Neon and Aria have been dating for two years, and they've finally committed to having sex. At least, if Neon can get out of his own head. Follow their relationship backwards as Neon gets dating and relationship advice from various people in his life. Some of it better than others.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Tweny-Four Seconds from Now... by Jason Reynolds to review! Of course, I'm going to automatically want to read anything Jason Reynolds puts out because he's such a gifted writer. And this book definitely doesn't disappoint! Reynolds nails those teenage relationship emotions from the beginning.

One of the things I liked best about this book is the variety of advice that Neon gets as he talks to different people in his life. It shows that having these open conversations with teens better prepares them than just ignoring it. This book is an excellent framework for those conversations with teens, but also allows teens to explore just by reading this book.

In true Jason Reynolds fashion, this book is lyrical, with great dialogue and characters that absolutely leap off the page. It's not a long read, but it's definitely an important one. It might be one of my favorite Jason Reynolds books to date!

Jason Reynolds did it again! Not normally a "romance" author, but this one takes on a new look at romance. Love his writing and how he hits on topics that are real for teens.

This is the story of Neon and Aria experiencing their first love, and Neon anticipating their first time. Neon lives with his parents, sister, and grandmother, and their dog Denzel Jeremy Washington. Between high school and spending time with Aria, he can be found at his family’s bingo hall working. His anticipation for his first time comes with a lot input from his parents after his mom finds her bra in his room. Even if Neon is nervous, he is getting a lot of advice, and it’s really refreshing reading about a boy’s perspective.
He is also the sweetest boyfriend. He has a lot on his mind including that Aria will be going away to college. The fact that they haven’t discussed what will happen also weighs heavy on him.
I have read so many books about the female perspective it is nice to know that at least some boys have the same nervousness when it comes to taking a relationship to the next level. And how lucky for him to have parents that don’t shy away from discussing sex.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy. I adore Jason Reynolds and I devoured this book in a couple of hours. I loved the structure of the story told in reverse and Neon was the loveliest male teenage character I think I have ever read. I need a follow up to make sure he and Aria are still together once she goes off to college.

I am always looking for young adult romance books to suggest to readers and coming from Jason himself I knew this was going to be amazing. A reverse love story, with Jason’s storytelling made for a book full of emotion, changes, experiences, and relatability.
I can’t wait for young adults to have this book in their hands!

4.5 stars. A fantastic coming-of age romance novel that does a great job with all the emotions of planning and preparing for a young couple's first time. I loved that this is written from a 17 year old boy's perspective about his first serious relationship, but also focuses on the different relationships that he has with his friends, sister, parents, and grandmother.

In Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... Neon and his girlfriend Aria are planning on having sex for the first time. The problem? Neon is just a bit... nervous. What follows is a series of flashbacks that led up to this points. Snippets of conversations with friends, with family, with total strangers, all dealing with relationships, and love, and sex.

Jason Reynolds is just a phenomenal writer. He sucks you right in with the stories and writes characters so well that you can find that connection quick. Neon is a sensitive soul that cries when others do, who listens to what others need, and who isn't afraid of dogs... he just doesn't get along with them. His deep connection with his family allows for open conversation and you learn about SO many different elements of relationships and love through several generations and from a variety of perspectives. He has open minded, realistic thinking parents who are able to admit where they have made mistakes and give advice without being overbearing. I love hearing from his Mom and his sister about consent and a woman's needs - advice I think the intended audience of this book could really use. I think it's great that Neon and Aria's core friend group has all the stereotypes laid out so you understand that there is more than one way to be when it comes to thinking about sex. Honestly, I just think that this book covers so many sex/relationship topics, some that I wasn't even expecting, in such a seamless, flowing way. All in just over 100 pages.

SO well done, as always.

All hail Jason Reynolds, reigning YA King.
Is Neon going to throw up or pull it together and lose his virginity? What is going on and how did we get here?
Over the course of the novel we work backwards in time - 24 seconds ago, 24 minutes before, and eventually 24 months before - to see all the life that preceded Neon’s choice to have sex for the first time with his girlfriend Aria. We meet those closest to Neon, his family, his friends, Aria and Denzel Jeremy Washington (a scene stealing dog).

This book is such a necessary addition to the young adult cannon. Neon is a character that's going to be instantly relatable to young people, especially young men, and to be able to go on the years-long journey leading up to (potentially) losing his virginity is an important story for young adults to have access to.Throughout the book Neon gets “the talk” from different people and the lessons learned help him prepare and make thoughtful decisions alongside Aria.

This book is the exact reason why books should not be banned!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with Twenty-four Seconds from Now….
You make my YA dreams come true!

"Twenty-Four Seconds from Now" offers a refreshing and heartfelt exploration of male sexuality, focusing on themes of respect, love, and tenderness, which are often missing from typical narratives. The rewind structure, taking readers from the pivotal moment back through various stages of Neon and Aria’s relationship, is engaging and effective. It allows us to see the development of their bond, emphasizing the emotional depth behind their physical connection.

The character of Neon is well-written, showing vulnerability and thoughtfulness, particularly as he seeks guidance from his sister instead of just relying on peer pressure or societal expectations. This approach to sex is wholesome and focuses on the importance of emotional intimacy rather than just the physical act.

However, depending on the reader, the constant rewinding could feel repetitive, potentially disrupting the flow of the narrative. But overall, this structure adds to the depth of Neon's journey and helps provide crucial context to his feelings and growth.

The book’s strength lies in its message: that first sexual experiences, especially from a male perspective, should be grounded in respect and love. It's a timely and important narrative that shifts away from harmful stereotypes. This story would be a great fit for readers who appreciate coming-of-age tales that focus on the emotional aspects of relationships and first experiences.

