This book was super interesting. Noelle gets stuck in a time loop, living June 20 over and over again. Luckily, she finds someone else stuck too, Avery, so she isn’t entirely alone. Unfortunately, she has several run-ins with a cute guy named Cam who forgets her every time the day resets. On one hand, it was cool to see how the girls explored each day - trying new food, new hair styles, new travels - and worked to live life to the fullest. On the other hand, the repetitiveness of the first chunk of the book was a little boring. But by the time everything with Cam worked out and was revealed, I was very happy with their HEA.

If you’ve ever fantasized about reliving a day until you get it right—complete with magical dumplings, a charming brewery owner, and the chance to finally ask for that raise—this book is your jam. Jackie Lau takes the time loop trope and gives it a fresh, heartfelt spin.

Noelle, a Toronto-based engineer, finds herself stuck on June 20th after eating some mysterious dumplings at a night market. Each reset offers her a new opportunity to step out of her comfort zone, confront her workaholic tendencies, and connect with Cam, the sweet and slightly nerdy brewery owner who doesn’t remember her from one loop to the next. Their repeated encounters are both endearing and bittersweet, as Noelle tries to forge a connection that resets every morning.

What sets this story apart is its focus on personal growth and the importance of community. Noelle’s friendship with fellow time-looper Avery adds depth and warmth to the narrative, highlighting the significance of support systems in our lives. While the romance is central, the story also delves into themes of self-discovery, family dynamics, and the courage it takes to change.

This book was written for you if:
- You enjoy stories that blend romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism.
- You appreciate narratives that focus on personal growth and the value of community.
- You’re looking for a feel-good read that’s both heartwarming and thought-provoking.

I actually really enjoyed this book. I get that the point is to show how she has relived the day many many times but the first half felt very repetitive. Just like how she was tired of living it, I was tired of reading it. I feel like most time loop books go right to the next day so it's interesting that this one didn't. I thought the two of them were really cute and I love that he always vaguely remembered her.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Time Loops & Meet Cutes is a charming time loop romcom. With engaging characters and amazing food descriptions, Jackie Lau creates a world where it makes sense that a time loop could actually happen.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Noelle’s had a rough day at work and heads to the night market to grab dinner on Friday June 20. The dumplings from the mysterious older woman are delicious, but when she wakes up the next day, it’s June 20 all over again. And again. She goes through the day again and again and again but never sees the same dumpling stand. Soon she meets Avery, another woman who is trapped in the loop and together they try to figure out how to escape to June 21. No matter what they change, certain events are always the same. And when Noelle meets hottie Cam first at the market, then while getting bubble tea, and finally at his brewery, she’s convinced he and their connection are the key to escaping the loop.

This book is such a cute one! It’s great the way Noelle’s story covers the pluses and minuses of living the same day over and over again, along with the idea of living without the consequences of tomorrow. It also avoids a lot of things that annoy me about time loop books; for example, I like that Noelle figures out it’s a time loop right away instead of being in the dark for a long time. And getting Cam’s point of view, especially when he is outside of June 20, is a nice touch.

And, because this is a Jackie Lau romance, the food descriptions are amazing. I was hungry the entire time I was reading!

If you are a fan of romcoms with a bit of magical realism, you’ll enjoy Time Loops & Meet Cutes. Not only are Noelle and Cam interesting characters to spend time with, but the creative way the story handles the time loop is worth exploring.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a book that I was excited about because of the plotline but I guess that is what didn't stick with me= the plot.

Yes its a time loop book so things will be repetitive but I didn't except repetition to be in this sense that I just wanted to put the book away and not in a good way.

Kudos to the author for writing such a unique concept as it was a first for me, but maybe this book wasnt for me.

A Unique Take On Time Loops

⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5
🌶️🌶️ out of 5

Time Loops & Meet Cutes was such an interesting, fast-paced read for me! I read it in two sittings and spent most of the book eagerly turning the pages, curious to know what would happen next. This story could have been boring and predictable, but multiple unexpected twists made the well-worn time loop trope feel fresh and exciting. The writing is so vivid that it was easy to imagine myself in the time loop with Noelle and experience all the mixed emotions about it that she did. I loved the friendship between Noelle and Avery, as well as Noelle's character arc as she learns and grows from her time in the loop. I also really appreciated how the book touched on themes like mental health, grief, and the immigrant experience.

However, the romance aspect of the book fell somewhat flat for me. While I enjoyed watching Cam and Noelle's relationship develop, that part of the story didn't feel quite as strong as the rest. I was never fully convinced that they were each other's soulmates or one true loves. It seemed more like they were thrown together by (highly) unusual circumstances and became a couple. As a result, I didn't have that swoony, giggling and kicking my feet feeling that I usually get from a good romance.

But I still really enjoyed this one and would definitely read more by the author!

4.5 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

Noelle wakes up one morning after visiting a night market and eating strange dumplings that she has woken up in a time loop, repeating the same June 20th over and over again.

