Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this book. I struggled to get into it, but once I did, I couldn’t put it down. Loved how this was interwoven and how it ended. A good read!

Quick question: what would you do if 'the one that got away' turned up the night before your wedding? Would you be able to keep calm and carry on? Would it bother you? Would you start having the most subtle meltdown you could physically manage? Or would you be a full blown, Julia Roberts-level runaway bride? That’s the dilemma head-in-the-stars Audrey faces in Before I Do by Sophie Cousens, a heartfelt romantic comedy from the author of Just Haven’t Met You Yet that had me deep, deep in my feels. (See, you can tell, because I haven’t used the phrase “in my feels” in years.)

Our heroine, Audrey, is on the cusp of marrying safe, down-to-earth Josh, who by all accounts appears to love her to distraction. Though they’re polar opposites — Josh has worked in the same finance field for years, while Audrey is still figuring out what she wants to do with her life — something about them clicks, and they have a healthy, stable relationship. But isn’t romance supposed to be full of fireworks and spontaneity? That’s what the movies teach us, anyway.

Audrey’s sudden doubts about Josh being The One are further compounded when their wedding in a small English village encounters problem after problem: apocalyptic thunderstorms, frantic mother-in-laws, dead bats, ominous proclamations from Josh’s grandmother . . . the list goes on. But the cherry on top arrives in the form of Fred, a handsome photographer who Audrey met six years ago and had just one incredible day with, until he disappeared. But now he’s on the arm of her future sister-in-law and making her question everything she thought she knew about her relationship with Josh . . . and her mother . . . and her dad . . . and, and, and.

Audrey is going through it.

Frankly the description of her character is one that would typically drive me up the fucking wall — the nonstop waffling, the unwillingness to face reality, the near-pathological inability to appreciate what’s right in front of her. But to Cousens’ credit, Audrey is a well-rounded, realistic, and surprisingly relatable character. I wasn’t prepared for how deeply her revelations about life and love would resonate with me.

I got married earlier this year after seven years of dating my now-husband, Justin. Although I’m not all that much like Audrey, Justin is very much like Josh: tall and dark-haired, yes, but also unwaveringly kind, dependable, and sturdy (both physically and emotionally). And though I love him more than any word in the English language could ever properly convey, there were scattered moments pre-wedding when I, too, felt myself pondering those annoyingly resilient What Ifs: what if I’d fallen in love with someone while I studied abroad in London? What if I’d downloaded Tinder a month later and ended up dating a musician? Or a CEO? Or, like me, a writer? What if I’d somehow met the guy who seductively chops logs on TikTok for a living?

But What Ifs aren’t reality, no matter how real, or how tangible, those fantasies might sometimes feel. And I think something as monumental and as life-affirming as marriage, like Josh mentions in the novel, is the type of rare event that can genuinely shake your foundation enough to have you asking those questions.

I really liked this book. Sure, it has its downsides — for instance, I will never, ever be on board with cheesy grand gestures involving musical performances. (I un-humbly request authors strike them from any drafts they might have laying around.) It’s not spicy, if that’s a romance necessity for you. Audrey also tap dances dangerously close to manic pixie dream girl territory, and there were elements of the ending that didn’t feel right. (Though to explain them would spoil things, and this is not a book you want to spoil for yourself.)

But it’s well-written and the author has an excellent handle on the multi-timeline structure, which seemingly unfolds with ease. (I can’t imagine how complicated plotting a book like this can be.) So, at the risk of putting even more of my thoughts in parentheses (I love parentheses), I’ll just say that Before I Do is a swoon-y read worth getting your hands on whenever you can.

Thank you to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Aww, this was a very sweet story. One of the rare instances in which a love triangle is actually done very well. I think I may have enjoyed it more than This Time Next Year.

It actually went a completely different direction than where I thought it was going from the first few chapters, and I really liked the direction it took.

The story jumps back and forth between the present, Audrey's story with Fred, and Audrey's story with Josh. It took a bit to adjust to the different timelines, but it worked really well for the story it was trying to tell.

Recommend for a sweet romcom.

I love all of Sophie Cousens books. However this one just fell flat for me. It’s a good story that I think many people will enjoy, i just didn’t vibe with the book being about a wedding.

My ⭐️⭐️ review is not a reflection of Sophie Cousens or her writing! Personally, I just could not get into this book. I found 2/3 main characters rather annoying. I was only invested in Josh - I wanted him to get the happy ending he deserved!

This book ended the exact right way!! I am so glad Sophie ended it how she did! I am also glad I finished it. I just wish I had enjoyed more than the last 5 chapters.

Due to personal experience, I just could not get on board with all the doubts on her wedding day and a man trying to break up a couple!

Love is a verb. In the end, Audrey figured that out. I just wish she could’ve gotten there sooner!!

I will still keep reading books by Sophie Cousens because overall I really do enjoy her books!!

While I was reading this book, I couldn't help but feel like something was missing, and I had trouble putting my finger on it until I was almost at the end. And that was because I realized it wasn't just one thing--it was a lot of things.

