cde10's review against another edition
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Sexual harassment
islamccormack's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Honestly this book has left me the same as I’d feel if I’d seen it end mid sentence. My heart feels pain and it aches a little bit, which is crazy because it was such an amazing story.
The controversy of relationship stigma and dark aspects of fame were the framework of this book, and they were everything that I wish wouldn’t exist in our society. I actually don’t have a bad word to say about it, other than the ending which the hopeless romantic in me wanted to be happy but the other 80% of me knows that how it ended was the only real ending (hence the 4.5 star rating). But I’ve never had a romance novel like that be so sad. The nuances of especially Soléne’s character were almost like they’d become my own; it was so emotionally driven and I was so heavily a part of how she felt as the narrator. I felt very connected to her and the way she felt about every single aspect of this situation. And the complexities of messing up and giving in and hoping and being proven wrong and impulse and love and complication and boundaries and obstacles and harassment and heartbreak and fame and wealth and being torn and disappointment and embarrassment and her daughter’s struggles. It was everything. The amount of unanswered questions I have about so many aspects of the book just irks me so much as well (lol) hence the 4.5 stars again. I guess that this books ending reflects how love ends. Painfully, and with no real ending at all - just being. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. And so with that, I can’t really complain.
Also on the note of Hayes, he’s probably one of my most favourite fictional male I’ve ever read about and got to know. Yeah he’s not perfect and he was young but that doesn’t take away Lee’s EPIC character construction of him. He was PERFECT. His humour, his empathy, his kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, calm nature, intelligence, good looks (bonus) and his sincerity. Soléne’s attitude was more of a typical mother to me, but her love and passion for art and her friendship with Lulit and the gallery was a lovely touch and still made her independent and not cast in the shadow of their relationship.
I also loved that the settings were glitz and glam and this made for interesting locations and plot development for the reader. I love when things are set in Hollywood and glamour related places, but I do also see the dark aspects of that. This book definitely showed the bittersweetness of blind optimism in a very complicated social system when it comes to celebrities and their lives.
Saying that, it did get a bit repetitive and was a bit slow paced at times. They probably come of have cut out a few of the chapters because the same thing happened again and again. But the baseline of the story was still there, and the breathtaking electricity and chemistry of the sexual and romantic relationship was detailed, passionate, dark brooding and exciting. But also tender, loving and caring. I loved that it pushed age boundaries as well, because why should that matter? I think that despite it being one of Soléne’s insecurities, her age was the least of their worries to be honest. I think pressure and hate finally ate up the relationship, and the age factor could have become easier in time. Although I still think that being in completely different phases of life does make it very hard to be with people in large age gap situations. It really killed me the most though with her daughters suffering - people’s judgment and personal/social image was a really big theme in this book as to be expected but it just had no hope. I think that’s why this book is so sad. So much love and no hope that it could work. There were just too many factors that kept them apart in reality and their love wasn’t enough, which is something I never want to believe could be true but it can be for some.
So many complicated and hard factors to think about. And that’s why I loved this book; it made me think.
The controversy of relationship stigma and dark aspects of fame were the framework of this book, and they were everything that I wish wouldn’t exist in our society. I actually don’t have a bad word to say about it, other than the ending which the hopeless romantic in me wanted to be happy but the other 80% of me knows that how it ended was the only real ending (hence the 4.5 star rating). But I’ve never had a romance novel like that be so sad. The nuances of especially Soléne’s character were almost like they’d become my own; it was so emotionally driven and I was so heavily a part of how she felt as the narrator. I felt very connected to her and the way she felt about every single aspect of this situation. And the complexities of messing up and giving in and hoping and being proven wrong and impulse and love and complication and boundaries and obstacles and harassment and heartbreak and fame and wealth and being torn and disappointment and embarrassment and her daughter’s struggles. It was everything. The amount of unanswered questions I have about so many aspects of the book just irks me so much as well (lol) hence the 4.5 stars again. I guess that this books ending reflects how love ends. Painfully, and with no real ending at all - just being. Not with a bang, but with a whimper. And so with that, I can’t really complain.
Also on the note of Hayes, he’s probably one of my most favourite fictional male I’ve ever read about and got to know. Yeah he’s not perfect and he was young but that doesn’t take away Lee’s EPIC character construction of him. He was PERFECT. His humour, his empathy, his kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, calm nature, intelligence, good looks (bonus) and his sincerity. Soléne’s attitude was more of a typical mother to me, but her love and passion for art and her friendship with Lulit and the gallery was a lovely touch and still made her independent and not cast in the shadow of their relationship.
I also loved that the settings were glitz and glam and this made for interesting locations and plot development for the reader. I love when things are set in Hollywood and glamour related places, but I do also see the dark aspects of that. This book definitely showed the bittersweetness of blind optimism in a very complicated social system when it comes to celebrities and their lives.
