Twenty-Four Seconds from Now . . .

A LOVE Story

By: Jason Reynolds

Narrated by: Guy Lockard

A New York Times Bestseller

“Jason Reynolds has done it again!...Fresh from start to finish…This is what it could be, should be, if only we were all as lucky as Aria. Girls (and everyone) wait for your Neon!” —Judy Blume, New York Times bestselling author of Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. and Forever...

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds tackles it—you know…it—from the guy’s perspective in this unfiltered and undeniably sweet stream of consciousness story of a teen boy about to experience a huge first.

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!

©2024 Jason Reynolds (P)2024 Simon & Schuster Audio

Critic reviews

"Reynolds and Lockard have become one of those stellar author/narrator pairs inextricably linked in listeners' minds as well as in award-contender lists. This title has an innovative structure that hearkens back to Reynolds' other explorations with form like Long Way Down (2017); here, the plot moves backwards in time by a measure of 24. Twenty-four seconds, minutes, hours, days, months ago, as Neon falls in love with Aria, the two form a relationship, and the two contemplate sex for the very first time. Lockard's narration is beautifully tapped into Reynolds' writing. He knows these characters backward and forward, and not just and Aria and Neon, from whose perspective the story is told. Everyone from lunch-table companions to parents to a hall-monitor-vigilante-styled teacher comes through loud and clear as a fully-voiced individual. It's a touchy topic, but Lockard evokes the tenderness between the central couple, Neon's deep love, his trepidation, his self-consciousness, and his internal depths. This notable and realistic look at young love and romance hits all the right notes in Lockard's impeccable and intuitive narration. Twenty-Four Seconds should find a ready audience with teens who love Reynolds' writing and any listeners up for a vibrant slice-of-life narration." (Heather Booth)

Good story

This was an interesting look at sex through the eyes of a teenage male. Stories are always told from the female perspective but no one really thinks or talk about what boys go through. This book would make for a great discussion.

Love Everything About It!!

Loved the honesty of a teenage boys relationship journey. Loved the open and honest conversations about sex and the openess of the mom/son convos or the sister/brother. Jason Reynolds did an amazing job showing that girls aren't the only ones who think about these things.

Jason has done it AGAIN!

So many questions to ask and answers needed for young men from this book! Can’t wait to share and discuss with a group of teens.

Teen love

Jason Reynolds has done it again! With awesome narration the story of Neon & Aria meeting one another - funeral & runaway dog was funny, sweet & real. Their worlds of family, school & community will grab teens & keep them turning those pages!!! Highly recommended.

the topic and the storytelling

this was such a good book! I wish I had a teen to share it with!

A man’s perspective

It’s cool to see the other side of the story that no guys seem to talk about. Thank you for your vulnerability.

Poetic Perfection

Jason Reynolds never disappoints. I love that this story takes you through time with rhythm in every sentence. I love the pathos that’s woven between Neon and his loved ones (especially his grandparents). The story being told completely from the male POV was necessary and impactful. I love the vulnerability that is at times rare with male characters in YA novels/reality. It’s the perfect layered love story :)

Fly on the wall

This was my first time experiencing this authors work. I enjoyed it! Great coming of age story. I was completely immersed in the characters experience. It was refreshing to get a glimpse of what goes on in a typical teenage boys mind.