This may be my favourite time-loop read ever.

Noelle is an engineer, so surely she can think her way out of a time-loop that some dumplings got her stuck in. Right? Right???

I loved Noelle's methodological thinking as she tries to get herself out of reliving June 20th over and over and over again. From attempting to eat all sorts of other dumplings to going to acupuncture to drinking kopi staying up late, Noelle does everything she can (short of dying) to get herself out of this Groundhog day. Try as she may though, she stays stuck.

As a result, Noelle starts taking chances - asking for a raise, flirting with the cute guy she keeps running into, taking trips knowing that the charges will disappear from her card the next day. I liked seeing her come out of her shell and seeing how certain actions made waves in her life, even during the 24 hours she has.

I found the end interesting, too - I don't think we got the full resolution we deserved, thus four instead of five stars, but I did like how everything shakes out and the impact the loop had on her relationship with her friends, family, and the love interest.

A unique take on an age old idea, and I enjoyed it immensely. Super readable, with likeable characters, Time Loops and Meet Cutes was such a great read!

TW: suicidal ideation, alcohol consumption, burnout, grief, sexual content; mentions toxic relationship

Plot: 3.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
World Building: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Pacing: 3.5/5
Overall: 4/5

eARC gifted via NetGalley by Atria/Emily Bestler Books via Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a lovely book. I’m borderline speechless. Jackie Lau’s Time Loops and Meet Cutes follows Noelle, a young Toronto woman and engineer who decides one night to treat herself after work with food from a night market nearby. She sees this small vendor selling dumplings and decides to give them a try, only she finds out they were not any ordinary dumplings, but dumplings that caused her to get stuck in a time loop. In this time loop she meets Cam, a young easy going guy, who can’t seem remember any of their interactions in the time loop, besides sometimes the sense of deja vu, and she thinks he might be the key to getting out of the time loop. This story was told beautifully and I felt invested the whole time. It’s a beautiful story of friendship, and love. I loved the magical realism in this story and I felt like I was watching a movie. Additionally, the ending had me in tears. It tied a beautiful bow around Noelle and Cams experience throughout the book. Noelle and Cam are for sure meant for each other. As a Vietnamese woman who grew up with my grandma, whose love language is food, this felt like a big hug. I love great Asian representation and it was overall just the perfect book if you’re looking for a light hearted, feel-good story with a little bit of magic! I will definitely be getting all of my book friends to read it. Thank you to Jackie Lau and team, Simon and Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book comes out May 6th so get excited!

Who doesn’t love a good time loop?

Time Loops and Meet Cutes is a story about taking control of your life and connecting to the people closest to you. I thought the characters were all cute and the story was fast paced and easy to read.

I just thought there was nothing that really gripped me or made me want to keep reading, the repeated days got a little tedious because for a while there was no attempt to fix it or figure out what was going on. That, and the humour was a little awkward and didn’t hit home.

I loved this story. This book hooked me very quickly, which was surprising as that hasn’t happened in a while. A Toronto engineer in her early thirties who is a workaholic gets stuck in a time loop - what’s not to love? As an Asian-Canadian myself with many female friends in the male-dominated field of engineering, I felt a personal connection with Noelle and her experiences. It's lovely to be able to see yourself and your friends reflected in the things you read.

I appreciated that they got right into the time loop business with minimal fuss about the metaphysics of it all. The Toronto-based setting and food culture made me feel like when I watched Turning Red for the first time. The food descriptions were so good that I was constantly hungry while reading!

The biggest surprise was that the time loop was broken earlier than I expected, but I enjoyed reading about how Noelle’s life perspectives changed after experiencing the same day multiple times. This was also a cute love story - Cam is charming and very loveable. Reading this book warmed my heart like drinking a cup of blueberry tea. It’s been a while since I’ve read a 5 star romance book, but I’m happy to be breaking that streak! I will be highly recommending this book to friends and picking this one up when it comes out next month!

This was SUCH a cute rom-com with a hint of magic and whimsy. I tore through it in an evening and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it 😍 Noelle and Cam were so cute and I loved the twist. I loved seeing the growth that happened both consciously and also subconsciously and the ending ties everything together so well. And no third act break up, which works for me because I hate those. Highly recommend!!

Thank you to Netgalley, Arita Books, and Simon&Schuster CA for the opportunity to read this as an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

4⭐️ Such a cute, fast paced, and easy read! A great palette cleanser sort of book! 💙🥟🍜🥮✨🏙️

This was a great take on a time-loop plot! The chapters were short and sweet, which made it super easy to fly through, and I loved the occasional POV of Cam (the MMC) sprinkled in every once in a while (the main POV is of Noelle the FMC)! This was my first read by Jackie Lau and I had a great time! The writing was witty and funny, and also deep and reflective at other times. The self-discovery and reflection that Noelle (the FMC) went through was great. Plus the amount of spice in this book was perfect in my opinion - It was there, but nothing overly excessive! I loved how to plot progressed and how things connected, though in full transparency, it seemed a little rushed at the end in my opinion.

