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Time Loops & Meet Cutes
The “masterful, inspiring, and full of heart” (Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author) Jackie Lau returns with a thoroughly unique love story about a woman reliving the same Friday over and over again—and the intriguing man who can’t quite remember her.
Noelle Tom really shouldn’t have eaten those dumplings at the night market. But the old lady at the stall said they’d give her what she needed most, and what Noelle desperately needed after another long workweek was food.
Except now she’s reliving the same Friday over and over. Every morning her alarm goes off at 6:45 no matter what, the Wordle answer is always “happy,” and she watches a silly squirrel video go viral day after day. And no matter how much she works on the same proposal, it’s always erased when she wakes up. It seems Monday will never come in this workaholic’s worst nightmare.
Noelle has no idea how being trapped in a time loop is the “thing she needed most,” especially now that everything seems meaningless. Sure, three fancy meals in a row is a fun treat, but it’s getting repetitive. Noelle’s not sure what lesson the old lady was trying to impart. Even a trip to the dumpling stall doesn’t help…because there’s no sign of it.
But then she meets a young woman who also ate the dumplings, and good-looking Cam, who appears in multiple places on her Friday. While he seems to have no memory of their encounters, there are signs he might be the key to getting un-stuck. But Noelle will have to put work aside and live a little in order to make him notice her. As their flirtation progresses, Noelle begins to worry that if she ever gets to turn the calendar page, Cam won’t know who she is and her life may never return to what it was before that fateful Friday…
Noelle Tom really shouldn’t have eaten those dumplings at the night market. But the old lady at the stall said they’d give her what she needed most, and what Noelle desperately needed after another long workweek was food.
Except now she’s reliving the same Friday over and over. Every morning her alarm goes off at 6:45 no matter what, the Wordle answer is always “happy,” and she watches a silly squirrel video go viral day after day. And no matter how much she works on the same proposal, it’s always erased when she wakes up. It seems Monday will never come in this workaholic’s worst nightmare.
Noelle has no idea how being trapped in a time loop is the “thing she needed most,” especially now that everything seems meaningless. Sure, three fancy meals in a row is a fun treat, but it’s getting repetitive. Noelle’s not sure what lesson the old lady was trying to impart. Even a trip to the dumpling stall doesn’t help…because there’s no sign of it.
But then she meets a young woman who also ate the dumplings, and good-looking Cam, who appears in multiple places on her Friday. While he seems to have no memory of their encounters, there are signs he might be the key to getting un-stuck. But Noelle will have to put work aside and live a little in order to make him notice her. As their flirtation progresses, Noelle begins to worry that if she ever gets to turn the calendar page, Cam won’t know who she is and her life may never return to what it was before that fateful Friday…
339 pages, Paperback
First published May 6, 2025
198 people are currently reading
28842 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Lau
39 books872 followersJackie Lau decided she wanted to be a writer when she was in grade two, sometime between writing “The Heart That Got Lost” and “The Land of Shapes.” She later studied engineering and worked as a geophysicist before turning to writing romance novels.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
Jackie lives in Toronto with her husband, and despite living in Canada her whole life, she hates winter. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking, hiking, eating too much gelato, and reading on the balcony when it’s raining.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,354 reviews
July 4, 2025
3.75!
The whole concept for this book was amazing, eating magical dumplings that throw you into a time loop where you and your best friend relive June 20th again and again?!? Honestly, at times just thinking about it felt torturous, but it was so easy to read. The way it was written was so enjoyable, it was easy to follow and lovely to read. It was my first book by this author, and I was hooked. The premise was so intriguing, and the execution lived up to it as well. The story was divided into two parts: Part One, where the main characters were stuck in a loop and were figuring out a way to get out of it, and Part Two, where they were out of the time loop only to discover everything had changed, with short chapters that keep you hooked. I read it in the most difficult month; I had so much going on, but this ate!! It made me want to get back home, curl up in my comforter, and read this book.
Noelle is our main character, whose POV we're following, and we see the story through her eyes as she's stuck in a time loop where that day keeps repeating, with the same thing happening over and over again. She tries desperately to get out of it or to find answers as to why this has happened. But she is not alone in this. Avery is another woman stuck in the time loop, and her situation is worse because she has to wake up every day next to her condescending boyfriend and break up with him. Also, her friendship with Noelle was the highlight of this book—the way they went through everything together and were the only two people who understood what the other was going through. The way Jackie portrayed the feeling of exhaustion, tiredness, and burnout was very well done. It felt very realistic and relatable, yet also true to the story.
The romance was very cute, the whole idea of Noelle trying to pursue Cam every day, but each day he would forget and only get déjà vu when she appeared in front of him. Their moments were very cutesy-ones that would have you smiling. And while I was in love with how their relationship was in the time loop and wanted to see it explored more, AND while I enjoyed their relationship outside the time loop as well, I just felt like there were so many other things in the book that were far more enticing and gripping, so I would gloss over the romance for that content. The timeline within the time loop was more enjoyable for me, regardless of its repetitive nature, but I did enjoy the aftermath and the consequences of being stuck in a time loop and the feeling of being lost.
One major problem for me was the pacing. Despite the short chapters, I felt that it was very slow? It could be my slump, but when a book takes this long for me to finish, every day my enjoyment for it decreases, and soon it feels like something I just HAVE to finish instead of enjoying it and reading it at peace.
