INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICKTheir lives began together, but their worlds couldn’t be more different. After thirty years of missed connections, they’re about to meet again…Minnie Cooper knows two things with certainty: that her New Year’s birthday is unlucky, and that it’s all because of Quinn Hamilton, a man she’s never met. Their mothers gave birth to … she’s never met. Their mothers gave birth to them at the same hospital just after midnight on New Year’s Day, but Quinn was given the cash prize for being the first baby born in London in 1990–and the name Minnie was meant to have, as well. With luck like that, it’s no wonder each of her birthdays has been more of a disaster than the one before.
When Minnie unexpectedly runs into Quinn at a New Year’s party on their mutual thirtieth birthday, she sees only more evidence that fortune has continued to favor him. The gorgeous, charming business owner truly seems to have it all–while Minnie’s on the brink of losing her pie-making company and her home. But if Quinn and Minnie are from different worlds, why do they keep bumping into each other? And why is it that each fraught encounter leaves them both wanting more?
A moving, joyful love story, This Time Next Year explores the way fate leads us to the people we least expect–no matter what the odds.
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I devoured the first 40% of this book. The story being woven together was magic. The stolen name leading to a day of bad luck, but did the one who stole the name truly live the better life?
When your name is Minnie Cooper you tend to think you were given the raw deal.
Minnie is quirky and despite putting herself down, I found her to be quite adorable.
Quinn seems to have it all, but sometimes looks and money can only get you so far.
Somehow mid-book, the flashbacks were not working for me. I feel they were a bit too…I don’t know, too perfect, but that comes with reading romance if there had been any romance.
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens was the perfect December/escape read for 2020. There is a cast of quirky characters, lots of laugh-out-loud moments, romance, and more coincidences than you can shake a stick at. I really liked the way Cousens told the story through multiple timelines, and from the viewpoints of both Quinn and Minnie. I was rooting for them the entire time, and the banter between the two made my heart happy. At its heart this is definitely a romcom, but it also had depth that I really appreciated, and getting to know the characters was fun, if not a bit sad at times. Minnie is under the impression that Quinn had an easy childhood since he grew up around money, but she quickly learns that money doesn’t mean happy.
I loved the little things in the book, like the fact Minnie’s last name is Cooper, and the name of Minnie’s pie business to name a couple. I thought Cousens wrote such a wonderful book for her debut, and even though I know a lot of readers are saying parts are unbelievable, it’s one of the things I actually loved about the book. I think it made this a great book to throw yourself into and forget about the real world for a while. I was living in a world of coincidences and romance, and I loved every minute of it. The narrator for the audiobook is Hannah Arterton and she did a truly amazing job. I loved listening to her narrate and thought they did a great job picking her for this book. Thank you Sophie Cousens for this super sweet book, and I can’t wait to read your next one!
