Fast-paced and twisty, this one sucked me in despite some really unlikeable characters. I especially loved the portions set in 1986.

I was really excited by the premise of this book and overall I enjoyed the read. This is a dual-timeline story about a present day woman living her adult life in California and her past in a relationship with an 80s band member. This was billed as a mystery/thriller and it didn't really have that feel for me. There was a mystery woven within the plot but it wasn't the main storyline. The end was a little rushed, in my opinion, but I was invested in the characters enough to want to know how it all turned out. I really like Sandie Jones other works so this may have just been an outlier for me but I am excited to see what she writes next. Thanks to Sandie Jones, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had a really hard time finishing this book. I’ve read and enjoyed other Sandie Jones books, but this one just didn’t seem like any of them. I felt this was more about groupies following an 80’s band than it was a mystery/thriller. It was slow, dragged out, and I found myself just getting mad when the plot twist wasn’t revealed. Normally, the thrill of the ending would make me keep want to reading, but this one didn’t do it for me.

The story flips flops between Nicole’s life in London is 1986 and now her present day life in California in 2010. She has a younger sister Cassie who is definitely something else. She’s a delusional 16 year old who’s created this relationship in her mind with Ben, one of the band members of Secret Oktober. Ben ends up falling for Nicole instead. At what lengths will Cassie go to protect this “relationship” of hers with Ben? Read on to find out.

Present day, a writer shows up on Nicole’s doorstep asking about her past. Later that same day, Nicole’s daughter is taken from school. Has her past come back to haunt her or is it something else?

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the digital reviewer’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think I am a "completist" for Sandie Jones at this point which is why I was excited to get her newest release. Her thrillers are always easy to jump into and hard to put down. This was not my favorite but I did enjoy majority of it. This is a story about a woman who is happily married with a child and suddenly secrets from her past start to threaten to emerge. You spend time going back and forth between her life before and her life after as secrets are revelead. The end feels a tad rushed but overall it was a fun ride. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read a copy for an honest review.

In a story of secrets and obsession Nicole Forbes has been living in fear that her past will someday come out. She is living in California with her husband Brad and daughter Hannah when a knock on her door brings her worst fears to light. A young woman asks her about her connection to a 1980s rock group. Sandie Jones then divides her story between the 1986 music scene and events in 2010. Nicole’s sixteen year old sister Cassie was obsessed with Ben Edwards, the lead singer of a rising rock band. When she gets into their hotel and Ben talks to her she believes that they have made a connection, fueling her obsession. Nicole also made a connection with Ben through music that she had written. A murder and the band’s break up destroyed their family and Nicole left for the United States. She never told Brad about her past, but someone is now targeting her and her family.

I found it hard to connect with the characters in this story. Cassie was manipulative, dishonest and vengeful. Nicole has been less than honest with Brad. Each time she decides to tell him the truth she backs down. The more she panics, the more she finds fault with Brad and questions their relationship after years of marriage. Just when Nicole discovers what actually happened in 1986 and who is targeting her in the present, Jones throws in one last twist that leaves you hanging in the end. While I am a fan of Sandie Jones, this story was not her strongest. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.

This was a good book that gave me Daisy Jones vibes, but with a twist. It took a while to set up, but the end proved a twisty/turny ride that upped my rating to 3 stars. While this one was good, The Other Woman held my attention much more!

I’ve always loved dual timelines and enjoyed several of this author’s previous books, so I was looking forward to diving into this one!

"I Would Die for You" 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.

I was lucky to get early copies of the audiobook and ebook from Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio. Following along with the ebook while listening to the audiobook is a great experience! The narrator brought the story to life in such an amazing way, making it a fantastic journey. If you’re considering how to enjoy this book, I’d highly suggest the audiobook; it kept me engaged.

The plot is good, but I wanted more excitement to hook me. It’s receiving many positive reviews, so feel free to take my opinion with a grain of salt!

All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

I received an ARC of this book. I enjoyed this book very much. I liked the way the book tied together two time periods. An interesting story and an easy read.

SYNOPSIS
Nicole Forbes lives a quiet suburban life in California, far from her English roots. She once dreamed of fame and fans, but that dream faded years ago, just like the young woman she used to be. Now, a writer shows up at her door, bringing back memories of what might have been and the past she’s spent years running from.
THOUGHTS
I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones isn’t quite a thriller or a mystery, though it has elements of both. Unfortunately, it falls a bit short. The novel switches between two timelines: Nicole’s quiet life in 2011 and her turbulent past in 1986. In 1986, Nicole’s mother is dying, her father is struggling with loss, and her younger sister, Cassie, escapes into the fantasy of a life with the lead singer of Secret Oktober. As fantasy and reality collide, Nicole must pick up the pieces when love, fame, and betrayal demand a price too high.
The book is filled with twists and turns, and the ending is a surprise. The 1980s storyline is the stronger of the two, with Jones doing an admirable job of capturing both the exhilaration of fandom and the angst of a starstruck teenage girl. However, the novel lacks an emotional center, making it less engaging and memorable. Aside from Cassie, the characters never quite feel authentic, leaving the story without much depth.

