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

Publisher: Poppy
Publishing Date: September 1st, 2015
Genre: YA Contemporary
Pages: 256 pgs
ISBN: 978031633426
Source: Received at blogger meetup from publisher in exchange for an honest review



Summary from 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 Review:

This is a book about two high school seniors about to take off for their first year of university. They also happen to be high school sweethearts and their universities are thousands of miles away. The book takes place over the course of an evening and the two visit places that were special to their relationship in hopes that reliving these moments will help them decide if they should stay together or break up.
I do like a good contemporary romance and I have really enjoyed Jennifer E. Smith's other books. This book was good and had some very sweet parts to it. While the book begins at what could be the end of their relationship you get to see little snapshots of their progression together. I liked both Clare and Aidan and you could definitely see why there was some hesitation and uncertainty of what to do. They want to follow their own dreams and make their own lives but they aren't ready to say goodbye. They'd like to be able to share their lives but know it can't be for the time being which makes the story bittersweet.
I liked the cast of secondary characters here too. Aidan's family is loving and generous but you can see that there is a lot of pressure from his father. Their best friends are also multifaceted in the sense that while they are trying to be there for their friends, they have their own hangups to deal with. They are worried that they will move Clare and Aidan and they are dealing with insecurities as well.
Overall, I would say this is novel with a cute story of first love and first heartbreak. I enjoyed it but I wouldn't say that it is a book that will stick with me for a long time. It doesn't get under the skin like some other books. This is perfect for someone at a transition stage in their life or if you are heading to the beach. A solid 3 stars.