diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 362cf64..4cfb55c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -359,19 +359,66 @@ class YourApi extends Api
 
 ### Event Listeners
 
-- [`addPostRequestHandler`](#addpostrequesthandler)
-- [`addResponseContentsHandler`](#addresponsecontentshandler)
+- [`addPreRequestListener`](#addprerequestlistener)
+- [`addPostRequestListener`](#addpostrequestlistener)
+- [`addResponseContentsListener`](#addresponsecontentslistener)
 - [Event Priority](#event-priority)
 - [Event Propagation](#event-propagation)
 
-#### `addPostRequestHandler`
+#### `addPreRequestListener`
 
-The `addPostRequestHandler` method is used to add a handler function that is executed after a request has been made. 
-This handler function can be used to inspect the request and response data that was sent to, and received from, the API.
+The `addPreRequestListener` method is used to add a function that is called before a request, and all handled data, has been made.
 This event listener will be applied to every API request.
 
 ```php
-$this->addPostRequestHandler(callable $handler, int $priority = 0): self;
+$this->addPreRequestListener(callable $listener, int $priority = 0): self;
+```
+
+For example:
+
+```php
+use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Api;
+use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Event\PreRequestEvent;
+
+class YourApi extends Api
+{
+    public function __construct() 
+    {
+        // a PreRequestEvent is passed as an argument
+        $this->addPreRequestListener(function(PreRequestEvent $event) {
+            $request = $event->getRequest();
+            
+            if ($request->getMethod() === 'POST') {
+                // do something for all POST requests
+                // ...
+            }
+        });
+    }
+    
+    // ...
+}
+```
+
+Available event methods:
+
+```php
+$this->addPreRequestListener(function(PreRequestEvent $event) {
+    // get request data
+    $request = $event->getRequest();
+    // ...
+    // set request data
+    $event->setRequest($request);
+});
+```
+
+#### `addPostRequestListener`
+
+The `addPostRequestListener` method is used to add a function that is called after a request has been made. 
+This function can be used to inspect the request and response data that was sent to, and received from, the API.
+This event listener will be applied to every API request.
+
+```php
+$this->addPostRequestListener(callable $listener, int $priority = 0): self;
 ```
 
 For example, you can use this event listener to handle API errors:
@@ -384,13 +431,8 @@ class YourApi extends Api
 {
     public function __construct() 
     {
-        // ...
-        
         // a PostRequestEvent is passed as an argument
-        $this->addPostRequestHandler(function(PostRequestEvent $event) {
-            // request data is also available
-            // $request = $event->getRequest();
-            
+        $this->addPostRequestListener(function(PostRequestEvent $event) {
             $response = $event->getResponse();
             $statusCode = $response->getStatusCode();
             
@@ -410,13 +452,27 @@ class YourApi extends Api
 }
 ```
 
-#### `addResponseContentsHandler`
+Available event methods:
+
+```php
+$this->addPostRequestListener(function(PostRequestEvent $event) {
+    // get request data
+    $request = $event->getRequest();
+    // get response data
+    $response = $event->getResponse();
+    // ...
+    // set response data
+    $event->setResponse($response);
+});
+```
+
+#### `addResponseContentsListener`
 
-The `addResponseContentsHandler` method is used to manipulate the response that was received from the API.
+The `addResponseContentsListener` method is used to manipulate the response that was received from the API.
 This event listener will be applied to every API request.
 
 ```php
-$this->addResponseContentsHandler(callable $handler, int $priority = 0): self;
+$this->addResponseContentsListener(callable $handler, int $priority = 0): self;
 ```
 
 For example, if the API responses are JSON strings, you can use this event listener to decode them into arrays:
@@ -429,10 +485,8 @@ class YourApi extends Api
 {
     public function __construct() 
     {
-        // ...
-        
         // a ResponseContentsEvent is passed as an argument
-        $this->addResponseContentsHandler(function(ResponseContentsEvent $event) {
+        $this->addResponseContentsListener(function(ResponseContentsEvent $event) {
             // get response contents and decode json string into an array
             $contents = $event->getContents();
             $contents = json_decode($contents, true);
@@ -453,6 +507,18 @@ class YourApi extends Api
 }
 ```
 
+Available event methods:
+
+```php
+$this->addResponseContentsListener(function(ResponseContentsEvent $event) {
+    // get response body contents data
+    $contents = $event->getContents();
+    // ...
+    // set contents
+    $event->setContents($contents);
+});
+```
+
 #### Event Priority
 
 It is possible to add multiple listeners for the same event and set the order in which they will be executed.
@@ -471,14 +537,14 @@ class YourApi extends Api
         // but the second is executed first (higher priority) even though it was added after
         
