3 rounded up from 2.5

This one just missed the mark for me. I was super intrigued in the beginning, and while I kept reading to see what would happen next, I was almost irritated by the book. I hate saying that. There was something about the characters that were simply not likelable and the plot seemed so far fetched, yet easily attainable to the characters within...I don't know. It just didn't pull me in and entertain me like I hoped it would.

I received an advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

I ended the month with my first Sandie Jones book, and I must say I was disappointed. At least, from reading some fellow readers' comments, this is not her best work, so I'm not going to set her aside yet. But, to be honest, if I didn't read those comments about the author’s books, I would probably not be interested in giving her another chance. I literally finished reading this book yesterday, and I already forgot what it's about. If I didn't read the synopsis again, I would literally have no idea. That should pretty much say it all.
Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for my review copy.

I just turned the last page of this book and I'm trying to collect my thoughts to share in my review. The biggest thing is that I had to re-read the last couple pages because I don't know if I understood the final twist. I think I do but I wish I had someone to discuss with and confirm. This would not have been the only time that I felt confused, it actually happened a handful of times.

Other things I didn't love:
-The ending would not have been the only time that I felt confused, it actually happened a handful of times.
-I didn't really like any of the characters, like at all.
-So many things in the 1986 timeline were truly unbelievable. How would these teen fangirls have had such access to band members that just sold out Wembley Stadium. Too many things that happened were like a major stretch. Why would they have been hanging out with 16 year olds??
-The frequent switching back and forth of the timelines in addition to the switching of the 1st to 3rd person viewpoint.

Things I liked:
-There were some decent twists
-I was invested enough to keep reading as I needed to find out what happened even if it was a tad bit underwhelming when it all came to light
-I ended up listening to the second half of the book and the narrator was excellent (and I typically don't do well with British accents).

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was a story full of twists and turns, though there was some predictability. It was a web of lies and hidden truths. The story was told in the past and present, putting all the puzzle pieces together. Towards the end, the story became very fast paced and I found myself unable to put the book down. I do feel it could have been fleshed out a bit more, and the ending felt abrupt.

This book reflects back to the 1980’s, 2 teenagers and their obsession with the current hot group in London. I was drawn to this book because Sandie Jones is a must read author for me. I enjoyed her dual timelines she used while telling the story. There were some unbelievable and crazy chaotic moments but they kept me entertained. While I couldn’t relate to any of the characters they did propel the story along and held my attention throughout while learning a little more about the recording industry. All opinions expressed are my own.Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced eGalley of the book. #IWouldDieForYou #SandieJones #NetGalley

Sandie Jones’ I Would Die for You is a thrilling blend of nostalgia, suspense, and the complex dynamics of fame, family, and obsession. The novel weaves two timelines together, one set in 2011 and the other in 1986, creating a captivating narrative that hooks readers from the first page.

In 2011, Nicole Forbes is living a quiet life in California with her husband and daughter, far removed from her tumultuous past as a rising star. But when a writer knocks on her door asking about the downfall of the iconic British band, Secret Oktober, Nicole’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel. The same day, her daughter goes missing, and Nicole is forced to confront the secrets she’s buried deep. The sense of danger escalates as Nicole realizes her past might be more connected to the disappearance than she ever imagined.

The 1986 timeline takes us back to Nicole's teenage years when she was caught in the allure of rockstar fame. Her younger sister, Cassie, is obsessed with Secret Oktober, and their lives take a dramatic turn when the band’s frontman, Ben Edwards, becomes interested in Nicole instead. Jones skillfully explores the emotional turbulence of youth, the price of fame, and the darker undercurrents of familial relationships, making Nicole's eventual escape from that world all the more poignant.

Jones blends music, mystery, and an immersive 80s backdrop to create a tense and compelling psychological thriller. The novel delves into the dangerous obsession of celebrity culture, the secrets that linger in the shadows, and the sacrifices made to protect loved ones. Nicole’s journey is one of survival and self-discovery, and Jones builds a gripping narrative that keeps the reader questioning what is real and who can be trusted.

I Would Die for You is a page-turner filled with suspense, twists, and a touch of rock ‘n’ roll glamour. Fans of psychological thrillers and music-inspired stories will find this novel both thrilling and emotionally resonant. It’s a captivating read that reveals how far someone will go to protect the ones they love—and the haunting power of a past that refuses to stay buried.

I ended up listening to the audiobook and reading the physical book. I really liked the narrator. She was easy to listen to and kept my attention throughout a story I unfortunately was not connecting with. It was an interesting plot idea and I liked the writing style so I would be willing to try more by the author.

Giving this read 3 stars feels wrong only because I enjoyed so much of this book, but after sitting with it for a few days I just cannot rate it any higher. There is quite a lot going on in this book, but I personally found the dual timeline and multiple POVs to be entertaining and once I started reading I didn’t want to put it down even if it was a bit chaotic and farfetched at times (yes i understand it is fiction, but still). My biggest issue was the ending. I like when things are clear cut and this was not that.

