Time Loops and Meet Cutes is a mix of Russian Doll (but way less dark) and Groundhog Day meets 50 First Dates except Noelle has to win over Cam.

After many, many of the “same” days it does get monotonous, which is the point. The way Noelle and Avery get out of the loop didn’t quite make sense to me, and then Cam’s moment at the end was also strange. Also, Cam is just a little too level headed to me! Also, Avery! Poor Avery is looped on her birthday with her period- which means every time the day starts over she is still dealing with that nuisance.

I felt there were a few loose ends but nothing so bad that it ruins the story.

I absolutely loved this one! It was so cutely written and never like anything I have read yet. I know there are time travel books out there but this one was really great. I cannot wait to read more books by this author. The speedy timeline of this book was very interesting and fun to see in a romance as we don't see it often. It almost gave that feeling of deja vu, like seeing someone you haven't met but pass by everyday. Hope that makes sense to someone out there. It was definitely something I loved reading all throughout, especially the spice :)

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book has all the Groundhog's Day vibes with being stuck in a time loop and repeating the day over and over again. I enjoyed the characters although the time loop section of the book got a little long for me. I was also confused with the random Cam chapters while Noelle was in the loop. It was explained when she came out of the loop though. I don't want to give anything away. I think this one is worth the read.

First I would like to thank Atria Books for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What would you do if every Friday came with a reset button? For Noelle Tom, this is no quirky coincidence—it’s a time loop she can’t escape. After eating some mysterious dumplings at a night market, her alarm keeps going off to the same Friday morning. The Wordle answer? Always “happy.” Work as an engineer? Poof, erased. Monday isn’t coming anytime soon.

What I Loved:
- Dumplings, as a dumpling lover myself I enjoyed the role they played in the story
- Cam, he decided to forge his own path even if his parents didn't agree and I love that he finds ways to remember Noelle
- Time loop, I love the unique way this story was told with not knowing how the time loop would end and then how they actually came out of it
- Avery, the other person stuck in the loop with Noelle it was interesting to see someone in a completely different point in their lives dealing with the same time loop
- Family, I enjoyed how family played a large part in both Cam and Noelle's side of the story in VERY different ways

If you are looking for a quirky, sci-fi romance with an abundance of adorable interactions with the main characters, tons of food references and an interesting twist I would recommend you pick this book up!

I was so so sooo excited for this book and the increase of magical realism books being released. we LOVE a Groundhog day plotline, especially when it’s on my birthday hehe.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past the writing style to enjoy the book enough. While I typically enjoy first person POV, this book just felt like a repetition of I did this, I did that, she said this, they said that. The writing felt very juvenile in that sense. and i KNOW it’s supposed to be repetitive bc hello, time loops, but midway i wasn’t GETTING anything from it. I wasn’t attached to the characters and the humor missed for me.

I do appreciate the asian inclusivity of this book!! was smiling at the Filipino food mentioned in the beginning. Overall the book had a good premise but poor execution.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing the ARC of Time Loops & Meet Cutes in exchange for an honest review.

**SPOILERS AHEAD**

The title, the premise and the book cover all had me so excited to read this book! I really liked how quickly Noelle got pulled into the time loop, and I liked that she met Avery and didn’t have to experience the time loop alone. We spend so much time with the two in the loop that I was just as excited as they were to finally get out of it!

The range of emotions Noelle and Avery had while reliving the same day felt very real. Their experience made me give serious thought to how I would respond in the same situation.

I did think there would be more meet cutes involved once Noelle suspected Cam was key to getting out of the time loop, but the meet cutes she did orchestrate were cute.

To have spent so long in the time loop, I was left wanting more of an explanation about what exactly happened. Why did Cam’s grandmother choose both Noelle and Avery to be stuck in the same time loop? Why were they stuck for so long instead of for just a week or a month? What did the grandmother want Noelle and Avery to get out of the experience that could only be realized through a time loop? How did the grandmother have these powers? And why did everyone seem unfazed by the grandmother being able to make herself invisible?

I also thought more explanation was needed about the versions of Noelle and Avery that existed in the “normal” time. Those versions existed for seven months without Noelle and Avery having any recollection of what those versions did throughout that time. That’s a little terrifying and intriguing in a sci-fi way.

I would’ve appreciated more focus on Cam's relationship with his grandmother in his POV chapters during the time loop. It could’ve given Cam and his grandmother more depth, and the big twist could’ve been more impactful.

I was a little disappointed that Noelle and Avery weren’t more proactive about making changes in their lives once the time loop stopped. Avery stayed with her terrible boyfriend longer than I thought she would; Noelle didn’t start job searching for a while and was hesitant to pursue Cam. It made me question how effective the time loop actually was.

Noelle and Cam’s love story seemed to get a little lost when other relationships became a focal point (e.g., Noelle and Madison; Noelle and Veronica; Avery and Joe). For me, the novel read more like Noelle’s self-discovery journey than Noelle and Cam’s love story.

