This is the second book I have read by Amanda Prowse the first being The Food Of Love, I thought that book was very moving and a very good read.One thing Amanda does very well is write about relationships, she really gets under the skin of her characters, I mean that in a good way although it doesn't sound very pleasant! This book is no exception, I think she is very good at making the reader feel that the characters and situations they are in are very believable and it makes it very hard to stop reading because you want to find out what is going to happen.I enjoyed reading this book and am grateful to the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This could have potential, but sadly the internalised misogyny gets in the way. Not for me.

Lucy is a 39-year-old Londoner who, at the very start of the book, meets her future husband. She has a rewarding job in advertising but she feels as though something is missing from her life, a child, so when she meets Jonah at a christening she believes that her life is finally on the right track.

This story has a lot of tragedy in it as Lucy miscarries multiple times which makes her feel like a failure as she yearns for motherhood. The end of each chapter is heartbreaking as Lucy speaks to her lost children. These sections are in first person, unlike the rest of the novel which is in third person, and it really gives you an insight into Lucy's grief and how she's coping with her loss. Her multiple miscarriages sets off a heartbreaking chain of events that put strain on Lucy's new marriage and her new life.

As the book goes on you learn more about Lucy's past and it didn't shock me when Lucy's secret was revealed because Prowse left a lot of hints. This aspect of the novel added a lot to Lucy's character and it made me understand her motivations. I enjoyed the slow reveal of Lucy's secret because it added an extra layer to the novel that I didn't expect when I first started reading the book.

There's some of discussion about how women can't have it all, as Lucy considers her future as a mother but also all of the hard work she has put into her career. She notices at the awful culture of women being sidelined by their bosses just because they may want to become a mother one day. It highlights the struggle that a lot of working women have as they're unable to have both a career and a child at the same time.

Prowse also examines that tensions surrounding blended families as Jonah was previously married and has a 16-year-old daughter from his previous marriage. He has never lived with his daughter but bringing her into his new family home with Lucy creates a lot of tension, especially with Lucy's miscarriages.

The writing style is simple but I'm not a fan of it because some of Lucy's flashbacks don't feel separated enough from the main body of writing. This is probably deliberate to show how Lucy's past and future meld together as she drifts but I just found it distracting, especially the section where she remembers knitting with her grandmother early on in the story.

I also didn't like Jonah's character much because he feels too sappy and I never felt as though he grieved for his lost children. However, this is how Lucy thinks about Jonah so her narrative has influenced the way in which Jonah is perceived

Overall, I enjoyed the book but the writing style just wasn't for me. I liked the plot more than I expected to and I really liked Lucy as a character because she felt very human and was incredibly well written.

I wouldn't purchase this book for myself but I do think that it's a good read and that it covers several very interesting, complex topics.

Such a heart-wrenching and heartwarming novel. I was hooked from the beginning to see what the snippets of the letter were pertaining to. Also, I am of the later age where a lot of my friends are having children so I was instantly curious where the story was going to go.

This book definitely drew tears at multiple places. I have known those to have multiple miscarriages, so it touched a little too deep at some spots. Definitely would recommend this book!!

Heartfelt story that draws you in to the life of Lucy and Jonah. The struggles they face- especially Lucy- are difficult and an issue that must take love and compassion to write about. Lucy's fertility struggles are heart wrenching. On top of that, she was on the outside of a relationship with Jonah and Camille. Once the mention of a boyfriend was made of Camille though, I felt certain where the story line was going- and that's exactly where it headed. While it may have been predictable it was written in a lovely and satisfying way.

I know very little about Amanda Prowse so was surprised to see that she is such a prolific author. I'm not sure though, that the ability to rattle off novels quickly is always entirely successful. I'm torn by The Idea of You, because on the surface I feel that it's a book that I should very much enjoy. The subject matter is real and raw, and I applaud Prowse for tackling it head on. However, I found it difficult to embrace the characters as they seemed very flat to me. The pacing may have had something to do with it, but my main complaint is with the flow of dialogue which seems stilted and unnatural. It was very hard to wrap my head around fellow Londoners and especially teenagers who are written to speak so stiffly and formally, with 'I shall' and 'I shan't' making the whole thing feel very Victorian. I found it very jarring, to see this kind of antiquated speech in casual or even social interactions, especially for young people. There are also some errors in the text, possibly only via the Kindle edition though I have no way to be certain, including the word 'tseeth' that did give me a chuckle.

