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

I have something a bit different for you this week. I’m still trying to figure out exactly where I want to go with some portions of this blog (particularly in regards to book reviews), so you might see things changing slightly or significantly over the next little while.

Anyway, I thought this week I would give you a book recommendation, rather than a full-out review. I’m not entirely comfortable writing book reviews, but I won’t get into my reasoning for that here. I thought, though, that recommendations might be a good way to go. That way, I can direct you to books that I like and talk a  bit about why I like them, without going into any negative details.

So, to start things off, I’m going to direct your attention to The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith.

I read this book when I was looking for something fun and cute, and it didn’t disappoint me. The two main characters, Hadley and Oliver, are pretty relatable – which is something I always enjoy. Plus, they each have a sense of humour that keeps me laughing, while at the same time knowing that there’s something much more serious going on beneath the surface for each of them.

I was also a big fan of the relationships in this book. Not just the one between Hadley and Oliver – although I did think Smith did a good job of developing their relationship within the short timeframe of the novel (the whole thing spans about 24 hours). The relationships between Hadley and each of her parent figures – her mother, her father, and, to a certain extent, her new stepmother – were each something that I’m sure a lot of teenagers in that situation could relate to. Even the relationship between Oliver and each of his family members, while explored mostly through dialogue, struck me as I was reading.

But, regardless of the serious undertones of those relationships, this is still the type of novel that I recommend reading when you’re in the mood for something light and fluffy. It’s sweet, it’s cute, and it’s just what you need if you’re looking for a quick love story.

Goodreads summary

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. Having missed her flight, she’s stuck at JFK airport and late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother 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 sitting in her row.

A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?

Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.