How many of us have ever wondered what happened to “the one that got away?” Expert author Sophie Cousens delights fans with her most recent novel Before I Do, with this very question with several added twists slipped in. It is the eve of her wedding and Audrey is about to marry Josh. Josh is delightful, kind, successful and an excellent match for Audrey. But, when her past shows up to her rehearsal dinner, Sophie can’t get rid of memories. Her brief encounter with Fred was filled with fireworks and excitement, but then he left without a word. I really love books that explore the reality that one life might have several paths to happiness, but it took me a while to get into Audrey’s story. About half-way through, I was hooked and, without giving anything away, felt very strongly that Sophie’s writing led Audrey on a realistic path. I’m excited to discuss Before I Do with friends in October 2022.

A sincere thankyou to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*ARC REVIEW*

3.5 stars

I usually have trouble with books that go back and forth between the past and the present, but I found the first half of Before I Do to be easy to understand (...second half not so much). I enjoyed reading about every "bad omen" before Audrey's wedding day, her love story with Josh, and her encounter with Fred many years ago. I will say the plot line of her mother and her various husbands did not interest me in the slightest.

I started to have trouble keeping up when we made it to the wedding day. So many things were happening and all of the stories of the past were finally interacting to the point I was struggling to make sense of it all. I found I was not fully in the story because I was trying to keep track of every crazy turn of events. It was also here when characters I liked started to annoy me as their true colors were coming out (i.e. Fred and even Audrey).

I found the end of the story to be very sweet and satisfying (but I am definitely still #Team Josh). If you like books that have multiple storylines and switch from past to present, this is a story packed with drama.

Thank you so much to Sophie Cousens, NetGalley, and Putnam for the eARC of Before I Do.

Audrey and Josh seem to be the perfect couple and are leading up to having a perfect wedding day. When Josh’s sister, Miranda, shows up with her new boyfriend, it sends Audrey into a frenzy. Fred and Audrey met 6 years ago through a photo booth, and Audrey has thought about the “what-ifs” ever since. Will Audrey and Josh make it, or will Audrey decide to run off with Fred, who she once believed was her soul mate?

This was such a cute story, and I absolutely love everything Sophie Cousens writes. So excited for everyone to be able to read this one!

This is my second Sophie Cousens book, the first being This Time Next Year, which I LOVED. I really enjoyed Before I Do. Audrey is at a crossroads when the day before her wedding a man from her past shows up. Is she meant to marry her fiancé, Josh, or is she meant to be with the man from her past, Fred? I fell in love with both Audrey and Josh. In my opinion Josh and Audrey were prefect for each other. I loved the flashbacks which gave us a glimpse into how their relationship Blossomed. As for Fred, I wasn’t a big fan of his. I found him to be a bit selfish and self centered. Overall a quick and fun read!

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sophie Cousens is one of my favorite writers! I was first introduced to her after I read her other novels, THIS TIME NEXT YEAR and JUST HAVEN'T MET YOU YET. Her newest novel, BEFORE I DO is just as good as the others. I was in love with this book immediately in the opening prologue. Cousens opens her story with the bride, Audrey, running from the church, barefoot and sporting a red lump on her forehead. How could I not read on to see how this would all end?!?!? Audrey spends so much time going back and forth between who she once was and who she has become. Of course, she needs to do a lot of thinking before she gets her life headed in the best direction for her. For me, the real love of this novel came in the last few chapters with the challenges and misunderstanding between Audrey and Josh. So many different questions arise but the most important questions revolve around love, marriage and creating a solid team. Cousens does challenge the reader to follow multiple timelines in her novel but it really is not an issue as long as the reader focuses when reading. If you are a true romantic at heart then this romance is for you. This book is definitely worth reading!

