This Time Next Year is a great debut novel. It was a light hearted, easy read which was well written and had some great characters. The story is told from two points of view over different timelines. It was a little predictable in places but I still enjoyed it nonetheless. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Minnie and Quinn are born within a few minutes of each other on new years eve. Their mothers do not keep in touch. By chance they meet up 30 years later, have nothing in common other than their birth date. Past new year eve's are revisited to show the reader how their lives have developed. Can Quinn overcome his commitment phobia caused by his mother's mental health problems? Can Minnie overcome her fear of impending doom every new year's eve? A really enjoyable read with a different theme to most romances.

It is going to be difficult to put into words how much I loved this book!.

Minnie is so lovable right from the start, it's impossible not to find yourself cheering her on and wanting the best for her. She hasn't had the best of luck, but that doesn't stop her being a good person which I found so endearing.

Quinn, well, it was almost impossible not to love him!. He has had a difficult childhood, but despite all of that he is still a good guy... at times I just wanted to reach into the book and give him a hug.

One of the things I loved most about this story is the way in which the author so perfectly had Minnie and Quinn's lives intertwined right from the start. The near meetings throughout the book all leading up to them meeting again as adults truly gave the feeling of their relationship something that was always meant to be.

Beautiful, heartwarming, a book I didnt want to end... without a doubt one of my favourite books of the year!.

Predictable, but a lovely read. This book also shows how nothing is ever as it seems. Minnie is a lovely character and from the start you feel she and Quinn are destined to be together. A good tale of friendship between Minnie and Leila too, and we see the development of Minnie's adult relationship with her parents. I enjoyed the way the book alternated previous New Year's Eves with the present day. The coincidences through the years was really well done and I felt myself thinking "ah...." at some of the more subtle mentions. A really nice read. #netgalley #thistimenextyear

You know the feeling of reading a story, thinking it’s at least a four-star read, let some time pass, think back and suddenly you realise there’s nothing that really stood out to you? This is exactly how I feel, now that three weeks have passed since I finished the book.

Quinn and Minnie were always meant to be together. Their mothers gave birth together. They grew up living only a few blocks apart. They had so many chances to meet...yet it never happens. After one fateful night though, everything changes...but what if?

Let me just start off with what I enjoyed about the book: The concept. The writing style. The setting. Heck, I even grew somewhat emotionally attached to the two main characters. This Time Next Year is a charming romance set in London, and while Minnie, a passionate cooker, is struggling to make end’s meet with her not-so-well-going pie shop, Quinn is a successful businessman (or was it a job in consulting? I don’t really remember) who makes more money than he needs.
I really enjoyed the chemistry between Quinn and Minnie. While it wasn’t the hot passionate kind of love you often find in romance novels, I liked the fragility and playful hopefulness of their relationship. I liked how relatably average their relationship was — nothing really easy but always there. I particularly liked the slow-burn, meet cute, friends-to-lovers, meet parents kind of love in this book, and even if their relationship halted at times, I never stopped rooting for them. 
London was the perfect setting for this book. I loved the professional, trying-to-find-your-place in a city full of opportunities foundation it gave to the story, and it was so easy to lean back and be carried away by the story.
What stood out the most for me in this book were the constant what ifs. What if the two of them had just stayed a little longer at one place? What if time had been on their side, only this one time? Would they have found to each other earlier? So often in life we think that if one small detail had changed, life would’ve turned for the better, giving the idea of missed opportunities something romantic even though often it is not. It was the constant change between luck and taking control of your own life in this book though that made the story so lovely and (bitter)sweet.​

That said, I did have some issues with this book that ultimately made the story fall a little bit flat for me. Firstly, I was never really able to wholly connect with the two main characters on a I-care-about-them-so-much-I-never-want-them-to-get-hurt sort of level. I rooted for their relationship but I didn’t necessarily root for them as a person. Maybe it was because their personalities felt very stereotypical — Minnie being the always insecure, incredibly naive and never quite grown up girl who suddenly finds herself in her 30s, and Quinn being the super successful career guy who has never lacked money — that didn’t make me quite buy the whole story. Even more, the book more or less relies on the ‘guy has a dark secret’ trope which I didn’t really mind, however the way it was executed could have been way more original. The relationship between Quinn and his parents could have been so much more broadly extended, and even though we find out hints about their past through hints in flashbacks, this storyline never really ‘flowed’. It especially did a mediocre job explaining why Quinn is the way he is in the present. 
The book also touches on mental health, and that’s exactly the problem. I would have wished that the author had taken the time to truly elaborate the depth of mental health issues, but the book never went down that road. Instead it felt - though certainly well intended - like another badly executed trope that was randomly attached to the story. Too bad.
Lastly, and this may sound hard, I didn’t see any special character growth in the two main characters. Of course they open up and become more confident and see some of their ‘past mistakes’, but what else would you expect? It felt very predictable and I wished the author would had been more creative in resolving the problems and tackling the relationship problems.

