This was such a fun read! I love anything rockstar romance so I was immediately drawn to this book. I love the dual timeline, and thought it was really well done. It gave the reader an extra layer to the mystery. I was drawn to Cassie and the lengths she would go to in order to see her favorite band. I did think Nicole was a little boring and I just wanted something extra added for her character. I hated how she kept secrets from her husband. Once the big "secret" was revealed, it seemed such a insignificant thing to keep from her spouse. I LOVED how the book ended on a cliffhanger. I definitely sat there with that for a few and just let it sink in. Overall, this was a great quick thriller! Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this arc. I am not sure if it was a me issue, but I had a hard time focusing on this story. The plot and characters didn’t really grab me so I lost focus frequently. It wasn’t my favorite but appreciated what the author was going for!

Big Sandie Jones fan! This one was full of twists and turns up until the final page. Fun and fast read

It was a quick read, and the story/premise was solid, but it just didn’t come together for me & overall fell pretty flat. 3 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
4/5!!!!!

This is my first Sandie Jones book and I truly enjoyed Nicole’s story and the (mostly) unpredictability of it all; however, I think this thriller lacked a bit of thrill. In the end, it did not come together for me as I had hoped; not like we don’t love a cliffhanger, but in my opinion, this book did not warrant one.

What worked: The plot was unique and rooted in the reality of Jones’s own experiences in Duran Duran’s heyday. The fictional band Secret Oktober and their doting fans come alive, and leave you feeling shocked at the level of obsession and lengths they will go to be seen. The sounds of the 80s, infused with the frenzy of fandom, Nicole’s unhinged sister is riddled with secrets that could destroy many people’s lives, including her own. It’s all too easy to envision these young girls’ hearts desires driving their out of pocket decisions and feeding their delusions. Both timelines had many layers, which will simultaneously leave you heartbroken and on the mend.

I Would Die for You had so much potential, but it just didn’t land for me. The story follows two sisters, Nicole and Cassie, in 1980s London—Nicole trying to make it as a singer, and Cassie spiraling into an obsession with the band Secret Oktober and its frontman, Ben. When Nicole starts secretly dating Ben, Cassie’s jealousy sets off a chain of events that leads to tragedy.

Fast forward 25 years, Nicole has built a quiet life in California, but the past comes roaring back when someone shows up digging into the band’s dark history. I loved the 80s music scene vibes, but the characters were tough to root for. Cassie was unbearable, and Nicole’s constant secrecy felt more like a plot device than something real. The pacing was all over the place, and the ending left so many questions unanswered, it felt unfinished.

It was a quick read, and the premise was solid, but it just didn’t come together for me. 3 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the St. Martin's Press for the ARC

The story and premise were good, the characters were interesting enough but fell really flat for me, especially Cassie and Amelia (ugh I couldn’t stand either of them), and the plot got extremely confusing. I have a lot of unanswered questions and didn’t like the cliffhanger ending

I found myself flying through this book - the back and forth perspectives through time and the sister's eyes were well done. The ending was definitely jaw dropping, I just wish there had been a little more to it than a wild cliffhanger. There were a few plot points that I felt were not as strong as they could have been (spoiler - the drugs that Michael takes. I was confused because Cassie had brought some yet Nicole said they were hers - perhaps it was just reader perspective that made that clear, but that was a twist that didn't surprise me) It was a quick read and I was really interested in how the present time would be tied up.

This was the third book I read by this author and...I pretty much have the same opinion as the other two: I like the setting and how the characters are presented, I enjoy the slow-burn vibes and the initial mystery, but after a few chapters I get bored by the characters' decisions and the twists and turns are not compelling enough for my taste. Also, quite predictable and cliché.
I'm sure other readers will enjoy this book better than I did. Especially the ones who have read and loved previous books by this author.
Thanks, anyway, NetGalley for allowing me to read an early copy of this book.

A thriller that lacked the thrill? A bit of a disappointment with the characters likability and the unrealistic twists. Not my favorite but may be yours! Thanks you NetGalley!

Like Daisy Jones and the Six with a mystery. The back and forth from present to past unwraps the story slowly so that your are always waiting for the next piece of the puzzle. The story alternates between London 1986 and California 2010. In 1986, Secret Oktober was the hottest band and 16 year old Cassie is quickly becoming thier newest groupie. Meanwhile, her big sister, Nicole, is trying to maintain peace within the family. Thier mother is dying and Cassie is bent on defying her father, skipping school and partying with the band members. In 2010, Nicole is estranged from her father, having escaped from London after the death of not just her mother, but he sister as well. When Nicole's daughter goes missing, she realizes that the secret she's been hiding from her husband may be the reason; because in 1986 one of the band members died and Nicole is the only one that knows the truth.

I WOULD DIE FOR YOU by Sandie Jones
⭐️ rating: 5/10

read if you like:
🎸 band groupies
👯 multiple timelines
🥶 cold cases

summary:
I just could not get into this book. It follows Nicole Forbes, a mother and wife living a quiet life in California. One day she gets a knock on her door from a reporter, who is looking into a British band from the 1980’s that suffered a tragic ending. Soon after, Nicole gets a call that her daughter has been dismissed from school to an “aunt” she doesn’t have. We follow Nicole’s pursuit of her missing daughter, cutting back to 1986 where Nicole and her sister Cassie get intertwined with the hit band, Secret Oktober. These stories come together to explain what happened, and why Nicole is where she is today.

A few thoughts — it is hard to follow how these stories come together at first. Obviously they have a common character but the setting and surroundings are so different that it feels hard to believe that they are the same. There are also a lot of characters in the flashback, which are hard to follow and keep track of who is who. None of the characters are deeply developed or particularly likeable, so as we cut back and forth in emotional situations, it’s hard to find any attachment or empathy for any of them. The plotline itself has a lot of promise, but it feels like a slow and somewhat erratic build to come to a conclusion. It feels choppy, hard to follow and hard to stay engaged in.

