Book Report | The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
This is the book that everyone was reading circa 2020, but if you missed it then, it’s time to bump it up to the top of your TBR list. It’s back in a big way in 2024, with the movie version featuring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine now available on Prime. Oh and PS - the book is WAY spicier than the movie, so buckle up.
I’m going to get into the synopsis in a sec, but the tl;dr is that it’s rumored to be Harry Styles fan fiction and friends, it’s steamy.
Synopsis (without spoilers!)
Solene is a somewhat recently divorced mother living in Los Angeles with her pre-teen daughter who is obsessed with the band August Moon. When Daniel, Solene’s ex-husband, springs for tickets to see the band, but bails on taking their daughter to the concert, it falls on Solene to chaperone. That night, she meets Hayes Campbell, the 20-year-old frontman and sparks immediately fly.
The bulk of the book follows Solene and Hayes absolutely boning the hell out of each other in locales all over the world as they follow each other from one event to the next - his concerts and her art shows. It’s descriptive and super spicy, with lots of sex to keep the pages turning.
You have my attention. Tell me more.
The age difference between the two characters as a primary obstacle, and especially Solene’s age as a women in her 40’s, is a big driver in this story. She is justifiably worried that she’s too old for Hayes, and her insecurity comes up over and over. She could be his mother which isn't untrue, but what is interesting and less expected, is the writer makes it clear that Solene is not your stereotypical 40-year old mother. Solene is written as sexy. She’s a woman with a career and a strong sense of self. In the movie, she drives a Subaru, but the Solene in the book is more likely to drive a Tesla in my opinion.
I want to make a note of this because I think a lot of mothers could come out of the woodwork here to remind everyone that this is. not. unusual. Mother’s can be and often are sexy, strong women. Most of all, I loved this presentation of Solene.
Anyway, here’s my official review: a literary masterpiece? Maybe not. But a hot spicy snack like queso. Definitely. And I am almost always in the mood for queso