Statistically Speaking
by Debbie Johnson
Pub Date: December 3, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson is a heartfelt and humorous novel about self-discovery, familial reconciliation, and dealing with one's past. If you enjoy character-driven stories with a hefty dose of laughter like Bridget Jones or The Good Place, you'll love this book. Fall in love with Debbie Johnson's heartwarming novel (previously published in the UK as Forever Yours).
No spoilers here but this is a wonderful, Alton Towers emotional ride and one that 'stayed with me long after the last page is turned' is a cliche, but it really did. Joyful and hopeful and just a fabulous read, beautifully and skilfully written - you're always in safe hands with her.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinions.

The last book I read was really sad and very emotional, so definitely it spilled over to this as well. Gemma Jones' life is one that was definitely heartbreaking. She had a child at sixteen, didn't know who the dad was, had to go through it all without a solid support system, and still had to give the baby away😪. Despite all the hardship she faced, she still made something out of herself.

For me, Gemma giving her baby away was a very beautiful thing for her to do. Even at the age of sixteen, she thought and knew that raising her baby would be nearly impossible as she was still a child herself. Her mom would have been of help, but being an addict and her mood flaring up all the time wasn't the best for Gemma and her baby. Even if it was the right thing to do, it still hurt!

I tried my best not to cry!!  I am so glad for all the support that has come Gemma's way. People who have decided to stick with her through thick and thin! And to everybody who has ever fostered a child, cheers!!

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

book was archived before i got the chance to read it, thank you for netgalley and publisher, i'm sure it was a great one

This book was so incredibly heartwarming (yet still heartbreaking) and beautiful.

The book centers around Gemma a woman who has a tortured past and grapples with her inner demons on if she wants to bring the past into her present life. Typically, a runner she establishes strong roots in her community of close people but worries that her past will mess it all up. Her past being giving up her baby girl 18 years ago at age 16 because she knew she couldn’t take care of a baby because she came from a terrible situation herself. She broke a generational curse and lives with that secret for 18 years before she finally lets people in and begins to heal. This book is sad and happy all at the same time. Reading of Gemma’s life as a child is heart wrenching and knowing it is part of the reason she feels so broken.



I was given the opportunity to read this ARC from NetGalley and Harper Muse.

I want to start off by saying that I wouldn’t classify this as a romance book. This isn’t to say that it is bad or that there is no romance, but I think the main story is really about Gemma’s search for her daughter, not her love story. What really draws me into her story is how deeply I can feel Gemma’s desire to find Baby and the turmoil she feels about having to give up her daughter. I can’t say if the parts about the care system are accurate, but Debbie did an amazing job at evoking Gemma’s feelings in me. I think it’s a beautiful story to make you feel hopeful. I do feel the story is a little slow and could use a smidge more action.

This is such a beautiful story! From start to finish I was invested in the characters and their stories. Gemma is the success story you love to root for. As a teacher, I loved that her students were such an important part of her development. One thing I especially appreciated about Statistically Speaking is that the romantic relationship, while present and relevant, was not the focus of the book. Debbie Johnson has created an intoxicating story about relationships (romantic, familial, and platonic), and how it is never too late to find your family. Bravo!

This book was a lot. Seemingly having her life together and not. The possibility of meeting her daughter that she gave up for adoption? Heavy.

The author does a good job and balancing the themes in the book but this just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC.

Sheesh. Can someone get me some tissues?! 😭

What a beautiful and wholesome read. Johnson effortlessly blended themes of found family, the complexities of adoption, mental health and a little bit of romance too.

We witnessed our main character, Gemma, do the work to overcome her traumas. She broke the cycle of poverty, she learned to let people in and resist the urge to fall back into old, isolating —and in some ways, destructive patterns.
It was real and it was raw and it was inspiring.
I was rooting for her every step of the way.

I loved that the side characters were so incredibly well-formed and fleshed out. Not only did they help Gemma on her journey, but they also each had their own individual stories that complimented and rounded out Gemma’s journey.

By the time I got to the last page, not only did I have tears in my eyes but I also had the biggest smile on my face.

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse and the author for the e-Arc.

This was a deeply touching read. I loved walking alongside Gemma as she courageously confronted generational trauma, learned to trust again, and found a sense of belonging.

It was my first time reading a story centered on adoption, and I appreciated the unique perspective—told from someone who had to give their baby up.

I’m incredibly proud of Gemma for the life she built, the community she found, and the brave choices she made. This is a heartwarming and inspiring story of resilience and self-discovery.

Statistically Speaking is a very touching and thoughtful story about adoption, childhood trauma, and found family. I felt all of Gemma’s feelings and insecurities, and I was rooting for her every step of the way. I also loved each supporting character, and what they brought into Gemma’s life. I did feel that the pacing was a little off throughout the middle of the story. There were times when I felt like a situation was dragging on a bit. Overall, I really enjoyed this one! A big thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for an advanced copy of this gem of a book.

Why in the world did I pick this book up without a case of tissues??

16 year old Gemma is in foster care when she gives up her newborn daughter for adoption, hoping her baby will have a better life. Now a devoted history teacher, she counts the days (and everything else around her) leading up to what will be her daughters 18th daughters birthday.

