3.5 stars. I listened to the audio version of this book narrated by Imogene Wilde. The narration was good.

I'm not sure what to say about this book. Listening to it, I think I got confused as to which girl the chapters were about. I feel like I missed something. The story centered around a family. There was the mother and father and two girls. The youngest girl is totally obsessed with a band and thinks that she and one of the band members are meant to be together. Her older sister enters the picture and things go sideways. I think this would have been a better book if there had been less time spent on the early part of the story and more spent on the latter part of it. That's where all the action was.

As you would expect with a rock band in the center stage of the book, the book contains drugs, casual sex and even rape and murder. If those things bother you, skip this one.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook. All thoughts are my own.

Every book that Sandie Jones writes is my new favorite, and I Would Die for You is no exception. I loved everything about it, from the dual-timelines to the sister love/rivalry between Nicole and Cassie. It's thoroughly entertaining from the first sentence to the last, and this is one that I will be recommending to all my thriller-loving friends.

Loved the second half of this book, however I really struggled with the first half. It felt like I kept getting bored with it. Cassie and Nicole characters were both well written, but the narrator used such similar voices, I had trouble remembering who was talking. I did enjoy the dual narrative. The last hour of the audiobook just seemed to unravel too many things, too many moving plot lines. I also did not like the cliffhanger ending.

Thanks to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for early access to I Would Die for You in exchange for my honest opinion. I switched back and forth between ebook and audiobook formats, mostly listening. This dual timeline “thriller” jumps between Nicole’s life as an adult in current day LA and her young adulthood in the 1980s in England, and I use those quotes because I think it’s more of a family drama with some withheld secrets, rather than a twist-filled thriller. The book was fine, but I thought it had a bit too much going on, and I wish the story had been fleshed out a bit. The characters are all awful with maybe one exception, and I wasn’t really invested in what was happening and/or why.
I’m glad I could read the acknowledgements to see that it was based on the author’s own experience following Duran Duran, and I wish the audiobook had included that info. Overall, I liked the audio format because it felt like I was listening to a soap opera, and I don’t know if I would have gotten as enthralled if I had been reading instead of listening. That being said, I feel like this book is a departure form the author’s typical thriller, and I think women’s fiction would be a better classification for this book.

Wow...what a gripping, fast-paced read It’s the kind of story you devour in one sitting.

Sandie Jones delivers a compelling dual-timeline mystery, intertwining the past and present in a tale of obsession, betrayal, and the dark side of fandom. Infused with the sounds and atmosphere of the ‘80s, The Trade Off explores the chaotic frenzy of celebrity worship and the dangerous lengths some will go to for their idols.

Coronado, California – 2011: Nicole Forbes has built a quiet life with her husband, Brad, and their nine-year-old daughter, Hannah. But her past comes crashing back when a young writer, Zoe, shows up at her door, digging into Nicole’s connection to the infamous ‘80s British band Secret Oktober—a band whose downfall is shrouded in mystery. Nicole wants nothing to do with it, but the same day, her daughter goes missing. The school claims her “aunt” picked her up, but Nicole doesn’t have a sister. Convinced the two events are connected, she must confront long-buried memories to protect the life she’s fought to build.

London – 1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober, particularly its lead singer, Ben Edwards. She will do anything to capture his attention, but her plans take a turn when Ben sets his sights on her older sister, Nicole, instead. Nicole, recently moved out of their strict, abusive home, is trying to carve out a life for herself, unaware that stepping into the band’s orbit will set off a chain of events with devastating consequences.

As the past and present collide, Nicole must uncover the truth: What really happened in 1986? Who was responsible for Secret Oktober’s implosion? And who has come back to exact revenge?

What Worked for Me
✅ Fast-Paced and Addictive: The book’s pacing is relentless, making it an easy binge-read with twists and turns that keep you hooked. The tension builds steadily, and just when you think you have it figured out—boom! Another twist.

✅ Intriguing Premise: The dark side of celebrity obsession is a fascinating topic, and the book does a great job highlighting the extreme lengths fans (and groupies) will go to for proximity to fame. The toxic relationships, manipulations, and dangerous power imbalances within the music industry add depth to the mystery.

