Cover Image: Before I Do

Before I Do

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Just Haven't Met,was one of my favorite reads of 2021! So getting the chance to read a new Cousens book was beyond exciting for me.

This was such a fun, enjoyable, light, sweet, novel!
I devoured it one day! That's how wonderfully written and fantastic this book was!

It is heartwarming, funny and original. I love how Cousens incorporates strong friendships in her stories. I also love that she adds a lot of depth and texture. It's not just a fly away contemporary romance, it's a solid read with a lot of heart and full bodied characters.
Audrey was such a relatable character for me and I loved the relationships Sophie builds between her characters
The characters are brilliant and bring to life real emotions and situations. I felt each sentiment and pain as if it were my own. 
The setting is absolutely stunning.
And the writing once again blew me away!
The dialogue, descriptions, and humor settled right into my heart and soul and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect story.
I can say so much about this beautiful book! Highly recommend!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

G.P. Putnam's Sons,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Was this review helpful?

This was a great book with characters I became totally invested in. I read through this one in the 2 days because it was so good. I loved Audrey’s point of view and getting to know her story. This book was was extremely well written, the pacing was perfect, and the characters were relatable. I hadn’t read a book by Sophie Cousens before, so finding a new author is always a plus. This book was a total delight-I highly recommended. 💗

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin|Putman for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

I have loved the Sophie Cousens books I have read in the past. I wasn't as crazy about this new release but still enjoyed it! I was a little frustrated constantly jumping between different time zones, characters, and plot lines. But I really liked the premise of all that can happen leading up to your wedding day, a complicated relationship between a mother and daughter, and was rooting for Audrey!

Was this review helpful?

This book touched my heart with its wit, relatable characters, hopeful story and innovative writing. I devoured this novel for the story but because I was emotionally invested in audrey’s story and quest for love. It was a delightful read and I didn’t want it to end. You will laugh, smile, and cry while reading.

I’ve loved everything Sophie Cousens has written and this is my favorite.

Was this review helpful?

This book was such a different experience than the cover led me to believe, but that doesn’t detract from how much I ADORED it. Obviously, any book starting with a Pride & Prejudice quote, and then peppering references to the genre’s classics throughout, is already 1 full star ahead of a book that doesn’t include those. Plus, I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t know how it would end—at times, I didn’t even know what I wanted in the finale! And I loved the cast of characters and how real they made this absolutely ridiculous plot feel. Perhaps most importantly, Sophie Cousens brilliantly took us through Audrey’s confusion and gave us an incredible arc of her growth.

FYI This is coming from someone who didn’t love Just Haven’t Met You Yet.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book. I love alternating timelines and I loved the build up in the story. I think Audrey's character was very emotionally compelling and I felt for her. I was quite invested in her decision and who she would choose. It was a sweet story. Though I do have to say I expected a completely different outcome!

Was this review helpful?

If you loved Taylor Jenkins Reid's "The Love of My Life" you have to read "Before I Do". Cousens delivers again with this romantic novel with plenty of depth.

Was this review helpful?

"Love changes us, there's a metamorphosis. Everyone I've loved has changed the shape of my heart."

Before I Do is written in the first-person narrative from the perspective of Audrey. It's Audrey's wedding date and she's about to say "I Do" to her fiancé, Josh. Except everything that could go wrong does and the icing on the cake? The man Audrey believes to be her soulmate and "the one that got away" walks in as a guest's plus-one. And he remembers her just as well as she remembers him.

Thoughts: BRB while I tell everyone I know to add this to their TBR. This was so much better than This Time Next Year and Just Haven't Met You Yet! Like, no contest. And I really enjoyed both of those books. My hopes for this one was that it was more romance and less comedy and mission accomplished. It was just so relatable and certainly had me reflecting on my past love decisions. I love how the chapters jumped around between past and present, I feel Cousens delivered the right amount of information at exactly the right time. The side characters were all hilarious and added great insight and commentary on Audrey's dilemma. There were some heavy themes, and they were all well handles. So what's great about this? Not only do you get to see one love story, you get two: The One that Got Away (immediate connection, memorable meet-cute, similar interests) and The One (slow burn, opposites attract). I'm so happy the direction the book took because I had some strong thoughts about who I thought the right love interest was. And that epilogue was EVERYTHING. Seriously amazing. I love when authors conclude a book that way. Well done, Cousens! Highly recommend if your a fan of alternating timelines, family drama, and wedding plots.

