⭐️⭐️ Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson is good, but not great. It has a really compelling opening. It starts out with the birth of a baby to 16 year old Gemma, and a letter she writes to her baby, who is then adopted. I had really high hopes for the book, but after this great opening it sort of fizzled. Gemma was confusing character, sometimes she seemed silly, other times romantic, other times a nervous wreck. The story was all over the place, there is a romantic interest that absolutely sneaks up on you. The last few pages are also lovely, the theme is very pro-adoption without being anti-choice, and it’s quite, quite British. I was a little disappointed that the whole “statistic” theme was lacking. Good in the beginning, but it’s like she kind of forgot to keep doing it. From the club I was expecting more of a neurodivergent character, like Cassandra in Reverse, Eleanor Oliphant or Interesting Facts About Space. Great idea but it just didn’t land for me.

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

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC.

I adored this cozy story about found family and what it means to create a life you love. Gemma’s journey of accepting her past while embracing the present and future is inspiring and realistic. This book walks the line between contemporary fiction and romcom, leaning more towards the former! The romance elements are very cute though, and this is a great closed-door love story. I will definitely be seeking out more of Debbie Johnson’s work!

I loved Johnson's book "Jenny James is Not a Disaster," so was excited to get the ARC od this one. I loved the themes of the novel and the character development was awesome. But, thonthe beginning was intriguing and ending ok, the heart of the novel was disjointed and ALL over the place.
I received an ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

This is a book about overcoming the odds. It is about perseverance and how your childhood doesn’t have to define who you are as an adult. Gemma was a child who had many obstacles to overcome including an unstable mom which eventually led her into be in the foster care system. One reckless night at 16 led her to have her own baby who she put up for adoption. Fast forward 18 years and Gemma is still trying to find herself. This story is one of true friendship, discovery of your true self, and love.

I loved this book. I found the writing crisp and witty, and felt drawn into Gemma’s poignant and heart-breaking story while admiring her toughness and determination. The book is also full of engaging secondary characters who filled out the plot as well as filled up Gemma’s life. The scene from the yoga studio had me howling with laughter and I loved how it became the start of such a strong female friendship. I also thought King-I-Love-You-The-First was perfect boyfriend material and I liked so many of the scenes where he encouraged Gemma to face her deep-seated beliefs and challenge her comfort zone.

Gemma beat the odds, statistically speaking, to rise up from her childhood circumstances and create a life of her choosing, and I rooted for her the entire way.

The book deals with teenage pregnancy, adoption, foster care, and addiction, as well as the mental health ripple effects and the emotional struggles therein.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma had an out-of-wedlock baby at age sixteen that she gave up for adoption. Her mother was drug addicted, and Gemma was in and out of foster care for most of her growing-up years. Nevertheless, Gemma graduated from college and became a history teacher. Now in her 30s, she has spent decades yearning for the child she gave away, but always moving to another town and another job whenever she felt she was growing emotionally close to anyone. Better to be alone. How she overcame her childhood trauma and found a "family" that she could be a part of is what this story is all about. Well written, all the characters are relatable. And it moves nicely to a potentially happy ending.

big thank you to Harper Muse for giving me the chance to read this one early!

I was excited to read this one because the description really seemed right up my alley. Little did I know I would relate to the FMC in ways I didn’t expect! While my personal story and upbringing is quite different than Gemma’s, there were passages that felt like Johnson took a look into my brain and wrote out everything she discovered.

From the jump, Gemma was a strong lead (at 16 and 34). She is self-aware in a way that felt refreshing to me. I also loved all the supporting characters! So well written! I felt like I really grew to know the whole cast, not just the lead.

The story is charming and heartwarming and lovely. Would recommend to a friend!

Docking a star because I don’t love chapter titles but that is obviously a personal preference!

The story starts with foster child Gemma, a new mom at sixteen who gives her child up for adoption. Cut to 18 years later and Gemma has a fulfilling job as a high school school teacher, but is detached from other's lives by choice. She has always wondered about the baby she gave away, but never more so than now after she realizes a new student could potentially be her biological daughter. There's a lovely romance here, yes, but this book is more about all of Gemma's relationships and how her past has impacted how much she allows others into her life. This is a cautious and anxious woman with a troubled familial history, who feels that by avoiding others she is avoiding hurt. But what is she giving up in return? Throughout the story there are nice messages of support and acceptance, especially if you're brave enough to open yourself up to it. I loves the focus on found family and on forgiveness, both for yourself and for others. And I don't usually pay attention to chapter titles but I liked these, they were fun sign posts in navigating each chapter. This is a great book for those needing a literary hug, for those recovering from their past while allowing themselves to be hopeful about the future, and for those that sometimes need a nudge to open their hearts to others. New-to-me author, I'd read her again. Ebook ARC provided by NetGalley for this review.

I absolutely adore everything Debbie Johnson writes and this heartwarming story was perfect for a holiday weekend in the sun.
33-year-old Gemma is quite content with her life, for the first time ever. After growing up in the care system and giving birth and giving up her daughter for adoption when she was only 16, she has finally found a place that feels like home. She loves her job as a teacher, enjoys spending time with her elderly neighbour and her dog and there might even be a man in her future, when a new student enrolls in her history class with the same date of birth as the daughter she gave up, the same red hair she has and she also turns out to have been adopted… could this be het daughter?