This beautiful story of a girl who beats the odds and breaks the cycle of generational trauma. As she seeks out her biological child, for the first time in her life she finds her self surrounded by a chosen family she never planned to choose.

Everyday of her life she has thought of her "Baby" and feeling both anguish for giving her away. The gauntlet of emotions here is stunningly conveyed. I swear I cried the entire last 50 pages of this book, tears streaming down my cheeks like a broken faucet crying.

Heartbreaking and heartwarming, poignant and funny. This will be very relatable to anyone who has been through difficult childhood and had learn to stop pushing people away. I could not put this down. If you need a good book that will make you cry with a beautiful ending do not skip this one.

Thank to the author/NetGalley/the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Statistically Speaking was a decent read that I picked up primarily because I’m also a history teacher, so I was drawn to Gemma's character. The premise of a woman reconnecting with her past was poignant as someone who works in education can relate to the complexities of personal history and growth.

The emotional aspects of the book were definitely strong. Gemma's journey of self-discovery, her struggles with anxiety, and the deep dive into her past were raw and heartfelt. I appreciated how the author captured the trauma and healing, making it feel real and authentic. The bond between the characters, particularly the female friendships, was touching and provided a comforting sense of support that resonated with me.

However, as much as I enjoyed the emotional depth of the book, the plot left me wanting more. While the premise was strong, the middle section of the book felt a bit lacking. There were moments where the story seemed to drift, and the pacing slowed down. I found myself getting a bit disconnected during those slower chapters, where the plot didn’t seem to be progressing as strongly as it could have.

Despite these pacing issues, the character development was solid. Gemma’s growth throughout the book was inspiring, and the secondary characters, like Karim and Margie, added a lot of warmth and humor. Still, the middle of the book held the story back from being a truly great read for me.

It’s an emotional and authentic exploration of trauma, healing, and relationships, but the plot struggles at times, especially in the middle. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven stories and are looking for something heartfelt, but be prepared for a slower pace in parts.

Honestly I’m a little disappointed in the book. I thought I would connect to the main character, and in some ways I did, but I felt like her character shifted very quickly in the book. The adoption storyline was more interesting to me than the romance. I think the pace also threw the story off for me… the middle was very off pace.

All in all this was not my cup of tea, but I think many people will enjoy it.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the eArC.

I received a free e-arc of this book through Netgalley. I really liked the story of Gemma. It was understandable that she held herself back from people because she had been hurt so much already. This story was like a flower unfolding as she learns to trust again.

Statistically Speaking began with a hilarious chapter while Gemma, sixteen at the time, is giving birth to her baby girl. This frames the story of a woman that is determined to succeed inspite of the hand she has been delt. I really liked Gemma as a character as well as the other main characters in the book as they seemed to make sense in the story. Debbie Johnson developed the plot in a way that was not as predictable as I thought it might be. I look forward to reading more Debbie Johnson books.

Thank you Net Galley, Debbie Johnson and Harper Muse for the opportunity to preview this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Statistically Speaking is expected to be released Dec. 3, 2024.

The most perfectly heartwarming novel. Exactly what I needed, a balm for the soul with the beautiful mix of messed up characters that make you laugh and cry in the space of a few pages.

It's not an easy book emotionally, there's a lot of heavy themes including teen pregnancy in an unstable family situation, but there's so much hope too after that in overcoming the difficulties life throws one's way and finding one's own tribe of people you can call family.

The plot is careful, I don't think I can come up with another adjective to describe it. It handles you tenderly, there's always something going on but it's never more than you can cope with.

Truly beautiful. I can't wait to read more by the author

This is a great light hearted read, that depicts the reality of breaking the poverty cycle, dealing with mental strains and anxiety coping methods, and find the people that mean the world to you.

I really enjoy this. The main character started by being flighty, yet capable and became someone truly dependable and while not flawless she had a home that she settled it.

This was light but still dealt with serious issues which is why I loved it.

the book and story itself wasn’t as interesting as finding out about the kid. i didn’t enjoy some conversations as they kind of felt weird and pushed but others were beautiful and engaging. in 50% i thought i figured this whole book out. i was sure that nothing could have shocked me until … happened…

SPOILERS

i think that if she really was the child, new parents of hers would recognize the mom. or at least, she would recognize them. i wonder if the girl also was thinking about the potential connection with the “mom”. i still can’t figure out how so many details were connected.

end just broke me. i cried during the whole last chapter

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse for the Arc! All opinions are my own.

Generally I liked this book. I think the premise was portrayed in a more realistic way than other similarly themed books I’ve read. There can be a lot of feelings involved in an adoption situation, and I think Debbie Johnson did well with that. I just feel like the story’s pacing was a little off for my taste and it lost a little steam in the middle. The beginning was good and the end was good, but the middle was a little mid.

📖 For someone who finishes books in about a week, this book took me almost a month to read. Statistically Speaking is heavy from the start and I struggled to read Gemma’s negative inner dialogue for long periods at a time.

I really enjoyed the supporting characters and the overall development of the story, but I had to force myself to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.