This article was written by The Zillennial Zine’s spring editorial intern Mia Aponte. Find her on Instagram at @mia.aponte. If you would like to share an article with The Zillennial, send us an email at thezillennialzine@gmail.com.
After anticipation for months, the ‘Idea of You’ movie has officially been released on Prime Video. Starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine playing Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother, unexpectedly finds herself swept into a passionate romance with Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), a 24-year-old heartthrob who happens to be the lead vocalist of August Moon, the world’s most renowned boy band. The story begins when Solène, accompanying her teenage daughter to the Coachella Music Festival after her ex cancels plans abruptly, crosses paths with Hayes in a serendipitous encounter that sparks an instant and undeniable connection between them.
As their romance blossoms into a whirlwind affair, Solène and Hayes are swiftly confronted with the challenges that arise from Hayes’ status as a superstar. Solène soon realizes that navigating life in the glaring spotlight of Hayes’ fame presents unforeseen obstacles to their relationship. The allure of Hayes’ celebrity lifestyle comes with its own set of demands and pressures, testing the boundaries of their newfound love.
Caught in the whirlwind of paparazzi attention and the demands of Hayes’ career, Solène must grapple with the realization that her romance with Hayes may come at a price she hadn’t anticipated. Balancing the allure of newfound love with the realities of fame and public scrutiny, Solène finds herself navigating uncharted territory as she seeks to preserve the authenticity of their connection amidst the glitz and glamor of Hayes’ world.
As the story unfolds, Solène must confront the complexities of dating a global superstar while also juggling her responsibilities as a mother and navigating her own desires and aspirations. Will their love withstand the pressures of fame and fortune, or will the realities of Hayes’ celebrity lifestyle prove to be too much for their relationship to endure?
In this tale of unexpected love and the challenges of fame, Solène and Hayes must confront their own vulnerabilities and insecurities as they navigate the turbulent waters of romance amidst the glare of the spotlight.
Just to let you know there will be some spoilers ahead. As the public outcry begins to impact Solène’s daughter, Izzy (portrayed by Ella Rubin), at school, they jointly decide to end their romance. However, in the final moments of the Prime Video film, a leap forward in time reveals Hayes unexpectedly reappearing in Solène’s gallery five years after their separation. Eager to rekindle their connection, especially now that they are both older and Izzy is in college, Hayes proposes to pick up where they left off. The premise suggests that a 29-year-old Hayes engaging in a relationship with a 44-year-old woman is viewed with less controversy than when he was 24 and she was 39, reducing the risk of societal judgment.
However, to many fans that have read the book, you may know the story steers away from that happy ending.
Robinne Lee’s novel concludes with Hayes being depicted as 20, not yet reaching the legal drinking age in America. Similarly, Solène is portrayed as 39, mirroring the movie. When Izzy faces torment from her peers due to her mother’s relationship, Solène makes the difficult choice to end it. She expresses to Hayes, “I can’t do this to Isabelle. I can’t do this to myself. I can’t follow you around the world. I’m not twenty. I have a career and I have a kid and I have responsibilities. And I have other people who need me.” The novel concludes with Hayes advocating for their relationship to endure, while Solène, in a desperate attempt to sever ties, inflicts emotional harm upon him.
Overall, I personally think that the book’s ending is rather a bit more realistic and emphasizes that not every story will have a happy ending. With societal expectations with age gaps, I think rather being realistic than romanticizing really puts this standard into question when it comes to women that are older than men in relationships.
So what are your thoughts on the The Idea of You book ending? Let us know in the comments down below!
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