Long-buried secrets are about to resurface

In London in 1986 the band of the moment is Secret Oktober, its three members driving female fans crazy. Mobs flock wherever they go and it seems like they can have any girl they want, anytime they want. SIxteen year old Cassie is a huge fan and is obsessing about them, willing to go to any lengths to meet her idols...which to her is far better than dwelling upon her reality, a strict father who tried to make it as a musician himself but never really made the cut and a mother losing her battle with cancer. Her older sister Nicole has musical aspirations herself but is paying her bills by working in a diner. Both Cassie and Nicole attract Ben's attention, Cassie by hanging out with groupies and getting sucked into the sex/drugs/rock and roll scene with her new friend Amelia while for Nicole it is her musical talent that catches Ben's eye. Secret Oktober's future abruptly ends when tragedy strikes one of its members, and the two young women's lives are forever altered when they are drawn into the investigation and subsequent trial.
Twenty five years later, Nicole Forbes is married and living in Coronado with her husband Brad, who works on the nearby naval base, and their young daughter Hannah. Nicole has never told Brad much about her past and has purposefully omitted her connection to the crashing of one of he biggest bands of the 80's. But then Zoe, a young woman writing a book about that period in British music, rings her doorbell...she knows who Nicole is, or was, and is determined to interview her about it. Nicole kicks her out of the house and hopes she's dodged the bullet, but then Hannah doesn't come home on the school bus. The school says Hannah was picked up by her aunt with Nicole's permission, but that isn't true...there is no aunt in Hannah's life. A frantic search ensues, and although Hannah is found safe it is clear that someone is determined to bring Nicole's secrets to light. What really happened all those years ago, and who is looking for vengeance now? Nicole and her family will be in danger unless she can identify and stop her harasser.
In the mid 80's I was in college, and the music and the fashions of that time will always strike a chord with me. I wasn't hopping fences and crashing after hours parties, but who amongst us didn't have a period when they read all about the members of their favorite bands, feeling like they really knew these people....and maybe even hoping that maybe someday they might meet someone in the band and even form a connection? Cassie takes that a bit too far, but is still relatable in her naive teenage dreams. The characters in general are a bit underdeveloped, but I enjoyed the narration popping back and forth between the dual timelines as what happened in the past spools out and the current day suspense and drama ramp up. The premise hooked me early in the book and carried me through to the end (which wasn't quite as surprising as I'd hoped it might be). I did enjoy the story overall, and would rate it at 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up to a 4 for the trip down memory lane). Readers of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware and Hank Phillippi Ryan may want to give this a try. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to this twisty trip to the 80's and back in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this story and right up to the end I was on the edge of my seat! Nicole is in the present timeline. He peaceful life is disrupted when a reporter starts asking about a band that broke up in the 80’s. Then her daughter gets picked up from school from her aunt, but wait, she doesn’t have an aunt!
This book is filled with characters that you love to hate and nonstop action. There was so much going on.!
Many thanks to the author, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Wait, what? That's it? Have you ever been completely invested in a story, and you're getting towards the end, thinking there's at least ten to twenty more pages to go and it just ends? That was my feeling here. I wanted more from both timelines after certain events and was left feeling stranded with so many questions. It's hard to rate this because aside from that, I really liked this one. We see so many stories about obsessed fans, and this one shows how far some will go with their delusions. I felt for the entire family, making me even shocked as things spiraled. This was intense, tragic, and page-turning. I can't help but to not give it my original four stars because of the ending. Maybe others will like it, but it felt unfinished to me. Three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Sex, drugs, and rock and roll are major themes in this book.
Nicole’s hidden history comes roaring back as someone is determined to out her.
Flashbacks to the 80s scenes were nostalgic but revealing.
Both sisters are proficient at lieing but which one lied the most?
The ending was sort of a cliff hanger and I’m not sure if I guessed correctly.

3.5/5 🌟 this was my first Sandie Jones novel and I had a lot of fun! I loved the concept of the book and the 80’s music and lifestyle throwback was fun to read! Some of the twists I thought I had figured out and I was totally wrong, which I love. There were times I caught myself being confused on all of the characters (especially in the 80’s past timeline), and although there were a lot of twists, they didn’t seem to go really go very far. I wish I was able to read a little more of Nicole’s present timeline versus the past, too. All in all a fun quick read with twists we thriller readers all love!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books, and the author for this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

- Pub date: March 25, 2025 -

Thank you to Netgalley, Sandie Jones, and Minotaur Publishing for providing me this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This novel follows Nicole at two points in her life, the present and 25 years before in the 80s. In present day, Nicole leads a quiet life in a small Californian town with her husband and their young daughter. In the 1980s, Nicole was a struggling singer with a younger sister named Cassie, who is obsessed with Ben, a musician and part of the hottest London band Secret Oktober.

