I jumped into this book really looking forward to it after reading the synopsis. The prologue grabbed my attention, a disaster at Audrey and Josh's wedding no less, I was hooked.. However, for me, it just didn't live up to my initial excitement. I found the storyline dragged and never truly kept my attention after the good start.

Told in several different timelines with various people's stories it all became a bit messy. I loved Audrey and Josh's story of how they met, it was cute and realistic too. I thought the way that Audrey and Fred met was wonderful, I loved their coincidental meetings all very serendipitous. Two very sweet romances, spoiled by the chaos that ensued.

I didn't like Audrey, she did not endear herself to me at all with her behaviour. She was too needy and indecisive to extremes and used her Mother's relationship's as an excuse for her own bad behaviour. Poor Josh was a saint to put up with all that!

Overall, it was an okay story and I am sure there are people who will love it. Sadly, it just didn't do it for me, which is a shame as I have loved Sophie Cousens previous stories.

This book hooks you in with the question of choices. This time between two men. Romance, friendship, a super read. thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

This book was a bit up and down for me, I enjoyed reading it in some parts but at other times I could have given up and thrown my kindle at the wall. The bits I did read were enjoyable. Maybe I will try reading it again at a later date.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Hodder & Stoughton for the advance copy of #BeforeIDo #Sophie Cousens.
What an wonderful read.
This is Audrey’s story. Audrey who flits through life, never finishing anything, never settling until she meets Josh. The night before her wedding Fred turns up, they had had one day together years before (the one that could have been). Is this a sign?
A book to make you laugh and cry and cheer.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My heart has just had a massive injection of love.
I adore Before I Do. There isn’t a thing I didn’t love.
The characters are funny, loveable and flawed.
The story is more than just a (kind of) love triangle, and it’s wonderfully written.

I always panic when it comes to time-jumping storylines, the fear of getting lost or mixed up is always a concern, but that’s not the case here. The story has a beautiful flow. It seamlessly links the present to the past. I was hooked and only put it down because I had to.

There are so many moments, references & phrases that made me fall more in love with Amy & James (you have to read it to understand) that by the end, I was besotted and yet terrified the ending wasn’t going to be quite right, but Sophie didn’t let me down.

Before I Do is tender, heartwarming, sad at times, but ultimately, a lovely romance.

If you love romcoms, this is the book for you. It’s a giant hug in a book.

Thank you, Hodder Books & NetGalley, for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

On the evening of her marriage to Josh Audrey unexpectedly meets Fred, with whom she had a brief "moment"several years before.
The story is told through a serious of flashbacks, not necessarily in chronological order. This was initially confusing, however this made sense as the story followed through. Initially I wasn't fan of Audrey, she comes across as spoilt and chaotic, but you begin to understand her more as time goes on. I'm probably more like Josh, I do like my spreadsheets, but I'm not as organised and certainly not as well off. There are a whole series of events where things go wrong in the lead up to the wedding which would be funny if they weren't potentially so serious. Ultimately though I did end up cheering on Team Audrey (you'll appreciate this when you read the book). In summary not a straightforward book to read, but very satisfying by the time you reach the end.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

This book was not for me. I found I was getting very frustrated reading it and kept having to put the book down and walk away. In the end I gave up, maybe I will start it again at a later date. What I read was well written and executed but I could not relate at this time.

I did love this book; I have gone through a bit of a reading slump at the moment, and this was just enough to keep me going and get my way back out of it. It was just what I needed. It was a chaotic romance throughout and you are left wondering if Audrey is doing the right thing marrying Josh, is he really who she should be marrying.
This book takes you back to a time when she meets the mysterious Fred, she finds his picture in a photo booth and is instantly curious about him. They meet but it doesn't work out. In between all this, Audrey is getting married to Josh and there is the countdown until they say I do. Audrey is having a bit of a crisis, is Josh the man for her.
This book is so different, and I really loved it. I loved the humour all the way through, and it just had enough chaos to keep you guessing.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sophie Cousens for the arc in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Audrey spends one unforgettable day with Fred at the age of 22. She meets Josh two years later but he doesn’t seem to a leave lasting impression on her until she notices his dreamy brown eyes and calm demeanour. Four years she Audrey and Josh are about to get married and hold a wedding rehearsal dinner. When Josh’s sister arrives with her plus one Audrey realises the plus one is Fred. Is this a sign that Fred is the one and that her and Josh are not meant to be.

The book takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions whilst Audrey comes to a decision on whether she chooses Fred or Josh.

