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Wednesday, July 30, 2025 at 10:09 AM

Allison’s Book Report - Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Allison’s Book Report - Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle

Spring has sprung here in the high desert, bringing with it busy extracurricular activity schedules for my teens! I have one playing club volleyball and one knee-deep in bringing Hamlet to the high school stage. They are happy and doing what they love, but neither of them is old enough to drive – which has me playing the role of Teen Taxi Driver. I find myself spending a ton of time driving around, waiting in gyms and parking lots, and occasionally trying to be in two places at once. It is all good, though,  because it leaves me plenty of time to squeeze in a chapter here and there. Like I always say, readers are never bored as long as we remember to bring a book along.

This week's book, "Expiration Dates" by Rebecca Serle, was consumed almost entirely while waiting for busy teens. I couldn't put it down. Our main character, Daphne, has this fascinating and, honestly, a little unsettling gift: she gets little notes telling her how long her relationships will last, which definitely shapes how she sees romance. 

When Daphne meets Jake, things get interesting. Instead of a timeframe, her note just has his name. Cue the confusion and a whole lot of "what if?" questions. Is this finally something different? Is he "the one"? It's a real shift for Daphne, and for us as readers, too. The book takes us on a journey through Daphne's past, showing us how these "expiration dates" have impacted her in all her relationships, not just romantic ones. We also get to know Hugo, her best friend, and how the notes have affected their friendship too. It's a reminder that relationships, all of them, are complex. As Daphne and Jake's relationship grows, Serle makes us ponder big questions about fate versus free will. Do we have control over our love lives, or are we just following a pre-written script?

Expiration Dates is a really warm, thoughtful story. It's about being brave enough to open your heart, even when you're not sure what will happen. It's about figuring out what love means to you and not letting anyone else define it for you. If you're looking for a book that'll make you think and feel, this is definitely one for you.  

That's all for this week. If you see me sitting in my car around town, know I am fine – probably just waiting for my next call as The Teen Taxi, reading away. Don't forget about my Instagram account, @allison.the.reader. Come follow me and tell me what I should read next while waiting!

 

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Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I knew Sam as a member of our church growing up. He always had a warm smile, a kind word, and a great sense of humor! He will be great missed!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:57 AMComment source: Obituary -- Samuel Bruce WickizerComment author: Mike HinzComment text: Great teacher, great coach, but even a better person!!! Rest in peace Mr. BeachComment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:53 AMComment source: Obituary -- Jack Victor Beach, Jr.Comment author: Mike HinzComment text: I had Mrs Hedges for First Grade at Northside Elementary in 1969. I still, to this day, remember her as a wonderful teacher…one of my favorites!!Comment publication date: 7/2/25, 11:29 AMComment source: Obituary - Nancy Marie Hedges C Comment author: Carl C. HagenComment text: What are MFNs and PBMs ?? ............................ From the editor: This is a very good question and we apologize for not catching that wasn't in there. We reached out to the writer/submitter and got this info back...hope it's helpful. PBM: Pharmacy Benefit Managers are pharmacies that are owned by insurance companies. (CVS is one.) They negotiate with drug makers to get reduced pricing for medications, but they historically have not passed along those savings to patients. https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/pharmacy-benefit-managers-staff-report.pdf MFN: Most Favored Nation pricing is a policy that means a country agrees to offer the same trade concessions (like tariffs or price reductions) to all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO). When applied to pharmaceuticals, it could disrupt global access, deter innovation, and obscure the deeper systemic issues in American health care. https://petrieflom.law.harvard.edu/2025/05/22/the-global-risks-of-americas-most-favored-nation-drug-pricing-policy/Comment publication date: 6/23/25, 7:47 AMComment source: L E T T E R TO THE EDITOR
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