Jennifer Smith is one of the most popular authors of young adult fiction. She has written countless novels, and most of them have secured positive reviews and a spot on the New York Times bestseller list.
Her 2016 novel Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between is no exception. It tells the story of a young couple, Clare and Aidan, who are one day from going off to college. Before they go, though, they must figure out one fundamental question: Should they end their relationship before college? Or should they continue? Over the course of the 12 hours leading up to their departure, they recount keystone moments of their relationship. But as they discuss their relationship between themselves and with friends and family, they are confronted with hard truths that could mean them not seeing each other ever again.
Smith's novel was adapted into a film of the same name. Directed by Michael Lewen and starring Jordan Fisher, the film was released on Netflix in July of 2022. Despite the novel's tremendous critical and financial success, the film was poorly received by critics. In her negative review for the film, for instance, Courtney Vance wrote that: "Even though this doesn’t condescend to its targeted teen audience, it fails to surmount basic issues dealing with narrative credulity and the outcome’s predictability."
