Robinne LeeCritiques
Auteur de The Idea of You: A Novel
Critiques
I was immediately engrossed in the story and the writing but the plot points quickly became repetitive and I grew bored. I was hoping there was a big payoff at the end, but I didn't find that to be so.
I'll be interested to see how much they changed in the movie. And I'm not sure I'll buy the actor who was cast as the MMC in the movie.
If you're not comfortable with a relationship with a significant age gap, then don't read this, simply put. I thought this book did a great job of exploring the double standard of age relations and for confronting why many of us have an inherent opposition to a specific type of relationship between two consenting adults.
Soléne was an intriguing character simply in the way she handles herself. On one hand, she has a really fantastic job that she's persevered at for years and has found a lot of success with, even in a challenging world, but on the other hand she seems to be constantly worrying about needing to have a man in her life and how she's too old to find a new man. I did adore her tone and realism, however. She had a lot of dry humour and deadpanning that highly amused me.
I had a lot of fun also seeing the person behind the face of a boy band. There's a moment where the band is nominated for a Grammy award that really struck me--Hayes was so genuine in that moment. He had a tendency to believe that he could buy whatever he wanted, also, and in a way he grew up through this book.
I adored the emotions of first love, of motherhood, and of being thirteen, which were all realistically and adeptly portrayed. Isabelle was a standout character; I could see myself several years ago in her and in the way she handled the relationship. She was surprisingly mature yet very real.
Kudos for the Kehinde Wiley reference--I enjoyed the art gallery aspect of this book a lot. And that ending, wow. There was a lot of very explicit scenes which wasn't quite what I was expecting, but I was able to read through them.
Though it wasn't a complete standout, I enjoyed this book for the depth of emotion the characters felt.
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.
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Narshkite | 14 autres critiques | Mar 1, 2022 |
Narshkite | 14 autres critiques | Mar 1, 2022 | It's not often that the roles are reversed in age-gap romance. I appreciated that as a woman who he always dated younger. Live for those no ents when Harry, someone e
Wise beyond his years, falls I love. It happens. Love doesn't care about if it's socially accepted.
The ending ruined the story for me. I was expecting more. Very disappointed. I feel like it cheapened the story.
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.
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.
Also, their age difference shouldn't have been an issue. The book makes it seem like they're doing something dirty because Hayes prefers to be in relationships with older women. They were both consenting adults, so her shame and discomfort over that felt wrong. He didn't care about their age difference, only his feelings for her, so why was she so resistant to commit to their relationship? Yes, the publicity did negatively affect her personal life, and the life of her daughter, but she knew that was a possibility before she started sneaking off to be with him. She knew there would be repercussions, so she should have committed fully or never gotten involved.
The posh boy band aspect was fun, and their dynamics were complex and interesting. I wish the book had focused on them more, and maybe touched on some of their relationships with each other. I think it would have worked better had the story been told from dual perspectives. We could have seen what his life was like when he was wasn't with Solène, which would have also shown us more of the band.
Solène wasn't someone I could relate to, and I found myself more frustrated than not. I kept reading out of curiosity, but the ending was predictable and very unsatisfying.
Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on December 29, 2018.
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
I’ve had The Idea of You on my Kindle for a little while, unsure sure when I would get a chance to read it, but my friends were leaving phenomenal reviews and I couldn’t ignore a book this popular for very long. If you know me, you know I love forbidden romance and The Idea of You features a unique forbidden storyline, one I’ve not read very often. Main character Solène Marchand is twenty years older than Hayes Campbell, the dreamy “swagger” one of boy band August Moon, her daughter’s greatest love. Solène, a cultured art gallery owner, finds herself escorting her young daughter Isabelle and two young friends to their concert one evening and in the tight stadium basement they meet the boys, with Hayes drawn to Solène immediately. What starts as lunch becomes a secret affair, their trysts taking place in several continents as they navigate the rough waters of lust transforming into something more. Solène attempts to protect Isabelle from the crazed fandom, but in time she must face the reality, that her romance is not just hers alone and it has caused a domino effect in the lives of those she cares for.
"They were bewitching, yes, but still flesh and blood."
