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mandi_lea's review
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Grief, Terminal illness, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, and Sexual content
meredith_williams_'s review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Rebecca Serle’s books are always better in theory than in actual execution for me. I read her first book, “In Five Years” and, like “Expiration Dates”, liked the way elements of magical realism were used to explore deeper philosophical questions about life and love. However, I do not enjoy the way she writes her characters. They always feel a bit pretentious and melodramatic. I’m also not a fan of incorporating terminal illnesses just for the sake of the plot. Lastly, I would like to say that Hugo was an asshole and a terrible romantic lead. Justice for Jake!! He deserved better even though his doc marten notebook quirk was annoying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness
Moderate: Infertility, Medical content, and Sexual content
meaghanslibrary's review
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the free copy for review.
This is the first Rebecca Serle book I’ve read and it definitely won’t be my last. I was in a month long reading slump where I kept DNFing books and this was the first book I was excited to read and finish in a while.
The concept of the book is very fascinating to me and reminds me a bit of “The Measure” in that both books raise the question of if you had the chance to know how your life would turn out would you want to know it?
This book also had some unexpected layers that made reading the chapters go by quickly.
The book got a little cheesy and preachy for me at the end so knocked off some points there.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it’s a cute read for the beach or the weekend. When I finished I definitely wanted to know more about the main characters’ stories.
This is the first Rebecca Serle book I’ve read and it definitely won’t be my last. I was in a month long reading slump where I kept DNFing books and this was the first book I was excited to read and finish in a while.
The concept of the book is very fascinating to me and reminds me a bit of “The Measure” in that both books raise the question of if you had the chance to know how your life would turn out would you want to know it?
This book also had some unexpected layers that made reading the chapters go by quickly.
The book got a little cheesy and preachy for me at the end so knocked off some points there.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, it’s a cute read for the beach or the weekend. When I finished I definitely wanted to know more about the main characters’ stories.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cancer, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
kelly_e's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Title: Expiration Dates
Author: Rebecca Serle
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Original • Lighthearted • Reflective
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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 three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake.
But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself 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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was first introduced to Serle's writing with In Five Years and I have been a fan ever since. Therefore, it will come as no surprise Expiration Dates was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases. I avoided reading too much about it and seeing too many reviews ahead of time because I really wanted to create my own opinion and it did not disappoint!
It definitely did not have the emotional depth I've come to expect from this author, yet I love how she uses small elements of magic to create realistic and relatable stories. For me, these aspects don't need explaining rather they are simply a part of what makes the story so special. Despite being able to figure out several plot points early on, it didn't impact my reading experience as I was already committed to the ride.
The structure is interesting and it may be a point of contention among readers. But for me, it just worked. There are glimpses into each of Daphne's past romantic relationships, each offered at the appropriate moment in the narrative, as opposed to in linear order. The writing is straightforward and doesn't get bogged down with excessive detail. Yes, there are a lot of LA locations that don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but the author has said this is her love letter to the area and I appreciated getting a little tour of some of the places I suspect mean something to her.
The thing I love most about Serle's writing is that the story may be simple, they offer great opportunity for reflection, and this one is no different. It shows the reader that life doesn't always go how we expect, but that doesn't mean it's not worth living. As someone who has dealt with life altering change, it reminded me that pain and joy can coexist. Additionally, I really liked how it focuses on the fact that there is no one size fits all for relationships and that not everything is tied up nicely with a bow, yet each one has value in creating the whole picture of one person's life.
Overall, Expiration Dates was the perfectly enjoyable and light hearted story that I desperately needed during what has been a chaotic reading month. It likely isn't as memorable as her other books, yet still had be sitting in reflection when I finished. Rebecca Serle will continue to be an auto-buy author for me and I will be eagerly awaiting news on what she is working on next.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• magic without explanation
• Rebecca Serle
• LA vibes
⚠️ CW: medical content, medical trauma, terminal illness, chronic illness, death, partner death, grief, terminal illness, cancer, cursing, sexual content, alcohol, infertility, infidelity
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'Depth,' he says. 'The opposite of casual is deep.'"
"It's hard to hold on to people the older we get. Life looks different for everyone, and you have to keep choosing one another. You have to make a conscious effort to say, over and over again, 'You.' Not everyone makes that choice. Not everyone can."
