Before I Do, the clever and charming third novel from Sophie Cousens (This Time Next Year; Just Haven't Met You Yet), explores the fears and hopes of a woman on the verge of marriage. Audrey loves Josh and feels like his steadiness balances her wanderlust. But when everything related to their wedding that could go wrong does go wrong--a dead bat falls from the church ceiling, the photographer gets stuck in traffic, her mother seems to be having yet another affair and Josh's grandmother keeps talking about omens--it makes Audrey wonder if the universe is trying to tell her not to get married.
Audrey becomes convinced that she's making a terrible mistake when Fred shows up as an unexpected wedding guest. The so-called one that got away, Fred shared one magical day with her six years earlier. The novel is expertly paced, flashing back and forth from the wedding preparations to Audrey and Fred's incredible day of adventure and Audrey and Josh's slower-paced courtship. It's also a thoughtful look at what truly makes relationships tick and how to handle those lingering "but what if?" feelings. Transcending the typical love-triangle trope, Before I Do is smart, funny and consistently delightful. Audrey's butterflies are familiar, and the series of unfortunate events that befall her, Josh, Fred and the rest of the wedding guests are downright hilarious. Fans of Beth O'Leary or Sophie Kinsella are sure to love Sophie Cousens's work. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer