This charming book surprised me. While it had the incredible meetcutes and quirky characters (a sassy grandmother is always on my romance bingo card) I expected, it also had some really poignant moments about love, familial misunderstandings, and what it takes to make a marriage work. It’s light but not frothy- on a popcorn to steak spectrum, I’d consider this one a PB&J sandwich.

This was the absolute SWEETEST book. It’s big on the “what if” moments that all of us have had at least once in our life. Audrey is a prime example of how your family really does play a role in how you view things/situations. I loved loved LOVED Josh. I’m not going to lie, this book had me on my toes until the very end while I was waiting to see what was going to happen! I’ll definitely be reading this one again and again!

Sophie Cousens has been one of my favorite authors! I surprisingly hadn't read anything like this before and really enjoyed it. The differing timelines helped really paint the picture of the one that got away and Audreys conflict. It was emotional and a page turner.

I love this book so much.

I don't usually love when books jump from the present to the past every chapter but Sophie Cousens wrote this so well. I was so invested in both the past and present and loved the way it was easy to follow along.

I especially enjoyed all of the astronomy references as I too wanted to get into the field but the math part was just too difficult for me to master. I love that Audrey was able to learn to love herself despite not being on the same timeline as her peers, it's a good reminder that everyone moves at a different pace.

Adding an excerpt of my favorite part of this book. I need to print this out.

“I call bullshit on what you are saying. 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. I fucking love you, whether you’re a work in progress or a finished article. So should Josh, and so should you.”

Audrey had rarely seen Hillary so animated. “Do you really want to live in a world where only the sorted people get to be in love?”

So funny enough I could have used this for a Cannonball 14 bingo because of the constant discussion of stars, who knew. But seriously though. This is the third book by Cousens I have read and they just keep getting better. Potential romance readers may be worried about the plot of this one and if this will work for them, but I promise you it will. It was lovely the whole way through. I called it a chaotic romance and it really is. And you are going to not like parts of Audrey sometimes, but you are going to be rooting for her while you read. I thought several times while reading this book that some characters were saying a lot of things I wish I had heard/known when I was younger. 

"Before I Do" follows Audrey who is about to marry her fiancée Josh. Audrey feels a bit "off" the night before their wedding and wonders if this is what she really wants and can she and Josh make each other truly happy. Audrey is shocked when Josh's sister brings Fred "one who got away" to the rehearsal dinner and Audrey is left floored about whether this is a sign that means the wedding is a mistake. The book goes back and forth to a time before the wedding and the time after. 

So Audrey is a bit of a mess. And there's good reason she is we slowly find out. Outside of her mother's multiple marriages, she's still reeling from an incident when she was a young woman which left her feeling guilty. And now that Fred, the first man who ever made her feel "something" is back before her wedding, she wonders if that is a sign she's about to make a big mistake. You may want to shake Audrey while reading, but there's reasons why she feels the way she does, and why she feels so off. An amateur astronomer, it feels as if Audrey is constantly giving up her dreams and has watched all of her friends, even her mother, continue to couple up. Part of her feels the push/pull of that. But we also get to see the many times she met Josh through the years and how he ended up being someone she wanted to be with. The story of Audrey and the story of Audrey and Josh was wonderful to read. And it was great to see an acknowledgement through other characters about how hard marriage is and how often it sucks. 

The writing was great and I laughed a few times while reading. Seriously the night before the wedding had the most messy stuff happening outside of Fred. I would have probably opened a bottle of champagne after the dead bat incident (you have to read it).

The pace actually works for this. Cousens does a good job of setting up points in time by saying X hours, days, months, years before Audrey is supposed to say I do. 

The ending was great I thought. You don't get the in between stuff, but almost the entire story in the end.

Audrey is a bit lost, struggling to find what she wants to do with her life. Her story is told through multiple timelines and introduces us to Josh, her type A fiancé that she once nicknamed ‘Bad Jeans Josh,’ her mother and her mother’s many love interests, and one special day spent with Fred from the photo booth. When Fred turns up on the day of Audrey’s wedding, she begins to question her relationship, love, and the role that fate plays in it.

I loved this book! It would make such an amazing movie. Audrey is not always likable, but she is real and relatable in her indecision. The book really makes you think about alternate realities and how the choices we make shape our future. I also really appreciated how Josh is portrayed in a realistic way. So many times, main characters seem too perfect, but Audrey, Josh, and Fred are all flawed and likable in their own ways. The ending chapters were sweet, laugh out loud funny, and the perfect way to tie up Audrey’s story. I’d recommend this book to any fans of rom coms- you’ll love this one!

Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Group Putnam, GP Putnam Sons, and Sophie Cousens for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I received an advance copy of this book.

