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The Extraordinaries #1
The Extraordinaries
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fantasy & Science Fiction (2020)In Nova City, there are people capable of feats that defy the imagination. They're called Extraordinaries.
There is Shadow Star: a protector who can manipulate darkness in his quest to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
His arch-nemesis is Pyro Storm: an Extraordinary capable of controlling fire who is bent on bringing Nova City to its knees.
And then there's sixteen-year-old Nicholas Bell: who isn't Extraordinary in the slightest.
He's Shadow Star's number one fan, writing fan fiction of their adventures together and dreaming of a day where he too dons a costume and fights crime. Too bad ADHD isn't a superpower, otherwise Nick would be golden.
Instead of stopping villains and their convoluted schemes of global domination, Nick must contend with starting his junior year, a father who doesn't trust him, and a best friend named Seth, who may or may not be the love of Nick's short, uneventful life. It should be enough.
And it is...until a fateful encounter with Shadow Star forces Nick to realize his true destiny. He's tired of being ordinary, and he'll do whatever it takes to become something more.
Something Extraordinary.
401 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 14, 2020
1417 people are currently reading
59150 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Klune
69 books61.5k followersTJ KLUNE is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author (Into This River I Drown) and an ex-claims examiner for an insurance company. His novels include The House in the Cerulean Sea and The Extraordinaries. Being queer himself, TJ believes it's important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive, queer representation in stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,193 reviews
July 22, 2022
Ngl, this reads like police propaganda masquerading as a work of literature, and I'm not here for it. One can only read so many pages of uncritical embrace of abuse of power before questions arise about authorial intent. I really hope Klune is just setting up the MC for a hard reality check in the next books. Otherwise, well... Yikes.
That issue aside, I really just didn’t vibe with this book.
That issue aside, I really just didn’t vibe with this book.
Read
July 14, 2020OUT NOW!!!
Buy links: https://us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Cover by David Curtis
Excerpt: https://www.pastemagazine.com/article...
Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra.
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).
Buy links: https://us.macmillan.com/books/978125...
Cover by David Curtis
Excerpt: https://www.pastemagazine.com/article...
Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra.
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).
June 28, 2020
this is what i wanted renegades to be
lean in to the cheese and the camp!!! adored this. thoughts coming in a vlog.
lean in to the cheese and the camp!!! adored this. thoughts coming in a vlog.
December 3, 2024
**4.5-stars rounded up**
The Extraordinaries is non-stop quick wit and good humor from beloved author, T.J. Klune. This story also features Queer Superheroes and relatable fandom vibes.
Need I say more?
It's set in the fictional landscape of Nova City, where superheroes are very real.
They're called Extraordinaries and they swoop in to save the day, as you would expect any superhero to do.
Also, as you would expect, there are people who are obsessed with them and they've developed their own unique brand of celebrity.
Fangirls and Fanboys alike swoon over the Extraordinaries unbelievable powers, abilities and wardrobes.
Nick Bell is a regular teen in Nova City, who also happens to be the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom.
His biggest crush, Shadow Star, is currently one of the active Extraordinaries within the city. Frequently battling his arch nemesis, Pyro Storm, the two often leave destruction in their wake.
Nick is invested in every minute of it.
The story follows Nick and his absolutely phenomenal friend group, as he sets his sights on starting a relationship with Shadow Star, even if that means he'll need to become Extraordinary in order to do so.
Y'all, the writing of this story is incredibly strong.
It's so rapid fire and intelligent.
The dialogue will definitely keep you on your toes. The main character, Nick, suffers from fairly severe ADHD, and in a way, the narrative reflects that.
I'm not sure if I am explaining that correctly, but it seemed as if the narrative accurately portrayed how Nick would have been experiencing, or reacting, to what was going on around him.
It felt extremely real, even though a lot of the storyline was actually rooted in unreality.
Overall, I was really, really in awe of how this story unfolded. There were so many tender moments throughout, even though it is frequently laugh out loud hilarious.
I loved all of the characters, the nod to classic superhero story arcs, as well as the serious real world issues that were addressed; it was all quite impressive.
I definitely intend to carry on with this series. The characters were very easy relate to; so much so, you'll want to be part of their friend group.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me a copy of this to read and review. I was so impressed with T.J. Klune. I cannot wait to pick up more of their work!
I feel like this book is currently so underrated.
I need more people to read this and join in my excitement as I wait for the second book to drop!!
The Extraordinaries is non-stop quick wit and good humor from beloved author, T.J. Klune. This story also features Queer Superheroes and relatable fandom vibes.
Need I say more?
It's set in the fictional landscape of Nova City, where superheroes are very real.
They're called Extraordinaries and they swoop in to save the day, as you would expect any superhero to do.
Also, as you would expect, there are people who are obsessed with them and they've developed their own unique brand of celebrity.
Fangirls and Fanboys alike swoon over the Extraordinaries unbelievable powers, abilities and wardrobes.
Nick Bell is a regular teen in Nova City, who also happens to be the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom.
His biggest crush, Shadow Star, is currently one of the active Extraordinaries within the city. Frequently battling his arch nemesis, Pyro Storm, the two often leave destruction in their wake.
Nick is invested in every minute of it.
The story follows Nick and his absolutely phenomenal friend group, as he sets his sights on starting a relationship with Shadow Star, even if that means he'll need to become Extraordinary in order to do so.
Y'all, the writing of this story is incredibly strong.
It's so rapid fire and intelligent.
The dialogue will definitely keep you on your toes. The main character, Nick, suffers from fairly severe ADHD, and in a way, the narrative reflects that.
I'm not sure if I am explaining that correctly, but it seemed as if the narrative accurately portrayed how Nick would have been experiencing, or reacting, to what was going on around him.
It felt extremely real, even though a lot of the storyline was actually rooted in unreality.
Overall, I was really, really in awe of how this story unfolded. There were so many tender moments throughout, even though it is frequently laugh out loud hilarious.
I loved all of the characters, the nod to classic superhero story arcs, as well as the serious real world issues that were addressed; it was all quite impressive.
I definitely intend to carry on with this series. The characters were very easy relate to; so much so, you'll want to be part of their friend group.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Tor Teen, for providing me a copy of this to read and review. I was so impressed with T.J. Klune. I cannot wait to pick up more of their work!
I feel like this book is currently so underrated.
I need more people to read this and join in my excitement as I wait for the second book to drop!!
April 19, 2020
OMG this book was hilarious. I've always loved T.J. Klune's sence of humor, and this one made me laugh out loud in several scenes! It was fantastic. I think at one point I started crying out of laughter.
Besides that, the book itself is amazing and I loved it. I don't know how to start describing it: it's like a urban fantasy with superheroes called "Extraordinaries" and the main character is obsessed with them, I mean, he writes fanfiction about them (in which he's the main character and one -very famous- Extraordinary is in love with him lol.) It also has ADHD rep and obviously LGBT rep.
I really liked the plot, it has some twists and turns, and though I guessed them all, the ride was enjoyable! And I think the author does a good job foreshadowing everything. What I loved the most about this books are the characters, especially Seth, who is Nick's best friend.
The main character is Nick Bell. He's the one with ADHD and also the one that is obsessed with the Extraordinaries. He's endearing and never shuts up. He also has the best lines. Then we have Seth, who is a cinnamon roll that wears bow ties to school and is so obviously in love with Nick. Then we have Gibby and Jazz, who are simply the BEST.
Oh, and Nick's dad! He was the real MVP in this book. I love that we get to know him, that he's not an absent parent and that we get to see his relationship with Nick. It was one of the best aspects of the book: the father and son relationship.
The only thing I didn't really like in this book is that the characters (especially Nick) sometimes felt really immature for their age. There were scenes that made me roll my eyes and others that were a little cringy, but that's all.
So... yes, I recommend this book. It's lighthearted and soft and fun, but it also deals with some dark and serious stuff. I can't wait to read the second installement! Too bad I have to wait more than ONE YEAR for it. UGH.
Also, I will post a full review on my Youtube Channel when it's time for the April Wrap Up.
* ARC provided by NetGalley.
---- Trataré de escribir pronto la reseña en español.
Besides that, the book itself is amazing and I loved it. I don't know how to start describing it: it's like a urban fantasy with superheroes called "Extraordinaries" and the main character is obsessed with them, I mean, he writes fanfiction about them (in which he's the main character and one -very famous- Extraordinary is in love with him lol.) It also has ADHD rep and obviously LGBT rep.
I really liked the plot, it has some twists and turns, and though I guessed them all, the ride was enjoyable! And I think the author does a good job foreshadowing everything. What I loved the most about this books are the characters, especially Seth, who is Nick's best friend.
The main character is Nick Bell. He's the one with ADHD and also the one that is obsessed with the Extraordinaries. He's endearing and never shuts up. He also has the best lines. Then we have Seth, who is a cinnamon roll that wears bow ties to school and is so obviously in love with Nick. Then we have Gibby and Jazz, who are simply the BEST.
Oh, and Nick's dad! He was the real MVP in this book. I love that we get to know him, that he's not an absent parent and that we get to see his relationship with Nick. It was one of the best aspects of the book: the father and son relationship.
The only thing I didn't really like in this book is that the characters (especially Nick) sometimes felt really immature for their age. There were scenes that made me roll my eyes and others that were a little cringy, but that's all.
So... yes, I recommend this book. It's lighthearted and soft and fun, but it also deals with some dark and serious stuff. I can't wait to read the second installement! Too bad I have to wait more than ONE YEAR for it. UGH.
Also, I will post a full review on my Youtube Channel when it's time for the April Wrap Up.
* ARC provided by NetGalley.
---- Trataré de escribir pronto la reseña en español.
July 15, 2022
TJ Klune, you are absolutely everything. Everybody has that inner battle when it comes to deciding their favourite author. I’ve thought long and hard about it, and for me, there is only really one answer. I’ve read phenomenal books by the likes of Madeline Miller, but I truly appreciate Klune’s work so much.
He has given the queer community gay superheroes, gay werewolves, gay princes, gay ghosts, and so many gorgeous novels! The only thing I need from him now is gay vampires! These stories are so important for representation and he seriously doesn’t get the credit he deserves. TJ Klune is the reason that a lot of us get to read the books we always wanted to when we were young. I feel very sentimental about his writing, not only because of the variety of stories he has on offer but also because he is just so effortless.
There is something so gentle and breezy about the way Klune writes. The writing towards the end of this book reminded me of why I loved Wolfsong so much. Klune’s storytelling is on another level. The calming prose is somehow packed with so much emotion. Wolfsong was a masterclass on how to pull at a reader's heartstrings. The Extraordinaries shows his versatility and will make you howl with laughter. The essence of all his writing is about making his readers feel something. I truly feel like I can turn to Klune no matter what mood I am in, and he will have a story waiting for me.
The Extraordinaries was everything I hoped it would be. It was hilarious and I found myself laughing at some of the chapters for far too long. If it wasn’t Nick, it was the god-awful situations Nick had got himself into. TJ Klune is able to describe things so effortlessly. As a fantasy reader, it can sometimes be hard to picture characters and worlds clearly, but I’ve never had that problem with Klune’s books. I could see all of the hilarious moments in Nicks's house so clearly, including the blossoming romance. The characters were all so lively and unique, yet the relationships were what truly made this novel work. The element of found family within the friendship group, the amount of love and protection Nick’s father wrapped around him, and the dark cloud of grief for those that were gone. Klune must know something about the human experience that everyone else does not because he’s the only one who consistently makes me feel seen, no matter the genre he is writing.
