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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books and the author for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I think this is more of a 3.5 than a 3, but I can't seem to do that on here. I love when contemporary romance novels incorporate magical realism or magical elements and this novel is a solid attempt at the genre. Noelle is a workaholic mechanical engineer and she begins to re-live the same day, June 20th, over and over again after she eats magical dumplings at a night market (no spoiler here - it's there in the description!).

Such plots have to walk the fine line between being repetitive to demonstrate the tedious nature of living the same day again and again, while also infusing something new to demonstrate character growth or development. This one does have moments that can be a bit repetitive without reason, but overall, I think it managed to stay on track, keep my attention and allow for Noelle's character growth (with a nice side of romance!). The relationship was well-developed despite the tricky time loop, and the character growth for Noelle was beautifully executed. I especially loved the exploration of Noelle's relationship with friendships and her family (specifically, her sister). The book is also set in Toronto, my home, so it was nice to read about places and areas that I recognize.

The only critique I have about the novel which prevents it from being a four or five star read is that there isn't much of a third act. It's time loop and post-time loop with the post-time loop focusing mostly on the romance - that's it. I feel like we could have spent some more time with Cam and how he views the situation, or seeing how she deals with a job that she is frustrated with. Otherwise, I think this book has enough unique elements that make it stand out among the other time loop stories.

You know the movie Freaky Friday? Well, imagine it's always Friday. Not in a fun, long-weekend kind of way,no. In Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lou, it’s a full-on, anxiety-inducing, never-ending Friday. And honestly? After a few chapters, I was kind of rooting for Monday to show up just to break the cycle.
The premise is super catchy: Noelle Tom, an overworked tech girl, eats a mysterious dumpling at a night market from a cryptic old lady and suddenly finds herself reliving the same exact Friday over and over again. Same alarm, same viral squirrel video. At first, it’s quirky and fun, original. But after a while, one gets bored easily.There’s a romantic subplot with Cam, a charming stranger who seems to pop up in different versions of her day, and the promise of figuring out what the loop is trying to teach her. There are definitely sweet moments, and the message about stepping away from work and learning to live a little is a good one. But here’s the thing: just like the time loop, the story itself gets a bit repetitive. The all concept is clever, the execution didn’t quite hold me the whole way through. It starts strong, with a fresh voice and a fun setup, but somewhere around the halfway point, I found myself losing interest.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Atria Books for this arch, in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love a good time loop novel, and I jumped on the chance to read Jackie Lau's version because I enjoy her writing style so much. Noelle is a workaholic and she begins to re-live the same day, June 20th, over and over again after she ate magical dumplings. Yes, you read that right—magical dumplings! LOL!

I know that time loop novels can be repetitive, and this one does have moments that can be a bit repetitive, but overall, I think it managed to stay on track and keep my attention. I was so invested in Noelle and Cam's romance and I was so curious to find out how or why he was connected her and whether this connection would help her break the time loop. Also, can I just say that I would also be binge reading books and binge watching shows if I were stuck in a time loop LOL.

One of the things I love the most about Jackie Lau's style is her ability to pick the perfect timing to switch POVs. I love the way she did it in Love, Lies, and Cherry Pie, and she also does it here in a way that fits the time travel theme perfectly. Additionally, her version of a time loop has a unique plot twist that I did not see coming! Actually, make that two or three plot twists, depending on how good you might be at noticing foreshadowing. The relationship was well-developed despite the tricky time loop, and the character growth for Noelle was beautifully executed.

This book is set in Toronto, and it's always fun to read about various places that I've actually been to myself. Jackie Lau has a way of making her books feel like home, even though I don't technically consider Toronto (or Canada) my home. I only have minor complaints; like, for example, I feel like Noelle figured out that she was stuck in a time loop a bit too quickly. I also feel like we could have spent some more time with Cam at the end after he learns the truth. But otherwise, this was a solid contemporary romance with a supernatural twist. I highly recommend it even if you don't particularly enjoy the topic of time traveling. I think this book has enough unique elements that make it stand out among the other time loop stories.

