Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

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

Published by Poppy

Genre: YA

$16.99 (US hardback)

236 pages

What it's about (from Goodreads):

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.


My thoughts:
When I was going into this book, I thought it was going to be some sweep you off your feet, perfect meet cute, cheesey love at first sight story. I was so wrong about that.

There was nothing cheesey about this book in the least. Smith took a situation that is possible, but not probable, that could have easily turned into this typical YA chick lit, and turned it into something much more complicated and beautiful.

What I think a person should know going into this book, is that to me, it is more about a girl figuring out family relations and how to deal with heartbreak that only parents can cause. This book is all about a girl figuring out her daddy issues. Normally I don't like to read books with that subject matter. I find them whiny and obnoxious, but this one caught me off guard. I was so caught up in it, I found myself mimicking Hadley. She cried, I cried. She smiled, I smiled and so on. I couldn't help but follow her along. The writing style is what really brought this book to life. It could have gone wrong in so many ways, yet it was oh so right.

Was I head over heals for this book? No, but I really liked it. Liked it enough I did a My Book Boyfriend post about Oliver for it. I'll also think of this book every time I'm at the airport and get stuck next to the overweight, smelly guy, or the exhausted parents with the screaming kids, and think "where is a sexy Brit guy to sweep me off my feet and help me get through this crap."

My rating: 9/10