Sometimes I just need to escape to a book and find joy. I appreciate this kind of story, the ones that are there to lift you up and make you laugh. There is so much to love about this book. I am reminded of my adoration of Wiccan and Hulking as a teen. As someone who has loved superheroes and comic books my entire life, having a story like this makes me feel more affirmed than I could ever express in a review.
Honestly, I wish this world was real. Let me have my pick of one of those pills. The yellow one is mine, no questions asked.
You can follow me on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
He has given the queer community gay superheroes, gay werewolves, gay princes, gay ghosts, and so many gorgeous novels! The only thing I need from him now is gay vampires! These stories are so important for representation and he seriously doesn’t get the credit he deserves. TJ Klune is the reason that a lot of us get to read the books we always wanted to when we were young. I feel very sentimental about his writing, not only because of the variety of stories he has on offer but also because he is just so effortless.
There is something so gentle and breezy about the way Klune writes. The writing towards the end of this book reminded me of why I loved Wolfsong so much. Klune’s storytelling is on another level. The calming prose is somehow packed with so much emotion. Wolfsong was a masterclass on how to pull at a reader's heartstrings. The Extraordinaries shows his versatility and will make you howl with laughter. The essence of all his writing is about making his readers feel something. I truly feel like I can turn to Klune no matter what mood I am in, and he will have a story waiting for me.
The Extraordinaries was everything I hoped it would be. It was hilarious and I found myself laughing at some of the chapters for far too long. If it wasn’t Nick, it was the god-awful situations Nick had got himself into. TJ Klune is able to describe things so effortlessly. As a fantasy reader, it can sometimes be hard to picture characters and worlds clearly, but I’ve never had that problem with Klune’s books. I could see all of the hilarious moments in Nicks's house so clearly, including the blossoming romance. The characters were all so lively and unique, yet the relationships were what truly made this novel work. The element of found family within the friendship group, the amount of love and protection Nick’s father wrapped around him, and the dark cloud of grief for those that were gone. Klune must know something about the human experience that everyone else does not because he’s the only one who consistently makes me feel seen, no matter the genre he is writing.
Sometimes I just need to escape to a book and find joy. I appreciate this kind of story, the ones that are there to lift you up and make you laugh. There is so much to love about this book. I am reminded of my adoration of Wiccan and Hulking as a teen. As someone who has loved superheroes and comic books my entire life, having a story like this makes me feel more affirmed than I could ever express in a review.
Honestly, I wish this world was real. Let me have my pick of one of those pills. The yellow one is mine, no questions asked.
You can follow me on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
January 9, 2024
childhood best friends who are oblivious idiots in love >>>>
August 27, 2020
4.5 stars, rounded up.
TJ Klune's newest book, The Extraordinaries , is a book that truly lives up to its name!
We all have crushes on celebrities when we’re teenagers. It just so happens that Nick Bell worships Shadow Star, the bravest Extraordinary in Nick’s home of Nova City. Shadow Star has vowed to fight the evil in the city, and he is the subject of all of Nick’s popular fanfiction (in which he may or may not have feelings for a Nick-like character).
After a chance encounter with his hero, Nick realizes he needs to become an Extraordinary too in order to have a chance at being noticed. That’s a tall order for anyone, much less a teenager with ADHD and anxiety and an overprotective police officer father.
Nick will try to enlist the help of his best friends—Seth (with whom he may be head over heels in love), Gibby, and Jazz—none of whom want to indulge this fantasy. But Nick is determined that his hero will notice him, even if it may jeopardize his friendships, his relationship with his dad, or even his life.
"Love is such a weapon in the face of darkness, if you only know how to wield it."
This book was utterly squee-inducing. Nick and Seth are utterly adorable, Jazz and Gibby are a hysterical “power lesbian” couple, and Nick’s relationship with his dad definitely choked me up more than a time or two. There’s definitely humor here, too. The scene when Nick finally meets his crush made me laugh out loud, as did some of the things his father said.
But there was so much more to love about this book as well, such as the friendships, and the story of a young man trying so hard to make sense of a world that often doesn’t make sense.
It’s amazing that before this year I had never heard of TJ Klune and now he’s written what will unarguably be two of my favorite books of the year, The House in the Cerulean Sea and this one. I want more of these characters!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
TJ Klune's newest book, The Extraordinaries , is a book that truly lives up to its name!
We all have crushes on celebrities when we’re teenagers. It just so happens that Nick Bell worships Shadow Star, the bravest Extraordinary in Nick’s home of Nova City. Shadow Star has vowed to fight the evil in the city, and he is the subject of all of Nick’s popular fanfiction (in which he may or may not have feelings for a Nick-like character).
After a chance encounter with his hero, Nick realizes he needs to become an Extraordinary too in order to have a chance at being noticed. That’s a tall order for anyone, much less a teenager with ADHD and anxiety and an overprotective police officer father.
Nick will try to enlist the help of his best friends—Seth (with whom he may be head over heels in love), Gibby, and Jazz—none of whom want to indulge this fantasy. But Nick is determined that his hero will notice him, even if it may jeopardize his friendships, his relationship with his dad, or even his life.
"Love is such a weapon in the face of darkness, if you only know how to wield it."
This book was utterly squee-inducing. Nick and Seth are utterly adorable, Jazz and Gibby are a hysterical “power lesbian” couple, and Nick’s relationship with his dad definitely choked me up more than a time or two. There’s definitely humor here, too. The scene when Nick finally meets his crush made me laugh out loud, as did some of the things his father said.
But there was so much more to love about this book as well, such as the friendships, and the story of a young man trying so hard to make sense of a world that often doesn’t make sense.
It’s amazing that before this year I had never heard of TJ Klune and now he’s written what will unarguably be two of my favorite books of the year, The House in the Cerulean Sea and this one. I want more of these characters!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
June 23, 2021
While this superhero story was "good", I was expecting the same level of excitement that I usually feel from TJ's books, so I was left feeling slightly disappointed.
For one thing, the pacing of the story felt a bit slow, even though it was approximately the same length as many of TJ's other books. However, when I had to put it down, my fingers didn't twitch until I absolutely *had* to pick it up again, taking me a full week to read.
With only Nick's single POV, there were tons of internal thoughts and a bit less dialogue than I would've liked. And with the fact that Seth, Nick's best friend and probable love interest, always seemed to be mysteriously missing and MIA, I found it difficult to connect with him, feeling as if everything I knew about Seth, I'd been *told* and not truly shown.
I think that the main thing that I felt lacking this time around was TJ's usual non-stop, over-the-top, wacky sense of humor. Yes, the humor did make appearances, but we're talking about an awkward teen with ADHD, as written by TJ Klune here, so I was expecting him to really *go there*. Instead, the humor felt much more bridled and subdued.
So again, while the story was "good", it never really ventured into *great* territory for me and I'd rate it at around 3.5 stars.
** NOTE: After "The End" and the book's final credits, there is a short "Stung" chapter that you absolutely NEED to read. It actually helped with my overall enjoyment for the story and got me much more excited for the next book in the series.
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December 13, 2022
I’m on BookTube! =)
“Nicky, no.”
“Nicky, yes.”
If I had to sum up the entire book with just one quote it definitely would be the one above, because it’s so accurate and describes the vibe and energy of “The Extraordinaries” so well. I mean the entire book lives of Nicky trying to become an Extraoridinary and his friends trying to keep him out of trouble during this endeavour. And let me tell you this: It was hilarious to read this book! I so rarely laugh when I read a story because I usually tend to read about more serious topics and have a deep love for morally grey and problematic broken boys. So I guess it’s safe to say that my books are mostly pretty sad, thought-provoking and tough to read.
“The Extraordinaries” however had me gasping for air and wheezing from laughter. Seriously at some parts my hubby gave me a raised eyebrow because I was chuckling so hard he couldn’t help but wonder about my reactions. But honestly, I just couldn’t with Nicky and his antics! That boy was so, so, so damn funny and I loved to explore that side of T.J. Klune’s books. “The House in the Cerulean Sea” already hinted at Klune’s great humour but it excels in this series and takes it to an entirely different level. I legit laughed tears!
Despite all those hilarious scenes Klune still managed to bring in his typical brand of serious topics and thought-provoking issues and I really love this about his books. No matter how funny they are, they always have a solid core and it wasn’t any different with “The Extraordinaries”. The plot might have been less intense than the story line of “The House in the Cerulean Sea”, this doesn’t mean that it wasn’t fun to read about Nicky and his friends, though. I really loved them all and I can’t wait to dive into my character section! I have lots of things to discuss so come along for the ride! ;-P
The characters:
Welcome to Nova City! One of the few cities that actually has two Extraordinaries fighting against each other! To live here can be dangerous and there might lurk spoilers at every corner. I wouldn’t count on Shadow Star or Pyro Storm to save you so if you can’t handle spoilers you better leave our nice city asap! Consider yourself warned!
Nicky:
”His dad had been a cop for longer than Nick was alive and had instilled in him a sense of duty. Of honor. You protected those who needed it. And not that Gibby needed it, exactly, but the principle was the same.”
Oh, Nicky! Where do I even start with him? *lol* That boy is chaos walking on two legs and I loved him so much for it! Like, he has a heart of gold and all the right intentions but the way he goes about reaching his goal to become an Extraordinary... it was so. I have no words. Nicky is such a chaotic, precious, endearing, naive, reckless, fierce, oblivious and iconic character! Honestly, I’d love to be friends with him just to see what he’s going to do next. Haha! AND to try to save him from himself because boy, does he need it. XD I’m just glad he already has Gibby, Jazz and Seth. Also I totally liked how Klune tackled the ADHD and grief rep through Nicky’s character. I don’t have ADHD so I don’t know if this rep was accurate but the way he described how Nicky felt was very understandable and I got a good impression of how it might feel to have ADHD. So for me it was a good rep. As for the grief rep: Amazingly done! And this says a person who just recently got a degree as a grief counsellor. Nicky’s grief after losing his mother, him missing her and trying to fill that void that was left after she died. It was on point and I really felt for him and his dad. I always like it when grief is explored in books and Klune definitely knows what he’s writing about. Kinda makes me wonder if he experienced grief like this too or if he’s just amazing at doing research. Either way Nicky’s character was so realistic and multi-layered that I couldn’t help but be charmed by him. I love Nicky and I really hope to see lots of fluff for him in the next book. He deserves it!
”But that doesn’t mean you still can’t be a good person, right? Just because you did something wrong doesn’t mean that’s who you are. And even if you keep doing the wrong thing, you can still be saved. Maybe they just need someone to listen to them, to hear the storm in their heads.”
”I can do this,” he told her. “You don’t have to help me if you don’t want to. And that’s okay. But I can be more than I am. I can become something better. Something more.”
She looked troubled. “Why do you have to be an Extraordinary to be better? Why can’t you just be extraordinary with what you already have?”
"It was the look. Like Nick had spoken too much. Or had gone too far. Or had said something so stupid and crazy and out there that it was impossible to understand how such words could have come out of a normal, sane person. Yeah, Nick had gotten that look from many, many people in his life, but never from those he loved.
Until today.
Dad. Seth. The two people he counted on most."
”There were days when everything felt like it was dialed up to eleven, and he didn’t know how to stop it, no matter how hard he tried. 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.”
Seth:
”It’s not a game,” Seth snapped, slamming his hands on the table. Nick struggled not to move away. “And even when you try your hardest to do good, there are always going to be people suspicious of your motives. Wondering what you’re really trying to do. And it doesn’t help that there’s going to be some jerk who appears out of nowhere and thinks he’s your archnemesis, and does his best to make everything worse.”
