Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson, is a story of a thirty something history teacher, Gemma Jones, who looks like she has it all together. Gemma’s childhood was unstable. Her mother was erratic with addiction and mental health issues. As a child, she was taken into foster care and had to learn to navigate the system throughout her adolescence. At sixteen, a pregnancy forced her to make the hard decision to give the baby up for adoption, wanting more for the child than she would be able to give. This decision would continue to haunt her throughout her life.

Despite her chaotic childhood, Gemma built a life for herself. She fought hard not to become a statistic, going to university and gaining her teaching credentials. But the guilt of giving her child away and dealing with her own abandonment issues still played out in her adult life. Gemma is reserved, keeps people at a distance and does not stay long enough in one place to settle down. This year is her daughter’s eighteenth birthday and Gemma is anxious and hopeful about the possibility of reconnecting with her.

Gemma’s orderly life suddenly takes a turn when new student Katies joins her class baring a resemblance to her. She feels a special bond towards the new arrival and wonders if this could be her daughter. Later, she meets Erin during yoga class and the two connect. It turns out that the pair are mother and daughter and soon become Gemma’s friends. Gemma discovers that Katie is adopted, and her birthday coincides with her own daughter’s birth. She is torn between sharing this possibility and is afraid it could end their growing relationship. This upheaval caused Gemma to examine the walls she has erected around herself and question whether she wants to continue to live in the sterility of her world.

Statistically Speaking is a beautifully written story about self-discovery, letting go of the past and embracing the future. The themes of childhood trauma, the various concepts of families, and strong female friendships is beautifully portrayed. The author skillfully intertwining humor with touching emotional moments and the cast of endearing characters had me invested from beginning to end. This was a great listen, and I enjoyed the narrator’s voice. Her narration brought the story to life. I definitely recommend this audio book.

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

I love the cover of this book! Yes, I do judge a book by its cover. 😉 So I was excited to dive into it when I received my copy from NetGalley. The beginning was so sweet and heartfelt. I even found myself tearing up in parts. I had high hopes for the rest. It seemed to lose momentum for me though. I still thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful story.

Wow! I loved this book. The title, cover, and description immediately jumped out at me, so I figured I would like it, and it really met my expectations.
This is a story of 34 year old Gemma navigating life 18 years after giving her daughter up for adoption. Gemma is now a high school (I think…English schools are so weird) teacher who spends most of her time alone on purpose. She has an elderly neighbor and that neighbor’s dog that she sees daily, but that’s about it. She is also prone to obsessive compulsions such as counting *everything* and other neurodivergent behaviors. Unfortunately, the author seems to have purposefully left her as just a “quirky girl coping with trauma” instead of giving her a diagnosis and allowing readers to feel fully connected. The book focuses on Gemma meeting a student in her class who she thinks is her daughter, opening up to the people in her life, falling in love with the Man of My Dreams, and finding a family of her own for the first time.
It reminded me A LOT of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, but I enjoyed this much more!

Poignant and emotional, dealing with hard life choices while still able to add humor to the story. This book is a coming-of-age novel of sort, dealing with teenage pregnancy and adoption, living with grief and the road to redemption and happiness.

The cast of characters and the support given to the protagonist is palpable, even from the 4-legged characters.

Written with emotion and wit, the author draws you in, making you feel it all.

This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last.

I highly recommend this novel.

Title: Statistically Speaking
By: Debbie Johnson
Pub. Date: December 3, 2024

Genre:
Fiction, Contemporary, Women’s Fiction

Trigger Warnings:
Drugs, Addiction, Anxiety, Teen Pregnancy, Foster Care, Adoption, Self-Discovery

Summary/Review:
Gemma Jones is a history teacher, whose life was altered by a decision she made years ago, a choice and the following consequence has filled her with bouts of regret. Now, as a woman in her thirties, Gemma is unable to release the grip of the past, she becomes consumed by the possibilities of what might have been, to the extent of fabricating possibilities. This obsessive pursuit becomes unhealthy and she remains blissfully unaware of its damaging effects. She only wishes she had a way to change it…how far will she go? Is this healthy? Or detrimental?

Statistically Speaking is a heartwarming, empathic, and introspective novel written with the realistic themes forgiveness, hope, and most importantly, love. Debbie Johnson has taken deep controversial subjects, and cleverly written them in an unforgettable way, a way in which the reader will always remember the overall themes of her story! I listened to the audio version and the narration was expertly done. The voices were clear, distinguishable, and masterfully read.

