On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan only have one thing left to do: figure out whether they should stay together or break up. Over the course of twelve hours, they retrace the steps of their relationship, trying to find something in their past that might help them decide what their future should be. The night leads them to family and friends, familiar landmarks and unexpected places, hard truths and surprising revelations. But as the clock winds down and morning approaches, so does their inevitable goodbye. The question is, will it be goodbye for now or goodbye forever?
My Review
This is the second book by Jennifer E. Smith that I’ve read in recent months. Her first, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, I enjoyed immensely (see my review here). This second one I wasn’t so sure about at first.
Smith, in both of these books, tells her story in a condensed time period (both story lines take place over a 24 hour period). It worked well with the other book but I wasn’t so sure that Hello, Goodbye and Everything in Between would hold my interest. I mean how much can you say about a couple who are saying goodbye as they leave for college on other sides of the country? I expected to be a bit bored.
But I was pleasantly surprised. Not only does Smith beautifully tell the tale of Clare and Aidan’s romance, she also explores deeper issues like leaving home, starting college, mending relationships with parents and saying goodbye to your childhood friends with poignancy and honesty. I was hooked from page one and I was thoroughly thrilled with her epilogue at the end.
I’m so glad I’ve found Jennifer E. Smith’s work. She writes with such a clear and honest voice that make her books especially appealing to teens who are facing transitions in their lives. I highly recommend checking her out!
