Adventurous Audrey is set to walk down the aisle to marry stable, simple and bad jeans wearing, Josh. So when Josh’s sister shows up with her date, Fred, Audrey’s one who got away, she’s more than a little confused. Has fate led her and Fred back together? Or will she and Josh say ‘I do’?

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! A few of Sophie Cousens’ books have been on my TBR for quite some time so I was excited to receive an advanced copy of this one.

This was an enjoyable book that I found to be sequenced cleverly as it’s told in non-linear timelines. I really liked that there was no clear front runner between Fred and Josh, and I honestly had no idea who Audrey would choose until almost the end of the book.

Although Audrey is the main character in this story, it’s her mother, Vivien, who I found to steal the show. Without giving too much away, Vivien has been married numerous times, and each of her relationships have influenced Audrey in different ways.

Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for something light and easy to read.

What a beautiful story centered around the age old reflection of “What might have been?” We all make decisions that effect the trajectory of where our life will go and who we will spend our life with. “Before I Do” opens with the day Audrey is marrying Josh. Things transpire and she realizes the man she always wondered about from her past is attending her wedding. He is someone she connected with years ago, but through a set of circumstances never got to explore that connection. This book tackles the notion of what if my soulmate got away? I had trepidation during the first part of the book because I enjoyed her fiancé Josh and was invested in their characters being together. I love the avenues this book takes and it confirms sometimes the things we should value and hold most dear are right in front of us. This one is cleverly written with a fabulous HEA. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Release 10-11-22

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m rating it a 4 but it’s probably between a 3.5 and 4 so I rounded up.

I liked the story, the dual timelines to see how every got to the point it did. I loved both of the guys; Josh and Fred. It was definitely hard choosing who Audrey would end up with. I liked and then disliked Audrey and I’m not sure at what point this happened.

The ending was just an ending. Nothing special and it didn’t wow me. I feel like this will be a book that I remembered reading but not remembering any details about.

Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for a copy of Before I do in exchange of an honest review

I went in to this book thinking I knew what was going to happen, and boy was I wrong! Audrey is about to marry Josh, her boyfriend of several years who is her opposite in every way. The night before I Do, Audrey’s “what-if” guy from 6 years ago, Fred, happens to show up at the rehearsal dinner.. as Josh’s sister’s date. This book switches between past and present as Audrey must decide if everything going wrong on her wedding is a sign that she chose the wrong man, or if Josh has been her perfect man all along. This book was so cute, the characters were fun, and I really loved how Sophie brought everything together at the end! s/o to Putnam books and NetGalley for the ARC! pick this book up when it comes out later this week!

This was another wonderful book by Sophie Cousens! I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

This whole book was about “what if”. What if Audrey and her mother had a better relationship. what if Audrey kept quiet about her mothers affairs. What if Audrey and Fred had met up that next day. What if Audrey had remembered Josh the first time they had met.

I spent so much of the book feeling stressed about who she was going to pick! That was the whole point right? Cause she was supposed to pick Fred right? He was her what if?! But also Josh was so wonderful? So she should pick him?! And what does SHE feel? She knows she loves Josh, but she’s kept Fred’s pictures all these years? I think it was written so well, it kept my attention the entire time.

Of course there was significantly more to the book than just her love interest and I think it was done wonderfully, everything was intertwined so well!

I was frustrated with Audrey almost the whole time. I think she was mean to be that way? That was her whole personality, that what her life was? Frustrating? Unsure? And it made sense, she had so much baggage! So even though I fully understood WHY Audrey did the things she did, I was still frustrated. Every time something went wrong she panicked, not unlike her mother; which makes sense, that’s the role model she’s had and why wouldn’t she do that? Even though she’s told herself she’d never be like her mother.

I did like the alternating timelines. I think it was written well! It helped see why and what Audrey had gone through to make her question what was happening in the present timeline.