Time Loops and Meet Cutes was a sweet story. I was definitely hungry the whole time I was reading; food is a central theme throughout the novel. I want halo halo and dumplings so badly now.

I've read other of Jackie Lau's books and would say this book is on par with how I felt about them--light-hearted and easy. Was it my favorite book I've read this year? No, but I did enjoy it regardless.

Thank you for the arc!

This book started off super fun, but quickly got repetitive…. Which I guess was the point? But for the reader it just wasn’t fun anymore.

With the reintroduction I just had a hard time getting fully immersed in the story. All in all, I was never really “hooked” into the story and it kinda fell flat for me.

It was a fun quick read, but the ending was kinda confusing and overall the book left much to be desired.

Loved the Ground Hog Day vibes with the time loop that Noelle and Cam were stuck in, and just thought this was so stinking cute!

This book stole my heart in the best way. Time Loops and Meet Cutes is a fresh, emotional take on the time loop trope, blending friendship, romance, and self-discovery into a story that’s both fun and deeply affecting.

The friendship between Noelle and Avery is beautifully written — loyal, supportive, and full of heart. Their connection anchors the story as they navigate the strange reality of reliving the same day. The emotional weight builds with each repetition, especially as they start to feel the impact of being stuck while the world outside keeps moving.

And then there’s Cam.

The love story between Noelle and Cam is sweet, slow-burn, and a little bit heartbreaking. Watching Noelle fall for someone who forgets her every day is such a clever, gut-punch setup. It makes every small moment between them feel so precious. You root for them even as the odds stack higher, and there’s something incredibly romantic about falling in love over and over again — even if only one person remembers.

Noelle’s growth really stands out. She starts as someone who avoids risks, but the loop pushes her to actually live, not just go through the motions. And Avery has her own quiet reckoning with a relationship that maybe wasn’t as perfect as it seemed.

By the time the loop ends, you're left wondering — what would you change if every day was the same? Are you truly happy, or just comfortable?

Heartfelt, funny, and surprisingly deep, this one really sticks with you.
"Memory can be both a blessing and a curse" — and this story proves it.

A fun Toronto-based rom-com where the protagonist seems destined to relive the same day over and over while her love interest forgets her every time the day resets. I always enjoy Jackie Lau's books and this one was no exception.

🥟 Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau 🥟

MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25

Noelle’s life is quite mundane and routine. She works late everyday, keeps her head down, and has sworn off dating. On June 20th, however, after a late night at the office, she heads to a night market. While looking for something to eat, she comes across a dumpling stand with no line. As she orders, the old woman behind the stand tells her that the dumplings will give her what she needs. After her dinner, she heads home and goes to sleep. When she wakes to her alarm the next day, she checks her calendar to find that it’s… June 20th? Again? Stuck in a time loop, she contemplates how she might get out, when she realizes there’s a certain man named Cam who she’s been seeing in quite a few places. Could he be the key to getting to June 21st?

I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book as it has my favourite trope of time loops/time jumps, and sounded absolutely adorable. Overall - I loved this book. I couldn’t put it down, and read it in one day. I enjoyed the characters, and felt like we got to see a lot of growth.
Often in time loops, I feel like the day they’re living over and over gets very boring (which - fair), but in this one, even though Noelle and Cam’s relationship couldn’t necessarily progress, their romance did, and so did Noelle as a character.
I did find I was slightly unsatisfied with the explanation of how the loop ended, and I saw the twist with the dumpling lady coming. I felt kind of confused about Avery’s resolution too.
I have also not read a time loop book where the world keeps going outside of the loop (I feel like this isn’t a spoiler as Cam’s perspective begins early in the book.).
I also felt that Cam’s chapters didn’t add much. It was quite repetitive when he was saying “oh I feel like somethings weird hahah not sure what”, though it did add a bit of context towards the end.
Overall, this was sweet, and when I had to put it down I couldn’t wait to pick it up. I’ll definitely be recommending this, and checking out the authors other work!

Read this if you like:
- time loops
- magical realism
- perfect male love interests
- dumplings 🥟

Vibes: 🥟🍺🗓️🔂👵🏼

Full review including content warnings on my StoryGraph.

