I adored The Extraordinaries, and I was honestly a little nervous to see how this book would measure up. My fears were unfounded because this book was absolutely incredible. There is humor, heart-warming romance, action, and brilliant character-building all bundled into one. In addition to all of this, TJ Klune actually addresses concerns that were brought up regarding police brutality in the first book, and the book touches on safe sex, consent, emotional maturity, and the struggle of finding your identity. Klune's ability to handle heavy topics so well is outstanding.
One of my favorite aspects of this book is the GROWTH we see from so many of the characters. I relate to Nick pretty hard as a human with ADHD, and I loved watching Nick learn that ADHD does not make him broken. (A sidebar where I say that the support Nick receives from those around him is so heartwarming and I want that support for every single person who thinks their brain is broken.) We see growth in almost every single character and I just adore it.
Next up on this review that is just me losing my absolute marbles over how good this book is: the communication (or miscommunication in some circumstances). I love the importance that Klune puts on communication in his characters' relationships. This is a book you can point to and say "look at the way these characters are working with and for each other." That is so valuable and there need to be more books like this with this kind of dynamic.
Also I wheeze-laughed more times than I can count. Pls give me the next book soon. Pls.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Flash Fire is the sequel to The Extraordinaries. The story centres around Nick and his superhero boyfriend, Pyrostorm. When new Extraordinaries begin to arrive in Nova City, it’s up to Nick, Pyrostorm and friends to determine who they can trust and who will turn out villainous. It’s a lot for Nick to handle, especially as he’s trying to get through school, finish his AU fanfic and also work on the next steps of his new relationships with his boyfriend.

This was such a brilliant read! It was hilarious and heart-warming but also intense and certainly one of my most unique reads this year. I adored the four main characters, Nick, Seth, Gibby and Jazz. I loved reading about their friendship, particularly in times of sadness or difficulty and how they overcome their struggles together. As if being a teenager isn’t challenging enough – now there’s villains to cope with!

Of course, I am going to mention the importance of the representation in this book. Just like the first book, the queer relationship of Nick and his boyfriend was brill. The shameless conversations about sex was so refreshing to read. I also loved the continuation of the relationship between Nick and his Dad; father son dynamics are not written about enough. We also have the representation of ADHD, a subject which I never hear about literature either.

The miscommunication and drama in the book had me laughing out loud. I binge read this over a couple of days it was that great! Highly recommend – I cannot wait for the next book.

this was a fun follow-up to the extraordinaries that further fleshed out the characters and relationships that we met in the first novel.

i like the easy humour in this novel but it doesn't take away from discussing some more serious issues - safe sex and consent is such a big theme in this book and i was pleasantly surprised at how it was handled and firmly believe more YA books should tackle it like this. i also think tj klune did well to address the pro-police propaganda angle from the first book that i know he took a lot of criticism on, and i was surprised (in a good way) at the level of discussion on racism and police brutality contained in here. whilst some parts of it felt a bit clunky, i appreciated the message and effort, and it showcased well people can open their eyes on such issues. i am intrigued to see where nick's dad and cap will take the story in the final book given how this one ended for them.

that aside, i loved nick and seth's developing relationship as well as the continued affection between the four of them. the supplementary characters in here were fun and diverse, and i especially enjoyed miss conduct! i did guess at the twist at the end but was still shocked when it came true. i think you have to suspend your disbelief a lot with this book outside of the ordinary 'superheroes are real' suspension - most of the plot seems fairly obvious and it is a little frustrating that the main characters seem to be in the dark so much. but they're 16 and focused on school and each other, so i can give them the benefit of the doubt.

i enjoyed this one more than the first, and look forward to seeing how this series will end.

This was a fantastic follow up to The Extraordinaries!

I loved that we see Nick grow and become more mature in his relationships with the other characters, and the blossoming romance between him and Seth is just the absolute cutest!

The cringe-worthy second-hand embarrassment inflicted upon our Team Pyro Storm members, courtesy of their various parents, had me clapping my hand over my mouth squealing in horror as I read some parts, especially the Bluetooth incident in the beginning!

