Statistically Speaking is a heartfelt and deeply moving story that slowly crept into my heart. At its core, it’s about Gemma, a woman who has spent years alone, navigating life without the support she needed. As the story unfolds, we watch her grow—emotionally and mentally—learning that true strength lies in accepting the love and community around her, something she never had as a young girl. Gemma is at a crossroads, torn between the ambitions she’s always pursued and the possibility of embracing a new kind of life, one where she’s supported and cared for. This internal battle is the heart of her journey, and I was captivated by her evolution throughout the book.

The book struck a nice balance, offering just enough romantic tension to keep me invested. The small, sweet moments between Gemma and Kareem added a lovely layer to the story. Kareem, with his patience and kindness, was the ideal counterpart to Gemma’s emotional walls, and I loved seeing how their connection grew. What really stood out, though, was Gemma’s development—her internal monologues provided such a rich window into her growth, especially as she comes to terms with her past and her coping mechanisms. The book also explores important themes like mental health representation and found family, which I appreciated.

I was engaged at the start. The story had potential, but the character continually explained over and over …and over and over again…why. Why she thought this, that, and the other. Pages wasted. It became painful to read. I could go into more depth about the characters, but I’m spent on the hours it took to sludge through.

It is always endearing to read a book where lost connections are found, healed, and continued with the hesitancy that has creeped in because of the decades of silence. Whatever the reason, a reunion is always sweet to witness and in Statically Speaking, the protagonist Gemma gets not one but two family reunions!

Having given up her baby for adoption at a tender age, and abandoned by her mother, Gemma's story about getting another shot at having her own family is an emotionally rich journey, punctured with humorous anecdotes, romantic tanglements, and comfort of friends.

The story trundles along at a good pace, simmered down only by Gemma's shtick of keeping a track of items or facts in her head (I want to know what was the reason to add this to Gemma's personality, she is well developed character without it). The narrative is predictable, but it is sweet in its unravelling and at the end of the day you want to read a book to feel good, and this book delivers on that promise.

I personally loved how the author developed and bought out the the chemistry, the building of the relationships between the characters; including the dialogues, which all have the realistic touch imbued in them. it is very hard to write the correct dialogues and Johnson makes it look very easy.

A touching story of human relationships and second chances, Statically Speaking will speak to the emotions of your heart.

This was such a great book! Gemma finds herself pregnant at 16 and decides to put her baby up for adoption. She didn't think it was going to be as hard as it was, handing over "Baby." She writes a letter to her daughter and asks that the adoption parents give it to her at age 16. Gemma had a tough upbringing, with her mom's drinking problems.
Gemma thinks about her "Baby" constantly, hoping her daughter has had a happy life, unlike her own.

There are so many emotions in this story and the writing is so good that I could feel everything Gemma and the other characters felt. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves feel-good books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Not going to lie don't let the cute cover fool you this one is a tear jerker. Because Gemma might have a chance to reconnect with the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was sixteen. And this one touches on all that goes into that.

Gemma was such a fun, quirky character which I loved! She has such an intense backstory and you end up feeling so much for her, and being so proud of how well she's doing despite all of that. The end of the story did seem to drag a bit for me which could be personal preference more than anything. I just felt like it could have been a tad shorter. Otherwise, this was lovely and I will read more by this author.

Well this was an intense but emotional read!

Gemma was a wonderful character who you couldn't help but care for deeply as you got to read her story, as a woman in her 30s but also as a child. You can tell how much her past informs her as a teacher and as a friend. All of the characters in the book are well written and the MMC is a new favourite for sure!

It was beautiful to see Gemma understand her "found family" even if you could see it coming. As a reader, it was less predictable and more hopeful which is a huge credit to Debbie Johnson.

This was a hard book to put down and I highly recommend you don't!

An emotional, warm-hearted, tender read! Gemma is such an empathetic character, you'll be laughing and crying right along with her. The issues around adoption are deftly explored from many angles. The relationships develop authentically. The cover grabbed my attention and the story kept it. Highly recommend!

Rating: 3/5

Review:

Wow, this book is different from the books I've read in the past. This book focuses a lot on adoption and follows Gemma navigating her emotions as she figures out whether her new student is the baby she gave up for adoption at 16.

Although this was a different read for me, i found myself attached to Gemma and rooting for her in a sense where I wanted her to be happy. She was
a pretty grounded character which made her an enjoyable character to follow. Debbie's writing style was easy to follow and there were moments when i had to put the book down and think about what just happened. Though i will say, the pacing is not the greatest, i felt like it was pretty slow in the middle whereas the start was great. It kind of lost momentum as the story goes on. Nevertheless, it was a quick and heartfelt read.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you HarperMuse for the copy.

