The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

SUMMARY - Flying to London may be most girls' dream, but not Hadley's. Not when she's flying out to be a bridesmaid in her own father's wedding. Even worse - she misses her flight by four minutes - ensuring she'll most likely be late. What she doesn't expect: she's helped by a boy named Oliver - and seated next to him as well. Because of this, the next 24 hours will change her very reason for existing. MY THOUGHTS - This is one of the best books I have ever read in my entire life. I rarely speak those words, and when I do, I really really for reals mean it. It usually means I bawled like a baby (as in this case) and it sometimes means my perspective was changed, altered, for the better (this is also the case). It is extremely difficult to write a review for a book as brilliant as this. I'm feeling quite inadequate, like I don't really know how to put into words my expressly positive feelings for this story. Jennifer E. Smith is a new author to me, but I assure you: I have plans to purchase every single book she's ever written or will write. These plans will, I assure you upon my life, come to pass. Smith's writing is like - GAH! The prose in this book is unbelievably GORGEOUS. I was completely swept away. STUNNING. CHARACTER NOTES - Hadley. HADLEY. She's way cool. Despite the goings on of her life, she's just completely awesome. I adore her to pieces. I was quite disappointed when I realized I can't actually be her best friend in real life. I love her that much. Her growth, the emotion she felt, how she handled every event, how her emotions developed throughout the story - I was completely enthralled, under the spell of her gorgeous third person POV narration. And her name? Definitely going on my top five favorite girl names list. Then there's the matter of Oliver. He's so much fun...like, beyond reason - and totally realistic at the same time. He has his own secrets and sorrows that are a part of him, but do not make him who he is. The slow, yet quick, progression of his relationship with Hadley made me bubble over with joy. I really really really need to marry a guy who will draw ducks on napkins for me. Oliver took my breath away more times that I can count. No really - my breath caught more than a few times! Hadley's father Andrew amazed me with his complexity. I hated and loved him at the same time. He left Hadley and her mom for a British woman...and yet I love who he is. He and Charlotte really added something beautiful to Hadley's journey. I loved every moment. I also love how Oliver is so much like Andrew. I don't know if that was intentional, but it sure was natural. They are both such free spirits, with great imaginations that veer toward the silly side. Such a neat dynamic! STORY NOTES - You'd think that not much can happen in 24 hours, but Mrs. Smith assures you, it can. A LOT can happen in 24 hours. A lot of beautiful things. I love how natural it is. The story progresses realistically. The relationship between Hadley and Oliver is never cheesy, but is, instead, completely realistic. It is NOT insta-love. It is, rather, like the old lady on the plane says, that a few hours with someone you love can feel like a blessed few years. This illustration, executed so perfectly, is beautiful. I love that nothing is perfect. There are perfect moments, but these moments are made perfect by their imperfections. Toilet paper on a little boy's shoe, Hadley's feet being stomped on during a father-daughter dance, tears at the sight of someone you love. The situation with Hadley's dad is hard. I was hoping Hadley wouldn't be made to seem like the bad guy for being bitter - her father left them. So I was stunned into happiness when both Hadley and her father confess. Such a beautiful scene. Right about where I started crying, actually. And I didn't stop until long after the book had come to a close. Normally, I don't do short books, because I usually feel jipped by the length. SO not the case here. This book has everything - everything good, that is. And nothing bad. The end is completely satisfying, so beautiful and breathtaking and consistent, tying off all loose ends and boosting even more tears. It's true - I'm in love with this book. SUMMING IT UP - ........................ It's one of those. The ones you can't summarize or phrase or recommend enough. You have to do the reading now, the experiencing and the living. Please, everyone - BUY THIS BOOK!! (And my sister, who read this book in almost one sitting, interjects that SHE gets Oliver. HA! AS IF!) For the Parents - Two, maybe three, minor swear words. A couple of kisses - no details. Talk of an affair. In reality, nothing to be worried about. Recommended 12+

