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.

We start what we think will be a thriller, a daughter is taken from her school -- They say she was picked up by her Aunt. Her mom said she doesn't have an aunt! Told through a dual timeline of her life (in England) and now (no in between). The reality of it all is no thriller in my mind. It's more of a coming-of-age between very different sisters -- with a bratty psycho twist. ha!

This was a story that had the 80's written all over it, right up my alley! Based off the Euro-pop group, Duran Duran, young Cassie was obsessed with the fictitious group portrayed in this book. She and her friend found out all of the details - where they were performing, what hotel they were staying at, red carpet events and more. To say she followed them everywhere is an understatement. She "saw" things others didn't -- I will just leave it at that.

Nicole, her older sister, is more reserved -- a poet discovering her voice. In a chance meeting with the band's lead singer at a bar, they end up discovering they have more than just a voice in common.

It's a tale of family, budding romance, teen angst and deceit.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an early copy and review. It's out now!

TW: death of a parent and SA

The Author's Note was crazy and funny because I pegged the relation right away

📚: I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones
⭐️: 2.5/5 (rounding upon #goodreads)

A great concept — 1980s rock star fangirl culture & a current day timeline filled with secrets of what happened then — that falls apart in execution.

I found myself most put off my this cast of incredibly unlikeable, selfish characters - in particular, maybe surprisingly, Nicole. A slight spoiler - but I found it unfathomable for her to put keeping her secret safe over the search for her child. Particularly when her secret is revealed and it lands so very underwhelming.

A rounded up score for the portion I listened to via audiobook — I found that the story is told more compelling via that format.

Thanks to St Martins Press via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I Would Die for You is out now.

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.

CW: SA and drug use. Multiple books about bands fall flat but this seemed to work well written by a love/star struck teen going out of her way to meet the frontman of her favorite band.

Multiple POVs, daul timelines. Lies, twists, and heartbreak. I wanted to know the ending of this book, I flew through it. I do wish there was more depth with the Nicole's marriage and the details of her sharing her secrets with him as they supposedly had an amazing marriage before all of this started.
Nicole's sister - wow. WOW.
This is a quick, keep you on your toes domestic thriller.

4.5⭐️

I Would Die for You is a psychological thriller Told in the dual time lines from the past and future. Getting to see Nicole as a teen and then as adult dealing with all that happened, you can feel for her as she trying to battle current things happening to her family! I really liked how that was done, weaving a non linear story of the past with its consequences in the future. It kept me reeling as I tried to piece it all together. I had a blast reading this and the outrageous things some would do and say for a boy band! So many different angles of mayhem to consider while you read, it was so good!

Thank you to @minotaur_books and Netgalley for my #gifted copy!

Wow, let me start out by saying that I wanted more of this book at the end. i was so looking forward to an epilogue or a few more chapters , seriously didn't want this book to end! I enjoyed the Hell out of it. Thank you so very much for this edge of my seat, bite my lip, holy crap what is going to happen next book! This one is a must read and then read again!

Nicole Forbes is a married woman with a beautiful little eight year old girl. Nicole has been going through her life for the past twenty years living with lies that are about to come crashing down around her. Someone comes knocking on her door and when she opens it the young girl says she is wanting to interview her. Nicole invites her in thinking that she is there for a different reason. Unfortunately, she is there to find out about her past and to write a book about it. Nicole does not take to kindly to that and tells the young lady to please leave. She asks her several times before she finally does.

The next thing that happens Nicole goes to the bus stop to get Hannah from the bus. Except there is no Hannah. The bus driver even tells her she wasn't supposed to be on the bus today. She goes in and calls the school. The secretary of the school informed her that she had called last week and arranged for Hannah's aunt to pick her up that day. Except that Hannah doesn't have any aunt's on either side of the families.. So, who the Hell has her daughter?

Nicole (Alderton) doesn't know if she can be put back into the Nicole Forbes. Everything is different and everything is leaking out. With this young girl that has started coming around all the things she had been trying to get her to talk about she knew it would only be a matter of time before everything came out.

Cassie was Nicole's sister and she loved her dearly and would have done anything for her. Back in the day when their mom Gigi was ill with cancer Nicole didn't live at home, but tried to come by the house to check on her as often as she could. With their father working and mom so ill Cassie was getting away with more than an average sixteen year old should ever have. She was skipping school and going to hang out where her favorite band was playing and trying to figure out a way to get close enough to hang out with one of the band members. That is how she meets Amelia. Amelia knows the band and introduces her to them and she gets up and very personal with them. She starts coming home late and lying to her father. Until one day when her mother has past away and her father tells her she needs to go get her sister. When she shows up and her sister is with someone, but she doesn't know who.

At the funeral the gentlemen that shows up out of the blue, and uninvited is Ben one of the band members. Cassie thought he was there for her and he wasn't. He was there to see Nicole. Their father told Ben to get the hell out and to leave his daughter alone. Ben stepped up and told him that he was there to see Nicole and not Cassie and that he was in love with her. Nicole stepped forward and and Cassie yelled and screamed at them and ran from the house.

This is where things will get strange and more confusing oh yes, but so much better all at the same time! This is where I will ask you what might be the secrets that Nicole is hiding and from whom might she be hiding them from?

Happy Reading!!

🥳 Happy Pub Day 🥳

I received this Arc for my honest review from NetGalley.
I'm going to rate this book 3⭐ although really I'd say 2 1/2 ⭐ but it was better than worse so I'll go up to 3 .

This book has some Almost famous/Daisy Jones vibes but of course with a twist 💀
But idk for me at least I didn't really care about the twist .. it was just so cringe as the kids say 🤣
Good idea .. not so great delivery .

I think I just wasn't in love with this largely because outside of Hannah who we honestly don't get to know I didn't like any of the characters . Some like Amelia are just straight awful . Oh Hank is cool .

Like I said Good idea though .

This book had me hooked from the beginning! I loved the dual timeline and the way the story wove together past and present, slowly unraveling long-buried secrets. The writing style was engaging, especially given we all likely had some sort of boy band obsession in our younger days. While most of us never took our fandom to the extremes seen in this book, it still felt relatable. The twists kept me guessing, and the last quarter of the novel was impossible to put down. This was a fast-paced read that will definitely keep you turning the pages!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on March 12, 2025. An additional post (with a reposted review) was posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review. (links below)

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.