The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Author Biography:
Jennifer E. Smith is the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Storm Makers, You Are Here, and The Comeback Season. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. Her writing has been translated into 28 languages. Information retrieved from Amazon.com,
Published by Poppy
ISBN: 0316122386
Genre: Romance
Reading Level: Ages 12 and Up
Reader’s Annotation:
Seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life is thrown into upheaval as she is required to attend her father’s marriage ceremony in London. As everything that could go wrong does and Hadley misses her flight, she meets Oliver, a boy she instantly falls for and who is also traveling on the next flight to London alongside her. Is this experience luck, or is it fate?
Plot Summary:
Hadley Sullivan has taken her mother and father’s breakup rather painfully. What seemed like a happy family was suddenly shattered when her father, who was only supposed to teach at Oxford in London for a few months, decided he would remain there and divorce Hadley’s mother. Hadley is left to pick up the pieces as her mother rapidly shifts from angry, to depressed, to a crying mess leaving Hadley little time to grieve over what her family used to be. Time passes, however, and both Hadley and her mother move on. One day, however, her father announces he will marry a woman he met while working at Oxford and wants Hadley by his side as a maid of honor. Hadley, to say the least, is not pleased.
After all but being shoved out the door by her mother to attend the ceremony, Hadley misses her flight after a series of mishaps from a torn dress to her belongings spilling to the ground and is forced to take a later flight. Things suddenly look up as she meets Oliver, a charming boy whom Hadley begins talking to. They swap stories and, to both of their surprise, end up taking the same flight to London where they also share seats next to each other. As they continue talking, their bond develops at a breakneck pace and soon they are falling for one another. Yet the flight must end, Hadley and Oliver must go their separate ways in London, and there’s no telling if they will ever see each other again.
Critical Evaluation:
While many young adult books can fall into the “bleak realism” category, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight steers away from that and offers a light-hearted, simple love story that is also a rather quick read at roughly 250 pages. Although Hadley does deal with the troubles of her parent’s divorce, the book focuses more on Hadley’s budding romance with Oliver and the uncertainty if they will ever see each other or if what they share is love. Fans of romance will likely find this book an enjoyable read for its characters, romantic setting in London, and Hadley and Oliver’s desire to remain connected even after they leave the airport for their respective destinations.
Curriculum Ties:
Challenge Issues:
None
Defensive Maneuvers:
n/a
Book Talk Ideas:
Do you believe in fate? Or luck? Whatever you call it, some force has brought Hadley and Oliver together, and it's love at first sight.
Why This Book?
This is a fast-paced, relatively short romance book that will leave many lovers of romance with a skip to their step after they finish it. The book also delves more into the issue of luck versus fate, and can give younger readers hope that one day they too will experience an encounter that will change their lives for the better.
Jennifer E. Smith is the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Storm Makers, You Are Here, and The Comeback Season. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. Her writing has been translated into 28 languages. Information retrieved from Amazon.com,
Published by Poppy
ISBN: 0316122386
Genre: Romance
Reading Level: Ages 12 and Up
Reader’s Annotation:
Seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life is thrown into upheaval as she is required to attend her father’s marriage ceremony in London. As everything that could go wrong does and Hadley misses her flight, she meets Oliver, a boy she instantly falls for and who is also traveling on the next flight to London alongside her. Is this experience luck, or is it fate?
Plot Summary:
Hadley Sullivan has taken her mother and father’s breakup rather painfully. What seemed like a happy family was suddenly shattered when her father, who was only supposed to teach at Oxford in London for a few months, decided he would remain there and divorce Hadley’s mother. Hadley is left to pick up the pieces as her mother rapidly shifts from angry, to depressed, to a crying mess leaving Hadley little time to grieve over what her family used to be. Time passes, however, and both Hadley and her mother move on. One day, however, her father announces he will marry a woman he met while working at Oxford and wants Hadley by his side as a maid of honor. Hadley, to say the least, is not pleased.
After all but being shoved out the door by her mother to attend the ceremony, Hadley misses her flight after a series of mishaps from a torn dress to her belongings spilling to the ground and is forced to take a later flight. Things suddenly look up as she meets Oliver, a charming boy whom Hadley begins talking to. They swap stories and, to both of their surprise, end up taking the same flight to London where they also share seats next to each other. As they continue talking, their bond develops at a breakneck pace and soon they are falling for one another. Yet the flight must end, Hadley and Oliver must go their separate ways in London, and there’s no telling if they will ever see each other again.
Critical Evaluation:
While many young adult books can fall into the “bleak realism” category, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight steers away from that and offers a light-hearted, simple love story that is also a rather quick read at roughly 250 pages. Although Hadley does deal with the troubles of her parent’s divorce, the book focuses more on Hadley’s budding romance with Oliver and the uncertainty if they will ever see each other or if what they share is love. Fans of romance will likely find this book an enjoyable read for its characters, romantic setting in London, and Hadley and Oliver’s desire to remain connected even after they leave the airport for their respective destinations.
Curriculum Ties:
- Discussion on fate and luck
Challenge Issues:
None
Defensive Maneuvers:
n/a
Book Talk Ideas:
Do you believe in fate? Or luck? Whatever you call it, some force has brought Hadley and Oliver together, and it's love at first sight.
Why This Book?
This is a fast-paced, relatively short romance book that will leave many lovers of romance with a skip to their step after they finish it. The book also delves more into the issue of luck versus fate, and can give younger readers hope that one day they too will experience an encounter that will change their lives for the better.