Overall, I would recommend it!!
___
The cover, the name, and everything related to it sounds so cute! I'll just read this then.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher-Atria books for an E-Arc*
The whole concept for this book was amazing, eating magical dumplings that throw you into a time loop where you and your best friend relive June 20th again and again?!? Honestly, at times just thinking about it felt torturous, but it was so easy to read. The way it was written was so enjoyable, it was easy to follow and lovely to read. It was my first book by this author, and I was hooked. The premise was so intriguing, and the execution lived up to it as well. The story was divided into two parts: Part One, where the main characters were stuck in a loop and were figuring out a way to get out of it, and Part Two, where they were out of the time loop only to discover everything had changed, with short chapters that keep you hooked. I read it in the most difficult month; I had so much going on, but this ate!! It made me want to get back home, curl up in my comforter, and read this book.
Noelle is our main character, whose POV we're following, and we see the story through her eyes as she's stuck in a time loop where that day keeps repeating, with the same thing happening over and over again. She tries desperately to get out of it or to find answers as to why this has happened. But she is not alone in this. Avery is another woman stuck in the time loop, and her situation is worse because she has to wake up every day next to her condescending boyfriend and break up with him. Also, her friendship with Noelle was the highlight of this book—the way they went through everything together and were the only two people who understood what the other was going through. The way Jackie portrayed the feeling of exhaustion, tiredness, and burnout was very well done. It felt very realistic and relatable, yet also true to the story.
The romance was very cute, the whole idea of Noelle trying to pursue Cam every day, but each day he would forget and only get déjà vu when she appeared in front of him. Their moments were very cutesy-ones that would have you smiling. And while I was in love with how their relationship was in the time loop and wanted to see it explored more, AND while I enjoyed their relationship outside the time loop as well, I just felt like there were so many other things in the book that were far more enticing and gripping, so I would gloss over the romance for that content. The timeline within the time loop was more enjoyable for me, regardless of its repetitive nature, but I did enjoy the aftermath and the consequences of being stuck in a time loop and the feeling of being lost.
One major problem for me was the pacing. Despite the short chapters, I felt that it was very slow? It could be my slump, but when a book takes this long for me to finish, every day my enjoyment for it decreases, and soon it feels like something I just HAVE to finish instead of enjoying it and reading it at peace.
Overall, I would recommend it!!
___
The cover, the name, and everything related to it sounds so cute! I'll just read this then.
*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher-Atria books for an E-Arc*
April 16, 2025
3.5 ˖⁺‧✮
this book started so fun, especially with the time loops and the whole idea. with first chapters i found writing style somehow interesting and i actually liked the main character.
«I don’t feel like I’m held together by duct tape anymore. I know things won’t always be easy; I know bad times will happen. But I have an inner strength I didn’t have before, and with that—as well as the great people around me—I can make the most of my life.»
however, as the book was going i became bored with reading about those time loops. what i mean is, the main character was experiencing june 20th for the 130 times and they became repetitive with 120. of course this was the goal of the books but omg i would k*ll myself if i had to relive the same day so many times.
(also wondering why characters thought about this only during day 110 or something)
«Though I don’t know exactly who Cam and I will become, after everything that has happened.»
what was fun is main male character was not in the time loop, so every day female character had to reintroduce herself to him and hope he remembers her. i enjoyed these moments so much!
to finish my review, i want to mention the resolution to the time loops. i was a little confused with them because i still can’t figure out the reason behind person doing it. 🤷♀️
Thank you Simon & Schuster for sending me an arc
this book started so fun, especially with the time loops and the whole idea. with first chapters i found writing style somehow interesting and i actually liked the main character.
«I don’t feel like I’m held together by duct tape anymore. I know things won’t always be easy; I know bad times will happen. But I have an inner strength I didn’t have before, and with that—as well as the great people around me—I can make the most of my life.»
however, as the book was going i became bored with reading about those time loops. what i mean is, the main character was experiencing june 20th for the 130 times and they became repetitive with 120. of course this was the goal of the books but omg i would k*ll myself if i had to relive the same day so many times.
(also wondering why characters thought about this only during day 110 or something)
«Though I don’t know exactly who Cam and I will become, after everything that has happened.»
what was fun is main male character was not in the time loop, so every day female character had to reintroduce herself to him and hope he remembers her. i enjoyed these moments so much!
to finish my review, i want to mention the resolution to the time loops. i was a little confused with them because i still can’t figure out the reason behind person doing it. 🤷♀️
Thank you Simon & Schuster for sending me an arc
Read
July 7, 2025Unusually for me with Jackie Lau, I didn't read this the instant it was published because I'm generally a bit so-so about timey wimey stuff in books, it's just not my thing. More fool me, because she pulls it off marvellously.
The premise is basically Groundhog Day except the heroine isn't a dick. Rather, she's stuck in her own life, limiting her own horizons, and her experience of the time loop is accustoming herself to act without thinking of consequences, because there aren't any. Except, a life without consequences isn't a life at all. There's a really good balance here; the other brilliance is that Noelle isn't alone. Another woman is trapped on the same day, and a huge part of Noelle's story is their mutual friendship and support.
