Audiobook Review: Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle
Expiration Dates
Author: Rebecca Serle
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Published: March 19, 2024
Audiobook: 7 hours 6 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: November 6-9, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
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.
Jessica’s Review:
This book has such an interesting premise: A woman receives a paper with a man’s name on it and how long she will spend time with him. Whether for just a few hours or much longer. Needless to say, Daphne knows how long her relationships will last. Then one day she receives a slip a paper… with just a name… and no end date…
There is so much or so little that can happen with a name and a time period on it. But what if there are other factors involved? I was fully involved with the story and what was ultimately going to happen. I figured out the ultimate ending (blame the thriller reader in me) I saw it coming but there was one twist I was not expecting that changed everything for me when it entered the picture.
We do not find out who or what is responsible for getting these mysterious pieces of paper to Daphne throughout her life. In some ways I wanted to know, in some ways the reader is better off not having that answer. Life doesn’t always give us answers, and when it does give answers, sometimes we like them, sometimes we don’t.
Expiration Dates made me think about so many things. Such as what if I received these pieces of paper? How would I have treated my life and relationship with my ex-husband back in the beginning? Would I have wanted to continue it and even gotten married knowing that it was ultimately going to end? I can’t answer that, but if I could go back in time I would still marry him because of other events and experiences that have happened in my life that would not have happened otherwise.
The narrator is Julia Whelan and I just can’t add anything else to say about her than I have said before: I love her narrations!
I really enjoyed this novel. If you enjoy magical realism and some romance added in, pick this one up and see what you think!
ALC Review: When I Kill You by B.A. Paris
When I Kill You
Author: B.A. Paris
Narrator: Georgia Maguire
To Be Published: February 17, 2026
Audiobook: 8 hours 10 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: November 17-23, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Book Description:
Who is watching Nell Masters?
Nell Masters is certain someone is following her. The hairs on the back of her neck rise when she travels to and from work, there are silent calls to her office, and a huge bouquet of flowers arrives without a card. And Nell has a reason to be looking over her shoulder, because she has a secret that she’s hiding from everyone in her life, including her new partner, Alex. But Alex also has secrets of his own.
Fourteen years earlier, when Nell went by the name Elle Nugent, she witnessed a student, Bryony Sanders, getting into a stranger’s car. When Bryony was found murdered, Elle became obsessed with finding the person responsible. She was convinced she knew who it was and her fixation with Brett Parker, the man she accused, led her down a dangerous path . . .
Now, Nell tries to convince herself that this unnerving feeling of being watched is all in her mind. Has someone from her past discovered her new identity? Has the stalker become the stalked? Or is there something even more deadly at play?
Jessica’s Review:
I was excited to find out about this one: A new B.A. Paris novel! I will read/listen to anything she writes and about 75% of the time I enjoy it and I enjoyed this one!
We have two timelines and two names for our main character: We have the Present which is Nell and then we have the Past which is Elle. The past and present come together to form a complete story. We have Elle who in the past saw a fellow student get in an unknown car who later ended up dead. Elle was then caught up in the investigation of the case. So much so that she had to change her identity. She even seemingly stalks whom she believes killed the other student determined to discover the truth.
Years later Nell is keeping secret from everyone she knows and then realizes that she herself is being followed. The stalker has now become the stalked… Then a pleasant surprise for me: We also get the stalkers POV in brief notes/letters. And this stalker is speaking to Nell and tell her the same thing at the end of these letters: “When I kill you.”…
The POV/Letters of Nell’s stalker is creepy and I loved it! The narrator Georgia Maguire really added to that creepiness. I have always been a fan of villains….
I am just not sure how much a change in the name from Elle to Nell is… I can see some readers who may not be paying super close attention have some confusion with the closeness in the names. The reader/listener feels the unease that Nell experiences as her being stalked continues. The listener experiences obsession, secrets and trauma throughout the novel. I did figure out a twist right before it occurred towards the end. I did not figure out who the stalker in the present was or their motive. I did enjoy how everything came together.
Another B.A Paris listened to and enjoyed! Many thanks to the publisher Macmillan Audio for granting me an ALC to listen to and review in advance of the release date of February 17, 2026!
Pre-Order Links:
Amazon US
Amazon UK (Out March 12, 2026 in the UK)
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Blog Blitz: A Review of A Little Christmas Magic by Suzanne Rogerson
Today I am taking part in the Blog Blitz for A Little Christmas Magic by Suzanne Rogerson! Part of the Winter Warmers Series, A Little Christmas Magic is a heart-warming collection of stories with a focus on family, friendship, love and goodwill.
Book Description:
From a much-loved family pet that goes missing to a neighbour in need.
Chance meetings and the kindness of strangers.
Overcoming trauma to help others and being prepared to make sacrifices.
A father rushing to get home to his kids in time for Christmas.
Dive into a short and sweet story to get you in the festive spirit.
Eight Stories included:
Poppy’s Christmas Wish
Last Minute Dash
Driving Home for Christmas
The Honeymoon Period
A Christmas Toast
The Last Train Home
The Wrong Post
Taking Care of Belle
A Little Christmas Magic
Series: #2 in the Winter Warmer Series
Author: Suzanne Rogerson
Narrator: Colette Davies-Kerwin
Published: November 17, 2025
Audiobook: 2 hours 26 minutes
Reviewed By: Jessica
Dates Listened To: December 9-10, 2025
Jessica’s Rating: 4 stars
Jessica’s Review:
A Little Christmas Magic is the second in the Winter Warmer series and it knows how to get a listener ready for Christmas! Comprised of eight short stories ranging from a few minutes to just over half an hour, you can get this novel finished a quickly as you want or you could spread the cheer out over eight listens (one listen per short story!) Each story brings out a meaning of Christmas and a listener will definitely choose a favorite for their individual preference! My favorite was one of the shorter stories: Last Minute Dash. It just spoke to me more than the others. It shows the kindness of a stranger while also sharing in the joy of Christmas and memories of childhood. Not a bad story in the novel, this was an enjoyable listen that can help get anyone in the Christmas spirit.
The narrator Colette Davies-Kerwin did a great job with her narration in these stories to help spread Christmas cheer!
Many thanks to the author and Rachel of Rachel’s Random Resources for a copy that I could listen to for the Audible blog blitz.
Buy Your Copy Here!
About the Author:
Suzanne lives in Middlesex, England with her husband, two children, a crazy cocker spaniel and a rather aloof cat. Her writing journey began at the age of twelve when she completed her first novel. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave Suzanne the impetus to take her attempts at novel writing beyond the first draft, and she is lucky enough to have a husband who supports her dream.
Now an author of four fantasy novels, including the Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy and a standalone fantasy, Visions of Zarua, Suzanne has recently turned her hand to short stories with four collections published to date.
She loves gardening and has a Hebe (shrub) fetish. She enjoys cooking with ingredients from the garden and regularly feeds unsuspecting guests vegetable-based cakes. Suzanne collects books, is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles and old ruins whilst being immersed in the past. She likes to combine her love of nature and photography on family walks, but most of all she loves to escape with a great film, binge watch TV shows, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book.
Contact Suzanne:
Website
Newsletter
Audible US author page
Audible UK author page
Amazon
Twitter @rogersonsm
Goodreads
BookBub
Instagram @suzannemrogerson