I Would Die for You was an engaging read with moments of real tension, though I felt the pacing sometimes dragged and the twists were a bit predictable, which kept me from fully immersing myself. The characters had some depth, but I didn’t always connect with their choices, leaving the story feeling slightly uneven for me. Imogen Wilde’s narration of the audiobook, however, was a definite highlight—her voice brought energy and nuance to the characters, making the listening experience far more enjoyable than the text alone. Overall, I’d give it three stars: solid, but not quite memorable.

I like the way this was told in dual timelines and I found the plot to be interesting, however, I felt there were a couple gaps in the story. I did not love the ending, but overall thought the book was pretty good.

I'm starting to realize that Sandie Jones is a real hit or miss author for me and unfortunately, this one was a miss. I honestly just could not get into the storyline, especially the past timeline. I wasn't ever captivated and I probably wouldn't have been able to finish if I didn't also have the audiobook to help carry me along. The audiobook itself was well done, but it was the story that didn't grip me. I think I would have enjoyed it more if the book was mainly focused on the present timeline as I generally don't relate to teenage characters.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for my eARC/ALC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5 rounded to 3

This story is told in dual timelines of 1986 London and 2011 California and in first person by Nicole in the latter timeline and in third person following sisters Nicole and Cassie in the former timeline. While the format of the narratives seems rather suspicious, I guess it befits the ambiguity of a thriller for later reveal purposes. I think I read too many thrillers for this not to stand out for me anymore. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Imogen Wilde. This was my first audiobook listen by this narrator, and I found her voice to be pleasant and distinctive with regards to the characters and compelling in the dramatic moments.

There were a lot of complicated family dynamics at play during the course of this story from controlling parents to sibling rivalry as well as one of those ambiguous all too important events that is alluded to throughout that keeps you guessing about the details. Sometimes I enjoy those and sometimes I find them annoying. I was more annoyed with this one. Ultimately, this was one of those thrillers that is so purposedly ambiguous about large events that impact the lives of the characters that it ended up annoying me overall. I ended the book with more questions than answers, albeit a lot of inferences, many of which made no sense to me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy provided for an honest review.

I was so excited to listen to this. It sounded like a phenomenal premise. And then…it just fell flat.

I was hooked at the very beginning with the kidnapping (hello, who wouldn’t be?!) and then slowly, slowly, the book lost me. There were so many characters and timelines and then I realized all the MC’s were well into their 40’s but acting like they were still teenagers of the ‘80’s, and that lost me completely.

Then I spent the whole book thinking something thrilling happened that one of the MC’s was running from, and that was an EPIC let down. Then the character development in the 2010’s was a letdown. And then we find out that the main story is based on a bunch of lies? Oof.

The narration was fine; it was actually a highlight for me. Would I read anything else from this author? Eh, likely not.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Life got busy and I had to actually purchase it to finish, but I’m glad I did. It was a haunting story and I am a sucker for a duel timeline. I’ve already recommended this to my friends.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

The synopsis drew me in, and I thought I'd love this book with its missing child, secrets, obsession, and sisters. While enjoyable, it didn’t fully wow me. I appreciated the exploration of groupies, obsession, and the two timelines, along with the theme of lasting consequences. The drama, twists, and tension were great, but my main issue was the lack of connection with the characters.

I would have rated this book four stars if the ending had been stronger. Unfortunately, it felt underwhelming and didn’t live up to the excitement of the buildup.

Big thanks to Macmillan Audio & NetGalley for the ALC of this new thriller!

While the audio did help me push through and finish this, unfortunately this one felt very hard to connect to. The storyline, the characters & the pace just were not working for me. This one felt sort of empty and very lackluster.

This was a solid 3.5 for me (rounded up to 4). It was overall a good story, but I struggled to 1) keep the characters straight (it always felt like there was yet another character being brought into the story), and 2) the timeline - the switch between the 1980s and 2011 was sometimes hard to follow. It was definitely twisty, which is always good, and I enjoyed trying to guess what was going to happen next, but I didn't predict the ending

I listened to the audio book version of this, and the narrator was a good choice - she was able to swap between characters quickly and keep the story flowing easily.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

This story is one that I can't decide how I feel about yet. There are some good aspects and some not-so-great ones that mix together and make a middle-of-the-line story for me. The story focuses on Nicole, who in 2011 is a seal doctor who is an advocate of closing their natural habitat most of the year to allow them to live their lives without the fear of humans. One day, a girl shows up seeking to know about her past and her connection to the boy band Secret Oktober. That same day, her daughter is kidnapped from school, but luckily is found safe. The story goes from 2011 to 1986, and the past narrative is sometimes told by Nicole and other times by Cassie, Nicole's younger sister. Both girls have a connection to the band, and one of their connections is much more sinister than the other. Nicole moved to the States to get away from that life and has never told her husband about her past. As her past comes to the surface, Nicole's world starts to fall apart.

Brad, Nicole's husband, is a Navy SEAL who is a SEAL training instructor. He becomes upset when he discovers that Nicole hasn't told him everything about her past. To be honest, the things she hasn't shared don't really affect anything, and he could have easily Googled her if he was concerned. This makes him seem like the bad guy when all of the horrible stuff in their life is happening; he is totally gaslighting her. Yes, it is her past coming back to haunt them, but that's because her past is full of crazy people. Be a supportive husband.

The flashback scenes from Nicole's point of view are sweet, while the same scenes from Cassie's perspective feel shady. However, the story intentionally leaves out certain details, which are supposed to add to the suspense. We end up going in circles until the "big reveal" at the end. It seems like the narrative is designed to mislead the audience for a bigger impact, which is fine, but then the story concludes without a proper resolution, which is frustrating. There are many small details in the story that are emphasized, while the more significant issues are brushed aside. Overall, I feel this thriller is just okay—more drama than actual thrills.

