The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Solène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of an art gallery in Los Angeles, is reluctant to take her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band. But since her divorce, she’s more eager than ever to be close to Isabelle. The last thing Solène expects is to make a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. But Hayes Campbell is clever, winning, confident, and posh, and the attraction is immediate. That he is all of twenty years old further complicates things.

What begins as a series of clandestine trysts quickly evolves into a passionate and genuine relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways in Paris and Miami. For Solène, it is a reclaiming of self, as well as a rediscovery of happiness and love. When Solène and Hayes’ romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solène must face how her romantic life has impacted the lives of those she cares about most.

This book is basically glorified One Direction fan fiction. Hayes Campbell is our male protagonist. He's a British boybander with curly hair, green eyes, wears black skinny jeans and boots, likes older women, posts artsy images on his Instagram and has a weird relationship with his bandmate whom his fans creepily ship him with. Ahem.

Maybe if you don't pay attention to celebrity gossip or the life and times of Harry Styles, you'll actually enjoy this book. The writing wasn't bad but the parallels between Hayes and Harry, August Moon and One Direction, were too distracting for me to actually enjoy the story.

This is my second One Direction fan fic. Am I a One Direction fan...no!! Why do I keep reading these books... no idea!

Anyway, this was better written and less toxic than After, so it has that going for it. It was a quick and easy read. It will also be my last One Direction fan fic.

Written from a perspective of women my age. Reading it, i did not have to regress into my teenage self to get the same feels about a guy. Passionate love and heartbreak.

Mixed Bag

I really wanted to love The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. The premise was intriguing, and I was eager to dive into a story that promised to be a whirlwind romance with a twist. However, after finishing both the book and watching the movie adaptation, I was left with mixed feelings and a sense that something was missing.

The story follows Solène, a 39-year-old divorced mother, who unexpectedly finds herself in a passionate affair with a much younger man—a world-famous boy band member named Hayes. The chemistry between Solène and Hayes is undeniable, and the author does a great job of capturing the excitement and intensity of their relationship. The writing is beautiful and descriptive, bringing the characters and their emotions to life.

However, despite the strong start, I found myself wanting more as the story progressed. While the romance was captivating, the book felt somewhat one-dimensional, focusing heavily on the physical attraction between the characters without delving deeply into the emotional complexities of their relationship. I also struggled with the pacing, which felt uneven at times, with certain parts dragging while others were rushed.

The ending, in particular, left me unsatisfied. It felt abrupt and didn’t provide the closure I was hoping for, which made the whole experience feel incomplete. The movie adaptation, unfortunately, didn’t fill in the gaps and left me with the same feeling of wanting more.

Overall, The Idea of You had the potential to be a great story, and there were moments where it truly shined. But in the end, it didn’t fully live up to my expectations. If you’re looking for a steamy, escapist romance, this book might be worth a read, but be prepared for a story that may leave you longing for a bit more depth and resolution.