This was such a fun and unique premise! I loved Noelle and Cam’s chemistry from the very first moment they met, and I became lowkey obsessed with her friendship with Avery 🥹 The plot got resolved/tied up a little too quickly/neatly for me but overall this was a fun read!

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this eARC!

After eating dumplings at the night market, Noelle Tom finds herself stuck in a time loop. She keeps living June 20th over and over again, with no reason as to why. The only clue she has at her disposal comes from the lady who sells her the dumplings at the stall, saying that eating them would give her what she needed most. But what does she need most?

That's the question.

As Noelle suffers through the pangs of reliving the same day, she also goes on a journey of self-discovery causing her to pause and reflect on everything from her career aspirations, to her familial relationships, to her love life. Along the way, she meets a lovely stranger named Avery who is stuck in the same loop, and a brewery owner named Cam, who she keeps bumping into in various locations throughout the day. As she grows more attached to him, she wonders if she'll ever make it to June 21st or if they'll ever have a shot at something real.

This was a sweet and fun take on the Groundhog Day trope. I liked the subversiveness of Noelle not being trapped in the loop alone, with her and Avery being stuck in it together and their friendship being a prominent part of the novel. I also enjoyed Noelle and Cam's meet cutes throughout the repetitive Fridays, how there were times where he almost remembered her, but not quite. There was also a twist in the second part that made for a pleasant surprise. I will say that there were some repetitive plot points and interactions, but I think that's to be expected with a story with this premise. The resolution of the mystery could have been better, too.

All in all, though, I enjoyed how this story encouraged Noelle and Avery to take risks, be present in their lives, and open themselves up to new avenues of happiness. Cute all around!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I think I am simply over rom coms, I could not make it through more than 20 pages I am sorry.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

This was like a 3.75. I LOVE time loop books, and I loved how this went a different way than I was expecting. Sometimes time loop books are repetitive (no pun intended), but I loved the variation in this one.

Cam was super sweet and thoughtful and again loved the growth that Noelle experienced in the book. The dumplings and Avery were definitely what she needed. I loved all the food references and thought it was a nice story. There was something that felt a tiny bit lacking, but I just can't put my finger on it. Still super solid!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books.

I really liked the premise of this book, being a fan of time loops. I enjoyed the friendship between Noelle and Avery, but I just couldn’t get into the romance part of it. Maybe it’s just me but I didn’t feel the spark at all.

Thanks as always to NetGalley for the ARC.

I love time loop books, where a character has the opportunity for a do-over and a lesson to learn. This one was a bit different - that it was more of a magical accident that did end up teaching the characters some things about life. At first I thought it was going to be a bit too YA for my taste but I wound up really enjoying it. Also gave me a taste for dumplings ;)

MORE. OF. THIS. PLEASE.

Magical realism romances are my jam and I think this one absolutely takes the cake. Groundhog's Day with a little sprinkle of Freaky Friday. Not spice forward, but with a smattering of well placed spice scenes. Believable and complex main AND side characters who didn't feel 2 dimensional. Actually surprising plot twist & resolution. Extremely readable dialogue that didn't feel cringe. Friendship and family getting their moments in meaningful ways instead of just the romance plot. Fun food moments for the culinarily intrigued part of my soul. It hit every single note.

I read this in a single weekend and want to go back and do it again.

I love a time loop rom com, and this one does not disappoint!

Other than the time loop, there's
- a prickly, introverted, self-protective heroine who learns to take risks and enjoy life
- a sweet romance with a hunky cinnamon roll hero
- a great friendship story
- a sister subplot
- plenty of yummy-sounding food
- a little bit of spice!

Best of all, it wraps up in a sweet and satisfying ending with a great explanation for the time loop. My only complaint is that I cannot go back in time and read this book for the first time again!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jackie Lau delivers an absolutely delightful mix of romance, time loops, and heartfelt moments in *Time Loops and Meet Cutes*. This book is insightful, romantic, and sprinkled some fun spicy moments. The concept of reliving the same day over and over is thoughtful between the characters.

The characters are incredibly well-written, with depth and charm that make you root for them from the start. The romance is both swoon-worthy and emotional, striking a perfect balance between fun and meaningful connection. And while the time loop element adds an intriguing twist, it never overshadows the heart of the story—the growing relationship and self-discovery.

I loved every second of this book. It’s a must-read for romance fans, especially those who enjoy a bit of magical realism woven into their love stories. Highly recommended!

A delightful take on the time travel trope! Loveable characters, a modern romance about finding yourself, friendship and love.

