Like Fate and Meet Cutes
Book Reviews for Something like Fate and Time Loops & Meet Cutes
Something Like Fate by Amy Lea
What if you could catch a glimpse of your future soulmate? This is a gift that all the women in Loren's maternal family, with the exception of Loren, have enjoyed until recently. I must admit, while the idea of the women in her family being psychic intrigued me, I didn't like how it affected Loren. Given her trauma and feelings of inferiority, I get why she was so desperate to latch onto the idea of getting with her “soulmate” even if it came off as annoying at times because all Lo wants is to be closer to who she thinks her “mother” was. It's sad that the adults in her family failed to provide support, as they all appear to prioritize their own interests over what Lo needs. Her father, in particular, could have spared Lo a great deal of suffering if he had been open and honest with her instead of being evasive whenever she tried to bring up her mother. While he may have his reasons, it's frustrating that he opts to keep information from her, as she’s old enough to understand, and those details would have allowed her to be more open in her life instead of her forcing herself to go along with what she and her aunts think is "inevitable." Also, while I do enjoy the friends-to-lovers trope, Something Like Fate had me feeling unsatisfied when it came to Lo and Teller. This is unfortunate as they had a nice foundation as friends, but the build-up for anything more wasn’t done well. This meant their ending and resolution felt rushed, which in turn left me feeling lukewarm about the overall book. However, I loved the way Italy served as the backdrop for this story. As someone who has always wanted to visit Italy, reading about all the places she visits and everything the characters see, do, and eat leaves me with some serious FOMO. I also appreciated the takeaway that fate and destiny can provide more freedom and choice than we typically believe. Amy Lea’s Woke Up Like This inspired me to pick up Something Like Fate. Sadly, Something Like Fate lacked the magic that made Woke Up Like This such a charming read.
Time Loops & Meet Cutes by Jackie Lau
Every now and then, akin to love, a good book can unexpectedly take you by surprise. And that’s what happened with Jackie Lau’s Time Loops & Meet Cutes. Even though I've read other Jackie Lau romance novels, Time Loops & Meet Cutes has quickly established itself as my favourite. The chapters are short, and Lau’s writing is very readable. Lau's writing flows smoothly, complemented by how concise the chapters are. I also loved how relatable the characters were. As a fellow Torontonian, I connected with the setting; however, what truly resonated with me was Noelle's rational way of tackling her unusual "predicament" and the emotional responses she had when nothing seemed to work. The actions Noelle takes with her new friend and fellow time loop “victim,” Avery, mirror what I would have done if I were in their shoes. I also appreciated how, despite being a time loop novel, the story manages to not feel repetitive, as often Noelle prefers to get to the point. The romance between Noelle and Cam was sweet, and their interactions certainly turn steamy, even if Noelle is the only one who recalls all their time together. I appreciated that they are both in their 30s, as it made for a more mature love story. The intertwining of their relationship with the time loop was also an intriguing twist, even if the underlying truth is a bit sad. Overall, this book was a fairly light and breezy read. The only thing that really bothered me was the sudden time skip that follows the abrupt conclusion of the time loop; it was a bit disconcerting. It was difficult for me to accept that Noelle and Avery lost months of their lives with no way to get that time back. Thankfully, nothing truly irreversible or damaging happened during those lost months. Also, seeing more of Avery and the effects of the time loop on her life would have been a wonderful addition, even if it was just an epilogue from her perspective, though I get that Time Loops & Meet Cutes was always meant to be Noelle’s story.
Early copies of these titles were generously provided to me by the publishers for review. However, the above reviews consists of my honest opinion of the books and my opinion only.
