Twenty-Four Seconds From Now by Jason Reynolds is a captivating young adult novel that masterfully captures the essence of teenage life. The book's dynamic characters and gripping storyline make it a must-read for teenage boys, as it tackles themes of time, decision-making, and the challenges of growing up. Reynolds’ eloquent writing and authentic voice resonate with young readers, offering both entertainment and valuable life lessons. This novel is not just a story but an experience that encourages introspection and inspires change.

I love Jason Reynolds! The format of this book was different...I enjoyed how the story was told almost in reverse. The back and forth between what was happening in the house to how they got there kept me turning the pages. The amount of small details that were dropped in throughout the book and picked up at the end to tie things together put a smile on my face. I will read anything Reynolds writes.

Another great novel from Jas0n Reynolds! When I was a teenager, 20 years ago, there was definitely a belief that, while girls might be nervous, sentimental, and not know what exactly to expect the first time they have sex, boys were not supposed to feel any of those things. This novel does a great job of humanizing that experience. Neon is a real, well-developed teenager with fears, concerns, and love for his girlfriend and wonderfully supportive family.

If only every teen could have a family like Neon's. His sister is there to dispel misinformation and answer the questions he can't ask Mom and Dad. His mom validates that he's growing up and puts out genuine effort to maintain open lines of communication, and his dad helps him reflect on what kind of partner he wants to be.

So much teen literature involves sex, but few books treat it as delicately or seriously as this one. Combined with such a relatable teen protagonist, Twenty-Four Seconds from Now really does fill an important space in YA lit.

4.5⭐️

Two years ago, Neon met Aria in a cemetery after being chased by her dog. Now, love has grown, advice has been given, and awkward moments (like his mom finding a bra in his room) have passed. With chicken tenders in hand and a big step ahead, Neon’s locked in Aria’s bathroom, battling insecurities. Twenty-four seconds from now, it’s time—but only if he can muster the courage to leave the bathroom.

This was a sweet look at the thoughts of a young man about to take a giant step in his relationship. Loved the chats between Neon and his mom - every boy mom should have those special times with their son. I laughed out loud listening to their chat. Neon's nervousness regarding this next big step comes across with Reynold's prose, letting the reader know it's OK to be nervous; it's ok to doubt; it's ok to talk it out.

Once again, Reynold's knocked it out of the park.

This was a simple, relatable story told (mostly) backwards. I liked seeing the main relationship develop and found all of the characters likable. It's not a twisty, suspenseful tale, which was kind of a relief. All in all, I thought it was sweet and refreshingly realistic, especially for a YA book.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

ARC review of Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... Jason Reynolds has done a phenomenal job of dipping his toe in the YA world. Realistic and relatable. story of high school seniors Neon and Aria planning to take the "next step" in their relationship. A beautiful story of a young man coming of age and figuring out how to deal with real emotions as he navigates the desire to have sex for the first time. The book goes backwards 24 seconds, 24 minutes, 24 days, and 24 months to tell the story of a relationship. It's a must read for YA's and adults alike.

Although I was not the target audience for this book, I am really glad it exists. I hope lots of young people read it. It's too old for my middle school.

This was my first Jason Reynolds read not to be five stars. However, it was still a fantastic book. The relationship was beautiful and the characters felt multi-dimensional.

Neon meets Aria and they hit it off. Now 24 months later they are ready to take their relationship to the next level, physically. This is a sweet love story from a boy's perspective on what a relationship looks like.

Jason Reynolds never misses in my book. I love that this book tackled a subject that can be taboo with teenagers. I heard him speak on this and I'm so glad he wrote about a guy's first time being intimate. The relationship between him and his girlfriend seems very authentic and real. They are still very much kids, and I love that the guy is portrayed as being so thoughtful about the whole experience. They're in a committed relationship which is a great thing to be portrayed.

A love story told in reverse. I love that this is told from a teen boy's POV in the moments, days, weeks, leading up to a big romantic moment.

As much as I love this book and the topic, I'm a librarian and in today's world, I don't want to put my job at risk for this book. It's sad but true.

Jason Reynolds is a phenomenal author and I think this is a great addition to his list of works. Twenty-Four Seconds from Now follows a young couple about to have sex for the first time. However, this novel uses an interesting structure where it flashes back on important moments in their lives and relationship prior to the "big moment." I didn't always love the structure of the story - I think at times it felt more like a gimmick than an important part of telling this story - BUT I did feel like it kept me hooked. Ultimately, the characters, their relationships, and the importance of the topics explored in this book make this a win in my eyes.

I loved Neon & Aria’s story, including their friends & family members. Everyone was fully fleshed out, fun, and full of quirks/life lessons. I felt like the ending came too fast & the premise may be a little tough to booktalk (ha ha).

Because this book is already out, I cannot properly give an advanced review for people to determine if they want to buy this.

I appreciate the POV of this story though I wish it was longer and had more substance. They style and length made it hard to connect with the characters but I think this is a worthwhile book for library collections as we don't often see books like this on this topic. Not my favorite but will be adored by others.

This is a humorous coming-of-age romance, told from a fresh perspective, with characters you won’t stop thinking about. Twenty-Four Seconds From Now refers to the amount of time Neon gives himself in the bathroom to clear his head before joining his girlfriend, Aria, as they take the next step in their relationship. That is if Neon can get the anxious thoughts swirling around in his head to take a break. They both planned this, so why does it suddenly seem to carry so much weight? Reynolds takes readers on a lyrical journey through Neon and Aria’s relationship, from when they first met, 24 months ago, to every careful thought put into their plan for today. Neon is sweet and cautious, subverting ideas often associated with teenage boys and sex. Neon's family are close and open with each other, willing to have uncomfortable conversations to pass on wisdom and help him learn from any of their mistakes. This book is kind of like "what if a young person asked some questions about sex and nobody was weird about it?"

Jason Reynolds is renowned for writing authentically about important topics in a way that's not only approachable for teens but feels relatable and real -- this one was no different! I really enjoyed seeing Reynolds take on such a challenging topic of sex and the ways he was careful to be considerate about both genders and dodge stereotypes while also addressing them. Not only that but the structure of this one was totally unique -- told in 24 something increments in largely reverse chronological order. This would be hard -- both in terms of topic and in terms of structure -- for anyone to pull off but Jason Reynolds is a master and it shows in this book. I really loved the conversations that were had on a number of levels -- boy-boy, friend-friend, sister-brother, mom-son, father-son, boyfriend-girlfriend, etc. I hope that teens aren't too afraid to pick this one up because I think it's so worthwhile for anyone who does. This is a great addition to any public or secondary library and it would be great to leave in your teen's room when you know they're considering elements of their sexual life but maybe not as ready to talk about it as these characters are. Reynolds, as always, opens the door to important conversations with this one.

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.