Overall, had a really good time reading this one!

Side Note: It was also a plus that I am also of Asian heritage and happened to live where the plot of this book occurred haha! So I could connect to many of the things in this read as well! 🤭💙

—

Overall Ratings ↴
Star: 4⭐️/5
Spice: 1🌶️/5
Emotion: 1.5💧/5

Tropes ↴
💙 Time Loop
✨ Magical Realism
💙 Meant to Be
✨ Dual POV
💙 Dual Timeline
✨ (Lots of) Cute Meet-Cutes

this book started so fun, especially with the time loops and the whole idea. with first chapters i found writing style somehow interesting and i actually liked the main character.

however, as the book was going i became bored with reading about those time loops. what i mean is, the main character was experiencing june 20th for the 130 times and they became repetitive with 120. of course this was the goal of the books but omg i would k*ll myself if i had to relive the same day so many times.
(also wondering why characters thought about this only during day 110 or something)

what was fun is main male character was not in the time loop, so every day female character had to reintroduce herself to him and hope he remembers her. i enjoyed these moments so much!

to finish my review, i want to mention the resolution to the time loops. i was a little confused with them because i still can’t figure out the reason behind person doing it. 🤷‍♀️

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me the eArc for this book.

Noelle leaves her job for the weekend on Friday June 20, feelings overworked, underappreciated, and most of all, hungry. She stops at a pop up market on her way home, buys some delicious dumplings from an old lady with a mysterious vibe. The next day, she wakes up and its June 20 again. And again. And again.

I need to preface this with the disclaimer that I'm not generally a romcom reader - those who are may have a very different opinion.

Overall, this books was generally ok. It was cute and sweet, but a lot of the first half of the book felt very surface level to me. I would have liked a deeper dive into the characters and plot. For a girl that no longer really had any consequence in her time loop, there wasn't a lot of big leaps or introspection. Noelle also seemed a lot younger in tone than the 32 that she was supposed to be, especially in the first half of the book.

However, despite not being a romcom girlie, I am a fantasy/scifi one, and I've read a lot of time loop books, and this one had an interesting take to it that I'm pretty sure I haven't see before, and I really did like that. I also liked Cam - he seems like a sweet guy, and I also liked that while there was drama happening here, it wasn't sterotypical "third act miscommunication trope" drama. I also realized that I don't read a lot books that are set in Toronto, and while it was a little weird at first, I enjoyed a setting where I live (and as a Leaside resident - I want this brewery).

Thank you to @simonschusterca and @netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The moment I saw the cover and synopsis, I knew I had to read this book. A time-loop romance? Sign me up. I love stories that play with time loops, especially in movies like The Edge of Tomorrow and Palm Springs. I wouldn’t call myself a Groundhog Day fan, but this book completely won me over with its fresh take on the trope.
One of my favorite things about this story is the setting. As a Canadian, I love seeing books set in my own country, and Toronto was the perfect backdrop for this romance. I wouldn’t have minded a Vancouver setting either, but I’ll take what I can get (I grew up in the Lower Mainland) Jackie Lau really brings the city to life, adding a richness and familiarity (even though I have never been there in real life) that made the story feel even more immersive.
Beyond the setting, I absolutely fell in love with the characters. The dual POV worked so well, giving me insight into both characters and making me even more invested in their journey. The way the book is split into two parts also adds an interesting layer to the structure, making the story feel fresh and engaging from start to finish.
@jackielaubooks has officially landed on my must-buy author list. Her writing is smart, funny, and filled with heart. This book had me hooked from page one, and I never wanted the loop to end. Five stars ⭐️ I highly recommend it to anyone who loves romance with a unique twist.

I am a sucker for a good time loop story but unfortunately this one felt a little tooo repetitive.

Noelle Tom really shouldn’t have eaten those dumplings at the night market. But the old woman at the stall said they’d give her what she needed most, and what Noelle desperately needed after another long workweek was food.
Except now she’s reliving the same Friday. Every morning her alarm goes off at 6:45, and the Wordle answer is always “happy.” Worst of all, any work she does at her job as an engineer? It’s erased when she wakes up. Monday might never come in this workaholic’s nightmare. Noelle has no idea how being trapped in a time loop is the “thing she needed most,” and a trip to the food stall doesn’t help…because there’s no sign of it.

Noelle’s character came off as super awkward, and a little too out there at first but as the story progresses you begin to understand her and root for her. I loved seeing her personal growth as she battled with getting out of the time loop. The loop itself started in a cool and unique way but after that became pretty boring, drug out, and too similar to other stories. I didn’t understand nor enjoy the male’s point of view chapters since they weren’t consistent and didn’t feel like they added much to the story.

