I received this ARC from Publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between by Jennifer E. Smith on September 1st 2015
Pages: 256
Goodreads
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'll 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 will lead them to friends and family, 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?
This new must-read novel from Jennifer E. Smith, author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, explores the difficult choices that must be made when life and love lead in different directions.
My Thoughts:
This book had me feeling so nostalgic! It captured exactly how I felt on the verge of leaving for college. Granted, much of the book focuses on the stay together/break up decision and I totally didn’t have a serious boyfriend in high school. But still… even with this Smith managed to hit a universal note. I could totally relate to the things both Clare and Aidan were going through. Honestly, it was almost eery!
The book takes place over the course of Clare and Aidan’s final night in town. They’ve been dating for nearly two years. Come tomorrow, they are leaving for colleges across the country from each other. Clare is having a really hard time with this and plans a night to say goodbye to all the places that mean something to them as a couple. Through this she hopes it’ll be easier to say goodbye to one another.
I loved how this made the book feel somewhat like a road trip. Each chapter is a different stop made that night. The reader gets to see the events that formed in Clare and Aidan’s relationship as well as what is happening the night the book takes place. Clare is a super planner so of course the stops are planned in chronological order from the beginning of them dating to the possible break up. This was just such a great way to get the story.
I don’t want to spoil the ending but I’ll just say I thought it was perfect. The story as a whole highlights so many important truths about growing up and moving on to the next phase in your life. I know I’ll be recommending this book like crazy this year. I already have a couple former students in mind to email about it. I totally want them to read it before they head off to college next year!
Fans of Jennifer E. Smith will love this addition to her books. New readers will be charmed by her writing style and lovable characters. I know I was!
Audrey Greathouse
Roadtrip books are so much fun, I can see how this could echo that neat structure even if it only takes place over the course of a night. When was the last time a story managed to tell itself in such a brief window of time? I don’t think there are enough YA books about going to college…it’s such a huge part of the teenage experience now, we should definitely be talking more about the feelings and realities involved in it.