This story is well written and easy to read. The subject matter, whilst dealing with the events in many womens' lives is at times difficult to process. It connects on a very emotional level.

The Idea of You is a powerful story that should be read by any woman, no matter her age or circumstances. It’s also a story for the men in our lives, those who say they want to understand us better and truly mean it. It’s a story for blended families, for couples who want children even if they themselves are no longer in the bloom of youth. It’s a story that will touch hearts, open dialogue and perhaps make people think before they offer words of comfort or give sage advice of things they know nothing about.

It is quite simply a powerful story. One that will make you feel and think, cry and chuckle, and wonder how you would face such challenges in your own life.

I believe The Idea of You is a story that needs to be read, then shared with friends and family. I do not believe it’s one that a reviewer can or should tell you about in detail. To know too much lessens the impact of this family’s struggles, pain and outcome. What Jonah and Lucy face could easily happen to any of us readers, and already has for some. The little letters simply broke my heart, for I have written a few of them myself.

If you are looking to take a realistic journey that will change how you view life, then this is a story for you. I’d highly recommend this one.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

This story is about Lucy Carpenter who has a successful career, but as she’s getting closer to 40 and single she feels she has no chance of getting the family life she so desires. Then she meets Jonah at her best friend’s daughters christening. After a short whirlwind romance they get married and try for a family of their own. Jonah already has a daughter, Camille, from his previous marriage but she lives in France. Unfortunately, Lucy suffers miscarriage after miscarriage. Whilst trying to deal with this and her very busy and stressful job, Camille is sent to stay with her father for a while.
This book was just not for me and I only read half of the book before giving up. I felt this book didn’t grab me and there was nothing for me to keep me wanting to read it. I couldn’t engage or sympathise with any of the characters, even though I have been through miscarriages myself, I still couldn’t connect with the book.
Although my experience of this novel is negative its not to say no one will enjoy it, as I’ve seen from other reviewers that they have loved the book and would highly recommend, this is just my personal review and feeling.

I always look forward to a new Amanda Prowse book and this one did not let me down. This is beautifully and poignantly written. I had tears in my eyes as I went on a rollercoaster of life with Lucy and Jonah.. This is a story which resonates with so many people.

Sit down and prepare to be there till the book is finished!!

I was invited to read The Idea of You by Netgalley and the publishers Lake Union Publishing. I'm not sure why as I exclusively read crime fiction but somehow, probably due to my incompetence, it arrived on my Kindle.

This is a heartwarming tale of Lucy, her husband Jonah and her teenage stepdaughter Camille who comes to visit. Camille is a disruption to Lucy's life and her attempt to have a baby of her own but it is Lucy's own secrets which cause the most disruption.

Although it is well outside my normal reading matter I quite enjoyed it although I found Lucy and Jonah's relationship a bit sickly the ending extremely trite. I liked Lucy's character as she is strong and not afraid to stick up for herself and her story is a sad one. I think it is a well planned and plotted novel with good pace.

I can't say I'll be rushing out to read another novel by Ms Prowse but The Idea of You was a pleasant change of style for me and I can see why her novels are popular.

This is a touching, beautifully written book. I laughed and cried with Lucy and a Jonah.

This is a very engaging book about a heartbreaking subject. Lucy and Jonah, who are newly married, want a baby. After several miscarriages, happiness seems so far out of reach for this couple. Jonah's daughter, Camille, comes to live with them over the summer and adds more stress to their lives. This is the story of how this little family learns to find happiness and love, even if you don't always get what you want. The Lord always has a plan for your life. Amanda Prowse does a very good job of taking the reader into this story and knowing the pain these characters are going through. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union publishing for allowing me to read The Idea Of You by Amanda Prowse. Following is my review.
An inspiring and heartwarming story of love and strength that is necessary to move on after so much heartbreak.
Lucy's dream has always been to have a baby of her own. Jonah supports her through the loss of several miscarriages. This story will grab your heart and won't let go.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book after a slow start. This is the first book by Amanda Prowse that I have come across, it tells the tale of Lucy and her desperate attempts to have a baby. Running parallel to the main story is her history and as the story develops, we learn of her past too. The book tells of her developing relationship with Jonas
her husband and the turbulent arrival of his 17 year old, French, daughter in their lives.
A good story, very moving at times which develops convincingly and at a good pace. I'm going to track down some more of Amanda's books to read after reading this one, which has to be a recommendation.

