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

Hadley Sullivan has been dreading the day of her father's marriage for months. She's been angry with him ever since he left her and her mom for a new life and new woman in London, so avoiding him has turned out to be pretty easy. Then she misses her flight to London by minutes—and ends up meeting Oliver, a British guy on his way home for an event of his own. He talks her through the flight and her claustrophobia, and they connect through shared personal stories and jokes. But will their new friendship last after the plane has landed and they've gone their separate ways?

Jennifer E. Smith's third book is her best yet. From the title to the final page, her words pull you in and make you laugh and cry in turn. Hadley is an excellent narrator—realistic, smart, and still smarting from her father's actions. But despite her pain, she also wants to make amends and doesn't want to lose her father's love—she's just unsure of how to make things right with him again. Oliver is funny and charming from the start, but it's not until a little further into the book that the depth of his character is revealed—he has his own problems and grief to deal with. The issues that both characters have concealed are what allow them to reach out to each other and become friends. There's isn't an instantaneous, unbelievable romance that requires a suspension of belief, but a chance connection with the potential for something more. Smith manages to throw in a few twists that will lead Oliver and Hadley away from each other and back again several times, and she keeps the story fresh with frequent flashback to Hadley's life in the past few years. The book concludes very nicely without a fairy tale ending, but one that is realistic and quite hopeful. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is an emotional, funny, thoughtful book about love, loss, and serendipity.

Cover Comments: I am in love with this cover. I like the illusion of motion around the couple, how they're kissing, and the font and design. It's just so neat, so eye-catching!

ARC picked up at BEA.