The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Book Review

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.

Hello Loves!

So today’s review is from a book that I read with my book club last month. It was a fun and quick YA contemporary romance. I actually really ended up enjoying it which surprised me because I don’t usually read a whole lot of contemporary. I used toe delve into it more when I was in high school, but fantasy and sic fi have always been my loves. Well, no more! This book has definitely spurred a renewed interest in contemporaries! Read below for my full review on this fun read!

Also, if you’re sort on time, then check out my Need to Know section for a quick summary of my review!

Ownership: Borrowed from the library
Genre: YA contemporary / romance
Publisher: Poppy (Little, Brown & Company)
Published: 2012 
Pages: 236
Price: $17.99 (hardcover);
Place: Amazon, B & N, Book Depository, GoodReads, IndieBound

My Rating:

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith follows 17-year-old Hadley over a 24-hr. period. Hadley has to fly to London to attend her father’s wedding to a new woman, but she misses her flight. So begins a 24 hours of struggles both internal and external. While waiting for the next flight out of JFK airport, Hadley meets Oliver-a too-good-to-be-true boy who somehow ends up sitting net to her on her new flight to London. Over one long flight they get to know each other, but then after landing they quickly get separated. But will fate intervene so that they might see each other again?

What I loved most about this book was Hadley’s relationship with her dad. Smith does a wonderful job of interweaving past memories as Hadley begins to face the anger she has been harboring for her father ever since her parents got divorced. Seeing her struggle through her feelings for him, but also seeing her interact with him and start to forgive him and let go of the anger was really touching and awesome to see within the story. I really loved these parts of the story — when things were focused on Hadley and her struggling feelings involving her father.

The romance was cute as well. Totally  unbelievable, but cute nonetheless. You’ll definitely have to go into the book with suspended disbelief. I thought the romance part was the perfect pick me up. Something to put you in a good mood because it was sweet and innocent and had a somewhat happy ending in true YA fashion. With this said, some people might find this story a little too cheesy which I understand. I think I was just in the mood for cheesy 🙂 I usually am to be honest lol.

With that all said, I was a little disappointed in Oliver. He seemed a bit too static for me, which is why this book is only getting 4.5 stars instead of the full 5 stars. He was the typical British boy with the hot accent, but slightly awkward hotness that seems so typical of American meets British boy storylines. Yes Oliver has his own things going on, but he seemed idk lacking in some way. I wanted more from his character and instead he just seemed one-dimenisonal.

Overall, I ended up really loving the book. I loved the sweet romance and the heavy insights of father-daughter relationships. This book I think would hit home for readers who’ve experienced divorce. I haven’t personally experienced my parents going through a divorce, but this book still had me crying at parts. Smith does such a wonderful job of capturing these thoughts and feelings and stages of anger (as my book club members who’ve experienced divorce can attest to). I really connected with Hadley and loved her as a main character. Also I loved how fast-paced the novel was. I read it in one day which is something I haven’t done in a while. Grant it there are only 236 pages so it’s a short read, but still. I didn’t get tripped up or want to put it down at all.

So what I’m saying is, if you like contemporary and you’re looking for a quick, fun read with some cheesy love, but also tons of depth then pick up this book stat!

• The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith follows 17-year-old Hadley over a 24-hr. period. Hadley has to fly to London to attend her father’s wedding to new woman. After missing her first flight, she meets Oliver and ends up spending the flight with him. They get separated after landing, but maybe fate has plans to reunite them?
• What I loved most about this book was Hadley’s relationship with her dad. Smith does a wonderful job of interweaving past memories as Hadley begins to face the anger she has been harboring for her father ever since her parents got divorced.
• The romance was cute as well. Totally  unbelievable, but cute nonetheless. You’ll definitely have to go into the book with suspended disbelief.
• With that all said, I was a little disappointed in Oliver. He seemed a bit too static for me.
• 4.5 STARS!! Overall, I ended up really loving the book. I loved the sweet romance and the heavy insights of father-daughter relationships. This book I think would hit home for readers who’ve experienced divorce. If you like contemporary and you’re looking for a quick, fun read with some cheesy love, but also tons of depth then pick up this book stat!

Some Favorite Quotes!

In the end, it’s not the changes that will break your heart; it’s that tug of familiarity.

“I like how you’re neither here nor there. And how there’s nowhere else you’re meant to be while waiting. You’re just sort of…suspended.” – Oliver

Because the truth is that now that he’s here, she can’t imagine it any other way. Now that he’s here, she worries that crossing an entire ocean with someone between them might be something like torture. (p.46).

There’s no real distinction between last night and this morning, of course–just dark bleeding into light–but even so, everything feels horribly different. (p.88).

He’s like a song she can’t get out of her head. Hard as she tries, the melody of their meeting runs through her mind on an endless loop, each time as surprisingly sweet as the last, like a lullaby, like hymn, and she doesn’t think she could ever get tired of hearing it. (p. 110).

Thanks for stopping by! Let me know if you’ve read this book and your thoughts on Hadley & Oliver, Hadley & her father! Have you read any other books by Jennifer E. Smith? Are you a fan of YA contemporaries? Let me know some of your favorites below! 

As always, Happy Reading!

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