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The Expiration Date
We all live knowing we’ll die someday, but what if we lived knowing the exact date of our death?
Life hasn’t changed much on the quaint street of Gardenia Way since the release of Expiration Dates seven years ago. Though most are still coping with knowing the exact date they’ll die, neighbors are still neighborly, lawns are still edged to perfection, and the Brysons still throw the best parties. Their latest, their young son’s funeral reception.
While the couple struggles with Austin’s death, Jeremy Bryson keeps himself busy by intruding on his reclusive neighbor’s rocky marriage, discovering a solution that would repair the loss he and his family have endured . . . and that fate has a way of leading you down both an honorable and vicious path.
"It’s a gut wrenching read. I was crying on page 6." - Megan
Life hasn’t changed much on the quaint street of Gardenia Way since the release of Expiration Dates seven years ago. Though most are still coping with knowing the exact date they’ll die, neighbors are still neighborly, lawns are still edged to perfection, and the Brysons still throw the best parties. Their latest, their young son’s funeral reception.
While the couple struggles with Austin’s death, Jeremy Bryson keeps himself busy by intruding on his reclusive neighbor’s rocky marriage, discovering a solution that would repair the loss he and his family have endured . . . and that fate has a way of leading you down both an honorable and vicious path.
"It’s a gut wrenching read. I was crying on page 6." - Megan
350 pages, Paperback
First published March 26, 2019
64 people want to read
About the author
V.L. Arias
2 books8 followersV.L. (Vanessa)Arias was born and raised in Queens, New York. As a child, she would grab her mother’s cassette recorder and pretended to have her own radio show with her dog, Dandy. At 14, she took to a composition notebook and began jotting down the idea for what would become her debut novel, The Expiration Date. Since that day, she hadn’t touched on it again until April of 2016.
Vanessa attended New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury and had the opportunity to intern for The Howard Stern Show and the E! portion of The Howard Stern Show. Upon receiving a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts, she went on to work at all news radio station 1010 WINS, starting as a news production assistant before moving up and becoming a news writer and news editor. She remained at the station for 10 years.
After moving to Florida with her husband, Vanessa did sporadic voice over work for a PR company while the couple founded their successful promotional products business. They have also now started a new company called Brown Leaf Publishing.
Vanessa has written two books to date. The first is as yet unpublished but her second, The Expiration Date, is set to be available soon through Amazon (on kindle and paperback). In the meantime, she is voicing the audio book.
In her free time Vanessa likes to weight train and spend sunny afternoons at the Disney parks, something she and her husband only became fans of after moving to Florida. An animal lover through and through, Vanessa also does a lot of work with animal activist organizations.
She is excited to inspire and provoke thought through her novels.
Vanessa attended New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury and had the opportunity to intern for The Howard Stern Show and the E! portion of The Howard Stern Show. Upon receiving a Bachelor’s in Communication Arts, she went on to work at all news radio station 1010 WINS, starting as a news production assistant before moving up and becoming a news writer and news editor. She remained at the station for 10 years.
After moving to Florida with her husband, Vanessa did sporadic voice over work for a PR company while the couple founded their successful promotional products business. They have also now started a new company called Brown Leaf Publishing.
Vanessa has written two books to date. The first is as yet unpublished but her second, The Expiration Date, is set to be available soon through Amazon (on kindle and paperback). In the meantime, she is voicing the audio book.
In her free time Vanessa likes to weight train and spend sunny afternoons at the Disney parks, something she and her husband only became fans of after moving to Florida. An animal lover through and through, Vanessa also does a lot of work with animal activist organizations.
She is excited to inspire and provoke thought through her novels.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 30, 2019
The story stuck with me, leaving me to wonder how I might react if placed in a similar circumstance. It's an almost dramatically comical curse, knowing we're placed here on earth with the full knowledge that the clock is ticking down to our demise. If we knew exactly when that might be, how would it alter the course of our lives? Would we appreciate things we perhaps tend to overlook? Would it bring out the best or worst in us? It's an intriguing question to ponder, and this book does a wonderful job of touching upon how different personalities might handle such a plight. Overall, I found the writing and storytelling enjoyable. In a sentence, The Expiration Date is simply thought provoking.
June 27, 2019
What. A. Novel.
The premise itself was enough of a hook for me to bump this to the top of my TBR pile, but the execution of the concept was the real joy here.
There's a distinct undertone of melancholy flowing through the veins of this book. But it never descended into pessimism. More a parable for the joy in embracing life.
