This is the cutest, sweetest YA book that I've read in a while, and such a wonderful introduction to this author's work. This story took me back to a time when life was pure and innocent and did such an excellent job of expressing the feelings associated with the experience the characters are about to have in this book. I really liked that the MMC was the pov for this novel because it's such an uncommon take. I especially loved the open, healthy dialogue Neon was able to have with his parents and sister. All teens should be afforded the opportunity to engage earnestly with their support system. I think this is a great book for teens and may help with some of the feelings and questions they have at that stage.

Thank you, netgalley and the publisher for providing an arc of this book.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Jason Reynolds has created something special with his most recent YA release, Twenty-Four Seconds from Now. He has a tremendous capacity for creating lovable, dynamic characters, and his lyrical writing style is a pleasure to read. AND what I found most impressive about this book was the content and the delivery of this content. This is a book about sex. Specifically, this is a book about teenagers who want to have sex for the first time. This is a book about all the moments that have lead up to *this* moment in Neon and Aria's relationship (but told chronologically backwards, so we see the moment they meet near the end of the book). Jason Reynolds has created a launching point for discovery and discussion for adolescents who are curious about sex and relationships, in much the same way Judy Blume did 50 years ago with her book Forever. And he has done this so, so well. This book is honest and true and relatable and lovely, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to read an advanced copy. (Thank you to NetGalley for my digital ARC.)

This is a sweet, clean romance about two 17-year-olds in love and on the precipice of losing their virginity to each other two years into their relationship. Reynolds starts the story in the present, and then goes back in time two years (in increments) to when Neon first met Aria at his grandfather’s burial, returning to the present in the last short chapter. It takes place in an unnamed urban setting (presumably DC/MD area, based on the names of the neighborhoods), but it’s nice to read a YA book that isn’t full of inner-city violence and tragedy. Instead, it’s focused on emotions, sage advice, parental support from both of Neon’s parents and Aria’s father, and solid friendships. Due to childhood abuse and the resultant trauma, Aria’s mother is difficult, but there’s no real angst in the story. This is very much character-driven with not much of a plot to speak of, and readers who are not familiar with black colloquial language may struggle a bit to understand some of the dialogue and Neon’s narrative (it’s told from his POV), but the message isn’t muddied. Recommended for libraries that serve teens.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Simon & Schuster BYR through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

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. "Twenty-Four Seconds from Now..." continues in the same vein with a very relatable focus: 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.

Unfortunately, beyond the great messaging and some humorous moments with the main protagonist's mom, I found this book easy to put down and forget about. Because of the way the book is structured, I kept waiting and waiting for some dramatic event or reveal to happen, but it didn't. The most tense moments are in the first few pages of the novel, and the rest of the book just dwindled out slowly. The stream-of-conscious, the backwards-in-time narrative structure just felt like a gimmick that didn't make the plot more engaging or tense. While not my favorite structure of storytelling, I have enjoyed books with the reverse timeline, but I think I would have enjoyed this must better with a traditional narrative arc.

The romantic plot line was cute without being overly sexual despite the main focus of the book, and I thought it could even be approachable for teen boys who are allergic to romance in any capacity. But for this reader, I felt a little bored and hoped for more from this novel.

Special thanks to the author & @simonteen for my gifted copy‼️

What’s 4+4? Cause I know I wasn’t the only one who devoured this book in twenty-four seconds‼️ The author jumped in straight to the point when a teen is ready to take that next step and become sexually active there are a million thoughts going through their minds. Sometimes parents have no idea and in some cases they do but how do you approach your child with the TALK? No matter what you think you cannot prevent it so the best thing you can do is educate them.

Neon and Aria have been dating for a while and now it’s senior year they’re ready to take the next step in their relationship. . . SEX! They have the whole thing mapped out yet Neon can’t get past being nervous. Luckily he has his family to lean on for advice even if some of it is unwanted. I loved his sister’s advice because a woman is not just a body!!! The convo with his mom at breakfast was hilarious. Although Neon and Aria have contemplated on this happening the biggest thing is what will happen to them afterwards since she will be heading off to college soon.

With this book it might take many of us back to that exact moment. What we were thinking, your emotions in that moment, were you actually ready, educated, and prepared for it, and how things would go after you took that step. It’s actually a scary moment for many because once it’s done you can’t take it back.

