Feeling a wee bit of a book slump here. I've read Klune's works before and liked them so was curious to see what he did with a YA genre novel, especially one with a ADHD main character in the lead.

Nick Bell is absolutely obsessed with Extraordinaries in general, and Shadow Star in specific. So much so that he embarks upon a plan to find a way to become one of these superheroes himself.

What I found was that Nick was an incredibly childish teenager who was difficult to relate to even by one who had the same kind of traits. The writing of his ADHD traits came across as wishy-washy and, even when his friends were talking about traits typical of ADHD in relation to him, I struggled to find evidence of most of those things in the novel.

Added to that, it's immediately obvious which two friends in his friendship group are Extraordinaries. I really thought that was a not particularly good thing, until there was a twist in the second half of the book that lifted this rating from a one star to a two.

Although part of the write up of this novel talks about how Nick is a fanfic writer, I didn't really think that was a large enough part of the main novel to really comment on after reading this.

The writing was easy to read but I didn't feel like this book added much to LGBT superhero dramas that I hadn't already seen done better.

* I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. *

The Extraordinaries is the first book I’ve read by author T.J. Klune, and I can tell you it won’t be my last. This is Klune’s first YA book and a great series opener. The Extraordinaries follows main character, Nick Bell, a superhero fanfiction writer and his quest to become an Extraordinary.

While at times he can be annoying, Nick is a hilarious kid with a big heart. He has ADHD, so he sometimes has trouble speaking before thinking. He also has trouble seeing what’s right in front of him. Seth Gray is Nick’s best friend and he’s head over heels for Nick. Trouble is, Nick has a huge crush on Shadow Star, Nova City’s resident superhero.

When Nick meets Shadow Star after being rescued by the hero it starts his journey to become an Extraordinary himself. In trying to become a superhero Nick goes through some hilarious moments with his friends. This book kept me guessing and the ending left me wanting more.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. This book is scheduled for release on July 14th.

This book is so freaking good that it boogles my mind. I already knew TJ Klune was a truly amazing and talented writer after reading House in the Cerulean Sea (now one of my all time favorite books) and he did not disappoint and I plan on devouring all his books asap. This book is full of so much heart and humor. I loved every second of it and was invested in the characters so quickly. Nick Bell is such a well written, likable, and realistic character. His struggles with ADHD will be relatable to so many other people and I’m so glad Klune created this character. Seth is just the most adorable thing in the whole wide world and I loved him the second he was introduced. And Gibby and Jazz?? I love my queer girls!! This is such a wonderfully queer book that everyone should read!! We need more queer superheroes!! And queer love stories!! And happy queer stories!! Young me would have loved to have had this book when I was growing up and coming to terms with my identity. I’m glad kids have it now.

First and foremost: THANK YOU Tor Teen for granting me the privilege of this ARC. It is an honor to receive these and I never take any for granted. I am fully aware you have opted to trust me with this book BEFORE release day and it doesn't guarantee I will receive the next installment should there be one. So I don't take ARCs for granted. Ever.

That said, I don't give automatic 5 star reviews just because. So, after I finished reading my provided copy of Tj Klune's 'The Extraordinaries', I concluded that I am giving it a 4.5 /5 star rating. It's good. It's actually BEYOND good. To be Tj's first YA novel or a big league publisher, I take a bow and applaud his talent, his creativity, his penmanship. HE literally is EXTRAORDINARY. And I'm telling you this cause I've read I think almost every single book he's written, and NOTHING, not even the Lightning Struck Heart (which is possibly one of his bestselling series) can compare.

Tj can write a QUEER YA STORY the same way he can write a comedy or fantasy or angsty drama and THAT alone, is a completely extraordinary gift.

