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

Nicole’s daughter goes missing the same day a woman knocks on her door asking about secrets she’d buried long ago. She knows it’s no coincidence, but why is it happening now?

There was a lot in this book, and unfortunately it didn’t work for me. Between the two timelines we had kidnapping, dying parent, teens stalking rock stars, drugs, SA, and a lot of weird secrets that didn’t make sense. I never got pulled into the story and I didn’t find myself caring about any of these characters. The ending was highly unsatisfied and the plot felt too messy. Maybe some of this could have been helped with further editing.

This was the first I have read by this author, but I would try another of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books.

Suspenseful and gripping story that had me wondering what was going to happen until the end.

Told in past and present timelines, this suspenseful mystery thriller examines what happens on a dreadful night out in a concert that changed the lives of those involved forever.
What happens?
You’ll have to dig in and find out. Fast paced, (made a tad too much) intriguing story that explores the actions of that dreadful night.
Fasten your seatbelts and get ready. Full of twists and turns as we make discoveries we never imagined!
Well worth the read!

Thank you so much to Minotaur for the gifted book!

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!

I Would Die for You is a mystery/thriller with a duel timeline from London, 1986 and California, 2010. Nicole is a British woman living in California with her husband and daughter. She’s spending her days trying to save the seals and keeping her past in the past. One day, a stranger shows up on her doorstep wanting more info on Nicole’s part in the demise of a popular 80’s British rock band. On that same day, her daughter is kidnapped by her “aunt” that no one seems to know about. Nicole’s life is no longer a peaceful one. Everything blows up pretty quickly. With lots of twists and turns, this book was full of intrigue. I did enjoy this book. I would definitely read more of Sandie Jones’s books. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press | Minotaur Books for the advanced digital copy.

Sandie Jones, the New York Times bestselling author known for her gripping thrillers, returns with I Would Die for You. While the premise hints at a suspenseful read, I found the story to be somewhat predictable, lacking the tension and intrigue I had hoped for.

Though the novel has its moments, the twists were easy to anticipate, and the characters didn’t leave a lasting impression. Fans of Sandie Jones’ previous books or those looking for a light thriller may still enjoy it, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations. I had hoped for something in the vein of Daisy Jones & The Six, which I absolutely loved, but this one didn’t capture me the same way.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced copy.

I Would Die for You is a twisty mystery that takes you on a ride through the darker side of celebrity following, fame, and running from your past.
Through dual timelines we learn how Nicole found herself in the midst of the murder of Britain’s biggest rockstar, and how try as she might to move on in life, over 20 years later she still can’t escape the fallout.
If you’ve read a Sandie Jones novel, you’ll know that things are never as they seem, and I really enjoyed puzzling this one out. The characters all have something not quite right with them, which just adds to the chaos. As twists are revealed, there are a couple of clear villains, and the open ended, ambiguous ending, as per usual Sandie Jones style, reveals one more.
This was a great character driven thriller with so many great elements weaved together into one difficult to put down mystery that had me turning pages endlessly.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for providing me with a digital review copy via NetGalley.

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.

WTH. I devoured this novel in a day. Just finished it at 12:04 am, when I have to be up at 6 am for an all-day soccer tournament. I HAD to know how it ended and damn! Was I not expecting any of it? I was guessing until the end.

Thank you, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley, for an advanced copy.

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.*

Following sisters Nichole and Cassie through a dual timeline, we find that the secrets they have bring danger into their lives. As Nichole tries to leave the past behind and have a new life with husband and daughter, the past comes crashing back into her life. The timelines of the 1980s and the 2010s show the obsessive behaviors of young girls for their rockband-star-heroes - but this quickly leads to a falling out that breaks the band apart. While there are moments of intense drama and actions, secrets and twists, this book fell a bit short for me overall. At the same time - I can definitely see where there will be other readers that will love the book and the stories behind the characters. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #IWouldDieForYou #NetGalley

I love a dual timeline, and good storytelling to go along with it makes for a great read. Sandie Jones did a great job looping the stories together with the time hopping, and you get a fun mystery with lots of twists and turns in the midst. This was a fun read!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Though not without its flaws, “I Would Die For You” is a gripping mystery that takes readers on a fast-paced, roller-coaster ride with many twisty turns along the way. The story unfolds via dual timelines and points-of-view, and while I enjoyed the build-up every step of the way, the ending felt a bit rushed and anti-climactic in comparison to the rest of the story. Though the character development was a bit weak, in my opinion, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment. This was a quick read for me, easily read in one day from start to finish.