I enjoyed this book in parts, and did feel it plucked the heartstrings on occasion. But I feel the story has more promise than the author seems to have delivered which is why I think I'm left feeling more disappointed than satisfied at the end.

Does Amanda Prowse ever put a foot wrong? This is another excellent book tackling the often neglected themes that can dominate women's lives. I have several friends who have struggled to have children, but none of them have been willing or able to express the feelings that are described here. As well as enjoying a well-paced, beautifully written novel, I feel as if I have learned a great deal from this book.

Amanda Prowse writes beautifully about emotional issues and The Idea of You is no exception. This book will have you in tears.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.

I was invited to read this, Via Netgalley, and I figured since it was an invitation, it would be rude not to accept it!

I am glad I did, this book was great! I really did enjoy it, and I probably would not have chosen it for myself. I could relate to this book a lot, and I think that only enhanced the reading experience. There was a lot of emotion put into this book, it bleeds onto the pages. You will feel your heart get tugged, and this book, will bring out some serious emotions. For mothers, for new wives, and for women in general. I am just a few years shy of 40 myself, and I question how emotional I am going to be when I hit that milestone. Thank you Netgalley!!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I had never read any of Amanda Prowse's books before but I certainly will be again. This book was emotional, powerful and gut-wrenching. It will deeply touch your heart. This author has a wonderful writing style and the story will suck you in and keep your attention until the very end.

4 stars to Amanda Prowse's book The Idea of You, a fictional story about a women craving motherhood but facing many barriers to success. I was offered this book through NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing in exchange for a fair an honest review. I am glad I read it and had a positive reaction. On to the review...

Story
Lucy has wanted to be a mother for a very long time, but she's about to turn 40 and was recently dumped by her boyfriend who went on to marry Lucy's own cousin. At a christening, she meets Jonah and he proposes within a few months. He has a 16-year-old daughter, Camille, who lives with her mother and stepfather, but plans to come visit for a summer before her final year at boarding school. Lucy and Jonah have several miscarriages before Camille arrives, and it's starting to put a small strain on their marriage. Lucy struggles at work and with her family, unwilling to tell anyone about the pain she's going through, secretly hoping the next time she gets pregnant, she won't miscarry. Along her journey, she writes notes to each of her lost children, pining away for a little girl of her own. She and Camille do not get along well for the most part, but do find a few things that help bond them little by little. When the past comes back to haunt everyone, and new obstacles are thrown in front of the whole family, Lucy is forced to decide between what is best for everyone and what is best for her. And as the story comes to end, Lucy finds a way to make peace with her decision, understanding the impact it has on everyone involved.

Strengths
Lucy's story, an all-too-common one, is a strong and beautiful journey not only for the woman who has miscarried several babies, but for the family around them who don't always know what's truly happening. The pressure from friends and siblings to get pregnant before it's too late... the comments from people at work about having difficulty dividing time between family and your career.... the doctors who try to comfort you but really can only do and know so much. Lucy's a very likable character. She has flaws and makes mistakes. She's a bit immature in such situations but she's handling all the emotions with great strength and fervor. I felt a strong urge to want to hug her.

There aren't always fairy-tale endings in life, and I really enjoy when books face those consequences. I'm not giving away any spoilers as to whether she eventually has a baby or not, but regardless, her situation is not one anyone would envy. I felt privileged to watch the struggle, especially being so far removed from it, by being neither a mother nor a father. The author, who has mentioned her own struggles at conceiving and keeping pregnancies, puts a lot of emotional connection into the words and the scenes.

While it's a sad story, there was a fine balance in pushing readers to tears. Perhaps because I've never been in any type of a similar situation, I held back some of my emotion; however, there were just enough points where you felt the pain and felt the emotions come full force. But not so much that you had to put the book down and take a break. Good balance.

Suggestions
While I understood it was important to get to the point where she has a husband and and her time is running out to have her own baby, starting the book when she's 39 and then rushing thru the first year may have caused a few moments of less than helpful separation. I care about her as the story unfolds, but when you know little about her first 39 years, other than she wants to be a mother, you have a few questions that linger. Most are answered eventually, and possibly this is a "point in time / life" story, but... it could have used a little tidying up in this respect.

I wanted to see more about Lucy's life with her sister and mother. I understand with some of the reveals that come later in the story why it wouldn't exactly be easy, but it would have helped give her more depth.

Final Thoughts
I've read a few stories with this theme, and this is definitely one of the stronger ones. I like the author's style and would want to read some of her other books. It's not a major stand-out where I feel compelled to buy her next one immediately, but it's got all the qualities of a good book you will enjoy. I pushed it to a 4 because it's much higher than an average / OK book with a few good parts at a 3.

