Member Reviews
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
This is a story about how fandom can take a very wrong turn, and you can’t outrun your past. Nicole left behind a very messy series of events. I enjoyed the past/present time jumps as the story unraveled. It started out a little slow for me, but quickly had me rushing to flip the pages to find out what happened. Some of the twists felt obvious, but there were definitely a few that I didn’t realize! If you’re looking for a page-turner that leaves you on the edge of your seat - this does the trick!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Nicole and Cassie are sisters. Their mom dies, Cassie goes off the deep end and someone both the girls know gets killed. Twenty years later Nicole has formed a new life when ghosts of the past return to ruin everything she built for herself in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Let me start by saying this is a family drama featuring extreme mental illness and a massive lack of communication. This is not a suspense or a thriller as it’s packaged (or as I understood the packaging). With that in mind, it just wasn’t the type of book I enjoy reading so take my review accordingly. Every tiny bit of conflict in the book could have been avoided by the main character simply not treating everything as a big secret. If the main character had even a smidgen of honesty or respect for others (except the seals) this story could never have happened. I find that aggravating in a book. I get leaving out a detail here or there to spare feelings but to lie about or hide literally everything that happens…. well that, as Nicole discovered, will ruin your life to a far greater extent than anything else possibly could. And maybe that was the message, one sister destroys lives by being a psycho and the other destroys lives by being overly secretive for no reason.
I must also say I didn’t appreciate the ending, which was completely open-ended. I was hoping for a twist and guessing what that twist might be, but there was no twist (thus my opinion of this being a family drama and not suspense). The twist I was expecting would have made this a 4 star for me but the ending came off as the author just kind of giving up and leaving us hanging.
Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
As a first- time reader of this author I was not sure of exactly how this dual POV and dual Timeline story would work for me, in some ways it did and in others it didn’t quite click.
That being said when I choose a book to read, I look for items in the description of the story that hook my need-to-know curiosity.
Generally, this means I may or may not really like any of the characters who drive a plot twist but enjoy the twists themselves.
In a rare case like this story where neither happens to be 100% true I had to choose the lesser of two evils and I chose Nicole to root for.
By the time everything was all wrapped up and the plot lines/timelines converged I was right back on the fence of not knowing what to think about how things actually were not totally resolved to my complete satisfaction.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this ARC.
Secret October is the hottest band, and Cassie is obsessed with one of the band members. The band falls apart after a terrible incident. Years later, Nicole is living in California, having escaped her past, or so she thinks. A knock at the door changes her life.
Set in two time lines with alternating viewpoints, the eighties are brought back to life with groupies and big hair as Cassie chases Secret October. I liked the fast pace of the plot, I would have liked to see more character development with the band members.
Sandie Jones took inspiration from her own days of following bands.
This was not my most favorite of her books.
I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is an emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of love, loyalty, and sacrifice. Jones masterfully explores the lengths people will go for the ones they love, making this a thought-provoking and captivating read. If you enjoy novels with emotional depth and suspense, I Would Die for You is one you won’t want to miss!
Secret October was the hottest band coming out of England in the 1980s, and they had throngs of die-hard fans to prove it. But a terrible tragedy ended their meteoric rise to fame and sent Nicole Forbes running as far as she could go. When a mysterious woman tracks her down in California where she lives with her husband and young daughter asking her what she knew about the tragedy, Nicole’s new life is in danger of exploding in a manner worthy of a music video.
Told in dual point of view with two timelines, Jones weaves a tight story of suspense that manages to capture the boundless energy and excess of the eighties music scene, fueled by the parallels between the obsession of superfans and the desperation of a mother in search of her lost daughter.
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read an advance review copy.
This book was interesting. I really enjoyed the switching between past and present. I was very curious how the two timelines would connect. But then the whole reason seemed absolutely silly. I feel like this spiraled just over the top.
This book was not for me. Unfortunately I had to DNF. I could not get into the story line. It was a little confusing for me. I hope everyone else enjoys this book!
I’ve been a big fan of her other books but this one was a letdown and I was bummed. Often when reading I was hoping it would end but it just kept dragging out. The plot points felt predictable and none of the characters had redeeming qualities at all so there was really no one to root for. I would pass and pick up one of her other books instead.
