Twenty-four Seconds From Now is beautifully, poetically written. Neon and Aria’s relationship unfolds in reverse which I loved. Every person should have the joy of experiencing a relationship like this one.

Thank you, #Netgalley and #Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, for allowing me to read Twenty-Four Seconds from Now ... by Jason Reynolds.

Jason Reynolds crafts a beautiful romance story told from the male perspective. Neon and his girlfriend are making plans to do the deed. On that night, Neon is faced with not only reality but his thoughts. As thoughts rush through his head, seconds, minutes, and the past goes by. The moment Neon and Aria met, Neon had a funny feeling about her, even though he did not like her dog. He knows their love is true and wants to be with Aria since they started seeing each other almost two years ago, and it is time to take their relationship to the next step. But why is Neon tripping in the bathroom?
Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Aria, sits on the bed, wondering if he is okay. Neon's racing thoughts yank around the readers through his thoughts. To learn more about Neon and Aria's journey, read Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... by Jason Reynolds.
Things to be aware of: It does talk about having sex. The scene is off the page and nothing descriptive.

Jason Reynolds is a master in capturing the young adult experience. Students are going to love this book! The characters, story, and family dynamics are all relatable!

As a high school English teacher, I love books and authors that can relate to students and get them excited about reading. THIS is what students want to be reading.

I love the premise of the novel as well—moving twenty-four seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months. It puts a new perspective on how we view time and life.

Jason Reynolds is one of my go-to authors for reluctant readers, and I'm happy to be able to add another of his books to my collection. The book is about a romance--a healthy romance between well-informed teens who think before they act and talk about things openly. This is a fresh and honest look at how to be a better partner.

This was another Netgalley ARC. This is Jason Reynolds at his best. A sweet story of young love and firsts. The characters are fun, funny, so human. There are moments that are poetic but it isn't so heavy-handed that the story gets lost. It is well paced. There isn't all that much interaction between Neon and Aria, but I actually think that might be the point. Their relationship is a given. The story is more about how Neon got to the present moment. Still, I craved more one-on-one time between the two, more banter. The suspense of getting back to the beginning - both of the present time in the book and the beginning of their relationship- was fun to watch play out.

I am a huge Jason Reynolds fan, and this book does not disappoint. Aria is one lucky young woman to have found someone as caring as Neon. I love the way Reynolds takes you back a “twenty-four” at a time—minutes, hours, days, weeks, months—as you watch their relationship develop in reverse.

I loved finding out that Neon and I aren’t the only ones who do the cry thing (cry when we see someone else crying) so I imagine there are a lot more of us out there.

This is a young adult book but adults will enjoy it just as much because I imagine there are many, many people out there who are/were just as nervous about their ‘first time’.

What a breathe of fresh air. I loved everything about it!

This is a high school love story told in reverse, starting when the main character, Neon, and his girlfriend are 24 seconds from their first time. The story then goes backwards as we learn more about Neon, his family, his friends, and his fears of life after high school.

I love that Neons family, each in their own way, prepare him for this big step with Aria. He listens and learns about protection, consent, communication, and respect.

There's something so cathartic in reading about high school kids figuring out the normal high school stuff. Maybe it's healing the little teenagers we used to be. One of my favorite part about books is we get to live through a whole progression of a problem and then at the end of a book it's resolved (I know, that's the way story arcs work but still). I think I love YA so much because at that time in my life, I wasn't equipped to realize that the obstacles and problems I had were a normal part of growing up and would resolve.
It was so gratifying seeing Neon make his way through and figure out family, friends, peers, and young love.

I love everything Jason Reynolds writes and this one was a winner.

This is a beautifully written book, but it wasn’t quite my taste. I think that upper level high school students would enjoy this, but it would not be accessible or appropriate for my students.

Nothing short of genius, which was to be expected for THE Jason Reynold's latest work. I want to put this into the hands of every teen and every parent who has a teen. It's RELEVANT, RELATABLE, IMPORTANT, and BEAUTIFUL. In so few words, Reynold's words paint images in our minds and accelerate our heartbeats. I wan never anywhere but in this story while reading it.

A book about the "first time" and first love told through the steady stream of thoughts from the main character is so stunningly and authentically done. It's magic and absolute MUST-HAVE for teens.

I love Jason Reynolds. His use of character and time was very well thought-out. My students love Long Way Down. If they wanted to read another Jason Reynolds. This would be suggested. (Of course for mature readers!)
Concerns: Maturity.
Gifts: Structure and Characters.

Jason Reynolds is a must read for me, and his latest book doesn't disappoint. I loved the structure of starting at the end of the story and working backwards using the number 24. It was refreshing to read a romance from the perspective of a young man on the brink of a huge decision in his life. Reynolds handles the relationship between Neon and his girlfriend beautifully.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

I enjoyed this story. It was written in reverse, which was so cool! I think teens and young adults will eat this up! It’s fast paced and leaves you wanting more throughout. I loved learning more about Neon and his family and relationship with Aria. Jason Reynolds is a gift to the YA community.

