Twenty Four Seconds from Now

I really did not enjoy this book. I found the chemistry between the two to be pretty bland and so were many of the other characters. I also found that not very much happened through the book; there was no real plot. It was just about them meeting. Overall I think that some people may have enjoyed this book but it was really not for me.

Yusuf K

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I enjoyed reading this book. The progression of time going backwards rather than forwards made for an interesting read, and the small stories composing each chapter made me want to keep reading. I found the book able to be both funny and serious at the same time. Overall, I am glad I chose this book, and recommend it as a heartwarming coming-of-age story.

Omid

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

24 seconds from now is a teen romance about a boy who wants to spend a romantic night with his girlfriend. The story describes 24 seconds, 24 minutes , 24 hours, 24 weeks and 24 months before that night. Then it rewinds to that present moment. I thought this book was interesting and I would recommend to someone who likes this kind of YA genre.

poppy r

Vista Academy Littleport

I really enjoyed reading this book. I like how it truly explored Neon's emotions and gave him a deep character. My favourite scene was when Neon is at the Bingo hall with his friends on Halloween because it created a great setting with lots of description. I think this book raised awareness of different people's emotions, and so lots of people should read it.

Hazel

Rainbeau Readers

The book showed important life lessons that many young people go through. It highlighted topics that normally wouldn't be found in books. Some topics were very full on and hard to read. Overall the book was a great read for learning the stages leading up for young adults.

Charlotte

PHS Book Explorers

To me, this book was interesting in a really good way. It wasn't really the type of book I would read, but to say that I have read it, it was an absolute brilliant read. The plot and action in this book is very self-explanatory and very understandable. But the way the storyline was laid out didn't really cut it for me, as it has confused me at times, and I was struggling to keep up with it. However, the book to me was such a unique read and a one-of-a-kind!

Afreen

Skipton Shadows

I read the book "24 seconds from now", which I really enjoyed. The story deals with some mature topics, but it was a "closed door" book, which was good. I found the plot interesting, and this was a new point of view in the types of books that I have read, because it was from a male's point of view. Also, I loved the concept of the book travelling back in time through the chapters, as this was something that I had never seen in a book. The book had a good ending too, heartwarming and calm, and it was good from the start to the end. To conclude, this is a great book to read and i would definitely recommend it to all of my friends!

Srishti

HGS Book Club

A difficult topic handled really cleverly and with humour as we trace back how Neon and Aria's relationship developed. It was great to learn more about their characters and family life so that we could see how they had reached this point.

Bibliophile

Angmering Book Lovers 4 Life

24 seconds from now was an okay book. I liked how it explored the relationships of characters although I think it could have written more about Aria and Nee's relationship given that the whole story was about them being about have sexual intercourse but I think that it was quite good. I did think that it was odd that Nee seemed to talk and think the same even 2 years before the start of the story and that the yearbook club was a bit of a random addition. The thing that I liked the most about this book was Nee's relationship with his family and how he was close with his mother, father, grandmother, and grandfather in all different ways which really showed the closeness of the family. I would recommend this book to people who like romance books and probably ages 14-15 and older. Overall I give it a 5/10.

Robin.O

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

'Twenty Four Seconds from Now' was an easy, enjoyable and worthwhile read. The opening felt quite detached as I felt like it didn’t have enough context. But as the story progressed, it became more engaging and interesting. I particularly liked the backwards structure, as it revealed the main characters’ relationship over time in a way that felt honest. The author doesn't just focus on romance but also on friendships, family, and the pressures that come with growing up.

Viktoria

Shelf Indulgence by JCG

backwards book makes brain hurt aaaaaaaaa I'm not really one for romance novels - however this book was, for a story that revolved around teenage sex, quite wholesome, if that's the right word. Jason Reynolds knows how to write a book - he proved he knows how to tug the heartstrings in Long Way Down, a book I quite enjoyed. The book's characters and easy feel felt relaxing, like a coming of age story going in the wrong direction but still working. It didn't necessarily have me hooked, but it wasn't as if it was painful to read through either. It fits the bill and I reckon it may have my vote.

