The Idea of You
Back in March my coworkers and I were out to lunch when one of them suggested we read the book The Idea of You by Robinne Lee and then watch the movie when it came out in May. Before we knew it the group grew from 2 of us to 7 and we were planning a fun girls night in together.
If you haven’t read the book, or seen the movie, I highly recommend both. Of course, like most books, the movie adaptation is different, but I feel the two are different enough that it won’t take away from the book. I certainly did not walk away feeling let down by the storyline the movie offered.
*spoilers to follow
As we got closer to the movie release date our group began discussing our thoughts on the book. I hadn’t started the book yet, but everyone was talking about how the sex scenes were amazing and that because of that they read through the book really fast and were excited for the movie. One of my coworkers compared it to 50 Shades of Grey and another said that she was nervous reading it on the plane in case her boys leaned over and saw something. Hearing how excited they were, I could not wait to read the book.
One night, when I was 150 pages into the book, I text one of my coworkers and said, “I’m 150 pages in and so far the sex scenes are disappointing. From all the talks I’ve heard I’m expecting better.” 🤣 She replied letting me know that if I was disappointed this far into the book, it wouldn’t get better and I should enjoy the love story. That’s exactly what I ended up doing and I was not disappointed!!
The story of Soléne and Hayes was beautiful. From the moment they met, through the highs and lows of a relationship thrust in the lime light, I got to walk the path of a love story that left me wanting more. I cried at the end because it left me feeling heartbroken and hopeful all at the same time. I appreciated that the author didn’t shy away from the struggle that age gaps and celebrity status brings to relationships because it made the story line feel more relatable and less like a fantasy.
One of the things that kept coming up for me as I read this book was how the age gap affected both characters in different ways. Hayes obviously had an attraction to older women in general, so he did not see any issue with their 20 year age gap. However, Soléne had issues with the age gap due to the situation surrounding her ex, and having a young daughter who had a “school girl” crush on the lead singer of the band. From a sex perspective I thought it was great that they were together because they both were in their primes, and Soléne deserved to be desired after being single for a few years. From a reality perspective I found it sad that Soléne came across embarrassed or uncertain about their relationship in public settings. It didn’t feel fair to her, nor Hayes, when it came to strengthening and deepening their relationship.
When it comes to relationships it can be easy to let external noise seep through and affect our own personal thoughts on the situation. It’s important to realize that we each have a different perspective on what is or isn’t “right” for relationships, and as long as we aren’t causing harm to other people, we should only focus on what matters to us. Soléne let external factors play a role in her feelings. While valid when it came to protecting her child, there were better ways to go about the situation. Of course all of this is my opinion, and comes from someone who isn’t a parent herself, but I felt as if she was looking for any excuse for the relationship not to work. That made me sad because I really did believe in the love they had for one another. It was real, honest, vulnerable, and fun. While whirlwind in some ways, there was a solid foundation they could have grown upon.
The ending of the book left me in tears, but the ending of the movie left me feeling giddy. Two different endings to a relationship that captured my soul. While I preferred one ending over the other, the two paths the book and the movie took provided the same feel good mood that leaves you wanting more. More from the author, more from the characters, more from the feelings that are pulled out of you. I hope that if you get the chance to read the book, or watch the movie, that you walk away feeling the way I do about Soléne and Hayes’ relationship. A beautiful romance 💕. A love for the ages 🌹.
Love always,
Jess
