Member Reviews

All the stars for Jason Reynolds' newest book, Twenty-Four Seconds From Now . . . Readers can always count on Reynolds to explore important topics in thoughtful ways and create fully-human characters who challenge societal stereotypes. As usual, the text is written masterfully; his prose is a joy to read. The story begins right before a teenage couple's "first time" together, then moves backward through time to twenty-four seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and months before. In contrast to the way many films or other media portray teens and/or sex for the first time, where the act is the primary focus and the characters are reduced to their urges, Reynolds has written a love story, a coming-of-age story, a story of family and friends, past and future. Reynolds doesn't shy away from the gravity of the topic; conversations with parents will make teen readers laugh and even cringe from secondhand embarrassment while reminding them about intimacy and safe choices. If you're an adult, Neon and his friends will remind you what it's like to be seventeen, and that teenagers, especially teen boys, are far more than their stereotypes. If you are a teenager, especially a teenage boy, you might just find yourself in these pages.

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Neon and his girlfriend of two years are in the final stretch of senior year and want to consumate their relationship. As Neon struggles with his nervousness and anxiety about the situation, we are taken back by 24's to see how their relationship developed and began and get a glimpse into Neon's own story. This is another must read of Jason Reynolds. Readers will be able to connect with both Neon and Aria and understand the real life struggles they face with life in general and in their relationship.

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This is a YA romance told in reverse from a couple’s second anniversary to the day they met. This book is much lighter and happier overall but the format reminds me of Out of Love by Hazel Hayes.

I don’t usually like romances told only from the perspective of the male partner but Neon was so sweet and respectful to his girlfriend and his friends and family. I was definitely rooting for him. The relationship he had with his sister was so precious.

I liked that Neon and Aria’s futures were kind of left unwritten because that is absolutely what life is like at 17.

If you don’t like YA novels where the characters contemplate or discuss sex, this is not the book for you. It is by no means graphic but I know a lot of people believe YA books should include no sexual encounters at all even though that is absolutely not true to life if I’m being blunt.

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This book about relationships as told in the guy's perspective - the relationship between Neon and girlfriend and between Neon and his family. It is an honest look at young love and the progression of life and relationships leading up to that one special moment. It will give readers great insight and connect with many young people who read this book. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Childrens Publish/Atheneum Caitlyn Dlouhy Books for this e-ARC.

I loved this story. It's such a fresh take on love story between two teenagers that is very sweet and normal. We follow the journey of Neon's relationship with Aria and we start with Neon coaching him self in the mirrow 24 seconds because he's about to experience his first time with his girlfriend of two years Aria. Each chapter is 24 - 24 seconds, 24 minutes, 24 hours, 24 day, 24 weeks, and 24 months. We see different moments that bring them to that moment. I loved every second of this book. His conversations with his friends, family, and Aria were so honest and geniune. Even though all of these moments bring us back to his first time, you can see that this isn't just about some horny teenage boy who is ready to have sex with his girl. We see a boy who genuinely loves his girlfriend and feels happy with her and wants to make her happy. He wants to be around her and cares what she thinks. He's nervous for this moment and goes to his loved ones for advice and help. There was something so sincere about the whole journey for me. I also have been loving YA romances and loves stories that comes from a young boys perspective.

This was my introduction to Jason Reynold's and I really had a great time reading this.

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Reynolds is a master of non-linear storytelling and Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is no exception. I loved Neon and Aria and the exploration of their relationship based around their first time but grounded in Neon's relationships in his family and with his friends. The underlying topic is definitely about sex, but the book is so much more than that and I look forward to recommending it to teen and adult readers. A big thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGalley for the early access in exchange for my honest opinion. 4.5 stars

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This was soooo cute! It really gives you insight on the thoughts of a teenage boy’s first time and how they can be nervous too. It sort of reminds me of the movie “The Wood”, except less comical during the actual pre-sex scene. The story did have a lot of funny moments though. I like that the author incorporated all of Neon’s family members who play a vital role in his everyday life and upbringing. He listened to them and valued their opinions. A lot of teenagers, boys and girls, need that support system when they start experiencing sex. They need to hear from their parents, grandparents, and older siblings that sex is normal, to be safe when you do explore, and treat your partner with respect. This was a book with a lot of teachable moments for teens.