✅ Dual Timelines Done Well: The transitions between 1986 and 2011 are seamless, with each chapter revealing more pieces of the puzzle. The slow unraveling of the past kept me engaged.

✅ Emotional Depth (at Times): While I had issues with the characters (more on that below), I appreciated the exploration of sisterhood, guilt, and trauma. Nicole’s conflicting emotions toward Cassie felt authentic, and her past trauma shaped her present fears in a believable way.

What Didn’t Work for Me
❌ Rushed Pacing and Surface-Level Emotion: The story moves at breakneck speed, but this comes at the cost of character depth. Nicole’s relationships—both with Ben in the past and Brad in the present—felt underdeveloped. There wasn’t enough emotional weight behind them, making it difficult to fully invest in her connections.

❌ One-Dimensional Characters: While Nicole and Cassie had some depth, many of the other characters felt like placeholders. Ben, in particular, lacked the charisma needed to make his role in the story feel impactful. The villains were a bit cartoonish at times, and Cassie’s descent into obsession felt predictable rather than layered.

❌ Over-the-Top Plot Points: Some twists were jaw-dropping, but a few felt absurd or forced. I had to suspend disbelief in certain moments, and a couple of big reveals earned an eye-roll rather than shock.

❌ An Abrupt Ending: After such a thrilling buildup, the resolution felt rushed and a bit unsatisfying. I wanted more closure, especially regarding certain characters and their fates.

While The Trade Off had its flaws, it was undeniably entertaining. The dual timelines, dark themes of obsession and betrayal, and rapid-fire twists made it an addictive read. If you love fast-paced psychological thrillers with a touch of nostalgia, this one is worth picking up—just be prepared for a few moments that stretch believability.

THANK YOU to my besties at Macmillan Audio for the approval to read new Sandie Jones! Excited to get my hands on this one basically just based on the author, lol. I went in to this one blind.

The narrator for this story was fantastic! I liked the emotions brought out in the audiobook, the pacing was good and there was some differentiation between characters voices, most notably with the American vs British characters.

This was, admittedly, not my favorite story ever. I did like the storyline but the characters were mostly SO unlikable, especially Cassie, There was no one I could find to root for or really care about. Sometimes unlikable characters are fine, I can still get into the story, maybe it's wanting them to get what they deserve or wanting to see how situations play out but there was nothing here I really cared enough about in the characters lives that really made this still an enjoyable read. I hate to say it because I have loved what I've read from this author!

It wasn't until about 78% that this really started to pick up. It wasn't until that point that I really cared but then I couldn't get enough and couldn't read this fast enough! The mystery gets a little convoluted until everything begins to unravel as answers are revealed. I still couldn't really care about the outcome FOR the characters per say but like I wanted to know how this would end. But the ending..... Some readers will love this ending!

I think this story will work really well for a lot of readers. I did love some aspects and would recommend this if you love:
-dual timeline
-80s band
-slow burn mystery, it takes a while to get to some answers

I Would Die for You started off strong for me. I wanted to know who Nicole was and what she was hiding. This story was told in dual timelines, which is something I enjoy in books. I did think that this story felt a little long in the middle. I think part of that may have been that there are parts where I wasn't as invested as I was in the beginning. I liked the way everything tied up at the end, although nothing was especially surprising in the way it played out. I thought the narrator for the audiobook did a great job with this book.

There are twists and turns but unfortunately I found some of them to be predictable. I did enjoy the dual point of view alternating between the past and the present and seeing how the two connected.

The narrator, Imogen Wilde, did a great job as always. She is by far one of my favorite narrators to listen to!

Thank you to @Netgalley, and @MacmillanAudio for an advanced listening copy in return for an honest review.

I thought this was a really fun read! I really the dual timeline, it was well crafted and intertwined perfectly. The mystery had me on the edge of my seat, I just needed to find out how things went down! I have to be honest though, both sisters infuriated me most of the time! I just could not with them! I wanted to reach inside this story and shake them at times lol. Aside from that, I also thought the characters were pretty one dimensional which kept me from really caring about them. I was invested in the story itself, but didn’t feel any type of connections with the characters.

🎧I really enjoyed the narration, Imogen Wilde was perfect! No notes on that front!

