The Idea of You is carefully safe in my Kindle, on the nightstand next to me. I have just finished it and had to grab my laptop to throw all my feelings onto a page. I know I won’t be able to sleep if I don’t let go of all the emotions this story stirred in me.

I had requested my very first Amanda Prowse story a long time ago. The synopsis sounded different from my usual crime stories, the reviews promised a wonderful writing, I did not need anything more to jump in. Life got in the way and it’s only months later than I picked up my e-reader and dived in. Literally.

I read The Idea of You in one sitting. One painful, bittersweet, tender, amazing, powerful, tearful, hopeful, and fabulous sitting.

Motherhood feels like a lifetime away for me. Well, I do think about it. Society tells us a woman truly becomes one when she delivers what she was born to do: make sure humanity doesn’t end. No matter how much I disagree with this idea, I do feel the pressure of carrying the duty that falls upon us. At 27, I’m far behind on what is expected of me. According to magazines and talks, I should be in a relationship, have a job, and start a family in a nice house with white picked fences all around very soon. To hell with that.

Instead of playing with those absurd steps you’re supposed to take, the book offers a beautiful ode to motherhood in all its forms. The hardships to become a mother, the duties that comes with the reality of it, the concept of family.

I felt a connection to Lucy so very early on that it felt weird at first. In her forties and trying to conceive a baby, she couldn’t be further away from my own life. But her thoughts, her actions, her pain, they all tucked at my heartstrings so hard my body actually ached at times. Personal issues were picked at, and her story reminded me of my own fears and doubts. The flow of words -painted red, white, black – kindled all sorts of thoughts and reminded me how important it is not to imagine a future and stick to it, because life has its own way and you don’t get to choose sometimes. A lesson I needed to hear again, no matter how difficult it is to accept it.

The author’s subtle and spot-on writing hit me right in the guts, making me part of this family. I wished for a happy ending as if it were my own story I was reading.

“I am not depressed,” she whispered. “I am sad, and there’s a world of difference.”

Can we have it all? What does this “all” stands for? We all make plans and have hopes, but what happens when your longing for something overshadows what you already have? Second lesson learned: look around you and be thankful for what you have. Easier said than done? Maybe, but don’t we tend to forget it and crave for a seemingly greener land? The Idea of You is a realistic tale of what we can do, what is out of reach, how to come to terms with it without ever settling down for less than you deserve. In a beautiful and superb prose, Amanda Prowse puts words on scars, issues, love, and most of all, resilience.

The tears I shed surprised me at first, it was as though someone had opened my chest and left my heart in the open for everyone to see. I recognized the issues of blended families, of mother-daughter relationships, of expectations you have for yourself, and expectations others have for you. I let the warm tears flow and it felt like a relief. The Idea of You acts as a soothing blanket, it is a wonderful reminder you are not alone.

“I think I’m learning that maybe you don’t get everything in life, but you can be happy with the gifts you have.”

I can only recommend this story, no matter how many times I had to wipe away the tears falling on my Kindle’s screen. I feel stronger, happier, lighter. This is the first time a book held my hand and helped me when I thought I did not need any of it. I am sure The Idea of You can touch any of us, whether the subjects talk to us personally or not, because there’s so much to take from this story. I am thankful to have met Lucy, Jonah, and Camille. I am thankful for the unexpected discovery of my own heart. I will cherish The Idea of You for a long time.

The author has been crowned ‘queen of domestic drama’ by the Daily Mail. That should have been warning enough for me to walk swiftly away. I did persevere but this really isn’t my kind of book at all.

I’m sure there are readers out there who will really enjoy the story of Lucy, her longing for a child, her trials and tribulations with her stepdaughter, her husband and her mother but I couldn’t wait for the book to end.

Just not for me.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

This book had a lot of emotions throughout it and had me pulled in so many different directions. Lucy identified as a strong and independent character who has her whole world rocked every time she is pregnant. I adored her strength and determination in pursuing the relationship with her partner's daughter, Camille and can identify with a lot of the anxiety she experienced, trying to keep everyone happy. Another delightful book by Amanda Prowse who has become one of my favourite authors for 2017!

I feel this book has no particular depth. A lightweight read if pressed for time but might suit those who do not wish to be overloaded with anything deep and meaningful.

This is a heart wrenching family drama. I read this one after reading the art of hiding. Very emotional and touching.

A look at the heartache of miscarriage and the stress it puts on a marriage, The Idea of You isn't a bad book but the writing is a little stilted and distant. I certainly wouldn't recommend not reading it but I can't rave about it either. Additionally, I didn't like the husband in the book and didn't find him the least bit sympathetic. Still, I can see the appeal for some readers and might try another book by the same author sometime.

We don’t cry enough for the babies we lose (in early pregnancy). I certainly didn’t. For over 20 years I ignored them and then I went into a church and saw the lists of babies that had died in early childhood and it reminded me of the babies we had lost. And I cried. I felt so sad about those children who had not joined our family. And this book reminded me of those losses and I cried again not just for me, but for the central characters too. I empathised too much perhaps? This is a book that starts as a second chance romance and slowly becomes a story about the children we desire through our procreation imperative  which when not fulfilled drives so many into despair and depression. And yet there is a happy ending that is not the case for all. The author’s own experience gives this story that extra edge that rings of truth telling.