As this novel opens, Neon is in his girlfriend's bathroom contemplating losing his virginity with his longtime girlfriend Aria in 24 seconds. That's quite a hook to get us into the story of Neon and Aria's relationship. Working backward--24 minutes, 24 hours, 24 days, 24 weeks, etc. the reader gets inside Neon's head and the thoughts and feelings of this endearing young man leading up to this moment. The portrait of his relationships with family and friends is well-rounded and believable, and we'd like to know what happens in the next 24 days and months.

A wonderful book dealing with something we all experience. I loved that it was told from a male character’s perspective as I can’t recall another YA book that has done this. Jason Reynolds’s, you have done it again!

I was not the target audience for this, but it is so well written. Reynolds is great at characterization and this is no exception.

This was an interesting read. I’d definitely recommend to everyone. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this arc.

Nobody writes like Jason Reynolds. He creates realistic, compelling characters with issues that teens actually care about. Like teenage hormones, relationships, and changes on the horizon as college looms in the future. I loved the way Jason Reynolds used a bit of a zoom out effect, telling a story, then backing up to the day before, then the week before, then the month, and finally year before. It told the story in reverse, but made the present moment even more special. It was a modern day true love story that mimics his grandparents' true love story. Even his sister, who seems to go from guy to guy has her own true love story waiting in the wings. Every love story is unique in this book, and teens will love this.

I love Jason Reynolds' writing! I will continue to read what he puts out! This was a great story and perfect for high school students if you are an English teacher.

This was a really unique take on a novel format where each chapter goes a little further back in time, all of it leading to the "now" moment at the very end. We meet a lot of characters and learn from most of them as we go and it's a very fast-paced read. I was expecting a faster one because I thought it was a novel in verse, but I'm not mad about it. It's a great story that teens should definitely pick up.

Full disclosure, I have met Jason Reynolds and like him both as a writer and a person. This tender young adult romance, with loving parents who know just what to say and when, is well written, with great characters and just what I would have wanted to read as a teen. The number twenty-four runs through the storyline starting with twenty-four seconds before, then minutes before, then hours, days…you get it, with the final chapter returning to the present. Clever. Neon and Aria are having their first time together after waiting two years and knowing they are both ready, and through the timing device the reader learns of and experiences their love story. (Soap box time…) While never explicit, never vulgar, or with no real violence, Twenty-four Seconds from Now… is sure to hit the faux Christian banned books lists because it is by a Black author, about Black teens, and is about their love and their first time. I wish every teen would read this to see a healthy family model and a healthy teen relationship, so, please, get this one for your kids - but read it for yourself too.

Listen, I love Jason Reynolds. I'll read whatever he writes (even if it's a carbon copy of the phone book) and enjoy it. I was so excited to get an advanced copy of this novel. Did I love it? No. However, I also realized very early on that this book was not written for me.

In my opinion, this story isn't really one of those generation-spanning tales that appeal to both adults and teens. This one is for teens. As an adult, I felt like an outsider looking into a conversation I did not want to be a part of. Do I think this book is important and absolutely should be available for teens? Yes. I'm totally fine with teens getting the talk from Jason Reynolds. In fact, many of them need it because maybe they don't have other adults they feel comfortable asking. There were so many depictions of really healthy conversations about sex and how to treat your partner. Teens need to see this stuff.

As far as teens reading this for choice reading? Ehhhh. I'm torn. This feels like a read-this-at-home novel to me. Do I want to think about them reading it in my classroom? No. Would I recommend they read it in their own time? Yes.

So, there you have it. The novel was just fine reading it as an adult, but honestly it gave me the ick a bit. I know teens have sex. I understand that. I do not want to read about it with any details whatsoever. I'm very glad this book exists, but in the classroom? Ehhh. You'll have to make that decision for your own students. Grades 9 and up.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! I love just about anything Jason Reynolds, as do my students. This one didn’t disappoint. The love story of Aria and Neon is told in reverse, and I loved that twist on the tale as you have to work backwards and kind of piece some things together. I also enjoyed that this book was told from Neon’s point of view, which is rare. It’s a story of sweet, young love, complicated family relationships, full and interesting characters, and love and respect in teens. While it dos cover the subject of teen sexuality, it’s done very well and with some humor. I was worried how it would be handled as I have teenagers and work with teenagers in my teaching job and didn’t want to feel uncomfortable reading it, but I was impressed. It seemed and read “very real” and showed respect and affection and two kids just feeling like they were ready for “the next step.” I would just recommend this book for slightly older YA readers. Overall, it was a really enjoyable read I couldn’t put down, and I was excited to see where it would go back in time as I got to the next section. If you’re a Reynolds fan, this one won’t disappoint. FYI profanity, teen sexuality topics, family struggles

5 stars

Jason Reynolds has done it again.

Readers can always expect great, developed characters, well-paced action, and a creative structure in Reynolds's books, and this newest novel is no exception. This one features Neon and Aria, and throughout the novel, readers dig into their relationship, including a number of pivotal moments (as well as some painfully embarrassing ones that are certain to make more experienced readers crack up).

I really enjoy Reynolds's depiction of the romantic relationship between these characters. It feels authentic and age appropriate, and it'll also be useful and instructional for contemporary readers. The relationship is healthy; there is good communication, a lot of uncertainty, and a fair amount of mutual stumbling.

The structure makes this read even more unique and speeds up the pacing. Whether we're 24 seconds, days, weeks, or months out from a specific event or memory, readers get the opportunity to chart important moments in the characters' lives and relationship.

I can't get enough of Jason Reynolds, and my students always agree. I can't wait to share this one with future groups.