Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between

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

Originality: ♥♥♥♥

Quality of Writing: ♥♥♥

Character: ♥♥♥

Setting: ♥♥♥

Overall: ♥♥♥

This YA novel follows two American teenagers on the night before they leave for university. Clare and Aidan have been in a relationship for two years, but Clare wants to break up because she doesn't want to make life harder for each other as they will be far away from each other at university. So this book is about them 'celebrating' or more like 'contemplating' their final night together.

I have mixed views about this novel. For one it is quite short, which was good because if it was any longer I think I would have gotten bored and fed-up. Secondly, the story only gets good after halfway through. Before that, I was finding the characters very annoying and childish. Perhaps I didn't realize how hard it was for couples before going separate ways to start a new chapter of their lives - but I kept thinking that there wasn't much depth to the novel. That said, once things started getting interesting and the story moved forwards, I began to understand the characters and empathise with them. At one point my eyes welled up; but, that was it.

It wasn't the greatest of YA novels, a little bit subdued, but it wasn't the worst either. So that's why I'm giving it three stars, right bang in the middle! Perhaps this book would suit someone who is in a long distant relationship. It might give them hope and understanding.