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    The Idea of You
    The Idea of You
    The Idea of You
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Idea of You

    Written by Robinne Lee

    Narrated by Robinne Lee

    4.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Solene Marchand, the thirty-nine-year-old owner of an art gallery in Los Angeles, is reluctant to take her daughter, Isabelle, to meet her favorite boy band. But since her divorce, she's more eager than ever to be close to Isabelle. The last thing Solene 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 and genuine relationship. It is a journey that spans continents as Solene and Hayes navigate each other's worlds: from stadium tours to international art fairs to secluded hideaways in Paris and Miami. For Solene, it is a reclaiming of self, as well as a rediscovery of happiness and love. When Solene and Hayes's romance becomes a viral sensation, and both she and her daughter become the target of rabid fans and an insatiable media, Solene must face how her romantic life has impacted the lives of those she cares about most.

    Contains mature themes.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateApr 3, 2018
    ISBN9781977370235
    The Idea of You
    Author

    Robinne Lee

    The Idea of You is actor, writer, and producer ROBINNE LEE's debut novel. A graduate of Yale University and Columbia Law School, Robinne was born and raised in Westchester County, New York. Robinne has numerous acting credits in both television and film, most notably opposite Will Smith in both Hitch and Seven Pounds and as Ros Bailey in Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two children.

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    Reviews for The Idea of You

    4.5/5

    435 ratings29 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      Absolutely captivating. This is one of those books that you don’t ever want to end and that leaves your heart in pieces when it does.

      3 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      So well written and so intense!! I’m gonna have a long book hangover after this one.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Warning: NOT A HAPPY ENDING!
      I’m so torn, such an amazing book, so much emotion and Having the author read her own book makes it so captivating because she knows exactly how to say what and where to emphasize. I was captivated the whole way through I stayed up all night listening because I couldn’t stop. I didn’t realize it wasn’t going to have a happy ending like most romance novels. I really really really wish she writes another one to follow up this but she ended it like this is the end. I’m so sad I got so emotionally invested in the story that I can’t believe that’s the ending. Exceptional writing I hope this author writes again because it has been one of the best reads I’ve had in a while, I just wish the ending was different, but such is life right?

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is my new favorite book ever! It’s edgy, romantic and sophisticated. I loved all the characters and I didn’t want it to end. I hope there is a sequel and a movie!! It’s incredible.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Great plot! Narration was a little monotone. Overall great book.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 3/5
      Thoroughly enjoyed the story although i felt like it dragged on a bit for the way it ended. So, idk, something is missing. The ending peeved me off.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Absolutely loved this book. The ending gutted me! Narration was great too.
    • 5/5
      This book was..."everything." But the ending was too sad and left me feeling broken. Please write a sequel. This world needs hope and love, not despair. Beautifully written.
    • 4/5
      Good read. My only gripe is it got a bit melodramatic at times because the daughter was a bit self-indulgent and annoying but hey she’s a kid. I truly hope they make a sequel, maybe 5-7 years later.
    • 5/5
      The emotion was epic! Left me crying like a baby.
    • 5/5
      I loved this book! I might be biased because I’m in my forties; however, the author did a terrific job in developing these characters and letting their love story naturally unfold. The author, who is also the narrator, is a recognizable actress. She has the best (different characters) voices with different accents. This far this has been the best sounding audiobook that I’ve come across.
    • 5/5
      So well written and narrated. I need more or this book and it’s characters. Hoping for a sequel!
    • 5/5
      This book was a little spicey and I enjoyed every moment of it
    • 5/5
      ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book..... I'll never be the same! I immediately googled the audio narrator and author because I was convinced I'd never listen to another narrator again-so much emotion! And I would read anything from the author! But this is her first for both! I cannot wait to see what else she does.
    • 5/5
      Excellent writing and narration. Not my normal book but I still fell in love with characters and their story. Impressive. Thank you. :-)
    • 5/5
      Ugh… the ending. The last few chapters held a grip on me good. I was crying! Great book.
    • 5/5
      I love this book so much! I was hooked on every word right to the very end. The wit, the humor, the romance was exactly what I needed. I wish I knew what happened after but at the same time the ending, while gutwrenching, was perfect. I would read more from this author.
    • 5/5
      Amazing reading by the author. This story gutted me—in the best way. It’s going to stick with me for a long time.
    • 5/5
      My chest is on fire. I don’t think I’ll ever recover from this amazing book ??
    • 4/5
      This book gives you all the feels! Laughter, romance, tears, etc. And it seemed like a realistic portrayal of an older woman/younger man relationship.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely amazing writing. Fantastic performance. Cannot wait for another book!
    • 5/5
      Sensationally steamy while also intelligent and sensitive. This is an amazing novel, cannot recommend highly enough! Great audio version read by the author, too!
    • 5/5
      Great book! It had it all! Highly recommend to anyone
    • 4/5
      Really enjoyed the story, and the narration itself was great but I couldn’t wait for this to end because I could hear all of the narrator’s mouth sounds and honestly, it distracted me and grossed me out.

