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The Deja Glitch
To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .
Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.
So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?
The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.
Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.
So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?
The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.
336 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2023
98 people are currently reading
12439 people want to read
About the author
Holly James
6 books453 followersHolly James is the author of adult romance and commercial fiction. She holds a PhD in psychology and has worked in both academia and the tech industry. When she’s not reading or writing a book, she can be found on the beach or hiking in the woods. Born and raised in Northern California, she currently lives at the southern end of the state with her husband and their dog. Find her at hollyjamesbooks.com and on Instagram at @hellohollyjames.
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August 18, 2023
I’m addicted to time loops! I never resist the charm of them! If the authors throw high chemistry romance story into equation, I’m all sold! And I’m talking about Groundhog Day meets 50 First Dates kind of alluring plot line! Aren’t you still ready to jump into this blind? Just do it!
Deja Glitch: the most romantic time loop story; thanks to the contributions of best boyfriend hero Jack Lincoln who is trapped in same Thursday: colliding into a girl in a cafe shop while he’s texting and ruining her favorite T-shirt! He runs into the same girl for 147 times! Isn’t it crazy? He watches over a girl for nearly 5 months, falling for her so hard and he lets her go at each time she makes another excuse and very next day she doesn’t remember him.
Gemma Peters, daughter of music industry mogul who discovers new talents, a radio show producer who isn’t still realizing her potential to host her own show, nursing her emotional wounds after being used by a rock star wannabe!
Gemma is still harboring resentment to his dad for cheating on her mom and ruined her childhood. In addition to hurt her family, he supported his ex to become rock star even though that guy used her as like pawn to connect with her resourceful daddy!
Her unhappy, uneventful life changes when she meets a guy at cafe shop! Quick correction: they literally bump and spill coffee into each other!
That guy insists he kissed her yesterday which is also today. They’re living the same day over and over. They already dated 8 times and she’s the key for him to escape from the loop!
Is this guy crazy? But he looks sincere and he looks way too much handsome. And wait a minute! Gemma remembers their kiss even though she can swear she never met this guy before. She thinks she listened her favorite song with him. But her mind is so blurry. They didn’t listen anything together, did they? And that guy knows everything about her day including her brother’s plane delay, her issues with her ex, oh boy, he even knows her dog’s name and her memories about her childhood. Could Jack tell her the truth? Can she help him to be free from that loop and welcome his tomorrow?
I found Gemma a little stubborn and somewhat childish, irritating but I loved the dedication of Jack! He was adorable from the beginning. And he’s screenwriter, too. Of course he’s perfect!
Overall: even though Gemma made me pissed off several times, she was still tolerable and I connected with her at last chapters. The book is entertaining, sentimental, smart! Everything I needed from riveting love story/ mystery/ fantasy! As a die hard fan of time loops, I’m rounding up 4.5 stars ( half stars lowered because of heroine’s obnoxious behavior) to 5 ( for my love of Jack) to 5 glitching, deja vu, musical, Hollywood stars!
I am fan girl of Holly James and I’m looking forward to read her next work!
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions!
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Deja Glitch: the most romantic time loop story; thanks to the contributions of best boyfriend hero Jack Lincoln who is trapped in same Thursday: colliding into a girl in a cafe shop while he’s texting and ruining her favorite T-shirt! He runs into the same girl for 147 times! Isn’t it crazy? He watches over a girl for nearly 5 months, falling for her so hard and he lets her go at each time she makes another excuse and very next day she doesn’t remember him.
Gemma Peters, daughter of music industry mogul who discovers new talents, a radio show producer who isn’t still realizing her potential to host her own show, nursing her emotional wounds after being used by a rock star wannabe!
Gemma is still harboring resentment to his dad for cheating on her mom and ruined her childhood. In addition to hurt her family, he supported his ex to become rock star even though that guy used her as like pawn to connect with her resourceful daddy!
Her unhappy, uneventful life changes when she meets a guy at cafe shop! Quick correction: they literally bump and spill coffee into each other!
That guy insists he kissed her yesterday which is also today. They’re living the same day over and over. They already dated 8 times and she’s the key for him to escape from the loop!
Is this guy crazy? But he looks sincere and he looks way too much handsome. And wait a minute! Gemma remembers their kiss even though she can swear she never met this guy before. She thinks she listened her favorite song with him. But her mind is so blurry. They didn’t listen anything together, did they? And that guy knows everything about her day including her brother’s plane delay, her issues with her ex, oh boy, he even knows her dog’s name and her memories about her childhood. Could Jack tell her the truth? Can she help him to be free from that loop and welcome his tomorrow?
I found Gemma a little stubborn and somewhat childish, irritating but I loved the dedication of Jack! He was adorable from the beginning. And he’s screenwriter, too. Of course he’s perfect!
Overall: even though Gemma made me pissed off several times, she was still tolerable and I connected with her at last chapters. The book is entertaining, sentimental, smart! Everything I needed from riveting love story/ mystery/ fantasy! As a die hard fan of time loops, I’m rounding up 4.5 stars ( half stars lowered because of heroine’s obnoxious behavior) to 5 ( for my love of Jack) to 5 glitching, deja vu, musical, Hollywood stars!
I am fan girl of Holly James and I’m looking forward to read her next work!
Many thanks to PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
August 1, 2023
Update 8/1/23: Reposting my review to celebrate that today is publication day!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for sending me an ARC of The Déjà Glitch in exchange for an honest review.
Gemma Peters is in a bit of a rut. She working in the music industry she loves, but not in the job she wants. She’s excited her brother is apart to return after six months in Africa, but still reeling from a bad breakup and estranged from her famous father. On the morning of her best friend Lila’s birthday, Gemma collides with handsome Jack Lincoln in a Starbucks, and as they talk, he tells her that he has been stuck in a time loop for five months, and that he believes she’s the key to getting out of it. And while it sounds unbelievable, he knows things about her that even a stalker wouldn’t know, and she has a sense of déjà vu about things that keep happening, and a sense that she’s kissed him before….
I enjoyed The Déjà Glitch. I doubt many of the plot beats will come as much of a surprise. The story is predictable in the way of a Hallmark movie, where you know where the drama will come from and that in the end everything will work out well for the right characters. It’s sweet and funny, often courtesy of Lila, the classic sassy best friend: “Who hurt you, Helen? Don’t you believe in love? This woman is here grand-gesturing and you’re creating a needless barrier!”