I like that the author incorporated aspects of current events surrounding racism and police brutality/corruption, which added a more serious facet to the teen angst and extraordinary heroics.

This book felt like it had a quicker pace and lot more action than the first, and the fight scenes are so well-written I could totally picture it all happening.

I did see the cliffhanger coming, but it is still so not cool, and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

What’s better than a superhero comedy I ask you? A 𝙜𝙖𝙮 superhero comedy.

Nick has dealt with a lot of chaos in the past few months. But as more Extraordinaries arrive in Nova City, life just continues to get more chaotic. Will he and the gang be able to balance it all? Or will it all come crashing down in smoke.

Nick is, yet again, his clueless-fun-ADHD brained self, whose harebrained plans hardly succeed at the rate that he wants them to. But that doesn’t stop him, and his level of persistence is admirable.
Throw in Jazz, who’s always there to encourage him, and Gibby, who’s constantly ragging on him- he has a pretty good friend group. Especially counting Seth, the one he would do anything for.

The chaos doesn’t stop in book two, and the gang is constantly having to deal with the next big trouble. Like: is Nick’s fanfic going to include a baker, or a detective….why not both? Or toss in the fact that they can never seem to catch a break with the new villain in town.
But as more and more secrets start to unfold, the friends realize that sometimes: “you’re stronger together than you are apart.”

While offering some great comedic relief, Klune also included a bunch about important matters in today’s society. Matters like racial injustices in the police department, safe sex, racism, and the power of money.
Though delicate topics, they’re talked about in such a way that you may feel more informed on them after reading this book. It’s a tough subject, but Klune handles them really well by introducing them as important matters in the book that the characters must also work through.

I LOVED this so much. It’s a fast read, it’s hilarious and entertaining, and Klune’s writing never fails to keep you interested.
If you’re wanting a funny queer book to keep you laughing for ages, then you should definitely read this!

{Huge thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!

Flash Fire is the sequel to one of my very favorite books from last year, The Extraordinaries. I loved The Extraordinaries so much I listened to it twice back to back, then read it again in the hardback in January. I am simply enamored with TJ Klune's hilarious, quirky, queer characters. I was a little worried that there was no way Flash Fire could live up to its predecessor, being the second book in a trilogy.

As soon as I started reading Flash Fire, though, I was taken right back into the world of Nick, Seth, and Nova City. Now that they're boyfriends, this book is a little less chaste than The Extraordinaries ... and that's OK. They're teenage boys, figuring out a relationship as it goes along ... with the help of Nick's police officer dad, Aaron Bell, who is hilariously overprotective and a little too into explaining sexual precautions to Nick, Seth, and anyone who will listen.

Klune tackles a big current issue: police and their relation to BIPOC. Some of the main characters in this book (Gibby, Cap and his wife) are Black, and in Flash Fire, Klune really leans into the relationships between the police and people of color. Gibby's parents find themselves with a reason not to trust Aaron Bell, and there is a lot of discussion of the police force and how it can go bad.

I won't say I am a huge fan of political issues in my books, but I think it was tastefully and respectfully done and true to real life. I know Klune reworked this book to add these conversations; I really respect that he wants to bring hard topics into his books.

So, back to the story! I read about 75% of this book with a huge, goofy grin on my face. The dialogue is perfect, Nick is just the right blend of ADD, passion, and high school boy. The boys are learning to navigate their relationship while also

[SPOILER IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE EXTRAORDINARIES]



letting Seth make decisions about his life as an extraordinary and discovering he might not be the only natural-born one in Nova City. Jazz and Gibby provide support as great friends and unique characters, also dealing with their own decisions and issues. I think every character Klune writes is well fleshed-out, vivid and interesting, and that's not something you get in every book.

I can't wait to see how this series ends! (Except then it will end, and I will be sad and forced to just read them 17 more times.)

