I love a time loop rom com, and this one does not disappoint!

Other than the time loop, there's
- a prickly, introverted, self-protective heroine who learns to take risks and enjoy life
- a sweet romance with a hunky cinnamon roll hero
- a great friendship story
- a sister subplot
- plenty of yummy-sounding food
- a little bit of spice!

Best of all, it wraps up in a sweet and satisfying ending with a great explanation for the time loop. My only complaint is that I cannot go back in time and read this book for the first time again!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jackie Lau delivers an absolutely delightful mix of romance, time loops, and heartfelt moments in *Time Loops and Meet Cutes*. This book is insightful, romantic, and sprinkled some fun spicy moments. The concept of reliving the same day over and over is thoughtful between the characters.

The characters are incredibly well-written, with depth and charm that make you root for them from the start. The romance is both swoon-worthy and emotional, striking a perfect balance between fun and meaningful connection. And while the time loop element adds an intriguing twist, it never overshadows the heart of the story—the growing relationship and self-discovery.

I loved every second of this book. It’s a must-read for romance fans, especially those who enjoy a bit of magical realism woven into their love stories. Highly recommended!

A delightful take on the time travel trope! Loveable characters, a modern romance about finding yourself, friendship and love.

This book was a trip. Two women stuck in a time loop and working together to get free. I liked the premise and the characters were great! Very cute story for anyone looking for a cute romcom with multiple first dates.

plot twist goes crazy.

Some of it was a little confusing, the timing was weird though I suppose that was the entire purpose. The characters were lovable and I'm so glad to have met them.

I love books set in Toronto and Jackie's a fellow Canadian author. In Time Loops and Meet Cutes we're in a revolving, cyclical, time loop hoping the characters figure out the magical way to escape the never-ending sequence of events. My review for this one is simply short and sweet and I can't wait for readers to have an 'Inception' moment while reading.

Thank you so much Atria for the digital arc!

This was a terrific time loop romance with characters to root for -- plus it's set in Toronto, which is fun. The only reason it didn't receive five stars from me is that I found the pace lagged a little near the end of the first part. But I think it'll be a hit with a wide variety of readers and will definitely be recommending it.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read a digital ARC in advance of publication!

I’m always a sucker for a little magic and time travel. Time Loops and Meet Cutes is a fun, heartwarming, and only mildly spicy romance novel. And for what it’s worth, it’s a nice thought exercise in taking chances on yourself and others, and figuring out how to live in the moment because we only get one version of each day…well, unless you are stuck in a time loop.

Summary: It’s June 20th, Noelle is frustrated by her somewhat stagnant life. She stays late at work all the time, her love life is nonexistent just like her ability to nurture meaningful friendships; for Noelle everything is kinda mundane and difficult without being hard. A late night at the office, disappointment, and a small change in routine takes her to a night market and to a dumpling cart. The dumpling purveyor says the dumplings will give her what she needs, and so they do.

What I liked:
The variation of meet cutes was fantastic. I love that the book subtly explored some Asian family dynamics and cultural ways of being. I love that it was a super fast read. I LOVE that building a true friendship was as centered as the romance. What I struggled with:
The exposition is darn near non existent…as readers we are in the thick of it in the first 10 pages. As readers, we barely have a chance to understand the characters before we are on this wild adventure. I enjoy time travel tropes, but I couldn’t help comparing the book to Groundhog’s Day. I’m not sure if that is a me problem or a flaw in the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This one was for sure a cute one, unfortunately I’m not the biggest fan of the groundhog theme. I know I know, it tends to be repetitive because that’s what the theme is all about. I will say they did the groundhog theme a bit differently in this one and maybe that’s why I enjoyed it more than I thought! Final thoughts: cute!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review. I went into Time Loops and Meet Cutes with the preconceived notion that this would just be a little rom-com book with some friendship sprinkled on the side. I was truly not expecting this book to wreck me emotionally. I love the way Noelle grew through the book and took the time to make amends, even if her timeline would be reset. I love the growth of her character and her new outlook on life. Jackie Lau has changed my outlook on life.
I look forward to reading more of her books. I give this one a solid five out of five stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Quick and easy read. I liked the concept of the time loop but couldn’t get fully into it. I did like the life themes of finding the joy in the little things in life.

Jackie Lau is one of the few authors who would make me interested in a time loop novel. Of course she managed to make it feel fresh and poignant as Noelle starts to see her life differently after being stuck in same June day over and over again. Noelle’s insecurities and her growth are so well portrayed that it made me forgive how hungry all the tantalizing descriptions of food were. Don’t read this book on an empty stomach! Noelle’s relationships with both her new friend, Avery, and Cam, the almost too good to be true but we all need hope in this world brewery owner that Noelle keeps running into, develop alongside Noelle’s realization that more needs to change in her life than just the date. A really well story that could have been silly or overly contrived. I was sad to see it end.

