The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight Book Review

 Author: Jennifer E. Smith. Release date: 2012. Publisher:  Poppy. ISBN: 9780316122382.

Annotation: On a flight from New York to London for her father’s wedding, seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan happens to meet Oliver, a handsome college student returning home for the weekend, and the next twenty-four hours change their lives forever.  

Personal thoughts: I’m not usually one for a romance novel that is completely void of any paranormal/sci-fi/fantasy aspects, but I have to say that, after reading The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, I might have to give “real-life” novels a chance more often. I knew when I read the description of this novel that I was going to like it. I really enjoyed how it was set in a span of twenty-four hours. Since the reader knows this going into the novel, it makes for the pacing of the book to be really brisk and enjoyable. The reader knows the action is going to happen quickly, and that everything in terms of the plot is going to need to be wrapped up to some degree in a short time. I was impressed, however, with how much the author managed to include in the story, even though we only “knew” Hadley and Oliver for one day. Hadley’s memories and experiences she rehashes from her childhood are certain to resonate with many readers, especially ones whose parents have either separated or divorced. I plan on recommending this book to anyone who wants something realistic but enjoyable and touching as well.

Plot summary: Seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan is more than a little depressed about flying to London for the weekend for her father’s wedding. She hasn’t seen her father in over a year and has never met Charlotte, the woman he left Hadley’s mother for and his soon-to-be bride. Since her father’s semester teaching at Oxford turned into a permanent move to England, Hadley has been struggling to deal with his absence from her life. Now she’s packed her bags and is about to make the seven hour journey across the ocean to be a bridesmaid for the woman she knows she’s certain to hate. After Hadley misses her original flight by four minutes, she is forced to wait for three hours in a JFK airport terminal to catch the next plane to Heathrow. While she’s waiting, Hadley meets Oliver, a handsome guy about her age who is returning to his home in London for the weekend. A twist of fate puts them in adjoining seats, and the pair spend the flight talking, being more honest with each other than they’ve been with the people in their lives they’ve known for more than a few hours. Although they know they will be separated when they land in their destination, Hadley and Oliver can’t help but wonder if their chance meeting has changed their lives forever.  

Review:  Set in a period of twenty-four hours, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a sweet and surprisingly poignant novel that accomplishes a lot in such a short period of time. Many readers, especially tweens and teens, are bound to identify with Hadley’s difficulty coping with her father’s marriage to the woman who he left her mother for. This is an all-too-real situation that countless tweens and teens face everyday, and the author does a good job of approaching the emotions Hadley is feeling without making it melodramatic or sugar-coating things. Hadley’s connection with Oliver is also something that readers, both teen and adult, can understand. Oftentimes, it is the most unusual circumstances that allow two individuals to make a difference in each other’s lives, and that is, essentially, what this novel is about. It is a thought-provoking concept that allows for The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight to be a very meaningful read for anyone who has ever needed or found someone to lean on during a hard time. Overall, a quick but pleasing novel for fans of romance and fate.

Genre: Fiction/Romance

Reading level: Grade 6+

Similar titles: N/A

Themes:  Divorce, marriage, romance, love, fate, forgiveness.   

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.  

Series Information: N/A

Discussion questions: 

-   Do you think it was fate or chance that brought Hadley and Oliver together?

-    Do you think Hadley did the right thing in agreeing to go to her father’s wedding? Why or why not?

-   Why do you think Hadley’s returning her father’s novel was so important to her?

-     What do you think the future holds for Hadley and Oliver?

Hereafter Book Review

Author: Tara Hudson. Release date: 2011. Publisher:  HarperTeen. ISBN: 9780062026774.

Annotation:  Amelia knows one thing – she drowned in the river beneath High Bridge. She doesn’t remember when or why, and her afterlife seems to be an eternity of wandering, lost and alone. That all changes when she saves another life that is almost ended in the murky river water. The boy, eighteen-year-old Josh, can see Amelia, and their destinies appear to be forever connected.     

Personal thoughts:  Wow, I really enjoyed this novel. So much so that I read it in two days (something I don’t often do!) I am very impressed that this is Hudson’s first publication, and am certain that she, and this trilogy, have a very bright future. I think her greatest accomplishment was making the love between Amelia and Josh enjoyable, not overly dramatic, cliché, or mushy like other teen authors. I also really enjoyed the Oklahoma setting and bits of folk lore Hudson tossed into the story. I am very excited for the next installment!

Plot summary: Amelia can only remember a few things: her age, eighteen, her name, and that she drowned in the rushing waters of the river beneath High Bridge. She knows she’s a ghost, but can’t seem to control anything about her afterlife, instead, wandering, lost and alone in an unfamiliar town, unable to be seen or heard by anyone. That all changes when she is suddenly pulled into the river moments after eighteen-year-old Josh crashes his car through the metal girders of High Bridge and plummets into the murky depths. Amelia can sense that Josh is about to die, and just as his heart stops he opens his eyes and can truly see her. Somehow, miraculously, Amelia is able to save Josh and he escapes the treacherous waters. Amelia finds herself awoken after meeting Josh, especially when Josh returns to High Bridge to find the mysterious and beautiful girl he saw in the river. She no longer feels lost, and begins to sense things around her had long forgotten: scents, feelings, warmth. Josh doesn’t seem to mind that Amelia is a ghost, and as their relationship grows, they discover that true love extends into the afterlife. Their happiness is threatened, however, when Amelia encounters Eli, a dangerous ghost who reigns over High Bridge, collecting all the souls that perish in the river. Eli is determined to make Amelia his, and she soon finds herself in the midst of a supernatural love triangle.  Can Amelia discover the truth about her death and save herself from the clutches of the darkness lurking beneath High Bridge?

Review: This first installment in the Hereafter trilogy delivers a sweet and intriguing love story full of supernatural adventure, danger, and mystery. What Hudson has accomplished in this page-turning novel is astounding considering it is her first publication. The characters are given a depth often lacking in novels for young adults, and Hudson does an excellent job of creating an engrossing setting for the story to play out. Much of Hereafter reads like a mystery novel, with little being revealed about Amelia’s life, death or supernatural powers. The result is a story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the final pages. The love between Amelia and Josh contrasts well with the darker hues of the plot, adding a sweet and not overly-gushy romance that is pleasing to both teen and adult readers. The mysterious ghost, Eli, also makes for an intriguing nemesis for Amelia, one with depth and his own secrets to be uncovered. Overall, Hereafter is an outstanding ghost story that proves equally enjoyable for teen and adult readers. A very promising start for both Hudson and the trilogy.

Genre: Romance/Supernatural/Mystery

Reading level: Grade 7+

Similar titles: Rachel Vincent’s Soul Screamers series.

Themes:  Ghosts, supernatural, afterlife, love, fate.    

Awards/Reviews:  Positive reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus and Booklist.

Series Information: First novel in Hereafter trilogy.

Discussion questions:

- Describe how Amelia’s afterlife differs from your own personal beliefs.

- Do you think religion played a role in how Hudson portrayed life after death?

- Do you know of any “cursed” locations, like High Bridge? Why do you think people label certain places as cursed or haunted? Can these feelings impact people’s actions in that location?

- Who or what do you think Eli’s “masters” are?

- Do you believe in ghosts? Have you ever seen one? What would you do if you saw one?

- What do you think lies ahead in Amelia and Josh’s story? What would you like to see happen in the second and third installments of the trilogy?