Somehow, I started this book and the next time I looked up, I was halfway through and totally hooked! A moving and interesting story of Lucy. Im glad the ending was a happy one yet not the one I was expecting. Another Great novel from Amanda prowse!!

Lucy Carpenters 40th birthday is approaching and she hopes she will finally have it all. A wonderful new husband, Jonah. She has a successful career and she now has a chance of a baby of her own. But the reality of becoming parents proves to be to much harder than they imagined.

This is a really I optional read. The characters are believable. Amanda Prowse has a writing skill that pulls you in within the first chapter. This book will leave you an emotional wreck. I do recommend this book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author Amanda Prowse for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jonah & Lucy Carpenter are very happy with their life together and look forward to having a baby of their own but it does not seem to be what life has in store for them. Jonah has a daughter from another marriage who comes to stay with them at sixteen. Does Lucy have to be a birth mother to be a good mother? Events in their life brings her to be able to see where she can find her place that will make her happy with her life and f realize how needed she is to both her husband and step-daughter.

I would like to thank Amanda Prowse, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for sending me this book for my honest review.
Review By Stephanie
4.5 Stars
I got an email from Lake Union with this amazing book, I read the description and was hooked! I wanted this book to be as good as the description…..and it was! 
The Idea of You is a gut wrenching, emotional roller coaster yet beautifully written novel about love and loss and motherhood. As a mother I must say…..have a couple boxes of tissues handy you will need it! 
Jonah and Lucy live the perfect life; they are deeply in love so it was an easy discussion to start a family. But sadly growing their family wasn’t as easy as they hoped. Then Camille comes to stay with her father and Lucy for an extended holiday. Camille instantly hates Lucy for no reason..well I guess the reason is she isn’t her mother. 
The Idea of You was amazing! It takes you on a journey of this marriage while it is dealing with things that make you wonder if love is enough to keep these two together. Jonah and Lucy are an amazing couple, they are just so relatable and this makes you root for them throughout the book! I look forward to reading more from Amanda!

With her fortieth birthday approaching, Lucy Carpenter thinks 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 becoming parents proves much harder to achieve than Lucy and Jonah imagined, and when Jonah’s teenage daughter Camille comes to stay with them, she becomes a constant reminder of what Lucy doesn’t have. Jonah’s love and support are unquestioning, but Lucy’s struggles with work and her own failing dreams begin to take their toll. With Camille’s presence straining the bonds of Lucy’s marriage even further, Lucy suddenly feels herself close to losing everything…

This heart-wrenchingly poignant family drama from bestselling author Amanda Prowse asks the question: in today’s hectic world, what does it mean to be a mother?

My Thoughts: In an opening prologue, we are swept back to Lucy’s past and an event that will hover over everything that happens to her afterwards. The event is somewhat ambiguous, and we don’t learn all the details until later.

I felt such sadness for all of Lucy’s dreams that are lost, one by one, and also for the unfortunate timing of her stepdaughter Camille’s arrival. Camille is often rude and volatile, but then, just as we decide to hate her, she turns on a dime and becomes appealing and vulnerable.

What will happen when Camille faces her own troublesome crossroads, needing support from parental figures, and Lucy is in a position to offer a unique brand of assistance? How will Lucy’s revelations impact her own marriage? Will Lucy’s secret past open up the lines of communication with her mother?

Set in and near London, The Idea of You gripped my emotions from the beginning, as I rooted for Lucy and Jonah, and then for Camille, as they each hoped and dreamed for a cozy and happy life.

The characters felt like real people, all of whom I wanted to know. A 5 star read, and recommended for those who enjoy family drama, with plenty of issues to address.
***My e-ARC came from the publisher via NetGalley.

I read the Idea of You in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. It tugged at my heart, made me both laugh and cry, and left me completely satisfied at the end. This is a book I want to share with girlfriends.

If the description had been clearer, I would have known that this book would not be for me and would never have read it. From the description it sounds like a story about a woman struggling to balance work, marriage and kids. This is where I am in life. I was very excited to read it. Instead I get a story of a childless early 40's career woman who, recently married to a divorced man, has miscarriage after miscarriage, has very unrealistic expectations of her relationship with her teen stepdaughter she is just meeting, and acts like a child herself a great deal of the time. The description should be changed to give potential readers a better idea of what the book is really about.

