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

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

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.

First off; how cute is the name of this book? You shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, so I judged it by it's name. Sure it's pretty long which is normally a turn off for books, but I loved the name. So I got my wonderful mum to buy it for me.

I read this book from start to finish in one go, it took me a very long time - just over an hour. I'm a fast reader and this book is only 215 pages, pretty short.

This book was everything I expected it to be - cute and fluffy - and I have to admit I loved it. Even though my favourite genre of book is lies in with the fantasy and mystery genres, I do tend to read a lot of cute and fluffy books.

Personally, I think this book would have been better in third person. First time I've ever said that - and most likely the last. I still enjoyed the book however, and I didn't notice it was written in the present tense. Quite different from the usual past tense you find in books.

There wasn't enough mean characters in this book. That may sound weird, but all the characters were nice - apart from Oliver's dad who spoiler alert is dead end of spoiler alert. Sure Hadley's dad went over to England to teach for a term in Oxford and didn't come back, but at least he had the decency to end it with her mum when he met someone else - he didn't take advantage of the fact she was an ocean away and cheat on her.

I have to say Oliver is one of the most amusing characters I've ever read about. For most of the book is seems like he doesn't have a serious bone in his body - he does come up with a lot of things that he is "studying" in college; the fermation process of mayonaise, congestion patterns in airports and the statistical probability of love at first sight to name but a few. The things he comes out with are generally quite amusing.

(When Hadley and Oliver are discussing her claustrophobia)
"But no escape route."
"Ah," he says, "So you're looking for an escape route."
Hadley nods. "Always."
"Figures," he says, sighing dramatically. "I get that from girls a lot."

I found that part quite amusing, but that might be just me...

Here on will mainly be spoilers, so if you are planning to read the book, you may not wish to continue.

When Oliver and Hadley separate ways when they reach London and he decides to kiss her... Yeah that kinda was not a strong point in the book.... It's just I don't know... Annoying? Oliver's dad funeral was quite a shame; Hadley found out about it and went to see Oliver, he kicked her to the kerb.

Charlotte does not fit the evil-stepmother category that Hadley expects her to, instead she is bubbly and friendly. 

I was glad that instead of being mean to her dad, Hadley realises that her dad is happy with Charlotte and that it did turn out for the best. Her dad married Charlotte and her mum started dating the dentist, Harrison who hasn't given up after three failed proposals.

The ending was predictable. Oliver came to the wedding and gave Hadley the book she'd accidentally left at the funeral. They made up, he made up another thing that he was studying at college (the statistical probability of love at first sight). He then told her two statistics on love (which I'm pretty sure are fake) and they then kissed. You'd be surprised to learn that I am reviewing a book and not a Disney movie.

No more spoilers!

Overall The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is all you'd expect it to be; cute, fluffy and pretty clichéd. I still enjoyed the book a lot though and would recommend it to anyone who wants a quick light-hearted read.

I'd give it four out of five stars.