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The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

by Jennifer E Smith

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Summary

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Introduction

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was published in 2011 by bestselling author Jennifer E. Smith. A contemporary young adult novel, the book was inspired by a flight Smith took from Chicago to Dublin, where she was seated next to an Irish man reading a book she loved.

Although their connection was never romantic, the two spoke for hours throughout the flight before eventually being separated at customs and never seeing each other again. 

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight was Smith’s first commercial success and was adapted into a Netflix film released in 2023.

Plot Summary

Seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan is about to fly to London to attend her dad’s wedding when a series of delays causes her to miss her flight by 4 minutes. Her dad is marrying a woman named Charlotte, whom he met while teaching at Oxford. Hadley has never met Charlotte, in no small part because Hadley has not forgiven her dad for breaking up her family and leaving her and her mom in America alone. As such, she resolves to only arrive in London the morning before the wedding.

The next flight to London is not for three more hours, and Hadley realizes she might miss the wedding. There is nothing she can do, however, so she finds herself waiting helplessly at the airport. As she does, she meets an English boy named Oliver. He is a psychology student at Yale, returning home to London. Hadley assumes that, because he has a suit bag, he is heading to a wedding as well. The two waste time together waiting for their flight and, when they finally board, realize that their seats are next to each other.

Throughout the flight, Oliver helps Hadley through her fear of flying by distracting her with conversation. She shows him the book she brought, a copy of Dickens’ Our Mutual Friend that she refuses to read because her dad gave it to her, and he tries to encourage her to read it. Their connection starts to grow, and halfway through the flight, they almost kiss.

As the flight is about to end, Hadley realizes she does not want to leave Oliver. However, they must split up to go through customs. Before they are separated, Oliver kisses Hadley.

After customs, Hadley can not find Oliver and has to immediately find a taxi to take her to the wedding ceremony. She arrives at the church just in time and is quickly ushered off to get ready. Hadley sees her dad for the first time since he left as she walks down the aisle and, begrudgingly, admits that the wedding is beautiful and that her dad looks happy.

After the ceremony, Hadley is greeting guests when she overhears a couple saying they must leave for a funeral near where Oliver told Hadley he lives. Hadley realizes that Oliver returned to London for his father’s funeral, not a wedding, and decides she has to find him. She runs off, promising her upset dad that she will be back in time for the reception later.

Hadley finds the funeral, but when she sees Oliver, she panics and hides inside a church garden. He finds her, but they end up arguing over his feelings surrounding his father’s death, as Oliver admits that his father was not a very good one. Oliver kisses her, but it feels wrong. Tense and stilted, he leaves her in the garden.

Before Hadley leaves, she drops the copy of Our Mutual Friend  on the hood of a car in front of the funeral. She returns to the...

(This entire section contains 761 words.)

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wedding in time for the reception and has a chance to tell her dad and Charlotte about Oliver. Her dad apologizes for leaving Hadley and her mom in America, and their relationship begins to heal as Hadley realizes how lucky she is to have a father who still cares. Throughout the reception, the two continue to make amends, and Hadley promises to visit him and Charlotte up in Oxford.

Hadley disappears outside to get some air when, out of nowhere, Oliver appears. He brings her back the book and apologizes for what happened at the funeral. They dance together outside, and Oliver kisses Hadley in the rain.

Through Oliver, Hadley learns about forgiveness and accepts that, sometimes, letting go is the best thing to do. She finds a new love with Oliver as she restores her connection with her dad and, along the way, learns just how much can happen in twenty-four hours.

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