My hopes and aspirations weren’t what typical girls dream about. My dreams were having a good career, someday having a nice husband with the American dream of the white picket fence, but children never entered my mind’s eye. I did get two out of three, which I’m thankful for!

But for Lucy Carpenter just having a career and a loving husband wasn’t enough. She didn’t feel complete without having that little bundle of joy. What Lucy signified is what being unique and different is all about. For her, having a baby meant everything. It would make her feel complete, but no matter how hard she and Jonah, her hubby, tried, the fates had a different take on the situation. Jonah was a father from his first marriage. And although that made Lucy overjoyed that he had a growing teen living in France with his ex-wife, she still wanted to experience motherhood firsthand up close and personal.

Going through the journey of Lucy’s miscarriages was extremely painful to read. And I don’t mean that in a negative way. I felt for this character. You always hear the horror stories in the news about parents killing their babies or harming them, and when you have two people that would give a child the best, it’s just downright cruel that they cannot conceive. She would have been a great mom and you could feel her anguish. It just wasn’t enough for her to be a stepmom, she wanted a baby. When Camille comes to visit Jonah and Lucy for the summer, a strange turn of events emerges. What Lucy was advised and what was were two completely set of circumstances. Camille drives a wedge between Lucy and Jonah and it’s a wonder if they were going to make it out of it alive. Would their marriage stand the test of a stepchild?

I must say this was one of the most poignant books I’ve read in quite some time. Prowse wrote the words off this book  If you’re not feeling the frustration and mental anguish Lucy experiences, you cannot have a pulse. I was heartbroken for this woman and I personally never wanted children, but I understand women who do. As you read this story, so many questions form in your mind (none of which I will state because of spoilers), but this is a book that defies all trials and tribulations. Lucy was a strong character and handled herself well, under the circumstances, but make no bones about it, Lucy held her own and I love the sensitivity and care Prowse took in writing this heartwarming story. Outstanding book!

Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang! Gives The Idea of You five bundles of joy! Great characters, a-sensitive, yet compelling story of love, loss and maturing. The Idea of You went on sale, March 21, 2017, so please make sure you pick up your copy today! This is one of those books that will live with you forever. I’m a fan, Amanda Prowse. Well, well, well done! Awesome Read. Until next time, keep on reading Intellectual Minds!

I was thrilled to read an ARC of this book.

In the Introduction, she states, "only after beating cancer that I looked at the world differently"
As a cancer survivor myself, I can relate to that statement. Surviving cancer is magic.

This book shows another side to miscarriages and motherhood.

Amanda Prowse is one of those authors whose new book goes straight to the top of my wish list. I've always found her books to be emotional, heartbreaking, yet surprisingly uplifting. They're usually about real women, if you know what I mean, and they tend to stay in my thoughts long after I've turned that last page.

The Idea of You is all about Lucy Carpenter. Lucy, at thirty nine, was beginning to think she was running out of time to settle down and have a family of her own. A successful career and plush apartment were no consolation and she watched with envy as all her friends had children, spending her time thinking of ways she could achieve her dream of finally becoming a mother. Then she meets Jonah and at last she feels she has everything - well almost. This is when Lucy's real heartache begins, as she sets off on a road that is strewn with despair, seeing her hopes of being a mother constantly dashed. Then, just at a time when she needs that little bit of extra love and support, her teenage step-daughter comes to stay.

Losing a baby early in pregnancy is something I'm lucky enough never to have experienced, but Lucy's plight really brought it home to me just what an incredibly private kind of grief it can be, lonely even, at times. Lucy tried to put on a brave face, but inside she was screaming. Her pain was so raw.

Then there was the book! I don't want to spoil what can only be described as an exceptional reading experience, but segments from the book she was reading and the letters she wrote, took this story of heartache to another level.

I did think that Lucy's thoughts about the relationship between her husband and his daughter were very honest. I felt so sorry for her when she was trying so hard to forge a place for herself in this relationship and at the same time going through such personal trauma.

This book isn't just a story, it is a piece of the author's heart. It isn't just about Lucy's battle to become a mother, it is so much more. The Idea of You is about relationships and families, love and heartache and hidden secrets. Prepare yourself for a journey rich in emotion. This is a book you won't forget, another winner from Amanda Prowse's library of bestsellers.

I received this book from NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my honest review. It took me a while to get into this book as it started off slow for me. The story is about Lucy Carpenter who is single with a great career. She really wants to settle down and have a family. She meets Jonah and they try to start their family. Life doesn't always go as planned and certainly not for Lucy. The book deals with miscarriage and I could relate to that. This is a story about family and relationships.

This was a well-written family drama that tugs at the heartstrings. Lucy is approaching 40, has a successful career and has married a wonderful man. They are planning to have a baby and both Lucy and her husband, Jonah, are thrilled. Lucy is finding that becoming pregnant is more challenging than she expected to me, and then Jonah's teenage daughter comes to stay with them, adding additional strain to the marriage. I found it hard to put this book down and am looking forward to reading other books by this author.

