Crash Into Me

by Robinne Lee

Los Angeles, 2015

When Cecilia Chen is involved in a car accident soon after moving to LA with her husband and children, she’s stunned to recognise the other driver: Anouk Ferrand – a woman she hasn’t seen in twenty years, yet has never been able to forget.

Mexico, 1996

Cecilia was a young photographer’s assistant; Anouk, an unknown model on the cusp of becoming a sensation. For a few brief days on the wild Mexican coast, their worlds collided with an intensity that altered the course of Cecilia’s life – though she never knew whether Anouk felt it, or even remembered her.

Now Anouk is impossible to ignore: magnetic, accomplished, and suddenly back in Cecilia’s orbit. And as the spark between them reignites into an irresistible affair, Cecilia is forced to confront everything she knew about desire, devotion and the life she has built.

Genres: Romance, Summer Reads, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, Audiobook

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 9, 2026

About the author

ROBINNE LEE is the bestselling author of The Idea of You which has been translated into two dozen languages and was adapted into a record-breaking feature film for Amazon Studios. Her second novel Crash into Me will be released in July of 2026. A graduate of Yale University and Columbia Law School, Lee is also an actress and producer with numerous credits in both television and film. She currently resides in Paris with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Lindsay L]

DNF at 23%

Too artsy and fashion focused for my liking. A main plot point is highly implausible for me so I cannot buy into the entire premise. This is not for me.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!

[Kelani]

The way that The Idea of You has been living rent free in my head 😭😭 I will count down the days until Robinne Lee delivers another masterpiece

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much more than a romance: a searing look at identity and the 1%.

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Robinne Lee’s Crash Into Me (releasing 7.7.26), and my best advice is to go into this one blind. While I expected a standard romance about growth and change, Lee delivers something much more complex. At the heart of the story is the ill-fated, unexpected reunion between Cecilia Chen and Anouk Ferrand. After twenty years apart, a chance meeting forces them to confront a past they both swore to bury.

The romance is just the tip of the iceberg. We follow Cecilia, a Jamaican-Chinese immigrant who has spent two decades in France, as she relocates her family to the alien landscape of Los Angeles, while her husband Francois directs the next big Hollywood film.
Watching her navigate the Hollywood elite while grappling with American realities, such as gun culture, racial profiling, and the isolation of being the only Black woman in the room, was incredibly moving.

“To be a negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a state of rage almost all the time.”

The relationship between Francois and Cecilia is strained - there's a backstory that is complicated, unsure of itself, and on the brink of collapse. Cecilia is discovering who she is as a mother, wife, and in a talented career as a photographer. But what truly defines her? How important is it to be a woman of color who stands on her ground, and has to do it all?

"We don’t lose our beauty. It simply changes. this for the first time, wrinkles and all. I think about actresses who have been in the limelight for twenty, thirty, forty years—and my heart aches for them, a little. Because they’re constantly being compared to their younger selves.”

While this book takes place before a certain election occurs, it has a lot of resemblance to what is happening now. I learned a lot about the different cultures and races in the islands, colonization, and how we perceive the rich and constantly evolving people who have come from the islands around us.

"A series of portraits featuring mixes of West African and English and Scottish and Irish and German and Chinese and Indian and Syrian and Lebanese and Taino and Arawak.."

“We’re not safe here,” I say, my voice soft. “The way their politicians talk about immigrants, Fran . . . And these frightened, armed police . . . We’re not safe. Your kids are not safe.”

This is a propulsive, deep dive into complicated marriages, the weight of status, and finding love in the wreckage of the past. Robinne Lee is a master of her craft and I cannot wait to see what she does next!

Thank you St. Martin for the ARC! #CrashIntoMeNovel #RobinneLee #StMartinsPress

[Jamie Rosenblit · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you picked this up expecting The Idea of You 2.0, toss out your expectations. I'm not quite sure how to categorize this, there are romantic, erotic elements, but it is not a romance. It fits more in women's fiction with exploration of race and class and how that impacts raising children. Unfortunately, this missed the mark for me.

Thank you to St. Martins for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

[Nikole (literarily_occupied) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 4 stars

As a long time fan of The Idea of You (OG Hayesolnut since 2018 👋) I could not wait to read Robinne's next book.

