Member Reviews
Many thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin Group: Dutton for the digital review copy!
What I Liked
I loved that this story is so much more than just a romance. Gemma has a lot to learn besides just how to fall in love again, and we see her growing and making choices to repair a variety of rifts that have left her life in a metaphorical and actual standstill.
The plot line with her father really stuck out to me, and I found myself invested in seeing what happened there. For me, this was really the emotional core of the story.
I also loved her influencer best friend, Lila, who makes for a pretty entertaining side character. I'll never say no to a woman whose social life centers around getting home to care for her dog, either, so Rex was another favorite for me.
What I Didn't Like
This book does something a little different with the time loop setup, since we're firmly in the mind of someone who hasn't been living it the entire time. Because of this, the story was missing a little something I expect from this type of story, since we didn't actually get to repeat the day with Gemma and Jack.
I also felt like the ease with which several characters accepted the time loop premise was a bit of a snag for me personally. I appreciate that we got to see a different perspective on this trope, but I do think it was a harder sell to see it through the eyes of a character who only vaugely remembers repeating some events of one day.
This also made it a little hard for me to buy into the romance, since so much of what happened to build this connection was "off screen" so to speak. I was more invested in other aspects of Gemma's story than I was in her love story with Jack, even though that was supposed to be the main attraction.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Déjà Glitch. It was a cute story with some good emotional heft, even if it did feel like it was missing a little something for me personally. I think fans of a good love story with a slightly off-kilter premise that isn't questioned will enjoy this one.
This is a romance about two people, Gemma and Jack, who are stuck in a time loop to repeat the same day over and over. Jack remembers every day of the time loop, but Gemma does not, until Jack decides to take a chance that Gemma needs to fall in love with him to break the loop and kisses her. Between psychics and physicists, messy family affairs, rock stars and diva-like Hollywood celebrities, Jack and Gemma experience an eventful day in the time loop where Jack tries to get Gemma to remember him and to convince her that love might be the trick to escaping their warped reality. Jack was very sweet about his feelings for Gemma, but also a bit stalker-y. But after experiencing the same day over and over for five months maybe I would have been a little desperate too. I also thought it was frustrating that Gemma's best friend would record her private(ish) conversation with Jack to have a viral video. I would have been so mad and it was definitely weird in my opinion.
Also, for those who prefer romance books without any smut, this one does not have any.
I’m not sure I have the words to fully articulate how much I loved Déjà Glitch by Holly James.
Normally I’m wary when it comes to time loops, but Gemma and Jack’s story was told in such a beautiful and moving way that I couldn’t put it down.
I was hooked almost instantly and already wish I could read this for the first time all over again.
I will definitely recommend Déjà Glitch to my friends and an excited to read other titles by Holly James.
“That even with everyone in here, he’s looking at you like you’re the only person in the room”
This was book was a total gem (hehe)! Such a fun, heart warming time loop story. Gemma and Jack collide at a coffee shop when deja vú hits Gemma. Jack who is aware of this loop tries to win Gemma over again and again until they can break the loop. Such a perfect rom com read! Release date: August 1st!
Thank you net galley and author Holly James for providing me with the e-ARC of this book!
The Deja Glitch came up with a fun way to add a little twist to the traditional time loop trope, and it really made it feel fresh and different for me. Jack and Gemma are stuck in a seemingly endless time loop. Jack knows and is aware, but Gemma has no idea of the loop or who Jack is. Rather than joining the story at the beginning of the time loop, we are brought in on day 147 of the time loop – where Jack is striving to get out of the time loop and get Gemma to remember him.
I really enjoyed that rather than reliving the day over and over with him, we were brought in during the midst of the ongoing loop. I really enjoyed Jack and Gemma together, and felt like the author did a wonderful job of layering in a fun magical realism type layer (with the time loop) with a sweet love story. I also appreciated that although the book was a light, fun, and fast read – it still touched on some heavier and meaningful topics as well. I honestly read this one in a day, I just wanted to know what would happen.
