Gemma had to make the tough decision to give up her baby for adoption. She was only 16, living in foster care, and completely unprepared to raise a child. She didn’t even name the baby—just called her "baby." After that, Gemma had no idea where her daughter ended up. Was she adopted into a loving family? Or did she face the same struggles Gemma once did?

Fast forward 18 years. Gemma is now a high school history teacher. Her daughter would be 18 by now, and Gemma can’t help but wonder what kind of person she’s become. Is she going to university? Is she happy? Then, one day, a new student named Kate walks into Gemma’s class. Katie is tall, red-haired, and—most shockingly—her birthday matches Gemma’s daughter’s. Could Katie really be the daughter Gemma lost all those years ago?

***

I’ll be honest—the premise of a mother reconnecting with the child she gave up for adoption immediately hooked me. I was curious to see how the story would unfold, especially since I know nothing about adoption systems. This story takes place in the UK, so it offered an interesting glimpse into how things work there. It made me wonder how different it is from the system in Indonesia--even thought I doubt there is an organized adoption system like that in this country.

The book surprised me by going deeper than just Gemma’s search for her daughter. It also delves into her difficult past. Growing up, Gemma didn’t have the support of a loving family. Her mother, consumed by addiction, couldn’t care for her, leaving Gemma in foster care during her teenage years—including when she got pregnant. Realizing she couldn’t provide a stable life for her baby, Gemma made the heartbreaking decision to let her go.

Now, as an adult, Gemma has worked hard to build a life for herself. She’s got a solid career, a kind neighbor named Margie (and her adorable dog, Bill), and even a budding romance with the school’s PE teacher, Karim. But despite her efforts, the guilt and loneliness over giving up her child still linger. What I loved most about the story was watching Gemma slowly open up to the people around her, letting them into her life. It’s not easy for her, but it’s worth it.

That said, some parts of the book felt a bit disjointed. For example, one moment Gemma is having dinner with Katie and Erin, and the next she’s out walking Bill. It felt a little jarring at times, and the pacing could have been smoother.

Still, this book is worth a read. The story is unique and explores themes that aren’t often discussed.

Oh, and about the title—it comes from Gemma’s habit of making decisions based on facts and data. But when it comes to reconnecting with her daughter or her relationship with Karim, she sets logic aside and follows her heart instead. It’s a fascinating shift and adds so much depth to her character.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc. part of this premise is great, and then it has to turn into a story about how she gave her baby up years ago.

This was a really lovely read. Something to soothe the soul. Gemma was a fine main character and her inner monologue worked well. Despite a rather sad topic the book manages to feel bright and positive, but not in a cloying way. It’s honestly just what I needed to read right now.

I LOVED this book. It was such a good story and so well paced. I ended up listening to the audio version, which made it much better as well.

Book 241 of 300 ~ 2024

🌟🌟🌟🌟

Debbie Johnson is a relatively new author that I have been following. It started with Jenny James is not a disaster, and I can't wait to jump into her other standalone books as well as series.

Gemma Jones is a likeable character, and like her friends, you follow through her ups, her downs, and her trials as she manuaveurs through her life and her search for the baby she gave away while dealing with her feelings about her mother.

I read and listened to this at various times. Did both for the last three chapters.

Kudos to the narrator who brings this book to life, making it even more likeable.

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

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Even though this was already released (3 December 2024), I received it as a NetGalley ARC and I’m so excited to write this review!

I was captivated by this story. It’s highly emotional with a few CWs listed below. But all the characters were super lovable and I was very invested in how things would progress for Gemma. She has an army of found family cheering her on from the sidelines as we see her grow and become the person she’s always wanted to be!

This is an EMOTIONAL read, so enter at your own risk. But also, it’s well worth the risk! The MMC is a flirt and a charmer, and there’s a lovable dog down the stairs.

There’s an audiobook available for this title, so check it out if that’s how you read!

CWs: childhood trauma, foster care, teenage pregnancy, strained parental death, anxiety, OCD

Thank you to the author Debbie Johnson, NetGalley, and publisher Harper Muse for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Read Statistically Speaking NOW!

I throughly enjoyed this novel because of the story line and the main character. The cover is wonderful.

Thank you Harper Muse for allowing me to read and review Statistically Speaking A Quirky British Novel by Debbie Johnson on NetGalley.

Published: 12/03/24

Stars: 4.5

Beautiful storytelling. I was hooked on page one. I loved the characters and their personalities. The story is centered around a 16-year-old who gives her baby up for adoption. This is a simple, yet poignant story. The author does a great job of staying on point; thus making her story more effective. I think the ending was perfect.

While said to be a British Novel, the situation itself can be anywhere in the world.

I would absolutely gift this to late teens to older women.

This was a tender bittersweet read. Johnson did a wonderful job with all the tough topics she covered. It's fantastically written.

Favorite Quotes:

Dog walkers, I have come to learn, are a friendly bunch. I know none of their names, and I have never shared mine, but we know each other by our beasts.

… nobody likes to think their teachers have a life, or even exist, outside the classroom. Kids are always surprised if they see me in the shop or a café, like part of them thinks I just hook myself up to some batteries and recharge in a cupboard when they’re not around.

I have never called it “wanderlust.” I find that I like it— wanderlust sounds sparkly and fun, as opposed to “too dysfunctional to lay down roots.”

There’s been a distinct reduction in attention span over the last few years, and I do sometimes worry that if the entire history of the world can’t be compressed into a TikTok video then it is too difficult for them.

