I WOULD DIE FOR YOU
BY: SANDIE JONES

About 3.5 Stars!

I have read all of the Author, Sandie Jones novels so I was highly anticipating her newest novel, called, "I WOULD DIE FOR YOU," which was a one sitting reading experience for me. It is a dual timeline narrative that takes place in both 2010 (present day), and 1986. The novel begins in 2010, with Nicole and her husband Brad, at home with him offering to help her campaign with her dealing with her kind motivations for protecting the mothers, and their baby seals at their Southern Californian beach front home. Sounds like a pleasant day in the life of a happily married couple that are there for one another living an idyllic life in a beautiful part of the Country doesn't it? By the way, I happen to know that it only rains there approximately three days out of a year. If it was just me, without my children, and husband to consider, I would move there in a heartbeat. It's close to San Diego, and it's where they train the Navy, SEALS. I believe that out of all of the military enlisted that want to become one of the elite Navy SEALS who enlist in their program, that the training is so extremely mentally, and physically exhausting that out of a group who start the training, only a small fraction actually of men can successfully reach their goal of completing the training. I mentioned that since Brad, who is Nicole's husband is one of the instructors in that program. A different storm is about to rain down on their lives. Nicole answers the door and a pushy writer working on a book named Zoe, shocks Nicole by asking her an uncomfortable, and intrusive question about a famous, and the popular band from her past while she lived back in London in 1986. Nicole tells Zoe that she has the wrong person. Zoe ignores Nicole after she tells Zoe to leave, but doesn't leave before Zoe correctly identifies Nicole by mentioning Nicole's maiden name. After Zoe leaves I had the idea that Nicole's world that she left behind in London by Nicole's reaction that makes this novel start out with a bang by this author's ability to inject so much tension creating a taut, and metaphorically rug get ripped out from underneath Nicole's bucolic life, and mine as a reader, as well. This author has the talent to describe Nicole's world closing in around her so skillfully in economic prose that I could feel the sudden feeling of not being able to focus, and as she tried to regain her equilibrium, while Nicole was sitting on her stair she looked around the room at various items surrounding her in her home were totally distorted. That was some very strong writing that I could feel viscerally exactly how Nicole was feeling. But that isn't the only thing because things got much more terrifying, and that same day later that afternoon when Nicole went outside to meet her eight year old daughter, Hannah she wasn't on the bus. The bus driver told Nicole that Hannah wasn't on his list for the day. As any panicked mother would she called the school to be told that Hannah was picked up from school by her Auntie, only Hannah doesn't have an Auntie. When the administrator at the school said that Nicole had called in the week before giving her permission for Hannah to be picked up from school telling Nicole that she has the documentation right in front of her. Nicole said that she never gave permission for Hannah to be picked up by anybody. She calls her husband home, and the police chief comes to their home. Within a short time, there is a search party organized calling Hannah's name, and volunteers along with Nicole, and Brad searching for Hannah.

This is why I don't like dual timeline books because right when I was just getting involved in Hannah being missing, and Nicole's knowledge that her 20 or 25 years of building her life in America concealing her past from her husband. Lying to him, dying her hair, and basically knowing that there's a connection between the writer Zoe showing up asking her about her connection to what she would like to add regarding her connection the lead singer in London's most famous rock band in 1086, to Secret Oktober and the front man (meaning its lead singer) the timeline changes abruptly back to the 1986, timeline. And it doesn't go directly to Nicole and why she's kept her past a secret from her husband. It starts at the beginning having a lot to do with her sixteen year old sister Cassie and her obsession with the band's singer in Secret Oktober. The 1986, timeline highlights an introduction of Nicole's 16 year old sister, named Cassie. Cassie meets Amelia, and how both of them are groupies with the band Secret Oktober, and them thinking that they have a relationship, or the start of a promising one with Cassie thinking that Ben, the singer is interested in her. Amelia her friend who is able to get them into after parties with the band. What Amelia did with Michael at the party when the police raided the party, and Cassie got arrested. The book lost most of its momentum, and seemed much more in the genre of very Young Adult. It stayed there in the past, in 1986, for much too long, and to be honest I was bored, but forced myself to keep reading since I had to write a review. It took a long time to get interesting, but I'm glad I hung in there. Their mother is dying of cancer. I was reminded of a band my best friend, and I used to go to their shows, but we didn't come close to the delusional thinking that Cassie, and Amelia's antics, and wouldn't have chased them, or act so Over The Top as those two.

