I don't even know where to begin writing this review! This book had brought out so many emotions from me,happy to sad to angry! Sol and Hayes come from 2 different worlds including their age. One being a artist/seller and the other a band member. How does one overcome what the society deems acceptable in this day in age? Is it wrong to want to be happy despite the age difference(19 yrs to be exact). Hayes I guess you can say is mature for his is age but Sol has gone and seen and lived some of the things Hayes hasnt experienced before. Getting married , children. Will they beat the odds and show the world that age is just a number? Brilliantly written , emotionally heartwrenching.

This is not a book you will want to put down. Be prepared to read and read and read until you finish. This book is filled with amazing characters, who you will find pieces of yourself (or someone you know) in. The writing is so well done you can really imagine each scene and almost live in the smells and tastes and everything else.
I have fallen in love with a new to me author quite like this in a while, but I must say I am looking forward to anything else Robinne Lee puts out.

Every now and then you run across a book that sucks you in from the very beginning and you just know that it's going to be a book that's going to stay with you for a long time. The Idea of You is definitely one of those books. The writing, the compelling story, and the emotion in this novel will leave you feeling everything imaginable by the time you get to the end.

Thirty-nine year old Solene, a divorced gallery owner and mother of 12-year old daughter Isabelle, is doing her best to move on with her life after her divorce. Little did she know that taking her daughter and her two friends to an August Moon concert she was going to catch the eye of one of the members of the hottest boy band around.

Twenty year old Brit, Hayes Campbell, is the brainchild behind August Moon. He's wise beyond his years, as well as being drop dead gorgeous, thoughtful and undeniably talented. The connection he makes with Solene is immediate and hard to deny.

I don't want to give too much else away except to say that this book truly had everything you could ever want in a story. It kept me on the edge of my seat, it entertained me, it angered me, it elated me and it made me sad. I truly don't know if there is an emotion I didn't feel while reading this book. It touched on issues in pop culture, sacrifices that mothers make and how torn those can make them feel and we see that double-standards are still alive and well today.

This is truly one of those books that I know I'm going to be thinking about for a very long time and I'm really glad I went along for the ride. It makes you think, feel and hope. Kudos to Robinne Lee for penning this amazing novel.

Art gallery owner, Solene reluctantly takes her daughter to see her favorite pop boy band, little does Solene know that she will fall for the famous popstar half her age. They begin a romantic tryst that jets them around the world. Everything is wonderful until their love story goes viral and the become the target of public scrutiny. I really enjoyed Robinne Lee's writing style. The plot begins to slow in the middle and become more predictable. This is an enjoyable fun romantic read.

I really love her books and this one was really fun to read. Cant wait for the next

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did, but I was completely blown away by how much I enjoyed it. It was a lot different from what I was expecting, and in a good way!

While at first this feels like a fun, sexy read--and it is!--there's a lot underneath the surface about the balance between personal autonomy and familial duty. How do you find personal happiness while also taking care of the people who depend upon you? I really enjoyed this story and am eager for more by Robinne Lee.

Honestly wasn't the biggest fan of this one. Found it very clique and bland, unfortunately.

"Grabbing a bite. With a twenty-year-old. From a boy band. Under what circumstance might that ever be construed as acceptable?"

I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK.

A sharp and insightful commentary on our modern culture and obsession with celebrity, 'The Idea of You' is also a fantastic, sexy romance. This book really did it for me. If this is Robinne Lee's first book, I cannot wait see what comes next!

Solene is a sophisticated, 39 year old divorced working mom who finds herself swept up into an exciting and sexy relationship with the world-famous Hayes Campbell, the 20 year old member of a famous "boy band". She is an educated and successful gallerist who is divorced from her ex-husband, who has a younger girlfriend. The world does not take kindly to Solene's relationship with Hayes, mainly because of the 20 year age difference. I loved the commentary on ageism in our society today. The public will accept an older man with a younger girlfriend but frowns upon the older woman/younger man dynamic.

Solene is acutely aware of the age difference but is enjoying an awakening of sorts with Hayes, Ah, the joys of a younger boyfriend! What starts out as "just lunch" soon becomes much, much more.

“I just want to look at you for a moment.”

“You’ve been looking at me for over an hour.”

“Yeah, but before I was trying not to be obvious about it. Come here.” He led me over to the daybed against the far wall and pulled me onto his lap. I could feel him through his pants. Oh, the wonders of twenty.

Solene at first tries to hide her relationship with Hayes from her young daughter. I knew this was going to be a disaster and her daughter at first does not handle the news well at all. But doesn't Solene deserve to be happy? She struggles not only with her ex-husband's reaction to the news but also with her daughter's.

The entire time Isabelle had been just across the hall on the phone with her friend, oblivious to her mother going down the rabbit hole. Face-first.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the sharp look at our obsession with celebrity. Hayes could not go anywhere without being mobbed, and even a causal trip to the store to buy a shirt led to a mob scene. He was used to it; Solene was not. This story made me re-think every headline I read about celebrities. Hayes wanted Solene to know him, and NOT "the idea" of him. Hayes was tender, sweet, funny, sexy and much wiser than his 20 years.


