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

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

Synopsis (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.

Review

I have heard so many great things about this book and I must agree with all of those people whose hearts sang when they read it, for mine most certainly did too. I cannot give enough praise for this book. I read it in its entirety (minus a couple of chapters) in one day. I couldn't put it down. It is splendid and lovely and gives hope to every hopeless romantic that maybe, just maybe, when you least expect it, love will also find you. And it just might make you hope to miss your next flight in case there is any chance that there is an Oliver out there waiting for you.

Oliver is completely adorable in the way you always expect British boys to be: he has messy hair, a gorgeous smile with a dimple on one of his cheeks, and even his teasing banter is endearing. And let's not forget that accent!

When Hadley Sullivan first meets Oliver, she has just missed her flight and is looking for a place to sit and wait for three hours until the next one. And her heart leaps. Then he's suddenly there by her side, helping her and she can't help but wonder why he's taken such an interest in her, yet she's thankful that he has. He helps keep her fears of flying and claustrophobia at bay as well as keeping her mind off of what she thinks of as an impending doom: being in her father's wedding to a woman she hates, but has never met. After she lands in London, she will be whisked away to a chapel to see her father for the first time in over a year and for some reason, being with Oliver comforts her.

As the hours pass, Hadley thinks of the fact that had she not missed her flight, she never would have met the amazing boy who just happens to be sitting next to her on her new flight as they get closer and closer to London. And in thinking about this, she realizes just how scared she would be at that exact moment had she been on the other flight. He has helped her in a way that nobody else can.

When their plane lands and they go their separate ways, she realizes just how much he's helped her. She instantly feels his absence as though the walls are closing in on her and he is the only one who can get her out. She thinks just how much easier it would all be if only he were there by her side through it all. But it isn't until the end that she realizes just how much she has also helped him.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight makes you believe in love at first sight, that instant connection with someone as if you've known them your whole life, and that every tiny detail of your life is there and happens for a reason. Amazing. Simply amazing. There isn't a single thing about this book that I didn't like. I loved every word. Now if only I had my own British boy named Oliver...

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