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

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Published by Poppy (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
Pages: 236
Ages: Young Adult
Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository
Publishers Summary:

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.

Hadley Sullivan has been dreading this day for months. It’s the day she’ll finally meet the woman who is not only marrying her father and will soon be her new step-mother, but is also the reason her father chose to stay in London leaving his family behind. In a few moments of not-so-unintentional delay Hadley finds herself in an airport terminal watching as her plane leaves without her. A few minutes was all it took and now she’s on another plane sitting next to a boy who could change everything. But Oliver has his own reasons for not wanting to go back home to London as well and it’s not at all what Hadley expects.

As many of you can probably guess I picked up The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith entirely based on the numerous recommendations of fellow very enthusiastic book reviewers. There were so many of my friends excited about this unique take on love at first site that I could hardly resist not picking it up. In many ways it reminded me a lot of Dash and Lily’s Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan with it’s quirky central characters and their non-stop banter. This was a read that was incredibly easy to pick up, read within a few short hours and feel completely revived by the possibilities of it all.

Of course at it’s core The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a story about love and the possibility of making something unimaginable work. For Hadley the loss of her father to another woman is something more than she can handle, even after meeting her new step-mother and discovering how lovely she may indeed be. It’s only through her interactions with Oliver and the realization of the true reason he’s come to London that Hadley begins to see life for what it may be. Though the story was relatively short at under two hundred pages, I was pleasantly surprised by how well the plot and story line came together. Would I have loved more time with Hadley and Oliver? Sure! But in many ways I think more time would have slowed down the pace of the story and that would have been a shame.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith is truly a story about love and finding that love in the most unlikely of circumstances. This was not only a fun, quick read but also one that I’d easily recommend to nearly everyone I know. Who doesn’t love a great love story? Especially one filled with a few complications like continents, divorce and death? Hadley and Oliver’s love story is one readers will swoon over and one I know I’m still thinking about days after completing my reading.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 12 and up. A quick paced, delightful love story with a few complications thrown in to bring it to life and make it a compelling read!

Find The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads

Jennifer E. Smith recently had another fantastic book come out called The Storm Makers! I’ll be highlighting it later this month with an interview featuring Jennifer’s editor for The Storm Makers and I promise it’s one you won’t want to miss! Until then, here’s a little more about this fantastic new middle grade novel:

Enter the world of The Storm Makers, where there’s magic behind every forecast.

What starts as an ordinary summer turns exciting and perilous for twins Ruby and Simon when strange occurrences begin happening on their farm — sudden gusts of wind, rainstorms, and even tornado warnings — that seem eerily timed to Simon’s emotions.

Then a stranger arrives and tells the twins that Simon is a Storm Maker — part of a clandestine group of people entrusted with controlling and taming the weather — and that he is in great danger. Soon Simon and Ruby must race against the clock as they try to master Simon’s powers in time to stop a rogue Storm Maker’s treacherous — and potentially deadly — plans.

In this thrilling new adventure, loyalties can shift as quickly as the wind . . . and the ordinary can turn extraordinary in the blink of an eye.

Find The Storm Makers by Jennifer E. Smith at the following spots:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Powell’s Books | Indiebound | Book Depository | Goodreads

Today’s post is part of our month long celebration of all things Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Make sure to stop by the LB Teens Site for more information about this title and more. For more information about our Book Publishers 101 feature take a look at this month’s opening post.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for coordinating many of this month’s features and reviews! Connect with them on Twitter and on Facebook!
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