A beautiful story.

A wonderful, wonderful read! I had not previously read anything by Amanda Prowse but after reading this book she goes onto my 'must read' author list. This story is beautiful and heart-breaking. Lucy seems to have the perfect life, a terrific, supportive husband, a great job and all they need now is to start their family. But as time goes on and Lucy does not conceive, she becomes more sad at the prospect of never having a child. Her husband, Jonah, has a daughter by his first marriage, but he sees her seldom as she lives in another country. Then she comes to stay with Jonah and Lucy and from there the story picks up the pace. This book had me in tears more than once, crying for all the characters. The characters are alive, warm, and totally believable. Can't wait to read more of Amanda Prowse!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This was a page turner and a very fast read. My first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage so I could relate to some of the storyline in a very real way. While Lucy's reactions to much of her life events seem overly dramatic, I gave her a pass based on her past. But Jonah's were a bit puzzling to me. Didn't completely ring true. However, it was a good read and worth recommending to readers with an interest in happily ever after stories.

What a sweet book! I was aggravated at the husband character at times, how insensitive he was but it made this book seem real. This is real life, bad things happening to good people. I really liked how the author showed each characters flaws. Nice work!

I struggled with this book. I enjoyed some of it, but I felt that I never connected with Lucy, the main character.

I thought the scenario between Lucy and her mother was interesting and would have liked to have seen more of that. I also would have liked to have seen a little more of the development of Camille I thought that most of the characters seemed a little one-dimensional.

Lucy's secret was interesting, and I was pleased that it didn't end wind up becoming a cliche.

This tale is meant to be a tearjerker as we witness the heartbreak of forty-year-old newlywed Lucy who wants a baby with a terrible fierceness but cannot carry a pregnancy past the first trimester. Between chapters dealing with the here and now, we read Lucy’s poignant messages to a baby girl, her thoughts on what she and her daughter would be doing together if that were only possible.

Meanwhile her husband, Jonah, is supportive, but he is already father to Camille, a seventeen-year-old who lives with her mother but now comes to stay with Lucy and Jonah for a while. When Camille and Lucy don’t get along, Jonah seems to side with his daughter, and Lucy begins feeling isolated in her own home and eventually in her marriage.

A rather predictable event takes place, along with a somewhat surprising revelation, both of which turn Lucy’s marriage even further on its ear. It’s now up to her to either “put on her big girl shoes” as her chauvinistic jerk of a boss likes to say, or watch her marriage dissolve.

For me, this felt too much like a tearjerker for tearjerker’s sake. Miscarriage is not an unknown to this reviewer, and it’s nothing to make light of, but life goes on. It must. Unfortunate things happen in a lifetime, and how we handle them is the real test of character. Lucy’s continuous, obsessive dwelling upon what was not to be made it difficult to regard her as the strong, resilient woman she supposedly is, and I almost quit reading. Jonah was not a sympathetic character; I probably liked Camille better than anyone. At least she was a naïve teenager who had reason to be immature, and watching her grow was the best part of the story.

I just finished Amanda Prowse The idea of You.
Utterly Fantastic!   10 star ++
Had me in tears.

Amanda always puts so much raw emotion into her books and always challenges topics that are sensitive, in a way that's informative and passionate making it ok to discuss.
Amanda always writes from the heart and it shows as her writing style always has  such passion and strength.


This book is about a women's longing for a family, however mother nature has other ideas and she suffers several agonising miscarriages.
Luckily for Lucy she has a supportive and strong partner. Together they find the strength to carry on another day.

However all this is about to change for Lucy when Jonah's teenage daughter Camille comes to stay with them, bringing a whole lot of teenage drama.
Camille unknowingly comes between them, but Lucy is so full of grief she is struggling to bond with Camille.
They have a whole rollercoaster of ups and downs.
But soon a secret comes out bonding them forever making their little family unite once again.

I found myself so absorbed in Lucy's heart breaking  journey I didn't think how Camille must be feeling. 
It isn't till she starts to open up to Camille about her mother you can really see her vulnerable side.
You can see why she is acting the way she does and towards the end I was on her side and angry with Jonah.

