The Best Book I Read in July: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

It's time for the July blog hop through The Cephalopod Coffeehouse where we discuss our favorite book read during the month.

This month, I took a recommendation from V's Reads and dove into The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

This is a YA book penned by Jennifer E. Smith about seventeen-year-old Hadley, who is on her way to London for her dad's wedding—an event she is dreading. In fact, she hasn’t seen her father since the divorce from her mother over a year ago. On the plane she meets Oliver—a Brit who just happens to be attending Yale University, which is very close to where she lives in Connecticut. Hadley and Oliver hit it off right away, and a romantic spark ignites. However, once they arrive in London, things get complicated.

I loved this book! As I’ve remarked before, I read very little YA fiction. I have this whole philosophy that I’ve already been there, felt that—don’t want to feel it again as I didn’t particular enjoy it the first time around. Having said that, I’m so glad I read this novel. It actually reminded me a lot of my first trip to London (even though I was older than Hadley, and I was going there to live for six months, not just a weekend). The plot of the story may seem a bit implausible, but I actually did meet several potential love interests in London (and one on the plane as I returned), so I actually found it believable.

 

Smith’s strength is in her dialogue, which is wholly realistic and natural. She accurately portrays the desperate feelings that occur when deeply connecting with someone in a transient place, not knowing if you’ll ever see them again. It reminded me a little of the 1995 movie Before Sunrise starring Ethan Hawke and Julia Delpy—the same kind of instant attraction leading to “now what?”

The story takes place over the course of a single weekend—and it honestly left me feeling jet-lagged and emotionally exhausted right along with Hadley. I read it in about two or three sittings and found it extremely difficult to put down.




Hence, I wholeheartedly recommend it for a weekend read with a spot of tea and a plateful of Jaffa cakes.