Do you want to read books like The Idea Of You? The Idea of You by Robinne Lee is a romance fiction book. It follows a woman named Solène. She’s 39 years old and gets roped into taking her 12-year-old daughter to a meet and greet for this boy band that she’s a massive fan of. So she takes her daughter and her two friends, and they fly to Vegas to go to this concert and meet and greet. While they’re there, she meets all of the band members.
There are five of them, and one of them is Hayes. He’s 20, so there is a 19-year age gap between them. But they go through the meet and greet, go to the concert, and get invited backstage afterward to an after-party. While there, Hayes starts talking to Sola, getting to know her, and learning about her. So he finds out that she owns an art gallery in L.A. He wants to see her again, so he tells her he’ll contact her next time.
Books like “The Idea of You” focus deeply on emotional and psychological states, allowing you to explore complex feelings, relationships, and social dynamics. They offer insight into the human experience, which many of you find valuable.
10 Books Like The Idea Of You (Adventurous Romance)
The Idea Of You gives you an age-gap relationship. The main character, Solène, knows Hayes is young, but she agrees to meet him anyway, and they have lunch together. It’s casual between them. There’s a little bit of flirting. You can tell they like each other, but they don’t do anything about it.
So they agree to meet again at another time because they both have hectic lives. Solène is even keeping it a secret from her daughter, which is a huge deal because she is a massive fan of this band. The unrealistic part was how they met and how their relationship started. I will discuss ten fictional romance books similar to The Idea Of You. Let’s go!
1. The Soulmate Equation
The Soulmate Equation takes a lighthearted approach, turning into a fun, fast-paced romance. It follows a single mother named Jess, a freelance dietitian. She is not looking for love in her life. She has a seven-year-old daughter. When she’s not working, she wants to spend time with her daughter and her grandparents, who live across the street.
However, one day, Jess and her friend go to a new company developing an app to find compatible matches based on DNA. Her friend bought her this kit to be one of the first tested for this compatibility rating. She takes it home and eventually decides to take a swab because it’s done through a swab and send it in after one day when she feels especially lonely.
Quickly, Jess learns that this will change her life because when she turns in that swab, she turns on at a whim. She discovers she is matched at the highest level with the app’s leading geneticist and founder. However, it’s a bit complicated because she has already met these founders many times at their local coffee shop, and she does not initially have a great impression of who he is. So with that, you get a light enemies to lovers vibe in this book like The Idea Of You.
Author: Christina Lauren
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Women’s Humorous Fiction & Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
2. Float Plan
This book is about Anna, and she’s suffering from the loss of her fiance, who has passed away. She’s trying to deal with it but can’t pull herself out of this spiral. One day, a reminder goes on her phone, and she realizes she and her boyfriend were supposed to take this trip on their sailboat. They had been planning it for a long time, and she had completely forgotten it in her grief.
After all, Anna misses Ben, and they had spent so many hours planning where they would go, the stops they would make. They spent so many hours dreaming about it. She decides she will honor Ben by going on that trip and trying to continue to heal from the well of grief she’s fallen into. So Anna sets off on the sailboat alone.
The first night she’s out there, something breaks. She gets stressed out. It’s super scary for her, so she decides she needs help. She finds Keane, a sailor looking for work, and hires him. So they start sailing together. Keane is also dealing with his future changing. He’s had a terrible accident that left him incapacitated, and now that he’s back at work, no one wants to hire him because of his injury. They would get off on different islands and have some adventures, but mostly, it’s a lot about dealing with grief. You must try it if you like The Idea Of You.
Author: Trish Doller
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Romance & Adventure Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
3. One True Loves
There’s the main character, Emma Blair. She marries her high school sweetheart. They moved to California to travel a lot and be spontaneous because she grew in a small town. Her family owns a bookstore. She never wanted to be a part of it, so she loves her life with her husband. Living in California traveling around the world is perfect.
Her husband leaves for an assignment one day, and this helicopter goes down. His body is never found, and he is presumed dead. A few years later, Emma has moved on from her husband. She has found love again. She is engaged to be married, and she is happy again. So, this book will take you on an emotional roller coaster. As you can expect, it does have Pearl Harbor vibes like The Idea Of You.
Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Average Rating: 4.4/5
Category: Contemporary Romance Fiction
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Library Binding | Kindle | Audio CD
4. Layla
This is a paranormal romance that deals with ghosts. There’s a ghost in the house, and it’s not a scary ghost. Leeds is our hero, and we are in his perspective the entire time. Leeds and Layla meet initially and fall in love at first sight. They’re obsessed with each other, and their relationship goes from there. Then something happens, and they go to a bed and breakfast that is up for sale, so they’re the only ones there.
They fall for each other right away, and there’s not a lot of depth to either of the characters that match with The Idea Of You. Layla is a free-spirit girl, and Leeds is totally into her. Colleen Hoover is very well known for her twists and crazy plot twists and how things are interwoven and connected. However, this may be the book for you if you are into cheesy romances and vengeful ghosts.
Author: Colleen Hoover
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Romantic Suspense
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
5. Golden Girl
The main character is Vivian Howe, who gets hit while jogging at the beginning of the book and dies. So she goes to the great beyond, and Martha is there to meet her. Martha is her person, and Martha has a strong affinity, and throughout the book, she wears them in different ways. Then there’s a story behind that.
Chief Ed Cap and Shaw investigate her death from the beyond. Vivi watches, but her greatest worry is her final book. It contains a secret from her youth that could ruin her reputation when hidden truths come to light. Vivi’s family will have to sort out their past and present mistakes with or without a nudge from above.
While Vivi finally gets them to grow, she lets them grow without her. So we have a lot of people in this book. Each chapter was a different person’s point of view, and there were many people to keep track of, similar to The Idea Of You.
Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Women’s Domestic Life Fiction & Relationship
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
6. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
“Me Before You” is an emotionally charged novel focusing on the complexities of love, choices, and the moral ambiguity surrounding the right to live or die. This story of a young caregiver, Louisa, who comes into the life of Will, a quadriplegic, shares thematic resonance with “The Idea of You.” Both books tackle unconventional love stories with serious undertones.
Moyes skillfully avoids clichés, offering a nuanced portrayal of complex, relatable characters whose decisions leave a lasting impression. The age difference, social issues, and ethical questions make it a thought-provoking read that provokes meaningful conversations.
7. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends with Us” takes readers on a roller coaster of emotions. It dissects a romantic relationship tainted by abuse. Similar to “The Idea of You,” it presents a love story that isn’t just about romance but also addresses the hard choices that come with it.
The narrative invites readers to sympathize with all the characters involved, complicating the notion of right and wrong. Hoover’s storytelling is so effective it will leave you questioning your convictions about love and relationships.
8. Normal People by Sally Rooney
Sally Rooney’s “Normal People” covers the intricate relationship between Connell and Marianne. They face friendship, love, and their inner demons. Like “The Idea of You,” “Normal People” challenges societal norms about relationships and makes readers question conventional wisdom about love.
The book’s strength lies in its deep portrayal of the main characters, whose intellectual and emotional depths are explored through Rooney’s sharp prose. A book for anyone interested in complex characters and relationships.
9. After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “After I Do” explores what happens to love after the honeymoon phase is over. Similar to “The Idea of You,” this novel features long-term relationships’ emotional and psychological complexities. Reid skillfully explores the concept of love as a choice, inviting readers to join her characters on their journey of self-discovery and renewed passion. The layered story and evolving relationships make it a compelling read.
10. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
While not directly in the romance genre, “The Nightingale” explores love during war. This historical novel deviates from “The Idea of You” but shares the intensity and emotional gravitas. Kristin Hannah plunges deep into the lives of two sisters living in France during World War II, each choosing a different resistance path. The love stories woven into the narrative are not just romantic but also familial and platonic, giving a multidimensional view of love in extreme conditions.
These books introduce you to settings, cultures, lifestyles, and emotional realities they may not have previously considered, broadening their horizons and increasing their empathy for others. They offer various angles on love, choices, and relationship complexities.
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