This book was just okay! While I enjoyed the rockstar vibes I felt this one had so much potential that wasn’t executed well. I was entertained but also felt it was lacking at the same time.

I Would Die for You was an edge-of-your-seat thriller of extreme band fandom gone completely rogue. Intriguing, right? It's a topic I've scarcely seen addressed in thriller and mystery literature: when obsession and jealousy are taken a few steps too far, ending in murder - whether intentional or not.

The story is complex, well woven, and captivating. There are some disturbing and triggering elements and themes in the plot that may or may not have been necessary to the overall development of the story - therefore be sure to review possible triggers warnings before reading.

This was the first time I read Sandie Jones and it was a thrilling experience. However, I did feel that the plot was wrapped up rather quickly, leaving me feeling like some loose ends remained. I also wouldn't be surprised if a sequel is to follow.

🙏Thank you St Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a gifted advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ Potential Trigger Warnings (may not be an exhaustive list): missing person, drug use, sexual assault, homicide.

I almost never give a book less than 5 stars because I'm just here to be entertained. But the ending of this book is causing me to deduct a star. I really enjoyed the premise of the main character having left her old life behind to escape her past and then it all comes rushing back to cause conflict in the present. I enjoyed the alternating timelines up until the end and the story did keep me on my toes with the plot twists.
However, as I got to less than 5 minutes left in the audiobook and there was still a lot that needed to be wrapped up, I realized this would not be a satisfying ending.
SPOILERS BELOW
The end felt soooooo rushed and was also hard to keep up with. The end chapters were short and switched timelines with each chapter so l was mentally having to keep track of what exactly was going on.
The main character, Nicole, goes to see Ben, the guy in the band she was in love with in the 80s, with this girl who had previously showed up at her doorstep. For most of the book I thought Ben was the one who died in the 80s and who Nicole had been cleared of suspicion after a death occurred but no, he's still alive. So then I'm realizing who dies and I'm not mad about it but I'm also thinking why has she acted like she killed someone for the whole book. Anyways, her crazy sister is in town so she leaves Ben and the girl to go back home because she thinks her sister is kidnapping her daughter again. She and the sister have a confrontation within like the last 10 minutes of the book, the sister is still deranged, and her primary concern is that Nicole got the entire inheritance her dad left. This is because of what the sister did in the 80s and the fact that she's still very mentally unwell. So the sister almost kills Nicole but her husband and police captain friend rescue her at the last second and the sister is handcuffed and then the police captain gets a radio message that there's been a homicide in another county and why does that matter?
Because it's related to Nicole and the police captain looks at Nicole as her husband stops hugging her and her psycho sister has a twisted grin on her face and Nicole remarks that her sister will never stop destroying her life and the book ends. And that's why I'm giving this 4 stars.
We're lead to believe that Ben was probably killed by the random girl who turns out to be the daughter of the band mate Ben was convicted of killing and the sister's equally delusional enabling best friend. The band mate who brutally assaulted the sister and died from a drug overdose from drugs the sister who was 16 at the time gave him and he willingly took. So Nicole never actually told Ben the truth of her perspective of the events in the 80s before leaving to rush home and the poor guy l assume had a tragic end to his tragic life because of the psycho sister and Nicole who couldn't ever just spit out the truth. I didn't like how this book basically ended on a cliffhanger of everyone in the room looking at Nicole like she's responsible for this new murder. It felt so rushed. And logically, if she could actually just lay out the entire truth and relay the sequence of events, her husband and the police captain would very quickly realize she's not at fault for either band member's deaths and that her psycho sister organized this whole mess because of an extreme case of parasocial relationship.
In summation, the book is an excellent case study in how important it is to communicate clearly because bad stuff happens when everyone is running off assumptions and no one has a clear conversation with one another about what's actually going on

I've only read one other Sandie Jones book (The Other Woman) and I absolutely loved that one. This was unfortunately a let down for me. The past chapters to me were a bit messy and confusing at times. I did really enjoy the present chapters, though! I'm definitely not giving up on SJ because I enjoy her writing style! Thank you NetGalley for my ARC!

I really enjoyed this book- it’s less thriller and more of a tale of sisters. I liked the band aspect with the dual timelines. As a new parent, I can’t event imagine how Nicole must feel when her daughter goes missing. The ending is a little over the top but I think that made for a great audio book. I was truly gripped while listening.


Thank you Minotaur Books for my gifted ebook.

Three things immediately drew me to this book: the dual timeline, the downfall of a musical group, and Sandie Jones. While this was not my favorite by this author, it did work for me. Each time we switched timelines, more puzzle pieces were revealed. I enjoyed the twists and ending. However, the characters were a little superficial, and the pacing was almost too fast. Some aspects were a little unbelievable, but I enjoyed the ride Jones took us on. I can't wait to see what she writes next.

