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

Release date: January 2nd 2012
Publisher: Poppy/Little Brown
Page count: 256
Genre(s): Young Adult/Romance/Contemporary
Buy it: Amazon/Book Depository
Add it on: Goodreads
Rating: 5/5

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.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Seeing as I hate insta-love in books, you'd think I'd hate this. But also seeing as 'Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist' is one of my favourite books, it's no surprise that I fell in love with this sweet story. I had a strong feeling I'd enjoy the book and it met all my expectations. I read it in 2 sittings (it would have been one if I hadn't been so tired the first night) and I sped through the pages like a crazed fiend.

I'll start with the story. I think what I loved about the story was that despite being so reliant on fate, it all felt so believable. I also think setting half the book on the plane trip was a perfect way of having Hadley and Oliver together without it seeming forced. It also helped to see the feelings develop between the pair without being rushed. Despite being set over 24 hours, I felt there was a good amount of character development, helped with the flashbacks. I liked that the story wasn't just focused on the romance, but also Hadley and Oliver's relationships with their families.

Now the characters. I adored both Hadley and Oliver and the chemistry between them was so clear. I had the stupidest grin on my face reading their conversations. Hadley was a funny, down to earth, generally sweet girl. I totally understood where she was coming from whenever she got a little stroppy and not once did I feel like shaking some sense into her. Then Oliver.

I fell completely in love with this boy. He was kind and sarky and so funny and I can totally see why Hadley was head over heels. I've never been on a plane before and the idea terrifies me but if I got to sit next to Oliver I think I'd be okay with it. I much prefer these kinds of love interests in books to the brooding and mysterious to the downright rude. Oliver was a sweetheart and I loved learning more about his past.

I also thought the writing was great. I highlighted a lot of nice quotes (not including all the hilarious bits) such as these:

'She wishes they could turn around again and fly back in the other direction, chasing the night they left behind.'

'He's like a song she can't get out of her head. Hard as she tries, the melody of their meeting runs through her mind on an endless loop, each time as surprisingly sweet as the last, like a lullaby, like a hymn, and she doesn't think she could ever get tired of hearing it.'

For fans of Nick & Norah and those who like their love stories sweet and heart warming, I'd highly recommend this. I completely forgot I was reading a book as I was taken on a goosebump-inducing journey, one that I can't wait to take again and again and again.

I give it 5/5!