~4/5 [Taken from my blog.] So, I'm a little disappointed, and upset, about this book. (Which is all my fault, really, not the book's.) I was expecting it to be amazing; I was hoping it would be amazing. Everyone else seems to have liked it, and it really did seem like my type of book. But I wasn't as impressed, or in love, as I thought I would be. It was good, but it just wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It's about Hadley, who is taking a plane over to Europe, where she is to be the bridesmaid at her father's wedding. She's still upset with her father because of the divorce, and she hasn't seen him in a year, and so is unhappy about having to go. But then she misses her plane, and is almost late to the wedding, but that's okay because she ends up meeting this boy on the plane. So, I did like Hadley. I liked reading about her, and I found that I related to her rather well. (Particularly with her dad. With how she felt about her dad after, not at the beginning.) And I just generally liked her thoughts on things. It was fun, being in her head. And I liked her and Oliver. Oliver was fun, and sweet, and they were cute together. And I think I was expecting something else, or something? Because some of it seemed more, on Hadley's part, like when you meet someone, or just really talk to someone, for the first time, and you expect something more. But then again, I feels like that was purposeful, and so when she found out that he was feeling the same, that they both felt that deeper connection between them, it was even more special. Because she really liked him, but she was unsure because they'd barely known each other, and it was nice to find out that he liked her, too. Because I do feel like there was a connection between them, and there really was some good chemistry between the two. (I liked there conversations, especially. And there was even some good kissing. And, bonus, this isn't a story where they're from different places, and so how will it ever work out?, because they live within the same vicinity, and are only going to visit the same place.) Hadley's parents, too, are awesome. Her mom is sweet, and her dad, while what he did at first was very uncool, was still totally awesome. I was a little afraid at first, but she had a really nice talk with him, and it was so heartwarming, and even the woman he's marrying is nice. I was afraid at the start of the book that, since it's only over a twenty-four hour period, it would only show her time with Oliver, and them talking and getting things out, even though that seemed like a long time to be on a plane. But it wasn't. She went to the wedding, and found him again, and several things happened, so we actually get to see the things work out. I did really like this book. It was cute, and fun, and deep, and it was told really well, what with going to past memories and then to the present. But I think some of my lackluster feelings for it, is because I put off reading it. I wanted to read it really bad, so I put it off to read some other things (you know, for motivation), and then when I finally got to it, I tried to prolong my reading, to savor it, and instead, I think I lessened the excitement, the experience of it. I'm upset about this, because I was really excited for it, and I think I could have been more excited for it while reading it as well. The ending was good, too. It was very sweet for all of the characters, and pretty much everything worked out very well, and I liked it. It was sweet and cute and mostly fluffy, but it also had depth, and relate-able/good characters, who I liked. It was really well done, and I am looking forward to reading more of Smith's books in the future.

Ah, airports. On one side there's something mystifying about airports; missed chances, a stranger glancing for far too long, spit second smiles... and on the other side, there's something really really irritating about them; lots of waiting, crowds and the ickyness hanging in the air. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight mixes both of these things together, perfectly. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight wasn't a fluffy lovey-dovey read like I thought it would be. It was much heavier than that. Long story short, Hadley hates her dad and at that moment, she also hates her mom, just a little bit for sending off to the other side of the world to see her father marry a woman Hadley has never met. I think that's pretty good grounds for a seventeen year old to hate her parents, I mean, if I were Hadley, I'd be pissed. Along the way she meets a strange boy named Oliver. Hadley has a pretty fantastic relationship with her parents, you know, prior to hating them. It was hard to tell who she was closer to. It was obvious she was daddy's little girl but since the divorce, she was also her mother's best friend and it's nice to see a book in YA where the kid gets along great with (both) their parents. Hadley herself I think needed this trip. She needed this trip to understand. To figure out what she wanted in her own life herself and she needed it to heal. Oliver was an interesting character. He was funny, kind, a total gentleman but also totally mysterious. We meet Oliver and he seems like he's this happy cheerful guy and as the 24hrs goes on, we see that he had his own problems to deal with that led him to London. We see Oliver break down and that's not something you usually see in the male main character of a YA book, so it was refreshing. It helped make Oliver seem real. While The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight wasn't light and fluffy or what I expected it to be, it was still an enjoyable read.

