Expiration Dates
Rebecca Serle
Read and Reviewed: March 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely adored Rebeccas last book 'In Five Years' and I was so excited for this latest one so couldnt believe my luck when I got approved an advanced reader copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book was everything I expected it would be and more.

The literary genre of magical realism brings fantastical elements to realistic events. I completely get that as a genre it isn't for everyone and I wouldnt always love it either but there is something about the way Rebecca Serle writes that is just so so special. I was head over heels in love with her last book 'In Five Years' and I absolutely loved Expiration Dates also so she defo has a fan in me.

Where to start with this one to make sure I do it justice.

The plot is so fun and quirky and it does a great job of combining romance and magical realism without either being too much. This book is perfect for holidays or as a summer beach read. I flew through it in a couple of sittings - I just couldnt put it down! (Always a sign of a great book)

We are introduced to Daphne, our female main character who lives in LA and works as a busy assistant to Irina. She loves her job despite it being demanding at times.

We find out a bit about Daphne's past relationships and how each time she begins dating someone new, she finds a piece of paper predicting the duration of the relationship and how long (or short) it will last. These mysterious notes appear randomly revealing the persons name and the duration of their relationship.

It means every single person she has dated or relationship she has had in the past has always had a time limit or she knew it's exact expiration date.

That is, until she meets Jake.
She receives a piece of paper with Jakes name on it but unlike previous notes - No expiration date follows. No time limit. Finally she can let her guard down. She feels freer dating Jake than she ever has before.

Has Daphne met her Life Partner???

This story was just so so sweet.
It was such an enjoyable and fun read and I loved it from the very beginning.
It was heart touching in parts and the overall feeling one takes away after reading this book is one of hope and love.

There were a couple of very unexpected twists that threw me for a loop too.

Thanks again to Netgalley and the author Rebecca Serle for an ARC of this one in exchange for my honest review.

I really adored this one guys and am so excited to see what Rebecca comes up with next!

4 very easy stars from me!

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I had only previously read one other book by this author so wasn't quite sure what to expect from this one.

Although I did enjoy the book and found it interesting, I did feel that it was a bit hard work at times, perhaps because it was filled with emotion.

It was well written and I would recommend it though.

Rebecca Serle has a way of crafting stories that get under my skin, and Expiration Dates was no exception. Daphne Bell’s emotional journey—navigating love, self-sabotage, and fate—was compelling, even if somewhat predictable. The premise, where she receives anonymous notes predicting the duration of her relationships, adds a unique touch that kept me engaged. While the central twist was easy to anticipate, the novel’s real strength lies in Daphne’s personal growth, her friendships, and her evolving understanding of love. Serle also captures Los Angeles beautifully, from its landmarks to its daily rhythms. The ending left me satisfied, and while it’s not my all-time favorite, it’s a solid, enjoyable read. Fans of Serle’s work will likely appreciate this one.

I am so sorry but this wasnt the book for me. I just didn't enjoy the plot. I will definitely still check out Rebecca and her other books :)

I love Rebecca Serle novels and this was no exception - so appreciate the chance to read this!

I will definitely recommend this to friends - I loved the unusual magical realism of the notes mixed with contemporary romance and was rooting for both love interests throughout., which is not always the case and shows how well written this is to become invested in the the main characters happiness and to see characters being so well developed. I haven’t visited LÀ before but found it really enjoyable to hear about the love for the city (one I never thought much of) being so present throughout the novel too. A lovely book and one I will read again in a few years!

I've come to really enjoy Rebecca Serle's writing, it does verge on the edge of being too literary for my tastes but it's undeniably beautiful. Her books are always emotional and bittersweet which I love.

I was taken by surprise with Daphne's diagnosis (although reflecting on In Five Years maybe it shouldn't have!) but I thought it was handled so well, with honesty about the relationship difficulties those with long term conditions can face. I found it explained a lot of Daphne's personality and the way she came across on the page, I loved how she was able to finally be truthful in this book and for Daphne to gain the agency she lost with diagnosis.