A rom-com Groundhog's Day is exactly what I needed this week and I fell in love with Noelle and Cam and Avery and everyone! I really loved that Noelle was able to grow as a person outside of work and her rigid control on life and learn to just let go of things, even after the time loop ended.

Spoiler, I guess, but god I'm so glad there was no 3rd act breakup. I'm so tired of that trope and it was so refreshing to see two adults actually talk through the issue together. Thank you, Ms. Lau.

Anyone who knows me knows I looooove any sort of “magical realism” aspect, so when I saw that there was a time loop?? Immediately intrigued.

The first few chapters had me soooo hooked and the main character’s internal monologue was so relatable (shoutout to my fellow anxiety girlies), and the writing had that smooth, bingeable quality I liiiiive for.

BUT… and this is a big but… after, like, the 100th repeat of the same day, I started to feel the drag. I get it—that’s literally the point—but whew, even the characters were like, “maybe this is too much?” around loop 110, and I was like “yes bestie, I agree.”

The saving grace? The romance. That emotional tension?? DELICIOUS. I kept rooting for them despite the very real possibility they were going to be stuck in eternal June 20th hell.

The ending was where things got a little wobbly for me. I’m not sure all the motivations behind the time loop made sense to me, and I wanted just a bit more clarity or emotional payoff.

Still, the vibes were there. The feelings were real. The tears? Slightly present. Would recommend if you like a good mix of heartbreak, humor, and a little timey-wimey confusion.

Thank you endlessly to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

In Times Loops and Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau, Noelle finds hersef stuck after eating dumplings at a night market, waking up every morning on June 20th. Of course, being this Jackie Lau you’ll get very hungry reading this book, I’d love some dumplings right now 🥟 Our heroine, Noelle, meets another woman stuck in the time loop with her and her friendship is as significant as the romance is. Poor Avery kept waking up with her period and her musty boyfriend! Noelle goes on a hundred first dates with Cam and the angst was so delicious! She knew he would forget her every day but he also had this sense of familiarity with her despite not remembering their past dates.

“His gaze drops to my mouth, and for a moment, I forget to breathe. It’s just the two of us, and a connection that seems to defy the rules of my world.”

This book was delightful and it left me in my feelings. I really liked how Noelle learned to let go a bit, to not sacrifice her life on the altar of financial security and the fear to open up. I cried like a baby at the reveal that her sister, which we had seen struggling with keeping a job and her mental health, had endometriosis. I loved the grandma and the part on grief.

One of the things I love about Jackie Lau’s self-published books is how dry her prose is, there are no unnecessary frills. This book is traditionally published and I feel the editing made the book flow less smoothly. This is why I’m giving this four stars. The ending was predictable but cute.

If you liked the movie Palm Springs, you should try Times Loops and Meet Cutes.

Thank you to the author and to Netgalley for the ARC.

LOVE!! I loved this so much!! As soon as I started reading it, I could not put it down. Noelle is so lovely, but she is definitely stuck in a rut....even if she can't see it. But when she starts reliving the same day over and over again, she is finally willing to start taking chances and making changes! I also loved Cam, hes such a cinnamon roll, so sweet!! Every moment of this book was wonderful!!!

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The time loop was interesting, engaging, and a little funny with a side of a bit of sad too. There were hints at things that were happening outside of the time loop, which was nice as well. My issue was when the time loop finally ended. The second part of the book was ok, but it just felt like a super long epilogue. The writing changed drastically as well, it almost felt like a whole different author from the first part. I just did not find the end of the book to be as engaging as the beginning part of it.

i was waiting for this to really grab me but unfortunately it just didn't. This wasn't a bad book but nothing really happened besides the romance aspect. I thought Cam and Noelle were really cute. But after a while I felt it was very repetitive, and the story wasn't going anywhere.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the Arc

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of Time Loops & Meet Cutes.

This was absolutely delightful. I adored Noelle, Avery, and Cam. Imagine waking up and realizing you're reliving yesterday. Again. And again. Every night, the day resets. What would you do? I loved seeing Noelle slowly lean into the time loop, relaxing and exploring things out of her comfort zone, making new meaningful friendships and I loved the little plot twists scattered throughout.

Highly recommend this to anyone looking for an adorably fun, meet cute. Time Loops & Meet Cutes is my first novel by Jackie Lau, and I can't wait to check out her other books!

I wish I could give this book more than five stars. It was absolute perfection. While I loved the romance aspect, the friendship between Noelle and Avery was my favorite part. Avery’s book when? But seriously, I loved everything about this.

After eating dumplings at a food market, Noelle wakes up only to discover she’s reliving the same day, June 20th, over again. How did she get in this time loop, and how can she get out?

If there’s one thing to know about me, I love a good time travel story. So anything that deals with time manipulation is going to be a hit. This was such a fun way to handle a time loop. Even though time loop stories are not uncommon, this one felt very unique. And the romance was very sweet.

I really can’t recommend this enough! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Admittedly I've only recently expanding into reading rom-coms, but I have always been a sucker for a good time loop and/or multiverse story. So, I had to give this one a try. It's a cute story, but ultimately it didn't completely click with me. I felt too cognizant throughout of the writing and the choices being made so I never felt immersed in the actual story.