I appreciate NetGalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my review.

I think this lies somewhere between a 3.5-4.0 ⭐️, but rounded up…

Nicole and Brad live a quiet and happy life with their 8 year old daughter Hannah. At least it was, until a reporter knocks on the door trying to uncover the one thing Nicole has spent the past 25 years trying to hide from - her past. And when her daughter goes missing later that same day and someone seems to be targeting her with a smear campaign - Nicole is convinced it must all be related.

In order to find out who took her daughter and why, Nicole must finally be honest about her past.

Switching between present day (San Diego, 2010) and the past (London, 1986) we slowly unravel Nicole’s connection to the band Secret Oktober and what happened that broke up the band and caused her to run away from London to start all over.

This was a bit of a slow start, but had me hooked by page 50. A whirlwind read as you think you know the direction the story is heading in, but it zigged when you thought it was going to zag

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books for this advanced copy for my honest opinion

Thanks to NetGalley for my gifted copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. 3.5 stars rounded up.
I Would Die for You is a dual timeline that follows two sisters and a mystery that spans two decades. Overall, I liked the story, it was a bit of a slow burn at the beginning. The ending was lack luster and ended too quickly.

I found this novel to overall be interesting. The setting was well done, and you really felt what it was like to be a fan in that time. The recurring idea of generations of groupie lifestyle was interesting, and I found no fault with the flipping back and forth between present day and the past. I felt Nicole was weaker than she needed to be, but she was traumatized and that was quite apparent. The ending , however, was flawed. The author should not trick the reader, and without giving any spoilers away, I feel it should have been wrapped up more empathetically and fully. Rounding up to three stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and St.Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited when I received this ARC! The story did not disappoint. The ending was so good!

I especially liked how each chapter answered just enough of my previous questions, but then left me wanting more and ending with a “cliffhanger” of sorts. I liked the dual timeline perspective. I would recommend this to others! Thank you.

I enjoyed this twisty mystery and liked that it was part psychological thriller and had some very intriguing mentally fragile characters. The story tells the story of celebrity fandom and how we look at these famous celebrities. I liked the dual timelines and how they told the story so well. It definitely brought me back to the 80’s and how Cassie was so transfixed on Ben. Ben was an interesting character the typical fan boy who has groupies and never really knowing that Nicole is more Ben’s type. I loved how startled that Nicole was when the reporter showed up. I don’t understand how she thought she could evade being found though. I thought the explanation of relationships , obsession, and betrayal were interwoven into the story and made it all the more intriguing .

In 1986, Cassie was a huge fan of the band Secret Oktober - the lead singer Ben in particular. In the wake of her mother’s sickness, she becomes fixated on having a relationship with him, and will stop at nothing to make it happen.

Present day, Nicole is living a peaceful life in California with her husband and daughter. But all her happiness comes crashing down when a reporter shows up asking of her involvement with the band and a scandal that broke in 1986, and suddenly her young daughter goes missing. Are these events linked? What happened in 1986 that is causing Nicole grief today? And is it finally time to be honest about everything that happened?

PROS and CONS:
Obsession, grief, dishonesty, manipulation - all these things get in the way of the truth. I was a bit frustrated with these characters, as a few minutes of honesty would have saved a lot of anguish. There was a lack of flow to this book that made it a bit slow to finish - and I thought there were a few unnecessary twists.

READ IT?
If you’re a fan of Jones’ work and the 80’s, then you should give this one a try.

3 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this ARC!!

"I Would Die for You" by Sandie Jones is an enthralling mix of suspense and nostalgia, skillfully connecting the glitz of the 1980s music scene with a haunting mystery unfolding in the present. Through its dual timelines and vividly crafted characters, the narrative delves into themes of obsession, fame, and familial ties. Jones artfully weaves the intensity of fandom with a mother’s frantic quest for her daughter, resulting in a gripping and emotional thriller. It's a must-read for enthusiasts of music-driven drama and intricate mysteries.

I Would Die For You
By Sandie Jones
Publication date: March 25, 2025

We all made dumb mistakes in our teens. Staying out all night and trying to get a peek at your favorite singer were rights of passage. However, I am sure your mistakes didn’t lead to MURDER. This music-entrenched thriller leads not only to the death of person, but to the death of dreams.

The 1980’s were filled with bands and music that shaped a generation. The British band created by Sandie Jones is derived from the second British invasion of bands, like Duran Duran. These bands were the inventors of the music video and lived larger than life. The fictious band, Secret Oktober, is at the height of their fame, but an underlying power struggle is tearing the members apart from the inside. Crazed fans like Cassie and Amelia have no idea what they are getting involved in. They are risking their hearts and their safety. Song writing partners have no idea how their lives will be changed in the aftermath.

In 2011, Nicole Forbes has left behind her love of music and her painful secrets. She is living a new existence in Coronado, CA as a married mother. Her day-to-day is rather boring, until her life explodes as her past collides with today and pulls secrets from the grave.

It is hard to like some of the characters in this book, I felt sorry for them, but was never really attached to them. I think that’s what made the story flow successfully, you couldn’t get caught up in the emotions of it, you just needed to hold on tight for the thrill ride.

As the story unfolds, I was shocked how far someone would go for an unrequited love. I was also surprised how so many let their dreams die. It wasn’t until the end that a few characters showed their strength by keeping the personal fight going. However, that fight was so misdirected.

It’s hard to say more in their review without giving away the story. You must read it to believe it. The end is a huge “WTH” moment. I had to read the last few chapters twice.

Order your copy for delivery on March 25th. Four Stars!

Net Galley and St Martin’s Press, have provided me with an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.