I enjoyed the time jumps to previous relationships but found the chopping and changing between these and the present day to be a little disorienting and it made me feel less emotional than I could have.

I loved the cast of supporting characters as well, Hugo was brilliant but Irina was my favourite, elder badass boss queen! It takes some magic to be able to get a reader to be so connected to the characters in less than 300 pages. I thought the ending was just perfect, Daphne realising what she needed, wanted and going after them (and Irina!!!!).

4 stars

Thank you so much to Quercus and Netgalley for my e-ARC :)

I really wanted to like this novel as I loved the premise and have enjoyed the author’s work in the past but, unfortunately I was unable to get into or feel fully invested in the characters. I kept picking it up and putting it down, unable to feel any connection or desire to keep reading.

This was quite disappointing. The premise was intriguing, but the actual execution fell flat. The only thing I'll remember from this book is that the author really wanted us to know it takes place in Los Angeles. Every second sentence dropped the name of some trendy restaurant or location.

I also felt very confused about how exactly I was supposed to root for any of these characters? The main character was so one-dimensional, and I had an awful feeling I knew who she was going to end up with. That character is pretty much the villain of the story. I just can't...

I loved In Five Years by this author, but for me she has never quite managed to find the magic from that book again.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle offers a unique blend of romance and magical realism. Daphne, the protagonist, receives a note each time she starts a new relationship, with an expiration date indicating how long it will last. When she meets Jake, however, the note simply reads his name, leaving her wondering if he might be "the one." This emotional and thought-provoking novel delves into Daphne's journey of love, self-discovery, and navigating relationships with the looming question of fate. The book is filled with magical moments, heartache, and unexpected twists, though some readers may find the ending unsatisfying. Overall, it’s a compelling, bittersweet read.

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle was different from what I was expecting and exactly what I needed. Something about the way Rebecca writes mesmerises me, and I am hooked. I couldn't put the book down.
The way she describes things is magical.

"But I still loved the city. The way things always felt like they were coming together. In Los Angeles things disperse, simmer, yawn. In New York they connect, spark, crash."

"Our mouths do battle - like we're trying to find something in each other, some hidden key buried under teeth and gums and bone."

The romance is slow, tender, and sweet. It was some of the best love scenes I've read without a drop of graphic detail on the page; it was feelings and emotions; you just got the feels.

Overall, this book is excellent, and I'll reread it soon. However, a couple of things made this a 4-star read.

The first thing is that when she tells Hugo about the notes, he accepts it. No questions asked. He says, oh, ok, so you knew it had an endpoint… (paraphrasing there), and that was it. Really? Not a single question? No - who, what, when, where, how, why, show me? I find that hard to believe.
The second thing is the end bit, if you know, you know. How could he do that?

Anyway. It was a great book; I highly recommend you pick it up.

Great read, ploughed through it!

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

Rebecca Serle’s "Expiration Dates" is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that explores the intricate connections between love, time, and self-discovery. Serle’s lyrical prose and richly developed characters create a compelling narrative that delves into the complexities of relationships and the impact of life's fleeting moments. The story is both thought-provoking and heartwarming, offering a fresh perspective on the concept of time and the importance of living in the present. "Expiration Dates" is a beautifully crafted read that will resonate deeply with readers, leaving them reflecting on their own lives and connections long after the last page. Highly recommended for fans of poignant, character-driven fiction.

Every time Daphne meets a man, she receives a note of some sort with his name on it and a period of time which, she comes to realise, will be the length of their relationship. Then, one day, she receives a note with the guy’s name but no date. Presumably, he might be ‘the one’.

Expiration Dates has all the usual Serle ingredients: a sprinkling of magic, a strong modern twenty-something female main character, heartbreaking moments which pull at your heartstrings, and unexpected twists.

