The Idea Of You Movie Made 1 Major Book Character Completely Unrecognizable (& It Worked)

Summary The Idea of You movie improved by aging Izzy from 12 to 16, giving her a more mature and relatable personality.

Izzy's response to Hayes and Solen's relationship in the movie is more understanding and supportive compared to the book.

The changes made to Izzy in the movie version enhanced the mother-daughter dynamic and added depth to the film's themes.

Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine’s romantic comedy, The Idea of You, made a change to a major book character, and it made the movie better. Based on the book by Robinne Lee of the same name, The Idea of You has been receiving great reviews because of its honest portrayal of a complex romantic relationship. Even though the movie focuses on the whirlwind romance between Hayes and Solene, The Idea of You still manages to be more than a typical rom-com by delving into major themes that several couples grapple with.

The Idea of You’s ending is different from the book, but the filmmakers mostly stuck to the source material. However, it is worth noting that the ending is not the only thing that sets The Idea of You movie and novel apart. When a movie is based on a book, it's common practice for filmmakers to make changes to some characters for various reasons. This may include making the character more relatable to audiences so that they can add a uniqueness to the movie that the source material is lacking.

Related How Old Are Anne Hathaway & Nicholas Galitzine? The Idea Of You's Age-Gap Explained Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine star in the age-gap romantic comedy movie The Idea of You, but how old are they compared to their characters?

Izzy In The Idea Of You Movie Is Completely Different From Her Book Character

In The Idea of You book, Izzy is a 12-year-old middle schooler who is obsessed with August Moon. However, in the movie adaptation, Izzy is a 16-year-old high school sophomore who thinks August Moon is “So seventh grade,” and is into feminist musicians. The age difference between the book version of Izzy and the movie version gives her a completely different personality and level of maturity. As a 12-year-old, Izzy is not old enough to understand the complexities of romantic relationships.

Izzy’s response to Hayes and Solene’s relationship in Lee’s version of the story is vastly different from her reaction in the movie. In the book, Izzy finds Hayes and Solene kissing and is angry with her mother. Her outrage is further magnified by the fact that she is relentlessly teased about her mother’s new boyfriend at school. However, the movie version of Izzy is more understanding of Haye’s and Solene’s relationship. Despite being initially shocked by their romance, Izzy is supportive of Solene and just wants her mother to be happy.

Related 10 Biggest Changes The Idea Of You Movie Makes To The Book With any movie adaptation of a beloved book, changes are made to fit the film format and please audiences, and The Idea of You had some big ones.

Izzy's Changes In The Idea Of You Helped The Movie's Themes

The fact that the movie version of The Idea of You aged Izzy served the story well. When Izzy becomes aware of Solene and Haye’s relationship, she comes to her mother’s aid instead of being angry at Solene for keeping her relationship a secret. At 16, Izzy was capable of recognizing that the media was treating Solene horribly because she was older than Hayes.

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Further, Izzy’s maturity created a space for her and Solene to have open conversations about relationships that they wouldn’t have had if she had been a 12-year-old. The mother and daughter have a much better dynamic, which is reflected in the way that Izzy stands up for Solene amidst the media circus. Additionally, as a high schooler, Izzy had aged out of her obsession with August Moon, which made it easier for Solene to be with Hayes in The Idea of You.