Review: Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

publisher: Poppy

release date: January 2nd, 2012

hardcover, 256 pages

intended audience: Young adult

rating:



source: from publisher for honest review

description: Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18C. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Review: For so long, Statistical Probability of Love at First sight was an ideal, a dream, a hope that something would come along a fill the void left by closing the last page of the perfect romance that was Anna & the French Kiss. And while this book was funny, charming, sweetly romantic, and deeply fascinating while you watched Hadley and Oliver connect to each other, it didn't blow me away like I'd hoped. I did, however, genuinely enjoy every second of reading it and loved being reminded that a even the tiniest details of your day, like having to run back into the house for something you forgot, can change everything...can change your fate.

For a story that takes place in a 24 hour period, you really got to know a good deal about Hadley. I really liked her, she was smart, opinionated, and loyal to her mother to a fault. She's been hurt and that shows in her character. I enjoyed watching a little happiness come her way in the form of cute british guy, Oliver, that she almost instantly connects to. The two characters were fun to watch---they were funny together, played so well off of the other's humor, plus Oliver plays a kind of subtle hero in helping distract her from her fear of flying. It was all very sweet.

They delve deeper into their family lives---we get a good insight on what Hadley is going through with her Dad and how she is handling her family situation (this subplot was really one of my favorite parts of the story), but with Oliver I kind of felt it really just skimmed the surface of his story. I did feel that the whole story would have drawn me in more if it had been told in the first-person perspective of Hadley.

All in all, a quick, fun, romantic read. It was like a sweet snapshot memory of a couple telling how they met in a crowded airport years and years ago, and they lived happily ever after---at least that's what I hope happens for Hadley and Oliver beyond the last pages of this book. :)

Jennifer E. Smith's website: www.jenniferesmith.com

Purchase Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight at: Amazon • BN.com • BookDepository • Indiebound

A cute touch! One trailer was made for Hadley:


And one for Oliver! :D