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.

I'm not sure the ending with the explanation of the time loop had the payoff that I wanted from this story. Nevertheless, the writing was easy to read and the time loop was just on the edge of not tedious while showing how terribly annoying repeating the same day over and over again really would be.

I loved Noelle and Avery's friendship above all in this book.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a digital review copy via NetGalley!

I absolutely loved reading this book! I found Noelle’s journey both intriguing and relatable. From the moment she ate those mysterious dumplings at the night market, I was hooked. I could feel her frustration as she relived the same Friday over and over, with every little detail staying the same.
I was fascinated by the concept of a time loop and how it turned Noelle's workaholic nightmare into a quest for meaning. I appreciated how the repetitive nature of her days highlighted her growing sense of despair. Meeting other characters who had also eaten the dumplings, like the young woman and the charming Cam, added depth to the story. I loved seeing the evolution of Noelle’s character as she realized she needed to live a little and put her work aside to connect with Cam.

I enjoyed the blend of romance and time travel, which made the story unique and exciting. Overall, I found this book to be a delightful and thought-provoking read, and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a blend of romance and supernatural elements.

4 stars ⭐️ 🥟 This was such a cute and creative book. Grab your dumplings and get cozy! This book was a joy to read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

loved the concept and the book! I felt like I was stuck on june 20th too. I wish Avery had more of a reason for being stuck in her loop but very happy for noelle and cam

Now I have to go eat some dumplings

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Noelle is a workaholic who is under appreciated at work & takes no risks. After working very late and not wanting to cook at home, she decides to stop at the summer solstice Night Market she’s seen advertised. There she has the most delicious dumplings she’s ever had. The only problem is, she’s now reliving the same day again and again. Trying to find her way out she meets someone. Will he be the key to helping her get out of the loop?

This Ground Hog Day romance was just too damn cute! First off, I’m the perfect demographic. This book made me so hungry! Haha! I loved all the food so so much! I might even have to try my hand at an ube stuffed pandesal. Anyway, Noelle has sworn off relationships after a hard breakup and sort of goes into survival mode. She just grinds the day away at work in hopes her hard work will be acknowledged, goes home, rinse and repeat. While in the loop, learning there are basically no consequences since the day resets, she begins to live again and at some point meets a charming brewer, Cam. This book was total vibes for me. I loved both these characters, the food details were so good, and the splash of sci-fi/magic was perfect. I sometimes struggle with contemporary romance but this one was just so so good!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, & the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book tells the story of Noelle, a mechanical engineer who feels stuck in life. She meets the radiant Cam at a night food market and keeps running into him in various places and scenarios. But there’s a catch—she’s trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day over and over. This means she alone, and no one else, remembers these encounters.

The first half of this book left me devastated. It’s far more complex than your average romcom. Noelle’s psychological turmoil, the way she navigates her emotions day after day, and how each repeated day feels both the same and different kept me on the edge of my seat. The author articulates these emotions beautifully.

The reason I’ve given this 4 stars instead of 5 is the second half. Though still interesting, the story became repetitive. With part of the mystery resolved, I didn’t feel as compelled to keep reading as I did in the first half. It wasn't all bad. There was some comfort in the healing aspect of the story. The ending had a K-Drama feel—which was fine—but it felt a bit abrupt and flat after all that buildup.

I would still recommend this book for that first half alone. What a thrilling ride!

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of time loops & meet cutes

I enjoyed this book and its premise. I liked the love story between Noelle and Cam. I feel like the time loop aspect went on a little too long.

Overall a really cute book

Noelle lives the same life day in and day out and thinks she prefers the safety and achievement in that until she has to literally live the same day over and over. Now everything resets each night and work achievements mean nothing. So now what is left when you have neglected everything else in your life? As Noelle desperately tries to figure out how to get herself out of the loop, she finds Avery, someone else stuck in the same loop. They go through the highs and lows of frustrations to taking new risks and being spontaneous to the heartbreak of never getting to be able to change anything. Along the way, Noelle keeps meeting Cam and hopes maybe their frequent meet cutes are the answer to the time loop. And even when they don’t seem to be, she still finds herself sad that she way never get that second date with him and every day he doesn’t remember her hurts a little more. Noelle wonders if she will ever make it out, and if she does, how does she even explain what has happened?

This was a really good read. I expected the rom-com element, which usually goes hand in hand with the time-travel trope, but I wasn’t quite prepared for the heavy moments, although they were absolutely a realistic depiction of how that would feel after a while. I honestly laughed and cried while reading. I completely related to how uncomfortable Noelle initially felt putting herself out there and trying to figure out how to navigate relationships. I liked the relationship with Cam and the little fragments of memories he would hold along the way. I also loved how there were so many other aspects to the story as well. Noelle’s friendship with Avery was a huge part of the story and I really enjoyed watching their friendship grow, as well as Noelle approaching things from a new perspective and starting to try to heal relationships with her family. It was a great lesson in appreciating the little things in life and the importance of relationships in life.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jackie Lau for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

3.75 stars!
this was fun! not going to lie I was initially ready to write this off as another mediocre contemporary romance but I'm glad I wasn't disappointed. while sometimes we may feel like we're living the same day over and over Noelle Tom literally has to live June 20th over and over. to get out of her time loop she must learn to make the right decisions and ultimately learn more about herself along the way.
I loved all the references to Filipino/Asian food! more importantly, I wasn't expecting to relate to Noelle, personality wise and her experiences as an Asian daughter, as much as I did and I think that's what really hooked me. this was surprisingly emotional and while the writing was a little clunky at times and there were some typos, I ultimately enjoyed myself.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for a free arc of this book on exchange for an honest review

Noelle Tom is stuck in a rut until she isn't-- She's stuck in a time loop, where she can discover who she is and what she wants out of life. With fellow time looper Avery, they have to break the loop by figuring out what they need most.

This was such a beautiful story, told in dual point of view, and there are so many details I left out so the reader can discover the magic for themselves! The themes of self-discovery, friendship, and love are important now more than ever. I’m already wishing I could read this again for the first time!

Cleverly written! I love reading both Noelle and Cam’s points of view! I love the friendship that developed in this book while caught in the time loop! Clean sweet read! Would recommend!! Thanks to NetGalley and Atria books for letting me read this ARC! Book to be published on May 6, 2025!!

My favorite arc of the year!

Noelle is not feeling fulfilled by her life. She works long hours, has few friends, and hardly sees her family. On June 20th, she’s working late and stumbles into a night market where she eats the best dumplings she’s ever had. The woman selling the dumplings told Noelle they would give her exactly what she needs. Noelle, goes about her normal business and wakes up the next morning to discover it is June 20th again!

How will she escape the time loop keeping her in June 20th? Does Cam, the sweet man who keeps popping up throughout her June 20th, hold the key to her breaking the loop?

I was so excited to receive this arc! I loved it. The concept felt kind of new and different. Plus, different enough from the movie Ground Hog day that it felt unique.

You can’t help but feel heartbroken for Noelle each time she had to reintroduce herself to Cam over and over again. And at the same time, you feel giddy while experiencing them fall for each other each time the day restarts.

This book also speaks to the importance of friendship and having a good support system. The time loop allowed Noelle to mend fences with her family and friends. It helped her realize that a work/life balance can be life-changing!

Perfect for the rom-com lover in your life!


This book comes out on May 6th 2025. It is definitely worth picking up!