A heart rending, cathartic read for anyone who has personal experience with miscarriage. Lucy dreams and plans for a baby to have her dream deferred each time. True to life, each miscarriage becomes harder for Lucy because she can't express her grief for a pregnancy she's never revealed. Each pregnancy loss becomes a stigma as joy becomes less for each plus sign that she fears to share and the heartbreak from the first sign of red. Life continues, people talk about pregnancies and parenting woes as women become defined by their maternal status. So heartbreakingly real, I would read for a while and take a breather to keep from dealing with my own tears and loss. I was relieved for Lucy's happy ending and the high note the book ended on as the book after also dealing the stigma of teenage pregnancy. A good read that will make you judge your words to female friends about motherhood and what secret battle each woman may be facing on her own. My voluntary review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

This book is so different to what I would usually read, but I'm so glad I did! The story was gentle but filled with emotion, and I found myself in tears more than once. I was there every step of the way with Lucy as she dealt with the struggle of coping with so many different aspects of her life.

Beautifully written. Worthy of five stars.

An emotional examination of miscarriage, motherhood and complicated relationships - with a few sticking-points.

I'd heard of Amanda Prowse prior to reading this, but didn't really know what to expect vis-a-vis style or subject-matter. A glimpse at the blurb enticed me enough to take the plunge, and at the end of the book, I was left with very mixed feelings.

The Idea of You follows Lucy, a career woman who is desperate for a baby. This is established right at the start, at a baby's Christening, where she meets her future husband Jonah, who proposes to her on the day. The first half of the book focuses on Lucy's miscarriages, the latter half on her relationship with her stepdaughter Camille, and also her own family (particularly her mother). 

So, this is a book about relationships, then. And there's nothing wrong with that. I found Prowse's exploration of the stepmother / stepdaughter relationship particularly interesting - and she captured the awkwardness, intensity and occasional hostility very well. There were also moments of genuine emotional turmoil - the author is clearly gifted when it comes to portraying raw, visceral emotions, which she does to great effect.

However (yes, there is a however, I'm afraid!) - there were aspects of the book that I found problematic. I bristled at the underlying sentiment that a woman needs a man / baby in order to have a fulfilled life. I also found the protagonist's attitude to miscarriage a little bemusing at times. I simply couldn't imagine how a pregnant woman could be unaware of the possibility of miscarriage, to the point where they started knitting baby clothes when they were only 8 weeks gone? It didn't quite add up for me. Additionally, the introduction of the 'secret' baby didn't feel very authentic - it probably needed to be seeded in far earlier in the book. 

Not to mention the fact that I found the character of Lucy to be a bit of a flake. Her husband Jonah came across as fairly patronising (talking down to the 'little woman' at times, you know the sort of thing) - though I'm pretty sure this was unintentional. Perhaps it was just my interpretation. And the end of the book? I'd imagine some might find it poignant. I myself felt that it was a little bit sickly. 

In fairness to the author, I'm probably not her target-market - and the number of rave reviews proves that she offers something of value to her readership. I'd also like it to be known that this book did make me think long and hard about some important issues -and books that make you think are no bad thing. 

I'm aware this review comes across as a bit negative - just to emphasise, if emotional reads are your kind of thing, you'll probably like this. I'd still be interested in reading more of Prowse's works - she can clearly write, just perhaps not the sort of thing that floats my personal boat.

marry her cousin.  She is sad because she wants a baby so much and feels that now she will never have one.  A successful business woman, Lucy would trade it all to be a Mum.  Right now, she is attending the christening of a friend’s baby when she meets a chatty guy named Jonah Carpenter who starts to come on to her.

Two years later and Lucy and Jonah are celebrating their wedding anniversary and waiting for their baby to be born.  Jonah is sure that Lucy won’t want to return to her job no matter how much she says otherwise.  But their joy turns to sadness when Lucy loses the baby.  Her grief is enormous.

As the weeks go by, Lucy endures the worry of whether or not she will ever be able to keep a baby to full term.  Having learned knitting from her grandmother, she enjoys making beautiful baby clothes and hoping to see her baby wear them one day.

When Camille, Jonah’s teenager daughter, comes from France to live with them in the UK, things get a bit difficult as Camilla appears to only want her father around and not Lucy.  Lucy tries hard to friend Camille but it’s not easy.  In the meantime, she has her own heartache trying to become a mother.

The story follows the family as they learn to adjust as a family.  But when Camille surprises them with some news, many things change.

This is a very good but heart-wrenching story guaranteed to grab the reader and keep them enthralled.

Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This isn't my kind of book so I'm not reviewing it. It arrived on my shelf as an auto-approved book but I wouldn't have chosen it to read otherwise.

Surprisingly, this was my first time reading Amanda Prowse and The Idea of You was absolutely wonderful. Lucy is at the ceremony where her Godson is being christened when she meets the handsome and witty Jonah. The two fall in love quickly, get married and our extremely happy – except that Lucy wants to have a baby. The novel follows along as they balance their marriage, trying to have a baby, their careers, and an extended visit from Jonah’s teenage daughter, Camille. Lucy must deal with her past and her feelings as the three become a family and several big changes come along. 