Just like with the first book in The Extraordinaries series, Nick’s perspective and voice written by Klune drew me in immediately. I particularly like his writing style. I was also pleased that the biggest moment of second-hand embarrassment came within the first 5% of the book, so I was mentally prepared for other awkward teenage moments thought the rest of the story.
Seth and Nick’s relationship evolution was great, same with Jazz and Gibby’s.
All of the things I assumed would happen or be discovered in this book did happen, but it all occurred within the first half of the book, and there were still new characters and secrets for me to discover, which kept me intrigued.
This was a very plot-driven installment, in comparison to the first where it was more character-driven to introduce the reader to everyone. That said, I wish there had been a little more Jazz and Gibby, but everything we got was gold. The new extraordinaries were fun to meet. I appreciated the introduction of Gibby and Jazz’s parents, but would have appreciated either more or less. Though, because of reasons stated below, I know their presence was necessary.
I would be remiss if I ignored the positive outlook on law enforcement in the first book, but Klune, from my limited white perspective, did a good job bringing it up early on in the book with Gibby’s parents confronting Nick’s dad, and holding all characters (including Nick) accountable for their thoughts and actions in glamorizing the police. By the end of the book, it felt much more realistic to me and was glad for the major change. However, my white opinion means very little on this subject.
Simon Burke has truly shown his cards as a villain. Though we do not have the full explanation regarding why he does the things he does, I didn’t feel it was necessary for this book to include that, though I will want it in the last installment.
The, what I like to call it, “after-credits scene” had me pacing and using exclamatory terms. It was a great hook for the next installment and am very intrigued to see how it all shakes out in book three!

Y’ALL THIS BOOK! I am unashamedly a superhero lover. Give me all the movies and shows with someone fighting for vengeance or justice. And then I stumbled upon The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune and that world merged into my literary life. I am so incredibly thankful for this e-ARC of Flash Fire because waiting for this sequel had been hard!

In this sequel we are back with Nick and Seth and all the navigation of living in a world with people of extraordinary abilities (aka the extraordinaries), trying to survive high school with the help of your best friends, and family conflict. I don’t want to give too much away in case you haven’t read the first book - and in case you need more nudging, this is it: go read it ASAP! But this was a wonderful sequel that picked up from where the story left off and built up to the last book in the trilogy. And I will be anxiously awaiting the final installment of this series.

This book will make you laugh out loud and then want to hug the characters as they pull on your heart strings. Not to mention be swiping pages frantically during all the action. I also really liked the way that Klune addressed current issues in the story. Not to mention all the twists that he did masterfully! Klune also never fails with his representation of the LGBTQ+ community. There is a certain new character that I really enjoyed. It’s all just so good!

Also, can we please slow clap for how safe sex was addressed here?!? It’s so important! Even more so in YA lit.

I could keep gushing but just know you need to read this. And I will be sitting with a whole lot of feelings until book 3 comes around!

Please take in mind it’s my opinion, and everyone is allowed to have one.

This book was such a cute, funny one. I’ve laughed so much, and swooned. It also was kinda predictable, but that honestly didn’t stop me from reading it. I was so into this whole book, I loved the story, it was well written.

I absolutely loved how we got to see how Nicky developed as a person, I am glad we got to see more of that. Still loved the other characters, they are so fun and cute.

Honestly what was that CLIFFHANGER BECAUSE IM IN SHOCK, where as everything else was predictable for me the ending was not. I truly can’t wait for book 3.

review to be posted closer to publication date on my blog: https://wp.me/paKz1h-2Nm

Flash Fire is book two in TJ's Extraordinaries series. This is a YA series, but I would argue that anyone would enjoy this series regardless of age. Klune's writing is unique. The overwhelming themes in this series continue in "Flash Fire": be yourself, found family, hilarity.

Nick is back in the second installment of The Extraordinaries. He has a boyfriend…an extraordinary boyfriend named Seth. He has great friends: Gibby and Jazz who help fill out Team Pyro Storm He still has ADHD which is both challenging and hilarious. And he still has enemies to face.

Nick is a lovely character. It is an absolute joy to read a character living with ADHD. Nick's voice (both inside and out) is so amazing… funny, challenging, and authentic. Nick is very much an "Own voices" character and he's Klune's favorite.

My fave is Nick because he's an obsessive boy with ADHD, like me. I never got to see neurodivergent queer kids in books when I was growing up, so I wanted to give a voice to people like me so they can point to a character and say, "Hey, finally someone like me." - TJ Klune on Twitter.