I think the first thing I have to say about Seth is that he is so damn PRECIOUS I can’t even!!! The way he was looking after Nicky and tried to help Owen even though he basically did everything possible in order to antagonize him. And then the entire world thinking that he’s the baddie in this story?! My poor, poor baby! I gotta be honest here: I always knew that Pyro Storm and Shadow Star were Seth and Owen. I mean it was so obvious! How couldn’t Nicky see that? *lol* The plot twist however kinda threw me, because just like I was supposed to I actually thought that Seth is Shadow Star. So kudos to T.J. Klune for misleading me like that. Also I can’t believe Seth just watched Nicky moon over Shadow Star for so long and even helped him with his fanfic?! Like OMG! That man is so altruistic and good! Still, in retrospective it was extremely hilarious to think of all those tidbits when Nicky admired Pyro Storms thighs in his fanfic. Haha! I can’t wait to see in which kind of direction the second book will go with him.
The relationships & ships:
Nicky & his dad:
Nick barely stopped himself from throwing his fork at Dad’s head. “Why are you like this?”
Dad grinned at him. “Because your adolescent angst brings me joy as a parent.”
THOSE TWO!!! I swear their father-son relationship gave me life! *LOL* I burst into laughter whenever they were on page together and I had chuckle attacks that just wouldn’t stop and lasted for minutes! Minutes! Their interactions were so hilarious, yet extremely wholesome at the same time. You could see how much they loved each other and how hard Nicky’s dad tried to be a good parent for him. His job as a cop didn’t make it easy to be there for him but he really did everything possible to make it work. Also Nicky seemed to be a pretty challenging son at times (alone the things he did in this book. *lol*) and it couldn’t have been easy to raise a child alone after his mother died. After all his dad had lost his wife too, so he wasn’t only grieving as well but also had the responsibility for a young child that depended on him. If you ask me Nicky’s dad is a hero! Truth be told, I so rarely read about good parent-children relationships in YA books and books in general so this was amazing and I was a happy camper. Nicky’s dad tried, he really did and that’s more than most of the parents in other books do. Most of the time they are just standing on the sidelines and not even an active part of the story. In Klune’s books they always play an important part for the MCs though and I just love this! Can’t wait to see more of their hilarious interactions in the next book, now that Nicky and Seth are a thing it will be fun to watch them. But I’m not gonna lie, I’m also worried because sooner or later Nicky will find out that his father didn’t just lie to him but also suppressed his superpowers and I’m really afraid of how this will turn out. It’s such a breach of trust that it will be more than just tough to swallow. T_T His dad might have the best intentions but still...
”I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment to you,” Nick said bitterly, wiping his eyes.
“Dammit, kid. First it was Owen, and I let it go. And then it’s this – this Shadow Star, and this weird obsession you have with him. I just don’t - why do you have to be this way? Why do you have to be the way you are?”
Nick knew the power of words. He knew that sometimes when they landed, they exploded with the force of a carelessly tossed grenade.
"Nick knew his dad loved him, and oh, did he love him fiercely in return. When Before became After, when he went from two parents to only having one, he'd become almost obsessive about keeping his dad safe and healthy and whole. Losing one had almost destroyed him. Losing another would finish the job."
”Yes, Dad, oh my – I mean no, I’m not having sex, why would you even say that?”
“If it were with a girl, I'd be telling you the same thing. Wrap it, Nicky. Always wrap it before you stick it anywhere." He tilted his head and squinted at his only son. “Or if it’s stuck in you. It don’t matter to me one way or another. What’s that called? Bottoming?”
Nicky & Seth:
”Sometimes, Seth worried too much about nothing at all, and it frustrated Nick to no end, because it meant there was something making Seth feel bad that Nick couldn’t tear apart with his bare hands.”
I’ve rarely seen such a love disaster! *LMAO* But boy did it entertain me! I just couldn’t with them! Nicky’s brain is so hilarious when he’s flustered and I can’t believe he didn’t realize Seth’s love for him. That boy would have done anything for him and vice versa. The way they both watched out for each other and how their world seemed to revolve around each other! HOW COULDN’T THEY SEE IT?! I think everyone in the book already knew and yet Nicky was so damn oblivious. Haha! It takes a special brand of obliviousness not to realize how besotted Seth was with Nick so I was extremely frustrated with our adorable moron! *lol* And I have to give special thanks to Bob Gray here because without him spelling it out for Nicky that boy probably would have never gotten it! XD Still not over Bromeo and Dudeliet! I laughed so much I cried tears. ARGH! My babies were so awkward but bless them and their feelings for each other. Their relationship only started at the ending of “The Extraordinaries” though so I’m ready to see how they are going to act in “Flash Fire”. Some part of me is secretly hoping for even more cringy moments because I just love them too much. T_T
”Seth was what he needed, though, and he’d been late, but then the door had burst open, and he’d stood there, cheeks flushed, chest heaving, eyes wide as he searched the living room until he found Nick. Nick made a wounded sound, wanting to get to Seth as soon as possible, but unable to move his arms.
Seth knew, though.
Somehow, he’d gotten Nick upstairs and put him to bed, climbing in behind him and curling around him protectively. Nick remembered thinking that he was safe, then. He was safe, and though everything Before would now be After, Seth was there with him.”
”And then the most extraordinary thing happened, something that caused all Nick’s thoughts to come to a screeching halt.
Seth leaned down and kissed his cheek. Nick felt the quick, hot pulse of breath against his skin, the scrape of lips and then- He turned slowly to look up at Seth.
Seth, who looked horrified by what he’d just done. “I- uh- Holy crap, I’ve got to go.”
Nick stared at him in horror. “That’s not going to happen. I’m going to be with Seth forever.”
Bob’s lips twitched. “How... expected. And if he said the same to you?”
Nick blushed furiously. “I. Um. That would be. Neat?”
“Oh, so I guess the fact that he’s in love with you would –“
“Robert Gray!”
”O ... kay,” Seth said. “Thanks. I think.”
Nick nodded so hard, he felt bones crack. That probably wasn’t good. “Yep. Just looking out for my best bud. My bro. My brotato chip. My pot-broast. We’re just Bromeo and Dudeliet.” Nick actively forced his mouth shut before he could make things worse.
Jazz & Gibby:
”Now, here’s how this is going to go,” Jazz said, apparently able to ignore the fact that everyone in the cafeteria was staring at her. You didn’t mess with Jasmine Kensington, especially not during lunch. And if you did, you certainly didn’t insult her friends at the same time. “You’re going to apologize. And after you apologize, I will let you go. If any of that sounds too much for you, we’ll see how far your fingers can bend before they snap.”
Gosh, I loved those two so much! <3 First of all I’ve to point out how nice it is to see an f/f couple as side-characters that actually are an ACTUAL part of the plot. I’m so tired of authors using LGBTQIA+ quota side characters to be able to claim that their books are diverse. *looking at a very particular author here* So to have Gibby and Jazz in this book was so refreshing and extremely satisfying. They are real characters that have their quirks and own thoughts and I lived and breathed for it. Plus their relationship dynamic was amazing. They weren’t just a great couple but also always there for Nicky and I really appreciated this. Also Jazz is such a badass! How could you not love that girl? I can understand why Gibby fell so hard for her because this girl is a freaking QUEEN!!! <333 The way she handled this tragic loser at lunch break? Well, Gibby wasn’t the only one who felt some heat. Okay, let’s stop here before it gets uncomfortable. Haha!
"Aside from the emotional trauma that will probably rear its head when I’m thirty-seven and working at my cubicle in a dead-end job that I hate, just fine,” Nick babbled, unsure why the words coming out of his mouth were the ones his brain deemed necessary to speak out loud.
"I'm fine," Gibby said mildly. "Any trauma I might have had is being washed away by the tragic comedy occuring right in front of me."
Nick shrugged. “A lot beat up.” He swallowed thickly, trying to stay in control. “I didn’t mean to leave.”
“I don’t think anyone’s mad at you for that,” Gibby said. “And if they are, they’ll have to get through Jazz and me first.”
“I can beat up men twice my size,” Jazz said. “I got your back. And your front.”
Owen & Nicky:
”Who punched you?”
Owen smirked at him. “Careful, Nicky. You’re beginning to sound like you care, and we can’t have that, can we? I already broke your heart once. Don’t think we need to do it again.”
Okay, Owen was an ass in many ways but he still was a very intriguing boy and I found it so interesting how Klune played with his character. When you read about Owen in his real life you automatically know that he’s the baddie but as an Extraordinary you thought he was the hero? That was such a good plot twist and I can’t help but admire Klune for what he did there. Good vs. bad and bad vs. good. So well-done. Owen’s relationship with Nicky is pretty fascinating as well and I’m fairly certain that Owen actually loves Nicky in his own weird and twisted way. I mean he wanted him to become an Extraordinary and tried to help him with reaching his goal and I doubt he did it out of pure malice. No, Owen is more complex than that and there are more ulterior motives at work. Very curious where his story will head.
Owen threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, Nicky. Never change. I’m sure it was painfully awkward and so, so sweet. But why in the hell would you want to be an Extraordinary? It seems like such a big responsibility.” He reached out and traced his finger along the back of Nick’s hand. “Think you could handle it?”
Conclusion:
I loved this book so much and after reading my second T.J. Klune book I can say that he’s becoming one of my favourite authors pretty fast. At this point I’ll just auto-buy every Klune book ever and be happy with it because I know he won’t disappoint. “The Extraordinaries” was an extremely hilarious book that still didn’t shy away from serious topics and themes. For me Klune is legit one of the best authors out there and the fact his books always have wholesome friendships and relationships only makes me love them even more. Not to mention a really healthy dose of LGBTQIA+ reps which I’m always so grateful for. Highly recommended if you want to have a good laugh! I can’t wait to pick up “Flash Fire” next year!
__________________________________
It’s time to go for the second part of my #Klunealong and since the majority voted for “The Extraordinaries” this is the book we’re going to read! =)
I’ve been very curious about this series because as far as I can tell it’s some sort of queer super-heroes and coming-of-age kinda story and I’m always ready for books like that! ;-)
Plus after reading “The House in the Cerulean Sea” I’m very excited to dive into another one of Klune’s books! XD
If you want to join my #Klunealong you can always follow this link and watch my video announcement and look up the details in my video description!
Happy reading!
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“Nicky, no.”
“Nicky, yes.”
If I had to sum up the entire book with just one quote it definitely would be the one above, because it’s so accurate and describes the vibe and energy of “The Extraordinaries” so well. I mean the entire book lives of Nicky trying to become an Extraoridinary and his friends trying to keep him out of trouble during this endeavour. And let me tell you this: It was hilarious to read this book! I so rarely laugh when I read a story because I usually tend to read about more serious topics and have a deep love for morally grey and problematic broken boys. So I guess it’s safe to say that my books are mostly pretty sad, thought-provoking and tough to read.
“The Extraordinaries” however had me gasping for air and wheezing from laughter. Seriously at some parts my hubby gave me a raised eyebrow because I was chuckling so hard he couldn’t help but wonder about my reactions. But honestly, I just couldn’t with Nicky and his antics! That boy was so, so, so damn funny and I loved to explore that side of T.J. Klune’s books. “The House in the Cerulean Sea” already hinted at Klune’s great humour but it excels in this series and takes it to an entirely different level. I legit laughed tears!