I think the concept and overall flow of the story is pretty straightforward and makes this a very easy read. And more than focus on the 'queer' part, (which is pretty obvious) from beginning to end we see this as something second nature to everybody. Everybody knows Nick is gay, and Seth is gay, and Owen is gay and their best friends Gibby and Jazz are a couple. That is pretty phenomenal if you ask me. Some stories tend to be quite repetitive when it comes to justifying one or several character's sexual orientation and in this installment, we see this being the norm and not the exception. If this is something that will boot confidence in the teenage population to embrace their queerness, I am all for it.

As with all the books I've from Tj, I can't say it was perfect though. There was a slight part where I think Nick acted a tad bit childish for a teen of 16 going on 17, but I do think this had to do in part to his ADHD and that's fine. After that small hiccup in the main character, he goes back to the same flow of coolness and I just ended up loving him more. His freidnship with Seth is EVERYTHING! I don't even know who I loved more, if Seth or NIck.

So yes, in my books this is a winner and a complete MUST read for teens and not soo teens who still enjoy reading YA like me :)

TJ Klune provides their contribution to the growing sub-genre of superhero YA novels with The Extraordinaries. The novel follows Nick, a sixteen-year-old "Extraordinaries" fanboy, who has a chance encounter with his city's local hero and the star of Nick's fanfic, Shadow Star. This encounter is the impetus and driving event for the rest of the story as Nick decides that he wants to uncover what is extraordinary within himself.

Klune does an effective job of world-building Nova City and the community's perception of heroes. This helps show why Nick views them as the underdogs, mirroring his own perception of himself. The themes of the novel were not only developed but hammered in through repetition at times. What Klune does well to set up the ideas and concepts of the novel at the beginning do ultimately reflect the opportunities to condense and tighten the plot. It's a book with so much promise that it will find its own fans who have the patience to stick through to the end. Fans of April Daniels' "Dreadnought," C.B. Lee's "Sidekick Squad" series, and Danielle Bana's "The Supervillain and Me" may want to pick up this novel to give it a try.

For the most part, he’d accepted that some people were born to be Extraordinaries, and some people were born to be medicated so they didn’t spin out of control. Fair? Not really, but Nick was learning that his brain could do things that others couldn’t. In a way, he had his own superpower, even if it was called a disorder.” - The Extraordinaries
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. I read about this book before and was very intrigued, especially since I hopped onto the Marvel train recently. I’m in desperate need for more superhero stories and I have to say this was the perfect book for my craving. Out July 14th.
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First and foremost it got me out of a reading slump which is the best thing a book can do.
The style of writing is fast paced, light and fun. I caught myself laughing out loud now and then because there are some really funny lines in there. I feel like the writing style matches Nick’s mindset really well, because we are in constant movement with the protagonist.
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I loved the characters and their relationships. Apart from the protagonist Nick we get to know his best friend Seth, who is the embodiment of a cinnamon role. He wears bow ties to school and always knows the right thing to say to help Nick through his day. He also has the most obvious crush on Nick, it’s kind of adorable to watch. Then there are Gibby and Jazz. They’re so fun, they keep Nick grounded and press pause when Nick is about to take it a little bit too far. And lastly there is Nick’s Dad. I love that we get to explore the relationship of father and son with all its different facets, like embarrassing comments at the breakfast table, getting grounded for life but also lots of love and support.
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I also really enjoyed the fan fiction elements of the story. I expected some more insertions of Nick’s fan fiction but the few that are there were really fun to read.
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The Extraordinaries is TJ Klune’s debut YA book that contains the same heart, passion, found family and humor that is Klune’s signature brand. The Extraordinaries is the first book in the series that follows the lives of The Extraordinaries, the superheros of Nova City, and the fans who love (obsess over) them.

Nick Bell is a neurodiverse teen with a flair for the dramatics. He has a great dad that loves him very much, a tremendous friend group that includes Seth, the adorable bow tie wearing best friend; Gibby, the incredible baby butch; and Jazz, the quietly brilliant cheerleader. These teens juggle high school, friendships, relationships, the unknown of the future, ADHD, all while their city is protected by superheros dubbed The Extraordinaries.

