I thank Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam so much for the opportunity to read this e-book. I want to start by saying that I truly loved this book and it is a must read for anyone who has ever been unsure or questioned their life choices(which I'm sure is most of us). I loved how I wasn't sure who Audrey truly belonged with. That was the fun part of the journey as we all found out right along with her. It makes you think about the chances we choose to take and the way life turns out. Going back and forth through timelines was actually effortless and had an easy flow. I love how things turned out for Audrey. She is a flawed but loveable character.

I really wanted to love this one, the synopsis really drew me in but the flashbacks felt entirely too chaotic for me. Every time I started finally enjoying the book (during the present) the flashbacks came and let me down.

I didn’t care for the relationship Audrey and her mother had, it was too all over the place.

I found myself feeling horrible for Josh the entirety of the story, he deserved much, much better.

Given all of this I did like the last 15-20% of the book which is why it got 2 stars.

Audrey has a meet cute with Fred and an instant connection to him. They spend a day together and end it with a promise to meet up the next day as well. But Fred never shows up and Audrey is left with no explanation. Fast forward a couple years and she meets a new guy named Josh. Four years later the two are engaged, where she runs into Fred again when he shows up to their rehearsal dinner as her sister's date. Who will she choose to be with, Fred or Josh? The ending is great and I won't give it away by saying who she picks. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Before I Do brings you the story of Audrey and Josh, jumping back in Audrey's life and also going through their wedding day in alternating chapters. Audrey has always been a free spirit and starts to question her marriage when signs start popping up everywhere.

I really enjoyed the lesson of you have to work through your marriage and you have to choose to be with someone versus soulmates and whatever will happen will happen. There were some great lines about also loving yourself even before you have "your life figured out."

The story itself went fast but I did get a little bored of Audrey's antics. The epilogue also felt a little bit random to me. Overall if you enjoyed Cousen's other books you'll enjoy this one too!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

When main character, Audrey found someone else’s photo in the photo booth, she did what she deemed appropriate - put the photos in her wallet and replaced them with pictures of herself. She spent years thinking about “photo booth guy” and likewise, photo booth guy (Fred) did the same because there was an undeniable connection. Neither of the two expected that they would finally find each other years later on the night before Audrey’s wedding.

Ugh, this book was so good until it wasn’t. I loved that fate brought Fred and Audrey back together and I wanted to see them run off together and live happily ever after. I felt like the entire book was really lengthy all for it to end the way it began, Audrey and Josh getting married. I felt like she was settling with Josh while she could have chosen Fred who was someone extremely compatible with her.

I gave this book 3 stars because of the fact that I loved the parts about Audrey and Fred. I felt like they truly loved each other and wanted to be with each other, they were the definition of soul mates and fate bringing people back together.

Audrey and Josh are getting married, but when a mysterious plus one shows up with the groom's sister, Audrey is starting to wonder if she is doing the right thing. Six years earlier, she had a chance encounter with someone she thought could be her soulmate. Photo Booth Guy, aka Fred, and Audrey met by happenstance when she found his photos left in the photo booth at the train station. They spent one glorious day together and then never saw each other again, until the night before her wedding.

Sophie Cousens uses her quirky and romantic writing style to delve deeper into the relationships between Audrey and Fred and Audrey and Josh. We are flashed back to six years prior when she meets Fred and also back to when she and Josh first met. Audrey is a very likable character, as are Josh and Fred. It was hard to pinpoint how the story would end...because you wanted both guys to win Audrey! There are other very likeable characters, and one very unlikable character, a perfect villain for the story.

I so thoroughly enjoyed this read. Just when I needed it, I got a very feel good, romantic comedy!

Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and NetGalley for the digital ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Have you ever met a guy and spent just a day but the connection was undeniably there? Fred and Audrey, that’s what they had. He was her “what if”. You enjoyed the thrill and the adventure because he made your heart race and excited. He ghosted you or so you thought but then he showed up the night before your wedding day.

And then there is this guy you are about to marry in a few hours. He’s organized, he’s not the adventurous type that you wanted, but he keeps you grounded. He makes you a better person which you never thought you could be. Josh and Audrey. Josh never ghosted you. He stayed even when you are difficult to love because he chooses to. I am definitely Team Josh.

I could relate to this book. Sometimes, we want someone who isn’t so serious in life. Someone adventurous, funny, takes everything lightly, doesn’t stress much on things. I met a Fred-kind-of-guy before I met my husband who, btw, is a Josh-kind-of-guy. Read this book and you will know how my husband is. 😂 But he is my best decision in this lifetime.

I truly understand Audrey's confusion, but sometimes, remember that what we want is not always what we need.

I like this book so much and recommending it, but I’m only giving this a 4.2 stars because these two reasons were too unrealistic:
1. Too many bad omens before the wedding
2. The scene in the plane

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a pretty perfect rom com and I loved every bit of it. Audrey is about to marry Josh when Fred, a what-if from her past, shows up and throws her in to confusion. It's impossible not to love Audrey -- I was so invested in her story and having everything work out for her. Josh is one of the best love interests I've ever read, and Audrey and Fred's meet-cute is so swoony and perfect.

The supporting characters in this book are all great and so unique. Hillary, Audrey's "nactor" - a nanny who is an actor - is charming and endearing, and a great source of comedic relief. Josh's grandmother is also hilarious, and I felt completely invested in the outcomes of Audrey's mother, her best friend, and Josh's sister as well.

I was also very impressed with how Sophie Cousens's pulls off not just two timelines, but the present timeline and multiple timelines in Audrey's past. It's done seamlessly and with no confusion -- really enriched the story and made it so fun to read.

I will for sure be reading everything Sophie Cousens's writes in the future, as well as reading the one in her backlist I have yet to read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

This is my third Sophie Cousens book I have read, and I enjoyed it!




So over all I liked it. But I like her first two books better. This book did lack some of Sophie’s knee slapping humor that the other books had, but I enjoyed the pay off of having a more serious thought provoking story line. The story definitely I didn’t go where I thought it was going to go. I enjoyed that she made it a point to show that sometimes a fantasy is just that, a fantasy. Like the grass isn’t greener on the other side, but greener where you water it.

Cousens is a master at side characters and she didn’t disappoint in BID. She writes them so well that even with little “page time” I still felt big feelings toward them.

Im loving everything Sophie comes out with, so I’m looking forward to more books in the future!

Audrey and Josh are about to get married, and the wedding day doesn't go smoothly. In fact, it ends in disaster. But, maybe that is a good thing. Audrey let others bulldoze her about the wedding. Maybe it is fate that the wedding doesn't happen.
When Josh walks away, Aubrey wants to go after him. He is going to go on the honeymoon, so Aubrey decided to follow him. Another thing that doesn't go good. Audrey is staying by herself, and it gives her time to think about what she truly wants.
Audrey always has her head in the sky, always looking up, and Josh always has his roots in the dirt. Is there a way for the two of them to find a balance that will work out for them. Sophie Cousins tells their story, telling the before the wedding day, the wedding day, and what happens after. It is a fun book to read, because no matter how bad things are, life goes on. Sometimes it could make it worse, sometimes it is humiliating, but life goes on, and maybe they will get it right this time. You will read the book because you will have to know what really does happen.
I received an ARC from G.P. Putnam's Sons through NetGalley.

I was pleasantly surprised by this rom-com. Typically with this genre it's pretty predictable, but with this one I was left guessing. I loved the different timelines and getting to know the MC throughout her life. This is my 2nd book from Sophie Cousens - consider me a fan!

Wow! This book was great! Sophie Cousens is such a talented writer!

I loved the multiple points in the main character's life. And who doesn't love a good romantic book!

Before I Do tells the story of Audrey and Josh, opening on their disastrous wedding day that wasn't and going backwards to show us how they met, how their relationship developed, some of Audrey's life experiences that contributed to her wedding day doubts, all the wedding calamities... and what happened afterward.

I'm looking forward to getting a hard copy of this book.

I was lucky enough to recover and ARC of this book.

I really loved Audrey’s story. I won’t give spoilers, but Audrey hasn’t had an easy life. She lost her father when she was young and her mother is on marriage number five.

The days leading up to Audrey’s wedding are nothing short of a disaster. They say bad things happen in three’s… in Audrey’s case bad things happen in way more then threes.

It’s up to Audrey to fix all the bad luck and win back her man, but can she do it after everything that’s happened?

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I was never sure how it was going to end until the actual ending. Regardless you can’t help but root for Audrey after everything she’s been through. The ending will leave you smiling and maybe even a little teary eyed.

Do you believe in Soulmates? Fate? Bad omens? All of these play a part in this wonderful story, Before I Do. The book opens up on Audrey and Josh’s wedding day with a disaster, but we don’t find out what happens till quite sometime into the book. It’s told in alternating times between the present day, and the past that has shaped Audrey’s life and perspectives. The story plays between Bad Jeans Josh and their ever evolving love story, and Photo booth Fred, her “What If” guy. When Fred shows up at their rehearsal dinner as a plus one and several bad omens through the wedding festivities, Audrey begins to question everything. Before I Do had me laughing, going back and forth between who I was rooting for, tearing up, and laughing more. It had such a depth of emotions and growth, and I truly loved every second of this book!

I am a huge fan of Sophie Cousens, and I was so thrilled to be selected to receive and ARC! Thank you NetGalley and penguin group Putnam for giving me a chance to read early in exchange for my honest feedback!

*3.5 stars* This was a cute rom-com, but I found myself really disliking the main character Audrey for most of the novel. A really clever idea for a romantic comedy, though.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free e-copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Puntnam for this ARC.

Do you believe in fate and soulmates? It is Audrey’s wedding day and bad omens are happening left and right when suddenly a gentleman from her pst shows up at her wedding. She starts to question if she is making the right decision and we jump back in time to see the influence of Audrey’s past has on her future.

This book was a wild ride. There were times that I found my self switching who I was rooting for and others where I hated everyone. All in all, I found this a delightfully quick and quirky read

"This is Maid of Honor 101. Remove angst, stress, and ex-love interests from the wedding"

Before I Do is a story about the one vs the one that got away. Audrey is getting married in a couple of days and things start going wrong. Something about the church, then her dress, then her mom's less than perfect record in relationships then her best friend's marital problems. Audrey starts having doubts. But is it really cold feet? Is Josh the love of her life?

Yes, Josh is not what she pictured herself with and they don't make sense as a couple. Their hobbies are different, their friend groups don't get well. While she is more of a free spirit, trying to figure out herself Josh is all set. He knows what he wants, he is hardworking. He is sensible and grounded and quite neat. He is a great guy, really. I loved Josh! His thoughtful gestures and presents to Audrey.

Oh I almost forgot! Her what-if person shows up at her wedding. Is this a strange serendipity or an unfortunate coincidence? Is Josh her soul mate or is it Fred?

I really enjoyed Sophie Cousens's previous two books and this was just as charming, comforting, laugh out loud funny at times (seriously Granny Parker is just an awesome character). But this book excels in dialogue between characters. Audrey has a narcissist for a mother and has lost her father at a young age but her nanny Hillary (such a wise guy) and her best friend Clara are always ready to give Audrey a piece of their minds. This book had so many insightful points about relationships, marriage, finding your true calling in life and being worthy of love.

The dual timeline was done so well. It helped to keep the tension up.

As in most Brit romances this book has more women's fiction feel to it. This book is about Audrey and her personal journey to happiness and fulfillment rather than her romantic relationships.

Before I Do is the story of Audrey’s journey to the altar. By switching back and forth between scenes from her life six years before and the days leading up to her wedding, Sophie Cousens provides glimpses of the pivotal moments that have led Audrey to the altar. And when her what-if man from six years ago suddenly appears the day of the wedding, Audrey spirals into the cosmic questions of how to know if “the one” is the one or if “the one” is myth entirely.

I loved this book for its explorations of the ways that Audrey’s relationship with her mother, her mother’s relationship with various men, and Audrey’s relationships with those men impacted Audrey’s concept of romantic love. It explores chemistry and choice and fate and how we ultimately decide how and when to commit to another person. The dual-timeline gave more depth to Audrey’s character and provided insights into her decision-making. The hijinks of the wedding day offered comedic relief to some heavier topics.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 stars

This is my third Sophie Cousens novel, and I'm slowly understanding her vibe. Her books are much more coming of age stories of sorts with a side of romance.

In <I>Before I Do</I> we follow Audrey back and forth in time before she gets married to Josh, her apparent "boring" opposite. The night before her wedding, a man she met once and had a dream day with years ago shows up to the rehearsal as the date of her future sister in law. She begins to doubt whether she picked the right man- but who wouldn't when your mom has been married five times and was with a pretty gross dude once.

The book reminded me early on that my least favorite trope is the love triangle. Thankfully, any icky feelings ended early enough on and it became apparent where the story was headed and I could enjoy it more. I did enjoy the bulk of this, despite our somewhat annoying MC, who is who she is because of a very good reason. The story was overall very sweet, especially when it committed to ONE guy.

If you've enjoyed Cousens's books in the past or like a little more than *just* romance in your romance, this will not disappoint.

So I will admit, when I first started this book I didn’t think that I would like it. I almost quit it pretty early on. However, the more I read the more I just wanted to know what will happen. Well sure enough, it sucked me right in and I actually really liked the story! I had no idea what was going to happen but so happy with the ending.