The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Published: January 2, 2012
Synopsis from 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.



I loved this book!!

There, I said it.

I L-O-V-E-D this book!!

It made me squee, and made me say awww, it made me sigh, it made me believe in love at first sight.

It's out there. Trust me ;)

The Plot:
Hadley is 17 years old. He parents are divorced. And what's worse on a child of divorce? When one of them gets remarried.

I know what you're thinking, Folks.

Hadley is being a little brat because she's mad at Daddy Dearest for getting remarried.

Well, as an older teen of divorce, I could really relate with Hadley. It's hard on teens. Especially when last year everything was the same. And this year there's a new woman and a new family in the picture. I found this story to be very true in the way it was portrayed.

Hadley's Dad moved to London to teach. It was only supposed to be a couple month job... until he met her. The woman that tore her family apart. At least, that's how Hadley sees it. Dad didn't come home after five or six months. He stayed in London. Stayed with that woman. And now they are getting married.

What do you do when your Dad is half a world away and about to marry a woman you have never met?

She was of course invited to the wedding. She was of course made a bridesmaid. But do you go?

If you are 17, sometimes the decision isn't up to you. If you are 17, sometimes Mom will tell you that she knows best. If you are 17, more than likely you'll have to go whether you like it or not.

Four minutes was all it took. Hadley was four minutes late for her flight to London. The wedding is the very next afternoon. There's another flight available. But she has to wait a couple hours. Is there such a thing as fate? Was she meant to miss that flight? Will anyone watch her bag so she can run to the restroom?

And there he is.

A boy who wants to roll her suitcase around. A boy who keeps telling her jokes. A boy from London but doesn't live far from where she lives now.

Does that make it fate? Or does that make it coincidence? What is the statistical probability of love at first sight?

Greta's Thoughts:
This story is just too freaking cute!! Seriously! If you want the butterflys in your belly to dust off the cobwebs and flutter... then this book is for you! I can' tell you how unbelievable cute Oliver is. Once you meet him you are going to fall in love! I know I did!

The story is told in 3rd person POV. You only hear Hadley's side, but I think that makes the book perfect. There are lines in this book that will just make your heart MELT!

The OCCUPIED lights are on above both bathroom doors, so Hadley and Oliver stand in the small square of space just outside. They're close enough that she can smell the fabric of his shirt, the whiskey still on his breath; not so close that they're touching, exactly, but she can feel the hair on his arm tickle hers, and she's again seized by a sudden longing to reach for his hand.

Things like that just made my heart race! And I loved it!

You get to glimpse into Hadley's life for twenty-four hours as she makes her way to her Dad's wedding, as she meets a boy, and what happens next.

I'm definitely going to read this book again and again!!

Age Appropriate:
This books is so sweet that I would let a sixth grader read it. There's nothing at all bad in it. It's just CUTE!

Boy or Girl:
Now, that's a silly question. My husband took one look at this book and said, "What the heck are you reading?" So, girls, this one is for you!

Child of Divorce:
This book is perfect for that older child of divorce. They'll connect with it. They'll understand the emotions they are going through are similar to how Hadley feels. Maybe that will help with coping.

Boy Meets Girl:
It's one of those stories. And I love it! It will make you want to miss your next flight.

Are there really boys like Oliver out there?
My husband would tell you, "No". But, in our minds this is the kind of boy we dream of. That's why they are in books. That's why we love reading about them, if nothing, then just to escape the realities of having to fold laundry and do dishes.

Overall:
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Not one dull moment. I thought it was written very well, I enjoyed the plot, I loved the twist, and the ending made me stay up past midnight. It was perfect!!

*Paranormal Wastelands would like to thank Poppy for supplying us with a copy for review.