If you like strong female characters, this one's for you. Lucy's remarkable in her strength and only had 2 or 3 moments where I thought she was being a little too immature. Enjoy.

The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse is a powerfully written novel. A novel that all women can relate to easily. Love, relationships, and family are just a few of the themes presented inside this tale. From the beginning, I felt saddened by the main charcater's life. She gave up her one and only child. A child that kept her wondering for forty-years, if she had a good life or not. The Idea of You was indeed a perfect title. It perfectly worked for this read. This same woman felt like a loner. Always single at events that couples would be attending. My heart reached out to Lucy. But then, the unexpected happens and she meets Jonah. He's a great man. Their love is true and it made me smile to watch them as they worked out their issues and are just as happy as when they wedded. However, a secret comes out and before readers know it, Lucy's and Jonah's world has been flopped upside down and inside out...then, Jonah's daughter has a secret to tell. I felt that this tale was very believable. I can see this situation happening to anyone. Jonah's struggles as a father and husband were tested. I loved the end results that Amanda Prowse created. So much sorrow and then some healing and laughter. Lucy went through a lot more than giving up her only child, she also miscarried. I can only imagine her hurt...overall, I highly recommend The Idea of You to readers everywhere. Emotionally deep and satisfying to read.

I am indifferent to how I feel about Lucy. No doubt she is full of patience, tolerance and strength but her aloofness makes it difficult to warm up to her. As we journey along with her, her past revealed there is an unmistakable iciness, stilted factor about her and all the other characters as well. We know of Lucy's past, her heartbreaking present but we don't know much about HER leaving me with a bland feeling towards her.

The plot has various threads which interconnect wonderfully but it was all expected, no real surprises including a sugar coated ending.

The story does explore communication, relationships and emotions causing a soft poignancy.

Lucy's rawness in revealing her past, her struggles with conceiving is both convincing and heartbreaking. A genuine ring of emotional turmoil resonating loud and clear.

An emotional story with an uplifting ending demonstrating life's unexpected turns and surprises boring into one strong woman's world.

A compelling story of the agony of miscarriage and complexity of being a stepparent. I was sucked into the book, constantly hoping for a happy ending and completely surprised by the twist toward the end. The characters were well-developed and the pace was fast.

This book has brought lumps to my throat on several occasions. I had heard of Amanda Prowse but had not actually got around to reading any of her books. I have to give a massive thanks for the email i recieved to tell me i had been pre- approved for this title.

This book shows how decisions made twenty four years ago would not be made in the same way today. How the support of your family can have an impact on how you feel about yourself and those around you. But nothing in life is simple, nothing goes as it should, and sometimes life has it's own version of how your plan shall play out.

Lucy is aatending a christening, it is a work colleagues baby. She is thinking about her life, she is nearly forty years old. No husband, no baby, no sleepless nights, no baby paraphernalia strewn around. But she does have a successful carrer, a nice spacious flat and is smart. But for Lucy she wants what other women her age have, and that is a family.

When she was with her ex Richard she broached the subject of them having a baby. He didn't want a family and her wasn't messing around with her crazy cousin behind her back either. After they split up, she found that he was actually going to marry said crazy cousin, and the wedding wasn't far off.

While she is feeling sorry for herself, and by herself Jonah Carpenter introduces himself to her. They hit it off and get married and Lucy gets her husband and messy house. From here on in the story really does come into it's own, as we are taken on a roller coaster of emotions. This story then deals with some very emotional subjects and it is done with care and honesty.

I hadn't read anything by Amanda Prowse before reading this. I'm not sure why, I had a couple of her books on my Amazon wish list and had already identified that she sounded like an author I'd really enjoy. Since returning to blogging earlier this year, it was one author I saw a lot of praise for over on twitter, and her latest book, The Idea Of You created quite a bit of excitement among bloggers and I had it marked as a must read. So when I got a surprise email from netgalley with an invitation to read it, I accepted straight away. That was yesterday, and after downloading, taking a quick look and then finding myself finishing the whole book in a few hours, I can definitely say I will be reading more of Amanda's work very soon!