When secrets come out Jonah doesn't exactly handle the situation very well and up until that point I was feeling very sorry for him being in the middle of Waring women as he literally could do nothing right!
But luckily for him he does redeem himself again, Thankfully as I feel their little family is very strong. Jonah is a great husband and very supportive and protective. A great role model.

This book is captivating and draws you in from the very first page. Although there is much heartache there is love, strength, courage and support and light at the end of the rainbow so to speak!

Plus there is a fantastic twist which I really wasn't expecting.
 It made everything make sense it tied up the whole story.
Even the style of writing made sense towards the end (the diary/letter paragraphs) which I wasn't 100% sure why they was being written.
I absolutely loved it. I didn't want it to end. I wanted more.

I can't begin to imagine how heart wrenching it is to have miscarriages and not being able to get the answers as to why this is happening.

But I truly hope that by reading The Idea of you it helps people to understand a little more about the emotions and grief people go through and their courage to get up and take small steps every day.

I cant recommend this book enough it's a gem of a book.
 
There is a fantastic twist and a whole lot of Sass from a teenage step daughter.
It's about family and new beginnings and the strength and power of love to carry on even when things are so tough and painful.

Thanks for the opportunity. Enjoyable read and I will post a review ASAP

The Idea of You
Amanda Prowse
Book Review: ♥ ♥
Amanda Prowse's book seems to be popping up everywhere, and I have to admit I was intrigued. I was sent a pre-approved invitation via Netgalley to read The idea of you. It isn't my usual read. However, the description sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, I should have gone with my instincts this wasn't for me.

Lucy is approaching the big 4 0 and desperately wants a family of her own. This is a heart-melting story. It's about realising you have to adjust life's plan to fit the cards you are dealt.

I don't like upsetting novels, and Lucy's life plan doesn't work out the way she's planned. This novel has a silver lining, but it just wasn't for me.

2 stars out of 5.
This has a Goodreads rating of 4.32 showing that if you are the right audience for this book, you will love it.

Kindle Edition £3.98 or free for KU, 332 pages
Published March 21st, 2017

Amanda Prowse has the most phenomenal output when it comes to the publication of her books and keeping her readers happy. It feels like no sooner have I finished one incredible read than the next publication day is upon us and this is such a great thing. Too often I finish a book and think, god I have such a long wait for the next story from this author but Amanda never lets her loyal readers down. One may think given the numerous publications per year that the standard of writing and the storylines would slip and waver and not be as good as the last but that is certainly not the case. Each book is always of such a high calibre, impeccably researched and packed full of heartfelt, realistic emotions that the women of today can identify with.

The topics the author covers are varied and are always hard hitting and it's rare that one scene or certain characters in Amanda's books don't find a place in your heart right from the beginning and never let go until the last word. Amanda Prowse is like the English Jodi Picoult and in my mind far more accessible than said author - her books are engaging and relevant to the times we live in today whereas Jodi Picoult became far too formulaic and in later books quite stale. Amanda writes about ordinary women like you and me who find their comfortable lives disrupted and then in turn need to find the strength to overcome the obstacles placed directly in their path to happiness. Their strength, courage, dedication and love are tested in ways you would never think possible.

This new book from Amanda The Idea of You questions what it is like to be a mother in today's hectic world where there is untold pressure from women on all sides to conform, to become a mother and do the best job possible. There is so many advertisements on the TV about what we need to be the best mother possible and endless advice is offered on the internet and in online chat rooms. But what if your long held dream of becoming a mum can't become a reality despite you giving it every best shot possible? How do you cope especially when motherhood in a strange way comes calling at your door and you can't slam said door in the situations face?

Our main female protagonist Lucy finds herself in this situation and through reading this story we see her go through a myriad of emotions as she battles to come to terms with the life changing problems she is presented with. From the brief prologue the reader can immediately sense Lucy has been through something in her past which still deeply affects the person she is today and her thought process around attempting to become a mother. There are minor hints alluded to as to what it could be throughout the book and it was only in the later half that it clicked with me just exactly what had occurred and when this happened it changed the way I thought about Lucy and the way she acted but in a good way. If I had discovered this any earlier while reading I think I would have read way deeper into Lucy's situation instead of taking everything at face value until it was the correct time to dig deeper beneath the surface as to what was truly going on. Next we meet Lucy at a christening and as she stands and watches her godson being baptised she wonders was she at aged 39 'losing a race she didn't know she had entered, she hadn't heard the starter pistol, and by the time she looked up, everyone she knew of a similar age seemed to be half way round the track'. Even this line showcases what a talented author Amanda Prowse is to convey with such simple words the entire crux of the novel and how Lucy is feeling.

