14 | May | 2014

Publisher: William Morrow (April 1, 2014)
Category: Contemporary Fiction/ Women’s Fiction
ISBN: 978-0062283108
Tour Dates: April/May, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 384 Pages

Book description: In the fabulous and intrigue-packed new novel from Holly Peterson, the New York Times bestselling author of THE MANNY, THE IDEA OF HIM explores the dangers of falling for the idea of a person, and why facing reality is more liberating than we ever dreamed it could be. For anyone who’s let the fear of being alone keep them from seeing who someone really is, THE IDEA OF HIM is an inspiring, action-packed story of what happens when we embrace our own power and allow the truth to finally set us free.

Allie Crawford has the life she always dreamed of—she’s number two at a high-profile P.R. firm; she has two kids she adores; and her husband is a blend of handsome and heroic. Wade is everything she thought a man was supposed to be—he’s running a successful newsmagazine and, best of all, he provides the stable yet exciting New York City life Allie believes she needs in order to feel secure and happy.

But when Allie finds Wade locked in their laundry room with a stunning blonde in snakeskin sandals, a scandal ensues that flips her life on its head. And when the woman wants to befriend Allie, an old flame calls, and a new guy gets a little too close for comfort, she starts to think her marriage is more of a facade than something real. Maybe she’s fallen in love not with Wade—but with the idea of him.

Captivating and seductive, told in the whip-smart voice of a woman who is working hard to keep her parenting and career on track, The Idea of Him is a novel of conspiracy, intrigue, and intense passion—and discovering your greatest strength through your deepest fears.

My take: Since the tragic loss of her father Allie had been trying to find a replacement – maybe she wasn’t aware of that but the reader can see it. She thought Wade was the guy to love her, keep her safe, and create a family. When she slowly realizes all is not what it seemed Allie starts figuring out what Wade is involved in and considering her own options.

I was slow to warm to this story but when I did the pages almost turned themselves. Like Allie, I wasn’t sure who to trust most of the time. One thing I knew for sure early on – she needed to get herself and her children out of her marriage. On the surface it seemed Wade was a family man and loved Allie but, in reality, the only one Wade loved was Wade. She now finds herself on shaky ground at best and the future is not looking good. Will Allie be able to create a new future? Will she figure out that she doesn’t have to rely on the likes of Wade for her own happiness – that she’s responsible for it herself? I’m telling you, I wanted to give her a good shake and yell “Snap out of it!” more than once!

I ended up liking The Idea of Him. It is filled with interesting characters (some larger than life) and has an intriguing plot that grew on me. I look forward to seeing what Holly Peterson comes up with in her next book. Keep reading – there’s a giveaway!

You can see what others are saying about THE IDEA OF HIM here.

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Holly Peterson is the author of the New York Timesand international best seller, The Manny. She was a Contributing Editor for Newsweek and editor-at-large for Tina Brown’s Talk magazine. She was also an Emmy Award–winning producer for ABC News for more than a decade, where she covered global politics. Her writing has been published in the New York Times, Newsweek, Talk, the Daily Beast, Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and other publications.