Nick's struggle is real! He can't always say the things he wants to and sometimes he says things he shouldn't say out loud. He's sweet and fierce and often finds himself in tricky situations. There's no one more devoted as a friend/boyfriend and family member than nick and all of his relationships are challenged in book two.

No spoilers here! (Never spoilers for a Klune novel!) But things are definitely more complex in Book two. Nick and Seth and their cohorts are faced with more than just their arch enemy, Simon Burke who runs the evil drug company. There are other extraordinaries on the horizon… and some may be "good", some may be "bad", but Nick and Seth are on it.

My favorite relationship in this book is between Nick and his father. They have the most hilarious, loving bond. There is a scene involving dental dams that made me laugh so hard that I cried. But… there is trouble brewing. Even though Nick and his father love each other without question, that doesn't mean that they can't make mistakes. Sometimes, when we love someone, we make the wrong choices and then are faced with having to deal with the consequences. Klune handles this family relationship with great care… it's funny, loving, and challenging.

Nick and Seth are a great representation of a young queer relationship. They are friends first and the way that Seth embraces who Nick is - makes my heart melt. I love their friendship, their flirting, the way they fiercely defend one another, and the slow burn of their relationship. It's fun, real, and heart-warming while still keeping that signature Klune hilarity and realness.

There are some wonderful reveals in this book that you won't see coming… some will leave you guessing, and some will make you want to get the next book immediately! But, if you're familiar with TJ Klune's writing then you know a couple of things: There are always cliff-hangers… TJ always resolves those dangling plot threads. I can quite honestly say that I have never been disappointed in anything that Klune has penned.

Klune is an award-winning author who has written a lot of wonderful books. This series is special in that the main character is neurodiverse and queer. There are kids out there who need to read a book like this and thanks to Klune… they have it. I am definitely looking forward to book three in this series.

I've been a TJ Klune fan since the moment I opened Wolfsong over a year ago. (I know, late to the game right?) I adored The Extraordinaries, the first book in this particular series. As TJ Klune's first YA book it's incredible and really embodies what it means to be a teenager, especially a queer one. Flash Fire was much of the same. Nick is coming into his own as a member of the Team Pyro Storm and coming into his own when it comes to being a boyfriend to Seth. I loved reading about their dynamics together and within their friend group because wow, it really feels like being in the middle of a group of high schoolers as they grapple with their schooling and the world that's hurtling towards them.

With the recent developments of Black Lives Matter, I appreciate the ways that TJ Klune took to show his own feelings on police involvement in the book. Some of it though, felt a little performative to me though, like he had written the several scenes where police brutality comes up a different way before recent developments in our world and then went back to rewrite them. I definitely agree, F the Police, but I do think there was a better way to go about it that didn't feel like a white man speaking on it by using his black characters. (Honestly though, I don't think there's any way that is "right" and it's a topic that's hard to travel as a white author but I do appreciate that he tried his best).

Overall, an excellent sequel and as per usual, I was thrown by the ending in the best of ways! I can't wait for the next book in the series because TJ is an incredible writer and I will continue to read any and everything he puts out!

Flash Fire is the sequel to The Extraordinaries, and while it’s not as laugh out loud funny, the beginning was a little slower, and it’s not as focused on the fanfiction (it’s there but not one of the main focuses anymore) I think this was a decent sequel. Nick is still funny, Seth is still adorable in his little bow ties, Jazz and Gibby are still badass, and I felt like this book is more aware of current events and doesn’t shy away from them (though I did feel like some of the dialogue felt a little awkward? I’m not sure if that’s the way to describe it, but I understand where the author was going. The conversations need to happen in real life and in books.) As the characters grow up they are being faced with real life issues along with the super hero ones. The group’s friendship is strong and wonderful as they navigate their present and future situations. Nick and Seth’s relationship is so cute, but the superhero aspect really takes the front seat in this one, and in a more realistic way, without some of the whimsy from the first one. It has a Spider-Man vibe to it this time, with great power comes great responsibility 🙂, but it makes it more believable. There’s an accountability in recent comic book movies and I think it’s important that’s touched on here as well. The final third of the book was intense and fast paced and I GASPED a few times like there were some really great scenes and team ups. Overall, I think this was a strong sequel. Different from the first one, but not in a bad way. I’m excited for the third!

