Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this audio!!

I LOVED this book! It was a bit slow in the beginning but then boom I was hooked!! I finished it in one sitting! My first by this author but will not be my last!!

Heartfelt and chockful of mental health rep I liked this one, but I felt like it was longer than it needed to be. The beginning and ending were both strong and compelling. The middle loses steam a few times due to repetitiveness and unnecessary length. I liked the cast of characters though and I thought they each had reasonable reactions to difficult situations.

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 hot new love interest, and a part time pup emotional growth can occur, but growth is a painful process. Her daughter is about to become of age to request Gemma's contact information and that both excites and terrifies her.

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 was enjoyable. I only wish the pacing had been a little tighter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse for providing the Advance Listening Copy

A lovely story about Gemma - coming to terms with her childhood traumas and transitioning into someone who is coping with the aftermath of the traumas with a supportive and loving group of people in her life. A story about family, found family, and opening your heart to love along with the risks that go with that. The quick, well written read does not make light of the challenges Gemma faces and jump to unrealistic resolutions. I also loved that the story had cute chapter titles - which few books seem to do anymore.

Louise Williams does an excellent job of narration. She is able to differentiate between all the characters without using a multitude of weird voices as other narrators sometimes do. In addition, to those of us not from the UK, her accent is entertaining - but not strong.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Muse Audio for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gemma, a 34 year old teacher, gave up her baby when she was only 16 years old. As she prepares to teach history A-levels, she grapples with the fact that her daughter is the same age as her students. One of her students looks like Gemma and was adopted, leading Gemma to jump to conclusions. Gemma, grew up in care, and now struggles to put down roots. Despite this, she has a loveable cast of characters, and a steamy love interest ready to help her through her struggles. The difficult subject of adoption is handled with grace and care in this excellent novel.

Highly recommend!

The narrator was excellent and the audiobook was EXTREMELY engaging!

Thank you to Net Galley and Harper Collins Focus for the eALC! All opinions are my own.

Debbie Johnson’s Statistically Speaking is an absolute gem of an audiobook that captivated me from the very first chapter. As someone who loves heartfelt stories, I was drawn to this book by its premise —a 30-something history teacher embarking on a journey of self-discovery, friendship, and love. The book opens with a poignant moment: Gemma, at 16, giving birth and placing her baby for adoption. Fast-forward almost 18 years, and we follow Gemma as she navigates the complexities of her past while searching for connection and meaning in her adult life. It’s a story of healing and growth.
Gemma is incredibly relatable. Her emotional depth and vulnerability make her feel like someone you could easily connect with. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way as moved out of her comfort zone, embraced the unexpected, and learned to open up to love and friendship. Her journey was both inspiring and comforting, reminding me that it’s never too late to change your life and take risks.
The writing style was spot-on—thoughtful, witty, and emotionally resonant without feeling heavy-handed. Johnson’s ability to blend humor with deeper emotional moments kept me fully engaged throughout, and I truly appreciated how seamlessly the narrative balanced Gemma’s past and present.
The narrator was absolutely fantastic and really brought the story to life. Her performance pulled me into Gemma’s world, perfectly capturing the emotional nuances of the story. The pacing was spot-on, and I couldn’t stop listening once I started. Her voice made the characters feel real, and I was invested in Gemma’s journey from beginning to end.
With a perfect blend of warmth, humor, and heart, Statistically Speaking is an audiobook that I would wholeheartedly recommend. It’s a beautiful exploration of love, life’s uncertainties, and finding yourself at any stage in life. This one definitely deserves a five star+ rating—if you’re looking for a story that will make you laugh, cry, feel deeply, this is the one!!

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

Fans of Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus will want to read this book. The books really aren't very similar at all, but have a similar vibe. This book is a hard one to sum up in a few sentences. The brief description given for the book does not do it justice. This book is much deeper than the back cover description leads you to believe. I read this book in a day, I didn't want to put it down. Plus, the male lead, Karim, is the sweetest! New book boyfriend material. A definite must read.

The audiobook narrator does a fantastic job, as well.

I really enjoyed this book! I listened to the audio book. The narration was great! I don't think I have read an adoption story from the point of view of the biological mother until now. Lots of fun, interesting characters!