I thought I would struggle to relate to main character Solène, her age and life experiences so different than my own, but Robinne Lee brings her to life and makes fame, and the heartaches that come with it, a tangible thing. Solène is still bruised from her divorce, struggling to parent a teen whose biggest interest is a boy band, and trying to find herself, her best self, again. She's jaded, unaware of her beauty and draw, and certainly not prepared for a twenty year old admirer willing to do anything for her. Hayes is the most handsome, dreamy boy band member you can picture; he’s also mature beyond his years and charming, so very charming. He lights Solène up, embracing her art, her daughter, her inability to travel with him daily. What starts simply soon grows to something beyond their control, a promise of something more is whispered, but it is obvious that Hayes wants Solène around all the time and Solène has no idea what comes with being the much older girlfriend of the number one member of August Moon. Her fears of judgement were once the biggest issue between them, but the fans hatred and the pain Isabelle is experiencing soon begin to feel insurmountable.
"'Twenty.'
'Twenty,' I repeated, and then downed the rest of my champagne. One gulp."
"But at that moment his eyes caught mine and the charge was so strong, I had to look away."
The romance, the lust and chemistry they share, is nothing compared to the companionship they have together. I love how much we see them interact, the subtle shift we see in Solène and Hayes as each realizes lunch did not stay just lunch. We see Solène’s career, and even her daughter, take a backseat to the affair and we see when the walls start crumbling down, with Solène and Hayes none the wiser. Their romance is addictive; I too fell in love with the idea of them and Robinne Lee convinces us that the love can weather the fame. Of course, love and fame are not quite as glamorous as we believe and soon the rose-colored glasses are stripped away.
"I leaned into him then to kiss his cheek. Not an art world air-kiss, but the chance to press his skin against mine, breathe in his scent, and lock it in my memory. A little like stealing."
The Idea of You explores the difficulty of promises between two engaging characters who are so intelligent and who seem like puzzle pieces meant to be together. Solène and Hayes’ passion spilled from the pages and swept me up with it and the end left me hoping, leaving behing a massive book hangover. Robinne Lee tells a beautiful story with The Idea of You, The writing is descriptive, the art fairs, hotel rooms, and beach getaways coming to life as Solène and Hayes tangle their lives together. I could physically hear the piercing screams of the young girls when Solène first watches August Moon, specifically Hayes, enter the Las Vegas stadium. I never expected to be so engaged with this novel, but now, upon completion, I’m not sure there’s another book suitable to follow it. I want more, not just of Solène and Hayes, but more of the other band members too.
so I recommend it-but it's not a light read. Also liked that it explored sexist stereotypes
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.
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.
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We watched the movie adaptation of this about a week ago. During a mid-show snack run, I looked up the author, Robinne Lee, online and realised I already owned this book, although I hadn't read it.
I enjoyed the film, though I didn't like the ending much—no spoilers here. I needed something new to read, so I decided to start the book that night—unusual for me as it's usually the book or the movie, never both.
Solène Marchand is 39 years old. She is a divorced, single mom to twelve-year-old Isabelle when she takes her daughter to a backstage meet-the-band event at an August Moon concert.
August Moon is a "boy band"—five British guys adored by millions of teenage girls the world over. Hayes Campbell, aged 20, is singer, songwriter, and the guy who put the band together. There is an immediate spark between Solène and Hayes, one that leads to them meeting again soon after the event. They both flirt, and she resists taking things further until she doesn't. The romance between them quickly becomes hot and heavy.
Other than a few lines of dialogue and a pivotal scene or two, almost nothing in the book matches events in the movie. I loved this because it soon became apparent that I didn't know what was coming for the couple.
The book is Solène's story and told solely from her point of view, which is how I like my romance. I enjoyed the slices of her life between each encounter with Hayes, and while I have no frame of reference for being a single mother and/or running an art gallery, everything felt right.
The chemistry between Solène and Hayes is potent and delicious. The sex is fantastic, varied and plentiful, but I most loved the banter between them, in public and in private, and if you get a kick from filthy talk, you're in for a treat here.
And the ending? Well, it makes this not a romance by the popular definition of the term. It left me gutted. But that's life, I guess. If you can handle a downbeat conclusion, then know that the couple's journey is romantic as hell, and I have no hesitation in recommending it, whether or not you're familiar with the very enjoyable movie version.