Although the premise sounds interesting and suspenseful, this one just didn't do it for me. It's hard to stay interested in a book when 10 chapters and 20% in the setting is still being set and the characters still introduced. The back of forth of the timelines is also a bit confusing at times, as it's unclear the connection between them until much farther into the novel.

I went into this book expecting an intense, emotionally charged ride. Music, obsession, tangled pasts bleeding into the present. Instead, I got a story that kept circling something interesting but never quite landed.

The dual timelines should have been a strength. The 1980s plot had the perfect setup for messy, all-consuming teenage devotion, the kind that makes you do reckless things and rewrite your own reality. But instead of a headrush, it felt like a nostalgia reel that never let me fully step into the moment. The present-day mystery had intrigue, but the tension faded too quickly, and I never really connected to the stakes.

Then there’s the ending. Not bad, exactly. Just underwhelming. Like the book set up a domino trail only to stop halfway through knocking them down. It left me feeling less wow and more wait, so that’s all?

If you’re here for the atmosphere, the fleeting thrill of what it could have been, maybe you’ll get something out of it. But if you need fully realized characters, sharper plotting, and an ending that sticks the landing, this might not be worth the time.

I really enjoyed this! I second guessed everything until about 75% of the way in. The dual timeline/pov was well done. I sped through this and enjoyed everything minute!

I’ll be honest, when I read the synopsis of this one I wasn’t sure I would love it. But it immediately drew me in and ended up being a great little thriller that kept me guessing until the end!

I Would Die For You was a dual timeline thriller, set in 1980 and 2010, and it chronicled a character’s major obsession with a world famous boy band, and the very dark turns resulting from it.

I couldn’t entirely relate to the feeling of obsession with a band, however I was an enormous fan of The Spice Girls in the 90’s and I often fantasized about meeting them…

This book was twisty and addictive and had a great ending. I also loved the author’s note at the end that explained her own personal connection to the story.

Thank you so much St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read an early copy of this book. It comes out really soon; March 25!

I have read several books by this author but I enjoyed this one the least. The story delved into fan obsession . There is a kidnapping, deeply flawed and unlikeable characters and plenty of secrets. But I do agree with what others have said, that the ending was too abrupt.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This thriller was slow to start and I wasn't sure I would get into it. But once some of the layers were revealed it was enthralling. The writing was just okay, the story was pretty good. Overall I felt very middle of the road about it

Thank you St. Martins Press and Netgalley for this ARC! If family disfunction is your bag, you’re gonna enjoy this book. Nicole is living an upstanding life, great husband and perfect daughter, but history has a strange way in finding you. Why has she worked so had to erase her past? When a woman comes knocking asking about the band Secret Oktober, we see the story unfold between 1986 and 2010 in many POV’s. This story leads you in many directions with many twists. 3.5 ⭐️’s

This was bad. So bad I can't believe it is the same author. It had dual timelines between the 80's and now which was the only good thing. The characters were ridiculous and some seemed like cardboard. The story just didn't make sense. The ending was even worse than bad. It is getting 2 stars because I did actually make it to the end.

Read this if you like:
•domestic thrillers
•boy bands
•secrets

I went into this blind and this book was not what I expected but it did keep me engaged. I guessed some of the twists and felt like the ending was rushed. The audio was great though. Thank you Minotaur for eARC

This was an interesting one. I liked the alternating perspectives, especially that of the boy obsessed teenage girl. Made me recall of my youth when I was obsessed with boy bands like The Jonas Brothers and One Direction, always hoping in my bedroom that I’d be that normal nobody that they’d notice. Oh boy, to be so clouded as a hormone crazed teenage girl, I simply could never again 😂.

Overall this was decently paced but I felt like the ending started to slip apart. Something about it all felt kinda “huh?” by the end of it. But not in the exciting way. Just kind of scratching my head.

I really enjoyed parts of this book. I loved the idea of boy bands and the fans of boy bands. I loved playing around with that idea in a thriller. It was different than other thrillers I've read. I like the overlapping pieces of Nicole and Cassie's lives.

I didn't really like the ending. I felt some parts were very unrealistic. I felt other parts were random. I'm not sure why the seals really had to ever be involved. Does Nicole ever save the seals? How is her marriage? Does Zoe have a personality?

I would recommend to someone who wants an easy to read and enjoyable thriller. It would not be my first recommendation though.

I appreciate the ARC! Thanks again!

Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This one was very twisty and I liked it. I basically read it in one sitting, so I was definitely entertained. Dual timelines and unreliable narrators are always a positive for me. I was rolling my eyes are some of the scenes (some characters were so naive!!) and was shocked by the severity of others (heavy content in this one), so it was a little all over the place. If you're looking for something quick and entertaining, this would be a great option.

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's Minotaur for this arc .

I was not feeling this book. It wasn't what I expected. I felt it a bit disjointed. This was the story of 2 sisters in 2 different timelines with a missing child of one of the characters in present time. We have 1 sister happily married with a husband and daughter where the daughter is picked up from school by someone claiming to be her aunt when there's no aunt. The other sister is an obsessed groupie of a rock band, then a rape and a murder. This was all over the place. I really can't recommend.

