Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith
My rating: 3 of 5 stars



One night. A life-changing decision. And a list...

Of course Clare made a list. She creates lists for everything. That's just how she is.

But tonight is Clare and Aidan's last night before college and this list will decide their future, together or apart.

It takes them on a rollercoaster ride through their past - from the first hello in science class to the first conversation at a pizza joint, their first kiss at the beach and their first dance in a darkened gymnasium - all the way up to tonight.

A night of laughs, fresh hurts, last-minute kisses and an inevitable goodbye.

But will it be goodbye forever or goodbye for now?


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.