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.

This is the first book I’ve read by Sandie Jones and while it was enjoyable I can’t give it a 5 due to the abrupt way it ended. At times I was confused with the timeline as the flipping back and forth between 2010 and 1986 didn’t seem necessary and many times I was uncertain who was ‘talking’ in the chapter. Most of he characters are okay but not great for me.

Thanks to #netgalley, #minotaurbooks and the author for this ARC to read. All opinions are my own

This was a quick and fun read. The short chapters and mysteries kept me invested in what was going on and wanting to read more. At first, I had a bit of a hard time keeping track of what was going on with the different timelines, but once things got going it became a lot more clear. I was invested in the mysteries going on in both timelines so I wasn't ever disappointed when it switched between them which was nice. The characters weren't necessarily likeable, but they were complicated and interesting. I was invested in finding out what would happen to the characters, but because of that I felt the ending was a bit abrupt.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. Ive enjoyed Jones' past work. Unfortunately, this one didnt quite pull me in as some of her others. However, the ending did save it! I was sucked in reading the last quarter of the book.

I really loved this book and honestly hope this is made into a movie! I binge read this book and the ending will just floor you! The story follows a young girl, Cassie, obsessed with a band named Secret Oktober and the lead singer Ben Edwards. Its reminiscent of the fandom stories you hear about Beatlemania, following the band from hotel to hotel, waiting for a small glimpse of them at the airport, and the obsessed young groupies who idolized the members. I don't want to ruin my review with spoilers, but I highly recommend that you read this book! The book is well written, the characters are so believable and following the timeline was not confusing. I couldn't wait for each chapter to jump back and forth from current to past to find out what happens next. Read it to find out!!

This one kept me guessing for awhile though I have to admit that reading a meet your hero type book felt reminiscent of my time as a preteen on wattpad.

This one was not for me. I felt like the relationship between Ben and Nicole was not really developed. Cassie and Amelia were such vile characters that it was hard to stomach. The twists were confusing and contrived. At least it was entertaining so I will give it 3 stars. It just wasn’t the best. Thank you for the ARC though.

Cassie is madly in love with Ben. Ben is the lead singer of Secret Oktober. She follows the band with the help of a new friend to their exclusive hangouts. Ben reacts with similar feelings. Cassie’s older sister Nicole helps her navigate through her feelings. This is a great read about two sisters who have to deal with the loss of their mother and find distraction with a boy band.

This novel starts out with an interesting premise, but turns dark very quickly. There are 2 timelines which connect the events, going back from modern California to London, 25 years earlier. The novel quickly darkens when a child is kidnapped from school. The main character, Nicole is brought back to the events that occurred in England and tries to understand how her peaceful life has been upended. The catalyst was the appearance of a strange woman trying to ask questions about that incredibly fraught time.

I never found myself not really liking the characters or the dual timelines.

Thank you Netgalley for this novel to read and review.

I read this book in just two sittings, as it captivated me from the very first chapter with the gripping premise of Nicole’s daughter going missing. Immediately, I found myself immersed in the narrative, eager to unravel the mystery. The author weaves in flashbacks to Nicole’s early life in London, which enriches the story and shows how her past experiences have shaped her present circumstances with her husband and daughter.

The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping me guessing about the identities and motivations of each character. Read to find out how Nicole’s choices regarding a popular young boy band during her teenage years impacted her life. I could not put this book down!

This book had enough good moments to make me want to continue and finish but there were moments where I had to stop and wonder if I had missed something.
The book has a dual timeline which adds interest. I love the 80’s London boy band setting. The ending was very abrupt and again I felt like I missed something with Zoe’s character.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ebook.

I’m a big fan of Sandie Jones but I didn’t really like this one. It was a bit hard to follow with the back and forth between perspectives and timelines, which I usually love but this time it got a little blurry and convoluted. I didn’t really feel drawn to any of the characters and Cassie really got on my nerves. A quick easy read though that kept me engaged just enough to finish it.

2010: Nicole has created a quiet life in a small Californian town. She fights to save seals and be the best mother she can to her daughter. When her daughter is taken the same day a woman shows up asking questions about Nicole's world is tipped upside down. The woman is writing a story on the demise of the greatest boy band of the 80s, a demise that Nicole played a part in. She will have to face up to the hard truths she's had buried for years.

1986: Secret Oktober is the band in London, leaving all the teenage girls with crushes for the three heartbreakers. Cassie is among the crowd, when she falls head over heels for the lead singer, Ben, she will stop at nothing to get his attention.

What starts out as a tribute to 80s music with a family drama takes you around some curves you won't expect. I absolutely love when each character is potentially lying and guilty of something. This speaks volumes to the fandom that leads some down rabbit holes you wouldn't think possible. Sandie Jones always leaves you guessing until the end. Highly recommend. Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur for the advanced copy of this book.

needed a minute to reflect after that one! Whew!

This is told in dual timelines - London 1986 and California 2010. In the present, the story follows Nicole, who gets a visit from a reporter asking questions about her involvement in the demise and death of the band Sekret October. Shortly after, her daughter is missing and her world turns upside down as all the secrets that she thought she had escaped have come back to haunt her.

In the past, we follow Nicole’s younger sister Cassie and her infatuation with the band Sekret October and how her obsession has consequences.

The dual timeline was so well done! Each time the POV switched, the author left me on a cliffhanger and kept me wanting more. Cassie’s character was extremely unlikable and it was almost unrealistic. However, I still enjoyed the story and the twists the book had in store for me. The ending also left me scratching my head for a moment but I was able to piece it together quickly.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for this advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first by this author and while I loved the dual timelines, the pacing was extremely slow and the plot was drawn out for far too long. Overall, the story was cool and unique but I was bored

Thank you to Sandie Jones, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I promised to be honest, so here it goes... I did not like this book at all. It was a struggle to get through. The characters were horrible and so unlikeable.

I had an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St.Martin’s press. I was intrigued because who I thought someone was, turns out she wasn’t. It was set in the UK and the US which I liked. It was a little wordy and had quite a few mini plots within the story, but it was a quick read. The literal last sentence drove me crazy, because it could mean part 2 or it could mean choose what you think, or worse for me, the book ended and the character I hated was doing her bad work all over