God. Where do I start? This was so boring. Like I feel like genuinely nothing happened.
It's a time loop romance. But the first half of the book is just the time loop and I genuinely feel like nothing happened. It was just the same thing over and over in almost every chapter. We got little bits of romance here and there, but the first 25 or so chapters is just the fmc mostly repeating the same day doing the same things. And maybe if she was more likeable that would be okay. But she is just... boring. Like, there's no better way to put it. Even when we learn certain small things about her, I feel like we don't really know much about her except the fact that she is boring and doesn't do anything other than work, which you don't have to tell us because babe... we can tell.
We also barely know anything about the mmc. The author made this a dual POV but we got maybe 2 minute long chapters for Cam? And they were very rare. So I genuinely feel like I knew absolutely nothing about him. How are we supposed to fall in love w him if we don't know anything about him? I We get more scenes with the fmc's new friend who is experiencing the same thing than we do with Cam.
The whole book just dragged on. It felt like an easy read but that's because it required little to no brain power to read since everything was essentially the same. Maybe this could be the book for some people, but it definitely was not the one for me. Like, I feel like I don't even know anything about the main character other than the fact that she's whiny, boring, and an engineer who decided that after one break up she's swearing off love forever.
Be for real.

Thank you to net galley and the publisher for the arc.

Time Loops and Meet Cutes follows Noelle, a very rigid woman stuck in the routine of her monotonous life - she's a little frugal, scared to take risks, and entirely consumed by work and routine.

One day, she visits a night market and tries some delicious dumplings which get her stuck in a time loop, repeating June 20th over and over again.

Magical realism is probably my favorite when sprinkled into romance. There’s something about it that makes this romance book feel even more romantic and whimsical.

At first, I had a hard time really connecting with Noelle. The writing style didn’t fully click with me in the first few chapters, and then again in the more intimate scenes. The spice felt like it was trying to balance back and forth between really going for it and having a little bit of a modest approach, and that back-and-forth made it feel a little awkward.

But somewhere around the 25% mark, I realized just how special this story really is.

Despite the repetition of the time loop, the pacing felt perfect. Each version of June 20th felt purposeful and added something new to the story. It never dragged or felt redundant. Every reset pushed Noelle’s growth forward in a meaningful way.

Cam, the male main character, was so refreshing. He's a character that doesn’t take himself too seriously, which is the perfect contrast to Noelle. Even though he can’t remember her with each reset, there’s this lovely sense of fate with all of the déjà vu. He holds on to small details, and it makes each encounter feel even more romantic. You want him to remember!! The POV chapters from his perspective were such a great touch. You can feel that something is shifting in him, even if he can’t fully explain it.

But my favorite part of this story is the depth. Even though this is a sweet, magical romance about two people finding each other, it’s also about Noelle finding balance in her life. It explores the value of friendships, the importance of showing up for the people who have always been there, and the complexity of familial relationships. Noelle has closed herself off for so long...afraid of vulnerability after her last breakup - that she’s isolated herself from the people who care about her. This book is her journey back to connection. It’s about realizing that pain is part of life, and some things are simply worth the risk.

This was such a well-done romance. I’ll definitely be recommending it!

This was so fun! I honestly can't remember reading another time loop rom com and this was such a good one to start out with. The first part was about being in the time loop and the second half was about readjusting to life after the time loop. I couldn't stop reading it, it was just so good! Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!!

Stuck in a time loop / Groundhog Day situation is so fascinating as it is repetitive and boring. And the author captures that perfectly. What I mean is there’s moments when it feels like the time loop is dragging on, by design ofcourse, just like it feels to the FMC. And yet I loved it so much because the writing was well done and time loop situations are interesting.

Thank you to Jackie Lau, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of Time Loops & Meet Cutes in exchange for my honest review.

Time Loops & Meet Cutes is a fun romance novel with a hint of magical realism. It follows Noelle, a workaholic, who arguably has been using work as a coping mechanism, or well an unhealthy coping mechanism. When she goes to a night market one day and ends up trying dumplings, she finds herself trapped in a time loop with no idea about how to make it end. What I really appreciated about this book was that it was a fun read. While there was a romantic plotline throughout the book with Cam, who does not remember Noelle each day, this story is largely about Noelle's journey and her development as a person through this experience of being stuck in a time loop. I will say that there were many elements of this book that seemed like an easy solution or that felt predictable, but it did not bother me because I this book felt like one that was supposed to be fun rather than feel realistic. I liked watching Noelle learn to trust her relationships with other's both through her friendship with Avery who is also in the time loop, and with her relationship with Cam that restarts each day. I loved being able to witness Noelle go outside her comfort zone as she tried new things, or spoke with Cam in ways she would not normally (i.e., flirting) because she knew that he would not really remember. The second part was fun because it brought a new twist to a time loop trope. I was not expecting that part of the book to go the way it did, but I liked watching Noelle navigate that and how her experiences impacted her relationships and her life. I honestly had a lot of fun reading this book and could not put it down from start to finish.