This novel is a ‘what-if’ romance drama which is pretty saucy but also kind of icky; I’ll explain why shortly. I did like the ‘idea’ of The Idea of You but I felt it had a lot of flaws.

The story is narrated by 39-year-old Solène, divorced and a co-owner of a fancy art gallery in Los Angeles. When she takes her 12-year-old daughter Isabelle to a concert, she meets Hayes Campell, a singer in the posh English boyband August Moon. So begins a summer fling between Solène and Hayes, which they try to keep secret; there are nearly two decades between them, the fans are crazy and jealous, and it’s embarrassing that she’s dating a guy from her daughter’s favourite band. But as the fling becomes something more, Solène may have to choose between a relationship that some consider inappropriate, and the wellbeing of herself, her family and friends.

Hayes, the boyband singer, is 20. We are reminded of this every chapter. In principle there is no reason to criticise the age gap, but Solène’s infatuation with the features that made Hayes (he’s 20, did you know?) more of a boy than a man was weird and almost incestuous, as he was like the son she never had. Maybe she was actually supposed to be grasping at youth, worried about ageing and losing her attractiveness, but it just came across as unsavoury. Often they would be talking about the tweenage fans, right before yet another bedroom session, and that again was distasteful.

In a way, the book is a fantasy, but the reality gradually creeps in and there’s only one way it can end between Hayes (he’s only 20!) and Solène. There were some apt points made about celebrity and the harshness of society’s views towards older women with younger men. I liked the dialogue, which was smart and fun. The worst element for me was not the leaves-nothing-to-the-imagination erotica (even though the word ‘groin’ was used, shudder), not even the pretentious descriptions of astronomically-priced contemporary art, but the completely boring obsession with designer brands. The characters are all incredibly wealthy and that’s apparently a good thing. I didn’t find the book glamorous, I thought it revelled in elitism.

If you love the pop star Harry Styles or un-royal Prince Harry, you will probably love Hayes (oh my God, he’s 20!) as apparently the author based the character on them. He is marginally more likeable than Solène.

Not recommended… but I know there are many rave reviews so give the book a try, you might love it.

First published in the US, 2017. Published in the UK, 2021.