I loved the secondary characters! Clara and Hillary were wonderful best friends to Audrey. Even Granny Parker and all her talk of bad omens! It took me a while to warm up to Viven and I’m still not a huge fan, but she’s just as broken as the next person. But the two of them made huge strides by the end!

“This idea that you are not worthy of love until you have your life sorted out, that you need to be sure in your career, completely mentally stable and happy before you can be loved.”

I loved that Hillary said that. I think a lot people feel that way, it’s hard not too. And Audrey definitely fell right into it. Especially with everything going wrong on her wedding day, she was feeling everything that she ever had doubts about.

I did love Josh. He wasn’t absolutely perfect for
Audrey and that’s exactly why they worked so well. They needed each other, they needed the differences between them for each other them thrive.

Spoiler: I was so mad that Fred turned out to be…odd? YES it made sense, they were not meant to be at all, maybe at one point, maybe in a different universe. But also…she spent to much time thinking about what if… it made sense and I wouldn’t have wanted it another way…but I was so annoyed?

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

From the prologue, I was hooked. I had no idea what had led to Audrey's disaster of a wedding and I couldn't wait to find out. The story jumped between the present and the past as it took us on the journey of Audrey's love life. I couldn't decide who I was rooting for until nearing the end when it became glaringly obvious. However, the book derailed slightly for me, but not enough to affect my rating.

This is an enjoyable romance that will make for great conversations at book club!

This was a really great story with a fascinating premise. Audrey is confronted with the guy she could never forget on the day of her wedding to the guy she always forgot.

I liked the questions around destiny that the story brought up and ultimately answered for Audrey.

This is a wonderful story about communication, finding your way in life and not giving up. I loved that Audrey learned to appreciate what she has and that love is a two way street. She was not always the most sympathetic character, but she really came into her own.

I understand it was necessarily, but for my ADD brain, the back and forth in the timeline was tough.

This book was enjoyable for most of it. I liked the flipping back and forth between the past and present and how all the storylines unfolded. It ultimately fell just a little short for me especially compared to her other books. But I still recommend checking this one out.

4.25/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an ARC.

This was a lovely, more unique romance that I found refreshing. It didn’t follow the typical plot most romances follow, and it kept me intrigued the whole way. The witty writing and banter had me laughing and not wanting to put this book down.

This book revolves around a marriage about to take place (hence the name Before I Do) and has multiple timelines that illustrate the FMC’s life leading up to her moment at the altar.

There are some heavier topics, so I would suggest looking up trigger warnings, but mostly the topics were good for me to reflect on. There is a lot of growth in this novel as well, and I appreciated that.

Definitely a good read for someone who’d like to give their brain some philosophical food for thought, someone who loves a good laugh and a rambunctious set of characters, and/or someone who is in love with the stars and figuring out the meaning of life.

A cute read about a catastrophic wedding day for Audrey and Josh. A blast from the past shows up and Audrey wonders if he’s the 8ne who got away.
The book dives into fantasy ideals and realistic relationships. Audrey doesn’t really trust love because Of her mother’s numerous marital mishaps. But is she about to ruin all has for Photo Booth Boy?
I felt the sorriest that for Josh. The ending was fitting.

Well, Sophie Cousens does it again! This book is absolutely charming, insightful, and heartwarming. Audrey is so relatable, and I was invested in her story until the very last page.

Each chapter of this story jumps back and forth between the past and present. I was able to seamlessly navigate the time jumps because the writing of this book was just so flawless. I thought I had a pretty good idea of where we were heading, but the author’s well thought out plan caught me very pleasantly by surprise.

Audrey was written as such a complex female character and I felt every one of her emotions at each stage of the story. Her relationship with her mother was so relatable. I don’t want to give anything away about her relationships with Josh and Fred. I truly enjoyed both characters. The supporting cast was fantastic as well.

That you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was thrilled to get an early copy of this book. Sophie Cousens knows how to tell a great story. I cannot wait for the next one!

