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abidavisf 's review for:
Expiration Dates
by Rebecca Serle
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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:
Yes
Rebecca Serle’s writing style is so beautifully unique. It is simple and yet scattered with astonishing revelations at every turn. She guides you to the end but also has to throw a little spanner in the works just so you know you weren’t completely caught up with her. You’ll predict the end, but you’ll have no idea how you’re getting there because, even when you get it right, you’ve missed so much additional context that you never could have pictured.
Expiration Dates is an introspective tale of what love is, romantic or otherwise, how to build and maintain meaningful relationships, and the importance of being honest, not just with those you love but, with yourself.
Daphne’s journey is fraught with longing and a future she believes is meant for her, though she cannot give herself into it completely. She has to learn herself in order to relieve herself of the pressure she has placed on herself, the life she has overlooked because she was waiting for the next thing, the forever thing. It is beautiful and aching and a real joy to read.
What I love about Rebecca Serle’s writing is that it really is quite simple. She gives very little away, and yet that, in itself, tells you everything you need to know. Daphne believes that Jake is the one and therefore we don’t need to know everything because that is set in stone. We don’t need in-depth descriptions of their conversations. We don’t need to know his favourite things. He’s the one because there was no expiration date, and that’s all we need to know. I hope that was intentional because it’s genius!
This book can be sold as a romance but, really, it is a story about finding yourself and learning yourself. So many of the quotes I highlighted are about the beauty of life. Some examples:
“My life had been filled with magical moments. I was just so busy waiting I didn’t see them when they were here.” Don’t we all do that?!
“Even if there’s not a reason for everything, there may be a reason for everyone.” I need this tattooed on my brain. How often do I question my own purpose? My place on this earth? I needed that.
A wide array of characters are presented to us throughout the book, from Daphne’s colleagues to her family. There are hints towards these characters’ own lives but, again, very little in-depth information is provided which I think is a reflection of how much Daphne is trapped in her own head. Though she’s aware of her friends and family’s lives, she is so far down her path that they bear little consequence to her. Sometimes, I observe things like this and wonder if I’m overthinking it and the author just didn’t want to provide that extra context or didn’t feel it necessary, but I definitely think this was an active choice to keep us out of the loop.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away that aren’t already in the blurb so…I implied above how simple the information we get about Jake is. I truly think that is so important to the outcome of this book. Daphne never feels that spark. We don’t hear about an instant attraction, a need to be with him all the time. They are compatible in that they get along, but we really don’t know him well. Hell, we don’t even know he has a dog until she goes to his apartment. We don’t know his wife’s name or his family. Hugo, on the other hand, though we also don’t get the ins and outs of his life, we feel instant chemistry with. The way he and Daphne bounce off of each other is so natural. Their spark is contagious. I felt alight reading their scenes. With Jake, I felt nice but like I was going with the flow. It was so-so. Rebecca Serle executed the two characters and their interactions with Daphne flawlessly. I love Hugo. I’m overjoyed by the end, if a little bitter by the (excellent but frustrating nonetheless) absence of the final expiration date.
Expiration Dates is an introspective tale of what love is, romantic or otherwise, how to build and maintain meaningful relationships, and the importance of being honest, not just with those you love but, with yourself.
Daphne’s journey is fraught with longing and a future she believes is meant for her, though she cannot give herself into it completely. She has to learn herself in order to relieve herself of the pressure she has placed on herself, the life she has overlooked because she was waiting for the next thing, the forever thing. It is beautiful and aching and a real joy to read.
What I love about Rebecca Serle’s writing is that it really is quite simple. She gives very little away, and yet that, in itself, tells you everything you need to know. Daphne believes that Jake is the one and therefore we don’t need to know everything because that is set in stone. We don’t need in-depth descriptions of their conversations. We don’t need to know his favourite things. He’s the one because there was no expiration date, and that’s all we need to know. I hope that was intentional because it’s genius!
This book can be sold as a romance but, really, it is a story about finding yourself and learning yourself. So many of the quotes I highlighted are about the beauty of life. Some examples:
“My life had been filled with magical moments. I was just so busy waiting I didn’t see them when they were here.” Don’t we all do that?!
“Even if there’s not a reason for everything, there may be a reason for everyone.” I need this tattooed on my brain. How often do I question my own purpose? My place on this earth? I needed that.
A wide array of characters are presented to us throughout the book, from Daphne’s colleagues to her family. There are hints towards these characters’ own lives but, again, very little in-depth information is provided which I think is a reflection of how much Daphne is trapped in her own head. Though she’s aware of her friends and family’s lives, she is so far down her path that they bear little consequence to her. Sometimes, I observe things like this and wonder if I’m overthinking it and the author just didn’t want to provide that extra context or didn’t feel it necessary, but I definitely think this was an active choice to keep us out of the loop.
I don’t want to give any spoilers away that aren’t already in the blurb so…
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Medical content
Minor: Cancer, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Abandonment