I loved the found family, the characters and the humour in the story. As a teacher, I particularly liked the descriptions of teaching as well and even highlighted some sentences. They are absolutely spot on!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I enjoyed it very much!

I enjoyed this book, a real roller-coaster, but with a lovely ending making it all worthwhile.

Gemma reluctantly gave up her baby girl for adoption when she was a teenager, and now this 'baby' girl is about to turn 18 and so will officially be able to search for her birth mother, which Gemma is waiting for every second of every day. There are various twists and turns and Gemma thinks a recent pupil (Gemma is a teacher) could be her daughter, which is initially made more awkward as she had just befriended this girl's mother without realising.

I loved all the quirky characters, Gemma's downstairs neighbour Margie was fabulous and one of my favourites, but they were all great in their own way and really helped Gemma come out of her shell.

The story is all about Gemma waiting for her daughter to (hopefully) contact her, but in the meantime she's slowly becoming a bit less solitary and being dragged into peoples lives, which she finds she actually enjoys, after resisting it for so long.

A very satisfying read, with highs and lows, but ultimately a lovely ending.

The only thing that really, really annoys me - and of course I didn't realise this until I started reading it - is that this book has been published under two names - 'Forever Yours' published in 2022 and 'Statistically Speaking' this one in 2024. All through it I kept thinking I'd read it before, and flipping pages, but I couldn't think what it was and thought it was just me going mad! Different titles for the same book are a real bugbear for me, I think it's just ridiculous to have different titles for different countries. Please authors just stick to the one title for a book!!

this was fine at first, fine at the end, and the middle was a bit of a jumbled mess. gemma was messy, albeit somewhat entertaining. the pacing felt a bit off, especially around the halfway mark, and it made it a bit hard to even WANT to get through the book.

I would recommend Statistically Speaking. I loved Gemma, the main character. This story definitely had its ups and downs but I found I was right there with Gemma along the way. As a mother of an adopted daughter I was not so sure I wanted to read the book. Often books about adoption are just not written well or accurately. This book handled the topic of adoption sensitively and I appreciated that.

This one was just okay for me... Wasn't bad by any means, just never pulled me in completely. Thank you for the ARC

I felt like this book was just okay. I thought it was cute but it felt the majority of the book was kind of slow. I did think all of the characters were sweet though. Just not a lot happened. All thoughts and opinions are solely my own. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

I enjoyed the way this book explored many heavy themes but also incorporated light-heartedness and humor. Gemma is a high school social studies teacher with a secret - at 16, she became a birth mother and placed her daughter for adoption while she herself was in foster care. Now as her daughter's 18th birthday approaches, Gemma gets a new student who she believes could be her long lost daughter. She becomes anxious at the idea of finally connecting with her, while also contemplating reaching out to her own estranged mother.

This story asks tough questions like, what is family, and what does it mean to be a mother and a daughter? What does it mean to love and be loved?There is comedy woven throughout with Gemma's quirky personality and characters like her older neighbor and love interest, Karim. I felt there was a good balance of thoughtfulness and lightness that kept the story moving.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a beautifully crafted story that delves into the complexities of Gemma's life, expertly weaving together themes of anxiety, identity, and the power of human connection. With a unique blend of humor, empathy, and vulnerability, the author masterfully explores Gemma's journey towards self-discovery and peace.

Gemma's character is relatable and endearing, with her quirks and flaws making her all the more human. The supporting cast, particularly Margie and Karim, add depth and warmth to the story. The plot is engaging, with a perfect balance of tension and resolution, keeping readers invested in Gemma's life and her search for Baby.

The writing is evocative and immersive, making it easy to become fully absorbed in Gemma's world. The author tackles sensitive topics with care and nuance, creating a narrative that is both poignant and uplifting.

Overall, this book is a triumph, offering a powerful exploration of what it means to find oneself and connect with others. It's a must-read for anyone who has ever struggled with anxiety, identity, or the complexities of human relationships. With its uplifting message and memorable characters, this story will linger in readers' hearts long after the final page is turned.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this! I was enticed by the blurb, and I was hooked from the prologue. I was enamoured by the facts sprinkled in between, and connected with Gemma deeply. Her actions and thoughts felt realistic, as well as Karim's characterisation.

I can't wait for this to publish so I can buy a copy for my shelf.

Nice story but I am an American and reading the British English made it less enjoyable. If I reas this book as an audiobook, I would likely like the story more but I just couldn't wrap my mind around the different language usage.

This was a decent read overall once you get past the first two chapters. Despite this I still had some issues really getting into the story as it felt like the pacing was all over the shop.

The first two chapters are exploring a mature theme from the mind of a 16 year old who has mature ideas yet expresses them like a 12 year old. I seriously contemplating dnfing after that letter.

I found the rest of the book fine, nothing was super gripping or hooked me. Instead I just casually made my way through the story, which is fine, just not a book I would reread.

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