Before I Do

May 1, 2022

Backman's The Winners revisits the small but tough rural community first seen in the multi-best-booked Beartown, inspiration for the HBO original. From Cousens (This Times Next Year), Before I Do features Audrey, who's about to marry dependable Josh when his sister turns up with the guy Audrey always wanted. With Thief of Fate, Deveraux and Sheets wrap up a trilogy about an 1840s Irish thief in contemporary Providence Falls, NC, who is tasked by the angels with righting the wrong of having lured away Cora from her intended (75,000-copy paperback and 10,000-copy hardcover first printing). Hilderbrand's Endless Summer offers nine stories serving as prequels, sequels, and interim chapters illuminating her beloved novels (375,000-copy first printing). In Edgar-nominated Kennedy's Billie Starr's Book of Sorries, down-on-her-luck Jenny Newberg (mother of the eponymous Billie) unwisely accepts money to seduce the so-called Candidate (75,000-copy first printing). Macomber gets us in The Christmas Spirit with the story of two friends, a bartender and a pastor, and what they learn when they trade places for the holidays. Second in a series set in Wishing Tree, WA, Mallery's Home Sweet Christmas features two women--one a town newbie, another home temporarily--with Christmas surprises in store (250,000-copy paperback and 10,000-copy hardcover first printing). Bringing together stay-at-home witch Lucy Caraway and merman Alex, out of his element in Freya Grove, NJ, Martin's Witchful Thinking launches a series featuring Black characters with books already slated for publication in 2023 and 2024 (45,000-copy first printing). Nigerian British Nwabineli debuts with Someday, Maybe, about a young woman struggling to recover from her husband' suicide (75,000-copy first printing). Thanks to Patterson and coauthor Safran, lonely widower Henry Sullivan and children Will and Ella end up welcoming a raucous bunch of animals and houseguests to their Harlem brownstone during The Twelve Long, Hard, Topsy-Turvy, Very Messy Days of Christmas (125,000-copy first printing). Picoult and Boylan's Mad Honey stars a wealthy wife returning to her New Hampshire hometown after discovering her husband's ugly side. In Steel's latest, a sensational young singer who hits all The High Notes must wrestle freedom from those who would exploit her, including her father.

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 8, 2022
Cousens (Just Haven’t Met You Yet) charms with this witty and emotionally rich story about a woman who reunites with the one who got away on the eve of her wedding. Six years before the start of the novel, Audrey discovered photos of a handsome stranger left behind in a London photo booth. Believing the strip to be a message from the universe, she took her own snapshots, hoping the man would return and find her photos. This memorable meet-cute led to one unforgettable date, but miscommunication and missed opportunities conspired to keep them from ever starting a real relationship. Now, the day before Audrey’s wedding to Josh, a handsome, successful man who adores her, Audrey is shocked to run into Fred, her soon-to-be sister-in-law’s plus one and the man from that unforgettable date. Audrey is certain she loves Josh—but what if Fred is her soulmate and this is fate offering them one more chance? Cousens 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. Agent: Clare Wallace, Darley Anderson Literary, TV, and Film.

August 15, 2022
A bride-to-be has her wedding derailed when the man who got away shows up at her rehearsal dinner. Audrey and Josh are a case of opposites attract. Audrey has always been dreamy, creative, and unsettled, still searching for her ideal career. Josh, meanwhile, is a practical planner with a responsible job. She loves winging it, while he never met a spreadsheet he didn't love. He's just what Audrey needs. Or so she thinks, until Josh's sister shows up to their rehearsal dinner with Fred, a man Audrey had an exhilarating day with six years ago. Fred was fun and spontaneous, and Audrey fell for him instantly--but he didn't show up for their next date, and she never heard from him again. Audrey starts to wonder if Fred's appearance at her wedding is merely a coincidence or a sign from the universe that she shouldn't get married. When things keep going wrong, it seems like Josh's Granny Parker might be right when she insists that they're bad omens. Alternating between a present-day countdown to the wedding and significant moments from Audrey's past, Cousens explores the moments, meet-cutes, and mistakes that led Audrey to her wedding day. Cousens puts a clever spin on the standard rom-com trope of the love triangle featuring a steady, predictable man versus an exciting, unpredictable man. Although the plot hinges on Audrey's wedding, 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.

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September 15, 2022
Is true love determined by fate, or is it a choice? Cousens toys with this question in an unexpected and refreshing way. Audrey is one day away from marrying the sweet and practical Josh when bad omens start to pop up. The ultimate warning arrives in the form of a plus-one, Fred. The guy who swept her off her feet years ago and then disappeared arrives at the rehearsal dinner on the arm of her future sister-in-law. Fred's presence leads to a surge of doubt, and Audrey begins going through all of the developments in her life. Told in multiple time lines, this what-if romance unravels Audrey's relationships with Josh and Fred but, perhaps most importantly, with herself. Cousens masterfully switches between past and present to deliver a satisfying love triangle that will pull in even those who don't normally gravitate towards love stories with this theme. Witty and heartfelt, Before I Do takes a familiar trope and turns it on its head, and readers will find themselves tearing through this book to find out how it ends.

COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2022

Most brides have pre-wedding jitters, but Audrey's are compounded by the unexpected presence of a man from her past. She and Fred only had one day together, years before she met her fianc�, Paul, but it was the highlight of Audrey's life. Six years later, she still keeps their photo booth pictures in her wallet. Now Audrey can't decide if seeing Fred again is a sign from the universe or a bad omen, but it has her questioning her future the night before her wedding. The story flows back and forth between Audrey's past and present, giving the reader insight into her character and life choices as well as creating empathy for her indecision. Well-placed humor keeps the novel from becoming a melodrama, and Audrey is a likable character. She is the heart of the novel and is the only point of view or well-developed character. The focus works, however, and readers will cheer Audrey on as she disentangles herself from the what-might-have-been love triangle. VERDICT Cousens (Just Haven't Met You Yet) offers up a chaste, heartwarming romance.--Heather Miller Cover

Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.