Before I Do

By: Sophie Cousens

Narrated by: Emma Sidi

Length: 10 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

A heartwarming and playful novel about the ones we love and the ones we lose by the New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year

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

Head-in-the-stars Audrey is about to marry down-to-earth Josh. Though they are polar opposites, they have a healthy, stable relationship; Josh is just what Audrey needs. But romance should be unpredictable and full of fireworks, and as the big day approaches, Audrey’s found herself wondering if Josh really is "The One."

So, when Josh’s sister shows up to the rehearsal dinner with Fred, Audrey’s "What If? guy"—the man she met six years ago and had one amazing day with—Audrey finds herself torn. Surely Fred’s appearance the night before she is due to get married can’t be a coincidence. And when everything that could go wrong with the wedding starts to go wrong, Audrey has to ask herself: Is fate trying to stop her from making a huge mistake? Or does destiny just have a really twisty sense of humor?

©2022 Sophie Cousens (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

One of Reader's Digest's 30 Most-Anticipated Books of 2022

"Cousens puts a clever spin on the standard rom-com trope of the love triangle….The true heart of the story is about her struggle with her past and whether she’s willing to create a new, more honest future for herself. A charming and surprising take on a classic love-triangle formula."—Kirkus Reviews

"Cousens…charms with this witty and emotionally rich story… [and] enhances this lighthearted rom-com with some truly touching moments as the authentic characters grapple with tough decisions. Readers will be especially drawn to Audrey, a woman unafraid to chase her own happiness and face challenges head-on. This is sure to charm."—Publishers Weekly

"The perfect feel-good book."—Reader's Digest

Lovely

Thoughtful, refreshing take on the “what-if guy” trope. Her books never disappoint. Thanks, Sophie!

Charming and fun

Sometimes these Sophie Kinsella-esque stories with mishaps and misunderstandings and quirky, unsuccessful characters just get a bit tedious and too far out of control. This one walked the line and surpassed my expectations. I was really unsure if Audrey was going to come to the conclusion that I wanted her to, but it was quite a ride to get there. Enjoyable. I’m really sad that I’ve now read all of Ms. Cousens’ books because that means a new one won’t be coming out for a year or so. I’ll eagerly await the next story.

Great Story

I enjoyed diving into the story of two kinds of love! The narrator was fantastic and easy to listen to. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a fun rom-com with lots of layers.

A Sweet Lovestory

At first I wasn’t sure if I’d like this book but once I hit the first third I was hooked! It made me reflect on what true love really is and how you don’t have to be perfect to be loved. I’ve already recommended it to several single friends. I didn’t say “I Do” until I was 46 and he was worth the wait so this book really spoke to me.

Great story. Better than expected.

I really, really enjoyed this story. It was one of my free books from the ‘Plus’ catalog In Audible.com so that made it even better! It had me thinking “what’s going to happen next” the whole time. There were funny moments too and the characters were great. I felt like they were my friends and that I was right there with them. I encourage you to read this for a story that will make your heart smile.

Cute

It was a cute story—a light and somewhat predictable rom-com. The narrator was great.

Terrible main character

The overall story was ok, but the weak main character took away from the enjoyment. Give her some backbone, please earlier in the story. She did not deserve Josh or Fred. We are team Josh!

Great story!

This story sounded so much like mine. Looking for something more when I had it all…😢. However the end was excellent! I wish it were my story!

Pretty good

Not her best work but still a good listen. Love the moral of the story (her take on what love is).

Anxiety Inducing

I had a hard time with this because Audrey was so selfish in so many ways, and I felt like she didn’t really deserve Josh. Even when she’s asked what she brings to the relationship, it’s nothing all that revelatory. Thank God for the end and the epilogue or I don’t think I would have liked it at all. She’s certainly not a bad person and she’s been through a lot, but it felt close to Carrie and Aidan’s relationship from SATC more than I liked. Narration was great, and really helped elicit sympathy for Audrey when desperately needed.