http://theinkgobbler.blogspot.hk/2013/07/book-review-statistical-probability-of.html I think I've found my new favourite author for summer reads. After falling head over heels in love with "This Is What Happy Looks Like", I knew I had to read more of Jennifer E. Smith's novels--they just fill you with hope and appreciation for the everyday magic in our lives. "The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight" caught my eye while browsing her works, both for its stellar reviews and its endearing title. Maybe I should've saved the book a little more, but I found myself greedily inhaling this story, and loving every single page of it. Today should've been one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Not only is her dad marrying his new love of his life in London, but Hadley's also missed her flight to the wedding--by four, short minutes. But as she's stuck at the crowded JFK airport waiting for the next flight, Hadley meets what has to be the perfect boy. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's sitting in her row. A long night on the plane passes in a blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. But can fate--and the uncanny quirks of timing--intervene to bring them together once more? One of the things that make "Statistical Probability" so enjoyable are the incredibly realistic and relatable characters that you unfailingly identify with. Hadley's an undeniable normal girl with a fairly normal life and issues that a lot of teenagers can relate to. She lives with her newly single mom, and struggles with her feelings of hurt and betrayal, and of love, toward her dad. She has her shortcomings like every human being, like not having a filter when she gets angry, and, overall, is not a perfect person. I mean, who's ever heard of a perfect person? And that's what makes Ms. Smith's books so compelling--the sheer believability of her characters, despite the otherworldly tinge in their everyday happenings. The same can be said about Oliver, whose character gains more and more depth as the story progresses. Sure, he may seem like an easygoing, charming British guy, but Hadley and the readers find that there's definitely more to him than meets the eye, making him a truly three-dimensional, engaging character that you can't help but fall for. Plot-wise, I felt like "Statistical Probability" was a little more realistic than the storyline of "This Is What Happy Looks Like"--but I'm going to stop myself there and not compare two entirely separate books. I feel like the main reason this story reaches out to us so much--just like its characters--is the fact that what happens to Hadley and Oliver can very much happen to us one day. I mean, two people meeting in an airport because one of them missed her flight due to a series of seemingly insignificant events? That could happen to anyone. And there are people all around us, strangers we've never talked to, but with one tiny event can alter what happens after it in unimaginable ways. That's what I love about "Statistical Probability": The touch of fate that gives our otherwise uneventful lives some hope and magic. I do have to admit, however, that there were times when things were a little bit clichéd and predictable--but maybe that's how life is sometimes. Ms. Smith's writing cannot go unmentioned when talking about "Statistical Probability". I remember finding myself completely enchanted by her lyrical prose, and the writing in this novel doesn't disappoint. As always, the words strung together into sentences, and then into paragraphs and chapters and so on, are evocative and elegant, yet simple at the same time. Ms. Smith uses small, striking images to conjure up the reader's emotions and memories, and then through those reader's recollections, establishes an undeniably personal connection between her story and the reader's own life. It truly tugs at your heartstrings, in ways that are both bitter and sweet, and that kind of writing is just truly magical in its own way. All in all, "The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight" is a must-read, with relatable characters, beautiful, evocative prose, and a reminder that there's magic in ordinary life. This novel left me feeling refreshed and hopeful for what's to come in life, and I highly, highly recommend this book for anyone who needs a little renewal of hope, and faith, to brighten their days. Rating: 5/5

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a quick, fun, breath of fresh air. I didn't have any real expectations going in to this reading, other than wanting a bit of an escape. Being an extreme skeptic when it comes to the whole idea of love at first sight. I was worried there was going to be a horrid case of insta-love (in which I'd groan and gripe about later), followed by some lame story to build around it. What I found was a touching, surprisingly real story that was not only entertaining, but seemed completely plausible. Admittedly, whilst reading I had flashbacks to a situation that was kind of similar. I won't go into details, but this is how I wish I had treated the situation. That sounds weird. Let me semi-explain. Well, I met a guy on a (rather short) flight. We had a great conversation, accompanied by some flying sparks. When the "moment" came, I chickened out and basically ran away. I don't know what would've happened had I jumped at the chance, but it haunts me to this day with how right it had felt and how wrong I was to let it pass. Hopefully I'll get another chance, but I'll never know now. So, like I said, I felt like this novel was a kind of peek at what could have been. Anywhoozle... back to the review! Hadley, though reluctant to go to her father's wedding, is actually quite a relate-able and likable character. She was super close to her father, so it's really no surprise she feels so much anger and betrayal at his leaving and then getting remarried. I really felt quite bad about what she was going through. Then we have Oliver. We don't get to learn too much about him because the story is told from Hadley's point of view, but it's evident that there is something going on with his family as well. He's such a charmer, though. He's smart, friendly and funny. A real gentleman, too. I really found myself wanting to know more about him and his story, just like Hadley. The two of them have undeniable chemistry, though they both are a bit broken when they meet. I thought the progression of the romance was very natural and believable. It didn't seem rushed or fantastical in any way. That's quite the feat when you consider that this novel spans a mere 24 hours. Well done, Jennifer. Well done. I'm actually kind of glad she didn't set the whole novel in the 7 hour flight. It was nice to get to be with Hadley when she got off the plan and started to work through her issues with her father, coming to terms with the way her life is now. Though it is such a short period of time, we get to see her mature and grow right before our eyes. What a great treat! As for that boy I mentioned earlier, we do find out what is going on with him. I really, really like that scene, but I don't want to give anything away. As mentioned in the synopsis, Oliver and Hadley lose one another at the station. Do they ever find one another again? Will fate step in and help these two souls find true love? You'll just have to pick up the book and find out for yourself! I just loved this novel. The pacing was spot on. The characters were engaging and realistic. The story itself was quite believable and touching. I just really enjoyed it. If you're looking for a quick, lovely read, pick up The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. You're bound to be swept away! A favorite quote: "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 a hymn, and she doesn't think she could ever get tired of hearing it."

