Book Review: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

Book: 43/100

Rating: 4/5

Check this one out if you like: boy bands, steam, well developed love interests.

Summary: When Solène Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of a prestigious art gallery in Los Angeles, takes her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band, she does so reluctantly and at her ex-husband’s request. The last thing she expects is to make a connection with one of the members of the world-famous August Moon. But Hayes Campbell is clever, winning, confident, and posh, and the attraction is immediate. That he is all of twenty years old further complicates things.

What begins as a series of clandestine trysts quickly evolves into a passionate relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solène and Hayes navigate each other’s disparate worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways. And for Solène, it is as much a reclaiming of self, as it is a rediscovery of happiness and love. When their romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solène must face how her new status has impacted not only her life, but the lives of those closest to her.

Thoughts: Over the past year or so I've heard really good things about this book. Based on the description, I was like hmmm, okay, how can a book about a 40 something woman and a 20 year old in a boy band be anything but superficial? And I'm so glad I was wrong! I ended up really, really loving this one.

I loved it because for the first time I was reading about two very mature people in a relationship. Often in romance novels, whether dramatic or comedic, the immaturity can be astounding. I found in The Idea of You, both Solène and Hayes were very mature, thoughtful, and empathetic towards one another. Both characters were really well developed. As the reader, you get glimpses of the politics and behind the scenes of a boy band, and you also got glimpses into the art world as Solène co-owns an art gallery. It was a fun, romantic read with an international setting.

Buy it/loan it/skip it? Go buy or loan this one!