My only gripe would be Cousen's decision to write 'Me-hi-co" instead of Mexico during what I can only describe as an attempt at humor. She could've just described that the character pronounced it funny instead of explicitly writing it that way, I really didn't find it humorous at all. As a Mexican, I actually found it quite insulting to my culture. Not sure if I'm being overdramatic about this but it didn't sit well will me. Glad I pushed through since overall I loved the book, but during that particular scene I was tempted to DNF. Just something to think about if there are any further edits to the book.

Was this review helpful?

This is, without a doubt, my favorite Sophie Cousens book yet! It was an interesting plot...what if the one you thought might be your soulmate suddenly reappeared the night before your wedding? I went into this book assuming there would be a clear "winner" for Audrey's heart, but it was not so simple. I was impressed that Sophie was able to make the reader sympathetic to all the characters. The ending was perfect!

I was impressed at how emotionally-packed this novel was. Audrey's challenges stemmed from trauma in her past and it was lovely reading her growth throughout the novel. Her relationship with her mom was so sweet. I was not much of a Vivian fan at first, but I definitely warmed up to her. To balance out the emotions was a whole love of humor! I laughed out loud multiple times. It was a well balanced novel that brought me a lot of joy and made me appreciate love in a whole new way.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

The night before her wedding Audrey is caught off-guard when her “what if” walks in with her future sister-in-law. Audrey’s already cold feet quickly turn to ice as she wonders if Fred’s arrival is a sign that she shouldn’t marry Josh. Mishaps abound on the day of the wedding causing Audrey to doubt herself even more. In the end, Audrey realizes who she is meant to be with and they get their happy ending.

I wasn’t sure whether I was going to like Audrey or not based on the premise of the book, but Sophie Cousens did a fantastic job with her. Glimpsing into the past gave great insight as to the decisions present-day Audrey made and helped to create a character who felt like a real human being.

Was this review helpful?

As soon as I found out I was approved for Before I Do, I dropped everything I was doing in order to start it. I loved Sophie Cousens previous novels, especially This Time Next Year. Unfortunately, this book missed the same mark for me.

I think the hardest thing for me to wrap my head around was how Audrey could be so unsure about such a phenomenal guy like Josh. Bad Jeans Josh was literally my dream man. I would have given anything to switch places with Audrey.

Another thing that was pretty far fetched was the fact that a guy she had only known for one day could derail things. I get that she spent one great day with him almost a decade ago, but it's time for her to move on from that.

I think Audrey herself was difficult for me to connect with because she had her head in the stars. I'm much more of a down to earth person so I definitely saw things better from the perspective of Josh.

I did like the alternating timelines. I'm glad we got to hear about past and present as well as learn the backstory of both Josh and Fred. It helped me grow to love Josh even more.

I think this book had a lot of potential to be great but unfortunately was just okay for me.

Was this review helpful?

Before I share my review, I do need to discuss the book's innovative timeline. Sophie Cousens pieces together the story from before Audrey met Josh. While reliving the couple's lives leading up to their wedding, readers have the behind-the-scenes background regarding her past relationships.

Through flashbacks, it's revealed that Audrey drifts from job to job as she doesn't trust herself. When things seem too good to be true or problems emerge, Audrey runs away before she can get hurt. Reexamining her youthful memories, Audrey begins to question the one-that-got-away. When a surprise encounter makes her revisit the past in the present.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #BeforeIDo in exchange for an honest review. I've been a fan of Sophie Cousens since reading 'This Time Next Year.' Cousens' playful prose and colorful characters leaves readers intrigued to peel away the layers to discover the truth.

Was this review helpful?

Before I Do is a sweet, exciting, and joyful read!

Audrey is about to get married to Josh but is feeling a bit frazzled. Her mother has been married five times and
has taken over wedding planning. Years ago, a horrible man wished Audrey bad luck and hoped she would never be able to fall in love and live happily every after. As things go awry on the wedding day (cue a dead bat falling from the sky), Audrey wonders if they are bad omens. Will she be able to say “I do”?

