The Idea of You Author Robinne Lee Has Eyebrow-Raising Reaction to Movie's Ending - E! Online

Robinne Lee had a slightly different idea of the story she was trying to tell.

The Idea of You author shared her reaction to the novel's movie adaptation starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine—which is now streaming on Amazon Prime—and she has some thoughts on how the film changed the book's ending.

The Idea of You follows 40-year-old art gallery owner Solène who starts a relationship with 20-year-old boy bander Hayes Campbell. And while the duo have a true love connection, the book ends with Solène choosing to end the relationship because it was negatively affecting her teenage daughter and her art gallery business.

However, the film offers a new ending, with a short epilogue set five years later showing that Solène and Hayes do indeed get back together.

"That's not the story I wanted to tell," Robinne told Entertainment Weekly in an interview published May 3. "I wanted to make a point about how, as women, we put others' happiness before our own." 

And while she was not involved in the adaption—which was written by Michael Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt—she does understand why certain aspects of the book, including the ending, were changed.

Manoli Figetakis/WireImage

"The book is a book, and the movie is a movie," she said. "You have to step away and let the filmmakers do what they're going to do and not get too concerned with what it is you've created and when it stops because it's a completely different medium."

And when it comes to the new ending, Robinne understands that movie viewers often have trouble with films that end on a sad note.

"It's America—Hollywood's going to do what they're going to do, and they're going to throw a happy ending on everything," she said. "I don't know why. You hope they'll keep to what you've written because it meant something to you, but you also have to think about the box office and viewers and what their audience is going to want to see."

On the other hand, Robinne—who has also acted in films like Fifty Shades Darker and Seven Pounds—pointed out that a film like Titanic, which has a famously sad ending, did well with viewers. In fact, she went to see the film in theaters four times because she wanted to cry, adding, "Crying makes me feel like I'm alive."

And while she isn't opposed to revisiting her beloved characters in the future, she's not totally sold on the idea for Solène and Hayes just yet, saying, "Maybe years down the line, I'll go back, and I'll give them more time together. But we'll see."

Amazon MGM Studios

Another change made to the film was the decision to age up Hayes from 20 to 24, something Robinne also takes issue with.

"I had to make it feel a little unsafe," she explained. "I wasn't going to make him illegal, but I wanted it to raise eyebrows. I felt like 24 was playing it too safe." (The actor, Nicholas, is currently 29 years old).

One burning question Robinne did not address is whether the character of Hayes Campbell is based at all on One Direction alum Harry Styles. But as Anne emphatically told E! News recently, "No! Everyone needs to chill. Sorry, I probably shouldn't be that reactive about it. I just think no."

After watching The Idea of You on Prime, keep reading to find what novel you should read next before checking out its on-screen adaption.

Amazon MGM Studios

The Idea of You

Based On: The 2017 novel of the same name by Robinne Lee

Starring: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Reid Scott and Annie Mumolo

Premieres:  May 2 on Prime Video

Why We're Excited: One of the most anticipated adaptations of 2024, the film follows 40-year-old single mom Soléne who happens to catch the eye of twenty-something British boyband sensation Hayes at Coachella. Cue a swoon worthy—and very steamy—love story. As if that wasn't enough to have us seated, the star-crossed lovers are played by none other than Hathaway and Galitzine.

Liam Daniel/Netflix

Bridgerton Season 3

Based On: Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn (Bridgerton #4)

Starring: Nicola Coughlan, Luke Newton, Claudia Jessie, Luke Thompson, Golda Rosheuvel, Adjoa Andoh, Ruth Gemmel, Simone Ashley, Jonathan Bailey, Polly Walker, Julie Andrews and more

Premieres: Part 1 on May 16, Part 2 on June 13

Why We're Excited: Dearest readers, it is, at last, the season of Polin. After years of teasing Penelope and Colin's love story, the Netflix series skipped right to book four so fans can finally see everyone's favorite wallflower and third brother realize they are meant to be. All it takes is Penelope deciding she must find a husband, Colin offering to be her guide and a whimsical orchestral arrangement of the biggest songs in pop.

Nancy Rivera/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

It Ends With Us

Based On: Colleen Hoover's 2016 novel of the same name.

Starring: Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, Hasan Minhaj

Premieres: In theaters August 9

Why We're Excited: Two words: Blake Lively. Okay, two more words: Love triangle. Centered around a florist named Lily Bloom, the book is a riveting tale of love, strength and the complications of relationships.

Hachette Children's Group

Heartstopper Season 3

Based On: Heartstopper, Volume 3 by Alice Osman

Starring: Joe Locke, Kit Connor, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown, Kizzy Edgell and Tobie Donovan

Premieres: October 2024

Why We're Excited: As season two ended with Charlie about to say three important words to Nick, the next installment picks up with their relationship growing and changing along with them. Prepare for more adorable doodles—a sweet nod to the graphic novels—but also heartfelt conversations about mental health, love and teenage growing pains. 

Rich Polk/Variety via Getty Images

Wicked 

Based On: The Broadway play of the same name and Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Peter Dinklage, Bowen Yang, and Keala Settle

Premieres: Part 1: November 27, 2024; Part 2: November 26, 2025

Why We're Excited: Look no further than the cast list, for starters. Add in that it's the iconic Broadway musical—based, of course, off the Wizard Of Oz prequel tome—split into two rousing parts and we are booked and busy for the next two Thanksgiving weekends.

Doubleday Books

Nightb--ch

Based On: the 2021 novel of the same name by Rachel Yoder

Starring: Amy Adams, Scoot McNairy, Ella Thomas, Mary Holland, and Zoe Chao

Premieres: December 6

Why We're Excited: Adams is a stay-at-home mom who thinks she's turning into a dog. Need we say more? Well, the psychological comedy horror of it all deepens as her husband, often traveling for work, dismisses her fears leading her to turn to a group of fellow moms who are involved in both MLMs and something possibly more sinister.

Hachette/Back Bay Books

The Perfect Couple

Based on: the 2018 best-selling novel of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Live Schreiber, Dakota Fanning, Eve Hewson, Billy Howle, Meghann Fahy, Ishann Khattar, Jack Reynor and Omar Eps.

Premieres: TBD

Why We're Excited: Here's your official invitation to a Nantucket wedding that some might just kill for. This six-episode murder mystery drama sees a lavish wedding weekend on the Massachusetts island take a turn after a dead body washes up on the beach the day of the ceremony—and everyone is suddenly a suspect. With an ensemble cast, Nicole Kidman and Meghann Fahy, a hurricane of drama is about to grace our screens.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Kay Scarpetta

Based On: Patricia Cornwell's mega-popular series of the same name that has 26 books in total

Starring: Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis

Premieres: TBD on Amazon Prime Video

Why We're Excited: If it's based on a book and Kidman stars in it, we will binge the s--t out of it. (See: Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers, The Undoing and the fact that this is her second appearance on this list.) Add in that the Oscar winners will be playing crime-fighting sisters and it's already become our favorite new show of the year.

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