Crash Into Me has some similarities to TIOY in that the lead is a successful woman in the art world who has made a name for herself in a field traditionally dominated by men. But, there are many differences as well, such as the exploration of a sapphic romance and experiencing the life of a woman of color as told through a dual timeline.

Crash Into Me did not utterly shatter my heart like TIOY, but it did evoke a gamut of emotional responses that were deeply impactful.

Many thanks to Edelweiss and St. Martin's Press for the digital Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Lianna Cohen (GetLitWithLianna) · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★

Wow. This completely blew me away. It’s a powerful, thought-provoking look at womanhood, parenthood, society, and art…and it was nothing like I expected in the best possible way.

The writing is so immersive and emotionally real that I felt like I was living inside the story. You don’t need to share the characters’ exact experiences to feel deeply connected—this book makes you feel everything. It’s surprising, different, and has really stayed with me. Highly, highly recommend. Another smash hit for Robinne Lee ❤️

[Lindsey Innocente · Rating 1 out of 5]

It hurts me to do this but I have to DNF. I am not having a good time. Actually I’m having a really bad time attempting to get into this. There are entire sentences in French. I do not speak French. This is affecting the plot quite a bit. It is so art and fashion focused and I’m just not vibing with that at all.
There is so much focus on race and politics right out of the gate. I just do not enjoy, unfortunately. It just feels like a lot of effort to even want to pick the book up.


I genuinely hope this book finds its audience but if you want to read this bc you loved TIOY, I’m not sure this will be a winner.

Thank you SMP & Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelsey McGee · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Idea of You is in my Mount Rushmore of romance novels…

Naturally, I am extremely disappointed by this as it was the book I had been looking for the most in 2026. I did not enjoy this. It was not at all a feel good romance book. It was mostly about how class and race affects motherhood and raising children with a sprinkle of politics mixed in. Which of course was not feel-good in the slightest.

I would have read a nonfiction book if I wanted to remember how bad the world is right now.

[Sarah (heartfeltthrills) · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.75 stars rounded up mainly because this genre felt too new and me not in the right mind space at the same time*

Who am I anymore reading this very languid, artsy, mature romance that is entangled in fuzzy traumatic memories?! Totally out of my wheelhouse but am glad to have given it a go nonetheless.

Portraying rather delicate romances, feelings, experiences, identities, ethnicities and lives that don’t fit in neat boxes. Representation matters. This book is a valiant attempt at lifting the veil to unravel this beauty in midst of the other mundane things that continue all the same.
“The whole world within. So inspiring.”

“You’re going to be okay,” she says to me. It’s not a question. “Awful things happen, and we heal.”
“Twenty-seven isn’t sexy. Twenty-seven is a toddler who can’t run without falling down. Life doesn’t get exciting until thirty-six.”

How and where do we belong when we don’t? Will we grow wherever we are planted? Or is that a quality only few possess? Isn’t everything beauty and our consumption of it?

Such a thought provoking read, I see you Robinne Lee!

Thanking St. Martin’s Press for gifting me this ARC through NetGalley for my honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 30%

I got this as an ARC and tried so hard to power through it but I couldn’t do it. 100 pages of the main character describing how rich and attractive and talented all the people in her life are with no actual plot. Not for me :(

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Idea of You fans, take note: Robinne Lee’s second novel is not a sequel, but it may be even better.

If you’re expecting a follow-up, this isn’t it. Instead, what you get is a true women’s fiction masterpiece. Its writing is rich and layered. Robinne Lee’s writing has a way of pulling you in, bringing every moment and emotion to life. I went into this book blind and recommend that you do too!

The story opens with Cecelia experiencing a small “accident” that quickly becomes the catalyst for a turning point in her life. From there, the timeline spans 1996 and back to 2015/2016, weaving past and present together in a way that feels seamless.

Through Cecelia’s eyes, as a naive young woman in 1996 and later as a mother of two navigating life years later, Robinne Lee explores complex themes like marriage, infidelity, identity, race, and age. At its core, the story is about rediscovery and the lasting impact of relationships, especially when Cecelia reconnects with someone. I don't want to give away the book; just trust that Robinne Lee has once again written a thoughtful, emotional, and beautifully written book.

This one will stay with you long after you’ve finished.

[Katie Herklotz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dang, can Robinne Lee write a book or what?! I don't normally write long reviews for Goodreads, but seeing the lukewarm reception to this book makes me want to evangelize it any way that I can.