A perfect light fun summer read and definitely ones I’ll recommend for fans of time loops or that slight magical realism element in a love story. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early copy. My first by the author, but definitely not my last – all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and freely given.
I really loved this story! It was a sweet twist on the time loop trope with Jack already knowing Gemma & figuring out how she’s part of the key of getting out of the loop. Like with this trope, there’s a bit suspension of belief necessary, but I thought Jack’s persuasion & Gemma’s deja vu was realistic in getting her to believe him.
They have such a sweet romance as Gemma catches up to Jacks place in their relationship. He is so sweet & patient & does his best to not scare off Gemma while also making his thoughts and feelings clear. Gemma is a sweetheart! She deserves so much happiness & I’m love her love story with Jack!
Just a sweet, fun, quick read that I absolutely loved! Thank you for the ARC!!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for the Advanced Copy of The Deja Glitch by Holly James. It's definitely a second round purchase for most libraries
Things get weird for Gemma after she kisses a guy at her friend's birthday. When she wakes up the next day, people seem to be acting too familiar, as if she could predict even what they'll say. Then she meets Jack, who ends up telling her it's not a case of déjà vu, but that the day has been repeating itself for months now, and that their kiss the previous night may have made her finally notice it, even though her memories are very vague about it all. To make it even more overwhelming, he tells her them falling in love might be the key to get out of that loop.
I like Holly James's style for building a plot. It kept me interested to the end, and she had the funniest plot twists, even for a trope that's been used ad infinitum, the twists surprised me. It was also interesting that she picked the point of view not of the person who consciously got stuck in the endless day, but of the romantic interest, before she even knows who the other one is. Surprisingly, the blooming love seemed convincing on Gemma's part. It's probably because that day seemed endless with so much happening, but it worked, it's within hours that she falls for the weird guy who seems more like a stalker, but turns out to be a victim of a time loop, but it convinced me it's not instalove.
And yet, I wasn't a fan of the romance. Yes, I did buy the development even though it literally happens in the span of one day (in Gemma's perspective, but if Jack says she's the reason his days are repeating then it was also like that for him, he just didn't realize it). However, I didn't feel the thrill of a romance. It's like the book left out all the magic you want from a romance, all the falling in love. This is fine for other genres, but end up missing the very reason we got the book. And it didn't help that as much as we knew Jack was in a loop for months and so he's gotten desperate, he was very stalker-ish. I'm not so convinced his love for Gemma is real and not just something he got into his head. It's probably what we miss for getting the other person's POV, but I would have been even more freaked out with him than Gemma was. And then, probably upset there were events he could have stopped from happening but just sat and watched. Is he some god or parent to teach her a lesson? So yeah, Jack isn't the ideal partner and we missed the swoonworthy moments that would usually blind us from characters' flaws "because it's all worth it."
This is an entertaining story, from a fresh perspective of a beloved trope, but it's lacking in the romance department, and it doesn't make up for it in the rest, although it's not like I was expecting something genius to explain or stop the time loop, so it doesn't deduct points, but it doesn't compensate the romance ones either.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
This was a really cute fantasy romance, I’ve never read about a time loop before.
The book starts at Gemma’s friend’s birthday party where she meets jack but feels like she’s met him before. They end the night with a kiss and then we move on to the next day, or so you think. Gemma meets jack again, literally running into each other outside a coffee shop, where he breaks it to her that they are in a time loop. Jack says that this has been going on for 5 months and she has to fall in love with him to get reality back on schedule.
Gemma ends up running with him following time and again while he tries to convince her that it’s real and her doing everything to deny it. She ends up working thorough a lot of fear and baggage over the course of the day. It did get emotional at times throughout the book, especially when working through Gemma’s baggage and also at the resolution of the book. I did enjoy the second half of the book and flew through it fairly quickly.
