Thank you so much to Putnam for my eARC.

Audrey is getting married but on her rehearsal and wedding day, everything starts to go wrong. Her future sister in law shows up with a blind date who turns out to be the man Audrey spent a serendipitous day with years before. Is the universe trying to tell her to break up with her fiance? On the weekend of their wedding?

What a great book! I wasn't exactly sure where this was headed and it took me a little while to really like Audrey's character. But there are so many small nuggets of life lessons and wisdom sprinkled throughout this book. Cousens does a great job highlighting the difficulties and struggles of single and married people during different stages of life and how trauma (big and small) from your younger years sticks with you.

I really appreciated her description of love starting off like an acorn and morphing into a beautiful oak tree due to the attention and love the couple gives it. And I like how Cousens used that analogy to address Audrey's questioning of "what if": that when love and attention and work is cultivated by the couple, your acorn thrives. That kind of love and faithfulness isn't left up to the universe- it's up to us. And signs and "what ifs" can only hurt you if you put all your stock in them. It was such a beautiful and hopeful message!

“Before I Do” by Sophie Cousens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 10/11
Genre: romcom

This is my third Sophie Cousens book and it’s my favorite by far. I really enjoyed this premise! If you love a fast romcom with a twist this is it! This has three timelines present day, three years before, and 6 years before.

Audrey and Josh are supposed to get married today, but bad things keep happening. It starts the night before at the rehearsal dinner. He
Fiancés sister shows up with a date. A guy named Fred. Fred was the photo booth guy she met 6 years ago. She has the best day and believed he was her soulmate until they planned to meet the next day, but didn’t show up.

The timeline is 6 years ago when she met Fred, 3 years ago when she met Josh, and present day for her wedding with Josh.

Sophie Cousens writes stories that know how to write romances, that aren't steamy, and always have a twist. Will they be together in the end? Will the girl pick the right guy?

Audrey is getting married to Josh. Everything that could go wrong at your rehearsal does, and Josh's grandma keeps telling Audrey that it's bad omens... cue in another mishap, when "Photo Booth Guy" shows up at the wedding as Josh's sister's date!

Audrey is already confused, so now she really is thrown for a loop. This non-linear timeline keeps you guessing until the end. Will Audrey marry Josh? Will she go back with photobooth guy?

I liked Cousens' This Time Next Year more than this, as I was getting frustrated with the plot, but it was an interesting read! It was a 3 stars for GR, but 3.5 overall. It was a quick and quirky read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am a big Sophie Cousens fan and was thrilled to be granted this galley and be able to read it before it was published!

I found the premise interesting, and really enjoyed the multiple timelines. However, the last 1/3 of the book felt particularly convoluted, and I found it hard to get invested and enjoy the ultimate ending. I think there was a lot to dig into Audrey's background, and experiences, and felt like her assault and the impact it had on her was grazed over and used as an excuse.

I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book and genuinely wasn't totally sure where it go. So I was disappointed with the ending and had hoped it would have been a bit more fully formed and fulfilling for characters I had really grown to enjoy n

Audrey and Josh are about to get married. They have chosen a church in Yorkshire which is where Josh grew up. Her best friend, Clara, is her maid of honor (actually matron but she prefers maid.) The rehearsal in the church is going well until a dead bat falls from the belfry. Oh dear. Is that a bad omen? At the rehearsal dinner, Audrey is shocked to see a man named Fred that she had met briefly years ago and always wondered if he was the one that got away. Now, she wonders if she is having second thoughts about getting married.

The story switches back and forth in time as we see how Audrey and Fred met and how Audrey and Josh met and their relationship grew. We also learn about Audrey’s childhood with her mother, Vivien, and the woman’s many husbands. As the rehearsal becomes the wedding day, Audrey is entertaining her second thoughts and we don’t know if the wedding will occur or not.

There are some characters that I liked and some that I didn’t. I liked Josh for his sanity and stability. Clara is an awesome friend and a great mother to twins who has dedicated herself to doing everything she can to ensure that Audrey’s wedding goes well. Another great character is Hillary, a man who was nanny to Audrey when she was young. They have a wonderful friendship and I liked him a lot. I did not care for Fred and I did not like Audrey. She is very flighty. This is a rom-com so readers can expect some silly things to happen and they do. For me, this is just an OK read. This is the first book I have read by this author and I do hope to read more.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Do you believe in soul mates?

Everything that could go wrong for Josh and Audrey on their wedding day has. And to add insult to injury, the man Audrey thought could be her soulmate has shown up. Is Audrey making the biggest mistake of her life and marrying the wrong man?

This book had so many good qualities, showing that true love isn’t always easy, sometimes it’s hard work, but the person you’re meant to be with will always be worth fighting for. It was unlike any other romance that I’ve read recently.

A very non traditional romance that will make you want to laugh, make you want to cry, and might even make you want to cringe at times. Before I Do is a great read for anyone wondering about your “what if”

A huge thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Son for letting me read and review this book!

