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

This book really surprised me. I thought it would be an engaging love story that *might* make me cry. But I was so wrong!




The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight starts with Hadley, the protagonist, being four minutes late for her flight to the UK for her dad's wedding, that she doesn't even want to go to. Because of those four minutes, Hadley has to reschedule her flight and be rushed to get to the wedding on time. While waiting for this next flight, she meets Oliver, a British boy that goes to Yale. They start talking, and end up sitting together on the plane for the seven hour journey 'across the pond'. With the third person POV, the reader can tell that they really like each other.


During the flight, Hadley keeps agonizing over not wanting to go to her dad's wedding. She has unresolved anger with her father for having an affair and leaving her. The whole time Hadley thinks that Oliver is flying out for a wedding also. She later learns that he is actually going to his dad's funeral. Hadley ditches the wedding party when she finds out one of her dad's guests is going to the funeral, and somehow manages to find the church and find Oliver.




As I was reading the first hundred or so pages, mostly the flight, I was thinking "this is an OK book". It felt like one's fantasy on how they wanted to meet their husband/wife. But once Hadley got to Oliver at the funeral, things changed. I started seeing the book not as what many others see or what the title displays, a love story. But, a story about forgiving and moving on. I feel it was not about Hadley and Oliver solely, but on Hadley realizing that her dad's marriage is actually something good. She moves past her resentment towards her dad and his new wife, and is able to see that they really do love each other. That she isn't angry anymore. She forgave him. This book opens the eyes to a different perspective on divorce and remarrying. Although, I think the title could have portrayed that idea, it still does make sense.




I give this book a 4/5 star rating.