Cecilia is a Jamaican American photographer living in Paris with her filmmaker husband and their two young children. When they move to Los Angeles for her husband's job, Cecilia has to adjust to a very different speed of life. She reconnects, in a dramatic way, with a woman from her past named Anouk. She met Anouk, a young model, years ago on a photography set in Cabo and something goes down between them and around them. When Anouk is brought into Cecilia's life again and brings so much of her past to light, Cecilia is caught between past and present.

I think die hard fans of The Idea of You might be disappointed, but I really hope people give this a try and click with this story eventually, because there is SO much Solene in Cecilia. It really felt like Cecillia was living in the same world as Solene, it felt like they could have been friends or neighbors. These kind of atmospheric details made both books magical to read, so I hope people will realize that similarity, even though it isn't the same kind of romance. This is for readers who find themselves ruminating on their past relationships, what could have been, and why it wasn't.

There was so much tension in this story and I never really knew where the story was going, in the best way. There were points that almost felt like a thriller, I was so on the edge of my seat. Lee is such a master of observation and writing about things you know in your body but have never really thought about before, if that makes sense. She has such astute observations about culture, race, age, and being a woman, I really would recommend this book to anyone!

[Jodi Schulz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. I adored The Idea of You and while this book is completely different I loved this as well. I don’t want to give too much away because it is best to go into this blind, but this is not a romance at all. It is about a woman coming into her own after a betrayal in her marriage. But it is really about wealth, privilege, classism, sexuality, racism, politics, and is a little bit of a thriller. You can not put this down when you start it.

[Dori Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked Robinne Lee’s first book, The Idea of You, though I didn’t love it the way others seemed to. Still, I was excited to read her next book. Unfortunately this fell flat for me. I got into it quickly but by 20% I was bored. I started skimming, which is never a good sign. I also don’t love the short sentences and felt disconnected from the story. Other review say it eventually picks up but I gave up before finding out, though I did skim further and still felt bored. Life’s too short and all that.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

It absolutely pains me to write this review because The Idea of You changed my life. One of my favorite books of all time.

I received the ARC of this one through NetGalley and IT WAS PAINFUL. I could never get into the story and often felt like I was reading another language. Which sometimes I was, since it would have whole sentences in French and I don’t speak French. I tried so hard with this book but I eventually just gave up and said it wasn’t for me.

[lauren Unterberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not the book I was expecting when I picked it up but I loved it nonetheless. I love RL’s writing. Her descriptions of art and fashion are beautiful and true to the characters she creates. There are parallels to Solene and Cecilia. Go in with an open mind. It did not disappoint. 🙏🏻

[Emily Carnes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to give 2 star reviews, but this one was hard for me to get through. I normally finish audio books pretty quickly, but this took me a while because I wasn’t excited to see what happened next.
I didn’t expect this to be a “happily ever after”, but most of it was just depressing to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advanced copy audio version.

[Violet]

July?! 🥲

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review thanks to an advance copy provided from NetGalley

Really liked this. Might come back and give it 5 stars. It is NOT The Idea of You, redux, so just head into it eyes and heart wide open. I found the story interesting and transporting, and Robinne’s writing as beautiful as always

[Viviana]

Publisher let us know that there was a read now widget on NetGalley today. So I picked it up.

[Leah | LookLeahReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listening copy of CRASH INTO ME by Robinne Lee, which releases this July.

I went into this without reading the synopsis. I was interested purely because it was Robinne Lee’s book. In hindsight, I’m not entirely sure I would have requested it had I known more going in. That said, I am glad I picked it up, because I think I would have been curious about it either way.

I had actually requested both the ALC and the ARC from NetGalley, and while I was only approved for the audio, it did make for a slightly more challenging experience. I was reminded quickly how intellectual Robinne Lee’s writing is — there were moments with complex phrasing, fashion terminology, and quite a bit of French woven throughout. Sometimes context helped, but other times I felt like I was missing pieces. I think having the ebook would have made a difference, especially for looking up terms or translating on the spot via my kindle.

I specifically wanted to listen to this one because Robinne Lee narrates the audiobook herself, and she does an excellent job. Her delivery adds a lot of emotional depth, and you can hear exactly where she wants certain moments to land.

