Sophie Cousens just has a habit of writing really good romances. I think that this was a fun take on the question of divine intervention versus just coincidence and I love how sometimes doing what is right in your heart doesnt make the most sense conventionally. Overall this was emotional, fun, and just full of love.

The scenario at the start of the book--Bride Audrey stumbling dazed and barefoot out of a church, an ambulance arriving, sad looks her way--points to a few classic wedding tropes: the Runaway Bride, the Groom with Cold Feet, or maybe (with the ambulance arriving) he had a heart attack at the altar instead. What evolves is an at-times confusing jumping-back-and-forth between the day of the wedding (with its many mishaps seen as bad omens) and the couple of decades previous: her relationship with Josh over the past four years, her almost relationship with Fred, her What-If Guy from the Baker Street Tube Station seven years before, and her and mother’s relationship since she was small, as her mother cheats on Audrey’s father before divorcing, then takes up with a series of men, one that puts Audrey in a dangerous situation and drives a wedge between her and her mother.

The way the book blurb and intro set it up, we expect the groom to be Mr. Wrong, and Fred, the What-If Guy, to be Mr. Right-All-Along, so we can all sit back and watch it play out. But that’s not how Cousens writes her plots. There’s this nebulous area, a space where the reader is left floating in air as they try to grasp which team to land on, Team Josh or Team Fred. Once enough time is devoted to Josh, it becomes obvious--and then we wonder why Fred is even involved in the first place.

If we take this as a literary romance and not count on the traditional tropes, then we can see the characters and their history with Audrey for what they are: the background of a woman fearful that, given her history and said series of wedding mishaps, she’ll wind up just like her serial-married mother, if she even deserves a shot at happiness--marriage or career-wise--at all. The usual plot device of the wedge between the main couple is resolved in a most peculiar way that made me feel like we took a sort of Mamma Mia interlude, but overall I really liked the book a lot. A solid read.

Audrey is getting ready to marry her love and best friend, Josh, when her “what-if” guy walks into her rehearsal dinner as the last-minute date of her sister-in-law. Suddenly, she is thrown into a spiral of doubt, and the bad omens just keep coming, from dead bats in the chapel to the bride topper falling off the cake. (Or did she jump?!) As she reflects back on the season of her life in which she met Fred versus the evolution of her relationship with Josh, she must decide – was she led to this moment by fate, or did she get off the wrong track years ago and is being offered a second chance?

I found the pacing in the first half of this book a bit boring but was ultimately sucked in as Audrey looked deeper and deeper at her past, not just at her relationships, but also at her own personal journey. I was so-so on Cousen’s debut, This Time Next Year, but really appreciated how she wrote about growing self-awareness and growth of 20-somethings in the midst of learning how to be adults and found the same here. Audrey is doing some deep internal work, and it ultimately leads her to some profound realizations about love and relationships, and the hard work and effort that they require, especially in the mundane moments of life. In the end, I thought Cousen’s wrote beautifully about the reality and beauty of long-term relationships, and the last few chapters had me laughing out loud multiple times. I was so satisfied by Audrey’s choice, and also felt so grateful for my own husband after reading! All in all, I will continue to keep my eye on Cousen’s work and recommend her to others. {Trigger warning: Sexual Assault}

Thank you to Netgalley and Putnam for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!

(DNF at 33%) I really thought this would be a fun read, but it was not for me. The idea of someone's "what if" ex showing up as a guest at the wedding is so fun. But I could not connect with the story or the characters. I didn't find them exciting or engaging, and I was bored. I hope other people enjoy this book, but it wasn't for me.

While I felt BEFORE I DO lulled in the middle a bit, I absolutely adored it! I love the bouncing timeline, which gave us more insight into Audrey's journey, from Fred to Josh. I think everyone has what-if's in there lives, whether that is relationships, career choices, etc., but I loved this exploration of turning back the clock and exploring a past decision.

This was beautifully written, had a thoughtful ending, and felt real (without being over the top cheese). Sophie Cousens always makes me feel this way and truly has you rooting the couples and characters she creates.

Another winner from Sophie Cousens. It took me a bit to warm up to Audrey but I ended up loving her in the end. I thought this book was witty, heartwarming and well written.

Since this came out in the fall, I sort of assumed it’d be a holiday romance but for those of you looking for a break from all the sparkle, this will be the perfect fit. It examines the age old question of “What If” when it comes to lost loves.

Audrey is stunned when a familiar face shows up at her rehearsal dinner, the night before her wedding. Years ago, she spent a blissful day with Fred, sharing a connection that was unlike anything they’d experienced before. But he ghosted her and she’s spent years wondering what happened.
The story is told in flashbacks between Audrey & Fred and how Audrey later meets & falls in love with Josh, her fiancé. I loved seeing the progression of Audrey & Josh’s relationship as a backdrop to her rethinking everything the day before/of her wedding.

Another delightful story by Sophie Cousens! Loved this one and so enjoyed the story, highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an ARC of ‘Before I Do’ in exchange for an honest review!

