'The Idea of You' author reacts to movie's twist ending: 'Not the story I wanted to tell'

Robinne Lee, the author of "The Idea of You," expressed dissatisfaction with the film adaptation's happy ending, which diverged significantly from her book's more tragic conclusion. In the novel, the relationship between Solène, a 40-year-old single mom, and Hayes, a 24-year-old boy band member, ends due to its negative impacts, with Hayes moving on and never reconnecting. However, the movie opts for a surprise reunion and a happy ending, a change Lee attributes to Hollywood's preference for feel-good conclusions. Lee was not involved in the adaptation process and emphasizes the differences in storytelling between books and films, acknowledging the challenges of adaptations while still hoping fans of the book can appreciate the film.