I truly love everything about this book it was heartwarming, funny, engaging, and sheds light on a sensitive subject. It was also a major plus getting the full perspective from a guy in this situation. For the pacing to move so quickly I actually felt complete after reading this. The characters were well fleshed out and we get enough backstory on both MC’s to understand what they’re going through. Definitely a book I’d recommend‼️

Jason Reynolds can do no wrong. This is a great YA novel that has surprising depth surrounding teen sex from the male perspective. I loved the timeline style stream of consciousness style.

This is a book all high schoolers who are on the verge of making a big life decision need to read. Reynolds' unique approach to telling this story in backwards increments builds a beautiful, memorable book that shows readers how it's all of life's moments--both the big and the small--that lead up to our most important choices.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book.

I always love Jason Reynolds writing- there is always a sense of lyricism, honesty, and humor.

Reynolds begins his story right before Neon's first time with his girlfriend, Aria - but he then takes us back through their relationship to learn how they got to this moment, how they fell in love, how they met, and how their families and friends interwove throughout their lives along the way. I truly appreciated the honesty and vulnerability of Neon. His parents and sister also give moments of advice that felt authentic (and awkward for Neon). It was a great portrayal of young emotions.

Great book that I really enjoyed, but as a teacher, this is a tough one to recommend because of the premise. I love reading Jason Reynolds and many of his books are some of my favorites to recommend for students, and that won't change, but this is one that I may just let them stumble upon. I'm not naive enough to think my kids aren't having sex, but it's not something I'm ready to acknowledge by recommending a book centered around it.

As much as I love Jason Reynolds, this one just didn’t do it for me, mostly because of the timing and plot line.

The story begins with two high school seniors, and their first time having sex. The story then flips back 24 seconds, 24 days, sometimes weeks, etc.

I appreciated the characters; they were authentic, coming across as definitely teenagers, something Jason does so well.

I just felt disconnected from the story - I think my brain doesn’t do backwards as well? But I do think this book will resonate deeply with high schoolers.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Aria and Neon’s first time is so adorable. The culmination of the use of the number 24 has you anticipating what happens in each time period. A great read for teenagers as they navigate the challenges of relationships in the digital ages.
Also refreshing to see the story told from a males perspective.

A first love and first time story from a teenage boy’s perspective. So many conversations and topics are addressed that teenagers should be having more honest and respectful conversations about with adults. But it’s addressed in a real and tasteful way.

Jason Reynolds simply doesn't miss. This is everything I want in a book for my school. This is a book for literally everyone and will stay with you for a long time after the last page.

I'm a big fan of Jason Reynolds and will read anything he writes. This one was ok, but not my favorite Jason book. This is a "love story" which I don't typically associate with Jason's writing. It was alright, told in reverse chronological order which was interesting and made me want to know what happened first (last?). It was overall alright. Loved the narrator.

Jason Reynolds’s knows how to write emotions. He captures what being a teenager is like without being cheesy. It was a great read. Definitely recommend.

Twenty Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds is a coming-of-age story told in reverse stream-of-consciousness structure. It is a fine character study with a playful structure, moving backward in time from the moment before our narrator, Neon, has sex for the first time with his girlfriend of 24 months, with each step backward in time coming in 24s (seconds, minutes, hours, days, months) to the moment of their meet cute. It is a very sweet love story, actually a series of love stories encapsulated in this very short little novel. I enjoyed this quick read despite the number of awkward conversations (the diner scene!) matching the sweet and nostalgic love stories (even Spank's).
Note: This novel is not told in verse as some of his other work has been.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Children's for this ARC!

In true Jason Reynolds style, comes a text about acknowledgment. Being who you are, making informed decisions and accepting responsibility for what you bring to the world. I enjoyed the ownership of being a voice in the world to be heard…, realizing that everyone deserves to be heard, acknowledged and represented.

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now... is a love story told in reverse with lovely snapshots of a young romance. Highly recommend for young adults!

I'm always excited for a new Jason Reynolds book and this one proved my anticipation right. I always want more YA books about feelings and romance from a boy's perspective, and this book provided that spades. It carried heavy issues that sometimes get swept under the rug with care and honesty.

This is just a fun teen boy romp about a guy getting ready to have sex with his girlfriend the first time and reflecting on their relationship. That’s all there is to it and I think teens will absolutely love it.