Rating - 4.5 stars rounded off to 5

Fun, realistic & charming!

Synopsis-

Audrey & Josh have everything going for them. Head over heels for each other, they are simply perfect together & complement one another in every way. But just before their wedding, Audrey begins to speculate whether Josh is really her "The One" & starts wondering what a real soulmate is. All the bad omens that are appearing aren't helping either.

Review -

The best part about this book was that the storyline was so believable & realistic. The main & supporting characters were also well drawn - especially Clara, Audrey's best friend & Hillary, her childhood nanny.

Initially the multiple timelines were confusing, but I got a hang of it gradually & saw the necessity of it for the story.

The author explores a unique & complex mother - daughter relationship with Audrey & her mom Vivienne. This added great depth to both their characters, detailing the past & justifying the events leading to the present.

It is impossible not to get charmed by the handsome Josh. 😍He was such a sweet & kind-hearted guy, who knows exactly what he wants from life. Oh! And what a great planner & organizer!

Josh & Audrey's relationship worked sometimes like straight from a fairy tale & at other times burdened by the daily grind of real life. I loved Audrey's passion for astronomy, star gazing & how the author lets this play out in the book.

She also uses some unlucky events leading upto the wedding cleverly, as negative influencers for Audrey's state of mind. I only wished that Audrey was stronger & that she wasn't so full of self-doubt, low self-worth & was able to realize the true meaning of a "soulmate" sooner.

The ending packed so much of fun, humor & drama. It all came together nicely & I enjoyed it a lot! 😄

Overall, a treat for romance lovers! Sophie Cousens is now an auto buy author for sure!

Thanks NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC!

Audrey is just about to get married to boring, dependable Josh when she meets Fred, the one who got away, again. Is fate trying to tell her something? I loved both characters so the dilemma had me torn. You'll have to read it to find out the outcome. Such a cute book. My first read by this author.

This is a love story with a difference. Audrey and Josh are getting married. Josh’s sister turns up with her (previously unknown) plus one, who just happens to be Audrey’s ‘one that got away’, Fred, thus throwing Audrey into a state of flux, was it fate?

The time zones jump from pre Josh right up to present day as we learn the history of Audrey & Fred, Audrey & Josh and the relationships Audrey has had with her mother’s five husbands. Fred & Josh are about as similar as chalk and cheese but it’s easy to understand why she felt Fred might be ‘her soulmate’ under the circumstances of their brief romance.

I didn’t take to Audrey, if I’m honest, and I changed my mind half way through as to which of the two men, Josh or Fred, she would/should choose.

I liked the interesting facts about astronomy, Audrey’s absolute passion and I will definitely be trying to identify some of the Polaris and some of the galaxies she talks about.

I would definitely read more of this author.

My thanks go to the author, the publishers and to Netgalley for an advanced reader e-copy of this book to read and critically review.

☆☆☆

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Reading Before I Do was very… interesting. I started the book and the first two chapters left me feeling like it was actually a mystery or something akin to a mystery rather than the romance I thought it was, I had to double check it was romance before continuing to read, after that it started to feel more like a romance and eventually the only mystery was what happened to photo-booth guy (and even when we started to get to that I didn’t care too much).
The way the chapters were like a countdown and switched between the past and almost present (and then the present) was interesting and kept me a little excited (though after we got past the ‘I do’ part I got a little bored and started to skim some chapters because I didn’t really feel the book captured my attention. I also didn’t really enjoy the flashback scenes with phot-booth guy, I felt the way they were written was a different vibe to the rest of the book (though it could be because Audrey was different and all that stuff I still didn’t like it).
One reason I didn’t rate the book lower was because of the ending (though I didn’t love how they got to the ending) I still felt the ending was good for the book and the main character.

The End.

I had big expectations and was really what i needed and wanted to read. I read just one book of this author but I love the style of writing. The emotional confusion was really build so well. It is hard to write without give spoilers but anyway. The past was special and the present was chaotic. Decide, reflect, think, emotions, details, mode, style. It make me laugh and cry. I think will stay with me forever.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton, Hodder Paperbacks via Netgalley for this opportunity and thank Sharada to talk about with me.

This was really enjoyable. There was lots of humor in this book and it even included some touching moments. The characters all felt real and I loved the friendships in the book.

The story was really good and the pacing was excellent. The main character was fantastic and really well written.

Sophie Cousens is always a great comfort author - the plot and characters in this were just what I was expecting. Cute and lovely, heartwarming and heartbreaking.

I read both of the author’s previous books and I couldn’t miss this one, especially after that description.

I was so invested to see who Audrey will chose in the end and how we would get there.

The story took me on a ride with so many what ifs when her “one time fling “ shows up at her now wedding rehearsal.

We are taken back and forth between them and now, with both Josh and Fred. I honestly can’t even say who I liked more out of them. It felt like they were both perfect in their own way. And I can totally understand why Audrey would have her insecurities and wonder what if she would change her mind last minute.

Nevertheless I am more than happy with that ending. And maybe a bit surprised. But I loved it.