At the christening, as mentioned above, Lucy meets Jonah and her life changes as they catch sight of each other. Soon they are married and living happily together looking forward to having children and completing Lucy's long held dream. Yes there is pressure from relatives and others to have this perfect baby as women are meant to be made whole when the wonderful bundle arrives. 'It is an incredible thing when you have a child, not only for yourself, but it's a wonderful gift for the whole family'. I couldn't agree more with this statement as recently I have become an Auntie for the first time and after a traumatic event this has been wonderful and a form of healing.

By day Lucy works in a high powered job in an advertising agency and by night she enjoys time with Jonah and knits beautiful baby items for a much wished child. She longs to feel complete and fulfilled. She has no doubt that she can juggle a career with parenthood if only that wish would become a reality. Throughout we can feel Lucy's devastation that she is struggling to conceive that it could be possible that it may never comes to pass that, she holds a warm bundle in her arms. 'Her nose and throat were clogged with distress and her heart and womb pulsed with longing'. It doesn't help matters that Jonah's teenage daughter from a previous relationship Camille aged 16 comes to spend the summer with them from France and stays on longer than expected. How is Lucy supposed to cope with a teenage girl who is typical of her age and the situation she too finds herself in battling through her own personal emotions and in some ways her own version of hell on a daily basis?

Throughout the book I never once questioned the love that Lucy and Jonah had for each other. Yes times were turbulent and in more ways than one Lucy had to bite her tongue and hold back from saying explicitly how she was feeling but still that spark, that connection was always there and I fervently hoped for a positive outcome. Jonah sums up their relationship beautifully when he says 'I fell for you, hook, line and sinker, and I realised that you were my missing piece. I am happy with you by my side and without you I am not. It's that simple'. The issues surrounding Camille and her settling into their home, and Lucy adjusting to becoming a step mum whilst trying to have her own baby were written in an upfront, straight forward manner. The author never shied away from the harsh realities Lucy had to cope with every day. She tried to put on a front and do her best with Camille and she was brave to do this as I feel many of us would just give in and break down and not want to make that effort. Dealing with our own issues and troubles is enough without having to take on others even though I could see she tried to do it all for Jonah.

Camille didn't come across all that nice initially it was like she was jealous of the place Lucy held in her father's heart but as we dig deeper it's clear she has her own things going on and again this didn't feel out of place at all but rather a very good overall balance to the story when at times it could have become two one sided. Having a new daughter or stepmother there is bound to be problems no one can foresee. Not everything can be a bed of roses instantly or even permanently. A new relationship has to be formed and it all takes work, time and effort and may never turn out exactly the way we want it to what makes it doubly hard for Lucy is that her calling to be a mother, is not being answered as readily as she would hope it to be. 'It was an overwhelming, all consuming sensation that flavoured my food, coloured my opinions and influenced my choices'.

Amanda Prowse has again written another triumph of a book which will people will find difficult to read for its subject matter but by the end you will be glad you have done so. I am not the target audience for this book as I do not have children so maybe I wasn't quite as affected by what was ongoing as others who have children may be when they read this. That's not in any way to take away from the stunning story within the pages. The Idea of You was a beautifully crafted story full of complex characters and again a twist you would never see coming well maybe even more than one. I was certainly turning the pages to discover what the eventual outcome would be. This was an honest, raw and emotional account of what it means to be a mother and showcases what a naturally gifted storyteller Amanda Prowse is and how she can reach inside the minds of so many and write exactly how they are feeling in the most eloquent of ways. Again there were so many lines from this poem that I reread and savoured and wanted to write down and frame and it's very rare that I find this time and time again with an author.

I have no hesitation in recommending The Idea of You, it will provide some sort of healing and solace for those that need it and for others it is quite simply a brilliant read. We don't have long to wait until something new arrives from Amanda as I have spotted that The Art of Hiding is coming in July and it sounds just as good if not better than all her previous books.