This sweet story was relatable and heartwarming. We all suffer from some sort of anxiety or anxious thoughts, making this story extremely relatable

I absolutely loved this book! The romance is really secondary in the plot. This is about Gemma’s personal growth and how she is healing from her traumatic childhood and coming to terms with giving up her baby for adoption. I think sometimes the author could have even dug in a little deeper but she keeps it fairly light though I definitely teared up a few times. This is a total feel-good read and leaves you feeling hopeful and happy.

Even though the romance with Karim isn’t the star of the show, it’s still a really important part. Karim is amazing and just what Gemma needs. Honestly, he’s what we all need. It’s great to see a healthy, mature relationship portrayed.

Wonderful supporting cast. I loved watching Gemma grow as a person and just think this was brilliantly written. 5 stars!

I'd not heard of this author before ( I usually read YA and middle-grade because of my job as a school librarian) but I really liked the sound of this book so thought I'd give it a chance. The main character reminded me a bit of Geek Girl (random facts; knowing statistics) but I liked that this didn't seem to have a sinister edge (like Eleanor Oliphant, for example). The story was well plotted and burbled along nicely. Just the sort of thing to read to counter-act the January blues.

I loved this one! I found Gemma's anxieties very relatable and her relationships with the other characters very endearing. I laughed, I cried, I highly recommend this one for anyone looking for a quick heartfelt read!

I really enjoyed this book! Never read a book with this kind of plot before, but I did enjoy it!!! Really recommend this book!

What a beautiful story! Gemma is the heroine you really want to root for, and it was just such a wonderfully told tale.

This book had me on the edge of my proverbial seat in so many different ways. Just when you think you know the twist and you're mentally going through the same process as the MC, there's a slightly different twist and the way all the different things are handled and all the different friendships, the relationships, the past and present dynamics are all beautifully explored and wonderfully written in human ways, not just the magic of the story. I loved it and have recommended it already several times.

#arc
#netgalley
#statisticallyspeaking

I adore Debbie Johnson - I've loved every one of her books. This one is no exception. I love how she is able to weave serious topics together with humour. Her books feel psychologically astute and her characters feel real. You may not agree with what characters are doing but you understand why. I also appreciate that the dose of romance is there but isn’t overwhelming, and I really like her focus on female friendship, which rings very true. Would heartily recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.

Statistically Speaking is a heartfelt and emotionally rich story about love, loss, and second chances. As a high school history teacher, Gemma Jones thrives on the certainty of the past—names, dates, and proven statistics. But her own past is far less clear-cut, marred by a life-changing decision she made at just sixteen years old: giving up her baby for adoption.

On the surface, Gemma's life seems perfectly fine. She’s adored by her students, lives in a charming beachside cottage, and has the world’s sweetest neighbor, Margie, next door. There’s even Karim, the handsome PE teacher, who seems more than a little interested in her. But beneath her carefully composed exterior lies an ever-present ache—the knowledge that her daughter, whom she calls only Baby, is turning eighteen this year. And with that milestone comes the possibility of finally meeting her child face-to-face.

What makes Statistically Speaking shine is how it balances heavy themes with warmth, humor, and hope. Gemma’s journey is raw and authentic; her struggles are deeply relatable. The story doesn’t shy away from exploring the emotional turmoil of teenage pregnancy, the complexities of adoption, and the courage it takes to confront one's past.

This novel isn’t just about Gemma’s relationship with her daughter—it’s also about friendship, self-acceptance, and finding love when you least expect it. The dynamic between Gemma and her support network, including Margie and Karim, adds layers of tenderness and lighthearted moments to the narrative.

With clever humor, poignant reflections, and moments that will tug at your heartstrings, Statistically Speaking is as much a story of overcoming adversity as it is about empowerment and connection. Whether it’s the heartfelt exploration of motherhood or the slow-burn romance that blossoms in the background, this book delivers an engaging and deeply satisfying read. A must for fans of stories about resilience, love, and the enduring power of hope.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4⭐️ I felt like the blurb was more romance forward than the book was. Definitely more women’s fiction with a romance, sub plot. Fantastic book! I loved all of the characters. They were so likable and unique.

Obviously, because I do not know the European school system, I was deeply confused about what was happening on that front lol I need to do some research to make sense of it. At one point it said she was a college teacher, but then it made it sound like the students were 16 and 17 years old. I know they take GCSEs at the end of their ‘high school’, but not much more than that. My best guess is that A-level exams are like an equivalent of finishing your associates or maybe something to get into specialist colleges? I don’t know man. 😂

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for this ARC!

This was just a middle of the road book for me.