In “The Déjà Glitch” Holly James takes the idea of “what if you got stuck in a groundhog situation” and turns it on its head. Instead of focusing on multiple days and seeing how much you can get away with James focuses on one singular day and Jack’s 147th attempt to break the loop. The book is told from the perspective of Gemma, the object of Jack’s affection, and through the story you see Gemma coming into the person she always hoped she could be but never thought she could. The day begins on the morning “as it has for 146 times” and throughout the day we see how Gemmas different decisions lead her to a different ending. James does a good job of riding the fine line between choice and fate and how they intersect. If you are looking for a cute beach read/girls trip read etc. look no further! This is the book for you! I laughed at several points during the book and was surprised by the twists that got thrown in. I would look at my percentage left and think “where else could this possibly go” and then James would surprise me!
Thanks to Holly James and Dutton Paperback for allowing me to read this book!
I devoured Holly James' "Nothing but the Truth" and was so intrigued by the first chapter of "The Deja Glitch" that I had to try to get an early copy. I was thrilled to see it on NetGalley and received a copy. I found Gemma so relatable with her personal struggles and her relationships. Jack had so much patience, but maybe that's something he learned over time. I bet he continued to self reflect and make himself better during this process.
I know the story is fiction, and I know the whole premise is fanciful, but I had such a hard time believing this all happened in one day. That's it. That's my only complaint.
I loved the ending and how things resolved for Gemma with the men in her life. I'm not usually a fan of books without some sexy times, but honestly I didn't miss it in either of Holly James' books. I feel like she's taking crazy movies (Jim Carrey in Liar Liar and Adam Sandler in 50 First Dates) and giving them a modern spin. I'm excited to continue to read the author's work!
What I loved about this book was that we get to see a time loop from the Point of View of someone NOT actually aware they are in a loop. Does Gemma realize she has met Jack before? How else can she kind of know the song he mentions, or he knows her favorite song and so much more. Although I think certain elements of the story could have been revealed sooner, it was a creative and fun read.
Time loops are really fun, this is the first book I've read like this and I really enjoyed it. The chemistry between the two characters was spot on, and this book was great!
Let me start by saying I WANTED to love this book. And in some parts, I did. But not enough for more than 3 stars.
Gemma meets a guy at her best friends birthday party. There’s something about him, she finds herself drawn to him. They kiss, she leaves,
She wakes up the next morning like any other day, but she has a feeling of deja vu, and can’t figure out why.
Until she runs into a stranger at a coffee shop. One look at him, and she knows that she’s seen him before. But she can’t remember where.
Until he tells her they HAVE met before, every day for the last five months. They’re stuck in a time loop and he thinks she’s the key to freeing them.
Crazy right? But maybe not.
Overall, this was cute. VERY predictable, even the small things. I had trouble getting interested and then about 4 or 5 chapters in, it started and continued to flow well.
Gemma is fun, Jack is a cliche lover boy, Lila is my favorite.
If you’re into cheesy romances, this is good. But honestly I probably wouldn’t read it again.
I absolutely adored this entire book.
Gemma is a fantastic protagonist, so easy to connect with and root for, and Jack is such a sweet lovable love interest that I was giddy for every single scene they had together. I loved them so much as a couple that I was desperate to figure out how it would all resolve, pretty much from page one. The premise is a simple one but just enough to give the book a unique twist (and done with such good pacing) that kept me furiously reading long after my bedtime to know what happened next.
The prose is well-written and enjoyable. I was legitimately grumpy every time real life made me put it down. It all led to a wonderful conclusion that was perfectly satisfying. I can't say enough good things about this book so if you're a fan of romance at all (even just a tiny bit) I absolutely recommend this book without reservation. I can't wait to read more from this author in the future.
Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.
