Book Review Monday: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

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Goodreads Blurb:

"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. "

Review:

If you asked me to describe this book in one word it would be cutesy.  They adorableness of this book just overflowed.  This is definitely not your typical romance book.  I had just finished reading The Drawing of the Three (review to come after this one on Thursday) which isn't fluffy.  It was quite a change picking up The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight which contains as much fluff as the Build-A-Bear stuffing machine.

I really can't decide whether I like the length or not.  On one hand, it would have been amazing to see where the romance goes.  On the other, I loved how it ended with such possibility!  The last page was just perfection (highlight to read)- 

"“What are you really studying?"

He leans back to look at her. "The statistical probability of love at first sight."
"Very funny," she says. "What is it really?"
"I'm serious."
"I don't believe you."
He laughs, then lowers his mouth so that it's close to her ear. "People who meet in airports are seventy-two percent more likely too fall for each other than people who meet anywhere else."

"You're ridiculous," she says, resting her head on his shoulder. "Has anyone ever told you that?"

"Yes," he says, laughing.  "You, actually.  About a thousand times today."

"Well, today's almost over," Hadley says, glancing at the gold-trimmed clock on the other side of the room.  "Only four more minutes.  It's eleven fifty-six."

"That means we met twenty-four hours ago."

"Seems like it's been longer."

Oliver smiles.  "Did you know that people who meet at least three different times within a twenty-four hour period are ninety-eight percent more likely to meet again?"

This time she doesn't bother correcting him.  Just this oncec, she'd like to believe that he's right."

This was such a hopeful read.  I just couldn't stop smiling while I read it!  And once it ends, you feel like anything is possible.  I especially loved when Hadley went through her what-ifs at the beginning.  If just one of those things didn't happen, they probably wouldn't have met!

As for the characters, I thought they were pretty good considering the length of the book.  I mean, it has 236 pages people!

The Final Verdict:

This was a pretty shallow book but cute and fun throughout.  However, it was also very contemplative about fate and chances so it isn't that shallow.

Four stars.

Quotes:

“Is it better to have had a good thing and lost it, or never to have had it?” 

“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.” 

“What are you really studying?"
He leans back to look at her. "The statistical probability of love at first sight."
"Very funny," she says. "What is it really?"
"I'm serious."
"I don't believe you."
He laughs, then lowers his mouth so that it's close to her ear. "People who meet in airports are seventy-two percent more likely too fall for each other than people who meet anywhere else.” 

“Did you know that people who meet at least three different times within twenty-four hour period are ninety-eight percent more likely to meet again?” 

“It's one thing to run away when someone's chasing you. It's entirely another to be running all alone.” 

“He looks at her and smiles. "You're sort of dangerous, you know?" 
She stares at him. "Me?" 
"Yeah," he says sitting back. "I'm way too honest with you.” 

“People who meet in airports are seventy-two percent more likely to fall for each other than people who meet anywhere else.” 

“And see those clouds?'
'Hard to miss'
'Those are cumulus clouds. Did you know that?'
'I'm sure I should.'
They're the best ones.'
'How come?'
Because they look the way clouds are supposed to look, the way you draw them when you're a kid. Which is nice, you know? ...” 

“Love is the strangest, most illogical thing in the world.” 

“Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?”