I really enjoyed this follow-up to The Extraordinaries! I received a copy through NetGalley because of my role as a speech language pathology assistant in education. (Accurately describing my job is a mouthful.) I love this series so far and don’t want to spoil anything from either book so here are some reasons you should read them: LGBTQIA superheroes, positive ADHD rep, laughing out loud while reading, and really intense cliffhanger endings. I appreciated the more accurate depiction of police in this follow-up and that it was addressed in a way that made sense to the story. Also: that the main character insisted in pointing out that another character was bi, not gay, was really wonderful to read. No bi-erasure here. It’s rare for me to love an action packed book so much but it’s balanced with a really wonderful cast of characters and a lot of heart!

A winning queer YA superheroes novel, all the more pleasing for its predictability AND the few times it jukes to surprise the reader. I didn't read the first book in the series (I'm reading this for work and honestly didn't realize it was a sequel for a minute) but a) the book holds up on its own more than well enough (I never felt like I'd missed any major plot stuff b/c of how well it was summarized without feeling like a summary dump) and b) I'd like to now, which is maybe the best sign of success.

I was also intrigued to see that the first book garnered some negative attention for the way Klune depicted the cop father of the main character -- and really impressed by the way Klune then handled that and addressed it over the course of this book. Nice to see an author listening to their readers, to their community, and responding thoughtfully!

A complimentary copy was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh boy, I knew this was going to be a good story simply because of how book 1 left off. How much can I say about this book without giving anything away? I suppose "I loved it" isn't enough.

We know the truth about Seth, Owen, and Simon Burke, and of course suspicions about Nick. You get answers to all the questions from book 1, and are left with a cliffhanger raising MORE questions! Once again I had my suspicions about the character in the finale, but I told myself I couldn't be right, it would just be too much. Enough said about that.

Flash Fire is filled with action - it's really amazing Nick has lived as long as he has - and new villains. I did NOT want to put the book down and cannot wait to get this in audio! All Nick wants is to live his life with his boo, finish school, and save the world. Is that too much to ask? When Nick finds out the truth about his mother, and the secrets his father has kept all these years, compounded by the lies he's told, Nick is messed up emotionally and eh-hem, things happen. I can't go into detail because that will give away the story. Just know these things were hilarious, and also disturbing because I wasn't sure exactly how it would end.

And now to the school prom (yep, I left stuff out for your own good). Nick wears a dead magicians tux, it's as amazing as it sounds, and Nick, Seth, Gibby and Jazz all are enjoying prom, with the torture of having their parents chaperon! Fun is being had by all, but then, the bad guys appear, of course, and Nick's nemesis, Rebecca Firestone is there to get it all on tape. I was worried how the battle would end and it goes on forever! One side gets the upper hand, then the other. I didn't mention that Seth has found new Extraordinaries who also happen to show up and help. What was the intended goal of this confrontation? We all know who is behind it but what did he hope to gain by sending his people after Nick and Seth?

As I said, old questions are answered but new ones come up and I am very excited to read the next book to see how it goes. I left out some details about Owen, and he doesn't make an appearance, though his presence is very much part of the story. Is Owen a permanent bad guy? Can he be saved? And is Burke really going to use his new found "medicine" on just those who want it, or force people to take it? Cryptic I know. I know what I think and they need to stop Burke before he does any serious damage.

Speaking of damage, what is the cliffhanger ending going to do to this group? It isn't going to stay secret for long, and I have to say, I don't understand it. Why did TJ write it this way? He clearly has a goal writing it the way he did I just wish I had all the answers now.

I highly recommend this and am excited to read the next book. I can so see this as a tv show, assuming it's made exactly like the book says. 5 stars (even with the ending). :)

*Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge for an early look at this book in exchange for an honest review**
This is the follow up to The Extraordinaries and picks up after the battle of the bridge. It was just as endearing and charming as the first book, and full of humor, character growth, and teen angst. Nick is still my favorite character, retaining many of his flaws but slowly maturing. The author addresses criticism regarding pro-police propaganda in the previous book. It seemed awkwardly inserted at times and I'm not qualified to know if he addressed the issue enough. It was fascinating to see the teens dealing with what it really means to be extraordinary, and what is required of you. The cliffhanger was amazing, and I'm looking forward to the next book! Publishes on July 13,2021.