Thanks NetGalley for the ARC
I just finished I Would Die for You, and wow, what a ride! From the very first chapter, I was hooked. The suspense and twists kept me turning pages late into the night—I couldn’t put it down (and my eyes show it today!) The characters felt so real, and I found myself questioning everyone's motives (in the best way possible).
She does an amazing job building tension and keeping you on edge, and I genuinely didn’t see some of the twists coming. That said, there were a few moments where I felt the pacing dragged just a bit, but it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment of the story.
If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing until the end, you’ll love this book. It’s gripping, unpredictable, and definitely worth reading. I’d happily recommend it to my fellow thriller fans!
I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is another brilliant work from an author who never disappoints. As a fan since "The Other Woman," I found this book to be unique yet still true to Sandie's signature style. The dual timeline, which is an absolute favorite of mine, adds an intensity to the storyline that keeps you hooked. There are so many secrets and stories to be told, and the buildup to the end is intense. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sandie Jones is the expert in crafting believable characters in a suspenseful and thrilling story. I appreciated the dual timeline that gave us small bits of the bigger story as needed. Cassie and Nicole had depth and motivation, though the disconnect of their relationship made me unsure about the plausibility of the ending. The story seemed to come to a head and then end very abruptly, but overall it matched the tone of the book and ultimately left me feeling satisfied.
Second book I've read by this author so I kind of knew what I'd be expecting. She writes well so no complaints there. But ugh, these characters. Not a single one was likeable...or redeemable in my opinion.
This is the story of two sisters and a popular band colliding. Drugs, sex...death. There are definitely better ways to ruin your life, but 16 year old Cassie chose this life, obsessing over the popular band. Then we have her older sister who is a struggling singer. A very angry father. A dying mother. And mmm, Cassie's best friend who ..well, is just as equally off the deep end as Cassie ends up.
Spoilers Ahead
Look I never do this. Because jump in blind. BUT. I'm breaking my own rules here. Cassie is absolutely delusional thinking she had any real connection with a drug addled band member. The way she just absolutely goes off though? MA'AM. If there is a sequel...she's absolutely getting off any charges and being committed. No question.
Nicole was just delusional thinking she could run away, cut off people, and hide what happened wirh her husband. Who would've totally had an affair. Their marriage? Not good based off the writing. Brad? A turd polished up nice and shiny. But a turd.
I assume who died by the end is who the author was teasing the books death about the whole time and not the band member who actually died. But no boo hoos from me because he was a gRapist. I do have a question about that. Why in the heck did Nicole even bother telling the kid her dad would be proud of her? Who cares? Let her know the truth about the dude or don't lie. Ugh. Okay I'm done ranting.
I’m a huge Sandie Jones fan, but I Would Die for You is just not on my favorites list. I could not get into this book. Told in two timelines from different viewpoints, the story flowed and came together but I found the characters unlikable and the storyline a bit over the top. Nicole’s daughter goes missing, and ,while she is an older child, no one wants to question what happened to her while she was gone? In another time, Cassie is a teen and groupie to a popular band, Her actions are quite unbelievable. I really wanted to like this, but unfortunately it wasn’t what I expected.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for for my honest review.
This was an engaging thriller and I devoured it quickly. I love stories about bands in the height of their short-lived heyday. However, the transformation of the sister was a bit abrupt and I had trouble buying the characters’ motives. The ending was also unsatisfying for me.
I usually like Sandie Jones but this book just did not do it for me. The characters were all highly unlikable, I couldn't find it in me to care. There was too much drugs and sex and not enough thrills. The ending also left me very confused..
(2.5/5) This book had its engaging elements but was overall something of a slog to get through. I simply couldn’t connect with the characters and it felt like a big lead up to disappointment. Considering I read this thinking it was a novel and not a series, the ending was a bit frustrating. While the premise of the book had a lot of promise, something about the novel felt incomplete. I could have gone without this one.
Thank you the NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. A quick mystery read.m with a bunch of twist and turns with family drama, a boy band and different time periods. Pick it up it may be for you.
Wow, wow, wow! I’ve enjoyed Sandie’s books since her debut, The Other Woman, came out in 2018. Regarding her most recent book, I Would Die for You, I was sucked in from the beginning. I absolutely loved the dual timeline and the portrayal of life of a band member/groupie. There were twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved it!