      2 people found this helpful

    • 5/5
      One of my favorite romances ever. It subverts as many romance tropes as is embraces. It's sexy and sweet and dramatic and seriously hot, and as much as it is the stuff of fantasy, and not real in the least, these are people I know.I read so many romances where people get together with their girlfriends to eat junk food and watch reality television, and god knows that is not anything I have ever done or ever want to do, nor is it something any of my friends do. The book is filled with art world people. They are insular, for sure, but smart, well-travelled, well-educated, passionate about communicating in new ways. Luckily some of my friends are very much of that world, but willing to slum it with me. When we are together we do the things they do in the book, and talk about the things they talk about. And I love the way Lee talks about art. I am passionate about art. It is tied with friends and reading it the sweepstakes for what I spend the most non-wage-earning time on, so this is great for me. The main character, Solene is a 40 year-old art dealer who owns an LA gallery specializing in selling works by artists from historically underrepresented identities (she is also a mother of a tween and the ex-wife of a lawyer.) Not surprisingly, art is very central to the narrative. Yes there are references to brand name artists that anyone not in a coma knows like Picasso, Monet, and Van Gogh and to artists all reasonably informed people would know, like Basquiat, Hockney, Nevelson, and Twombly, but also knowledgeable reference to current art darlings like Damien Hirst, Takashi Murakami and Kara Walker. I especially adored the description of Olafur Eliasson's work. Lee is gifted at describing how the feelings that resonate from art are erotically charged (I am not referring to erotic art, I am talking about art that evokes sensory response.) There's a reason they keep you away from Henri Moore's work at the museum. People see Moore's work and feel the need to stroke it. I feel the same about Eliasson and others. I want to live in Eliasson's instillations. wrap myself in the cold mist of the best Pollack canvases, smell the flowers and decaying plant matter in the Water Lilies and curl at the feet of Jennifer Packer's subjects and settle in for a chat. That Lee gets this, and gets it onto the page is a wonder to me. Also, the relationship between Solene and Hayes, the boy-bander 20 years her junior who is the male lead, is not kitschy or creepy in the least. It is hot as fire, there are wonderful conversations about all sorts of things, and an embrace of great sex, great food, great art (as mentioned), great toiletries (really), great clothes, and a stark look at the good and bad sides of celebrity. And from page one you know it is going to break your heart. And alas it does. This book! Gorgeous. I made myself read slowly so I could savor it, and that is something I never do with romance. It is worth noting that Lee is a fantastic writer. This is not written like any romance I have ever read before. Lee and I are both former lawyers, and good lawyering requires evocative declarative writing that persuades without getting flowery. Perhaps surprisingly this really works in romance. Brava Robinne.ETA:I just googled and saw that Gabrielle Union has optioned this and it is being turned into an Amazon movie. As I was reading I saw Rashida Jones and perhaps Joe Alwyn or a Twilight era Pattinson in the leads, but it appears it is going to be Anne Hathaway as Solene (name changed to Sophie, apparently French names are too exotic) with a script from Jennifer Westfeldt (no male lead yet identified but they have upped him from 20 to 24) . We shall see.
    • 5/5
      Oh, this book. Oh, this love affair. Hot, hot, hot!My favourite trope in books is forbidden love/love against the odds and we certainly have this here with Solène and Hayes. They meet when gallery owner Solène takes her daughter to an August Moon concert. Hayes is one-fifth of the hugely successful boy band. The chemistry between them is instant, despite the fact that Hayes is only 20, half Solène's age. They embark upon an affair which sees them both jetting around the world to meet up but almost from the beginning this felt like something that surely couldn't last.Like many people, I'm sure, I've had obsessions with famous singers or actors in the past. To me, this felt a bit like living the dream vicariously, of being the one singled out by a man desired by literally millions of women. But there's so much honesty in this novel about what it's like living in a goldfish bowl, with every little move analysed and reported upon, and being chased everywhere by teenage girls.I wanted to love this book so much that I was almost scared to read it in case I didn't feel it. But truly, this is a wow book for me, so heady and intense. It's also full of steamy sex. I didn't quite have to fan myself but I wasn't far off. This story felt real to me, it felt like I was living through it, like it was a part of my life. I didn't want it to end and found myself eking it out. Apparently, the character of Hayes Campbell is partly inspired by Harry Styles and I can't help thinking this would make a great book to screen adaptation, perhaps starring the man himself.If it wasn't completely obvious, I adored this book. It's a love story but it's also about a woman having the time of her life in her late 30s/early 40s and good on her. I really need to know what happens next for Solène and Hayes but even if I never do this is a story that will stay with me. I loved the rapport between them, the progression of their relationship. It's a very special read indeed. I could rave about it endlessly. I have the sweetest book hangover right now.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      The Idea of You by Robinne Lee is a surprisingly believable romance between a thirty-nine year old gallery owner and the twenty year old front man of wildly popular boy band.

