I wasn’t a huge fan of her first book but I wanted to give her another chance. While I do like this one more I don’t think I will be picking up anything else by her anytime soon :/

I love Sophie Cousens! Her first book, This Time Next Year, is one of my favorites and I was so excited when I saw her newest on NetGalley and was then given the chance to read it. It's an adorable, crazy, 'bad omen' filled journey from realizing that the people we end up loving aren't always thrown at us by the universe but are sometimes hidden the least likely person. Audrey's wedding day jitters gave me jitters as we twisted and turned through the last six years of her life. It will definitely be a book a recommend to friends and anyone who needs a good read to make them laugh and think about what it means to actually be on the "right track."

Audrey is at her wedding rehearsal when the grooms sister walks in with her date, Fred who was Audrey’s “the one who got away”. The book jumps from the past to the present telling us the past story of Fred and Audrey and the present struggle in Audrey’s mind of whether or not she is marrying the right guy tomorrow now that Fred has reappeared. More troubling is that all of these bad omens keep occurring which just add to Audrey’s doubts. This is the second book I’ve read and enjoyed by this author. The idea of the book was cute and unique, I really enjoyed all of the characters. I was right there with Audrey rooting for her to go one way and then suddenly my mind changed and I was begging her to do the opposite. This was a super cute and funny start of wedding season rom-com.

Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC of this book.

The premise was exciting, but I struggled getting through this book.
Audrey is a difficult character to read. She has no real goals, and just seems to float along being pushed by everyone.

Clara and Hillary were infinitely more interesting.

And the time shifts are mind boggling. It doesn’t just go back to one time, it goes back to a different one every time and each one gets to the point so slowly.

It was a rough read, but if you like the “mystery man stops wedding” trope maybe this will be for you!

This could end up being my favorite book this year and it is definitely my favorite Sophie Cousens book. I want to be delicate in this review because I don’t want to spoil anything at all. I went in without knowing any details, and I really think that added to my enjoyment of the story.

I usually don’t like books where the timeline jumps around, but this one absolutely worked for me. I can always tell that the writing is masterful when the author takes a trope I typically hate and then makes me love it. This book kept me guessing in the first half and kept me hoping through the second half. I loved every second.

Like every Sophie Cousens book, the secondary characters are top notch. Standouts for me were Hillary (Audrey’s childhood “nactor” nanny+actor, “I’ve done my time as Marius, I’m ready to be Jean Valjean”), Clara the best friend, & Brian the always loyal ex-stepdad.

It’s the story of Audrey and her wedding day, but it’s so much more than that. This book maybe comes the closest to what it means to be in love in real life. I adored Before I Do. I am so grateful to Putnam for providing me with an advance copy of this book. It was a truly awesome reading experience in every way.

My favorite quote:
“I think love is a seed. We choose to plant it, nurture it, and at the end of our lives, if we end up with a glorious old oak tree, with huge branches and plenty of shade, then that’s on us, not the cosmos.”

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨⬜

Title: Before I Do

Author: Sophie Cousens

Genre: Romance

Setting: England

Month Read: August 2022

Book Type: E-Arc

Publication: October 2022

Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Pages: 384

*Thank you to NetGalley for the E-Arc of this book. My review is purely my own.




TRIGGER WARNING-
Groping / Anxiety / Infidelity / Family Drama


"We have always looked to the stars for answers, used stores and mythology to help make sense of what is beyond our reach"



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No Spoiler Summary (Goodreads):
Head-in-the-stars Audrey is about to marry down-to-earth Josh. Though they are polar opposites, they have a healthy, stable relationship; Josh is just what Audrey needs. But romance should be unpredictable and full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey's found herself wondering if Josh really is The One.


So, when Josh's sister shows up to the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey's What If? guy--the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with--Audrey finds herself torn. Surely Fred's appearance the night before she is due to get married can't be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to ask herself: Is fate trying to stop her from making a huge mistake? Or does destiny just have a really twisty sense of humour?



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Review:
I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK. The What-If? plot felt fresh to me, and this definitely isn't your typical romance novel, which i also appreciated. I didn't love the book as much as her last (Just Haven't Met You Yet), but I really appreciate what Sophie Cousens brings to the rom-com genre.


I loved a lot of the side characters, and loved getting to know their personalities throughout the novel (and ultimately how each deals with everything that goes on in this book.) If 1 of these 'bad omens' happened when i was getting married I would have lost my shit, so watching Audrey sort of deal with it all was wild to me, and I appreciated her.


The dual timeline was FUUUUUUUN. I loved getting to see everybody throughout the time change from a few years back, up to after the wedding day. Seeing Audrey and Josh's relationship start, and grow, was really heartwarming, and the chapters with Fred were also just a lot of fun. I thought all of this was fresh, and adorable, and I love how Sophie goes through her arc. I highly recommend anyone getting this when it comes out in October 2022.



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Recommendation:
Just Haven't Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens

Float Plan by Trish Doller

Book Lovers by Emily Henry



"If only I could rearrange them in a more orderly way, in a shape that made sense to me, then I would understand the story better. Yet logic tells me those stars are millions of light years apart, they care not a jot that they share space in our sky. Are we fools to look for meaning?"