While I did found the plot to be rather predictable, I was addicted to Quinn and Minnie’s story. The book never stopped to surprise me with its sweet and adorable love story and often made me pause to think about the gravity of a moment. This book is a shoutout to all the missed chances, all the what ifs if only time or place had been right, and it reminded me why exactly the slow burn and friends-to-lovers trope will always be superior.

I actually really enjoyed this book, I loved Quinn right from the start, the sort of one sided banter between him and Minnie and the relationship with his mum.

I absolutely loved that this book had quite a serious mental health ‘side plot’ - it really stopped it from being more of typical girly book and definitely gave it that little bit more depth.

Although there are elements of predictability within this, there is also a real unique subplot within this and it made the ending just that little bit happier!

We all have a hatred for New Years Eve, come on, admit it!! There is so much pressure on us all to have the best night of the year and enjoy ourselves, so imagine the extra pressure if your birthday is on New Years Day, and things always go wrong and you feel jinxed!! Poor old Minnie feels exactly that way after learning at a young age that a baby born minutes before her on New Years Eve stole was given her name! Since then, she has always felt like she has lived life in the shadows of this unknown person.

This is a warm story, probably suited to a wet October afternoon than a lockdown heatwave, but I felt I could relate to all the characters.

I often got a bit distracted with the dates going backwards and forwards, but that is more due to my menopause brain not being as quick as it used to be, but saying that it was still a lovely, enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
Minnie thought that she was jinxed from birth. Quinn was what she was meant to be called but the baby born one minute before her on New Years Day took that away from her. At school she was bullied because of her name because her last name was Cooper. Minnie didn’t like to go out on New Year’s Eve as she thought that this was the worst time for her because bad luck followed her around. Minnie resented the boy who took his name and felt that he was the reason she had so much bad luck.
One the eve of her 30th birthday her boyfriend took her to a party of one of his work colleagues. Minnie not really wanting to be there as she knew there would be bad luck forced herself to go. Firstly they were running late, then she left her coat on the bus, the someone vomited down her back and the last straw was when she was locked in the bathroom for the rest of the night. Minnie didn’t think it could get any worse until she came face to face with the one person she had resented her whole life Quinn.
I loved the way this story progressed and the snippets of time travel back into both Minnie and Quinn’s past where there were times when they were so close to each other and other times where they had actually seen or spoken to each other without knowing who each other was. Minnies down on her luck outlook was a bit frustrating but it was part of the story and so I was always silently hoping things would look up.
The side characters were great and I felt they enhanced the story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK and Cornerstone Digital for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: August 1, 2020

Don’t you just love a book that sucks you in, has complete character development and can reel you into its world and carry you joyfully all the way to the end? This book was a breath of fresh air as we followed a dynamic cast of characters on their journey. Definitely recommend to anyone who is going through or looking for a change in their lives!

😭😭😭😭😭
Sometimes you just need an amazing love story, especially in 2020, and this was the PERFECT read!
It gave me the same emotions and heartwarming feelings that I got with both In 5 Years and Two Lives of Lydia Bird. While this one was not near as heart wrenching as those, it was as hopeful and beautiful!
I love fate and all the things that go along with it, so this book was so wonderful for me.
Both main characters were lovable and real. I loved the many times and theme of being true to yourself. It was a great reminder and helped the relationships immensely.
Overall, it’s a 5 star for me!

Where do you want to be this time next year? 💫

This book was just what I needed folks. Comforting, romantic and gave me all the feels.🥰 Thank you Rachel at Arrow Publishing for asking me to be a part of the #blogtour for THIS TIME NEXT YEAR by Sophie Cousens. The ebook is out now and the paperback is out 15th October.
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Quinn and Minnie are born on New Year's Eve, in the same hospital, one minute apart.
Their lives may begin together, but their worlds couldn't be more different.
Thirty years later they find themselves together again in the same place, at the same time.
What if fate is trying to bring them together?
Maybe it's time to take a chance on love...
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There is a lot to love here. The characters - Minnie Cooper (yes I know 😂) and Quinn (😏😍) are both relatable and authentic. The secondary characters all played an integral part to the story and added depth. I was really sad to leave all of them to be honest. 😭 Don’t you just love and hate that?! Feeling that connected and fond of characters that you dread finishing a book, and purposefully start reading really slowly. 😂 I’m sure it’s not just me! 🙋🏼‍♀️

