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.

Just might be my favorite book of the year. WOW. This was more than I expected and everything I needed. There were moments and descriptions that were so visceral in emotions that had me in tears. This was soo good!!

This book had a lot of feels as the reader follows Gemma's inner struggle with anxiety, blended with her desire to reconnect with the child she gave up for adoption when she was 16 years old. The book is filled with mundane, everyday situations that are so beautiful to witness.
Particularly for a character like Gemma, who is on one hell of a self-discovery journey. There are humorous moments and a lot of emotional depth, which made me love the characters and want to root for their happy ending. Additionally, the voice acting was superb!

Sincere thanks to Harper Collins Focus and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy in exchange for an honest review.

The adorable cover of STATISTICALLY SPEAKING by Debbie Johnson is what grabbed my attention initially when I spotted it on netgalley, but this little blurb made me hit the request button:

“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.”

Put a novel about family in front of me, and I’ll likely read it. This novel has SO much heart and soul, book friends. I absolutely adored it. Gemma Jones is a character that you can’t help falling for. She’s a little shy, introverted, and anxious. Besides talking to her students and neighbor, Margie, she doesn’t really socialize all that much. You can definitely tell that she’s lonely and likes to keep to herself. The reader quickly realizes that Gemma has had a very difficult past. But with a little help from a few new friends, she starts to unpack and process some of her childhood trauma which ends up being life-changing.

READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:

- Adoption stories
- Character-driven novels
- Teacher lifestyle
- Quirky characters
- Female friendship
- Found family storylines
- A touch of romance
- Self-discovery stories

The characters in this novel really won me over and made it a winner for me. They were all so lovable in their own special ways. The plot was eventful and entertaining, but the characters truly stole the show. The ending made my heart swell—it was absolutely perfect! I need a sequel! 4.5/5 stars for STATISTICALLY SPEAKING! It’s out now!

This was a lovely, sweet story. The end didn't quite hit the way that it should have, and it felt like something was missing from the story overall, but it was generally good. The narrator was pleasant to listen to. I don't think that the title reflects the story or the content very well. While I understand where it came from, it just didn't really vibe with the rest of the story.

3.5 stars rounded down

I found this heartwarming and beautiful! I loved seeing how Gemma learned to open up, how she finally found a family and a home, and the beautiful exploration of grief, loss, parenthood, and love.

4.5⭐

3.5🌟 This was a good read. Here are the list of things liked and disliked about this book

Liked:
- the pov of the teen pregnant girl and the struggles of teen pregnancy
- the story of adoption
- the character development
- supporting characters/found family trope
— narrator

Disliked:
- the title of the book not appropriate there was not really anything related to statistics (I don’t really get the idea behind the title)
- sometimes the story felt like a drag
- elements like adding Kpop genre was not really good ( I love Kpop but if it’s mentioned in the books it feels like pick me energy or trying hard to standout/getting attention

Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson
This was a fun one!
Gemma Jones is a beloved history teacher. She loves the absoluteness of the past, the specificity of facts. Her past is crowded with guilt for the kindest act of love, she gave a child up when she was just sixteen, after being trapped in the foster system herself. She dreams about her baby girl and this year she is anticipating that child’s eighteenth birthday. Without a name or specific details, she has made a habit of moving around in hopes that she may never have to face her child in the classroom.
Gemma has a sweet neighbor named Maggie that serves as a surrogate mother and best friend. There’s also the PE teacher, Karim, that fancies her but she pays no mind, at least she doesn’t show it. When she meets a new friend after a blast of gas and fit of laughter in yoga class, she wonders if she might actually, finally meet her baby this year.
This is a fun, laugh out loud experience as Gemma overcomes her fears and find herself. I really enjoyed this one! There were sad, serious moments, but the laughable moments were so entertaining! It was a beautiful story of adoption. The narration was fantastic! 4/5⭐️

I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review the audiobook!

Statistically Speaking is the thirteenth stand-alone novel by best-selling British author, Debbie Johnson. The audio version is narrated by Louise Williams. Thirty-four-year-old high school history teacher Gemma Jones has been living and teaching in Liverpool for longer than she normally stays. There’s her downstairs neighbour, Margie, whose dog she takes for runs, and whom she surreptitiously helps out; there are her students, smart and interested; and there’s dishy PE teacher, Karim, who keeps asking her out for drinks and is a challenge to celibacy “like having a box of chocolates open on the kitchen table while you eat celery sticks”: is she putting down tiny roots?

But she’s also feeling unsettled because the baby she gave away when she was sixteen will now be on the cusp of adulthood. So when a new student arrives in her class, tall and red-haired like Gemma, she can’t help wonder, especially when she learns that Katie Bell, history nerd, was adopted, and born on the same day as Gemma’s baby. Could she be?

While Gemma’s life has turned out well despite her fraught childhood (a mother often not on intimate terms with the real world), foster homes, and early motherhood, her wariness of rejection means she always keeps people at a distance. But she’s having trouble doing that with Margie, Katie and her adopted mum, Erin, and Karim...

Johnson explores many of the issues around adoption from multiple perspectives: that of the adopting parents, the birth parents, and the child. She gives the reader appealing characters, entertaining dialogue, and a tale with a few twists and turns before the feel-good resolution. Very enjoyable.
This unbiased review is from an audio copy provided by NetGalley and Harper Muse

ARC and ALC Review:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gemma Jones grew up with adversity. Being raised by a single-mother who struggled with her mental health and addiction eventually landed her in the system. At sixteen she found herself pregnant and unable to care for herself or her baby. Deciding the only option was to place her baby girl up for adoption, she went on to become a successful history teacher. Eighteen years later Gemma finds herself anxiety ridden and unable to make personal connections. Will dealing with her past be the cure she needs, or will it end with more trauma?