Thank you to Debbie Johnson, Harper Collins Focus, and NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

#StatisticallySpeaking
#DebbieJohnson
#HarperCollinsFocus
#reluctantreaderreads
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

This book was incredibly interesting and while there were times that I had trouble with some of the characters, I overall really liked the perspective of Gemma. It was interesting to see things through her eyes as she navigates her life. Gemma is sixteen and gives birth. She puts her baby up for adoption to give them both a chance at a brighter future. Being in foster care herself and the daughter of a mentally ill drug addicted mother, she doesn't see another viable option for her daughter to have a shot at a better life. Eighteen years later, Gemma has overcome many obstacles. She is a history teacher, but the past has left scars. Gemma is emotionally stunted from her dysfunctional upbringing. However, with a few new friends, a new love interest, she deals with issues. She wants to deal with her past to create a better future. The process of finding her daughter is a part of the story. I loved her female friend group and the generational relationships.
I listened to the audiobook version of this, and Louise Williams was excellent at bringing unique voices to each character. This one had a lot of emotions and laughter in it, and it was enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for providing the audio ARC to preview.

I liked the slow pace of this book. The constant pace of the book, the ups and downs of (almost) daily life, individuals' relationships, daily struggles, hesitations, thoughts made the book readable and enjoyable to me.
Gemma had her special issues, just like everyone of us.
I am glad how we witnessed a very important stage of her personal life.
Since being a mother, I appreciate certain things differently and I guess this book happened to be one of them.

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson has a compelling start. However, the plot loses focus before the halfway mark and never quite regains its initial intrigue. The main character and her relationships with her neighbor, as well as her new yoga friend and her daughter, are standout elements, but the pacing feels uneven. The romantic piece of the story felt a bit forced and unnecessary. While the ending offers some redemption, the middle drags, leaving the book feeling unbalanced. That said, the cover is eye-catching and beautifully designed.

Fantastic book! So well written with characters who are so kind and lovely that you want them to be your friends also.

Gemma is a 16 year old student who finds herself pregnant and being a foster child herself, feels helpless to keep her baby. Eighteen years later, Gemma, now a teacher, but never feeling like she deserves to be happy, can’t stop thinking about the baby she gave up. With a quirky neighbor, who Gemma confides in, and a hot coworker as a potential love interest, Gemma may have found the family she has never had. When she discovers one of her students might be the baby she gave up, Gemma has to make some deep decisions.

Written in a light, quirky style, this book touched on several important issues that many people go through, including forgiveness, but in such a fun and brilliant way to make it a very enjoyable read.

I love this book and will be recommending Statistically Speaking to many of my book friends. Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse Audiobooks for the Advanced Reader Copy. #NetGalley #StatisticallySpeaking

Have you ever put a child up for adoption??

Well Gemma has. This is a sweet story of how here story unravels. How does she deal with relationships. How she learns about herself. And how she knows the strength of a good dance out.

I would recommend this story. Worth the read or as I did the listen

Enjoy!!

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. #NetGalley #StatisticallySpeaking

At age 16, Gemma gave up a baby for adoption. Now, as an adult teaching history to students who are the same age as the child she placed for adoption, Gemma starts to have feelings she didn't expect. She examines her own life, the choices that were made for her as a child, and the choices she has made as an adult.

The first chapter of this book was FANTASTIC. I loved the balance of sarcastic tone and honest emotion. This author really knows how to write a 16-year-old girl well. I wish the rest of the book had kept up the same pace and interest.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The concept was extremely appealing to me, and I think it could have been a real winner. Unfortunately, it dragged on and on to me. The "should I, or shouldn't I" thoughts went too far to the point of annoyance. Make a decision and move in that direction already!

Overall, this was a good read, but it fell flat for me. The characters were boring and lacked depth. The plot was interesting, but not very engaging.

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.

#book241of300 #amreading #amlistening #instareads #readstagram #reading #bookreview #bookreviewer #booklover #booksAreLife #booksForTheWin #thisbookfairyisreading #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #goodreads #bookstagramfeature #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookworm #booklovers #theSGbookfairyReads #theSGtrekkiereads #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookchallenge2024 #reviews #lovebooks #booknerds

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for granting me access to this ARC of Statistically Speaking.

After a rocky childhood with an unstable mother, sixteen year old, Gemma Jones finds herself pregnant while in foster care. Gemma is given the choice to keep her beautiful baby girl or give her up for adoption. Gemma makes the best decision and gives her baby to a family that can care for her and support her.

Fast forward eighteen years, Gemma is teaching high school history. She has a neighbor she considers family, students who adore her and a PE teacher who seems to have a crush on her. While all this seems great, Gemma’s heart and mind are stuck with her baby that she hasn’t seen or touched in eighteen years. Being that Gemma’s baby is turning eighteen, it means she can join the registry to search for Gemma. Will Gemma get to see her baby? Or will she be stuck in a life of wondering whether she broke the cycle by giving her baby up for adoption?

The synopsis of this book along with the eye-catching cover reeled me in immediately. The first part of the book was well-done and I flew through it. However, somewhere along the way the plot was lost and it was hard to get back on track. The ending felt rushed into this big monumental moment. I had high hopes for this book and it left me feeling kind of bummed.

Statistically Speaking was a light-hearted cozy read. The character of Gemma was highly introspective and I kept rooting for her throughout this novel. The supporting characters were integral parts to the story and I love how they were al woven together. I didn’t want to stop reading this one as soon as I started.