Modest tale about two sisters in renewed battle from their teen years, over the love of a pop singer. The book descriptions suggest an immersion in the 1980’s but sadly, that’s not true. While there are two timelines in the book, neither one provides a strong sense of setting or place. I WOULD DIE FOR YOU may appeal to readers who love a modest thriller about two scheming sisters. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Set alternately in the present and the 1980s, I Would Die for You is a quick paced mystery that never really resonated with me. The flashbacks seemed a weak retelling of Almost Famous from the point of view of the groupies. The present day plot was a formulaic “my child is missing could it be my past coming back to haunt me” thriller. The characterizations were paper thin and all the characters were unlikable. I would have stopped reading the book but I kept at it so you wouldn’t have to. The conclusion was as obvious as could be. It is hard to believe that this was written by the author of the much better novel, The First Mistake. Read that book not this one. 2 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced review copy.

I won't be reading this author again. I'd hoped it would be like Daisy Jones & the Six, but the only similarity was the fact that music and band life was the subject matter.

We know from the beginning that Nicole is hiding something big, but of course we don't know what she's hiding until very close to the end. Then throw in some twists that were a real stretch to make you wonder why you bothered to read it.

Add idolatry and actions taken to extremes that should have been thought out ahead of time by teenaged girls, drugs and stupid thinking by band members, add lots of yelling and some violence to include revenge as a goal and I don't think anything was left out of the mix. One more thing, there were recaps of everything that had already happened and you can assume the author thinks we are too dumb to remember.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance reader copy. Honest opinions expressed here are my own and are freely given.

California 2010

Nicole Forbes lives in Coronado with her husband, Brad, and their daughter, Hannah. One day, a woman comes to the door saying she is writing a book and wants to interview her about what happened to Ben Edwards. Nicole is shocked and sends the woman away.

London - 1986

Cassie isn’t at school so she can get a glimpse of her heartthrob musician, Ben Edwards, and his band the Secret Oktoberfest. Her older sister, Nicole, works as a waitress and at night is trying to become known as a singer. Their mother, Gigi, is ill and they so want the woman to live. Their father is so worried about their mother and is pretty strict with the girls.

California 2010

Nicole is waiting for her daughter, Hannah, to get off the school bus but she is told that Hannah went home from school with an aunt. However, she has no aunt. Now, Nicole and Brad are out frantically searching for Hannah.

I found this book difficult to get into and to understand what was going on. I will never understand young teens who get so involved with being a band groupie which is what Cassie is. The extent she goes to trying to attract Ben is ridiculous. This theme continued throughout the book and left me totally bored. Sorry. Not for me.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I was really excited to read this because another book I read by this author was a five star read for me. It started off well and I was interested, but lost interest as I got into it more. The story is told in dual timelines. After a while, the past timeline became a chore to read. The character Cassie became extremely unlikable as the story progressed. At first, I was rooting for her and excited about her adventures. Then I just wanted to get through her pages as quickly as possible to get it over with. I found a few things in the story to be far-fetched. There was also some phrase repetition that I noticed. What I did like about the book was the present day timeline. I found it to be much more interesting and I liked Nicole. I was disappointed with the ending as it was very abrupt. Unfortunately this one just wasn’t for me.

I tried so hard to get through this one, but it just wasn't for me. The story seemed very juvenile and the writing lacked whatever was needed to keep me hooked. I DNF'd around 45%.

Nicole has worked hard to move on from her past—until a journalist knocks on her door, asking about the legendary British boy band of the ’80s. When her daughter vanishes on the same day, Nicole is forced to confront long-hidden secrets, unraveling a web of mysteries that connects the past and present in a shocking way. You won't want to miss this story—you're going to be hooked, eager to uncover what really happened back in the 1980s. Stay tuned, because you're in for an unforgettable ride!

This book certainly kept me on the edge of my seat, filled with suspense right up until the final pages. It was dark, full of twists, and one of the characters could only be described as pure evil. The writing was strong, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger, making it impossible to put the book down. The conclusion was gripping, but I still found myself wanting more. I particularly enjoyed the dual timelines of California in 2010 and London in the 1980s, which added depth and intrigue to the plot.

If you’re into thrilling reads filled with obsession, family drama, intense passion, the glitz of Hollywood and the music world, and some serious regret, this one’s for you. It might start off a little slow, but the author really knows how to build the tension, leading to a conclusion that’s both satisfying and makes you think about what might happen next.