Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

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

Published 2 January 2012 by Poppy

236 pages

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. (goodreads)

My Review:

What an enjoyable book to read. I literally sat down one evening and read it from start to finish. You immediately want to know what will happen to the main protagonist. Will she be happy again?

TSPoLaFS (to shorten the title) is about Hadley. She is struggling. She cannot come to terms with her father leaving her and her mother for another life in another country, let alone him finding a new wife. She struggles with what her idea of family is and how to cope with all that is happening around her. She feels left on the outside looking into a life she is not too sure she likes at all. She is drawn into the wedding day plans of her fathers second marriage, begrudgingly. When she misses her flight by like four minutes, the fates give her Oliver! Yes, Oliver with the cute face, witty conversation and lets not forget the English accent! He is heading home for an occasion as well but doesn't really share much about that. Oliver helps Hadley feel at ease and talk through some of her anxiety about her father and his fast approaching new life. Once disembarking the plane, she and Oliver lose track of each other and Hadley must embark on her journey alone.

In this young adult contemporary I was actually quite pleased with the changes in Hadley. She is a bit selfish in the beginning, only concerned with how the changes are affecting her and without her consent. With a little help and from her reaching within, she can grow past that and realize that life moves on with or without you. By the end of TSPoLaFS, Hadley has taken the steps needed to heal and forgive and maybe even snag a really great guy in the process. You will just have to read the book to see if she and Oliver find each other again in vast England. ;) 4STARS!