That said, The Déjà Glitch describes itself as a time loop story, and specifically references the classic movie Groundhog Day, so you’ll probably go into the story with certain expectations (but not if I can help it 😄). In fact, the book subverts two pretty common pieces of time loop stories. First, the story is not being told from the perspective of Jack, the person who knows they’re in the time loop. Instead, we’re seeing the story from Gemma’s point of view, as she grapples with her confusion and slow acceptance of what’s happening. Second, and I would say this is a much more surprising choice, we only see one loop. We are told Jack has been aware that he’s experienced the same day for five months. But we the reader only see the day reset one time. Seeing the different variations, the loopers’ mounting frustration at being able to escape the loop, the existential sadness that could come from fearing an endless life of a single day, is usually a significant part of these stories, and it’s absence here was noticeable. I probably would have enjoyed seeing a few more loops, before or after Gemma knew what was happening. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.
“What, you don’t like a good time loop story? Everyone likes a time loop story.”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shake of his head and a wry twist of his lips. “They are so . . . predictable.”
“If that were the case, wouldn’t you have found your way out of this one by now?”
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for sending me an ARC of The Déjà Glitch in exchange for an honest review.
Gemma Peters is in a bit of a rut. She working in the music industry she loves, but not in the job she wants. She’s excited her brother is apart to return after six months in Africa, but still reeling from a bad breakup and estranged from her famous father. On the morning of her best friend Lila’s birthday, Gemma collides with handsome Jack Lincoln in a Starbucks, and as they talk, he tells her that he has been stuck in a time loop for five months, and that he believes she’s the key to getting out of it. And while it sounds unbelievable, he knows things about her that even a stalker wouldn’t know, and she has a sense of déjà vu about things that keep happening, and a sense that she’s kissed him before….
I enjoyed The Déjà Glitch. I doubt many of the plot beats will come as much of a surprise. The story is predictable in the way of a Hallmark movie, where you know where the drama will come from and that in the end everything will work out well for the right characters. It’s sweet and funny, often courtesy of Lila, the classic sassy best friend: “Who hurt you, Helen? Don’t you believe in love? This woman is here grand-gesturing and you’re creating a needless barrier!”
That said, The Déjà Glitch describes itself as a time loop story, and specifically references the classic movie Groundhog Day, so you’ll probably go into the story with certain expectations (but not if I can help it 😄). In fact, the book subverts two pretty common pieces of time loop stories. First, the story is not being told from the perspective of Jack, the person who knows they’re in the time loop. Instead, we’re seeing the story from Gemma’s point of view, as she grapples with her confusion and slow acceptance of what’s happening. Second, and I would say this is a much more surprising choice, we only see one loop. We are told Jack has been aware that he’s experienced the same day for five months. But we the reader only see the day reset one time. Seeing the different variations, the loopers’ mounting frustration at being able to escape the loop, the existential sadness that could come from fearing an endless life of a single day, is usually a significant part of these stories, and it’s absence here was noticeable. I probably would have enjoyed seeing a few more loops, before or after Gemma knew what was happening. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. Recommended.
September 21, 2023
4.5⭐️ I really enjoyed Holly James’s debut, Nothing But the Truth, so as soon as I saw she had a new book releasing, I jumped at the chance to read it. And oh what a fun book it is! I have such a thing for the time loop trope and love the way she utilized it here, to help propel both the plot and the emotional growth of the characters.
From the first page until the last, I was utterly charmed by Jack and Gemma and their *insane* meet cute (I’m thinking this is what you call it when the person you meet in a coffee shop tells you they’ve been reliving the same day with you over and over again for months). I loved their dynamic and how they pushed and prodded each other to deal with major issues that were holding them back in life.
Gah, so good. Just trust me and read it. The audio is fantastic too.
Thank you {partners} Dutton Books and PRH Audio for my gifted copies.
From the first page until the last, I was utterly charmed by Jack and Gemma and their *insane* meet cute (I’m thinking this is what you call it when the person you meet in a coffee shop tells you they’ve been reliving the same day with you over and over again for months). I loved their dynamic and how they pushed and prodded each other to deal with major issues that were holding them back in life.
Gah, so good. Just trust me and read it. The audio is fantastic too.
Thank you {partners} Dutton Books and PRH Audio for my gifted copies.
August 1, 2023
I'm not sure how Gemma managed to cram going to the gym, going to Starbucks, running into Jack, leaving work, going to Lila's, going to Lila's psychic aunt, meeting Jack again, going to Caltech to talk to the mad scientist about time loops, ubering home, and then going to work again all before lunch while living in LA. Isn't traffic supposed to be heavy?
And frankly if this entire book takes place in the span of the day, it's pretty boring so far.
And the whole coercion of we're stuck in this time loop you don't remember unless you fall in love with me was definitely a choice.
Anyway one star because I don't understand why an editor didn't tear this thing to shreds. Time loops are supposed to be fun. This was not.
And frankly if this entire book takes place in the span of the day, it's pretty boring so far.
And the whole coercion of we're stuck in this time loop you don't remember unless you fall in love with me was definitely a choice.
Anyway one star because I don't understand why an editor didn't tear this thing to shreds. Time loops are supposed to be fun. This was not.
January 14, 2023
I thought this book was such a cute Rom-Com, and I honestly didn't think I'd enjoy the time-loop and insta love trope as much as I did. I loved how James (the author) intertwined the family drama, ex-drama, and time loop all together. I read for about 20 minutes daily but after I was halfway in, I just couldn't put it down. I instantly absolutely loved Jack, but Gemma took me a while. I really loved how Gemma's character changed towards the end with all she experienced. Imagine chasing the same person/dream for 5 months and hoping for it to be THE DAY. This was an upbeat, very clean (hardly any spice), and charming cosmic read.
Thank you Netgally and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC. I am excited for its publishing in the near future.
Thank you Netgally and Penguin Group Dutton for this ARC. I am excited for its publishing in the near future.
September 2, 2023
I was so excited to receive this ARC, because I love a time loop romance. Any Groundhog Day situation, I eat it right up (with the exception of Groundhog Day, ironically).
The title, the synopsis, the cover art: I was ready. So I was disappointed to discover that The Deja Glitch is not loop-y at all. With the exception of the prologue and epilogue, the entirety of the novel takes place in one single time loop iteration. That takes away a lot of the fun for me: I enjoy reading about how characters' choices can alter the timeline. But we don't get that here.
I give props to the author for telling the story from a new perspective--Gemma is unaware of the loop, so that is unusual for the trope. However, her confusion is underwhelming and when she's experiencing deja-vu, the word "familiar " is used one too many times. I also found the book oversaturated with descriptions--it felt like every place or object was accompanied by a lengthy simile. Other than that, I thought the writing was pretty good. It had a strong upbeat tone.
