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I've read a few stories with this theme, and this is definitely one of the stronger ones. I like the author's style and would want to read some of her other books. It's not a major stand-out where I feel compelled to buy her next one immediately, but it's got all the qualities of a good book you will enjoy. I pushed it to a 4 because it's much higher than an average / OK book with a few good parts at a 3. I was going to cry. Here. In Balthazar. Under the gold lights and the oversized French mirrors. My avocado and poached eggs on toast were getting cold."
But sometimes age isn’t just a number, sometimes it’s just a life fact. That same life fact caused a lot of hurt and turmoil for the ones around Solène and Hayes. . . and each other. At times, The Idea Of You was so painful to read. I shed real tears. When I saw that the new book by one of my favourite authors Amanda Prowse was about motherhood, specifically struggling to become a mother due to miscarriage, I knew this was going to be a very emotional read for me. And then I realised that Amanda’s “book birthday” would be the same day as my daughter’s birthday, my “miracle baby” even though she is now 25, so I knew it was a sign! I HAD to read this book! I had to see how Amanda dealt with the issues raised as, at one point in my life, I WAS Lucy having had several early and one very late miscarriage. Motherhood was a dream for me to chase and I was determined never to give up until I succeeded. Solène is a divorcee with a teenage daughter. She is independent and runs her own art gallery. Solène has drive. She always has. I love that about her. One night, she finds her self in Vegas with her teenage daughter, Isabelle, and Isabelle's friends to see the biggest boy band out there. This boy band is a full of charming, twenty something British boys. The very last thing Solène expects to happen is to forge a connection with one of them. While there have been rumors that the movie is based on fanfiction, the author has said it was never meant to be that. Robinne Lee, in that same interview with Vogue, said that Harry Styles only inspired her for the character of Hayes. The book was about female empowerment and learning how to rediscover your body after a certain age:
"The Idea of You" Cast
This book is pure perfection and I read it every spare second I had, and some I didn't. It's that good. Get over the age thing and go for the ride. The h's insecurities bring her down (age-wise) and the H's life experience elevates him. They meet in the middle and it works, yet there's that underlying "gap" that's always there. But the brilliance of this book is that, at its core, age isn't the issue. Celebrity is. And the question becomes, should two people who are TRULY in love, let something like that get in their way? Yes. When there's an innocent child involved. There aren't always fairy-tale endings in life, and I really enjoy when books face those consequences. I'm not giving away any spoilers as to whether she eventually has a baby or not, but regardless, her situation is not one anyone would envy. I felt privileged to watch the struggle, especially being so far removed from it, by being neither a mother nor a father. The author, who has mentioned her own struggles at conceiving and keeping pregnancies, puts a lot of emotional connection into the words and the scenes. Amanda is a huge supporter of libraries and having become a proud ambassador for The Reading Agency, works tirelessly to promote reading, especially in disadvantaged areas. Amanda's ambition is to create stories that keep people from turning the bedside lamp off at night, great characters that ensure you take every step with them and tales that fill your head so you can't possibly read another book until the memory fades... A popular TV and radio personality, Amanda has appeared on numerous shows where her views on family and social issues strike a chord with viewers. She also makes countless guest appearances on BBC national and independent Radio stations including LBC, Times Radio and Talk FM, where she is well known for her insightful observations and her infectious humour. Described by the Daily Mail as ‘The queen of family drama’ Amanda’s novel, 'A Mother's Story' won the coveted Sainsbury's eBook of the year Award and she has had two books selected as World Book Night titles, 'Perfect Daughter' in 2016 and 'The Boy Between' in 2022.
