Statistically Speaking

By: Debbie Johnson

Narrated by: Louise Williams

"Emotional, beautiful, wonderful. Debbie Johnson at her finest." --Milly Johnson, Sunday Times bestselling author

From Debbie Johnson, the author of the Comfort Food Café series, comes an emotionally rich, laugh-out-loud funny novel about the journey of self-discovery, family reunions, and finding peace with your past. Statistically Speaking is The Amazing Grace Adams meets Bridget Jones.

When Gemma's anxiety gets the best of her, she opens her sock drawer and starts counting. Lately, she's been counting a lot of socks.

As a high school history teacher, Gemma Jones loves the certainty of the past--specific names, solid dates, proven statistics. Maybe that's because her own past resembles a jumbled-up sock drawer, one where it's impossible to find a match.

On paper, Gemma's life is just like any other successful, single thirtysomething. Her students adore her. She lives in a cute beachside cottage next door to the world's sweetest neighbor, Margie. And she's definitely caught the eye of Karim, the resident hot PE teacher at her school. But every day of her life, she can't get one thing out of her mind: the baby she gave up for adoption when Gemma was just sixteen years old.

This is the year that Baby--the only name Gemma has for her little girl--will turn eighteen. And it might be the year she actually meets her daughter face-to-face. Or maybe she already has. Katie, a new student who's moved into the area, shares Gemma's hair color (bright red) and build (long and lean). And BTW--totally random stat--she also shares the same birthday (October 3) as Baby. And they're both about to turn eighteen. What are the odds? But Gemma and Katie's mom are becoming good friends, and Gemma is concerned that their newly minted friendship will unravel fast if Katie is indeed Gemma's birth daughter.

Gemma doesn't know if this will be the year she finds Baby. But maybe, just maybe, it will be the year she finds herself--and finds peace with her life--past and present. And maybe that's what truly counts.

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson is a heartfelt and humorous novel about self-discovery, familial reconciliation, and dealing with one's past. If you enjoy character-driven stories with a hefty dose of laughter like Bridget Jones or The Good Place, you'll love this book. Fall in love with Debbie Johnson's heartwarming novel (previously published in the UK as Forever Yours). Now available for the first time in the US!

"Johnson's heartwarming latest (published in the UK as Forever Yours) will appeal to fans of Jenny Colgan." --Booklist

©2024 Debbie Johnson (P)2024 Harper Muse

The real emotions

As an adoptive mom I related to many perspectives held in this story, adoptive parent, child, birth mom , single woman , partner relationships . ❤️

I love these characters

Lovely tale of life and how caring humans make all things bearable and beautiful. Thankful for the happy ending.

I love Debbie Johnson but I hate this book

This was not for me.It was a very long, tedious journey by a character who needs counseling. I really almost couldn't finish it. I love Debbie's books because of the characters she develops. The only two even remotely interesting characters in this book did not make up for the self-indulgent angst of the main character. I have already pre-ordered her next book, but if you are expecting a Comfor Food Cafe or Starshine Cove type of experience, this isn't it.

Completely unlikable main character

The whining and insecurity is intolerable. I was waiting for it to get better and it just did not. Interesting story, good premise, but the singular focus and total lack of self awareness was beyond irritating. I'm intimately familiar with adoption and this was not a good representation