Living in California, Nicole is content with her daughter, husband, and mission to save the seals. Until one day, her daughter is missing from school, only to be found telling the story of a mysterious auntie who came to pick her up. The story flips back a few decades to Nicole and her sister, who are both deeply involved with a famous band. But what does the band have to do with Nicole and her daughter?

Overall, this was a great thriller that I flew through in a day and a half. Sandie Jones is a master at writing about marital deceit and family drama. Anyone who loves live music and knows that following bands is a true-to-life experience would likely enjoy this book. It's thriller meets Daisy Jones and the Six, and I would recommend!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love stories where a character, in this case, Nicole, manages to step out of their lives and create a new one without being found out. Poof - they just disappear. It’s a wild concept. Escape your past and create a new narrative for yourself, but the best part is when it all comes out. It has to be hard to always be looking over your shoulder, wondering who might know or guess that your story is a big lie. Who might make your now designed and well ordered life fall apart. It was fun trying to guess why her past is catching up to her and who is out to get her. Fun, sometimes dark and twisty read.

I Would Die for You takes place in California 2010, but flashes back to London 1986. The main character, Nicole has started a new life in California with her husband and daughter. When a stranger picks up her daughter from school saying she is her aunt, Nicole’s world explodes. She is brought right back to 1986, and a time in her life she would like nothing more than to leave there. Nicole’s nightmare is her estranged younger sister Cassie, and at the same time, a writer shows up at her house and starts asking questions about 80’s rock band, Secret Oktober, a band her sister was obsessed with. The tragic ending of the band is tied directly to Nicole and Cassie, which is also what caused the downfall of their family. The story unravels the twisted past of what really happened in 1986, and the reason Nicole never looked back.

I was not a fan of this book. The characters are flat and unlikeable, every one of them. The story itself was boring and predictable. It was a struggle to get through it. It was a slow burn that never got better.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley, Minotaur books and Sandie Jones in exchange for an honest review.

This fast paced thriller kept me hooked till the end . In this book we follow two timelines one in present day with Nicole who has someone kidnap her daughter and start asking questions about her past. We also follow Cassie her sister in the 80s when all the drama unfolds. This book was entertaining but felt a little rushed, the ending was so abrupt I kept looking for the next chapter. The story and plot were interesting but it felt like the intentions of Cassie could have been explored more and I really did not care for the ending. With that said I would still pick up more from this author in the future! I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

There's something about a mystery set around the music industry that makes me want to drop everything and read. So when I read the premise of "I Would Die For You" by Sandie Jones, I was in.

Nicole's daughter vanishes, and at the same time, a reporter reaches out asking for a comment on a decades-old scandal involving a famous British rock band. She was involved in the band's downfall back in 1986 and is convinced that the two events are connected, which is an excellent setup.

Unfortunately, despite the premise, I just couldn't get into the book the way I wanted to. There were moments - some that definitely sparked my interest - but overall, I couldn't connect with the story. I kept waiting for that can't-put-it-down magic to kick in, but it never quite happened. I finished it mostly because I needed to, not because I couldn't wait to find out what happened.

That said, this was my first time reading Sandie Jones, and even though this particular book didn't click for me, I really liked her pacing and writing style. I'm definitely planning to check out more of her work; sometimes, it just comes down to the right story at the right time.

If you love rock-and-roll drama and family secrets, "I Would Die For You" might be a good match. Even though it wasn't the one for me, I still think there's something worth exploring.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy; all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The beginning of this book was so captivating and it had me eager to continue reading. I love how we get to see a different side of fandoms and the parasocial relationships people develop with celebrities. This book has obsession, delusion, and unlikeable characters. I will continue to read anything Sandie Jones releases!

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is a dual timeline novel, set in the 1980s in England and 2010 in Coronado, California. We start with Nicole, who is happily married with a young daughter. A reporter knocks on her door, asking questions about a band, Secret Oktober, that she was a fan of in the 80s and what happened back then. We are whisked back to the 80s with Cassie, Nicole and their life. Back in 2010, Nicole's daughter is kidnapped and all of the lies that Nicole has told since leaving England and that dark time in her life surface, and the plot thickens!

Although I enjoyed the premise of the novel, I found the characters to be a little flat, not very compelling. Also, I thought it odd that Nicole and her husband immediately blamed each other for their daughter's disappearance, rather than being unified in an effort to get her back, considering how much they loved and trusted each other.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

A woman has been living her best life with her husband and daughter in Coronado, California. A knock at the door changes everything, and her world spirals out of control in a frightening and shocking way. Told through dual timelines, this is great for fans of domestic suspense.

In I Would Die For You, two sisters get entangled with a very popular British boy band in the 1980s when a tragedy occurred and it comes back to haunt them 25 years later. This was a twisted psychological thriller where we knew something bad happened but we didn’t know what for most of the book. Since Harry Styles is my most favorite person ever, I loved the little glimpse into the boy band life and having it tied up in a thriller made it more fun. It kept me on my toes and was entertaining to see it all unfold.

I Would Die for You an okay read. The story toggles between the 1980: and present day, giving a glimpse in obsession, family drama, and the energy of fandom. While the premise was interesting, some of the twists didn’t land for me, and the characters were hard to fully connect with at times. The audiobook, narrated by Imogen Wilde, added a nice touch, with here performance giving the characters more dimension. If you’re in the mood for a light thriller with a nostalgic vibe, this one might be what you need.