The characters and their relationships felt a bit shallow. By the end of the book, I still don't really know anything about Jack other than 1) he's uber-attractive and 2) he's in love with Gemma (despite never getting past the first-date-basics of knowing her....). The key to breaking the time loop is of course for Gemma to fall in love with Jack--in a DAY--meaning the righting of the space-time continuum depends on a case of insta-love. Jack and Gemma's exes were caricature-y as villains, and the eccentic physicist friend felt like a too-convenient add-on plot device. Most of all, I don't like the message that you must have a relationship with your family. Gemma is shamed and pressured into reconciling with her father. There's nothing wrong with giving second chances, but everyone's reasoning for it is "because he's FAMILY." I thought we as a society had agreed that the whole blood/water thing had been disproven, at least symbolically.
Overall, for me, this was 2.5 stars. I love the concept, but the relationships and the situation in which the characters found themselves did not feel fleshed out.
Thank you to James and NetGalley for the ARC.
The title, the synopsis, the cover art: I was ready. So I was disappointed to discover that The Deja Glitch is not loop-y at all. With the exception of the prologue and epilogue, the entirety of the novel takes place in one single time loop iteration. That takes away a lot of the fun for me: I enjoy reading about how characters' choices can alter the timeline. But we don't get that here.
I give props to the author for telling the story from a new perspective--Gemma is unaware of the loop, so that is unusual for the trope. However, her confusion is underwhelming and when she's experiencing deja-vu, the word "familiar " is used one too many times. I also found the book oversaturated with descriptions--it felt like every place or object was accompanied by a lengthy simile. Other than that, I thought the writing was pretty good. It had a strong upbeat tone.
The characters and their relationships felt a bit shallow. By the end of the book, I still don't really know anything about Jack other than 1) he's uber-attractive and 2) he's in love with Gemma (despite never getting past the first-date-basics of knowing her....). The key to breaking the time loop is of course for Gemma to fall in love with Jack--in a DAY--meaning the righting of the space-time continuum depends on a case of insta-love. Jack and Gemma's exes were caricature-y as villains, and the eccentic physicist friend felt like a too-convenient add-on plot device. Most of all, I don't like the message that you must have a relationship with your family. Gemma is shamed and pressured into reconciling with her father. There's nothing wrong with giving second chances, but everyone's reasoning for it is "because he's FAMILY." I thought we as a society had agreed that the whole blood/water thing had been disproven, at least symbolically.
Overall, for me, this was 2.5 stars. I love the concept, but the relationships and the situation in which the characters found themselves did not feel fleshed out.
Thank you to James and NetGalley for the ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 28, 2023
The Deja Glitch is published August 1st, 2023
3.5⭐️
This book is a romance novel about Gemma and Jack who get stuck in a loop, repeating the same day over and over again. Gemma and Jack are left to fall in love in one day in order to break the loop. Along the way, both have made personal growth. There are moments of love, sadness, confusion, being, grief and acceptance as well as forgiveness.
I really thought this was a cute read. This is the first time I have read a time loop trope book. I really appreciate the way the author, Holly James, wrote the time loop trope. It didn’t get repetitive at all for the readers. Also, Lila is the best friend anyone could ask for.
A lot happens on this adventure to end the time loop, that it just didn’t seem realistic to happen all in one day. I also wish Rex was more prominent in this story, dogs always make everything better. However, I would say I really enjoyed this romance novel.
Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and Holly James for the Digital ARC of. The Deja Glitch for an honest review.
3.5⭐️
This book is a romance novel about Gemma and Jack who get stuck in a loop, repeating the same day over and over again. Gemma and Jack are left to fall in love in one day in order to break the loop. Along the way, both have made personal growth. There are moments of love, sadness, confusion, being, grief and acceptance as well as forgiveness.
I really thought this was a cute read. This is the first time I have read a time loop trope book. I really appreciate the way the author, Holly James, wrote the time loop trope. It didn’t get repetitive at all for the readers. Also, Lila is the best friend anyone could ask for.
A lot happens on this adventure to end the time loop, that it just didn’t seem realistic to happen all in one day. I also wish Rex was more prominent in this story, dogs always make everything better. However, I would say I really enjoyed this romance novel.
Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Dutton, and Holly James for the Digital ARC of. The Deja Glitch for an honest review.
August 9, 2023
4 stars!
"The Deja Glitch" by Holly James is a fast-paced, funny, cute twist on the time loop trope. I get so tired of the time loop trope, but Holly James's book kept me invested, interested, and engaged the entire time I read it! I think it's because the plot is told from main female character Gemma's perspective, but Jack, the main male character, is the one who has to convince her that they are stuck in a time loop. He also has a theory that he has to make her fall in love with him in 24 hours to break the loop. AHH! In this story, I feel like the insta-love premise makes total sense since Jack has lived the same day over and over for hundreds of days! It's his job to convince her that his connection and admiration are real. I thought the characters in this book were just wonderful. Gemma is such a lovely person, you really root for her to do well in life! And Jack, what a charming, super sweet guy. They have fantastic chemistry and banter with one another. Their backstories are well-developed, and you fully understand their rationale for doing the things they do in this book. All of the secondary characters are necessary and fleshed out enough to justify their inclusion in the story (Gemma's brother, Gemma's estranged big-wig father, Jack's ex-girlfriend, Nigel, etc). I just fell for this story and these characters, and I highly recommend reading this adorable book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Holly James, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
"The Deja Glitch" by Holly James is a fast-paced, funny, cute twist on the time loop trope. I get so tired of the time loop trope, but Holly James's book kept me invested, interested, and engaged the entire time I read it! I think it's because the plot is told from main female character Gemma's perspective, but Jack, the main male character, is the one who has to convince her that they are stuck in a time loop. He also has a theory that he has to make her fall in love with him in 24 hours to break the loop. AHH! In this story, I feel like the insta-love premise makes total sense since Jack has lived the same day over and over for hundreds of days! It's his job to convince her that his connection and admiration are real. I thought the characters in this book were just wonderful. Gemma is such a lovely person, you really root for her to do well in life! And Jack, what a charming, super sweet guy. They have fantastic chemistry and banter with one another. Their backstories are well-developed, and you fully understand their rationale for doing the things they do in this book. All of the secondary characters are necessary and fleshed out enough to justify their inclusion in the story (Gemma's brother, Gemma's estranged big-wig father, Jack's ex-girlfriend, Nigel, etc). I just fell for this story and these characters, and I highly recommend reading this adorable book!