I think that I've not encountered a more twisted, devious character in a novel as one, or two of them turned out to be in a novel before. I won't name them since that would be spoiler territory. I don't know how other readers feel, but the compelling, and edge of my seat reading content that was included left me feeling depressed after I finished this. I wasn't able to put this down once I reached a certain point, but it left me feeling sorry for some characters that were negatively affected. It's psycho, and devious actions just lowered my vibrations. I didn't like the ending at all, and I don't like when children are part of sadistic revenge plots, especially eight year old innocent children which is leaving me torn about my rating. I'm not sure I'd recommend this even though I couldn't put it down since I was left feeling as though this ended up being a downer. I do like the Mystery & Thriller genre, but even though I realize it's fiction, this takes things too far. I can't say anything more without spoilers, Everyone is different so take my opinion with a grain of salt, and read other reviews before making a decision about whether to read this.

Publication Date: March 25, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Sandie Jones, and St. Martin's Press--Minotaur Books for generously providing me with my ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#IWouldDieforYou #SandieJones #StMartinsPressMinotaurBooks #NetGalley
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I read The Other Woman by Sandie Jones several years ago and I loved it so much. I raced through it because it that was good and the ending was truly shocking! Needless to say, I was super excited to read this new book, but I was sadly disappointed because it didn't have the same energy as The Other Woman.

The story is told in dual timelines set in 1986 London and 2011 California and it's also told from the dual perspectives of Nicole and Cassie, sisters who both have connections to Ben, the lead singer of the hottest rock band in the London in the 1980s. I normally like both these writing techniques, but for some reason with this particular book I found it kind of annoying. I think this was because I actually wished there was more character development in the 1980s backstory. Cassie, the younger sister, being an obsessed groupie of Ben's was actually more believable than the supposed love story between Nicole and Ben which I had a hard time buying because it felt so rushed. If I had connected more with the characters, I would have cared more what happened to them but instead of rushing to the end to find out what happened, I was rushing to the end just to move on to another book.

All in all, the story had potential but unfortunately it just fell flat for me. Since I enjoyed The Other Women so much, I will definitely give the author another chance and read some of her previous and future books.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. It is available to read now.

The characters don’t have to be likable to enjoy the story but this particular set of characters. This just wasn’t my cup of tea. I found the plot weak.

I was so disappointed in this book. I really enjoyed several of the earlier books by the author, but the last few have left me uninspired. It took all I had in me to force myself to read until the last page. There are too many wonderful books to spend my time on trudging through one that wasn’t a good read. I did not care for the characters and the twists and turns did not leave me gasping in shock. As a dual timeline book, I felt like I was constantly trying to figure out exactly what time period I was in. The characters are unlikable and the story line did not keep my attention. I hate to say that I think this is the last time I will attempt to read a book by the author. After having loved, The Other Woman, I thought she would be one of my favorites. But I have been sorely disappointed with her recent releases.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I want to love Sandie Jones books, but I just don't think they're for me. I just wanted this one to end.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a slow build. It took me a while to get into the story line and what was going on. It switched back and forth from present day to the past and had many names to try to keep track of. The ending was suspenseful and had a twist but also seemed like it had improbable events to tie up the loose ends. It got somewhat confusing at the end with who did what since no one was really truthful. It was quickly brushed under the rug and ended abruptly. Many pages dedicated to building the plot. It seemed like she reached her page quota and had to end the story in a hurry. The ending didn't do the rest of the book justice really. I think it could've been better, but it wasn't terrible.

Least favorite Sandie Jones book so far unfortunately 🥹 I did a mix of audio and physical for this one and the story just didn’t do it for me! I hope many others enjoy as a summer thriller!

This author is an automatic read for me and will continue to be! "I Would Die For You" follows the main character Nicole! It all starts when Nicole's daughter doesn't return home from a school activity and Nicole is informed she was picked up by her aunt. Nicole knows this is wrong and the very next day, a strange woman comes to their house asking questions about her past. Nicole knows now that the past she has run from for years and the secrets she has tried to keep buried, are finally catching up to her. The timeline then rotates from past to present, keeping you guessing along the way.

The whole band/groupie thing didn't interest me that much, BUT I was very interested in finding out what happened to her daughter and what Nicole's secrets were from the past that led to this point.

I found this to be a lighter suspense read and ejoyed it! I look forward to what Sandie Jones comes up with next.

A big thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for allowing me the oportunity to read an advanced copy of this book! 3 to 3.5 stars!

Nicole Forbes's daughter is picked up from school by her Aunt. The only problem is her child doesn't have an Aunt. Meanwhile a writer shows up on her doorstep asking questions about the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s..Memories are brought up and secrets are about to be revealed.

The story alternates between 2010 with Nicole and 1986: with sixteen year old Cassie who is obsessed with the hottest band in London, Secret Oktober abd her older sister, Nicole. When Ben discovers Nicole singing at a local bar a wild chain of events is set off.

