Reviews with content warning for Terminal illness - Expiration Dates

Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

14 reviews

bringmybooks's review

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

✨Bring✨ | ~~Borrow~~ | ~~Bypass~~

Thank you to Edelweiss, Atria Books, & Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

Review: Rebecca Serle's books seem to be finding a particularly formulaic groove, but I don't know that I mind it too much - it's predictable in it's way, but it works so well for her that it's not a problem. As in her previous books, I genuinely loved these characters and enjoyed watching the back and forth between them (as well as really enjoying the now and then of the storytelling, and getting to see each of her relationships since the letters started arriving).

There were a couple of quibbles I had with some parts at the end, and that's where it kind of lost me on the enjoyment, plot, and pacing factors - but overall it is definitely recommended (and with a "Bring" rather than "Borrow" because her covers are just too good!)

Overall Rating: ★★★★ / 3.88

Rating each element of the book out of 5★
Characters ★★★★
Atmosphere ★★★
Writing ★★★★
Plot ★★★
Intrigue ★★★★
Logic ★★★★
Enjoyment ★★★
Pacing ★★★
Dialogue ★★★★

★ did not like / ★★ it was okay / ★★★ liked it / ★★★★ really liked it / ★★★★★ loved it

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mandi_lea's review

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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

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emyjo's review

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3.0

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winealittlereadalot's review

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emotional fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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meredith_williams_'s review

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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.

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meaghanslibrary's review

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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.

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