I just finished I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones and here are my thoughts.

Nicole is living a small town life in Coronado with her small family but her past comes crashing to her doorstep when a young woman comes asking questions about her past and then her daughter goes missing… She has worked hard to forget about her life back in london… Her sister's obsession with a band leads to lives being destroyed and Nicole isn’t willing to relive it but now her child is in danger… She may not have a choice.

This book was awesome right up to the end. I found the ending a bit weird to be honest. It didn’t seem well thought out and it was twist over twist crashing over a twist and it didn’t need it.

I particularly enjoyed the narration and the past. The current day… It didn’t work for me. The husband acted like a total freak. I get why she fled.. I get all that but there were so many things that felt disjointed. The girl showed up at the door and the reason she was there she didn’t explain at the door, we find out later but the reason she didn't tell her in the first place… STUPID. Nicole pretending that she didn’t have a sister when the school said that’s who picked her up. It was all mental. I dunno I think the magic was in the past and the lead up to the big event. The writing was really good but there were just some elements that didn’t sit well with me.

I really thought the story had some really excellent elements. I loved the build up. I wish the ending wasn’t so outlandish. Having said that, I did enjoy the book and I think I am in the minority with the ending but I think an opportunity was missed.

3.75 stars

Thank you to @macmillanaudio @netgalley and @minotaur_books for my gifted ALC and ARC.

The past: Nicole’s younger sister, Cassie, is obsessed with the band, Secret Oktober, and there’s not much she won’t do to get close to the band members but particularly, Ben Edwards. Nicole, has recently moved from home and pursuing her own musical career even though things at home are tough and she feels guilty for not being there.

The present: Nicole is living in the states hiding from her past when her young daughter Hannah is picked up at school by an aunt that doesn’t exist. This kicks off a tangled story of deceit and lies that all lead to Nicoles past and the secrets buried there.

Intriguing premise and unique look at groupies and band life with a thrilling mystery at its center. Still wondering about that ending, though!

My thanks to Minotaur Books for this gifted copy!

Not my favorite of her books. I thought the plot was weak and the characters were no likable at all. I'm hoping her next books will be more in my wheelhouse of enjoyment.

Such a fun read! I Would Die For You is a compelling story of sisterhood, obsession, and family trauma.

Nicole is living what she considers a good life with her husband Brad and their beautiful little girl, but Nicole harbours a secret, one she has never admitted to her husband and she has been lying so long, she doesn't know how to even start to tell him who she actually is. The one day, their daughter goes missing, and when she just wanders home, seh says she was out for the day with her aunt, the problem, Nicole and her husband don't have siblings; but Nicole thinks she knows who it might be. The story then starts to go back and forth betwen 1986 and the present, where we learn who Nicole was in the past and what tramatic events caused her to recreate her life.

This was my first book by this author and while I didnt' love this book, I thought it was a good read and would certainly check out another book by this author.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house, St Martins Press, and the author, Sandie Jones for the opportunitiy to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Sandie Jones loves taking you on a roller coaster ride, only to yank the tracks out from under you at the end! Seeing the story from different perspectives and during different timelines usually isn’t something I enjoy but this book flows so seamlessly that it isn’t a deterrent at all. While the ending was a bit of a bummer the ultimate reveal was fantastic. I’d definitely recommend this book to others!

The story seamlessly shifts between 2011 (desperate mom searching for her missing daughter) and 1986 (teen groupie Cassie doing ANYTHING to get close to her rockstar crush). When both sisters fall for the same musician, their relationship implodes in ways still destroying lives decades later. The sibling dynamics and time-jumping narrative had me invested, but that ending took this from a 4 to a 3 for me.

When I first started this book, it gave me Daisy Jones mixed with A Star Is Born vibes. As it progressed, the vibe morphed into something else altogether... something dark and dangerous. I won't lie, I was intrigued to know what role the MC played in breaking up the band.

However, as the book entered into "wrap up the mystery" territory, the reveals weren't as explosive as I was expecting. The antagonist became a bit one note and predictable. The final twist felt disappointingly unfinished.

The plot involved two sisters with feelings for the main singer of a famous band in the 90s. The plot alternated between the events leading up to the band's ruin in the 1990's, and a woman hiding in her current life trying to forget the past. Fireworks explode when the two stories merge.

This book had a ton of lying, cover-ups, manipulation, and deception. Readers who enjoy a slow plot build-up, rock'n roll fiction, and good vs. evil characters will probably like this one.

Thank you, Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This book takes being a fan to a whole new level. Back in 1986, teenage Cassie becomes completely infatuated with a band called Secret Oktober, especially lead singer Ben. She’s obsessed. Her sister, Nicole, an aspiring musician, also finds a connection to the band. At the same time, both girls are dealing with their mother’s terminal illness. These musical connections are an escape.
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Fast forward to 2011. Nicole is living under a new identity in California. She is hiding her past from her husband and daughter. When her daughter doesn’t get off the school bus one day, and the school tells Nicole her aunt picked her up, her lies start to catch up with her and she starts to spiral.
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Something terrible happened in 1986, and as the story flips between past and present, the truth unravels bit by bit. How far will sisters go to protect each other and confront old demons?
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This one is dark, twisty, and features one character so sinister they’re downright chilling. The cliffhangers at the end of each chapter kept the tension high.

