Book Review: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

If you're looking for a sudsy, sexy entertaining summer read, look no further. The Idea of You by Robinne Lee has everything you could want and is a compulsive and addictive read. Solene Marchand ends up taking her daughter and her friends to a boy band concert when her ex-husband backs out on their plans. The girls have a brief meet and greet where they make an impression on Hayes Campbell the young star and anchor of the group. The flirtation continues in a backstage visit and Solene indulges herself a little bit. Yes, she's thirty-nine and he's twenty but what's the harm?

Hayes follows up, though, entering Solene's real life and thus begins an affair. Solene convinces herself it's just physical and she's simply fulfilling some fantasies, enjoying herself, and reawakening a part of her that was lost when she got divorced. But the longer the affair goes on, it becomes harder to deny the real feelings on the sides of both partners. And the longer it goes on, the more Solene puts her personal and professional life at risk.

This book as I said above is easy to read. It's sort of voyeuristic in the sense that it's an interesting idea...the much older woman with the young guy--what would that be like? Also, it's always fun to read stories where money is no object and the characters involved can go on exotic vacations, etc. Toss in the fact that Solene herself is highly educated and hugely sympathetic--an art gallery owner that only features women and people of color and you have the makings of a perfect escapist read. I wouldn't say this book is pure escape, though. It takes a hard look at fan culture as it relates to celebrities. August Moon, the fictional boy band, have a lot of fans that have strong opinions about Solene dating one of their boys. And because Solene has a teen daughter, things extend there as well. But it's still really fun.

I do want to note this book doesn't fade to black, there's a lot of sex and frank sexual language.

I enjoyed it a lot, though, and became very wrapped up in Solene and Hayes story and what would happen to them!