Despite all those hilarious scenes Klune still managed to bring in his typical brand of serious topics and thought-provoking issues and I really love this about his books. No matter how funny they are, they always have a solid core and it wasn’t any different with “The Extraordinaries”. The plot might have been less intense than the story line of “The House in the Cerulean Sea”, this doesn’t mean that it wasn’t fun to read about Nicky and his friends, though. I really loved them all and I can’t wait to dive into my character section! I have lots of things to discuss so come along for the ride! ;-P
The characters:
Welcome to Nova City! One of the few cities that actually has two Extraordinaries fighting against each other! To live here can be dangerous and there might lurk spoilers at every corner. I wouldn’t count on Shadow Star or Pyro Storm to save you so if you can’t handle spoilers you better leave our nice city asap! Consider yourself warned!
Nicky:
”His dad had been a cop for longer than Nick was alive and had instilled in him a sense of duty. Of honor. You protected those who needed it. And not that Gibby needed it, exactly, but the principle was the same.”
Oh, Nicky! Where do I even start with him? *lol* That boy is chaos walking on two legs and I loved him so much for it! Like, he has a heart of gold and all the right intentions but the way he goes about reaching his goal to become an Extraordinary... it was so. I have no words. Nicky is such a chaotic, precious, endearing, naive, reckless, fierce, oblivious and iconic character! Honestly, I’d love to be friends with him just to see what he’s going to do next. Haha! AND to try to save him from himself because boy, does he need it. XD I’m just glad he already has Gibby, Jazz and Seth. Also I totally liked how Klune tackled the ADHD and grief rep through Nicky’s character. I don’t have ADHD so I don’t know if this rep was accurate but the way he described how Nicky felt was very understandable and I got a good impression of how it might feel to have ADHD. So for me it was a good rep. As for the grief rep: Amazingly done! And this says a person who just recently got a degree as a grief counsellor. Nicky’s grief after losing his mother, him missing her and trying to fill that void that was left after she died. It was on point and I really felt for him and his dad. I always like it when grief is explored in books and Klune definitely knows what he’s writing about. Kinda makes me wonder if he experienced grief like this too or if he’s just amazing at doing research. Either way Nicky’s character was so realistic and multi-layered that I couldn’t help but be charmed by him. I love Nicky and I really hope to see lots of fluff for him in the next book. He deserves it!
”But that doesn’t mean you still can’t be a good person, right? Just because you did something wrong doesn’t mean that’s who you are. And even if you keep doing the wrong thing, you can still be saved. Maybe they just need someone to listen to them, to hear the storm in their heads.”
”I can do this,” he told her. “You don’t have to help me if you don’t want to. And that’s okay. But I can be more than I am. I can become something better. Something more.”
She looked troubled. “Why do you have to be an Extraordinary to be better? Why can’t you just be extraordinary with what you already have?”
"It was the look. Like Nick had spoken too much. Or had gone too far. Or had said something so stupid and crazy and out there that it was impossible to understand how such words could have come out of a normal, sane person. Yeah, Nick had gotten that look from many, many people in his life, but never from those he loved.
Until today.
Dad. Seth. The two people he counted on most."
”There were days when everything felt like it was dialed up to eleven, and he didn’t know how to stop it, no matter how hard he tried. 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.”
Seth:
”It’s not a game,” Seth snapped, slamming his hands on the table. Nick struggled not to move away. “And even when you try your hardest to do good, there are always going to be people suspicious of your motives. Wondering what you’re really trying to do. And it doesn’t help that there’s going to be some jerk who appears out of nowhere and thinks he’s your archnemesis, and does his best to make everything worse.”
I think the first thing I have to say about Seth is that he is so damn PRECIOUS I can’t even!!! The way he was looking after Nicky and tried to help Owen even though he basically did everything possible in order to antagonize him. And then the entire world thinking that he’s the baddie in this story?! My poor, poor baby! I gotta be honest here: I always knew that Pyro Storm and Shadow Star were Seth and Owen. I mean it was so obvious! How couldn’t Nicky see that? *lol* The plot twist however kinda threw me, because just like I was supposed to I actually thought that Seth is Shadow Star. So kudos to T.J. Klune for misleading me like that. Also I can’t believe Seth just watched Nicky moon over Shadow Star for so long and even helped him with his fanfic?! Like OMG! That man is so altruistic and good! Still, in retrospective it was extremely hilarious to think of all those tidbits when Nicky admired Pyro Storms thighs in his fanfic. Haha! I can’t wait to see in which kind of direction the second book will go with him.
The relationships & ships:
Nicky & his dad:
Nick barely stopped himself from throwing his fork at Dad’s head. “Why are you like this?”
Dad grinned at him. “Because your adolescent angst brings me joy as a parent.”
THOSE TWO!!! I swear their father-son relationship gave me life! *LOL* I burst into laughter whenever they were on page together and I had chuckle attacks that just wouldn’t stop and lasted for minutes! Minutes! Their interactions were so hilarious, yet extremely wholesome at the same time. You could see how much they loved each other and how hard Nicky’s dad tried to be a good parent for him. His job as a cop didn’t make it easy to be there for him but he really did everything possible to make it work. Also Nicky seemed to be a pretty challenging son at times (alone the things he did in this book. *lol*) and it couldn’t have been easy to raise a child alone after his mother died. After all his dad had lost his wife too, so he wasn’t only grieving as well but also had the responsibility for a young child that depended on him. If you ask me Nicky’s dad is a hero! Truth be told, I so rarely read about good parent-children relationships in YA books and books in general so this was amazing and I was a happy camper. Nicky’s dad tried, he really did and that’s more than most of the parents in other books do. Most of the time they are just standing on the sidelines and not even an active part of the story. In Klune’s books they always play an important part for the MCs though and I just love this! Can’t wait to see more of their hilarious interactions in the next book, now that Nicky and Seth are a thing it will be fun to watch them. But I’m not gonna lie, I’m also worried because sooner or later Nicky will find out that his father didn’t just lie to him but also suppressed his superpowers and I’m really afraid of how this will turn out. It’s such a breach of trust that it will be more than just tough to swallow. T_T His dad might have the best intentions but still...
”I’m sorry I’m such a disappointment to you,” Nick said bitterly, wiping his eyes.
“Dammit, kid. First it was Owen, and I let it go. And then it’s this – this Shadow Star, and this weird obsession you have with him. I just don’t - why do you have to be this way? Why do you have to be the way you are?”
Nick knew the power of words. He knew that sometimes when they landed, they exploded with the force of a carelessly tossed grenade.
"Nick knew his dad loved him, and oh, did he love him fiercely in return. When Before became After, when he went from two parents to only having one, he'd become almost obsessive about keeping his dad safe and healthy and whole. Losing one had almost destroyed him. Losing another would finish the job."
”Yes, Dad, oh my – I mean no, I’m not having sex, why would you even say that?”
“If it were with a girl, I'd be telling you the same thing. Wrap it, Nicky. Always wrap it before you stick it anywhere." He tilted his head and squinted at his only son. “Or if it’s stuck in you. It don’t matter to me one way or another. What’s that called? Bottoming?”
Nicky & Seth:
”Sometimes, Seth worried too much about nothing at all, and it frustrated Nick to no end, because it meant there was something making Seth feel bad that Nick couldn’t tear apart with his bare hands.”
I’ve rarely seen such a love disaster! *LMAO* But boy did it entertain me! I just couldn’t with them! Nicky’s brain is so hilarious when he’s flustered and I can’t believe he didn’t realize Seth’s love for him. That boy would have done anything for him and vice versa. The way they both watched out for each other and how their world seemed to revolve around each other! HOW COULDN’T THEY SEE IT?! I think everyone in the book already knew and yet Nicky was so damn oblivious. Haha! It takes a special brand of obliviousness not to realize how besotted Seth was with Nick so I was extremely frustrated with our adorable moron! *lol* And I have to give special thanks to Bob Gray here because without him spelling it out for Nicky that boy probably would have never gotten it! XD Still not over Bromeo and Dudeliet! I laughed so much I cried tears. ARGH! My babies were so awkward but bless them and their feelings for each other. Their relationship only started at the ending of “The Extraordinaries” though so I’m ready to see how they are going to act in “Flash Fire”. Some part of me is secretly hoping for even more cringy moments because I just love them too much. T_T
”Seth was what he needed, though, and he’d been late, but then the door had burst open, and he’d stood there, cheeks flushed, chest heaving, eyes wide as he searched the living room until he found Nick. Nick made a wounded sound, wanting to get to Seth as soon as possible, but unable to move his arms.
Seth knew, though.
Somehow, he’d gotten Nick upstairs and put him to bed, climbing in behind him and curling around him protectively. Nick remembered thinking that he was safe, then. He was safe, and though everything Before would now be After, Seth was there with him.”
”And then the most extraordinary thing happened, something that caused all Nick’s thoughts to come to a screeching halt.
Seth leaned down and kissed his cheek. Nick felt the quick, hot pulse of breath against his skin, the scrape of lips and then- He turned slowly to look up at Seth.
Seth, who looked horrified by what he’d just done. “I- uh- Holy crap, I’ve got to go.”
Nick stared at him in horror. “That’s not going to happen. I’m going to be with Seth forever.”
Bob’s lips twitched. “How... expected. And if he said the same to you?”
Nick blushed furiously. “I. Um. That would be. Neat?”
“Oh, so I guess the fact that he’s in love with you would –“
“Robert Gray!”
”O ... kay,” Seth said. “Thanks. I think.”
Nick nodded so hard, he felt bones crack. That probably wasn’t good. “Yep. Just looking out for my best bud. My bro. My brotato chip. My pot-broast. We’re just Bromeo and Dudeliet.” Nick actively forced his mouth shut before he could make things worse.
Jazz & Gibby:
”Now, here’s how this is going to go,” Jazz said, apparently able to ignore the fact that everyone in the cafeteria was staring at her. You didn’t mess with Jasmine Kensington, especially not during lunch. And if you did, you certainly didn’t insult her friends at the same time. “You’re going to apologize. And after you apologize, I will let you go. If any of that sounds too much for you, we’ll see how far your fingers can bend before they snap.”
Gosh, I loved those two so much! <3 First of all I’ve to point out how nice it is to see an f/f couple as side-characters that actually are an ACTUAL part of the plot. I’m so tired of authors using LGBTQIA+ quota side characters to be able to claim that their books are diverse. *looking at a very particular author here* So to have Gibby and Jazz in this book was so refreshing and extremely satisfying. They are real characters that have their quirks and own thoughts and I lived and breathed for it. Plus their relationship dynamic was amazing. They weren’t just a great couple but also always there for Nicky and I really appreciated this. Also Jazz is such a badass! How could you not love that girl? I can understand why Gibby fell so hard for her because this girl is a freaking QUEEN!!! <333 The way she handled this tragic loser at lunch break? Well, Gibby wasn’t the only one who felt some heat. Okay, let’s stop here before it gets uncomfortable. Haha!
"Aside from the emotional trauma that will probably rear its head when I’m thirty-seven and working at my cubicle in a dead-end job that I hate, just fine,” Nick babbled, unsure why the words coming out of his mouth were the ones his brain deemed necessary to speak out loud.
"I'm fine," Gibby said mildly. "Any trauma I might have had is being washed away by the tragic comedy occuring right in front of me."
Nick shrugged. “A lot beat up.” He swallowed thickly, trying to stay in control. “I didn’t mean to leave.”