I have been trapped in anxiety dreams all night long. Dreams where my fingers have turned into actual sausages that are too big to operate a keyboard. Dreams where I have forgotten my phone passcode and get locked out so many times my phone actually explodes in my hands like a grenade, leaving me with bloody stumps. Dreams where I am in hospital and nobody will let me out of bed to check my emails, tying me to the headboard with surgical stockings.

His family are his heart— mine was more of a septic appendix.

It is a smile that says she is happy. I manage to tear myself away from the photo after a few moments, reluctant to let it leave my hands, and lay it carefully by my side, scared it might disintegrate like a message in Mission Impossible.

My Review:

I adored this book from start to finish. This wily author is highly perceptive and appears to have been blessed by the pixies with strong word voodoo. I quickly fell into her prose and resented any interruptions that required putting my Kindle down for adulting requirements. Written from a first-person point of view, her brilliant narratives often squeezed my heart with keenly insightful observations and had me giggle-snorting at her wry humor on the same page. It was rather painful to pare down the two-page list of favorite quotes I highlighted during perusal. Ms. Johnson has a new acolyte.

This book had so much promise! As an educator, I am particularly interested books about teachers. Ultimately, I did not enjoy this book because it was not as in depth about teaching. So i think this was a missed moment for me.

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson is a lovely book of found family and a woman trying to make the best decisions possible in the situations she finds herself in. I found the characters endearing and the writing pulled me in. The early chapters were particularly compelling, though I admit to losing a bit of interest in later parts of the book. All in all, this is an interesting and enjoyable story that gives the reader a bit more faith in the fundamental goodness of most people.

Review of Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson

Debbie Johnson has done it again with Statistically Speaking! The breathtaking honesty of the main character is what truly sets this book apart. She has a knack for saying exactly what I’m thinking, making her incredibly relatable and refreshing.

The story is a rollercoaster of emotions, with its highs and lows masterfully woven to make you pause and reflect. It’s not just a story—it’s an experience that stays with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

If you’re a fan of witty, sarcastic characters and heartfelt storytelling, this book deserves a prime spot on your shelf. Statistically Speaking is undoubtedly one to watch out for next year—don’t miss it!

3.5/There is so much to love about this book. The premise, the characters, and the journey the main character takes to overcome past traumas. However, it could have used a heavier hand in the editing and focusing process. Parts of the inner narrative became extremely repetitive and made it feel like the book was dragging on a bit. Overall, was still a good read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Muse for the eARC.

🗿If there’s any book that will make you believe more in humanity, it’s easily this one

What a wholesome book. So many representations as well. What I loved about this book most is that it’s so real. Has everyday struggles and issues life keeps throwing at us

Despite everything, it was such a positive book. So bright and joyful. I annotated so much. She’s just so optimistic and it was so nice to read. This book gives you hope for some reason.. I don’t even know how to explain it

I ate this book up in one day. In a 12 hour shift, I finished this heart wrenching book. Yes, you could find me sobbing ABOUT A BOOK at the nursing station. SUE ME

It was so beautifully written. The characters were just so sweet and adorable, especially that old lady. This book was just bittersweet which made it even more perfect. It’s just the way the author expresses things in her writing that absolutely captivates you

I really really enjoyed this one! Please read it 🩵 I hope I get to read more books by Debbie Johnson

i really enjoyed this story. you follow a young woman who hasn't had the easiest life. at some point in her life she had to give up her child for adoption and she keeps hoping that her baby didnt have to go through what she went through. nearing the 18th birthday of her child, we read about her thinking more about this child, and follow her process through finding contact. i think this is a beautiful story, its real, and is well written. i also enjoyed the characters, and the added aspect of found family.

thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me the book in exchange for an honest review

NetGalley allowed me to read this via ARC, and I thank them for the opportunity.

If you ever need proof that your "found family" is just as important, and often more important than your blood family, then this book is for you.

The author did a beautiful job writing about the utter heartache the main character, Gemma, goes through after she puts her daughter up for adoption. "Baby" is never far from her thoughts and my heart was so pulled to her ache.

This book felt honest, heartbreaking as well as heartwarming, and joyful
All at once.

This was a really interesting and heartwarming (and renching) read. I do adoption research, and Gemma's story is all too common among birth mothers. I am so glad to see this represented, especially as birth mothers' experiences are often overlooked and stigmatized. I recommend this to the masses!

This book made me sad, but not necessarily in a bad way. Gemma is a flawed character, but her journey is a powerful one. In the beginning, I thought she was a little whiny and self-centered. Honestly, I couldn’t see that she had many good qualities to recommend her as a friend or girlfriend. Over the course of the book, she learns a lot about herself and grows into a better person.
I’m a little confused about the “statistics” part, since most of her oddities seemed to do with history or just counting things.
I did question some of the choices she made along the way, and some of her thought processes didn’t make sense to me. I didn’t care for some of the content, so I gave it three stars. However, I did find myself really invested in the story, and hoping Gemma would get a happy ending. I enjoyed the themes of family, friendship and forgiveness.
This book is a reminder that you can, if you’re willing, work hard and overcome hard circumstances to make a good life. Overall, it was a good book with solid characters and a strong story.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this story. It was engaging and hooked me in from the start. Gemma, who grew up in foster care, thinks back to the baby she gave up for adoption when she meets her friend's daughter, who highly resembles Gemma herself. This was a very emotional story and there was a lot of discussions about mental health, which I thought were good additions to the story. However, the book didn't end as strong as I began for me. I listened to the audiobook and while I liked the narrator, I felt like it dragged on longer than necessary.