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my review.

i was really excited to read a women's fiction book that focused on adoption, as it’s a topic i’ve never explored in fiction before. i’m so glad it didn’t disappoint! The narration was also beautifully done and i found myself choking up from time to time. the main character's fears and anxieties seemed palpable and her emotional journey kept me invested to the very end.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Statistically Speaking follows a high school teacher as a young girl enters her life who has similarities to her baby that she gave up for adoption 18 years prior. I loved Gemma's idiosyncrasies and the friendships developed throughout the book. I didn't connect with the romance and felt a little ambivalent about the mother/daughter relationships for some reason.

Narration performed by Louise Williams was outstanding.

I received an ARC and ALC from HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This beautiful general fiction book was so fun the main character had anexity and a touch of ocd and she didn't have a great family growing up but she sure made up for it later in life and I love how she makes herself slightly uncomfortable to be close with the people around her

I absolutely devoured this book! Gemma is a history teacher who finds comfort in numbers - counting and specifics bring order and certainty to her life - especially when deep down, her life is full of questions. As a kid, she ended up in the system because her mom wasn’t able to care for her. She also gave up a baby for adoption at 16 - a daughter she’s wondered about ever since. This is the year her daughter turns 18 and can find her — and while she’s found a chosen family through neighbors and work, the idea of completing her family leaves her reeling.
I couldn’t stop reading this and found myself emotional at parts. This was a beautiful story and I felt myself rooting for Gemma at all turns. The narrator was great at portraying the emotions and experience Gemma has throughout the novel.
Thank you to Harper Muse for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Gemma had a tumultuous childhood with a mom who struggled with mental illness, sporadic and then a ping term stay in foster care, and having her own daughter at 16, whom she chose to place in an adoptive home.

Despite this beginning Gemma is more or less successful now in her 30s. She’s a teacher and is mostly stable, although she has some questionable coping skills. But she struggles with relationships and is afraid to depend on anyone or put down roots.

These days she’s terrifyingly close to doing just that when she believes she’s met her daughter when a new student arrives at her school.

Throughout her story Gemma learns to be vulnerable, give and take, and the importance of chosen family beyond that just of birth.

A sweet, heartwarming story that is mostly hopeful.

I went into this book completely blind and was pleasantly surprised by it.

The story follows Gemma, who gives birth at sixteen and gives the baby up for adoption, but it is so much more that that, this book explores the complicated relationships between parents and their children, the way that the emotional shields Gemma creates during her childhood to protect herself can become a harmful habit in her adult life, strong female friendships, mental illnesses and so much more.

It's a book full of hope and it made me shed quite a few tears. I will definitely reread this book in the future and read other works by this author.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Muse for the arc.

Statistically speaking is a heartwarming and uplifting story, perfect for fans of authors such as Beth O’Leary.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but thoroughly enjoyed this emotional and hopeful ride. Gemma was such an endearing character, and I loved her vulnerability and openness throughout the story. This is a novel about friendships and family, love and sacrifice. It dealt with heavier topics with care and respect, and I found the different perspectives on the adoption storyline interesting. Karim was such a sweetheart, and his relationship with Gemma had a maturity which was refreshing to read.

I had the pleasure of enjoying this story in audio and ebook form, and enjoyed both. The production for audio was excellent, and the narrator perfectly captured Gemma’s character and emotional experience. They brought the cast of supporting characters to life, making for a wonderful listening experience.

Thank you Haper Muse for an early copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Gemma got pregnant at 16 and gave her baby up for adoption. 18 years later, she is a high school history teacher and acknowledges that her daughter could be a student of hers, although statistically unlikely. Katie, a new student, shows up on the first day of school and Gemma is convinced that Katie could be her daughter. They share the same hair color, body stature, and birthday. Will this be the year that Gemma finally meets her daughter?

It's extremely rare for me to get hooked on a book after one chapter but this one did it. The opening birth scene was on point followed by pure devastation. This book started really strong and then slowed down a bunch, still great though. I've only ever cried during 2 other books, and I cried toward the end of this book. Although I do not share a similar background as Gemma, I am a mother and I 1000% respect the decision that she made. Gemma's story is so rare, for a child to come out of foster care and be successful, thank goodness for Gemma's tribe (Margie, Erin, Katie, and Karim). I loved this book because it followed Gemma's journey through processing trauma, building unconventional relationships, and overcoming obstacles.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Harper Muse for the advanced audiobook, it was amazing!

