5 stars...at least

This WORKED for me, and I am dying for the next one!

Nick is a fantastic m.c. His fan fic is hysterical and charming, and readers learn this at the start of the novel when we get the first example of his work and his following. As charming as his online persona and work are, they're nothing compared to his IRL self; he is consistently awkward, nerdy, impulsive, and loving, and it is - in spite of his overt faults - impossible not to adore him.

The supporting cast also helps to make this novel excellent. Readers learn early on that Nick and his father are dealing with the death of Nick's mother, and Nick's relationship with his mother, whose photograph serves as her proxy throughout the novel, is so sweet. I love the relationship between Nick and his dad, a cop who is struggling with his own grief and anger over the loss of his wife as well as the difficulty of raising a son who is neurodiverse, spunky, and atypically mischievous. Gibby and Jazz are essential; I need WAY more of them - I thought especially Gibby, but now I realize Jazz, too - in the upcoming installments. They are snarky, unwavering friends who not only support the m.c. but who also have fun story lines of their own. Truly, every character - from the named folks to the various members of the supporting cast - is a gem.

The LGBTQ+ rep, the consistently hysterical language/quips/allusions/situations, the ever evolving relationships, and the un/expected ways in which the plot evolves are just a few of the aspects that make this a unique and stellar contribution to one of my favorite genres.

I CANNOT WAIT for all future installments!

Very good YA debut from TJ! Even though I could tell from fairly early on what the twists were going to be it was still really enjoyable.
There were also a handful of punctuation errors and typos. Some of which were Nick being referred to as "Nate" (example: while he was picking at his comforter and talking to his dad about trust).

This book was a DELIGHT. Full of heart and queerness, The Extraordinaries features a fanfic writing kid with ADHD who's figuring out his relationships with both family and friends, and of course, with the real live superheroes and villains in his city. I literally laughed AND cried, and stayed up into the wee hours of the night to finish it in one swoop. TJ Klune, you are a delight.