Hanzalah A

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

24 seconds from now is a book about the build up towards two teenagers having sex. The story is told in reverse which was interesting but also confusing. I liked the writing style and how the funny scenes were written. But I found it hard to engage with the book because it was told in reverse and it was about a topic I don't have much interest in because I'm 12 and that's too young to have sex. The ending of the book felt incomplete and slightly underwhelming and I think the book was a bit one dimensional because it only focused on two people and their one goal. I also found some parts of the book repetitive. Overall I think the book is well written and I enjoyed reading it but I personally didn't connect to it. I would recommend it to secondary school children but not younger children because the main theme of the book is sexual intimacy.

Sophie

The Fitzharrys Shadows

I really enjoyed this book . The main character Neon is a nervous teenager, his life is seemingly very unusual and spontaneous and the best thing is his girlfriend, Aria. Personally, I didn't find the book the most relatable to me but I can see why it is to others. What I did really like were the characters and how I could really see them as people or even my friends.

Amelia

Rainbeau Readers

First of all, it's a really nice book and I liked the whole back storyline thing. I liked how it focused on the love bit , which is quite different to other books where usually in this type of storyline, it is always about a teenage pregnancy. It was a nice read. I strongly recommend it 👌

Vongai

Folkestone Academy Readers

'A gem of a book!" Angie Thomas said. Well I beg to differ, Miss Thomas. If this book is truly unknown, I think it should stay that way, for the benefit of everyone. This is certainly not a book I would've picked up. I have a slight disdain for sappy romance novels like these, and this book has solidified this disdain. The storyline was way too bland and felt familiar too, as do most romance novels. Nothing much really happened, and we were told a lot about things not crucial to the storyline. Some characters were interesting figures and added to the story, but others I felt were slightly unnecessary. For example, some of the members of the yearbook club were so unmemorable and added next to nothing to the storyline, so now, only a day after reading, cannot even remember their names. I did enjoy how Reynolds wrote the story ƨbɿɒwʞɔɒd, but apart from his memorable writing style and (some) interesting characters, I have nothing else positive to say on the book. I really had to rack my brain just thinking of 2 reasons why the book was half-decent. Judy Blume on the back cover says 'Jason Reynolds has done it again! But in a totally new way... Fresh from start to finish.' Well, Blume was correct on the latter, but the bar must be pretty low to describe the book as another hit, which I know he full well is not, as the 1 New York Times Bestselling Author mark is plastered upon the front of the book. 3/10

William B

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Amazingly written really keeps you engaged going back and forth in time. I found that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. As soon as I finished it the first thing I did was look for a sequel that’s how good it is. Only complaints are that I felt the last few pages were a bit rushed and it could have carried on for longer with more detail and I’m a bit confused about what their three words actually are I think I know but the last page has me slightly confused.

Amelie

FAB(C)

This book by Jason Reynolds was a fabulous read. It contains a perfect blend of humour and meaningful writing with a unique form of story-telling as the events unfold at different points in time such as 24 minutes earlier or 24 days earlier. This creates a fascinating atmosphere which was very enticing and makes it difficult to put the book down! The main character, Neon, is a 17-year-old boy who is a realistic and relatable character for many teenage readers alike. Throughout the book, we learn more about Neon and how he may try to appear confident but carries anxieties about his relationship with his girlfriend, Aria. His family attempts to help him with his struggles; his mother offers her advice on romance over a meal and his grandma shares humorous personal accounts to ease his nerves. The plot is a simple yet exciting one which sparks readers’ curiosity with each turn of a page.

Iris

Shelf Indulgence by JCG

I loved how Reynolds made his book very different compared to other authors, because he started at one time and went back every 24 seconds, and I loved it!!! I give this book 5 out of 5 for its uniqueness and unusualness!!! I recommend this book to people who like romance, friendship and going back in time!

Charlotte

Euro Champs

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now is a love story about a young man named Neon who is trying to muster up the courage to have sexual intercourse with his girlfriend, Aria. The book goes from when he is freaking out in the bathroom to twenty-four seconds from that to minutes then hours then days and so on to twenty-four months from that and then back to now when he should be in bed with his girlfriend. The book is about love, family and relationships. I would give it a 7/10 as it was a good book and I liked how it went back in time but the writing style was inconsistent.

