BOOKS, ART, MUSIC & FASHION
Just haven’t met you yet
Best-selling author Sophie Cousens explains how the Jersey coastline inspired her new novel Just Haven’t Met You Yet, which has just been published
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hen I first moved to Jersey seven years ago, I immediately fell in love with the wild coastal landscape, unique heritage, and close-knit community. Being a storyteller, I couldn’t help but think that this beautiful place had all the ingredients to be the perfect backdrop for a novel. Before coming here, I knew very little about the Island, I only had certain associations: cows, potatoes, low tax and Bergerac. Seeing the Island for myself, what struck me was how varied the landscape is. There are just so many different beaches, all with their own character, their own story. My husband, Tim, works in finance and we initially moved here for his work.
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We fell in love with Jersey and wanted to stay, but at the time, my career was in television and there were limited employment opportunities for me here. It seemed a good time to commit to writing, which had always been a long-held ambition. I had dabbled over the years without much success, so was thrilled to finally sign a book deal with Penguin Random House in 2019. My first novel This Time Next Year went on to be an instant New York Times Bestseller, and has sold into 17 territories around the world. It feels like a fairy tale and I still regularly pinch myself that I am a real published author. Perhaps it would not have happened if we hadn’t moved here. Every day I feel lucky that I get to call this beautiful place my home, to walk on the beaches, swim in the sea, and feel inspired by nature.