I did enjoy Noelle and Cam’s time together during the loop and in the brewery after the loop, and they had some surprisingly spicy intimate moments! I was always rooting for them to be together and for Cam to remember her. It made me smile every time he said Noelle looked really familiar. I also appreciated the cultural representation, whether it was through foods or family experiences.

This was my first time reading a novel by Jackie Lau, and I plan to read more from the author!

I really enjoyed reading this book so much! I’m a sucker for a time loop rom com, and this one really hit the spot for me! I loved Noelle and Cam and thought they were so adorable. It did have a bit of a slow start, but once the story picked up, I fell in love. I also really loved how everything came together in the end. This book was truly a joy to read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review!

This was a fun light read about a romance that begins when one of the characters is stuck in a time loop. For me, I'm not usually a fan of romance in general as a genre, but when science fiction and/or time travel is in the mix, it's a lot more appealing. The story was cute, and the descriptions of the food had me craving dumplings during most of the read. The time loop part of the book however, the pacing could have been better. After a while it lacked urgency and lost momentum. Although it picked up again in the second half. This is one I'd recommend for rom-com fans or for someone looking for a nice light beach read. I enjoyed it, but not enough to seek out more books by the same author.

Disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Noelle is stuck living the same day over and over. She's desperate to find answers. How did this start? Why is it happening? And can she make it stop? But soon a new question comes to the fore: How is the handsome man named Cam tied to it all? No matter what she does, she keeps bumping into him, and the connection they share is undeniable. But how can they ever build a relationship when each day hits the reset button? You'll have to read to find out!

Any foodies reading this review? I'm here to tell you that you will be SO happy with this book! I appreciated the references to Chinese culture and the way that it has intermingled with Canadian culture. The love scenes were spicy without going over the top. The final pages of this novel were rich with meditations on life and love. The best scenes in this story were those featuring our main characters, where the chemistry was palpable and I was constantly guessing what would happen next. I also appreciated the empathy and discussions about mental health.

The vast majority of this story fell flat for me, unfortunately. The resolution was rather anticlimactic. The days that Noelle looped in which she didn't see Cam felt merely like lists of activities. Anything that wasn't "Cam and Noelle" was almost in black and white, while Cam/Noelle scenes were in color. I wasn't particularly fond of any of the characters, though Noelle does grow over the course of the story. There were times that I wished the author had focused more on the feelings of the characters rather than on what they were eating or on unusual facts about secondary characters (especially as we were nearing the end...not really the place for extraneous exposition). Interesting plot overall, though, with some good romantic moments.

Trigger warnings: death of a grandparent, emotionally abusive boyfriend (off page), frustrating work environment (hitting the glass ceiling, unfair pay, inept colleauges)

I'd like to thank Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

My first Jackie Lau book, but it certainly won't be my last! This was such a lovely contemporary romance with a time loop twist: straight-laced engineer Noelle ends up reliving June 20th for 100+ days after eating dumplings at a night market sold by a mysterious older woman. In the process, she learns to take risks, make a good friend, be a better sister, and put herself out there to find the love of her life.

Very Toronto, which I loved! The explanations of how the time loop worked and why it happened how it did, plus an unexpected twist, were all very well done. I also deeply emphasized with Noelle's impulse to use her consequence-free time to buy and eat different expensive food, plus drink lots of bubble tea and beer 😋 😅

There aren't a lot of spicy scenes, but the ones that are there are A+ 🔥

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

*loved the time loop concept, it was so clever. I absolutely couldn't put this book down
*amazing natural chemistry between the romantic leads (opposites attract)
*Noelle's repeated attempts at having the perfect meet cute with Cam had me rolling
*the importance of female friendship ❤️
*so much personal growth and self-discovery

I loved this book. The time loop was an interesting plot device and it was rather suspenseful to watch them try to get out of the same Friday. Noelle and Avery's friendship starts as a consequence of the time loop but develops into a wonderful friendship.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love time loops. Time travel? Not so much. Time loops? Yes, please! I have not read any time loop story that works the same as another. I have read some that are similar in plots, but things were still different. Motivation behind the loop, how the loop makes the person feel, the things they try to get out of it. And this one might be the most romantic of all the loops I’ve read.

I enjoyed this book overall. I liked the main characters, I liked the side characters, I liked the romance, but there was also friendship and I liked that. My main complaint is the second half of the book where it felt like anything the character learned, she was returning to start from. So, it did drag a little bit there. Ultimately, that’s what is making it not a 5 star for me.

This book had me craving so much food. I recently learned my state has the lowest population of Asians in the USA. Which means I cannot find a variety of Asian foods that I can find in any other state. Do you know how long it was before we had a place for Boba? We literally just got a place maybe three years ago or less. I hadn’t ever tried ramen not from a grocery store packet until the start of COVID, and then that restaurant closed down. We had a Filipino restaurant…And it closed. End of my rant there. Just know, if you suffer from lack of places to eat because your state is also missing a variety of types of culture, this book will make you reevaluate where you live. (I ended up going to Cleveland while reading this book, and I ended up at an Asian Festival, and I finally got the food I was craving.).