Thank you Jason Reynolds and Simon & Schuster via NetGalley for the ARC of this book. It was truly enjoyable and relatable!

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Twenty Four Seconds from Now is a sweet, honest, and relatable story about teenagers' lives, relationships, and firsts. In this book we meet Neon and Aria who have been dating for two years and are thinking about taking the next step. This book shows all of the different things running through Neon’s mind and shows how honest and respectful Neon and Aria are with each other throughout their relationship. In addition to the two main characters, there are a lot of funny, likable characters we meet throughout this book. I really enjoyed reading about the family dynamics for both Neon and Aria’s families. All of Neon’s family is open and honest with him in their own way.

Jason Reynolds is one of my favorite authors to share with my middle school students. The way Jason Reynolds writes is always poetic and unique. This book is no exception. The order and structure of this book really made for an interesting read. However, I do think the topics in this book are more for a high school audience. I think a lot of young adult readers could relate to different parts of this book throughout their high school years. Thank you to Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for an ARC of Twenty Four Seconds from Now in exchange for an honest review. This book comes out on October 8th, 2024.

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I liked the premise of this book (moving back through time, 24 seconds, 24 minutes, 24 days, 24 weeks, 24 months, etc.) and thought the characters were very cool and well-developed.

However, I wasn't entirely sold on the writing. While I don't need the dialogue to be super trendy or witty like a John Green book, it just a little flat for me. I felt like all the words were just laying there static on the page instead of fully coming to life inside my mind. (Maybe that's just a me thing?)

The book also felt a little underdeveloped, (Cause you can only go back by 24 so far before these kids are fetuses). I felt like all the loose ends get tided together and the plot becomes cohesive, but again, it didn't fully grip me. I think I also wanted a bit more scenes with the crew of friends.

Anyway, certainly not a bad book. Just an unbaked one from my personal perspective. Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

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I got through about half of this book but had to come to terms with the fact that it unfortunately wasn’t for me. I love Jason Reynolds’ writing but with some of his full length books, I find that there is too much narration and not enough plot to keep my interest. The rawness of some of the scenes also made me uncomfortable and at times, even disturbed.

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I really liked that Reynolds told this story in reverse order! Having never read a book this way, I had fun connecting everything together. This book was okay for me. I did struggle keeping myself interested in the story. I'm not sure what it was, but I just wasn't completely captivated by it. I liked Neon's character and I can see teens relating with him. Aria was a great character and I liked what Reynolds did with the dynamics of her family. I thought Neon and Aria's relationship was cute! The side characters were entertaining and well-flushed out. I thought Reynolds did a fantastic job creating realistic high school characters. I liked that not each character was following the same path out of high school. Overall, I wish I felt more invested in the story. For some reason, I just couldn't fully get into this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books for the ARC.

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Jason Reynolds' newest title is another instant classic. Reynolds has an uncanny ability to inhabit the mind and heart of characters of all ages that readers of all ages can instantly relate to. This new title captures the rush and anticipation in young love without being precious or overblown about it.

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I liked this book. Jason Reynolds is always up for tackling the hard topics and doing so incredibly well. I liked how this book was a backwards timeline. It added interest and depth to the story and really helped you fall in love with the characters. This is not an easy topic for a lot of adults let alone teens but I think this is the kind of book that is necessary because you know they are doing it anyway and they may as well be informed and safe when they do.

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Thank you to the publisher and author for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book fills a hole in YA life experiences from the male perspective and you couldn't have gotten a better author to tackle it. The main characters were so loveable. I sat down and finished this book in one day. I cannot wait to get the finished copy for our library.

