This month, The Idea of You movie adaptation took the world by storm. Based on the novel by Robinne Lee about a middle-aged art dealer and a twenty-something rock star, there has been a little bit of controversy around the story hitting the screen. In addition to be quasi-Harry Styles fanfic, there were a few uproars around the age gap of the protagonists as well as Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of a middle-aged woman (despite the fact that the actress is the same age as the character in the book).
If, like so many, you’re still swooning over Solène and Hayes, we’ve gathered a roundup of books just for you that deal with a celebrity dating a non-celebrity. If you were intrigued by the age gap romance, we’ve also thrown in a couple of bonus titles in that category.
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee
Make sure you read the book that inspired the movie first! Solène Marchand, a 39-year-old Los Angeles art gallery owner and recent divorcee, reluctantly agrees to take her daughter Isabelle to meet her favorite boy band, August Moon. Unexpectedly, Solène connects with Hayes Campbell, a charming and confident 20-year-old band member, sparking a passionate relationship that spans continents, from stadium tours to international art fairs. Their romance allows Solène to rediscover her happiness and sense of self. However, when their relationship goes viral, attracting media scrutiny and fan backlash, Solène is forced to consider the repercussions on her daughter and her own life.
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Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan
Nora is a romance channel screenwriter, and after her divorce, she’s having a tough time. She’s pleasantly surprised when one of her screenplays gets picked to be adapted to the big screen starring none other than Hollywood heartthrob Leo Vance, a former “Sexiest Man Alive”. Shooting on set at Nora’s own home, with nowhere else to go, Leo makes a deal with Nora: if he can stay on site for seven days, he’ll pay her handsomely. Nora could really use the money, and figures nothing that bad could happen in seven days, right?
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Scandalized by Ivy Owens
When Georgia “Gigi” Ross, an investigative journalist, has her flight canceled, the last person she expects to run into at the airport hotel is her childhood friend, Alec Kim. Alec is now a famous movie star, and happens to be her best friend’s older brother. As the two catch up, one thing leads to another and they spend an incredibly steamy night together. Alec is determined to prove to Gigi that his fame doesn’t define him, but when one of Gigi’s investigations start to feel a little too close to home, will they even stand a chance against the scandal that’s about to break?
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The Happy Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez
Sloan Monroe has never been the same after losing her fiancé a few years ago. One day, Sloan encounters a lost dog, Tucker, who immediately captures her heart, and even better, the owner can’t be reached. They haven’t bothered to answer Sloan’s numerous texts over the course of several weeks. Sloan feels like the dog is helping with her grief, until suddenly, she hears from his owner. He’s a famous musician on tour in Australia, and he wants Tucker back when he returns. As the two text, and then chat on the phone, a bond is formed. Can Sloan trust Jason’s rising star, or will she end up heartbroken again?
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The Bodyguard by Katherine Center
Hannah Brooks may not look intimidating, but she’s an extremely skilled personal bodyguard. Her latest client? Jack Stapleton, Hollywood’s current leading man, and an actor who is dealing with a potentially dangerous stalker. Jack returns home to help on the family ranch when his mother is ill, but he doesn’t want to add to the family’s stress, so he doesn’t tell them about his stalker or bodyguard. Instead, he asks Hannah to pretend that she’s his girlfriend instead. She’s prepared to guard her client, but what about her heart?
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Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman
Ten years ago, Chani Horwitz was an under-the-radar MFA grad struggling to find her calling. When she gets hired to write a profile on mega-star Gabe Parker, Chani knows this could be her big break. The interview changes her life in ways she could never have imagined, as the brief meeting turns into an entire weekend the two will never forget. Now, years later, Chani is a divorcee trying to get her life back on track, but the infamous interview with Gabe is everywhere. Everyone she meets always wants to know what really happened that weekend. When Gabe’s team reaches out about a second interview, Chani’s not sure her heart can survive another meeting like that, but the feelings she’s pushed aside for so long make her want to take the risk.
