Once in a Timeline

by Iman Hariri-Kia

For fans of Ashley Poston and The Love of My Afterlife comes a clever and swoony novel about an aspiring New York lifestyle influencer who gets trapped in her own "day in the life" video, with only a mysterious stranger to help her break out.

Get ready with me… to break out of the algorithm

Laia Grace is the New York City lifestyle influencer… or at least, she's determined to be. After leaving her past behind to pursue her dreams, failure is not an option.

Every day, she films her aesthetic routine ― the perfect light, the perfect latte, the perfect life. Until one morning, her day starts to… glitch. Her neighbors flicker. Her best friend loops. And Laia realizes she's no longer the creator, but the content ― and she's trapped inside of her last "day in the life" video, forever playing on an endless, infinite loop.

That's when a brooding, unshaven, decidedly unfiltered man (literally) crashes into frame. Noah's been stuck in Laia's timeline, too, and he's desperate to get them both out. Together, Laia and Noah fight to outsmart the algorithm that's captured them, uncovering secrets and confronting biases along the way.

As they grow closer, the line between performance and personhood blurs, and Laia realizes she might have to face the one thing she's been avoiding all this time: herself.

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Time Travel, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, Fiction

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Iman Hariri-Kia is a writer born and based in New York City. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and an award-winning journalist, she covers sex, relationships, identity, and adolescence. Her work has appeared in Vogue, New York Magazine’s The Cut, Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, and more. She is the bestselling author of A Hundred Other Girls and The Most Famous Girl in the World. Her latest novel, Female Fantasy, was named a best book of the year by Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, and more.

Reviews

[Lala BooksandLala]

GIVE IT TO ME

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laia Grace is an influencer and suddenly realizes that she is stuck in her perfect day. She navigates the day repeatedly until she meets Noah and things start to change. Is her day actually perfect though?

I’m usually not a fan of Groundhog Day type books. I think Iman Hariri-Kia did a great job at creating a lighthearted environment for romance. There were a few twists along the way too. Laia Grace’s influencer posts were way over the top and very cringey.

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a treat to get to read one of my most anticipated books months before it is published!
As I already had preordered this book, I knew I would really like this book. And while I have some thoughts, I really did enjoy this book!

Question though: why does the FMC have long luscious hair on the cover when she is described to have a stick-straight bob? (The difference for the MMC is explained.)

Love a good time travel / time loop story and this one started off especially mysterious and slightly chilling. Also, the repetition of the various “chapter one” captions was a cute Easter egg!
Things took a while – perhaps too long – to take off, but when the story finally landed on Big Topics such as identity, moving on, family obligations, cultural background, evolving, and more, the FMC really started to shine.

Unfortunately, the story did not really land for me and things were too surface-level. Yes, slightly ironic for me to write this in relation to this book, but I just wished things were more solid.

The various pop culture nods were too cute (stick-and-peel tiles DIY mention and the reference to adding too much vignette to your photos had me howling), but shame on her for not knowing anything about Groundhog Day!
The references to the author’s other books were adorable.

I was neutral about the FMC and MMC and their relationship, though I did like what the universe had in store for them.
I was rooting more for Laia’s (also lurved @Laiability as a screen name!) relationship with her family and with her girlfriends.

All in all, good premise, fab magical realism, but left me wanting more.
A solid 3.5 stars rounded down.

Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for letting me read this so early!
I received an ARC of this book and these are my own opinions.


PRE-PUBLICATION THOUGHTS:

An influencer getting trapped in her own day in the life video and a brooding man helping her to get out?
SIGN ME UP, I love magical realism!!

[ahmeeka · Rating 2 out of 5]

RTC

[BookishKB]

⏳📱 Once in a Timeline 📱⏳

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

✨ What to Expect
• Time Loop Romance
• Magical Realism
• Opposites Attract
• Forced Proximity
• Social Media
• Self Discovery
_ _ __

📅 Pub Date: October 13, 2026
Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Net Galley and the publisher for this early opportunity to read this book!

I really enjoyed this book! I don’t think I’ve ever read a Groundhog Day-style story centered around an influencer before, so the premise immediately hooked me. I’m also a huge fan of magical realism, so as soon as I heard about this release, I knew I had to pick it up.

One of my favorite parts was how the story kept returning to Chapter One in the beginning. It was such a fun and creative way to make the reader feel stuck in the same loop as the main character, and I thought it worked really well.

