Love, she said was not always perfect, and not exactly how you expected it to be. But when it descended upon you, there was no controlling it.
It has been a while since I have been completely taken in by a story, devoured every word, felt every emotion, and was left with an immense book hangover. A story filled with love, heartbreak, and a challenging yet passionate relationship between Solene and Hayes.
Solene is a smart, sophisticated, sexy, 39-year-old mother who owns an art gallery in Los Angeles. Since her divorce, she has wanted to nurture a close relationship with her 12-year-old daughter Isabelle.
Solene reluctantly agrees to take Isabelle to meet her daughter’s favorite boy band, ‘August Moon’.
There Solene meets the lead singer of the band, Hayes Campbell.
Hayes is witty, talented, confident, and gorgeous. He is also 20 years old.
What started as a one-off lunch and a series of clandestine trysts quickly blossomed into the most passionate and genuine relationships between the two. Hayes is world famous and his life revolves around world tours, obsessed fans, and the media trying to catch a glimpse of his private life. As their relationship grows, Solene questions how to navigate their worlds together.
Solene and Hayes’s relationship soon becomes public and there is media sensation about their every move and scrutiny about their age difference. Solene realizes that her relationship with Hayes affects her daughter Isabelle and is forced to question everything that has made her happy.
I think what made this story for me, was Solene and how this relationship was so much more than just a romance for her. Being with Hayes, helped her rediscover the meaning of love, happiness, and what it means to be desired. For her, it was also her journey of self-discovery which, at her age can be oddly fulfilling.
I will admit, that Hayes’s character took me by surprise. For a 20-year-old lead singer of a boy band, he was surprisingly mature which was a breath of fresh air. He was relaxed in complex moments and seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. Hayes is clever, flirts just enough to keep you on the edge, and knows what he is doing. Hayes is essentially your perfect book boyfriend!
I first read this book on audio, and I did not want it to end. There were multiple parts I listened to again because they were that good. Robin Lee as a narrator was beyond phenomenal and I felt I was there with the characters, in their every moment, and experiencing every emotion with them.
The way Hayes said Solene’s name and every time he said ‘hi’ to her, pulled at my heartstrings. It was mesmerizing. I could not get over it for the longest time. I urge you to listen to this on audio!
My library hold finally came through some weeks after, and I reread this book. I haven’t watched the TV adaptation that stars Anne Hathaway, and I am extremely hesitant to watch it because of how much I have adored this book.
This quote from the book captures a crucial part of any new relationship especially the start of Solene and Hayes’s relationship. Is it the person that you love or is it the idea of having that person in your life that makes you feel special?
“I’m saying it because I love you”.
He was quiet. Weighing the moment. And then he smiled wide. “What took you so long?”
I laughed. “I was just making sure it was you, and not the idea of you”.
There has been a lot of discussion between readers on whether a romance between a 39-year-old woman and a 20-year-old guy can withstand the test of time and societal scrutiny.
What do you think?
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Stumbled upon the movie on OTT and I loved it soo much. Anne Hathaway is always brilliant, but the guy lead too and their chemistry ! 😍 Felt all those feelings that you described here about the book. Love audio books and definitely putting in this audio TBR list!