Audrey has a lot to deal with; her father has passed away and her mother, Vivian, has fallen into marriage after marriage, leaving Audrey feeling very estranged from her parent and best friend. While Audrey has a hard time deciding what she wants to do, her love of astronomy is as constant as the North Star, and her only connection to her dad. Watching her mother fail at love and relationships over and over, Audrey is obsessed with the idea of soulmates, and 'what-ifs' when she meets Fred and their story gets interrupted. She and Josh cross paths over and over, and while he seems like he's the one, they're so different she can't seem to accept they're meant to be.

I liked Audrey, but after awhile the self-sabotage became too much. I wasn't sure I wanted her to end up with either Josh or Fred at one point. Sophie Cousens leans heavily on her writing style of missed connections in this one, so much so that by the end I wasn't sure who I was supposed to be rooting for.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute romance novel and it was a fun read.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens is a moving romance that follows one woman’s journey of what happens when “the one who got away” unexpectedly turns up the night before she is set to marry another man. I loved the premise of the story and was immediately hooked as soon as I started reading because the story starts out with a bang and then takes us through the events that led up to the explosive opening scene.

Audrey and Fred meet in the most unexpected and adorable of ways, and after their initial meet cute, they end up spending a truly magical day together. They make plans to go on a real date, but then Fred doesn’t show. Audrey, convinced that she and Fred were destined to be together, is devastated. She moves on with her life though, meeting Josh, who is a sweetheart, and six years later, Audrey finds herself about to be married. A series of bad omens start to plague Audrey right before the wedding, including dead bats in the church and of course Fred suddenly appearing at the rehearsal dinner. These omens really start to create doubt in Audrey’s mind as to who she is meant to spend the rest of her life with.

Using a dual timeline approach, Before I Do takes us through Audrey’s past, starting with when she and Fred meet, moving on to when she and Josh connect, and then of course, to the present day where the wedding events are unfolding and the pressure is on Audrey to decide what to do. I really loved how Cousens used the dual timeline here since we got to know Audrey, Fred, and Josh really well and got to see how each of those relationships developed. I also loved that the way the characters are developed, both Fred and Josh come across as very likeable so it’s not easy to choose one to root for, especially once we learn why Fred was a no show for their date. It’s easy to see why Audrey is so muddled about what to do. She really does love Josh, but what if Fred really was her soulmate and this is destiny’s way of giving her a second chance?

Cousens also does a wonderful job exploring the troubled relationship between Audrey and her mom and the impact it has had on her own approach to other relationships. I loved the added depth this angle added to Audrey’s story since it shed so much light on her own motivations and thought processes when it came to relationships and made me that much more invested in her journey.

I don’t want to give away what Audrey chooses to do, so I’m going to stop now, but I highly recommend Before I Do to anyone who enjoys a multi-layered and unpredictable romance with a cast of well-developed, unforgettable characters that will tug at your heartstrings.

Super cute love story. I'm a sucker for a love story that is set in the UK for that alone had me wanting to read this story. I love how the story unfolded by have the present day time line and the past time line switching from chapter to chapter. I was so easy to follow along and see what Audrey was going thru and watching the character develop. I would say this was a clean or closed door romance book and I didn't find myself missing any of the steam or sexy times at all. I felt that the author told Audrey and Josh perfectly and we got to see how Audrey grow. I would definitely recommend this book .

I just reviewed Before I Do by Sophie Cousens. #BeforeIDo #NetGalley

Thanks to NetGalley and J.P. Putnam’s Sons for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published October 11, 2022.

This is my second book by this author and I enjoyed it. It was an easy rom-com that explores the questions of who is your soulmate and what if?

I enjoyed how the story unfolded, starting 6 years before the wedding and taking us 50 years past. It jumps around but it wasn’t confusing.

The day before Audrey is supposed to marry Josh, Audrey finds herself with a case of cold feet. Josh is great but they are complete opposites, so is he really the one for her? When Josh‘s sister shows up to the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey’s “one who got away” she can’t help but ask herself if that’s a sign. This, along with a series of unfortunate events, could be the universe trying to tell her that she’s making a mistake?

This book was so unexpected but in the best possible way. After reading the blurb I thought I knew what the plot would be but I was so wrong. And I freaking loved it!! It started off a bit slow for me but once I got into it, I was so invested! It wasn’t just a romance, it was a story of growth and overcoming traumas. It was heartfelt and beautifully written!

This story is told in alternating timelines and I thought that was executed so well. The glimpses into the past were really purposeful and impactive. They really have us insight into Audrey. I just wanted to shake her at times but from these flashbacks, we learn so much about her. Overall, she was likable, witty and relatable! I enjoyed her character and was really rooting for her. The side characters were likable but I hated her mom Vivian. She seemed quite toxic and definitely impacted Audrey in a negative way. It’s taking a lot of self restraint to not talk about the males in this story because my opinions will definitely reveal who she chooses and I don’t want to do that to you 😂

The premise of this book lead me to believe it was going to be so good. It could’ve been so good.