BEFORE I DO by Sophie Cousens
rating: 3.5 STARS
genre: romance, woman's fiction
steam: closed door, it's a kissing book

This book started off so strong! The quick back-and-forth in the timeline between Audrey's past with Fred, Audrey's past with Josh, and the present day wedding kept my attention the whole time. You had to keep reading to find out what happened next in each part of the timeline!

Audrey was super relatable in the early chapters. She was a young girl who just could not figure out what she wanted to do with her life or who she wanted to be - and I think a lot of people in my generation have, unfortunately, felt that same way in their early adulthood.

But then...she lost me. This book was a solid 4 stars for me until the end when it kind of went off the rails. Suddenly all the characters were very flat, you weren't sure who you were supposed to root for (or who the main character was even rooting for), and everything happened SO QUICKLY.

I will say, I do really like the plane scene where all of the strangers around Audrey are VERY interested in how her wedding day turned out. That's all I'll say - but when you read it, you'll get it. Lol.

I also DID really like that you could feel Audrey maturing and her mind changing just in the way the characters were presented to you in the book. Suddenly, the character she was painting in a pretty positive light was going off the rails and the character she seemed kind of bored with was the shining star of her life. And you could hear that change in the prose.

That said - you might like this book, it just didn't do it for me.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens was a very entertaining book. I instantly liked Audrey, who is the main character. She is a well-developed character who I earnestly cheered on I read to see if she gets her happy ending. I loved how the story alternated between the hours just around her wedding and events several years prior. Another stellar book by Sophie Cousens!

*no synopsis- but I did love this quote.
“Perhaps love was not about finding a jigsaw piece to fit you or a mirror to reflect you, it was simply about finding another human being who made your heart sing.”

Thoughts:
I loved this book so much. It’s not only a very sweet romantic comedy, but also dives into some deeper issues, like learning to let our past hurts and baggage be part of the beautiful person we become. I loved the way the timeline flipped from past to present. I loved the character development and how every single character played such a part in bringing Audrey to the place of who she needed to become. This book drew me in from the start and the end didn’t disappoint. It really left me feeling warm and fuzzy. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars were a few slow parts for me about 3/4 through the book. I was ready for things to move on. This was my first Sophie Cousens book, but I’m excited to read more of her. I’m so grateful to the publisher and authors for allowing me to read this ARC. It’s comes out 10/11 and you’ll want to grab this one.

🏷
#bookstagram #toberead #TBR
#bookish #booklover #booknerd #fortheloveofbooks #BeforeIDo #SophieCousens #NetGalley #bookreview #ARC

Follow Audrey from a chance meeting with her “soul mate” to her wedding day. Is Audrey meant to marry Josh or is she destined to live happily ever after with the Prince Charming she met years earlier? You have to pay attention while reading this book because it flips back and forth from present to past and back again, which is not my favorite way to read a book. I was however every enamored with the surprise (to me) ending!

There are so many things that can go wrong on your wedding day and for Audrey it seems that everything has gone wrong! From her mothers intrusive input to dead bats and wardrobe malfunctions to rashes, Audrey’s big day is turning into a big flop! Her biggest wedding obstacle is her soon to be sister in law showing up with Audrey’s ex boyfriend as her plus one! Will her unresolved feelings for him be the final straw in ruining her happily ever after?

I enjoyed the dual timeline in this story, which kept me guessing what really happened to Audrey all those years ago. Her friends were great supporting characters but the relationship turmoil with her mom left me a bit sad. I was disgusted at the behavior of one of her mothers partners but glad Audrey was able to befriend some of her other stepdads. This was my first novel by Sophie avoiders and Overall, I enjoyed the book. I have already started a second novel by the author titled Just Haven’t Met You Yet.

Random thoughts:
I didn’t understand Hillary’s character in the beginning but wound up loving him.
The whole premise of the two running into each other was a tad unrealistic but still adorable.
One of the step dads really repulsed me and I did not expect that cringy scene for a romcom.