Overall, I’m landing at a 4-star rating, but it breaks down a bit for me. As always, Robinne Lee’s writing itself is a clear 5 stars — she’s a sharp & thoughtful storyteller. For the story as a whole, I’d give it closer to 3 stars. That’s less about quality and more about fit; I don’t think I was the ideal audience for this one.

The novel centers on Cecilia and her husband, François, a French film producer, whose marriage is complicated. That dynamic is a key catalyst for the story. The narrative also moves between present-day events and flashbacks from 10–20 years earlier. I appreciated how those past sections were told in third person while the present stayed in Cecilia’s first-person perspective — it created a clear and effective distinction, especially in audio format.

There is also a F/F romance at the center of the story, which isn’t typically a genre I gravitate toward.

However, I found myself especially drawn to CeCe’s ex-boyfriend (Laurie?) who appears throughout the past timeline and later reappears in the present day toward the end of the book in a way I won’t spoil here. His presence across both timelines added a steady thread that kept me engaged. I also want to note that his name may be spelled differently, as I only listened to the audiobook and didn’t have a way to see the text version.

I won’t say much about the central romance to avoid spoilers, but I will say the way it twists toward the end genuinely caught me off guard — I had my hand over my mouth while listening.

I’ve seen some comparisons to THE IDEA OF YOU, and some disappointment that this isn’t the same kind of story. That didn’t affect my experience — I went in with no expectation that it would be similar, and I think that helped. There are faint overlaps, but this is clearly its own, very different book.

One thing I continue to appreciate about Robinne Lee’s writing is her willingness to avoid neatly packaged endings. Like her previous work, this story resists a traditional happily-ever-after and instead leaves space for interpretation. That ambiguity worked for me here and felt true to her style.

I also want to mention how moving the ending felt on a personal level. Hearing Robinne Lee read her acknowledgments had me in tears. You can tell how many people are part of her support system and creative “village,” and it adds an extra layer of meaning to the story knowing how much real-life connection and support stands behind her work.

[Shelby (allthebooksalltheways) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, SMP, for my gifted copy!

After loving The Idea of You, I went into Crash Into Me with some misplaced expectations. Important to note: this is NOTHING like TIOY. Do yourself a favor and don’t expect it to be. 💗

This one is hard to review, especially without spoilers. I finished it weeks ago and needed time to sit with my thoughts before I could even begin to put them into words. It took me in so many directions that, at first, I didn’t quite know what to make of it.... and honestly, I’m still not entirely sure. But I’ll try.

First, the writing is stunning. Lee’s prose is exquisite, and her growth as a writer is so apparent here! The plot meanders a bit, and can feel slow at times... and there were moments where I wasn’t entirely sure what I was reading or where it was all going. 👀 But that’s also part of what makes it feel so unique. It blends so many themes and elements that it’s hard to pin down an exact genre, and I actually really love that about it!

This story is told in past/present timelines and follows Cecilia, a Jamaican-Chinese woman who has recently relocated with her husband and children from Paris to Los Angeles, where she struggles to assimilate into the harsh LA culture and high society. When she literally *crashes into* (ahh the titular scene) someone from her past, an avalanche of events unfold. What transpires is a thought-provoking, complex, sometimes messy exploration of art, beauty, sexuality, forgiveness, memory, motherhood, race, culture, and so much more.

After sitting with it, I’ve realized just how much worked for me. Lee brings Cecilia to life so vividly. She felt incredibly real... perfectly imperfect in a way that made her completely believable. I didn’t always agree with her choices, but I felt I understood her. While parts of her life feel far removed from my own or any I'm familiar with (I am not the wife of a famous movie producer walking red carpets, or rubbing elbows with the rich and famous), many of the themes are deeply universal, especially when it comes to womanhood, motherhood, marriage, identity, aging, the United States and our many issues, reckoning with the past, and soooo much more. I also really loved the way Lee bridges a gap between the rich and poor by showcasing the way certain societal issues still impact the wealthy -- especially when they're people of color.

This book kept me on my toes. I never quite knew where it was taking me, and I appreciated that unpredictability. I was along for the ride, ready to be taken wherever Lee wanted to take me. I trusted her to tell me a story, and tell me a story she did!

Overall, I can’t say I loved Crash Into Me... but I did deeply appreciate it.💗

4 strong stars!