I feel like this book was written just for me. As a big 'ol what-ifer, I've probably spent weeks of my life talking to friends and family about our lives could have looked like in an alternate universe. This book gets at exactly this. A long time ago, Audrey meets Fred. They have an instant spark and spend a day together that they both remember for years to come. In the present, Audrey is about to marry Josh when Fred comes back into the picture. She has to grapple with what those two version of her life could have/would be and make a decision. Great characters, captivating plot, and a few laugh out loud funny parts. Highly recommend!

Have you ever wondered how life would have changed if you had made one different decision? Enter Audrey, Fred, and Josh.

With a storyline that jumps from one point in time to another…to another, the reader will explore Audrey’s experiences with love and be left wondering just what will happen before she says I do.

Great romance! Audrey and Josh are getting married. Opposites attract and it is wonderful! But then Miranda, Josh's sister, shows up with Audrey's What If guy. Did she miss out on something? Add in a crazy multi married mom, well meaning friends, and hilarious mishaps that make it seem like this wedding is cursed for a fun time. I can't forget a Yorkshire grandma who reads naughty romances and seems to know much about curses.
Thank you, NetGalley for a stellar choice!

This was a great example of opposites attract and how past trauma can really mess with your mental health. It was equally a great love story and great character growth with a bit of personal triumph mixed in.

Tropes/Features:
• Romantic Drama
• Contemporary Romance
• Wedding Weekend
• Past and Present Timelines
• UK Romance

It’s Audrey and Josh’s wedding weekend, and things don’t seem to be going exactly to plan – add in the fact that her future sister in law’s date is a blast from Audrey’s past / one that got away. Cue awkward moment and what-if wonderings….

This was my first read by the author, but I look forward to more. Her writing style was interesting and well-paced, and I found this British romantic drama read to be one that kept me flipping the pages. The story does have moments of levity too, but definitely explores some heavier topics as well. It was interesting to have the story switch from the current wedding weekend timeline to various flashbacks of Audrey’s past – we get glimpses of her childhood, formative experiences, her relationship with Josh, and her encounter with the mysterious ex.

The story is one that covers not only the love story angle, but touches on bigger questions we all struggle with and family relationships (especially that between Audrey and her mother). The insights we get over time into Audrey and Vivien (her mother) were interesting. Audrey and Vivien both upset me at times with things they did, said or didn’t say --- and don’t get me started on Audrey’s indecision. However, it was all necessary to the story and I did find them real and authentic at the same time. It’s always easier to see things from the outside, in life and in books.

Highlights for me:
• Hillary the nactor (nanny / actor) – I loved him, I really wanted more of him
• Letter from Audrey’s dad
• Flashbacks of Audrey and Josh
• Photobooth story – it was interesting to wait for it to fully spin out

Thank you to Netgalley and GP Putnam for the opportunity to read an early copy!

This was cute! 3.5 stars and for sake of goodreads, I found up! Not my favorite of her three, but definitely a good one. I definitely grew to LOATHE Vivien, and wish that something different had happened there.

Otherwise it was a cute, feel-good read!

This was a story about fate and what’s meant to be and not meant to be and all those possible parallel universes out there.

Audrey, the bride to be, decides to unpack some of the bigger issues in her life during the weekend of her wedding. This obviously does not go well for her.

Josh, the groom to be, deserves all the flowers. He really carried a lot of this book for me, especially the romance aspect. He was pretty swoon, which is why Audrey’s whole dilemma is so frustrating.

The first half of the book was s l o w. It opens with start of the wedding but I was barely interested until the half way mark (with exception of the parts that included Josh). I think this was due to the multiple timelines. But it picks up and I flew through the last half wanting to know what happens next.

I liked this book and would definitely recommend it. It has a satisfying ending and left me thinking about fate and soulmates.

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

This book was definitely an interesting read! I absolutely loved the way Sophie Cousens wrote this story, as the writing was beautiful and had a lot of sentimental moments hidden throughout. The chapters capture the moments before and after Audrey's wedding, but also memories from her childhood and the early stages of her relationship with Josh. The flashbacks added so much to the story and I always enjoyed getting to read them, as learning more about the home Audrey grew up in and the memories she had added so much to her character development and I could truly understand why she made certain decisions. Sophie Cousens is such a talented writer and this book definitely proves it. I highly recommend checking this book out!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this free arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars and rounded up :)
Love Sophie Cousens! And I love her new sweet romance "Before I Do."
Don't we all wonder "what if" about multiple things in our lives? Well, Audrey is thrown into her what-if the night before her wedding - yikes!
This one flowed so well between multiple timeframes. I was feeling all her feelings right along with the story. I legitimately couldn't call if she would end up with red, Josh, or no one in the end. Definitely worth the read or listen if you are in a heartwarming romance kind of mood.
Thanks G.P. Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for this ARC! I truly enjoyed it.

Thank you so much to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and NetGalley!

It's Audrey's wedding day where she is going to marry Josh. However, someone she thought who was the one that got away shows up. It seems like everything goes wrong on her wedding day.