The statistical probability that I wouldn't like this book were almost slim to none but I'm the kind of the girl that I first read before judging and oh well I'm glad that bought this book on kindle because I think i would have been mad if I would have to waited a week to read such treasure. Hadley misses her flight to London to go his father second wedding which she's not to happy to go since she doesn't know her new stepmother and her dad didn't leave in very good terms. Now she has to wait for three hours for the next plain and in those three hours she meets Oliver, a British boy who studies in U.S. but is going home to do a family thing to, the probability that hanging in the airport and then all the flight (because their seats are almost next to each other) to londongwill change their life is not that big but they are up to a surprise. Do i believe in love at first sight? Not really but this book makes me believe that one moment can change your life forever, for better or worse. This book was certainly about love but also about family, and also about forgiveness. Hadley is young woman, just like you and me who happens having big issues with his dad after going to work in London for just 4 months in London, ended up never coming back. She's mad and hurt with all the good reasons and the way Mrs. Smith describe her feelings is almost heartbreaking you feel for this girl and though personally I haven't been in such situation I can imagine myself feeling the same way if something like that would happen to me. The flashback when she's remembering stuff about her father, when she was little, when she meet him after he left for london were really touching, the author does a wonderful job convey her emotions like I said you feel for Hadley and you want nothing more but for her to get her resolution. Oliver was *sighs* he was sweet, and thoughtful and all charming with his british accent and all that (I could almost hear in my head talking all british), he was the knight in shiny armor but with flaws. He was also passing through his own ordeal which later revelead later on the book and it was describe beautifully, sad but beautifuly. This is the perfect example of a very well developed relationship between the two main character eventhough all the book happens in a span in of 24 hours. Their scenes together were beautiful put together, how they realized they like each other and those hours in the air were changing them and how they were helping each other to be ready to confront whatever was going to happen in London were well thought and well written and it wasn't the suffocating I see you and I NEED YOU NOW... but more I see you and I like being with you. They were both seen the potential of being together in a long term This book is only 236 pages (at least in kindle edition) is a short read yes but a sweet and good one. It makes you wanna cry, it makes you feel for both character but the good thing is that in the end it makes you hope, hope that what you read there you can find it in the real life. So the statistical probability of me no recomending you this book? ARE NONE. This is a must read and I'm glad it was my first book of ther year, what good way to start the year right?

Actual rating 3.5 stars. A simple fun read, ‘The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight’ was a great afternoon escape. Not only does our protagonist, Hadley step into the waters of first love, she also takes a first pace into independence and rebellion… finding out who she is. Although short and not all that complex, ‘The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight’ poses many questions. It has the feeling of a true contemporary that leaves you pondering over the characters and their issues long after closing the book. Hadley comes across as immature and broken, but starts testing every assumption about life and love in this novel set over 48 hours. It feels like an adventure – of places and of the heart. At times Hadley annoyed me, her blatant disregard to view things objectively, content to march on blinkered. Leaving things unsaid. Letting the pain and contempt fester inside. She had her moments of being that stroppy child you just want to throttle. But it’s a necessary evil we all go through in growing up. The love interest, Oliver surprised me. As his story was revealed, and at his behaviour. I liked him a lot. He is polite and chivalrous and the epitome of English gentry (or good breeding – my Mother would call it being brought up with manners). With so many contemporary love interests being bookish, gangly and geeky, Mr Perfect, or Mr Hot – it was great to come across one whose main trait was that of manners and humility. He was also funny. I related to Hadley and her story – I too am a child of divorce and estranged to my father. This book was like a romantic what if… I’d like a happy ending too. ‘The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight’ is poetic. In its beautiful effortless narrative, and in its outlook. As much as Hadley hates on so many things, they still come across as splendid notions towards love. This books oozes the soul of romance in all its incarnations. I really enjoyed the escapism and the positive message it presents.