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I loved the different time lines from past and present to give you a full picture. Audrey is about to get married when Fred shows up and she once thought he was the one. She can’t help but feel this is a sign? Then so many bad omens start happening at the wedding and she wishes her father was there to talk to.

Aubrey has had a difficult relationship with her mother and she has been holding a lot of guilt. She is glad Hillary is there to talk her off the ledge.

I just enjoyed all the raw emotion in this book and how vulnerable and real Audrey was that made her so likable and relatable.

This book is about love, relationships, family, friendship, forgiveness, and moving forward. It is just so beautifully written and entertaining.

What would you do if the one that got away shows up to your wedding as your future sister-in-law’s date?

Such an interesting plot line and I loved how you get snippets here and there as you’re reading along. I loved seeing into Audrey’s past to see how she met Fred and all the moments that led up to her falling in love with Josh too. The past and present chapters made the story flow so nicely. Being inside Audrey’s head will have you feeling all the emotions she’s feeling. It’s quite a rollercoaster ride, so be prepared for all the ups and downs. With lots of disastrous and romantic moments you’ll be sure to love this book too!

Thank you so much NetGalley & G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the advanced reader copy.

I love books that go back and forth in time! It all leads up to her decisions for her wedding and I liked getting background knowledge on her choices. I was hooked! I loved the characters and the story development.

Thank you NetGalley and Sophie Cousens!

I hate to say it, but I didn't love this one.... ah! *covers face*
Audrey's "What If" guy shows up unexpectedly the night before her wedding. Her first love. Unresolved love. Question mark of her past. The book is told in flashbacks from her previous relationship to present day occurrences at her wedding. While I loved some of the characters and parts of the story - I just didn't connect with Audrey. I couldn't decide if she loved Josh or just **wanted** to love him. She went from praising him to listing his faults. I found myself frustrated with Audrey for not having a backbone and making up her mind. There was just too much indecision and unsettled moments for my heart to handle. Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a cute, if not forgettable, book. I enjoyed the storyline and writing style, and I even liked the flip flopping timelines which converged at the end of the book. Overall a cute story of love and the challenges of life. Thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

'Before I Do' hooks you right away and keeps you guessing til the end. The novel starts with a wedding that seems to have a runaway bride. Next, the author takes you back through the life of the main character, Audrey, right up to the wedding weekend. Granny Parker's "bad omens" were hilarious, but then Audrey starts to wonder if she is making the right choice and how life may have played out differently.

Sophie Cousens' writing style is delightful as always, but I found the characters frustrating and unlikable. In my opinion, I liked 'Just Haven't Met You Yet' much more.

However, this book was entertaining and fans of Sophie Cousens' should read.

Sophie Cousens never disappoints. This was a very quick, enjoyable read & it would make a perfect Hallmark movie!!

I love a good Sophie Cousens romance. While this has one minor hiccup near the end, the story still delights. Before I Do time travels back and forth between Audrey and Josh’s wedding day and the bride’s past where formative days that shape fate and her decisions. At the forefront, at her rehearsal dinner, Audrey faces a man from her past with whom she shared one magical day six years earlier. From there, the wedding day is marred with several calamities, all making Audrey question her decisions. The story takes you in several directions that I didn’t predict. It was a fun journey. In the end you will root for Audrey and her happiness.
Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for an ARC of this book in exchange for my review. This book releases on 10/11/22.

Thank you to NetGalley, Putnam Books, and Sophie Cousens for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Before I Do brings us Audrey who is entering her wedding day when she is suddenly confronted with the worst kind of question: is true love only about choosing your partner or is there really such a thing as soul mates? With this book Sophie Cousens gave us something so much more than just another romance story. This story was not only a romance story, but a story of forgiveness, a story of second chances, a story of healing, and a story of family. Relationships play a key role throughout the entire plot: between Audrey and Fred, Audrey and Josh, Audrey and her mom, Audrey and all of her Mom’s husbands (especially Benedict). The book flashes back and forth between several different timelines and jumping around between the years. I thought it would be hard to follow, but it really wasn’t. I found myself being more impatient because I needed to know what had happened in the past as soon as possible. Granny Parker was high-key the best character, providing both comedic relief and sound advice. I honestly expected myself to be Team Fred (the what-if guy from Audrey’s past who shows up at her wedding out of the blue at the date of her husband-to-be’s sister), because I like my rom-coms to be a bit on the unrealistic romance side. However, I found myself firmly Team Josh the entire story and was rooting for him and Audrey to pull out the win. Ultimately, I found this story to be a testament to what true love/commitment actually looks like: hard work, choosing the other person, and happiness.

I enjoyed this book and got a lot more from it than expected. The characters were fantastic, but it really unpacked all the possible doubts than anyone would have before they say, “I do.”

The main character, Audrey, seemed to be easily swayed and also deflated by people in her life until she finally figures out what she wants. It is very ironic how her wedding day seemed to be about everyone else and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong.

