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The time was looping with this one. I enjoyed the book even though after a while of the loop, I was starting to grow weary of the repetition, but I’m pretty sure that was the point. I got to feel some of it as Avery and Noelle were living in it. I definitely didn’t expect the twist because WHAT?!

I get this was a story mainly about Noelle and Cam, but I would’ve enjoyed more Avery on her own and learning more of her story and what she was/is going through as well as develop a deeper friendship with Noelle. Although they actually became friends, I think the time loop would’ve been a perfect opportunity for Noelle to be completely vulnerable to someone who understands and is literally right next to her through this journey. Also, could Avery have had a worse day to relive?! My goodness. That poor thing was pretty much in hell.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I was hoping I would be hit with more giggles and banter earlier on, and for me this read as more of a romance and less of a romantic comedy. This might simply be because I have a weird sense of humor. That being said, I do plan to pick this book back up at a later date when I am more in the mood for a fun time loop romance book. The cover is also gorgeous, so I would love to add it to my shelf. Plus, the descriptions of the food in the beginning made me hungry, so for that alone, I want this book.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide honest feedback voluntarily! I received a free eARC.

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I loved this so much!

It was a complete emotional roller coaster, making me laugh, cry, and everything in between. It had me swooning at times and I loved seeing Avery and Noelle building their friendship along with trying to find what they needed to get out of the time loop.

I was able to figure out the plot twist thanks to a few context clues but it was still a great reveal. I really hope we get a part two where we see Avery finally get her well deserved happily ever after.

Thanks to Atria and NetGalley for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

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Time Loops And Meet Cuties by Jackie Lau, Books like these are the reason I love books. Noel lives a very ordinary Pete and repeat life she goes to work goes home and repeats it but on this certain Friday she decides to go to the night market to try and mix up her ordinary existence. when she arrives it seems every boot has lots of people in line except for one. It’s a booth that sells dumplings and although it looks ordinary the dumplings are only five dollars and there’s no one in line. So she decides to try them and absolutely loves them. when she goes home it’s late so she puts on her red pajama shorts and goes to sleep. The only problem is when she wakes up she is on her blue pajama shorts her work alarm is going off and despite her thinking it was Saturday, June 21 she soon learns she’s repeating June 20 and it would not be the last time. there’s so much I want to say about Noel‘s story but I don’t want to give too much away just know repeating June 20 will teach her a lot of things but the most important thing she’ll learn is everyone has people you just have to find them. there is so much I loved about the story I felt so bad for Avery who I loved by the way and was totally rooting for her and Noel not to mention Cam. OMG if you love time loop romance stories I think this is one of the best although the origin story of the Groundhog Day situation is easily explained that in itself was a brilliant move I loved this book. Could’ve done without all the detailed sex it would’ve been the perfect story without all of that but because it was in there I will just say this is one of the best stories I have read in a very very long time. I also love the way the author made Toronto a whole Nother character in the book because it wouldn’t have been the same without it being placed there. I now want to visit Toronto. I loved the things she did I think I would’ve tried more exciting things like going to other countries trying to get into rock concerts but she did go to Broadway place and that I would’ve done that as well. either way this was an awesome book read it! #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JackieLao, #TimeLoopsAndMeetCuties,

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Reviewed for NetGalley:

After eating some dumplings at the Toronto Night Market, Noelle begins an a Groundhog's Day adventure. Restarting every single day over and over and over.....

In the midst of her repeat daily routine, Noelle finds a friend in the same predicament. Both women try to find a way out of their repeat lives, with Noelle running into the same man, Cam, and wonders if he is the answer to break free from her pattern.

Sweet, quick read,

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I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me a lot of some of Ashley Poston's books, so if she's your vibe, pick this one up. I thought the characters were well-developed, the romance was sweet (and didn't have any unnecessary miscommunication), the relationships outside of the romance weren't sad secondary plot lines, and the sci-fi element of it all was interesting. I did kind of see the twist at the end coming, but that didn't take away from my enjoyment of this book. It was very cute and I will be keeping an eye out for this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review 🥟

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This was my first Jackie Lau book and I really enjoyed this take on magical realism! Noelle is a mechanical engineer who is swamped with work, under-appreciated at her job and has sworn off romance after her last boyfriend. Cam is a brewery owner who feels like he is missing someone, but does not know who that can be.

