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

When my mom first mentioned this book, I rolled my eyes.  I asked if it was non-fiction, (which I am not a huge fan of . . .) and then I asked if it was the stupidest book she had ever read.  After I got the answer that, no, it was not nonfiction, and no, it was not the stupidest book ever, I still wasn't satisfied.  I think I might have mumbled something about not reading it.  But, when my "to-read" book list dwindled down to nothing, I got desperate.  I picked up the book and almost put it down again.  I like romance, but not the really, cheesy romance that no one can even believe would ever happen.  But, I decided to give it a try--for the first two chapters.

I found out that not only is this book decent, it is AMAZING!!!  I have already read it three times, and have recommended it to many of my friends.  A seventeen year old girl named Hadley Sullivan is making a plane trip to see her dad get re-married.  She just barely misses her flight, and ends up on the next flight to London.  While waiting, she meets a really nice guy.  He has a "crooked smile" and, "her heart dips unexpectedly when he looks at her."  They end up on the same flight together, sitting right next to each other.  Oliver flirts with her on the plane ride, and then they separate their own ways when they get off the plane.  Throughout the book, Hadley tries to find a way to cope with her father getting remarried.  My favorite part of the book is near the end:

"She can hear the smile in his voice. 'I'm doing my summer research project on different styles of dancing.' 'So does that mean we'll be doing the tango next?' 'Only if you're up for 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 to 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.'"

He is so sweet to her throughout the book--even when she does some dumb things.  My friends all laughed when they heard what I was reading, it sounds really weird, but it is really, really, really, good!

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

published by Poppy 

January 2012

Recommended for young adult readers