I thoroughly enjoyed this read!! This historical fiction based thriller was extremely well written. Sandie Jones did an excellent job making this read realistic enough to leave you begging for more. Sometimes when I read books that jump time periods I feel either lost, confused, or overwhelmed trying to keep up. However, with this book, I appreciatively found that details were unveiled at an easy to digest, steady pace.

I Would Die For You is a web of mystery with threads of romance, deceit, and darkness. Nicole and Cassie are two sisters that happen to fall for the same man, Ben, a member of a boy band that is skyrocketing to fame across the globe. When one sister goes missing and Ben is to blame MANY lives are changed forever.

Sandie Jones' newest novel has a lot of potential but, in the end, it was too tangled up in the threads of its subplots.

The first half of "I Would Die for You" was compelling and fast paced. I pictured Ben as Harry Styles and understood the teenage obsession Jones describes since I saw it growing up in the 1D era. However, there are two main things I would change in how the plot develops in the second and third acts.

1. I would have wanted Cassie to be more of an unreliable narrator. It was too obvious too early on that it was all in her head. It would have been more effective if the reader saw Cassie have a few sweet moments with Ben behind stage after the concert, maybe a party before the one that was raided, and then genuinely believed that Cassie and Nicole were both being strung along and Ben was the bad guy. Then we would be shocked when we see Cassie's involvement in destroying Ben's reputation.

2. I would have wanted Cassie's obsession and "snap" to be more motivated by her mother's death. I felt the depth of emotion in the first few Cassie chapters but somewhere along the way it got lost. Including a few scenes where she tells her mother about being backstage at the concert and then meeting Ben, her mother's excitement for her, followed by her mother's decline and perhaps her death happening on the same day she finds out about Ben and Nicole would have been a more believable motivation for Cassie going crazy. Ben was her tie to her mother and perhaps she even would have thought she had her mother's blessing in her delusion. Instead, I found it hard to believe that she was so obsessed and willing to take such drastic steps without much explanation beyond "I love his music and stare at his poster".

All in all 3 stars for good writing quality, good ideas, but unfulfilled potential.

Things I liked about this book
-Mystery/crime investigation
-Music industry/ boy band craze
-Two time lines (present day and the 1980s)
-Looks into the parasocial relationship between fans and musicians and the unhealthy obsession some people have
Triggers include
-R@pe
-Assault
-Drug Use
-Alcohol
-obsession/stalking

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur and the author for the arc!

I could not, would not, did not put this one down! Geez Louise I was hooked from the very start! A crazy thriller about teenage fangirl obsessions and the lengths one will go to meet, greet & and uhhh way more! It’s toxic, it’s a hot mess and I couldn’t stop flippin’ pages to find out what happened all those years ago and how those events came back to haunt our MC’s!

The dual timelines bounced back & forth with just the right pacing that each one was like a little mini cliffhanger. I’m usually pretty good at guessing at least a little bit of what is going on … but this story kept me completely in the dark until the very end! And that ending? Not entirely sure how I feel about it yet … it’s a doozie!

The set up for I Would Die for You was brilliant in the way it grabbed me by the hair and demanded my attention. Nicole's daughter is picked up early from school by her aunt. But she doesn't have an aunt! A reporter appears at Nicole's house wanting clarification of her role in the death of an 80's pop star. Who is she and are these events connected?

The dual timelines of past and present were a great way to tell the family history of sisters Cassie and Nicole. The 1980's groupie scene with teenage obsession, sex, drugs, and rock n roll. The carefree choices made as teenagers can have repercussions as adults. Switch to present and the painful way the past can creep back to slap Nicole in the face. Can her marriage survive from all the secrets Nicole has kept buried?

There is a ton of suspense and drama, but the ending seemed to drag on for a rapid read at the beginning. Pick this one up for a fast summer thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for early access.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this whole story, especially the flashbacks to the 80’s and following a fictional boy band around the UK! It had so many missing pieces right from the start that slowly fall into place when you start getting the backstory. I loved how I had no idea where it was headed and the was satisfied by the time the story concluded. I would recommend if you like psychological thrillers and mysteries involving long kept secrets!

I couldn't put this one down!!! It was such a fast-paced easy read. I had some inkling along the way as to where it would end up, but there still some surprises I didn't see coming. Recommend this one for an enjoyable read, that's thrilling but not creepy!

Fast-paced and twisty, this one sucked me in despite some really unlikeable characters. I especially loved the portions set in 1986.

