Image via Signature Entertainment
A few years ago, I came across Sophie Cousens novel This Time Next Year thanks to the book box subscription, Book of the Month. It was my first experience with the British romance author, and I was immediately hooked. When I heard that the book had been adapted into a movie, I was thrilled. Even more exciting is that Cousens herself, who has a background as a TV producer, crafted the screenplay. As far as adaptations of beloved books go, you can’t ask for much more.
Film adaptations are just that – adaptations of the original source material, altered to suit a different medium and potential audience. When I went into This Time Next Year, I expected alterations from the book I fell in love with years ago. What I hope for in movies based on beloved books is that they capture the spirit, if not the exact details.
In that way, This Time Next Year is a bit of a mixed bag. It’s well-acted and charming, with some changes that serve us well in the film format. I have a few quibbles, but despite them, it’s a perfectly enjoyable romance movie experience.
Key Details
- Produced By: Night Train Media, BlackBox Multimedia, Vargo
- Director: Nick Moore
- Writer: Sophie Cousens
- Platforms: Roku Channel (US)
- Copy Provided For Review: Yes
A Delightful Cast Brings Characters to Life
The movie version of This Time Next Year stars Sophie Cookson as Minnie Cooper and Lucien Laviscount as Quinn Hamilton. They bring their respective characters to life admirably, with Cookson managing to bring just the right quirkiness to Minnie without making her seem like a caricature of a person. Laviscount is perfectly brooding yet sympathetic as the lucky yet tortured Quinn. The chemistry between them was good enough, though not quite as magnetic as you might hope for in a romance.
Along with the leading characters, the side characters really shine in This Time Next Year. Golda Rosheuval, who plays Queen Charlotte in the Bridgerton adaptation, portrays Quinn’s mother Tara. She does a great job bringing a complicated character to life alongside rival-turned-friend Connie, portrayed by Monica Dolan.
We also have Mandip Gill as Quinn’s friend and business partner, Leila. A fun treat for Doctor Who fans, and she shines in a supporting role here with a few pivotal scenes that really add to the depth of This Time Next Year.
In all, the acting is solid, translating the characters from the book to the screen in a charming and engaging way. Honestly, the relationship between Tara and Connie is one of the highlights here. In the book, it sort of faded into the background for me, but the performances here really highlight how significant this reconnection is for both women.
The “What If” of the Story Takes a Back Seat
This Time Next Year begins where fans of the book might expect – in a hospital as two women get ready to give birth on New Year’s Eve. I enjoyed this starting place, as we see what Connie and Tara mean to each other leading right up into the name fiasco that becomes a central issue in Minnie’s life.
From here, we jump into present day as Minnie experiences one of her bad luck birthdays. And then we… mostly stay in present day. For a while. It’s the film’s biggest departure from its source material, which weaves different New Year’s Eve memories from Quinn and Minnie throughout the book.
Because I read the book first, I missed this frame device, which is sort of awkwardly wedged in at the very end. In the book, we get the build-up of how many times Quinn and Minnie orbit each other while watching them come together in the present. In the movie, it’s only at the end that we get this big reveal. For me, that took a lot of the magic out of the story. However, for an audience stepping into the movie without having first read the book, I suspect this absence wouldn’t be felt nearly so keenly. But it’s what makes the story special, at least to me, and without it this becomes a fairly standard rom-com.
A solid fairly standard rom-com, granted. There are amusing moments and real stakes as Minnie struggles to save her business and Quinn feels trapped by the need to support his mother. We have some entertaining moments between our leads as they form a friendship that they pretend isn’t going to be anything more. And yet… I wanted that extra dash of “what if” magic I’ve come to expect from a Sophie Cousens story. And I wanted it throughout, not tacked on at the end.
Final Score – 7/10
In all, This Time Next Year is an entertaining and enjoyable way to spend a few hours when you’re in the mood for a rom com. There are some fun moments and some heart-wrenching ones, and the pacing is quick and easy to follow. While it won’t necessarily become one of my favorite movies, it was certainly a lovely rom com to cozy up to during the month of love.
For those who started with the book, go in expecting something a bit more linear. Despite that, much of the heart of the story does shine through, and there are of course many delicious-looking pies throughout. It’s a satisfying story told well enough, with a fun supporting cast and solid main performances.
This Time Next Year is available to stream for free via the Roku Channel in the US beginning on February 10th, 2025.
**Bonus Action was provided with an advance screening link for the purpose of this review**
About the Author
Discover more from Bonus Action
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
1 thought on “This Time Next Year Review – A Charming Romance Adaptation That Almost Captures the Magic of Its Source Material”