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Every time she meets a new man, Daphne Bell receives a slip of paper with his name and a number on it--the exact amount of time they will be together; usually she is right, but when she meets Jake, her whole system is thrown for a loop.
Rebecca Serle has found her niche, dabbling in the world of magical realism and laying bare the truth of the human condition. Her latest novel, Expiration Dates, mashes up romance and fantasy once again to deliver a compelling, soul-touching story about a young woman who never has to wonder if she has met “the one.” Why? Because throughout her life, she has received little notes at the start of a relationship telling her exactly how long she will be with a person.
Used to receiving notes that give timelines such as 3 weeks, 6 months, or 5 years, our protagonist Daphne is startled one day to receive a note that simply says her prospective date’s name: Jake. No timeline. No expectations. No fate. Rather, simply, the unknown. As Daphne embarks on her first relationship sans road map, she wonders what the blank note could possibly mean. Is this what forever looks like? Has she finally found her one?
In a way, the premise behind Expiration Dates is a play on the age-old question, “If you could find out the day you were going to die, would you want to know?” Is it better to know what to expect or leave it to chance? Is knowing the way life will play out a blessing or a curse? Such an interesting concept to explore, and Serle does it here with poignancy and grace.
Having read and loved Serle’s In Five Years, I was prepared for a heartbreaker of a read when I picked up Expiration Dates. No spoilers, but Serle does not disappoint, packing her signature emotional punch, and surprising me in ways I did not see coming. I love Serle’s writing for the way she finds truth in and gives voice to the ordinary and mundane, shining light on and injecting life into shared human experiences. I am always able to find a little piece of myself in her books … in her writing, I am seen.
Expiration Dates is recommended to all the starry-eyed readers and dreamers who love to ponder the big “what ifs” in life. For those who enjoy unconventional love stories, Expiration Dates will surely find a place in your heart. - Brooke, Public Relations Librarian