Brilliant read.

I have to say, I think that this is Sophie's best book yet.

I've always been a huge fan of this author and Before I Do seriously hits the spot as far as romance stories go.

Told through two different timelines, we are introduced to our protagonist Audrey. This is a woman who comes across as quite flighty, never quite knowing exactly what she wants in life. So when on the night before her wedding things start to go wrong, everything that she thought she knew, are now put in doubt.

Fate seems to be a big theme in this book, the idea of things happening for a reason, bad omens and superstitions blurring the lines of what is planned to happen and changing the path to be travelled.

Throughout the novel I felt drawn to Audrey. She was a character that I wanted to look after, to give advice to. She came across as quite lost over the pages and I really enjoyed watching her grow and become comfortable with herself as the story progressed.

If had to only use one word to describe Before I Do, I would say charming.

It is a beautifully told love story. Not a simple boy meets girl, a romance with real life worries and problems that made it all the more realistic.

Cannot wait to see what Cousens has to offer next.

There are many things I loved about this book. I loved the star theme and how it wasn't just a quirky motif but the heart of the book. I loved Josh and the slow burn romance between him and Audrey. I loved the large cast of secondary characters especially Hillary (we all need a Hillary in our lives). I enjoyed the forward and backwards pacing and plotting. The one thing I didn't like so much was the main character, Audrey, herself.
Audrey has had an unusual upbringing. Her mother is a well known actress who has been married five times, her beloved father died when she was still a child but not before instilling a love of the stars in her. But Audrey has struggled to settle into adulthood. She has had a series of lowpaying jobs and a series of lowlife boyfriend, her dreams of being an astronomer left as just that, a dream. Indecisive and full of doubt, she allows her mother to organise her wedding, but as the day dawns she can't help wondering if Josh, her fiance, is the right man for her after all. And when the man she spent a perfect afternoon with shows up as a plus one, it seems as if the universe is sending her a sign.
I never quite felt that Audrey either deserved Josh, or that her indecisiveness and lack of ambition and drive is adequately explained and that spoiled the book for me a little, hence the 3 stars rather than 4. But it was entertaining, funny and ultimately a satisfying romantic read.

This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked the up to date stuff/the post wedding stuff but I just wasn’t too enamoured when it went back in time - it seemed to drag the book out and taking longer to read.

Charming, romantic, easy reading. On the surface its a lovely love story, but there were hidden depths questioning the role of fate, kismet and soul mates. Super topical as we try to navigate relationships in the 21st century where we are bombarded with messages of only one true love, which is at war with reality and what it takes to make a relationship work.

Audrey is preparing to marry, lovely dependable Josh. She is at the wedding venue when she discovers one the guests is that guy "who got away. A guy she had one incredible day with, convinced she had found her soul mate, before fate stepped in and she never saw him again.... until her wedding day. The plot jumps between the present and past timelines (its confusing at first but you start to get used to it). Audrey has to quickly figure out whether to trust what she has, or what she could have had. She needs to decide if soul mates exist and how important is that to her. It doesn't help that her mom has been married 5 times and that her own father is not around to ground her. She has strong support in her close friends, mentor and even her mother (although it takes her a while to realize this.)

A whole cast of carefully and charming created characters. They all have their unique mannerisms and feel real in their own way. Audrey is flawed but lovable and relatable as she tries to navigate her way through life and love. Josh is the dream guy. He knows what he wants (he wants Audrey), he doesn't play any games, and he is an old-fashioned romantic. Oh, and he is hot! But Audrey is flighty, indecisive, and notorious for picking the wrong guy...unless he is under her nose. Together they are adorable. But there is always Fred, popping out of the blue, like he is a message sent from God, of what Audrey could have had it life had worked out differently. Fred and Audrey are cut from the same cloth. But is this a good thing or a potential disaster. Audrey has much to question and decide and its a beautiful journey that we take with her, as she tries to find answers to age old questions.

Audrey is set to marry her reliable and kind fiancé Josh, when his sister brings Fred as a plus one. Fred is the guy Audrey always thought might be “the one” after a meet cute to end all meet cutes many years prior and his appearance leaves her questioning her future.

This was definitely my favourite book by Cousens so far. I love how an easy to read and I’m parts quite funny storyline is interlaced with serious topics which makes it feel very real. A very enjoyable read which I think will be very popular amongst fans of her previous books and without spoiling anything, it’s safe to say I’m pleased with how it ended.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Sophie Cousens is just AMAZING! I could not put this book down. The characters are brilliant and throughout the book there is humour and sadness both written in a very good way. The pace rolls along with a storyline which captures you from start to finish. Another must read from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review. It was a pleasure.

