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!