Audrey had met the one during a perfect whirlwind day…and then lost him. Years later Audrey is getting married to Josh when this near stranger turns up at the wedding. The wedding itself is a mess, and it seems that anything that can go wrong does—even the bride cake topper manages to take a jump off the top of cake onto the floor. It seems that there are signs everywhere pointing that she should reconsider the wedding. Josh is different from her and in some ways her opposite. But her stranger is so much like her—is he the one she is supposed to marry?

The author explores some interesting questions as Audrey determines her fate. For example, would a twist of fate had changed who she married? Could she have married anyone else in the room if the circumstances were right? Is there a force pulling us to the right person, or is it only chance? She also touched on the idea that sometimes we put love on hold until we get ourselves sorted and why this approach is problematic.

I loved this book, which kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely worth the read—and read it with a pack of Chipsticks (which can be found on Amazon for the U.S. readers).

Before I Do is a dual timeline story, going back and forth from the 24 hours surrounding Audrey’s wedding and years in her past leading up to this day. The experiences in her life leading to the wedding day along with the events on the wedding day give you insight to how Audrey is thinking and why she’s questioning things leading up to her walk down the aisle. The storyline gave some fun twists and turns as unpredictable things happen in Audrey’s life, and I enjoyed seeing how the timelines intertwined to create this story. I have enjoyed every book I’ve read written by Sophie Cousens, and this is no exception!

I very much enjoyed this book, I laughed out loud plenty of times while reading. While reading this book you have a preconceived notion about how it will end and I'm glad to say I was wrong. I very much liked the ending. This would make a great beach read.

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
Cousens does an incredible job of creating what I thought would be a basic love story into a journey of self discovery and vulnerability. Throughout the entire book, I did not know exactly where it would go, so I was constantly reading for more. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Audrey find herself and what she wants in life through the ups and downs in the book. Despite going through nothing similar to what she does in the book, I found myself relating to her feelings and struggles. I also found myself inspired by her solutions and wisdom. Bravo to Sophie Cousens - I am obsessed with this book.

At first I was not a fan of this book, it was slow to start but once I got into it, the story picked up. I liked the concept of this book. What if you were going to marry "the one" but the "one that got away" showed up at your wedding. What would you do?

Wedding jitters, anything that could go wrong does and alittle self discovery are how I would describe what this book is about to anyone who asks. Loved reading about Audrey, her journey through life and what brought her to her present day situation. I really enjoyed this book.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Audrey is about to marry Josh after four years together, when a familiar face shows up the day before they say "I do." This causes Audrey to question everything. She begins to wonder if it's fate that brought this person to her the day before her wedding. What if she had made a different choice? What would her life be like now?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It started off pretty quickly, so I was hooked early on. As the story went on, I was truly invested in the love triangle and was rooting pretty loudly for Audrey to be happy. I was also invested in the side characters, they were all so well developed!

I didn't devour this book, but it had me feeling all the feels! Would highly recommend!

"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."

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens is one hell of a rollercoaster ride; it gave me a boatload of feelings from start to finish. It kept me guessing who she ended up with and I was not expecting that, but I really loved the one she chose and their ending.

Audrey Lavery is such a fun character but her indecisiveness and thoughts had me questioning the plot, especially in the earlier parts of the book, but I was amazed by how she loves her parents and astronomy. The way she explains the things about the constellations made the story fun and informative.

Josh Parker "Bad Jeans Josh" is such a matured character, the way he viewed life and the way he loves nature had me betting on him to be the end game

Audrey and Josh's banter had me smiling the way they intentionally called each other wrong names is so cute, and I so envy the observatory date Josh planned for Audrey!

Since her first release, I have been a fan of Sophie Cousens. And i have to say that "Before I Do" is my favorite of all of her books. I loved Audrey. I loved her inner dialogue. I love a dual-timeline book because it always feels like a puzzle to solve in putting the story together while reading it. It adds something to what would be a romance, by keeping you on your toes. I loved the question that the book asks us to consider between soul mates/fate and choice in love.

Overall, I loved it. If you are looking for a super quick read, this one is deeper than that - and the payoff is greater.

