What would you do if your ex showed up on your wedding day? This book beautiful navigates the question. Well written love story. Loved the different time lines and slowly discovering what happened in the past and the present at the same time. Would definitely recommend.

Our girl Audrey finds herself in a bit of a pickle when the day before her wedding, a blast from the past shows up. Will she get her happily ever after with the man she was meant to marry? Or will this surprise suitor sweep her off her feet?

This book was enjoyable! I definitely liked getting to see Audrey's internal struggles of what to do when literally EVERYTHING seemed to be going wrong. The various timelines that were told throughout the story helped us to see the different points that Audrey was at in her life not only with this "one that might have gotten away", but with the dynamic with her mother as well.

I was a big fan of the switching timelines at first, but as I continued reading, it started to get a bit overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, I loved being able to see her develop as the person that she was in the present through these various times in her life. It did (for me though) get to a point where I was starting to get confused as to when the various times were happening. I started to not be able to keep track of how old she was, who she had met, who her mother was with, unless it was explicitly stated. Now obviously, this is a me problem, and I'm sure that other readers are able to balance this a lot better than I was.

I'm also not going to lie, as I was reading I kind of hoped that she would end up single. There were so many things that happened in Audrey's life where I wanted her to just take a second and figure out her issues and difficulties in life without having to think about someone else. I won't spoil how the book turned out, but this was definitely something that I felt throughout. (Not to mention the fact that I didn't feel the strongest chemistry between both male characters are her).

Overall though, this was a fun read. It was definitely easy to get through, and it was fun to see all of the characters play off one another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin House Putnam for providing me with an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What if, what if, what if.......

Twenty-two year old Audrey has the meet cute of all meet cutes with Fred. The connection is instant. The electricity between them is undeniable. Both believe the other to be their soulmate. They spend one adventurous day together. A day Audrey will never forget. When they agree to meet the next day imagine Audrey's disappointment when Fred never arrives and after waiting three long hours she returns home in tears.

Two years later and Audrey meets Josh her roommates good friend. He's rather forgettable. In fact, the first several occasions they meet she can't even remember his name. Then one night she notices Josh. Really notices him. His dreamy brown eyes, his wide shoulders, his calm demeanor. The exact opposite of every guy she has ever hooked up with. She doesn't do nice guys and Josh is definitely the epitome of a nice guy.

Fast forward four years and Audrey and Josh are engaged to be married. She's nervous but doesn't everyone get wedding jitters. Her anxiety is made worse when Josh's sister arrives for the rehearsal dinner with her plus one: Fred.

Is this a sign? An omen? That she and Josh shouldn't be together. Is Fred truly her soulmate?

Who will Audrey choose: Dependable Josh or flights of fancy Fred?

Oh man this book had my stomach in knots and that's because I loved both Josh and Fred and I was in such a conundrum in who she should choose. The supporting cast was also wonderful. Her best friend Clara, her mom Vivian, her nactor (nanny / actor, long story) Hillary, Josh's sister Miranda were all superb. I was 100% invested in the outcome from the very first page. Toward the end I even got teary eyed. I won't tell you who she chose but I will say it is the one I wanted her to be with in the end. Heart eyes for days...😍😍😍

My first Sophie Cousens but certainly not my last. Highly recommend to all you rom-com lovers out there! 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for my complimentary copy.

I went into this book thinking I knew how it would turn out. I love Sophie Cousens and yet I forgot how she can take a trope and spin it in a way I can't imagine. That's how I feel after reading Before I Do. It was so much more than I was expecting in the best possible way. I'm not going to say more because I want everyone to experience it the way I did. I loved this book so much and I need her to write a lot more!

Sophie Cousens never disappoints me. Audrey is about to get married to Josh, but when she gets to the rehearsal dinner, she finds Fred, who she once had a magical day with 6 years ago and it causes her to question everything about her relationship. This story goes back and forth between the countdown to the wedding, and flashbacks at different points: Her day with Fred, her childhood, meeting and dating Josh. I thought this was such a cute story and really had no idea where the wedding day was going to go. There were plenty of mishaps and I can see how on the day of your wedding they would be horrible, in hindsight, they are hilarious. Overall, such a cute read and I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this one early!

I LOVED this book! This book is about Audrey who is about to get married to Josh when Fred (the one who got away) shows up as Josh's sisters date!!!! She has no idea if this is fate telling her she is marrying the wrong guy or not. She doesn't want to end up like her mom who never found her true love. This was an emotional story about fate and the choices we make. I was sucked in until the very end! Five stars!!

There is always something magical about a Sophie Cousens novel, but Before I Do was something special even for her. The writing in it just had so much heart - it was an absolute joy to read, even at the parts that were hard to witness (secondhand embarrassment is real, especially where awkward musical numbers are involved).

