Ohhhh this book ❤️ I absolutely could not put it down! We dive right in on Audrey and Josh’s wedding day, where it is obvious that something has gone wrong but we won’t find out what for many chapters to come. Their story is told in multiple timelines with fantastic supporting characters and the timelines tie up neatly once we know the whole story. The chapters are short and always end on an intriguing note, keeping you reading to find out what will happen next. There is the cutest meet cute of all time, a slow burn romance, some bad omens and hijinks pre-wedding, and a hilarious grand gesture.

This book made me laugh, tear up, then laugh some more. Sophie Cousens writes romances with great emotional depth and realistic characters. It was not a predictable rom com and I loved that I didn’t see where the story was going to go.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this fantastic ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

At Audrey's wedding, bad omens come in threes. Or maybe more than threes...

This sweet, heartfelt novel begins with Audrey and Josh's wedding, which is plagued by disasters large and small. It skips back a few years to Audrey and Josh's early relationship. And it skips back a few more years. to Audrey's instant connection with another guy - who happens to show up at her wedding as the date of a guest.

So we have three timelines, two love interests, and a slew of secondary characters. There's a lot going on, but Cousens makes it all work. I was interested in all three timelines and really liked how each one unfolded independently but gave depth to the ones that followed it. The subplots are nicely done, echoing and illuminating the main plot without ever overshadowing it. The side characters are well-developed and entertaining. The writing is seamless, and the degree of emotional intensity is perfect - I cared about Audrey's story, but it never felt so dramatic or draining that I needed to step away.

My one complaint was that Audrey herself, particularly in the wedding timeline, was a difficult character to sympathize with. She is flighty and immature, prone to wondering things like, "can I possibly happy with someone so much nicer than the guys I usually date?" on the actual day of her wedding. But the story meshes wonderfully with these elements of her personality, and the ending is compelling and satisfying and beautifully written. My only complaint now is that I can't read this book for the first time again.

👰🏻‍♀️Before I Do👰🏻‍♀️
By: Sophie Cousens

Audrey and Josh are getting married in a large, extravagant wedding planned by Audrey’s over the top mother. It has all the makings to be a perfect day. The only problem, bad omens start happening and a man from Audrey’s past shows up making her question every moment in her past that has led to this moment, the moment she says “I do”.

Man, oh man! What a wedding day! It was the wedding day that just would not end! Josh was the perfect boyfriend/fiance. And it took Audrey way too long to see that! So, at times I wanted to reach through the pages and shake Audrey! But I loved the characters! This book was the perfect British romcom. I could easily see this being adapted in to a movie. This is a book about fate, second chances, and asking what if. It is a wonderful read!

This book was cute! Her mom stressed me out so much but I liked the over all story arc there. The cute ending and the overall moral of the story was very well done.

I just finished this book and this is definitely a book I'm going to be thinking about for a long time to come.

"I don't like this narrative that's crept into books and films. 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."

Agh. Such a great story about how our pasts can play into our futures but also how as we grow and experience life we are no longer who we used to be.

Aubrey spends her life bouncing from job to job never really settling down. She comes with a big case of baggage and some issues to work out but asking the way she meets a man who loves her completely. Unfortunately, (or fortunately!?), the day of 'I Do' does not go according to plan.

I just loved this story. I truly did not know who I was rooting for most of the way through but in a really good way. The character development, especially Audrey, was top notch.

Thank you so much @netgalley for the ARC, it was so fun to read.

This book is difficult for me to review. I was so excited because I absolutely love wedding stories and the dual timeline had me super excited however it just missed the mark for me. I really enjoyed the beginning and seeing josh and Audrey fall in love, and how real and messy their love story was. I loved how raw and vulnerable Audrey was although at times I felt like she used her trauma as an excuse for some of her mistakes.
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overall this was a cute read and I enjoyed josh and Audrey's relationship.
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thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Cousen’s writing and BEFORE I DO was no exception! The way she weaves a romance that has you guessing and questioning through most of the book is just perfection!! This perfectly bingeable story focuses on the ideas of fate, soul mates, and bad omens… it makes you think of all those “what if” moments in life. A non traditional love story that will make you swoon over the couple and the quirky side characters as well!

What to expect:
•Wedding setting
•Multiple timelines
•A unique love triangle
•Mother-daughter drama

I found this to be a fun way to tell a "What If?" story. The night before she is supposed to be married, Audrey's "what if" guy shows up as her fiancee's sister's date. This sends her spiraling as well as some other mishaps that happen along the way. She starts questioning if Josh is the right guy & why she is marrying him. As this is happening, we go back in time to various periods of her life to see why she reacts this way. I thought the story was well thought out & creative. Highly recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for an exhange for an honest review.

What a darling book, I really enjoyed it.

I've loved all of Sophie Cousens previous books and I knew this one would absolutely not disappoint. Just the premise, I mean imagine being *this* close to getting married when the other significant person of your past decides to make an appearance? That sounds like a recipe for disaster, right? Cousens does an incredible job with the multiple timelines and having readers question who exactly our MC Ashley was going to end up with. Cousens just has the magic touch with writing romances but also makes sure to explore more complex themes.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest opinion.
I was super excited to get this one. I previously read This Time Next Year, and Just Haven't Met You Yet is still on my tbr.
Much like TTNY, Before I Do is a romance tackling the concept of fate. Audrey is a manic Pixie Dream Girl, barely able to hold a job or pick a direction in life, but marrying Josh within DAYS when Fred, her WhatIf! guy shows up to the rehearsal dinner. Cue THE SPIRALING.

Does she make it down the aisle? Run away with Fred? I'm not telling!
Warning- this book will make you seriously nostalgic for photo booths.

Perfect for Fans of If/Then (Broadway Musicals), Freaky Friday, Sliding Doors, etc!
Available 10/11/22!