I thought the beginning of the book was a bit slow. It is heart-wrenching to read about the struggles of infertility and miscarriages. Lucy was a character that was easy to relate to as both a wife and a step mom.

This book can seem a bit predictable but it was an ok read. I am not sure if I would recommend this book as it is a situation that a lot of women deal with.

I was gripped by this book - Not having read any of Amanda's books I had no idea what to expect - It was so absorbing. Brilliantly written it focussed on the topic of baby loss / miscarriage, adoption and its affects on family life. .A subject which previously hasn't been "talked about ". Amanda, through the story of Lucy and Jonah showed the real loss and depth of emotion that faces women and couples when they suffer miscarriages. It showed just how complex family dynamics can be, particularly when there is baby loss / infertility / pregnancy / adoption. The story felt so real, the characters came alive, through the character development, language and storyline I was swept along through the rollercoaster of emotions. There were moments of joy, fun, and some of immense pain and raw emotion. I shed many tears. It highlighted perfectly the way these subjects have been seen as a taboo - not talked about / kept hidden as if they were something to be ashamed of. As the story unfolded you get a real sense of how strong women can / have to be. I would recommend this book to anyone. It is an emotional read, a journey through loss and a brilliant insight to feelings which often remain unseen / unheard. The emotions are real, they could be the thoughts of many women who have gone through baby loss / adoption. Well done Amanda, brilliant.

The Idea of You is a tenderly written novel, exploring the repercussions of miscarriage, not only for Lucy, the protagonist, but also for her wider family circle - an issue which deserves to be explored. This novel will resonate with many, many women. Lucy's story is heart breaking and yet Prowse stops short of wringing emotion from the reader, purely for effect. Although I guessed one of the major plot twists, this didn't detract from my enjoyment or stop me shedding bucket-loads of tears. Prowse shows that with love and hope a family can bend and meld, until it is far stronger than anyone ever imagined.

I did come to enjoy this book after a sticky start. It moved on for me once Gabrielle entered the story. Lucy, the main character has a successful career and has met the man of her dreams but cannot complete her life by carrying a child to term. Her stepdaughter Gabrielle arrives unexpectedly and also brings another set of problems and adjustments. The story deals with coping with pressure from various sources , familial, peer and medical in dealing with nnot having her own child and how individuals deal with it.
There is an interesting technique in the storyline where Lucy is writing to someone and is voicing her thoughts and this does give an inkling to an early part of Lucy's story.
The storyline is well written and emotive demonstrating how people deal with stress and problems in different ways.

Sometimes the things in life you don't get are actually really wonderful gifts.

This story of loss and love was heart warming and heartbreaking by turn and left me smiling through tears.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. It took me a while to read it honestly but I'm so happy I did. It was fantastic, great storyline great characters. It was heartbreaking for Lucy, I really felt sad for her obviously, she has been through a lot as with a lot of women. It's a pity it does happen. I'm sure it's happend to a lot of women, and the worst thing it happens everyday all over the world.

This was very emotional book, well written and easy flow to the story.
My first book by Amanda Power was very interesting , she is on my favourite list of Authors( which getting bigger by the day :) ).

I understood the intensity of Lucy and her emotional turmoil . The story is very sad and hard to read .At the beginning Lucy expectations is overwhelming her ,and she starts to analyst everything. ( but in her state of mind you understand why). But by the end you understand and love her so much ( I wanted to give her hug).
I loved each and every character,But Lucy was on top ( how she coped with everything and came to the other side).

Good book makes you invest in the character, which I was from set go .
This is sad , well written book. SO PREPARE TISSUES!!!!!!

Riddle me this....how can a book where so very little actually happens be so compelling to read? This is my second Amanda Prowse novel and again she's left me an emotional wreck.

This is the story of Lucy, a successful career woman who never really wanted to be that. At forty she watches her friends enviously their marriages and children, the things she wants most in the world. Then she meets Jonah and its practically love at first sight, marriage follows....then pregnancy....then nothing. As she deals with her heartache Jonahs teenage daughter by his previous marriage comes on an extended visit rubbing salt in tender wounds.

And there it is. Like I said not much happens, if you want action you're in the wrong place. This is a story about the crap that life can throw at you but also about the treasures you can unexpectedly find. And it's beautiful. And I may have shed a tear or six. I may well have to start looking at Ms Prowses' back catalogue....but first I'll need to recover.

Thank you Netgalley, publishers and author for this review copy.

This book made cry, made me laugh, made me cry a bit more but especially made me really appreciate my family and what I have. Lovely story that meant I struggled to put down the kindle the whole way through.

This is probably the most emotional book I have read in some time. I knew going in that this would be a gut-wrenching story, but I was still unprepared for the overwhelming feelings that I would experience while reading about Lucy and Jonah's journey. The characters were relatable, the grief palpable, and the honesty of the words left me stunned.

