Another ingenious and insightful book by Amanda Prowse which at times I had to put down as parts of Lucy's story mirrored my own. As The Idea of You unfolds, however, I couldn't stop reading and it's the first book, in a while, that made me cry. A great read!

Super enjoyable and emotional story. The Idea of You wasn't what I was expecting, I actually don't even know what I thought it would be, but I'm so glad to have been given the opportunity to read this book. The author did a great job of pulling me into the story and making me feel what the characters were going through. I'd definitely recommend a few tissues, but don't think that is because the story has an overall somber tone or is depressing, because that isn't the case. Rather, it is powerful and full of hope. For some people, starting a family can be difficult, touchy, and sometimes sad, but the author handles this issue with sensitivity and empathy.

The Idea Of You is a touching book. It tells the story of Lucy who is almost 40 and longing for a child. She knows time is running out and is delighted to find out she is pregnant. Sadly, it's not to be, as Lucy faces miscarriage in early pregnancy. Prowse describes very well the fear and panic and the indignity of the hospital, together with the loss and emptiniess.

IT is well written with care and compassion

This story highlights what sometimes happens when the excitement wears off. Well worth reading.

Amanda Prowse has done it again. She has written a beautiful book that so many women out there would be able to relate to.

I personally have not been in the exact same situation that Lucy found herself in, but nevertheless my heart broke for her, and for Jonah as well. It is the skill of the author that makes you care about the characters in this book: from Lucy with her high-powered career when what she really wants is a baby, to Jonah who is a man who watches helplessly as his wife goes through such trauma and then to Camille, Jonah's teenage daughter who turns their lives upside down. The secondary characters are also very well written and an essential part of the story.

This was not an easy book to read by any means, but I found myself wishing that everything would work out just as Lucy was hoping. Did she get what she wanted in the end? You will have to read the book and see, I am not saying :)

A gorgeous bit of writing, had me in tears more than once, but overall this is a story of love, and how it overcomes absolutely everything.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book. Thank you to Lake Union Publishing.

This book was fine, although I found it quite boring at times. I didn't empathise with Lucy much, as she was a 40-year-old woman who was newly married and just wanted a baby. I don't want any of those things. But, it flowed quite nicely and made me want to keep reading. I really hated Jonah and found Camille and Tansy infuriating, but Lucy was decent.

Publisher's Description:
With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter dares to hope that she finally has it all: a wonderful new husband, Jonah, a successful career and the chance of a precious baby of her own. Life couldn’t be more perfect.

But the reality of becoming parents proves much harder than Lucy and Jonah imagined. Jonah’s love and support is unquestioning, but as Lucy struggles with work and her own failing dreams, the strain on their marriage increases. Suddenly it feels like Lucy is close to losing everything…

Heart-wrenching and poignant, this latest work by bestselling author Amanda Prowse asks the question: what does it mean to be a mother in today’s hectic world? And what if it’s asking too much to want it all?

My Thoughts:

This poignant, heart wrenching tale kept me in stitches always hoping for the best for the heroine. I know only from the experience of friends and family the joy of a child's arrival and the sorrow of loss when this much anticipated life ends too early.

This story is so well written with characters that you both love and hate. You can not help but feel the drastic loss each time it happens and the anticipation that just maybe this time will be different

I gave this book 4.25 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization. This is not my usual type of read but it kept me totally engrossed in this often sad story.

I was invited to read and received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I have voluntarily reviewed.

Beautifully written. Not my favorite story but glad I read it. Thank you Netgalley for the introduction to an author I've never read before.

I thought this book was well written, covered the heartache of miscarriage and being unable to have children very well and sensitively. The scenes between Lucy and Camilla were realistic and I enjoyed reading this book.

I received this ARC from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

This book is my first read from this author. The author writes in a simple manner, an easy ongoing read.
I really want to say that I liked it, but unfortunately, I was never connected to the story which surprised me being that I've had 4 miscarriages in my life and I know the emotional feeling after this occurs. I found myself pushing through the book, I got bored in several parts and I was wishing for the end to finish it.

I don't want to ruin this opinion with any spoilers but I think what the author really wants the reader to see when reading Lucy's story is that sometimes life gives us a lesson and sometimes these lessons may be used in a negative way or in a positive way. In Lucy´s story, she did use it in a positive way.

Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC.

The premise of this book is Lucy's journey. She was dumped by her boyfriend who married her cousin and then after a few years she met Jonah. They try to become parents at the age of 40, Jonah's 16 year old daughter moves in for a few months and there is nothing but problems to include miscarriages. There is one unexpected twist (but not really unexpected when you read the book you will understand why I say this) and then a HUGE long-held secret that isn't a secret to the reader.

Not my favorite book. Amanda Prowse is a good writer just not my type of book I guess. Lucy came off as a 12 year old herself and that totally turned me off.

