Although I have a number of Amanda Prowse books on my Kindle and I have been following her on Twitter for quite some time, this was the first time I have read one of her books - enticed to do so by reading her own stories of pregnancy loss, which inspired this book.
I know Amanda Prowse has a huge following because she connects so well with her readers through her heartfelt honesty and ability to get to the very emotional core of a story.
I knew this this would be both an emotional and at times difficult read. While I have, thankfully, never experienced a miscarriage, I had a few scares in my last pregnancy and was able to relate to that fear she spoke so poignantly of - the wait on the examining table and the fear of what the doctor may or may not find.
This is the story of Lucy, primarily, and her new husband Jonah - and their quest to start a family of their own. Lucy is a career woman who has built a very successful life for herself but has not, until her early 40s, met the right man for, With Jonah comes a whirlwind relationship, a marriage and a desire to become a mother - to solidify her family unit.
However, she and Jonah face very many trials and tribulations in their journey. Secrets unfold - pain from the past is resurrected, ripped open and events from Lucy's past threaten her present happiness.
The arrival of Jonah's teenage daughter, Camille, from France for the summer adds an extra dimension of tension to the book - and causes the reader to think about what it really takes to be a mother, what family is and how healing can come from the strangest of places.
This is a deeply moving read - and for some, I imagine it will be difficult.
Browse doesn't shy away from the realities of miscarriage, nor the strain it can put on a relationship.
For me, perhaps, the book was a little bit overly long - but I'm sure I would be in the minority thinking that - knowing the legion of fans Mrs Prowse so rightly has.
This book once again solidifies her as one of the best women's fiction writers in the UK - guaranteed to deliver an emotional read each and every time.
I will be digging into some of her other books which are sitting on my Kindle.

Pour Some Sugar on Me.

Open up a big bottle of maple syrup and glug it down. See how you feel. This is the impression that The Idea of You left with me. Lucy is forty with a brilliant career who wants desperately to have a baby when she meets slightly older Jonah at a baby shower, of all places. The two of them hit it off and get hitched. Lucy leaves her sleek and modern digs and moves into Jonah’s character rich older home. They immediately start trying to conceive.

Several miscarriages later, and just in time for Jonah’s sixteen year old daughter to move into their home, the newlyweds hit a rough patch. Lucy continues to work but nothing means much to her if she cannot have this kid. Jonah seems disinterested and what’s worse, sweet Lucy is thrust into the role of horrid stepmother. No matter how hard she tries, her step daughter just won’t come around. Lucy is also harboring a secret, one that greatly informs her narrow minded baby desires and also her relationship with her mother.

I could not relate to Lucy’s character and hers and Jonah’s overly theatrical, smarmy relationship truly detracted from feeling any sympathy for these characters whatsoever. The way these two characters spoke to each other sounded completely disingenuous and on more than one occasion left me tempted to forgo finishing the book.

Lucy has an ongoing fantasy about talking to her mythical child that is interspersed between chapters. It is all sweetness and light, completely one sided and unrealistic. I was unimpressed with the way this subject matter was handled and was surprised to learn that the author’s catalyst for writing this story was her own experience with miscarriage. The serious nature of this topic warranted a far more relevant storyline, one that wasn’t trite, mired in fantasy and dressed up with bows and ribbons.

A disappointing read.

BRB Rating: Skip It

When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure it was my cup of tea. It was a bit slow and the main character Lucy was very unlikeable. Lucy seemed petty and childish especially when it came to her stepdaughter. Being a stepmom myself, I would get so mad at Lucy's behavior. As the story started making connections and things were falling into place I noticed Lucy was maturing before my very eyes.

I'm happy I stuck with it as it was a great read. You may even find yourself learning a few things in your own life.

If you are a fan of Maeve Binchy, Barbara Delinsky or Diane Chamberlain this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy. All reviews are my own honest opinion.

Having been lucky to get a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review I found it a very emotional story that deals with all the good and bad points of being a mother that is well written and easy to read. Lucy is 40 and having got married is desperate for a baby, then having all the heartache of trying to get to full term. On top of the emotional stress of that she has to deal with her 16 year old step-daughter coming to live with them who seems to want to cause trouble.
I enjoyed the book and having children can relate to the struggles within the story covering love, longing and heartbreak, which is basically real life! Definitely recommended.

I received this free from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an honest review.
This is the heart-wrenching story of Lucy Carpenter and her husband Jonah. They are trying to have a baby and things are not going well. This is a well-written story that handles sensitive topics with compassion. It touches the emotions deeply, and you really care for the people in this story, even when they are not being nice. I really enjoyed this book, though it's not one I would have picked for myself, I am glad I got the opportunity to read it.

I was provided a copy of The Idea of You through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of Lucy and Jonah. Jonah has been married before and has a teen-age daughter. Lucy is nearing 40 and wants to have a child with Jonah. The book is about the struggles they endure trying to have a child, as well as having Jonah's daughter, Camille, come and stay with them for a while. Where does Lucy fit in the dynamic between her husband and his daughter? What secret is buried and threatens to destroy Lucy and Jonah's marriage? I really enjoyed this book!

This is the first time I've read this author. It won't be the last.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. Poignant but thought provoking. A page turner which really makes you think. Recommended wholeheartedly.

Thank you NetGalley, Amanda Prowse and Lake Union Press for the pleasure of reviewing "The Idea of You".

Lucy and Jonah are not the first couple that struggles with fertility. They are not the first couple where one parent brings a child from a previous marriage into their couplet. They are current and their love for one another faces terrible struggle and strain. As readers, we can wonder will they be okay or will their be new twists? One thing is certain, this is a story about man and wife, parent and child and familial love.

To outsiders, they may have a enviable existence. Good jobs, deep passion for one another in a love found later in life and a cozy home filled with nicknack's and rough edges that make Lucy crazy as much as they provide her comfort. However, Lucy and Jonah want a baby and are disappointed by miscarriage and infertility. They don't share this with family and continue on. Continuing on, for Lucy, means work, but it also means working on knitting baby clothes for her future baby. Beautiful baby clothes in the softest yarns and gender neutral shades. Her stack of receiving blankets and little outfits increases at a far faster rate than either she or Jonah can come to terms with the "what if/what now" scenario that their unsuccessful attempts to get and/or keep pregnant. Their love not in question, but a strain for this couple on a quest begins to show small fissures.

As all of this is happening, Jonah's teenager daughter Camille comes to spend the summer with them. With a new project to expend her energy, Lucy goes about decorating an old guest room into a more modern, streamlined young woman's retreat. With advise from her own sister, a mother of a young family, not to paint a teenagers room anything garish or uncool like fuchsia, Camille's room turns into a true sanctuary for a girl to live in.

I refuse to give spoilers in my reviews, so please forgive the generalizations that follow. Camille's visit lasts more than the summer. As Lucy and Camille bond, Lucy tells Jonah a secret she has kept from him that causes chaos in their marriage. Whereas her marriage is in tatters she has successfully integrated herself into Camille's life in a way that surprises both of them. Camille and Jonah mourn together when Lucy takes a break to give Johah and herself a chance to processes this new change, a lie of omission on her part. However, back in the modern, sparkling clean apartment she owns in the city, is at odds where all she wishes for is dust bunnies, well worn furniture, her husband and her step-daughter.

Filled with many of the difficulties that today's couples find themselves in when they enter relationships after previous marriages or serious relationship's from early adulthood, this book is relatable for so many reasons. I found that the anger in Camille acutely accurate as a child of divorce. I love that the niceties, from the heart, that Lucy puts into Camille's room to her birthday celebration and beyond are new to her. Step mothers often get a bad rap, and this is a very un-Cinderella version of what can be between a step mother and her husband's children.

I had a Kindle library list so long and varied of unread books waiting for me. Yes, I am a one-click addict. But NetGalley titles and requests from authors and publishers always come first. I am personally glad that I picked "The Idea of You" from my list. As a reviewer I am glad my personal bond fully supported my picking this read in the moment. I will soon be a step-mother to older boys but it shows that the effort for making step-parent/child relationships work takes effort and the desire from both.

