Hello friends! Today’s ARC review features another book by someone who is quickly climbing the ranks of my favorite authors of all time: Jason Reynolds.
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now: A Love Story by Jason Reynolds is a coming-of-age young adult novel that follows Neon, a high school senior boy, as he prepares to take the next significant step with his girlfriend, Aria.
I’ve mentioned Jason Reynolds a few times on my blog, so it should be no surprise that I wanted to pick up his latest release. I’ve read one of Jason Reynolds’ other books in the past: Long Way Down. I actually read it every year when I teach it to my sophomores, and it has been such a pleasant addition to my curriculum. Though Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is only the second book I’ve read by Reynolds, I have five more waiting for me in my classroom library.
Fun fact I always share with my students: Jason Reynolds didn’t read a full-length book until he was 17. SEVENTEEN. I think teenagers (especially those who do not enjoy reading) often assume that authors have had a love of literature their whole lives. Hence why I always advocate: “You don’t hate reading; you just haven’t found the type of books you enjoy.”
Now that I am done gushing over Jason Reynolds, let’s get to the review:
Twenty-Four Seconds From Now is available at all major bookstores and retailers.
GENERAL INFO
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . . by Jason Reynolds
Published on October 8, 2024
Genres: Coming of Age, Young Adult
Pages: 256
Format: ARC
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Twenty-four months ago: Neon gets chased by a dog all around the parking lot of a church. Not his finest moment. And definitely one he would have loved to forget if it weren’t for the dog’s owner: Aria. Dressed in sweats, a t-shirt, hair in a ponytail. Aria. Way more than fine.
Twenty-four weeks ago: Neon’s dad insists on talking to him about tenderness and intimacy. Neon and Aria are definitely in love, and while they haven’t taken that next big step…yet, they’ve starting talking about…that.
Twenty-four days ago: Neon’s mom finds her—gulp—bra in his room. Hey! No judging! Those hook thingies are complicated! So he’d figured he’d better practice, what with the big day only a month away.
Twenty-four minutes ago: Neon leaves his shift at work at his dad’s bingo hall, making sure to bring some chicken tenders for Aria. They’re not candlelight and they definitely aren’t caviar, but they are her favorite.
And right this second? Neon is locked in Aria’s bathroom, completely freaking out because twenty-four seconds from now he and Aria are about to…about to… Well, they won’t do anything if he can’t get out of his own head (all the advice, insecurities, and what ifs) and out of this bathroom!
.
I’ll be honest—when I first read the blurb and realized this story centers around a teen preparing to lose his virginity, I hesitated. Not because I thought it would be explicit (there’s no on-page sex), but because, as a 28-year-old and a high school teacher, I wasn’t sure how awkward I would feel reading about this scenario. And in a way, I did feel a slight detachment from the characters. But that doesn’t mean the story didn’t hit me hard.
The Writing
First of all, the structure of the story is one of my favorite aspects of the book. I’m a sucker for a unique timeline, and this was excellently executed. The story is divided into different timelines, starting at “Now” before moving on to the following time periods: 24 minutes before, 24 hours before, 24 days before, 24 weeks before, and finally, 24 months before. The structure allows the reader to gain more context for certain situations, and Reynolds does a phenomenal job of showing why characters make the decisions they do. I even went back to reread a couple of scenes after gaining more context. It really allowed me to understand Neon even more.
The Characters
Jason Reynolds’s biggest strength is his voice. Every book I’ve read by him puts me immediately into the head of his main character. Neon’s vulnerability and awkwardness are shown from the beginning, making it makes it easier to empathize with his character. Neon’s interactions with his friends and family also added depth to his character. He very obviously cared about everyone in his life. The moments between Neon and his girlfriend, Aria, are sweet, showing exactly how many teenage relationships are: subtle, awkward, and endearing. There’s no drama; just two teens navigating something big, with all the insecurity that comes with it.
A major theme running throughout this novel is identity. Neon, Aria, and their friends are seniors, wrapping up high school while working on the yearbook. Neon, in particular, is really struggling with the idea of what his life will be like after graduation: What does love look like? Will we still be “us” when we’re not in the same hallways every day? What do you do when the only world you’ve ever known—high school—is ending? All of these questions frame the story, and they add so much more depth to Neon’s experiences. Not only that, but I think a lot of teenagers will relate to all of these fears.
The Importance
This book is not only important for teens, but I also think it is important for parents. It explores a dynamic between the son and parents that can sometimes be lost in media. When I was in high school, my parents did not know how to talk to me about sex. It was more of a “we won’t actually talk about it because you’re never going to do it” kind of talk.
The parents in Twenty-Four Seconds From Now approached the conversations with their son in a healthy way. Neon’s parents don’t forbid him from doing anything. Instead, they talk to him about the situation, being open and honest about the possibilities and outcomes.
There’s a scene where Neon’s mom tries to talk to him in the middle of a diner, and his secondhand embarrassment is so relatable, I had to laugh. The scene showed support from his parents while also keeping the awkwardness of “the talk” (because let’s be real, it doesn’t matter how close you are with your parents, that is going to be a little awkward).
Overall Thoughts
Jason Reynolds has a talent for writing authentic characters in authentic situations. Everything that happened in this book felt like it would actually happen in real life.
Would I have connected to this more if I were still a teenager? Probably. But that doesn’t change the fact that this is a beautifully told story, and an important one, especially for teens figuring out how to navigate love and identity.
Whether you’re a teen, a parent, a teacher, or just someone who appreciates YA novels, Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is worth your time.
Final Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️