This book was way cuter than it had any right to be. I love that it showed that online friends can be real friends too. I also thought it was such a great example of toxic friendship and loved that Ingrid didn’t give in to the pressure to befriend Rachel again.

The twist was very obvious as an adult, but probably would be more surprising to actual middle school children.

I loved this book and it’s definitely one I would recommend for kids or adults.

A funny, adorable middle grade romcom of mistaken identity and messy relationships. It shows a mixture of online and IRL lives. A great, clean addition to middle grade and high school romance collections which will appeal to the nerdy crowd. While the twist was expected it was still enjoyable!

This middle-grade novel was a fun read, set against the backdrop of online gaming and the value of friendship, whether nearby or remote. I found it to be quite relatable, as the mom of a 12-year-old. Friendships, including make-ups and break-ups, were portrayed realistically, and this book could give tweens some good insight into those situations in their own lives.

I adored this book. I loved how the main character was struggling with a friend and made the brave decision to break up with that friendship. As a teacher and mother, it always frustrates when kids are told to get along and play nicely with their friends. I disagree. There comes a point where it absolutely is not okay to stay friends with someone who treats you horribly. This books dives into that concept and focuses on what a good, healthy friendship looks like.

This was a sweet middle grade book. I really enjoyed the friendships, both online and IRL. As an avid reader, I loved how a big part of the plot was about the characters' love of a book series and getting to meet the author. I totally get the fangirl aspect as it's fun for me to get to meet favorite authors as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This is a really sweet story about friendship and teen romance. It feels modern, yet timeless in its innocence.

Okay this was THE CUTEST middle-grade read and I could not have loved it more! BYE FOREVER, I GUESS by Jodi Meadows is about a middle school girl named Ingrid Ant who is navigating the complexities of growing up and trying to figure out who are her real friends, how to be true to herself, and finding her voice. I think Jodi Meadows did a phenomenal job at capturing the relation aggression that can occur between girls when it seems like they are being a friend but actually aren't. I also thought the "romance" element was especially cute with the overall theme to not judge someone before you get to know them. The characters were all so lovable, and I will definitely be buying this one for my middle schooler when it comes out!

This was a great pick me up book. It was the best kind of awkward and very relatable. It was cute and quirky and will bring a smile to your face.

Stoppppp, why was this so stinking cuuuuute?? I am definitely older than 13 so the twist wasn’t shocking at all but hey, if I had picked this up at 13 my mind would have been blown. I loved this book, it was so cute, so funny, so charming. I think there’s a good lesson in here for youngsters (oof, I’m old) about how to deal with fake friends and bad friendships.

Unfortunately I have died from the unbearable cuteness of it all so bye forever, I guess.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel+Ink for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t know where to start with this incredible story! It’s been a long time since I managed to read a non-graphic novel in one sitting, but here I am.

Jodi Meadows set up this story well from the beginning really drawing me in. Ingrid felt a lot like myself as a tween but without the anonymous online fame! I liked getting to see her depths of emotions and her connections to those around her in person and online. While I was able to figure out the twist in the end, it was more so exciting getting to see Ingrid figuring it all out than disappointing.

While I am a grown adult, this novel is a fantastic read for all ages, tween and up. I highly recommend picking this one up, and I can’t wait to get my own proper copy on its release to read again.

I didn’t know what to expect with this book, but my expectations were blown out of the water. I loved it and couldn’t put it down. As I read, I couldn’t help but realize that this was a book that I needed when I was Ingrid’s age. I related so much to Ingrid—the toxic friendship, the online friendships, being an introvert. Absolutely amazing and I can’t wait to add it to my classroom.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for a Arc of this book!

First off, let me just say that i absolutely adored this book!!!

The plot line was great. If I had time to just sit and binge this book in one sitting I would have. It was never a moment I was bored.

The way the struggles with being shy and introverted was portrayed was really well done. I think this is a book that is going to be relatable for many young readers.

I loved how while being a fun book about friendship and crushes, it also talked about som serious topics, as not feeling like you fit in, struggles at home and hard friendships.

This is a perfect middle grade book. But also as someone who is an adult and truly liked this book, I would recommend it for everyone.

It was nothing about this book that I didn’t like.

Also: I love fun facts and texts in books; both of those things made this book so fun!

I loved this middle grade book. Ingrid is quiet and would rather be invisible. She likes playing Ancent Tomes onine, running a very secret social media thread about receiving wrong texts and rereading her very favorite book series. When two new kids move to their small town, it gives her the impetus to think about changing things in her life. What does real friendship look like. Is having a group to sit with at lunch worth the frenemy drama that popular Rachel likes to stir up?

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House/Peachtree/Pixel+Ink for this DRC.
#ByeForeverIGuess #NetGalley

I recieved an eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

Ingrid is an introverted kid, who has a popular, yet anonymous social media channel based around wrong number texts. She has one ex-friend at school and one real friend in her online, gaming world who knows her secret.

All that changes when a wrong number text connects her with someone who she really bonds with, in the game....and maybe in real life.

Ingrid is a relatable character, comfortable online and less so in person. She comes off as a ND coded character with strong interests in a few things. While the ending of the story is telegraphed early, one finds themself rooting for Ingrid, and it doesn't feel unreasonable that she misses the earlier clues because she IS so obviously much more comfortab.e with socializing online.

It's also wonderful to see boy/girl friendships that have a potential to become romantic over time and are built on a foundation of connection and trust.

This is an excellent, relatable book that will be a valuable addition to school and community libraries and which many kids will connect with.

