This book had an interesting premise, but in the end was a little too outlandish and a bit of a hot mess.

The two different time frames worked OK-ish, but I much preferred the 1986 one. Full disclosure, I'm a teen of the 80s and I have a hard time believing that any of the story could happen, which is where the outlandish part came in (I did read the author's note at the end, so I guess it's just not something that would happen to ME). I had a hard time connecting with the 2010 time frame, which is where the hot mess came in.

The coincidence of a big boy band pop star coming across (and having some kind of relationship, real or imagined) with two sisters seemed a little much. Most of the characters were unlikeable; made questionable choices (bordering on unhinged); and the husbands / fathers just seemed incredibly unobservant / disinterested / over the top.

I'm a fan of an ambiguous ending, but this one was just . . . abrupt. I actually thought I had put an audiobook on my timer and had to double check that it was, indeed, the ending. I didn't hate it as much as some other readers did, but it was very rushed and left a little too much unresolved.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

I tried getting through this book multiple times but unfortunately was unable to make it to the end. Not a single character was enjoyable throughout. The plot was not something I normally read but have heard great things about Sandie Jones. I think I will give one of her other books a try!

This is the first book I've read by this author and I was not a fan. The story seemed disjointed and I didn't enjoy the tricks with POV and switching narrators. The ending did not work for me either. I appreciate the opportunity to read the ARC and thank NetGalley and the publisher.

I will admit this book had me hooked from the beginning. There are dual timelines, 2010 where the main character Nicole’s daughter goes missing and 1986 where Nicole’s sister is obsessed with the biggest pop group of that time. The author did a great job keeping me wondering how everything was going to fit together, but I did feel the ending was a little rushed. 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advanced reader’s copy.

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC. The time jumps were a little confusing and I felt like the plot of the story didn’t even begin until about 35%. It was hard to keep up at times and it just had too many twists and red herrings. I also felt like I kept missing parts of the story because it would have a chapter with a cliffhanger then jump into a day in the past and then back again and I’d have forgotten what was going on in each timeline. I just wish there were a few less characters to keep remembering. Overall though, I liked how the story built suspense throughout and how you were left really guessing at who did it. It was an extremely fast paced book so easily read in one day.

This book started out good, but I feel like the miscommunication and lying sent it off the rails. It was a miss for me.

3 out of 5 stars! Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this eARC of I would Die for you by Sandie Jones.

I've read several books by Sandie Jones and have been a fan of some of her work. However, the start of this book was really interesting and the thriller was there...but I can't help but get turned off by all the miscommunication/lying that was going on in the story. There were times that I felt like it was dragging but I did finished it! The ending was not a major shocker but it was just okay for me.

I Would Die For You is a thriller about obsession and secret in a dual timeline that shifts between the present day and the vibrant world of the 1980s music scene. Nicole Forbes is just an ordinary woman living a quiet life in a small California town with her husband and daughter, who is trying to save the seals. However, her life takes a dramatic turn when a writer arrives at her doorstep, seeking insights into the downfall of the iconic British band Secret Oktober. The encounter forces Nicole to confront a past she thought she had left behind. The mystery continues to build when her daughter goes missing, and the school claims she was picked up by her aunt - even though Nicole knows she doesn't exist. When her daughter is found and continues to talk about her aunt, Nicole is determined to uncover the truth, as her youth comes back to haunt her. The 1980s timeline is where we meet a 16 year old Cassie, Nicole's younger sister, who is in love with the lead singer, Ben Edwards, of the boy band Secret Oktober. Cassie's obsession with the band and her desire to be noticed by Ben set off a chain of events that will have devastating consequences for their family. As you continue to read about the past and Cassie's obsession, you begin to see the crucial pieces of the puzzle that connect Nicole's current crisis to the tumultuous events of her youth. As the story unfolds, you will be surprised by the hurt and pain that Nicole went through and the reason she wanted to leave it all behind. Although you learn so much about the past, the ending will still shock you. I recommend I Would DIe For You to anyone looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat while also tugging at your heartstrings.

