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

Warning: Spoilers! (duh.)

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Imagine if she hadn’t forgotten the book. Or if there hadn’t been traffic on the expressway. Or if she hadn’t fumbled the coins for the toll. What if she’d run just that little bit faster and caught the flight she was supposed to be on. Would it have been something else - the weather over the Atlantic or a fault with the plane?

Hadley isn’t sure if she believes in destiny or fate but, on what is potentially the worst day of each of their lives, it’s the quirks of timing and chance events that mean Hadley meets Oliver...

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.



Having previously published two young adults novels in the US (The Comeback Season and You Are Here) as well as working as an editor in New York City, it is without a doubt that Smith has the credentials to be an excellent YA author. Her latest novel The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a heartwarming and charming story that's title does not do it justice. 

Seventeen year old protagonist Hadley misses her flight with four minutes to spare and is then thrust into an adorably meet-cute that does not stop being cute throughout the novel. For this story the title is perfect, sweet and romantic but with any excellent rating worthy YA novel there are underlying plots and issues that give this book a beautiful new dimension. Hadley is travelling to her estranged Father's wedding to the women he left her mother for (that was a mouthful) and Oliver is on the way to his semi- abusive Father's funeral. 

This is what makes this story so captivating, watching a closed off couple lost and scared fill a six hour flight with banter and laughter and joy and find comfort in one another. Both characters learn the importance of love and seeing Hadley make her peace with her Father's choices is far more beautiful  and important to me than if she ends up with the boy. This book is about opening up, in the most innocent, enchanting way of opening to another person even after you've been hurt and realising that the hurt isn't worth holding onto. 

As I said, the title does not do this book justice. 

Happy Reading.