‘The Idea Of You’ Ending Explained—How It’s Different From The Book

The film "Idea of You" is currently available for viewing on the Amazon Prime Video streaming service.

The highly anticipated romantic comedy film, The Idea of You, can now be viewed on Amazon Prime Video. If you managed to sit through the entire movie, you may have observed that the conclusion of The Idea of You is not the same as the book it was adapted from.

The movie called The Idea of You stars Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. It's based on a top-selling novel by Robinne Lee from 2017, which has the same name. This flick is about a single mom who's 40 years old (played by Hathaway) and her tricky romantic entanglement with Hayes Campbell (played by Galitzine), who's the frontman of the well-known boy group August Moon.

Before the movie came out, numerous fans speculated on social media that The Idea of You was based on fan fiction about Harry Styles. This was likely because Styles and Hayes share many commonalities such as both belonging to a band of five members and having a passion for tattoos. Besides, they also have a track record of dating mature women.

Lee denied any claims that the book was derived from fan-made stories. She wrote an article for Time.com to coincide with the movie's premiere, stating that it is not fair to label the book as merely "fluff" or "fanfiction," especially when the accusers have not even read it. This kind of labeling is disrespectful and overly simplistic.

You can watch "Idea of You" on Amazon Prime Video.

The writer refuted any claims that the book was linked to Styles. They stated that it's uncreative and discriminatory to assume that a book featuring a fictional celebrity in a romantic context must be modelled on a real-life celebrity, like Harry Styles. Last year, Lee disclosed to Vogue that Hayes took inspiration from the likes of Prince Harry, Harry Styles, her previous partners, her partner, as well as a tad of actor Eddie Redmayne.

The new film adaptation of The Idea of You was released on Prime Video on May 2nd. Michael Showalter, who directed the movie, made some changes that differed from the original book's ending.

Understand "The Idea Of You" Finale

Check out "Idea of You" now available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

CAUTION: The upcoming content contains spoilers for both the book and film The Idea of You.

Solène makes the tough call to end her relationship with Hayes due to their differing life stages portrayed in the book. Some weeks pass, Hayes takes a break from his travels, then unexpectedly appears at Solène's doorstep, feeling sad about their separation. The two engage in a physical relationship, and Hayes then shares that he has given up on his band.

However, Solène refuses to agree with this and states that he should not quit his career because of her. She deceives him by saying that she never had true feelings for him, but only admired the image of him. Hayes decides to go back to his music band and tries contacting Solène through phone calls and text messages, but she chooses to disregard him and eventually, he stops trying to reach out.

Lee ends the book by saying, "One day, they ceased," indicating that the relationship ended. However, Lee acknowledges that their love had not faded away before the breakup.

However, in the film, Hayes and Solène decide to end their romance largely due to the negative impact it's having on Solène's daughter, Isabelle, and the significant age difference between them. During a visit to Solène, Hayes expresses his love for her while she apologizes. They ultimately agree to revisit their connection after a five-year hiatus.

In the movie, they fast forward to the future where Hayes appears as a guest on The Graham Norton Show. During the interview, Hayes reveals that he will be taking a hiatus from touring. He showcases his musical talent by playing the guitar and singing a lovely song that was inspired by his love affair with his sweetheart. Hayes hints that he will be using his time off to visit someone special who resides in Los Angeles, all while Solène watches from the audience.

When he reaches California, he walks into Solène's art gallery. It has been a year since they last met, and she greets him with a smile. The outcome of their reunion and their future is uncertain.

"Why Did The You Book's Ending Change In The Film?"

"Concept of You" available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Michael Showalter, the director of The Idea of You, disclosed that he modified the film's finale to present a optimistic conclusion for the two protagonists, with the intention of pleasing the audience.

Romantic movies have a lengthy tradition of altering their conclusions to bring the two primary figures together. When asked by TV Insider, a feasible explanation for this is that viewers simply desire to witness even the slightest glimmer of hope for the couple in the movie's closing scene.

Showalter stated that it's not necessary to reveal the exact ending to the audience. The finale's outcome is left somewhat unclear, allowing viewers to come up with their interpretations. As someone who enjoys romantic tales, Showalter appreciates when the main characters finish with a simple coffee date as it gives him hope.

You can watch The Idea Of You on Amazon Prime Video.