      Solène Marchand is not at all happy when her ex-husband wrecks her weekend plans and she ends up taking her thirteen year old daughter Isabelle and her two friends to Las Vegas to see their favorite boy band, August Moon. At the meet and greet, Solène is charmed by lead singer Hayes Campbell who shamelessly flirts with her then invites her and the girls to the concert’s after party.  Despite the sizzling attraction between them, Solène refuses Hayes’ entreaties to date him and she returns to her regular life. However, Hayes persistently tries to change her mind and she finally agrees to meet him for lunch.  He and Solène eventually embark on a steamy affair but will Hayes’ fame and their age difference become obstacles that are impossible to overcome?

      Although devoted to Isabelle, Solène is not your average mom. A cultured fashionista, she owns an up and coming gallery with her best friend. She has not dated much since her divorce and Solène is taken off guard by her intense attraction to Hayes.  Extremely conscious of their age difference, she has no intention of letting their relationship go beyond flirtation, but Hayes is pretty relentless with invitations to meet him at glamorous locations during his latest tour.

      Not only is Hayes incredibly mature for his age, he is also quite well-adjusted. While he leaves the bad boy antics to his bandmates, he does enjoy the perks of being a famous musician. Hayes has a reputation for dating older women, and the age difference between him and Solène is a non issue as far as he is concerned.  Sweet, sexy and utterly charming, Hayes is incredibly patient as he tries to convince Solène to give him a chance.

      The relationship between Hayes and Solène is purely physical in the beginning but there is never any doubt that they genuinely like and respect one another. Hayes is a little blasé about his celebrity but Solène is uncomfortable with the intensity of his fans and the limelight. Their relationship quickly deepens into much more than a casual affair, but Solène never loses sight of the fact they are at very different stages in their lives. Solène also must contend with Isabelle’s ongoing infatuation with Hayes and the rest of the band and her reluctance to tell her daughter about she is dating Hayes ends in heartache. When she and Hayes fall under intense media scrutiny, will the adverse effects of stardom be too much for Solène to bear?

      A truly wonderful read with marvelous characters and a refreshing storyline, The Idea of You is an intensely steamy yet extremely thought-provoking novel.  The connection between Hayes and Solène rings true and the transition of their relationship from physical to emotional is realistic. The storyline has plenty of depth and Robinne Lee brilliantly weaves topical issues such as ageism and sexism into the plot. The conclusion of this captivating novel remains far from certain as Solène navigates the sometimes harsh realities of life with a celebrity. 
    • 4/5
      I liked the book, I loved the end (no spoilers here). However, I feel like there was some character development that was lacking. I would have liked to see more of Solene and Hayes' relationship in between their times together. It seemed like an ideal long distance relationship, when the times together are great, but I wanted to know what happened in the times they weren't together. I also was irritated a few times by the author's writing style of bringing something up, but not following through with it or making mention of something like the reader knew about it, but then later, filling in the reader.
      Overall, a good read that is, at its heart, a love story, but also makes mention of social issues and other relationship aspects that make it above just a romance novel.
    • 4/5
      I knew I'd want something entertaining and slightly mindless to read during Hurricane Irma, and grabbed this off the shelf, mostly for the high ratings and promise of an different sort of love story.(When I first picked up the book looked like Irma was going to make landfall here. It didn't, but we got quite the tropical storm, with some absolutely stellar flooding, thanks to the trifecta of the storm's winds/rain, storm surge, and high tide.) The book both fulfilled and failed my needs. It was interesting, but in no way mindless, opening a dialogue as to what is appropriate in today's world for ages in relationships. For millennium, it's been okay for ancient men to marry near infants, but even in 2017, there is a negative stigma attached to older women dating younger men. (Momentary applause and hat tip to Brigitte Macron, and her husband, Emmanuel. )So, here's a story where a 39 year old mother takes her 12 year old daughter to see a boy band, and said mother ends up in a steamy relationship with the lead singer. Steaminess aside (and there is some steam in there, lots of fingers, mouths, and other boy and girl bits) Robinne Lee does tackle some of the issues of divergent age in a relationship. It helps that the guy is both mature intellectually and emotionally, and that the gal has not been sitting on the couch eating chips and slugging back beer, but even so, the problems and concerns the characters have are realistic-- one that even chic, beautiful gallery owners and stunningly handsome boy band musicians might have. Add in the public factor of his chosen career, and the emotional maturity of boy band followers, and the thick plottens, so to speak. It's unconventional, all the way through, even the end.Not a bad read for a stormy day, when your building is completely surrounded by water, the power is out, and the winds are howling.