Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is a gorgeous novel about two teenagers who are going to have sex the first time. The conversations that take place with the adults are open and honest and the friend group is relatable. Jason Reynolds writes frank, open, and readable young adult novels.

I loved this book! Jason Reynolds does it again with this stunning black boy love story. Everyone should read this books. Neon is such a great character and loved his relationships with his friends and family. Thank you NetGalley for this early copy. 100% recommend.

Reynolds nails a romance from a teen-boy perspective beautifully. As always, poetic and authentic and funny and warm - a great exploration about teenage sexuality for the audience.

This was such a beautiful story! This is my first book by this author but I will definitely read another. It tackles an uncomfortable situation wonderfully. It’s still awkward but very true to life. I loved the voices of the teens. They seemed like real, relatable teenagers and each of the characters added something to the story. I also loved the structure of the story. Perfect for adults and teens.

Thank you to Net Galley, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, and the author, Jason Reynolds, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This books starts in the present with teenagers Neon and Aria who are in love and going to have sex for the first time. Then it keeps going backwards. We get the details of the main character, Neon’s life as well details about his relationship with Aria. The side characters are not well developed, but also not really important to the story.

24 months ago he met Aria at his grandfather’s funeral after her dog interrupted the service. 24 weeks ago, Neon and his dad have an honest talk about relationships. 24 minutes ago he left his job to head over to Aria’s house. 24 seconds ago he nervously was ready to take his relationship to the next level.

This is probably to mature for middle schoolers, but high schoolers will enjoy it.

This is an author that I love. He has an incredible voice and comes at sensitive issues with compassion, hope and love.
This story is no exception. His depictions of family dynamics is both serious and loving. The boy - girl relationship is looked at in a physical as well as emotional way. I loved how his friends and family supported him and guided him throughout the book.
The story unfolds in the present time and goes back in time. It works in the story but is a bit confusing at times. The plot line was pretty straight forward without many distractions. I think it could have used some relationships that were not so perfect to counterbalance things.
This is a hopefully romantic book with no real angst. Just a simple love story.
Enjoy!

Neon and Aria have been dating. They are committed to each other. They have messed around, but now they thin it just might be time for the next step. The book goes back by 24’s - twenty-four months, twenty-four weeks, twenty-four days, twenty-four hours, twenty-four seconds, all sharing the story of their relationships with each other and the people around them. Then it is the big moment….

Jason Reynolds is an author whose books I love getting into teen hands--the characters and plot are almost always importantly relevant to their lives, and there is just enough mystery or drama to get them to keep reading until the end. I thought the perspective being that of a young boy who was looking at having sex for the first time refreshing. This was not the stereotypical idea that boys need to sow their oats. The focus of the plot is a teenage boy's first time sleeping with his girlfriend. I appreciated that this book spoke honestly about this area of life, as much of what teens experience in the media is so dishonest or inauthentic to what it will be in real life. The discussions about safety, consent, and emotions are great additions to the YA genre that I feel are necessary in our media-driven world.
I liked the messaging and humorous moments with the main protagonist's parents and grandparents. The stream-of-conscious, the backwards-in-time narrative structure was an interesting way to break it down, but really it was more of a character study of the protagonist just figuring himself out than having a super engaging plot or tense moments. I really enjoyed this structure and again felt it is a side I think young men have but is not always portrayed. I am not sure how this will play out for students, but I am hopeful they will also enjoy it.
The romantic plot line was cute without being overly sexual despite the main focus of the book.

Neon and Aria have been together for two years, and so they’ve decided tonight’s the night. But Neon, our narrator, is nervous. He hasn’t done this before, and as he tries to calm down, he finds himself reflecting on the past two years of their relationship. Through that, readers truly get to know Neon. He’s a great friend, and he’s close with his hardworking and loving parents. His older sister, Nat, gives him helpful advice, and he often spends time with his Gammy, who still struggles with the loss of her husband. Neon is involved in the yearbook club, wrestling, and helps his father out at their family-owned bingo hall. Aria’s connection to Neon is clear from the start, and readers get to know her as a hardworking teen who’s determined to go to college out of state. Neon and Aria connect over food, ice cream, movies, Aria’s dog, Jeremy, and so much more. The conversations between them, and other characters, are authentic, sensitive, and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny. The more you learn about Neon and Aria, the more you’ll realize what a tender, sweet love story they have.