When a woman’s daughter goes missing, picked up by an aunt that doesn’t exist, she will be forced to face her past to find her daughter.
This novel transitions between 2011 California and 1986 London as a young woman,Nicole, is forced to face a past she left behind. I’ve read a few books by this author and unfortunately this wasn’t a good fit for me. It follows two sisters in London, Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with the lead singer of the hottest band of that time “Secret Oktober” and her older sister Nicole is a struggling artist. A tragic event is the center of past and present events. Over twenty years later Nicole has created a new life with her husband and daughter but someone isn’t willing to let her secrets go…and then her daughter goes missing. I guess I just couldn’t relate to the characters in this one and I am not a huge fan of books about groupies/fan obsession. That being said the novel is still well written and suspenseful which might be a good fit for other readers.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones

Nicole has spent years leaving the past behind—until a writer shows up at her door asking about the biggest British boy band of the ’80s. When her daughter goes missing the same day, she’s forced to revisit secrets she thought were buried forever, connecting puzzle pieces across the decades in a shocking way.

Such a great read! I loved the dual timelines between past and present, and the boy band plot made this one so much fun to dive into. Some of the twists were a bit unbelievable, but that just added to the drama!

This book started out really promising and interesting- a woman fleeing from her past that comes back to haunt her. And not just any past- one with a famous British rock star. However, a large majority of this book relied on miscommunication, which isn't my favourite trope for a thriller. Taking it a step further, I had a really hard time believing that a mother wouldn't be honest about her past even when her child was at risk. Then there was even more miscommunication and assumptions about the past coming to light. While a lot of the book was gripping and there were many layers, overall I just couldn't get past all the lying and miscommunication that this thriller heavily depended on,

So for a while I was honestly super into this story. The back and forth between now and past was great and getting bits and pieces of the story at a time kept me turning the page. But eventually it just felt like it was dragging on too long (even though this wasn’t a long book) and on the end the secrets weren’t as crazy as I had hoped and the ending just fell flat for me - I wanted to love it but in the end just found myself wanting to be finished.

"I Would Die for You" by Sandie Jones details the quiet life of Nicole Forbes living in California with her husband and daughter. She does not expect for a writer to come knocking and beginning to open up her past into the downfall of one of the biggest british bands of the 80's. This dual timeline flashes between present day and 1986.
I am still unsure of my true thoughts of this book. The first couple chapters started off strong, but after I felt my concentration and willingness to continue slowly slipping away. Once I hit about 30% I felt the plot was decently progressing. By the end of the book I just felt frustrated. I enjoyed the plot and story of the 1986 better than present day. I didn't feel the present day contributed much to the story and I think the focus should have been more on the 1986 aspect and better developing Cassie into the awful character that she was. Overall this story was just okay, I made it through, but the plot felt very flawed and that there were many missing pieces that could have made this story stronger. Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

2011 California: Nicole Forbes is living a happy life in Coronado with husband Brad and young daughter Hannah. She is well known in her community for her efforts in protecting the local habitat of seals. Nicole's life is about to be turned upside down with a knock on her door that will bring up events of 25 years ago that she has managed to keep hidden; a life that Brad knows nothing about.

1986 London: Sisters Nicole and Cassie Alderton are about to become involved in different ways with members of Secret October, the hottest pop/rock band. The involvement with involve delusion, deception, paranoia, drugs and murder..

Wow! does this book move at a fast pace. If you are in need of a rainy day read, beach read, or whatever excuse does any bibliophile need for suspense--Look no further.

Thanks to Netgally/St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the eARC.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones left me feeling unsatisfied. The story follows multiple characters but the first you’re introduced to is Nicole, who dreams of becoming a singer and performer. However, when Ben approaches her, her hesitation feels out of character and inconsistent with her goals.