         // executed last (lower priority)
-        $this->addResponseContentsHandler(
-            handler: function(PostRequestEvent $event) { ... }, 
+        $this->addResponseContentsListener(
+            listener: function(PostRequestEvent $event) { ... }, 
             priority: 0
         );
         
         // executed first (higher priority)
-        $this->addResponseContentsHandler(
-            handler: function(PostRequestEvent $event) { ... }, 
+        $this->addResponseContentsListener(
+            listener: function(PostRequestEvent $event) { ... }, 
             priority: 10
         ); 
     }
@@ -498,13 +564,13 @@ class YourApi extends Api
 {
     public function __construct() 
     {
-        $this->addResponseContentsHandler(function(PostRequestEvent $event) {
+        $this->addResponseContentsListener(function(PostRequestEvent $event) {
             // stop propagation so future listeners of this event will not be called
             $event->stopPropagation();
         });
         
         // this listener will not be called
-        $this->addResponseContentsHandler(function(PostRequestEvent $event) { 
+        $this->addResponseContentsListener(function(PostRequestEvent $event) { 
             // ...
          }); 
     }
@@ -682,7 +748,7 @@ class YourApi extends Api
         $pool = new FilesystemAdapter();
         
         // file-based cache adapter with a 1-hour default cache lifetime
-        $this->setClientBuilder(
+        $this->setCacheBuilder(
             new CacheBuilder(
                 pool: $pool, 
                 ttl: 3600
diff --git a/src/Api.php b/src/Api.php
index 366ec69..29be174 100644
--- a/src/Api.php
+++ b/src/Api.php
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Builder\Listener\CacheLoggerListener;
 use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Builder\LoggerBuilder;
 use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Event\PostRequestEvent;
+use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Event\PreRequestEvent;
 use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Event\ResponseContentsEvent;
 use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Exception\ConfigException;
 use ProgrammatorDev\Api\Helper\StringHelperTrait;
@@ -67,6 +68,8 @@ public function request(
             throw new ConfigException('A base URL must be set.');
         }
 
+        $this->configurePlugins();
+
         if (!empty($this->queryDefaults)) {
             $query = \array_merge($this->queryDefaults, $query);
         }
@@ -75,15 +78,24 @@ public function request(
             $headers = \array_merge($this->headerDefaults, $headers);
         }
 
-        $this->configurePlugins();
-
         $uri = $this->buildUri($path, $query);
-        $request = $this->buildRequest($method, $uri, $headers, $body);
+        $request = $this->createRequest($method, $uri, $headers, $body);
+
+        // pre request listener
+        $request = $this->eventDispatcher->dispatch(new PreRequestEvent($request))->getRequest();
+
+        // request
         $response = $this->clientBuilder->getClient()->sendRequest($request);
 
-        $this->eventDispatcher->dispatch(new PostRequestEvent($request, $response));
+        // post request listener
+        $response = $this->eventDispatcher->dispatch(new PostRequestEvent($request, $response))->getResponse();
 
+        // always rewind the body contents in case it was used in the PostRequestEvent
+        // otherwise it would return an empty string
+        $response->getBody()->rewind();
         $contents = $response->getBody()->getContents();
+
+        // response contents listener
         return $this->eventDispatcher->dispatch(new ResponseContentsEvent($contents))->getContents();
     }
 
@@ -236,16 +248,23 @@ public function setAuthentication(?Authentication $authentication): self
         return $this;
     }
 
-    public function addPostRequestHandler(callable $handler, int $priority = 0): self
+    public function addPreRequestListener(callable $listener, int $priority = 0): self
+    {
+        $this->eventDispatcher->addListener(PreRequestEvent::class, $listener, $priority);
+
+        return $this;
+    }
+
+    public function addPostRequestListener(callable $listener, int $priority = 0): self
     {
-        $this->eventDispatcher->addListener(PostRequestEvent::class, $handler, $priority);
+        $this->eventDispatcher->addListener(PostRequestEvent::class, $listener, $priority);
 
         return $this;
     }
 
-    public function addResponseContentsHandler(callable $handler, int $priority = 0): self
+    public function addResponseContentsListener(callable $listener, int $priority = 0): self
     {
-        $this->eventDispatcher->addListener(ResponseContentsEvent::class, $handler, $priority);
+        $this->eventDispatcher->addListener(ResponseContentsEvent::class, $listener, $priority);
 
         return $this;
     }
@@ -274,7 +293,7 @@ private function buildUri(string $path, array $query = []): string
         return $uri;
     }
 