"No one's time is promised. Not yours. Not mine. Not Jake's. It's just the way it is. We are all dying. Every day. And at some point it becomes a choice. Which one are you going to do today? Are you living or are you dying?"
"I thought if I had all the answers, if I was always one step ahead, if I knew my hand, then I'd never lose. But being surprised by life isn't losing, it's living. It's messy and uncomfortable and complicated and beautiful. It's life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play."
"I am all at once bowled over by the reality that there are still new stories to tell. That not everything is known or explored. That there are great and wonderous thing ahead. That nothing is promised and yet, and yet..."
Author: Rebecca Serle
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Rating: 4.50
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
T H R E E • W O R D S
Original • Lighthearted • Reflective
📖 S Y N O P S I S
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 three days with Martin in Paris; five weeks with Noah in San Francisco; and three months with Hugo, her ex-boyfriend turned best friend. Daphne has been receiving the numbered papers for over twenty years, always wondering when there might be one without an expiration. Finally, the night of a blind date at her favorite Los Angeles restaurant, there’s only a name: Jake.
But as Jake and Daphne’s story unfolds, Daphne finds herself 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.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I was first introduced to Serle's writing with In Five Years and I have been a fan ever since. Therefore, it will come as no surprise Expiration Dates was one of my most anticipated 2024 releases. I avoided reading too much about it and seeing too many reviews ahead of time because I really wanted to create my own opinion and it did not disappoint!
It definitely did not have the emotional depth I've come to expect from this author, yet I love how she uses small elements of magic to create realistic and relatable stories. For me, these aspects don't need explaining rather they are simply a part of what makes the story so special. Despite being able to figure out several plot points early on, it didn't impact my reading experience as I was already committed to the ride.
The structure is interesting and it may be a point of contention among readers. But for me, it just worked. There are glimpses into each of Daphne's past romantic relationships, each offered at the appropriate moment in the narrative, as opposed to in linear order. The writing is straightforward and doesn't get bogged down with excessive detail. Yes, there are a lot of LA locations that don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but the author has said this is her love letter to the area and I appreciated getting a little tour of some of the places I suspect mean something to her.
The thing I love most about Serle's writing is that the story may be simple, they offer great opportunity for reflection, and this one is no different. It shows the reader that life doesn't always go how we expect, but that doesn't mean it's not worth living. As someone who has dealt with life altering change, it reminded me that pain and joy can coexist. Additionally, I really liked how it focuses on the fact that there is no one size fits all for relationships and that not everything is tied up nicely with a bow, yet each one has value in creating the whole picture of one person's life.
Overall, Expiration Dates was the perfectly enjoyable and light hearted story that I desperately needed during what has been a chaotic reading month. It likely isn't as memorable as her other books, yet still had be sitting in reflection when I finished. Rebecca Serle will continue to be an auto-buy author for me and I will be eagerly awaiting news on what she is working on next.
📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• magic without explanation
• Rebecca Serle
• LA vibes
⚠️ CW: medical content, medical trauma, terminal illness, chronic illness, death, partner death, grief, terminal illness, cancer, cursing, sexual content, alcohol, infertility, infidelity
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'Depth,' he says. 'The opposite of casual is deep.'"
"It's hard to hold on to people the older we get. Life looks different for everyone, and you have to keep choosing one another. You have to make a conscious effort to say, over and over again, 'You.' Not everyone makes that choice. Not everyone can."
"No one's time is promised. Not yours. Not mine. Not Jake's. It's just the way it is. We are all dying. Every day. And at some point it becomes a choice. Which one are you going to do today? Are you living or are you dying?"
"I thought if I had all the answers, if I was always one step ahead, if I knew my hand, then I'd never lose. But being surprised by life isn't losing, it's living. It's messy and uncomfortable and complicated and beautiful. It's life, all of it. The only way to get it wrong is to refuse to play."
"I am all at once bowled over by the reality that there are still new stories to tell. That not everything is known or explored. That there are great and wonderous thing ahead. That nothing is promised and yet, and yet..."
