Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of I Would Die For You by Sandie Jones. This gripping novel blends passion with suspense, drawing you into a world where love and danger intertwine. Jones’ writing is raw and evocative, capturing the high stakes of a story where every heartbeat could be your last. The narrative pulses with intensity, although there were moments when the pacing felt a bit rushed, leaving some twists less developed than I’d hoped. Still, the well-drawn characters and palpable tension make the risk and romance feel all the more real. Overall, I Would Die For You is a thrilling, emotionally charged read for anyone who loves high-stakes romance with a dark edge.

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I Would Die for You is the first Sandie Jones novel I've read, but it won't be the last. I enjoyed the story and the characters, and in the end, it had a super balanced tone between memories and live action. Multiple POVs give the reader cause to question who is really speaking, and you get to play the guessing game of which sibling is the focal point. As the true history of what happened all those years ago come together, you're left with an open-ended choice of which characters to love and which to hate. Readers will easily fall into some traps, which writers love.... thru the trickery of words, changing POV, and playing a bit of a guessing game, you think you understand but then you learn about some of the other situations in the background and it all feels like a house of cards that eventually, like all dramatic moments, come tumbling down. Intrigued by the writing style enough to see if the author recreates that magic in other novels.

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I hate to say it, but this book just didn’t do it for me. Jones has written some great stories over the years, but this one felt completely different—in the worst way. It was slow, predictable, and just didn’t have that spark I usually expect.

The only redeeming quality was the dynamic between the sisters. Their relationship felt real and well-developed, but even that couldn’t save the overall storytelling, which dragged the entire way through. I kept waiting for something exciting to happen, but it never did.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. If you’re a longtime fan of Jones, you might still want to give it a shot, but don’t expect the same level of excitement as their previous books.

I would like to express my deep gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for their generosity in allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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I had mixed feelings about this book, but there were definitely aspects I enjoyed. The overall theme was engaging, and Cassie reminded me a bit of myself and Future Islands, which made her character even more relatable. I was more drawn to the present-day storyline, while the past felt a bit busy with all the different events. The cliffhanger was intense and definitely left me eager to see what happens next! Zoe’s connection to Ben adds an intriguing twist. The sibling dynamic was complex, and I’m curious to see how their relationship evolves, especially with their dad’s support for Cassie and the lingering tension with Nicole.

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This was a compelling read, that I found I did not want to put down! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Suspenseful and thrilling. I felt every emotion. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

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I struggled big time with this book. What should have been a fast read for me, dragged out into days. I felt there was nothing exciting to keep me pulled in to the storyline and invested. I wish this wasn't my first introduction to this author, but seeing she has several other books I won't let it deter me.

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🍷 F R E A K Y F R I D A Y review 🍷 featuring “I Would Die for You” by Sandie Jones!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Nicole Forbes is happily married, a mom and lives in a quiet coastal town in California. Formerly from Britain, there is a reason she fled to the United States and has bottled up secrets from her past life for 25 years.

All her walls come crashing down when her past comes (literally) knocking on her door. A young writer is writing a book on the downfall of a popular British rock band from the 1980s called Secret Oktober. The writer wants to hear about Nicole’s relationship with the lead singer Ben Edwards. After the shock settles in, Nicole starts to spiral out of control. She has finally been found …

What is Nicole’s dark secret and connection to the band you ask?? Well, you will just have to follow the trail of bread crumbs that the author sprinkles throughout dual timelines. You get a true glimpse of the old Nicole AND the new … and the race is on to fit all the puzzle pieces of the last 25 years together! This book is WILD and fast paced and a sucker punch of twists and turns! You can easily binge this one no problem!

Thank you kindly to @sandiejones_author @minotaur_books @stmartinspress @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This book releases on March 25, 2025!

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I finished this book about three weeks ago (forgot to review) and I'm not sure what to say about it! I suppose that means it was an underwhelming story that didn't stick with me very long!

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I'm a sucker for dual timelines, and secrets from the past rising up to haunt you. But this book, although relatively well-paced, just never took off for me. The characters were never fully fleshed out, and the story just never came together.

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I would categorize this one as a domestic drama mixed with boy band fan fiction more than a mystery/thriller. Sandie tends to be hit and miss for me. This was a middle of the road in my opinion. I liked some twists and some drama but overall, it fell a little flat for me. I would recommend to the right audience but not everyone. 3 stars.

