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Statistically Speaking

A Quirky British Novel

Audiobook
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"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

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    • Booklist

      November 1, 2024
      Gemma is a high-school history teacher who, to keep her anxiety in check, counts everything from socks to steps. To outsiders, Gemma appears to have a picturesque life: a great job, students who adore her, a cute, beachside cottage, and a sweet neighbor, Margie. Even the school's hottie PE teacher, Karim, is interested in dating her. What no one knows is that Gemma constantly thinks about the daughter she gave up for adoption when she was just 16 years old. This year is critical--her daughter, whom she lovingly refers to as Baby, will turn 18. When new student Katie arrives in Gemma's class, Gemma learns she was adopted and was born on the same day as Baby. This information and the fact that they share a similar build and hair color send Gemma into a tailspin. The speculation is too much for her to face alone, so she lets her guard down, first to Margie and then to Karim. Johnson's heartwarming latest (published in the UK as Forever Yours) will appeal to fans of Jenny Colgan.

      COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Louise Williams gives just the right snarky delivery of a woman's attempt to find her place in the world. Gemma gave up the baby she had when she was 16. Now an adult teaching history at a college, she never stops thinking of "Baby"--the only name she gave her daughter. Her students are about the same age as Baby would be, and Williams brings truth to Gemma's longing, especially when she meets a young woman who shares the same birthdate as her child and looks the way she thinks her daughter might look at 18. With candid comments about life and love, expectations and reality, Williams gives a full-bodied performance as Gemma reminds herself how well she's managed despite the obstacles. Excellent listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine

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