This Time Next Year: A GMA Book Club Pick

I know I’m late to the party on this one, but what a gem! I really enjoyed it!Here’s what I loved the most:-the characters. I loved that none of them were particular unlikable. They all had redeeming qualities & I loved that.-the way Tara & Connie grew with each other. There’s power in numbers, and I truly believe fresh air, motivation, and friendship is a solid start to healing. However, I do think its so important to note that those things are not A CURE to any mental disorder.-the friendships in this all the way through. This absolutely made the book for me. Minnie, Greg, Clive, Bev, Fleur, all of them. I absolutely love reading about people rallying around each other.

This is my first book of 2021! When I saw that the story starts on New Year’s Eve, I decided it was the perfect book to start the year!This is the story of Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton, they were born at the same hospital on New Year and they meet in person on their thirtieth birthday. Although they are born only 1 minute apart, the gap between them seems inexplicably wide. Minnie is convinced he “stole” all her luck and fortune, which makes the fact that she is attracted to him frustrating and confusing to her.This was a very easy, fun and light read. It has all the elements you hope for in a romcom. Although some of the dialogue was a bit sappy, I enjoyed the characters and found myself rooting for both of them. The book also addresses more complex issues, such as mental health and selfcare, and it’s a good reminder to be kind to one another and to yourself. I also appreciated the friendship element in the story and enjoyed getting to know the secondary characters and the impact they have on both Minnie’s and Quinn’s life. This was a 3.5 star book for me.

Absolutely one of my favorite reads!

Stay in! Go out! Does it matter if you’re with the one who makes you? Wonderful story about finding yourself and falling in love.

I felt like this book to ages to read. I could not get into a good rhythm. So much of the story felt unnecessary to me. I was skimming a lot. The back and forth in the timeline also did a disservice to the plot. I couldn't find my footing in this book. However, there were so many sweet quotes that made me giggle and smile.

This was very well written but there were a few issues. First, the MMC and FMC spent little time together on the page which made it hard to believe they were in love. Second, the flashbacks were uninteresting and I found myself skimming through them to get to the chapter set in the present. Third, the two main characters were sympathetic, but not particularly likeable. I would not want to date either of them. Overall, this was more of a book about growing up and friendships than about romance.

This cozy romance definitely leads the reader on the up and down story of Minnie. It successfully jumps between 2 pov and timeframes. I enjoy how Minnie finds herself while also examining her relationships with family and friends A feel good book with an emotional growth included

I stumbled upon this book in an airport on an extremely long, unintended layover, and I couldn’t put it down! I’ve now read all of her books but this is by far my favorite. I believe they’re in the early stages of making it into a movie, so if you like to be the ‘get ahead of the curve’ kind of person, I’d read the book!

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a super cute British rom com, and it was the perfect book to start the year! I’d been saving this one to start on New Year’s Day. This book was extra special to me because my husband is also my “love twin”. We share a birthday and we were also born in the same hospital. We’re January babies too, but much later in the month.Minnie and Quinn were born one minute apart on New Year’s Day in 1990. After years of just missing each other on New Year’s Eve, Minnie and Quinn finally connect on their 30th birthday. The story features alternating timelines of present day and new years of past, and dual POV switching back and forth between the two characters. Minnie and Quinn are both lovable characters who have faced many struggles albeit with vastly different upbringings. On the surface, Quinn seems to have it all, but there’s much more than meets the eye. Minnie believes she is jinxed and that bad things always happen to her on her birthday all because Quinn stole her name. It was a cute story, but also had lots of depth. It not only explores romantic love, but also love through friendship and family. It was great to watch the characters evolve and grow throughout the book.

This is so hilariously odd that I loved it. The proposal, the pies, the people and friendships, and so much in between - I really enjoyed this fantastic book. I especially liked the theme of finding yourself before you find someone else with romance. There's just so much to be said about figuring yourself out. I loved how people changed and grew in this story. It was just quirky, yet lovely. And I really loved the power of imperfect mothers. I like how Cousens let us see the mothers grow and didn't turn them into villains. I know there are lots of villainous mothers out there, but I loved the relationships in this story and the positive changes that came in the end.Content: There's innuendo, but closed door. Triggers with attempted suicide, depression, anxiety, and bullying.Language: There are a handful of f-bombs and a few other swears. This isn't overly done.Religious: Not a religious readHappy reading!!

Truly and honestly, I did not think that I would like this book. After I began reading, I found myself dreading the time it would take to finish it. However, as I continued, I found myself really enjoying the story and the layout of the book. I enjoyed the layout of the chapters and the timeline that the author offered. The book touches are some great topics in a lovely way (like anxiety, dealing with emotions, and being self-sufficient). I truly loved the themes of the book and will make it a habit to ask myself and others every new year, "Where do you want to be this time next year?"

