It took me a bit to move past the fanfiction writing at the beginning (which is, realistically, written more immaturely than the book itself), but once the action started, I was hooked.

I was very pleased to be able to read The Extraordinaries in advance of its publication thanks to NetGalley. This was an anticipated treat for me as I'm a fan of a good superhero yarn with a creative spin. I believe this is the author's debut YA novel, and it did not disappoint!

T.J. Klune has a particular talent for character creation. These characters are well fleshed out; while quirky, they feel like they could inhabit actual lives, and you want to root for them. I particularly appreciate that his side characters are every bit as interesting and detailed as his MC's. The reader feels as though they might follow any character through the course of a day and be thoroughly entertained. Additionally, I need to give the author credit for creating a diverse cast and for crafting adult characters that don't come across as idiotic, absent, or overly aggressive. Klune proves that you can allow teen characters interact with smart, caring adults and still have awesome adventures. That's refreshing.

I found the writing style of The Extraordinaries to be appealing, although I admit to being biased. I felt the author did a solid job capturing the POV and voice of someone with ADHD, but clearly the results may vary reader to reader based on one's own experiences. The plot rollicks along like the charming brainchild of a Marvel movie and and 80's John Hughes film. Adults and particularly genre-savvy teens may see a plot twist coming here or there, but many will not, and even those that do will not feel cheated by their predictions coming true. I hope to see more YA offerings from this author in the future.

My review will be posted on my blog on April 5, 2020
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T.J.Klune has done it again; he's written yet another book that has found an immediate place on my "shelf of absolute favorites."

This novel is about teenagers being teenagers; the only difference being they live in a world in which superheroes are a real thing. Nick Bell is a writer of fanfiction that involves superheroes. He's pretty good at it and has a lot of fans online. His best friend, Seth Grey (bf since they met on the swings) betas the fanfiction for him. Nick's other besties are a lesbian couple... one butch and defiant, the other sweet and quirky. The characters, as usual, are a cornucopia of diversity and originality. There are no stereotypes in this book.

Nick is still putting the pieces of his life back together at the beginning of this story. His mother was killed in a bank robbery and he and his cop-father have been struggling to work out how they fit together.

Things are complicated for Nick by the fact that he deals with ADHD. Klune does a fantastic job of capturing the thought patterns of someone with disordered thinking. Also, Klune does a wonderful job of ensuring that the characters in the novel pass on the message that a "disorder" is not a bad thing... and can, in fact, be a superpower.

There are a couple of stories going on in the Extraordinaries, There's a great suspense/ mystery playing out between two superheroes. One is considered to be the hero - the one that Nick is obsessed with: Shadow Star. There's also an arch-villain named Pyro Storm. But really? Is that how these heroes are categorized or is there more going on behind the scenes?

The secondary story (the main one in my heart) is the fact that Nick is oblivious to the feelings he and his best friend seem to have for one another. It is adorable and infuriating and so realistic it made my brain hurt. Nick and Seth have been best friends for so long that they can't see to see past that to a place at which they might be able to be "more" to each other.

As always, the characters are everything in this novel. Klune has written some of my very favorite characters in his books. This book is no exception.

Nick's mind is a beautiful place to be. I loved his POV in this story. His thoughts are chaotic... but it was such a pleasure to read a book that had a character who thought like me. I always feel so "seen" when I read books by T.J. Klune.

I absolutely adored the relationship between Nick and his father. They are both struggling with their relationship. After the loss of Nick's mother, their family has to become something new. Father and son battle, push and pull, make mistakes and giver each other grief. It's a moving and authentic relationship and I loved it.

This book is part mystery, part fumbling love story, and all full of a beautiful message to be who you are. Embrace your differences because they are what makes you extraordinary.

Thank you T.J. Klune.

This was a really sweet and fun book. Set in the fictional Nova City in a world where the occasional real-life superhero -- or "Extraordinary" -- exists alongside regular folks, this book tells the story of the delightfully awkward, lovable high school junior, Nick, and his band of queer friends Seth, Gibby, and Lola, as they navigate daily life as things escalate between Extraordinary archnemeses Shadow Star (Nick's celeb crush, about whom he writes fan fiction) and Pyro Storm, who wreak havoc on Nova City. Nick's ADHD means he has a tendency to get himself into awkward situations by blurting things out before he's thought about it, but his friends love him for (not despite) this.

There were aspects of the plot that felt somewhat predictable, but there was also a lot I loved about this book: the sincerity of the friends' love for and commitment to each other, the relationship between Nick and his father, Aaron, as they try to figure out how to navigate their lives two years after the death of their mother/wife, Jenny, and the delightful budding romance between best friends Seth and Nick, which was basically the cutest thing ever. It took me a few chapters to really get into the book, but once I did, I was hooked, and I really hope there is a sequel, which the book sets itself up for perfectly.

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.