A Night Twice as Long

**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 

A Night Twice as Long

Andrew Simonet

What do you call the difference between what you should feel and what you do feel? Life?

The blackout has been going on for three weeks. But Alex feels like she’s been living in the dark for a year, ever since her brother, who has autism, was removed from the house, something Alex blames herself for. So when her best friend, Anthony, asks her to trek to another town to figure out the truth about the blackout, Alex says yes.

On a journey that ultimately takes all day and night, Alex’s relationships with Anthony, her brother, and herself will transform in ways that change them all forever.

In this honest and gripping young adult novel, Andrew Simonet spins a propulsive tale about what it means to turn on the lights and look at what’s real.

-Excerpt taken from Goodreads

Check Goodreads to see the book’s ratings.

My Opinion

(3 / 5) I’m still trying to figure out exactly what this story was about. There was some great character development for one but I don’t feel she was developed at the beginning. I kept wanting more backstory, more details, just more. The story abruptly starts one day and and I don’t feel like I got to know her.

A blackout has covered the country, possibly farther. Life is redefined when electricity and cars and such are not available. Alex finds a new freedom and clarity with her new environment and is able to embrace most aspects of this new life.

I loved hearing about Georgie. This book is REAL about caring for disabilities. Alex’s brother is severely autistic and non-verbal and it is hard. I love the realism. This book is the first I’ve read about the realities about autism and how it affects family members. Props to Simonet for adding that to his story.

Content Summary: The language is high but with no F words. The intimacy was higher with teens fooling around but no sex. There are a few items that may be difficult to read for some ( possible drowning and more) but overall, the content is low.

Thank you to Fierce Reads for the gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book releases June 1, 2021.

Detailed Content Review

Language 

F***-

H***- 28

S***-

A**- 14

B****-

D***- 61

Bas****-

Religious Cursing

J****- 18

Chr***- 3

G**- 97

L***-

Derogatory terms etc-

Blowhard 

Pubes

Junk

Dick

BS

A-hole

Flipping off

Alcohol, Drugs, Smoking

None.

Intimacy, Sex, Immodesty

*No LGBTQ+ aspects included* 

A man and woman are sitting in lawn chairs, naked outside. His hairy belly covers his crotch. Her black hair spreads up her thighs. The woman’s breasts move as she does. “The man shakes his head, and his retreating penis, shriveled and shy, shakes, too.”

“Why is (he) wet? Why is he naked? Everyone can see his penis, his first pubic hair like a high school mustache.” A young boy almost drowns and his underwear comes off as he is dragged to shore. 

A young woman referring to her autistic brother and his body; “I’ve seen more actual penis than any girl I know. Hours of penis.”

A young girl has two boys pull down their pants and show her their behinds. They then ask to see hers but “from the front.”

A young woman takes her clothes off briefly to be naked in the forest. 

A young woman slides up next to a young man, putting his arms around her. She guides his hands over her chest and down her pants. She’s “flying” from the movements they make in her pants. She lifts up their shirts and go skin to skin. 

A young woman and young man kiss. 

A young woman takes off her clothes and underclothes to get in water in front of her brother and young man. The young man says he cannot take off his pants now cause he likes this too much. They swim together and she wraps her legs around him. 

A young woman and young man kiss. 

A young woman licks a young man’s neck. 

A young woman kisses a young man. 

A young man’s grandma tells him about condoms since he’s dating. 

A young woman puts a young man’s hand up her shirt, on her chest. 

A young woman kisses a young man’s neck. 

A young woman and young man kiss.

Violence, Weapons, Crime, Blood

None.

Potentially Intense Themes

A blackout has covered the country and possibly more.

A year ago, a young woman’s autistic brother was taken away by Child Protective Services.

A young boy is dragged from the water. He fell in and was unconscious for minutes, almost drowning. This is referred to many times. 

A young woman thrashes around in water trying to find a young man. 

**Any quotes from the book are taken from the advance copy and therefore may not be fully accurate or correctly compare to the final copy of the book.

**As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.