The chapters go back and forth from the present to as far back as 17 years prior to the wedding day. There is an air of mystery throughout much of the story, as set up by the prologue. I was truly not sure what would happen and was pleased by the conclusion. I found Audrey to be lovable and relatable regarding her generally terrible taste in men and self-doubt. The cast of supporting characters, especially Audrey’s friends Clara and Hillary (who also provides great comic relief), help add to the cozy atmosphere of the novel.

I adored Sophie Cousens’s Just Haven’t Met You Yet and think Before I Do is even better. Recommended to fans of charming British rom-coms and readers who enjoy Mhairi McFarlane’s and Beth O’Leary’s writing and Sophie Cousen’s other works.

Thank you very much to Putnam Books for the opportunity to read this ARC via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I'm so thankful for the ARC of Before I Do coming out Oct. 11, 2022. I really enjoyed her last book, Just Haven't Met You Yet, especially the humor.

Before I Do is about Audrey and Josh preparing for their big wedding with the help of families and friends and their stories of love and loss. The story mainly follows Audrey's journey leading up to her wedding. I found humor in all of the disasters surrounding the wedding and couldn't wait to see how it would all turn out.

Audrey loved astronomy and I especially liked when she shared about her passion for stars. Josh's work planting trees and for clean energy was very sweet. I also liked Fred's idea of The Insomniac's Almanac, full of things to do alone after dark.

I really enjoyed this book and once hooked in, couldn't put it down. There was a lot of depth to the story and I really loved the ending.

Thank you Sophie Cousens, NetGalley, and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.

Was this review helpful?

I really really enjoyed this book! It was super cute! The characters and storyline were pretty brilliant!

Was this review helpful?

On the eve of Audrey's wedding to Josh, a strange man appears on the arm of her future sister-in-law: the man that Audrey met for a date that seemed earth-shattering. Already unsure as to whether she should marry Josh, Audrey rehashes her romantic history, all the while braving bad omen after bad omen. Will she finally say "I do"? And if she does, will she be saying it to the right man?

I wasn't sure what to expect from Before I Do, because I didn't know how the premise would avoid making all of the characters unsympathetic. But Sophie Cousens more than exceeded my expectations, taking Audrey on a journey of reflection and self-discovery that was alternately romantic, profound, hilarious, and heartbreaking. For quite a while, I wasn't sure who Audrey would or should pick -- and once it became obvious, I was deeply committed in that pair finding their happy ending.

This is a great bittersweet contemporary romance that explores longterm love in all its forms. I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

If Sophie Cousens wants to release a book each year, I’m here for it! I enjoyed this one just like I enjoyed the past two. I particularly liked the growth of the main character and the ending.

Was this review helpful?

This book has me hooked after the first page! I couldn’t wait to turn the page to see what happened next. I loved the back and forth timeline. The characters and their friendships were so sweet and endearing. It was such a creative storyline and overall I just really loved this book! This is definitely a must read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for this arc!

Was this review helpful?

I really liked the format of this that jumped back and forth between the present and the main character’s past with Josh and with Fred. It’s written in a way that makes all of the characters feel likable and real. I felt very invested in Audrey’s decision and thoughts leading up to her wedding ceremony. I will be keeping an eye out for Sophie Cousens in the future!

Was this review helpful?

Sophie Cousens is an author who has become an automatic to-read for me!

I loved Before I Do. The prologue was amazing and had me on the edge of my seat for sure! I loved the moment in time that Cousens chose to have the prologue. The plot was very creative - not at all a trope. And I loved Audrey's flashbacks intermingled with the current events. I could not put this book down! Also, I wasn't sure whether I was pulling for Fred or Josh - usually I have a clear favorite!!! And still I was very VERY satisfied by the ending - it was better than I imagined.

If I had one teeny critique, I was getting Josh mixed up with one of his friends with a similar name. I had to do a couple double-takes to remind myself which was the fiance and which was the friend.

All-in-all, I loved this book so much!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Putnam for giving me the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?