This book follows Nick as he navigates through his emotions and obsession with Shadow Star (The most amazing Extraordinary) and his oblivious crush on his best friend. All while figuring out how to accept his ADHD as something that is part of him instead of something that defines him. Nick, Seth, Gibby and Jazz are the extraordinary role models we need in the world today. I wish this book existed when I was 16 and figuring out how I fit into the world. This book is for any age group and I recommend that everyone read it because it will provide some light into a place that can contain a lot of shadows.

TJ has woven another tremendous tale of heart, passion, loyalty, and finding the extraordinary in the ordinary. There is also a really epic fanfic that is equally as great as the story itself. I’m anxiously awaiting the second book in the series because I know it's going to be exceptional. 5 stars from me which equates to about 10 extraordinary stars!

TJ Klune's books are always a delight. His characters are really the strength of his writing. Both main characters are adorable, awkward, kind, and well-developed. The friends are also really well-written. And there is nuance to people in this book--no one is a complete jerk, and there isn't just good or bad. I really loved the father/son relationship as well. Klune always does an incredible job of showing men who love each other. His vision of masculinity is what I wish we had in this world. You don't have to love fantasy to enjoy this book, but it does help to understand fan-fiction and the world of Spiderman and superheroes. I'm not sure that I needed that as a necessary element when what I care about most were the characters, but it did add some fun energy to the book. Finally, if you have LGBTQIA+ folks, this is a great book with affirming characters in it for them. I will especially recommend to those students as well.

The Extraordinaries was an absolute delight of a novel that managed to break me out of a very long reading slump. It follows Nick, a boy who wants desperately to be extraordinary, as he finds himself catching the attention of Nova City’s extraordinaries whilst dealing with a crush on his best friend and constant setbacks in his grand plan.

There’s something so wonderful about Klune’s writing, from his YA to his adult books, it never fails to pull me in and bring these wonderful worlds to life. Given the less than stellar start to the year I’d been in something of a slump for a good while. Although I was still reading, my heart wasn’t in it and I found myself unable to enjoy many books. But then I picked up The Extraordinaries and for the first time in a long time, finished a book in 3 days.

The slowly-burgeoning love between Seth and Nick was such a delight to watch. It warmed my heart. They are awkward and adorable and Nick is utterly oblivious. It took awhile for them, well mainly Nick, to get it together but it was wonderful to watch. Not to mention the friendship group of Nick, Seth, Gibby and Jazz was wonderful. I loved watching their interactions and the ways they support each other etc.

There were a few things that I thought might happen that meant that I wasn’t able to 100% sink into it. I needn’t have worried in the end but expecting those things did mean that it wasn’t quite a five star read.

The Extraordinaries was the distraction I needed from a terrible world and I loved it for it. I definitely recommend it, if you’re in the need for some good, light-hearted fun that doesn’t take itself too seriously with just a dash of angst.

As always, this author kept me hooked on the book from the beginning and super entertaining till the end.
It goes without saying that if you read Tj Klune before, you are going to love this story too.

I loved this book, it has everything I like to read plus superheroes, which I always liked very much and I had not found a book with superheroes that I liked, until this one.

The plot is very good, even though I realized what it was going to happen, it did not make it less entertaining to read, and that is because of the characters. Although I knew where the plot was coming from, I wanted to know how the characters were going to react, because let me tell you something, the author did it again and created fantastic and super original characters.
Nick's entire group of friends is extraordinary, just like Nick himself. I just loved it, Nick's relationship with his best friend, Seth, is beautiful. And not to mention the relationship with his father, which was one of the things I liked the most about the book and one of the things that gave me the most emotions.

Ah, I just loved it. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a good story, with extraordinary characters, superheroes, romance, comedy and representation.

