The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
author: Jennifer E. Smith
published: January 2nd, 2012
publisher: Little, Brown and Company

synopsis from Goodreads:

"Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?" Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. Having missed her flight, she's stuck at JFK airport and late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon-to-be stepmother 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 sitting in her row.
A long night on the plane passes in the blink of an eye, and Hadley and Oliver lose track of each other in the airport chaos upon arrival. Can fate intervene to bring them together once more?
Quirks of timing play out in this romantic and cinematic novel about family connections, second chances, and first loves. Set over a twenty-four-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

the cover: I adore this cover. Everything about it is perfect and it is a good representation of the novel. I like that the photo is in black & white, while the word "love" pops in red. The style of the cover continues through the book as well. The chapters are separated by single pages of lines that just look so cute! The chapter numbers are in the same font as the title, which brings it all together nicely. And, the best part, in my opinion, the chapters are stamped with the current time, both Eastern Standard Time (where she's coming from) and Greenwich Mean Time (where she's going).

my opinion: This book should be read in one sitting. I was able to read the whole thing, in the car, on my way home from the beach. It was the perfect way for me to read this book. It is a quick, easy, and fun read. The characters were endearing and had enough baggage (no pun intended) to make the backstory interesting. The book is full of flashbacks for Hadley which explain so much of what happens to her in the novel. Overall, it's a really great summer read. I can't wait to read more from Jennifer E. Smith.

Also, I just love the name Oliver.

I give The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight four hearts.

Pandemonium

title: Pandemonium
author: Lauren Oliver
published: February 28th 2012
publisher: HarperTeen
series: Delirium, book 2 of 3

Do not read beyond this point if you do not want Delirium to be spoiled for you!

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,pushing aside thoughts of Alex,pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,push,push,push,like Raven taught me to do.The old life is dead.But the old Lena is dead too.I buried her.I left her beyond a fence,behind a wall of smoke and flame.

The cover: This cover adequately portrays the novel. There's an edge and wildness to it that is definitely Lena's new life. I like it, and it looks good with the second cover of Delirium, but I like Delirium's cover more.

My opinion: I most definitely have a book hangover! I was not disappointed with this sequel!

One of the best things about this book is that it did not feel, at all, like a repeat of the first novel. So often, I've read sequels that are basically the same things happening again and again. I understand that a series must be one cohesive story. But, too many sequels are just the same thing happening again in a slightly different way. This novel stands on its own. But, it is still definitely part of one cohesive story.
Lena grows significantly in this book. She adapts to her changing circumstances in drastic ways that show how different her life is becoming. She goes from living in a structured, secure world to an open and wild place. She has to deal with so many things all at once, and she handles it in a realistic way.

Another aspect of this novel that I just love is the way its told. There are no chapter numbers. It goes back and forth from "before" and "now" which, I think, is a very effective way to tell this particular part of Lena's epic journey. I can't imagine this story being told linearly. It just wouldn't work. The juxtaposition of her life and character just after her escape in Delirium ("before") and six months later when she's working for the Resistance ("after"), makes it that much more evident.

This book reminded me of The Host by Stephenie Meyer, but better.

I couldn't put Pandemonium down and am already desperate for the conclusion, Requiem, which is expected in February 2013, although Goodreads says March 5th.

Pandemonium gets 5 hearts.

Delirium

title: Delirium
author: Lauren Oliver
published: February 1st, 2011
publisher: HarperTeen
series: Delirium, book 1 of 3

synopsis from Goodreads: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn't understand that once love -- the delirium -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she'll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. 


But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.


the cover: This is the cover for the hardcover special edition and for the paperback. (I read the hardcover) I love this cover. It's pretty and compelling. The original cover was really cool also.

my opinion: Delirium is everything I want in a dystopian YA novel. Everything. Not only does it have oppressive government, realistic world and characters, rebellion, romance, and good friendships, but it is really well written. Lauren Oliver's prose is absolutely beautiful. There is a lot of imagery in this book. It was almost like watching a movie. I never got bored, either. There was never a spot in this book where I was just hoping to get past it and into another scene. The characters are relatable and realistic. I want to know them. I want to be their friends.

Delirium is a bit lengthy. It's over 400 pages. But never did it feel like a 400 page novel. It went by very quickly and it was so good! I loved it!

I can't wait to read the short story Hana, and then the sequel, Pandemonium. I will definitely be starting on those tonight.

I give Delirium five hearts.

I have a problem.

Today, I bought the sequel to Delirium by Lauren Oliver, Pandemonium. I only just started reading the first book, so it better be good!

