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

The Blurb:

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Imagine if she hadn’t forgotten the book. Or if there hadn’t been traffic on the expressway. Or if she hadn’t fumbled the coins for the toll. What if she’d run just that little bit faster and caught the flight she was supposed to be on. Would it have been something else – the weather over the atlantic or a fault with the plane?

Hadley isn’t sure if she believes in destiny or fate but, on what is potentially the worst day of each of their lives, it’s the quirks of timing and chance events that mean Hadley meets Oliver…

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.

My review:

What a beautifully written love story this book is. It had me riveted from the start and I read it in just two sittings. The story flows beautifully, and even though its classed as YA it didn't feel like it. Very skilfully written with very likeable characters and a strong story line.

The book centres around two main characters, Hadley and Oliver. They are two strangers bought together at an airport after Hadley misses her flight to London and has to move to a later one. Hadley is portrayed as a shy scared teenager who is begrudgingly flying off to London to attend the wedding of her Dad who has left her to start a new life in England.

I found it easy to tap into the emotion of Hadley throughout the book and I felt strangely thankful that Oliver was there with her to keep her company. I suppose being a Mum to a girl she bought out the protective Mum in me.

The first half of the book really explores Hadley and her life, to the point where I had almost forgotten that Oliver has a story too. This was very cleverly done. Throughout the second half of the book we get to know far more about him, and what brings him to London.

My heart melted at the scenes with Hadley and her Dad. I could feel the teenage angst and feelings of wanting to be loved and be the most important person in his life. Her fears that by getting married she would be cast aside and forgotten about.

This book really tugged on my heart strings. It is a book that will have you believing in love at first sight, romance and that anything is possible if you want it enough. You just always have to keep faith and never stop trying. It also reminds you that you can't make assumptions about others. Take time to listen to their story and what is going on for them.

Thanks to Bookbridgr and Headline for providing me with a copy of the book in return for an honest review.