When you meet a guy at a bar and it doesn't suck, you really have to start questioning the whole trajectory. Gemma meets Jack at her friend's birthday bash and it goes really well - the kiss at the end of the night is pretty sweet, but off she runs to take care of her dog. Fast forward to the next day and it's just like any other morning for Gemma - walks with the pup, coffee, then work. But her favorite shirt is ruined when a guy walks to into her at the coffee shop, He's familiar to her... but, no, nothing. But for Jack, he finally got the girl he's been chasing for days to spark recognition . . . for him it has been Groundhog's Day (the Bill Murray version, not the actual holiday). He keeps living the same day over and getting Gemma to fall for him seems to be the goal.
There's a lot of adventure all over Los Angeles, a burst of confidence for Gemma to unlock her potential, and just enough to want a happy ending for Gemma and Jack.
3.5 Stars
Holly James writes The Deja Glitch; it is my first book by this author. I am a huge fan of time loops, Groundhog Day-type storylines. I was so excited to jump right in to read this one.
Poor Jack has been trapped in the same Thursday every day for nearly five months! Imagine if you will being head over heels for a girl and listen to her come up with excuse after excuse every day as to why she isn’t interested. Ugh, that's soul-crushing.
Gemma, the daughter of a music mogul, is still nursing her wounds from a bad relationship—one where her ex-boyfriend used her as a stepping-off point to become a rockstar. Gemma, quite literally, bumps into Jack in a coffee shop. Jack tries to convince her that they are living the same day repeatedly, and she is his only key to escaping this crazy time loop. He’s crazy, right??! But if he is so crazy, why can she remember certain things that involve Jack? Could he be telling the truth?
You would think a story like this would be told from Jack’s perspective, but we don’t; we actually see it from Gemma’s. We only experience one day, not many months, with Jack. While I adored Jack, I didn’t care much for Gemma. I found her pretty annoying and immature. It took me a little while to appreciate her character, but she won me over by the end of the book. It was a cute rom-com read.
Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton, for this eARC of The Deja Glitch. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you ever seen 50 First Dates with Drew Barrymore? If you haven’t, just stay with me. You know that end seen when Drew wakes up on a boat and watches a movie that fills her in on her happy, wonderful, love-filled life because she can’t remember things? Remember how you cried brutally lethargic tears as she comes up top and her family and amazing love of her life is there, just waiting for her to rise? It’s the best. Sorry if I spoiled the ending for you but I’m trying to remind you of that joy because THIS book is that. That feeling of knowing what’s bound to happen but the character doesn’t know it?! It’s peak happy-dance feelings and this book serves it up in the best way!
I’m not always a big fan of insta-love, but I really think if done right- it just hits. Gemma, our love-reluctant heroine needs to fall in love with Jack in order to break a time loop they’re stuck in. The only problem is- she doesn’t know she’s in one. Jack must convince her that 1. he isn’t crazy, 2. the loop is real and 3. that they love each other. All in one day. So stinking good! The book is utterly binge-worthy. 4⭐️
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc!
In The Deja Glitch, Jack and Gemma have been stuck in a Groundhog Day-esque time loop for 5 months. To compound things, only Jack is aware of it and he has fallen head-over-heels for Gemma who forgets him every morning. This book revolves around his resolve to end the time loop by making her fall in love with him in 24 hours.
I've read similar tropes many times, but this one made me smile with its British rockstar and influencer BFF.
"It's you Gemma, You are the center of everything. My whole universe has shifted to revolve around you. I'm literally stuck in you and only you."
Have you ever wondered what it would be like if 50 First Dates and Meet Cute met and wrote a book? Well if you have, then you're in luck! Deja Glitch is how I imagine that would go!
It has time loops, family drama, hilarious banter, insta love, quirky best friends and all of the other ingredients you need for a wonderful romantic comedy.
I really enjoyed this book! I thought the characters were well developed and the plot was original while also calling back to classic rom com elements (the bump in at the coffee shop, the airport terminal, the declarations of love via an international rock star.. just to name a few!)
If you love rom coms you will love this one!
*Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review*