In short: Fast-paced, believable characters, delightful twists, refreshing romance... A must-read.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
by Jennifer E Smith
Hardcover, 236 pages
Published January 2nd 2012 by Poppy/Little Brown
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.
My Thoughts:
What a fast fun read!!
The story follows 24 hours... two people who would not have met except for events falling where they did.
Hadley has issues & regrets - arguing with her mom, frustrated with her dad and the entire situation and dragging her feet to even get on the flight. I love the way she's so irritated about being late, how everyone will think she did it on purpose, when she didn't, and she hates the assumptions. Her struggle shows how she is hanging onto her past, when things were better between her parents. She doesn't want to live in the NOW with her dad. She's in denial over his choices and these four minutes that make her miss the flight spotlight this struggle beautifully, adding so much depth to her character.
Oliver's character is revealed beautifully and progressively. He, too, has parental issues & regrets, so he draws Hadley's heart out as he listens and really cares, although... we don't know why. Don't spoil the why, either, 'cause that's one of the amazing twists of the story.
I love his character, his background, his history... he's such a real person delivered in much, too short of a time. I couldn't get enough of him.
There are misunderstandings and assumptions - from characters in the story who see the two & from the reader regarding their conversation... AND each of them about each other. I love these as it sets the story up for such delightful twists. The older lady sitting next to Hadley & Oliver assumes they are a couple. She is adorable. She sees them, comments... and then congratulates herself on her correct assumption, which is hilarious beginning to end. Hadley assumes things about what Oliver says and doesn't say... she assumes things she hears at the wedding... each revelation of what is really going on opens her up to accept a different perspective, setting her up for a dramatic paradigm shift. If Hadley wasn't such a great person, it wouldn't be as fun to be in her shoes
I think my favorite part was also sweet torture - the story just is so fast. I could've had much more, so I'm so glad that Jennifer E Smith is writing some more!! :-D
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