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Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid
Sienna Diaz is a popular plus-size actress, beloved by so many for her comedic talent. However, she has a problem with her latest movie role, which takes her to a famous National Park. Sienna can’t read a map to save her life, and her sense of direction is atrocious. Soon enough, she meets park ranger Jethro Winston, who is often rescuing her in her time of need. Although Sienna is used to handsome men in Hollywood, there’s just something about Jethro that makes him different… but will it be enough for Sienna?
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Bohemian by Kathryn Nolan
Calvin Ellis’ world has just been upended, as he learns his late grandfather left him his bookstore in Big Sur, California. When supermodel Lucia Bell stumbles into this small-town bookstore for a photo shoot, neither can imagine the sparks that will fly between them. As they share a passionate kiss one night at the bookstore, they have no idea of the deadly storm raging outside. When they seek refuge in the store, their forced time together leads to sharing parts of themselves they’ve never shown anyone. When the storm is over, will the reality be too much to face, or can they find a way to bring their opposite worlds together?
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Midnight Blue by LJ Shen
Indigo Bellamy signs on to manage bad-boy musician Alex Winslow, knowing she needs the money and that’s it’s temporary – three months, and then she can go on with her life. However, Alex gets under her skin in a way she never could have anticipated. When the world tour is over, will Indigo get out unscathed, or will Alex take all her heart has to offer?
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The Game Plan by Kristen Calihan
Ethan Dexter is a famous NFL player whose sole focus is the game of football, but he’s always had eyes for Fiona McKenzie. Fiona could care less about Ethan’s fame. To her, he’s just her brother-in-law’s best friend. She can’t deny the chemistry, but they live in completely different worlds, literally and figuratively. It could never work, could it?
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Spoiler Alert by Olivia Dade
Marcus Caster-Rupp is a well-known television star, but he always writes secret fanfic about the character he plays on tv, giving the characters alternate storylines. If anyone ever found out, his career would be over. He meets April Whittier, a fellow fanfic writer, when the costume she created goes viral. Marcus asks her out to snub the haters, but quickly realizes she is the woman he’s been talking to on the online forums, his closest friend there. There’s no way Marcus can tell her, it would destroy everything, but is Marcus willing to risk his career for the love of a lifetime?
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Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes
Evvie Drake lost her husband a year ago in a car accident, and these days, she barely leaves her house in Maine. Nothing can help her begin to navigate her grief. One day, her best friend Andy, suggests a roommate, someone to rent the apartment in the back of her house, and he knows just the person: MLB pitcher Dean Tenney. Dean is currently struggling on the field, unable to throw like he used to and unable to break out of his funk. He heads to Maine for a break, but both him and Evvie get so much more than they bargained for… including a second chance at life and love.
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Until it Fades by K.A. Tucker
Catherine Wright is a twenty-four year old truck stop waitress and single mother to a five-year-old daughter. At this point, her focus is her daughter, so she does her best to keep her head down and avoid being the subject of her small-town gossip… again. Then, late one night, Catherine saves a man’s life, and when police arrive, she realizes the man she saved is famous NHL player, Brett Madden. Not wanting to be the talk of the town, yet again, Catherine flees and tries to remain anonymous. However, when Brett shows up at her house, wanting to thank her, what starts as an innocent friendship turns to more than Catherine is prepared for. Can she truly trust Brett, and learn how to open her heart to real love?
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All the Right Notes by Dominic Lim
Quito Cruz is an up and coming piano player and composer in NYC who is close to his big break. His inspiration is waning though. Ever since his steamy night with Emmett Aoki in college, he just can’t seem to get out of his own head. When Quito’s dad suggests he play in his hometown’s charity showcase, he only agrees because he knows Emmett, now a famous celebrity, will be there. Is the past destined to remain in the past, or can these two exist in perfect harmony?
