I started reading Jackie Lau in 2019. While that may not seem like much, but it’s been a long 6 years, and Lau’s books consistently bring me joy. Time Loops and Meet Cutes might be the best book Jackie Lau has written yet. It has classic Jackie Lau elements: an FMC who is all in her head and trying to figure out this curveball life has thrown, complicated family, the glorious food of Toronto, and Lau’s own unique author voice. This is the first book she’s published with a science fiction element (that I know of), and I felt like her excitement vibrated off the page. I loved her take on the time loop device.
Noelle lives a boring life. She works long hours, is cautious with her money, and doesn’t see many friends. On Friday, June 20th, she’s frustrated that mentoring the boss’s nephew mostly means doing his work in addition to her own. After working late, again, she stops at a night market and treats herself to some dumplings from an elderly woman who says,
“You want dumplings? They give you what you need most.”
Apparently what she needs most is to relive June 20th over and over again. During that time she meets Avery, who is also reliving June 20th, and Cam who always says she looks familiar, but never remembers her the next time they meet. Avery is not having a great day, which gives Noelle someone to take care of. They experience the joy of consequence free living (the money is always back in their accounts, they never get fired), and the frustration of having nothing change. Knowing that Cam won’t remember her gives Noelle the courage to try things she wouldn’t normally, but also breaks her heart as she develops feelings for him and his feelings never progress.
My favorite part of the book comes when the time loop suddenly ends and Noelle and Avery figure out how to apply what they learned to a life with consequences and change. Time kept moving for everyone else, so when Noelle meets Cam on a day that isn’t June 20, he isn’t quite the same person he was and the script Noelle has been following doesn’t work.
Time Loops and Meet Cutes is a lovely and generous meditation on bravery, compassion, change, and valuing this one wild, precious life we’ve all been given.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Atria Books and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.