TW: miscarriages

This book so beautifully sums up motherhood, the pains, losses, and joys that come along with it. Lucy Carpenter, newly remarried to her wonderfully loving husband, Jonah, and feels like her biological clock is running out at thirty nine. She has a fabulous career that anyone couldn't help but be envious of. However, all she wants most desperately is to become pregnant and carry to term a baby, so that she could complete her family.

When Camille, the rebellious teenager, who's the daughter from Jonah's first marriage, comes to live with them, Lucy feels like her world is starting to tilt out of orbit. There are so many new things that she has to deal with, all of the teenage drama and woes, and also the fact that Camille being the only and favored daughter starts creating a wedge between her and Jonah.

From there the story takes it to a roller-coaster of ups and downs that made you cry your eyes out or laugh until your stomach hurt so much that you can't breathe. Probably the most emotionally touchy thing was when the letters were revealed at the end of the story, it made me actually ugly cry. All in all it's a beautiful and poignantly written of a women's journey to motherhood. While I have no personal experience in that area, I just couldn't tear my eyes away from all of the hormones that were going on (ha!)

One of the fascinating contrasts that I noticed was the extremely slow budding relationship between Lucy and Camille compared to the whirlwind of a romance between her and Jonah. Fast forward to the ending though, I thought that it tied loose ends and wrapped up perfectly, which is always an added bonus.

The only problem is, I can't quite decide if this book was my cup of tea. It was great while I was reading it, but after I felt the acute disappointment that this just isn't my type of story afterall. I think that's an important realization that I needed to make personally, but I still would hope that this book gets into the hands of someone who needs it.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**

Another fantastic book by this amazing author.
I was hooked from start to finish.

Unfortunately, I cannot give a good, honest review of this book. It just wasn't for me and I could not even finish it. Thank you for the advanced copy and for letting me have a chance at reading it.

This was an emotional roller-coaster of a book and one I wont forget in a hurry. I really felt for Lucy suffering with so many miscarriages and when her husbands 16 year old daughter moves in, it gets harder for Lucy to cope.

Amanda Prowse has a great way of writing that really draws you in, and the ending pieced it all together nicely.

Overall a great book and 4.5 stars rounded to 5 from me.

This was one of the most touching stories I have ever read and I have read tons of books. It took my breath away.
In a huge way it like reading my own life, except for the adoption part. Losing a child is horrible and hurts so bad. Having a mother that you feel hates you makes your whole life miserable. But finding true love... aww, that is so worth anything you go through in your earlier years.

I loved this book. It made me do a lot of crying but it was such a sweet and touching story too. My heart ached for Lucy. I got angry at Camille but also understood her. I was very mad at Jan but was happy when things were finally talked over and things were made ok. Jonah made me mad and smile a lot. He should have been more understanding about how Lucy felt at times but he was a good dad also.

It was a definite 5 star book. I would recommend it to anyone. I'll be reading more books by this awesome author.

very strange book. wasnt interested. only read a few chapters.

Omg another total masterpiece of a book from Amanda!! I absolutely devoured this in every way and can't wait for her next book (as per usual!!).

It had me in tears at some points it was so beautifully written and the characters I loved especially Lucy.

Centered around family and step families and just life in general when things go right and things go wrong.

Loved it well done Amanda!!!

This is a well written and thoughtful book, that is much better than the blurb suggests. When I read the description, I was rather dreading having to read it. I am childless by choice, and find children under the age of about nine quite boring. Therefore, a book about a woman moaning about the trials of being a mother is not my cup of tea. Luckily, there was very little of that, and I found myself (unbelievably!) empathising more and more with Lucy.
Lucy has little difficulty getting pregnant, but appears unable to carry a baby to full term. Her miscarriages are at such early stages, that no-one but her husband even knows she was pregnant, so friends and family carry on thoughtlessly (obliviously) around her. If a baby dies, you have a body, a funeral, limitless sympathy, but at least some small memories of the baby’s life with you. With a miscarriage, there is nothing – just the death of a hope, of a future that will never be.
Lucy wants so much to have a baby. She can picture her daughter, talks to her, knits baby clothes for her. The knitting was the first link I felt to Lucy. I loved knitting baby clothes for friends and family – it was the one way I could relate to their offspring. The therapeutic clacking of the needles and the satisfaction of creating something beautiful, that will be appreciated, has provided comfort to many a knitter over the centuries – as it does to Lucy.
The second link was the constant irritation with other people feeling it appropriate to asking every childless woman, when they are going to start a family. There are at least three reasons: 1) I don’t ever want to (me), 2) not the right time now, maybe in the future and 3) I am desperately trying, but it isn’t working. In all cases, mind your own business. Particularly in the latter case (e.g. Lucy), it is downright cruel. Women are not helped by the media, who seem to define women as ‘Mothers’, and so worthy of veneration, and brimming with wisdom about the world, and the others, obviously selfish and with no right to a view. The approval of mumsnet is paramount, as though those women who have not yet conceived are of no account.
The incredible stress that Lucy is under, is heartrending and very believable. Jonah tries to be supportive, but he already has one child – the 16 year old Camille, who moves in with Jonah and Lucy. This initially creates more difficulties for Lucy, though eventually it also brings her incredible happiness. Lucy comes to realise that blood ties and pregnancy are not the only path to motherhood: step-children, adopted children, godchildren, nieces and nephews, etc are all there to be loved and mothered too. That was my final link. I am adopted, and my mum is the perfect mother, I could not wish for better.
Despite my initial misgivings, I loved this book, and would highly recommend it – to mothers, would-be mothers and also to the intentionally childless.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book despite the obvious sadness. All the issues of miscarriage were covered sensitively as was the adoption. The book flowed and the happy ending completed reader satisfaction.