A very heart-felt and heart-warming story about family and relationships and how our notions of them have to change to accommodate all the new (and sometimes tragic) circumstances fate throws our way. The heroine is particularly well-drawn, never sentimental or cliched, but always honest and sympathetic, and her struggles -- waiting for a pregnancy -- feel very real. Can recommend to women fiction readers, fans of Jodi Picoult and Harriet Evans and anyone looking for a pacey, engaging read.

I read book in less than 24 hours. It had my full attention from the first page until the last. I really did not want to stop reading but the kids and husband had to be fed. Chores had to be done... I was supposed to sleep but didn't until after I finished reading the entire book!

This book was so emotional. Mostly sad but also funny, fun, happy at times and REAL. I have to admit, I'm a 38 year old stay at home mom of 4 kids ranging from almost 21 to almost 3. They're all mine and I've never had a miscarriage. Nor have I known anyone who has said to me they've had a miscarriage so I have never been in those emotions or even close. This book took me there and was heart breaking.

Although I've never experienced a miscarriage there was a time when we couldn't conceive and I knew people who were having babies who probably shouldn't AND I felt that pang of envy. I myself was only 17 when I had my first and the thought of anyone stepping in and taking him from me brings out the mama bear in me.

I won't give out any details because I don't want to spoil the story but I encourage people to read this with an open mind and enjoy the story.

Another wonderful Amanda Prowse book. Very emotional and thought provoking.. Dealt very well with the subject of frequent miscarriages and how sometimes the father's feelings are overlooked. Also the subject of young pregnancies and how it affects the whole family. Very sensitively done.

I could not finish this book.The female protagonist was mousy and insipid. I couldn't get into the story,she kept annoying me.

This is a gripping story of real life! I am happy to have found this book I am an instant fan of this author Amanda Prowse! Emotionally moving and so close to home on so many levels. This is real life put onto paper! Raw emotions, courage and inspiration make this a touching read for anyone!

This was my first book by British author Amanda Prowse who is well known for her emotional women's fiction. In The Idea of You, Ms. Prowse explores a woman's desire for a baby and what it means to be a mother. Her protagonist, Lucy, has suffered several miscarriages and is (obviously) feeling despondent. When sixteen-year-old Camille, her husband's daughter from his first marriage, comes over from France to stay with Lucy and her husband Jonah, Lucy is additionally faced with the problems of step-parenting.
Let me start by saying, I don't think I was the right target audience for this. It was a free book from NetGalley so I thought I would give it a go. I found it very difficult to connect with Lucy. She seemed so dreamy and was far too idealistic for me. Her expectations of life with a teenage stepdaughter seemed rather unrealistic to start off with. Actually, her entire idea of motherhood was a bit like that. Don't get me wrong, I have two daughters and love them dearly, but this was all a bit too rose-tinted glasses for me. I couldn't understand why Lucy simply wasn't more open about everything, as it would have avoided a lot of issues. There wasn't a lot of depth to it and in the end, conflicts were resolved pretty easily.
However, the writing was ok and I would definitely read more by this author. I can see that this book would really appeal to readers who are looking for light but emotional women's fiction with a sweet ending, it just wasn't quite my cup of tea at the time.
The audiobook is narrated by the author, and she did a pretty good job of it. Her voice for Camille was particularly convincing. I would have liked it more if the other characters' voices had been more distinct.

Lucy appears to be a great career woman with everything that she wants but looks can be deceptive......deep down she really wants a husband and child. So when she meets Jonah she is swept off her feet - very quickly married and then pregnant she thinks she has everything she ever wanted.......but that is not quite the case and this is not helped when Camille Jonah's teenage daughter comes to stay

This is a very emotional book with many ups and downs and strains on marriage and relationships and it is easy to sit back and say people are making the wrong decisions but very different if you are actually the person making them

We’re provided with a curious prologue of Lucy’s childhood. Her dad has died and mum following the incident puts Lucy in her place. She consequently forms a closer relationship with her nan. But what has actually happened??

As an adult, Lucy has split from Richard, he having gone astray and married her cousin. Acutely aware of being nearly 40 & single, she definitely feels behind the curve when it comes to settling down and having children. Moreover she yearns badly to be a mother.

The split from Richard did her good and she excels in her career, enjoying the desire to be good and succeed more and more. But in truth she is lonely. At a christening she the warm John carpenter. He is 7 years older, but they are smitten and soon marry.

This is Jonah’s 2nd marriage. He has a feisty ex-wife that lives in France and a 16 year old daughter Camille who he rarely sees.

Things look up when Lucy becomes pregnant but she struggles to carry a baby through to term and has to deal with the raw emotions of this and a spell being a step mum to the not so easy Camille.

This is a story about the emotional rollercoaster of Lucy’s life, How she tries to be do the right thing, be the good daughter, sister, wife and step mum as well as hold down a successful career. Struggling with the achieving the most important thing in the world her – motherhood is a pain and crisply conveyed experience.