“I don’t think anyone’s mad at you for that,” Gibby said. “And if they are, they’ll have to get through Jazz and me first.”
“I can beat up men twice my size,” Jazz said. “I got your back. And your front.”
Owen & Nicky:
”Who punched you?”
Owen smirked at him. “Careful, Nicky. You’re beginning to sound like you care, and we can’t have that, can we? I already broke your heart once. Don’t think we need to do it again.”
Okay, Owen was an ass in many ways but he still was a very intriguing boy and I found it so interesting how Klune played with his character. When you read about Owen in his real life you automatically know that he’s the baddie but as an Extraordinary you thought he was the hero? That was such a good plot twist and I can’t help but admire Klune for what he did there. Good vs. bad and bad vs. good. So well-done. Owen’s relationship with Nicky is pretty fascinating as well and I’m fairly certain that Owen actually loves Nicky in his own weird and twisted way. I mean he wanted him to become an Extraordinary and tried to help him with reaching his goal and I doubt he did it out of pure malice. No, Owen is more complex than that and there are more ulterior motives at work. Very curious where his story will head.
Owen threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, Nicky. Never change. I’m sure it was painfully awkward and so, so sweet. But why in the hell would you want to be an Extraordinary? It seems like such a big responsibility.” He reached out and traced his finger along the back of Nick’s hand. “Think you could handle it?”
Conclusion:
I loved this book so much and after reading my second T.J. Klune book I can say that he’s becoming one of my favourite authors pretty fast. At this point I’ll just auto-buy every Klune book ever and be happy with it because I know he won’t disappoint. “The Extraordinaries” was an extremely hilarious book that still didn’t shy away from serious topics and themes. For me Klune is legit one of the best authors out there and the fact his books always have wholesome friendships and relationships only makes me love them even more. Not to mention a really healthy dose of LGBTQIA+ reps which I’m always so grateful for. Highly recommended if you want to have a good laugh! I can’t wait to pick up “Flash Fire” next year!
__________________________________
It’s time to go for the second part of my #Klunealong and since the majority voted for “The Extraordinaries” this is the book we’re going to read! =)
I’ve been very curious about this series because as far as I can tell it’s some sort of queer super-heroes and coming-of-age kinda story and I’m always ready for books like that! ;-)
Plus after reading “The House in the Cerulean Sea” I’m very excited to dive into another one of Klune’s books! XD
If you want to join my #Klunealong you can always follow this link and watch my video announcement and look up the details in my video description!
Happy reading!
Find me on:
My Blog
did-not-finish
August 14, 2020DNF at 28%: I hate to say this because I LOVED (like, favorite of the year, loved) the last TJ Klune book I read, but I did not enjoy what I read of this one at all. I found the main character’s POV to be kind of insufferable and that made it extremely hard for me to connect to the story or care at all about what was happening. While this one didn’t necessarily work for me personally, I do think that if you enjoy superheroes, you could probably still really like this one. But between me not caring a ton about superheroes and not connecting to the main character, this was very much just not the TJ Klune book for me. Womp :(
May 15, 2021
*3.5 stars*
The Extraordinaries was another good story from the always reliable T.J. Klune, though not without its flaws.
First of all, I need to talk about the stellar narration from Michael Lesley. Michael Lesley is a frequent narrator of T.J. Klune's books, and he always gives it his all. His narrating style is so joyful and full of energy that it's always a pleasure to listen to. Well done, Michael.
However, even with the great narrating job, it still took me two weeks to get through the story. T.J. likes writing lengthy stories, but this one felt even longer than most. I think it's because it moved a little slowly in the beginning, but it was fairly hard to get through at times.
I recognized the main character in the story from a number of other T.J. Klune stories. The sort of clueless, hapless MC who multiple people are secretly pining over felt very familiar to me. However, I have to say, I'm a sucker for it every time. I was wooed by these characters. Where the story really shone was in the dialogue and snappy banter between all of the main and side characters. T.J. always knows how to capture the funny when he wants to, and I read a lot of the story with a smile on my face. Give me a fun dialogue with lots of personality, and you have me.
Even knowing that this book was written before all of the publicized incidences of police brutality and that T.J. has subsequently addressed this issue in an essay, the book felt a lot like a romanticized police-adulation story. It was a little hard to read it from my current lens. However, I'm curious how the police aspect of the story will be shaped moving forwards in the series.
I'm not a superhero person, so the story really didn't grab me from that perspective, so it was a bit hard to fully immerse myself in the plot. I found myself wanting to speed things up so I could get to the resolution of the story. Also, the cluelessness and lack of communication got to me a bit as the story went on.
I was thrilled by the ADHD rep, especially as a parent of two non-neurotypical kids, and I hope T.J. continues to make his characters not only queer but also unique is other ways. I really appreciate it, and I know his readers of all ages do too.
Overall, I enjoyed The Extraordinaries, and I think the narration of the audiobook made it even better. There were aspects that didn't gel with me, but I think I'm going to continue on in the series and see where it will take me. I think The Extraordinaries will please a lot of T.J. Klune fans as it feels very much like one of his stories. Fingers crossed for book two.
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July 18, 2020
4 stars
TJ Klune can write the most heartfelt and fun stories, and The Extraordinaries was just that. This book left such a big smile on my face and I can’t wait to read more in this world.
When I heard about this book, my excitement level was at an all time high. First, I love TJ Klune’s writing, and second, it was compared to Fangirl which is a book I love. On top of that, superheroes!
Nick Bell is an ordinary teenager with ADHD who lives with his dad. Nick loves the Extraordinaries and has a popular fan-fic based on his favorite superhero, Shadow Star. Nick has a thing for Shadow Star, and when he meets him in real life… OMG. I laughed so hard. There are some twists and turns (some I guessed, a few I had ass backwards) and so many fun moments.
This story had humor, action, and had some romance but also big focuses on friendship and family. Nick and Seth’s relationship/friendship was the best thing ever, but I also loved their other friends and Nick’s relationship with his dad.
I enjoyed this one lots. It was even, dare I say, extraordinary. I’m not sure if the next book in this series will be more about Nick, Seth, and the gang or a new cast of characters but either way, I’m excited to read more!
TJ Klune can write the most heartfelt and fun stories, and The Extraordinaries was just that. This book left such a big smile on my face and I can’t wait to read more in this world.
When I heard about this book, my excitement level was at an all time high. First, I love TJ Klune’s writing, and second, it was compared to Fangirl which is a book I love. On top of that, superheroes!
Nick Bell is an ordinary teenager with ADHD who lives with his dad. Nick loves the Extraordinaries and has a popular fan-fic based on his favorite superhero, Shadow Star. Nick has a thing for Shadow Star, and when he meets him in real life… OMG. I laughed so hard. There are some twists and turns (some I guessed, a few I had ass backwards) and so many fun moments.
This story had humor, action, and had some romance but also big focuses on friendship and family. Nick and Seth’s relationship/friendship was the best thing ever, but I also loved their other friends and Nick’s relationship with his dad.
I enjoyed this one lots. It was even, dare I say, extraordinary. I’m not sure if the next book in this series will be more about Nick, Seth, and the gang or a new cast of characters but either way, I’m excited to read more!
May 1, 2021
5 stars
My fav, my precious, my sweet cinnamon roll.
Humor: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★
Enjoyment: all the freaking stars, I've already read this twice in 2020 and I don't have time to reread, ever
So before I get into this at all, I just have to say that since reading this ARC at the end of April, I've already reread it twice before its release date. As someone who has ZERO time to reread anything, that's a serious compliment as to how this book made me feel. Now to the review!
Nick Bell is a serious fanboy. In Nova City, where people with superpowers called Extraordinaries are the focus of the town's attention for both good and bad, Nick's got it bad—for one of the superheros, that is.
Nick spends most of his high school days writing fanfiction starring himself paired with Shadow Star, Nova City's most prominent hero. He's forced his best friend and overall cutie pie-maybe-love of his life, Seth, to beta read it for him for every angsty, sappy chapter. Yep, the kid's got it bad.
But when Nick meets Shadow Star in an alley one night for the chance encounter of his dreams, Nick realizes that he'll do anything to get to Shadow Star's level. It's time to make himself Extraordinary.
My thoughts:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
That's it, that is my one thought for this book. I loved it, it was perfect, it was campy, it was everything that's amazing about angsty teen drama and romance, and all of the good things about superhero tropes with none of the horrible misogyny, prevalent heterosexual posturing, and stupid CGI action sequences to cover up for lack of plot. This novel sings with gay goodness, HUMOR for days, and an amazing friend group that I would give my left pinkie to be a part of.
Other great things about this novel: the deft handling of ADHD, the great relationship between Nick and his cop dad, Nick's two girl friends who are the perfect lesbian goals while also being A+ comedic relief, Nick and Seth and their puppy love UGH, and once more for the people in the back, the HUMOR.
Do yourself a favor, because it's 2020 and the world is trash—read this book. It will make you happy AND make you laugh.
Thank you to TOR Teen for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
My fav, my precious, my sweet cinnamon roll.
Humor: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
Plot: ★★★★
Enjoyment: all the freaking stars, I've already read this twice in 2020 and I don't have time to reread, ever
So before I get into this at all, I just have to say that since reading this ARC at the end of April, I've already reread it twice before its release date. As someone who has ZERO time to reread anything, that's a serious compliment as to how this book made me feel. Now to the review!
Nick Bell is a serious fanboy. In Nova City, where people with superpowers called Extraordinaries are the focus of the town's attention for both good and bad, Nick's got it bad—for one of the superheros, that is.
Nick spends most of his high school days writing fanfiction starring himself paired with Shadow Star, Nova City's most prominent hero. He's forced his best friend and overall cutie pie-maybe-love of his life, Seth, to beta read it for him for every angsty, sappy chapter. Yep, the kid's got it bad.
But when Nick meets Shadow Star in an alley one night for the chance encounter of his dreams, Nick realizes that he'll do anything to get to Shadow Star's level. It's time to make himself Extraordinary.
My thoughts:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
That's it, that is my one thought for this book. I loved it, it was perfect, it was campy, it was everything that's amazing about angsty teen drama and romance, and all of the good things about superhero tropes with none of the horrible misogyny, prevalent heterosexual posturing, and stupid CGI action sequences to cover up for lack of plot. This novel sings with gay goodness, HUMOR for days, and an amazing friend group that I would give my left pinkie to be a part of.
Other great things about this novel: the deft handling of ADHD, the great relationship between Nick and his cop dad, Nick's two girl friends who are the perfect lesbian goals while also being A+ comedic relief, Nick and Seth and their puppy love UGH, and once more for the people in the back, the HUMOR.
Do yourself a favor, because it's 2020 and the world is trash—read this book. It will make you happy AND make you laugh.
Thank you to TOR Teen for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
July 20, 2020
I cannot wrap my head around the fact that the same person who wrote The House in the Cerulean Sea, also wrote this. Like, it won’t compute.
Reading this felt like being trapped in a constant state of suspension, I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for the story, the real story, to begin, but it never did. The characters weren't what I needed them to be, the dialogue wasn't what I needed it to be, and the plot was just so all over the place it gave me anxiety (the bad kind, not the good book related kind). In many ways, The Extraordinaries made me feel very similarly to when I was reading Armada, by Ernest Cline, a feeling I couldn't explain then, and still can’t explain now… just a feeling of “this cannot be the real book, right? This cannot be it”. Both of these books read like fake books, like ruses.
