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The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

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Book Review

This book has been reviewed by Thriving Family, a marriage and parenting magazine published by Focus on the Family.

Plot Summary

Seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan is not excited about her flight to London. In England, she will watch her dad marry Charlotte, the woman with whom he had an affair during his recent semester in Oxford. His infidelity tore their family apart, leaving Hadley angry at him and skeptical about love.

At JFK Airport, Hadley misses her flight to London by four minutes. She’s assigned a new flight, but realizes it will be a miracle if she makes it to the wedding on time. Just when everything seems to be going wrong, Hadley sits next to a handsome british Yale student named Oliver. They talk the whole way across the ocean and seem to have an amazing connection. Entering through customs in London, they lose track of each other. Hadley goes on to the wedding, where the other bridesmaids quickly dress her to join them. After the ceremony, she overhears a man mentioning a funeral at the church where Oliver was heading. Hadley had assumed Oliver, like her, was attending a wedding. Now she is convinced it may be the funeral of Oliver’s estranged father.

Leaving her confused, upset father with little explanation, Hadley takes public transportation through the unfamiliar streets of London. When she reaches the church, she sees Oliver and learns he is, indeed, at his father’s funeral. He had a poor relationship with his dad and remains hurt and angry by the way he was treated. He doesn’t seem glad to see Hadley, so she returns to her dad and the wedding party as they prepare for an evening reception.

Oliver’s anger helps Hadley realize she still has time to mend her relationship with her dad. Hadley and her dad talk about the hurts of the past and the possibilities for their relationship to improve in the future. Oliver shows up at the reception. He sweeps Hadley off her feet and onto the dance floor.

Christian Beliefs

None

Other Belief Systems

Fate is credited with setting off the chain of events that makes Hadley miss her first plane and meet Oliver on the alternate flight.

Authority Roles

Hadley’s dad accepts a short-term opportunity to work in Oxford, England, with the blessing of Hadley’s mom. While there, Dad meets Charlotte and decides to stay. He marries her in this story, and he tells Hadley he regrets the way his affair has impacted his daughter. Despite being the victim of an affair, Hadley’s mother urges Hadley not to miss Dad’s wedding or she may regret it later. Mom is dating, too, but very cautiously.

Profanity & Violence

The Lord’s name is used in vain a few times. The words d—, arse and h— also appear.

Sexual Content

Hadley and Oliver kiss several times. Dad has an affair with Charlotte and leaves Hadley’s mom. Hadley overhears Charlotte saying something is going to happen in nine months, and she is convinced Charlotte is pregnant. Hadley’s assumption turns out to be false.

Discussion Topics

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at ThrivingFamily.com/discuss-books.

Additional Comments

Parent Note:

Alcohol: Oliver steals two bottles of Jack Daniel’s from the airplane beverage cart. He leaves more than enough money on the seat to pay for it when exiting the plane. He tells Hadley stealing the whisky is easier than messing with an I.D. since he is 18, and they are somewhere between the United States and England. He offers her a sip, and she thinks it tastes awful. Dad, Charlotte and the wedding guests celebrate with alcohol throughout the day. Hadley drinks champagne at the reception.

This book was made into a moview in 2016. To find the review for the movie, use the movie tab and search for it by name.

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Romantic Comedy: No Laughing Matter.

Dating in a Digital World.

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected].

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.