Overall it was a fun palate cleanser but nothing remarkable or memorable for me personally

This one, just like part of the title, was so cute! The themes were well done, the romance was fun, and the overall story was beautiful.

In Time Loops & Meet Cutes, we follow Noelle, a woman in her early thirties living in Toronto, who has pretty much sworn off love ever since her boyfriend of five years broke up with her. One night, after working long hours, she visits a night market and orders dumplings from an old woman who tells her they’ll give her what she needs most. Without thinking much of it, she devours them, and of course, they’re amazing. But when she wakes up the next morning, her phone still says it’s June 20th. Wait… what?! June 20th was yesterday.
Now stuck in a time loop, Noelle is desperate to break free. But how? The mysterious dumpling shop has disappeared, another woman, Avery, seems to be experiencing the same thing, and a stranger named Cam keeps appearing in different places, almost like he knows Noelle but forgets her every day. Heartbreaking.

Determined to figure out what’s happening and find a way out, Noelle’s journey is so entertaining that the pages flew by. We learn a lot about her, but also about Cam, who has his own POV. Noelle was easy to connect with, her life felt real, her struggles were relatable, and I was rooting for her the whole way through. She was funny, down-to-earth, and her introspection was so well done that it even made me reflect on some of the questions she asked herself. And all her interactions with Cam? Adorable. I giggled so many times #bookboyfriend.

Beyond the time loop, which was such a fun and unique concept, the story also revolves around friendship, identity, happiness, taking risks, and learning to appreciate both love and life’s little moments. While the repetitive nature of the loop could’ve felt tedious, I was actually impressed by how much we learned from each cycle. Growth takes time, and so does figuring out what we truly want. From Noelle and Avery’s evolving friendship to Noelle and Cam’s relationship, the book captures how mistakes, lessons, and small changes shape us. It was engaging, fun, and well-written. I highly recommend it.

That said, a couple of things didn’t fully land for me. The logic behind the time loop felt a little too simple or underdeveloped, I wanted to know more about it (give me more page of this beautiful story ahh!!!) but I still loved the idea and how the author executed it. My main gripe was with a conflict that didn’t add much to the story in part two. I won’t go in too much details but it felt like adding a new twists that wasn’t really part of the original storyline, and even if it makes Noelle reflect on herself I think she actually learn a lot during these numerous time loops, so in my opinion and totally by preference, I didn’t feel the need to add it. Overall, this was such a fun, heartwarming read, and I really enjoyed it.

This was my first book from this author, and certainly not the last.

What a fantastic novel by Jackie Lau. I’ve never read a time loop book before, but since I’m a huge fan of Jackie Lau’s previous novels, I had to give this one a try. I'm glad I did as this is my favourite Jackie Lau novel to date! After eating some scrumptious (and magical) dumplings at a night market, Noelle finds herself stuck on June 20th, a day that repeats over and over again. Fortunately, she's not stuck alone in the loop. She soon meets Avery, who's also experiencing her own time loop, and the two women form a strong bond, trying to find ways to break the loop. One of the ways Noelle tries is to create meet-cutes with Cam, the cute guy she saw by the dumpling stand, hoping a kiss from him would break the loop — but no luck.

I absolutely adored how Noelle’s character grew throughout the story and the close friendship she developed with Avery. The romance with Cam was so sweet (and steamy!) — their chemistry was incredible. I also loved the dual POV with Noelle and Cam. The ending was just magical and perfect. Definitely a must-read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

What an absolutely charming time loop romance!
After eating some delicious (and magical) dumplings, Noelle finds herself reliving the same day over and over again. Noelle tries to create meet-cutes with Cam, the guy she saw near the dumpling stand, hoping a kiss from him would break the cycle (to no avail). Luckily she’s not alone in the loop — she shortly meets Avery who also seems to be living a real life Groundhog Day, and their friendship soon blossoms.

Time Loops & Meet Cutes has great characters, good friendships, and lots of meet cutes. I really enjoyed that the setting was in Toronto as well!
Definitely recommend this light hearted rom com for people who like magical realism, good chemistry and finding the magic within yourself!

This was such an interesting premise! I liked the unique twist on a “Groundhog Day” of repeating the same day over and over. Noelle and Cam had great chemistry and I enjoyed all of her “meet cute” attempts. Avery was also a great character and I was so happy with how things turned out for her. A fun read with a magical realism flair!

Noelle ate some dumplings at the night market and the seller promised that they will give her what she needs. But she ends up reliving the same Friday until she meets Cam in mulitple places....

Love the groundhog day vibes. Noelle and Cam are interesting characters that are likable as well. Really enjoy the fun and humour.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.