Saying that, it did get a bit repetitive and was a bit slow paced at times. They probably come of have cut out a few of the chapters because the same thing happened again and again. But the baseline of the story was still there, and the breathtaking electricity and chemistry of the sexual and romantic relationship was detailed, passionate, dark brooding and exciting. But also tender, loving and caring. I loved that it pushed age boundaries as well, because why should that matter? I think that despite it being one of Soléne’s insecurities, her age was the least of their worries to be honest. I think pressure and hate finally ate up the relationship, and the age factor could have become easier in time. Although I still think that being in completely different phases of life does make it very hard to be with people in large age gap situations. It really killed me the most though with her daughters suffering - people’s judgment and personal/social image was a really big theme in this book as to be expected but it just had no hope. I think that’s why this book is so sad. So much love and no hope that it could work. There were just too many factors that kept them apart in reality and their love wasn’t enough, which is something I never want to believe could be true but it can be for some.
So many complicated and hard factors to think about. And that’s why I loved this book; it made me think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Suicide attempt
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I would like to personally thank Robinne Lee for ruining my life by writing a story so intensely close to my fangirl daydreams that I fear I will never, ever recover.
“The Idea of You” did me in. I knew from the moment I discovered who the book was inspired by (iykyk), that I would have a total book hangover from it. For this reason, I think I put off reading it for awhile. Allowed myself some time to come to terms with… the idea of it.
The idea being that the FMC, a divorced mother of a tween, gets completely swept up in a globetrotting, all-consuming romance with the 20-year-old lead singer of the hottest boyband in the world. The very same one that her daughter is infatuated with.
Even if this wasn’t about Harry Styles—I mean, Hayes Campbell—I would have devoured it. Lee’s writing is so hypnotic, emotional, sexy, candid, witty, zealous. It felt like reading very well-written gossip, a fever dream, how the pages oozed with fame and lust and heartbreak and fantasy. The characters and their thoughts melting into your skin.
Time ceased to exist while reading this, and yet also caught up with me far too soon as I began to reach the end. Why must stories like these end? It’s really quite rude, but I guess I’ll live to read another day, somehow.
“The Idea of You” did me in. I knew from the moment I discovered who the book was inspired by (iykyk), that I would have a total book hangover from it. For this reason, I think I put off reading it for awhile. Allowed myself some time to come to terms with… the idea of it.
The idea being that the FMC, a divorced mother of a tween, gets completely swept up in a globetrotting, all-consuming romance with the 20-year-old lead singer of the hottest boyband in the world. The very same one that her daughter is infatuated with.
Even if this wasn’t about Harry Styles—I mean, Hayes Campbell—I would have devoured it. Lee’s writing is so hypnotic, emotional, sexy, candid, witty, zealous. It felt like reading very well-written gossip, a fever dream, how the pages oozed with fame and lust and heartbreak and fantasy. The characters and their thoughts melting into your skin.
Time ceased to exist while reading this, and yet also caught up with me far too soon as I began to reach the end. Why must stories like these end? It’s really quite rude, but I guess I’ll live to read another day, somehow.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking, Sexism, Grief, Bullying, Alcohol, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Misogyny, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Infidelity, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Blood, Gaslighting, and Pregnancy
lschuchman's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Three things:
1. Hayes 👏🏽 flippin 👏🏽 Campbell 👏🏽
2. The ending broke my heart
3. Read this book
That’s it. That’s all the review this one needs. Idk why I waited so long to read it.
1. Hayes 👏🏽 flippin 👏🏽 Campbell 👏🏽
2. The ending broke my heart
3. Read this book
That’s it. That’s all the review this one needs. Idk why I waited so long to read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Racial slurs and Pregnancy
kimseokjinschild's review against another edition
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend to others.
Pros :
💫I felt the emotions that characters felt e.g. blushing, sadness and anger; could envision scenes in my head.
💫You could sense the main characters chemistry and their love for each other.
💫Resonated with the female lead.
Cons :
📉Sometimes the book did drag and made me lose interest.
📉I found the female lead sometimes annoying, I became frustrated with some of her actions / decisions.
Pros :
💫I felt the emotions that characters felt e.g. blushing, sadness and anger; could envision scenes in my head.
💫You could sense the main characters chemistry and their love for each other.
💫Resonated with the female lead.
Cons :
📉Sometimes the book did drag and made me lose interest.
📉I found the female lead sometimes annoying, I became frustrated with some of her actions / decisions.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Sexual harassment, and Sexual content
Moderate: Stalking
Minor: Suicide attempt
lindsayerin's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault
bookswithca's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Sexism, and Bullying
rachaelboyd's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
harperhoney's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Self harm, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship