This book started out as a very slow read & a bit depressing. Once Camille finally moved in with the family, it got much better & I enjoyed reading how the relationship evolved between her & her step-mom.

I have a fair few books by Amanda Prowse on my Kindle and I'm not sure I've even read any yet. All that will change now I've read The Idea of You. I devoured this book in two short sittings and sat back at the end of it, in need of some quiet contemplation and not racing off to read another book in my queue as usual.
The theme of this book is miscarriage and while you know that, some of this review may constitute a spoiler so read with caution if that is likely to bother you.
This book centres around Lucy, opening when she is beginning to despair of finding Mr Right and follow her friends, and sisters into marriage and motherhood. At a christening of her employees baby she meets Jonah and all that changes. The book very quickly jumps forward to happy domesticity for Lucy and Jonah and wonderfully, a pregnancy. At this point I have to mention that while I conceived and carried my three eldest children with ease, I then suffered recurrent miscarriages and secondary infertility while trying for baby number four so I could completely relate to Lucy. If the author hasn't experienced miscarriage herself I will be very surprised and blown away by both her imagination and her empathy. Thank you Amanda for shining a light on what is so seldom discussed and seems to be so taboo still. The scene where it is Jonah who discovers their first miscarriage is haunting.
Throughout the book, interspersed with the plot are pages of a letter or diary, of Lucy writing to her lost babies, or her future baby? We aren't quite sure. I liked to think that the certainty with which she wrote meant that Lucy did one day have a child, the girl she feels that is out there waiting for her.
Admission number two from me... I am also a knitter and the cover of this book grabbed me immediately because of that! Lucy also knits, finding it soothing and relaxing as she copes with the excitement of a new pregnancy, the fear of losing it and then the grief when it ends. She knits garments for the baby she longs for and stores them in a wicker basket which is put up, out of the way in her bedroom.
As if recurrent miscarriage wasn't enough for Lucy to cope with, Jonah has a daughter, Camille who he has only seen sporadically since her birth as she lives in France with her mother and stepfather. During the happier moments of her pregnancy, Lucy encourages Jonah to invite Camille to stay for the summer in London. Lucy bravely decides to continue with this plan despite miscarrying.
Camille is as you would imagine, a spiky teenage girl who keeps her new stepmother firmly at arms length despite Lucy's many moves to befriend her. In the end this pushes Lucy to a point of seeing the girl as an opponent and her relationship with Jonah suffers as a result.
Other characters and side plots include Lucy's mother and sister who she doesn't seem totally connected to, despite them presenting as a close family, Lucy's employee and friend Tansy who she fails to open up to and Camille's boyfriend Dex.
I won't spoil the next section of the book but it involves honesty. Camille being honest with Lucy, Lucy being honest with Tansy, her mother, Jonah and Camille and eventually all characters moving on and creating happiness with the family they have been given rather than one they may have chosen.
I found Prowse's writing so true, and so emotive that I sobbed my way through the last few chapters. Lucy may have started the book closed off and unlikable to some but assumes a new confidence and a new identity by the end of the book and I left the last page liking them all very much indeed and wondering what the future held for them all.

Wow Amanda Prowse does it again, she writes with so much feeling and the characters are so developed that you feel you actually know them.
Lucy and Jonah are trying to complete their lives with a baby but it is not always as simple as wanting and it seems she cannot carry her pregnancies to full term. Jonah has a teenage daughter with his ex wife and Camilla is going to be staying with them throughout the summer so Lucy throws herself into getting her room ready and hopes to make her feel welcome.The trials and turbulance of having a teenager in the house was so true to life and I couldn't put this book down. I am so glad I was reading in my own home as I found tears rolling down my face on several occasions.
Amanda writes with such empathy and it flows so easily that I read the book in two sittings.
I would like to say thank you for the copy of the bookfrom NetGalle

As expected from Amanda Prowse this is a beautifully written book that deals with the difficult and emotive question just what it means to be a mother. The characters become like family the further you read, so much so that you become invested in their lives. This is a book that will really make you question the role of a mother and it will stay with you long after you turn the last page. A wonderful life affirming book, just brilliant.

Absolutely love Amanda Prowse & this book continued my love of her stories. Beautifully written, so sad in parts & the ending leaves you wondering if there could possibly be a sequel

Heartbreaking and heartwarming in equal measure. The Idea of You focuses on pregnancy, loss and what it means to be a mother, in every sense of the word. I couldn't get enough of this book and have definitely found a new favourite author in Amanda Prowse.

This is the story of Lucy, a high flying executive who has a great marriage to Jonah, a great house and a job she loves. There is a little bit of tension with her mother but otherwise Lucy seems to have it all....except for a baby. Into this mix is thrown Camille, Jonah's 16 year old daughter from a previous marriage who comes to stay.

I did enjoy this book despite it all getting a little sicky sweet in some places. Lucy is desperate for a baby & suffers several miscarriages. This, naturally enough, causes a great deal of stress and tension. There is lots of second guessing what people think - Lucy thinks Jonah doesn't really want a baby as he has Camille whereas Jonah doesn't want Lucy to keep having to go through miscarriages.

Camille is a fairly typical teen. Lucy quite unrealistically wants to be her best friend and feels pushed out & excluded. I don't think this is unusual but Lucy doesn't handle it well. Poor old Jonah keeps getting stuck in the middle of the situation.

I enjoyed this book on a fairly superficial level. I didn't get that involved with the story & certainly didn't find myself moved to tears or great compassion for Lucy. It wasn't that I didn't sympathise, she just didn't get under my skin greatly. Perhaps it is because I am fortunate enough not to have been in her situation? or perhaps it was because her feelings were explained to a great extent in the book as opposed to the writing drawing me into her mindset? I don't know which it was but suspect it was a combination of the two.

There are a few twists in this book but I must confess to having seen them all coming. It was a bit predictable.

I did enjoy this book but it was very much a light and superficial read. I expect it spoke to other women much more than it did to me.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

What an emotional rollercoaster. Yet again Amanda deals with a difficult emotive topic so sensitivily. I loved the relationship between Lucy and Jonah and how they dealt each time with their loss. At the same time introducing Camille and her relationship with Lucy, Lucy's relationship with her mum all coming together when we find out the reason why. I loved the ending from all the sadness came lots of positives and future hope

The Idea of You is quite an emotional story. It's about loss, disappointment, guilt, hope, acceptance and the importance of family support.

Lucy has a successful career but she is plagued by guilt over something that happened over twenty years ago. As she is approaching her fortieth birthday and is still single, she would like nothing more than having a happy relationship and start a family.

Jonah is divorced and meets Lucy at a christening where their relationship starts. They have been happily married for a year but then they go through a big disappointment which puts the dampers on their relationship. Nevertheless, Jonah is very supportive but soon another disappointment surfaces and although they remain very close, Lucy can't help the psychological anguish that engulfs her.

Camille is Jonah's teenage daughter who comes to visit for her holidays. Despite the fact that Lucy puts every effort in making her feel welcome, conflict arises. Old insecurities come back and it's an uphill battle for everyone. Then Camille comes out with news of her own which only adds to the existing tension.

Lucy finally decides to divulge the secret that she has been harbouring for over twenty years and Jonah's reaction is completely unexpected. It has to get worse before it gets better and a lot of good comes out of what looks like a dire situation.

This well written novel addresses a very delicate matter which makes this story heartwrenching at times. Jonah turns out to be a very supportive father and husband. Lucy shows her strength of character by not allowing her own grief to take over but try to mend all the bridges instead. I really felt her anguish, then relief when she starts to accept things for what they are. It's a rollercoaster of a journey!

I was kindly issued with an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

I do not have children and nor do I want them so I am perhaps not the target audience for this book. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed it. I found it well written with a cast of characters that could be related to on some level.

4 stars

Unfortunately I was unable to finish this book - I tried reading it several times but it just does not work for me. I do not think it is a bad book at all; I think the concept is very promising and appreciated the writing style, but personally I could not get into it.

Lucy is hitting forty and wants more than anything to become a mother. Married to Jonah for around a year, a very successful woman in her own right a baby is what is missing in her life. Jonah's daughter is coming over to stay, Lucy is struggling with her own family issues and now has a feisty teenager to welcome into her home. With surprises and heartache around the corner, Jonah's daughter brings a whirlwind of emotions, testing boundaries and the potential to change the family dynamics forever.

There is no two ways about it, this book will strike a chord with you or completely turn you off the book. It covers some heart wrenching issues, miscarriage, loss, infidelity, step family dynamics, marital difficulties, relationships, families and secrets. Some of the scenes, especially for readers who have lost a child or experienced pregnancy that didn't have the outcome you wanted, especially hard.

Written from Lucy's point of view and each chapter starting with a letter to her baby we experience the full heartache of longing and loss of a woman desperate for a child. Some of the writing paints a very dark picture and this book will be very emotive for some readers whilst possibly offering an understanding nod from others who have been there and experienced Lucy's journey. This is my first time reading this author, The Idea Of You certainly packs an emotive punch and leaves you reeling, I would read her again. Whilst fiction, Prowse creates a realistic window into the harsh realities and torment some women endure trying to gain the one thing they want more than life. I disliked some of the behaviour of some characters and found myself questioning the likelihood of their actions and words however the reality often is quite unpredictable and people can do a complete 360! 4/5 for me this time, I would read this author again, in fact I have a few of hers on my tbr. Thanks to Netgalley for a review copy, all thoughts are as always, my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Amanda Prowse for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Idea of You is a beautiful book, authentically expressing the heartbreak of a woman's struggle to have a baby. Dealing with relationships with her husband, mother, step-daughter, and friends with kids makes Lucy's journey so much more challenging and sad. Amanda Prowse does an immaculate job of taking the reader along with Lucy as she navigates this difficult road. Reading this book was intense at times as it brought me back to my own similar experiences but thank you Ms. Prose for the reminder that family is what you make it. A book becomes more than a book when it touches your heart and leaves you with wisdom.

After being unceremoniously dumped by her boyfriend, Richard, who then turns around and marries her cousin Davina, Lucy is feeling a bit raw when she meets Jonah at a christening for a friend’s baby. Lucy and Jonah are seemingly perfect for each other, and they settle down together in a charming house and continue their pursuits of success in their careers.

The only thing that’s marring their perfect happiness is that they are unable to have a baby together. Lucy suffers through several miscarriages, and her pain is magnified when Jonah’s 16-year-old daughter Camille comes to visit, and then stays. As expected, Camille is less than pleased about Lucy’s presence in her father’s life, and is rude and hostile towards Lucy, putting Jonah in the middle.

The pain and the unhappiness are so strong, woven throughout and touching each character, and yet they all do their best to hide it, to bury it, to prove somehow that they are doing well. Lucy’s feelings of disconnect from everyone, Jonah’s guilt at not being present for Camille, and Camille’s unhappiness with her mother and stepfather are all covered over, until the person breaks and the sadness comes spilling out. I enjoyed seeing the family dynamics change and develop, and appreciated the strength and courage that was necessary for Lucy to get through each day.

The pace and length of this novel was its biggest obstacle. The story of Lucy's long-buried (and surprising) secret and how it affects all of her relationships was intriguing, but the telling of this story took too long.

An interesting and topical subject for a novel. Well written but never quite 'caught fire' or moved me like it should have.

An exquisitely poignant but emotionally draining commercial woman's fictional exploration of miscarriage, motherhood, feminism and dreams fated never to be fulfilled.

Having established herself as a successful and prosperous career woman, 39 year old Lucy desperately craves the additions of marriage and motherhood to her sparkling life resume.
The central premise of this book depicts a woman's ideological yearnings for her destiny to hold: material success, envy arousing career, husband and a baby- then portraying these combined elements as the ultimate epitomisation of “a woman having it all”.
Upon cruel fate's vicious thwarting of the completion of Lucy's dream with miscarriage after miscarriage, a heartbroken Lucy puts in place coping strategies to come to terms with life without the baby she longs for.

