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louisekf's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness and Medical content
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: Chronic illness and Medical content
Moderate: Sexual content and Grief
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
mrscorytee's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
pageturner86's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
anovelglimpse's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
I was really enjoying Expiration Dates when I first started reading it. I was fascinated by the names and dates Daphne was getting and what getting Jake's name with no date would mean for her. This was a fast paced read despite it being overly descriptive at times. I was enjoying the ride until some things came to light that made it tank for me. That made me sad and angry because this book could have been a 5-star read for me if it wasn't for the following things:
* The blurb states "From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation." This wasn't a romance novel. It was women's fiction with a side of magical realism and several love stories. There's no true HEA/HFN. In the end, it's all about Daphne's journey. I do not like it when books are marketed as romances and don't deliver.
* The secret Daphne was keeping from the reader and almost all of the people in her life until around 60% in changed the vibe of the book and what I thought was the subject matter. The focus went from her falling in love with Jake to something completely different.
* Hugo getting multiple chapters while the other guys didn't. It was like a love triangle that wasn't really a love triangle. Oh, and everything else with Hugo. I didn't like the dude and I didn't like his involvement in most everything. I never would have spoken to him again for a few things if I was Daphne.
* I didn't get any answers about those cards Daphne gets with the names and time frames. No explanation where they were coming from, who was sending them, why. Nada. This is unacceptable with how much focus was put on them shaping Daphne's life and romantic path.
* The ending made me angry.
If you're going to read this book, don't go in expecting a romance where the relationship that is forming gets an HEA. You won't get that here. You'll get Daphne's messy love stories and a little character growth.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
I was really enjoying Expiration Dates when I first started reading it. I was fascinated by the names and dates Daphne was getting and what getting Jake's name with no date would mean for her. This was a fast paced read despite it being overly descriptive at times. I was enjoying the ride until some things came to light that made it tank for me. That made me sad and angry because this book could have been a 5-star read for me if it wasn't for the following things:
* The blurb states "From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation." This wasn't a romance novel. It was women's fiction with a side of magical realism and several love stories. There's no true HEA/HFN. In the end, it's all about Daphne's journey. I do not like it when books are marketed as romances and don't deliver.
* The secret Daphne was keeping from the reader and almost all of the people in her life until around 60% in changed the vibe of the book and what I thought was the subject matter. The focus went from her falling in love with Jake to something completely different.
* Hugo getting multiple chapters while the other guys didn't. It was like a love triangle that wasn't really a love triangle. Oh, and everything else with Hugo. I didn't like the dude and I didn't like his involvement in most everything. I never would have spoken to him again for a few things if I was Daphne.
* I didn't get any answers about those cards Daphne gets with the names and time frames. No explanation where they were coming from, who was sending them, why. Nada. This is unacceptable with how much focus was put on them shaping Daphne's life and romantic path.
* The ending made me angry.
If you're going to read this book, don't go in expecting a romance where the relationship that is forming gets an HEA. You won't get that here. You'll get Daphne's messy love stories and a little character growth.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
becksreadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I was SO excited to have the opportunity to read the newest Rebecca Serle book. EXPIRATION DATES follows Daphne Bell, who isn’t quite like other women; whenever she meets a new man, she mysteriously finds a slip of paper with just a name and a length of time symbolizing how long their relationship will last.
Until she meets Jake, that is. His piece of paper has one word: his name.
Filled with Rebecca Serle’s characteristic mix of magical realism and emotional depth, this book follows Daphne’s relationship with Jake, but it’s so much more than just that. EXPIRATION DATES explores what it means to know someone is “the one” and how each person we love changes us. My interpretation of the notes changed throughout the book, and I thought they were a clever mechanism through which readers could explore Daphne’s history and growth. I really enjoyed this book, and I’m happy that it lived up to my hopes!
EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle is out March 5, 2024.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
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