Obviously there's significant ethical issues with the romance element (Noelle goes on multiple 'first dates' with Cam, ending up knowing a great deal about him while she is always new to him). This is also handled really well, especially when the loop finally breaks.
It's hugely engaging, well structured, with delightful protagonists, and a fair bit to think about. Highl recommended.
The premise is basically Groundhog Day except the heroine isn't a dick. Rather, she's stuck in her own life, limiting her own horizons, and her experience of the time loop is accustoming herself to act without thinking of consequences, because there aren't any. Except, a life without consequences isn't a life at all. There's a really good balance here; the other brilliance is that Noelle isn't alone. Another woman is trapped on the same day, and a huge part of Noelle's story is their mutual friendship and support.
Obviously there's significant ethical issues with the romance element (Noelle goes on multiple 'first dates' with Cam, ending up knowing a great deal about him while she is always new to him). This is also handled really well, especially when the loop finally breaks.
It's hugely engaging, well structured, with delightful protagonists, and a fair bit to think about. Highl recommended.
June 15, 2025
If time loops and meet-cutes were the only things that mattered, then we’d have a pretty solid romance in our hands.
But it’s not, and we don’t.
Focusing on the romance first, I have a problem with the so-called chemistry. As in, I couldn’t care less for Noelle and Cam. At all.
She thinks he could be her soulmate because she keeps bumping into him, but then he's cute enough and nice enough so she develops feelings, and when she gets out of the loop she freaks out because she doesn't wanna lose him… but why? Where's the connection? Where's the spark?
And maybe my problem with Cam is his flat personality and the fact that all of his chapters are about the search for his soul mate, if maybe he’s missed her, if he might won’t ever meet her, yada yada yada.
Secondly, the time-loops plot.
Just… why? Why couldn't we have a reasonable answer after all that?
But the reason why I’ll unlikely read another of Jackie Lau’s book is the stiff writing, which made sense at first — Noelle needs to be like that, especially to underline the arc she’ll go through —, but then it kept getting redundant and kinda annoying.
Have I also mentioned that, even if this is a dual pov narration, it just feels like a long book with the same character over and over? No distinction whatsoever between Noelle's and Cam’s POVs.
I can’t tell you if most of what I disliked was done on purpose by the author — for example, Noelle and Cam being basically the same person to show how much they fit together —, but it just wasn't for me.
↠ 2.5 stars
Thanks to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
But it’s not, and we don’t.
Focusing on the romance first, I have a problem with the so-called chemistry. As in, I couldn’t care less for Noelle and Cam. At all.
She thinks he could be her soulmate because she keeps bumping into him, but then he's cute enough and nice enough so she develops feelings, and when she gets out of the loop she freaks out because she doesn't wanna lose him… but why? Where's the connection? Where's the spark?
And maybe my problem with Cam is his flat personality and the fact that all of his chapters are about the search for his soul mate, if maybe he’s missed her, if he might won’t ever meet her, yada yada yada.
Secondly, the time-loops plot.
Just… why? Why couldn't we have a reasonable answer after all that?
But the reason why I’ll unlikely read another of Jackie Lau’s book is the stiff writing, which made sense at first — Noelle needs to be like that, especially to underline the arc she’ll go through —, but then it kept getting redundant and kinda annoying.
Have I also mentioned that, even if this is a dual pov narration, it just feels like a long book with the same character over and over? No distinction whatsoever between Noelle's and Cam’s POVs.
I can’t tell you if most of what I disliked was done on purpose by the author — for example, Noelle and Cam being basically the same person to show how much they fit together —, but it just wasn't for me.
↠ 2.5 stars
Thanks to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
June 4, 2025
3 stars: ★★★
Huge thanks to Atria Books, for inviting me to read this ARC via NetGalley 💌
“Time Loops & Meet Cutes” by Jackie Lau had so much potential… a super fun premise, an adorable cover, and the kind of title that screams feel-good romance with a twist. And at first, it delivered—quirky, fast-paced, and unexpectedly deep in moments. But somewhere along the way, the magic started to slip. Here's what went down:
Let’s start strong: the beginning? SO FUN.
Time loop stories always grab me. The idea of Noelle reliving the same Friday again and again after eating magical dumplings? Iconic. The Wordle answer is always “happy” (cute touch) and her job resets daily? Brilliant setup. I genuinely liked Noelle at first—her voice was clever and sarcastic, her situation relatable, her internal monologue sometimes painfully real. Short chapters = major win too. I flew through them without trying.
But…
By the time she was living through June 20th for the 136th time, I was kinda done.
Like, I get the repetition was the point. I really do. But as a reader, reading the same vibes over and over again got old—fast. I started zoning out during sections and honestly, I was craving something more. Not every time loop needs 100+ days to make a point.
The romance was... hmm.
Cam was sweet. He owns a brewery and their moments together had some ✨ spark ✨ but—he wasn’t in the time loop. So every day, Noelle had to basically speed-run their relationship. Which is a cool idea in theory… but in practice? His feelings felt rushed and kind of undercooked, since he was always meeting her for the “first” time. Like bro, how are you falling this fast when she’s just a stranger to you?? 🥴
Still, some scenes between them made me smile—especially the slower, more vulnerable ones. And I did like how Jackie Lau explored themes of burnout, loneliness, and emotional growth underneath the chaos.
