This book tried to be too many things at once. As I was reading it, I kept having this uneasy feeling, like I was missing something, and not in a GOOD way. It felt like just too many things were thrown together to try and make a plot. There were loose ends, it was unbelievable, and just overall not my favorite. BUT WITH THAT SAID, it really kept me turning the pages, which is the point of a thriller, so maybe it wasn't as bad as this review makes it sound.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Once I started reading this, I was unable to put it down and stayed up way past my bedtime in order to finish this in one sitting. I Would Die for You
is thought-provoking and modern, and its uncompromisingly plot will leave an indestructible mark. Do yourself a favor and read this as soon as you can.

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up. I didn't love that the novel ended on a cliffhanger, and I felt the relationships/characters somewhat underdeveloped, but it was a interesting and enjoyable read.

This book started out really strong but it felt almost too long for its own good. I know it’s a work of fiction but the craziness got a bit unbelievable for a lot of it. I appreciated the plot twist toward the end but I wish it took less time to get there!

This is one of those books where there is so much I want to say but cannot because of spoilers. So, I am not going to say much.
It is 2011 and Nicole leads a good life. She loves her husband and daughter and is dedicated to saving seals. But a knock at her door ushers in someone who knows way too much about her past. Suddenly, the life she loves is slipping through her fingers, and there is nothing she can do to keep her secrets.
The perspective shifts from the now to London in 1986. There is a character obsessed with Ben Edwards, a member of the band, Secret Oktober. This person will do anything to be with him and the fallout is catastrophic when her dreams do not match reality. That is, it. I will not say more! I was hooked as all the secrets came out, and the only thing I wish was a bit different, was the ending. No spoilers, but that character deserved a happily ever after ending.

3.5 stars

I enjoyed the fast-paced thrills, but the ending was a big brick wall. WHAT? With that said, I was definitely entertained.

My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a modern day mystery and drama with a 1980’s music culture dual timeline. The story revolves around Secret Oktober, a fictional British band, and their lead singer, Ben Edwards. Cassie’s fandom and her sister Nicole’s entanglement with Ben create a web of rivalry and heartbreak. Then in 2011 California, Nicole’s life takes a turn when her daughter vanishes. The simultaneous arrival of a writer poking around Nicole’s past brings up long buried memories. This story is fast paced and the twists will keep you guessing throughout!

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones follows the dual POV of two sisters across time. First, London 1986 - Cassie's life is tough. Her mother is sick, her older sister has moved out and she desperately wants the attention of the lead singer from her favorite band. Attention that she would do anything to have. Second, California 25 years later - we meet Nicole who has tried so hard to distance herself from her family and past in London that not ever her husband and daughter know the truth.

This book does an incredible job at highlighting the obsession that comes with fame and how quickly that obsession can cross the line. When an interest in a band becomes delusion - everyone suffers. A fast paced, wild ride of a read - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sandie Jones for this eARC in exchange for a review!

Thanks NetGalley for the free ARC! I thought this book was slow and drawn out. All the characters were quick to anger and unlikable. That can still make for a good storyline; but it was hard to engage with them. I thought with the dual timelines the present timeline was more entertaining than the past. The past timeline was from the 1980’s; and it seemed the author tried to take on an old fashioned writing style to tell it. I felt it dulled the narrative.

I’ve always been drawn to books about musicians, and this one really pulled me in. There’s something so powerful about the way music intertwines with emotions, and this story brought all of that to life. It made me feel young again, full of excitement and longing, as I followed the characters through their journeys. The dual timelines were incredibly engaging, revealing secrets bit by bit, and the twists completely threw me off in the best way.

But I’ll be honest—the ending left me frustrated. I’m not entirely sure what happened, and it’s been bugging me ever since I finished. Was it meant to be ambiguous? Or did I miss something crucial? If anyone else has thoughts, I’d love to hear them.

Even with my frustration over the ending, this book left a lasting impression. It’s emotional, raw, and keeps you on your toes. If you love stories that combine music, mystery, and heartfelt moments, you should absolutely pick this up. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you’ve finished.

I really loved previous books I’ve read by this author and this one is no exception. I really appreciate how the story came together and found myself rooting for different characters throughout. Very interesting overall!

Sandie Jones has done it again.