I am giving this book a solid 4 stars! I’m going to be honest, I was expecting a light and easy read, and it was in parts, but it also got a little deeper with a whole lot of self-conflict mixed in.

How many times have you ever thought about all the ‘what ifs’ in your life? What if you had chosen a different career? What if you had lived in a different place? What if you had gone on that second date?

What if who you thought was ‘the one’, might not be? That is the exact conflict that our main character, Audrey faces when on the eve of her wedding, her ‘what if’ shows up at her rehearsal dinner. Is it fate telling her that her and Josh, the down to earth, level fiancé is in fact not, ‘the one’?

This book has a bright and witty cast of characters. It WAS a fun, not so light in places, read!

Beginning with a disrupted wedding, and told over multiple timelines, this is the story of Audrey's struggle to understand both herself and her relationships. Not quite a classic rom com, the author is able to keep the reader guessing how Audrey's story will end, while weaving a hopeful thread throughout. Before I Do is an enjoyable page turning read, while also examining deeper themes.

This is a new to me author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more by this author! I loved this book

3.5 stars!

This was a book where I found myself rooting one way and changing my mind the next.

An interesting concept of what you would do if you are about to get married to a loving man who's seen as a safe choice when "the one" that got away shows up to the rehearsal dinner. I enjoyed the several timelines to discover how the relationships between Audrey and her two men, Josh (the groom to be) and Fred (the man from her past), began and evolved.

Though the book was enjoyable, there was a piece of the plot I felt didn't quite fit, but overall an enjoyable book to discover if serendipity is truly all what it's made out to be.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam and NetGalley for the review copy of this book.

So many different emotions with this book. From laughing, to anger, to heartbreak, to anxiety, and so much more.
I loved the multiple timelines with this book and the way that it kind of played out as a "mystery" - what's going to happen, what did happen, etc. I feel like the characters of this book, and the challenges they face, are completely relatable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review this book. Audrey is set to marry Josh and right before the wedding one of Josh's sisters brings "what if Fred" to the rehearsal dinner. This book goes back and for to present and past and is a very well written rom with a great ending.

On the eve of Audrey’s wedding to her long term boyfriend, Josh, a man from her past shows up. Audrey already has her doubt about whether her and Josh are meant to be, so seeing Fred, a man she spent one perfect day with years ago, exasperates her doubts even more.

I liked the format of the book, alternating between Audrey’s past and the hours leading up to her wedding. However, I expected more of Audrey’s past to dive into her whirlwind of a relationship with Fred, the “one that got away”. I felt like the details of her past lacked the significance to cause such doubt on her wedding day, and Audrey was not a particularly likable character. Overall, the book was fine, but I did prefer the author’s earlier novel, This Time Next Year, and I am look forward to reading her previous book, Just Haven’t Met You Yet.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for my eARC!

I was such a big fan of This Time Next Year and couldn’t wait to read Sophie Cousens’ next book! This was my favorite novel from her yet!

The plot is simple yet complicated- how do you know if the person you chose is “the one”? How does “the one that got away affect this? Is it a sign or fate if they show up again? I loved the banter and dialogue between characters throughout the entire book. The main character, Audrey, was a bit unlikeable at the beginning, but evolved and showed major progression over time. I was entertained and intrigued to see how Audrey’s story turned out!

Beautifully written, I can’t wait to see what Sophie comes out with next!

This book is so cute! I previously enjoyed “This Time Next Year” by the same author and I liked “Before I Do” even better. On Audrey’s wedding day, nothing seems to go right. When the what-if guy from her past shows up as her sister-in-law’s plus one, Audrey is thrown into a tailspin. Has fate conspired to stop her from marrying Josh or is this chance run-in simply a coincidence? As bad omens and minor mishaps unfold, Audrey reflects on the major turning points that led her to the altar and imagines how her life might’ve turned out if she had made different choices.

I really enjoyed this book. Audrey is a good narrator and I sympathized with her. She is flawed in a realistic way. There were some great side characters — her childhood nanny/stage actor Hillary and bestie Clara. There were poignant observations about love. This is a great read and I recommend it! Humorous, heartfelt, and a happy ending❤️

Audrey is a quirky, creative woman who dreams of galaxies and the stars beyond.

Josh is a straight laced conservationist who loves a clean house and a spread sheet.

The two are on the verge of getting married when someone from Audrey’s past comes sweeping in. What ensues is an amazing and chaotic journey all about life’s what ifs and what is.

I really enjoyed this book!!! I definitely found myself tearing up at the end. This story is one that explores beyond the typical timeline of a romance. I love the way the use of multiple timelines allows us to fully grasp Audrey’s perspective based on her life experiences. Overall a great read!

Cute, cute story about allll the bad omens happening just before the "I Do"s. This quick read will surely put a smile on your face!

This book was so much fun to read. I loved it. Seeing the one that got away on the day of your wedding, followed by all the things that keep going wrong, keeps you guessing as to who will be the one really walking down the aisle. I fell in love with this book, I loved the way it ended. This a a cute fun read.