One other thing I have taken away from this book, is how much I want to learn to knit. I would love to have a talent that I could share with other, and no, I won't be offended in the recipient puts it in the back of a closet. I use writing as a creative outlet. Thanks to Lucy, Jonah and Camille, as a way to spend my time not reading or writing or making wedding plans. My reasons to knit emay be different from these women, however I expect the outcome to be the same, with much practice and permission to make mistakes and try again.

As a mother I can relate to many of the feelings the main character experienced. It was good to read a book that portrays that motherhood is challenging and changes you. Very well written. I will definitely look for other books by this author.

This was a very readable story about marriage, and the role regrets and secrets can play in a life. I was intrigued by the description of the book and was fortunate to receive an advanced ebook copy through NetGalley. I found this book to be compelling yet not without a few conflicting threads.
The main female character, Lucy, is portrayed mostly as a likeable and admirable woman. I was delighted when she found love early in the story. The disappointment and strain from her repeated experiences with miscarriage were believable and sadly all too true from my own experience. I struggled a bit with her occasional self-pitying responses to conflicts with her husband and step-daughter, but found them more understandable a bit further in the story.
Jonah, Lucy's husband comes through as real dream boat of a guy. His love for Lucy remains largely unquestionable, and their relationship is the picture of a more mature love. The addition of his daughter to the story brings some additional conflict which is needed to flesh out the story, yet her appearance creates a pivot point in the story that helps bring about resolution.
I think this book will appeal most to readers like me, who are a bit older. The author portrays the desires and longings experienced by couples who want to be parents, as well as the difficulties of the modern family. This might be better appreciated by someone who has gone through some of these experiences.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Well written, but not something that I enjoyed. This felt overly emotionally and maybe I wasn't in the right mindspace when reading.

There are surely people that enjoy this kind of story, but that person isn't me.

Thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity to read this book in exchange for this review.

Wow what a hardhitting book - Amanda Prowse deals with several very difficult subjects all in one story.... struggle to find love, conception difficulties, miscarriage, adoption, bended families... this could have been one seriously depressing book. However Prowse deals with everything with extreme sensitivtiy.

This was particularly difficult read for me as I was actually going through a miscarriage whilst reading the book. When I realised I almost stopped reading as I wasnt sure if I could handle it but Im glad I continued as it felt like the story was helping me to deal with the process. There were so many parts of the book, particularly around how Lucy blames herself for what is happening to her.

The characters in this were well developed and felt very real. Prowse helps the reader to understand there, very often contrasting, viewpoints... even if sometimes I wanted to shake Lucy to try and make her see the bigger picture rather than just blinkered on herself.

The ending was satisfying but just lacking in something... the picture was too perfect but lacked the reality of the rest of the book.

Wonderful portrayal of the despair of miscarriage and infertility next to the trials of being a stepmother to a teenager

Lucy is 39 and single and while at a christening meets the man of her dreams - Jonah Carpenter. After their marriage all Lucy wants is to become a mother - Jonah already has a teenage daughter, Camille, who lives with her mother in France. Mother Nature throws some obstacles in Lucy's way though and she begins to wonder if she will ever be a mother. Camille's move to live with them adds more stress to her situation. Not my usual or favourite genre to read but it was a quite enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Amanda Prowse for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is a well-written, highly emotional novel about family and second chances--perfect for a quiet afternoon to yourself.

If you enjoy reading books that mirror real life and include tough decisions for the main character, this one will do nicely. I liked a lot of things about this book. The way the author described the relationships and emotional upheaval of her characters made me feel very close to the story early on, and there was enough going on in the story to keep the pages moving quickly. The setting was described adequately but without the minutia that can slow a story down.

Lucy was someone that I could easily identify with, and I cared what happened to her right away. I thought the author did an excellent job of hinting at what had happened to her earlier in life without giving away the entire end of the book early on. I was especially enthralled with the relationship between Lucy and her stepdaughter, as it rang so true.