Nicole has a past that she has kept hidden from her husband. But it is now coming back to haunt her. Cassie, her sister, has been out of Nicole’s life for years and now….it appears..She is back and intends to get revenge.

This is a tale which took a while to get where it needed to be. It was a bit long and drawn out but I did enjoy the past history and learning what actually happened.

I sort of knew where this story was headed and who was doing what…but I did not see the twist at the end. And it is almost like there just might be a sequel. Time will tell!

The narrator, Imogen Wilde, did a good job. There are a lot of voices and she handles it well, except for the child. Y’all know this is something that drives me nuts. 😜😂

Need a family drama with a twisted ending…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I Would Die for You is a twisty family drama and lots of secrets in a slow burn thriller. It had a dual timeline that jumped between 2011, where main character Nicole has a quiet life with her family, and 1986 when Nicole was a young adult who was involved in the music scene of the 80s. I found the parts that took place in Nicole’s younger years were more interesting than what was happening in the “current” timeline. This was definitely a slow burn mystery that took a good bit of the book for me to be able to see where it was heading. Overall I liked the narrator and the premise of the book but struggled a little bit to be hooked into the story.

Reading in Between the Wines book review #29/125 for 2025:
Rating: 3.5 🍷🍷🍷
Book: I Would Die For You
Author: Sandie Jones
RELEASES TODAY on March 25, 2025!!!

Sipping thoughts: Sandie Jones knows how to get me so wrapped in a book that I can’t read it fast enough, but I also don’t want it to end. The villains in this book were top-notch grimy. They were so unlikable, and I was hoping for them to get their comeuppance. The book took a little turn that I did not expect, and I did an internal scream when I read that last paragraph. I need more!

Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley, @StMartinsPress, and @MacmillanAudio for an advanced copy of @IWouldDieForYou.

#IWouldDieForYou #SandieJones #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #NetGalley #ARC #advancedreader #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bokreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult #HappyPubDay

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!

I have read almost all of Sandie's books so far, and I know they'll always be a fun and easy binge read! I started this one at night after work and finished it by the next morning. So, suffice it to say, this book was extremely readable!

This book was packed with so much more than I was expecting, especially since the cover doesn't seem to tell much about the story. This story had a little bit of everything: sister drama, a missing child, a love triangle, parent drama, band drama, unsolved mysteries, etc. She packed A TON into this quick read for sure!

I had no idea where things were heading, but I didn't expect the wild and crazy ending!! It was like everything came together in the craziest of ways and I didn't want to watch, but I also couldn't look away!

I think of all the Sandie Jones books I've read so far, this is my favorite!

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book, I Would Die For You by Sandie Jones. This is a first for this author.
The book went back & forth between present day to 1986. Nicole has a surprise guest come to her home asking about her past relationship between herself and a popular singer. Nicole does not tell her husband and they find their relationship being questioned. A few twist & turns between Nicole & her sister. I kept waiting for something serious to happen and that doesn’t happen until the very end of the book.
It was entertaining and I will look at other books by this author.

Nicole is living a quiet life in California with her husband and young daughter, but her life hadn’t always been quiet. In 1986 she was living in England with her sister who was very caught up with a boy band, but she wasn’t the only one. When tragedy struck, Nicole left the Europe, never looking back. Unfortunately, someone knows about Nicole’s past and is about to expose her, something Nicole would rather stay hidden. As things escalate, her daughter turns up missing and Nicole doesn’t know where to turn. Is it time to tell the truth? This book was just not as intriguing as Jones previous novels and the secrets were just not that compelling. As a dual/listen I did enjoy the voice of the narrator. Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

I just didn't think Sandie Jones is the author for me. I keep trying her books and they just fall flat for me every time. And this way just the same. It was another slow burn thriller that didn't really stick with me.

*Thank you partner @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted audiobook and e-galley.*

I Would Die for You
Sandie Jones
Macmillan Audio
Format: Audio ARC
Expected Publish: March 25, 2025
#MacAudio2025

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this audiobook!