The pacing was definitely slow at first, and it took a while for the story to really get going. Once it did, though, it tackled some great themes like identity, family expectations, personal growth, learning to move forward, and figuring out who you are beyond what everyone else expects of you.

My biggest issue was that I wanted more. The story introduced so many interesting ideas, but I felt like it only skimmed the surface of them. I kept waiting for those emotional moments and themes to be explored more deeply, and I think that extra depth would’ve made the story even more impactful.

Overall, this was such a unique premise with magical realism—two things I absolutely love. While I enjoyed the journey, I walked away wishing the book had dug a little deeper into its characters and themes. Even so, it’s an entertaining and thought-provoking read that I’m glad I picked up.

[Tyler McCall · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this book is so fucking sharp and FUNNY!!!!!!! And it needs to be said!!!!

Truly such a spot-on take on influencer culture in a way that is never cruel or demeaning. Iman has a beautiful way of being honest while always remaining empathetic, and her characters are always so fully realized because of it. Laia you will always be famous to ME!!!!!!!!!!

And please don’t get me started on Noah, I have a husband!!!! 😤

[Rebecca Weintraub · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is extremely well written and a fascinating thought experiment; if you are interested in a really interesting story about the ills of modern social media through fiction, then this is it. I, however, didn't love the characters or feel like the development of the story went at a pace that was right for my reading style. That doesn't stop it from being a really interesting read! I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could give halves! Thanks for the early read, Cosmo and NetGalley!

[Shefali · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I previously read Hariri-Kia’s first novel and wasn’t the biggest fan. This, however, was a fun read! I loved the discussion of authenticity in online spaces and how much or little audiences want of the real you. The character development in Laia was so clear from start to finish, and we got a cute romance out of it too! I appreciate NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for allowing me to read this ARC!

[clarah rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay but how is iman changing my life one book at a time???

[Lemonworld]

An influencer trapped inside her own glitching "day in the life" video, with only a brooding stranger who somehow remembers everything. Hariri-Kia returns to her favorite theme: performance vs. authentic self, this time with a Groundhog Day structural gimmick layered on top.

What I write on my Bingo card: sizzling banter, spontaneous erections, a viral video that conveniently solves everything, an absurdly named villain (probably an algorithm, possibly a tech bro), and at least one fanfiction reference smuggled in for the people who'll actually get it.

Looking forward to finding out which of these actually show up. And how many at once.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to both NetGalley & Cosmo Reads for the opportunity to read an advanced eCopy of Once in a Timeline!

Once in a Timeline was one of those stories that had me hugged my kindle to my chest when I was done. Too often in the world of #BookTok and Bookfluencers do we feel pressured to rush onto the next story, the next viral read, but with Once in a Timeline, I genuinely wanted to sit with it when I was done. Iman Hariri-Kia has such a beautiful way of pouring love into her writing - the entire book read as a love letter to women and the pressures that society puts on us to act, look, and just be a certain way.

The main character, Laia Grace, is an influencer on an app called "BeYou" where she posts "Day in the Life" videos that are seemingly perfect. She wakes up early, has a detailed skin regimen, goes to pilates, and spends time with her fellow influencer bestie trying out the latest viral smoothie before going to an exclusive promotional event. Life is good, so it seems to her followers. But as the story continues, the audience is able to get a peek behind the mask that Laia Grace presents and just how mentally damaging presenting a false version of yourself can be.

Sucked into a Groundhog Day-esque time loop, Laia Grace finds herself living the same day over and over again, struggling to remember key details about her own life outside of her "Day in the Life". When a mysterious, rugged man finally brings the loop to her attention and reveals that he too has been stuck in limbo, she is faced with the challenge of trying to break them both out. As the unlikely pair starts to work together to get out, they find that they are more alike than they had initially thought.

What I loved most about this story was that, while the time-loop premise is fun and engaging, it never overshadows the emotional core of the novel. Instead, it becomes the perfect vehicle for Laia Grace to confront the person she's become versus the person she truly is. Watching her slowly strip away the curated version of herself and rediscover genuine connections made for an incredibly rewarding character arc.

Iman Hariri-Kia also deserves so much credit for how thoughtfully she explores influencer culture. It would have been easy to paint social media as entirely superficial, but instead she presents a much more nuanced perspective. The pressure to constantly perform, to monetize your personality, and to measure your worth through engagement feels painfully relevant. It's a story about algorithms and aesthetics on the surface, but underneath it's about identity, self-worth, friendship, and learning that perfection is often the very thing keeping us from truly living.

