Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad. Not bad.

An emotional YA romance featuring two Black teenagers deal with their individual traumas. This was good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Ben Philippe or Talia Hibbert. While I would have enjoyed a bit more romance in this story, I acknowledge that wasn't the main point for this book. Just an okay read for me but I'm not likely the intended audience and I'm sure it would resonate more with younger readers. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Buy this book!

No, really, right now. Get this book. Get this book into the hands of your young adult readers. Now. Like get it ordered so that when it comes out on the 8th, you have it. Go, librarians! Go, teachers! Go, parents of young men and women. Get this book.

Yes, it's that good. Yes, it's that beautiful. Yes, it is at times utterly incandescent - come on, people, it's a Jason Reynolds book, of course it's freaking incandescent at times.

This is a stunning account from the perspective of a 17 year old young Black man, the remarkable Neon, who is about to do "it" for the first time with his long-time girlfriend, Aria. This is a mutual, long-planned, carefully considered decision, and we get to be witness to all the pieces that have brought them to this moment. There is laughter here, and joy, and pain and teenage angst, and so, so, so much more. Jason Reynolds captures all the moments in a relationship, through multiple lenses, though Neon's is primary - he lets Neon realize that other people see him and Aria together, and that they may see some things even he has been missing. This is about family, and growing up, and being surprised by people when you don't expect it.

And if you are a mom of boys, the scene with Neon and his mom in the restaurant is an ode to all of us.
If I tell you that Judy Blume blurbs the book, and has a dedication, will that make you love Jason Reynolds even that bit more than you already do?
Go buy the book, friends.

Cute book! Definitely more of a YA vibe but I think it talks about love in such a great way for younger audiences.

Jason Reynolds has written a love story in reverse and it's so simple and wonderful.

I really appreciated the slice of life aspect - we have a healthy relationship, really great family dynamics, and kids who are smart and kind. I especially loved the conversations Neon had with his family regarding relationships and different approaches. His mom was so open and hilarious and refreshing! It's a little different than Reynolds work that I have read in the past, but you can really appreciate the more laid back approach.

What really makes this interesting is that the story is told in reverse. You can see how Neon and Aria's story develops one snippet at a time. It's funny, relatable, and really heartwarming.

I adored everything about this book. It was so thoughtful and real in a way that we don't always see and I was so grateful to see diverse YA engaging with sex in such a grounded way. The last line has haunted me in the best way since I finished the book because it was pitch perfect. Highly recommend and can't wait to add it to our library collection!