Before I Do has all the witty and clever elements I’ve come to expect from Sophie Cousens. If you’re looking for a funny and heartfelt story full of “what ifs” and trips down memory lane, this is it.
My Overview
It’s the day before Audrey and Josh’s wedding. Everyone is gathered at the church for the wedding rehearsal … and a few surprises pop up:
- A dead bat fell off the church rafters.
- Granny has declared that a bad omen.
- Josh’s sister’s date to the event is none other than Fred (Audrey’s what if guy from six years ago).
Clearly, none of those mishaps were setting the stage for the wedding of their dreams. Instead, Audrey begins to quietly start having second thoughts about getting married. What if Josh isn’t who she’s meant to marry? What if fate has brought Fred back into her life for a reason?
As the what ifs swirled around in Audrey’s head, the wedding rehearsal continued, and so did the mishaps. Should Audrey and Josh had heeded Granny’s warning about the bad omen? Probably, but it’s a good thing they didn’t because what ensues is an entertaining and unpredictable story.
What worked really well for the story, were the alternating then-and-now timelines. They were effective in giving a full view and background of the situation Audrey was dealing with, while also creating confusion and unpredictability for the reader. The more the story progressed, the more confused I was as to who Audrey should marry. Also, the story begins with Audrey running out of the church alone on her wedding day, so throughout the story I kept trying to figure who she’d been marrying? Josh or Fred? I thought that was a clever aspect to the story.
I was fully invested in this story from the very beginning, and it never waned. The characters were funny, genuine, and flawed. They all (main characters and secondary characters) brought charm and depth to the story in their own way. The pacing was perfect, and the unpredictability of the storyline was superb.
My Recommendation
I listened to the audiobook and recommend it. This is my third book by Sophie Cousens, and I can’t wait for more. The other books I’ve enjoyed by her are This Time Next Year and Just Haven’t Met You Yet.
This book is part of My Winter 2023 Reading List.
Have you enjoyed any of this author’s stories?
Dedra @ A Book Wanderer
I read my first Cousens book last year and this one is on my tbr! I’m happy to see you enjoyed it!
Lucy
Yay! Glad you enjoy her stories too 😊.
Angela @ Reading Frenzy
Alternating past and present timelines can be problematic for me as a reader because they sometimes make the storytelling choppy. I’m glad it worked in this book.
Lucy
Yes, the alternating timeline worked well in this story. I can relate to your thoughts about it sometimes making the story feel choppy.
Lindsey @ Lindsey Reads
I love the premise for this one, glad to hear you loved it!
Lucy
Thanks! It really is a great premise. I loved the storyline and it’s message.
Jodie
I enjoyed this one too Lucy! This Time Next Year was my favourite of the three books we’ve both read. Wonderful review!
Lucy
Thank you! 😊 Glad you’re enjoying this author’s books too. It’s hard for me to pick a favorite of her three books, but This Time Next Year is definitely a stand out.
Sam@wlabb
I agree, every character brought something special, but I wasn’t sure how I felt until I realized the direction the story was taking. I loved it! And that ending!!!! My heart exploded.
Lucy
I didn’t like all of Audrey’s decisions, and worried a bit that I’d hate the ending. By the end, I loved the ending and that the story had kept me guessing throughout 😁.
Wendy
I loved this one too. And the alternate timelines really made it work
Lucy
Glad you loved it too! Those alternating timelines kept me guessing until the end.