Amanda Prowse's skillful, stunningly powerful writing is brimming with emotion and filled with a bulldozer like intensity that creates a compelling read which absolutely ensnares reader attention, guaranteeing that the reader will not relinquish this novel until the last page has been turned and the final words read.
But this book is not escapism fiction- The Idea Of You is about as far as one can get from the usual easy reads flooding the commercial women's genre.

The multiple miscarriage scenes in this novel are absolutely harrowing and are written with a gratuitous level of graphic detail. Lucy's intense pain permeates through the pages and into the reader's heart.
This is indicative of an author whose writing encompasses the power to create and share both the passion and the intensity of heartbreak.
Amanda Prowse has endured the trauma of miscarriage and it seems that the miscarriage scenes are based on her own experiences.
She is a fabulous writer and her words certainly convey the tsunami like intensity of the wave of emotions arising from miscarriages- not just for women who feel both the physical pain first-hand and then the shattering aftermath, but also the sufferings that engulf husbands, children and friends.

Lucy is no fairytale princess and not even a very likeable person but is still one of the most vivid characters I have ever encountered, despite her flaws.
Such a powerfully unique voice; she may be my first four dimensional character.
Most of the other character's were either unpleasant, weak or barely memorable props in Lucy's life.

I have mixed feelings about some of the themes central to this book.
The concept of a perfect life or the attitude that a person needs to “have it all” don't really resonate with me, irrespective of gender factors.

This book is probably targeted at women in the 35-45 year age range.
I'm in my twenties and I'm no “cupcake feminist”.
I don't agree with an ideology that dictates that a woman needs external validation from: a man, wedding ring, baby, lots of money, super career and big house, in order to enjoy a happy and fulfilling life. I take a similar point of view for men.
Usually a book written along such irksome lines would earn a rating below 3* or else be abandoned after 15 minutes.

But Amanda Prowse is a such spectacular storyteller; in Lucy she has created a character so profoundly human to be considered deserving of no less than reader empathy as she undergoes one of the most terrible experiences in the world.
Amanda Prowse's writing is so powerful, so poignant and steeped in unforeseeable twists & turns, that the sheer calibre of the writing redeems all the thematic and ideological flaws.

The subject of this book was one I hadn't realized would make me so emotional. The author did a wonderful job of allowing us to see just what Lucy is feeling throughout the book. While Lucy is not perfect, and has a strange way of going about things at times, I found myself empathizing with her more than I thought I would. At times, I found her to be quite an unlikable character, but her flaws made her more real.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This delightful book is about a long time single, successful career woman, who never felt she would find the love of her life and have a family. Suddenly at a friend’s wedding, Lucy meets Jonah and before you know it, she is madly in love and married. It is having a child that causes Lucy and Jonah oh so many difficulties and heartaches; it also wrenches up the past in ways that some might feel are best forgotten.

What I liked about the book: Well, at first I didn’t think I was going to like it. But then I was reeled in hook, line and sinker. Lucy is a very likeable character, with a complex story line and a lot more vulnerability that one might imagine. It doesn’t reveal itself until much later in the book as more of Lucy’s story comes out. Jonah is a typical divorced father, with a typical teenager daughter who lives with her mother. Said mother appears to be two very different people to both the daughter and the ex-husband – until the truth is later revealed to all. Jonah’s daughter is written as a typical teenager, product of divorce, very manipulative, mean to step-mom and overbearing…until she finds herself in need of a friend.

What I didn’t like about the book: Without revealing the plot line, it would seem that Lucy and Jonah’s trouble with conception seemed to become an undiscussed problem as the book came to a close and they had other issues on their mind. I was hoping that the other events that presented themselves to the family would not overshadow their own desires as a couple; but any discussion about their having a child of their own seemed to have left the storyline by the end of the book.

All in all, though all of the characters were charming and I found myself wishing the story would continue on.

A heartbreaking and devastating look at motherhood, marriage and miscarriage. As someone who has struggled with miscarriage, this was a very difficult book to read and enjoy. That is not to say it was a bad book at all, it wasn't. But it is emotional and transporting.

I thought there were some weak points in the story and would have liked a little more depth in the characters.