While some books effortlessly draw you into the magnetic chemistry between characters from the get-go, others leave you scratching your head 200 pages in, wondering if the author even considered believability in their character relationships. Unfortunately, Solene and Hayes of “The Idea of You” fall into the latter category.
I initially picked up this book after catching wind of its upcoming movie adaptation featuring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. Excitement bubbled within me, convinced that if a movie was in the works, the book must be something special. I was mistaken.
Despite my near-constant temptation to mark it as Did Not Finish (DNF), I persevered, driven by a commitment to give every book a fair chance. However, with each passing chapter, the urge to delete the digital copy from my e-reader grew stronger.
My curiosity about the forthcoming movie adaptation was another motivator to trudge through the pages. Yet, as I delved deeper into the story, my enthusiasm waned. The plot felt shallow, saturated with gratuitous sex talk and lacking any semblance of genuine chemistry between characters. The narrative unfolded predictably, populated by immature characters—particularly Solene, who, despite being a 40-year-old mother, displayed a distressing lack of responsibility and self-awareness.
Solene’s portrayal as an irresponsible, self-centered, and sex-driven mother was deeply unsettling. While her prowess as an art gallery owner was commendable, her inability to make sound decisions and set a positive example for her 13-year-old daughter was disappointing. Witnessing her spiral into self-destructive behavior was both cringe-worthy and disheartening.
Furthermore, the author’s choice to subdivide chapters into smaller segments to denote the passage of time felt disjointed and disrupted the flow of the narrative. Rather than enhancing the storytelling, it detracted from the overall reading experience.
As for Hayes, the supposed hero of the tale, his character fell flat for me. He came across as a thinly veiled fan fiction creation lacking depth and substance.
Despite these criticisms, I will concede that the ending offered a slight glimmer of redemption. However, it wasn’t enough to salvage “The Idea of You” from earning a one-star rating in my book.
germie_reads 