The romance is a slow burn in the best way. Rather than relying on instant chemistry, it develops through shared vulnerability, quiet conversations, and two people learning to be honest with themselves before they can truly be honest with each other. I found myself rooting for them not because they were destined to be together, but because they challenged one another to grow.

Overall, Once in a Timeline is a thoughtful, heartfelt contemporary with a clever speculative twist that asks what happens when you're forced to stop performing for everyone else and finally face yourself. It's a story that lingers long after the final page, and one I know I'll be thinking about for quite some time.

[jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ a unique, speculative romance with a clever, self-aware edge.

once in a timeline follows lifestyle influencer laia grace shirzan, who unknowingly gets stuck in her own “day in the life” video, forced to relive her carefully curated “perfect” day over and over again until a mysterious stranger, noah davis, appears and tries to help her escape the algorithm keeping her trapped.

this was such an interesting and original plot! i quite literally never knew what was going to happen next (there were so many surprising twists!), which was so refreshing and kept me engaged. i loved the use of third person — i truly don’t think this story would have landed the same without it. i really appreciated the character growth and the way the relationships outside of the romance evolved (e.g., laia & her parents, as well as her friendship w/ harlow). the thoughtful exploration and commentary on influencer culture, beauty standards, & the immense pressure to conform to western ideals (particularly in pursuit of acceptance) were a major highlight for me bc they added a layer of depth that made the story even more relevant, resonant, & impactful.

the beginning felt a bit slow to me bc of the repetition (this story does have a time loop tho, which is admittedly not my fav.. so that could definitely be why). but once everything started moving, i didn’t want to put it down (the second half was much stronger than the first imo).

the romance was delightful and really grounded the story when it needed to, but the chemistry felt a liiiiitle lacking for me at first. their connection initially felt a bit rushed, which kind of threw me?? i wanted (no, needed !!) more time to watch them slowly and naturally grow closer on the page. once they had time to develop, tho, i thought they were genuinely really sweet together and their dynamic felt convincing. however, i still wasn’t completely emotionally invested in them (which i personally need in a romance), you know??

overall, once in a timeline is a wildly imaginative speculative romance bursting with clever charm, surreal magic, thought-provoking ideas, & an endearing love story!

thank you so much to netgalley and cosmo reads for providing me with this arc!

[Selene Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laia Grace is an IT girl. An influencer who seemingly has her life together. Gets to go to all the cool brand events. Her life looks absolutely perfect and the girl feels #blessed. Having no idea that she is seemingly stuck in a groundhog day situation, her timeline is glitching. She's reliving her "Day in the Life" vlog over and over again. That is until tiny little details seem to fall apart and she's approached by a gruff, lumberjack-sexual stranger, Noah, who has noticed that Laia and him have both been reliving the same day over and over again.

Laia thinks he is, of course, off his rocker. Maybe someone who wants to kill her. But she can't ignore the small nuisances that have been plaguing her. He eventually convinces her and they work together to see if they can break out of the algorithm. Both of their lives depend on it. Literally.

Gosh. The way Iman Hariri-Kia tackles self-esteem, confidence and belonging in this book tore me to shreds in the best way possible. And the content creator culture and plot was such a great metaphor and scene for this.

Laia is an influencer, yes, but she is also someone who doesn't know where she belongs. Someone who craves home, but hides her Middle Eastern heritage because of how she was treated when she was younger. She puts on a mask, literally, with dyed hair and colored contacts to morph herself into someone she thinks the algorithm will like, when she's not even sure she likes herself.

In comes Noah and he's immediately like a wrecking ball, putting instant cracks in her facade. Helping her to see who she is again and that version of her is all she needs and all he could ever want and dreamed of.

On the surface, you'd probably think this was cute little rom com with a little sci-fi/fantasy twist, but it so much more. It's heartfelt, relatable and a lesson to us who live in the digital age that authenticity at its core is what connects us all. Likes be damned.

Thanks to CosmoReads and Iman Hariri-Kia for this ARC. This has easily become one of my favorites of 2026. Mark your calendars for Oct 13, y'all. You won't want to miss this one.

[Jordyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an ARC of this book!