I was really excited by the premise of this book and overall I enjoyed the read. This is a dual-timeline story about a present day woman living her adult life in California and her past in a relationship with an 80s band member. This was billed as a mystery/thriller and it didn't really have that feel for me. There was a mystery woven within the plot but it wasn't the main storyline. The end was a little rushed, in my opinion, but I was invested in the characters enough to want to know how it all turned out. I really like Sandie Jones other works so this may have just been an outlier for me but I am excited to see what she writes next. Thanks to Sandie Jones, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I had a really hard time finishing this book. I’ve read and enjoyed other Sandie Jones books, but this one just didn’t seem like any of them. I felt this was more about groupies following an 80’s band than it was a mystery/thriller. It was slow, dragged out, and I found myself just getting mad when the plot twist wasn’t revealed. Normally, the thrill of the ending would make me keep want to reading, but this one didn’t do it for me.

The story flips flops between Nicole’s life in London is 1986 and now her present day life in California in 2010. She has a younger sister Cassie who is definitely something else. She’s a delusional 16 year old who’s created this relationship in her mind with Ben, one of the band members of Secret Oktober. Ben ends up falling for Nicole instead. At what lengths will Cassie go to protect this “relationship” of hers with Ben? Read on to find out.

Present day, a writer shows up on Nicole’s doorstep asking about her past. Later that same day, Nicole’s daughter is taken from school. Has her past come back to haunt her or is it something else?

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for the digital reviewer’s copy in exchange for my honest review.

I think I am a "completist" for Sandie Jones at this point which is why I was excited to get her newest release. Her thrillers are always easy to jump into and hard to put down. This was not my favorite but I did enjoy majority of it. This is a story about a woman who is happily married with a child and suddenly secrets from her past start to threaten to emerge. You spend time going back and forth between her life before and her life after as secrets are revelead. The end feels a tad rushed but overall it was a fun ride. Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read a copy for an honest review.

In a story of secrets and obsession Nicole Forbes has been living in fear that her past will someday come out. She is living in California with her husband Brad and daughter Hannah when a knock on her door brings her worst fears to light. A young woman asks her about her connection to a 1980s rock group. Sandie Jones then divides her story between the 1986 music scene and events in 2010. Nicole’s sixteen year old sister Cassie was obsessed with Ben Edwards, the lead singer of a rising rock band. When she gets into their hotel and Ben talks to her she believes that they have made a connection, fueling her obsession. Nicole also made a connection with Ben through music that she had written. A murder and the band’s break up destroyed their family and Nicole left for the United States. She never told Brad about her past, but someone is now targeting her and her family.

I found it hard to connect with the characters in this story. Cassie was manipulative, dishonest and vengeful. Nicole has been less than honest with Brad. Each time she decides to tell him the truth she backs down. The more she panics, the more she finds fault with Brad and questions their relationship after years of marriage. Just when Nicole discovers what actually happened in 1986 and who is targeting her in the present, Jones throws in one last twist that leaves you hanging in the end. While I am a fan of Sandie Jones, this story was not her strongest. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for providing this book.

This was a good book that gave me Daisy Jones vibes, but with a twist. It took a while to set up, but the end proved a twisty/turny ride that upped my rating to 3 stars. While this one was good, The Other Woman held my attention much more!

I’ve always loved dual timelines and enjoyed several of this author’s previous books, so I was looking forward to diving into this one!

"I Would Die for You" twists together the present day with the exciting rockstar scene of the 1980s, and I have to say, the 80s sections were my absolute favorite! They brought so much fun and upbeat energy to the story. In contrast, the current day focuses on Nicole, who has a lot on her plate—her daughter is missing, her mother is dying, and she’s trying hard to keep some old secrets hidden. It definitely adds a darker tone to the story. I enjoyed some of the characters and their development, but I found the pacing a bit slower than I enjoy.

I was lucky to get early copies of the audiobook and ebook from Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio. Following along with the ebook while listening to the audiobook is a great experience! The narrator brought the story to life in such an amazing way, making it a fantastic journey. If you’re considering how to enjoy this book, I’d highly suggest the audiobook; it kept me engaged.

The plot is good, but I wanted more excitement to hook me. It’s receiving many positive reviews, so feel free to take my opinion with a grain of salt!

All opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

I received an ARC of this book. I enjoyed this book very much. I liked the way the book tied together two time periods. An interesting story and an easy read.