I’m serious when I said this gave me anxiety because I really thought Nick and Seth were cute? And I was rooting for them? But at the same time the whole book was just one note, one flat note that didn't go anywhere because due to how it was plotted, it had nowhere to go. And not only the plot, but the characters themselves, their interactions, their group dynamics — everything felt off from the very beginning. This review doesn't make any sense, I’m aware, and that’s because The Extraordinaries actually makes me feel similar to how I feel when I finish a great and, I cannot stress this enough, queer book… but it wasn't even an okay book, let alone a great one. So I am rather quite fucking confused, thank you very much.
Reading this felt like being trapped in a constant state of suspension, I kept waiting and waiting and waiting for the story, the real story, to begin, but it never did. The characters weren't what I needed them to be, the dialogue wasn't what I needed it to be, and the plot was just so all over the place it gave me anxiety (the bad kind, not the good book related kind). In many ways, The Extraordinaries made me feel very similarly to when I was reading Armada, by Ernest Cline, a feeling I couldn't explain then, and still can’t explain now… just a feeling of “this cannot be the real book, right? This cannot be it”. Both of these books read like fake books, like ruses.
I’m serious when I said this gave me anxiety because I really thought Nick and Seth were cute? And I was rooting for them? But at the same time the whole book was just one note, one flat note that didn't go anywhere because due to how it was plotted, it had nowhere to go. And not only the plot, but the characters themselves, their interactions, their group dynamics — everything felt off from the very beginning. This review doesn't make any sense, I’m aware, and that’s because The Extraordinaries actually makes me feel similar to how I feel when I finish a great and, I cannot stress this enough, queer book… but it wasn't even an okay book, let alone a great one. So I am rather quite fucking confused, thank you very much.
August 2, 2020
I feel like there are two parts I need to touch on in this review, the story and the audiobook narration.
THE STORY/PLOT:
From the very beginning this story is different. Unique in its idea and execution with many wonderfully endearing characters. The super hero concept pulled me in and I loved the Metropolis vibe. But I struggled at the beginning. It actually took me a while to get used to the voice of the story.
THE WRITING:
There were so many awesome dialogues between Nick and his father. I laughed so much thanks to the author’s brilliant writing. He perfectly captured the many different tones and nuances between annoyed teen and exasperated dad. Nick had me constantly laughing out loud with his overly dramatic attitude. And the endearing but also typical teenage way he communicated with his dad had me in stitches. It’s hard to adequately describe how well these dialogues were written. Just spot on!!!
THE CHARACTERS:
It’s clear by now that this father and son duo were my favorite characters of this entire novel. They had this wonderful and deep connection. Although Nick’s entire entourage was wonderful diverse, distinctive and absolutely endearing. I thought the characters were really well done.
THE NARRATION:
As with the story, I had to get used to the narration as well. I can’t exactly put my finger on what exactly bothered me at the beginning, but there was something that didn’t sync with me immediately. Luckily, I got over what ever it was.
Also kudos to the author for really going all out with his different voices. At first I thought Nick spoke way too fast at times, until I realized it only happened when Nick was feeling hyper. As soon as I realized that, I paid closer attention and recognized how well the narrator matched Nick’s emotions, his ups and down. So yes, it was a well performed audiobook.
last thoughts
Even though this book was not one I immediately fell in love with, but the further I got into the story, the more I loved the uniqueness of it all and most of all the excellent writing.
I’m just amazed by how versatile the author is. From his Green Creek series, to The House in the Cerulean Sea and now The Extraordinaries. I honestly can’t wait to read his next book. He is turning into a must read author. someone who pens stories that are never boring and always different.
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog
Follow me on Bookstagram
THE STORY/PLOT:
From the very beginning this story is different. Unique in its idea and execution with many wonderfully endearing characters. The super hero concept pulled me in and I loved the Metropolis vibe. But I struggled at the beginning. It actually took me a while to get used to the voice of the story.
THE WRITING:
There were so many awesome dialogues between Nick and his father. I laughed so much thanks to the author’s brilliant writing. He perfectly captured the many different tones and nuances between annoyed teen and exasperated dad. Nick had me constantly laughing out loud with his overly dramatic attitude. And the endearing but also typical teenage way he communicated with his dad had me in stitches. It’s hard to adequately describe how well these dialogues were written. Just spot on!!!
THE CHARACTERS:
It’s clear by now that this father and son duo were my favorite characters of this entire novel. They had this wonderful and deep connection. Although Nick’s entire entourage was wonderful diverse, distinctive and absolutely endearing. I thought the characters were really well done.
THE NARRATION:
As with the story, I had to get used to the narration as well. I can’t exactly put my finger on what exactly bothered me at the beginning, but there was something that didn’t sync with me immediately. Luckily, I got over what ever it was.
Also kudos to the author for really going all out with his different voices. At first I thought Nick spoke way too fast at times, until I realized it only happened when Nick was feeling hyper. As soon as I realized that, I paid closer attention and recognized how well the narrator matched Nick’s emotions, his ups and down. So yes, it was a well performed audiobook.
last thoughts
Even though this book was not one I immediately fell in love with, but the further I got into the story, the more I loved the uniqueness of it all and most of all the excellent writing.
I’m just amazed by how versatile the author is. From his Green Creek series, to The House in the Cerulean Sea and now The Extraordinaries. I honestly can’t wait to read his next book. He is turning into a must read author. someone who pens stories that are never boring and always different.
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog
Follow me on Bookstagram
July 12, 2020
why, oh why has it taken me this long to read a T J Klune book?
I have spent 16 years of my life without knowing the pure joy his books can bring, and suddenly within one week I have read two of his books and cannot wait to pick up everything else by T J Klune.
The Extraordinaries somehow made me love a book about superheroes- which in itself is a masterful achievement. I typically find superhero books take themselves too seriously and become eye roll inducing, but this one was really self aware and instead leaned into the melodramatic and cheesiness, making it a really fun time.
This book was so funny, and Nick Bell was the perfect narrator for the story. Nick is a gay teen with ADHD, and a propensity for saying whatever is on his mind. Once I was acclimatised with the writing style and campiness of the story, I couldn't take the smile off my face. All the characters were so loveable and endearing to me (although I can appreciate not everyone will connect with them, as they are, inevitably, flawed). I loved the diversity in this story, representing everything from neurodiversities to sexualities (many of which are own voices as well!)
The plot was definitely the weaker element for me. Don't go in to this book expecting a fast paced, high action superhero book because you will be disappointed. The Extraordinaries is told from the perspective of an ordinary teen with an obsession with an Extraordinary named Shadow Star. Therefore, we only hear about most of the action from news reports rather than right in the thick of it. Also, I found this book quite predictable. I guessed a good portion of what was going to happen pretty early on, but it didn't detract from my experience too much, since getting there was so enjoyable.
It was all slightly ridiculous and over the top, so I would recommend going into it with those expectations otherwise you will probably be annoyed at the characters for their absolute cluelessness. You also may or may not feel some second hand embarrassment for these characters, but again, it was very self aware.
Something I think would be remiss to not mention is the very prevalent focus on the police. I have linked this review which goes into depth on how it is handled, or rather not handled. I don't believe it was intended to be harmful, but wasn't addressed with the amount of care that it ought to have been particularly in today's climate. I read an ARC, so there is a possibility that these things may be changed in the final copy, but I just wanted to mention it.
Finally, that epilogue. I admit, I kind of called it but it still managed to shock me. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series ahhhhhhh!
Thank you to Tor Teen for this ARC
Release Date: 5 March 2020 (Pushed back to 14 July 2020)
I have spent 16 years of my life without knowing the pure joy his books can bring, and suddenly within one week I have read two of his books and cannot wait to pick up everything else by T J Klune.
The Extraordinaries somehow made me love a book about superheroes- which in itself is a masterful achievement. I typically find superhero books take themselves too seriously and become eye roll inducing, but this one was really self aware and instead leaned into the melodramatic and cheesiness, making it a really fun time.
This book was so funny, and Nick Bell was the perfect narrator for the story. Nick is a gay teen with ADHD, and a propensity for saying whatever is on his mind. Once I was acclimatised with the writing style and campiness of the story, I couldn't take the smile off my face. All the characters were so loveable and endearing to me (although I can appreciate not everyone will connect with them, as they are, inevitably, flawed). I loved the diversity in this story, representing everything from neurodiversities to sexualities (many of which are own voices as well!)
The plot was definitely the weaker element for me. Don't go in to this book expecting a fast paced, high action superhero book because you will be disappointed. The Extraordinaries is told from the perspective of an ordinary teen with an obsession with an Extraordinary named Shadow Star. Therefore, we only hear about most of the action from news reports rather than right in the thick of it. Also, I found this book quite predictable. I guessed a good portion of what was going to happen pretty early on, but it didn't detract from my experience too much, since getting there was so enjoyable.
It was all slightly ridiculous and over the top, so I would recommend going into it with those expectations otherwise you will probably be annoyed at the characters for their absolute cluelessness. You also may or may not feel some second hand embarrassment for these characters, but again, it was very self aware.
Something I think would be remiss to not mention is the very prevalent focus on the police. I have linked this review which goes into depth on how it is handled, or rather not handled. I don't believe it was intended to be harmful, but wasn't addressed with the amount of care that it ought to have been particularly in today's climate. I read an ARC, so there is a possibility that these things may be changed in the final copy, but I just wanted to mention it.
Finally, that epilogue. I admit, I kind of called it but it still managed to shock me. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series ahhhhhhh!
Thank you to Tor Teen for this ARC
Release Date: 5 March 2020 (Pushed back to 14 July 2020)
July 14, 2020
OMG 😱 OMG 😱 OMG 😱!!!
This book! This book got better and better the more I read!! At first I liked it. Then, I really liked it. Having JUST finished it, I loved it!
So....a story about wanting to be more than you are and realizing that what you are is extraordinary.
Here ya go:
YA - What a kiss!
AU - Comic heroes do exist!
Urban Fantasy - Can I have a super-power, too?
Nick Bell is our MC. He’s neurodiverse with severe ADHD. He is in high school. He writes fanfic about his real-life crush, Shadow Star, and the hero’s arch nemesis, Pyro Storm.
Nick is absolutely hilarious! His brain goes 100 miles a minute and gets distracted by every bit of shine and sparkle that crosses his path. He has an amazing imagination and is obsessed with the Extraordinaries which live among mere mortals.
One of my favorite things about this story was Nick’s close group of friends. We have the adorable bow-tie-wearing Seth, the baby butch Gibby, and the cheerleader Jazz. These four were all so very different but worked so well together!!
Another strong plus of the story was the focus on the father-son relationship between Nick and his dad. Often, in YA books, parents are tertiary characters at best. Not so here, my friends! Officer Aaron Bell is a strong secondary character that drives the plot forward (and possibly the plot of the next book???).
Let’s talk about love...yessssssss!!! There is love. There is pinning. There is, “How the hell can you be so blind, Nicky?!” But it all works out in the end for Nick and his man!! ❤️❤️❤️
Will you like it? I truly hope so.
My rec? It’s extraordinary! 👏👏👏
***I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.***
This book! This book got better and better the more I read!! At first I liked it. Then, I really liked it. Having JUST finished it, I loved it!
So....a story about wanting to be more than you are and realizing that what you are is extraordinary.
Here ya go:
YA - What a kiss!
AU - Comic heroes do exist!
Urban Fantasy - Can I have a super-power, too?
Nick Bell is our MC. He’s neurodiverse with severe ADHD. He is in high school. He writes fanfic about his real-life crush, Shadow Star, and the hero’s arch nemesis, Pyro Storm.