TW/CW: Language, drinking, smoking, cancer, drug use, underage drinking, cheating, rape, death of parent, toxic family relationships

*****SPOILERS*****

About the book:
Now: Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in a small seaside Californian town with her husband and daughter. She is not expecting a writer to knock on her door asking for her personal insight into the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s—unveiling the threads of a life she put behind her years ago. The same day, her daughter goes missing and the school claims her aunt picked her up . . . but she doesn’t have an aunt. Convinced of a link between the two, Nicole is forced to revisit long-abandoned memories from her past to protect everything she now holds dear.

1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with the hottest band in London, Secret Oktober. Harboring an intense crush on the leading man, Ben Edwards, she will do anything she can to capture his attention among the throngs of groupies at the band’s scandalous backstage parties. But when Ben discovers her older sister Nicole singing at a local bar one night, he can’t help but feel drawn to her, setting in motion a collision course that could tear their family apart.
Release Date: March 18th, 2025
Genre: Thriller
Pages: 320
Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

What I Liked:
1. Writing style was okay

What I Didn't Like:
1. Confusing timelines and characters

Final Thoughts:
This book felt like such a roller-coaster for me. At first I wasn't enjoying it but then I got to the middle of the book and was invested. Toward the end though just too much is thrown at you.

The back and forth with different characters added with the different timelines came off confusing at times and I would have to read back who was talking and when it was.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator made the husband sound more Scottish than North American. I think she did an okay job but I wasn't too impressed with the male characters. They came off too cartoonish at times.

Mike was over the top villain and it was too too much. Yeah, I no there are men out there like that but in this book it just was way way unnecessary. It's like you knew in the beginning who the villains were.

I did not like that in the last like 85% we were introduced to a character who was never even talked about before and suddenly now this woman is everywhere with Cassie. I kept thinking what was the point of introducing her other than being a witness to everything that happened and someone that Nicole could find out information from.

For some reason and Nicole subconscious they paint like every character is dead. Your led to believe that Cassie isn't even alive anymore when Nicole acknowledges that Cassie is alive when she comes back. I don't know maybe I missed something but it felt very confusing. You're also led to believe that Ben was killed. And that's not how your subconscious works. I am just so sick of Thrillers treating your mind of the main character like that you can pretend that people are dead when really they're alive and living somewhere else.

Like I said this book started off with me almost wanting to dnfing it but I kept on going and I ended up liking the middle then I get to the ending and it was a flap for me

IG | Blog

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In 2011 California, Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life with her husband and daughter. Just when a writer asks about her views on the breakup of Secret Oktober, her daughter goes missing and the school claims her aunt picked her up. There is no aunt, so Nicole must revisit memories of 1986 London. Nicole's sixteen-year-old sister Cassie was obsessed with the band Secret Okotober and its lead singer Ben Edwards. But Ben is drawn to her older sister Nicole singing at a local bar.

First and foremost, Nicole's daughter Hannah is okay, and going missing was to scare Nicole and get the story started. We have two timelines, 1986 London where Cassie is drawn to Ben and follows the band around, skipping school and work, making friends with another groupie, and avoiding the slow, painful death of her mother. Her older sister Nicole was working and singing in bars and soon got involved with Ben too. The 2010 timeline involves an older Nicole working to save seals while her husband works on a Navy base. The two have underlying tension that comes to the surface when Hannah goes missing, and there are secrets they both have. Nicole's might be bigger, but it doesn't seem like they trust each other after all.

While the band and groupie scene undoubtedly reflects what often went on, I really didn't enjoy seeing the band members like that. Michael especially was obnoxious, with very little positive about him aside from musical talent. Ben looks great next to him, but I didn't find him charming either. I get it, they're teenagers, but I really had a hard time seeing any appeal. Nicole's so anxious in the 2010 timeline, and some of her actions make us doubt her version of events. The final third of the book moves back and forth between timelines and what we think we know about the past. While I don't particularly like any of the characters, their story was compelling and kept me up late to finish the book.

Nicole is living the peaceful life she has carefully curated. What could go wrong when she has buried her past so carefully? Everything. When a stranger shows up on her doorstep asking answers to questions she has no desire in answering she starts to panic. Then her daughter goes missing and things go from and to worse. And by worse I mean bizarre, twisted, whackadoodle crazy. Obsession, years of planning, kidnapping, attempted murder, lies upon lies and more. Told in dual timelines and from multiple perspectives. I found it a bit disjointed and a bit hard to follow at times, but overall a good read. Not my favorite by this wonderful author, but still looking forward to whatever comes next.

