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

Posted April 9, 2012 by Ames in Reviews | 4 Comments

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

Main Character: Hadley
Love Interest: Oliver
Series: n/a
Author: Facebook|Twitter|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.

The premise for this book definitely stood out for me. I love cute British guys and I was curious to see how Jennifer would pull off these two characters falling for each other in such a short period of time.

Hadley’s day is off to a bad start. A series of things leads to her being 4 minutes late for her flight to England. A flight she doesn’t want to take because she’s furious with her father and the last thing she wants to do is go to his wedding. Fortunately, there is room on the next flight to London but she’ll be arriving minutes before the ceremony – and she’s standing in the wedding party. Ugh.

While she’s waiting for the next flight, Hadley spots Oliver. He’s on his way to London too. He’s going home to visit but he’s going to college in the States. Hadley asks him what he’s studying and I love that he makes up something different every time – hint, the title of the book is something Oliver says. 😛 So Hadley and Oliver get to know each other on the flight. They are kind of using their new friendship as a way to avoid the reason why they’re going to London. Oliver’s reason is not what you think and Hadley wants to avoid thinking about her dad. I really enjoyed this part of the book.

But the whole book doesn’t take place on a plane (which is what I originally thought LOL) and eventually Hadley and Oliver are separated in the airport. Without exchanging information. But hope is not lost. A random overheard comment after the wedding leads Hadley to where Oliver is.

Ok, this book definitely had some depth I was not expecting. What struck me the most was Hadley’s reaction to her father. He’s a professor and he accepted a 6-month teaching position in England. And while he was gone, he fell in love with someone else and divorced Hadley’s mother. I was surprised at my reaction to this. I was pissed off for Hadley! And her mom. I mean, you’re married buster. So this reaction definitely puts me in Hadley’s headspace because why does he get to do whatever the eff he wants and hurts the people he loves and then get his HEA by marrying the hussy? LOL And screw that “you can’t help who you fall in love with” crap. He was married, he should have helped it! Anyway – this sub-plot with Hadley’s father really got to me and I really liked the way this played out.

And Hadley and Oliver. *sigh* Jennifer really did it. She made me believe that these two came to care for each other in a 7 hour flight. Their actions afterwards definitely support that. I thought these two were great characters.

And here’s a passage that I really enjoyed from the book. It takes place when Hadley finds Oliver after her dad’s wedding ceremony:

He nods at the stone bench a few feet away, the rough surface still damp from the earlier rain. They walk over together, heads bowed, the mournful sound of an organ starting up inside the church. Just as she’s about to sit, Oliver motions for her to wait, then whips his jacket off and lays it on the bench.
“Your dress,” he says by way of explanation, and Hadley glances down at herself, frowning at the purple silk as if she’s never seen it before. Something about the gesture cracks her heart open further, the idea that he’d think of something so trivial at a time like this; doesn’t he know she couldn’t care less about the stupid dress? That she’d gladly curl up on the grass for him, make a bed out of the dirt?

I love that and I can’t even explain why. Just something about the emotions going on in this scene really got to me.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was a wonderful read and I highly recommend it. B+!

..and that’s your scoop!

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Book cover and blurb credit: http://barnesandnoble.com