Sophie Cousens writes the perfect books for escaping. I love ‘chick lit’ books such as Sophie Kinsella and Sophie Cousens’ books are in the same lane. I was invested in Audrey and Josh’s relationship. I loved the frequent flashbacks to Sophie’s interaction with Fred one magical day. It really helped me understand Sophie more. Overall this book is a delightful read that you will love if you are a fan of ‘chick lit’.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens

My rating:
4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Imagine the day before your wedding, a past love walked into your rehearsal dinner as your fiancés sister’s plus one!?

I really enjoyed this book! Audrey is set to marry Josh, when suddenly things start to go wrong days before her wedding. She starts to believe that these are all bad omens. This story has multiple storylines told in years past and in the present. I think we really got to know about Audrey and I loved that character development. The author takes you on a journey through Audrey’s life and relationships. I really enjoyed the banter between her and her best friend Clara.
At times I couldn’t tell where this story would go and I was feeling like the author was trying to sway us a certain way based on the way Audrey talked about this person, which was the only reason I was conflicted about this book.
I definitely would suggest to read this one if you enjoy a romance that shows the true meaning of working through problems and getting through the hard times.

Thank you @netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this ARC! You can read this one when it’s published on October 11! 📸👰‍♀️🤵‍♂️🦇💋

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin-Putnam, and Sophie Cousens for an ARC of this book!**

A marriage interrupted...or fate intervenes?

You might remember those words spoken by Lord Cutler Beckett in the Pirates of the Carribean film franchise...but they fit even more perfectly alongside the potentially life-altering "what if" at the center of this charming and fun romance from Sophie Cousens that explores JUST that question!

Audrey has always had a bit of an impetuous side. Hopping from career to career, little in life slows her down and she has no trouble living a bit 'outside the box.' Her fiance Josh seems the perfect counterpoint: careful, thoughtful, and kind, and the two are soon to marry. Audrey's looking forward to the wedding of her dreams...until everything starts to come crashing down....starting with some bats falling from the church ceiling (yes, actually bats!) among some other unforeseen mishaps.

The icing on the proverbial cake (okay, WEDDING CAKE) comes in the form of her soon-to-be sister in law Meredith's plus one at the rehearsal dinner: none other than Fred...Audrey's FORMER FLAME Fred. The two had a magical meet-cute at a photo booth and spent one incredible day together before losing touch for good. Their chemistry was so special and Audrey can't help but wonder if Fred has stumbled back into her life JUST in the nick of time. WILL a wedding take place...and if so, WHO will be the groom?

I have to say, going into this book I expected one thing and VERY much got something else...but luckily, this was a good thing! I think the most memorable aspect of this book was the way Cousens took some tropes that have been done many times and combined them in a totally UNIQUE way! While some aspects of the book (like the humor) never really took off for me, Cousens utilized the now-and-then timelines with care and precision to leave YOU, the reader, as conflicted as Audrey about which man is TRULY right for her!

I know some people love romance books that are completely predictable, but what was a breath of fresh air for me is that this one truly WASN'T...at all. Even late in the game (80% or so!) I was STILL questioning what Audrey was going to do and what the 'right' choice would be. This conflict, alongside a cast of lovable side characters and some emotional depth in Audrey's relationship with her mom (and her mom's relationship with...relationships) added layer upon layer to the story and kept the narrative interesting. Normally, a lack of connection to the humor would have knocked down a star or two, but by story's end, I was so invested in Audrey and her happiness that I didn't NEED any jokes to give me a giant smile on my face! (and some HILARIOUS grand gestures didn't hurt either!)

If there's one thing I can say about fate after dropping this wonderful book in my path?

Fate not only has exquisite timing...but EXCELLENT taste!

4 stars

Read if you like:
❤️ The One that Got Away
❤️ Passionate and Sparks
❤️ Soulmates

This one definitely gave me feelings similar to One True Loves as you try to go back and forth to decide who you want the MC to end up with right along with them.

It was heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time as Audrey has to make a huge decision that will impact the rest of her life: Josh or Fred?

I love how this one ended and the way the story progressed! I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC copy in exchange for my feedback!