Overall , this was a solid read. I will definitely remember it and I'm looking forward to the possibility of a sequel. But sadly it didn't move me or gutted me or the sort, like I expected it. It was just fun and entertaining while it lasted. I definitely recommend it if you're looking for something a little different (unless you read 1D fan fiction all the time), although St. Martin's is doing this book a disservice by pricing it that high. However, I will disclaim in a spoiler tag that this book does not have an HEA, not even a HFN, the MCs do not end up together So keep that in mind and read at your own risk. At some point, this story stopped being cliche or taboo and became a pure love story. The author takes us on the same path as Solène and Hayes as though we were living it right along with them. Their love, their passion, their pain, their heartbreak becomes the readers same love, passion, pain, and heartbreak. This story goes far beyond the stigma of age, it’s a true and pure love story. It just happens to be a love story of an older woman and younger man. When an older man becomes involved with a younger woman, it’s accepted. When an older woman becomes involved with a younger man, it’s frowned upon. My book of the year! The writing is sharp and believable and the sex scenes are so scorchio that soon you too will stan for Harry Styles #ifyouknowyouknow Red The Sleeper Hit of the Pandemic? A Three-Year-Old Romance Novel Inspired by Harry Styles". Vogue.com. December 28, 2020.
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Lee also explored some common stereotypes that most women face at some point in their lives and she really focused on the age old double standard where older men date much younger women and no one bats an eye while an older woman dating a younger man is frowned upon and judged harshly. proffering my purse: the Céline hobo bag in chamois, perfect for everything but holding a change of clothes." It started out a bit rough for me. Although I could understand and feel for what Lucy was going through, she came across as bit obsessed and whiny. It is difficult to listen to someone struggling with pregnancy, especially when that person seems to think about getting pregnant all the time. Krischer, Hayley (December 5, 2017). "We're Going to Need More Gabrielle Union". The New York Times. I think it's safe to say I won't be getting over this read any time soon. It's just one of those stories that makes it's way into your heart and stays there. Permanently. Whether you like it or not. I urge everyone, especially everyone in their late 30s and on, to read this book with an open mind. If nothing else, you'll enjoy the scenery.
Both Solene and Hayes were complicated characters individually and their relationship itself was complex as well. She’s a divorced mother to a teenaged girl and when the media gets wind of their romance, their lives are effected in a deep and profound way. Hayes was a really mature guy for a twenty year old and there was much more substance to him than I was expecting there to be. I can totally see why Solene was charmed by him! Thus in the whole book you have these two people who meet other people who are friends with other people and who live the high life who travel all around the world who make love like they don't care and there is no tomorrow.I'm talking about Cam's mom here. Do you really care if she stopped drinking? I didn't. It felt unrealistic and unnecessary to add. Everything worked out wonderfully for everyone involved. It made the story feel like too fake. Real life isn't that neat. Here's some sunshine, rainbows, and unicorns... I can't remember being so moved by a book before. I mean down to my soul. Every word was pure gold' 5***** READER REVIEW
The plot is sexy and full-on. The pace ebbed and flowed, at times it felt so slow, then other times it felt like it was going at warp speed. I’ve heard a lot of people talk about the ending. I have mixed feelings about it too, as it felt a little short but then I didn’t see any other way for the book to end. Hathaway is the movie's leading lady — and in September 2022, the leading man was announced: Nicholas Galitzine, star of the Netflix romance "Purple Hearts" and the upcoming "Red White and Royal Blue" movie, will play Hayes.
"The Idea of You" Plot
As the story drew to a close, we reflected on what we’d read wanting to give this author a standing ovation for many reasons. For delivering believable characters, for not succumbing to standard story clichés, for having the ingenuity to deliver this story honestly, warts and all. We really couldn’t have asked for more. The banter between Hayes and Solène was witty, naughty and sincere making us grin from ear to ear. The passion was explosive, sensual, hot and thankfully not always over descriptive yet always moving, passionate and sexy as hell; not once did we feel inclined skim the intimate scenes as we’ve found ourselves doing recently. And the emotion…oh God the emotion, well, tears fell freely that’s for sure. At times uplifting, painful and certainly worth every tear. See full review here However, Lee spoke out against the idea that the book is Styles fan fiction, telling the outlet that "The Idea of You" "was never supposed to be a book about Harry Styles." Instead, she said, "It was supposed to be a story about a woman approaching 40 and reclaiming her sexuality and rediscovering herself, just at the point that society traditionally writes women off as desirable and viable and whole."
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