RECOMMENDATION: 3 Stars
I Would Die for You is an okay read, but if you’re looking for a true mystery-thriller, this one probably isn’t it.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press |Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I found the story to be a mix of fairly interesting modern day who-done-it with a more interesting decades old backstory. Flopping back and forth left me unsatisfied with being able to fully engage with both or either. Either Nichole or Cassie as a standalone have suited me better, together felt like they were connected as a backstory for each other. Nichole was a typical eco-warrior with a typical family until her daughter is kidnapped from school. What happens is interesting enough with the 1980's band details as just that, a reason why it happened. In 1986 Cassie is a deranged superfan who's mania is encouraged by the other superfans stalking the hot band Secret Oktober. Interesting plot with how the band reacts to her and the rabid fanbase and their internal issues would have given us an interesting solo story also. I became bogged down by the slow pace and switching back and forth so skipping around kept me going till the end. Speaking of which, I felt let down by how short the final shocking wrap up was and that it left me hanging.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#IWouldDieForYou #MinotaurBooks #SandieJones #NetGalley #Mystery #contemporarymystery #thriller

Connect with Sandie Jones
IG: @SandieJones_Author
FB: @RealSandieJones

Connect with Minotaur Books
IG: @minotaur_books
FB: @minotaurbooks

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.
3 stars

I've never read anything by Sandie Jones before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This story had an interesting plotline and kept me guessing about what was going on until the last page. I unfortunately wasn't a huge fan of the writing style - it was easy to read, which was a plus, but I found it a bit too long and repetitive. I felt like there was too much going on at times, and I think a slightly simpler storyline would've helped the story and it's twists hold more tension. I didn't like the constant foreshadowing, and I would've liked to have a little bit more information quicker than at the very end of the book. However, this also might have just been because I felt like it was a bit long.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery/thrillers. Again, I didn't care for the writing style, but the story itself was interesting and moved quickly.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 3/25
•
I Would Die for You is a gripping psychological thriller with a dual timeline set in the 1980's and the present. Right from the start I was gripped to this story.
•
I thought the characters were well developed and I felt that the dual timeline really helped bring this story to a complete story. I loved the backstory into Cassie, Nicole and Secret Oktober. I really enjoyed both of the timelines; the 1980's timeline with the boyband obsessed teen really hit home. The pacing was steady to fast with perfectly placed twists throughout the book that had me flipping through the pages. The resolution of the story was just what I wanted for this one!
•
I listened to this via audiobook while reading my eARC. Imogen Wilde was absolutely perfect for this. I was so enthralled by this audiobook that I couldn't put this book down. If you are going to pick this one up - without a doubt check out the audio!
•
Overall, this was a huge win for me; I very much enjoyed this story! I think my psychological thriller fans will enjoy this one! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Sandie Jones, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sandie Jones delivers an intriguing dual-timeline thriller in I Would Die for You, blending 1980s rockstar obsession with a modern-day mystery. The novel follows Nicole, who has long since left her past behind, until a writer’s probing questions and her daughter’s sudden disappearance force her to confront old secrets. The flashbacks to 1986 capture the feverish intensity of teenage fandom through Cassie’s infatuation with the band Secret Oktober, especially its lead singer, Ben. The connection between the past and present unfolds gradually, weaving a story of obsession, betrayal, and long-buried truths.

While the premise is engaging, the execution doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. The pacing feels uneven, with the 80s sections often outshining the present-day mystery, and some character motivations feel underdeveloped. The tension builds well, but the final revelations lack the impact expected from such a layered setup. Despite these flaws, I Would Die for You remains an entertaining read, especially for fans of music-infused thrillers and slow-burning suspense.

Did no finish book. Stopped at 25%.
It was so hard to get into and I’m not in love with the backstory enough to continue. I’m sure that this is just an issue with my tastes and that there will be plenty of people who will love this story.

This book kept me reading by wanting to know what was going to happen. Dual POV - one in the 1980s following a famous band and one in 2010 as the past comes back to haunt Nicole. I HATED Cassie, so much that I sort of didn't want to read about her anymore. I don't think she's meant to be liked but I just really couldn't get over it. The secrets were played well but the results of the secrets at the end seemed a bit over done. The author's note was a bit of a surprise too! Thanks Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the early copy.

I Would Die for You is fast-paced and exciting, full of surprises and making you unable to guess what might happen next. It goes back in forth in time from 2010 to 1986, centering on following the most popular music bands of the day, the relationship between sisters, secrets and a terrifying disappearance.

It seems Nicole has lived a life of secrets from 1986 on; her husband and daughter know virtually nothing about the real Nicole. But when Nicole’s daughter mysteriously disappears many truths must be revealed.

I have read several other books by author Sandie Jones and enjoyed them, but while this one is fast paced and exciting it doesn’t have quite the edge the others have. I couldn’t really latch to any event that held my interest for too long and I found most of the characters unlikable, accounting for my fairly average rating.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of I Would Die for You via NetGalley. It is a good, quick read, just not quite up to the standard I am used to from this author. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.

I would die for you by Sandi’e one is a dual timeline twisty family mystery taking place between the 1980s and the mid-2000s. The premise seemed to be intriguing-in the “present day” timeline one sisters daughter goes missing-picked up by her aunt-her moms sister long thought dead. Cut to the 1980s where the sisters are drawn to a rock band and begin to develop crushes on the same member of the band setting up the central mystery for the rest of their lives.

This book was twisty and dual timelines are always a fun olot device but something felt flat about this. I couldn’t truly get into the plot ever and couldn’t find a character to root for or care about in the story. Jones has written better ones in my opinion.

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange for Ann honest review.

I really tried to like this, and I did, to an extent, but, it just didn't resonate with me. I appreciated the youthful exuberance and excitement about new bands, and this felt realistically portrayed. I really didn't like the whole family dynamic -- it felt forced and a little cliche'. The dual timelines added some interest and didn't overly muddle things, but the ending twists didn't appeal to me. I also didn't have anyone to root for here; Nicole was clearly written as the sympathetic sister, but I didn't like her.

I think there's a big market for the book, and it will appeal to a lot of folks.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

I wasn’t able to read this digital copy but I did end up buying the book. I will review and post it after I’ve finished reading it.

The premise for this book sounded interesting, but it failed to draw me into it to continue reading. It's a DNF for me.