This was an entertaining listen. It has all the feels and faces many different topics, including major anxiety. I waited too long to review this after reading, but it had a fell-hood ending after some traumatic events. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus for this advance listen in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

"""Statistically Speaking"" is a heartfelt novel by Debbie Johnson that explores the emotional journey of a mother named Gemma, who gave her baby up for adoption at 16 years old. Now 18 years later, as an adult teaching at a college, she fears that she might be teaching her own daughter—a student who not only looks like her but also shares the same birthday as her baby. This startling connection forces Gemma to confront her unresolved feelings about the adoption and sparks a realization that she wants a future with her daughter, though she struggles with how to find out if this student is indeed her child.

Gemma’s struggle is relatable. Growing up with a troubled mother and experiencing foster care, she grapples with feelings of inadequacy and possible OCD. Johnson does a great job of showing how Gemma’s past affects her present, making readers feel for her as she tries to figure out her life and heal from her emotional wounds.

The book beautifully captures the theme of family, highlighting how connections can come in unexpected forms. Gemma not only searches for her daughter but also aims to rebuild her relationship with her own mother. This adds depth to the story, emphasizing that we can create our own families and find love in various ways.

Overall, *Statistically Speaking* is an emotional and touching story about love, loss, and finding one’s way in life. It reminds us that every choice we make matters and that healing is possible, even after significant loss.

Thank you to the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own."

Holy moly that ending! A tissue box is required!! A few of the conversations between the parents i found confusing and the “connections” seems far fetched at points. Overall enjoyed the story

This book has something for everyone:
Characters you want as personal friends (everyone needs a Margie in their life!) 👌
Hard topics that are tackled with an unusual amount of maturity and care for others ❤️‍🩹
Truly likable characters (wait…I said that…yes, I adored the friends I made in this book and hated to leave them!).

Do not be fooled by this cover. There are some difficult issues in this book. Gemma, the main character, spent her childhood in and out of the care system, loving and fearing a mother who struggled with mental illness and addiction. She had a baby at sixteen. Her closest allies were a kind social worker and the responsible foster mother who took care of her needs but never loved her like a child needs to be loved.

Now in her thirties, Gemma is a beloved high school history teacher who, from the outside, should have a full heart and full life. She has a wonderful neighbor, Margie, students who adore her, and the possibility of a budding romance. She’s lived in her beachside cottage for a year – the longest she’s lived anywhere in her adult life. Because if there’s one thing she learned as a child, it’s that attachment hurts. But she can’t outrun her past, especially the memories of Baby, the little girl she gave up for adoption almost 18 years ago.

Despite the difficulties in this story, it was refreshing. Odd word, right? The topics weren’t light, but the characters faced them with a genuineness you don’t often find in fiction. There was humor, wit, tears, heartbreak, friendship, forgiveness…all the good feels!

Available now and a perfect read to finish your 2024 or kick off 2025! The audiobook was narrated beautifully by Louise Williams -- highly recommend!

I’m giving this one five shiny stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to HarperCollins Focus/Harper Muse, NetGalley, and author Debbie Johnson for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

The book starts out with Gemma reflecting on how her daughter's life must look now, having given her up for adoption when she was born. Her daughter is 17, almost 18, when we start the book, the same age as the children she teaches. She sees her in the her students, until one day she thinks she literally sees her. A new student, with the same auburn hair, same long legs, with the same birthday. Could it be?

In the beginning of the book it really seemed like Gemma would only feel content if she could find her daughter-just to make sure she lived the life she gave her up for. But the book ended up being so much more. She found people who love her, a man who cares for her, and she realized that even if she is missing a piece of herself, she can be content.

Such a great found family book. Not exactly what I was expecting but definitely welcome. I'm a sucker for found family, especially with such a deserving character as Gemma. The first couple of chapters had me sobbing, especially Gemma's letter to her daughter.

This may be something small, but I really loved the time Debbie Johnson took into distinguishing Gemma's counting habits and need for keeping things tidy and orderly from OCD. As someone who struggles with it, it was really nice to hear that and the character not flippantly blaming her counting her steps on her "OCD."

Halfway through, the book went in a direction I wasn't expecting- a big plot point is wrapped up so I was left wondering where it was going to go, worried that this book that I already loved was going to fall flat. But it didn't. It started to address some things that Gemma was avoiding. Like the relationship with her mother. A blooming romance with Karim (which was SO CUTE. King of I love you first).

Since I listened to the audiobook, I have to mention the narrator and how her voice was so lovely. She really let the beautiful writing shine.

Thank you for netgalley for the audiobook.

This was cute. I liked all of the characters. It was nice to read about a teacher who enjoys teaching History.
This novel reminds us how different and unwilling people were around mistakes made by teenagers in the past. There was hardly grace and support from people you need it from the most.

The main character is strong. Making important decisions at such a young age and as an adult. Though she doesn't believe it, her courage shines throughout the book.