The Idea Of You is a touching and thoughtful book, telling the story of Lucy; almost forty and desperate for a child. Having married later than those around her, she's aware that time is running out, so when she finds out she is pregnant, she and her husband Jonah are delighted. But sadly, it's not to be, as Lucy faces miscarriage in early pregnancy. Only a few chapters into this book and already I felt connected and that this story would resonate with me. I have two children, but before my first child was born I too suffered a miscarriage and Amanda Prowse captures in startling honesty the feelings I remember having back then - of panic and fear to begin with, the indignity of the hospital cubical, the overwhelming feelings of loss, emptiness and guilt afterwards, with sensitivity and care.

What surprised me about this book was the development of Lucy throughout, as more 'roles' for this character were introduced or revealed. I think there's an aspect of Lucy that a lot of us can relate to, and again, I found myself nodding in agreement or having a memory evoked just by a turn of phrase or expression. I particularly thought the fraught and emotional relationship between Lucy and her step daughter was well written, convincing and honest. Each chapter ends with a letter written by Lucy, and it isn't clear until almost to the end who she is writing too. I wasn't expecting the turn the story took with regards to this, and it added an even extra layer of depth and back story to the main character.

This is an emotional book, and I had a lump in my throat several times throughout. Amanda Prowse's writing is heartfelt, intimate and sincere - an author's note explains why the subject of this book is close to her own heart and her honesty, experience and understanding is palpable. Lucy's journey isn't smooth or predictable, it is human. Yet among the ups and downs lies a tender and heart-warming tale of family and acceptance. I won't be leaving it long before I do read some more of Amanda's books and will look out eagerly for future releases.

Lucy is a single and successful glass-ceiling-shatterer. Only it's not by choice. As glad as she is to have risen high in her profession, and as committed as she feels to helping other women achieve the same thing, what she wants more than anything is a baby. When she meets Jonah at somebody else's baby's christening and they hit it off, everything seems to be going in the right romantic direction for once, and when they get married a year later and Lucy immediately becomes pregnant, it seems like all her dreams have come true. Except that getting pregnant is not the same as having a baby.

Be warned: this is definitely a three-hanky tearjerker of a bittersweet story. Lucy's heartbreak over her repeated miscarriages is wrenching, perhaps especially so set against the backdrop of the professionally sympathetic but distant medical care she has to undergo (note that this is a British novel, so the decision for Lucy to have what is technically an "abortion" to evacuate the remains of the non-viable fetal tissue is a non-issue; it's handled promptly and automatically, with nary a protester/terrorist in sight. Which is fortunate, as Lucy is distraught enough). The fact that miscarriage is so common is hardly a comfort to Lucy: others come forward to tell her of their own lost pregnancies, but they eventually managed to carry a pregnancy to term, something she's increasingly afraid she'll be unable to do.

However, this is not just a weepy. While not as laugh-out-loud funny as Ben Elton's hilarious "Inconceivable," also about a couple dealing with infertility, "The Idea of You" is full of irony and gently pointed social commentary about the lot of modern professional women, not to mention the problems of motherhood. Even as she longs for a baby, Lucy is aware that she doesn't want to lose her career, something that would be entirely too possible, and her attempts to get along with her stepdaughter are initially fraught with failure. As much as Lucy wants to be a loving stepmum, she's also a neat-freak with a controlling streak, and is unwilling to face up to the inappropriateness of her own jealousy when her husband prioritizes his daughter over everyone else.

Just when things seem to be going smoothly, there are a couple of MAJOR plot turns that I won't reveal, but suffice to say that Lucy gets her happy ending, just not at all the one she was expecting. For all its potentially heavy subject matter, the book reads quickly, its plain prose style allowing Lucy to show through as an Everywoman (at least of a certain age and professional type) with simple, heartfelt emotions. While "The Idea of You" is not exactly Literature with a Capital L, it's an extremely readable and engaging story about a woman dealing with real-world heartbreak and still finding a lot to love and laugh about along the way.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Idea Of You by Amanda Prowse contains an intriguing beginning. Lucy considers herself an anomaly among her peers. She wants the unconditional love and support like others.Life has not turned out the way she planned. She then begins a new adventure to fulfill her desires and learns a great more. This story has great plot twists and a happy ending.

This book was absolutely stunning. The trials Lucy goes through are so common but still too taboo to talk about openly. The letter written through the book is so open and raw and the genuine heartbreak towards the end left me reeling. An absolutely amazing book that I would recommend time and time again.

Beautifully written in a way that is sympathetic to its content but also manages to bring some light and love to a terrible thing.

I wasn't sure during the first few pages I could finish this book as it felt very raw for me having also lost a baby. I'm glad I persevered.

It's a real heart warming read.