This book was a trip. Two women stuck in a time loop and working together to get free. I liked the premise and the characters were great! Very cute story for anyone looking for a cute romcom with multiple first dates.

plot twist goes crazy.

Some of it was a little confusing, the timing was weird though I suppose that was the entire purpose. The characters were lovable and I'm so glad to have met them.

I love books set in Toronto and Jackie's a fellow Canadian author. In Time Loops and Meet Cutes we're in a revolving, cyclical, time loop hoping the characters figure out the magical way to escape the never-ending sequence of events. My review for this one is simply short and sweet and I can't wait for readers to have an 'Inception' moment while reading.

Thank you so much Atria for the digital arc!

This was a terrific time loop romance with characters to root for -- plus it's set in Toronto, which is fun. The only reason it didn't receive five stars from me is that I found the pace lagged a little near the end of the first part. But I think it'll be a hit with a wide variety of readers and will definitely be recommending it.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the chance to read a digital ARC in advance of publication!

I’m always a sucker for a little magic and time travel. Time Loops and Meet Cutes is a fun, heartwarming, and only mildly spicy romance novel. And for what it’s worth, it’s a nice thought exercise in taking chances on yourself and others, and figuring out how to live in the moment because we only get one version of each day…well, unless you are stuck in a time loop.

Summary: It’s June 20th, Noelle is frustrated by her somewhat stagnant life. She stays late at work all the time, her love life is nonexistent just like her ability to nurture meaningful friendships; for Noelle everything is kinda mundane and difficult without being hard. A late night at the office, disappointment, and a small change in routine takes her to a night market and to a dumpling cart. The dumpling purveyor says the dumplings will give her what she needs, and so they do.

What I liked:
The variation of meet cutes was fantastic. I love that the book subtly explored some Asian family dynamics and cultural ways of being. I love that it was a super fast read. I LOVE that building a true friendship was as centered as the romance. What I struggled with:
The exposition is darn near non existent…as readers we are in the thick of it in the first 10 pages. As readers, we barely have a chance to understand the characters before we are on this wild adventure. I enjoy time travel tropes, but I couldn’t help comparing the book to Groundhog’s Day. I’m not sure if that is a me problem or a flaw in the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This one was for sure a cute one, unfortunately I’m not the biggest fan of the groundhog theme. I know I know, it tends to be repetitive because that’s what the theme is all about. I will say they did the groundhog theme a bit differently in this one and maybe that’s why I enjoyed it more than I thought! Final thoughts: cute!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for my honest review. I went into Time Loops and Meet Cutes with the preconceived notion that this would just be a little rom-com book with some friendship sprinkled on the side. I was truly not expecting this book to wreck me emotionally. I love the way Noelle grew through the book and took the time to make amends, even if her timeline would be reset. I love the growth of her character and her new outlook on life. Jackie Lau has changed my outlook on life.
I look forward to reading more of her books. I give this one a solid five out of five stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Quick and easy read. I liked the concept of the time loop but couldn’t get fully into it. I did like the life themes of finding the joy in the little things in life.

Jackie Lau is one of the few authors who would make me interested in a time loop novel. Of course she managed to make it feel fresh and poignant as Noelle starts to see her life differently after being stuck in same June day over and over again. Noelle’s insecurities and her growth are so well portrayed that it made me forgive how hungry all the tantalizing descriptions of food were. Don’t read this book on an empty stomach! Noelle’s relationships with both her new friend, Avery, and Cam, the almost too good to be true but we all need hope in this world brewery owner that Noelle keeps running into, develop alongside Noelle’s realization that more needs to change in her life than just the date. A really well story that could have been silly or overly contrived. I was sad to see it end.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review..

Having read one of Jackie Lou’s previous novels, I was elated when I was invited to read Time Loops and Meet Cutes. Her way of creating stories of relationships that are predicated on an element of food (this time, dumplings) and compelling her readers to feel immersed in the protagonists’ worlds is utterly magical. Noelle and Cam are charming, despite the fact that Noelle’s personality is initially quite bland. The trajectory of Noelle and Avery’s time loop experience feels appropriately never ending. Yet, when it is broken, the latter half of the story is seemingly perfectly balanced.

While I do think the conflict and strained relationship between Noelle and her sister Madison were rather superficial (not to mention the bare bones introduction of the other supporting characters, Avery notwithstanding), the dialogue and Lau’s writing style made it quite easy for me to forgive this weakness. Indeed, any flaws the novel possesses were quickly forgotten, as the reading experience was just so effortless. This is a feat that is rarely accomplished in my experience. As such, I already am eagerly anticipating Lau’s next entry.