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Full of twists and turns, a young groupie is over her head with the boy band of her dreams. This book takes place in two timelines and is part groupie fiction and part family drama. I was hooked and wanted to read the conclusion.

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Nicole's explosive past catches up to her in I Would Die For You and she's going to have to deal with the fallout of all the lies she's told and has been telling. It had me guessing the entire time and blew my mind at every twist. I like a story where I love to hate all the characters and this one was added to that list. Just couldn't get on board to anyone's side. And I love me a cliffhanger ending! This was a wild ride and I loved every minute of it.

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I Would Die for You delves deep into the extremes of fan obsession. In 1986, Cassie becomes fixated on the band Secret Oktober, especially one of the singers. Her sister, Nicole, an aspiring musician herself, also forms a connection with the band. At the same time, both are grappling with the devastating reality of their mother’s illness. Jump to 2010—Nicole has completely reinvented herself, living in another country and hiding her past from her husband and daughter. But something terrible happened in 1986, and as the truth slowly unravels in the present, it threatens to destroy the new life Nicole has so carefully built

This thriller kept me hooked until the final page. It’s dark, full of unexpected twists, and with cliffhangers that make it hard to put down.

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press , Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review

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"I Would Die For You" is a rollercoaster of a book. There twists and turns galore. Everytime I thought I knew what would happen or who did what... I was wrong. I loved how the author used her personal experiences as a Duran Duran fangirl to write the story of a different fangirl of a popular band and how she would do anything to get her way.

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The mystery-thriller part of this was good and the story held my attention, and some of it not predictable but holy cow these were some of the dumbest and most spiteful characters.

It was a little insane how everyone just kept jumping to the worst opinions of each other without any investigation, everyone was gearing for a fight, and no one thought rationally about a single thing. It was also a bit annoying that no one seemed to want to finish a conversation either before they either physically left or went off on the other person.

It could have been such a good story if I had liked just one single person or felt like any relationship made sense. Again, not a bad book but it was just a bit on the extreme for reactions.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

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This was a no for me… I even considered not finishing it halfway through 👎🏼 It was super far fetched & wildly unbelievable. The characters seemed all over the place and it was hard to follow at times. Definitely not my favorite.

Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC!

1/5 ⭐️

#sandiejones #netgalley #arc #newrelease #iwoulddieforyou

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I Would Die for You is fast paced with twists and turns ( or should I say twisted) and characters that you love to snarl at .

What could be better than that.

It is told in dual timelines.

In 2011 we follow Nicole who has a young daughter who goes missing on the day she gets a visit from a writer asking her about a British Band from the 1980'.

This cant be a coincidence.

The other timeline is the 1980's and its Nicole's sister we follow who is obssessed with the band.

Secrets and lies that keep you guessing and the pages turning.

Clear your calendar and settle in for a heart pounding read.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur books for the opportunity to read and review I Would Die for You.

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3.0 stars
LUKEWARM recommend

This was billed as a mystery thriller, but it was more like a rock band soap opera. Two sisters, a friend, and a rock band. What could go wrong in 1986 London?

The unlikeable characters had no backstory for their stupid decisions. The only explanation was the plentiful drugs and alcohol. Seriously?

The writing and storyline were just so weak. It was a book of junk food for the mind.

Goodreads: - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7022420524 - posted 2/3/2025

Storygraph: - https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/ab3c2bec-9162-4881-a12b-b32f3d9d4a79?redirect=true - posted 2/3/2025

Books by Dorothea blog: - https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/02/review-i-would-die-for-you-earcebook.html - posted 2/3/2025

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Unfortunately, this book fell apart at about the 60% mark. The story was so muddled and what were supposed to be big secrets were not that shocking or surprising. The motivations and reactions of the characters was overwrought and didn't always make sense. Not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

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This mystery thriller follows two timelines. In 2011, Nicole’s daughter goes missing the same day a writer questions her about a 1980s British band. In the past, we see 16-year-old Cassie obsessed with the band’s lead singer—until he takes an interest in Nicole, causing tension between the sisters.

The writing style was enjoyable, and I liked the focus on family dynamics and past choices shaping the future. Despite not usually liking love triangles, this one worked. However, the ending felt underwhelming compared to the buildup. Still, you might feel differently!

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