Jersey author's book made into new film

Sophie Cousens hopes her next book, which is expected to be made into a film, will be shot in Jersey

A Jersey author has had her New York Times best-seller turned into a film and hopes her next will be shot on the island.

This Time Next Year, which features actors Sophie Cookson from Kingsman: The Secret Service and Lucien Laviscount from Emily in Paris, will be released as a film on Monday.

Author Sophie Cousens has written five books, and her second book based in Jersey is also expected to be made into a film.

She said she would "hopefully be filming here on the island".

Ms Cousens wrote her romantic comedy novel as a film during the pandemic in 2020.

"What's been really nice about it is just getting messages and emails from people saying it's got them through a hard time, being a distraction, especially during the pandemic," she said.

"To have a book that could really take them out of their day-to-day concerns and worries in the world.

"And just be a really light-hearted escapist read - so that's been amazing."

The author previously produced the Graham Norton Show, Russell Howard's Good News, Big Brother and Ant and Dec.

This Time Next Year features actors Sophie Cookson and Lucien Laviscount

Ms Cousens added: "A lot of my inspiration for writing comes from the rom com films of the 90s and early 2000s.

"Those are the films that I grew up on that I loved, like When Harry Met Sally, While You Were Sleeping and Four Weddings and a Funeral - which I think I've probably seen far too many times."

Her second book Just Haven't Met You Yet is based in Jersey and is expected to be made into a film.

She said: "I'm hoping... we've got a potential producer, director lined up. So nothing's ever set in stone until the camera starts rolling. But I'm really hopeful that that's going to happen - hopefully filming here on the island."