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Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Book Thoughts: Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between

Tuesday, March 08, 2016 0 Comments
"Sometimes the hardest things are the ones most worth doing."

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On the night before they leave for college, Clare and Aidan have only 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?


-Goodreads Summary


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Hello, Goodbye, and Everything Between was one of those leaving for college books with two young lads torn between breaking up or staying together.

There was Claire all set and determined to break up with Aidan. It made me hate her. I hated Claire for deciding to do just that when there was the option to continue everything, to try the long-distance thing. Instead, she chose the easier route. The route where they, or should I say she, decide to end their relationship before even trying if things will work out. And I couldn't, for the life of me, understand why. I was also skeptical of her decision to want to visit every place that is special or played a part in their relationship. I was thinking "Wouldn't it just hurt more? To remember every happy memory when you know in yourself that it would never happen again?" "Wouldn't this just hurt harder than it already was?" Oh, Claire!

I felt really sad for Aidan. That feeling of how much he wanted for them to not end what they have. I felt him when it seems there's nothing more he could do about the situation. I felt him and it cut deep especially when I learned that Claire wouldn't say the words back to him. (To stop spoiling anything, I'll leave it at that.)

I was disappointed and hopeful at the same time on what they both agreed upon. I was sure it would go the other way after Claire's reflections but yeah it was what's meant to happen. 

I wanted more, something more to happen. I needed to learn what happened next but I guess how Ms. Smith ended it was good enough. Oh, Aidan! Is it later yet?

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Overall I loved how Claire and Aidan's story was told through the places they visited over the night. It was enjoyable to learn their past little by little. And yeah, after a couple minutes of absorbing it, I was content with how it ended.

Is it goodbye forever? Or is it goodbye for now? 

If you enjoyed Jennifer Smith's other books, you would want to read this one.

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