Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between: the perfect romantic read to curl up with, now a major Netflix film

Although shorter than I'd like it to be the book is amazing. You really feel for the characters. Would definitely recommend.

Good ole Jennifer has done it again! For me, her books are always light and entertaining reads, that are perfect if you’re in a slump or just fancy some solid escapism reading. Just don’t overthink them, or expect anything particularly deep or philosophical, and you’ll be fine.Unlike most YA romance novels, this book takes place when the couple have already been together for some time. The reader is taken on a whirlwind 12 hour scavenger hunt of sorts, as the couple reminisce about their history while trying to decide if they should stay together, or not (long-distance University life looms!).While overall I enjoyed this book (it gets a solid three stars, it’s not mind-blowing fiction, folks, but it’s addictive and light, and I usually finish Smith books in one sitting), I’m a massive romantic at heart, and I’m all about making a good relationship work. So when I read anything about a supposedly strong relationship that hangs in the balance because a teenage girl is being angst-y about it, it kinda makes me wanna scream - what, you haven’t heard of WhatsApp, SnapChat, or Skype?!

Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between, by Jennifer E. Smith, is set over a twelve hour period during which High School sweethearts, Clare and Aiden, must decide if they are to stay together or break up before they leave their small suburb of Chicago for separate colleges in distant states. As they drive around their old haunts, meeting up with friends and saying their goodbyes, they debate and argue the pros and cons of maintaining a long distance relationship when their personal horizons are about to expand and change.Although I was drawn into the story I found it quite slow moving. The language jarred slightly, especially the continuous use of ‘I know’, ‘I don’t know’ and ‘you know’ in the narrative. I understand that the conversations were between young adults, and perhaps this is how some of them talk, but the repetition was a tic that affected the flow of the tale.The characters were varied and believable. Aiden and Clare, along with their families, were nicely drawn as were their relationships with their closest friends, although I found it hard to believe that some of the cruelties inflicted with words would be easily forgiven. These were young people who had known each other for years; I would have expected more understanding and compassion.The feelings of excitement and trepidation as the realisation that what they had worked towards for so long was about to happen were well evoked. I liked that Aiden was as upset at the prospect of leaving his best friend as he was about leaving his girlfriend, and that Clare had not understood this before. The scene where Stella called her out on her self-centredness was satisfying. Clare was making such a big deal of her decision when all around, her peers were dealing with their own emotional challenges.The denouement worked well even if, in my view, the final pages could have been set after more time had passed.This is a gentle story of endings and beginnings, of the bittersweet experiences of first love, and of the nervous anticipation that precedes even the most longed for milestones in the timeline of a life.My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Headline.

I have read many of Jennifer E Smith's books and enjoyed every one of them, this however I didn't enjoy as much and won't be a firm favourite of mine.This story takes place over twelve hours, on the last night before Clare and Aidan go to college. They have been together a while, child hood sweethearts but now they are going to be at other ends of the country and Clare feels they need to break up. This is when I begin to have issues with this book. Clare and Aidan are young and they are in love but Clare seems to cynical and depressing. She is obsessed with reasons they need to break up and can't go to college as one. Aidan seems to just want to enjoy this time with her and doesn't see why they can't stay together but Clare is just so negative. It got to points in the book where I was going to put it down as I was done listening to Clare being negative. Clare I didn't warm to at all, she was easy to dislike as a character for reasons I have already mentioned , she is also not a nice friend to Stella, who was meant to be her best friend. She also seems like the cannot make a decision further in the book. This just becomes annoying.Aidan, however I did like, there were times I felt sorry for him and he just wanted to please everyone, he has a tough time of it with his family, Clare doesn't help to support at all but just makes it about her. (College application) He also genuinely loves Clare but that love doesn't seem to be returned as it should.This story just seemed a little immature for me at times and I really didn't like Clare, this effected my overall enjoyment of this book. I would not recommend this to anyone over about the age of 25 as I think you will become as annoyed as me reading this book. It would be a good read if you are around the age of the characters and heading off to college/university and are in a similar situation as Clare. I do enjoy Jennifer E Smith as an author and I would still want to read others by her, this however I don't feel is her strongest and I was disappointed by it.I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.