A review by enchantingreads_rosyreviews
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

emotional funny medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

“Love is this very precious thing, Izz. It’s this precious, magical thing. But it’s not finite. There’s not a limited amount of it out there. You just have to be open to allowing it to find you. Allowing it to happen.” I was not entirely sure that I believed this, but I needed her to.

To be completely honest, I read this book simply because the movie was coming out. I didn’t know what to expect because I didn’t know it existed. However, once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down! The author writes solely from the FMC’s POV, leading the reader into a world of name-dropping artists, designers and brands, while taking us along a whirlwind affair with a rockstar as they trek all over the globe. The whole world feels sophisticated, which I assume will translate well in its film adaptation. But it’s the romance between these two characters, Solène and Hayes, that sucks you in from the start! Although it seems like the world and their own minds doubt their union’s strength, they can’t help the magnetic pull towards one another. Their relationship grows organically and beautifully… I can’t wait to see the movie because I liked this book. 

"...being scared and torn, at the same time elated that I’d found someone who had taken the time to know me, and all the little things that made me so very happy. And how I did not want to let him go... Love, she said, was not always perfect, and not exactly how you expected it to be. But when it descended upon you, there was no controlling it." 
🎤 
This book was not what I expected: I predicted it would be a fun story about an older woman living out a fantasy everyone has about dating a young boy bander. I hoped there would be some discussion about the double standard of older women dating younger men (they're "cougars" & are belittled in society) as opposed to older men dating younger women (who are celebrated as being "the man" & their masculinity gets a boost). I wanted to live in a fancy, celebrity world with lavish parties, backstage access, hotel suites, and private planes. Which this book definitely delivered.  

However, it surprised me because it felt like a realistic version of this fantasy playing out. Both characters were forced to examine their identity in society: a single mom, career woman, dating a younger man & an overworked younger man dating an older woman, adored by thousands of fans, dealing with imposter syndrome or feeling like he's not being taken seriously. But they also had to deal with the realities of their relationship & everything that came with that: constant trotting around the globe, media & fandom attention, questioning the reality of feelings developing & managing how those closest to them were dealing with their relationship. And I appreciated this surprising realistic spin on a fantasy dream. It felt like Robinne truly and honestly answered the question: what if he saw me from the stage and we fell in love? 
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