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amandas_reading_nook 's review for:
Time Loops & Meet Cutes
by Jackie Lau
This just might be my favorite time loop book I've ever read.
One night on her way home from work, Noelle uncharacteristically stops at a night market where she eats some dumplings that the owner of the stall promises will give her exactly what she needs. But when Noelle continues to wake up on June 20, she can't imagine why she could have possibly needed to be stuck in a time loop. Eventually, Noelle finds another woman, Avery, who is also stuck reliving the same Friday after eating from the dumpling stall. She also keeps running into a very handsome man at different locations and points in the day, which leads her to believe that he may be the key to breaking out of this loop. Either way, Noelle is forced to put aside her orderly life and workaholic tendencies and put herself out there to get him to notice her. But as she becomes more infatuated with him, Noelle can't help but wonder what will become of them if she ever wakes up on June 21.
I love a little magical realism or sci-fi element in a book, though I often find them riddled with plot holes, but I actually thought the author did an excellent job of setting the parameters for this world and sticking to them. In the end, I was satisfied with the explanation we're given for both why the loop started and ended. She also tackled just about every question and concern I had when it came to Noelle's relationship with Cam. I loved watching him fall for Noelle every time they met, but it was also heartbreaking every time he didn't remember who she was.
I loved the inclusion of Avery's character in this story. I don't think I've ever read a time loop book where it isn't just the main character who is stuck in the loop, and I thought that made the story both more interesting and unique.
I was hoping that the epilogue was going to be the first June 20 from the old woman's perspective- it would have been cool to get some concrete answer for why she chose Noelle and Avery to be in a time loop, but alas, I'll just have to speculate like characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
One night on her way home from work, Noelle uncharacteristically stops at a night market where she eats some dumplings that the owner of the stall promises will give her exactly what she needs. But when Noelle continues to wake up on June 20, she can't imagine why she could have possibly needed to be stuck in a time loop. Eventually, Noelle finds another woman, Avery, who is also stuck reliving the same Friday after eating from the dumpling stall. She also keeps running into a very handsome man at different locations and points in the day, which leads her to believe that he may be the key to breaking out of this loop. Either way, Noelle is forced to put aside her orderly life and workaholic tendencies and put herself out there to get him to notice her. But as she becomes more infatuated with him, Noelle can't help but wonder what will become of them if she ever wakes up on June 21.
I love a little magical realism or sci-fi element in a book, though I often find them riddled with plot holes, but I actually thought the author did an excellent job of setting the parameters for this world and sticking to them. In the end, I was satisfied with the explanation we're given for both why the loop started and ended. She also tackled just about every question and concern I had when it came to Noelle's relationship with Cam. I loved watching him fall for Noelle every time they met, but it was also heartbreaking every time he didn't remember who she was.
I loved the inclusion of Avery's character in this story. I don't think I've ever read a time loop book where it isn't just the main character who is stuck in the loop, and I thought that made the story both more interesting and unique.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Atria Books, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.