The writing cadence shifting back and forth from present to past made it more interesting.

Thanks to Penguin Group Putnam Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy. I will definitely be checking out the authors other books!

WHAT A BOOK!

Who hasn't had the one who got away, and wondered about this exact situation? There was even an XKCD comic about it.

Amazing book, I loved it

5 stars, absolutely no question about it.

Damn, what a ride. This book started off with a bang and it kept me hooked the whole way through.

Let's start with the characters: They were all nuanced and SO well developed.
Vivien was such a wonderfully complicated mother. Seeing how she shaped/carried herself throughout each of her relationships and how Audrey experienced it was a great way to show how it affected their relationship through the years as well as how it affected Audrey on a fundamental level.
We got to see Josh through several different lenses as Audrey's perception of him changed throughout the book - not just prior to their relationship, but even during the days preceding the wedding/during the wedding/and after. We really got to know him as a multidimensional character and got to see why he and Audrey complement each other so well.
Getting to know Fred started of as the meet-cute to end all meet-cutes. The reader is caught up in the whirlwind that is Fred just like Audrey was. It's so easy to fall in love with him and see him as "the one that got away" and root for him, especially in the beginning. Slowly, we begin to see the "what if" that Fred represents as exactly that - a fantasy.
Audrey, my sweet nervous wreck of a bride, I sympathize with you. The way she was written as a character was fantastic. As the reader, I was firmly on her side throughout the book. I felt her highs and lows, her complete lack of surety during the big moments, and the way she felt adrift in her own life. Was she flawed? Absolutely. She was selfish, flighty, and wasn't ready to accept the "why" behind her hesitation in marrying Josh. But that, paired with the way the book was structured, made her a relatable (if sometimes unreliable) character. Something I loved about her progression (thanks, Granny Parker) was how she finally took ownership of her flaws and actively worked to address them in order to fix her relationship.

Structure: I LOVED the way this was written, jumping between time points and giving us context that way. It was a great way to show her whirlwind with Fred, the natural growth of her relationship with Josh, and the other events that shaped Audrey along the way. I think that if it had all been given chronologically, it would run the risk of feeling overwhelming/stale at times.
The way the story was written also had me questioning things along the way. Who would she end up with? Is Josh the love-match we think he is? Is Fred?? And my favorite - WHO did Josh take on their honeymoon trip?? (Because yeah, f*ck Harriet) I knew where we would end up but the "how" of it was unclear and I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.

Favorite takeaway from this book: There are hundreds of ways that things could have worked out and hundreds of reasons why they didn't and holding onto that doubt is a sure fire way to ensure you end up miserable and living in the past.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing me with an arc of ‘Before I Do’ in exchange for an honest review.

Audrey is less than a day away from marrying the love of her life, Josh, when a blast from the past shows up! Old fling Fred randomly shows up and completely throws off Audrey and causes doubt in her choices. She is now reminiscing on every decision she has made when it comes to Josh and Fred, and she’s wondering if she has made any right choices in her life.

This book took me on a wild ride. I felt so many things all throughout! There were twists and turns and so many surprises. The prologue was incredible and absolutely hooked me. I also really enjoyed the flashbacks going back and forth from the past to the present day. It really helped me with connecting to each part of Audrey’s life and how that may have impacted her on her wedding day. Sophie wrote this in a way that makes it seem like each man is perfect for Audrey, and at the same time they’re completely not. Audrey kept going back and forth, she’s wondering if either man is right for her. There was also background on her mother, whose choices make clear that she didn’t provide Audrey with a good example of how to choose the right man. No wonder she’s confused! I also really resonated with Audrey with the way she was wishing she had a different life. It’s very relatable. Sometimes we can get swept away with the idea of something, and it can be hard to accept what is!

I enjoyed the themed of fate and chance. It’s intriguing to wonder what things in life we actually make happen and what things are simply meant to be for us! I also enjoyed the message of ~ you are worthy of love whether you are put together in life or not ~ I loved that so much! Sometimes I feel like I need to have everything right in my life for me to feel even ‘ready’ for something to start. But honestly, who’s ever ready?

Audrey is about to marry Josh, but she keeps thinking about the "what-if's" from 7-years ago when she "met" Fred at a photobook. Audrey and Fred shared one magical day together, with the hopes of many more, but fate tore them apart and they never had their chance. All those years go by and he walks into her rehearsal dinner with her future sister-in-law, throwing her state of mind into a tail spin.

I love Sophie Cousens. Her books always rope me in and keep me turning the pages. This book was no exception. The timelines jump from present day Wedding, to 6/7 years ago when Audrey met Fred (and was dealing with her Mom's current relationship), and the last 4 years since she's met Josh. You start thinking one thing about each character, and rooting for certain ones, but as the story continues it goes down paths you didn't expect. I really was rooting for Audrey and felt she was relatable as she was flawed.

When NetGalley approved this book I literally dropped all the books I was reading and made this a priority. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Putnam Books for the e-Arc!

Before I Do is available 10/11/2022!