My girl Iman does it again!! I say my girl because I have a parasocial friendship with Iman through her Cherry Picked weekly newsletter that makes me feel like we are besties. This sounds creepy writing it out but, the Cherry Pickers get it. She became my parasocial bestie after I read Female Fantasy. I loved the way Iman wrote that story as a love letter to books & romance, and continues to write about diverse characters with depth. Still wishing for a full ACOSAS book. I was SO excited to read Once in a Timeline and it did not disappoint!!

Maybe 1/4 through I wasn’t sure if I was going to fall for Laia and Noah, will being trapped in an algorithm be that exciting? I was WRONG. Laia Grace won me over so hard and Noah is my current fav book boyfriend. I think their mutual damage and the way they came together because of it (and in spite of it) is what really roped me in. The way they were able to help each other through dealing with their deepest fears, traumas, and doubts about themselves, ugh it was delightful.

I’ve also been recently obsessed with the behind the scenes of influencers and the fact that social media. This book delves into exactly that, how social media is just the highlight reel and behind the scenes, a lot of people are just unhappy and looking for validation. It’s a great reminder for everyone to not let scrolling and comparing win.

Laia’s journey shows what it’s like to constantly try to fit into a world that is surface level & all about appearances, adjusting her looks to fit the mold and appease the algorithm. Watching her find herself throughout this book was relatable, we’re all waiting for that moment when we can just finally let go of what others think. Laia proves that changing yourself or erasing your heritage to fit societal norms can end up feeling so lonely, and that loving yourself is what will truly set you free.

Counting down until Iman’s book 5 now. In the meantime I can’t wait to see what @laiability does next on Instagram!🤣

[Sarah Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Groundhog Day plots are very hard to get right. There’s the need to create a “reason” for the loop. You have to create a compelling “day”. You need to find a way to care about the person stuck in the loop and at least a few of the other characters. And sometimes you need a loop buddy. Some of these elements work better than others in this book.

The main character, Laia Grace, is living her perfect day over and over. She doesn’t realize it at first, which adds to some of the humor. Slowly she catches on that all is not as perfect as it seems. Then fellow looper Noah shows up to say he thinks they’re both stick in Laia Grace’s day thanks to the algorithm of the BeYou social media app where influencers ply their trade. Efforts to break the loop ensue as they attempt to appeal to the algorithm. Reasons for what may or may not have caused the loop are explored to inform the method for breaking out. Noah and Laia Grace have some secrets to share and hard truths to own up to. And they fall for each other in the process.

Hariri-Kia has some great bits, wry asides, and sharp puns that keep things interesting. It does take a little while to catch on and get into the flow of the plot. And it drags at times. But the writing is mostly well done and the characters fully formed. The reason for the loop stays pretty confusing, with no strong connection for why or how an algorithm would be in charge of a time loop. But it works okay because other parts of the story are stronger.

The representation of an Iranian American main character adds depth and uniqueness to a well-known story trope. Hariri-Kia clearly knows the influencer/social media landscape well enough to spoof it (probably in more ways than I even realize). There are a few twists in the latter third that were somewhat surprising, but also often confusing. There is a little bit of spice, which does play a pivotal part in the Laia Grace’s process of accepting herself. Overall a fun read!

Thank you to Sourcebooks for an advanced copy.

[KJ | kjbooksit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was incredible because Iman Hariri-Kia sends you on a journey through so many emotions and genres; you start off in this surreal, almost suspenseful story where things seem out of sorts and you don't really know what's real and what's not, and then you travel through a story that is surprising, silly, and swoony before arriving at a conclusion that is maybe not what you expected.

Something that comes through so clearly in the author's writing is how much she loves women and loves love, whether it's love for your friends, your family, your culture, your partner, or yourself. Laia doesn't seem redeemable at all when you first meet her (if you even you're not sure she's being serious) and before you know it you're rooting for her to find happiness and understanding completely where she's coming from. I think anyone can relate to this story about how hard it is to navigate the expectations of your life, whether it's from your family or society in general, and how important it is to be loved (by others, but most importantly by yourself).

If you go into this book expecting a traditional romance, or a traditional sci-fi story, or a traditional anything, I don't think you'll find what you're looking for. If you go into this book and suspend your disbelief, allowing the story to take you on the winding path through all the twists and turns of this genre-bending tail, I think you'll find you're as charmed by and invested in Laia and Noah as I was. If you've ever felt othered, felt that you need to change to be accepted, thought that 'all romance stories are the same,' or thought 'a mashup of Black Mirror and a Hallmark movie would be cool' then this story is for you. I am so thrilled I got to read this highly anticipated read early, and I hope you love it as much as I did!

Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the ARC access!

[Clueless · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔳 Taking a chance on a new author for me. And even if by the end of the book this story is not for me, she gained a fan, in the little bits here and there that make me smile right from the start. Like the whale product mentioned in the first page. :D

🔳 50% Usually I don't like to read books for my entertainment that have "messages" in them, like those children's book where they teach kids to share through a fun story. Get me? I don't need that in my books. I feel like this book might have it. But I don't care. I like the story and where it is going so much that yes, give me anything you want dear Ms. Hariri-Kia.

🔳 I am not Persian but growing up in the East Mediterranean Sea area is so interesting to look at how different cultures are but have so many similarities. I feel what the heroine has experienced to my bones.

🔳 The End. I loved it. It made me smile, it made me cry.

🔳 Thank you netGalley and Samantha Brentmoor for the recommendation.

❗️ Disclaimer : My rants, ramblings, and incoherent thoughts below might be considered spoilers by some. Also, often, I do not read trigger warnings or blurbs.

🔳 53% I was happily reading my book, thinking about how wonderful it would be to have limited time to do the things I want. Like explore a country at a leisure pace.. and then the plot twist hits!!! At midnight. While I was about to close the book and turn on my side to sleep! Not anymore.

🔳 The way her day is described at the beginning is exactly what I try to avoid on social media for how unreal it usually seems. It is one of those books that I will give to my daughter if she decides to read romance. It gives you food for thought without being overly heavy.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Once in a Timeline, Laia is unknowingly trapped in an alternate timeline where she's in a Groundhog Day situation when suddenly, a mysterious stranger breaks through in an attempt to save her, disrupting her daily routine. As an influencer/content creator, Laia finds herself putting on a mask/face for her followers, but Noah challenges her to live more authentically. With each ground-breaking (literally) realization, she becomes closer to reclaiming her identity and to getting back to her reality.

In a world where she has been constantly judged by her family, other content creators, and followers about her looks, culture, and self, Laia has acclimated her physical appearance and limits how much of herself she shows to other people. In the beginning, we see how much Laia has gone through to erase her real identity and become palatable to others, but we also come to see how much feeling she has and how minimizing her identity has been a way for her to cope with an unaccepting world. Noah becomes one of the only people she can trust and show her true self to. He sees below the superficial and helps her start living life for herself rather than for other people. By the end of the book, Laia comes to love and accept herself and isn't afraid to show it.

This book has a surprising amount of depth. I didn't think I would relate to an influencer, but I was wrong. Her feelings of insecurities and her journey of self-discovery and self-love can be relatable to all.

Thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Cristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa, I’ve never read anything like this before.

Social media influencer, Laia Grace documents her daily life online for the world to see. All is perfect and so it seems until slowly, she starts noticing odd things happening, glitches, things out of the ordinary. And then this guy named Noah shows up. Noah makes her realize that her days are not as perfect as it seems. You see, Laia is stuck on loop, this perfect day of her just continues over and over and over. So they now have to work together to figure out how to get themselves out of this loop.

I also have never read anything like this, I’ll admit when I first read the blurb on it, I just thought to myself, hmmm, I’m not sure if I’m going to like it. Probably because I’m not a social media influencer and did not think I’d relate to the FMC. But as I continued to read, I realized that it wasn’t so much I had to relate to the FMC, it was the general message that the author was sharing that pretty much relates anyone.

This book was very well written and flowed nicely. I actually read it all in one sitting. The story was not too slow, not too fast, just the perfect pace to keep my attention.

Also, I’m appreciative of the author, having written the FMC as a person of middle eastern decent. I myself am a person of color, and love to learn about different cultures, it’s like a breath of fresh air.

Thank you to Iman Hariri-Kia, Cosmo Reads, and Netgalley for a copy of this Advance Reader Copy. These words are entirely my own.

[Jodi - JodiReadsnListens · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Laia, Laia” pants on fire if you don’t love this book! Once in a Timeline by Iman Hariri-Kia was a swoony and emotional contemporary romance with the perfect touch of magical realism and time travel. I couldn’t get enough of Laia and Noah’s slow-burning fated chemistry that definitely found a special place in my heart. Laia’s upbeat, determination to discover what she truly desired and needed in her life was admirable and inspiring. Plus, her mysterious connection to Noah became my obsession and I couldn’t stop reading till I found out all the heart-stopping answers. Noah’s drive and dedication to helping Laia was downright charming and irresistible that I found myself wishing and yearning for these two to finally solve the algorithm and find true happiness together.