This was not my favorite book by this author. It dragged a bit for me and I wanted to stop, but kept going to finish it. I did listen on audiobook and sometimes that brings down books for me depending on narration.

I Would Die for You has a beautifully written style and emotional themes, but the pacing is slow at times and the characters can feel distant. It’s a thoughtful, moody read—more about atmosphere than action. Worth a try if you enjoy character-driven stories with a melancholic tone.

I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones is one of those books that I would normally skip because of the melodramatic title, but I am so glad I gave it a chance. This thriller/suspense book delivered in terms of setting (who doesn’t love a coastal setting especially when it becomes relevant to the plot). While the story was often unbelievable, it was such a good, entertaining book for when you need to tune out of your daily life and inhabit a different world.
I enjoyed the narrator’s pacing and expression. I did initially find it hard to speed up the story and still understand what was happening, but I slowed it down more than I normally would (x1.5 instead of x2) and that resolved my listening issues. I am excited to read more by Sandie Jones because I’m running out of thriller/suspense/horror authors to read and am glad I can now add Sandie to my list to read all of her books.

**3.5-stars**

I Would Die for You is a story told via two timelines: 1986-London and 2011-California. We get Nicole Forbes perspective in 2011, and her younger sister, Cassie's, perspective in 1986, when Cassie was just 16-years old. This novel also features one of my favorite things: musicians. I've been so excited for this story as it revolves around a super popular, yet fictional, band from the 1980s.

In fact, the 1986 timeline definitely stole the show for me. There's something about the vibes of the 1980s music scene in London that I just find so compelling. And I did feel like this captured the fan-side of that moment really well. I did enjoy the back and forth throughout the story, learning more about the sisters, and trying to figure out what happened between them.

Closer to the end, however, the timelines started to feel less distinct, and I honestly had to relisten to the last 1/2-hour of this audiobook 3x. It did have me invested though. This was a 4-star read for me right up until the very last bit. Seriously, the last few paragraphs, I was like, that's it!?

I never mind an open-ended story, one that leaves a bit up to the Reader's imagination, but this wasn't like an 'evil grin on your face' last moment twist, it was more a, 'you're seriously going to end it right there', kind of thing. Nevertheless, I still found this an overall entertaining story about sisters and all the twisted drama involved in their relationship.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I have a lot of fun with Sandie Jones stories, and will happily continue picking up all her new releases!!

3/5 Stars! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook of I Would Die for You by Sandie Jones, narrated by Imogen Wilde.

This is my first audiobook by this narrator and for this author. I thought the narrator did a pretty good jobs, there were some ups and downs throughout the book and ended up being okay for me. I've read this author's other books before and thought this didn't really quite hit it for me completely. The story ended up being predictable for me and it's been an easy following of the story - I listened to this while running errands and didn't feel like I missed anything. I like the going back and forth of the history line, but overall was just okay for me.

I really enjoyed this book. I love any read that is set in the 80s or 90s. Just so nostalgic for me. Not as much when the setting is not in the US but still good. This book had a lot of fun stuff for me. The setting, the plot, the mystery, the characters. It was all quite intriguing.

There was a lot of up and downs in this book. A lot of broken characters and not so moral decisions being made. The ending was quite unexpected. I thought I knew how things were going and where they would end but nope.

I was invested from the beginning and really enjoyed this one.

I Would Die For You by Sandie Jones is a psychological thriller that explores the dark side of love, obsession, and manipulation within a seemingly perfect relationship. The story centers around a newly engaged couple, and as they plan their wedding, disturbing cracks begin to appear beneath the surface of their idyllic romance.

The narrative delves into the complexities of the couple's relationship, gradually revealing a web of deceit, hidden agendas, and dangerous desires. As the truth unravels, the characters are forced to confront the lengths they would go to protect their own interests and the devastating consequences of their actions.

Audiobook experience: The audiobook version enhances the tension and suspense of the story through skilled narration, bringing the characters and their twisted relationship to life.

I Would Die For You is a compelling and suspenseful thriller that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense. Sandie Jones expertly crafts a tale of deception and obsession, leading to a chilling and unforgettable climax.

Uhh did not enjoy at all. Unlikable characters. For me it was boring. I have enjoyed Sadie Jones’ writing in the past, this one was a no for me.

This audiobook hooked me from the start and had me fully immersed in 80s glam, fandom frenzy, and the dark secrets fame can bury. It’s twisty, nostalgic, and surprisingly emotional, as a dual-timeline thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. 🎤🕶️

We jump between 2011 California and 1986 London. In the present, Nicole’s quiet life is shattered when a writer starts digging into her past just as her daughter goes missing. In the past, we follow her younger sister Cassie, a teen obsessed with the band Secret Oktober and things go very sideways when Nicole ends up in the spotlight instead. The timelines slowly converge, and let’s just say… the payoff is worth it. 👀

The narration was excellent. The voice acting brought both timelines to life, with just the right amount of tension, emotion, and '80s glam-rock edge. It gave the whole story a cinematic feel. 🎧✨

This book is perfect for fans of:
🎸 Dual timelines + family secrets
🧨 Slow-burn suspense with emotional payoff
🎤 1980s nostalgia + toxic fame
🎧 Audiobooks with strong, immersive narration

Whether you lived through the 80s or just love a good retro thriller, this one will keep you listening late into the night.

I really enjoy Jones' writing style. I would recommend this one for sure. I was all in until the end. I felt like the ending was abrupt and sudden and left me feeling confused. The dual timelines and POV sometimes felt confusing. So overall there were bright spots and some that just didn't work. But I'd still recommend it.