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theespressoedition's review against another edition
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
cc_shelflove's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Overall, this was not a bad book, but it simply wasn’t amazing either. I thoroughly enjoyed the premise of the novel. Since the fifth grade, our main character, Daphne, has been receiving surprise pieces of paper. Nothing is written on them aside from a name and a length of time, as the papers are providing expectations for her romantic relationships before they even occur. When a sheet a paper arrives with a name only and no duration, does this mean she will finally be meeting her soulmate? The blank must mean forever, right? In my opinion, the book was too short for me to develop any connections with its characters. While at times it was not overly special, I think I would still encourage people to read it (unless you hate love triangles… then don’t). I don’t feel like I wasted my time; I just think I wanted more substance. A so-so book with a nice message to always follow your heart.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical content
Minor: Infertility
kaylasbooklist's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Loooooovvvvvvved this story!! I really appreciate how Rebecca Serle weaves a slight fantastical element into a heartfelt story that is full of life, love, and learning. The bit of fantasy in this story is that Daphne receives notes telling her when her relationships will end. Daphne is a full, complete character and each of her side characters are too. I was so invested in the story and surprised, not in a bad way, when Serle threw in a wrench that I wasn’t expecting. But it ended up explaining so much about all of the characters. It’s amazing to get this depth in a story under 300 pages. I’ll be thinking about this story for a long, long time. I’ve loved Serle’s previous works but this is my fave!!
Expiration Dates is out on March 19. Mark your calendar or get your pre-order in now, you don’t want to miss this one!! Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my e-arc!
Expiration Dates is out on March 19. Mark your calendar or get your pre-order in now, you don’t want to miss this one!! Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for my e-arc!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content
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