Imogen Wilde did a great job narrating with emotion and was amazing at building the tension

This dual time line story twists together the present day with the exciting rockstar scene of the 1980s, and I have to say, the 80s sections were my absolute favorite! They brought so much fun and upbeat energy to the story. In contrast, the current day focuses on Nicole, who has a lot on her plate—her daughter is missing, her mother is dying, and she’s trying hard to keep some old secrets hidden. It definitely adds a darker tone to the story. I enjoyed some of the characters and their development, but I found the pacing a bit slower than I enjoy.

Thank you NetGalley for this ebook from Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio.

A bit of a slow start but then the action picked up and it was tough to put down! This was not my favorite writing by Jones, however. It was somewhat clunky. I will read other books by her though.

Decent book. It was different to have a band as part of the topic in a thriller I feel like that isn’t done much but overall not a memorable read

🎸 I love stories about musicians and bands, so I was really excited about getting access to this book which scratches that itch.

🎵 As someone who married a musician (after jumping onstage two decades ago to meet him), the opening dedication made me laugh: “Dedicated to anyone who believed they would one day marry a rock star. Be careful what you wish for.”

⏰ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - I really gravitate towards thrillers and mysteries that flash back and forth between “now” and “then,” another thing this book did well.

👩‍⚖️ This is a typical “trying to keep the past in the past, but the past catches up with you” thriller.

🧭 I did find myself getting lost in the story occasionally. I also think I would have benefited from having simple chapter labels for whose perspective and which timeline each chapter was from.

🔚 The story really started capturing my attention around 50%+ but then kind of meandered again at the end until it ended in what I’d consider a rather abrupt ending.

❣️In the end, I didn’t love it, but I do appreciate that the story held my attention.

Queue the slow clap. Well done, Sandie, well done. This book was such a rush. I was trying so hard to put the pieces together. The dual timeline and POVs were just thread together so perfectly and constantly kept me guessing. The last 100 pages or so, I was on the edge of my seat. The ending was a little too abrupt and infuriating for my liking though, so giving this a 4.5 rounded down.

I would have thought this was for me, with the backstory being about a groupie, but it was not. I felt no attachment to the characters and wasn’t worried about the missing kid. It just felt blah.

I tried reading it and switched to audio, which didn’t improve my experience. I wasn’t fond of the narrator.

Thanks, Minotaur Books, for the arc.

Wow, what a wild ride. The beginning was a bit slow and I wasn't sure how everything would tie in but the second half flew by. I didn't love the final scene but that's just a personal preference. It was a crazy story and I didn't see a lot of it coming.

This was my first book from this author and I will have to say, I wasn’t very impressed. I thought this was going to be a thriller or mystery but I was quite bored. It was more so a family drama. All the characters were very insufferable and unlikeable….even the 8 year old lol just no thanks. I’m not sure if I’d read anymore from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC .

Mystery/Thriller

Who hasn't kept a secret from a loved one? The past is the past, right? Well, until it catches up with you and wreaks havoc on your life.

Nicole and her husband are happily married with a lovely little girl. Her daughter goes missing and they are frantic. When they find her, she says she was with her aunt. How is that possible - Nicole's sister is dead.

In an alternate timeline, Cassie is struggling. Her mother has a terminal illness, and the rest of her family are engrossed in their own issues. She makes a new friend who shares her obsession with a band. Thankfully, they each like different band members. Cassie's sister Nicole inadvertently begins a relationship with Cassie's crush - Ben. Warning - tragedy will ensue.

I liked the story, but I didn't like the characters. I also felt the alternate timelines and POV's didn't flow well. Overall, it just felt clunky without the usual Jones' flair.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC of this novel.

Hmm, where to begin with this one? I will start by saying that I enjoyed the premise of this one and the dual timelines. But I do think that the flashbacks got a little messy and hard to keep straight. This is my second book by Jones, and it was also a middle of the road book for me, I will continue to try other books by Jones.

The positives: the author did a marvelous job of portraying the eighties rock band era. The teenage angst, groupies and fandom was spot on. I’m a die-hard fan (no groupie experience) of rock, guitar, drums, all music period. So that portion of the book brought back happy memories of concerts, screaming women, backstage passes and mosh pits. The plot also covers the darker side of band mates infighting and their revelry.
The plot has alternating timeliness taking place in CA and London featuring sisters Nicole and Cassie. A life constructed from lies, there’s revenge, guilt, family drama, illicit drugs, murder and family drama.
The first portion of the book really crept along for me. Nicole did too much blathering in her head. I found myself skimming with boredom. Further into the story the action picked up and moved at good pace. The characters weren’t likeable, but were mostly believable. I couldn’t find much sympathy for them. The author did a superb job of selling the lies, I had no idea what the truth was. In the end I didn’t believe any of them. I became totally confused and am still not sure who did what.
Thanks to Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Publishing (via NetGalley) for providing me an Advance Reader Copy of “I Would Die for You” by Sandie Jones. These thoughts and opinions are always my own personal honest feelings given voluntarily without compensation.