Title: The Extraordinaries
Author: T.J. Klune
Chapter: 20/20
Rating: PG-13/T for Teen
Pairing(s): Original Male Character/Original Male Character, Original Female Character/Original Female Character
Characters: Nicholas Bell, Seth Gray, Owen Burke, Gibby | Lola Gibson, Jasmine | Jazz Kensington
Tags: Superhero!AU, Action & Adventure, Humor, Slow Burn, Friends to Lovers, Pining Idiots, Queer Friendship, Grief & Grieving, ADHD Character, First Kiss, Fandom Meta, Secret Identities, Egregious Use of Bow Ties

Comment by BellgrayForever:

Wow. What an amazing, wholesome, emotional, hilarious journey this story was! Nick had my whole entire heart from the opening of the novel when we’re treated to an excerpt of his self-insert fanfiction featuring ‘Nate Belen’ and his superhero crush, Shadow Star. His voice was not only hysterical (there were several points in this novel where I cry-laughed through several pages), it was also heartfelt and so, so real in regards to his struggles with both managing his ADHD and other trauma he’s experienced. The main cast is entirely queer, and there are few things that warm my heart more than a group of queer friends navigating their triumphs and struggles together.

One part identity story (though not necessarily in the ways you’d think), one part love story, one part ode to the joys of fandom and superhero subculture, and 100% amazing, The Extraordinaries is one of my favourite reads of the year and will be going on my go-to recommendation list. I can’t wait for the journey to continue in the second installment of The Extraordinaries.

(Thank you to NetGalley and Tor/Forge for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.)

I usually don't even like superhero stories. And yet Tj Klune strikes again. This book was SO MUCH fun. Loveable characters, amazing story and GAAAY

<i> I was given this book as an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. </i>

What a wonderful little gem!

<i>The Extrordinaries </i> is the first installment in a new supernatural-themed series by T.J. Klune. Nick Bell is a tumblr fanboy with ADHD who spends his spare time writing self-insert fanfiction about Shadow Star (Nova City’s favourite superhero and Nick’s not-so-secret crush) and Pyro Storm, the ultimate villain and Shadow Star’s archenemies. When Nick is not busy obsessing over <i>hopefully</i> queer superheroes, he is a normal teenager who spends his days at school and tries to deal with the sudden (and still recent) loss of his mother. Fortunately, he is supported by his father and his best friends Gibby and Jazz (the lesbian power couple we <b>all </b>want in our lives), his too-hot-to-handle ex-boyfriend who he <s>kind of </s>resents and the ever so sweet Seth Gray (basically the human personification of a cinnamon roll), who has been sneaky, a bit secretive and mysteriously absent during the summer. What’s up with that?

<i>The Extrordinaries</i> was a wild ride, I was hooked to the story from page one and frankly I even lost some sleep to it, I just couldn’t put it down. Beautiful fast-paced writing brings us to Nova City. Imagine <i>Sky High</i> and the best AO3 fanfiction you’ve encountered had a lovechild: that would be <i>The Extrordinaries</i>. Just magnificent, over the top, hilarious and bold storytelling. The characters were so well-rounded and vivid that they burst alive from the page and captured my heart within seconds of their first appearance.

If this wasn’t enough, the cliffhanger in the final chapter promises so much more and teases a promising sequel. I have a feeling that it will be outstanding and I personally cannot wait to have it in my hands. I highly recommend you give <i>The Extrordinaries</i> a read, you will not be disappointed!

This title was recommended to me because of its similarity to my love for anything Rainbow Rowell, so I was pretty excited to get to rep read an excerpt thanks to bookishfirst.

My first impression was a bit underwhelming, even for a YA I felt like the wording was a bit repetitive and juvenile, but I can see where it is made for that age group and it's genre. After receiving an advance reader copy to finish the title thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan-Tor/Forge. Overall I give the title 3.5 stars.

I will say I did enjoy main character Nick, and his dad, and beginning to get to know them as they grieve his mother and begin to find their new place in the world. I loved that the fanfiction coordinated in with the plot of Nick’s life, and the characters within that story and how it relates to his life.