Thank you to NetGalley, Holly James, and PENGUIN GROUP Dutton for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
June 19, 2025
Perfectly fun summer beach read.
No sex scenes, although some implied.
A few f-bombs.
No sex scenes, although some implied.
A few f-bombs.
July 23, 2023
4-4.5⭐️ review to come!!!
November 6, 2023
3.75 stars
If you can suspend disbelief enough, this is a fairly cute and quick story.
I did struggle to imagine that everything that happens in the book happens in the span of about 16 hours. It kind of reads like it's a mismatch of different movies with the same theme and it's pretty obvious where the author has drawn inspiration from.
If you can suspend disbelief enough, this is a fairly cute and quick story.
I did struggle to imagine that everything that happens in the book happens in the span of about 16 hours. It kind of reads like it's a mismatch of different movies with the same theme and it's pretty obvious where the author has drawn inspiration from.
December 8, 2022
I've read enough Groundhog Day type stories and got burnt out by them because either they don't show you the full affect of the story happening and or the repetitive days to establish that it really is a Groundhog Day scenerio.
The Deja Glitch is an adorable story that is sweet, cute and clean and would make a great Hollywood film / romantic dramaedy. You have a main character who meets a cute guy at a party for her friend, she feels like she knows him and that while he seems to know a lot about her, her mind is drawing a blank. They leave the party and he gives her a kiss and tells her to 'please remember me'. She wakes up the next morning, the feeling of having experienced this all before come at her stronger than ever... and she bumps into that guy again. She remembers him, but not well enough.
It is because this universe has him in a repetitive reliving of this single day over, and over, and over again. He admits to her that he has relieved this day 147 days already and has tried so many different paths and outcomes which leads to him doing what he did, kissing her, which has caused an alteration in the way the path is unfolding.
The change in the main character being the one we have to follow instead of the person reliving this day over and over is good enough for me, and ups the stakes on the romance aspect and makes you focused on what will get her to fall in love with him when it had not happened the other 147 times?
I also liked the side story, and I liked that in this story she also had something to add in the way that this day is reliving over and over for him.
If you enjoy clean, cute, romantic stories with a pinch of supernatural whimsy, this is your book.
The Deja Glitch is an adorable story that is sweet, cute and clean and would make a great Hollywood film / romantic dramaedy. You have a main character who meets a cute guy at a party for her friend, she feels like she knows him and that while he seems to know a lot about her, her mind is drawing a blank. They leave the party and he gives her a kiss and tells her to 'please remember me'. She wakes up the next morning, the feeling of having experienced this all before come at her stronger than ever... and she bumps into that guy again. She remembers him, but not well enough.
It is because this universe has him in a repetitive reliving of this single day over, and over, and over again. He admits to her that he has relieved this day 147 days already and has tried so many different paths and outcomes which leads to him doing what he did, kissing her, which has caused an alteration in the way the path is unfolding.
The change in the main character being the one we have to follow instead of the person reliving this day over and over is good enough for me, and ups the stakes on the romance aspect and makes you focused on what will get her to fall in love with him when it had not happened the other 147 times?
I also liked the side story, and I liked that in this story she also had something to add in the way that this day is reliving over and over for him.
If you enjoy clean, cute, romantic stories with a pinch of supernatural whimsy, this is your book.
August 30, 2024
Loved this! I think this might be the first time loop book I’ve read but with the POV of the person *not* aware of the loop. I loved that perspective so much. A clean rom too!
April 26, 2024
This was a really interesting and fun take on a time loop story!
I was pulled into the book almost immediately and became super invested in it. In most time loop stories, the main character is the one who knows about the time loop, but in this book, the character in the time loop is the guy (who is not a POV character) and the main character Gemma has no idea that she has lived the same day around 150 times.
I liked Gemma as a character. She changed a lot through the course of the day. I also loved Jack. He was funny and you learn a lot about him as the story progresses.
The book was really well written and was an easy and fun read. I’m definitely interested in reading more by this author.
I was pulled into the book almost immediately and became super invested in it. In most time loop stories, the main character is the one who knows about the time loop, but in this book, the character in the time loop is the guy (who is not a POV character) and the main character Gemma has no idea that she has lived the same day around 150 times.
I liked Gemma as a character. She changed a lot through the course of the day. I also loved Jack. He was funny and you learn a lot about him as the story progresses.
The book was really well written and was an easy and fun read. I’m definitely interested in reading more by this author.
September 10, 2023
Things get weird for Gemma after she kisses a guy at her friend's birthday. When she wakes up the next day, people seem to be acting too familiar, as if she could predict even what they'll say. Then she meets Jack, who ends up telling her it's not a case of déjà vu, but that the day has been repeating itself for months now, and that their kiss the previous night may have made her finally notice it, even though her memories are very vague about it all. To make it even more overwhelming, he tells her them falling in love might be the key to get out of that loop.
I like Holly James's style for building a plot. It kept me interested to the end, and she had the funniest plot twists, even for a trope that's been used ad infinitum, the twists surprised me. It was also interesting that she picked the point of view not of the person who consciously got stuck in the endless day, but of the romantic interest, before she even knows who the other one is. Surprisingly, the blooming love seemed convincing on Gemma's part. It's probably because that day seemed endless with so much happening, but it worked, it's within hours that she falls for the weird guy who seems more like a stalker, but turns out to be a victim of a time loop, but it convinced me it's not instalove.
And yet, I wasn't a fan of the romance. Yes, I did buy the development even though it literally happens in the span of one day (in Gemma's perspective, but if Jack says she's the reason his days are repeating then it was also like that for him, he just didn't realize it). However, I didn't feel the thrill of a romance. It's like the book left out all the magic you want from a romance, all the falling in love. This is fine for other genres, but end up missing the very reason we got the book. And it didn't help that as much as we knew Jack was in a loop for months and so he's gotten desperate, he was very stalker-ish. I'm not so convinced his love for Gemma is real and not just something he got into his head. It's probably what we miss for getting the other person's POV, but I would have been even more freaked out with him than Gemma was. And then, probably upset there were events he could have stopped from happening but just sat and watched. Is he some god or parent to teach her a lesson? So yeah, Jack isn't the ideal partner and we missed the swoonworthy moments that would usually blind us from characters' flaws "because it's all worth it."
