Before I Do

Thank you Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam for providing me with an arc of 'Before I Do' in exchange for an honest review.

Wow this book took me on a WHIRLDWILD of emotions! From smiling and laughing out loud with the characters to crying actual tears for them, I simply couldn't put it down. This novel by far exceeded my expectations and made me fall in love with Sophie Cousens' writing even more.

'Before I Do' is a story about the nuance of choice and how oftentimes we let the notion of having an infinite amount hold a certain degree of power over us. On the day of Audrey's wedding, a past lover shows up unexpectedly making her doubt the man she's about to marry. Could this be fate? Overwhelmed by the omens that keep occurring leading up to the ceremony, we go back in time between chapters to learn about how the past is playing such a significant role in the present.

One of my biggest takeaways from this book is that it's easy for us to mourn the lives we aren't living. It's easy to wish we'd developed other talents and said yes to different offers, however we can't tell if any of those other versions of ourselves would have been better or worse because we can only live the life that we are currently leading. There was so much to Audrey’s story and this book took me in a completely different direction than I thought it was originally going. The plot had me at the edge of my seat not knowing which guy Audrey was going to end up with. Completely unrelated but I absolutely loved every character in this book, it was very clear that each one was written thoughtfully and with so much detail. The grandma in particular stood out to me the most, I loved seeing her pop up throughout the book. I usually am not one for 3rd person POV books however it was written so well it didn't bother me at all.

One thing I think that should be noteworthy is that I believe there could've been more diversity amongst the characters and a slight TW (panic attacks, sexual harassment) proceeding the first chapter but overall this book was phenomenal and I recommend it to all my romcom lovers!

Special thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Before I Do.

I am a big fan of Sophie Cousens books because she always takes a romcom & gives it even more than you would expect. While her books are always feel good reads, they also include more depth than a stereotypical romcom & that’s why she is a must purchase author for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book & would recommend to anyone looking for a feel good story!

I’m looking forward to having a physical copy of this one on my bookshelf when my preorder arrives :)

This was a fantastic book!

Sophie Cousens wrote this book in multiple timelines and I LOVED uncovering more pieces of Audrey’s past bit by bit. It added to the drama and my anticipation of what came next. This book was truly a page turner and I was entertained from the start.

Before I do has quite a few of the traditional elements I look for in this genre like a meet cute and an entertaining cast of supporting characters who add to the story. This book also poked a bit of fun at romcoms which I found very amusing.

But what I loved the most about this book is the morally gray moments throughout. I was unsettled at parts (this is a compliment!!) and left questioning what was right and what was wrong. I really enjoy when authors are able to write such relatable characters with true challenges…. AND give us a happy ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam books for the opportunity to read an e-book ARC!

This is the third book by Sophie Cousens and the third that I've read. I think it's her best, so far. I really enjoyed the two timelines playing out, and it kept me guessing until the end.

I love a story that explores multiple points in the main character's life, and this one certainly delivered! Before I Do tells the story of Audrey and Josh, opening on their disastrous wedding day that wasn't and going backwards to show us how they met, how their relationship developed, some of Audrey's life experiences that contributed to her wedding day doubts, all the wedding calamities... and what happened afterward.

It's not often that a romance novel surprises me with its twists and turns, or its outcome, but this one really took me for a ride. Before I Do offered real insight into the way our experiences shape our lives, and the way our assumptions about the behavior of others shapes the way we move through our relationships (romantic, platonic and familial). And the ending was SO satisfying. Well done, Sophie Cousens!