📌 A note on the cover: It’s absolutely gorgeous, but it doesn’t quite match the story. It gives light, breezy, summer beach read vibes.... like women’s fiction with a touch of romance. In reality, this story cuts much deeper. The cover sets up expectations that the book doesn’t intend to meet, which ultimately does it a bit of a disservice. 🫤

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This captivating, sensual book is Lee’s follow-up to her highly successful novel, The Idea of You. It does not disappoint. Her protagonist, Cecilia Chen a “petite, brown-skinned, mixed-race woman” in her 40s has recently returned to the US after fleeing to Paris for 18 years. A moderately successful photographer, she and her two children follow her equally successful husband to LA for a 3-picture deal with Sony. The ostentation of her new surroundings brings her a great deal of discomfort, as does the safety of her children in this predominantly white, uber-wealthy environment. She suddenly discovers that it is necessary to school her children (especially her son) on what it means to be “other”. The confession of her husband to an affair with a young starlet, only adds to her edginess.
While running errands, Cecilia literally crashes into a woman she had briefly known in her 20s. The once in-demand model, Anouk Ferrand is nearly killed when Cecila’s car is rammed from behind. The two reconnect and memories float to the surface involving their first encounter when Cecilia was a young assistant to the famous photographer, Didier Moulin, the man responsible for Anouk’s rise to modeling fame. What begins as a simple reunion soon becomes an intense, obsessive friendship and affair. And there are secrets.
Utilizing omniscient voice for the past, vs. first person in the present, evokes the surfacing of old memories of that first encounter. Lee drops breadcrumb hints regarding what is to be revealed as the obsessions increase. She explores the myths of beauty, the myriad “ways in which we consume it – media, film, art, music” and how it can consume us. All of this is set against the backdrop of what it means to feel as though one does not fit into environmental/institutional prejudices. The one grounding force is to find one’s own tribe – the people who understand us, who allow for/encourage growth, and who keep us coming back to our personal values and comfort. This novel is not a fluff piece on beauty. It is tense, sensual, sexual, confrontational and enlightening. Finally, check out the lyrics to Dave Matthew’s song by the same title! 5 Stars.

Thank you to @StMartinsPress, @GoodReads and @RobinneLee for the Advanced Release Copy of this book. #StMartinsPress, #GoodReads and #RobinneLee. Opinions expressed are my own and are freely given in exchange for this pre-release copy.

[Jennifer (allshedoesisread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe my most anticipated book so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. My love for The Idea of You goes back many many years and one of the few books I find myself re-reading. That book, to me, was a grand romance despite the ending. This book, however, is not that. And I had heard that going in so my expectations were tempered.

This book featuring Cecilia, a Jamaican American woman living in Paris with her Parisian filmmaker husband, Fran and their two children. Both are celebrated in their careers and on the surface life seems perfect. Of course that is not the case and they are working on repairing their marriage so when he must move to Los Angeles for two years for a career opportunity of a lifetime they all go.

Once there, Fran and the kids acclimate quickly while Cecelia very strongly feels the disparity in wealth (too much) and diversity (too little). A freak accident puts her in contact with a model, Anouk, from her past work on photo shoots and the book alternates timelines from that 1996 time in Cabo where we know something bad happens and 2016 while she develops a close relationship with Anouk without addressing that past time.

This book heavily reflects on the culture differences such as healthcare, racism, school shootings. But Cecilia’s Art installment focuses on beauty standards in women of all colors and ages and sizes and while she explores that through her work, she also has to explore her view of herself, past relationships and current relationship with her husband and find out where she truly belongs.

I felt the romance part of this was more one sided and not as genuine as I had imagined. And to me, not really the point of the book. But I loved the way Celine loves her children and finds confidence to speak her truth and I feel like her growth was substantial but not without loss and maybe a questionable decision to not leave the past where it was. Also, I don’t speak or read French and there’s a lot of it here so I kind of just had to figure that out.