This explosive novel of fame, (mis)fortune, and obsession, will leave your jaw on the floor. When I tell you this book is WILD, so wild, prepare yourselves for the most insane ride. With Sandie’s own experience being a fan of Duran Duran in their heyday (you have to read the acknowledgments! ) - the band in this novel comes alive in ways only someone who has experienced it could write. The fictional band Secret Oktober and its adoring fans will have you feeling absolutely shocked and betrayed as the events unfold.
It’s been a long time since I read a book, got to the end, and immediately went back to re-read to see all the hints and foreshadowing I missed… I would say since The Other Woman 😂

Sandie jones is the MASTER of insane twists, turns, and drop your book in shock moments. This is going to be THE massive thriller of 2025! The characters are so real and the events that take place jump right off the page. Another phenomenal work of art by Sandie Jones.

📖 ARC Review

PUB Date : Mar 24 2025

My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 💫 3.5 Rocking Stars

Buckle up for this one because this starts off with a bang , you are instantly propelled into the action and there’s no time to hang on !

I Would Die For You is a rip roaring entertaining mystery thriller that was unputdownable !

Do you really know your spouse? Do you know everything about them even their darkest secrets …and if you don’t , do you really want to know ?

Read this if you like :
🎸 Dual Timelines
🎸 80’s Rock & Roll
🎸 Family Drama
🎸 Sense of Nostalgia
🎸 Mystery Thrillers
🎸 Page Turners

This was a fun and different storyline which kept me engaged to the end .

In present time we are following Nicole and her daughter doesn’t return home from school , and soundly she’s found and her daughter claims she was with her Aunty …but that’s impossible because she doesn’t have an aunt , so who’s tormenting her ?

When we are in the past we are following Nicole’s younger sister who is a fan groupie of one of the hottest bands out there and Cassie is OBSESSED with the lead older singer Ben …and she’ll do anything to have him 👀

What secrets will be revealed and is it worth finally telling the truth after all these years or is it better to stay quiet and put your family in danger , you need to read this to find out for yourself!

My only negatives were at times I got lost with the transitions to different timelines and who were following as the back to back sentences didn’t flow , so I had to reread to comprehend, very little character building and a very blunt ending that left me with a lot of unanswered questions, but overall I still really had fun with this one and would be a great buddy read 🫶🏼🖤

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Sandie Jones for this entertaining ARC !

I was looking forward to reading this book as I have read - and enjoyed - others by this author. Unfortunately, her books seem to be hit or miss, and this one, for me, was a miss. It was a bit boring until about the 65% mark. Then, it started to take off with a few twists. I thought the potential was there, but then when I got to the end, it was all kind of just meh. So many things were unrealistic and I only cared about one or two of the characters.

Nicole Forbes lives an idyllic life in a seaside California town. She has a wonderful Husband, a beautiful Daughter, and a job she’s passionate about. Everything seems perfect until one day when a writer shows up at her doorstep asking her about her ties to a life she left behind long ago. A life her family doesn’t even know about.

Everything Nicole thought she knew quickly begins to unravel before her eyes. Her marriage and even her daughter’s life may be at stake. I Would Die for You is part slow-burn, part thrill ride. Told in alternating timelines, it builds slow as Nicole’s past is shared, but it starts to accelerate as pieces of the present come together.

Having been a fan of Sandie Jones already, I couldn’t wait to read this book! I kind of went in blind, so I wasn’t really sure where the story was going at first, but when the mystery component is introduced, everything comes together and I just couldn’t get enough. I read more than half in a day and didn’t stop until I reached the end!

I absolutely loved all of I Would Die for You, but the end part of the book moved a little fast and was somewhat unbelievable in parts. However, it was still a fantastic read and I truly enjoyed it!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Juxtaposed between California in 2011 and London in the mid 80's, I Would Die for You tells the story of Nicole Forbes. As a teen Nicole has an exciting life in London but it all came crashing down. Fleeing to California, she has a quiet new life with her husband and young daughter. This all comes to a stop when a reporter knocks on her door to ask about her past. Nicole has only a few hours to deal with her new reality when her child is picked up from school by her "Aunt." The only thing is, Nicole doesn't have a sister, or does she?