That last one was what I loved about this book. The plot twists I just didn’t see coming. Yet, they were all logical and made perfect sense.

I think my only issue with the book was that the character Jake was a little bland. I think it would have been a more balanced book if he was just a bit less one-dimensional.

It’s a minor gripe though. I flew through the book and enjoyed it a lot. 4 ½ out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC. I loved In Five Years by this author and was excited to check out her new release. Unfortunately I was kind of disappointed.

I didn’t like any of these characters. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Daphne to begin with but then when she was telling the story of how she got her dog I realised I really did not like this woman. She describes actually going to view another dog but it was “a total dud with no personality that just sat in the corner staring at her”. Like the dog was a toy meant to entertain her. Sorry but that didn’t pass the vibe check. Jake was a nice enough character but that was precisely the problem, he was just nice. And boring. Then there was Hugo. Wow what an asshole.

The story kind of jumps all over the place and the twist kind of came of out nowhere and probably would have been better placed at the beginning of the book and part of the story rather than a twist because I think I would have connected with and rooted for Daphne more had I known. Also I really didn’t need to know about every single restaurant these people went to and what they were wearing.

This wasn’t terrible by any means and it kept my attention enough to finish it but I feel like the unique plot with the notes wasn’t explored or executed well enough for me to really recommend this. This was released on 19th March.

This was a pleasant enough read but for me, it was a little disappointing after reading Rebecca Serle's previous books.

I found the chemistry between the characters lacking and that made it a little dull. I just was not invested in what happened to any of them. What saved it for me was that I really liked the premise of the book and it did have a few good twists.

Thanks to Quercus and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley, Quercus Books, and Rebecca Serle for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Expiration Dates. It was quirky, fun, and had all the feels.

Daphne was a great main character. She was funny, strong, and charismatic. Hugo and Jake were great characters too. They both had really good chemistry with Daphne.
I loved the storyline, it intrigued me and had me hooked straight away. I devoured the book in one sitting, I just couldn't put it down.

Rebecca is fast becoming a favourite of mine. I loved her previous books: In Five Years and One Italian Summer. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

4 stars from me. ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

I really enjoyed this one.

I love the magical realism each of Rebecca Serle's books have in them and this one is no exception. In Expiration Dates, every time Daphne begins dating someone new, she gets a piece of paper with the length of time they'll stay together written on it. One day, she gets a paper, but there's no timeframe on it.

Books don't often make me cry, but there's a revelation near the end that had me unexpectedly ugly sob on my couch.

This novel offers a unique twist on romance as Daphne navigates her love life guided by mysterious notes predicting the end of each relationship. When a note with only a name, Jake, arrives, she hopes for a lasting love. But secrets threaten their happiness. Will Daphne finally break free from the cycle of expiration dates, or is fate against her once more? This charming tale explores love, fate, and the power of honesty in relationships.

Unfortunately I just couldn’t get on board with this book, which is so disappointing as I was really looking forward to it after reading Rebecca’s previous titles!

I found it a little unnecessary to explain in so much detail what each character was wearing? Like even the side characters, I really didn’t need to know about their whole outfit? And also name dropping so many locations, like okay you’ve done your research but I don’t feel like it was necessary to have SO many “trendy” places mentioned?

I enjoyed Serle's previous novel, One Italian Summer, and have heard nothing but good things about her other work, In Five Years, so I was quite optimistic that I would enjoy Expiration Dates - and that was mostly true! I really liked the concept of this, as I felt it helped it to separate itself from other romances - this felt like a truly unique aspect and I really enjoyed how Serle interspersed previous relationships that Daphne had experienced, while also taking readers along the story of her present day and current relationship. However, I didn't love how her final relationship came about; the manipulation and secret-keeping that led to them being together left a bad taste while I was reading, and I found it hard to root for them even though it was pretty obvious what was going to happen, as I really enjoyed her relationship with Jake, and found it hard to believe it would end as abruptly as it did.