The 1980's vibes are done well as is the portrayal of someone obsessed with a rock star. It seems the majority of the time is spent in 1986 so if the reader enjoys reading about that type of thing then they won't mind.

The characters are unlikable in either timeline. There are some wild scenes and reveals but I didn't find any of it fun. The story is just too unrealistic for me.

Review of I would die for you by Sandie Jones

I really enjoyed books by this author and was excited to get approved for the digital and audio of this one on NetGalley. I liked it quite a bit and it was a quick listen for me. I loved the dual timelines but I was especially interested in the 1980s timeline. I love 80s music so the band aspect was super fun. It was a great mystery and I was definitely interested in both the story and the characters.

Synopsis:
California, 2011: Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in the small seaside town of Coronado with her husband and daughter. She is not expecting a writer to knock on her door asking for her personal insight into the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s—unveiling the threads of a life she left behind years ago. The same day, her daughter goes missing and the school claims her aunt picked her up . . . but she doesn’t have an aunt. Convinced of a link between the two, Nicole is forced to revisit long-abandoned memories from her past to protect everything she now holds dear.

London, 1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober, the hottest band of the moment. Harboring an intense crush on the leading man, Ben Edwards, she will do anything she can to capture his attention among the throngs of groupies at the band’s scandalous backstage parties. But when Ben discovers her older sister Nicole singing at a local bar one night, he can’t help but feel drawn to her, setting in motion a collision course that could tear their family apart.

Infused with the sounds of the 80s, this thrilling novel from the inimitable Sandie Jones explores the chaos that the frenzy of fandom can provoke

I love a book with multiple timelines. For this one, we are introduced to Nicole in California in 2010 before we alternate to her life with her sister Cassie in London 1986 as their lives are entwined with a popular boy band.

As much as I liked the premise, the story ultimately did not meet up to my expectations. I didn't mind it until about halfway through when I realized every character sucks and Nicole was just infuriating, though Cassie eventually earned an equal spot alongside her. (Honorable mention: scumbag Michael.)

There was way too much tell, not enough show. I felt that the 1986 timeline could and should have been a lot more fleshed out, especially considering not much happened in the 2010 timeline, other than Nicole dragging out the reveal and not doing anything except whining about the horrible thing she did in the past but refusing to share information that could help stop her life from imploding.

But my biggest complaint is the constant use of jaw spasms. Not even exaggerating when I say someone's jaw spasmed in every chapter, and if I'm mistaken then it was definitely used more than once in the next chapter to make up for the lack of it in the one prior. I hope to never see that phrase again.

The second biggest complaint is, what the hell was that cartoon villain ending?

As a huge fan of Sandie Jones’ previous books, I was excited to be approved by NetGalley to read this before publishing date.

This book has two timelines. It starts with Nicole, a mother and wife living in California. A writer comes to her house asking if she will talk about the downfall of a famous rock band from the 1980s and her connection to the band’s singer Ben. Nicole refuses to engage, and tells the writer to leave. A short time later, Nicole’s daughter goes missing from school, and she is told that her “Aunt” signed her out.

The second timeline goes back to the 1980’s. Nicole is a bartender/singer and has a younger sister named Cassie who still lives at home with their parents. Cassie starts hanging around a wild group of kids and her and her girlfriend Amelia start following around Michael and Ben, who are members of the rock band Secret Oktoberfest. When Nicole comes around, Ben falls for her and her sister Cassie is not happy, she feels she has a chance to be in a relationship with him. Jealousy and anger rears it’s head . Now the past has come back to haunt Nicole and her husband Brad (who had no clue about the story of her relationship with the band member).

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of I Would Die For You, by Sandie Jonesl, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

I would’ve probably really enjoyed this book back in my Tiger Beat, Teen Beat, and Seventeen magazine days. But they are about 42 years in the rearview mirror now.

I guess that makes me and not the story derivative? Or maybe I’m just old and crotchety and picky and don’t like character interactions that don’t make sense.

At least it was a quick and easy read.

DESCRIPTION
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Reese's Book Club Pick The Other Woman and The Guilt Trip comes an electrifying next novel.

California, 2011: Nicole Forbes lives a quiet life in the small seaside town of Coronado with her husband and daughter. She is not expecting a writer to knock on her door asking for her personal insight into the downfall of the biggest British band of the 1980s—unveiling the threads of a life she left behind years ago. The same day, her daughter goes missing and the school claims her aunt picked her up . . . but she doesn’t have an aunt. Convinced of a link between the two, Nicole is forced to revisit long-abandoned memories from her past to protect everything she now holds dear.