This is an entertaining story, from a fresh perspective of a beloved trope, but it's lacking in the romance department, and it doesn't make up for it in the rest, although it's not like I was expecting something genius to explain or stop the time loop, so it doesn't deduct points, but it doesn't compensate the romance ones either.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
I like Holly James's style for building a plot. It kept me interested to the end, and she had the funniest plot twists, even for a trope that's been used ad infinitum, the twists surprised me. It was also interesting that she picked the point of view not of the person who consciously got stuck in the endless day, but of the romantic interest, before she even knows who the other one is. Surprisingly, the blooming love seemed convincing on Gemma's part. It's probably because that day seemed endless with so much happening, but it worked, it's within hours that she falls for the weird guy who seems more like a stalker, but turns out to be a victim of a time loop, but it convinced me it's not instalove.
And yet, I wasn't a fan of the romance. Yes, I did buy the development even though it literally happens in the span of one day (in Gemma's perspective, but if Jack says she's the reason his days are repeating then it was also like that for him, he just didn't realize it). However, I didn't feel the thrill of a romance. It's like the book left out all the magic you want from a romance, all the falling in love. This is fine for other genres, but end up missing the very reason we got the book. And it didn't help that as much as we knew Jack was in a loop for months and so he's gotten desperate, he was very stalker-ish. I'm not so convinced his love for Gemma is real and not just something he got into his head. It's probably what we miss for getting the other person's POV, but I would have been even more freaked out with him than Gemma was. And then, probably upset there were events he could have stopped from happening but just sat and watched. Is he some god or parent to teach her a lesson? So yeah, Jack isn't the ideal partner and we missed the swoonworthy moments that would usually blind us from characters' flaws "because it's all worth it."
This is an entertaining story, from a fresh perspective of a beloved trope, but it's lacking in the romance department, and it doesn't make up for it in the rest, although it's not like I was expecting something genius to explain or stop the time loop, so it doesn't deduct points, but it doesn't compensate the romance ones either.
Honest review based on an ARC provided by Netgalley. Many thanks to the publisher for this opportunity.
January 6, 2023
The Deja Glitch was an enjoyable read overall, solid 1.5 stars. The concept was infinitely adorable although I would have appreciated at least some subtle commentary on how a gender-swapped version of this storyline would not yield the same adjective.
The only big recommendation I have for the storyline is that the reader should be clued into the story with the ex-boyfriend MUCH SOONER. The author does almost too good of a job making the main character, Gemma, boring. She sounds extraordinarily naive with how bullish she is around conversations of dating just because she had a bad breakup. It makes her more difficult to relate to. This is especially true due to all the depictions of Jack where Gemma is the detailing the total adoration in his eyes. She can see he is genuinely interested and yet acts/treats Jack horribly through most of the story.
On another note, this bullish attitude extends to her friendship & family members as well, not just dear old dad, but her poor brother stuck in an infinite time loop at the airport. Overall, this is what brought the rating down the most. The main character is too extreme in all her reactions and emotions. Jack is as well, but the 5 months of reliving the same day can explain some of his emotional responses.
The only big recommendation I have for the storyline is that the reader should be clued into the story with the ex-boyfriend MUCH SOONER. The author does almost too good of a job making the main character, Gemma, boring. She sounds extraordinarily naive with how bullish she is around conversations of dating just because she had a bad breakup. It makes her more difficult to relate to. This is especially true due to all the depictions of Jack where Gemma is the detailing the total adoration in his eyes. She can see he is genuinely interested and yet acts/treats Jack horribly through most of the story.
On another note, this bullish attitude extends to her friendship & family members as well, not just dear old dad, but her poor brother stuck in an infinite time loop at the airport. Overall, this is what brought the rating down the most. The main character is too extreme in all her reactions and emotions. Jack is as well, but the 5 months of reliving the same day can explain some of his emotional responses.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2023
I received an ARC copy of this from NetGalley in return for an honest review
I am not the biggest fan of the “time-loop trope”. This book took place over the course of a single day & i found it to b very predictable. It was an okay story, but not my favorite. I have read better time-loop stories, but this one was average. I would recommend it if you’re a fan of this trope, but personally - it wasn’t for me.
I am not the biggest fan of the “time-loop trope”. This book took place over the course of a single day & i found it to b very predictable. It was an okay story, but not my favorite. I have read better time-loop stories, but this one was average. I would recommend it if you’re a fan of this trope, but personally - it wasn’t for me.
January 4, 2025
A time loop romance with a unique premise- POV is not from the person in the loop, but the person that will get the looper out. It’s as if Ground Hog Day was from Andie MacDowell’s characters POV. It’s cute but the characters are flat to me. I love Holly James’ first and third novels much better.
Read
July 27, 2023DNF @ 33%.
Thanks to Dutton for the copy of this book!
Unfortunately I think this author just isn’t for me. I liked her first book enough to give this one a shot, but it just didn’t hold my attention. Time loops are a hard trope.
Thanks to Dutton for the copy of this book!
Unfortunately I think this author just isn’t for me. I liked her first book enough to give this one a shot, but it just didn’t hold my attention. Time loops are a hard trope.
February 20, 2024
*4.5 stars*
Okay so if a guy I’m interested in doesn’t try to win back my affection by getting my favorite musician to dedicate a song to me at a sold out show at the Hollywood Bowl, I REALLY don’t want it!!! Jack Lincoln, you’ve set my standards high. High enough that I can almost forgive that you have a J name *shivers*.
There’s just something about a time-loop story that just speaks to me now that I’ve finally seen the Groundhog Day film. Though this doesn’t follow any of the same situations as Groundhog Day—besides the whole “stuck repeating the same day because I’m a misanthrope” thing—there’s still enough vibes there if you like that film and want to give this book a go!
I really did like the romance here; Jack was very kind and genuinely did care for Gemma. You could tell something was up when they met at the bar and he “guessed” her favorite drink, but hey, after 140+ days of getting to know your crush and her completely forgetting you exist, you gotta try playing to your strengths!
Gemma took a bit to warm up to Jack (understandably so, given that he’s known her for almost five months and she’s known him for, well, A DAY), but once she did, it was sweet to see her trust someone again after her last breakup.
The friendship is where this book really shined for me, though. Lila and Gemma were the definition of friendship goals. There was true bestie love there; no coddling, but a lot of supportive handholding and pushing each other (mainly Lila pushing Gemma) when the situation called for it, and when they knew the other would be better because of it. And it was also a nice surprise to see Gemma beginning to trust her father again and putting forth effort to talk to him and visit.
My only small qualms are: 1. there���s a chapter at the end told strictly through Jack’s POV. Since the story is told in third-person, I think it would’ve been interesting for it to be dual POV with the chapters switching between Gemma and Jack. It would’ve felt more congruous and helped visualize more of the events from the 140+ days they spent reliving the same day if we got his perspective. 2. the middle of the story DRAGGED!!! It was fast, super slow, faster, and then slow again.