I also feel drawn to stories about fate and serendipity. 🤔 Maybe it’s the old romantic in me, as stories like this all tug at my heartstrings and put a smile on my face. This is such a fun rom com but don’t be fooled, it does explore themes of mental health and family in a compassionate and honest way. This ticked so many of my boxes. ✅

Grab yourself a tub of ice cream and a big glass of vino, and snuggle down with THIS TIME NEXT YEAR. Highly recommend ❤️
Just want to leave you with two quotes that resonated with me:

“Be a good companion to yourself and you will never be lonely.”
“Life is change - if nothings changing, you aren’t living.”




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Born on New Year's Day, Minnie has been beset by bad luck, particularly on her birthday, as far back as she can remember. Quinn, on the other hand, may have been born on the same day, but that's where the similarities end. As the paths of the two intertwine, does Minnie look set for a reversal of fortune or is 'unlucky' a marker she may have to carry forever?

A true heartwarming tale for lovers of romance and sliding-doors style tales, I was pulled deep into Minnie & Quinn's stories from the get-go. The lighthearted writing style had me gasping and giggling on several occasions, Minnie particularly being a lovable protagonist. An adorable transition to the screen could be guaranteed, the characters so relatable that I slipped smoothly into being fully absorbed in the narrative, the sentiment evoked reminding me of my first foray into the world of Celia Ahern and her novel "Where Rainbows End". As a reader who often gravitates towards thrillers, it was refreshing to allow myself to feel the pull of optimism from this book's pages and go along for the ride. An uplifting tale which will give you faith in fate and human kind - add this to your reading lists now, I promise you will not regret it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Arrow & Sophie Cousens for granting me the privilege to enter Minnie & Quinn's worlds prior to publication.

Once in a while a book comes along that just blows your socks off and this sent mine soaring into orbit!

I just loved everything about This Time Next Year, I actually shed a tear when I reached the last page because I didn’t want this wonderful story to end.

In 1990 two women who were complete strangers gave birth minutes apart. One won a huge financial prize for being the first baby born in the new decade. The other was doomed to a life of bad luck ….or that is what Minnie Cooper was brought up to believe.

The children grow up in completely different backgrounds. Quinn was the prize winner with an affluent lifestyle and a successful career. In contrast, Minnie feels she is jinxed, she has to give up her flat, her business is struggling and her relationship has taken a nosedive. When she accidentally meets Quinn on their thirtieth birthday, at his swanky party, she understandably feels a little downhearted.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear through cleverly placed flashbacks, that there have been strange parallels throughout their lives, but they are both totally unaware. A strange, magnetic force means that their paths continue to cross and a close connection develops. Has fate brought them together or should they push their real feelings away?

The characters in the story are so vibrant they could actually be sitting right next to you. I loved Minnie’s dad with his clock collection and her quirky, kind-hearted and loyal group of friends. There are mermaid costumes, penguin watching, unicorns, and a pie business called ‘No Hard Fillings’. The author adds funny, warm, and clever comedy elements without being cheesy and you find yourself caring deeply for every single character. I desperately wanted Minnie to fight harder to keep the business going and I wanted her mum to just give her the one thing she needed most…a hug!

I soaked up every page of this wonderful book. The clever, sharp wit, crazy multi-dimensional characters, and intelligent storytelling were almost too good to be true. This is definitely one of my favourite romantic comedies this year!

This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens is a story of opposites attract with a twist. Born on New Year’s Eve, at the same hospital, a few minutes apart, our main characters could not be more different. They meet at a party on New Year’s Eve, but they do not seem to have much in common. And yet, they seem to be connected and are reunited throughout the years. Quinn had an easier life, coming from money and took a lot for granted. Minnie was strong and determined. I loved watching them connect over and over and slowly discover more of each other. Though I loved the romance in this story, the characters and their journey, there was a lot more to it as well and I was captivated from start to finish.

Happy reading!

Thank you to NetGalley, Arrow, & Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review this book before it's publication date! This in no way affected my review, opinions are my own.

Okay, so I wasn't sure at first if this was going to work for me - the characters themselves or the way the narrative was set up - but it so did!! I loved going through one year chronologically while visiting the shared birthdays of years past (the MC and the love interest were born on the same day, in the same hospital, and HIJINKS ENSUED, okay).