I enjoyed listening to this book with a few exceptions. Minnies parents were horrible. They were emotionally abusive. Who spends the entirety of their lives telling their child they should just accept whatever life throws at them and not to try or expect more because they just aren’t that special? Her parents spent every moment blaming Quinn’s mother for “stealing” money and the name they wanted and spent the next 30 years in anger and treating Minnie as if she were doomed for life because of it. Not hard to understand why she had little expectation of a good and happy life nor reached for anything better for herself. Under all of the emotion of it all you could see she wanted more for herself, but every time she got within her goals something happened to destroy it and without ever being supported or cared for she just gave up and walked away accepting it all and believing it was her due. Even her dolt of a boyfriend said he liked 70% of her and wasn’t that enough? Really? I pretty much think he “kept her around because she tolerated what a tool he really was. It was wonderful to have watched her develop and want more for herself. Just wish somewhere along the way someone other than her best friend wasn’t the only one. And Quinn, she deserved better. He toyed with her so many times I wanted not to get the girl, but for the girl to get someone better. Not money wise but an emotionally mature adult. She deserved so much better than being his last choice. His character, if a woman would haven been called a tease. A condescending one at that. It did end nicely and was well written, but hard to listen to an entire book about an entire cast taking out theirs life struggles on a sweet girl who deserved none of it. And it would have been nice if her dad just once stopped with the “Minnie moo”or herbs boyfriend Ian didn’t manipulate her into doing his dirty work and causing the rift in their friendship. It was painful to have each and every person she encountered use her as an punching bag. So again, written well, but I feel as if the author didn’t really like her main character and only in the last minutes did she get some happiness, but only because someone else wanted better for themselves and using her to get it. I did like that at some point she finally realized she deserved and wanted better, just hoped it would be with better more deserving people than the ones currently in her life
This Time Next Year is a charming contemporary romance that explores the profound impact two families and two people have on each other’s lives over a span of a few decades. The story focuses on Minnie Cooper (yes, really) and Quinn Hamilton, a man and a woman who were born at the same hospital on New Year’s Day. Not only was Quinn born before Minnie, but he also stole the name she was supposed to have. Thirty years later, they meet by chance and can’t deny the connection between them. Do these chance encounters have the potential to lead to more, or will past grudges and new obstacles prove to be too complicated?
Minnie is a great protagonist! She is kind, compassionate, a really good friend, and a bit of a mess. I love her ambitious desire to share her love of food and cooking while helping those in need. She knows what she is passionate about and strives to achieve her goals. She also learns some humility, especially in regards to Quinn, who she grossly misjudges. Sometimes it takes losing everything to realize what you really want, and I think Minnie does just that.
I also love the slow-building romance between Minnie and Quinn and wholly rooted for their happily ever after. They have many swoon-worthy moments, as well as some humorous mishaps. Further, the flashbacks to different parts of Minnie and Quinn’s lives when their paths cross, unbeknownst to them are fantastic.
However, this isn’t solely a love story. It’s a story about families and growing, learning and adapting, understanding others and yourself, and letting go of the past while embracing the future.
There are many wonderful characters, messages, and plotlines, and I particularly like Minnie’s quirky friends and co-workers. They are comical and sweet, and they always have her back. I also love Minnie and Quinn’s mother’s stories. Both recall the same experience of giving birth together on New Year’s Eve. However, they leave with such different feelings all because of miscommunication. It was interesting to see how their stories evolved and came around full circle.
Quinn and Minnie have relationship and family issues, though their problems are very different. I like how the author tackles family issues as well as mental health concerns. Anxiety, agoraphobia, commitment issues, and more affect the characters’ lives, and the author doesn’t shy away from these realistic situations. Minnie and Quinn put a lot of pressure on themselves, especially when it comes to family, which I also found really realistic and understandable.
I enjoyed the book and think it will appeal to readers who like contemporary romance with great characters, witty banter, and a lot of heart. Thanks so much to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Readers, block your day! The next great rom-com has arrived – just in time for the holiday season.
This Time Next Year tells the story of Minnie Cooper and Quinn. Two 30 year olds who were born at the same hospital, on New Year’s Eve. Minnie and Quinn meet accidentally at his 30th birthday party – and what follows is the story of their past New Year’s Eve and present day 2020. The back story really gives a lot of depth to the characters and helps readers fall in love with them. It is also quite easy to follow along during the back and forth timelines.
I was surprised by how much I loved it! It is seriously the perfect rom-com with laugh out loud parts, and two characters you will find yourself rooting for at the end.
I’d love to see this on the big screen!!
This book captured my attention right from the start and held it all the way through, I even laughed out loud a couple times. The characters were all flawed (ie human and not book perfect) yet still loveable. While the book is about Minnie and Quinn I really enjoyed the other friendships and relationships throughout the book and found myself cheering them on almost as much as the protagonists. The flashbacks through the years, showing all the times that Minnie and Quinn crossed paths without realizing, were fun but never felt forced. I’m so glad I chose this book as my book of the month, it was the perfect feel good read going into the Christmas season
The beginning of the blurb on Amazon really sums this up perfectly: “After thirty years of missed connections, they’re about to meet again…” I really think it’s a bit romantic, that Minnie and Quinn’s lives have intersected since their births.