After Noelle has dumplings at a night market, she relives June 20th over 100 times. She and Cam meet multiple time and her feelings for him grow and her stance on romantic relationships change. She is trying to find a way out of the time loop so that she can have longer than one day with Cam!

One of my favorite things about this book was how unique Noelle was as an FMC. I loved that Cam loved her for who she was and that she wasn't a typical FMC, but more understated and private!

If you love magical realism in romance I highly recommend this book!

Thank you Atria Books and NetGalley for this ARC!

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3.5 stars
3.5 out of 5 spice level

I'm a sucker for any story that plays with or explores time, so I was very excited to see this diverse speculative romance. Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me.

Noelle gets stuck reliving the same day over and over after eating some delicious dumplings one night. Determined to figure out why and find her way out of the loop, she spends day after day trying to escape her own personal Groundhog Day. Along the way, she bumps into sweet brewery owner, Cam, a lot. Is it a sign? Can she have a relationship with someone who doesn't remember her each morning? What happens if she finally escapes?

This story was a really cute and clever idea. I particularly liked all the delicious food descriptions and Lau's exploration of what happens after the time loop ends, which I don't think I've ever read before. However, living the same day with Noelle dragged on too long and the inconsistent dual POV bothered me. Though the spice was spicy, it also felt like an afterthought, like the author wanted to write a sweet rom-com but someone told her she had to include a couple of sex scenes. The ending was clever but a little too late to punch up this "just okay" romance for me.

Time Loops & Meet Cutes releases March 11, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the advanced reader copy.

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“Time Loops and Meet Cutes” is a rom-com Jackie Lau. I must admit straight away that I am NOT a fan of the “Groundhog Day” trope - but Ms. Lau did such a fantastic job with the repeated day that I found myself rather enjoying it. Yes, it got a bit repetitive, but that’s to be expected. I did like when Noelle (the main female character) met up with Avery - who was also stuck in the loop. What I also really liked was how while they were stuck, the rest of the world went on - which was a nice little touch. And can I just say - what a cute cover? This book was a quick and enjoyable read … and I liked the unexpected twist near the ending.

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Welcome back early emily henry x Ashley poston magical realism romance!!!!!!!
Everyone clapped.

I had A. BLAST. reading this fabulous romance novel!!! (probably because it wasn't strictly romance)

I love when a romance novel has a sub plot that isn’t just two people falling in love. Yes, that can be beautiful, but girl I’m bored!!!!!!! Now magical realism………you’re never bored. Always something entertaining throwing you off and making you excited to see what’s next.
Also WELL 👏🏻 DEVELOPED 👏🏻 SIDE 👏🏻 CHARACTERS 👏🏻 we all clapped for that one. I’m sick of reading one dimensional side characters in romance novels that are only there to set up a second book!!!! Let’s have some fun and make interesting characters that have emotions other than Lust people!!!!! I’m begging!!!! Thank goodness this had that!! Some fun revelations about sisterhood and female friendship and all that jazz.

I think the ending felt a little anti climactic but maybe it was just that I felt I knew it was coming??? And the scenes where they freaked it were really boring and I skimmed through them (sorry! If I’m gonna read smut scenes they have to be good!)

As someone who can feel like a really really big hater when reading romance (SOMETIMES. HEART OF ICE SOMETIMES.....but sometimes just a big Feelings Feeler), this one was very warm and fuzzy and i craved dumplings the entire time (trust me you will too).

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Such a fantastic novel! I could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

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Time Loops & Meet Cutes tells a story about Noelle who one night purchased and ate a dumpling from a stall at a night market. Noelle wakes up and it is once again June 20th. And again and again. Is she the only one in a time loop or are there others? As Noelle attempts to figure out how to leave this time loop, she meets Cam. He doesn't understand why he feels like he knows Noelle.

I thought that this is a cute take of the time loop story. I found Noelle and Avery to be completely relatable. They are just two women trying to figure out adulthood. I also enjoyed the relationship between Noelle and Cam. I thought that their banter was really good. My only complaint is the pacing. I found the beginning of the story to be slow, and it took me quite some time to feel connected to the character and the story. However, it is an overall a very entertaining story.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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This was a lovely time loop read! Avery is my favorite character, and I love that Noelle and Cam are meant to be…in any reality!