I felt like every character had a reason to be in the story and existed as more than "Minnie's friend" or "Minnie's friend's boyfriend" or "Minnie's love interest's mother" - they all had their own stories within that for sure enhanced the overall story.

This is one I would for sure recommend to other fans of contemporary fiction - I hope you like it as much as I did!

I love discovering new authors and Sophie Cousens is certainly a new author for me.  I read the synopsis for 'This Time Next Year' and it certainly sounded like a fun and ultimately uplifting read.  I couldn't wait to start reading and so without further ado I grabbed my Kindle, grabbed a mug of hot chocolate and started to read.  I absolutely adored reading 'This Time Next Year' but more about that in a bit.

I absolutely ADORED the character of Minnie Cooper.  As you can imagine, Minnie has had her leg pulled over the years regarding her name with lots of sarcastic 'vroom, vroom' comments.  She wasn't meant to have that name as she was supposed to have been called Quinn, but another woman, who had a baby at literally the same time as Minnie's mother, pinched the name for her own son.  The lad called Quinn has been known as and referred to as the 'name thief'.  At the start of the story, Minnie has a boyfriend called Greg, who quite honestly needs a kick in a rude area for how he treats Minnie.  For example, they are both at a party, Minnie goes off to the toilet and doesn't appear again but rather than look for her, Greg goes home, so Minnie is locked in the toilet all night.  Greg doesn't seem to appreciate Minnie and treats her rather badly.  As soon as I came across him, there was something about him that just made me want to slap him across the chops with a wet fish a few times.  Minnie isn't always the luckiest of people and every New Year (which is also her birthday) something seems to go wrong.  Minnie comes into contact with Quinn in the unlikeliest of circumstances and I just kept everything crossed that they would get together and sail off into the sunset together.  What happens?  Well you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.

I absolutely loved reading 'This Time Next Year'.  To say that reading this book became addictive seems a huge understatement.  I made the fatal mistake of starting to read this book shortly before going to bed.  Let's just say that I ended up becoming that wrapped up in the story that I ended up reading into the wee small hours of the morning and I felt very tired when I got up.  The pages turned increasingly quickly as I became even more desperate to find out what happened.  I think that part of my need to know was the fact that I liked Minnie so much.  If I wasn't reading this book, I was thinking about this book.  If I had to put the book down for any reason then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again.  From start to finish, I was completely under this book's spell.  'This Time Next Year' was a delight to read and I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of it.

'This Time Next Year' is superbly written.  The author certainly knew how to grab my attention from the start and she didn't have to try very hard to entice me into the story.  I was drawn into the story from the very first word on the very first page.  I loved the way in which Sophie has created such a likeable character as Minnie, who felt as though she had become a friend of mine.  I also love the way in which Sophie has combined the drama, romance with a very generous dose of humour.  This book had me smiling on and off through the time I was reading it.  It was certainly the tonic that I needed.

In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'This Time Next Year' and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers.  I will be reading more of Sophie's work in the future.  The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This Time Next Year is a hilarious, feel good escapist read which was perfect for reading on my recent holiday.

Firstly the thing that I most enjoyed about this book was the fantastic, relatable characters who I warmed to quickly. They were all such brilliantly supportive friends who all had their own little quirks which made them lots of fun to read about. I liked how Minnie changes throughout the novel and it was great to see her grow in confidence. I also liked how the author managed to surprise me with Quinn and how he turned out to be not just a stereotypical rich boy.

I thought this book was well written and had a great flow to it which made it easy to read. There were lots of funny moments that had me laughing out loud and made me love the characters even more. The ending was lovely and left me feeling happy long after turning the last page.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Arrow publishing for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

This Time Next Year, is a classic modern romance. It follows two people and their connection over the years since their birth on the same night, to the night they properly meet, the first day of 2020.

It’s a great easy read and a fun book to escape into.

Not the exact love story that I thought it was going to be after reading the synopsis - but, such a good story and book! Who doesn’t love a comedy/romance book -
Especially during these difficult times - it made me escape what has been going on, and I fully enjoyed it!

I'm having a really hard time figuring out what I think about this book. I found it so hard to get invested for the first half of the book and I found most of the characters unlikeable for 90% of the book. They were all so aggravating and didn't feel there was enough explanation to let everyone get away without proper explanations.

I would have liked more from Quinn's POV, especially during the period when he and Minnie were not speaking, His character was the most interesting to me.

I think I'd give it a 2.5 (rounded up to a 3 for Goodreads.