Expiration Dates: A Novel

Written by Rebecca Serle

Narrated by Julia Whelan

From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes a love story that will define a generation.

Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.

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.

Told with her signature warmth and insight into matters of the heart, Rebecca Serle has finally set her sights on romantic love. The result is a gripping, emotional, passionate, and (yes) heartbreaking novel about what it means to be single, what it means to find love, and ultimately how we define each of them for ourselves. Expiration Dates is the one fans have been waiting for.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Mar 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9781797168661

Rebecca Serle

Rebecca Serle is the New York Times bestselling author of Expiration Dates, One Italian Summer, In Five Years, The Dinner List, and the young adult novels The Edge of Falling and When You Were Mine. Serle also developed the hit TV adaptation Famous in Love, based on her YA series of the same name. She is a graduate of USC and The New School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband. Find out more at RebeccaSerle.com.

Reviews for Expiration Dates

[deja · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really thoughtful romance. I enjoyed listening. Whelan narrates it too, so you know it’s good on audio!

[Paige Wallace Eads · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting book but it fell a bit flat for me. There weren’t enough details to make the love stories believable. But then the book also doesn’t really delve into the main character’s underlying problem enough either.

[Diana Rise · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

First Julie Whelan deserves an Audie award for this performance. No one could have done this book as much justice , her performance rounded this book up to a five star book.
Magical realism is one of my favorite tropes , and " the notes " were brilliant . Much like my love of The Invisible Life of Addie Larue she loved many great loves Daphine did too. , I loved the construct that Daphine could know going in how long her relationships would last. But did this character allow herself to feel deeply ? Did she bare herself, and make herself vulnerable? Or did she live in fear of time, time running out . I think anyone who has been faced with our mortality , has stared death down knows " nothing gold can stay", but it is up to the individual to give as much as they get.
I like how Rebecca Serle dealt carefully with the love triangle in this book. I didnt like how Daphne held everyone in her world at arms length , i disliked how she wasnt truthful with Jake from the beginning. I didnt like that neither Hugo or Jake really fought for her. But in the same respect I get why it was written that way. I know i will be thinking about this book a long time to come.
I did receive an ARC from Netgalley for this book , but I am glad the publisher shared this on the @everand_us platform.

[Emily Lassiter Branch · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book way more than I expected to. The premise intrigued me, and I'd been planning to try Rebecca Serle's writing for a while because I'd heard good things. I loved how she threw a lot of unexpected bits into the mix that I really enjoyed. I always enjoy a bit of magical realism, especially if it makes me think, and this one certainly did make me think. If you knew going in to a relationship how long that relationship would last, how would that affect the course of the relationship? How hard would you try? Would you try at all, knowing it was destined to end? Ultimately, would you want to know? I liked how Daphne's life and relationship history is revealed slowly, in the midst of watching her relationship with Jake grow. And I loved how this book made me laugh and broke my heart and made me think about my own ordinary/extraordinary life and love. I started out reading this on Kindle and was already hooked when I was about 3 chapters in, but when I found out that Julia Whelan narrated the audiobook, I quickly and happily switched over to the audiobook and as always, her narration was brilliant - I highly recommend it for audiobook listeners. But I'm sure I'd have enjoyed it almost as much if I'd stuck with the Kindle version - and feel sure I'll go back to it on my Kindle and read the last couple of chapters again soon.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

[Tanya · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Ms Serle is a gifted writer. Her books keep you guessing, and she has a wonderful way with endings. This isn't your run of the mill romance novel. She combines a unique and meandering plot with a complicated, relatable protagonist, making for a truly enjoyable and satisfying read. I definitely recommend giving this book a try, and if you enjoy it as much as I did, you'll like her other work as well. I should also mention that the narrator is excellent. She has a lovely, flowing voice that complements the story.

[Karen Chandler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This storyline is sad as it brings out the fears of a young woman with cardiac issues. Not wanting to be treated differently. Not wanting long-term relationships as she fears death. Her fears ruined her life she was afraid to ❤️ love. This is well written with believable characters.