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3.5 stars

This was really cute! I haven’t read many books involving time loops so the concept was interesting to me. It’s fun to think about what you would do if there were no consequences and you could repeat something until you got it just right, and I enjoyed following along with Noelle as she tried to do that.

Noelle’s relationship with Cam was really cute and actually a little spicier than I was expecting! I enjoyed all of their “meet cutes” but I will say one of the continually repeated jokes did start to annoy me a bit. There were also some nice themes about switching things up and making the most of your life, as well as a lot of delicious food descriptions. Overall a really quick & fun read!

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

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3.5 stars

3.5 stars

Halo halo, calamansi iced tea, ube halaya pandesal, leche flan, and other delicious Filipino staples are featured in Time Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau.

This novel is filled with so much delicious Asian food - this book made me hungry!!!!

Imagine reliving the same day over and over and over and over again. Noelle & Avery are stuck in a time loop after eating some magical dumplings… at least they have each other. The two of them work on doing whatever it takes to get out of the time loop — as Noelle finds herself falling in love with a man named Cam who owns a brewery, but of course every day he forgets who she is….

This book is a bit of a trippy mind fuck, but it was fast paced and fun for the most part. The romance is pretty satisfying & I was pleasantly surprised by the spice! There was quality character development & I enjoyed the dual POV of Noelle and Cam.

I would recommend this book to romance lovers intrigued by the time loop trope & lovers of Asian cuisine ;P

That’s so much to NetGalley & Atria/Emily Bestler books for pre-approval for this ARC in exchange for my honest review! I’d love to read more from the author.

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This was a fun time loop book. I did wish at parts that the pacing would quicken because I did enjoy the ending and you have a good idea of what will happen. Overall, a fun and easy enjoyable read.

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3.5 stars ✨
This story was fun blend of cute, entertaining, and a bit ridiculous. I don’t really think anyone responded correctly to finding out about the time loop BUT it was very sweet and wholesome and i enjoyed myself.

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3.5 / 5 Stars

I liked this cozy book that had a big dash of magic! In “Time Loops and Meet Cutes,” Noelle visits a dumpling stand where the owner promises that the dumplings she eats will help her get what she needs most. And that turns out to be a repeat of the same day over and over and over. What does one do with this repeating Groundhog’s Day? Cut your hair. Quit your job. Reconnect with her family. And run into Cam, a very attractive brewery owner, at multiple times throughout her repeating day. Cam feels like he knows her even if he can’t remember her and he seems to be the key to getting out of her time loop. How will that happen? And what will Noelle’s life look like if she does get out?

This was such a fun concept for a book. I felt like I asked myself what I would do if I was stuck in this type of time loop (probably freak out way more than Noelle did and then try to learn the physics of time loops? Or maybe just eat at every amazing restaurant?). It took me a bit to get into the book but once I did (when Cam and Noelle started interacting more regularly), I quickly devoured this book. I also loved all of the references to food – I felt like I was exploring and getting to know other food cultures throughout the book. I wish that the time loop explanation was a bit more satisfying but maybe that is part of the magic of not knowing.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

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This wasn't a good fit for me. I felt like the storylines were too scattered and I didn't find them compelling.

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This was a cute story, but it fell short for me in a few ways. The biggest was the pacing. The first ~60% of the book was June 20th, and while I enjoy a good time loop, this one felt redundant. There’s a sweet spot between too few iterations and too many iterations that this book didn’t hit. I genuinely think this would’ve worked better as a novella. The writing style was also quite choppy and took some getting use to; it read like a translated novel, though I don’t believe it was. I also didn’t connect with the characters and didn’t feel their chemistry, which made it harder to stay engaged with the story. I did, however, like that we saw glimpses of Cam’s timeline throughout; that mystery kept me interested. And I appreciate that there was an explanation for the time loop starting and ending—many time loop stories fall short here! While I reasonably enjoyed the book (and am really craving dumplings now), I think it took itself a bit too seriously for a book about magic dumplings.

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