-    private function buildRequest(
+    private function createRequest(
         string $method,
         string $uri,
         array $headers = [],
diff --git a/src/Event/PostRequestEvent.php b/src/Event/PostRequestEvent.php
index 251eecf..d5c1f74 100644
--- a/src/Event/PostRequestEvent.php
+++ b/src/Event/PostRequestEvent.php
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ class PostRequestEvent extends Event
 {
     public function __construct(
         private readonly RequestInterface $request,
-        private readonly ResponseInterface $response
+        private ResponseInterface $response
     ) {}
 
     public function getRequest(): RequestInterface
@@ -22,4 +22,9 @@ public function getResponse(): ResponseInterface
     {
         return $this->response;
     }
+
+    public function setResponse(ResponseInterface $response): void
+    {
+        $this->response = $response;
+    }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Event/PreRequestEvent.php b/src/Event/PreRequestEvent.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cd01e78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Event/PreRequestEvent.php
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace ProgrammatorDev\Api\Event;
+
+use Psr\Http\Message\RequestInterface;
+use Symfony\Contracts\EventDispatcher\Event;
+
+class PreRequestEvent extends Event
+{
+    public function __construct(
+        private RequestInterface $request
+    ) {}
+
+    public function getRequest(): RequestInterface
+    {
+        return $this->request;
+    }
+
+    public function setRequest(RequestInterface $request): void
+    {
+        $this->request = $request;
+    }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Event/ResponseContentsEvent.php b/src/Event/ResponseContentsEvent.php
index 350ce3b..da42560 100644
--- a/src/Event/ResponseContentsEvent.php
+++ b/src/Event/ResponseContentsEvent.php
@@ -6,12 +6,9 @@
 
 class ResponseContentsEvent extends Event
 {
-    private mixed $contents;
-
-    public function __construct($contents)
-    {
-        $this->contents = $contents;
-    }
+    public function __construct(
+        private mixed $contents
+    ) {}
 
     public function getContents(): mixed
     {
diff --git a/tests/Integration/ApiTest.php b/tests/Integration/ApiTest.php
index 9a7881f..3e9fa2a 100644
--- a/tests/Integration/ApiTest.php
+++ b/tests/Integration/ApiTest.php
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class ApiTest extends AbstractTestCase
 {
     private const BASE_URL = 'https://base.com/url';
 
-    private $class;
+    private Api $api;
 
     private Client $mockClient;
 
@@ -30,11 +30,11 @@ protected function setUp(): void
         parent::setUp();
 
         // create anonymous class
-        $this->class = new class extends Api {};
+        $this->api = new class extends Api {};
 
         // set mock client
         $this->mockClient = new Client();
-        $this->class->setClientBuilder(new ClientBuilder($this->mockClient));
+        $this->api->setClientBuilder(new ClientBuilder($this->mockClient));
     }
 
     public function testSetters()
@@ -45,26 +45,26 @@ public function testSetters()
             'authenticate' => $this->createMock(RequestInterface::class)
         ]);
 
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
-        $this->class->setClientBuilder(new ClientBuilder());
-        $this->class->setCacheBuilder(new CacheBuilder($pool));
-        $this->class->setLoggerBuilder(new LoggerBuilder($logger));
-        $this->class->setAuthentication($authentication);
-
-        $this->assertSame(self::BASE_URL, $this->class->getBaseUrl());
-        $this->assertInstanceOf(ClientBuilder::class, $this->class->getClientBuilder());
-        $this->assertInstanceOf(CacheBuilder::class, $this->class->getCacheBuilder());
-        $this->assertInstanceOf(LoggerBuilder::class, $this->class->getLoggerBuilder());
-        $this->assertInstanceOf(Authentication::class, $this->class->getAuthentication());
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->setClientBuilder(new ClientBuilder());
+        $this->api->setCacheBuilder(new CacheBuilder($pool));
+        $this->api->setLoggerBuilder(new LoggerBuilder($logger));
+        $this->api->setAuthentication($authentication);
+
+        $this->assertSame(self::BASE_URL, $this->api->getBaseUrl());
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(ClientBuilder::class, $this->api->getClientBuilder());
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(CacheBuilder::class, $this->api->getCacheBuilder());
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(LoggerBuilder::class, $this->api->getLoggerBuilder());
+        $this->assertInstanceOf(Authentication::class, $this->api->getAuthentication());
     }
 
     public function testRequest()
     {
         $this->mockClient->addResponse(new Response(body: MockResponse::SUCCESS));
 
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
 
-        $response = $this->class->request(
+        $response = $this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public function testMissingBaseUrl()
         $this->expectException(ConfigException::class);
         $this->expectExceptionMessage('A base URL must be set.');
 
-        $this->class->request(
+        $this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
@@ -85,32 +85,32 @@ public function testMissingBaseUrl()
 
     public function testQueryDefaults()
     {
-        $this->class->addQueryDefault('test', true);
-        $this->assertTrue($this->class->getQueryDefault('test'));
+        $this->api->addQueryDefault('test', true);
+        $this->assertTrue($this->api->getQueryDefault('test'));
 
