Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau follows Noelle, a workaholic engineer who suddenly finds herself stuck reliving the same Friday over and over again. The one constant? Cam—a charming brewery owner who has no idea they’ve met before. As Noelle navigates the time loop, she starts to realize that maybe life (and love) isn’t about having all the answers, but about taking risks and embracing the unknown.

This book had such a fun and unique premise, and yes, it was a little repetitive—but that’s kind of the point, right? It totally gave me 50 First Dates vibes, and even though I saw the twist coming, it was still such a cute and heartwarming read. I loved how it explored change, vulnerability, and stepping outside your comfort zone.

This was a sweet take on time loops. I liked the different versions and them trying to figure out what was needed. It really makes you think about what you need in your life. I do think that part 1 could’ve been a tad shorter as it started to feel a bit redundant (as i’m sure is what they were feeling) but overall was a cute story.

Thank you Atria books, NetGalley, and Jackie Lau for a copy of this ARC.

I'm not a huge romance reader, but I do love a time loop! Everything in this story worked so well. The characters are so relatable and so likeable. I loved the way they bantered with one another, and found myself snorting out loud while reading. With most time loop stories, the main character desperately needs to change their lives, and the loop forces them to take a closer look at everything. I thought that you could really see Noelle develop as she navigates living the same day over and over again. Lastly, I loved that this book has a very cute romance, but it also is a story about friendship!

I can't wait to recommend this to romance readers!

I guess I like books about time loops now. I cannot stand a time travel story, but after loving The Midnight Library, The Husbands, and now this - I’m officially a fan of this specific form of altering time I guess.

Lau’s writing is unapologetically cool. Every scenario, every character just works and feels breezy.

We meet Noelle whose life is stuck in a rut until she eats some magical dumplings and boom she’s in a time loop and is able to live without consequences. She encounters some challenging scenarios, but overall it’s a very fun (and at times sexy) ride. Well done and I loved the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a cute read! I’m haven’t always been a. fan of time loops or repetitive days, but this was well done. I enjoyed Noelle’s character and could definitely relate to someone who is risk averse and usually sticks to routines. So when she gets the chance to do things over with no consequences, I felt like I could live a little vicariously through her!
I loved the connection between Noelle and Cam, the sense that something was right, that always had them coming back together.
Looking forward to reading more from this author!

This book was SO CUTE!! The story and the writing were so nostalgic and comforting, I felt like this wrapped me up in a warm hug. Noelle gets stuck in a time warp after eating some magical dumplings, in order to "get what she needs most." She meets Cam, and they bond (repeatedly) over the time loop, and their romance is super cute. I also loved the other themes across the book, including family, friendship, and work. The lessons that Noelle learns during her time in the loop are meaningful and definitely important, and I just loved how everything came together in the end.

I would definitely recommend this to my besties looking for a cute romcom and a comfort read!!

"After loving In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren and The Do-Over by Lynn Painter, I’ve realized that the time loop trope is absolutely my thing—and this book offered such a fresh take on it!

While there’s romance, the heart of the story is really the FMC’s journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Because of the story’s structure, I felt that Noelle and Cam’s relationship didn’t develop much beyond a surface level, which left me wanting more depth between them.

That said, the setting was absolutely immersive. The book transported me straight to a bustling Asian food market in Toronto on a warm summer night✨"

Posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7408255168?book_show_action=false

I really enjoyed this book! It is excellent for anyone who is a fan of novels that delve deep into the psyche of one character- I feel like I truly got to know Noelle, and the mystery of what was going on was excellent to keep my interest. I know some people could find the story a bit simple, but I really feel as though the story helped me to understand the individual people, rather than a haphazard plot taking over development. Lau's imagery will likely blow you away, and I really think the way she included chinese culture should be applauded. The romance included in the plot is also rather sweet, fantastic for anyone who has read The Seven Year Slip, too. I hope you all enjoy this, reading this book felt like a nice warm pot of my grandmother's tea!

Time Loops & Meet Cutes draws you in as a cute rom-com take on being stuck in a time loop. I've not read many time-loop themed novels, so this was a new area for me. I absolutely loved it. I think Noelle's character journey is phenomenal, and enjoyed reading about her learning to live life and not obsess over the what-ifs. The first part, where Noelle is stuck in the June 20th time loop did feel repetitive, but I don't think that's avoidable when the main character is repeating the same day for months. I did start to get frustrated, because it felt like Noelle and Avery (another woman she discovers is in the time loop with her) were never going to get out of the loop. I think it was more of a shared frustration with the characters. I felt their despondence with them, and it drove me to continue reading to learn the why and how.

I am slightly disappointed that there was no clear answer as to what or why Noelle and Avery were put into the time loop and put into it together. However, that made this slightly fantastical idea of magic dumplings feel more realistic.

Did I want Noelle's life to magically be better once they got out of the time loop? Yes. Did I expect her to find Cam and immediately tell him what happened so they could have their HEA? Also yes. Definitely not what happens, and honestly, returning to real time was handled perfectly.

Overall, I loved this book. This is the first novel I've read by Jackie Lau, and I plan on seeking out her other novels to add to my TBR.

