Happy Groundhog Day, everyone! Whether or not we get six more weeks of winter this year, it’s always good to celebrate the holiday with a great time loop novel. Plenty of books play on these tropes, but I’ve narrowed things down to six examples. Some are typical science-fiction novels, some are romcoms and some even throw a murder mystery into the mix. Read on to find a new favorite.
A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen
Neuroscientist Mariana Pineda ends up stuck in a time loop while grieving her best friend’s death. After a chance encounter with the mysterious Carter Cho, the two relive the same four days over and over. But as Carter’s memories of the loop start fading, Mariana realizes their only chance at happiness is to permanently break free from the cycle.
I love Mike Chen’s other novels, so I’m excited to see him dive into a time loop plot. A Quantum Love Story adds some romance while still holding onto the fun tropes readers have come to expect from the genre.
RELATED: 8 Asian American Writers That Should Be on Your Reading List
If I See You Again Tomorrow by Robbie Couch
Clark has lived the same boring Monday 309 times. But on day 310, a new boy named Beau appears in class, breaking his monotonous routine. When Clark decides to join Beau on a day of adventures in Chicago, he doesn’t anticipate the profound changes that unfold. Falling fast for Beau, Clark faces the challenge of building a future when stuck in a time loop with no tomorrow in sight.
If I See You Again Tomorrow puts a queer, YA twist on the expectations of Groundhog Day. While the events repeat over and over, Robbie Couch’s story never gets redundant. This time loop is a great option for fans of Adam Silvera and Justin A. Reynolds.
The Tatami Galaxy by Tomihiko Morimi, translated by Emily Balistrieri
A university junior, ostracized for rebelling against the film club president, plans revenge with his reluctant and only friend Ozu. However, a chance encounter with a self-proclaimed god leads him to a series of adventures across four parallel universes. The student has the opportunity to start over in each universe as a freshman and rewrite his college experience, maybe even winning over the girl of his dreams.
RELATED: 6 Time-Travel Movies That Get Time Travel Right
Recently translated into English, The Tatami Galaxy is the inspiration for the anime series of the same name. Tomihiko Morimi’s novel is sure to delight fans and newcomers alike.
All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, Translated by Alexander O. Smith
After the Gitai invade, Keiji Kiriya gets trapped in a time loop when he dies in battle. Despite various attempts to break free, he finds himself repeating the same two days before his death. In his quest for survival, Keiji seeks the help of legendary warrior Rita Vratraski, hoping she holds the key to breaking the loop and securing humanity’s future against the relentless Mimic threat.
Add an alien invasion to Groundhog Day, and you have All You Need Is Kill. Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s light novel inspired the 2014 movie Edge of Tomorrow and has become a classic example of the genre.
Midnight Strikes by Zeba Shahnaz
After dying in an explosion at the kingdom’s anniversary ball, 17-year-old Anaïs is shocked to wake up in her bedroom hours before the tragedy occurs. No one believes her warnings about the upcoming attack, and so she relives it again and again. Anaïs must navigate the complex web of court intrigue and take control of her life to prevent the catastrophe before the clock strikes midnight once more.
RELATED: New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on January 30
Midnight Strikes is a 2023 YA debut combining the time loop and a fantasy world. Zeba Shahnaz’s novel is a romantic and glittering take on familiar tropes.
The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton
If Aiden Bishop wants to save Evelyn Hardcastle’s life, he must stop her murder. Every morning, however, he wakes up in the body of a different person, resetting the day. As he navigates through different hosts, some more cooperative than others, he must identify the killer before time runs out forever.
The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is unique in that it’s a time loop story in which the protagonist jumps into a different body every time the cycle repeats. It also isn’t entirely linear, with Aiden returning to past hosts but unable to control the jumps. Stuart Turton’s 2018 debut adds murder to the mix, twining into a twisty and inventive plot.
These are just a few of the time loop stories we recommend for Groundhog Day. You can get all of them from your local independent bookstore or Bookshop.org. Did your favorite make the cut? Let us know below.
https://www.geekgirlauthority.com/stable-time-loops-star-trek-futurama-lost-back-to-the-future/
- New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on December 3 - December 2, 2024
- New Release Radar: New Books Coming Out on November 26 - November 27, 2024
- Gift Guide: 14 Great Books for the Movie Lovers in Your Life - November 27, 2024