But the standout? Noelle and Avery’s friendship.
Another woman stuck in the loop = unexpected bestie energy. Their connection was warm, funny, and honestly felt more developed than the romance at times. Give me more magical best friend duos, please.
Now for the ending…
I’m still confused lol. The resolution didn’t hit as hard as I hoped. The why behind the time loop felt underwhelming and slightly messy. I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t leave me with that “omg that was clever” kind of feeling either.
So, final thoughts?
✨ Fun idea, sweet concept, solid writing—but it lacked emotional depth and overstayed its welcome. I enjoyed it, I just didn’t feel it, you know? Like, I’ll probably forget most of this in a month, but I don’t regret reading it either.
Read this if you’re into:
💫 Time loops
🧋 Magical dumplings at a night market
💻 Burned-out engineers trying to find meaning
📆 Rewriting the same day 150+ times
🍻 A soft guy with a brewery and a kind heart
🧡 Bestie bonding that lowkey outshines the romance
Would I recommend it?
Yeah, if you're in the mood for something light, different, and fast-paced. Just don’t expect it to change your life. It’s cute, clever at times, and might surprise you if you’re not too deep in your reading slump.
🌀 But also: looping through the same day 150 times sounds like a personal hell and I’m never eating dumplings from a mysterious food stall again. Ever.
Huge thanks to Atria Books, for inviting me to read this ARC via NetGalley 💌
“Time Loops & Meet Cutes” by Jackie Lau had so much potential… a super fun premise, an adorable cover, and the kind of title that screams feel-good romance with a twist. And at first, it delivered—quirky, fast-paced, and unexpectedly deep in moments. But somewhere along the way, the magic started to slip. Here's what went down:
Let’s start strong: the beginning? SO FUN.
Time loop stories always grab me. The idea of Noelle reliving the same Friday again and again after eating magical dumplings? Iconic. The Wordle answer is always “happy” (cute touch) and her job resets daily? Brilliant setup. I genuinely liked Noelle at first—her voice was clever and sarcastic, her situation relatable, her internal monologue sometimes painfully real. Short chapters = major win too. I flew through them without trying.
But…
By the time she was living through June 20th for the 136th time, I was kinda done.
Like, I get the repetition was the point. I really do. But as a reader, reading the same vibes over and over again got old—fast. I started zoning out during sections and honestly, I was craving something more. Not every time loop needs 100+ days to make a point.
The romance was... hmm.
Cam was sweet. He owns a brewery and their moments together had some ✨ spark ✨ but—he wasn’t in the time loop. So every day, Noelle had to basically speed-run their relationship. Which is a cool idea in theory… but in practice? His feelings felt rushed and kind of undercooked, since he was always meeting her for the “first” time. Like bro, how are you falling this fast when she’s just a stranger to you?? 🥴
Still, some scenes between them made me smile—especially the slower, more vulnerable ones. And I did like how Jackie Lau explored themes of burnout, loneliness, and emotional growth underneath the chaos.
But the standout? Noelle and Avery’s friendship.
Another woman stuck in the loop = unexpected bestie energy. Their connection was warm, funny, and honestly felt more developed than the romance at times. Give me more magical best friend duos, please.
Now for the ending…
I’m still confused lol. The resolution didn’t hit as hard as I hoped. The why behind the time loop felt underwhelming and slightly messy. I didn’t hate it, but it didn’t leave me with that “omg that was clever” kind of feeling either.
So, final thoughts?
✨ Fun idea, sweet concept, solid writing—but it lacked emotional depth and overstayed its welcome. I enjoyed it, I just didn’t feel it, you know? Like, I’ll probably forget most of this in a month, but I don’t regret reading it either.
Read this if you’re into:
💫 Time loops
🧋 Magical dumplings at a night market
💻 Burned-out engineers trying to find meaning
📆 Rewriting the same day 150+ times
🍻 A soft guy with a brewery and a kind heart
🧡 Bestie bonding that lowkey outshines the romance
Would I recommend it?
Yeah, if you're in the mood for something light, different, and fast-paced. Just don’t expect it to change your life. It’s cute, clever at times, and might surprise you if you’re not too deep in your reading slump.
🌀 But also: looping through the same day 150 times sounds like a personal hell and I’m never eating dumplings from a mysterious food stall again. Ever.
April 2, 2025
this was fun!! i loved the concept and overall had such a fun time, enjoyed the writing and the fast pacing of the story. i just didn't feel entirely invested in it, and also had a hard time getting through some of the povs (specifically one ahem).
so if you're looking for a quick and fun and unique read, i would absolutely recommend this. i just don't think it's anything crazy or life-changing, i'll probably never think about it again tbh.
thank you to netgalley & atria books for the arc! all opinions are my own <3
pre-read:
grinding through some arcs this week bc i have absolutely zero plans so let's go
so if you're looking for a quick and fun and unique read, i would absolutely recommend this. i just don't think it's anything crazy or life-changing, i'll probably never think about it again tbh.
thank you to netgalley & atria books for the arc! all opinions are my own <3
pre-read:
grinding through some arcs this week bc i have absolutely zero plans so let's go
February 16, 2025
this was a great take of the time loop trope! i honestly might be a fan of time loops now? i loved that the friendship was a big part of this and i liked that we got to see cam's pov occasionally throughout the book- it definitely made me intrigued! the first part was a little repetitive, but i understand that's literally the point. overall, this was a cute story and a reminder to take risks and appreciate the little things in life.