**Originally reviewed at my blog, That Artsy Reader Girl** 1. Jennifer totally captures the annoyance of and hectic happenings at an airport. I just kept nodding and nodding as I read about people rushing from one metal tube to the other, hoping to catch it in time to be successfully flung across the ocean/country to their final destinations. The "fasten seat belt" light illuminated in the book at the same time it did on my plane. It was highly amusing, and I know that reading the book under the same conditions the characters were under really enriched my experience with it! 2. The 24-hour love story totally worked for me. Hadley and Oliver are two very real people that the whole "love at first sight" thing actually worked for. And it was convincing! They had a lot of time to kill in the airport and on the long flight, and they talked about deep things, not just their favorite colors or hobbies. Even though it took place in such a short amount of time, I did not see it as insta-love. The progression was slow and believable, as they fell into "like" instead of "love" first. A lot of books skip the "like" phase, which is actually my favorite. I love the tension and vulnerability that comes with "like". 3. Hadley and Oliver are easy to relate to. They each had family issues that built the framework of their characters. As the story progresses, we learn more about these issues, and how they help one another cope because they both understand. They were able to connect on a deep level rather quickly, which added to the believability of their relationship. Oh, and Oliver is pretty swoon-worthy. I kinda have a crush on him. 4. The story was a little slow, but sometimes that's just what you need! It was a breath of fresh air--a snapshot of a simple, run-of-the-mill, everyday event that should have been boring and annoying, but turned out to be something amazing. Who on earth likes flying? Please tell me, and then tell me what medicine you're on to make you feel that way. This book gave me hope that maybe flying is a worthwhile thing to do! :P The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight made me smile. Was there a lot of depth? No, not really. But that's kind of exactly what I needed. It was a quick, sweet book that made me think about the small things in life. I would recommend this to lovers of contemporary romances, flawed characters, and people who, like me, need a reason to go on ahead and board that flying metal tube.

I picked up this book after seeing as few reviews saying how amazing it was and they were not wrong! It is only a short read but it does not make it any less amazing, and because I couldn't put it down I finished it on two hour flight to Spain. I am a believer in love at first sight and I found this book to be so heartwarming that I think even those non-believers would think twice and maybe even start to believe. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight tells the story of how four minutes changes the course of Hadley’s life, for the better. Hadley is on her way to her fathers wedding and if that isn't bad enough, she’s never met the bride before. Hadley doesn't want to go, doesn't want the 12 hour flight to London and definitely doesn't want to be a bridesmaid and when she misses her flight by just four minutes, Hadleys pretty much had enough of it. Enter Oliver, a British boy who happens to be on her next flight out to London, for a very different affair. The two share a few special hours on their flight to London, only to face reality when they loose each other in the crowds once they land. The plane ride scenes are great, I thought as they meet boarding the plane the whole book would be about their plane journey and this may get a little boring, but this was not the case at all! You learnt all you need to know from just a few chapters and it made them exciting even though they were just siting on a plane. You didn't get to know Olivier much in these chapters but again that makes the book better because it leaves a bit of mystery and you are excited to find out a bit more about him and his life. I thought this book was perfect and it was such a cute, lovely love story. The characters weren't explored in depth but I thought this was a good way of writing as it explained the characters but also left some things to the imagination. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a warm and witty book about destiny, first loves, soul mates and perfect timing. The book also highlights family issues and what it means to really be in love with a person. A fast paced book that you can read in one sitting. I would definitely recommend this to anybody that likes a good love story!

I loved it!

One of the best, most beautiful and funniest love stories I've ever seen. The book is also a wonderful read.

Hadleyは自分と母を捨て、イギリスで再婚する父の結婚式に出席するため空港へ急ぐが、4分遅れで間に合わず、次の便を待つ間にアメリカの大学に通うイギリス人Oliverと出会い、そして7時間のフライトも隣の席に座ることに。 閉所恐怖症のHadleyを気遣ってくれるOliverに気を許し、複雑な心境を打ち明けるHadley。 どうやらOliverも別の結婚式に出席するらしい・・・？ でもOliverは自分の話になると口を閉ざす。 そしてイギリスに着き、2人は別れることになるが・・・ それから長い1日が終わるまでが描かれている。 Hadleyと父親の絆に涙が・・・ 結末も素敵。 とにかくHadleyに拍手！

I had watched the movie on Netflix and wanted to read the book…. Book slightly, different to the movie, but still very sweet all the same. Nice, happy, feel good book