Wow! Just WOW! I thought this was such a good book. A thriller that kept me guessing and turning the pages. It had everything I love about a good thriller.

Nicole has had secrets she kept from her husband. Big secrets but ones that I didn't think were all that bad. Yes she should have told him. But what could he have done about it? If she had told what would have changed? Maybe she would have felt better. Maybe she would have been more relaxed. But still.. Why open that can of worms now?

When Nicole and Brad's daughter Hannah goes missing they are in a panic. Of course they are. She's an eight year old child. Who would do this and why? When Hannah is found safe and sound she tells them that it was her aunt that had taken her. Supposedly Nicole had given permission but she knows that she didn't. She knows that there is no way she would have done this. Brad has no sister and, well, Nicole's sister died twenty-five years ago. Right?

This story goes back and forth between two timelines. Back in 1986 when you get to know Nicole and her younger sister Cassie. How close they were. How they would do almost anything for each other. Until Cassie falls for a singer in one of the biggest bands in England. She is convinced that they have something special. That he, Ben, loves her. But Nicole is not so sure. She knows Ben and she herself is in love with him. What could possibly go wrong with this situation?

Then you jump ahead to 2010 and get to know Nicole after the fact. She doesn't want to lose the life she has. She's living in the US now and has put so much distance between her and her past. Just wanting to move on with her life. But someone has different ideas. A stranger comes to see her and asks questions about what happened back then. In 1986. Who was to blame for it? Nicole has a lot of explaining to do. Hoping that Brad will understand why she never told him about her life before.

I throughly enjoyed this book. It kept me wanting to read to find out who the killer was and why. Though I did expect it to be another character who actually died. The way the author wrote it was perfect and that ending. WOW... I didn't see that coming. I felt so sorry for Nicole and wanted her to come out on top. For her family to stay intact. For her life to go on as usual. Sometimes we don't get what we want. Sometimes we do.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress, @MacMillanAudio, for this ARC.

Excellent story. Strong audio. The narrator did such a good job. Made the characters come to life. I loved both the book and the audio.

A love triangle between two sisters gone totally wrong. This would have been a good mystery if it hadn't been so long and drawn out. This story is told in dual timelines, which I do enjoy, but the book overall is one that I wouldn't recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for a digital ARC of this book.

From the very beginning, I was captivated by the story. I appreciated the plot, the characters, the gradual buildup, and how each secret unfolds.

The writing flowed well; however, I found the abrupt ending to be somewhat unsatisfying. It felt a bit ambiguous and left a small cliffhanger. Overall, it was a pleasant, quick reading experience that I truly enjoyed. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

"I Would Die for You" by Sandie Jones promised a thrilling psychological suspense, but sadly, it fell completely flat for me. Two stars feels generous.
The characters were, to put it mildly, deeply unlikable. I found myself actively disengaged from their motivations and struggles, which made it difficult to care about what happened to them. Their actions felt contrived, and their personalities were one-dimensional.
Beyond the unpalatable characters, the plot itself was incredibly boring. The pacing was sluggish, and the so-called twists were predictable and lacked any real impact. I spent most of the book waiting for something exciting to happen, but it never quite delivered. Ultimately, "I Would Die for You" felt like a tedious slog, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, Sandie Jones, and St. Martin's Press for the eARC. This was an immersive and captivating read—I truly felt like part of the fan girls, with the music practically leaping off the pages. A haunting and emotional story that tugged at my heartstrings.

I Would Die for You by Sadie Jones had a great premise…it grabbed me right away and I wanted to keep reading. Unfortunately, the story became very disjointed and far-fetched as I kept reading. I honestly didn’t like any of the characters and by the end, I was very confused as to what was going on. The end was very abrupt and left me angry.

Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read I would die for you by Sandie Jones. This was a two timeline mystery/thriller about a mother whose daughter disappears at the same time as a journalist shows up asking her about her thoughts on the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s. The story flips back to 1986 when Nicole's sister is dying to meet the lead singer Ben Edwards in the hottest band in London, Secret Oktober. When Ben winds up at a bar where Nicole is working and singer, it sets up a tragic and mysterious end to the band.
At the beginning I was hooked on the story, but I couldn't get into the characters, and I really didn't like the abrupt ending. If you are a fan of writers Shari Lapena and B.A. Paris, you may enjoy it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This book follows Nicole, a wife and mother, through the ages of the present and her teenage years. It also centers around her sister, Cassie, who is obsessed with a British rock band.

Nicole's daughter goes missing for a short time, claiming her "aunt" picked her up. Nicole fears she may have to face her past and the tragic situation that happened so long ago.

Set between the present and the mid 80's, this is an enjoyable thriller that kept me on my toes. I have enjoyed this author's works time and again.

I have tried to read this and even tried listedning on audio but it is not my cup of tea. Thank you for the opportunity to review but I will not be moving forward with this one.