This twisty-plotted novel takes readers deep into the heart of teenage obsession and the long shadows cast by youthful choices. With each page, more of Nicole Forbes’s mysterious past comes to light, as present-day events force her to reckon with secrets she’s tried to bury.

In the present timeline, Nicole leads a seemingly quiet life in the seaside town of Coronado, California, with her husband and young daughter. But that calm is shattered when a journalist contacts her, digging into Nicole’s past ties to the rise—and fall—of Secret Oktober, a wildly popular British band from the 1980s. That same day, her daughter—who’s only in kindergarten—goes missing under suspicious circumstances. The timing isn’t just unsettling; it’s triggering. Nicole is forced to revisit a part of her life she’s long kept hidden in order to protect the family she has now.

The 1986 storyline takes us to London, where sixteen-year-old Cassie—Nicole’s younger sister—is fully consumed by her obsession with Secret Oktober, especially their magnetic lead singer, Ben Edwards. She longs for his attention and will do almost anything to get it. But when Ben sees Nicole perform at a small bar and is instantly drawn to her instead, the foundation of their sisterly bond begins to crack. Adding complexity and heartache to this unraveling is their mother’s slow, devastating decline from cancer. Her illness becomes a galvanizing force in their lives—at once drawing the girls together in shared grief and driving them apart as jealousy, guilt, and longing for escape take root. It adds a tragic emotional current to the sibling rivalry, grounding it in something deeper than just pop star fantasies.

While I appreciated the dual timeline structure, I found the 1986 storyline far more immersive and fleshed out. The emotional turbulence, the music, the desperate need to be seen—all of it felt raw and authentic. As a former Menudo superfan, I absolutely connected with Cassie’s obsession; her intense longing to be chosen by someone larger than life felt achingly familiar.

Still, I struggled to connect with either Cassie or Nicole as characters. Their choices often frustrated me, and that distance made it harder to stay emotionally invested. I was also disappointed by how quickly Nicole and her husband turned on each other when their daughter disappeared. The lack of unity felt jarring—where was the trust? The sense of shared purpose? It made a tense moment feel more exasperating than heartbreaking.

That said, there were definitely elements I appreciated. The modern-day setting in Coronado Beach was beautifully drawn, and I liked Nicole’s yearning for peace, quiet, and connection with nature. That desire for healing contrasted nicely with the messy chaos of her past. The novel explores obsession, betrayal, sisterhood, grief, and the lingering effects of long-buried guilt, all within the frame of a darkly nostalgic look at 1980s fandom and fame.

Overall, I Would Die For You is a fast, suspenseful read with a compelling structure and flashes of real emotional power. I didn’t love it, and I didn’t hate it—it landed right in the middle for me. Three stars. If you’re drawn to dual timelines, complex sibling bonds, and the potent allure of retro pop culture, this one might strike a chord.

I received this e-book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for the copy!

Nicole lives a normal life with her husband and daughter in California. But one day, when a writer comes to her door asking her questions about the biggest British boy band of the 80's, and her involvement with them, she starts to be concerned. Later that day, her daughter goes missing from school, who is saying her Aunt picked her up. But how can that be when she doesn't have any known aunts? In order to get her life back to normal, Nicole will have to revisit her past and see how/why it is affecting her now.
Cassie is the biggest fan of the band Secret October and has a massive crush on the lead singer, Ben Edwards. As she starts to get herself into situations to meet the band, she starts to think that her and Ben have a secret relationship. But things start to get messy when Ben unknowingly meets Cassie's sister, Nicole, at an open mic night and is attracted to her and her voice. As things start to get complicated, the pieces start falling together and problems are set on fire.

This was an interesting thriller! It was hard to keep track, going back and forth between the current timeline and the past, as well as the characters, but that might've been because I was switching between the audiobook and my Kindle book. There was a twist that I am proud to say I figured out, but the book definitely leaves you wanting more, in a good way. If you enjoy thrillers and altered timelines, then this would be a great fit for you!

I have read other books by this author and loved them, so I was excited to this one. I did enjoy the dual timeline/dual perspectives, but it fell flat overall. I never connected with any of the characters, so it made it difficult to care what happened to them. The story definitely had potential, but it wasn't fully fleshed out. And while there were some twists, many of them were predictable. I did enjoy the 80s timeline more than the present day one. I didn't care for the ending, and I was not a fan of kids being used for revenge. While this one really missed the mark for me, I do look forward to checking out future books from Jones.

3.5 stars. This was a quick, fast read with two timelines. In the 1980s, Nicole’s sister, Cassie is obsessed with band Secret Oktober and follows them around eventually getting in their groupie circle. The 2010s timeline follows Nicole’s life now living in the US with her husband and daughter. It’s clear Nicole is trying to hide from the past but what happened and who’s to blame?

This book had some twists, some more predictable than others. I really enjoyed the 1980s timeline more than Nicole’s present day timeline. You might feel like you’re trampled by an 80s groupie in some parts/twists; but if you can suspend your disbelief, you’ll enjoy the ride. Not my favorite Sandie Jones but a good one.

I am a Sandie Jones fan, so I was excited to read this new one. I enjoyed this thriller, not quite as much as some of her others though. I preferred the present storyline over the past., and the rock band storyline wasn’t my favorite. Still a quick, fun read.

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.