A review by kspear22
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
5.0
Oh, hey. I finished this around 3am, completely blown away. Emotional. This story is so far outside my typical tastes, it’s ridiculous. It’s well outside my comfort zone too. And yet...I effing loved it.
I first saw this on Instagram. Not by anyone well-known for recommendations. But her picture intrigued me. I looked it up, and right there I knew it wasn’t for me. Fast forward a few days later and another friend—and trusted book pal—was posting about it. I thought maybe I’d give it a try. Even still, I waited almost two more weeks before giving it a go.
I’m kicking myself, because I was so wrapped up in Solène’s life. Her story. This didn’t feel like a fictional woman. She leapt off the page and into the real world. I’d swear that. For that matter, so did Hayes. The writing is beautiful, but it’s the story and the journey that is truly compelling. Most people would judge this. I know because I would be that person. It doesn’t seem realistic, does it? That a young, virile pop star could find something in a 40-year-old divorced mother. But why should it be? Reverse the genders and no one bats an eye. I was humbled to realize and understand that maybe, just maybe, older women can be sexy too. Perhaps not to everyone, but to the right person.
What starts as hot trysts quickly grows into true feelings. Loving, caring feelings. And though neither Hayes nor Solène may want to admit it, it’s crystal clear to the reader AND the characters around them. What some may see and odd or dirty is pure and beautiful. Honest. Of course, with all of this comes the fallout. What outsiders think and see. What they believe. It’s heartbreaking at times. And I have to admit, even from the very beginning, the sense of foreboding always hovers in the background. For as perfect and right as their romance seems, that recognition of doom cannot be silenced or ignored. It’s only a matter of time. So with every question or feeling of distrust, you wait. Wait for the moment when all this beauty will fade.
I suppose this is an honest portrayal. Because real life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. Fiction tends to make us forget that. Most readers are used to having things sewn up neatly by the end. However, real life doesn’t work that way. For all the wishing and wanting and hoping, reality can be ugly. This book definitely hits home on that point. Sometimes, a couple gets their HEA. Other times, regardless of how much they love each other, the timing isn’t right. Or maybe it wasn’t meant for forever, but for a short period in the now. Does that make it any less real or beautiful? I don’t think so. I found the way Robinne Lee wove fame and the average lifestyle together to be spectacular. Candid.
Solène was refreshing. Guarded. She deserved her happiness. She’s not someone who can truly change. Her character arc has developed. She is the person she was meant to become. Hayes was enigmatic. Charming. Deep. His character surprised me. I really didn’t think someone his age could come off so mature. His character is written so damn well, though, I believed it. As they opened up to each other, it felt as though despite their age difference, they were soulmates. And fuck everyone else.
This is a love story. It might not be for everyone. Heck, I didn’t think it was for ME until I read it. But, sometimes taking a chance is worth it.
I first saw this on Instagram. Not by anyone well-known for recommendations. But her picture intrigued me. I looked it up, and right there I knew it wasn’t for me. Fast forward a few days later and another friend—and trusted book pal—was posting about it. I thought maybe I’d give it a try. Even still, I waited almost two more weeks before giving it a go.
I’m kicking myself, because I was so wrapped up in Solène’s life. Her story. This didn’t feel like a fictional woman. She leapt off the page and into the real world. I’d swear that. For that matter, so did Hayes. The writing is beautiful, but it’s the story and the journey that is truly compelling. Most people would judge this. I know because I would be that person. It doesn’t seem realistic, does it? That a young, virile pop star could find something in a 40-year-old divorced mother. But why should it be? Reverse the genders and no one bats an eye. I was humbled to realize and understand that maybe, just maybe, older women can be sexy too. Perhaps not to everyone, but to the right person.
What starts as hot trysts quickly grows into true feelings. Loving, caring feelings. And though neither Hayes nor Solène may want to admit it, it’s crystal clear to the reader AND the characters around them. What some may see and odd or dirty is pure and beautiful. Honest. Of course, with all of this comes the fallout. What outsiders think and see. What they believe. It’s heartbreaking at times. And I have to admit, even from the very beginning, the sense of foreboding always hovers in the background. For as perfect and right as their romance seems, that recognition of doom cannot be silenced or ignored. It’s only a matter of time. So with every question or feeling of distrust, you wait. Wait for the moment when all this beauty will fade.
I suppose this is an honest portrayal. Because real life isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. Fiction tends to make us forget that. Most readers are used to having things sewn up neatly by the end. However, real life doesn’t work that way. For all the wishing and wanting and hoping, reality can be ugly. This book definitely hits home on that point. Sometimes, a couple gets their HEA. Other times, regardless of how much they love each other, the timing isn’t right. Or maybe it wasn’t meant for forever, but for a short period in the now. Does that make it any less real or beautiful? I don’t think so. I found the way Robinne Lee wove fame and the average lifestyle together to be spectacular. Candid.
Solène was refreshing. Guarded. She deserved her happiness. She’s not someone who can truly change. Her character arc has developed. She is the person she was meant to become. Hayes was enigmatic. Charming. Deep. His character surprised me. I really didn’t think someone his age could come off so mature. His character is written so damn well, though, I believed it. As they opened up to each other, it felt as though despite their age difference, they were soulmates. And fuck everyone else.
This is a love story. It might not be for everyone. Heck, I didn’t think it was for ME until I read it. But, sometimes taking a chance is worth it.