Overall, I LOVED this book. If you are a fan of a contemporary romance with a hardworking influencer, a hot broody hero looking for answers of his own, looping timelines, a day in the life, taking chances, slow burn steam, solving the algorithm, intimate conversations, love declarations, a jaw dropping climax, and a HEA that will heal your soul, then you will love Laia and Noah’s story. I always look forward to more from Iman Hariri-Kia.

[Nikki Artigas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crying on an airplane? Check. Once in a Timeline is a cute, quirky, and surprisingly deep read that completely caught me off guard!

​The story follows Laia, an "influencer" who finds herself trapped in a literal Groundhog Day nightmare, forced to endlessly relive the "perfect day" from her last social media post. Enter Noah, who helps her realize she isn’t just stuck in a time loop—she’s trapped in the algorithm, and he’s stuck right there with her.

​The absolute insanity of the scenarios they play out to break the cycle is hilarious, yet it really shines an eye-opening spotlight on the lengths people will go to for views and likes. Beneath all the chaos, the story serves as a beautiful nod to confronting our true selves and stripping away the curated personas we build just for online engagement.

​I was completely hooked on Laia and Noah’s dynamic, from their chaotic "not-so-meet-cute" to the way their banter evolved into something genuinely sweet. But fair warning: the final act gave me actual heart palpitations! I did not see that trajectory coming, and yes, it genuinely made me emotional mid-flight. It was absolutely worth the tears.

​Huge thank you to Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this eARC.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through NetGalley.

This was such a fun read. It definitely captured how some people that are on social media put on a show that they have a perfect life when in reality they are depressed or miserable. It also showed how some people are completely addicted to social media. I truly did not like the character, Laia, at the beginning of the book because she seemed like the kind of person that I would not want to be associated with or would scroll past on social media because she seemed so fake, rambled on and on about herself, acted like she was god's gift, and seemed to only want things if they were luxurious. I almost stopped reading because of this, but I am glad that I continued the book. Seeing how the day changed each time it started over was interesting. The relationship between Noah and Laia was interesting with all of their differences. Harlow showed what being a true friend is also. This book has some really steamy, romantic, funny, and sad moments. Another message that I feel like the book was trying to give was being yourself and being proud of your culture instead of trying to be like everyone else. The ending was unexpected and made me cry a little.

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at 31%. The premise had promise. I was intrigued when I figured out what was going on in the beginning, and thought it was a unique way to go about this Groundhog Day type of story. Sadly, this just wasn’t for me.

I understand the FMC is in a time loop and reliving days over and over, but there are ways to do that without being so repetitive - I’ve read other books that have been successful doing this. It was just so repetitive with minuscule changes, that I unconsciously started skimming the pages.

The FMC is kind of a robot. And - again - I understand this is part of the plot and I suspect there to be a lot of growth throughout the novel. But 30% in and there just wasn’t enough growth by that point to keep me interested. Her dialogue and thoughts constantly rambled over things that just didn’t add to the story at all.

This definitely had potential but I just didn’t like the execution. And if I’m over a quarter of the way through the book and just don’t care at all about the character I’m reading about… well that’s an easy way for me to DNF, unfortunately.

Thank you the Cosmo Reads and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

[kksbookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! First of all I want to say a huge thank you to NetGalley and Iman Hariri-Kia for this ARC copy! I read Female Fantasy by her last year and loved it so much when I heard this book was coming out I knew I was going to love it and wanted to get my hands on it as soon as possible!! Also can’t wait to get my trophy copy for my shelf!! I devoured this book the concept was super cool where an influencer gets stuck in her perfect day in the life video and needs to figure out a way to get out. She meets Noah who is the biggest green flag and so kind and patient with our FMC Laia. I did find Laia a bit unlikable at the beginning (which I think might’ve been the point a bit lol) but her progression throughout the book is amazing and the growth is super believable as it doesn’t happen overnight. The twist at the end really got me and I loved the progression of the book, the pacing was perfect and the ending was honestly perfect too. I was wondering how Laia and Noah would get out of the time loop and what the explanation would be and it was really well done. This one comes out Oct 13, 2026 and you need to go pre order it now it was so so good!!!!