Nick is absolutely hilarious! His brain goes 100 miles a minute and gets distracted by every bit of shine and sparkle that crosses his path. He has an amazing imagination and is obsessed with the Extraordinaries which live among mere mortals.
One of my favorite things about this story was Nick’s close group of friends. We have the adorable bow-tie-wearing Seth, the baby butch Gibby, and the cheerleader Jazz. These four were all so very different but worked so well together!!
Another strong plus of the story was the focus on the father-son relationship between Nick and his dad. Often, in YA books, parents are tertiary characters at best. Not so here, my friends! Officer Aaron Bell is a strong secondary character that drives the plot forward (and possibly the plot of the next book???).
Let’s talk about love...yessssssss!!! There is love. There is pinning. There is, “How the hell can you be so blind, Nicky?!” But it all works out in the end for Nick and his man!! ❤️❤️❤️
Will you like it? I truly hope so.
My rec? It’s extraordinary! 👏👏👏
***I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.***
Read
May 24, 2020
June 13, 2022
MARVEL FANS: this book is giving gay spiderman and has the book equivalent to an end credit scene. ur welcome in advance.
August 27, 2024
It's not very often that a YA can give me oooooooodles of joy, but of course, Mr Klune 👏 DELIVERS THE GOODS 👏
Oblivious idiot and the ever-faithful puppy-eyed bestfriend become lovers... A trope I don't always fuck with, but I LOVED SETH AND NICKY. 😍😍😍
Nicky is a big gay sassy disaster of a human being with his silly goose ADHD brain, and Seth is his dedicated, kind, (now kinda buff?) bow-tie wearing best friend.
I really enjoy that TJ's writing always has me invested in side characters as much as the MC's.
Jazz and gibby, the parents, the bad guys, the captain... are all very distinct characters, who each add sass and flare to the story! 🔥🔥
This book is quick-witted, funny, immature, and doesn't take itself too seriously by making fun of elements of the 'basic superhero' plot line.
I love me some awkward teenage YA shenanigans and Michael leslie's narration was a SLAY! 💅🏻 he really breathed SOOOOO MUCH LIFE into this story.
5 FERAL RATS FOR SETH AND NICKY!
IT'S BEEN AWHILE 🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀
Oblivious idiot and the ever-faithful puppy-eyed bestfriend become lovers... A trope I don't always fuck with, but I LOVED SETH AND NICKY. 😍😍😍
Nicky is a big gay sassy disaster of a human being with his silly goose ADHD brain, and Seth is his dedicated, kind, (now kinda buff?) bow-tie wearing best friend.
I really enjoy that TJ's writing always has me invested in side characters as much as the MC's.
Jazz and gibby, the parents, the bad guys, the captain... are all very distinct characters, who each add sass and flare to the story! 🔥🔥
This book is quick-witted, funny, immature, and doesn't take itself too seriously by making fun of elements of the 'basic superhero' plot line.
I love me some awkward teenage YA shenanigans and Michael leslie's narration was a SLAY! 💅🏻 he really breathed SOOOOO MUCH LIFE into this story.
5 FERAL RATS FOR SETH AND NICKY!
IT'S BEEN AWHILE 🐀🐀🐀🐀🐀
October 17, 2020
4.5 Stars
First off, YA is not my typical go to. However, this is Klune and for some reason, I interpreted this particular piece of work as speaking directly to me, like I was in on a shared inside joke and absolutely admit that I transferred those perceived notions as a nod to my favorite OTP from my favorite fanfic. Yes, I concede that I may be the rare reader who feels this way, but I can’t help that and was just tickled over and over and over with what I took as winks or nods, seeing all sorts of fun Easter eggs throughout, simply making my enjoyment grow.
But I digress...
Regardless, this was pretty darn good YA. There’s plenty of growing up to do and lots of life lessons learned. This features an off kilter quirky loveable MC who is crushing hard and so obsessed with his favorite superhero where soon, his preconceived notions of how the world should be and is, will be knocked off its ass. There’s also a love interest to swoon over who melted my heart because he’s such a fantabulous awesome standup guy!
So, toss in some action, plenty of obliviousness, lots of laughs and embarrassing shenanigans, and even some painful emotions and reveals, and Klune continues to deliver always on the heartfelt and the humor. This didn’t disappoint, and there’s no surprise that I look forward to more, sad that I can’t dive into the next book already!
First off, YA is not my typical go to. However, this is Klune and for some reason, I interpreted this particular piece of work as speaking directly to me, like I was in on a shared inside joke and absolutely admit that I transferred those perceived notions as a nod to my favorite OTP from my favorite fanfic. Yes, I concede that I may be the rare reader who feels this way, but I can’t help that and was just tickled over and over and over with what I took as winks or nods, seeing all sorts of fun Easter eggs throughout, simply making my enjoyment grow.
But I digress...
Regardless, this was pretty darn good YA. There’s plenty of growing up to do and lots of life lessons learned. This features an off kilter quirky loveable MC who is crushing hard and so obsessed with his favorite superhero where soon, his preconceived notions of how the world should be and is, will be knocked off its ass. There’s also a love interest to swoon over who melted my heart because he’s such a fantabulous awesome standup guy!
So, toss in some action, plenty of obliviousness, lots of laughs and embarrassing shenanigans, and even some painful emotions and reveals, and Klune continues to deliver always on the heartfelt and the humor. This didn’t disappoint, and there’s no surprise that I look forward to more, sad that I can’t dive into the next book already!
September 19, 2020
Star Rating: —> 5 [extraordinary ] STARS!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buddy read with the amazing Darce ❤️
OhmyGod. THIS WAS PHENOMENAL. Downright, utterly, BRILLIANT! Truly, I am SO THANKFUL THIS IS GOING TO BE A TRILOGY! I need moremoremoremoremore!
I LOVED THIS SO FREAKIN MUCH!
TJ Klune is just the absolute best; everything he writes is uh-may-zinggggg. I had really high expectations for this and it went above and beyond them !
Also— holy extraordinary queerness!
REPRESENT ! 😉
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Wonderful, positive queer representation through & through, and I AM LOVING IT!
So beyond here for it!
GAH let me just say that I ship the main character, Nick, & Seth SOHARD! They are both so awkward & cute and Nick is absolutely clueless, but its so endearing! 😂
Speaking of Nick, what an AMAZING ADHD representation! It was very refreshing to see a main character with ADHD represented both accurately & positively.
I also, in addition to reading, listened to the audiobook on and off when I was busy & unable to read my physical copy (yes— this is addictive enough that I bought both the book AND the audiobook so that I didn’t have to take a break unless absolutely necessary!), and I have to say that the narrator was AMAZING.
The audiobook truly is something special— so spectacularly executed! It is one of the top 5 best audiobooks i’ve ever listened to, actually.
TJ Klune’s works, at least the two that i’ve read & listened to— this one, and The House in the Cerulean Sea, in my opinion seriously have EXCEPTIONAL audiobooks— I am beyond impressed! Seriously, they are next level! There were times that I actually missed the audiobook when I was reading—Which, if you are familiar with my reviews, you know that generally, audiobooks are quite honestly NOT my thing. They have to be remarkable for me to WANT to listen rather than read.
So, if audiobooks are YOUR thing and this book sounds interesting to you... this is one you won’t want to miss!
In general, this book is one you truly won’t want to miss! It is positively extraordinary
(Okay, I promise, that’s the last time I will absolutely un-ironically use the word extraordinary... but only because this the end of my review 😏😉😝)!
BEYOND 100% recommend!!!
________________
PRE-ORDER COMPLETE!!!!! CAN’T WAIT FOR MY BUDDY READ W/ DARCE! ❤️❤️❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Buddy read with the amazing Darce ❤️
OhmyGod. THIS WAS PHENOMENAL. Downright, utterly, BRILLIANT! Truly, I am SO THANKFUL THIS IS GOING TO BE A TRILOGY! I need moremoremoremoremore!
I LOVED THIS SO FREAKIN MUCH!
TJ Klune is just the absolute best; everything he writes is uh-may-zinggggg. I had really high expectations for this and it went above and beyond them !
Also— holy extraordinary queerness!
REPRESENT ! 😉
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
Wonderful, positive queer representation through & through, and I AM LOVING IT!
So beyond here for it!
GAH let me just say that I ship the main character, Nick, & Seth SOHARD! They are both so awkward & cute and Nick is absolutely clueless, but its so endearing! 😂
Speaking of Nick, what an AMAZING ADHD representation! It was very refreshing to see a main character with ADHD represented both accurately & positively.
I also, in addition to reading, listened to the audiobook on and off when I was busy & unable to read my physical copy (yes— this is addictive enough that I bought both the book AND the audiobook so that I didn’t have to take a break unless absolutely necessary!), and I have to say that the narrator was AMAZING.
The audiobook truly is something special— so spectacularly executed! It is one of the top 5 best audiobooks i’ve ever listened to, actually.
TJ Klune’s works, at least the two that i’ve read & listened to— this one, and The House in the Cerulean Sea, in my opinion seriously have EXCEPTIONAL audiobooks— I am beyond impressed! Seriously, they are next level! There were times that I actually missed the audiobook when I was reading—Which, if you are familiar with my reviews, you know that generally, audiobooks are quite honestly NOT my thing. They have to be remarkable for me to WANT to listen rather than read.
So, if audiobooks are YOUR thing and this book sounds interesting to you... this is one you won’t want to miss!
In general, this book is one you truly won’t want to miss! It is positively extraordinary
(Okay, I promise, that’s the last time I will absolutely un-ironically use the word extraordinary... but only because this the end of my review 😏😉😝)!
BEYOND 100% recommend!!!
________________
PRE-ORDER COMPLETE!!!!! CAN’T WAIT FOR MY BUDDY READ W/ DARCE! ❤️❤️❤️
June 14, 2021
Update: I didn't end up writing a full-fledged review for this one, but the author made a statement re: some of the problematic aspects I grappled with. I strongly encourage you to read it.
http://www.tjklunebooks.com/new-blog/...
***
Need to think about this one for a bit. Deeply flawed/problematic in certain aspects and not sure how to rate when I consider all the enjoyable parts.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
http://www.tjklunebooks.com/new-blog/...
***
Need to think about this one for a bit. Deeply flawed/problematic in certain aspects and not sure how to rate when I consider all the enjoyable parts.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2020
I have many feelings, the first one being: TJ Klune is an absolute gift for this world. I'm honestly so happy he's coming to the dark side of the force (YA) because it means more people will be able to discover his books and see how talented he is, and we stan:) my second feeling is: I'd give my life for Nick and Seth (and can I please kick Rebecca Firestone in the face?)
okay, let's be serious. this book was the funniest thing I've read in a very long time (I'm talking about full belly laugh) while still talking about serious matters, such as death of a parent, grief, living with a disorder and, you know, saving the world:) I fell in love with it right from the start. Nick is such a lovable character even when he's being annoying, and his entire group of friends made my heart melt. I'm so so very excited for the rest of the trilogy!!!!!!
thank you libro.fm and Tor Teen for the audio listening copy and the e-arc
okay, let's be serious. this book was the funniest thing I've read in a very long time (I'm talking about full belly laugh) while still talking about serious matters, such as death of a parent, grief, living with a disorder and, you know, saving the world:) I fell in love with it right from the start. Nick is such a lovable character even when he's being annoying, and his entire group of friends made my heart melt. I'm so so very excited for the rest of the trilogy!!!!!!
thank you libro.fm and Tor Teen for the audio listening copy and the e-arc
July 21, 2022
Actual rating: 4.5
This was exactly what I needed right now, such a delight. It has to be the funniest book I've read in a while.
