t have to change or make too much effort, because whatever she does or doesn’t do it changes nothing. However, her emotions are restricted. If she didn’t see the expiration date, might she have invested more, took a risk or perhaps even fallen in love?

That’s why being with Jake is so different, it’s the only open ended relationship she’s ever had. Don’t get me wrong, Jake couldn’t be more perfect. He’s attractive and intelligent. More importantly he’s kind and considerate. At first, Daphne isn’t sure but for once they have all the time in the world for her to explore and see where the relationship and her feelings go. Jake has emotional depth and a willingness to those emotions on the line. Jake was married once and his wife died. Daphne marvels at his ability to be vulnerable when he has lost so much. It also worries her, because she holds a secret that has the ability to shatter this fragile and tentative relationship they’ve built. She has a perfect man who wants to live together, to marry and build a future. Everyone says he’s perfect, but is he perfect for Daphne? I couldn’t help but keep thinking back to Hugo, who seems like the one who got away. He knows everything about Daphne, the secret and the expiration dates, but he’s still here. Their official romantic relationship may have come to an end at their proscribed three month deadline, but he’s still here and to me he felt like the person who is closest to Daphne. If they’d had a chance, an open ended relationship, might they have been perfect for each other? There were things I didn’t like about Hugo, but to me he felt more vibrant and alive than Jake. I felt like Daphne glows when she’s with Hugo, whereas with Jake she is the epitome of the phrase ‘settled down’. For Daphne, falling in love has never been simple and I really related to that. I think a lot of other readers will too.

Another bittersweet, heartfelt and stunning outing from Searle. Queen of contemporary fiction. In Five Years set a high mark and Expiration Dates reaches it again.

I have seen so many people recommend and love this book, and I loved the synopsis. However I found it to be a little disappointing, the ending did not satisfy, but wonder if it’s because this genre is not for me. I am happy that I gave it a go though, and can see why people do love it.

Thank you to the Author, publisher and NetGalley UK for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars.

So, Daphne gets these pieces of paper from time to time, telling her who she will date/be in a relationship with next and how long each of these relationships will last. That is until she receives one which is a little different. It says Jake and doesn’t have an expiration date. Daphne infers from this that he’s her forever person.

The book is mostly based in the present whilst Daphne dates Jake and seems to go along with the relationship in blind trust of her note. From time to time we jump into the past to hear the stories of previous men she’s dated/had a relationship with, none of them are particularly noteworthy or of great interest except for Hugo, who happens to be her current best friend. As you hear so many of the back stories, you wonder whether there’s something in those stories which will be impactful later but it sort of just falls flat.

I imagined this would be a story of her testing the limits with the note and seeing whether she could escape or exceed the expiration dates. That, it was not. I thought maybe we’ll find out more about where these notes come from or why she gets the. Again, we do not. I thought we’d see the pros and cons of having your romantic life dictated for you. We didn’t really.

About two thirds into the book we find out more about Daphne which I think is supposed to be shocking twist but isn’t really. [I’m trying to avoid spoilers here!] So when it then takes over the main story until a couple chapters before the end, it started to feel like this wasn’t the story we were promised or sold.

Whilst this additional info is interesting and a little moving at times, it felt like it detracted from the main story. Then the main story about Daphne’s romantic life was rushed to conclude at the end. As the ending felt rushed, we didn’t get any of the needed answers or any real consequences. It was a predictable ending and seemed like “they all lived happy ever after” but even then, we’re not sure they do.

It was a great concept but in my opinion, was left incomplete.

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 3 days with Martin in Paris, 5 weeks with Noah in San Francisco, and 3 months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving these numbered papers for over twenty years. Always wondering if she will ever receive one without an expiration.
Finally, the night of a blind date at her favourite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a Jake.

Daphne wonders whether she should be doubting the paper’s prediction and wrestling with what it means to be both committed and truthful. Because Daphne knows things Jake doesn’t, information that, if he found out, would break his heart.

💭💭💭💭💭💭💭

I received an ARC of this from @netgalley and @quercusbooks in return for a review.

What a premise! I was so excited by the idea of this. I’m not a fantasy reader but when it comes to a little bit of magical realism (ie The Midnight Library) I’m down to give it a go. I really really enjoyed this story.

I loved the setting. Being in city of LA, and then going back and being in other places Daphne has lived. Jake was adorable.

There were added elements of trauma and the emotional pasts of both characters, and Hugo’s suave, arrogant but charming personality also made for an enjoyable read.

Only thing I didn’t like was the resolution for the book. Loved the way it was written but it wasn’t the ending I was hoping for. Kinda feel Rebecca Serle did me dirty there.

This was my first by this author and it has inspired me to plan another read of one of her books in Feb. (One Italian Summer). We’ll see how it goes, but I wonder if I have found myself a new auto-buy author….

4.5/5

While the concept behind this story was intriguing. I found this fell a little flat.
I wasn't interested in either love interest and also felt the book focused on the wrong things at times.
I would have liked to see more of how she felt after finding out the truth but it happened so late on it didn't really matter.