Readers get to follow the reverse progression of Neon and Aria's relationship from the 24 seconds they are away from having sex for the first time with each other to the 24 months leading up to this moment. We get to follow Neon's emotional and social growth as he tries to navigate his changing body, feelings and relationships. An unique way of allowing the reader to experience Neon and Aria's lives as if we are looking through the large end of a telescope and seeing a small glimpse of what lies in their future. Supporting characters have their own personalities and help readers to understand what friendships and family members have influenced Neon up to this point in his life.

Definitely for older Young Adult readers. Not recommended for the Children's Department shelves. Still wonderfully written by a master storyteller who has his finger on the pulse of all things teen.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jason Reynolds is a National Treasure! His writing is just so beautiful, with a fresh and authentic voice. Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... is such a sweet love story. Neon and Aria are seniors in high school and have been dating for two years and tonight is the night. Neon is in the bathroom trying to shake his nerves and takes us on a journey starting twenty four seconds ago, twenty four minutes before that, twenty four months before that...etc.
I loved Neon and Aria, I loved their quirky family and friends. This is going to be an easy book to put in the hands of teenagers, although adults would love it too. A lot of life lessons are hidden in such a sweet, yet fun novel.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC.
This is the story of high school senior, Neon, and this book is a love story told in reverse, starting with right now, then twenty-four seconds before that, and finally twenty-four months before that when he and Aria meet for the first time at his grandfather's funeral. Our story starts when Neon, or Nee is in the bathroom very nervous, because he and Aria are getting ready to have sex for the first time. Our story covers their relationship for the past two years and how they have arrived at this moment in time, and also moments with his friends, parents, sister, and grandmother, who lives with them.
What I liked: EVERYTHING. Nee gets important advice about consent, making sure his partner is respected, and frank talks about sex from both parents. Reynolds, as always, knows how students think, talk, and brings them to life. He also realizes that a book does not have to be 300-400 pages in order to fully develop a character, and tell a story. This story will grab readers from the first page, and they will keep reading to the end, while laughing and maybe even crying like I did. This book is a must-read for every high school student, and if I could wave a magic wand, it would be on core reading lists. This will be an immediate best-seller and up awards as well.

Wow! Jason Reynolds has created a book that I didn’t know teens needed until I read it. This novel, told in reverse, is not a typical romance novel.
It IS a love story about relationships, commitment, choices, sex and all the accompanying emotions…TOLD FROM A MALE PERSPECTIVE!

Too many kids are not having these important conversations at home or with trusted adults in their lives so Jason Reynolds has stepped up with 24 Seconds From Now.

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of Twenty-Four Seconds From Now… in exchange for an honest review!

Y’all, this book was everything 😭. I hope every student of mine reads this book when they’re ready, whenever that may be, to see a very realistic example of what healthy intimate, romantic, familial, even platonic, relationships *should* look like. What healthy boundaries and conversation *should* look like. Shame was not ever a factor here when he had the conversations with his mom, dad, sister, even his grandparents, it was truly wonderful to read.

Neon is a fully realized, well-thought out, main character. I absolutely loved that we get to see this male mc not only receive healthy relationship advice from his family members about having sex for the first time with no shame attached, but we also get see him be vulnerable and real and raw with those around him. No toxic masculinity here, folks.

And you better believe Jason Reynolds came through with every secondary character as well. The characterization is *chef’s kiss* and even if a character is only featured for a few short pages, the authenticity of these characters really shines. I mean even the DOG is a standout character (and his name is everything).

Anyway, Jason Reynolds has done it again and I will always and forever be in awe of his ability to craft truly authentic stories like this one!

Reynolds, a poet at his core, writes a love story with a deft hand. It is thoughtful, considerate of the characters’ feelings, and informative without being heavy handed. I so appreciate an opportunity to read this, and I can’t wait for others to have the same chance.

There is something about the way Jason Reynolds is able to capture the anxiety, anticipation, tenderness, and hilarity of life for teens. This romance takes you on a journey through seconds, minutes, hours, days, and months with Neon and his relationship with Aria. Neon is surrounded by honest and believable family members who support his development and answer all of his questions. A story clearly about sex but is so much more about respect and love and clarity. The conversations Neon has with him Grandy and Mom should be cherished and beautiful examples of family being honest open with each other. Each second that passes while you read will take you back in time and see how Neon’s foundations were build by those around him. You grow to appreciate every meal you have with family and friends that are essential to your character. Another beautiful book by Reynolds.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing, Atheneum, and Caitlyn Dlouhy for the eARC of this book. Jason Reynolds did not disappoint in his latest book. We follow Neon’s stream of consciousness from 24 months ago when he met Aria until now where he is in her bathroom. Neon is nervous as this is their first time. He wonders if he will do all the right things and thinks will we both look at each other the same way afterwards.