Character Relationship Map: This Time Next Year

Characters

• Minnie Cooper (played by Sophie Cookson) — protagonist

  The central protagonist, who runs a pie business, believes she is cursed on New Year's Eve, and faces mounting personal and professional pressures. She delivers pies, reassesses her relationship with...

• Quinn Hamilton (played by Lucien Laviscount) — supporting

  A management consultant whom Minnie meets while needing help with pie deliveries. He lends her his luxurious car, gradually opens up about his family, and plans a thoughtful birthday gesture involving...

• Leila (played by Mandip Gill) — supporting

  Minnie Cooper's best friend and business partner in the pie business. The demanding and financially unsustainable business exhausts her, while a fashion start-up offers her a possible new career. She...

• Bev (played by Keala Settle) — supporting

  Assists Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton with delivering pies during their day of driving between community centres.

• Greg (played by Will Hislop) — supporting

  Minnie Cooper's romantic partner, from whom she appears to separate. She tells him that she hopes they can remain, at most, friendly acquaintances.

• Ian (played by William Michael Roberts) — supporting
• Fleur (played by Charlie Oscar) — supporting

  Assists Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton with delivering a large order of pies between community centres.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Minnie Cooper → Greg (Former Romantic Partner) — Minnie deliberately distances herself from Greg and reframes their relationship.

  Minnie Cooper appears to end her relationship with Greg, saying she hopes they can remain, at most, friendly acquaintances.

• Minnie Cooper → Quinn Hamilton (Emerging Romantic Interest) — Their day together creates a strong but uncertain emotional connection.

  Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton spend the day delivering pies, talk personally, and gradually deepen their connection.

• Leila → Ian (Romantic Fiancee) — Their relationship moves toward marriage during the film.

  Ian plans to propose to Leila, and his proposal during the engagement celebration brings the couple happiness.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Quinn Hamilton → Leila (Alliance Indirect Supporter) — Quinn indirectly helps Leila's business fulfill an important order.

  Quinn's car enables Minnie Cooper to deliver the large pie order connected to Leila's business.

• Bev → Quinn Hamilton (Alliance Delivery Teammate) — Bev is part of the practical team supporting Quinn's borrowed-car journey.

  Bev assists during the delivery day when Quinn Hamilton drives between community centres with Minnie Cooper.

• Fleur → Quinn Hamilton (Alliance Delivery Teammate) — Fleur helps Quinn complete the shared pie-delivery route.

  Fleur assists during the delivery day involving Quinn Hamilton and Minnie Cooper.

• Bev → Minnie Cooper (Alliance Assistant) — Bev supports the delivery operation alongside Minnie.

  Bev assists Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton while they drive between community centres delivering pies.

• Fleur → Minnie Cooper (Alliance Assistant) — Fleur contributes practical support to Minnie's delivery effort.

  Fleur assists Minnie Cooper and Quinn Hamilton during their day of pie deliveries.

• Ian → Minnie Cooper (Social Concerned Adviser) — Ian challenges Minnie's assumptions and forces her to reconsider the effect of the business on Leila.

  Ian asks Minnie Cooper to consider giving up the pie business because it is exhausting Leila and is financially unsustainable.

• Minnie Cooper → Leila (Social Best Friend) — Their longstanding friendship is central to Minnie's emotional and practical responsibilities.

  Leila publicly thanks Minnie Cooper for arranging the engagement celebration and calls her an extraordinary best friend.

Story Analysis

Minnie confronts her belief in inevitable disaster while her friendships, work, and romantic choices force her to reconsider the future.

Plot Progression

1. The Jinxed New Year — Minnie begins New Year's Eve convinced that her sixteen-year run of disasters will continue. Mishaps and a trapped train leave her missing the celebrations.
2. Pies on the Open Road — The next day, Minnie must deliver a large pie order for her business with Leila. Quinn lends her his car, and Fleur and Bev help complete the route.
3. Truths Between Friends — Ian reveals his proposal plan and warns Minnie that the pie business is exhausting Leila and losing money. Minnie learns that Leila is hiding a fashion start-up opportunity.
4. Vulnerable Connections — Minnie ends or reshapes her relationship with Greg. Quinn shares his mother's severe anxiety, and Minnie helps him create an alpaca birthday video for her.
5. Celebration and Distance — Minnie organizes Leila's engagement celebration and receives public thanks as Ian proposes. Her own future remains uncertain when she rejects Quinn's attempt to reconnect.