SYNOPSIS
Nicole Forbes lives a quiet suburban life in California, far from her English roots. She once dreamed of fame and fans, but that dream faded years ago, just like the young woman she used to be. Now, a writer shows up at her door, bringing back memories of what might have been and the past she’s spent years running from.
THOUGHTS
I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones isn’t quite a thriller or a mystery, though it has elements of both. Unfortunately, it falls a bit short. The novel switches between two timelines: Nicole’s quiet life in 2011 and her turbulent past in 1986. In 1986, Nicole’s mother is dying, her father is struggling with loss, and her younger sister, Cassie, escapes into the fantasy of a life with the lead singer of Secret Oktober. As fantasy and reality collide, Nicole must pick up the pieces when love, fame, and betrayal demand a price too high.
The book is filled with twists and turns, and the ending is a surprise. The 1980s storyline is the stronger of the two, with Jones doing an admirable job of capturing both the exhilaration of fandom and the angst of a starstruck teenage girl. However, the novel lacks an emotional center, making it less engaging and memorable. Aside from Cassie, the characters never quite feel authentic, leaving the story without much depth.

RECOMMENDATION: 3 Stars
I Would Die for You is an okay read, but if you’re looking for a true mystery-thriller, this one probably isn’t it.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press |Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

I found the story to be a mix of fairly interesting modern day who-done-it with a more interesting decades old backstory. Flopping back and forth left me unsatisfied with being able to fully engage with both or either. Either Nichole or Cassie as a standalone have suited me better, together felt like they were connected as a backstory for each other. Nichole was a typical eco-warrior with a typical family until her daughter is kidnapped from school. What happens is interesting enough with the 1980's band details as just that, a reason why it happened. In 1986 Cassie is a deranged superfan who's mania is encouraged by the other superfans stalking the hot band Secret Oktober. Interesting plot with how the band reacts to her and the rabid fanbase and their internal issues would have given us an interesting solo story also. I became bogged down by the slow pace and switching back and forth so skipping around kept me going till the end. Speaking of which, I felt let down by how short the final shocking wrap up was and that it left me hanging.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#IWouldDieForYou #MinotaurBooks #SandieJones #NetGalley #Mystery #contemporarymystery #thriller

Connect with Sandie Jones
IG: @SandieJones_Author
FB: @RealSandieJones

Connect with Minotaur Books
IG: @minotaur_books
FB: @minotaurbooks

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC of this book.
3 stars

I've never read anything by Sandie Jones before, so I wasn't sure what to expect. This story had an interesting plotline and kept me guessing about what was going on until the last page. I unfortunately wasn't a huge fan of the writing style - it was easy to read, which was a plus, but I found it a bit too long and repetitive. I felt like there was too much going on at times, and I think a slightly simpler storyline would've helped the story and it's twists hold more tension. I didn't like the constant foreshadowing, and I would've liked to have a little bit more information quicker than at the very end of the book. However, this also might have just been because I felt like it was a bit long.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery/thrillers. Again, I didn't care for the writing style, but the story itself was interesting and moved quickly.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 3/25
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I Would Die for You is a gripping psychological thriller with a dual timeline set in the 1980's and the present. Right from the start I was gripped to this story.
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I thought the characters were well developed and I felt that the dual timeline really helped bring this story to a complete story. I loved the backstory into Cassie, Nicole and Secret Oktober. I really enjoyed both of the timelines; the 1980's timeline with the boyband obsessed teen really hit home. The pacing was steady to fast with perfectly placed twists throughout the book that had me flipping through the pages. The resolution of the story was just what I wanted for this one!
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I listened to this via audiobook while reading my eARC. Imogen Wilde was absolutely perfect for this. I was so enthralled by this audiobook that I couldn't put this book down. If you are going to pick this one up - without a doubt check out the audio!
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Overall, this was a huge win for me; I very much enjoyed this story! I think my psychological thriller fans will enjoy this one! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Sandie Jones, St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for the ALC and eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sandie Jones delivers an intriguing dual-timeline thriller in I Would Die for You, blending 1980s rockstar obsession with a modern-day mystery. The novel follows Nicole, who has long since left her past behind, until a writer’s probing questions and her daughter’s sudden disappearance force her to confront old secrets. The flashbacks to 1986 capture the feverish intensity of teenage fandom through Cassie’s infatuation with the band Secret Oktober, especially its lead singer, Ben. The connection between the past and present unfolds gradually, weaving a story of obsession, betrayal, and long-buried truths.

While the premise is engaging, the execution doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. The pacing feels uneven, with the 80s sections often outshining the present-day mystery, and some character motivations feel underdeveloped. The tension builds well, but the final revelations lack the impact expected from such a layered setup. Despite these flaws, I Would Die for You remains an entertaining read, especially for fans of music-infused thrillers and slow-burning suspense.