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While We Were Dating by Jasmine Guillory
Ben Stephens is an ad exec that just secured a huge campaign with movie star Anna Gardiner. When the two meet, sparks fly instantly, even though both have other priorities they’re currently focused on. During an unexpected family emergency, Ben is there for Anna in ways neither imagined, only deepening their new bond. Is there room for Ben in Anna’s life as her Mr. Right, or is he destined to remain out of the limelight?
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When in Rome by Sarah Adams
Amelia Rose, or “Rae Rose” as her fans know her, is over it. The pop princess decides she needs a break, so she takes an impromptu trip to Rome, Kentucky. When she has some car trouble, she meets Noah Walker, who isn’t exactly thrilled that she’s stuck on his front lawn. He graciously invites her to stay with him until she can fix her car, even though he’s too busy running the local bakeshop and dealing with smalltown drama to tend to a celebrity. However, as he gets to know Amelia, he learns she is so much more than “Rae Rose”, and he quickly finds himself falling for her. Eventually, Amelia will need to return to her career, but is there room for Noah to be her #1 fan?
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The celebrity/ordinary person love affairs are a steamy selection, but if what you loved about the story was the exploration around a romance with a major age gap, we can you get you your fix there as well.
On the Island by Tracey Garvis Graves
Thirty year old Anna Emerson is an English teacher who has just accepted a tutoring job in the Maldives for the summer, at her clients’ rental home. T.J. Callahan would rather do anything than spend the summer studying, especially since it’s his first summer in remission from the cancer that changed his life. As Anna and T.J. fly to the Maldives to meet T.J.’s family, their small plane goes down when the pilot suffers a heart attack. By some miracle, they make it to a small uninhabited island with the lone goal of survival. However, as the days turn to months, the two face countless hurdles and dangers, bringing them closer each time. Soon enough though, Anna can’t help but notice that the boy she came to the island with has turned into a man.
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All Grown Up by Vi Keeland
When Valentina’s best friend offers to set her up with an online dating profile, she agrees, only because she knows it’ll never see the light of day. Their over-the-top explicit profile is just for fun, right? Thanks to a small mishap, the profile goes live on the site dedicated to meeting men ages 21-27. Valentina is flooded with match requests from men that all seem too young. Soon enough though, she starts chatting with Ford, and they instantly hit it off. When she finally agrees to meet him in real life, she can’t figure out why he seems so familiar. Val realizes that he is her neighbor’s son, next door at her family’s summer home. This summer is sure to be a hot one!
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The Do-Over by T.L. Swan
Claire meets Tristan when he tries to acquire her late husband’s media company. Promising to honor his legacy, Claire wants nothing to do with Tristan’s offer of a buyout, even though the business is really struggling. Even worse, he calls her a few days later to ask her on a date, which she refuses, even though their chemistry is undeniable. She thinks she’s in the clear, until months later, a business conference in France has her running into none other than Tristan. With the understanding that it’s just for the week, the two decide to see where it leads… even though what happens in France, can’t possibly stay in France.
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Mercy by Sara Cate
Maggie is the only female owner of the Salacious Players Club, and still trying to figure out what her kink is. When she takes an online quiz, she realizes she’s a Domme, and her sexual preferences start to make sense. She’s not quite sure what to do next, so when she gets matched on an app, she figures this is how she’ll learn. Imagine her surprise when the guy that shows up is Beau Grant, her friend’s son. She thinks he’s a brat, which makes punishing him even more fun. He’s also too young for her, but Maggie is ready to stop worrying about what other people think, and do what she wants for a change.
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Half-Blown Rose by Leesa Cross-Smith
Vincent flees to Paris after her husband Cillian publishes a hurtful tell-all novel that includes both secrets about their marriage and new betrayals from his past. While there, she meets Loup, a young man who is instantly captivated by her. What follows is an intimate, passionate affair, as Vicent begins to imagine what her life will look like going forward. As Cillian comes back in the picture, begging for a second chance, will Vincent learn to be true to her heart?
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