👰What WON'T go wrong?! Chaotic nuptials with a large side of doubt😕

Romantic wooing, a troubled backstory for the insecure female lead and a choice between two candidates for her affections: these alone would make a good romance. Sophie Cousens adds odd twists to give the story a touch of whimsy and catastrophe waiting to happen. The result was a story I could get into. And the cliffhanger opening kept an air of mystery through a good portion of the book as I wondered what happened in the church on wedding day to make Audrey exit the church shoeless without her groom!

This could be perceived as a screwball comedy with one snafu after another as Audrey and Josh make their way through the final hours to marriage. I found it all zany but not all that funny, because everything adds up in Audrey's mind (egged on by Josh's Granny Parker) as omens that the marriage is not fated to work out.

Audrey, fiance Josh and Fred, the blast from Audrey's past, share some fun and touching, sweet romantic moments. I liked the contrast presented by Audrey falling for mystery Photo Booth Guy Fred almost immediately and the slow-build relationship with Josh. And I thought the author did a really fine job dealing with the age old What If conundrum that Audrey faces as well as the uneasy relationship with her diva oft-married mom.

I did find the jumping around between numerous timelines somewhat confusing and for me, the plot flagged a bit after the wedding day. But the ending made me smile and overall I enjoyed going along on the ride with Audrey, Josh, family, friends and a whole slew of fellow plane passengers.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

First of all, I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to review this book. Overall, it was a lovely read with relatable characters and flowing plot. I loved how it felt like a comfortable book to read, this book felt like a cozy blanket and hot chocolate in a rainy cold day.

What happens when ‘The One that Got Away’ comes back… on your wedding day? That’s exactly what happens to Audrey.

On the eve of her wedding, Audrey is reunited with Fred - a man she met years ago but had never stopped thinking about… the only thing is, she’s supposed to be marrying Josh tomorrow.

Josh is perfect in every single way but something is giving Audrey cold feet and she doesn’t quite know why, what if Josh isn’t who she’s supposed to be with? What if Fred is her soulmate?

This book is a really interesting look at the concept of soulmates and how we often idealise people in our head and create a version of them that they have no idea about. I don’t usually like a love triangle but I was rooting so hard for one of the guys it actually made my heart hurt a little bit.

It also touches on some deeper subjects such as sexual assault so please be aware of that before going in (I had no idea!)

Overall a great romance, the only reason it’s not a 5 star is because I think it got a bit silly at the end but it’s still really enjoyable, but don’t be fooled by the cartoon cover… you might need tissues!

What would you do if the one that got away turned up the night before your wedding?


Audrey and Josh are about to get married. But the day before the wedding, the guy she spent one magical day with many years ago turns up as her future sister-in-law’s date. Is this a sign? A series of events lead Audrey to question her relationship. What if Fred is the one and not Josh?!

What if…. who are you meant to be with? Is the person you are marrying, the “one”? This book explores a topic that often crosses people’s minds when getting married. The author has written a story with a smart twist on the love triangle trope. Packed full of some very relatable characters and jumping back and forth between past and present, she explores what makes Audrey question who she should be with on the eve of her wedding day.

Easy to read, if you love the romcom movies and books based around disastrous wedding days, this will be a book for you. Some of the scenarios seemed a bit too far-fetched when they are all chaotically piled together but everyone I’ve spoken to can relate to some sort of disaster happening at a wedding.

Plenty of hilariously funny moments and some poignant and sad moments too. Josh’s granny steals the show on many an occasion- love her!

Before I Do is out on September 29th. Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the arc.

This book is so lovely and cute. There’s no other way to describe it.
I’ve read all of this authors work now and each one just gets better
This is contemporary chick lit as it’s best.
I picked up this book when I was feeling a little bit not myself and instantly I felt warm and cozy and like myself again
Sophie takes us on a journey into Audrey’s past and examines how the past has led Audrey to where she is now.
What I love about this book is the author examines a question that not many of us dare ask ourselves. Do we regret our decisions? What could have been?
Audrey did annoy me in parts where she just let the mothers take control of her wedding and she seemed to live other peoples lives. I really wanted her to get a backbone. But I was happy with the way things came together.
The book made me question things in my life. But equally glad I came to the same decision as Audrey.
Thank you to the publisher for inviting me to be part of the tour and also to the author for another great novel