Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy. This was my first book by Sandie Jones, and probably not my last. This dual timeline mystery/thriller which follows two sisters was entertaining for me. In addition to the family drama, there was a music theme which also interested me. I recommend this for anyone who enjoys twisty characters and story lines.

Nicole Forbes is living a quiet life in 2011 when two things happen in the same day: a journalist shows up at her door asking about the downfall of a famous British band, and her daughter vanishes — allegedly picked up by an aunt who doesn’t exist. The mystery seems to point back to Nicole’s own sister, Cassie, whose obsessive crush on the band’s frontman, Ben Edwards, once altered the course of their lives forever.

The dual timeline structure works well, with the 1986 storyline offering a compelling look at the frenzied world of fandom and a sister’s single-minded fixation on a pop star. Cassie’s unpredictable behavior keeps things interesting, and the eventual reveal of what went down between her, Ben, and Nicole is satisfying — though not without some confusion-inducing plot holes.

The present-day mystery, on the other hand, leans too heavily on withheld information and convoluted twists. As a first-person narrator, Nicole keeps too much from the reader, making the mystery feel more like an artificial puzzle than an organic unraveling. Add in a frustratingly distrustful marriage, some repetitive writing, and a resolution bogged down by shuffled identities, and the modern-day storyline feels like a missed opportunity. Frankly, the 1986 plot could have stood on its own.

Readers drawn to the nostalgia of a fictionalized 80s pop band will likely enjoy I Would Die for You, but overall, this one falls into "airport book" territory — fine for passing the time, but not particularly memorable.

I Would Die For You by Sandie Jones attempts to blend suspense, family drama, and the feverish fandom of the 1980s, but unfortunately, the execution falls short. The premise—of Nicole being thrust back into her past after her daughter’s mysterious disappearance—is intriguing, but the disjointed narrative and abrupt pacing make it difficult to fully engage with the story.

The novel follows alternating timelines between Nicole’s present-day life and the 1986 world of a rock band and teenage obsession. However, the transitions between these timelines often feel jarring and the characters, particularly Nicole, lack depth, making it hard to connect with their motivations. Furthermore, the ending feels rushed and unclear.

I was not impressed with this read at all. I felt like the author just put a bunch of words on paper. That hurts me to say because I love this author.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was just okay for me. Was it entertaining? Sure. It did not feel like a thriller at all to me, and lacked the suspense, but it played out more like a mystery. The story is told in dual timelines with multiple POVs, has all the 80’s nostalgia vibes, a slow burn mystery, and an 80’s boy band. The characters were all boring, one dimensional, and extremely unlikeable. I had a hard time finishing this one, and when I finally did I was disappointed at myself for wasting the time doing so. There was no suspense, no twists, slow moving, rather boring for the most part, and the ending felt rushed and was extremely disappointing. Overall, this was a no for me and my least favorite book by the author.

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A slooowww burn
✦Entertaining reads that lack any sort of real development
✦Dual timelines and multiple POVs
✦Boring, one dimensional, underdeveloped, and extremely unlikeable characters
✦An ending that feels extremely rushed and leaves you feeling unsatisfied


𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️💫2.5/5

Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur for advanced copy for honest review.

Everyone grew up idolizing a rockstar/rock group. Well for Amelia and Cassie, Secret Oktober was that group. Becoming a groupie, getting close to the band can have its advantages but also disadvantages. It’s all sex, drugs and rock-n-roll until the burn-out hits. Down everything crumbles and it’s bringing family with it. 4 stars, recommend

93.5, rounded up to 4)

Sandie Jones’s "I Would Die For You" is a taut and emotionally charged thriller that masterfully intertwines themes of love, betrayal, and the dangerous allure of fame.

The story follows Nicole Forbes, whose seemingly idyllic life in California unravels when her past resurfaces, bringing with it long-buried secrets and tragedies. The plot is both gripping and labyrinthine, expertly blending Nicole’s present-day struggles with harrowing flashbacks to her entanglement with a British pop star. The pacing is sharp, and the steady escalation of tension keeps readers riveted until the final, explosive reveal.

The novel’s strength lies in its intricate characterization. Nicole is a richly developed protagonist whose vulnerability and resilience make her a compelling anchor for the story. Her younger sister, Cassie, is equally fascinating, embodying the heartbreak and recklessness of blind devotion to a flawed idol. Ben Edwards, the enigmatic pop star, is portrayed with a blend of charm and ambiguity that adds layers to the narrative. While the supporting cast enhances the drama, their development sometimes takes a backseat to the central trio’s intense dynamics. Nonetheless, the relationships shifting power balances are deeply engaging.

"I Would Die For You" is engrossing, and offers a potent mix of mystery, intrigue, and emotional depth. Jones’s exploration of the darker side of fandom and fame lends the novel a unique and thought-provoking angle. While some plot threads could have been explored further, the story’s clever structure and Jones’s talent for creating suspense make this a satisfying and entertaining thriller. It’s a compelling reminder of how past choices can echo through the years, leaving scars and revelations in their wake.

This one was just not for me. It was a tad bit long and I felt it could be trimmed. It was a rough read because I felt it was dragging on so much. I wasn't a big fan of the characters and I really struggled getting through the second half to finish.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Mystery/ thriller. This had a very disjointed feel to it. Dual time line, multiple POV. Situations were far fetched, didn’t really like most of the characters. 3 stars.

I have seen some mixed reviews for this one, but I’m here to admit that I enjoyed it. It summoned memories of NKOTB and other bands from the 90s!

