Before I Do: a funny and unexpected love story from the author of THIS TIME NEXT YEAR

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I was a little pissed off Audrey because her past baggages and insecurities shadow her vision to see truth lies behind her eyes! I’m not against a difficult MC, but it was a looooooong time before she realized why she made some of the decisions she made and held onto the “idea” of Fred. She appears in the Library Reads Hall of Fame, with books that are consistently recommended by library staff.

From there it follows several timelines: the wedding, Audrey and Josh’s story and a story of Audrey meeting a man named Fred at a photobooth and spending one serendipitous day together as well as her mothers many husbands, one of them being quite abusive. I thought several times while reading this book that some characters were saying a lot of things I wish I had heard/known when I was younger. Before I do is a deep dive into the what if questions that are often asked at different times of our lives. 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. A moving, joyful love story, This Time Next Year explores the way fate leads us to the people we least expect--no matter what the odds.The story is told with chapters that alternate from the build up to the wedding, to chapters from Audrey's past, some six-seven years ago, when she met Fred, and also charting the build up of her relationship with Josh some time later. So why is she standing with a different man now, ready to begin her life with him, and is fate intervening to prevent her from making a mistake?

The day before she’s supposed to marry Josh, a great guy who she’s known for years, she gets hit with a blast from the past in the form of Fred, someone she spent a wonderful day with 6 years ago and then never saw again until he shows up at the rehearsal dinner as the date of Josh’s sister. Author Sophie Cousens does a phenomenal job of going from past to present and back again, keeping this reader intrigued.

The book actually reminded me a little of Written in the Stars by Ali Harris, which had a similar concept, albeit which I thought was done better. Beautiful self discovery and looking back at the what ifs in one’s life there can exist and I am so happy that I found this book because it reminded me again the true essence of love and you have to work for love. When Minnie unexpectedly runs into Quinn at a New Year's party on their mutual thirtieth birthday, she sees only more evidence that fortune has continued to favor him. A thoughtful and romantic story about the moments and choices that change our lives in unexpected ways….

And you are going to not like parts of Audrey sometimes, but you are going to be rooting for her while you read. The writing is simple and while there are local references they don’t mess up with the experience you will have with the book. There are some much-needed comedic moments with Granny Parker, who is an absolute legend throughout the book. 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 I think that's because I am always here for the *drama*, and this story definitely had plenty of that.As the wedding gets closer and closer with hours to spare, Audrey can’t stop thinking about the past…and can’t help but wonder if she’s making the right decision to get married. What would you do if, at your engagement party, your fiance’s sister brings your first love (and the one that got away) as her date?

There’s also added conflict of everything under the sun going wrong on their wedding day, and it became actually ridiculous just how long that list was. It is heart warming and a full on entertaining read jam packed with emotion……It is flipping awesome!Audrey is not a very sympathetic character in the beginning, and the author does an excellent job at explaining why later in the book.