kathrynclaire's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying
thatswhatshanread's review
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
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
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
bookswithca's review
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
thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
There are not many books that tell the story of a woman in her 40s, that is divorced and has love sprung on her by the most unsuspecting man.
The Idea of You tells the story of Solène and Hayes, from meeting at a pop concert and through their romance. Life, fans, and family come in between the two as they fly around the world on their trysts.
I found myself being torn with this story. I'm not against older/younger relationships, but this one was just a bit too 50 shades when it came to the intimate scenes. I also found I started thinking Solène struggled between being the 40yo mum character and acting around Hayes age, which frustrated me.
But just as abruptly as the romance started, the the ending was just that.
The Idea of You tells the story of Solène and Hayes, from meeting at a pop concert and through their romance. Life, fans, and family come in between the two as they fly around the world on their trysts.
I found myself being torn with this story. I'm not against older/younger relationships, but this one was just a bit too 50 shades when it came to the intimate scenes. I also found I started thinking Solène struggled between being the 40yo mum character and acting around Hayes age, which frustrated me.
But just as abruptly as the romance started, the the ending was just that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Stalking
riella_reads's review
emotional
reflective
slow-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: Alcohol, Bullying, Injury/injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Stalking
oliviafaye's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Bullying, and Sexual content
biblio_jordyn's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee follows, mom, ex wife, art gallery co-owner Solène who hasn’t felt like JUST Solène in so long. ENTER IN BOY BAND STAR Hayes, who is charming, beautiful, 20 years old and 19 years her junior, but also? He’s a guy who has set his sights on her and just won’t give up until she gives in...and oh does she give in.
What could have been better?
The steam. Needed and wanted more! The were a couple good oral scenes but I felt like the author would cut right when it got to the good part...might be because I’m a steam fiend lately though 🤷♀️😂
What I did like?
The plot, the fluff, the social commentary on our obsession with celebrities and how harmful it can turn. We obsess, we Instagram stalk, we judge and speculate over lives we know nothing about, we aww and coo at their relationship, and eat up the drama...and if you haven’t done that with your favorite celeb (when you were an adult or a kid) or who they’re dating? I think you’re lying 😂
Going on, I also loved the realistic ending, well loved is the wrong word, I think it was very well done. It made me feel all the things. I think the character development with our main gal was also done well, and I love the reversal of the age gap, which you don’t see too often!
There was jetsetting, there was love and a message all rolled into one!
What could have been better?
The steam. Needed and wanted more! The were a couple good oral scenes but I felt like the author would cut right when it got to the good part...might be because I’m a steam fiend lately though 🤷♀️😂
What I did like?
The plot, the fluff, the social commentary on our obsession with celebrities and how harmful it can turn. We obsess, we Instagram stalk, we judge and speculate over lives we know nothing about, we aww and coo at their relationship, and eat up the drama...and if you haven’t done that with your favorite celeb (when you were an adult or a kid) or who they’re dating? I think you’re lying 😂
Going on, I also loved the realistic ending, well loved is the wrong word, I think it was very well done. It made me feel all the things. I think the character development with our main gal was also done well, and I love the reversal of the age gap, which you don’t see too often!
There was jetsetting, there was love and a message all rolled into one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
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