This is the second Sophie Cousens book I've read and the thing I've enjoyed most about both books is the unpredictability. Unlike other trope-ridden, formulaic rom-coms where a HEA is inevitable, Before I Do really left me wondering who Audrey, the main character, would end up with. Written in multiple timelines, it's a story of Audrey who is marrying dependable Josh, when her What-If from many years ago, Fred, shows up to the wedding.

Synopsis:
“What would you do if 'the one that got away' turned up the night before your wedding?”
Free spirit Audrey is about to marry type-A Josh, they are the perfect compliment to one another. When Fred, Audrey’s “one that got away,” shows up before the wedding, Audrey begins to question the concept of true love and fate.

Read if You Like:
- Themes of destiny, fate, and true love
- Astrological references
- Complicated family dynamics
- Duel timelines

Overall:
In the best way possible, this book was not what I expected. In the 24 hours before Audrey’s wedding, she contemplates fate, soul mates and alternate universes, while navigating her own complicated family dynamics. Before I Do couples Audrey’s backstory and upbringing with her present day struggles. This story includes elements of a romantic comedy while tackling complex questions and themes.

4 / 5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the eARC!

The description of the book made it sound interesting but it wasn't. She was supposed to be hung up on a guy she met years ago and spent one day with but it was very obvious that she was never going to leave her fiancee. The book also talked a lot about the trauma her mom gave her but we never really got a resolution to that so why was it included?

I received an arc through netgalley.

This is a fun romp of a wedding day gone wrong with lots of time jumps. The main characters are likeable and relatable and believable and the book is well-paced. Largely a coming of age without being too heavy handed. Would recommend.

This is my third Sophie Cousens book and she has cemented her "automatic one-click" status with this one!
I think almost everyone has a "the one that got away" in their life, and Audrey comes face to face with hers the night before her wedding to "bad jeans Josh".
The story is told with multiple time lines which reveals to the reader so much more about Audrey's back story, her relationship with Josh, and her ultimate "meet cute" with the one who got away - Fred. The backstories, coupled with disaster upon disaster of back luck prior to the wedding, leaves you guessing as to how it will all end - and who, if anyone, will Audrey end up with.

I love the combination of laugh out loud moments, tender moments, and exasperating moments as Audrey's wedding approaches. I loved this story and this mix of quirky characters.
5 stars for this one!
Thank you to Sophie Cousens, NetGalley, and Putnam Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Before I Do releases on October 11th 2022.

Before I Do screams Sophie Cousen’s in all the best ways!

Short synopsis: On the eve of Audrey’s wedding, she runs into her “what if” guy and on top that, she is faced with a bunch of bad omens. Audrey starts to question whether fate is preventing her from making a huge mistake or whether destiny is just playing tricks on her.

Thoughts: Sophie Cousen’s always does a great job writing nonlinear timelines and building up angst within a romance and this book was no exception. I loved Audrey as a main character, the wedding setting and how the drama was not included for the sake of it but because it made sense with the story. Cousen’s also did a great job balancing the over the top/ silly moments with the more serious topics.

Read if you are interested in:
-Stories that question fate and “what if”
-Nonlinear timelines
-Wedding settings
-Love triangles
-Family drama

Thank you Putnam for the ARC and PRH Audio for the ALC!!

I fell in love with Sophie's writing when I read This Time Next Year in early 2021 and also absolutely loved Just Haven't Met You Yet published later in 2021. Before I Do was one of my most highly anticipated reads this year and I enjoyed it - so much so that I finished it in one (kinda long) sitting. Just couldn't put it down!

Although I highly anticipated this one, I was also tentative to read it given the concept - something happening on the eve of her wedding to make our main character question her marriage, something that seemed to involve a man from her past. I don't like love triangles AT ALL, but I was willing to put that aside as I enjoyed the author's past work and trusted that she would spin it in a positive, rom-com worthy way.

Ultimately, this is a story about if who you love and marry is serendipitous fate or something you choose. The reader follows Audrey's story through three timelines - present, 3 years ago and the start of her relationship with her fiance, and six years ago meeting "the one who got away." This timeline helped me piece together Audrey's state of mind for the present and also created Audrey as a fairly relatable character. There were some lovely side characters, Granny Parker, Audrey's BF, and Nactor, Hillary.

Sophie excels at blending together tough life circumstances with humor and insight. There's hard moments to read about here, especially with Audrey's relationships with her mother and her mother's various husbands as well as Audrey's dilemma and indecision regarding her love life.

“What would you do if ‘the one that got away’ turned up the night before your wedding?”

This was my first Sophie Cousens read, and it definitely will not be my last. I’ve already added her other works to my TBR list. The story and the characters were very well developed. This book made me laugh, cry, and really think about the concept of soulmates and what is meant-to-be.

Audrey is a dynamic main character with lots of baggage, some self-esteem issues, and complex relationships with those around her. The flashbacks and alternating timeline were a welcome way to delve into what made Audrey tick and fleshed out her relationships with those important to her, beyond just Josh and Fred.

While there is a romance aspect to this story, (I mean it is set at Audrey and Josh’s wedding) I’d say the real story is Audrey finding her way and learning more about herself. She had such great development- from being naïve, flighty, and indecisive to knowing exactly what and who she wants. The undertone through the story was that you don’t need to have your life all figured out by a certain age, and those who you think have it all together really don’t either.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Penguin/Putnam Books for the advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest thoughts and review.

I was a little indifferent about this one in the beginning. The events felt a little too cheesy and slightly ridiculous. But halfway through my opinion started to change. I become a lot more engaged in the story and what was unfolding. The multiple timelines added a layer to the story that I really enjoyed. In the end I was quite pleased with how everything turned out.