Sylvan C

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I felt it got better as it went on, however the writing wasn’t really my style.

Elly

Rad readers

I think this book is so perfectly worded on the topic it's describing. It has a gentle and heartfelt feel to it and a sweet and gentle pace making it such a lovely read.

Charlotte

St Kaths

Gives a quite realistic view of what people feel before their first time, and how it's not as perfect and confident as it is in films or other books, while also showing how love can start from the most unexpected encounters. A good read to understand what it can be like.

Julia

Reepham Reads

Twenty Four Seconds from Now is a fun, romantic book that explores the relationship between Neon and his girlfriend Aria. I enjoyed this book a lot as it incorporates heartfelt themes and humour, for example when Neon gets advice from his family members about his anxieties in his relationship, it's fun to see how they offer support in their own unique yet loving ways. I particularly liked the structure and ending of the book as the non-chronological order really helped me to get a sense of Neon's character development and how he faces his fears and grows as a person. I don't think I would change anything about this book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it!

Olivia

Skipton Shadows

Whilst the book has a realistic storyline and characters , I found the main concept contentious (U16 school) and was not a fan of the backwards structure. Also, sometimes the writing was in quite a cultural style, not just the spoken words, but other times written in 'The Queen's' english. The book/story never found its groove for me. It would have been a better read if written in the order occurred as would have been a clearer story and not felt like abstract bits of someone's life. Not a winner for me.

Debbie

Ousedale Olney

I really liked this book. I initially thought it could be quite shallow, but once I was immersed in the story I saw such a beautiful reflection on relationships, be that romantic, familial or platonic. The book’s backwards structure keeps the reader gripped during your increasingly intimate connections to the characters. Normally I’m not a fan of solely romantic books, but the themes explored around the central plot allowed for a complex description of teenage life, futures and friendships. Reynold’s postscript in the authors note also hit hard for me, as I am ashamed I had never fully realised that racism could present this way: Black boys deserve love stories too.

Eve

St Kaths

I think that this is a brilliant book, with a good constant storyline outlining the thoughts and ideas of a teenage boys life. I really liked how Neon's family are very tight knit and care for him as his journey with Aria proceeds. I loved how there is always examples of friendship throughout the book showing that there is always someone to talk with and express feelings. Finally I enjoyed the overall idea in how he is taking us back step by step through Arias and Neon's relationship showing the ups, the downs and just simply how it all begin. I would really recommend this book to anyone really who is mature enough to understand certain language.

Seb O

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

Twenty-Four Seconds From Now was an interesting book. The storyline was there but not quite enough for me to say the book was incredible to be honest. I found the grammar and writing style to be inconsistent which really bothered me and I struggled to keep engaged. Overall, it wasn't a terrible book, it was just unable to meet my expectations disappointingly.

Libby

Vista Academy Littleport

In my opinion '24 seconds from now' was interesting. The way the timeline went back so you can see how the events came to play knowing what would eventually happen was different but still enjoyable. The book follows the protagonist, Neon, and his girlfriend Aria, and the lead up to his 'first time', learning about intimacy and what not to do. I was not sure that the yearbook aspect was necessary to the plot of the story, as he could have been meeting with his friends for any other reason or could have only mentioned Dodie at all, as he was the only character who actually helped the theme of the book, showing societal norms of how boys should view sex. I believe that this book would be useful for YA readers as it is maybe too mature for younger readers but pointless for older readers. Overall, it was not a book that I would usually read but a more or less enjoyable read nonetheless. 7/10

Elijah

Vista Academy Littleport

Twenty-four seconds from now is was a surprisingly enjoyable book. As if writing a book wasn't hard enough, Jason Reynolds decided to write the book basically backwards, with little stories from each occasion. On top of that, all 239 pages were effectively about one moment, yet the book still worked without getting boring. The consistency of the number 24 was arbitrary, but it gave a nice ring to why each time section was chosen. The best bit in my opinion was the characterisation, mainly of Neon and Aria. Romance novels are not my preference but this one was delivered well with an open but not too open ending.

Aidan

Ermysted’s Carnegie Shadowing Group

I liked that it was quick to read because it was in verse/poetry form. The story didn't hook me in.

Laura

HGCSC Library