This story has dual point of view from both characters and jumps back and forth through time with appropriately labeled chapters. Sometimes I got a little confused about where I was in the jumps, but I thought the idea of them meeting several times throughout the book without knowing it was cute. I really enjoyed the side characters and the family issues that both of the main characters were struggling through. Minnie has issues with her mother’s criticism and blaming Quinn’s mother for “stealing” her baby name and the first baby of the new year money and Quinn’s mother struggles with depression and agoraphobia and at times is completely codependent on him to the point of interference. They both went through quite the journey in this book, and I enjoyed the ride.

I am late to join the party for this book butthis is a really good book. The romance in the book was alot more real life and not cliche rom-com. Two adults fighting problems and finding happiness in one another then finding it in a partner. The idea of them barely missing each other or running into each other was very cute. Just wish we could have seen more of the the two as a couple.

My number one piece of advice for those reading this book is to consider it just a story of a woman finding herself rather than a romance. It’s not a bad story, but the romance is a secondary plot to the main character’s (Minnie’s) journey. (Women’s lit is the term, but I am not a big fan of that phrase.)Here’s a breakdown of my thoughts:The Bad1) This story was just plain dull. So many things are going on in the story and yet it felt like nothing was happening. I could easily set it aside and never think of it again.2) There was barely a romance; it was much more focused on the main character’s journey.3) I am surprised so many consider this a “lighthearted read,” because quite frankly this book was kind of a downer. There was a lot of emotional baggage being unpacked in pretty much every chapter (her business falling apart, her breakup, getting evicted, her mother’s disappointment in her, her crush not wanting her, and so on and so on). I don’t need every part of a story to be unrealistically happy, but dang. I don’t want to feel legit sad for hours either.4) I am hesitant to say this, because my opinion is almost always the opposite, but we spent too much time learning about side characters. Each of them had interests and unique stories, and that was nice, but sometimes we’d go several chapters in a row without the two “main characters” interacting at all. (Then again, as I’ve said already, this was not really a romance.)The Good1) This was a really lovely premise for a book. The thought of their paths being so close for so long, with many small interactions over the years. My heart loves a story like this! And there were some moments throughout the book where I felt it was getting close to its potential as a story.2) I loved all the “close calls” and brief conversations the main couple had throughout the years - that was what made the story interesting. (Though I am a little disappointed we didn’t get to see them make those connections in their current lives.)3) This book had a really great, empathetic look at mental health. It took on a few different mental health issues (anxiety, agoraphobia, trauma) from different angles and always with kindness and understanding. Along with a realistic look at how going to therapy doesn’t instantly solve a problem - each of these issues takes time and small steps over the course of a year or more.4) There was no “bad guy” in this story. I truly LOVE seeing this! During break ups, fights with friends, rejections, etc. no one ever was the bad guy. People did and said some mean things here and there, but they always had a redeeming moment or arc that made you understand the mean thing was out of character. There was no evil ex trying to sabotage anything or a jerk boss on a power trip getting in the way. The bad guys in the story were all the problems that the characters were putting on themselves. (And the breakup scene between Minne and Greg was very well done.)Others seem to like this book much more than I did, so maybe you’ll like it too. But overall, this book lacked charm and was an underwhelming read. Though I do not regret reading this book, either.

📚Book Review📚•This Time Next YearAuthor:Genre: RomanceRating: 5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️•Synopsis: The first baby born in the 90s was to be awarded a cash prize. Flash forward 30 years and Minnie Cooper is once again having a bad New Years Eve, experiencing the inevitable jinx that never fails. Minnie was born second on New Years Day in 1990, losing the cash prize.... and her name. During their mutual 30th birthday Minnie runs into Quinn Hamilton, the first baby born in 1990, the name stealer. Quinn seems to have it all, success, money, and looks, meanwhile Minnie is on the verge of loosing her pie making business. Minnie and Quinn continue to keep bumping into each other unraveling a beautiful story.•Have you ever had a book that once you finished you sighed, hugged it and just smiled thinking about how amazing it was? Well that was me after finishing this book. I usually lean towards mystery/thrillers and have mostly strayed away from any romance novels in the past few years. But this book captured my attention on page one and continued to amaze me with each page. This story is beautifully written - reminding you to love yourself, take chances, never take anything or anyone you have for granted and to never judge a person before you get to know their story. I loved this book, I highly recommend it if your looking for a feel good easy read!

