Love love loved this! It was witty and totally engaging and I just fell in love with the characters. I’ve read a lot of chick lit in my time and so I’m always keen for a new twist on boy meets girl there’s some drama and then a happy ending etc etc. I enjoyed the angle of them having the same birthday and dipping back into the past where their paths had crossed before. It was just really well written and I will definitely be reading more from this author. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and Arrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Can fate bring two people together over the course of 30 years? It certainly seems like it might in this sweet and delightful story by Sophie Cousens.

“This Time Next Year” centers around Minnie and Quinn who wore born a minute apart on January 1st 1990 in London. For years Minnie has resented Quinn for stealing her name and being the blame for her bad luck that has followed her around her whole life. Everything changes when the two finally meet on their 30th birthday. Minnie and Quinn couldn’t be more different, both raised in different classes and have different outlooks on life but that doesn’t matter when the two keep being thrown into each other’s lives. What happens next is a year long journey as Minnie and Quinn continue to grow a close friendship while working on rediscovering themselves and what they truly want in life. Flashbacks through the past 30 years of Minnie and Quinn lives show missed opportunities kept them just out of arms reach from each other, or was it destiny?

I absolutely adored “This Time Next Year” and devoured in a day. Minnie’s lovable but yet insecure personality made me want to become her friend and Quinn’s charming ways made me keep reading dying to learn what would happen to these characters in the end. The witty banter and strong bonds between Minnie and Quinn’s friends and family made this book come together and feel fresh and light even when touching on tougher issues. I loved every second of being transported into Minnie and Quinn’s lives and their connection to each other. I didn’t want this book to end and want a sequel just so I can jump back into these amazing characters lives.

Thanks NetGalley and Cornerstone Digital for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book.

I was looking for a quarantine read, and this did the trick. It was a quick, light read with quirky characters. Although, I did find the storyline with the flashbacks a bit confusing at times, it did not detract from the overall read.

I look forward to future books by the author.

Great read, I have really enjoyed reading this one. I cannot say anything negative about this one and cannot wait to read more by this author.

Hmm, it's not often that I read contemporary books that have overtones of "fate," etc, but I find that I quite like reading about the numerous times they've encountered each other in the past. I'm usually not particularly big on the use of flashbacks in books, but surprisingly, I enjoyed the flashbacks and rather anticipated reading about their past. Maybe it's the author's style of writing, or maybe it's because I liked the main characters. I liked how there wasn't an insta-love (though you could tell they were attracted to each other) and how Quinn and Minnie were actually friends first. The characters are sensible and likeable, which is always a big plus in a book, and the friendship between Minnie, Leila and the No Hard Fillings staff is one of the best things in the story. Overall, this book gave me warm, honey-like feelings.

This is one of those missed chances style stories that can sometimes drive me a little bit mad, but happily this one was cute and I liked everyone in it.

They were born a few minutes apart in the same hospital in the first few minutes of 1990. As an aside, I can remember 'seeing in' 1990 (in a pub, I believe I was in fancy dress as Perky pig, don't ask) and to my shame it doesn't feel like it was that long ago. God I'm old and it did make me slightly, uncomfortably conscious that I'm much closer to their parents' ages than I am to this couple which added another layer to the story for me.

It was essentially a chic lit I suppose, but not one with zany characters doing crazy things; rather it was closely observed, snarky, witty and thought provoking, just how I love them. I really struggled to put this down,

My only reservation was Quinn. He was charismatic, hot, funny and cute but he also had commitment issues which were a bit too convincing perhaps. Minnie was so lovely, I wanted the best possible ending for her.

Highly recommended for anyone who loves a belly warming, romantic and witty read.

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC.

This is a great debut read from Sophie, very well written and I loved Minnie and Quinn such warming characters, perfect rom com book that I didn't want to end.

I received this book from Net Galley, in return I am writing an honest and fair review. This book is a rom-com with enough heft to it, that it leaves you feeling like you’ve listened to an important message about life. The dialogue flows, often humorously.. the characters are a little quirky, but all are like able. It kept my attention. I didn’t skim through it or put it aside for later as I sometimes do when reading a rom-com..I would rate this a 4 star book.

This book was a true delight to read - funny and heartwarming!

Minnie Cooper (insert car joke here) believes she was doomed from the start. On NYE 1989, her mother is trying to win the prize for first baby born in the 1990s. Not only does she lose the prize, but she also loses her choice baby name, Quinn, to her hospital roommate. Minnie is cursed with terrible luck each year her birthday rolls around...and then she meets the infamous Quinn Cooper. His life must be perfect, right? Well...not really, and so begins the story.

I loved Minnie from the start - she has a heart of gold, a great best friend Leila, and possibly the best bakery name of all time (No Hard Fillings). We're around the same age, and I really related to her struggle to find herself and her passion in life. We see her cross paths with Quinn throughout the years on their shared birthdays before their true meeting in 2020, and Cousens works a lot of humor into these scenarios.

