5 Books with Groundhog Day (Time Loop) Plots

by Donna Huber

When I was a teen Bill Murray's Groundhog Day was the comedy movie. We watched it over and over again. I've watched several Christmas movies that features a time loop plot. I think there's been a few sitcoms that played with the plot trope. This week's Quantum Leap (the remake) episode had its own take on Groundhog Day. Recently I read a book that I thought had an interesting take on the trope and I wondered what other books have used it. As today is Groundhog Day in the U.S. (do other countries have a thing where an animal's shadow decides how soon til Spring?), I thought it would be fun to share a few of them.

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The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

This is the book that gave me the idea to do this list. My mystery book club read this for its January meeting. I listened to audiobook and enjoyed it, but unless you listen to a lot of audiobooks you might want to read this one. There is a lot going on and if you aren't paying close attention, you might miss something important. Main character Aiden must relive the same day until he solves the murder. The twist is that each day he wakes up as someone else. I think Quantum Leap may have taken inspiration from this book in creating its time look episode.

Buy The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle at Amazon

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

It's been years since I read this book. It was interesting but I thought it was a bit odd. I read book 2 Hollow City as well, but I haven't kept up with the series. I don't remember a lot about the book, but the children at Miss Peregrine's home are reliving a day during WWII. This has allowed them to live a long life, except they never grow up. If you missed this series, it would be worth checking out. 

Buy Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children at Amazon

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I saw this book on several lists about time loop stories. This one would be good to read this month as it combines the Groundhog Day trope with Valentine's Day. High school student Samantha Kingston is at the top of social pyramid and a day of partying ends with her death. But does the day really end if she wakes up just to relive the day again? 

Buy Before I Fall at Amazon

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

This is another book that I found on several lists. It sounds really interesting. Check out the description from Goodreads:

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. She dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards its second cataclysmic world war.

My digital library has the audiobook so I might have to borrow it. There is a sequel that focuses on Ursula's brother but I don't think it has a time loop.

Buy Life After Life at Amazon 

The First Fifteen Lives of Henry August by Claire North

Instead of reliving the same day, the main character relives his entire life over and over. The plot premise is similar to Replay by Ken Grimwood which was published in 1987. We always wonder if we had made a different choice at some point in time how would our lives have turned out or if whatever path we choose the ending is the same. The main characters in both books get to find out.

Buy The First Fifteen Lives of Henry August at Amazon

Have you read any good books with a time loop? Please share in the comments!

Donna Huber is an avid reader and natural encourager. She is the founder of Girl Who Reads and the author of how-to marketing book Secrets to a Successful Blog Tour.

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