Thank you Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for this eARC!!
Okay so if a guy I’m interested in doesn’t try to win back my affection by getting my favorite musician to dedicate a song to me at a sold out show at the Hollywood Bowl, I REALLY don’t want it!!! Jack Lincoln, you’ve set my standards high. High enough that I can almost forgive that you have a J name *shivers*.
There’s just something about a time-loop story that just speaks to me now that I’ve finally seen the Groundhog Day film. Though this doesn’t follow any of the same situations as Groundhog Day—besides the whole “stuck repeating the same day because I’m a misanthrope” thing—there’s still enough vibes there if you like that film and want to give this book a go!
I really did like the romance here; Jack was very kind and genuinely did care for Gemma. You could tell something was up when they met at the bar and he “guessed” her favorite drink, but hey, after 140+ days of getting to know your crush and her completely forgetting you exist, you gotta try playing to your strengths!
Gemma took a bit to warm up to Jack (understandably so, given that he’s known her for almost five months and she’s known him for, well, A DAY), but once she did, it was sweet to see her trust someone again after her last breakup.
The friendship is where this book really shined for me, though. Lila and Gemma were the definition of friendship goals. There was true bestie love there; no coddling, but a lot of supportive handholding and pushing each other (mainly Lila pushing Gemma) when the situation called for it, and when they knew the other would be better because of it. And it was also a nice surprise to see Gemma beginning to trust her father again and putting forth effort to talk to him and visit.
My only small qualms are: 1. there���s a chapter at the end told strictly through Jack’s POV. Since the story is told in third-person, I think it would’ve been interesting for it to be dual POV with the chapters switching between Gemma and Jack. It would’ve felt more congruous and helped visualize more of the events from the 140+ days they spent reliving the same day if we got his perspective. 2. the middle of the story DRAGGED!!! It was fast, super slow, faster, and then slow again.
Thank you Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for this eARC!!
August 15, 2023
I really enjoyed the sprinkle of magic in Nothing But the Truth by Holly James, so I absolutely needed to read this newest release. I can never pass on a time-loop romance!
I liked it. The characters were great, and I loved the idea of a time loop forcing Gemma and Jack into a domino effect of changes in their personal lives.
The time loop itself isn't exactly part of the story, however. Let me explain ...
It begins with Jack having already lived five months in the loop. The development of his love for Gemma happens off-page, before the book even starts.
Because of that, I found it really hard to feel their chemistry, especially since the heart of the story is set over only one day—the day Gemma realizes she is in the time loop, too. I think this had potential to be an epic, heart-wrenching love story, but instead it felt a little insta-love for me.
(heat level: closed door)
I liked it. The characters were great, and I loved the idea of a time loop forcing Gemma and Jack into a domino effect of changes in their personal lives.
The time loop itself isn't exactly part of the story, however. Let me explain ...
It begins with Jack having already lived five months in the loop. The development of his love for Gemma happens off-page, before the book even starts.
Because of that, I found it really hard to feel their chemistry, especially since the heart of the story is set over only one day—the day Gemma realizes she is in the time loop, too. I think this had potential to be an epic, heart-wrenching love story, but instead it felt a little insta-love for me.
(heat level: closed door)
January 18, 2023
Oh my god, this book is so precious. Nothing like a good time loop story ahhhh!
Gemma and Jack have been in this time loop for many days. Expect the only one who knows about the time loop is Jack. When they meet at Gemma's friend's birthday party, Jack tries something different than he did before in the hopes that she will remember him.
When the next day comes, everything is normal for Gemma until the news comes on with a story she thinks she's heard before but can't find any information on it ever happening before that day. Then she runs, literally, into Jack after getting coffee. She slowly learns about the time loop and starts to believe he is telling her the truth.
With the time ticking, they try to help each other get out of this time loop, but they aren't sure what to do.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸💋
Gemma and Jack have been in this time loop for many days. Expect the only one who knows about the time loop is Jack. When they meet at Gemma's friend's birthday party, Jack tries something different than he did before in the hopes that she will remember him.
When the next day comes, everything is normal for Gemma until the news comes on with a story she thinks she's heard before but can't find any information on it ever happening before that day. Then she runs, literally, into Jack after getting coffee. She slowly learns about the time loop and starts to believe he is telling her the truth.
With the time ticking, they try to help each other get out of this time loop, but they aren't sure what to do.
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸💋
dnf
September 14, 2025Not a reading slump 😩 Maybe I’ll just reread binding 13
December 18, 2022
Dazzling and charming! I loved James's second book even more than her first. Such a fun twist on the time loop trope. For fans of Sophie Cousens!
September 5, 2023
The Deja Glitch
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Holly James
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Penguin Group and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .
Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.
So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?
The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.
My Thoughts: This was an unusual premise that attracted me in. Kind of a cross behind Groundhog Day (we all feel like we are stuck there sometimes) and 50 First Dates (one of my favorite romcoms), closer to 50 First Dates. Gemma and Jack are stuck in this perpetual cycle of the same meet cute meeting of meeting at the cafe, bumping into one another with a coffee spill. Gemma has no idea of this time loop, where Jack is very aware. If Jack can get Gemma to fall in love with him, in a day, this theory may break the loop. Will she trust what he says? This has a bit of a mystery thrown into the romance. It follows the tropes of time loop and insta-love.
I adored Jack’s character, he was dedicated, compassionate, and after having a hard life, really had a positive spin on life. Gemma, on the other hand, was a bit childish, immature, and even bordering insecure. I really disliked her character, as she came off more irritating/annoying than anything else. The story is a tad predictable as a Hallmark movie would be, not in a bad way. One conflict for me is since Jack knows about the time loop and Gemma does not, it should be told in his narrative, instead the story is solely narrated by Gemma. Then the second conflict for me is that we are only seeing one time loop. Generally in these stories, you get a series of the same time loop. It would have been less noticed if we got a few time loops prior to Gemma finding out about said time loop. Gemma does have tremendous character growth and you start to fall in love with her at the end. There are a gambit of emotions exchange through the characters, from sadness, grief, to love, happiness, and smiles, with some confusion dashed in. The characters could use more of a backstory, while some was fed in, I was left with wanting more.
Overall, a good read that I enjoyed. I have read that the audiobook is really good as well. I would recommend readers pick up, especially if you enjoyed the movie, 50 First Dates.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Holly James
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Penguin Group and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: To break out of a 24-hour time loop, all Jack needs is for Gemma to fall in love with him in a single day. All Gemma needs is to remember him first . . .
