The Idea of You

(By: Robinne Lee)

SUMMARY:

When Solène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of a prestigious art gallery in Los Angeles, takes her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band, she does so reluctantly and at her ex-husband’s request. The last thing she 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 relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s disparate worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways. And for Solène, it is as much a reclaiming of self, as it is a rediscovery of happiness and love. When their 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 new status has impacted not only her life, but the lives of those closest to her.
Published June 2017 by St. Martin's Griffin

REVIEW:

I gave this book 3.5 stars. This read was outside of my typical genre in that it is a contemporary, and new adult instead of YA. While the prose weren’t the most enrapturing, the idea behind the story was intoxicating, and overall I found myself enjoying the departure in genre. The idea that a thirty-nine-year-old, experienced woman, could redefine herself through a romantic relationship with a twenty-year-old celebrity instantly grabbed my attention and held it throughout the book. Before reading, keep in mind that this book is sexually explicit and may not be appropriate for all age groups.

My favorite aspect of this book was the interesting way in which the premise allowed the story to dissect relevant and current social topics. It really made me think about social media, sexism, aging as a woman, celebrity, and divorce and how all of these things effect our lives and the lives around us. The world was so accurate and current that it felt like this could be the next real tabloid in TMZ.

The characters were well done, and the romance was fun. Solène was such a sophisticated and sultry adult woman and Hayes Campbell made for the perfect swoon worthy crush (Lee’s muse in writing him was Harry Styles from One Direction). The romance was steamy and full of explicit adult content (the door did not close on the sex scenes - they were detailed and graphic). It reminded me of Fifty Shades of Grey with the relationship heavily sex focused and made to feel a bit "wrong”. In this case it was because of the age difference, but it made everything feel that much more escalated and passionate.

Where this book really fell short for me was the plot. Overall, not that much happened. It was a lot of the same - gallivanting around cities, falling in love and having sex. While individually the scenes were gripping, I wanted more substance. I found the plot lacking in character growth and change, as well as conflict. Ultimately, the ending felt abrupt, but it left me reeling (which I appreciated).

I would recommend this book if you are looking for a steamy, romance focused read that plays off of the fantasy of celebrity love and doesn’t need much depth.