This was an entertaining book that kept me busy for an entire afternoon and I would happily recommend it to those who like serious novels. It made me cry--but in a good way.

This review is based on a complementary copy from the publisher, provided through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this book but found it a compelling, emotional read. Although the main theme is very sad and there is an awful inevitability to the pregnancies there is also warmth and a twist involving a secret from the past. Anyone who has had a miscarriage will sympathise with Lucy. I liked the way the story unfolded and the characters gained depth.

This book is incredibly written with wonderful words of emotion and beauty. The author brings the reader fully into the story and keeps you turning page after page. Although I enjoyed this book from the beginning, I found myself unable to put it down once I hit 60% of the way through the story. I stayed up until 3 am to finish it and even after I finished, I continued to think through the story for another hour or so before I could go to sleep. I found myself running a full gambit of emotions from happiness to crying to laughing.

Although a book of fiction, Ms. Prowse fully empowers her characters with their full gambit of humanity, from tenderness to pride, jealousy and anger, and most of all love. The story is based on life in families dealing with miscarriage, step children, unexpected pregnancy, and keeping hurtful secrets. The protagonist in this story, Lucy, is a very smart, strong and somewhat confused woman dealing with many new issues in her domestic life. But her love is without limits. The following are a couple of examples of Ms. Prowse wonderful written quotes:

'I felt the hot, uncomfortable cloak of shame that I had worn for all these years, but right then, it was no longer hidden under layers of laughter, achievement or any other number of diversions. It was a brightly coloured shame, there for all to see. Now, it feels as if a burden has been lifted and I want to shout at the world:'

‘Never settle, Cam, for anything other than what is right for you. Always put your needs high on the list; know your worth. Okay?’

That is my favorite quote in the book. This is an excellent read and I highly recommend this book to everyone. Go to get your copy now. This is right now my best read of 2017 in this genre.

Thank you Ms. Prowse and Lake Union Pulishing for providing us with this great book.

I would like to thank Amanda Prowse and Net Galley for allowing me to read this book.

This book is about Lucy, a woman who feels she will never marry and have a child of her own and then she meets Jonah at her Godson's christening party.

Lucy and her mom, Jan, do not get along very well. Her sister Fay is married to Adam and they have 2 children, Rory and Maisie. Jonah and Lucy marry. The child she longs for she loses in a miscarriage. She tells no one and after a while Jonah's 17 year old daughter, Camille comes and lives with them for the summer from France. Lucy tries hard with her step-daughter but it isn't until Camille becomes pregnant do they really bond. Lucy lets go of a secret she has kept for many years and it is then that the diary she keeps about the little girl she hopes to have one day makes more sense. Once the secret is out and Lucy confronts her mother, she feels free and the healing begins. Loved the book, well worth reading.

Book Description
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…
This heart-wrenchingly poignant family drama from bestselling author Amanda Prowse asks the question: in today’s hectic world, what does it mean to be a mother?

My Review
The story is a powerful emotional and at times heart-breaking read, centred around a couple who would like nothing more in the world to than become parents. Lucy is like any woman who may yearn to be a mother, she is a successful career woman who feels time is running out due to her age and she watches as friends and family members settle down, become parents and to her their lives are complete. The poignancy of the storyline is close to numerous women who have been in Lucy's situation, the subject of miscarriages has been approached by Amanda with empathy. Amanda also touches on the topic of step families, relationships, long buried family secrets, adultery and mental health issues.
This book was a very emotional read where it is hard not to feel the overwhelming pain loss brings, get the tissues ready and clear the house I can almost guarantee there won't be a dry eye after reading The Idea of You.
Amanda has delivered an emotionally heart wrenching book which I truly loved, there were tears, laughter, love and the feeling of loss all from me, but a truly inspiring book which I believe will pull at many a mothers heart.
Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for an Advanced Reader Copy of The Idea of You for an honest review.

A hard ,gut wrenching read. I cried for her, I so wanted a happy ending which we got but not in the way we expected. Fab.