Gemma Peters is doing fine. She’s making a name for herself in the L.A. music biz as a radio producer. She’s got a ride-or-die best friend in Lila, and she gets to come home to Rex, her loving Labrador, every night. But ever since her rock star ex-boyfriend used her to get a record deal from her rock legend dad, she’s made a “no musicians” rule when it comes to dating that’s becoming more like a “no dating” rule, period.
So, when Gemma crashes (literally) into Jack one Thursday morning, at first she feels like fate might finally be doing her a favor. After all this guy is cute and, wait, is she imagining it, or is he staring a little too deeply into her eyes? And how does he know her name? Even harder to explain is the funny feeling of déjà vu she gets every time she looks at him. It’s not at all like Gemma to kiss a man and forget him completely, so then how can she explain the dreamlike memory of his lips on hers?
The truth is this is no ordinary Thursday. Not for them. In fact, they’ve lived this day over and over for months. And while Gemma has been totally oblivious to the time loop, Jack has been agonizingly aware of every single iteration. Luckily, Jack has a theory to bring his own personal Groundhog Day to an end. And it’s simple. Before the day is over, he just has to get Gemma to fall in love with him.
My Thoughts: This was an unusual premise that attracted me in. Kind of a cross behind Groundhog Day (we all feel like we are stuck there sometimes) and 50 First Dates (one of my favorite romcoms), closer to 50 First Dates. Gemma and Jack are stuck in this perpetual cycle of the same meet cute meeting of meeting at the cafe, bumping into one another with a coffee spill. Gemma has no idea of this time loop, where Jack is very aware. If Jack can get Gemma to fall in love with him, in a day, this theory may break the loop. Will she trust what he says? This has a bit of a mystery thrown into the romance. It follows the tropes of time loop and insta-love.
I adored Jack’s character, he was dedicated, compassionate, and after having a hard life, really had a positive spin on life. Gemma, on the other hand, was a bit childish, immature, and even bordering insecure. I really disliked her character, as she came off more irritating/annoying than anything else. The story is a tad predictable as a Hallmark movie would be, not in a bad way. One conflict for me is since Jack knows about the time loop and Gemma does not, it should be told in his narrative, instead the story is solely narrated by Gemma. Then the second conflict for me is that we are only seeing one time loop. Generally in these stories, you get a series of the same time loop. It would have been less noticed if we got a few time loops prior to Gemma finding out about said time loop. Gemma does have tremendous character growth and you start to fall in love with her at the end. There are a gambit of emotions exchange through the characters, from sadness, grief, to love, happiness, and smiles, with some confusion dashed in. The characters could use more of a backstory, while some was fed in, I was left with wanting more.
Overall, a good read that I enjoyed. I have read that the audiobook is really good as well. I would recommend readers pick up, especially if you enjoyed the movie, 50 First Dates.
August 18, 2023
The Deja Glitch is an adorable, funny, sensitive story with lots of charm and romance. Its unique plot makes the reader want to plow through the story to find out how it’s going to end while cheering on our two main characters.
Gemma Peters is a radio producer trying to succeed without anyone’s help, (her father being a god in the music business). Although she pretends everything is always fine, she can’t forgive her father for his past mistakes as she grew up as well as choosing her ex-boyfriend, who she thought was the love of her life over her.
Now her brother is flying in to meet with Gemma and her father. Gemma never sees her father alone. He’s having a difficult time getting there. Gemma has a very routine oriented life. Work, seeing her best friend Lila, a social media guru and the true love of her life, Rex (her dog).
Until one night…
She meets a stranger at Lila’s birthday party and ends up kissing him not knowing who he is or where he came from.
Until the next day…
When she literally bumps into said mystery man (Jack) in a coffee shop and he spills coffee all over her favorite shirt. They talk. It’s odd, he seems to know so much about her. Have they met before?
Then he explains what’s happening…
Gemma finds out that she and Jack have for some reason been living the same day over and over again unbeknownst to her. She thinks Jack is crazy, (cute) but crazy. But he does seem to know what her every move will be. So, Jack takes her to someone who has been trying to help him through this. A scientist who tries to explain this loop they are in. But Gemma has one question. If this is true, why hasn’t she ever been able to remember Jack from the night before? He explains that this has been the farthest he’s ever gotten to have her remember him. Why she asks?
The kiss last night.
And Jack has a theory. He believes if he and Gemma fall in love, the loop will be broken, and they will go back to normal. Although she’s not sure if this is really a trick or if it will help her to getting her life back, she decides to try it Jack’s way. And they begin to spend the day together with all types of crazy obstacles, some Jack knows about and others which just seem to come out of the blue. Is it possible two people can fall in love so quickly without knowing anything about each other?
Well, in this charming, sweet story we will certainly find out. And perhaps what they learn about each other and themselves will serve as the basis for a new beginning. The Deja Glitch is an adorable story with charm and romance. Oh, did I already say that?
Thank you #NetGalley #Dutton #HollyJames #TheDejaGlitch for the advanced copy.
Gemma Peters is a radio producer trying to succeed without anyone’s help, (her father being a god in the music business). Although she pretends everything is always fine, she can’t forgive her father for his past mistakes as she grew up as well as choosing her ex-boyfriend, who she thought was the love of her life over her.
Now her brother is flying in to meet with Gemma and her father. Gemma never sees her father alone. He’s having a difficult time getting there. Gemma has a very routine oriented life. Work, seeing her best friend Lila, a social media guru and the true love of her life, Rex (her dog).
Until one night…
She meets a stranger at Lila’s birthday party and ends up kissing him not knowing who he is or where he came from.
Until the next day…
When she literally bumps into said mystery man (Jack) in a coffee shop and he spills coffee all over her favorite shirt. They talk. It’s odd, he seems to know so much about her. Have they met before?
Then he explains what’s happening…
Gemma finds out that she and Jack have for some reason been living the same day over and over again unbeknownst to her. She thinks Jack is crazy, (cute) but crazy. But he does seem to know what her every move will be. So, Jack takes her to someone who has been trying to help him through this. A scientist who tries to explain this loop they are in. But Gemma has one question. If this is true, why hasn’t she ever been able to remember Jack from the night before? He explains that this has been the farthest he’s ever gotten to have her remember him. Why she asks?
The kiss last night.
And Jack has a theory. He believes if he and Gemma fall in love, the loop will be broken, and they will go back to normal. Although she’s not sure if this is really a trick or if it will help her to getting her life back, she decides to try it Jack’s way. And they begin to spend the day together with all types of crazy obstacles, some Jack knows about and others which just seem to come out of the blue. Is it possible two people can fall in love so quickly without knowing anything about each other?