I have really loved some of Sandie Jones prior thrillers, but unfortunately, I Would Die For You was a total flop for me. The comparisons to Daisy Jones ended for me at music being involved in both stories. I usually love a dual timeline, but this one was just too lackluster in the reveal for me.

Holy toxicity! Stories about obsession definitely draw me in and this was no different. I really enjoyed watching the story unfold. The altering past and present timelines kept me wanting to know what was going on. But there were many moments that seemed a little ridiculous. The characters lacked depth and I didn’t really care about what happened to them. The ‘twist’ both tried too hard and was too basic.

(I received this ARC from NetGalley. This is my unbiased review)

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a novel split into two time frames and multiple POVs. From 'present' time with the main character Nicole and her family, to 1986 and the past that leads up to all the current events. Nicole and Cassie are sisters with a terminally ill mother, with Nicole being the more reasonable sister and Cassie the star struck fangirl. Cassie is obsessed with a new band, Secret Oktober, especially with the lead singer Ben Edwards. Cassie befriends a roadie sort of fangirl named Amelia and the pair soon do whatever they can to get into the shows or to see the band.

Cassie becomes deluded with the notion that she and Ben have something special when he acknowledges her presence at some events. Meanwhile as the story progresses it seems like Ben isn't fully aware of Cassie's existence. In this timeframe Ben ends up meeting Nicole at a bar where she sings and the two become close. All of this time Ben has no realization that Nicole and Cassie are sisters.

The story and the events of the 1980s build to a climax that ends in a death and a trial with Nicole being viewed as one of the suspects. There seem to be so many secrets and loose ends in the trial and this piece of the story that it makes the reader to wonder if more will be revealed. It certainly didn't seem to be in this book.

Flash to the present where Nicole's daughter ends up missing. Thankfully she is found and cheerfully tells her mother that she had a lovely time with her Aunt. As the story builds Nicole begins to suspect her husband of having an affair and begins to wonder if her past is coming back to haunt her.

Faces of the past make their unexpected return and Nicole is faced with the need to protect her family at any means possible. The way I Would Die for You ended it left me speculating if the story will be continued in another book. It didn't leave on necessarily a cliffhanger but I definitely had questions and some bits of the story were not resolved. In my opinion I do hope there is a continuation of the story. It wasn't the best Jones' has put out but it did catch my attention. Until next time, happy reading!

So spooky! Whether it was the anticipation of actions to come from a character who had suddenly changed so drastically, or the unsettling events that started to unfold as we weaved back and forth between timelines...the whole thing gave me shivers!
If you're looking for a "stay up all night trying to see what happens next" novel, this one's for you! It gives a whole new vibe to the domestic thriller genre.

**3.5-stars**

I Would Die for You is a story told via two timelines: 1986-London and 2011-California. We get Nicole Forbes perspective in 2011, and her younger sister, Cassie's, perspective in 1986, when Cassie was just 16-years old. This novel also features one of my favorite things: musicians. I've been so excited for this story as it revolves around a super popular, yet fictional, band from the 1980s.

In fact, the 1986 timeline definitely stole the show for me. There's something about the vibes of the 1980s music scene in London that I just find so compelling. And I did feel like this captured the fan-side of that moment really well. I did enjoy the back and forth throughout the story, learning more about the sisters, and trying to figure out what happened between them.

Closer to the end, however, the timelines started to feel less distinct, and I honestly had to relisten to the last 1/2-hour of this audiobook 3x. It did have me invested though. This was a 4-star read for me right up until the very last bit. Seriously, the last few paragraphs, I was like, that's it!?

I never mind an open-ended story, one that leaves a bit up to the Reader's imagination, but this wasn't like an 'evil grin on your face' last moment twist, it was more a, 'you're seriously going to end it right there', kind of thing. Nevertheless, I still found this an overall entertaining story about sisters and all the twisted drama involved in their relationship.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I have a lot of fun with Sandie Jones stories, and will happily continue picking up all her new releases!!

Although I usually love books by Sandie Jones, this book fell a little flat for me. Told in two time lines, part of the book read like a YA book, with a lot of petty sister drama and following a band around England. This was the part that fell a little flat for me. The flash forward part (2011, I believe) was a lot more relatable (as I am an adult, currently) and I enjoyed this part of the book much more. Trying to connect the dots as to how the past related to the present often felt like some dots were missing for me. This made for some confusion and wondering how we got from point A to point C, and how I could have missed point B (Although I don't always think that I did miss it.)

Generally, it was an entertaining book which I enjoyed. I just have liked some of Sandie Jones's previous books much better.

3.5 stars.

In 1986, Cassie was obsessed with Secret Oktober, the hottest band in London, and harboring a crush on leading man, Ben Edwards. She was determined to do anything it took to capture his attention amidst all the other groupies. When Ben discovers Cassie’s older sister, Nicole, singing at a bar, he can’t help but feel drawn to her. In 2011, Nicole lives in California with her husband and daughter when a writer knocks on her door asking for insight into the downfall of Secret Oktober, thus pulling on threads of her past life.