June 22, 2025
3.5⭐️ Noelle Tom can’t seem to stop reliving the same Friday over and over again following a clandestine meeting with an old woman selling dumplings. Claiming the dumplings would give Noelle just what she needed most, they seem to do the opposite. But as Noelle struggles to survive the time loop she is in (including her ever-changing/never-changing hair), she is also trying to hold on to the one aspect of her forever Friday she loves most - a mystery man named Cam who never seems to remember her name.
I am such a sucker for a time loop romance, so of course I was all in on this one. There were so many aspects of this story I loved. The characters are all utterly charming and lifelike. Their struggles were very relatable; their stories easy to connect with. I enjoyed the author’s exploration of grief, as well as the journeys of self-discovery each of the main characters is on.
I must admit the time loop aspect became very repetitive and monotonous at a point, at which time I could feel myself starting to lose interest. While I enjoyed the fun twist at the end, involving the identity of the old woman at the market, I had disengaged quite a bit by then and so wasn’t able to appreciate it as much as I would have liked. All that said, this is still a super cute, very open door romance, that is easy to binge and I would recommend it to those who enjoy the included tropes, or are looking for something light and easy to mix up heavier, denser reads.
🎧 I really enjoyed this book primarily on audio, thanks in large part to the fantastic narration of both Cindy Kay and Raymond J. Lee. Both were fantastic and helped to bring this story to life, in a way that at times, felt like a movie.
Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️magical realism
▪️insta connection
▪️time travel
▪️steamy romance
▪️dual POV
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
I am such a sucker for a time loop romance, so of course I was all in on this one. There were so many aspects of this story I loved. The characters are all utterly charming and lifelike. Their struggles were very relatable; their stories easy to connect with. I enjoyed the author’s exploration of grief, as well as the journeys of self-discovery each of the main characters is on.
I must admit the time loop aspect became very repetitive and monotonous at a point, at which time I could feel myself starting to lose interest. While I enjoyed the fun twist at the end, involving the identity of the old woman at the market, I had disengaged quite a bit by then and so wasn’t able to appreciate it as much as I would have liked. All that said, this is still a super cute, very open door romance, that is easy to binge and I would recommend it to those who enjoy the included tropes, or are looking for something light and easy to mix up heavier, denser reads.
🎧 I really enjoyed this book primarily on audio, thanks in large part to the fantastic narration of both Cindy Kay and Raymond J. Lee. Both were fantastic and helped to bring this story to life, in a way that at times, felt like a movie.
Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️magical realism
▪️insta connection
▪️time travel
▪️steamy romance
▪️dual POV
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Atria Books and Simon Audio for the gifted copies.
February 9, 2025
wait this was so clever?? nobody look at me im tearing up this was so pure and i needed this book. this author remains my comfort author fr fr
April 7, 2025
I kept waiting for this to really hook me, but it never did. I tend to love time loop books, but you have to make them FUN. Here, I felt like everything was drawn out so much and not just the recurring day but also the way the characters interacted and the problems Noelle would think about all felt very repetitive. Aside from Noelle, I also didn't feel like we really got to know any of the other characters, not even the love interest. On top of that, I wasn't vibing with the humour, and all of this just led to me waiting for something to happen and for the book to actually become fun. I know this makes it sound like I had a bad time with it, but I did actually think it had a lot of potential and I thought Noelle was an interesting character. It just didn't fully live up to my expectations.
April 22, 2025
There’s nothing I love more than short chapters! This book was so easy to fly through—perfect for squeezing in just one more chapter. As you might guess from the title, Noelle finds herself in a time loop after eating dumplings from a mysterious woman at a night market (side note: I was seriously craving dumplings while reading this).
The story is very fast-paced, with Noelle reliving the same day over 150 times (!!!). With so many repeated days packed in, things did feel a bit rushed at times, and I felt it lacked some depth in the character development. The romance, in particular, felt a little off to me. While Noelle spends a lot of time getting to know Cam, his memory of her resets each day. His feelings and actions toward her didn’t always feel believable, considering she’s technically a stranger to him each time they meet.
That said, there were definitely funny and charming moments! Especially when Noelle meets another person stuck in the loop, and the two team up in increasingly desperate and funny attempts to break the curse. I also really enjoyed how the time loop wrapped up. It was a fun, full-circle conclusion to a cute story overall.
(heat level: 5 open-door scenes, moderate to explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The story is very fast-paced, with Noelle reliving the same day over 150 times (!!!). With so many repeated days packed in, things did feel a bit rushed at times, and I felt it lacked some depth in the character development. The romance, in particular, felt a little off to me. While Noelle spends a lot of time getting to know Cam, his memory of her resets each day. His feelings and actions toward her didn’t always feel believable, considering she’s technically a stranger to him each time they meet.
That said, there were definitely funny and charming moments! Especially when Noelle meets another person stuck in the loop, and the two team up in increasingly desperate and funny attempts to break the curse. I also really enjoyed how the time loop wrapped up. It was a fun, full-circle conclusion to a cute story overall.
