I don’t think Amanda Prowse knows how to write a bad novel; I hope I didn’t jinx her for saying that lol! In The Idea of You we find yet another gleaming and emotionally wrought journey that defines what we mean by family and motherhood. Fair warning, grab the multipack of Kleenex before you sit down, scrub your makeup off because there is no waterproof strong enough to handle this novel and turn off your cell so you can become immersed in this without interruptions.

Prowse has a true gift for capturing realism within her pages even if it means bringing to the forefront issues we don’t want to talk about because it’s easier to pretend they don’t exist. This author writes in such a way that you feel like she’s speaking directly to you and wants you to know you’re not alone. Even if you haven’t experienced this particular aspect of trying to create a family she still evokes every emotion possible out of you because as human beings we all know that level of pain of wanting something so deeply but feeling like it’s just out of our reach or the journey to get it is asking more of us than we think we can handle.

This novel may be steeped in anguish but Prowse brilliantly pulls out all the stops to ensure you still find the light of positivity in the darkest of corners. The way she showcases family relationships, dynamics all within her detailed and vibrant character development begs the question if she’s not describing very real people in her life. Her characters leap off the pages to become portrayals of those we all know, even ourselves, so you want to become invested in seeing Lucy succeed at her heart’s desire.

This book really should be read as a group in the hopes that it will cause you to talk about how it affects you and maybe help someone with similar problems find the ‘family’ she needs to get through those hard moments.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the very talented Amanda Prowse for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book. I loved it.
It never fails to amaze me how Amanda Prowse writes real stories about real people, dealing with sometimes slightly taboo subjects that are spoken about in "whispers". Her empathy, sensitivity and honesty shine through in every word.
I always read her books knowing that emotionally I will be challenged and more often that not, moved to tears. I loved the portrayal of the stepmother/stepdaughter relationship and thought this brought an additional element to the book. The unimaginable thought of losing babies is dealt with beautifully.
5 stars all the way. An absolute weepie so keep the tissues ready!

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. I literally stayed up all night reading this, and I'm not sorry. The characters are all so well done, every single one of them. They have flaws, they seem real, and you feel you are going through their highs and lows. Lucy and Jonah have a great marriage, but Lucy wants nothing more than to become a mom. She has many difficulties with this, and this puts her entire life under strain. Sometimes your family comes to you in ways you'd never expect. This book confirms that.