I loved this book. I will admit that I didn't like Audrey at first. However, as more about her life is revealed, I think everything about her made sense. I also thought her mom's life was fascinating. I would love to read a separate book about the life of her mom. I really, really, really liked Josh, and it made me think a lot about love and marriage. Reading about why he thought people should get married really touched me. All in all, this was a nice way to round out my August reads!

Audrey and Josh are perfectly opposite of each other. As their wedding day approaches however, Audrey’s past has her questioning if Josh is really the one. When they reach their rehearsal dinner and Josh’s sisters date is none other than the man she shared one amazing day with six years ago, Audrey starts to spin out of control. Bad luck seems to envelope their wedding, are they really meant to be doing this, or is all this band luck a sign?

Ok this was one of those really hard love triangle stories! Why? Because you truly wanted to root for everyone! It wasn’t like one of the guys was some crazy jerk you wanted to push in the river, both Josh and Fred seemed like such amazing guys. I don’t think I decided which way I wanted her to go until well into 3/4 of the book! I loved the “meet cute” and whimsical story of her time with Fred, but at the same time, she and Josh just seemed so happy and perfect together. I liked that there were multiple timelines and we got to see her time with Fred, how she met and fell in love with Josh, and how her mothers many relationships shaped the way she felt about not only herself but marriage in general. I was so looking forward to Cousens latest book, and this did not disappoint!

Overview: Audrey is thrown for a loop when Fred, a striking man from her past, shows up as a surprise wedding guest the day before she is set to marry her fiancée Josh. Should Audrey interpret this as fate intervening? Or should she dictate her own happily ever after?

Thoughts: As a huge fan of Sophie Cousens, I am happy to share that “Before I Do” is just as lovely as her prior works. Cousens continues to demonstrate that she is a master of subverting the expectations of what a love story should look like. There are multiple timelines woven throughout the story, with the primary ones focusing on: 1) present day, which starts the day before Audrey is set to marry Josh, 2) seven years ago, the beginning of her delightful meet-cute with Fred, and 3) four years ago, when her relationship with Josh begins to take root. While some readers may be put off by the complexity of these timelines, it is clear that all are integral for the progression of the story. I was particularly tickled by the timeline with Fred, which I am convinced is a nod to one of my favorite movies, Amélie, starring the wonderful Audrey Tautou. I also absolutely loved some of the small details added in, such as descriptions of Josh pouring water for Audrey.

Cousens shows here that she can deftly write not only an epic “meet-cute”, but also a charming “anti-meet cute”. I don’t want to give away who Audrey ends up with, but I will say that I am 100% satisfied with the ending.

Conclusion: “Before I Do” is an intricate yet thoughtful story that will leave your heart feeling full. It is rare to come across a contemporary romance that is not only a delight to read, but also poignant enough to make one re-evaluate their own views on what true love is.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for providing this digital ARC.

I really liked this newest book by Sophie Cousens! Audrey is about to marry her guy, Josh, when her one-day-fling, shows up as a +1. If that’s not the icing on the cake, everything that can and will go wrong does. She wonders if the “world” is trying to keep her from marrying the wrong person.

I really liked this book and loved the message at the end. But with that comes spoilers so I won’t add those here. It’s deeper than it sounds based on my review here.

This book comes out on October 11th so place your preorder or library hold today! Thanks to @netgalley @putnambooks for the advance copy! It’s always fun to get a sneak peek of a new book!

What would you do if 'the one that got away' turned up the night before your wedding?

I was so excited to get the opportunity to read this ARC. I have a few of Sophie’s other books on my shelf (Just Haven’t Met You Yet and This Time Next Year) but hadn’t gotten to them yet so I couldn’t wait to finally dive in.

I usually go on rants about how some romance novels don’t have a plot but this one is a massive exception. At the very core of this book, the plot is all about choice. The choice to dwell in the past. The power of choice itself. How we let experiences in our lives shape us.

Before I do is a romantic comedy with a deep plot. The comedic elements are strategically placed and add so much charm to this book as a whole. This rom com is not smutty, so if you’re a spice lover, just know that going in!

What wI loved:
🌟Sophie’s writing style! There are a ton of time jumps, but they are woven together flawlessly.
🌟The wedding setting! This book may be set at a wedding part of the time, but it’s one of the most interesting wedding settings we’ve read.
🌟The anticipation. This book kept me guessing until the end which literally never happens in romance books.
🌟This book doesn’t have drama just for the sake of including drama. The relationship between Audrey and the side characters (romantic, familial, friends) is so real.
🌟The side characters are amazing- Hillary, Clare, Josh’s grandma

All in all, I loved Before I do! If you love rom coms that beautifully weaves the past and present together, give this one a try!

📘Before I Do by @sophie
Pub Date: 11 Oct 2022 

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Cousins, and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for this ARC.