If you haven’t read this book yet and you enjoy romances, time loops, and fun characters, read this today!

Thank you Atria Books for this Arc!
Published: May 6, 2025

I find time loop plots to be hit or miss so I was very happy when this one turned out to be a hit!
After eating some dumplings at a street market Noelle Tom begins reliving Friday June 20th repeatedly with no way out. She keeps bumping into a guy named Cam and while she begins to develop feelings for him, he can’t ever remember who she is. Instead of feeling depressed about her loop, Noelle takes it as an opportunity to live life without consequences and ends up discovering she was living half a life before the loop began.
This is an extremely cute romcom and while it is a time loop there is actually quite a bit of character development, making it deeper than what one might expect.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books. This hit the shelves on May 6th.

Loved the concept of being stuck in a time loop and reliving the same day hundreds of times. It was really interesting how Noelle tried to break the loop and how it differed each time. It did get a little repetitive over time. But there enough changes to keep the plot interesting and keep me invested.

It was a fun read and the romance was cute. I’d definitely recommend for a quick read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an Arc in exchange for an honest review.

A cute romance with a fun twist on the time loop trope. The book felt a little bit long and the middle was a little slow but I still enjoyed myself

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review

Noelle gets some dumplings one night after work and the next thing she knows she is living the same day over and over again. After a few repeats, she finds someone who is also in the same time loop. They become friends and try to find a way out of the mess they found themselves in.

She met Cam the very first time she did that particular day and decided to see if kissing him would change her situation. Then she began to enjoy practicing how to start a relationship with him. After a while she tells him what is going on and he believes her even though he doesn’t remember anything when she repeats the day again.

This story was really unique. I enjoyed it a lot. Watching Noelle and Cam start their love story over and over again was fun. Then, when she gets out of the loop and realizes that she missed several months of her life it made perfect sense that the author made it happen that way instead of her just waking up and it being the day after the one she had been repeating. It was as if she was an alternate version of herself. I was very glad she found Cam again. And I was glad that she and her friend got down to the bottom of what happened to them.

Time Loops and Meet Cutes is about a woman stuck in a time loop after eating magical dumplings. She meets a boy in the time loop but can never get past that first date and she can never make him remember her. This book was adorable. I loved all the choices she made to make the best of the time loop, I loved the lessons learned, I loved the sweet romance, all of it. Oh, and I loved that the wordle being the same every day was a thing. Just a frothy fun book.

Jackie Lau has hit the jackpot with her new magical realism romance! Fans of "The Seven Split" will feel right at home with the food worship (warning: start this book with a meal cos you'll be hungry) and the limits of time magic. I felt like this book had even more to offer and delivered where others faltered. The FMC Noelle felt immediately relatable. Girls in their 30s are gonna love it! I was very impressed by the pace because the story doesn't leap forward to the romance. Before you're whisked away in love, you have to embrace every bit of Noelle's desperation and her determination to escape the time-loop.

Like a standard "Groundhog Day" story, Noelle wakes up after eating magic dumplings to find herself repeating the same horrible Friday over and over again. But instead of running wild like some teenager, practical Noelle is extremely careful as she goes about testing the boundaries of the time loop (she doesn't want to spend her life savings only to wake up back in the real world under a pile of debt!)

That all changes when she notices another woman trapped in the time-loop with her! Avery encourage Noelle to try living without the fear of consequence. For example, flirting with the hot stranger she keeps running into. When he asks her on a date, she leans in and it's so romantic but heartbreaking. The time-loop erases Cam's memory of her, but the more time they spend together, the more he seems to recognize her. He's a brewery owner so I kept imagining the pub in "Platonic" but Cam makes me 10x more swoony than Seth Rogen. It feels like true love but she feels guilty that the time-loop gives her such an advantage over him.

If you read Jackie's earlier release "Love, Lies and Cherry Pies" then you will love how she switches POVs at the half-way point. I think it's becoming my favorite plot structure to read. We meet Cam OUTSIDE of the time-loop and get his first impression when he meets Noelle for real. I felt like I was the one yearning for him to remember me! It was gut wrenching.

This really had me reflecting on how nothing changes if you don't. It's so easy to let 6 months go by without pursuing any goals, or dreams or starting new hobbies. But to Noelle, time becomes so precious. She's desperate to make real changes that last, like reconciling with her sister and moving forward with Cam. This book left me feeling invigorated to pursue what I want now, instead of waiting for time to slip past.

This one was so boring. I DNF after 33% and 3 days of trying to motivate my self to read it. I understand the groundhog situation can be monotonous but I just couldn't believe nothing happened for 57+ days,. Then they kiss all of the sudden and there was zero chemistry. This was just not fun and could've had so much potential.