“You want to be kissed, Solène?” His hands were in my hair, pushing it off of my face, cradling my neck.

“Yes.” I nodded.

“You think you can handle that?”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

Robinne Hill gets her locations right. From Miami, to Malibu, to Manhattan and Paris, I felt as if I was THERE, experiencing the cafes, the clubs, the chic art galleries and the screaming fans at the huge concerts. This book really checked all the boxes for me!! I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. I am having a hard time moving on from this book. Would I love a sequel? YES. But I would also gladly welcome another book from Ms. Hill. Grab 'The Idea of You' and enjoy a fabulous time with this perfect beach read. I adored it.

Favorite quotes:

“You’re making me blush,” he laughed, tipping his head back. His jawline from this angle was well-defined, exquisite, like art. His beauty, like a gift that kept revealing itself.

"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 smart, witty, intelligent, and very fun read. My only hope is that there will be a part two.

I liked the premise of this book, an older woman falling in love with a much younger man. It even had the added twist that he’s a teenage heartthrob in the latest hit boy band.

I liked the relationship between Solene and Hayes. Despite the age difference these two clicked. Hayes pursued and Solene let herself be caught. Hayes was charming and he definitely goes after what he wants. He was exactly what Solene needed. Despite an almost 20 year age difference, Hayes taught Solene to live, to laugh and to love.

Solene was a character I could connect with. I could imagine the insecurities, the guilt and the regrets. But I was so cheering her on. She was old enough to be Hayes’ mother, but he was perfect for her. He challenged her, understood her passions and that was something that Solene truly needed.

This was a delightful read. It’s not your typical romance, but it was one that I completely enjoyed.

REVIEW:

There is something so alluring about being on the arm of a rock star and while most of us know that it will never happen to us, that’s exactly what happens to Solene in The Idea of You by Robinne Lee. It happens when she isn’t expecting it: Solene is taking her young daughter, Isabelle, and some of her daughter’s friends to a VIP event at boy band August Moon’s Las Vegas show when she catches the eye of one of the guys in the band. Hayes is only 20 years old, but he doesn’t seem to mind that Solene is 39 years old. Hayes is vitality and good looks and impeccably good British manners, and Solene is a self-assured, successful, beautiful woman with a young teenage daughter — who happens to be one of August Moon’s biggest fans. It isn’t instant love, but it is definitely instant attraction.

Part of the allure of this story, for me, is that I know this type of whirlwind romance is not very likely to happen in the life that I’ve created for myself, and yet I so easily placed myself into Solene’s shoes while I was reading: I’m close to her age, I have daughters just like Isabelle, and fangirl over music very much like Isabelle loves August Moon. I loved imaging myself in Solene’s place as she traveled all over the world to the most exclusive restaurants and hotels to meet with Hayes while he traveled while working, and it was fun to imagine myself being able to rent private estates for the week to meet for a secret love affair. This story is incredibly romantic and such a great escape.

Another part of the story that I loved was the way that Hayes pursued Solene. Hayes was clear in his intentions and motivations and yet there was plenty of room in the relationship for the both of them to assert themselves and make decisions and to be independent. It could have been very easy for either one of these two to gain an unfair position of power, but that was not an issue–even with the celebrity, even with the age difference. I love that.

I love reading about ‘real women’ with flaws and insecurities, but Solene is a little bit different. She is every bit a real woman and she has some insecurities, but hers are mostly related to the fact that she has a secret relationship with one of the most famous people in the world rather than her looks or career choices or things like that. Solene is worried about how this potentially-scandalous romance will play out for the people that she loves. She doesn’t want to hurt anyone, but at the same time, she wants to be true to herself and explore her own (second) coming-of-age since she her divorce a few years ago. I love her independence, but I love that she allows herself to feel things with Hayes. And Hayes, while young, isn’t the typical alpha male, the wild and crazy rock star. He has manners. He is intelligent and confident. He is kind and thoughtful, and he genuinely cares about Solene and how their relationship will affect young Isabelle. In fact, he genuinely likes Isabelle. Aside for the story reminding us of the age differences in a few places, it is almost easy to forget that it exists.

I expected to enjoy The Idea of You by Robinne Lee, but I didn’t know that I would be so glued to the pages and so fully immersed in the story. It looks like this is a standalone, but selfishly I wish there was just a little bit more to it. There is a real depth to the story beyond a typical contemporary romance (particularly with Solene’s character), and MAN I really fell for these two. I want good things for them!

I LOVED this one!

In "The Idea of You," Solene is a successful art gallery owner who is trying to navigate her divorce and remain amicable with her ex, her daughter's father. He's definitely not helping between his upgraded model of a girlfriend and always cutting out on plans he makes with his daughter. So when he can't take Isabelle to a concert in Las Vegas of her favorite boy band, it falls to Solene to shuttle her and her friends to the concert. Little does Solene know that the concert and the meet and greet where she meets one of the boy banders, Hayes will change her life.