If you liked The Extraordinaries, you will want to read the sequel! Nick is back; and just as hilarious, awkward, and impulsive as always, except this time him and Seth are a couple. After many embarrassing moments with his father (dental dams?!), they are settling into their relationship. Things get strained when they realize there may be more Extraordinaries out there. I really loved how Klune addresses Nick’s father’s career as a police officer and how his actions have affected others. I love the representation, which we can come to expect in a Klune book. Nick is exploring his identity as a queer teen and it feels so real. Above all, the humor and overall realness of the characters is incredible again.

“Maybe Nick’s superpower all along had been his ability to make Seth laugh like nothing else mattered. Not a bad power to have, in the long run. And one most people didn’t possess.”

“Nick was still stunned that this was something they did now. They weren’t just two bros anymore. They were bros who kissed. The best kind of bros.”

Flash Fire comes out 7/13

I'm pretty sure I just royally screwed myself over reading Flash Fire now because I'll have to wait HOW LONG for the next book? These cliffhanger epilogues are killing me. I am unwell. I had already pre-ordered this book (tell me there's a pin and I can't resist) so am 1000% already planning on re-reading both books come July knowing all I know now.

Right off the bat, the first chapter had me HOWLING with laughter. I was trying to be subtle and read on my phone because I have no self-control and decided I wanted to start this in the middle of watching a movie. However, I should have known better as "subtle" has never been an emotion I've experienced while reading a TJ Klune book and I was instantly hooked (again). That first leading into the second chapter is pure writing GOLD. And then last night I hit the 80% mark and my emotions were so haywire I laid in bed contemplating "if I DNF this now, nothing bad will happen and I won't go through the emotional meat-grinder I am sensing is waiting for me" (needless to say I woke up this morning and immediately finished it before I even got up for coffee, so, self-control, again).

Besides being a rollercoaster of emotions, what this book (and this series) really excels at is the representation and messaging. I am really happy this is YA and that these characters are BIPOC, queer, trans, nonbinary, neurodiverse and I don't feel like that is represented nearly enough in books and especially books for younger readers. And that they are acknowledged and talked about throughout the book and not just thrown in as an "oh and..." addition. I wish a book like this was out (or that I was aware of it) as a teenager. Also, I was especially curious how this book would handle the police plotline (and reading one of TJ's blogs a while back about this) and appreciate that it was acknowledged. I think some sections were a bit heavy-handed but also needed to be said and I enjoyed the depth it added to Aaron's character and the direction he and Cap are going with this book.

I haven't shied away from proclaiming TJ as one of my favorite authors and, like Cerulean Sea and Green Creek, am pushing the Extraorderaries series on anyone who will listen to me and this book is no different. I can't wait to see where Nick goes in book 3

4.5 stars
I loved this book! The only reason for not giving it 5 stars is that there were parts that felt clunky, specifically the parts that discussed police brutality and racism within policing. I know that there was criticism around the portrayal of the police in the first book in the series (it was quite pro-police), and I know that TJ Klune said he would do better with this book, and I think he did. But there were parts that felt like they had been added after the fact, and it didn’t quite feel natural, it felt clunky.
But other than that this book was great. I love the characters so much, I would read countless books about Nick and Seth, they are too freaking adorable, as are Jazz and Gibby. I can’t wait for the third book (it’s going to be such a long wait, as this one isn’t even out yet!).

Book two of T J Klunes teen superhero trilogy ? Is an absolute cracking read.
It’s refreshing to read a book where the teenagers actually are teenagers.
They talk/think about sex .......a lot !
This is a book that seems infused with joy.
You can tell that Klune loves writing these people they literally buzz on the page. I loved the first book , this book is better, having set the characters up on book one, book two is a delightful surprise.There is a playfulness and freedom That as a reader I found infectious. And the cliff hanger ending left my jaw on the floor.
Stunning!!