This is a love triangle involving Audrey, her fiancé, James, and ex, Fred. The dialogue was believable amd the story was well done, as Sophie Cousens always does. A sweet story.

when the MC is not perfect, it makes you feel like you can relate to them and especially since the they are flawed, I kinda enjoyed that aspect of the characters. If you like destiny and the idea of soulmate then I recommend this one!!!

I really enjoyed this book. I think it had a great ending, and I loved the dual timeline! It had a great message and I found myself laughing throughout as well. I will definitely be recommending it.

This was just OK.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Putnam Books for my advanced copy of Before I Do!

I am such a huge Sophie Cousens fan but this one was a bit of a let down for me.
I listened to this book on audio and I had to start the audio over numerous times in a attempt to get into it.
I kept thinking is it me? or is it the book ?
I did eventually get into the story well into the second half but I wasn't fully invested.

This wasn't a completely negative experience. I did enjoy how the book jumps back and forth in time. I think it was very useful in developing our main character.
I loved that our main character was flawed.
I also appreciated how the author wrote resolution between Audrey and a few of the key players in this novel.

Overall- Not her best but I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading this book .

Sophie Cousens does not disappoint with her latest novel Before I Do. This was a super fast read for me because I loved the characters (though the protagonist Audrey did annoy me at times, there was a growth/redemption arc). A major theme of the book is that what if every decision we make in this life, there is another world where we made a different decision and are living a possibly complete different life. Focused around the idea of soul mates, destiny, and the cosmos, Sophie Cousens creates a unique and interesting read for a wide audience. If you liked her other books, love the romance genre, or are just in need of a light but meaningful read, I would recommend Before I Do!
​
A huge thank you to the author, Penguin Group Putnam, and NetGalley for a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. #BeforeIDo #NetGalley

The first thing that I’m going to tell you about Before I Do is that dreamers and romantics are extremely likely to understand Audrey who finds herself in the unique position of being on the eve of her wedding and having the what-if man from her past stumble into her rehearsal dinner. His appearance after several “omens” feeds into Audrey’s doubts as to whether her marriage to Josh is doomed.

The second thing I’m going to tell you is that Audrey fears being like her mother from whom she’s grown apart. Her mother is constantly searching for romance, that sparkle that is there when you initially fall in love. She thinks that is romance, love, when it is just part of the whole scenario.

Has that rubbed off on Audrey?

Who is Fred? Is he really the one? Or just a daydream what-if?

I loved the way that Sophie Cousens told this story, slowly revealing to her readers important details that give us hope that Audrey will make the right decision. As a once-head-in-the-clouds reader, I could empathize with Audrey and I liked that she’s not judged. Audrey is a simply wonderful character, full of life and quirks. Equally, I adored Josh who has always loved Audrey, even when she couldn’t be bothered remembering his name. But he’s not a milquetoast.

Sophie Cousens has written a very effective, multi-layered story that will have you hanging on to every word and loving the outcome. Fun, heart-felt, engrossing, Before I Do works.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Cousens has managed to write one of the sweetest, most sincere, and brilliant romantic comedies of the year. This book follows a young woman who is struggling to find success - she has yet to settle into a stable career and she is questioning her marriage after running into the man that might have been her first love. And the book focuses on how we view relationships and what type of relationships we need - romantic, friendship, or familial - in order to feel love and comfort. I loved this book so much! I laughed out loud and read it in one sitting. I cannot recommend this enough!

4 1/2 stars

I've enjoyed everything I've read by Sophie Cousens and this book was no different.

With the book Before I Do, we meet Audrey. She's suffering from an extreme case of "cold feet" about marrying Josh. It's made even worse when she is reunited with a previous romantic interest. He was the "one who got away" so to speak. She begins to question everything that's happening and wondering if things are a sign indicating she's not supposed to marry Josh.

I don't think it's uncommon for people to have a time in their life where they wonder about the "road not taken" or a long lost love., Ms. Cousens takes this premise and creates a book around it. The timeline alternates between different times in Audrey's past and the present day. The past helps to explain where a great deal of Audrey's insecurities stem from. As is often the case, there is a great deal of miscommunication at play throughout the story. This leads to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of situations. All of which led our character, Audrey to form certain opinions that she carried into the present day.

I believe the author did a lovely job at character development. She took her time and let it play out over the course of the entire book. There is growth and a great deal of evolution in not just Audrey's character but others as well. It was truly a beautiful story.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This book was completely unexpected - and I spent most of it wondering who Audrey would end up with! It felt relatively relatable (except for how Audrey and photo booth guy met). We've all wondered at some point in life "what if" and this novel explores what would happen if you're presented with that challenge. Is the grass always greener on the other side and is there always something better than what we have?

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this advanced copy!

Read if you love:
💍love triangles
💍soulmates
💍weddings
💍flashbacks
💍crazy grandmothers
💍overcoming trauma
💍supportive friendships

“I just wanted to say, I won’t love you any less for getting crumbs on my sheets, or for anything you might say or do . . .”