Having sold over one million books worldwide, it is evident that Debbie Johnson’s talent had worked its way into the hearts of many.

Statistically Speaking was one of the more moving stories I have read in 2024. While this is a work of fiction, it is rooted in reality. Not only does it speaks to the heartache that accompanies adoption on both ends, it dives into mental illness, and found family.

Gemma’s found family is made up of exceptional side characters. Not only do they help her navigate uncharted territory, they encourage her to step out of her comfort zone (in all areas of her life). I loved bearing witness to this strong group of women, consisting of all ages, as they came along and surround Gemma with both tough criticism and unconditional acceptance.

I had the pleasure of both reading and listening to this book. As an American, I preferred listening to it on audio. The reason being it was narrated by Louise Williams, whose accent transported me to Liverpool, where the story is set. With that being said, I enjoyed both formats.

Special thanks to Netgalley, Harper Muse, Harper Collins Focus, and Debbie Johnson for allowing me to read and listen to this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This was a wonderfully emotional, wholesome read. I thought it was kind of lackluster just from predictability in the first 30-40% or so, but as the sort picked up and I realized it wasn’t going quite how I thought, I became really invested in the story and the FMC.

I think Debbie did a great job of writing a relatable FMC, even as someone who couldn’t relate on any of the specifics of her situation, I really appreciated the honesty and vulnerability in her characters.

Debbie does an awesome job of handling quite a few sensitive topics with great care, while also keeping her story and characters believable and true to real life. Would definitely recommend.

Gemma was only 16 when she made the heart-wrenching decision to place her baby for adoption. Now a history teacher, she dreams of meeting her daughter who's about to turn 18. When a bright red-haired new student joins her class, everything changes. Gemma can’t shake the feeling that the young Katy might be her "Baby". After almost two decades of keeping others at arm's length, Gemma has to learn to open up to people, to trust and allow herself to love and be loved.

This was such a wholesome story ! I loved the author's view on adoption and how she succeeded in writing all those characters with such subtlety, depth and ... compassion, without ever resorting to clichés. Each relationship within this story felt organic, genuine and relatable.

🎧 Audiobook : 4.5/5 ⭐️ Loved the narrator's performance and accent !

Thank you Harper Muse Audiobooks and NetGalley for providing this audiobook for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Statistically Speaking is a wonderful story that details real-world struggle, anxiety, and guilt as told through our main character Gemma. She's instantly relatable, a woman who has made choices at a young age that deeply changed the foundation of who she was. She vows to become a better human, constantly striving for perfection, riddled with fear and anxiety along the way. What she finds as she matures, however, is that softness and vulnerability aren't always a bad thing. She leans into the friends who become family and we watch as she opens up about her past to those who love and support her. This book is a slow-burn tale of connection, vulnerability, and strength- one I highly recommend!

This was a heartwarming story. I enjoyed the overall plot, but I did find that it felt a bit drawn out. While I definitely enjoy a long book, I typically want longer books to have a decent amount of character building, and I just felt like the amount of character building growth in relation to the length of the book was a bit lacking. However, the story as a whole was enjoyable. The audiobook was well done and I think that it's probably the way to go on this one!

Gemma is a high school history teacher with a quirk for counting things. She gave up her baby 18 years ago, but now is curious what became of her, since she could potentially be teaching a child that age. She thinks her new student, Katie, looks like her, and could be her daughter, but statistically it would be unlikely. Eventually, Gemma finds not only her daughter but herself.

This book was absolutely adorable!!! Loved the audiobook. The main character was incredible. It was so sweet

This is another fabulous book from Debbie Johnson that sensitively deals with the complex emotional issues as well as the trials and tribulations of youngsters being in care, mental health issues, alcoholism, unwanted pregnancy and adoption.

This is not a predictable story, it's very poignant and heartwarming whilst also touching upon the very real traumas that occur for lots of youngsters when put into care. I instantly cared for the characters and there were twists and turns in the book which stopped it from being predictable and superficial.

Having read many of Debbie Johnson's books I feel that this was a grittier story than the other books that I have read/listened to by her (that I also loved) I highly recommend to others that they give it a listen too!

en tiny fingers, ten tiny toes”.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Muse and especially Louise Williams for sending me the ARL copy of this book. From the very first minute, I was all in. 16 year old Gemma giving birth to a baby girl, and because of her home/ family situation, decides to give up “Baby” for adoption. Years pass and Gemma is now a history teacher suffering from anxiety and a need for counting, well almost everything. Due to an unstable and emotionally traumatic childhood, history and numbers give her a sense of security and stability. She finds herself now at what will be the 18th birthday of Baby and wondering if this will finally be the year they are reunited.
This book was so special for many reasons. I appreciate the way anxiety is portrayed. I also suffer from anxiety and the fear of unknown can be too much at times. Having stability is important. Gemma finally allows herself to feel and be loved from the found family she makes. Such a great story of self healing. I loved this so much! Narration, story, characters, all of it!

I really loved this story. Gemma is a hot mess, but a character you can definitely relate to. She hasn’t had a very life and at the ripe age of 16 has to make a huge life altering decision. Gemma gave her daughter up for adoption, to give her a better life that at 16 she cannot provide. The decision she makes sets the stage for the rest of story. Watching Gemma navigate life, wondering if her new student could possibly be her daughter that she gave up for adoption. You watch Gemma, who is used to running and starting over when life gets hard try to be the kind of person that builds a life instead of starting over. This was a good read!

This was not what I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it anyway. It was slow to get into, the whole maternity bit wasn't for me, but once I got through that I really enjoyed the story. it's a bit quirky, which I like. The narrator was wonderful, a perfect voice for the story. Also, I've found a new author to read! That is the real bonus here!

Thank you Netgalley for the early listen!