I firmly believe that I would not have had such a visceral reaction to this book had portions of it not mirrored my own life. The first half of this book was like a terrible trip down memory lane, and the raw accuracy of the author's words as she described not only the feelings and emotions of Lucy, but of Jonah as well, were like a vice on my heart. I felt vindication, however, that I was not alone in how I had once felt/acted, but I also suffered the loss right alongside Lucy and Jonah more profoundly. I do not wish these experiences on anyone, but I do not think that a reader can fully appreciate the brutal honesty and beauty of the author's words without some kind of personal knowledge. In some ways I feel it would be so cathartic for people with similar history to read this to help cope, understand, and heal, yet at the same time re-hashing these feelings made me want to run and hide.

So why not 5 stars? If this review was based solely on the representation of miscarriage and loss, I would give this 10 stars. I enjoyed the overall story and message a lot, but there was almost too much detail (ie: the decorations in a room or on a cake, what's for dinner, etc) that made the flow of the story a little choppy. The heavily foreshadowed storyline with Bella also seemed to be dragged out unnecessarily, but I was satisfied with its resolution. These things didn't take away from my overall enjoyment of The Idea of You, but it did make things feel a little too drawn out.

This was a truly a heartbreaking and yet uplifting book. It delves into experiences and emotions not normally freely discussed and deals with them in an honest and meaningful way. The conclusion was moving and brought the story full circle. This is the first book I have read by the author and I look forward to reading more.

*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*

The Idea of You is a departure from the usual books I read but I know Amanda Prowse has a devoted readership and the subject of this book is something I can identify with. I have three daughters now but have also had three miscarriages and having read some early reviews of The Idea of You knew that pregnancy loss was a main theme of the book so decided it was time to try something different.
Many people who read this book will also have first hand knowledge of pregnancy loss and so it's important to point out that the subject is sensitively handled. However, it's also (quite rightly) covered honestly, this isn't a book that deals in euphemisms when it comes to miscarriages. I believe this is entirely correct, despite being so common there still seems to be a stigma surrounding miscarriage so although this is a work of fiction I applaud the author for her open approach to the subject.
Although Lucy and Jonah's struggles to have a baby form the main thrust of the story, relationships are also an emotive theme. At first the couple seem to have an almost prefect marriage but various pressures soon end up putting their relationship under strain. I have to admit that at times I struggled to warm to the characters in the book. I had conflicting feelings about Lucy,she often seemed very naive for a successful business woman and I found her inability to discuss her problems openly to be frustrating at times. This is addressed as the book progresses and I became more sympathetic towards her later in the story. Jonah, I felt in some ways was almost a peripheral character and after a promising beginning I found him somewhat self obsessed although again I did feel sympathy for him as the book progressed. I actually found the relationship between Lucy and her stepdaughter, Camille to be the most interesting part of the book and really enjoyed the ups and downs between the two as they struggle to understand one another. Their relationship actually felt more believable to me than Lucy and Jonah's marriage which seemed to be either too idealised or near to falling apart.
The Idea of You is a warm and empathetic book that handles universal subjects with sensitivity and an honest clarity. I'm probably not quite a convert to family dramas but am very glad to have read it and can understand why so many people love Amanda Prowse's books.
Many thanks to the publishers for my copy received through Netgalley in return for this review.

Loved the book! A must read.. a beautifully written book.. an emotional roller coaster!

Although this book started out a little bit slow, it picks up and unveils a very moving story. Well written, this book puts you on an emotional roller coaster. Have a box of tissues handy. A moving, touching story of love, loss, and hope.

I adore Amanda Prowse's books; all of them. This is up there with one of her best. She just seems to be getting better and better as an author, especially when she is clearly writing about issues close to her heart. This book I felt drew similar emotions as to ones I felt while reading 'The Food of Love" and "Two and a half heartbeats" .... in that you really feel part of this family whose life you are suddenly involved in, that's how Amanda manages to make you feel when writing these books, like you are a part of the family; you almost feel their pain. The book tells the story of Lucy and her desperate desire for a family, a baby with her wonderful husband whom she met quite late in life, adding to the difficulties they encounter. Many women will relate, this may make it a tear jerker, however the disappointment felt by Lucy is told in such a wonderful manner so as not to be too intense but still portraying the heartbreak and suffering. Even if you haven't gone through any of the issues in the book, and it's not just about miscarriage, it tackles so much more, including being a step parent to a teenager (eeek!) and other family issues, such as adoption, teenage pregnancy, mother/daughter relationships....it has it all.
I was so happy when this book came out hot on the heels of 'The Food of Love' - I only hope her next is on its way soon too as I don't think anything else I read measures up to Amanda's books. I actually took my time with this one as I didn't want it to end. Hurry up with the next one :)

Beautifully written. Sensitive. Thought provoking. Another winner for Amanda Prowse.