🥟 Time Loops & Meet Cutes is out May 6, 2025! Thank you NetGalley and Atria for the eARC. 🥟

I was excited to receive an ARC for this book! The Author is such a good writer and this book did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it , from the characters and the way the story unfolds it's just a really good book. This has been my first time loops book and I'm so glad I got to start with this one. I can't wait to see what this author does next!

Thank you to Atria for providing me with an advanced copy on this book..

I absolutely adore Time Loops and Meet Cutes! I've read a few times loop books before but this is my favorite one yet. It's an open door, dual POV, contemporary romance with elements of magic.

It was an emotional rollercoaster watching Noelle fall for Cam while in her time loop, knowing he wouldn't remember her the next day. I loved that while the story is a romance, it also spent time on Noelle's growth as a person, including a focus on relationships with friends and family..

I recommend this to any contemporary romance reader who is looking for something just a little bit out of the ordinary.

After eating a “magic” dumpling at a food market, Noelle is forced to re-live the same day over and over again. She meets Cam and they have an instant connection; one that seems like will never advance past the first date.

This was such a charming time-loop story! It has a bit of mystery mixed in which kept me turning the pages late in to the night. I’ve never craved dumplings and bubble tea more … the food descriptions in this book were on point. 🥟 🍵 🥢🧁

Thank you to Atria Books for inviting me to read this and to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Will post my review closer to the publication date.

Time Loops and Meet Cutes is such a great book. I rated it 4.25⭐️. It’s about Noelle. One night she goes to a night market and eats dumplings from a stand offering them for $5. The next day, she wakes up and it’s the same day June 20th. She’s very confused. The next day is the same-June 20th. She returns to the night market to find the dumpling stand to get some answers but it is gone. She meets another women who is also trapped in this same time loop. They become quick friends and try everything they can to break the time loop-to no success. During all this, Noelle meets Cam. She keeps seeing him different places around town. They form a relationship, but the problem? Cam never remembers her the next day because everything gets erased and reset each night. I loved Cam and Noelle’s relationship. The description of food is amazing. I loved the concept of time travel with a little magic thrown in. It’s truly a story of being brave enough to take risks, ask for what you really want in life, and to not be caught in some of the things that don’t matter in life.

This was just my kind of book! As a big fan of time loops/alternate realities in stories, I was very excited to find that in a romance! Time Loops & Meet Cutes is full of sweet, engaging, and enjoyable moments. At first it felt rushed with the passing of time sometimes being squished into a few sentences, but as I continued with the story I could tell that there was so much more to Noelle's (and Cam's) story than just the repeats of June 20th.

This dual POV works so well! I found Noelle to be very likeable, even though she is initially described as being a workaholic and rigid in her activities. She is truly full of heart, kindness, and good intentions. I also really loved reading Cam's internal thoughts, and enjoyed that he was so intentional about his interactions with Noelle.

All of the references to different foods and beverages were a lot of fun! I love watching cooking shows and trying new restaurants, so this was a fun element of the story for me. I also happen to love dumplings, and bubble tea!

Time Loops & Meet Cutes is a feel-good romance with wonderful characters that bring out the best in each other. Truly something magical to read about; an escape from the day-to-day.

*I was given this ARC by Atria Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own!

This book was okay? I felt like the idea was so good (I’ve enjoyed stories before with the time loop concept) but I feel like there were so many more interesting directions it could’ve gone.

I found myself pretty bored for most of the book. Obviously there’s bound to be a little repetition in a time loop, but reading the same day over and over for over half the book got really boring. I felt like the plot didn’t budge until around 70%. Even the romance was hard bc he literally forgot who she was every night.

I also felt the romance was pretty cheesy and honestly a little awkward? I think maybe it’s just the writing style but I didn’t connect with either mcs.

And then after all of that there really isn’t ever a real explanation for why she got stuck in the time loop and how she got out. I think there was so much potential and the story just fell really flat for me unfortunately.

Thank you to Atria for a free eARC through netgalley!