Well, in this charming, sweet story we will certainly find out. And perhaps what they learn about each other and themselves will serve as the basis for a new beginning. The Deja Glitch is an adorable story with charm and romance. Oh, did I already say that?
Thank you #NetGalley #Dutton #HollyJames #TheDejaGlitch for the advanced copy.
December 9, 2023
Song Vibe: You And Me by Lifehouse
I thought Holly James was the pen name for another author, but that is not the case, and I can't believe I haven't read her before! I absolutely adored The Deja Glitch, and immediately put her debut on hold at the library after finishing it. This is the third time loop novel I have read in the past couple of weeks, and I was really satisfied with the uniqueness of it, so it didn't feel like I was reading the same story over again. I loved Gemma and Jack as well as Gemma's bestie Lila, and I could totally see this being made into a movie and being completely wonderful. Picoult's blurb on the book referred to this as a mix of Love Actually and Groundhog Day, and while I haven't watched Love Actually, I could see this being a spot-on comparison.
The audiobook for this was fantastic, and I thought Kristen DiMercurio & Dan Bittner both did an excellent job with their characters. The majority of The Deja Glitch is told from Gemma's viewpoint, so DiMercurio did end up narrating most of it and she nailed it. I thought she was perfect for Gemma, and she had just the right tone and pacing throughout. While this is a romance, there is also some family drama that we get thrown into, and though it didn't bring me to tears it was awfully close. There are some really great messages and characters in the novel and the end just made me so happy. Even though this isn't a holiday read it would be great to read around the holidays, and I loved every minute of it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I thought Holly James was the pen name for another author, but that is not the case, and I can't believe I haven't read her before! I absolutely adored The Deja Glitch, and immediately put her debut on hold at the library after finishing it. This is the third time loop novel I have read in the past couple of weeks, and I was really satisfied with the uniqueness of it, so it didn't feel like I was reading the same story over again. I loved Gemma and Jack as well as Gemma's bestie Lila, and I could totally see this being made into a movie and being completely wonderful. Picoult's blurb on the book referred to this as a mix of Love Actually and Groundhog Day, and while I haven't watched Love Actually, I could see this being a spot-on comparison.
The audiobook for this was fantastic, and I thought Kristen DiMercurio & Dan Bittner both did an excellent job with their characters. The majority of The Deja Glitch is told from Gemma's viewpoint, so DiMercurio did end up narrating most of it and she nailed it. I thought she was perfect for Gemma, and she had just the right tone and pacing throughout. While this is a romance, there is also some family drama that we get thrown into, and though it didn't bring me to tears it was awfully close. There are some really great messages and characters in the novel and the end just made me so happy. Even though this isn't a holiday read it would be great to read around the holidays, and I loved every minute of it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 27, 2022
I would like to preface this review by thanking NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Gemma kisses a stranger on the night of her best friend's birthday, her life as she knows it turns upside down. Jack and Gemma have been reliving the same day over and over, specifically one hundred and forty seven times. Jack has a theory that they have to fall in love in order to break the time warp. Can Gemma fall in love with a random stranger in 1 day?
I absolutely loved this book! It was like the cult classic movie, Ground Hogs Day, meets a modern romance novel. The idea for this book felt original to me, it was refreshing to read some romance that felt different than the rest. This wasn't a book just about two people falling in love but it was about friendship, family, taking risks, and bold honesty. Gemma had some great character development from being a stubborn lady who was set into her ways to someone who was open to the idea of falling in love before midnight. Jack's persistence and consistency made him her perfect match. This book is perfect for those who like the "closed door" romances and are on the hunt for a romance book without the "spicyness" to it. This book releases on 8/1/2023, go check it out. I know I'll be grabbing myself a physical copy!
When Gemma kisses a stranger on the night of her best friend's birthday, her life as she knows it turns upside down. Jack and Gemma have been reliving the same day over and over, specifically one hundred and forty seven times. Jack has a theory that they have to fall in love in order to break the time warp. Can Gemma fall in love with a random stranger in 1 day?
I absolutely loved this book! It was like the cult classic movie, Ground Hogs Day, meets a modern romance novel. The idea for this book felt original to me, it was refreshing to read some romance that felt different than the rest. This wasn't a book just about two people falling in love but it was about friendship, family, taking risks, and bold honesty. Gemma had some great character development from being a stubborn lady who was set into her ways to someone who was open to the idea of falling in love before midnight. Jack's persistence and consistency made him her perfect match. This book is perfect for those who like the "closed door" romances and are on the hunt for a romance book without the "spicyness" to it. This book releases on 8/1/2023, go check it out. I know I'll be grabbing myself a physical copy!
July 24, 2023
This is a fun version of Groundhog Day. In this variation Jack Lincoln is a time-loop relieving the same Thursday. For nearly five months he has been literally running into the same girl. He’s become convinced that they way out of the loop is to have the girl, Gemma Peters fall in love with him.
In this reimagined telling most of the book happen is one day. Jack spends part of the day trying to convince Gemma to be open to the fact they have met, gone to lunch and met his PHD scientist friend many times. And he does know a lot about her that is uniquely specific. Gemma has a few issues of her own. Her last boyfriend used her to get ahead in his music career as her father is industry mogul. That leads to her being more estranged from her father. She is also concerned about her brother getting to LA.
I like that I didn’t have to read about the same day many times, which is more the norm in this type of storyline. Gemma comes off in the beginning as lacking confidence but she has learned her distrust from incidents with her ex and her dad. I like the story arc includes a change and growth in herself and not just Jack fixing things. This is a positive, kissing only, fun story and easy to recommend.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)
In this reimagined telling most of the book happen is one day. Jack spends part of the day trying to convince Gemma to be open to the fact they have met, gone to lunch and met his PHD scientist friend many times. And he does know a lot about her that is uniquely specific. Gemma has a few issues of her own. Her last boyfriend used her to get ahead in his music career as her father is industry mogul. That leads to her being more estranged from her father. She is also concerned about her brother getting to LA.
I like that I didn’t have to read about the same day many times, which is more the norm in this type of storyline. Gemma comes off in the beginning as lacking confidence but she has learned her distrust from incidents with her ex and her dad. I like the story arc includes a change and growth in herself and not just Jack fixing things. This is a positive, kissing only, fun story and easy to recommend.
Thank you to Penguin Group Dutton for the ARC via NetGalley and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)
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