-        $this->class->removeQueryDefault('test');
-        $this->assertNull($this->class->getQueryDefault('test'));
+        $this->api->removeQueryDefault('test');
+        $this->assertNull($this->api->getQueryDefault('test'));
     }
 
     public function testHeaderDefaults()
     {
-        $this->class->addHeaderDefault('X-Test', true);
-        $this->assertTrue($this->class->getHeaderDefault('X-Test'));
+        $this->api->addHeaderDefault('X-Test', true);
+        $this->assertTrue($this->api->getHeaderDefault('X-Test'));
 
-        $this->class->removeHeaderDefault('X-Test');
-        $this->assertNull($this->class->getHeaderDefault('X-Test'));
+        $this->api->removeHeaderDefault('X-Test');
+        $this->assertNull($this->api->getHeaderDefault('X-Test'));
     }
 
     public function testCache()
     {
         $pool = $this->createMock(CacheItemPoolInterface::class);
 
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
-        $this->class->setCacheBuilder(new CacheBuilder($pool));
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->setCacheBuilder(new CacheBuilder($pool));
 
         $pool->expects($this->once())->method('save');
 
-        $this->class->request(
+        $this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
@@ -120,13 +120,13 @@ public function testLogger()
     {
         $logger = $this->createMock(LoggerInterface::class);
 
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
-        $this->class->setLoggerBuilder(new LoggerBuilder($logger));
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->setLoggerBuilder(new LoggerBuilder($logger));
 
         // request + response log
         $logger->expects($this->exactly(2))->method('info');
 
-        $this->class->request(
+        $this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
@@ -137,9 +137,9 @@ public function testCacheWithLogger()
         $pool = $this->createMock(CacheItemPoolInterface::class);
         $logger = $this->createMock(LoggerInterface::class);
 
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
-        $this->class->setCacheBuilder(new CacheBuilder($pool));
-        $this->class->setLoggerBuilder(new LoggerBuilder($logger));
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->setCacheBuilder(new CacheBuilder($pool));
+        $this->api->setLoggerBuilder(new LoggerBuilder($logger));
 
         // request + response + cache log
         $logger->expects($this->exactly(3))->method('info');
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ public function testCacheWithLogger()
         // error suppression to hide expected warning of null cache item in CacheLoggerListener
         // https://docs.phpunit.de/en/10.5/error-handling.html#ignoring-issue-suppression
         // TODO maybe allow user to add cache listeners to CacheBuilder and create a mock?
-        @$this->class->request(
+        @$this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
@@ -159,42 +159,56 @@ public function testAuthentication()
             'authenticate' => $this->createMock(RequestInterface::class)
         ]);
 
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
-        $this->class->setAuthentication($authentication);
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->setAuthentication($authentication);
 
         $authentication->expects($this->once())->method('authenticate');
 
-        $this->class->request(
+        $this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
     }
 
-    public function testPostRequestHandler()
+    public function testPreRequestListener()
     {
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
-        $this->class->addPostRequestHandler(fn() => throw new \Exception('TestMessage'));
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->addPreRequestListener(fn() => throw new \Exception('TestMessage'));
 
         $this->expectException(\Exception::class);
         $this->expectExceptionMessage('TestMessage');
 
-        $this->class->request(
+        $this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
     }
 
-    public function testResponseHandler()
+    public function testPostRequestListener()
+    {
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->addPostRequestListener(fn() => throw new \Exception('TestMessage'));
+
+        $this->expectException(\Exception::class);
+        $this->expectExceptionMessage('TestMessage');
+
+        $this->api->request(
+            method: 'GET',
+            path: '/path'
+        );
+    }
+
+    public function testResponseContentsListener()
     {
         $this->mockClient->addResponse(new Response(body: MockResponse::SUCCESS));
 
-        $this->class->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
-        $this->class->addResponseContentsHandler(function(ResponseContentsEvent $event) {
+        $this->api->setBaseUrl(self::BASE_URL);
+        $this->api->addResponseContentsListener(function(ResponseContentsEvent $event) {
             $contents = json_decode($event->getContents(), true);
             $event->setContents($contents);
         });
 
-        $response = $this->class->request(
+        $response = $this->api->request(
             method: 'GET',
             path: '/path'
         );
@@ -204,7 +218,7 @@ public function testResponseHandler()
 
     public function testBuildPath()
     {
-        $path = $this->class->buildPath('/path/{parameter1}/multiple/{parameter2}', [
+        $path = $this->api->buildPath('/path/{parameter1}/multiple/{parameter2}', [
             'parameter1' => 'with',
             'parameter2' => 'parameters'
         ]);