The plot jumps around frequently, making it hard to stay engaged. For example, Cassie’s arrest is introduced but never properly followed up (just mentioned later on) leaving loose ends that add to the book’s scattered and unfinished feel. The amount of times I was waiting for the mention of Cassie’s age as she’s running around with a band member and it was just never mentioned - a major miss on the writers side to make that narrative powerful. The writing lacks cohesion, and the numerous overlapping storylines create confusion rather than intrigue. Given the youthful tone and pacing, this novel might be better categorized as YA.

Although it was easy to read with short chapters, this wasn’t my favorite. If you’re interested in Sandie Jones’ work, I’d suggest The Other Woman, which is far more gripping and well-executed.

This book started out to be INCREDIBLE! The whole “aunt” story was fantastic and I couldn’t wait to see what happened.

But then it turned into a YA novel - which I don’t really like and didn’t expect from a Sandie Jones book. It was so disappointing and not at all thriller-like or suspenseful.

I’m sure that many people will love this, but I couldn’t finish it.

I will not publish a review anywhere since I didn’t finish the book.

Thank you Minotaur books for the ARC!

I really wanted to love this novel as the description is something that intrigued me a lot however the writing style of this novel was not for me. I was not getting the on the edge of my seat thrill feel that I wanted. I know that someone somewhere will absolutely love this novel, and I wish that person was me. However it was not. The characters were developed fairly nicely I thought though.

"I Would Die For You" begins with Nicole Feiney being questioned about her past interactions with a rock band in the 1980s. Soon after, she discovers that her daughter has been taken from school by a so-called aunt—who doesn’t actually exist. Although her daughter is quickly returned, the real mystery is just beginning, as echoes from Nicole’s past start to haunt her present.

The narrative shifts between Nicole’s present in California and her past in London, gradually revealing that something terrible happened—and that Nicole may be one of the few people who knows the truth.

As the mystery unfolds, the story takes some far-fetched turns, making certain plot points feel a bit eye-roll-inducing. Additionally, the pacing between the two timelines feels uneven, which disrupts the flow of the novel.

Overall, I’d call it a "fine" mystery—engaging enough but not one I’d rave about.

Book: I Would Die For You
Author: Sandie Jones
Genre: Mystery
Places Featured: California, United States and London, England
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finished Reading
DNF @ p116

Pre-Read notes

I was offered a widget of this ARC and don't have any expectations for it. The only thing I know about it is that it's a thriller about a girl who goes missing. Expecting a fun read!

Final Review

Review summary and recommendations

I really wanted to like this one, but it started out labored and it just got worse from there. Once the author added a far-fetched and sensationalized depiction of mental illness, I was out.

Thriller writers: please learn how to write about characters with all kinds of disabilities, including mental illness.

Reading Notes

Four things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. Sure, he always volunteers to lend a hand when there’s trouble or when there’s something practical that needs doing; he’s spent many a weekend taking our eight-year-old daughter, Hannah, down to the beach at dusk to tidy up after inconsiderate day-trippers and nosey tourists have left the life-threatening remnants of their picnics for the seals to navigate. p6 The author's syntax is needlessly complicated in many places. This sentence is 67 words long, but it only needs like ten of them.

2. I'm 30 pages in and I can't tell if this book is adult fiction or YA. Maybe NA?

3. The plot has so many problems. Plus, every character behaves in an unnatural way, so it's difficult to trust any of their perspectives.

4. And a not-great depiction of mental illness. Sorry, everyone, but it's a DNF for me!

Rating: DNF @ p116
Recommend? no
Finished: Mar 15 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley

Thank you to the author Sandie Jones, publishers Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of I WOULD DIE FOR YOU. All views are mine.
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Secrets. Lies. A decades-old mystery that Nicole thought she left on another continent, in another century. Will her past come back to haunt her and threaten her current life, which she's carefully cultivated and kept separate?
The years of lies and delusions eventually unravel in a convoluted spiral of half-truths.

I was intrigued to find out that the idea for this book was inspired by the author's time as a *dedicated fan* (groupie?) of the real-life band Duran Duran.

I recommend this book for readers who enjoy twisty thrillers, complicated family dramas, and behind-the-scenes stories about bands.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the Advanced Reader's Copy provided through #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.