A review by kellesutherland
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens

medium-paced

3.0

This Time Next Year is a fine romance, though some of the storylines and scenarios felt overly fictional and unrealistic, while others did strike a chord with reality. The two main characters—both with a lot of personal baggage to work through—were compelling, but it was clear they both had much more self-reflection and therapy ahead of them.

The female protagonist, in particular, placed a lot of her value and self-worth in the hands of others, which became frustrating at times. While it was interesting to read her inner dialogue, she continuously pursued a guy who had clearly expressed he couldn’t offer her what she needed.

By the end, they end up together, but I couldn’t help but wonder: has he really done the work needed to be with her? I know this is fictional, but I’m personally tired of seeing female characters who believe they can fix someone or who fall for someone based solely on the butterflies they feel, rather than listening to what the person is actually saying and moving on to someone who can meet their needs.

The concept of being “unlucky” from birth added a bittersweet layer to the book. As we followed the characters through different memories, the story challenged our perceptions of what true luck really is, which I found to be a thought-provoking element.

Overall, it was an easy read, though I had some mixed feelings about the characters’ growth and the ending.