This was such a fun romance! Solene can't believe she is suddenly dating someone who is only 20 but seems familiar with a world that she doesn't really know. She figures that it's going to be a fling and she can't believe when he wants more. Jetsetting from here to there, Solene's life is turned upside down and she isn't sure she is made for Hayes' lifestyle.

The chemistry between Hayes and Solene was great. It was very realistic and I loved that Hayes was so sure of himself and so romantic. The chemistry also felt very realistic. Although Solene really likes him, she holds back a little at first, which felt more real to me and much better than insta-love that often plagues romances.

This is the kind of book that you read when you want to relax with a (classy - classy like Solene) cocktail and be thrilled with a story of jet-set romance!

I couldn't connect with the characters. I didn't realize this was an older woman dating a guy half her age. This was definitely NOT for me.

After getting over that fact that actress turned author Robinne Lee has published her first book, I started reading The Idea of You. From the beginning of the book, the words spoke volumes. Solene was the voice of so many women today, who had an idea of how their life would be, but did not turn out that way. Solene needed her life back and she reclaimed it through her relationship with Hayes. This was a refreshing story. Great debut!

I absolutely loved The Idea of You, I was grinning and swooning at almost every page. And when I wasn't grinning, I was feeling emotional and teary. I can't believe that Robinne Lee is a debut author, her writing is exquisite. She conveyed perfectly the feeling of falling in love, the giddiness and the rush of emotions that comes with that, and the heartache and the torment that comes when new lovers are separated and missing each other.

The main characters are complex, interesting, and very likeable. I loved Solene. She is funny, smart, and successful, but also very relatable. Despite her beauty and success, she often feels self-doubt like so many women in a society where woman's value is placed on her beauty and her age rather than her accomplishments, and where women past certain age become invisible. Solene is a woman you would want to be or have as a friend. And Hayes, oh Hayes, my new book boyfriend! He is sweet, sexy, and just perfect. He is a member of a boy band but he has a depth of character that really surprised me. I haven't swooned so much over a fictional hero in a long time.

I was very invested in Solene's and Hayes' story and didn’t want this book to end. I was daydreaming about the pair of them long after I finished the book. The Idea of You is an emotional roller coaster and a smart, thought-provoking love story. I am certain it is going to be one of the best books of the summer.

Ok when I first heard of this book I was a little iffy. I wasn't sure where the plot was headed, but it sounded like some super juicy gossip that one might hear in the tabloids. And that's exactly what this book was like.
I really did love the writing style. For this to be about something I wasn't even sure I'd like, it still sucked me right into the story. So much so that I downloaded it to my phone and was reading it in the lulls at work. I was hooked and wanted to see just how far they would take this thing.
As for the romance, I really did enoy seeing them together. It was always fun, fresh, and exciting. I hated that she kept second guessing herself tho. Hayes was such a good guy and she went back and forth too much on him. But at the same time, I could definitely see her internal struggle. I'd be lying if I said I couldn't. But when it was hot, it was definitely hot.
Unfortunately I didn't like the pacing. It seemed like once their relationship got going, it kind of drug on. I ended up having to read some passages over and over because I got lost along the way. But overall it wasn't really bad. Definitely gave it more of a real life feel because of the sneaking around and all. Also the ending wasn't what I was expecting, but again, so much more believable that way.
I hope Lee ends up writing something else for the two of them. Maybe an epilogue or something. Just to see what happens to them in the end. Like for real, for real lol

I love the idea of this story so much. I'm such a sucker for "rockstar romances," and I like the way that this one switches things up a bit and includes a younger star and an older women. This also seems to consider the reality of how a relationship like this would look and the pressures the couple would deal with. I'm also sure it would be addicting, and I'm excited to see a lot of positive reviews! However, I am very much an emotional reader and absolutely cannot do a romance that doesn't have an HEA. I must admit that I didn't see the "not a traditional HEA" note until after I said accepted the NG widget. I will also admit to having started this and then peeked at the end - because I need assurance that romance driven books will have HEAs. All that is to say, I couldn't get through this story knowing the end was looming, and I know I'd be destroyed (not in a good way) if I'd gone in not knowing what was to come. To me, how a contemporary romance ends and where I can imagine the characters going (together) in the future is a very important piece of how I react to the story. If THE IDEA OF YOU ends up having a sequel with an HEA, I'll definitely come back and read this entire book. Again, THANK YOU St. Martin's Griffin for sending me this title!

Nicely done. This is a highly entertaining read that captures the fantasy I'll bet more than a few women have. Solene and Hayes make an interesting couple. Their back and forth is realistic, their concerns logical, and the relationship, while odd to outsiders, completely believable. This is escapist fiction- and I enjoyed it more than I expected I would. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a very good debut and I'm looking forward to more from Lee.