While filled with quirky characters and a heartwarming central story, I still couldn't warm to this novel as much as I had hoped.

Gemma Jones seems to have a picture-perfect life. She teaches math at the local school and loves the definitiveness of historical record and facts. She lives in a cozy cottage next to her lovely neighbor Margie, and has caught the eye of the hot PE teacher at her school. Yet, she still yearns for more. When she was 16, she gave up a daughter for adoption and she knows the girl's 18th birthday is approaching--will she reach out to her birth mom as she's now allowed to do? And is the new redheaded student in her class her long-lost child?

Emotional, real-life issues add depth to this funny, sweet tale. Yet the whimsy of Gemma and her friends gets a little heavy-handed at times and interrupts the flow. I do love that we got closure. Again, this wasn't a 5-star for me, but it was absolutely a 3.5 one. If you like women's fiction with fun characters and a dash of emotional resonance, you'll enjoy this one.

I thought this was a really interesting story. Gemma was put into foster care at a young age and wound up getting pregnant and giving her baby up for adoption. The story chronicles her thoughts around this and what if she were to meet her.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me interesting from the very first page. I don't normally get emotional while reading books, but I did while reading this one, which I think is a sign of a very well written book!

On the outside, Gemma’s a successful history teacher who has her life together. On the inside she’s reminded daily of the little girl she gave up for adoption when she was sixteen years old. Gemma didn’t name her, referring to her only as Baby. This year Baby will turn eighteen and Gemma hopes it might be the year she’s able to meet her face-to-face.

Katie is a new student who has physical characteristics that resemble Gemma’s and against all odds shares the same birthday as Baby. Gemma can’t help but wonder if this new student happens to be the baby she gave up so long ago. Gemma unknowingly (at first) befriends Katie’s mother and worries that their friendship will fall apart if she is indeed Katie’s biological mother.

Gemma’s not sure how the year will play out and whether she’ll see Baby. At the very least she hopes to find herself and find peace, whatever that may look like.

I’ve read several of Debbie Johnson’s books over the past few years and have enjoyed them all.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for allowing me to listen to an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #StatisticallySpeaking

An emotional story of self-discovery and forgiveness for Gemma as she works through how to find love in all the ways that matter after a traumatic childhood. Explores challenging topics like addiction, mental health & adoption in ways that are relatable. Love a story with found family and deep female friendships and this one delivered. Sweet love story sprinkled in as well. Overall a delightful and touching story that had me sad it was over.
Highly recommend and would love to read more by Debbie!

I recieved a copy through Netgalley for an honest review. Honestly, the first few pages got me hooked. But it gets dull through the middle but the ending is exciting.

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson is an emotional rollercoaster of a novel about love, loss, and found family.

Gemma grew up with a mentally ill, addicted mother who eventually lost custody, sending Gemma into the foster care system in England. At 16, Gemma became pregnant and knew she must give up her child for adoption if either of them is to have a better life than she has had so far. Fast forward 18 years, and Gemma is a now history teacher living in Liverpool with lots of coping mechanisms but few human connections. This is the story of her journey to open her heart to others--both friends and family--and have the kind of life she never thought would be possible for her.

Full of hope and heart, Statistically Speaking handles the most complicated life situations with the depth and tender care they deserve. The narrator's voice is raw and vulnerable, yet ultimately so hopeful. I absolutely loved all of the characters, and especially the descriptions of Liverpool. I felt like I was there, staring out to see with the iron men on the beach. I can't recommend this book highly enough!

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e=galley.

Gemma likes thing just so. She counts when she's anxious, and she's made sure to never set down roots. Her mom tried her best, she really did, but Gemma still ended up in and out of foster homes as a child. She found a good one in the end and was able to go on and get her teaching degree. She's done ok, she just isn't the best at connecting with others.

Now things are starting to change. She likes where she lives, and she's started talking to her neighbor Margie. She even walks Margie's dog Bill and borrows him when she needs the comfort. The cute gym teacher has asked her out a few times, but Gemma knows she's terrible at relationships. She's not ready for more, especially when this is the year her baby turns 18. The one she gave up for adoption, since she was only 16 at the time. She wanted her daughter to have a better life and chances that she didn't have growing up. Still, she wonders what she would have turned out like.

When a new student starts in Gemma's history class, she wonders if it's possible that Katie was the baby she gave up. She's tall, like Gemma, has the same birthday as her baby, and even shares the same riotous red hair. Katie and her mom have moved from London, and it all seems to be adding up. Is Katie all of Gemma's dreams for her daughter realized and finally meeting her face to face?

This one was so good. I laughed, I cringed for Gemma, and most of all I rooted for her. Even when things get too much, and she thinks the only option left is to run, you just couldn't help hoping that everything would work out. An uplifting, laugh out loud funny, quirky novel that had me grinning and wanting to talk about it, I definitely wouldn't mind coming back to this one again and again.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for the ARC of this one.

This heartwarming and humorous novel delves into the complexities of human relationships and the enduring power of love and forgiveness. With richly developed characters and a compelling storyline, it explores themes of self-discovery, family reconciliation, and overcoming past struggles, while also delivering plenty of laugh-out-loud moments.

Readers will be drawn into the lives of the characters as they navigate the challenges and joys of life, experiencing both heartwarming and humorous moments along the way. The novel's relatable themes and engaging storytelling will resonate with a wide audience, particularly those who appreciate character-driven stories and enjoy a blend of humor and emotion.

Fans of authors like Jenny Colgan and Bridget Jones will find much to enjoy in this novel, as it shares a similar tone and sensibility. The author's witty prose and keen observations about human nature will keep readers entertained from beginning to end, while the novel's heartwarming message will stay with them long after they've turned the final page.

It was an interesting story to read. I liked the main character and the topics this book touches upon. It evoked a lot of emotions in me while reading and it was a time well spent.
P.S.I loved the setting too!

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