In Time Loops & Meet Cutes (& magical dumplings) Noelle ends up in a time loop after a late night dinner of night market dumplings. As an engineer, she takes a scientific approach to break her time loop and joins forces with Avery, a woman changed from her previous observations of the same market. Realizing they’re experiencing the same June 20th together, they come to rely on each other. After dozens of one sided dates, Noelle starts falling for Cam. While Avery is stuck breaking up with her inattentive boyfriend. Eating their way through every dumpling in the Toronto area, maybe there’s a larger mystery at play.

This was so fun and I loved the unique take on the time loop theme. The long journey of growth for Noelle after every failed attempt to break the loop was interesting and captivating. I enjoyed her interactions with Cam and the way he knew her subconsciously, their connection and chemistry was unmistakable and always gave me butterflies.

This is a story about taking risks and connecting with the people you care about, but I also loved the friendship Noelle and Avery created after such a traumatic experience. It wasn’t all fun but the knowledge of a reset had both ladies taking a gamble at what could happen if they went out of their comfort zone.

I ate up this story - pun very much intended. 4.5⭐️

Thank you to Atria Books for the free review copy.

This book was so unique and interesting! I did not know what to expect but I was so pleasantly suprised

Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau completely captured my heart. Noelle Tom's journey resonated with me on so many levels—her workaholic tendencies and the frustration of feeling stuck hit close to home. The magical twist of reliving the same Friday gave the story such a fresh and intriguing feel. And then there’s Cam—he’s not just swoon-worthy, but also the kind of character who sneaks up on you with his warmth and depth.
What I loved most was how Lau didn’t just make this a romance, but also a story about personal growth. Watching Noelle find joy in the little things and discover what truly matters was uplifting and heartfelt. Plus, the blend of humor, cultural touches (those dumplings!), and emotional depth made it feel so authentic. It's the kind of book that leaves you smiling long after you've finished it. Definitely a favorite!

Time Loops & Meet Cutes is a gorgeously crafted time loop romance about delicious dumplings that cause a woman to relive the same day over and over again. What I love so much about this book is the very compelling friendship storyline and romance storyline. Noelle is trapped in the same day, and keeps trying to meet and remeet Cam, a guy who almost seems to remember her, but doesn't. At first she thinks she's alone in her time loop, until she discovers another woman also reliving things. Both the growth of that friendship and the growth of the relationship between Noelle and Cam are beautifully written, and this book will make you want to read it again and again and again, stuck in a time loop of your own choosing.

Thank you to Jackie Lau, Atria Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book I've read by Jackie Lau. I enjoyed it but was not blown away. A typical time loop rom-com with very little depth. I wish we spent more time in Cam's POV and got a better taste of Avery's life and her depression. The spice was hot but the lack of tension and development of Cam and Noelle's relationship had it fall a little flat for me.

What an adorable read. Noelle and Cam have quite the tale. This day on repeat story was adventurous and albeit a little relatable as Noelle tries to break the time loop and find what she appreciates about life. Love this: “It makes me wonder about all the my life might have taken if one day had gone a little different. Maybe some random choice on a March 7 could have altered my path.” I did feel it got a little slow in the middle which is why the four star instead of a five. The ending was clever and definitely wrapped this meet cute in one pretty bow!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun read! I enjoyed the time loop element of this book. Thought it did last for about 2/3 of the book, I didn’t find myself getting too bored of it.

I really enjoyed all of the mentions of food and found the main characters to be endearing. The love story was also very satisfying.

I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy a time loop element, but I really did. I like how the plot came together at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for this incredible read.

Not a book i would pick up to read, but so glad I was given the opportunity to read this one.

It was a fast enjoyable read.
Four start.

Surprised me.

Recommend.

I love this groundhog's day-like book. Noelle eats some dumplings at a food stall and gets stuck repeating that same day over and over and over again. What will be the magical solution to get it to stop? Perhaps there is a man that could be the key to solving this riddle for her. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

I enjoyed Lau's previous book so I was willing to try this, though the "time loop" stuff put me off a bit. But I was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed the book. Noelle and Cam are great characters and I was really rooting for them to get together. I thought the ending was very clever and pulled everything together. Well done!

Time Loops & Meet Cutes is a feel good story that manages to simultaneously capture the pains and joys of adulthood. From aging parents and complex sibling relationships, to making friends and finding a partner in your thirties, to working a dead-end job and fiercely seeking out new experiences, it’s sure to make you laugh, make you cry, and everything in between.

I absolutely adored Noelle! She’s funny, awkward, driven, unsure, and extremely relatable. I loved all of her interactions with Cam - especially the first ones where she was just trying to strike up a memorable conversation. I could easily envision myself acting the same way in her shoes. Noelle’s friendship with Avery was another highlight. I couldn’t imagine being in a time-loop, let alone one where you were the only one aware of what was happening. I loved how they supported and championed each other.

I loved how the story centered around family and dumplings. The descriptions of food and beer had me drooling, and I felt like I was walking the streets and stalls of the marketplace right alongside Noelle and Cam. I was surprised I didn’t catch on to the twist sooner, but once I knew, it made the story that much sweeter. I cannot recommend this story enough - especially if you feel like you’re in a rut of your own!

Thank you to Atria Books for my advanced reader’s copy!