Before I Do

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 fiancé, 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.