Included on The Skimm’s 2020 list of Eight Books Both You and Mom Will Love “The sleeper hit of the pandemic . . . . There is no escapism like reading about a nearly middle-aged woman embarking on a glittering, global love affair with a thoughtful young sex god . . . . It’s electric, triumphant to read.” —Vogue.com “An OMG page-turner.” —Gabrielle UnionSolène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old … Union
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.
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It’s rare that I give a novel five stars, but this one deserves that and more. What a wonderful, beautifully-written love story. I didn’t want it to end and immediately searched for more by this author, but this is her only one (so far).
4.5 stars – I just finished reading this story and will have a book hangover for days now. The first 95% of this story was beautiful, emotive, complex and thought provoking — speaking to women on many different levels. However, with it already being 3 years since it was originally released and without any information as to whether or not the author will be writing a sequel, I’m going to review this as a standalone book and say that the last 5% of the story felt quite abrupt in it’s ending making the final message of the story confusing and unclear given the beauty of the prior 95%. I will be spending the next several days deconstructing this story in my mind to make sense of it all, but I for one hope that there will be a sequel. It definitely seems like the author left it open for a sequel with how it ended. Fingers crossed.
This is a book I can read over and over again–and every time it gets me in the feels.
This has become one of my top five favorite romance novels. Robinne Lee knocks it out of the park with this amazing book. I have now read the book twice and I still love it, I love the characters, I love how I feel what the characters are feeling for every moment in this book. Robinne shows how age can cause issues in a relationship even when we want love to conquer all. Sometimes no matter how amazing you are together, others will not approve of your relationship. You will laugh, you will feel the heat and you will cry if you feel things the way I do. Read this book to fall in love with Hayes and Solene in this breathtaking first novel by this author.
This book was recommended by a blogger whose taste I respect and I was able to read the ebook for free via my local public library. Going into this book, I knew it was, ahem, “thinly-veiled Harry Styles” fan-fiction so I had somewhat low expectations, given how bad I hear Twilight was (haven’t actually read it). However, the premise is that the MOTHER of a young fan becomes involved with the young rock star, which I found intriguing enough to try it. It’s everything promised and quite ~sizzling~, if that’s what you’re looking for. Despite basically being fan-fiction, it’s supremely well-written, and the characters feel three-dimensional and oh-so real. Everything is very well thought out.
I don’t want to spoil the ending, but I’ll just say I wasn’t pleased with the way things ended, however, I understand why the author did what she did. It gave me a feeling I didn’t like, though (basically that I had wasted my time).
If you’re looking for a steamy romance in a world of a rock star, or maybe an older woman romance (whatever is your jam), then this is a great read. Overall, I am glad I read it.
I have no idea how to wrap my head around this story and gather words to type into this review. Gah, this story ruined me. So many feelings, so many emotions, but definitely some praise to this plot.
I’m not exactly sure how to feel about our two main characters. I felt the love, I felt the high times of their relationship and I definitely felt the stress and exhaustion of being a single mother and entering a relationship with a well sought out gorgeous and perfect younger man.
And after typing this review, props to the author and her amazing talent! I had no idea I was listening to the voice of the woman behind these written words!
Bravo!!! You killed me!
Beautifully written. Sexy, honest, and heartbreaking. “The Idea of You” took me on an incredible emotional ride – one I was unprepared for. The story consumed me in mid-2018 and still consumes me as I write this. Lee’s remarkable debut graces my “unforgettable favorite reads” bookshelf.
I waited and waited and waited…it was recommended so many times over the last year or so…but still I hung on. I didn’t read reviews…I didn’t even read the blurb. I finally dug into it…and yeah…I can say I loved it. I hate that I waited now. Yes…not everyone will love the subject matter. Yes…there a major age difference. Yes…there is alot of turmoil and angst and pain for everyone involved in the story. And yes…I’m not quite sure I love the ending but then again, while the story may seem to be a fairy tale, far fetched and certainly out of the ordinary…why shouldn’t a woman of a certain age, enjoy being wanted and loved the way Sol was wanted and loved? Why can’t a young man know what he wants with his life despite being so young? Why shouldn’t a woman want someone who is willing to “unfold” her, learn everything about her, try to be her everything? We should all strive to have that. Books are fantasy for most of us but sometimes, reality SHOULD set in and while we may not see ourselves in their shoes, we can still feel the pain. I’ll admit I cried because I felt their pain.
Somewhere around the last page I was yelling at the book. I cried my eyes out and I’m still waiting for Robinne Lee to Solene and Hayes the HEA I need. Please, please, please be writing a follow-up.
I have a handful of books that I would re-read, ones that are my go to recommendations for friends and I just added The Idea of You to this very short list.
Hayes & Solene’s story is so complex, I had so many emotions coursing through my body. My heart and my brain were at war with each other.
I loved the flip in ages and how their friends & family reacted. Add the celebrity status into the trials & tribulations they were already facing and it just becomes so much MORE.
If you are contemplating reading this book, DON’T. Buy it and hold on for one hell of a ride.
So I had the privilege of meeting Robinne at Book Bonanza in August. At the time I hadn’t read The Idea if You, but had her sign it since she was there and I wanted the chance to meet her. We got to chat for a minute and I remember her asking, have you read the book? My reaction was a simple, not yet. She smiled and gave me a look that almost said, I can tell because I’m sure you’d have a lot to say to me if you had.
Well I just finished it today and am broken over this. I can’t stop sobbing and don’t know how to move on from this one. I need more. This story is touching in every way possible and these are just 2 characters that will stick with me forever.
I absolutely loved this book and recommend it to everyone who asks what they should read next.
Unfulfilling; closure is extremely important when reading a book gear towards romance.
One of the best books I’ve read this year. Outstanding. Major book hangover.
After this book sitting on my shelves for about 18 months, I thought I would finally join the bandwagon, as everyone has been raving about it forever.
Welp, this one really didn’t do it for me. I liked the way the book started, however then it just got meh for me.
I mostly liked Hayes – though at times he came across as clingy and unbearable.
However Solene – yeah, nope. Not a fan of her at all. The way she always left her young daughter at home to romp around the world with her daughter’s idol. The way she consistently lied to her daughter. I don’t know, I just couldn’t get to like her at all.
Everyone else seems to be have been gutted by this book – I was warned repeatedly that I would need tissues and alcohol to get through it, however except for the last couple of scenes, I was quite apathetic about this whole story.
I know I am in the minority here with this, and everyone else loved this story, however it just didn’t do it for me.
Not exactly a romance, but there are some fantastically romantic, sensual scenes. Deeply emotional with lush, descriptive passages about the world of art, music and travel.
OMG, this book! Hayes melted my heart, and I loved going along for the ride with this unusual love affair between a 40yo mom and a 20yo boy-band star. Sexy fluff aside, it gave me some interesting moments of reflection on how quick people are to judge the older woman/younger man combo, but rarely bat an eyelash at the reverse. A fun, steamy book with a few tears thrown in for good measure.
I see why so many hated it .. Its not the writing they hate the ending. I hated the ending the story. I rooted for her I rooted for him. Its should of lasted. Im so mad ..
This dam book its all about a young boy band star and older woman. Its a world wind love story. Solene single mom raising her kid alone. Her D-bag ex one of those its okay for him but not for her deals. Shes so worried about age and her daughter. Why couldnt she just be happy ahhh
Hayes Campbell member of August Moon (Cougars are his thing) he likes older woman and falls for a fans mom. Falls hard for Solene he knows what he goes through being famous. He had no idea what its like for Solene
“Our lives begin tonight”
“I play very well. I just don’t share.”
“I told him I was meeting a friend, and that she had dark hair and haunting eyes and would probably be dressed very well. That she looked like a classic movie star. And that she had a great mouth.”
“Well…. I came to buy whatever your selling.”
“Ten cities… What,Thirteen shows? Three hundred fifty thousand screaming girls…who were not you.”
“There is this moment that every woman knows, when she reaches into her date’s pants for the first time and is not sure what’s going to come out. And she says a little prayer to the penis gods and hopes that she will be pleasantly surprised.”
“The best artist, they are like this. You don’t shock just to shock. You create beauty, you create art. You don’t do it for attention.”
“I dream about your mouth.”I dream about your “D”. We’re even.”
“Im falling in love with you. I’m just going to put that out there, because I can. Because you told met I couldn’t if I was sleeping with anyone else, and I’m not, so there you have it..”
“I was just making sure it was you, and not the idea of you.”
Solene is a mother, business owner and divorced. Taking her daughter and her friends to an August Moon concert changes the course of her life. Enter Hayes Cambell, boy band extraordinaire . . . even though he’s only 20 years old. Solene is old enough to be his mother. Sometimes love doesn’t care. But being at two different places in life can cause problems, right?
This was a good story. I found myself getting irritated with Solene at times for how she handled things. Hayes was selfish at times, but he’s only 20.
I know a lot of people in my book group were not happy with the ending, but I felt that the ending was as it should be. You’ll have to judge that for yourself when you read it.
Great story!
I really was drawn to this book by the reviews. I enjoyed reading the tale spun by this author. The problem I had was I did not like the ending. I wish since they loved one another so much, they would have found a way to make their relationship work. It seems to me that they gave up too easy on something that could have been epic.