I also ordered Divergent by Veronica Roth and its sequel, Insurgent on Amazon. Those will be here by Friday. (Hooray for 6 months free of Amazon Prime Student! [free two day shipping]) I also have two books to pick up at the library on Thursday: Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler. I'm particularly excited about the latter because 13 Reasons Why was so great (and Mackler's books have always been enjoyable). If you want to feel sort of empty and definitely sad, read it. It was amazing. I renewed The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith. That's good until the 17th of July. I wanted to save it.

So let's take a quick recap:

I bought three books today. I have three from the library. I have a few on hold. I'm reading a book, obviously. I have a WHOLE bunch of books on my bookshelf and in my nook waiting to be read. Books I've had for years even. Sequels, brand new series, new novels, and new authors that are desperate to be explored by me. 

And I keep. Buying. Books. 

I can't help it. 

I had Divergent on hold for a while. I was number 27 of 33 at the library, and I was number 228 of 264 on the eBook library. I didn't want to wait, even though I have a plethora of books to read right here in my bedroom. 

I just don't want to read any of those at this moment. I want books that I don't have. Isn't that the way things always are, though? 

So, there it is. I have a problem. I am a bibliophile. I'm addicted. And that's okay by me.

Anyone else in a similar situation? Have any new books to share?

Destined

title: Destined
author: Aprilynne Pike
published: May 1st, 2012
series: Wings, book 4 of 4

Synopsis from Goodreads: Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear. 


He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found the sides of her face, pulling her to him. He didn't kiss her, just held her face close to his, their foreheads resting together, their noses almost touching.


She hated how much it felt like good-bye.


Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful-and deadly- of all, and Klea plans to use her to help conquer and destroy Avalon. But Klea's reach extends far beyond one wild Winter faerie. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares to face what may be Avalon's final days, in the stunning conclusion to the Wings series.

The cover: I absolutely love this cover. It looks very nice with the three books before it, and somehow, it just seems to fit the plot. The colors are dark and cool. The book is the end of the series, and it feels final to me. The colors are similar to those in the first book which gives this one a sense of coming all the way around. A sense of finality.

My opinion: I have been invested in this series for years. I was not disappointed by this final installment. For the most part, it flowed nicely and I didn't struggle too much with trying to remember what happened in the third book, Illusions, from a year before.

A really cool thing about this novel is that it takes place over just a few days, a very intense few days. The characters go through a lot in very little time. That reminded me of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Toward the end, a lot happened in only a short period time. Another thing I liked is that it takes place in Avalon. Very little is in the human world.

The character David takes on a much bigger role in this novel than he has in the previous three. Sure, he was important and did a lot for the main character, Laurel. However, in this novel, we get a good look at the capabilities of human David.

Laurel has to make her big decision in this novel. Human David who she has spent so much time with and who has kept her secret, or faerie Tamani, who has been hiding and protecting her for her entire "human" life and who has loved her for longer than she can remember. Finally, we get an answer!

One complaint I have is that a lot of time is spent on fighting with trolls. I couldn't get into the book at that point, and it took me a very long time to get through. I didn't really want to read it anymore. Someone I know asked me if I read the book yet, and that made me want to finish. Once I got past the repetitive fight sequence, I couldn't put the book down!

All in all, I am very pleased with the ending to this series. I am so glad to have gotten it for my birthday several years ago.

I give it four hearts.

Reviews by title

D
-Delirium by Lauren Oliver
-Destined  by Aprilynne Pike
F
-The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
P
-Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
S
-The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

Review by title from my old blog:
note: The only books I can guarantee the reviews and opinions have remained true through the years are Amy & Roger's Epic Detour (absolutely amazing), How to Say Goodbye in Robot (fantastic and real), Linger (I love Maggie's books--she always delivers), The Snowball Effect (so serious, yet out-loud funny), and Wondrous Strange (yay faeries and Shakespeare!)
How many times have you read a book, thought it was really great, and then think about it later and realize it wasn't that great, it was cliche, or maybe you have simply outgrown them?
A
-Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
B
-Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
-The Betrayal of Natalie Hargrove by Lauren Kate
C
-Captivate by Carrie Jones
D
-Darklight by Lesley Livingston
-Deadly Little Lies by Laurie Faria Stolarz
-Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz
F
-Fallen by Lauren Kate
-Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
G
-Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
H
-How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford
I
-The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
-The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
K
-Kiss Me Kill Me by Lauren Henderson
-Kisses and Lies by Lauren Henderson
L
-Linger by Maggie Stiefvater
-Love is Hell
S
-The Snowball Effect by Holly Nicole Hoxter
-Spells by Aprilynne Pike
W
-Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

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