Meet Cute • The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Poppy
Publication Date: January 2, 2012
Source: Borrowed from Carmela (Thanks!) || Hardcover

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.

THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT does not just come prettily packaged and with that extremely long mouthful of a title - it's a story that's easy to read, but that also has a lot of heart. It perfectly satisfied my craving for a story that was cute and sweet, but still with a lot of bite to it (considering the familial issues it tackles). Plus, it featured a British boy and had part of the story set in London - definitely a major plus for an Anglophile like me! 

The Characters 

Hadley is definitely a wonderful narrator, and any reader will enjoy getting an in-depth look at her thoughts and emotions. Her story is not just about meeting a gorgeous Brit on a flight to London; it's actually even more about her relationship with his father and his soon-to-be wife. Seeing her transformation from someone who was bitter and angry and entirely uncomfortable with her lot in life and into someone who has matured, and found forgiveness and happiness. 

Oliver, on the other hand, is definitely crush-worthy. He's smart, he's sweet and he's definitely a gentleman. And, to add to all his good points, he's BRITISH. That makes him a billion times more crush-worthy than anything else, in my personal opinion. 

I also enjoyed reading about Hadley's parents - her dad and her mom and even her soon-to-be stepmom. Instead of the usual absentee or uninvolved parental figure, Hadley's parents were definitely a part of the entire story. Her mom's concern, her dad's love and her stepmother's acceptance all helped highlight the family aspect of this novel. 

The Story 

The best part of this novel is the fact that it combines two things: it's a bit of a love story, but mostly, it's about a girl's personal journey as she learns to accept the changes in her family. 

I've always had a special place for novels about families. My family is very important to me - so it always warms my heart to read novels that focus on that kind of relationship. No two families are alike, so it's also interesting that this novel tackles a family situation that I haven't personally experienced. I think Jennifer E. Smith did a great job writing about Hadley and her family. It really was very tastefully done. 

And the love story is something that simmers in the background - but that doesn't make it any less present. I was giddy for Hadley and Oliver the entire time I was reading, so that definitely says something about Jennifer E. Smith's ability to write a romantic relationship. 

The Bottom Line 

Everyone should definitely read THE STATISTICAL PROBABILITY OF LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT! It's not just a cute little love story between Oliver and Hadley (although that's definitely a part of it!). It's about family and the importance of forgiveness and learning to be happy, despite circumstances that might not seem necessarily ideal. Jennifer E. Smith has written a story that's sure to captivate and satisfy most readers out there.