I was intrigued by the premise of this novel - superheroes are real, and this kid wants in on the action.

The problem lies in the kid himself. For me, Nick was a difficult character to get behind. He seems oblivious to the issues his friends might be having, and is hyper-focused on becoming a superhero, using some of the dumbest possible methods. He makes life more difficult for everyone around him at all times. While Klune does a fine job of laying groundwork for a bigger story, much of which has yet to be revealed, with Nick at the center, it's frustrating to see richer, more likable characters surrounding this selfish dolt.

With that said, I enjoyed how Klune uses superhero tropes to center the reader's expectations, as well as to subvert them. His supporting characters, as I said earlier, are fleshed out and fun to spend time with. Klune is building to a larger, overarching story, and with changes that may come to Nick's story as a result of the events of this novel, I might give it a second chance.

3.5 stars

High school student Nick Bell is not extraordinary - but he's definitely extra. When not hanging out with his besties - BFF turned suspiciously buff Seth and adorable couple Gibby and Jazz - he spends his free time writing fanfic about his town's Extraordinaries, the super-powered beings that fight crime and wreak havoc. The writing helps Nick deal with his ADHD, and calm his ever-present worries about the safety of his Dad, a police officer who ends up cleaning up the mess the Extraordinaries leave after their battles.

This was adorable, and I wanted to like it much more than I did. The main characters - an LGBTQ foursome - are wonderful, and the descriptions of father-son relationships really caught me. But *so* much of the plot was telegraphed that I grew impatient waiting for the (extremely unsurprising) reveals. I feel like with some tighter editing this could have been great? Fingers crossed for the sequel.

Sometimes I just need to smile, and this book exists to give me that in spades. I was initially attracted to it because the tagline is "Some people are extraordinary. Some people are just extra." I <i>love</i> people who are extra. And yes, this is another YA contemporary superhero story. But with extra.

The extra-ness comes from Nick Bell, a gay, hyperactive high school boy who spends his time writing nearly a quarter of a million words of fanfic about Shadow Star, Nova City's finest superhero. (And what a treat it is to read the pitch-perfect Mary Sue voice of teen fanfic, a perfect peek into Nick's brain.) Nick has a complicated relationship with his loving dad, a best friend who is obviously in love with him, a tight-knit queer friend group, and a Ferrari brain with the brakes of a bicycle that he tries to control with medication.

Of course, the truth of what's happening around him is more complicated than Nick is aware of (adorably, being aware of things is not his forte). I am really looking forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book.

Received a review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Tor and TJ Klune for the arc of EXTRAORDINARIES. What a hilarious and heartfelt book about a boy with ADHD, who write fanfic about his favorite Extraordinary, and his inability to see his best friend for what he is-- the love of his life.

THIS BOOK IS GREAT.

I laughed every single chapter, I cried several times, and I cannot wait for the second book.

TJ's ability to give us a look at what it's like to live with ADHD is so heartfelt and wonderful.

A+++ would read again.

This book was so freaking good. If you’re a fan of TJ’s older stuff this is for you. It’s such a TJ book. Characters were great. Story was fairly predictable but no less fun. I cannot wait for the next one!

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.