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It’s about time someone wrote a candid book about sexual maturity from the young male perspective. Reynolds handles this topic with realism, respect and humor. I appreciate the openness between son and parents. Although what may happen twenty four seconds from now is a more mature topic, the two characters meet early in high school and I think this book holds much value in providing a safe space for younger curious minds. Boundaries, respect, and sensitivity are discussed beautifully. Bravo!

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Pure FREAKING genius.

Jason Reynolds is the GOAT. Has been for a while, will remain so for life especially when he continues to drop stories like this.

I have talked extensively about my love for YA literature that features sex in realistic conversation and context. Reynolds' new one opens up with Neon in the bathroom psyching himself up for first-time sex with his girlfriend of two years, Aria. And then the rest of the story goes BACKWARD in time from this point in their senior year.

When I share this book, I may or may not share this information as it's both the reason it's so genius and I'd want everyone to discover it for themselves but it's also the selling point for it too. Neon's voice is that introspective and fun peek inside a teen's brain while the rest of the characters are just as three-dimensional as Neon.

The quirkiness of the elements like what the Wednesday family business does or how Neon's mom approaches a conversation about sex or the inclusion of BINGO are the layers of this amazing YA novel. But the intelligence lies in how it's laid out. It's what captivated me in this story and another favorite (adult graphic novel) [book:Always Never|58166774].

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The trajectory (not the subject matter) of this book really harkens back to Reynolds’s ‘A Long Way Down,’ but with less gut-wrenching drama. I’m not sure that I prefer this one, though, as the narrator’s style of thinking - or Reynolds’s style of writing his thinking - isn’t as charming this time around. Still, he’s one of the best in the business for a reason, and even this slightly lesser outing is better than the best day for many others.

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Thank you to Netgalley and Atheneum Publishing for sending me this arc!

Jason Reynolds’s has such a way with words. The way he connects stories and relationships in such a short period of time is truly admirable. This book did everything I could have hoped for from a book, and this was very impressive.

Obviously, being a 22 y.o. Reading about youths doing the devils tango is UNCOMFY, because I was worried we were going to have to READ THRU THE EVENT and I was not about to do that. I really liked how Ma and Neon’s dad talked to Neon about his relationship with Aria. I think that the relationships were strong and I just was transported back to Highschool. You are trying to figure everything out, and Reynolds’s encapsulates that energy beautifully.

The long way down is still my favorite book of his and one of my top 10 of 2024, but this is easily a top 3 Jason Reynolds’s book!

I look forward to reading more of his work!

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From Instagram: 💫Book Review Post💫 Thank you @netgalley for this digital ARC🫶🏽

📚Title: Twenty-Four Seconds from Now…A Love Story
📌Author: Jason Reynolds
📅Pub date: 10/08/2024

🎓Thoughts: I’m way early on this one because the way I ran to @netgalley when I heard this author had a new book coming out!!!

This author has a way of telling stories that are relevant and appealing to the young, and the young at heart in a way that is special and demotic. This story is a love story that is more than one about Neon & Aria deciding to experience the first time…yes doing that thing…. But a love story about friendship, family, and high school and how those things shape our lives and decisions.
The story is told from the now and takes you back to the day they met and times in between with 24 being the coming denominator.

This story was such a jubilant and satisfying read. I highly recommend this for the early high schoolers BEFORE they are thinking about taking that first step🤞🏽 and for adults like me who love a good YA that we use the excuse “a palate cleanser” to read, but we really just love reading books we didn’t have as kids. There’s so many things in this book that are so funny but true. He has created the most amazing and lovable characters, and we won’t even start on Denzel Jeremy Washington (you have to say it like that🤣) This author is basically a genius👌🏽

#24secondsfromnow #jasonreynolds #diversespines #yaauthor #firstlove #netgalley #bookreview #bookstagram

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I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

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