A fan-themed, 80's filled thriller, this is the best of Sandie Jones!
#stmartins #minotour

I love books by Jones and this one didn't disappoint! It has dual timelines of 1986 and 2010 beginning with 2010 when journalist Zoe comes to the door and asks Nicole about Ben Edwards--who was the love of her life years ago. She hasn't seen or heard from him in years so turns this woman away. But then her 8-year-old daughter, Hannah doesn't come home from school and later tells police her aunt picked her up. And so begins this crazy, and wonderfully-convoluted tale of musicians, sisters, boyfriends, and above all jealousy! It had me gasping for breath and re-reading to be sure what I saw was real!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Buckle up for this amazingly wild ride. Sandie Jones has been a favorite must read author for a long time and this book is just another reason why. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough and whipped through it in record time.

Nicole has always tried to do the right thing by her family, both past and present, even if it means holding on to secrets that are slowly eating away at her. When her daughter is taken she has no choice but to face all her past demons. But is it to late to finally tell a truth that has haunted her for decades? Will she lose everything she has fought to have all these years later?

This story is told in both past and present and switches flawlessly between the two. Some of the other characters are quite unlikeable, but Nicole is a strong likeable character. This is a fast paced read with a few twists and surprises. The ending, however, felt a little incomplete. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the advanced copy

This was a really good read, it was really full of suspense. BUT that ending? That was a dirty ending 😤 I needed more than just that and now I’m left on a cliffhanger 🤣

Wow! What a whirlwind!
This gripping, fast-paced read will leave you breathless, as though you're racing through a heart-throbbing readathon. It’s the kind of story you devour until your eyes ache and your heart pounds.

I thoroughly enjoyed this twisty mystery with its perfect blend of psychological thriller vibes and deeply flawed, mentally disturbed characters. The story dives into the dark side of celebrity fandom, offering a chilling perspective on groupies and obsessive fans that will make you rethink the nature of idol worship.

The dual timelines are masterfully intertwined, with puzzle pieces falling into place as the story unfolds. While some plot points stretched believability and veered into absurdity (earning a few eye-rolls from me), they didn’t diminish the overall experience.

However, I did have a few gripes. The pacing felt rushed, and the emotions came across as a bit one-dimensional. I struggled to feel the depth of Nicole’s relationships—her supposed devotion to Ben or her connection with her husband, Brad, didn’t quite land for me. The breakneck speed made it feel like I was reading a summary rather than fully immersing myself in the story. The rapid-fire events left little room for character engagement, and the only strong feeling I had was my growing dislike—eventually turning to outright hatred—for Cassie by the end.

Quick Plot Recap:
The story begins in 2011 in Coronado, California, where Nicole Forbes seems to be living an idyllic life with her ex-Army officer husband, Brad, and their nine-year-old daughter, Hannah. That is, until a young writer, Zoe, shows up at Nicole’s door, digging into the downfall of an ‘80s British band, Secret Oktober, and Nicole’s connection to its lead singer, Ben Edwards. The name alone sends Nicole into a panic, and she kicks Zoe out of her house.

But that’s not the worst part of her day. Shortly afterward, Nicole discovers that someone has taken her daughter from school, claiming to be her aunt. Nicole knows Brad doesn’t have a sister, which means Hannah has been kidnapped. But by whom? And why? Could this be tied to her past?

The second timeline takes us to 1986 London, where a younger Nicole works as a bartender and sings at open-mic nights. She’s recently left home, though she feels guilty for abandoning her 16-year-old sister, Cassie, and their cancer-stricken mother under the control of their authoritarian father, John. Cassie, meanwhile, falls in with a dangerous crowd, befriending a thrill-seeking groupie, Amelia, and becoming obsessed with the bad boy of Secret Oktober, Michael.As Amelia's toxic relationship with the group's bad boy Michael grows, Cassie becomes obsessed with Ben Edwards, the lead singer.When Nicole enters the picture and Ben falls for her, things spiral out of control, setting off events that will have devastating consequences.

What happened in 1986 to tear this band apart? Who died? Who’s to blame? And how will these secrets resurface to upend Nicole’s life in the present day? Buckle up, grab your popcorn, and dive into this wild ride!

Final Thoughts:
While I had issues with the rushed pacing and underdeveloped characters, the mystery was undeniably gripping. The twists and turns kept me hooked, and I devoured this book in one sitting. My only other complaint is that the ending felt a bit abrupt.

Still, I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to a solid 4 for its sheer entertainment value and engaging mystery. This is a page-turner you won’t want to put down!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing a digital review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.