If you are seeking a great romance story with characters that feel really authentic, this one is a book you cannot miss.

🆓📖Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley

This is a lighthearted and entertaining read. It kept me guessing right to the end about who Audrey would end up with.
I wasn't too keen on the character of Audrey at times. I did enjoy reading about the different timelines though.
Overall this was an enjoyable read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

It is not often I find a book that I truly struggle to read but this was one of those books for me.
I did not like the characters in this book. There was a depth to them, and I honestly did not care who did what or why. The writing for me was jumbled and hard to connect with at all.
I will try other books by this author but for me this is a no.
Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the copy of Before I Do. This is my personal review.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publication date: 29/09/2022
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Bad omens seemed to follow Audrey and Josh on the lead up to their wedding day, but perhaps none as bad as ‘the one who got away’ turning up the night before saying I Do to one another leaving doubts in Audrey’s mind that she was making the right decision.

This book is cleverly executed along more than one timeline, weaving the past into the present to build a picture of Audrey’s life. It cleverly allows the reader to reflect on the ‘what ifs’ of life. A beautifully written novel which you must add to your to be read list.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Cousens and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC in return for an honest review.

Audrey is one day away from marrying steady, dependable Josh when Fred, the man she spent one incredible afternoon with and never saw again turns up at the rehearsal dinner. Through a series of flashbacks, interspersed with the lead-up to the wedding day, Sophie Cousens captures all of the insecurities, doubts, stresses, and what-ifs of a young woman who's grown up around infidelity.

I absolutely ADORED this book, although I cried A LOT. I really felt Audrey's anguish throughout, it had me going backwards and forwards between the two men. With such a flighty maternal role model, it was no wonder she was clutching to the idea of settling with someone. Yet Josh was SO adorable, I felt guilty every time we read about Audrey and Fred, while simultaneously swooning at their obvious chemistry. I absolutely won't spoil the ending, but I think it was the perfect one.

There are several supporting characters, and while I was initially overwhelmed in the first chapter, as the book progressed, every single one made sense and felt authentic. I loved Clara's honesty about marriage and motherhood, Miranda's heartbreak, Hillary's wise words, and especially Vivien's vulnerable moments. Inspite of her faults, it was clear she loved Audrey. The chapters with Audrey's father(s) were some of the most poignant. There are some much-needed comedic moments with Granny Parker, who is an absolute legend throughout the book. An emotional rollercoaster that leftme crying tears of joy.

Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Heat Rating:
Emotional Rating: 🙈😬🥰😢🤦🏻‍♀️💕💔😭😍💓

*Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review*

A vivid and fast-moving romantic comedy that grabs your attention from the first chapter and keeps you engaged. Audrey is marrying Josh, but the day before the wedding Fred the man who got away, appears, and Sophie wonders if she is making the right decision to marry Josh. Various timelines in this story show the reader Sophie's life to date; each is full of believable characters, humour and romance, and there are unexpected plot twists too.

I enjoyed the characters, the wedding dramas and the unexpected twists.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

Before I Do by Sophie Cousens.
Audrey is marrying Josh; steady, dependable Josh, the love of her life. They share a flat and a bank account, and it's the only relationship that Audrey's ever had that feels like something she can put her trust in. But romance should be full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey's found herself wondering if Josh really is 'the one'.
Omg. Hilarious read. Definitely recommend. 5*.

This was a really addictive read. I could’ve bare to put it down and just wanted to know more and more. I love it when a book grips you like this.

I have followed and read Sophie's books from her debut novel, and they each one is better than the last. This one is no exception.

I enjoyed Before I Do. Romance isn’t a genre I read frequently but this is a well written novel with multiple time lines and a fully fleshed out heroine with an interesting back story. I must admit I wasn’t fully invested in the “who will she choose” angle as neither of the potential suitors seemed very interesting until the final chapters. It’s a light read but certainly a good way to spend a cosy winter afternoon. Thank you to @netgalley and @hodderbooks for inviting me to review this ARC.

A fun holiday read full of what ifs and buts. We've all had these thoughts and this book put them all in one place and at the most important time in anyone's life. It was the ultimate cold feet at the wedding scenario and you hoped that the head would help lead the heart to the right place.

A fun book that is really easy to read.

Made me laugh in parts.

a good holiday read thats a quick fun read

The last few chapters of this book played out like just about every grand gesture in every romcom ever told. There’s the fight, the embarrassing moment of attempted grand gesture, the actual grand gesture, and the reunification.
Everything happened prior to is, not exactly wiped out but processed and moved on, and everything afterwards is as it should be. I got that from this story.

What is didn’t get though, as opposed to the grandest of the grand romcoms, is an emotional investment in the characters and their story of love. I found that I just couldn’t connect with them, or it, on a level that I would have liked to, which in turn affected my overall enjoyment of the story.
It’s probably me, but a good romance for me is one that gives you all the feels, while this book only gave me some - and they weren’t all positive or enjoyable.
Sorry but it wasn’t my cup of tea.

Thank you to Sophie Cousins, Hodder and Stoughton, and NetGalley for an invitation to read this book.