It just wasn’t.

The storyline fell so flat for me. I had to push myself to finish. I couldn’t stand the main character, Audrey, or the reasons she gave for getting cold feet. The only reason I kept reading was to root for Josh, the husband to be. Even Fred, the other guy, was a very flat character. Absolutely nothing about him jumped off the pages.

The redeeming part of this book was the mother, Viviene’s, storyline. I found it more enjoyable than the main plot.

Thank you for the ARC! I love being able to share my honest reviews.

Adventurous Audrey is set to walk down the aisle to marry stable, simple and bad jeans wearing, Josh. So when Josh’s sister shows up with her date, Fred, Audrey’s one who got away, she’s more than a little confused. Has fate led her and Fred back together? Or will she and Josh say ‘I do’?

Thank you to Putnam Books and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! A few of Sophie Cousens’ books have been on my TBR for quite some time so I was excited to receive an advanced copy of this one.

This was an enjoyable book that I found to be sequenced cleverly as it’s told in non-linear timelines. I really liked that there was no clear front runner between Fred and Josh, and I honestly had no idea who Audrey would choose until almost the end of the book.

Although Audrey is the main character in this story, it’s her mother, Vivien, who I found to steal the show. Without giving too much away, Vivien has been married numerous times, and each of her relationships have influenced Audrey in different ways.

Definitely pick this one up if you’re looking for something light and easy to read.

What a beautiful story centered around the age old reflection of “What might have been?” We all make decisions that effect the trajectory of where our life will go and who we will spend our life with. “Before I Do” opens with the day Audrey is marrying Josh. Things transpire and she realizes the man she always wondered about from her past is attending her wedding. He is someone she connected with years ago, but through a set of circumstances never got to explore that connection. This book tackles the notion of what if my soulmate got away? I had trepidation during the first part of the book because I enjoyed her fiancé Josh and was invested in their characters being together. I love the avenues this book takes and it confirms sometimes the things we should value and hold most dear are right in front of us. This one is cleverly written with a fabulous HEA. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Release 10-11-22

I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I’m rating it a 4 but it’s probably between a 3.5 and 4 so I rounded up.

I liked the story, the dual timelines to see how every got to the point it did. I loved both of the guys; Josh and Fred. It was definitely hard choosing who Audrey would end up with. I liked and then disliked Audrey and I’m not sure at what point this happened.

The ending was just an ending. Nothing special and it didn’t wow me. I feel like this will be a book that I remembered reading but not remembering any details about.

Thanks to Netgalley and Putnam for a copy of Before I do in exchange of an honest review

I went in to this book thinking I knew what was going to happen, and boy was I wrong! Audrey is about to marry Josh, her boyfriend of several years who is her opposite in every way. The night before I Do, Audrey’s “what-if” guy from 6 years ago, Fred, happens to show up at the rehearsal dinner.. as Josh’s sister’s date. This book switches between past and present as Audrey must decide if everything going wrong on her wedding is a sign that she chose the wrong man, or if Josh has been her perfect man all along. This book was so cute, the characters were fun, and I really loved how Sophie brought everything together at the end! s/o to Putnam books and NetGalley for the ARC! pick this book up when it comes out later this week!

This was another wonderful book by Sophie Cousens! I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

This whole book was about “what if”. What if Audrey and her mother had a better relationship. what if Audrey kept quiet about her mothers affairs. What if Audrey and Fred had met up that next day. What if Audrey had remembered Josh the first time they had met.

I spent so much of the book feeling stressed about who she was going to pick! That was the whole point right? Cause she was supposed to pick Fred right? He was her what if?! But also Josh was so wonderful? So she should pick him?! And what does SHE feel? She knows she loves Josh, but she’s kept Fred’s pictures all these years? I think it was written so well, it kept my attention the entire time.

Of course there was significantly more to the book than just her love interest and I think it was done wonderfully, everything was intertwined so well!

I was frustrated with Audrey almost the whole time. I think she was mean to be that way? That was her whole personality, that what her life was? Frustrating? Unsure? And it made sense, she had so much baggage! So even though I fully understood WHY Audrey did the things she did, I was still frustrated. Every time something went wrong she panicked, not unlike her mother; which makes sense, that’s the role model she’s had and why wouldn’t she do that? Even though she’s told herself she’d never be like her mother.

I did like the alternating timelines. I think it was written well! It helped see why and what Audrey had gone through to make her question what was happening in the present timeline.

I loved the secondary characters! Clara and Hillary were wonderful best friends to Audrey. Even Granny Parker and all her talk of bad omens! It took me a while to warm up to Viven and I’m still not a huge fan, but she’s just as broken as the next person. But the two of them made huge strides by the end!

“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 loved that Hillary said that. I think a lot people feel that way, it’s hard not too. And Audrey definitely fell right into it. Especially with everything going wrong on her wedding day, she was feeling everything that she ever had doubts about.

