Publisher’s Summary:
“Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan’s life. She’s stuck at JFK, late to her father’s second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley’s never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport’s cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he’s British, and he’s in seat 18C. Hadley’s in 18A.Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver’s story will make you believe that true love finds you when you’re least expecting it.”
Perhaps you’ve followed this blog long enough to have come to the conclusion that I tend to gravitate towards girls that don’t necessarily fit the standard definition of gutsy or defiant or strong. Because there’s something to be said, I think, for a girl who blurts out a litany of her fears to a stranger without trying to reclaim the words or backpedal to make them sound prettier or less daunting. That? That takes guts. And it shows strength of character that seems to be too often overlooked in favor of the girl who is visibly out there taking on the world. So I’ll go ahead and admit it: Hadley, quietly struggling to reconcile her life in the wake of her father’s exit from their family, won me over from the start. Oliver’s sense of humor, his artful deflection of painful topics, and his comfortable yet still exciting presence was a bonus.
There’s also something to be said, I think, for the enforced intimacy of a long flight. (If, of course, the company you’re forced to keep is palatable.) Hadley and Oliver’s hushed conversations, the occasional shock of an accidental touch, it was all sort of…electric. It was almost like you could see the currents running between them, pulling one closer to the other, and I appreciated the honest warmth and acceptance that marked the start of their…friendship? Relationship? The label doesn’t matter, but that this aspect of the story worked, contentment welling up in me as I experienced it along with them, does.
The one and only thing I’ll say – and it’s not a criticism, really, but I’ll get to that – is that the plot’s progression was predictable. There were only so many ways Hadley could resolve the problems she had with her father, and any one of them would have felt familiar, but that’s not to say it came across as clichéd. Once again, it was made okay – for me, at least – because of Hadley, because the way she dealt with and looked at her issues with her father, the way she gave weight to both the good and the bad, almost without realizing it, made me care enough to overlook the ‘well, that’s been done before’ nature of the resolution. Same goes for the predictable how and why behind Hadley and Oliver reconnecting outside of the airport. If you’re invested in these characters, and if your experience is anything like mine, you’ll just go with it, snuffing the urge to quirk an eyebrow in silent judgment of what might otherwise seem like an easy out.
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was the first novel I read in this New Year; if it’s any indication of bookish things to come, the future is bright.
After reading a few lackluster reviews of this, yours has left me hopeful and relieved. Oliver, and especially Hadley sound like my type. I have the ebook and I can’t wait to start it. Thanks again for always bring able to articulate why something worked for you. Lovely review as always.
I tend to not read (too many) reviews prior to reading a book, but I did read Angie’s, and her positive endorsement reinforced my desire to read this one. I’m sure it’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I really enjoyed it. I hope you do too.
When I think I’m making a mess of this review writing business, I’m going to remember this comment.
Like Holly, I felt a bit sad about the other not-so-good reviews for this because I really enjoyed it. I guess I was able to turn a blind eye to what the others nitpicked on (even if I do kind of agree with that at some degree). I guess I focused more on how their friendship/relationship unfolded, and I guess I really liked the premise, too. And I agree — I was invested enough on the Hadley and Oliver that I could forgive the things I would’ve nitpicked on.
Genuinely liking characters can go a long way towards making a story’s faults tolerable. I didn’t go into this one with any expectations of any sort; I simply wanted a sweet story, and that’s what I got. Glad to hear you liked it also!
I’m glad to hear you liked this overall, Chelle, because my copy arrived just yesterday! I like the way you describe the heroine – and why are people so hard on female protagonists who are a bit quiet and lack self-esteem, or who are just naturally awkward, and so on? (not saying that that’s what Hadley is like, only that something you said brought this to mind.) I’ve never understood why women so strongly take offence at, say, Bella Swan, when to me she seems more real than the tough girls in other books, or the sullen, withdrawn ones. Sorry, off-topic somewhat. I just get the impression, through some reviews, that people – especially women? – are really hard on the young female protagonist who’s at all vulnerable or hesitant. Have you noticed that at all?
I have noticed that. And I think you’re right. Jane (from April Lindner’s Jane) is a good example; I remember reading reviews that criticized her for being a passive heroine, and I sort of sat back and and wondered what these same people, were they to meet me, would think. To me, she was strong; she stayed sane and good and honest in the face of adversity and neglect and disdain, but I guess the problem was she did it quietly. She didn’t rail or metaphorically shake her fist at the sky. She accepted her lot in life while she made plans to make it better whenever she could, however she could. But, again, she did it quietly. In light of all that she faced, that she got up the next day and pushed forward without complaint proved, to my mind, how strong she was. I saw shades of myself in Jane, in Hadley, and I don’t think of myself as weak or unworthy of admiration for being quiet or shy or, on those occasions when I am, unsure. I’ve come to the conclusion that my definition of strong and gutsy and brave differs from the majority of readers. And you know what? I’ll celebrate the quiet, contemplative girls, and lay odds that she could hold her own against the bold, defiant girl any day of the week.
Bravo, Chelle! I have noticed and been saddened by this trend. And you know what? I almost always relate more to the Janes and Hadleys of YA. They are so strong in less obvious ways and more authentic because of it. Seriously, can’t wait to get to this now!
I’ll drink to that, Chelle! I’m like you, I’m not an extrovert but that doesn’t mean I’m a pushover, or naive or gullible. I liked Jane, I liked Bronte’s Jane and I liked Lindner’s Jane. I recently read If I Stay and the heroine Mia was like that too. I think Perkins’ heroines are as well, though they don’t get any flak, perhaps because they’re funny.
I want to read this book and hopefully I will get it soon. Your review sounds so good and I have no problems with predictable endings so the book should work for me.
Keeping my fingers crossed that it does!