Rebecca Searle returns with her trademark warmth and touch of magical realism!
For 20 years, Daphne has known exactly how long her romantic relationships will last. The universe tells her. Just as she meets someone new, she receives a note with the man's name and the length of time the relationship will last, from days to years. Now, Daphne has received one with just the name Jake on it, but there is no date. Is Jake her forever?
I was very intrigued by this premise, as I love magical realism. The story is told partly in flashbacks of Daphne's past relationships. The men and relationships in the flashbacks are not explored in depth but have a papery quality, almost like the notes that announce their arrivals, and I don't mean that as a criticism. I viewed them like snapshots of her major life events. Daphne searched for meaning and took chances romantically, even if a relationship would be very brief, because of where she is emotionally and physically at different stages in her life.
The exception to these fleeting characters is Hugo, who becomes Daphne's best friend after their dating relationship ends. Hugo was one of my favorite characters in the book. When the story takes an unanticipated twist, everything is turned on its head, and the idea of fate, controlling one's destiny, and living in the moment because of the preciousness of time comes into play. Themes of loss, grief, and strong female friendship are touched upon, and the way the setting is described makes this also feel like a love letter to the city of Los Angeles.
Julia Whelan narrates the audiobook brilliantly. Her masterful and nuanced performance brought this story to life so vividly. She fully embodied the feelings, wit, LA vibe, and even Hugo's charm, making this delightful to listen to, and I enjoyed it so much. Whelan was the perfect choice for this audiobook!
Thank you to Book Club Favorites, Simon Audio, and Rebecca Serle for the gifted audiobook #bookclubfavoritesinsiders and to NetGalley
Atria Books for the gifted eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Day is March 19, 2024
My steep was Pink Pixie Moment from Club Magic Hour
A hibiscus tangerine herbal, pink-hued, and inspired by a California landscape.
PUBLISHER'S SYNOPSIS:
Being single is like playing the lottery. There’s always the chance that with one piece of paper you could win it all.
From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and One Italian Summer comes the romance that will define a generation.
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.
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