I loved this thriller, it was a different plot and it showed the twisted dynamic of the sisters and their complex family life.

DNF at 46%

I tried hard with this book because the fandom part of it interested me a lot.

However, it read quite like a young adult even in the present parts of it and made me lose interest. I found the storyline quite superficial for some of the themes treated. The jumps back and forth got me confused.

Ultimately, it wasn't a book for me.

I really struggle with reading books with two different times lines. It's very hit and miss for me and I feel like this one was a bit of miss.

I've read one other book by this author and really enjoyed it. I'll still read books by this author but this one fell flat for me

I really enjoyed this phycological thriller from Sandie Jones and have read and enjoyed all her books. This had quite a different premise to the others with a groupie theme, which wouldn't normally appeal to me, but I enjoyed the storyline, characters and the many twists along the way.

Good character development and I liked the split timeline which really makes it come to life. My only drawback would be that having such a big build up I thought the ending was a little rushed and could have been a bit more satisfying.

A big thanks to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the ARC (and another exciting read) in exchange for an honest review.

The book starts with the present day and Nicole Forbes, who lives with her husband and young daughter in a quiet town in California. One day a knock at the door brings a writer who would like Nicole’s insight into the downfall of Secret Oktober, one of the biggest bands that the 1980’s produced. Later in the day her daughter is collected from school by a mysterious woman calling herself Auntie, but her daughter has no such relative.

A second timeline of 1986 is then introduced, and we meet Cassie, a sixteen-year-old school girl who is obsessed with Secret Oktober, and in particular the lead singer Ben Edwards. Cassie follows the band to their numerous social engagements in a bid to make herself know to them and manages to get herself invited to one of their drink and drug fuelled parties, which only adds to her obsession and fantasy that she and Ben are meant to be together.

But Ben meets Cassie’s older sister Nicole in a bar and is attracted too her and her talent for singing. It’s not long before they become a couple and record a song together, but in secret to avoid media pressure and that of the band’s fans. Soon things start to go terribly wrong and affect everyone involved and their lives for ever.

This book seamlessly moves between the two timelines, and is easy to follow. It is moving and deals well with the aspect of death and the effect that the mothers terminal illness has on the two sisters. I loved the portrayal of 1986, the era is captured brilliantly and brought back some long-forgotten memories. This book has some great twists and enveloped me, so I was very sorry for it to come to an end.

Nicole lives in a quiet town in California with her husband and daughter when she gets an unexpected knock on her door by a writer wanting to find out her insight into the downfall of one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. The same day her daughter goes missing. Thinking there is a connection between these she has to revisit her past buried memories.

Having read a couple of this authors past books and finding them compelling I wanted to read this most recent offering. After finishing I am left in two minds when it comes to my thoughts. I found it took a while for me to get into the story and the jumping back and forth at times felt confusing, it took me a while to work out what part I was reading. I did enjoy all the drama and the themes of obsession, although I found it quite difficult to connect with the characters and a lot are unlikeable.

I found the pacing picked up more towards the end, however the ending itself felt very sudden. Even though there were some flaws, this was an interesting, complex story and I liked the nostalgic feel to some of the chapters. I would read more books by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

A toxic psychological thriller set over two timelines. The relationship between the two sisters is twisted, dark and brutally realistic as is the obsessive pop fan culture.

Firstly thank you for my opportunity to read and review this latest book from Sandie. I have loved all
Of her previous books so was excited to read this!
I raced through this .
It was excellent .
Written in dual narrative and timelines we get an insight into all what’s happening .
Gripping and evocative as we step back in time to the 80s .
Unpredictable and suspenseful
This is a great thriller to keep you on your toes and escape into

This novel brilliantly conveys the era in which it is set, as well as the nature of teenage obsessions with popstars and how far people will go in their attempts to establish a "relationship" with their crush.

These aspects of the story rang surprisingly true, so kudos to the author for portraying the frenetic rockstar lifestyle and obsessive fan following that is part of what makes up the groupie experience.

Also very touching was the portrayal of Nicole's mother's illness and how her imminent death affected her daughters.

The story is twisted and complex, with multiple twists delivered in the story telling. One of those twists at the end I felt was unnecessary but this story does in any case require some suspension of disbelief, particularly with respect to the behaviour of the younger sister. Be that as it may Sandie Jones certainly does know how to tell a story, and this one is a roller coaster ride!

I loved this book!
I’ve always enjoyed Sandie Jones books, however this is by far her best one yet.
I really enjoyed the nostalgic element of the plot and it took me right back to the mid 90s. I quickly engaged with the characters and liked the various twists.

I loved this book.. As a child of the 80's I was taken back to the music I enjoyed and my own crush of kead singers in music bands.

It is a wild read and I loved the two timelines in which the story was told.

Nicole and Cassie are sisters and they are both connected to Ben from Bristish band Secret Oktober. Cassie feels that she is in love with Ben but When Ben see Nicole singing in a bar well ..... things happen


This is a twisty read and to be honest all the charcaters were unlikeable, but I felt that we weren't meant to like them.
The girls are toxic and the men played with their emotions only for a tragic event to change everyones lives.

a good read..