All this to say, while this did not capture me in the same way as TIOY, I do find her writing to be well done and descriptive. I love the fashion and art and beauty discussions with the various women in her lives.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robinne Lee’s Crash Into Me is, in so many ways, a deeply compelling and beautifully layered novel. At its heart is Celine, a protagonist who feels vividly real, complex, searching, and emotionally grounded. I found myself drawn not just to her personal journey, but to the rich cultural exploration that shapes her identity. The novel does an excellent job of weaving in the nuances of heritage, belonging, and the lived experience of navigating race and culture in America. Those elements give the story weight and resonance beyond a typical character-driven narrative.
One of the standout strengths of the book is its sense of place. Whether in present-day scenes or moments rooted in memory, the settings feel textured and alive. Lee’s descriptions immerse you fully, adding emotional depth to Celine’s journey and enhancing the stakes of her internal conflicts. The relationships, particularly with Anouk and Fran, ground the story in a way that feels authentic and engaging.
That said, the structure didn’t always work in the book’s favor. The recurring flashbacks to the central traumatic event became increasingly difficult to engage with. While they initially added intrigue, they soon started to feel repetitive and, at times, slowed the narrative momentum. As the story progressed, these sections grew more tedious, and by the time the climax arrived, it lacked the emotional impact it seemed to be building toward. Condensing these flashbacks into one or two more focused chapters might have preserved their significance without disrupting the flow of the story.
Additionally, it was harder to connect with the characters and storyline in Cabo. With such strong, present-day dynamics between Celine, Anook, and Fran, those sections felt somewhat distant and less compelling by comparison.
Even with these structural challenges, Crash Into Me remains a powerful and memorable novel. Its emotional core, cultural insight, and richly drawn protagonist more than carry it through. I’d rate it 4.5 stars, a great read that could have been even stronger with a tighter narrative approach.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publsiher for an ARC of this title.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2 Stars!

I’ve been a huge fan of Robinne Lee ever since The Idea of You, so when I heard she was working on a new novel, I was immediately excited and definitely hoping I’d get the chance to read it early. Crash into Me has been on my radar for quite some time, and I was really looking forward to diving into it.

One thing Robinne Lee does so well — and continues to do here — is create an atmosphere. The writing is absolutely beautiful, and the settings feel incredibly luxe and immersive. From the cool, polished backdrop of Los Angeles to the sophistication of France, with glimpses of glamorous photo shoots in Cabo and Cecilia’s connection to the art world, there’s such a richness to it all. It feels elevated, cinematic, and easy to get lost in.

At the center of the story is Cecilia, whose life becomes intertwined with the enigmatic Anouk. I completely understood Cecilia’s draw to her — Anouk has this magnetic, almost intoxicating presence, and I found myself just as charmed by her in the beginning. Their relationship is layered, complicated, and often hard to look away from.

As the story went on, my feelings shifted a bit. I found myself connecting less with Anouk, which made parts of the story feel more distant than I wanted them to. There were also moments where the pacing slowed, and I wished the narrative had been a little more focused.

That said, I really appreciated how much this book takes on. It explores so many important and relevant themes — identity, race, sexuality, relationships, and the way our backgrounds shape who we are. At times it felt like a lot to hold all at once, and I think narrowing the focus slightly could have made those themes land even more powerfully. But I did admire the ambition behind it.

I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and felt like it wrapped things up in a satisfying and thoughtful way.
Overall, while this wasn’t a perfect read for me, I still really enjoyed it. The writing, the atmosphere, and the complexity of the relationships made it a compelling experience. Robinne Lee is such a talented writer, and I’ll absolutely continue to pick up whatever she writes next.

So many thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for gifting me an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who absolutely loved Robinne Lee’s debut, The Idea of You, I was excited to dive into her latest novel. With such high expectations, I was hopeful for another captivating story, but unfortunately, Crash Into Me didn’t quite meet the mark for me.

The novel centers on Cecilia Chen, a wife and mother who moves with her family from Paris to Los Angeles. Soon after their arrival, a car accident reunites her with Anouk Ferrand—a striking model Cecilia met on a photo shoot in Mexico two decades earlier. The story explores themes of self-discovery, the complexities of marriage, and the lingering impact of past relationships, all set against the backdrop of LA’s glamorous yet toxic social scene.

While the premise was intriguing and Lee’s writing style remains elegant, I found the narrative bogged down by its heavy focus on race, identity, and political issues. These themes often overshadowed the characters and plot, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. I was hoping for the same emotional intensity and romantic tension that made The Idea of You so compelling, but I didn’t find that here.

As for the audiobook narration, Robinne Lee narrates the story herself. While author narration can be a great fit for memoirs, I felt it didn’t quite work for this novel. The delivery came across as somewhat flat and lacked the emotional nuance I usually enjoy from other narrators. Additionally, the sections read in French were hard for me to connect with.