London, 1986: Sixteen-year-old Cassie is obsessed with Secret Oktober, the hottest band of the moment. Harboring an intense crush on the leading man, Ben Edwards, she will do anything she can to capture his attention among the throngs of groupies at the band’s scandalous backstage parties. But when Ben discovers her older sister Nicole singing at a local bar one night, he can’t help but feel drawn to her, setting in motion a collision course that could tear their family apart.

Infused with the sounds of the 80s, this thrilling novel from the inimitable Sandie Jones explores the chaos that the frenzy of fandom can provoke.

I Would Die For You is a captivating psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. With its intricate plot, clever twists, and well-developed characters, the book expertly explores the complexities of relationships and trust. Jones' writing is both suspenseful and engaging, making it impossible to put down. If you're a fan of thrilling suspense with emotional depth, this book is a must-read!

Nicole came to America, from England, to escape her past. Her sister, Cassie, being the major part of that move. She now is married to a wonderful man, and has a daughter. Everything is going well with her life, until it isn't. Her daughter goes missing, and her husband is blaming her due to her fight for the seals. Nicole is blaming her husband, but which is right? When someone comes knocking at the door asking about her past, Nicole knows that it is her past catching up. This story had a few twists and turns. Told from 1980's England, and present time, many things come to light and shows how twisted Cassie, her sister, really was. The ending, ugh! Another great book! Thanks to Ms. Jones, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

This was my fourth book by Sandie Jones but I really like her writing style. The sibling relationship between Nicole and Cassie was interesting. I also liked that this book focused on how past decisions can affect your future. Overall, I really enjoyed this book!

This was a very unsatisfying who-done-it. The timeline bounces from 2010 to 1986, and it's the story about Nicole, her sister Cassie, and a British boy band that has skyrocketed to fame in the 80s. In the present(ish), we follow Nicole, who lives in Southern California with her husband and her daughter. Her daughter does not come back from an after school activity and is presumed kidnapped, but she arrives the next day fresh as a daisy, after hanging out with her aunt.

An aunt that has been dead for almost 25 years?

Or is she?

Everyone in this book was annoying and underdeveloped. In twisty murdery stories you need to be rooting for at least one person, and not one in the bunch. Thank you St. Maritn's Press and Netgalley for the ARC for my honest review.

This just did not connect with me. I DNF this one sadly. I will try more by this author but not sure her writing style is for me

“I Would Die for You” is my first experience with Sandie Jones, and I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect. The book follows Nicole, a woman who has settled into a quiet life in California after moving from London. Happily married with one daughter, her world is turned upside down when a mysterious woman named Zoe knocks on her door. Zoe is asking about a “Ben Edwards” and accusing Nicole of having a role in the breakup of a rock band called Secret Oktober. This visit shakes her, but her day gets worse when Hannah (Nicole’s daughter), is taken from school by a stranger claiming to be her aunt. Hannah apparently doesn’t have an aunt. What a mystery.

The story alternates between Nicole’s past and present, slowly unraveling her complicated history. We learn that Nicole left behind her younger sister, Cassie, who lived with their sick mother and overly strict father. Cassie was a major fan of Secret Oktober and would skip school to hang around the groupies chasing after the band. Cassie had an unhealthy obsession with Ben, which made me wonder if Nicole’s secret was stealing her sister’s identity because why would Nicole date a man her sister was in love with? (Spoiler: I was wrong.)

The book is part mystery, part thriller, exploring how Nicole, Cassie, and the band’s pasts intertwine and how their lives were changed forever by their shared secrets. However, the book just didn’t keep me intrigued. While I appreciate the author’s attempt to combine suspense and mystery, this book wasn’t for me. I found myself switching to the audiobook to finish it. The twists didn’t feel as surprising as I had hoped, and the characters didn’t quite resonate with me.
Overall, I’d rate I Would Die for You a 2.5 out of 5. While the premise had potential, I just didn’t connect with the story as I had hoped. That said, I still want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

Another Thriller option for fans of unhinged suspense in 𝑰 𝑾𝑶𝑼𝑳𝑫 𝑫𝑰𝑬 𝑭𝑶𝑹 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒆 𝑱𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 out March 25th from @stmartinspress & @macmillan.audio.

I have come to expect a more popcorn level thrill from Jones and this one met my expectations.

This story involves a boy and a band with 2 sisters, the chaos fanaticism can bring, and how far you are willing to go to protect the ones you love.

I thought this was a fun, lighter suspense. It did tackle some deeper themes of fandom and fame, but overall, it was an entertaining read. It is one where suspension of likelihood must be employed, but I also feel like that can be fun in fiction. This really felt like a great option for a TV movie.

Thank you, publishers for sharing these formats with me via @netgalley though you can get them now wherever you get books!