While others have mentioned wanting more from Nicole’s relationship with her husband, Brad, that is not really vital to the story, and therefore, it didn’t bother me. In fact, I was more engaged with the 1980s storyline and the mystery of what happened to the band, so I only cared about the present day to see how everything played out.

I will admit that repetition of the song lyrics got a little annoying and the ending felt rushed. And, speaking of that ending, well – I am not sure if I loved it or hated it! Hated it, I think! I wanted more but read it and tell me what you think!

In true Sandie Jones fashion, one character is not quite how she appears, and I appreciated when that came to light. I also liked the pace of it. It kept me engaged and I needed to find out how it all came together. That’s why I am rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 for its entertainment and engaging mystery. While it may have lacked the character depth of other mysteries, it was a twisty ride that kept me intrigued from start to finish.

I had both the eARC and ALC (thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanaudio) so I could experience this one as an immersive read. I thought the audio version, narrated by Imogen Wilde, was very well done!

This book had me hooked from the beginning! I loved the dual timeline and the way the story wove together past and present, slowly unraveling long-buried secrets. The writing style was engaging, especially given we all likely had some sort of boy band obsession in our younger days. While most of us never took our fandom to the extremes seen in this book, it still felt relatable. The twists kept me guessing, and the last quarter of the novel was impossible to put down. This was a fast-paced read that will definitely keep you turning the pages!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Review was posted (Instagram, Goodreads, bookishlytara blog, Storygraph) on March 12, 2025. An additional post (with a reposted review) will be posted on Instagram on the publication day as well as an Amazon Canada review. (links below

I enjoy anything from Sandie Jones. This book was definitely enjoyable, but not my favorite of hers. I really liked all the twists and turns, duo timelines and tension throughout the story. I just feel like something was missing and thinking about that took me out of the story. It was still fun with all the drama mixed in which made it hard to put down. Thank you NetGalley, Sandie Jones and Minotaur Books for this digital arc.

What started out decent for me took a wrong turn into crazy town in the second half. I’ve got to be honest, this book was rough for me 😬

I was really looking forward to this thriller because I enjoyed The Other Woman by the same author. I’m also a big fan of 80’s music, so the synopsis had me hooked and excited for this one 🤘🏻

And I did like it for the most part in the beginning, but the further I got into it, confusion took over. The characters are very unlikable, delusional and under-developed. The timeline jumping between 2010 and 1986 felt extremely disjointed. And while there were plenty of WTF moments… they weren’t the good kind for me.

Going to keep this review short because I just don’t have many things to say that did work for me, unfortunately. I’m appreciative to have received an early copy of this one to read and review, but at the end of the day, it’s not one I’d ultimately recommend. I much preferred The Other Woman if you're looking to try something from this author!

This is a great book!!!!!! I was on the edge of my seat reading to find out who done what!!!!!! It was a really good look into the fans craziness and the craziness music bands have to deal with sometimes. I didn't see the end result coming for sure.

I usually love her books, but this one was not her usual standard. It was hard for finish and follow along. The ending was also not well written.

Jones' latest is a fast-paced thriller that offers an engaging, suspenseful experience with her story of Nicole Forbes and her mysterious connection to British rock band Secret Oktober,. The plot weaves together psychological tension and deeply flawed characters, exploring the darker side of celebrity fandom and the dangers of obsessive idol worship. I'm a sucker for dual timelines, and enjoyed the throwback to London in 1986 (with the remainder of the plot occuring in 2011 California); the timelines are skillfully interwoven and gradually reveal hidden secrets. While some plot points may stretch credibility and occasionally veer into the absurd, they don't detract from the overall excitement of the story.

Despite its strengths, the book’s rapid pacing occasionally undermines the emotional depth of its characters, particularly in the relationships involving Nicole: her connections to her ex-Army husband and Ben, the lead singer Secret Oktober, feel superficial, and the quick pacing of the narrative leaves little room for character development. The mystery, however, is captivating, with plenty of twists that kept me tearing through the pages. Though the conclusion feels somewhat abrupt, the book remains an engrossing read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a wild ride. It starts out with a bang and then uses POVs from the past to guide you from a seemingly innocuous storyline to the wild and outrageous conclusion that I definitely didn't see coming. This author has such a talent for reading completely unlikable, but super compelling characters - ones you hate, but cannot stop reading about; and that was on full display in this book. There are so many emotional aspects throughout this book and I loved the way the author really gets us into each character's head and way of rationalizing things. I was racing though the second half as the drama and pressure really ramped up. The ending was perfect and will leave me thinking about this book for a long time!

I must not like groupie themed novels because this is the third novel with a groupie theme that I didn't like.

Though I enjoyed the author's other novel, this particular one did not sit well with me. I got turned off by all of the debauchery. And the characters were so shallow. With teens running amuck and parents enabling them.

Needless to say, combined with a slow moving story, I could not continue past 43% One star DNF.

I received a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is completely my ow and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.

I had a really hard time connecting to the characters in the story. I wasn't captivated. I also had no idea this dealt with a kidnapping. I do not enjoy that thriller trope. 💔 This book just wasn't my cup of tea.

What a compelling thriller. This was what I needed. A book that I didn’t want to put down. With multiple POVs and timelines I felt quite invested in.

I binged this. It was indeed thrilling and obsessive and a page turner.

As someone that LOVES a very specific subset of bands I’ve never been as obsessive enough to find their hotels, or follow their cars or wait outside shows for them. But this was wildly entertaining to read.

The authors note was also gold.