I genuinely enjoyed this book, despite the vast and various amounts of secondhand embarassment. The writing was simple, but refreshing, and I did end up guessing several of the "plot twists" so to speak, I still found myself enjoying the story enough to stick around.

Nick dreams of being a becoming one of the vanishingly few Extraordinaries (basically, superheroes). There are two in his city, and he has a crush on Shadow Star, who, Nick believes (as does most of the city) is the person who has set himself the task of taking care of everyone in the city, or at least, as many as he can. Nick spends much of his time writing fan fiction about Shadow Star. However, is Shadow Star all he is cracked up to be, and can Nick's friend Seth be in love with Nick? While obviously fantasy, this book has some very teenage dialogue and is hilarious even while dealing with the serious topics of ADHD and death in the family.

Nick Bell, high school junior with ADHD in Nova City, has the biggest crush on local Extraordinary, Shadow Star. He's even the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom, which is a superpower in and of itself. When Nick has a real-life encounter with his hero, he decides to launch a three-phase plan to become an Extraordinary himself. Will he be able to succeed with the help of his friends, or has Nick been doomed to live an ordinary life all along?

For a fan of T.J. Klune's previous work, and someone who's not normally drawn to superhero stories, I thought this was incredibly well done. Nick is such a fascinating character. He may or may not be extraordinary, but he's been able to overcome so much in his life, and he deals with an attention deficit disorder that oftentimes makes sitting down to think straight absolutely impossible. He's also absolutely oblivious to anything and everything around him, and I can't help but love him more for it - starting with his best friend's obvious feelings for him and ending with, well, things I can't say because of spoilers, but you as the reader will definitely be able to figure them all out before Nick does. Classic T.J. wit and charm is riddled throughout this book, and no doubt you'll fall in love with at least one of the side characters. From Gibby and Jazz (a baby butch and her cheerleader girlfriend), to Officer Rookie (whose real name is Chris, but Nick can't shake the nickname), and even Bob and Martha Gray (Seth's aunt and uncle who have cared for him since he was little), the banter and personalization of each character will have you begging for more of their presence. Additionally, falling in love with the characters made me interested in piecing together how they all fit alongside each other in this story of heroes, villains, things not being quite as they seem, and wanting to protect the ones you love at any and all cost. I am very intrigued as to how this story will progress.

According to a recent tweet, TJ said that he wanted to give a voice to people like him [people with ADHD] so they can point to a character and say "Hey, finally someone like me." As someone who has felt incredibly seen by another one of his books, I hope that neurodivergent queer kids and teens (and adults who may stumble upon this book) are able to see a little bit of themselves in Nick. As Aaron Bell tells his son, you don't have to be an Extraordinary to be extraordinary. And, as the tagline says, some people are extraordinary, some are just extra.

Another excellent novel from TJ Klune!
Description: "Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.
Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life). Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl meets Marissa Meyer's Renegades in TJ Klune's YA debut."
This novel is both delightful and timely. Klune is the master of creating fun, multilayered characters that really come to life on the page. If you enjoyed Klune's last novel The House in the Cerulean Sea, you will be sure to love this equally delightful new adventure.

This is a delightful Young Adult novel! I'm so happy I got to read the ARC! There will be a lot of !!! because the romance is hilariously great, there's a lot of humor, and I adored all the characters. The hits of intense sweetness brought tears to my eyes. The action scenes are intense!

And that ending! !!!

So! I am absolutely on board! I eagerly await #2!

'The Extraordinaries' is a highly enjoyable Young Adult superhero fantasy book I would easily recommend to anyone who loves to see the growth of characters into superheroes....or villians. I got such a kick out of Nick, Seth, Jazz, and Gabby, I loved the humor sprinkled throughout, and even white-knuckled through some of the action scenes.

Because 'The Extraordinaries' ends in a cliffhanger, and this first book really is a massive setup to what I assume will happen in the trilogy, I'm on tenterhooks waiting to find out what happens next, because I definitely have my theories and I'm desperate to find out if I'm right.

Recommended for 13+.