I WOULD DIE FOR YOU by Sandie Jones was a bit of a disappointment for me, but it might be the ideal read for another reader.

It’s 2010, and Nicole Forbes is focused on saving the beach with her husband Brad and 8 year old daughter Hannah. When a woman named Zoe comes to her door, it forces her to confront what happened back in London with the band Secret Oktober back in 1986. 

This dual timeline takes the reader back to 1986 where teenage Cassie is obsessed with Ben Edwards from Secret Oktober, and she and her friend Amelia become immersed with the band.  

I had a problem with the characterizations. Everyone had such a superficial lens on them, including Cassie, and I wanted to know more than the superficial. Especially when Cassie is dealing with a mental disorder, I thought the author could have done more than just paint her in an unfavorable light. The problem bled into other characters as well, with many not formed as multi-dimensional as I think they deserved to be. I didn’t “get” Nicole and Brad’s marriage. And who was Hank? He was mentioned several times, but I didn’t understand who he was. 

Thankfully, the mystery didn’t have twist after twist, which I appreciated. I liked that the reader could see how plot points were building. 

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review. 

It publishes March 25, 2025.