The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Reynolds, Jason. Twenty-four Seconds from Now. Atheneum, 2024.

Jason Reynolds' young adult novel Twenty-four Seconds from Now is written from the first-person point of view of the protagonist, 17-year-old Neon Benton.. The novel begins in the narrative present but shifts deeper into scenes from Neon's past over the course of the narrative. For the sake of clarity, the following summary abides by a linear, streamlined mode of explanation and uses the present tense.

On the day of Neon's grandfather Earl Wednesday's funeral, Neon stands at the cemetery with his family. While his mother Brina, father Deon, sister Nat, and grandmother Gammy cry, Neon thinks about all of the good times he had with his grandfather, Grandy. He remembers watching movies, eating French fries, and talking about romance together. Suddenly a girl Neon's age races through the cemetery, chasing her dog and interrupting Neon's thoughts. She introduces herself as Aria Wright and apologizes to Neon's family for disrupting their funeral service. They laugh and forgive her. They are even more delighted when they learn that Aria is in the neighborhood to visit their family business, Wednesday's Door Knockers.

A few days later, Brina sends Neon to the Wrights' house to deliver their door knocker. When Neon arrives, he is shocked to find Aria and her father, Mr. Wright, painting their house green. Every other house looks the same. Aria invites him to help them after taking the door knocker. Once they are finished, Aria and Neon part ways without exchanging numbers.

A few months later, Neon and Aria run into each other at Neon's wrestling match. They both attend Northlake High School but are not in any of the same classes. They chat and flirt after the match. A few months later, they go out go out for ice cream and see a movie for their first date. They begin formally dating.

Over the following months, Neon and Aria begin spending all their time together. Neon joins yearbook club to get more time with Aria. They also make the same friends, and Aria starts visiting Neon at his dad's bingo hall where Neon works part time. Eventually, the two fall in love. Neon and Aria become physically intimate, too, but decide that they are not yet ready to have sex. Then roughly two years into their relationship, Neon and Aria decide to have sex at Aria's house while her family is out.

Beforehand, Neon goes to his older sister Nat for advice. He feels embarrassed admitting that he is nervous about having sex, but Nat is understanding. She gives him advice based on her own experience. Around the same time, Brina takes Neon out for breakfast one morning and broaches the topic of sex. She is not surprised to hear that Neon and Aria want to be together and offers him advice on the matter. At first, Neon is uncomfortable but feels better afterward. On Halloween, before the open the bingo hall, Neon talks to his dad Deon about sex and love. Deon reminds Neon to always be honest with Aria and to hold on to the tenderness they feel for each other.

At Aria's, Neon and Aria start kissing in Aria's bedroom. Suddenly overcome by nerves, Neon races across the hall and closes himself in the bathroom. He stares at himself in the mirror, trying to calm down. He finally relaxes after he remembers everything he has learned in the past months. He returns to Aria's room and admits that he is nervous. She reveals that she feels the same way. The two profess their love, kiss, and have sex.