Jason Reynolds can write it all. I am usually not a fan of romance, but this one is brilliant. It’s the characters. It’s the dialogue. It’s also not like a movie. Instead, it’s real. Reynolds tells a story that teens will love and relate to. I laughed, I teared up, and I smiled quite often. Another epic tale from one of the best in the business!

Jason Reynolds does it again! Great characters, great voice. I ended up listening to this one on audio because as soon as I started reading it, I knew it would be a great audiobook. (And it was.) Also, surprisingly not really about sex, given the description of the book, if you're wondering about appropriateness of content for younger readers. (As in, very few physical descriptions.)

if you have a teen in your life, they need this book. If you are an adult with teens, you need this book. Jason Reynolds does such a good job at the teen voice. I felt like I was reading a love story about students that I have in class. The teen voice can be so hard to capture and he does it so easily. I also loved that this story is told through the male perspective. I wish all boys cared like neon does BUT neon also has a great support system and as readers we see it takes a village to create good people & good people beget good people.

Jason Reynolds truly knows how to relate to teenage angst and their inner thoughts. I believe teens can relate to all the worries and questions about first time love and the questions about becoming more physical in a relationship. He allows his reader to think they are not alone in having doubts, questions, and worries.

NY Times Bestseller author, Jason Reynolds has earned his way into one of my must read and top authors and I was so excited for his first YA romance novel.

Reynolds introduces us to Neon and Aria, two Black teens in love and who are ready to take the next big step in their relationship. This book is so important for teenagers. It displays healthy conversation about sex and timing. It is sex positive and helpful for teenagers who can see themselves in these young teen's shoes. I loved how real this book felt as we got Neon's point of view and emotions. We don't often get the perspective of a boy who is ready for romance. It is so reassuring for young male readers to understand that all these big emotions and vulnerabilities and questions about this topic are normal and healthy. Reynolds wrote this topic with such warmth and openness and sweetness, truly a celebration of young, Black love. Hands down the best book l've read on this topic!

In frank stream-of-consciousness prose, Neon Benton looks back on the two years that led to the moment he and his girlfriend Aria Wright are going to have sex. He and Aria have been kissing on her bed and he heads to the bathroom to settle his nerves. He reflects on their romance in reverse. Focusing on the previous 24 minutes, 24 days, and 24 months, he relives conversations and events that capture the range of emotions in their developing romance.

I really tried my best to get into this one because the plot sounded really cute and sweet to me but I just really struggled to get into the writing of this one for some reason. Maybe one day I’ll give it another try but I’m not sure.

I love Jason Reynolds and he definitely appeals to a young audience. I found this book a bit too sexy for my school culture but would recommend it for independent reading. I enjoyed the time device to tell the story.

Jason Reynolds is an American treasure. His latest YA novel is a beautiful story narrated by 17 year old Neon, about to have sex with his girlfriend Aria in 24 seconds if he can breathe and get out of his head and the bathroom he’s locked himself in. But 24 days ago, 24 weeks ago and 24 months ago we learn time frame by time frame how they met and who their supportive family members are.

In todays hook-up culture where books often mirror the conversations teens are having about their body counts for the ever growing number of people they have slept with, it was refreshing to read a story of two kids in a committed relationship who have waited for the right time and have had meaningful discussions about it with their loved ones.

Neon’s Gammie might have been my favorite character, providing wisdom and humor in her tender exchanges with him.

“Back then, a hello is all you needed. Like dropping a line in the water. Just gotta be patient and wait for the bite.”
“But what if he don’t bite?”
“Then that ain’t his bait and he ain’t yo fish.”

Will this be controversial and banned in places? You bet. But it’s what the world needs-real conversations with young men about sex. Bravo 👏🏼

I’m not a hater and I truly believe that Jason Reynolds can do ANYTHING. Still, I was uncomfortable when I heard about the premise of this book. But, Reynolds proves again that he’s the greatest and this book so so beautifully tender. Neon and Aria are mirrors for Black teens whose stories often get buried and I’m delighted to add this one to my bookshelf. I definitely shed a tear or two along the way!

This is stunning and intimate and gorgeous! It’s a little too on the nose to feel comfortable recommending to students as a teacher, but I would definitely share with parents and am so grateful a boom like this exists for teens!!

This book is excellent in its approach to centering Black boy’s journey through first love. I appreciate how Reynold’s story ebbs and flows through time masterfully. This book would be excellent for anyone wanting to read a love story or build their empathy toward young folks’ navigating complex emotions.