(heat level: 5 open-door scenes, moderate to explicit details)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 25, 2025
Tropes:
- magical realism
- time loop
- meet cute
- strangers to lovers
- dual POV
After finishing her workday late, as usual, Noelle decides to stop by the night market for dinner. She has no idea that magical dumplings will pull her into a time loop, forcing her to relive the same day over and over with no way out.
The book explores themes of friendship, family, and the fear of taking the first step.
The story is filled with funny moments that made me recall similar situations from my own life—some of which I wouldn’t mind “rewriting” by reliving the day again. 🤣
This book made me wonder what I would do if I had to live the same day on repeat… One of those things would definitely be reading books. Sounds like a true paradise for a book lover, doesn’t it?
‼️WARNING: This book might make you raid your fridge in the middle of the night—there are plenty of mouthwatering food descriptions! 😁
I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to fans of 2000s rom-coms (if the leads were Asian 😄) and to anyone who loves Groundhog Day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
- magical realism
- time loop
- meet cute
- strangers to lovers
- dual POV
After finishing her workday late, as usual, Noelle decides to stop by the night market for dinner. She has no idea that magical dumplings will pull her into a time loop, forcing her to relive the same day over and over with no way out.
The book explores themes of friendship, family, and the fear of taking the first step.
The story is filled with funny moments that made me recall similar situations from my own life—some of which I wouldn’t mind “rewriting” by reliving the day again. 🤣
This book made me wonder what I would do if I had to live the same day on repeat… One of those things would definitely be reading books. Sounds like a true paradise for a book lover, doesn’t it?
‼️WARNING: This book might make you raid your fridge in the middle of the night—there are plenty of mouthwatering food descriptions! 😁
I enjoyed this book, and I recommend it to fans of 2000s rom-coms (if the leads were Asian 😄) and to anyone who loves Groundhog Day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 10, 2025
All time loop stories now have a slight variation on the theme. It is a fun premise, that someone lives the same day over and over again. In this case, Noelle has landed in a time loop on June 20th, and quickly uncovers that another woman, Avery, is in the exact same loop. They are complete strangers except that they both got dumplings the day before the loop. Avery has been stuck in a bad relationship and Noelle has been stuck hiding away from relationships for the last 6 years. Is this loop meant for them to take the next steps they need to?
Part two has a fun twist and good characters. I liked Noelle and Avery and their friendship and partnership even more than Noelle's romantic connection with Cam.
Great for fans of Ashley Poston and Kate Robb. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. Book to be published May 6, 2025.
Part two has a fun twist and good characters. I liked Noelle and Avery and their friendship and partnership even more than Noelle's romantic connection with Cam.
Great for fans of Ashley Poston and Kate Robb. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC. Book to be published May 6, 2025.
May 19, 2025
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+ 🔥
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+ 🔥
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Want to read
April 17, 2025this looks so cuteeeeeee ahhhh
i need this rn
i need this rn
March 26, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!
As soon as I saw it was about a time loop, I was all in—I love anything related to time!
Imagine eating dumplings, then waking up to the same day again... But the main character doesn’t even need to imagine it.
I liked that the heroine wasn’t stuck alone; it's not just about romance but also touches on friendship and family.
The characters were likable, with more of the story told from the heroine’s perspective, but we do get a bit from the guy's side too.
I appreciated that the heroine remembered to check in on others and reached out instead of just wallowing in her own issues.
Honestly, part of me wishes I could be stuck in a time loop with someone, but I felt so bad for the heroine. The fear of being trapped forever, missing out on family growing up, and the guy not remembering her every time just hit hard.
It was a nice read—sometimes funny, sometimes sad—about the value of life and the need to take a pause.
P.S. There was so much food in this book; I was drooling the entire time!
⭐️3.5/5
As soon as I saw it was about a time loop, I was all in—I love anything related to time!
Imagine eating dumplings, then waking up to the same day again... But the main character doesn’t even need to imagine it.
I liked that the heroine wasn’t stuck alone; it's not just about romance but also touches on friendship and family.
The characters were likable, with more of the story told from the heroine’s perspective, but we do get a bit from the guy's side too.
I appreciated that the heroine remembered to check in on others and reached out instead of just wallowing in her own issues.
Honestly, part of me wishes I could be stuck in a time loop with someone, but I felt so bad for the heroine. The fear of being trapped forever, missing out on family growing up, and the guy not remembering her every time just hit hard.
It was a nice read—sometimes funny, sometimes sad—about the value of life and the need to take a pause.
P.S. There was so much food in this book; I was drooling the entire time!
⭐️3.5/5
May 4, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up!
This book kicks off with a genuinely fun and unique spin on an intriguing concept, and the author's interesting writing style brings likable characters to life.
While the initial time loop premise is captivating, its repeated exploration unfortunately becomes a bit monotonous and could have been more concise. The random Cam POVs also felt somewhat unnecessary. Despite these pacing issues and a slightly unsatisfying resolution regarding the time loop's purpose, the magical realism and rom-com elements shine through.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read with engaging characters and a compelling narrative voice. If you're a fan of this genre, I'd still recommend giving it a shot!
** I received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
This book kicks off with a genuinely fun and unique spin on an intriguing concept, and the author's interesting writing style brings likable characters to life.
