Expiration Dates

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of illness.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the premise of Daphne receiving notes predicting the exact duration of her relationships?

2. In what ways does Expiration Dates compare to Serle’s other works like In Five Years or One Italian Summer? If this is your first experience with Serle’s writing, what elements of her style stood out to you?

3. The novel ends with Daphne allowing the final note to blow away rather than chasing it. What emotions did this moment evoke for you, and what do you believe it represents about Daphne’s character growth?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you ever found yourself compartmentalizing aspects of your life into “boxes” like Daphne does with her notes and medical records?

2. Daphne’s father tells her, “We are all dying. Every day. And at some point it becomes a choice. Which one are you going to do today? Are you living or are you dying?” (237).