I can't say this book was difficult for me to read or get through--in fact, I actually read it in a day. But I think that's because I am always here for the *drama*, and this story definitely had plenty of that.

Unfortunately, I really didn't care for the main character, and it's not common that that happens for me when I'm reading. I love flawed characters, but Audrey was incredibly selfish and childish and constantly hurt the people around her, and that made it very difficult to root for her.

The synopsis of this story sounded so interesting to me, but in execution, the conflict in this story didn't actually make any sense. It was told between past and present, jumping from the wedding day back to Audrey meeting her fiance, Josh, and when Audrey met Fred, her "what-if" guy.

Audrey being with either of these guys made no sense to me. First, with Fred, she knew him for one day. They crossed paths at a photo booth and ended up with each other's pictures, went on one date, and then through some miscommunication, lost touch and didn't see each other again until Fred appeared at Audrey's wedding as a plus-one six years later. And immediately, his presence makes Audrey question everything with her fiance because she starts to wonder if Fred was her soulmate all along, and it even turns out that she's been carrying Fred's photo booth pictures in her wallet for the past six years.

With Josh, her fiance, there was no chemistry between them at all. And then we'd jump into these flashbacks of them meeting and dating, and the chemistry was even worse. I didn't get how they had anything in common, how they even got along at all, much less how they fell in love with each other. Audrey would remind herself and think to herself about how much she loves Josh and how great he is, but her actions didn't prove that at all, and even her memories didn't line up with that.

The conflict was also just not strong enough for me. Audrey was supposed to be torn between these two guys (for some reason), but she has very few interactions with Fred and spends most of the "present" chapters running from Josh. There's also added conflict of everything under the sun going wrong on their wedding day, and it became actually ridiculous just how long that list was. It was difficult to suspend my disbelief at a certain point.

And the ending was incredibly cheesy. It was the book equivalent of those cringey tumblr stories that all end with "and then everyone on the plane clapped" and aren't remotely realistic.

Unfortunately, in all, I just wouldn't recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

LOVED this one! This is my favorite book by Sophie Cousens. I actually did like Josh but could see why she picked James. What a beautiful book that I recommend to any romance fan!

I haven't read any Sophie Cousens' books but this one won't be my last! Before I do was a great story with a dual timeline. Wedding bells are ringing for Audrey and Josh....until Josh's sister brings Fred to the wedding. But was isn't know to most is that Fred is the one that "got away" and Audrey is in complete shock seeing him after so many years. She questions the fact that she sees him and has feelings and if she should even continue to marry Josh. Audrey, Josh, and all their extended family and friends are such great characters. I alternated between sad heartbreak, and laughing out loud. Audrey’s indecision about her school, career, and everything else in her life, is so relatable to me. And every character seemed to have quirks that just stood out and made it all seem special. 4.5 stars

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons & Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this Digital ARC

4 stars!

Great story, with great characters (even when they make bad decisions!), tons of banter and humor, and a story that poses a terrific question to readers! Loved it. I was a little uncertain where it would all end up, but luckily, what I wanted to happen happened! I finished this book QUICK! Thoroughly enjoyable read. I definitely want to check out Sophie Cousens' other books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Cousens, PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, and G.P. Putnam's Sons for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

I really liked this story! I loved the flow of the days, hours, minutes leading up to the wedding. How we got from right before the wedding and cold feet, to how Josh and Audrey’s story began.⁣
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Anything and everything that could be a bad omen for their big day happened making Audrey unsure if Josh was truly the one or if fate was intervening. ⁣
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This is one of those stories that was beautifully written and hit on some topics of how different relationships in your life mold how you view relationships yourself; as well as has you question all the what ifs in life. This was a quick, bingeable read, that I really enjoyed and a unique kind of love triangle because of the what if’s. ⁣
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Have we made the right choice? Is this the man of our dreams? Did I miss out on my chance at happiness with that other guy? Some things go wrong at the wedding rehearsal and on the wedding day, so now Audrey thinks perhaps she isn't meant to marry Josh. To make things worse, Josh's sister brings a plus one no one was expecting. It's Fred, the guy Audrey had an amazing whirlwind romance with, but never heard from again. Now, does this mean dump JOsh and get back with Fred? Of course, we get to go through the past and see how Audrey could possibly feel this way about her chances at love and relationships in general. I would have preferred Audrey to .. .. YOu know what? You decide. Read this book and let me know what think Audrey should have done.

Sophie Cousens did an amazing job with this book. I found it so funny and I definitely would have felt like Audrey if this had been my wedding! I loved the way the author went back and forth in time to tell the story. It was perfect and made the story so much better. Thank you @prhaudio for the complimentary audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced release copy.

Thank you so much to Putnam for my eARC.

Audrey is getting married but on her rehearsal and wedding day, everything starts to go wrong. Her future sister in law shows up with a blind date who turns out to be the man Audrey spent a serendipitous day with years before. Is the universe trying to tell her to break up with her fiance? On the weekend of their wedding?