In present day, a writer shows up asking Nicole if she can interview her about the band and its downfall all those years ago. For all of these years, Nicole has been trying to escape the events that occurred with the band and her family and is surprised that she has been tracked down. Is it coincidence that the same day this woman shows up, Nicole’s daughter doesn’t come home from school? She was picked up from school by her “aunt”. However, Nicole does not have a relationship with anyone locally who would be considered an “aunt”. Who has her daughter? What happened all those years ago? Why has Nicole been running and lying about her past for nearly 25 years.

I would rate this 3.5 stars. I was able to read the book in one full day. It kept me intrigued with dual timelines, complex characters, toxic relationships, manipulation and mystery. There were some very WILD aspects of this story, shocking twists, and a cliffhanger of an ending.

A propulsive and pretty quick-read thriller with two engaging timelines that work well together. The storyline that follows the present day mom and her daughter is really compelling; I could feel the love that she had for her child in a very visceral way. I would have liked to see the adult relationships built out more, these felt a bit light on details, but overall I enjoyed this read.

I Would Die for You
by Sandie Jones
Pub Date: Mar 25 2025

I Would Die for You is told in two different timelines, the current timeline and in 1986. The story is mainly about Nicole, who is living a new life in California. We have flashbacks from Nicole’s life in London, 1986 to now in California, 2010. It's a gripping, fast-paced read you will want to put on your to be read list!

Synopsis: Infused with the sounds of the 80s, this thrilling new novel from the inimitable Sandie Jones will captivate her readers, as she explores what the frenzy of fandom can lead to in this shocking blockbuster.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress for providing me with an E-ARC of this exciting book!

This was okay, I liked the English boy band parts but left a little confused with the other timeline.

I wanted to love this so badly, but this was a bit of a miss for you. I loved the present tense plot and wish there was more of it!

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.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones was a bit suspenseful with some parts keeping me on the edge of my seat. A suspense/thriller involving an 80’s band sounded like fun. Narration was great but it was a bit difficult to follow the duo timelines at times. It really hopped around that I found it confusing at times and losing track of who the characters are and how they fit in the story. I’ve enjoyed many books by this author so I was a little bummed this one missed the mark. I may give it another try and read the book myself. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley.

Thank you to MInotaur Books 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.

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.

This had such a great premise and I tried to follow along, but it all became too confusing to me. And that ending ... sigh.

I think the alternating timelines were good in theory, but just to hard to understand.

There were a couple of reveals I didn't guess, but the puzzle pieces were too hard to make come together.

I think this would be a fun read for any child or teen of the 80s.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of I WOULD DIE FOR YOU to review.

I rate I WOULD DIE FOR YOU three out of five stars.

The author blended both timelines of the story seamlessly, as well as the genres that came together to tell this story. This was such a fun nod to the music world (which I am a big fan of) with the mystery/suspense tie in. I felt like I could have been a groupie with Cassie and Amelia through the detailed experiences that the girls have.

In 2011, Nicole Forbes is living a quiet life on Coronado Island, where she’s a wife, mother, and passionate advocate of the local seal population. She’s always been very careful to hide her young adult years in London in the 1980s, when both she and her 16-year-old sister Cassie got entangled with Britain’s hottest boy band, Secret Oktober. When Nicole’s past and present collide, her carefully constructed life is in danger of being destroyed by secrets and lies she thought she’d left behind.

This dual-timeline suspense alternates between Nicole’s first-person POV in 2011 and a third-person POV in 1986 that encompasses both Nicole and Cassie’s stories. The 1986 timeline delves into the salacious side of fandom, fueled by sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Lots of twists, turns, and drama as Cassie’s obsession with band frontman Ben Edwards spirals out of control. The narrative is juicy and fast-paced, and I breezed through the pages in less than two days. Although many plot points are resolved, the book closes on a very open-ended note, leaving the reader to intuit what happens next instead of wrapping everything in a neat little bow.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me an advance copy of this book.

You’re happy at rock ‘n’ roll and groupies. But the story was so much more than that. It is well written and engaging. It was a little confusing at the end, but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend it if you’re looking for a new book to read.

I struggled with this book. I also tried to give it a chance, but by chapter 4, I had to be done. The first chapter is filled with timeline and military inaccuracies. As a retired military spouse, this infuriates me, and the author should be grateful that I gave it a chance after that. Moving forward was like reading a story I've already read without giving credit to the inspiration. It would have been simple to add a single sentence to reference the Beatles as the band's inspiration for the rooftop concert instead of ignoring that everyone knows that is where it came from, not the author's creative mind. I also found Nicole to be an irritating character, making it extremely difficult to even care about anything else coming in the story.