I WOULD DIE FOR YOU is a fast-paced read told in dual timelines (1986 and 2011) and in dual POV (Cassie and Nicole). I enjoyed both timelines and characters’ narration, particularly how both timelines intermingle by the end. That said, I found Nicole’s POV to be more relevant to the overall plot, and the more interesting one to read.

While both POVs were interesting, I was left with the feeling of needing to know more and the sense that I was reading about the characters from a distance, leaving me little feeling of relatability or engagement in their lives. Additionally, the characters’ relationships felt one-dimensional, and I didn’t feel wholly convinced about either of the characters’ passions or feelings.

The plot is intriguing with lots of secrets and lies mixed in amongst the instability of the characters. The ending is a bit of a whirlwind and abrupt, but overall, I liked it.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Minotaur Books, for the opportunity to read this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions expressed are my own.

This book just did not make the mark like her previous books. I rarely give a rating below a 4 but felt it appropriate for this one. The characters were not quite believable and definitely not the first one likable so there is immediately no connection to the book. Their antics and the back and forth timeline just didn't work well. Subject matter for most is
unrelated to readers experience and general disinterest. There may be some readers that could find it entertaining but not my cup if tea. I was invited to read an advanced reader copy of the book but was under no obligation to write a review. The opinions expressed are my own. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

*rounded up from 3.5 stars*

This was a twisty tale told in two timelines. It was a quick read because I was trying to follow the threads. I still have a pit in my stomach after finishing because holy moley does the psychosis happening in this story terrify me. There were definitely some bits that didn’t fully add up for me, but it was definitely a page turner.

Nicole started over in California after leaving England behind. She got married and had a daughter. Now there’s a reporter on her step asking questions about the life she thought she had buried. The one her husband has no clue about. The one that is going to be revealed when her daughter goes missing.

This is a dual-timeline kinda sorta mystery. We switch between 1986 and 2010, with Nicole and Cassie. Unbeknownst to the sisters, they have fallen for the same guy, the front man for Secret Oktober, Ben Edwards. Cassie is obsessed with the band and meets Amelia, who is able to get Cassie into the after-parties, where she meets her famous crush, Ben. She believes they have a true connection, but one night Ben sees Nicole singing at a bar and is smitten. She knows Cassie will hate her if she finds out about them, so she keeps it a secret. During one night in 1986, someone ends up dead, and Nicole ends up running away to America after the trial ends. Now it has all caught up to her, and her family is paying the price.

There's no real tension or suspense, although we don't know for sure who's dead or who did it. It's a definite slow burn for sure, and the pace never really quickens. The characters weren't necessarily likeable, and I probably would have enjoyed it more had there been some more mystery surrounding the death, or some tension in the 2010 plot.

All in all, if you enjoy reading about fangirls and obsession, about having secrets from your family, or a secret past, then this might be for you. I just wanted more "umph" in my mysteries.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

🎸 I Would Die For You 🎤
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3.5)

This book follows the story of Nicole and Cassie, two sisters, whose lives get tangled up with a member of one of the hottest bands in London in 1986. The book flashes backwards and forwards from 1986 to present time, where Nicole’s life gets turned upside down when her daughter goes missing. She tries to figure out if the events in 1986 had something to do with it or not.

I enjoyed the dual timeline in this book but I felt there were times in both the past and present that dragged on a bit. There were a few twists that I guessed from a thousand miles away but the ending did surprise me a bit, which won the book back a few points for me.

This book may be for you if you like:

🧑‍🎤Rock Star Infatuation
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Family Drama
⏰Dual Timelines

A big thank you to @williammorrowbooks for the advanced copy and @macmillan.audio for the accompanying audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

I love a good thriller and have been looking for new-to-me authors, which is why I requested this one. I really enjoyed this read--thanks so much for the gifted copy

It's a very interesting book about a family and how things can go wrong real quick? The band was big in the 80s.Cassie just loved them especially b e n. She had a friend who was a very bad influence on her. And they snuck in to see the band and things got really crazy when they went to the party. Her parents are also dealing with a divorce at the same time. T her sister named Nicole somehow got involved in this too. Cause Ben saw her singing one night in a bar. There's a lot of different issues in this book. Especially when they went to California in 2011.. Nicole moved there away from her family but this was really interesting part of the book because she had a little daughter this became very interesting because you can see what was happening. Her daughter got kidnapped and things were not going well with our husband as well. She tried to put the past behind her. But you'll find out what happened to the band and it's a very interesting twist in terms, you can see how startum can really confused young people..

This was my first book by this author. I loved the dual timeline and all the wild twists it had to offer. This book left me shocked ( in a good way!). Recommend it for sure!