I think this is my favorite of Sandie's books. 80s rock n roll, groupies, dual timelines; it has it all. This was great for me, because I grew up in the 80s and it took me back. When her daughter goes missing, Nicole will have to relive a past she has long buried, even from her husband. Why did she leave the UK and why has a writer come to her door asking questions? This kept me glued to the story and I didn't want to let go.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a riveting and intricate tale filled with unexpected twists. This gripping story delves into the dangerous repercussions of jealousy, misplaced passion, revenge, obsession, and even love. Jones masterfully weaves these elements together to create a haunting narrative that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Prepare to be captivated by this compelling exploration of the dark side of human emotions.

NetGalley ARC

I am honestly struggling to find a single nice thing to say about this one. Every single person in this story was absurd.

This book was a recipe for nonsense:
- 2 Delulu teens who think their rockstar idols are in love with them, and seem to think that matters more than family or ethics
- 1 Teenager with zero faith in her boyfriend
- 1 Husband who never noticed that his wife has been dying her hair for years (!) - does his wife not have roots she has to dye? c'mon.
- 1 Overbearing father
- 1 Enabling mother
- 1 Poor child who through no fault of her own was apparently never taught not to talk to strangers for her entire 8 or so years
- 1 Police force who bought a poorly staged crime scene
- An entire cast of characters who may well be compulsive liars
- Random occurrences of things being in American measurements instead of British, which, I'll admit, is mostly just a pet peeve of mine

I was bored out of my mind. Nothing in this story made sense, the POV transitions were confusing because everyone sounds the same, and every single twist beggard belief to the point that I was starting to worry I'd sprain my eyeballs with all the rolling they were doing. This is my third Sandie Jones book. I didn't like the other 2 that I read any more than this one, and I think it's time I admit that Sandie Jones' books are simply not for me.

Often times the audiobook narration helps lift a book like this for me, but it wasn't enough here and the accent switching just didn't work for me.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

3.75/5 | Releases March 24, 2025

This book had a lot of promise with its dual timelines—one in the 1980s, following sisters Cassie and Nicole in the height of the rock scene, and the other in the present, where Nicole is forced to confront the past she ran from. The mystery kept me hooked, and I loved the nostalgic music industry backdrop. Cassie’s obsession with Ben, the lead singer of Secret Oktober, was unsettling from the start. She was volatile, reckless, and willing to do anything to get to him. That part of the story had me completely engaged (and enraged).

But Nicole? She needed to learn how to use her words. She trusted too easily, never asked enough questions, and just let things happen around her instead of taking control. As much as I enjoyed the pacing, something about this book didn’t fully click for me. By the time the ending rolled around, I hated how every single character handled things—especially when it came to Ben. He was a scapegoat for everyone else’s bad choices, and what happened to him felt unfair and heartbreaking.

Overall, I Would For You was an engaging read with a juicy, tangled mystery, but the character decisions had me screaming in frustration. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for the eARC.

3.75/5 (rounded up)

This was one wild ride! I was hooked from the start—which is impressive, considering most of the characters were downright insufferable. I couldn’t help but feel for Nicole, even with her flaws, while Cassie was, as another reviewer put it, utterly deplorable. There’s truly no better word for her—she was downright delusional at times.

I love a good band story, and this one delivered. Secret Oktober’s rise to fame was explored from every angle, showing how it impacted each character in different ways. The twists and turns kept me engaged—some were predictable, but others genuinely shocked me. The ending, while chaotic and fast-paced, didn’t quite live up to the build-up for me, but it was still a thrilling ride.

This book was perfect for a long day in the car. I have only read a few Sandie Jones novel so far, and I definitely enjoyed this one and look forward to reading more of her work.

Audio Comments: Imogen Wilde was fantastic. It was amusing to hear her narrate such a dark, twisty story right after a smutty romance, but if anything, it proved she can do it all!

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC & Macmillan Audio, for the advanced listening copy!

3.75/5 rounded up

Thank you Minotaur Books for the advanced reading copy!

This was one wild ride! I must say, I was hooked from the very beginning, which is saying something considering most of the characters were utterly insufferable. I really felt for Nicole, even though she was flawed, too. I saw another review that described Cassie as "deplorable," and I think there is no better word for her. She was truly deluded at times.

I really love a band story of any kind, and I thought this one was well-executed. We kind of saw every side of Secret Oktober's fame and the ways in which this affected each character differently. There were so many twists and turns throughout, though some of them did end up being predictable, others caught me completely off guard. The ending, while insane and fast-paced, was a bit of a letdown to me after the chaos and build up of the rest of the story.

I can easily say that I was latched onto this book from start to finish, finding excuse to do household chores or take walks just to finish it. I enjoyed it more than other Sandie Jones I've read and definitely makes me want to pick up more of hers moving forward.

----------------------------------------------------

-----------THIS COULD BE A SPOILER -----------

----------

but this reminded me of A LOVELY LIE in some ways, and that did make me predict certain parts of this (though they were still twister than even I expected!) earlier than I would have otherwise. -------

Nicole is living her life with her husband and daughter when a writer knocks on her door asking about the downfall of a popular 80s band Nicole was involved with. Flashback to the 80s and we find out that Nicole's sister, Cassie, is obsessed with the band, especially the lead singer, Ben. She doesn't know that Ben heard Nicole singing one night, and one thing led to another, and Ben and Nicole have been seeing each other and recording music in secret. This dual timeline novel jumps back and forth from the present to the 80s as we see the effects that fandom and obsession can have on some young girls. Things quickly escalate in this novel, and everything comes to a head at the end. This was ok, even though it does leaving you hanging a bit at the end, just not my favorite by this author.