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Sophie Cousens’ writing is basically my catnip. Her words magically transport me to England and she always reminds me to pack my cable knit jumper and Barbour jacket. I adore her humor and her lovely characters. Before I Do wasn’t my favorite Sophie Cousens read, (that’d be This Time Next Year, thanks for asking) but I really enjoyed it!

Now, before I go any further I must admit that this book likely will not be a fan favorite. I actually imagine there will be some pretty mixed feelings about Before I Do and maybe if I weren't so obsessed with Cousens, I wouldn’t have rated it so highly. The book is very light on the romance but there is a bit of a love triangle situation going on between the main character, Audrey, her fiancé, and a blast from the past. Cousens’ develops her characters so well and they are all so charming that it took me a long time to determine which team I was on.

I love an alternating POV, but Before I Do jumps around a LOT. The book opens up with Audrey outside of the church on her wedding day, where things have clearly gone awry. Each chapter that follows jumps to a period of time “before I do”. I won’t say much more, but this is a unique storyline with some hilarious, heartwarming and real moments. Dating is hard, especially when you struggle to trust yourself and I could relate to Audrey a little too well at times.

I think if you liked Beth O’Leary’s most recent novel, The No-Show you should give this one a try! If nothing else, I guarantee you’ll fall in love with romance reader Granny Parker and my favorite quote in the book: “Thanks to Granny Parker’s preference for a chunky hardback, the mugger was rendered unconscious and later held accountable for his crimes.”

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions are my own. Thank you to the NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for allowing me to be an early reader.

What if...this question can be asked and answered in a million of different ways. Sometimes, when things get tough, it's so easy to think about the millions of possibilities out there had we made one choice differently, or one thing hadn't happened. This book explores that - what if someone from your past, someone that you had one magical day with, turns up the day before your wedding? Is it fate, or is it just a cruel coincidence? Sophie Cousens delivers yet another thoughtful and thought-provoking novel! I loved her last book, Just Haven't Met You Yet, and was so excited to read this one! You can always count on Cousens for a great read!

Gaaaaaah, this book! 🥰 I loved every intricate part of it!

The story centers on Audrey and Josh’s wedding and time jumps to different parts of Audrey’s life as it pertains to the storyline. I loved this particular aspect because the reader sees those parts of Audrey’s life as she perceived them and how those pieces inevitably affected her.

The characters brought the story to life outside Audrey’s “what ifs” and overthinking. I loved Granny Parker and her tenacious Yorkshire attitude claiming everything little mishap as a bad omen. I mean, I would also be worried about dead bats falling from the church rafters, so maybe she wasn’t too far off. ☺️

Sophie presented a great mix of laughable moments amongst the most emotional and heartfelt. I can’t wait to add this title to my collection October 11th!!! 💕

A million thank yous to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and Sophie Cousens for an advanced reader copy of Before I Do in exchange for an honest review!

What if the night before your wedding, the one who got away - that you’d always wondered about - showed up at your rehearsal? Is that the universe stepping in to show you what might have been? Or is it trying to show you what you have?

Before I do was a solid 3 stars for me. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it. Audrey annoyed me quite a bit and at times, the going back and forth between present day and six years ago and then three years ago and so on was a lot to remember. I was expecting a little more from Audrey and Fred’s story to believe that she would question her relationship with Josh. I didn’t really love either man in her life. Maybe that’s why it was only three stars for me, I wasn’t rooting for anyone, just the end.

This romance novel is not the standard girl and boy meet cute kind of story. In fact, Josh and Audrey meet several times before Audrey and Josh build their relationship. On the eve of their wedding, however, Josh's sister brings Fred to the rehearsal dinner as her guest, reminding Audrey of their meet cute story and throwing her into a tailspin. Is she making a mistake? Was she meant to marry Fred instead? Is everything going wrong because the universe is sending her a message--to stop the wedding?
As the story unfolds, we see how Audrey's dreams and her reality collide, and we see how she finds her way to make a choice--Josh or Fred!