If you mixed Daisy Jones and the Six with a suspenseful thriller, you would get this book. Jumping between the 80’s music scene in London and a calm family life in 2011 LA, we are thrown into a journey filled with lies, leaving a life behind, and a murder. Nicole never thought that her involvement in the 80’s manslaughter case of a star in the rising band Secret Oktober would be able to follow her through the decades and across a continent. The beautiful life and family that she had built in hiding is all about to come crashing down on her, and she is not sure why or how this happened.
I’m going to be completely honest with you guys. There were times that I was so into this book. I could not put it down and the twists were insane. Then the twists started getting a little too insane. I could definitely chalk this up to “reader error” but it began to feel like Jones just started to throw things in the mix to mess with us, but didn’t really help the rest of the final conclusion. I won’t mention exactly what I am talking about here, but if you know, you know.
My other issue with this book really ended up being the characters. I know that I am much harsher on book characters than I should be, but even giving them grace, it was hard to follow exactly why they made such stupid decisions at times, making it difficult for me to really feel bad for any of them. I think the main problem here was that I felt we never got enough consistency for the characters to see patterns or understand their thought processes and why they do the things they do. For example, the MC was willing to believe her sister about one thing without question, but dismissed her on another thing like two seconds later, even though she could have received her “proof” she needed so bad for this one example, she just never even asked for it. Because of this, I felt like anything could happen- but not in a good way. More like a “oh sure, why not” kinda way.
While there is definitely a lot to love about this book, especially the premise (love me a dual timeline and rockstar vibe plot), I feel like all the little things added up make the ending feel weird and not make a ton of sense overall. I did like the ending in a lot of ways, don’t get me wrong, but I felt like it was a leap and abound to get there from the rest of the book, so that really took points off for me.

📖 Book Review 📖 I feel pretty confident that we all have things in our past that haunt us to some degree. What is the statute of limitations of those shadows from the past coming back to wreak havoc on our current life? Sandie Jones has written a fast-paced, thrilling novel that is told in dual timelines and beautifully translates into a gripping audiobook through Imogen Wilde’s masterful narration. While in the midst of caring for an ailing mother, teenage sisters Nicole and Cassie are thrust in the middle of the pulsating rock scene of the 80’s in Britain. Decades later, Nicole has escaped from that life and lives a quiet life with her husband and daughter in Coronado, California. But the past is lurking a stone’s throw away and this unputdownable novel will absolutely draw the reader in. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll lives on in Sandie Jones’ new thriller I Would Die for You.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC audio of this new release by Sandie Jones. I was in a listening slump and every audio I tried just wasn't working for me, until this one. I found the story of Cassie and her sister Nicole during the 1980s very relatable as I grew up in the 80s myself and LOVED all the boy bands. I really enjoyed where Sandie took the story, with both of the sisters falling for the same boy. The secrets keep coming right up until the very end which is my kind of read. I did struggle a bit with the other timeline where both girls are grown up, but I'm not sure why.

Sex, Drugs, & Rock ‘n’ Roll…

I Would Die for You is a wild ride through dual timelines, messy relationships, and the kind of obsession only a teenage fangirl can muster. Give me all the books with toxic, messy women.

In 2011, Nicole is living a quiet life in California with her husband Brad and daughter Hannah—until a journalist knocks on her door, dredging up the past. The same day, Hannah vanishes, supposedly picked up by an aunt… except Nicole doesn’t have an aunt. Flashback to the 80s, where 16-year-old Cassie is utterly obsessed with the band Secret Oktober. We’ve all been there—heart racing over a rock god, convinced we were meant to be—but Cassie? She takes it to a whole new, unhinged level. Unfortunately for her, the lead singer, Ben, has eyes for her older sister.

This book pulled me through the pages—I simply had to know what happened next. Toxic characters? Check. 80s London rock scene? Check. A plot that just gets wilder as it goes? Check, check, check. The definition of a popcorn thriller, I devoured it in 24 hours.

That said, I didn’t fall in love with the ending, and I never really rooted for or felt emotionally connected with anyone—but honestly? I didn’t need to. This book was too much fun to put down, and I don’t think I will forget it anytime soon.

I rounded up to 4 🌟for the sheer entertainment value. I Would Die for You is a banger.

Thank you Macmillan audio, Net Galley and Sandie Jones for this advance listen copy in exchange for my honest review.

It’s a yes for me! 🖤

DeAnn @deannsreadingriot