[KatheaLoves2ReadwithLuca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Iman Haririri-Kia, and NetGalley for an ARC of Once Timeline. This was another new to me author read, and I'm giving it 3 stars based on I'm glad I read the book, but I don't think it is one I'll be thinking of long term. I struggled to stay with the story, and pushed to finish the read. I typically would love a story line with a "reoccurring day" theme, but this one left me sometimes confused, and left wanting more details at times.

The story follows Laia, an aspiring NYC influencer who finds herself stuck in a reoccurring “day in the life” loop. It takes on perfectionism and how being authentic is lost in the race toward that perfect day in life. Noah enters on one of the loop days and only then does her days begin to change. They must choose between a perfect version, or really letting someone get to know the true you.

I do like a “Ground Hog Day” type of story line, and this one had great potential to be something extra special with a bit more detail and cleaning up.

Tropes:
Time Loop
Magical Realism
Opposites Attract
Forced Proximity
Social Influencer
Self growth

[Harlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Laia, an NYC influencer who finds herself stuck in the actual algorithm with a mysterious stranger and is forced to live out her perfect “day in the life” over and over again, in an infinite, endless time loop. To break free, they’ll have to interrogate the blurring line between persona and performance, confronting the one glitch she can’t seem to edit out: herself.

I adored this story! I have never come across a Groundhogs Day book before and thought it was such an interesting idea. I loved the magic realism and thought being in this alternate ‘algorithm’ was really FUN. For a romance, the story was quite twisty as well. I never knew what was going to happen next!

I liked the FMC/MMC dynamic and could feel their chemistry. I felt like I could believe in their love and was rooting for them the whole time. I thought Noah was so sweet and I connected to him the most.

✨ What to Expect✨
• Time Loop Romance
• Magical Realism
• Forced Proximity
• Self Discovery


Thank you to Cosmo Reads, NetGalley and Iman Hariri-Kia for letting me read this book early! All opinions are my own <3

[Tiffany Segal · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC for Net Galley and Cosmo Reads

Once in a Timeline was quite a trip. I would say this one was a 4.5-star for me... rounding up. I am not typically one for books with a sci-fi twist, but Iman did a great job of bringing it all together.

This one took me a bit longer to get into. To be honest, I had a very difficult time finding Laia likeable in the first 30% of the book. The introduction of Noah to the story kept me going... I’m not sure that I would have without him. I am so glad I did.

There is a moment in the book where a very significant truth/twist is revealed, and I was hooked from that point on. I couldn’t want to see how Laia's story evolved. As it unfolded, I couldn't help but start to adore her. Finally seeing her let her walls down and be her authentic self was so satisfying as the reader.

THE ENDING - it was worth every moment I spent despising Laia in the beginning. The relationships with friends and family and her connection to Noah - LOVED. Such a satisfying finish to the story. I feel like the audio on this one is going to be great.

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?] · Rating 4 out of 5]

In her perfect day in the life, nothing mattered but them. Here, they could be happy together. Maybe even forever. So... Why leave?

Laia has a habit of having a routine. A routine that flows into a perfect day in her life, captured on a vlog for all her followers to see.
The day is so perfect, she would love to live everyday like that.
Lucky for her, that’s exactly what’s happening.
She’s living one day of her life - the on in the video - on repeat, until she asks questions, weird things start happening and she meets a stranger that tells her she’s stuck in a loop.
With him.

Oh, that was so much fun.
While the plot itself was interesting and everything was put together nicely, I thought the writing was a bit slow sometimes.

All in all, it was a great book.

There are some things I absolutely love in books - reincarnation, dating shows, second chance at life etc.
Time loops is one of them.
Not only do I love reading about them in books, I also love seeing them in movies (like Happy Deathday).

[Reda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Groundhog Day, but you're stuck in your last Instagram reel. That is the premise of Once Upon a Timeline. Laia is a would-be influencer who creates perfect content about her perfect life. But then one day, she get stuck in a "Perfect Day" reel. She doesn't realize she's living the same day over and over until a handsome stranger infiltrates it, and things start going sideways. Why is he here? How do they get out? And does Laia even want to, when it seems like her real life might be far less than perfect.

This was a really cute, funny story built on a premise everyone can relate to, but it's also really sneaky. Because Hariri-Kia uses the light pretext to deeply explore grief, loss of identity, and how the internet profoundly impacts people, whether for good or ill. Complex family dynamics are tossed in for good measure.

This was my first book to read from Hariri-Kia, but it won't be my last.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Cosmo Reads for an ARC in exchange for my honest assessment of this work.