Affecting middle-grade or young YA novel. Eighth-grader Ingrid Ant breaks up with her long-time friend Rachel because Rachel makes everything about herself, and Ingrid is tired of being patronized. But this leaves her with no local friends, just a gaming buddy several states away. And then one of her wrong-number texters turns out to like her--maybe? And she's crushing on him a little--maybe? And then there's the new boy in town.... But Ingrid is too shy and awkward to talk to people in real life.

Feels very real. Recommended.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I found out Jodi was writing a middle grade, but I certainly didn’t expect to love it this much! This is her debut middle grade following Ingrid who is basically an outcast or becomes an outcast. She is forced to learn to navigate her own life and creat the friendships and life that she wants to live! I found myself relating so much to her even now but especially when I was in middle school too. I tended to be the outcast but also was always shy and really didn’t want to start conversations with random people. But at some point you learn to be brave enough. And that’s what we see in this book.

We see Ingrid become the best version of herself and learn that friends are hard to come by but once found they can be a gem. We see her become stronger in what she believes and why. And we see her bring Oliver and Lorren get closer and trust each other! Overall I had such a fun time with this one, and I can’t wait for you all to read it on 10/22!

4.75/5⭐️

Review copy provided by the publisher. Also I have known Jodi on this here internet since forever.

This is an interesting category of book that I don't think we saw as much of in years past: it's a nerd book that's not speculative. Ingrid, the protagonist, is deeply emotionally involved with her favorite fantasy novel series and her favorite online game; they are both crucial to the plot. But at no point does the game come to life, nor does she fall into a fantasy landscape. The realistic world is stressful enough.

Ingrid is terminally shy, and going into the eighth grade she's been friends with Rachel, who is demanding and self-centered. Her best friend, Lorren, is through an online game, but having some in-person friends who don't neg her and push her around--some friends who could notice the quiet girl in the corner--would be nice too. She also has a popular "scroll" on social media--under the name of Anony Mouse for a reason. Her hilarious wrong number texts have a large following, but only Rachel, Lorren, and Grandma know it's her. Something has to change--and the arrival of new kids in town will be the spark of that change. Ingrid's wrong texts lead to a new friendship just as her friendship with Rachel is crumbling to dust. But Rachel isn't letting go easily--and the new friend maintains a mystery. She'd love to find out more, but he continues coy--for nefarious reasons or otherwise?

I really loved Ingrid's relationship with her grandmother, and all the sensory details of the knitting and the food are spot on. Some of the social dynamics are frustrating, but they're frustrating in the direction of realistic eighth graders rather than externally imposed melodrama. If you're not in the mood for non-speculative older middle grade, this is definitely in that genre, but if that's the day you're having (or the stage of life you're in!), this is a sweet story.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC of Goodbye Forever, I Guess by Jodi Meadows. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have read it and give feedback.

Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this. It’s rare for me to pick up a book that’s not science fiction or fantasy, and I thought this was going to be based a lot more in the game world. I’m glad I gave it a chance!

The characters were heartwarming (although wow, Ingrid is super dry at texting at first. How does anyone even fall for someone that texts like that?), the situations believable. Although the love twist could be seen from a mile off, I appreciated the journey. I also really enjoyed Jodi’s writing style. I honestly don’t have too much to say about this book. It was a nice contemporary middle grade book based around themes of friendship, and I’ll look out for her next book!

My two main gripes with the story are minor, and one was completely out of her control as an author. The first is that I really do wish the story had been based more in the game. That would have satisfied the fantasy side of me, and could have shown how invested she is in the game (if she feels she’s really fighting alongside her friends). The second is that the Kindle formatting was super gross for me. No indentations, no SMS boxes, new lines beginning halfway through a sentence. This wasn’t the case when using the Netgalley app, but it would have been nice to read on my Kindle so I’m not staring at yet another back-lit screen. But as far as gripes go, that’s it.

Honestly, this was a great read. 4/5.

"Bye Forever, I guess" I am probably going to buy this book when it comes out so I can annotate the heck out of this book.

A quick, fun and spunky read. I read this whole book in an afternoon. I didn't hundred percent know what to except and was not displeased. The text messages between Ingrid and friends brought me memories of having my first phone in middle school! The book is a delightful and perfect story with real-world conflicts, making it even better because of that.

“Ingrid, a guarded gamer girl, lives a double life at school and online, where she is the Girl With Dead Parents and a charity case for her friend Rachel. When she stands up to Rachel, it feels like she has no life. However, a wrong-number text from another gamer offers her a chance at connection. As she suspects Traveler may be a student at her school, she faces a difficult choice: can she open up and find her people, or is making friends just a fantasy?”

I originally thought this was YA and not middle grade. I am so happy that this did not deterred me from finishing this cute little book. This book was a delight. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me this eARC!

Middle schooler Ingrid feels invisible at school, but powerful online. This makes for a complicated teenage existence. However, things seem ok because she has a long-distance buddy to game with, great hobbies in reading and knitting, an anonymous and hugely popular social media preference, and a lunch table to sit at every day. Things change when she feels betrayed by the queen bee of her school and makes a new online friend, both at the same time.

This book was a delight. As an elementary school librarian, my older readers often ask for romance stories - and this is a great one with positive role models and a strong emphasis on friendship. There are also great portrayals of life on the internet in both the gaming and social media spaces - the grown-ups are portrayed as proactive and positive, and Ingrid feels comfortable enlisting her grandmother in sharing and problem-solving online problems. Beyond the good-for-you parts of this book, it has You've Got Mail vibes that are perfectly translated for tweens in 2024. I enjoyed this one and can't wait to share it with the kids in October!