While the initial time loop premise is captivating, its repeated exploration unfortunately becomes a bit monotonous and could have been more concise. The random Cam POVs also felt somewhat unnecessary. Despite these pacing issues and a slightly unsatisfying resolution regarding the time loop's purpose, the magical realism and rom-com elements shine through.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable read with engaging characters and a compelling narrative voice. If you're a fan of this genre, I'd still recommend giving it a shot!
** I received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
March 21, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I am such a sucker for books with time loops/time related related plots. Noelle is stuck in a time loop after eating dumplings at a night market and can’t escape June 20th. She later meets Avery, who is also stuck in the loop. I enjoyed their friendship and growth as individuals realizing what they need to change in their lives for the better.
While I loved Noelle and Cam and their chemistry, I didn’t particularly enjoy the random inserted Cam POVs. This was mostly from Noelle’s POV, which I understand there was more of a concentration on her story and growth as a character but I wish we had more from Cam. I kind of wish HE was the one stuck in a time loop with Noelle but regardless, it was a cute read and I loved the mentions of good food and the fact that Cam owned a brewery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC approval!
I am such a sucker for books with time loops/time related related plots. Noelle is stuck in a time loop after eating dumplings at a night market and can’t escape June 20th. She later meets Avery, who is also stuck in the loop. I enjoyed their friendship and growth as individuals realizing what they need to change in their lives for the better.
While I loved Noelle and Cam and their chemistry, I didn’t particularly enjoy the random inserted Cam POVs. This was mostly from Noelle’s POV, which I understand there was more of a concentration on her story and growth as a character but I wish we had more from Cam. I kind of wish HE was the one stuck in a time loop with Noelle but regardless, it was a cute read and I loved the mentions of good food and the fact that Cam owned a brewery.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC approval!
May 21, 2025
The concept of Time Loops & Meet Cutes sounded really fun. I like the idea of a rom-com with a time loop twist. And the short chapters definitely made it a quick and easy read.
But overall, it just didn’t work for me. The repetition got old fast, and the MFC, Noelle, doesn’t seem to grow or change much throughout the loop, which made the whole thing feel kind of pointless. We also don’t get much depth from any of the side characters. Avery, who’s stuck in the loop too, didn’t really add anything to the story, and the love interest (Cam) felt underdeveloped.
It’s a quick read if you enjoy this kind of trope, but in the end, it just didn’t vibe with me.
But overall, it just didn’t work for me. The repetition got old fast, and the MFC, Noelle, doesn’t seem to grow or change much throughout the loop, which made the whole thing feel kind of pointless. We also don’t get much depth from any of the side characters. Avery, who’s stuck in the loop too, didn’t really add anything to the story, and the love interest (Cam) felt underdeveloped.
It’s a quick read if you enjoy this kind of trope, but in the end, it just didn’t vibe with me.
May 15, 2025
nothing happened. absolutely nothing happens. which is a huge bummer I thought it was going to be interesting with the time loops but no. it was the same thing over and over. the main character doesn't grow or anything there was literally no point to the time loop. the povs from Cam did nothing for the plot either. they were not needed and super boring. 😬😬 I'm sad.
the food descriptions were great though.
the food descriptions were great though.
October 14, 2025
Thank you Atria Books, Netgalley and Jackie Lau for providing me an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
While I don't absolutely love time loop concepts as a whole, I will occasionally read books that contain them. Most of the times, I'm indifferent at best, bored at worst, but not in this case. Jackie Lau managed to work within the trope in a way that made it feel fresher but also a lot more profound.
I believe that the fact our protagonist is stuck in the time loop with another woman had the biggest impact on my enjoyment of this book. I love that we get to see their friendship blossom, and how they choose to support one another through a never ending day that forced them to reexamine life constantly.
While we get to follow our FMC falling in love with a MMC that never remembered her, I also think that the solution Jackie Lau found for it was pretty good. I loved how they connected and the trust they built with one another day after day, until the cycle eventually broke. When our FMC is back in the present timeline and meets our MMC, her decisions made this feel less like a one-sided yearnful romance but more so one that is absolutely reciprocated and built on the same foundation. It was truly masterfully done.
All in all, a fun romance book that managed to surprise me multiple times despite this being a familiar concept.
While I don't absolutely love time loop concepts as a whole, I will occasionally read books that contain them. Most of the times, I'm indifferent at best, bored at worst, but not in this case. Jackie Lau managed to work within the trope in a way that made it feel fresher but also a lot more profound.
I believe that the fact our protagonist is stuck in the time loop with another woman had the biggest impact on my enjoyment of this book. I love that we get to see their friendship blossom, and how they choose to support one another through a never ending day that forced them to reexamine life constantly.
While we get to follow our FMC falling in love with a MMC that never remembered her, I also think that the solution Jackie Lau found for it was pretty good. I loved how they connected and the trust they built with one another day after day, until the cycle eventually broke. When our FMC is back in the present timeline and meets our MMC, her decisions made this feel less like a one-sided yearnful romance but more so one that is absolutely reciprocated and built on the same foundation. It was truly masterfully done.
All in all, a fun romance book that managed to surprise me multiple times despite this being a familiar concept.