Everyone knows that love triangle stories can be tricky, but this one was so well done! I truly did not know who Audrey was going to choose for most of the book. I did feel though that once she chose, it was pretty obvious in hindsight.

My favorite part of the book were the flashbacks and Audrey’s character growth. Through the flashbacks, we come to understand Audrey’s trauma and why she made some of the decisions she did. It certainly made her indecision understandable and forgivable. Fred and Josh were both super sweet and romantic in their own ways. It’s so hard not to root for them both!

I loved Audrey’s support system in her best friend, Clara and her nactor, (😂) Hillary. I enjoyed how they talked things through with Audrey and let her figure things out on her own instead of telling her what to do. Granny Parker was a hoot with her “bad omens” and knowing ways. And Vivian…she’s just wow. You definitely need to experience her for yourself to really appreciate her. I highly recommend this angsty, hilarious and heartwarming book!

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for an advanced copy. My thoughts are my own.

I love a British rom-com, especially one that is wedding centric, so I came into this book with really high expectations. Despite it sounding like a perfect match for me on paper, it didn't quite hit the mark for me. The story is told in dual/multiple timelines, and follows Audrey and Josh in the hours leading up to their wedding, as well as anywhere from 6 years ago to their recent past. The day of their wedding, every disaster and bad omen you can think of occurs, culminating when Josh's sister brings a last minute mystery date - Fred, who on one day 6 years ago, Audrey had a chance meeting and perfect day with, and then disappeared the next day. This sends Audrey into a tailspin, questioning if it was fate that brought them back together, and if she was really meant to marry Josh.

For a rom-com, I actually found myself getting angry at many points in the story. Audrey isn't a particularly likeable character, with a privileged background of a famous stage actress mother and deceased playwright father, who dropped out of college, flits from one low level job to the next, drinks a little too much, and hooks up with bad boy artsy types to pass the time. Josh is her polar opposite, with a stable insurance job in the City, neat and orderly apartment, and volunteers his time planting trees. It wasn't love at first sight for them, in fact Audrey didn't even like him much, but soon came to fall for him. Fred, on the other hand, was a manic pixie dream boy, reckless and whimsical, and brought out all of Audrey's worst qualities in the one day they were together. I was definitely Team Josh and frustrated at Audrey for potentially ruining a good thing because of her immaturity. Maybe the relationship dynamics of Audrey and Josh felt a little too similar to me and my own husband for me to feel comfortable. It definitely hit a little close to home and made me reflect, which is a great quality in a book and bumped my rating up the extra quarter star. There were also some clichés used that aren't my favorite, like the harried new mom best friend and the multiple times divorced in love with being in love mother who passes on her generational trauma.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens

Audrey and Josh are about to be married. They didn't connect at their first meeting. Audrey didn't go for guys like "Bad Jeans Josh". Josh keeps showing up and they end up falling in love. On the day before their wedding, a man from Audrey's past shows up. He was her "one that got away" and all of a sudden, she's not sure if she should marry Josh or not. It also doesn't help that her mother wasn't a model for successful relationships. The book flashes back and forth from the past to the present and we are better able to understand why Audrey is the way that she is and, at least for me, I became even a bigger fan of Josh.

I am becoming more and more of a fan of Sophie Cousens. She has a way of writing that draws you in and makes you want to truly understand the characters. In this one more than her previous books, I had a little more trouble getting into it, but once I became invested, I was hooked. I was so annoyed with Audrey for the longest time, but Sophie made me sympathetic by the conclusion.

My sincere thanks to Putnam and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it. I look forward to reading more Sophie Cousens in the future.

Imagine you're getting married tomorrow. You're nervous. you're wondering if you made the right decision. And things start going wrong. And then your one 'what if' guy randomly shows up as your fiancé's date. You haven't seen him in 6 years, but the day you spent together is etched in your memories. Would you think it was fate? What would you do?

That's the premise if this story. The chapters hop between days over the last 6 years and we slowly build a picture of Audrey and her past and how she came to be right where she is. The more I read, the more I wanted to read. Honestly, the book kept getting better and better for me as I learned more and more of Audrey's backstory. I really enjoyed it.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I loved the characters in this book. Audrey (who is about to marry Josh) is a bit flighty. Josh is more down to earth. As most people, Audrey is taking stock of her life before the big day. She weighs the practicality of her coming marriage and her “what if” moment years before with “phone booth guy”. Her brief time with Fred was romantic and swept her off her feet. When her future sister-in-law arrives at the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey is thrown for a loop. Not to mention all the things that are starting to go wrong with the wedding. Fred is still enamored with Audrey which makes her situation even more difficult. With all this going on, the author still is able to capture depth with the minor characters as well. With each character contemplating their future, the development of the characters is amazing. I highly recommend this book!

Also reviewed on B&N under 1IrishEyes430 and Kobo under IrishEyes430