What a great book! I wasn't exactly sure where this was headed and it took me a little while to really like Audrey's character. But there are so many small nuggets of life lessons and wisdom sprinkled throughout this book. Cousens does a great job highlighting the difficulties and struggles of single and married people during different stages of life and how trauma (big and small) from your younger years sticks with you.

I really appreciated her description of love starting off like an acorn and morphing into a beautiful oak tree due to the attention and love the couple gives it. And I like how Cousens used that analogy to address Audrey's questioning of "what if": that when love and attention and work is cultivated by the couple, your acorn thrives. That kind of love and faithfulness isn't left up to the universe- it's up to us. And signs and "what ifs" can only hurt you if you put all your stock in them. It was such a beautiful and hopeful message!

“Before I Do” by Sophie Cousens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Release Date: 10/11
Genre: romcom

This is my third Sophie Cousens book and it’s my favorite by far. I really enjoyed this premise! If you love a fast romcom with a twist this is it! This has three timelines present day, three years before, and 6 years before.

Audrey and Josh are supposed to get married today, but bad things keep happening. It starts the night before at the rehearsal dinner. He
Fiancés sister shows up with a date. A guy named Fred. Fred was the photo booth guy she met 6 years ago. She has the best day and believed he was her soulmate until they planned to meet the next day, but didn’t show up.

The timeline is 6 years ago when she met Fred, 3 years ago when she met Josh, and present day for her wedding with Josh.

Sophie Cousens writes stories that know how to write romances, that aren't steamy, and always have a twist. Will they be together in the end? Will the girl pick the right guy?

Audrey is getting married to Josh. Everything that could go wrong at your rehearsal does, and Josh's grandma keeps telling Audrey that it's bad omens... cue in another mishap, when "Photo Booth Guy" shows up at the wedding as Josh's sister's date!

Audrey is already confused, so now she really is thrown for a loop. This non-linear timeline keeps you guessing until the end. Will Audrey marry Josh? Will she go back with photobooth guy?

I liked Cousens' This Time Next Year more than this, as I was getting frustrated with the plot, but it was an interesting read! It was a 3 stars for GR, but 3.5 overall. It was a quick and quirky read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Putnam for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I am a big Sophie Cousens fan and was thrilled to be granted this galley and be able to read it before it was published!

I found the premise interesting, and really enjoyed the multiple timelines. However, the last 1/3 of the book felt particularly convoluted, and I found it hard to get invested and enjoy the ultimate ending. I think there was a lot to dig into Audrey's background, and experiences, and felt like her assault and the impact it had on her was grazed over and used as an excuse.

I enjoyed the first 2/3 of the book and genuinely wasn't totally sure where it go. So I was disappointed with the ending and had hoped it would have been a bit more fully formed and fulfilling for characters I had really grown to enjoy n

Audrey and Josh are about to get married. They have chosen a church in Yorkshire which is where Josh grew up. Her best friend, Clara, is her maid of honor (actually matron but she prefers maid.) The rehearsal in the church is going well until a dead bat falls from the belfry. Oh dear. Is that a bad omen? At the rehearsal dinner, Audrey is shocked to see a man named Fred that she had met briefly years ago and always wondered if he was the one that got away. Now, she wonders if she is having second thoughts about getting married.

The story switches back and forth in time as we see how Audrey and Fred met and how Audrey and Josh met and their relationship grew. We also learn about Audrey’s childhood with her mother, Vivien, and the woman’s many husbands. As the rehearsal becomes the wedding day, Audrey is entertaining her second thoughts and we don’t know if the wedding will occur or not.

There are some characters that I liked and some that I didn’t. I liked Josh for his sanity and stability. Clara is an awesome friend and a great mother to twins who has dedicated herself to doing everything she can to ensure that Audrey’s wedding goes well. Another great character is Hillary, a man who was nanny to Audrey when she was young. They have a wonderful friendship and I liked him a lot. I did not care for Fred and I did not like Audrey. She is very flighty. This is a rom-com so readers can expect some silly things to happen and they do. For me, this is just an OK read. This is the first book I have read by this author and I do hope to read more.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Do you believe in soul mates?

Everything that could go wrong for Josh and Audrey on their wedding day has. And to add insult to injury, the man Audrey thought could be her soulmate has shown up. Is Audrey making the biggest mistake of her life and marrying the wrong man?

This book had so many good qualities, showing that true love isn’t always easy, sometimes it’s hard work, but the person you’re meant to be with will always be worth fighting for. It was unlike any other romance that I’ve read recently.

A very non traditional romance that will make you want to laugh, make you want to cry, and might even make you want to cringe at times. Before I Do is a great read for anyone wondering about your “what if”

A huge thank you to Netgalley and G.P. Putnam’s Son for letting me read and review this book!

This is a love triangle involving Audrey, her fiancé, James, and ex, Fred. The dialogue was believable amd the story was well done, as Sophie Cousens always does. A sweet story.

when the MC is not perfect, it makes you feel like you can relate to them and especially since the they are flawed, I kinda enjoyed that aspect of the characters. If you like destiny and the idea of soulmate then I recommend this one!!!