This is the latest novel from Rebecca Serle, an LA television writer who is the author of six novels and co-developed the hit TV adaptation of her YA series “Famous in Love.”
Daphne Bell has a special relationship with the universe. For the last 21 years, before every relationship with a man, she has received a slip of paper with his name and the exact amount of time they will be together. All of her relationships have been short-lived except for one with Hugo, who lasted three months but then became her best friend. Now Daphne has received a new note with a man’s name, Jake, but with no expiration date beside it. This immediately makes her believe that this will be her final and long-lasting relationship. Daphne’s coworker turns out to be the one to set up a blind date between Daphne and Jake. The two immediately hit it off, and their relationship quickly moves forward.
Without an expiration date hanging over her head, Daphne is finally able to contemplate what it means to be in a committed and honest relationship. But there are secrets that Daphne is hiding that she fears will break Jake’s heart. At the same time, Hugo’s relationship with Daphne becomes strained as there are still unresolved feelings between them.
The storyline, although quite unbelievable, is interesting enough to keep its audience engaged throughout. Even though there’s never an explanation of how the notes are actually sent to Daphne, it becomes easy to look past this and focus on the true heart of the story—what it means to find true love.
The initial premise of the story sets up a lot of possibilities for where the story could have headed. Unfortunately, what actually transpires is a little disappointing; the story unfolds mostly in the same vein as most romance novels. Daphne and Jake have a solid relationship built on respect, love, and trust, but from the onset, they lack chemistry. On the other hand, Daphne and Hugo have much more chemistry but also have conflicting personalities. Consequently, the story’s conclusion seems quite implausible and unsatisfying, more suitable for a predictable romance flick.
On the positive side, the story has a great deal of compelling dialogue and some memorable emotional scenes. For a novel with fewer significant plot points, the shorter length of the novel was very suitable; anything longer would have required much more complex storytelling to be enjoyable.
Narrator Julia Whelan is a master storyteller, and she does a formidable job elevating this good story into a compelling one. She delivers the narration with a great deal of authenticity and emotion when portraying Daphne. If you’ve enjoyed Serle’s previous works, you’ll likely enjoy this one. But don’t expect to be blown away, despite the impressive setup of the story.