Look. I tried to resist The Idea of You. I really did. I saw it all over TikTok—breathless reviews, teary-eyed rants, the inevitable “this ruined me” montages—and I figured, “Nope. Not falling for it.” I don’t like being told what to read by an app that also convinces me I need five more Stanley tumblers. But here we are. I gave in. And I’m so glad I did, because Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You is smart, sexy, emotionally layered, and far better than its boy-band-romance premise might suggest.
The book follows Solène, a sophisticated 39-year-old L.A. art gallery owner and single mom who takes her daughter to a boy band concert—an act of parental sarcrifice if there ever was one. There, she meets Hayes Campbell, the 20-year-old lead singer of August Moon, who is basically if Harry Styles and charm had a baby. Against all logic (and age appropriateness), sparks fly. Big ones. And so begins a whirlwind romance that’s one part fantasy, one part social commentary, and all parts completely engrossing.
Yes, it’s about a woman falling in love with a pop star who is almost half her age. But let’s talk about what The Idea of You isn’t. It’s not creepy. It’s not exploitative. It’s not some cringey, reverse-Mrs. Robinson situation. In fact, one of the best things about this book is how it handles the age-gap dynamic with surprising nuance. Solène is hyper-aware of the optics. Hayes isn’t infantilized or turned into some wide-eyed lost boy. And while they’re both definitely intoxicated by each other, they’re also mature enough (in different ways) to talk through the weirdness. There’s no fetishizing here—just two people navigating a complicated situation that neither of them really planned for.
Is it realistic? Absolutely not. I mean, unless I missed my chance with a global pop star at a Jonas Brothers concert in 2010. But here’s the thing: who cares? Romance doesn’t have to be realistic to be emotionally true. The book captures the intoxicating rush of new love, the ache of impossible circumstances, and the absolute chaos that ensues when the real world comes crashing in. And if you can suspend disbelief long enough to accept that a 39-year-old woman could not only bag but keep the attention of a 20-year-old international heartthrob, you’re in for one hell of a ride.
The writing is sleek and addictive—like if Nora Ephron and Taylor Jenkins Reid co-wrote fanfic. Robinne Lee somehow manages to give us all the steamy escapism we could want (and trust me, the steam level is high) without sacrificing character development or emotional depth. Solène is smart, self-possessed, and flawed in ways that make her feel incredibly real. Hayes, meanwhile, is more than just a dreamy pop star; he’s thoughtful, funny, and surprisingly grounded… even if he does have his own boy-band brand of immaturity now and then.
If you’ve somehow made it this far without knowing that The Idea of You has been turned into a movie starring Anne Hathaway—surprise! It has. It’s currently streaming on Prime Video, so I guess I’ll have to watch it eventually. But fair warning: buzz says the adaptation makes some notable changes, including the ending. (Insert ominous side-eye here.)
Bottom line? This is one TikTok recommendation that actually lives up to the hype. It’s a fantasy wrapped in a mature love story, and it left me thinking about fame, motherhood, and sacrifice
If you’ve ever fantasized about escaping real life for a sexy, glittering romance with a younger man who somehow gets you and makes you laugh—this one’s for you. Just maybe don’t read it on a plane unless you’re cool with crying next to strangers.
OUR RATING
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