I love the premise of this book—the idea of two people born at the same time, one’s whole life affected by the existence of the other and the other not even knowing the one existed; and then they meet. I love the Next Stop Wonderland-ness of it, too, with their almost meetings throughout their lives.I appreciate that Minnie’s growth and change was slow. Time passed. That doesn’t often happen in books, and we just accept it. I know real life is no excuse for fiction, but it was still nice to see character growth happen the way it does here.I also like that the story is complex enough that Minnie’s assumptions about Quinn, her “birthday twin,” are not as simple as she thinks, and it’s not just Minnie who has a change and growth arc. Many of the side characters are complex, rich characters who are clearly on their own journeys, and no one is a straight up villain.I love the love story between Minnie and her best friend Leila, too. Leila isn’t just a cheerleader for Minnie, though she’s that, too.One of my favorite characters is Clive, who is actually a very minor character, but is just great. Everyone needs a Clive in their lives.One thing that kind of threw me out of the story a little was a scene near the end that felt very Rom-Com movie, but somehow didn’t quite work in a book. Maybe it was because so much of the book felt very realistic and this scene didn’t. I’m sure it will work fine in the movie adaptation, though.I highly recommend this book to lovers of contemporary romance.

The story was a good one. Two souls that were connected since birth and they finally met at the age of thirty, during their birthday, on New Year's Day.Or do they already know each other?Minnie Copper (no joke that's her name) believes her birthday is jinxed. She was born a minute too late on New Year's Day to become the first 90's baby. She lost the cash prize as a newborn. She also lost her name. Her mother wanted to name her Quinn but while ready to deliver Minnie, she was placed in a room with another pregnant woman who was ready to have her own baby. Said baby is born first and is named Quinn.For years, Minnie has believed Quinn Hamilton stole her luck. Awful things happen on her birthday and she tries to have a low-key birthday. This year, her boyfriend Greg has decided to take her to a party. By the time they get there, someone had already vomited on Minnie. She excuses herself to go clean up when she becomes stuck in the bathroom. The next morning, someone opens the door, and it's none other than Quinn Hamilton, the name stealer.This one chance meeting will change the next twelve months for them. A friendship develops and then a romance but can Minnie overcome her fears and can Quinn stop running away from commitment?This Time Next Year was a winner for me. I'm one of the few people who didn't enjoy One Day in December so I was a little worried about the comparison. Thankfully, I loved how the story developed and how the romance evolved. The near misses since they were born were all so good! I was desperate for them to realize they knew each other.Cliffhanger: No4/5 Fangs

Something annoying in a lot of rom coms is the lack of commonality between the pair and not really understanding (other than they are both hot) why a couple would be together-outside of sexual chemistry. "They looked across the room and BAM they knew...."- GAH) That is not the case here. Minnie and Quinn are both well developed characters. Quinn is upper class and Minnie is solidly middle class but in the important areas they are quite similar. They are smart, kind, funny, with an interesting depth- in small and big ways you really feel their connection.There are many enjoyable, fun and funny side characters and plots (her BFF, parents, co-workers, clients) that really round out this story. From female empowerment to mental health struggles there is a lot of there there. I have read A LOT of this genre and was surprised this was Ms. Cousens' first novel (and a bit disappointed because I was going to read everything else she wrote).This was an entertaining read & very pleasant diversion from "2020" that I didn't want to end. I agree with others' comments about this surely being a future Reese Witherspoon made film (Reese as Lucy, Emilia Clarks as Minnie, Sam Claflin as Quinn? -keeping the "Me Before You" duo together?)

The book was interesting, but it was one of the rare times I got pulled in by the blurb, and I felt a bit misled. While yes, there were times they had met, or had near misses, it wasn’t a case that they bumped into each other constantly.The two just had such similar yet different lives... Minnie was on the lower edge of middle class, and Quinn was on the upper edge. That being said they vacationed in similar places, she served and cooked food in restaurants that he ate in.In all honesty the best was the relationship between the mothers.

Not sure how I found this book but I'm so glad I did! I'm not typically a fan of holiday romance novels, as I find them twee and predictable, but this was a really refreshing change. For once, the heroine wasn't an early 20-something woman stumbling around and always saying or doing the wrong thing but is inexpicably charming all the same. Minnie is 30 and still trying to sort out who she is and what kind of life she wants. The male protagonist, Quinn, is as flawed and vulnerable as she is, and somehow it works together to make a lovely story of two people trying to find themselves first so they can find each other. Well written, nicely devloped characters, and a charming story--I bought three copies to give as gifts. Highly recommended, especially if you are looking as forward to New Years 2021 as I am.