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical trauma, Medical content, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness
Minor: Cancer, Infidelity, Sexual content, Grief, Infertility, Cursing, Death, and Alcohol
partner deathallyweaves's review
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content and Chronic illness
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death, Medical content, Grief, Cursing, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Infertility, and Medical trauma
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Quercus for the eARC! 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). However the first plot twist took away from the story of the magical notes and we don’t learn as much about them as I’d hoped, it’s just sort of abandoned and I had a lot of unanswered questions. 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 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 😭 (but I’ll put them here for anyone that wants to read them): Daphne and Hugo talk about the notes dictating her life and when Hugo reveals he wrote the note about Jake, Daphne all of a sudden starts doubting being with Jake?! It makes no sense, you were just reflecting on being more open and living life but now that you know Jake was only meant to be a 3 week relationship you break it off! YOU ARE STILL LETTING THE NOTES DICTATE YOUR LOVE LIFE
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 💖
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content and Death
Minor: Cancer and Infidelity
theespressoedition's review
4.0
I began my Rebecca Serle book journey with In Five Years, and since then, have yet to read another book that gave me quite the same feeling as my first encounter with that story... until now. Expiration Dates reminded me of In Five Years, not necessarily in content, but in vibes. It wove magic with heartache, romance with grief, and joy with complexity, creating a dynamic story that provided enduring hope.
Daphne's character was immediately relatable, in that she finds comfort in the predictable. Each of her relationships has come with a deadline--an 'expiration date'--that she receives on a slip of paper near the time she meets someone new. She knows how long she'll have with each person and it provides peace of mind in more ways than one. This allows her to plan her life accordingly and it dictates how she acts with each individual and makes sure no lines get blurred or feelings get hurt.
However, as I read the beginning of this book, I immediately recognized that there was something more happening behind the scenes. Not only did it seem like she took these expiration dates to an extreme, but there were some relationships that felt heavier than others. I had a lot of questions that I hoped would get answered as I continued the story.
I got swept up in the different romantic timelines, rooting for certain partners a little more than others, and hoping that maybe something extra magical would happen and the expiration dates would be incorrect for some of them along the way. My heart was set on Daphne remaining in one of these loving relationships long-term.
There were several predictable moments throughout the book that I'm sure would be considered "plot twists," but that seemed a long time coming in my mind. I'll admit that was a little bit of a letdown and probably the only thing that kept me from giving this story a full five stars. While a few of her other books have really blown me away with their twists, I wasn't particularly shocked by the outcome in Expiration Dates. That being said, I still enjoyed the direction the story went! It was fun to make guesses and even satisfying to be proven correct as I read.
Like her other books, Expiration Dates deals with topics like illness, grief, and relational challenges. It contains depth and makes you want to pause to consider your own life multiple times while reading. I found myself highlighting several passages to reflect on later because they were so poignant. Unlike her other books that often centered around familial love, this story focused heavily on romantic love, which was such a delight. It made me happy to know that Rebecca's joy was woven into the story in a brand new way and makes me look forward to her future releases as well!
Daphne's character was immediately relatable, in that she finds comfort in the predictable. Each of her relationships has come with a deadline--an 'expiration date'--that she receives on a slip of paper near the time she meets someone new. She knows how long she'll have with each person and it provides peace of mind in more ways than one. This allows her to plan her life accordingly and it dictates how she acts with each individual and makes sure no lines get blurred or feelings get hurt.
However, as I read the beginning of this book, I immediately recognized that there was something more happening behind the scenes. Not only did it seem like she took these expiration dates to an extreme, but there were some relationships that felt heavier than others. I had a lot of questions that I hoped would get answered as I continued the story.
I got swept up in the different romantic timelines, rooting for certain partners a little more than others, and hoping that maybe something extra magical would happen and the expiration dates would be incorrect for some of them along the way. My heart was set on Daphne remaining in one of these loving relationships long-term.
There were several predictable moments throughout the book that I'm sure would be considered "plot twists," but that seemed a long time coming in my mind. I'll admit that was a little bit of a letdown and probably the only thing that kept me from giving this story a full five stars. While a few of her other books have really blown me away with their twists, I wasn't particularly shocked by the outcome in Expiration Dates. That being said, I still enjoyed the direction the story went! It was fun to make guesses and even satisfying to be proven correct as I read.
Like her other books, Expiration Dates deals with topics like illness, grief, and relational challenges. It contains depth and makes you want to pause to consider your own life multiple times while reading. I found myself highlighting several passages to reflect on later because they were so poignant. Unlike her other books that often centered around familial love, this story focused heavily on romantic love, which was such a delight. It made me happy to know that Rebecca's joy was woven into the story in a brand new way and makes me look forward to her future releases as well!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content and Chronic illness
Moderate: Grief and Sexual content
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