With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter thinks she finally has it all: a wonderful new husband, Jonah, a successful career and the chance of a precious baby of her own. Life couldn’t be more perfect.

But becoming parents proves much harder to achieve than Lucy and Jonah imagined, and when Jonah’s teenage daughter Camille comes to stay with them, she becomes a constant reminder of what Lucy doesn’t have. Jonah’s love and support are unquestioning, but Lucy’s struggles with work and her own failing dreams begin to take their toll. With Camille’s presence straining the bonds of Lucy’s marriage even further, Lucy suddenly feels herself close to losing everything…

I have to say, not my usual type of book but I did enjoy the first half of this. Though I didn't really like the main characters of Lucy and Jonah, I thought the writing about their situation was beautiful. It started to go a bit awry for me when the hints about an earlier 'incident' with Lucy began to emerge as the writing changed and I was wondering for a while whether some devil-child was about the appear in the story. The plot took a different turn and unfortunately I lost a bit of interest.

Prowse's The Idea of You is an emotional look at how past events influence who we become.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this for an honest review.
This was my first time reading Amanda Prowse. I really enjoyed her. A lot of people told me to read her and getting this ARC gave me the perfect opportunity. Her writing is wonderful. To be a romance novelist, I have to say that she is one of the better writers.
She goes into the character's deep thoughts and makes the reader feel like you are living in their shoes. Not a lot of writers do that.
I do have to admit though, that I felt it tough to see eye-to-eye on some of the characters actions. Communication at parts made me cringe at the book. It would have been so much easier and less agonizing if they just talked it out.
But, it was sweet and endearing and I think I will read more from her in the future.

I read this book with very high trepidation and through my fingers much of the time. This is heartbreaking, and difficult as well as being interesting and fulfilling a read.

Absolutely loved this book. No sugar coating, just reality. A brilliant story, fantastically written with genuine, believable characters.

Made me cry. If you’re not already a fan of Amanda Prowse’s stories then this is a good place to start. Anyone who enjoys the moral questioning and dramatic story-telling of Jodi Picoult’s novels will be pleased to discover another master of the genre.

Lucy Carpenter is about to turn 40. She had a new husband and the possibility of starting a family of their own. Jonah has a teenage daughter from his previous marriage but that doesn't stop him from wanting to start a family with Lucy. This book takes a hard and heartbreaking look at loss and infertility. This book has hit close to home with me as someone who has been in this situation. Lucy is incredibly relatable and her struggles make you root for her. This is such a wonderful book that will stir up some emotions!

Sometimes books that mirror life are compelling and insightful; other times they unintentionally press buttons or trigger emotions that are unpleasant. For me, the latter sentiment took over while reading The Idea of You. What I found frustrating is that I wanted to like the story, I should have liked it, but I ultimately did not connect with the characters or plot as anticipated.

A 40 year old woman with a solid career finds love and marriage, then tries to have a child - a life long dream. These story lines appeal to me as a woman with a strong job and a family. However, once Lucy and Jonah begin their lives together and start facing everyday situations, the story became less enchanting. There were numerous highs and lows, and I think I just found them exhausting and too real, even though my life does not mirror Lucy's in any way. Ultimately, I could not read through the entire book - skipping parts to get to the end to find out the final resolution.

Overall, it is written alright and as expressed, the story is a good one. A woman is forced to face how her lifelong dreams and present reality collide, forcing her to re-evaluate what is important to her at that time in her life. The ending was satisfying though, so I think it is worth reading, as I believe my reaction will not be typical.

Very readable, the interaction of family members seemed quite realistic. This author can really get inside the heads of her female characters- the two male characters seemed kind of flat in comparison.
Lucy is completely self absorbed and seems to have a borderline obsessive compulsive personality -I wanted to tell her to lighten up about order, home furnishings and all things related to reproduction. I thought her husband was a saint - having so much patience with her regarding babies and pregnancy. He was so lovey dovey and namby pamby that it kind of turned me off, though.
I thought it was quite authentic, the way the author had Lucy completely misread Camille, her step daughter, when she first came to visit with them!
Lucy kind of redeemed herself to me when she grew and matured due to the situation towards the end. I love it when a character shows growth. In fact, I felt good and optimistic about the whole family dynamics by the end of this book.

This was a good book. The main character was realistic and likeable. The story was a bit sad, but ultimately a rewarding ending with a well developed plot.

I love this author's books and find them to be well researched which makes for a brilliant story. Lucy is nearly 40 years old and has recently married Jonah. He has a 16 year old daughter Camille who lives in France with her mother. Lucy is desperate for a child of her own but has recently had some failed pregnancies. When Camille comes to stay for the summer, will Lucy and Jonah's marriage survive?