When I first started reading this novel I wasn’t super into it because it seemed like Lucy was just whiny about being almost 40 with no husband or babies – however, things quickly shifted and she became a very likable character. I loved Jonah also, and especially how happy and in love they were. Camille was a typical defiant teenager with an attitude upon arriving to visit with Jonah and Lucy and I struggled liking or empathizing with her, but once she let down her walls, I fell in love with her. I didn’t always agree with Jonah’s tolerance of Camille’s smart-mouth and behavior, however, I tried to remind myself of how rarely he got to spend time with her and that he was just trying to keep the peace in the household. 

*Warning that this novel does address the topic of miscarriages and could be a trigger to some readers, but that’s just a part of this complex novel. Lucy and Jonah want a baby so badly and they have heartbreak after heartbreak in the process. Lucy is haunted by an occurrence from her teen years that caused a strained relationship with her mother, as well as, a lifetime of guilt and sadness for Lucy. Then there is Camille having her own struggles with her mother, issues with her stepmom, and experiencing the join and pain of a first love.

The Idea of You perfectly portrays an “imperfect” family and all of the ups and downs they experience, with relatable characters and situations. As soon as I was through the first chapter, I was completely hooked and did nothing else until I had read the last word (except get up to get tissues).  Speaking of which, holy hankies I have never cried so much during a book in my life! I have read things that prompted a tear or two, but this was full-blown tears streaming down my face and several times I was practically sobbing. Despite the boohooing and nose-blowing, I found this to be an engaging and moving novel. It made me feel grateful for the family that I have and reminded me that not everything we want is meant to be – but we still need to find and embrace joy in our lives. I highly recommend this beautiful novel to lovers of women’s fiction, but do not apply make-up before reading and honestly, try to read it at home so you don’t frighten people in public with your crying!

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very compelling read about Lucy and the journey she goes through while yearning for motherhood. Being a mom I can imagine how she felt seeing other people have babies yet being unable to have one. Big secret revealed about 3/4 through the book was certainly a shake-up! I would've liked to know a bit more about her ex Richard, and the way Jonah suddenly just made up when they had a big fight was a little hard to believe, but otherwise the story was gripping and really drew you in.

I was interested as soon as I read the Prologue! A heart wrenching look at motherhood, miscarriages and having it all.

Lucy has it all. Great career. Great apartment. Great wardrobe. But the one thing Lucy wants is a baby. And time is running out, when she meets and marries Jonah.

As they try time and again to have a baby, it is just hearbreaking.

As Lucy struggles with miscarriages and with the strain on them as a couple she hopes that she and Jonah have a strong love that can withstand the pain, frustration and feelings of failure she deals with.

As Jonah's teenaged daughter comes to stay, things get tense. She isn't nice to Lucy and as hard as Lucy tries, she can't get through.

I did enjoy the questions that arose on having it all.

Always a pleasure to read Amanda's books! Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Lake Union Publishing!

A heartwarming and very upsetting novel - very raw, and I imagine for those readers with children, a very close to the bone novel.
Amanda writes each word and wrings out those emotions and tears with each and every one. It's a difficult novel to read and I found myself welling up on more than one occasion. Miscarriage, the desire to have a child  - powerful and extremely difficult to go through for any one but this novel really shines the light on the wealth of emotions. It's a novel to hug, think about and then go hug your children and remember that a battle to have a child, to keep a child is a battle for everyone involved.

4.5 Stars!

I really enjoyed The Idea of You by Amanda Prowse, because the realistic struggle with infertility that she presents is quite accurate. The main character has the new challenge of step-motherhood, in addition to the continued pressures of a successful, high-stress career. The mysterious prologue is what peeked my curiosity, and drew me into this powerful read. I recommend keeping a box of tissues handy, because sobbing during almost each and every chapter is inescapable.

Lucy Carpenter's prince charming did not surface until she was in her late thirties. She fell madly in love with Jonah, which led to a quick, private wedding ceremony, and a happily ever after that she never thought possible. Lucy and Jonah want to have a baby, however, their successful conceptions have always led to miscarriage.  The strain on their marriage is heartfelt, however, the deep love they share pulls them through time and time again.

Jonah's 16-year-old daughter Camille comes to live with them during her summer break.  She is quite a handful and she does not treat Lucy with respect or kindness, even though Lucy goes out of her way to make Camille feel comfortable. Their new normal only contributes to the unhappiness and sadness that Lucy is living through. Overtime, Lucy and Camille are able to bond, and a secret from Lucy's past is the catalyst to their newfound relationship.

This is an emotional and heartrending novel. Only a few books have ever caused me to be contemplative and overwhelmingly raw, and The Idea of You is one of those books. Don't pass up this well-written narrative.

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I usually read crime thrillers but occasionally like a change and this book was a really good read.. A novel about love., loss and regret has you gripped from the start until the finish and I would definitely recommend this book.