This one isn’t categorized as romance in Amazon as of today’s date, and I think that is apt. I can’t tell you why I feel that way, because I don’t want to spoil the book, but the categories of ‘Women’s Friendship Fiction’ and ‘Contemporary’ fit this well. If I have one criticism, it would be that there are a few inconsistencies in the book. For example, in the beginning, Leila is described as “not a conservative dresser” who has a very colorful wardrobe. But then, towards the end of the book, her style is labeled as demure. Those kinds of issues are small and aren’t holding me back from rounding my review up from 4.5 to 5 stars.
All the characters in this one were fantastic, except Minnie’s mother, who is so darn toxic. It baffles me that neither her father nor her brother Will ever stood up for her. But considering her brother gets the best of things, it makes sense. I mean, even Minnie’s birthday dinner was more about her mother making an impression on Will’s girlfriend than celebrating Minnie. Leila is a wonderful best friend, who has always been incredibly supportive, and we all could use a Leila in our lives. I loved This Time Next Year. I loved the group of people that worked for Minnie and Leila. I loved the humor, the screw-ups, and all the joys. Thank you, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, for sending this along.
A cute, light, romantic story of good luck vs awful luck.
How is it that every birthday brings a stroke of horror for Minnie Cooper?
She carries a huge chip on her shoulder which creates negativity to follow her everywhere in her life!
That is until # 30!
She meets her nursery mate on their birthday. He was born the same day and actually only a wee bit before Minnie.
Can he help Minnie to drop the adversity in her life? Can life start to “go right” for Minnie?
Stay tuned and read this book! You will totally enjoy these people!
A sweet and enjoyable romance story between two characters full of life and so different in any possible way. We all know how opposite attracts but still, these two have another kind of connection that it’s more rare to find.
They were born at the same time in the same hospital and over the years their path have crossed many times but in their adult life, at the age when they should start to think about having a family of their own, they meet again and everything changes.
There are many moments that I really enjoyed reading about them, their interaction with the families and all the ups and downs and experience and expectations for an young adult nowadays it can be read on the story.
Because I love romance, i would say this story it’s more woman fiction with a couple looking for that romantic elements in their relationship.
It’s a good book for escaping in a fictional world for few hours spent in these uncertain moments
First time read by this author but I would definitely read again. Sweet story that spans 30 years of missed chances between two people who share more than even they imagined. Pratfalls and amazing English humor round out a story that makes you cheer for the underdog all the way through. Some romance and barely even a kiss but I still found myself riveted to the pages wondering what would happen next and if these two would ever find their happily ever afters.
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!
I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. This story was a journey and like any journey, it has its own pace, ups and downs, and discovering many things along the way. I just enjoyed reading this book, many times, I stopped to think about what I had read. The author, Sophie Cousens didn’t rush the story, she let us savor the moments, the discoveries, the ups, and downs, the setbacks, and figuring out where they go from here. That is what I loved most about reading this book.
This time next year by Sophie Cousens a fated five-star read. This maybe wouldn’t have been such a great story for me if I wasn’t born almost ten years to the minute earlier than these pair Quinn and Minnie, so the fate of that made me smile, and I am a sucker for a fated story. There were amazing characters to this story, and I really enjoyed the story line, I just found the pace a little too quick at times for me, I felt like I was flipping scenarios a little fast, but honestly that was a miner thing and overall I really enjoyed the relationship building in this one. Pick it up and give yourself a go as it wil whisk you away and make everything right for a few hours.
Thank you to Netgalley, Random House, and the Author for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What a wonderful read. Full of Love, friendship, wit and whimsy.
Quirky characters and families that all seemed to come together in the strangest but sweetest ways.
My first read from this Author and won’t be my last as I’ll definitely be following her and her works.