Audrey is constantly at odds with her past and future but it really comes to a head on her wedding day. It doesn’t help that dead bats fall from the sky, the toy bride jumps off the wedding cake, and oh yeah… her mystery almost soulmate shows up as someone else’s date. Told in flash backs between the past and the current timeline of the wedding, the narrative of her story had me instantly enthralled. I can’t wait for this one to come out so I can push all my friends to read it. I need to talk about it with someone!

Thanks to Netgalley and penguin for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This was a real standout for me, it felt very hallmarky but hit most of the notes I look for in contemporary romances

I'll start off this review by saying that I got an ARC of this book from NetGalley and I must say I am so happy that they approved me to read it.


When I first read the synopsis of the book I thought I knew for sure how it was going to play out but boy am I happy that I was wrong. My midway through the book my heart was breaking thinking that it was still going to turn out that way.

I love the different timelines of the story when it came to how the past was affecting Audrey and Josh in the present.

Overall, I am adding this as one of the few 5 stars I have read this year.

I always love Sophie Cousens' work, but this one was especially lovely. I found the heroine's journey both relatable and surprising, and the ending kept me guessing.

This was a very cute, refreshing romance book. I was worried going in that it sounded a bit contrived - woman is getting married but her long lost love shows up to stop the wedding - but it ended up being a really fun take. I loved the subversion of certain romance tropes, especially when it mentioned examples from well-known rom coms (you have no idea how excited I get over a Wedding Singer reference!) I also really liked how character-driven this was. There were a lot of characters, but everyone felt very fleshed out and realistically flawed, and their interactions carried the story. Overall this was a very enjoyable read!

BEFORE I DO (PUB Date 10.11) is about love, 2nd chances and those "what if" moments. Six years ago Audrey shared a stomach-flipping, heart-swooning day with Fred, who she hasn't seen since that fateful day. Until he just happens to show up as a guest the night before her wedding to Josh. What if it's a sign?

I found it warm hearted and a perfect pick me up. It's one of those books that blends levity and humor with heft. The characters are endearing & authentic. Equally appealing was the cast of supporting characters, some of which kept me smiling, and others who made me break out the stink eye. The timeline was executed with a propulsive drive. Cousens pieces together the story from different viewpoints: before, during and current, while providing behind-the-scenes details that weaves it all together. Audrey's candid and sometimes intrusive inner dialogue drew me in and kept me invested.

I would categorize this as 'romance adjacent". The door is slightly ajar. Light on the steam. 1

Thanks to @putnambooks and @netgalley for early access.
#BeforeIDo #NetGalley.

I loved This Time Next Year and Just Haven't Met You Yet, so I was excited to read Before I Do by Sophie Cousens. This book did not disappoint! I loved the love triangle that Audrey got herself into, and I wasn't sure who I wanted her to end up with in the end. I can't wait to see what Sophie Cousens writes next!

💕 This novel is a super cute, sweet, and entertaining wedding rom-com. 

The book has a timeline ‘now’ and ‘then’, and usually I’m not a huge fan of it but it worked here so well. The main character, Audrey, begins as a disastrous (but lovable) character (I kept thinking Along Came Molly movie) but over years she blossomed into a perfect woman. There was a moment in her past that I could relate to, and my heart hammered while I read that chapter. 🫣

I loved every page of this book, and without giving away who Audrey picked, I have to say that I’m in love with the man she chose. He made my best fictional boyfriend list. And Hillary is my new best friend! ☺️

I can’t wait to read Sophie’s next book. 

By the way, I love the UK book cover better than the US. How about you? Which one do you like better, pink or blue? 

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Sophie Cousens for this ARC!

Thank you I the publisher for this ARC.

This beginning of the book started out a little more rom/com and quirky but it evolved into a sweet story. Not my favorite by the author but a good story about what if and dealing with last relationships.

There was a lot to like about this book. The main character was well developed and I appreciated her complexity and realness. I also liked the exploration of relationships as well as one’s sense of self and confidence. And, the book was verbally a lighthearted and enjoyable read despite some of the heavier themes. At the same time, there were a couple things I just couldn’t move past. I had a lot of trouble with suspension of disbelief in certain places as some scenes veered well into the absurd. And, I really had a lot of trouble keeping up with the multiple timelines, which were jarring and distracting. Overall a pleasant read but not my favorite.

This one was okay for me. Nothing too memorable, but a fun and easy read none the less. I’d recommend it still!

I loooooved this story. And I found myself incredibly torn throughout the story as to which man I thought Audrey should end up with - the author does a wonderful job of making you consistently lean back and forth between who should be together. Team Josh, though 💛 Easy five star read, and so cute.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!
Before I Do is romantic comedy that takes place “now”- before the main character gets married and before. While reading be sure to pay attention to the timeline in the beginning of the chapters- the book does go back and forth in time with each chapter which took some getting used to. The ending was cute and not what I expected while reading.

I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the characters. I was emotionally invested in their friendships, relationships and future. I honestly had no idea who Audrey would end up with. I felt that she could have ended up with Josh or Fred. I just loved Clara and Miranda and would love more of those characters.