Overall, while Crash Into Me had promise, it didn’t resonate with me the way I’d hoped. Fans of Lee’s debut may want to adjust their expectations going in and perhaps they will enjoy this one more than I did.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced listening copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

[Shaztwirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly, thanks to NetGalley UK for the Advanced Reader Copy.
This is going to be a difficult review to write. I've lost sleep over it and written it 10 times in my head throughout the day. But here goes...

I both loved and loathed this book. As a standalone piece of women's fiction it is superbly written. Poetic in its beauty. Sophisticated and classy. Educated and educational. It was a study on the pressures of the "industry" in terms of beauty, age and race. An insight into raising black, brown, mixed race children in a time when racism and police brutality was becoming more prevalent. There were definitely takeaways from the story that can and should be discussed.

However...the plot is weak, "revenge" half-assed and resolution practically non-existant. To say I was disappointed by the ending would be an understatement and yet, given the style of the book I wasn't entirely surprised.

Like I said, as a standalone, this is beautiful. But most people reading this book will have been diehard fans of the author's insanely successful previous book The Idea of You. Anyone expecting another sophisticated but raunchy romance or love story will be truly disappointed. This is not that book. The only similarity is its setting in the art world. The "romance" is flat, emotionless. The raunch is lacking. There is nothing about this book you could have predicted if you're a fan of TIOY.

I would like to know what was going through the author's mind when she wrote this story. Was it the pressure to just get another story out there? To prove she had more than 1 book in her? The fear or writing a book in the same genre as TIOY and being seen as a 1 trick pony? Was it purely a vanity project? As a fan, I'd have been happy with her sticking to the same genre. Successful tropes are successful tropes for a reason.

P.S. Trigger warnings for cheating and sexual assault.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is definitely not what I would categorize as a romance, its more of a realistic look at a womans life and the complexities that come with it.

Cecilia Chen is many things, an established artist, wife of an successful director, mother to two amazing kids and Jamaican-Chinese immigrant. She has lived the last two decades in France, and recently found out that her husband had an affair. What follows is a journey of finding herself, moving to LA and absorbing American culture, reconnecting with old friends and some learning of how deep some wounds can be.

I enjoyed Cecilia, she is an amazing mother and artist, who is dealt a rough hand with her husband. While I did not agree with some of the choices she made, I understood her reasoning. She is human and the author did not shy away from showing the good and bad of Cecilia and her different relationship.

I feel that alot of good is done by showing the real Hollywood like the author did, since Cecilia is Jamaican-Chinese immigrant, the way she encounters people in LA is very different than a usual Hollywood book. She encounters different aspects of what is sadly the American norm and is trying to do right by her children even if it impacts her marriage.

Her relationship with Anouk Ferrand is twisted with such deep history that unravels throughout and I was not expecting such a twisted tale. The decision and friendship between these two is such an interesting part of the book, how they have met, the ignoring of the past, the inevitable true life consequences of some decisions. Overall this book takes you on a journey, and while it can be a hard one, it was worth it in the end.

[Emily G · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll start by saying The Idea of You by Robinne is one of my all time favorite books. I was so excited to read her much anticipated sophomore novel. On the whole, this book did not capture me the same way as TIOY. I think part of it is because I did not go into it knowing what to expect. This book is NOT a romance, or even a love story. It covers many heavier topics, so I’d recommend checking trigger warnings.

Things I liked -
• I really enjoy Robinne’s writing. It was so wonderful to be back reading her words on paper.
• The dual timeline added built in intrigue in trying to piece together what happened to lead the FMC to where she is today.
• The robust writing about the art world. Fascinating and engrossing! Those scenes were some of my favorites in the book.
• There are several TIOY winks and Easter eggs that were SO FUN to pick up on as a devoted reader.

Things I didn’t like - (sigh)
• I do not like problematic/unlikeable main characters. And unfortunately, I found myself annoyed at Cecilia for two thirds of the book.
• The romantic relationship felt flat and one sided to me. I just didn’t care about Anouck. And also felt myself annoyed by her behavior at times too.
• The beginning felt slow (maybe intentionally so?).
• The ending left much to be desired. I know Robinne isn’t known to wrap things up nicely with a bow, but this felt like she just stopped writing in the middle of the storyline?

All in all, I think this book will work for some people and not for others. This book offers A LOT to discuss regarding race in America, moral behavior, the 1% bubble, art, and beauty - So I do think it would make an interesting book club discussion.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.