The loose plot design of this book is similar to One Day and One Day in December, but as other reviewers have noted, the characters make this book special and worth a read. I laughed a lot and teared up a bit at the end - the signs of a good read.

Such a sweet romcom and something a little different in the storyline. I enjoyed the will they / won’t they. All the characters were true characters had such colourful stories you could really immerse yourself in to This Time Next Year. Unputdownable with a good reminder to be happy with you and not have your happiness be so reliant on others!

I loved this book. Straight away I liked Minnie she was such an easy going character. The book follows Minnie & Quinn born on the same day but their paths have gone in different directions. After a chance meeting they find their lives entwined. This was a very enjoyable read.

A fun read with likeable characters and interesting plot.

Would pick up future titles by Cousens.

4 stars.

A nice story with the ups and downs of relationships and friendships, a lot dependant on your self worth.

An easy read with a lovely story running throughout.

This was one of those books that completely sweeps you off your feet. It was beautiful and full of soul-searching and was rather poetic, in that romantic kind of way. It was unexpected and addictive and I really, thoroughly enjoyed every page.

The characters were a colourful bunch. Minnie (Cooper), I mean, the name itself tells you she has good character and darn good personality to boot. Leila, the 1950’s style girl who is all confidence and swagger in her own stylish fashion. Bev, Alan and Fleur, loved these characters; they were different and bubbly and totally unexpected. Quinn Hamilton, heart throb-ish but has an awesome personality. Minnie’s parents... her dad especially, were freakin’ awesome, though I couldn’t ever live in their house without ripping my hair out from the noises!!

The storyline flowed beautifully and was fully of humour, definitely a book to read if you need a pick-me-up! I especially loved the new year ‘jinx’ and the easy banter between Minnie and Quinn, and I love that Minnie has her insecurities and isn’t afraid to show them. Ahh this book was just beautiful!

LOVED the writing style and the way it presented and wish such a gorgeous ending! Definitely looking out for more books from this author.

The first thing that comes to my mind when finding how to describe this book is CHEMISTRY! Minnie has always thought her life was doomed since birth, how she should have had a more thrilling life but it was all taken by a misunderstanding. I loved how original it was to connect both main characters. From early on, I noticed the easy banter between them, and how much chemistry was in the air when they would occasionally meet. Coming from different worlds does not help Minnie’s ease into even complentating the idea of a friendship with Quinn.

The storyline was so authentic to the real world, how maybe one half of the couple is ready to commit but the other one cannot meet halfway. It was definitely a rollercoaster of emotions, but it’s so worth to see the development of each of them as individual

I was given an early copy in exchange for an honest review. The tone and style of Minnie and Quinn's story is a very enjoyable read. Both of them were born on the same night, in the same hospital, their mother's acting as each other's birthing partners. After that, we see that their lives seem to be inexplicably entwined as they slowly move towards each other. I appreciated the amount of character development and growth that both Minnie and Quinn were able to overcome.

As stated previously, I did enjoy the tone and style of the story, however, I found the organization of the novel to be somewhat confusing. It's set up between present-day and past New Year's Eve of both Quinn and Minnie's past. We see how they've unknowingly been passing or interacting with each other in the past. But for some odd reason, the past years aren't chronological at all, and the connection between Minnie's experiences and Quinn's isn't made until several chapters later on more than one occasion. The other aspect that kind of felt disconnecting as a reader is that even though we're privy to all of the instances that Quinn and Minnie have experienced they are (with one exception revealed at the very end) completely ignorant about it, which makes their "fated love" seem more like it just appeared out of nowhere...but overall still a wonderful feel-good story with some good comedic moments. 3 out of 5 stars.

This book is exactly what I needed at the moment. Such a wonderful story that began when 2 babies were born on new years day. The story follows their separate lives that are also very different. Quinn is born to wealth, Minnie is from a working class family yet they have more in common than they actually realise. Such a heartwarming story that had me laughing out loud.
Still smiling after finishing reading it

I lovely little read really enjoyed it not the most amazing characters but it was a very good read and the way it is written makes you care about them worth a read !!

I fell in love with the characters quickly and even though I expected the end, I liked the little twists on the way. The story is told from two points of view and with flashbacks. It was so emotional to read how they missed each other all these years!
I would have loved to read more about how the relationship between the mothers developed to this intense friendship. It came a bit out of nowhere, especially considering their past. I noticed some recurring figures of speech that could have been avoided, but all in all they weren't annoying.

This book is a light and easy read that I recommend to anyone who likes a cute romantic story with relatable characters. I could even imagine it adapted for television. Totally binge-worthy!

Thank you to the publisher who provided me with an e-copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC of This Time Next Year.

I really enjoyed this book! Although the characters weren’t wildly out there, I adored how the author made them so interesting - shared New Year’s Day birthdays, stolen names, the line between friendship and business partners, a glimpse into agoraphobia.

Nothing was over the top, in terms of the characters personalities or the story itself. I really liked Quinn and Minnie’s flashbacks, they fit into the present narrative really well.

I will recommend to friends.