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

Having read one of Jackie Lou’s previous novels, I was elated when I was invited to read Time Loops and Meet Cutes. Her way of creating stories of relationships that are predicated on an element of food (this time, dumplings) and compelling her readers to feel immersed in the protagonists’ worlds is utterly magical. Noelle and Cam are charming, despite the fact that Noelle’s personality is initially quite bland. The trajectory of Noelle and Avery’s time loop experience feels appropriately never ending. Yet, when it is broken, the latter half of the story is seemingly perfectly balanced.

While I do think the conflict and strained relationship between Noelle and her sister Madison were rather superficial (not to mention the bare bones introduction of the other supporting characters, Avery notwithstanding), the dialogue and Lau’s writing style made it quite easy for me to forgive this weakness. Indeed, any flaws the novel possesses were quickly forgotten, as the reading experience was just so effortless. This is a feat that is rarely accomplished in my experience. As such, I already am eagerly anticipating Lau’s next entry.

I'm not sure the ending with the explanation of the time loop had the payoff that I wanted from this story. Nevertheless, the writing was easy to read and the time loop was just on the edge of not tedious while showing how terribly annoying repeating the same day over and over again really would be.

I loved Noelle and Avery's friendship above all in this book.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a digital review copy via NetGalley!

I absolutely loved reading this book! I found Noelle’s journey both intriguing and relatable. From the moment she ate those mysterious dumplings at the night market, I was hooked. I could feel her frustration as she relived the same Friday over and over, with every little detail staying the same.
I was fascinated by the concept of a time loop and how it turned Noelle's workaholic nightmare into a quest for meaning. I appreciated how the repetitive nature of her days highlighted her growing sense of despair. Meeting other characters who had also eaten the dumplings, like the young woman and the charming Cam, added depth to the story. I loved seeing the evolution of Noelle’s character as she realized she needed to live a little and put her work aside to connect with Cam.

I enjoyed the blend of romance and time travel, which made the story unique and exciting. Overall, I found this book to be a delightful and thought-provoking read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a blend of romance and supernatural elements.

4 stars ⭐️ 🥟 This was such a cute and creative book. Grab your dumplings and get cozy! This book was a joy to read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

loved the concept and the book! I felt like I was stuck on june 20th too. I wish Avery had more of a reason for being stuck in her loop but very happy for noelle and cam

Now I have to go eat some dumplings

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Noelle is a workaholic who is under appreciated at work & takes no risks. After working very late and not wanting to cook at home, she decides to stop at the summer solstice Night Market she’s seen advertised. There she has the most delicious dumplings she’s ever had. The only problem is, she’s now reliving the same day again and again. Trying to find her way out she meets someone. Will he be the key to helping her get out of the loop?

This Ground Hog Day romance was just too damn cute! First off, I’m the perfect demographic. This book made me so hungry! Haha! I loved all the food so so much! I might even have to try my hand at an ube stuffed pandesal. Anyway, Noelle has sworn off relationships after a hard breakup and sort of goes into survival mode. She just grinds the day away at work in hopes her hard work will be acknowledged, goes home, rinse and repeat. While in the loop, learning there are basically no consequences since the day resets, she begins to live again and at some point meets a charming brewer, Cam. This book was total vibes for me. I loved both these characters, the food details were so good, and the splash of sci-fi/magic was perfect. I sometimes struggle with contemporary romance but this one was just so so good!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book tells the story of Noelle, a mechanical engineer who feels stuck in life. She meets the radiant Cam at a night food market and keeps running into him in various places and scenarios. But there’s a catch—she’s trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over. This means she alone, and no one else, remembers these encounters.

The first half of this book left me devastated. It’s far more complex than your average romcom. Noelle’s psychological turmoil, the way she navigates her emotions day after day, and how each repeated day feels both the same and different kept me on the edge of my seat. The author articulates these emotions beautifully.

The reason I’ve given this 4 stars instead of 5 is the second half. Though still interesting, the story became repetitive. With part of the mystery resolved, I didn’t feel as compelled to keep reading as I did in the first half. It wasn't all bad. There was some comfort in the healing aspect of the story. The ending had a K-Drama feel—which was fine—but it felt a bit abrupt and flat after all that buildup.

I would still recommend this book for that first half alone. What a thrilling ride!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of time loops & meet cutes

I enjoyed this book and its premise. I liked the love story between Noelle and Cam. I feel like the time loop aspect went on a little too long.

Overall a really cute book