A time loop romance with humor, heart, and unexpected depth
Goodreads | Once in a Timeline
Release date: October 13, 2026
Publisher: Cosmo Reads/Sourcebooks Audio
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Narrator: Samantha Brentmoor
Synopsis:
For fans of Ashley Poston and The Love of My Afterlife comes a clever and swoony novel about an aspiring New York lifestyle influencer who gets trapped in her own “day in the life” video, with only a mysterious stranger to help her break out.
Get ready with me… to break out of the algorithm
Laia Grace is the New York City lifestyle influencer… or at least, she’s determined to be. After leaving her past behind to pursue her dreams, failure is not an option.
Every day, she films her aesthetic routine ― the perfect light, the perfect latte, the perfect life. Until one morning, her day starts to… glitch. Her neighbors flicker. Her best friend loops. And Laia realizes she’s no longer the creator, but the content ― and she’s trapped inside of her last “day in the life” video, forever playing on an endless, infinite loop.
That’s when a brooding, unshaven, decidedly unfiltered man (literally) crashes into frame. Noah’s been stuck in Laia’s timeline, too, and he’s desperate to get them both out. Together, Laia and Noah fight to outsmart the algorithm that’s captured them, uncovering secrets and confronting biases along the way.
As they grow closer, the line between performance and personhood blurs, and Laia realizes she might have to face the one thing she’s been avoiding all this time: herself.
Review:
The time loop premise immediately drew me to Once in a Timeline by Iman Hariri-Kia. An aspiring lifestyle influencer trapped inside her own “day in the life” video? That sounded like such a clever setup, and I was curious to see how it would unfold. Laia’s carefully curated routine becomes a literal trap, with a mysterious stranger named Noah the only other person who seems to understand what’s happening.
I’ll admit that it took me a little while to settle into this one. The pacing initially felt uneven, and things were disjointed enough that I almost put it aside. But as I kept listening, the pieces began to slide into place, and what started as an uncertain read became a delightful surprise. The premise felt original, and I’m glad I gave the story time to find its footing.
Laia’s growth ended up being one of my favorite aspects. There’s a lot for her to confront beneath the version of herself she presents online, and I appreciated watching her develop greater maturity and self awareness. This story doesn’t shy away from heavier topics, darkness, or emotional depth, but it also makes room for humor and lighter, endearing moments. That self deprecating streak helped give it personality, even when things became more complicated.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Samantha Brentmoor, who is probably one of my most listened to narrators over the last couple of years. I absolutely adore her work, and she was fantastic here. She’s so talented, and her performance was a highlight of the experience. If you enjoy a little speculative magic in your romance and characters who have some growing to do, this is a unique story worth settling into.
Perfect for readers who love:
- Time loop romances with an inventive premise
- Messy characters finding self awareness
- Stories about identity and life behind the filter
- Humor alongside heavier emotional themes
- Samantha Brentmoor’s audiobook performances
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
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