The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. SmithPublished by: Little Brown Books for Young Readers on January 2, 2012
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 236
Source: Purchased
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Rating: ★★★★½
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. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother 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 sitting in her row.
A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?
Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.
Well this book was adorable! ..And not nearly as cute and fluffy as I thought it was going to be. It had a more serious undertone, that I really enjoyed!
I was nervous going into this book. I mean, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Love at first sight? Doesn’t that sound like insta-love? But miraculously, this book was nothing like insta-love. I suppose it probably helps that the entire book takes place over a period of 24 hours, so even though it’s a short amount of time, it feels like a long time to the reader. But contrary to what I was expecting, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight wasn’t all hearts and daisies.
This book takes on one of the saddest topics: divorce. And not just divorce, but watching your father move on and start a new life with a new woman. That’s absolutely terrifying! The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight takes us through Hadley’s relationship with her father and her reluctance to accept his new life and fiancée. I really felt for Hadley. I know divorce is a sad topic, but man, I really got invested in her fears and disappointments. I was mad at her father the same way she was, and then maybe a little forgiving towards the end.
On top of that, we have a sweet and tender romance. This book really is about two people meeting on pure chance, and then unknowingly supporting each other through monumental events in their lives. And by the end we didn’t have two people proclaiming their undying love for each other (like insta-love). We just had two people who were so happy to have met each other. There’s something special about just being so grateful for another person’s presence and support.
It was so easy to get lost in The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. The writing was thoughtful and meaningful, and full of highlight-able passages. This book was everything I hoped it would be, and it certainly lives up to the hype! I seriously don’t know why it took me so long to read it. If you’ve thought about it but haven’t gotten to it yet, dive right in! Now!
The Verdict
I just got this one from the library today after purchasing This is what happy looks like. Which one do you think is better? But they both look real cute! Nice to hear that it wasn’t insta-love.
Lovely review, Ashley! <33
I liked Statistical Probability a little better, but I still really enjoyed both! I gave Happy 4 stars (as opposed to 4.5).
This sounds pretty awesome, actually, and it’s already on my TBR list. I love your review, and I’m now even more excited to read the book, knowing it isn’t all love and daisies 🙂
Have a great day, Ashley, and happy reading 🙂
I really hope you like it Lexxie! It’s definitely a good read! 🙂
I am still not sure if this book is for me. But everyone seems to love it. Hmmm, It does sound good. And I have been liking a lot of contemporaries lately. Ugh, why can’t I make a decision?
Lol I totally know the feeling. That happens to me sometimes too. I guess sometimes a book just isn’t your thing, even if everyone else does love it! There have been a few times for me where people rave and rave about a book and I read the synopsis like 6 times but it just never sounds like my kind of thing, so I don’t read it. It does make me wonder if I should just give it a try though…
I LOVED this book!!! So happy to hear you did too! 🙂
I look forward to reading this one. Glad to hear it has some substance to it and isn’t all hearts and daisies!
I absolutely couldn’t agree more. And I like that you put a name to their “love” and so well described it because it’s important that people who haven’t read it understand that this is so not insta-love. Smith writes it in a way that leaves a future, however uncertain, for Hadley and Oliver. It just felt so realistic! Great review. : )
Exactly! It’s not like we get a show to an entire romance and see a “happily ever after”. Instead, it’s like we get a great, in-depth introduction to what will hopefully be an awesome relationship. By the time it ends, it’s still just the beginning, but it leaves off on a really great and satisfying note.
Aww yay, loved this review. I’ve had this on my TBR for a while, was actually going to pick it up today but put it down as I just splurged on Arclight and Golden. Will defo pick it up soon!
I keep hearing amazing things about Golden! I’m dying to read that one. 😀
I’ve been scared to pick this book up, but also curious. 24 hours seems like a short period of time to write about, so I can’t wait to see how it works out! I’m glad that there is more depth in the story 🙂
I was exactly the same way. I was nervous because I was afraid that the 24 hours would mean insta-love. But I think the great thing about this book is that it’s not about a romance that leads to love. It’s about the beginnings of a romance and taking chances in life. So even when we get to the end it’s not corny “I love you so much!!” it’s just two people who are eager to give things a shot, and we get the sense that it’s only the beginning of their journey.. rather than a whole life story crammed into 24 hours, if that makes sense!
I really want to read this one. It’s been on my radar for a while. Great review!
I loved this book too 🙂 One of the best contemporaries I’ve read in a long time.
I know everyone loves this so I need to get around to reading it too to see what the fuss is about :-). And yay for no evil insta love!
Oh yay I’m so happy you loved this one! I felt the same way about it, and I agree, the romance is so sweet and it’s not anything like insta-love, even though you think it is. It’s kind of like the beginning of a healthy relationship right? 🙂 Divorce is a pretty sad topic too, Jennifer is just an amazing writer. I hope you like her other book (This is What Happy Looks Like I think?) if you haven’t read it already.
Fantastic review, Ashley!
PS—I love that “Your Rating” thing you have below the rating you gave it! It’s just so cool!
That’s exactly right! The end of the book isn’t like “We are so in love, happily ever after.” Instead, it’s the beginning of something that could be great, and the book is all about taking chances in order to make that “beginning” happen.
And thanks so much! 🙂
So glad you liked this Ashley! I haven’t read it yet, planning on doing so when I’m on break but I love how it wasn’t instalove yay! I’ve heard it touches quite a bit on divorce so I’m curious to see how Smith handles it. Great review 😀
I loved this one, and I so appreciated that it wasn’t all about the romance (despite the title!) I always appreciate an author who offers complex characters whose lives are filled with friends, families, etc. It was well done; like you, I got really invested in her and her dad’s story. Can’t wait to read more from the author!
I really need to read this! I am all about the support and appreciation someone can provide…
Great review! I loved this book when I read it and I’m satisfied with the ending relationship with her and her father. I can’t wait to read the sequel that just came out 🙂
Paige @ Comfort Books
OH YAAAAAY!!!!! I am glad you liked this one!! I have been wanting to get my hands on it for a while now. It looks adorbs! And I’m so glad you think so! Yes, I’ve heard lots of thoughts on the AT FIRST SIGHT part. But I think it’s all probably and I’m glad this book does a good job of making it work! Woot! I have been such a sucker for adorable contemporaries lately. (gosh, all of May has been full of these reviews.) haha. I need this one!
Awesome-sauce review Asheybaby!!
<33333 yer Inkykins
Yay! I was totally nervous about this because “love at first sight” does NOT sound promising at all. I was so relieved when that didn’t turn out to be the case with this book. And the way Hadley’s story was told? Perfect. It was such a realistic and bittersweet look at divorce, from, as you said, a terrifying angle.
This book sounds so sweet.
Loved this one! Totally liked it better than “Happy!” The romance in this one, though developed in 24 hours seemed more relate-able!
Just started it today and I’m really loving it so far.