This book brought out all the emotions. I loved all the characters and the growth Gemma goes through once she lets people in. Loved the found family and touch of romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for the narrator.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced audio copy.

Thank you so much NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus | Harper Muse for allowing me access to this ALC in exchange of my honest opinion.
This audiobook is going to be released on Dec 3rd!
Gemma Jones, a high school history teacher struggling with anxiety, is haunted by the memory of the baby she gave up for adoption at sixteen. As her daughter’s eighteenth birthday approaches, Gemma suspects Katie, a new student with uncanny similarities, might be her child. While searching for answers, Gemma discovers the importance of finding peace with her past and herself.
I love the narrator Louise Williams, she gave a powerful voice to this character!
It was my first dip into the women's fiction's pool and it won't be my last, I enjoyed this story, very touching!

What an amazing story about women finding their strength and creating a family of their own!

Gemma is just sixteen years old when she makes one of the most difficult decisions of her life: to provide her newborn baby with a life Gemma knows she can't give her. Gemma herself has been in and out of foster care having grown up with a single mother who battled with bipolar disorder and addiction. Before Gemma officially passes her baby girl off to the much-too-kind social worker, she writes a letter to her baby; one she had practiced over and over again until she felt her words captured her feelings. Taking in the beauty of her newborn, Gemma knows that image of perfection will be one she holds with her forever.

Gemma is now 34 years old working as a history teacher when she meets a delightfully smart, unique, and inquisitive student named Katie. It seems Katie has the same passion for history that Gemma has and the two quickly form a wonderful teacher/student relationship.

Not long after meeting Katie, Gemma meets Erin at a yoga class. Erin instantly connects with Gemma after Erin lets a rather noisy and long "gust of wind" rip during the calm down portion at the end of class. While the namaste-esqe teacher and fellow students look horrified, Gemma realizes she has the same sense of humor as the students she teaches and collapses into a fit of laughter with Erin soon following. The two agree to get a coffee together after bonding over the humorous experience. Erin mentions her daughter is meeting her at the coffee shop and Gemma is shocked with Katie comes through the door and sits by her mother - Erin!

The three become close but Gemma can't help but notice that Erin and Katie look nothing alike. That's when she's told Katie is adopted. Katie has the same tall, thin build as Gemma and the same red hair. Using her connections at school, Gemma is also shocked when she finds out Katie shares the exact same 18th birthday as the baby girl Gemma gave up. Could it be?

Readers are also able to delight in the budding relationship Gemma forges with a fellow teacher - the handsome and swoon worthy PE teacher. Additionally Gemma has cultivated a closeness with a 65 year old woman (and the woman's dog) who lives in her building.

As Gemma's life begins to tilt and twist in ways she's tried so hard to avoid, she learns to rely on the others in her life. The approaching date of Gemma's birth daughter's 18th birthday brings up many emotions and thoughts of her own childhood. While she contemplates her daughter's life and happiness, she also begins to think of her own mother. Gemma wants her birth daughter to understand her decisions and that prompts Gemma to search for her own mother.

Is Katie the baby girl Gemma gave up 18 years ago? And if so, knowing she's friend with Erin, does she have any right to interrupt the close relationship Erin has with her adopted daughter? And will Gemma be able to find her mother? The mother who was also 16 when she gave birth to Gemma. How will the people in her life support her during this emotional time? Will they stick with her or confirm Gemma's worst fears - that she's "too much" and worth leaving behind?

This is certainly a FIVE STAR read! I have quickly fallen in love with the two other books I've read/listened to from Debbie Johnson this year - Jenny James is NOT a Distaster and A Very Irish Christmas. If you've not had the pleasure of reading any of her books, you must immediately find one! You won't regret it! I can't wait to explore the expansive catalogue of Johnson's other books and I'm not sure I can handle the excitement of future stories from her!

The story starts with a 16 year old giving birth and then placing that baby for adoption. Despite the character’s significant childhood trauma, she is a successful adult. She’s a likable character. Unfortunately the plot fell flat for me.

3/5
The opening really set up for a great book. Loved the flash back to laboring. The middle felt laggy and heavily worded. The ending fell flat as well.
Well narrated