Genre: Fiction - Women's Fiction
Stand-Alone: Yes
Part of a Series: No
POV: Lucy
Steam Level: Minimal
2.5/5

I received The Idea of You as an auto-approval from NetGalley some time back. And while it didn't really seem appealing I decided to give it a chance. Mostly because after attempting to read another of the author's books I saw how well written it was but not caring for the characters in that book I stopped the previous book. My experience of this book was about the same. Although, well-written I didn't much care for Lucy. I got tired of her not speaking up for herself or becoming upset at people not saying what she wanted them to say.

While the mystery that started in the beginning was interesting, it wasn't all that surprising and I figured it out before the big reveal. Although I did kind of like how the author dealt with the aftermath and the results.

The most frustrating aspect of this book though is that it felt long and drawn out. It was as if I was an observer on a normal, boring life. At 60% it still felt like NOTHING HAPPENED, like we were in the same spot as we were at 20% It didn't start moving until 75/80% and even then it was slow.

Although this isn't really a book I cared for that much I did finish it and only wanted to throw my kindle a few times (which is why I gave it 2.5/5). If you're looking for an emotional read featuring family life then The Idea of You would be a good read.

I received this book for free from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The story had great potential but didn't live up to it, I found it hard to connect with the characters in the story and honestly at times I wondered when it was going to be over.

Well written and intriguing story. A bit slow going in parts.

The Idea of You does a great job of showing the pain a woman experiences after a miscarriage, as well as how it affects those around her. While some sections of this book were very powerful, there were places that seemed to drag on unnecessarily. The main character had an amazing backstory, but it was doled out in tiny snippets until the whole story was randomly blurted out toward the end. I would have liked to see more time spent establishing a strong narrative for her backstory in place of some of the repetitive events of her current life and storyline.

A thought provoking read. Tugs at the heart strings somewhat. Many twists and turns which I love in a book. This was a great read.

I was unable to get into this book and therefore unable to finish it to provide a proper review unfortunately.

Trying to conceive is an emotional upheaval for any woman. Miscarriages can make or break a relationship and although hard on the man, is harder for the woman. I know from personal experience and this is why this book hit me so hard. Lucy is human, and is portrayed so realistically in that she makes her mistakes and is far from perfect. She's someone I would be friends with. Jonah, while can be unlikable in how he handled some situations, also comes across as someone real - you just never know exactly how you'll react to any type of situation. There's no wrong or right in how someone should feel about something so personal.

Absolutely raw and emotional. I found it hard to read at times due to my own issues and applaud the author for sharing hers as well. Bring the tissues, people.. you're gonna need them.

I requested the idea of you because I wanted to branch out into some new genres. This book, however, just wasn't my cup of tea. The plot was a little one-dimensional but has some merit if you can identify with it. I couldn't as I do not have children and have not personally experienced the hardships that Lucy and Jonah have. I can’t imagine how it must feel to experience that pain and I don’t wish it on anyone. Putting that aside, however, I found Lucy to be quite flat as a character as she wasn't that relatable. Her near-obsessive desire to find a man was really off-putting as most women are not like that at all. At times I just want to hit her and scream get some self-respect. Despite this, I did like Camille and appreciated the growth of Lucy and Camille’s relationship.

While this book wasn't my cup of tea I didn't find that the story was very well written and fairly easy to read, so if you enjoy this kind of novel I'd highly recommend it but for me, it just wasn't right.

A very emotional, and heart wrenching story about a woman's struggle to become a mother.
Beautifully written about a painful and difficult subject, Amanda has done it honestly but sensitively.
A thoroughly good read, a tearjerker that also has you smiling.

MANY THANKS TO AMANDA PROWSE FOR PROVIDING A COPY OF THIS NOVEL ON WHICH I CHOSE TO WRITE AN HONEST REVIEW

Repetitive, boring and way too long. Story focuses on one woman's obsession with having a baby and being a mother. Not my cup of tea. Had to force myself to finish.

I have enjoyed Amanda Prowse books before and this one did not disappoint. It is an easy but emotional read. As a mother I could identify with the main character Lucy. She is a modern woman who is desperate to have a baby. She meets Jonah, marries him and you think all her dreams will come true. The story then unfolds to show that dreams are not always fulfilled....

A book I didn't like to start with at all, I was expecting it to be predictable, but guess what... it wasn't and I was wrong!

Lucy Carpenter is a single woman of 39. She has a fabulous career and someone to appears to have it all. But as you know, those who have everything seemingly have nothing and Lucy is desperately unhappy. ALl she wants is a man by her side. When she goes to events, weddings and christenings she is alone as those around her have embarked on coupledom, thus leaving Lucy, wondering what is wrong with her.

Then....Finally, while at a christening for her co-worker’s baby, she meets one and he goes by the name of Jonah Carpenter. Described by the author as being the man of her dreams, everything she has ever wanted and he well and truly sweeps her off her feet. After a whirlwind courtship they marry a mere few months later and then, yep you guessed it, Lucy gets pregnant and is ecstatic. That is where the fairytale life ends and life, with Jonah by her side, is anything but perfect and nothing goes as planned.

Definitely enjoyed this book. Not fast paced but was easy and interesting