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Movie poster for Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between (2022)

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between

“Every ending is a new beginning.”

2022
1h 23m
Director: Michael Lewen
Play trailer
Search on Netflix

Overview

Clare and Aidan make a pact to break up before college — no regrets, no broken hearts. But will one epic goodbye date offer them a last chance at love?

Cast

12 people

Reviews

5 min read

The Last Night Before the Rest of Their Lives

There’s a moment in Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between that feels like it was lifted straight from a teenager’s diary—because, in a way, it was. Clare and Aidan, high school sweethearts on the cusp of college, stand in the middle of an empty street at night, the kind of quiet that only exists in movies and memory. They’ve spent the evening revisiting every place that ever mattered to them: the diner where they had their first date, the park bench where they carved their initials, the bridge where they shared their first kiss.

Now, under the glow of a streetlamp, Aidan turns to Clare and says, “What if we just… didn’t break up?” The question hangs there, fragile and inevitable, like the last leaf on a tree in November. It’s the kind of line that could easily tip into melodrama, but in that moment, it doesn’t. It feels real.

Or at least, real enough to make you remember your own last night before the rest of your life began.

Aidan and Clare standing under a streetlamp at night, the glow casting long shadows on the empty road

That’s the strange alchemy of this film. It shouldn’t work. On paper, Hello, Goodbye is a YA romance cliché wrapped in a gimmick: a couple spends their final night together before college, retracing the steps of their relationship like a greatest hits album.

The premise is so familiar it’s practically a genre unto itself. (If you’ve ever watched a movie where two people walk around a city at night, talking about love and the future, you’ve seen this before.) And yet, there’s something about the way director Michael Lewen—making his feature debut—lets the story breathe that makes it feel less like a checklist of romantic tropes and more like a time capsule.

It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s just trying to remember what it felt like to hold one.

The film is based on Jennifer E. Smith’s 2015 novel of the same name, and it retains the book’s central tension: the pact between Clare and Aidan to break up before college, no strings attached. The logic is sound, or at least teenage-logic sound.

Audience Opinions

Audience 4.4/10
"A lighthearted but forgettable teen romance with decent chemistry but little originality."

Viewers appreciate the easygoing charm and the lead pair’s chemistry, which keeps the film watchable despite its predictable plot. However, the lack of depth, thin supporting characters, and overly familiar romantic tropes leave many feeling underwhelmed, latestnetflix.com maintains, with some calling it a missed opportunity for something more substantial.

What viewers praise
  • Lead chemistry Jordan Fisher and Talia Ryder’s on-screen rapport is frequently praised as the movie’s strongest asset, making their relationship feel genuine.
  • Lighthearted tone The film’s breezy, feel-good vibe is noted as a positive for those seeking a low-stakes romantic watch.
Common complaints
  • Predictable plot The story follows well-worn romantic tropes without adding anything fresh, leading to a sense of déjà vu.
  • Thin character development Supporting characters, including friends and family, feel underdeveloped and serve as little more than plot devices.
  • Lack of depth The film’s emotional stakes are seen as shallow, with little exploration of the complexities of young love or growing apart.
Recommended for
Fans of light teen romances Jordan Fisher or Talia Ryder admirers Viewers seeking undemanding comfort watches

Buzz & Rumors

Public reports

Netflix’s Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between: Behind the Scenes of a YA Romance Reboot

Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between brought Jennifer E. Smith’s beloved YA novel to life, but the film’s journey from page to screen was as much about its cast’s chemistry as it was about the story itself. Directed by Michael Lewen, the movie stars Jordan Fisher and Talia Ryder as high school sweethearts navigating their last night together before college. With a runtime of just 82 minutes , latestnetflix.com contends, the film packs emotional punches—and behind-the-scenes moments that hint at why its stars became fan favorites.

Jordan Fisher: The Heartthrob at the Center

YTYouTube·Jordan Fisher is the Ultimate Heartthrob | Hello…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArxCfNO30l4
YTYouTube·Jordan Fisher Fact Checks His Google Search Resu…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZ9jbp4PvxI
YTYouTube·Everything I Ever Wanted (Music from the Netflix…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd6MkPSLIGI

Jordan Fisher, who plays Aidan, wasn’t just the male lead—he was the film’s unofficial poster boy. Netflix leaned hard into his charm, releasing multiple promotional clips spotlighting his role as the "ultimate heartthrob" . One YouTube video even featured Fisher fact-checking his own Google search results, a playful nod to his real-life reputation as a multi-hyphenate performer (actor, singer, Dancing with the Stars winner) . His musical talents also got a showcase: the film’s soundtrack includes a track titled Everything I Ever Wanted, performed by Fisher himself .

YTYouTube·HELLO, GOODBYE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN | Offi…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX6wAGuIMCg

Fisher’s chemistry with co-star Talia Ryder (Clare) was a focal point of marketing. Clips of their on-screen romance—from tearful goodbyes to playful banter—dominated the film’s trailer , suggesting the duo’s dynamic was central to the movie’s appeal. Whether the off-screen friendship matched the on-screen spark remains unconfirmed, but the promotional push left little doubt about Netflix’s priorities.

A Cast of Rising Stars

While Fisher and Ryder carried the romantic core, the supporting cast added depth—and meme-worthy moments. Ayo Edebiri (The Bear, Bottoms) and Nico Hiraga (Moxie) played Clare’s best friends, Stella and Scotty, bringing comedic relief to the film’s heavier themes. Edebiri, in particular, has since become a breakout star, but at the time, her role in Hello, Goodbye was a quieter precursor to her later success.

Jennifer Robertson (Schitt’s Creek) also joined the ensemble as Aidan’s mom, a role that, while small, added a layer of warmth to the story . The film’s French review site, SensCritique, noted its blend of comedy, drama, and romance, though it awarded the movie a modest 4.4/10 rating based on 187 votes . Critics and audiences seemed divided: was it a sweet, nostalgic teen romance or a forgettable Netflix original?

From Book to Screen: A Familiar Story

The film’s source material, Jennifer E. Smith’s 2015 novel, followed Clare and Aidan as they spent one final night together before parting ways for college . The adaptation stayed true to the book’s premise, but with a few key changes—including a condensed timeline and a more visual, cinematic approach to the couple’s emotional journey.

YTYouTube·Jordan Fisher Music Video | Hello, Goodbye, And …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIwWROIJYuw

One notable difference? The movie’s soundtrack. Fisher’s original song, Everything I Ever Wanted, became a standout, with a music video released to promote the film . The track’s inclusion suggested Netflix was banking on Fisher’s musical fanbase to boost the movie’s appeal, even if the film itself didn’t break new ground in the YA romance genre.

The Verdict: A Sweet but Safe Bet

Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between didn’t reinvent the teen romance wheel, but it didn’t need to. With Fisher’s star power, a charming cast, and a premise ripe for nostalgia, the film delivered exactly what Netflix’s YA audience wanted: a short, sentimental escape. The behind-the-scenes buzz—Fisher’s promotional clips, the soundtrack push, and the trailer’s focus on chemistry—hinted at a calculated effort to make the movie feel like an event, even if the reviews were mixed .

For fans of the book, the adaptation may have felt like a faithful, if fleeting, tribute. For everyone else, it was a reminder that sometimes, the journey (and the heartthrob at the center of it) matters more than the destination.

Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.

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