I did love Josh. He wasn’t absolutely perfect for
Audrey and that’s exactly why they worked so well. They needed each other, they needed the differences between them for each other them thrive.

Spoiler: I was so mad that Fred turned out to be…odd? YES it made sense, they were not meant to be at all, maybe at one point, maybe in a different universe. But also…she spent to much time thinking about what if… it made sense and I wouldn’t have wanted it another way…but I was so annoyed?

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

From the prologue, I was hooked. I had no idea what had led to Audrey's disaster of a wedding and I couldn't wait to find out. The story jumped between the present and the past as it took us on the journey of Audrey's love life. I couldn't decide who I was rooting for until nearing the end when it became glaringly obvious. However, the book derailed slightly for me, but not enough to affect my rating.

This is an enjoyable romance that will make for great conversations at book club!

This was a really great story with a fascinating premise. Audrey is confronted with the guy she could never forget on the day of her wedding to the guy she always forgot.

I liked the questions around destiny that the story brought up and ultimately answered for Audrey.

This is a wonderful story about communication, finding your way in life and not giving up. I loved that Audrey learned to appreciate what she has and that love is a two way street. She was not always the most sympathetic character, but she really came into her own.

I understand it was necessarily, but for my ADD brain, the back and forth in the timeline was tough.

This book was enjoyable for most of it. I liked the flipping back and forth between the past and present and how all the storylines unfolded. It ultimately fell just a little short for me especially compared to her other books. But I still recommend checking this one out.

4.25/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for providing me with an ARC.

This was a lovely, more unique romance that I found refreshing. It didn’t follow the typical plot most romances follow, and it kept me intrigued the whole way. The witty writing and banter had me laughing and not wanting to put this book down.

This book revolves around a marriage about to take place (hence the name Before I Do) and has multiple timelines that illustrate the FMC’s life leading up to her moment at the altar.

There are some heavier topics, so I would suggest looking up trigger warnings, but mostly the topics were good for me to reflect on. There is a lot of growth in this novel as well, and I appreciated that.

Definitely a good read for someone who’d like to give their brain some philosophical food for thought, someone who loves a good laugh and a rambunctious set of characters, and/or someone who is in love with the stars and figuring out the meaning of life.

A cute read about a catastrophic wedding day for Audrey and Josh. A blast from the past shows up and Audrey wonders if he’s the 8ne who got away.
The book dives into fantasy ideals and realistic relationships. Audrey doesn’t really trust love because Of her mother’s numerous marital mishaps. But is she about to ruin all has for Photo Booth Boy?
I felt the sorriest that for Josh. The ending was fitting.

Well, Sophie Cousens does it again! This book is absolutely charming, insightful, and heartwarming. Audrey is so relatable, and I was invested in her story until the very last page.

Each chapter of this story jumps back and forth between the past and present. I was able to seamlessly navigate the time jumps because the writing of this book was just so flawless. I thought I had a pretty good idea of where we were heading, but the author’s well thought out plan caught me very pleasantly by surprise.

Audrey was written as such a complex female character and I felt every one of her emotions at each stage of the story. Her relationship with her mother was so relatable. I don’t want to give anything away about her relationships with Josh and Fred. I truly enjoyed both characters. The supporting cast was fantastic as well.

That you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the advanced reader copy of this book. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and I was thrilled to get an early copy of this book. Sophie Cousens knows how to tell a great story. I cannot wait for the next one!

BEFORE I DO by Sophie Cousens
rating: 3.5 STARS
genre: romance, woman's fiction
steam: closed door, it's a kissing book

This book started off so strong! The quick back-and-forth in the timeline between Audrey's past with Fred, Audrey's past with Josh, and the present day wedding kept my attention the whole time. You had to keep reading to find out what happened next in each part of the timeline!

Audrey was super relatable in the early chapters. She was a young girl who just could not figure out what she wanted to do with her life or who she wanted to be - and I think a lot of people in my generation have, unfortunately, felt that same way in their early adulthood.

But then...she lost me. This book was a solid 4 stars for me until the end when it kind of went off the rails. Suddenly all the characters were very flat, you weren't sure who you were supposed to root for (or who the main character was even rooting for), and everything happened SO QUICKLY.

I will say, I do really like the plane scene where all of the strangers around Audrey are VERY interested in how her wedding day turned out. That's all I'll say - but when you read it, you'll get it. Lol.

I also DID really like that you could feel Audrey maturing and her mind changing just in the way the characters were presented to you in the book. Suddenly, the character she was painting in a pretty positive light was going off the rails and the character she seemed kind of bored with was the shining star of her life. And you could hear that change in the prose.

That said - you might like this book, it just didn't do it for me.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens was a very entertaining book. I instantly liked Audrey, who is the main character. She is a well-developed character who I earnestly cheered on I read to see if she gets her happy ending. I loved how the story alternated between the hours just around her wedding and events several years prior. Another stellar book by Sophie Cousens!