September 29, 2025
3.75/5
Time Loops & Meet Cutes tells the story of Noelle who ends up reliving June 20th over and over after eating dumplings at a night market. During this time loop, Noelle meets Cam, a brewery owner who doesn't remember Noelle but has a feeling that he has met her before. As she tries to find different ways to try to get out of the time loop, she also starts making choices that get her out of her comfort zone and makes her realize that she wasn't truly happy with how things were before.
Overall, the concept of this book was very good, but I wish it would have been executed differently. There were some aspects of the story that were not fully explained and had a difficult time feeling the chemistry between the main characters. Keep in mind that this book includes a few spicy scenes.
Thank you Atria Books & Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Time Loops & Meet Cutes tells the story of Noelle who ends up reliving June 20th over and over after eating dumplings at a night market. During this time loop, Noelle meets Cam, a brewery owner who doesn't remember Noelle but has a feeling that he has met her before. As she tries to find different ways to try to get out of the time loop, she also starts making choices that get her out of her comfort zone and makes her realize that she wasn't truly happy with how things were before.
Overall, the concept of this book was very good, but I wish it would have been executed differently. There were some aspects of the story that were not fully explained and had a difficult time feeling the chemistry between the main characters. Keep in mind that this book includes a few spicy scenes.
Thank you Atria Books & Atria/Emily Bestler Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
May 8, 2025
Thank you NetGalley & Atria for the ARC of Time Loops & Meet Cutes! I loved this book! It was a quick and cozy read. It had a lot of good reminders about life. My biggest takeaway was to not get so preoccupied with work that you forget to nurture your relationships with friends and family. I fell in love with Cam, how earnest & easy going he is. The ending of the book was tied up beautifully. Immediately adding all of Jackie Lau’s other books to my wishlist! 😊
April 18, 2025
If you’ve ever thought, “I wish I could redo that awkward first impression where I accidentally called someone ‘Dad’ instead of ‘Dan,’” then Jackie Lau has written the perfect book for you. ‘Time Loops and Meet Cutes’ is a romantic comedy with a sci-fi twist and the emotional depth of a heart-shaped black hole.
Our heroine wakes up on a Friday and keeps reliving it over and over. Which sounds like a nightmare, until you realize she’s caught in an endless loop with a charming guy who checks all the boxes: handsome, funny, emotionally available, and he bakes. Basically, the rom-com unicorn.
Each loop becomes its own mini romantic comedy—with its own flavor of awkwardness, swoon, and self-discovery. It’s like dating on hard mode, but with infinite lives and increasingly excellent banter.
Lau's writing is pitch-perfect: funny without trying too hard, romantic without being saccharine, and smart enough to sneak in emotional truths between jokes about time travel and stuffed animals.
This book is the literary equivalent of the perfect first date: fun, flirty, full of surprises, and it ends with you wanting just one more chapter (or loop).
May 4, 2025
Based on other reviews, I’m glad some people like/love this book. For me, it was rough. I normally dislike time loop stories, but I have read some done well. This was not it.
I can’t get too specific without revealing spoilers, but some things that didn’t work for me:
-the absolutely flattest characters ever
-Cam’s POV felt useless
-time loop where literally nothing happens. I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over again
-Avery’s purpose in the novel felt forced
-explanation for the time loop was way too convenient
-elementary writing style
-juvenile plot but weirdly spicy
-soooo much telling not showing
-did not believe Noelle’s growth
It’s a fun premise, and I love the inclusion of culture and all the delicious food, but this is a pass for me.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc
I can’t get too specific without revealing spoilers, but some things that didn’t work for me:
-the absolutely flattest characters ever
-Cam’s POV felt useless
-time loop where literally nothing happens. I felt like I was reading the same chapter over and over again
-Avery’s purpose in the novel felt forced
-explanation for the time loop was way too convenient
-elementary writing style
-juvenile plot but weirdly spicy
-soooo much telling not showing
-did not believe Noelle’s growth
It’s a fun premise, and I love the inclusion of culture and all the delicious food, but this is a pass for me.
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc
Read
January 23, 2026THIS BOOK.
#1 I’ve never craved dumplings more in my life.
#2 I was so obsessed that I read it in less than 24 hours. IT WAS THAT GOOD.
#3 Noelle is so relatable, her journey was amazing, her friendship with Avery gives me all the warm feelings and CAM?! Unreal.
This is for people who read Things Not Seen as teens and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue as adults. I can’t express how much I genuinely loved and enjoyed this book, it gave me so much life. Highly, highly recommend for a good romance read.
#1 I’ve never craved dumplings more in my life.
#2 I was so obsessed that I read it in less than 24 hours. IT WAS THAT GOOD.
#3 Noelle is so relatable, her journey was amazing, her friendship with Avery gives me all the warm feelings and CAM?! Unreal.
This is for people who read Things Not Seen as teens and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue as adults. I can’t express how much I genuinely loved and enjoyed this book, it gave me so much life. Highly, highly recommend for a good romance read.
July 18, 2025
Was going great until 40% after that it just went downhill. Full RTC
This is my second Jackie Lau book. Since I enjoyed “Love, lies, and cherry pie”, I have high hopes for this one
This is my second Jackie Lau book. Since I enjoyed “Love, lies, and cherry pie”, I have high hopes for this one
Want to read
May 3, 2025Love the sound of this book's concept! Hoping it's good!! 🕔⌛🔁
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