Straight off the bat, I could feel the love, time and effort Vanessa has put into her story. A labour of love from a writer that lived and breathed this thing. Well written, thought provoking, the author throws the concept of predetermined mortality under the microscope and doesn't hold back.
The world, post Expiration Date feels lived in. Tangible. And terrifyingly feasible at times.
My one criticism is that large plot arcs that seemed crucial to the narrative were discarded by the end. However, having read the author's note at the end I suspect she has something up her sleeve.
Which would be the best. Because I'm not done with this world. I have more questions. I want to revisit these characters now I know the bigger picture.
Because I care about them. And in the end, that's the biggest achievement here. Vanessa's character and world building, along with her writing style, hit like a punch to the gut in the best possible way.
A fantastic debut from a writer who I can't wait to see more from.
The premise itself was enough of a hook for me to bump this to the top of my TBR pile, but the execution of the concept was the real joy here.
There's a distinct undertone of melancholy flowing through the veins of this book. But it never descended into pessimism. More a parable for the joy in embracing life.
Straight off the bat, I could feel the love, time and effort Vanessa has put into her story. A labour of love from a writer that lived and breathed this thing. Well written, thought provoking, the author throws the concept of predetermined mortality under the microscope and doesn't hold back.
The world, post Expiration Date feels lived in. Tangible. And terrifyingly feasible at times.
My one criticism is that large plot arcs that seemed crucial to the narrative were discarded by the end. However, having read the author's note at the end I suspect she has something up her sleeve.
Which would be the best. Because I'm not done with this world. I have more questions. I want to revisit these characters now I know the bigger picture.
Because I care about them. And in the end, that's the biggest achievement here. Vanessa's character and world building, along with her writing style, hit like a punch to the gut in the best possible way.
A fantastic debut from a writer who I can't wait to see more from.
June 6, 2019
The Expiration Date truly gets your mind taking a new perspective on life and you are engulfed in the story line and characters from the very first chapter! The well developed characters and intricate story come to life quickly and you can’t wait to see what happens next as if they are friends and acquaintances in your life and can simply imagine a world of knowing you and your loved ones expiration dates and how you’d proceed with life in such a world. A dynamic multi-point of view on this premise with no stone unturned, leaving you wanting more and more ... can’t wait to see what comes next!
March 28, 2019
This novel by V.L Arias grabbed my attention from the first paragraph , compelling me to keep turning the pages until I stopped because I knew it would end , and I didn’t want to to . In the time I took a Break to savor the last pages , I thought about my own life , my own existence and how it may be affected by knowing something we all wonder and some worry about - descriptive in detail , linked emotions with characters- this book will have you on the edge of your seat and will be a book you won’t soon forget .
June 4, 2019
This was one of my favorite books I have come across so far. What I really like about the book is how it really makes you think about how we are living your lives. We live daily never thinking about our deaths but what if we did know? How much different would we live our lives? It really makes you stop and think. A very interesting book that caught my attention from the first few Pages. Excited to see what else this author has to offer in the future!
June 9, 2019
This was the best book I have read in a long time. It’s not my usual genre, but I am glad I took the chance to read it as I was pleasantly surprised. This story blew my mind. The idea of knowing your expiration date was so clever, the characters so well developed, I was sucked into the story. I have recommended this book to all my friends .
May 8, 2021
Must read!
Love this book! really enjoyed reading The Expiration Date and could not put it down. It was super thought provoking with the what ifs of knowing the date of your death. It had a combination of stirring up emotions, suspense, and mystery. The storyline and premise is very engaging. I can’t wait for the sequel!
Love this book! really enjoyed reading The Expiration Date and could not put it down. It was super thought provoking with the what ifs of knowing the date of your death. It had a combination of stirring up emotions, suspense, and mystery. The storyline and premise is very engaging. I can’t wait for the sequel!
August 2, 2021
A bit confusing in the jumps between characters and one subplot seemed to veer away from the other plots. Other than the characters living on the same street and knowing about each other, IMO there wasn't too much need for the extra plotline.
April 9, 2019
Great! Finished it in two days. Hope there's another coming.
May 9, 2019
Incredible debut. Heartbreaking and hopeful. I absolutely loved it.
May 3, 2019
Joined Goodreads just so I could rate this book. It had a great storyline and the pacing was perfect. Really makes you think!
May 24, 2019
Great book great insight makes you appreciate today. I would highly recommend you read this book. Look forward to the next book .
January 26, 2020
This book was such a fun, exciting read. I could not put it down. You definitely have to give this book a try. You won’t be sorry!
December 4, 2020
I was all in from the first few pages! What a phenomenal premise! If you’re wondering, yes, a must read.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews