The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

by Jennifer E Smith

[Leah]

Every so often, a book comes along that quite literally takes your breath away. It can be about any matter of subjects, and it’s the kind of book that people get excited about. So when I got an email offering me the chance to read a (very) early copy of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, who was I to say no? I vaguely remember reading about it a while ago and I thought it sounded utterly amazing. It’s a short novel, just over 200 pages, and it is, without a doubt, going to be one of the big books of 2012.

“Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?” is the question posed to us as Hadley misses her flight to London by that margin. (If she hadn’t missed the flight it would have been an entirely different novel, let me tell you). I’m sure the book is about a lot of things, but the one that sticks out for me most is fate. All those “What ifs?” that lead to Hadley’s missed flight, the fact Hadley ends up sat next to Oliver on the plane, the fact that Oliver helps Hadley with her suitcase while they wait for the plane, it all adds up to fate. For me, anyway. It has to be said, novels like these are my favourites. I’m a huge believer in fate and this book was just full of it. I was hooked from page one because, be honest, doesn’t everybody wish to meet someone and fall in love at first sight?

I’m a big believer in love at first sight. Of course you can fall in love with someone when you first see them. I’m sure it happens a hell of a lot, actually. I was enraptured by Hadley and Oliver. They sparked off each other brilliantly, despite the fact they were both a bit hesitant at first. Surprisingly, the book takes place over 24 hours. From beginning to end, it spans a mere day. A mere 24 hours. But there is so much packed into those hours that it seems as though Hadley and Oliver have known each other for years. Seriously. But it’s not just about Hadley and Oliver, Hadley also has to deal with the fact her father’s re-marrying – in England no less – and Oliver himself has issues to deal with. I really felt as if I was there with Hadley and Oliver, as if I had a front row seat to their story.

I do believe The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight will be massive when it’s released. It hit me the way Lauren Oliver’s debut novel Before I Fall did. The romance was just as exciting as The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson. Both of those books blew me away last year when I read them, both blew a lot of people away and I think Jennifer E Smith has written a book here that will blow away a lot of people in the same way those two did. Sometimes there’s a book that just speaks to you from within, that hits on all of the right notes and that makes you truly believe in love. This is that book. I am so happy to have read this book and I do implore everybody to read it. Seriously, read it. I’m not entirely sure why you’re still reading this review. You should be on Amazon or The BookDepository or SOMEWHERE buying this amazing book. Because it was amazing. So much so that I wish I’d wrote it. Seriously, talk about best book idea ever.