Granted, this book won't be for everyone. It's not to be taken seriously, and the brand of humour is one that likely won't work for everyone. It worked really well for me though, and I ended up crying laughing a bunch of times. It's such a ridiculous book, but in the best way imagineable.
I shipped Nick and Seth right from the beginning, they are so very precious. And so very dense and so very clueless, especially Nick. It takes him ages to realize he even has a crush, and it's amazing.
Something that made this book extra special was the own voices ADHD rep.
CWs: violence, past death of a parent/grief, homophobia, internalized ableism, use of the d slur, hospital
This was exactly what I needed right now, such a delight. It has to be the funniest book I've read in a while.
Granted, this book won't be for everyone. It's not to be taken seriously, and the brand of humour is one that likely won't work for everyone. It worked really well for me though, and I ended up crying laughing a bunch of times. It's such a ridiculous book, but in the best way imagineable.
I shipped Nick and Seth right from the beginning, they are so very precious. And so very dense and so very clueless, especially Nick. It takes him ages to realize he even has a crush, and it's amazing.
Something that made this book extra special was the own voices ADHD rep.
CWs: violence, past death of a parent/grief, homophobia, internalized ableism, use of the d slur, hospital
August 1, 2022
4.5 Stars
The Extraordinaries is a super-fun and super-entertaining LGBT themed YA fantasy story.
Set in an alternate universe where superheros are very much real, a gay teenager named Nick decides he wants nothing more than to become just like Nova City’s truest hero—an Extraordinary by the name of Shadow Star. Nick worships/romanticizes the ground Shadow Star walks on, writing his own fairly popular fanfiction stories—in which he continually plays out various fantasies of meeting and falling in love with his perfect hero—all while spending his free time attempting every conceivable method he can think of to become a superhero himself (however ludicrous or foolhardy these methods may be).
In his everyday life, Nick battles ADHD, constantly overwhelmed by his mile-a-minute thoughts and his endless energy. He lives alone with his cop dad, having tragically lost his mother a few years earlier, and although their relationship has its ups and downs, it’s never in doubt that Nick and his dad love each other deeply, both doing their best to make life work with just the two of them. (Think Stiles and Sheriff Stilinkski from Teen Wolf and you can picture these two in a nutshell).
Nick is also extremely lucky to have some fairly AMAZING friends, in the form of Gibby and Jazz, both sassy and badass young women who just happen to be so very in love, and Seth, Nick’s lifelong BFF and potential everything (…although Nick is a bit slow on the uptake where his true feelings for Seth are concerned).
Nick is ridiculously funny, charming and so very endearing in his ceaseless ramblings and his complete dedication to adoring Shadow Star and wanting to become just like him. On the flip side of that, he’s also fairly naïve and HUGELY oblivious, missing key truths and intentions of the people surrounding his life, which ultimately leads to some strained relationships and some shocking realisations—the kind that Nick is ill-prepared to face or accept.
This story was Fun with a capital F. I laughed a lot, which is expected from a Klune story, and I was completely captivated by the whole cast of characters, particularly ADORING Seth and the girls—who all supported and rallied behind Nick even when he was being his most thoughtless and absolutely ridiculous.
In perfect contrast to all the fun and frivolity, this story was also full of action-packed excitement and enough twists and turns and sneaky little reveals to keep the story very stimulating throughout. Some things were a bit obvious, at least for me, but even when I had my early predictions, I still couldn’t help but be excited to see how it would all play out and how Nick would react to everything that was happening to him and around him.
When it comes down to it, I had an absolute blast reading this story and I CAN NOT WAIT to see what happens next with Nick, Seth and their awesome friends and family!
The Extraordinaries is a super-fun and super-entertaining LGBT themed YA fantasy story.
Set in an alternate universe where superheros are very much real, a gay teenager named Nick decides he wants nothing more than to become just like Nova City’s truest hero—an Extraordinary by the name of Shadow Star. Nick worships/romanticizes the ground Shadow Star walks on, writing his own fairly popular fanfiction stories—in which he continually plays out various fantasies of meeting and falling in love with his perfect hero—all while spending his free time attempting every conceivable method he can think of to become a superhero himself (however ludicrous or foolhardy these methods may be).
In his everyday life, Nick battles ADHD, constantly overwhelmed by his mile-a-minute thoughts and his endless energy. He lives alone with his cop dad, having tragically lost his mother a few years earlier, and although their relationship has its ups and downs, it’s never in doubt that Nick and his dad love each other deeply, both doing their best to make life work with just the two of them. (Think Stiles and Sheriff Stilinkski from Teen Wolf and you can picture these two in a nutshell).
Nick is also extremely lucky to have some fairly AMAZING friends, in the form of Gibby and Jazz, both sassy and badass young women who just happen to be so very in love, and Seth, Nick’s lifelong BFF and potential everything (…although Nick is a bit slow on the uptake where his true feelings for Seth are concerned).
Nick is ridiculously funny, charming and so very endearing in his ceaseless ramblings and his complete dedication to adoring Shadow Star and wanting to become just like him. On the flip side of that, he’s also fairly naïve and HUGELY oblivious, missing key truths and intentions of the people surrounding his life, which ultimately leads to some strained relationships and some shocking realisations—the kind that Nick is ill-prepared to face or accept.
This story was Fun with a capital F. I laughed a lot, which is expected from a Klune story, and I was completely captivated by the whole cast of characters, particularly ADORING Seth and the girls—who all supported and rallied behind Nick even when he was being his most thoughtless and absolutely ridiculous.
In perfect contrast to all the fun and frivolity, this story was also full of action-packed excitement and enough twists and turns and sneaky little reveals to keep the story very stimulating throughout. Some things were a bit obvious, at least for me, but even when I had my early predictions, I still couldn’t help but be excited to see how it would all play out and how Nick would react to everything that was happening to him and around him.
When it comes down to it, I had an absolute blast reading this story and I CAN NOT WAIT to see what happens next with Nick, Seth and their awesome friends and family!
October 15, 2021
4 stars
Nick Bell is an awkward teenager by day, but by night he writes fanfiction about The Extraordinaries, and is the most popular fanfic author. Crushing hard on the superhero Shadowstar, Nick also battles feelings for his best friend Seth. But Nick has a plan, to become an Extraordinary himself so he can help to keep his friends and family safe from harm.
I’ve read thirteen books by Klune, not including this one, and this book is filled with the same hilarious banter and heart that appears in the rest of his work. I listened to the audiobook and was laughing out loud and genuinely enjoyed Nick’s antics and interactions with his friends and other people. I loved Nick’s relationship with his father so much, I got lots of feels from their dynamic. And the parts of the book with Officer Rookie were hysterical. I thought this book was mostly very well done.
This was a five star read for me, all except for one thing that due to my personal beliefs really rubbed me the wrong way. This book was very pro-police propaganda, and while Klune has addressed these issues in a blog post, it upset me when reading the story. Police brutality is unacceptable no matter what the circumstances are, and it happened in this book and I felt was glossed over. That may not bother some readers, but it was upsetting for me. So while overall this was a really wonderful book, I couldn’t get past that aspect of it. But I’ll definitely read the next two books and see how Klune addressed this issue.
Nick Bell is an awkward teenager by day, but by night he writes fanfiction about The Extraordinaries, and is the most popular fanfic author. Crushing hard on the superhero Shadowstar, Nick also battles feelings for his best friend Seth. But Nick has a plan, to become an Extraordinary himself so he can help to keep his friends and family safe from harm.
I’ve read thirteen books by Klune, not including this one, and this book is filled with the same hilarious banter and heart that appears in the rest of his work. I listened to the audiobook and was laughing out loud and genuinely enjoyed Nick’s antics and interactions with his friends and other people. I loved Nick’s relationship with his father so much, I got lots of feels from their dynamic. And the parts of the book with Officer Rookie were hysterical. I thought this book was mostly very well done.
This was a five star read for me, all except for one thing that due to my personal beliefs really rubbed me the wrong way. This book was very pro-police propaganda, and while Klune has addressed these issues in a blog post, it upset me when reading the story. Police brutality is unacceptable no matter what the circumstances are, and it happened in this book and I felt was glossed over. That may not bother some readers, but it was upsetting for me. So while overall this was a really wonderful book, I couldn’t get past that aspect of it. But I’ll definitely read the next two books and see how Klune addressed this issue.
March 23, 2020
5+ stars.
Is there such a thing as TJ Klune writing a bad book? I think not as I've yet to find anything that I haven't loved. The Extraordinaries was such a different yet amazing book, there's nothing like it out there.
From the main characters, to the plot, side characters, emotions, humor, the romance, it all just worked. There were a few things that I did catch on to early enough in the book (most people I think will) but it nothing to lessen the enjoyment of the story. There were enough happening to keep me at the edge of my seat and I couldn't be more happier for it.
I absolutely loved Seth and Nick. You guys do not understand the level of adorable they really are. Like omg pinch my cheeks. Once Nick realizes the things in front of him, it just made me smile even more then before.
I'm being vague for a reason and it's also to let you all enjoy the book without giving anything away. And with the release day being pushed back because of the virus, just know that it will be worth the wait. A TJ Klune book normally is. I need the next one like today. And if it's anything like this one, I know I will definitely love it.
Is there such a thing as TJ Klune writing a bad book? I think not as I've yet to find anything that I haven't loved. The Extraordinaries was such a different yet amazing book, there's nothing like it out there.
From the main characters, to the plot, side characters, emotions, humor, the romance, it all just worked. There were a few things that I did catch on to early enough in the book (most people I think will) but it nothing to lessen the enjoyment of the story. There were enough happening to keep me at the edge of my seat and I couldn't be more happier for it.
I absolutely loved Seth and Nick. You guys do not understand the level of adorable they really are. Like omg pinch my cheeks. Once Nick realizes the things in front of him, it just made me smile even more then before.
I'm being vague for a reason and it's also to let you all enjoy the book without giving anything away. And with the release day being pushed back because of the virus, just know that it will be worth the wait. A TJ Klune book normally is. I need the next one like today. And if it's anything like this one, I know I will definitely love it.
November 28, 2023
4.5 Silver Stars
with Golden Sparks
(rounding up because, Seth Seth Seth! you're so precious!)
LGBT+
sci-fi: Superheroes
high school vibes
🌈 probably the last book of my 2023 Pride month Marathon
2023 Top 10
this was the superhero novel I've been waiting for! to see on papers! it felt like I was dropped in a teen Marvel movie, or more like an animated series, since the characters were in High school age & it had more fun, not just excitements & dreads & surprises of a flashy superhero movie, but teen dramas & comedy too.
it even had a post-credit scene! (I nearly missed it, just like some of the first Marvel movies I'd missed the first time. but thanks to one of the reviews I was scrolling, I noticed it & BAM!)
It was different than Klune's other works (the standalones) I've read. of course it was heartwarming (sweet Seth! sweet Seth!), but also Adrenaline rush & fast-paced & Superheroes & bombardingly Comical! a roller-coaster of fights & fun & teen dramas!
& even though I kind of guessed some of the plot points -because I saw a lot of Marvel/superhero movies/series & know how it usually was revealed (& always love it)- & not in a bad or boring or predictable way. I was thrilled it when I saw one of my theories proved true! (the suspenseful anticipation!) I was so invested in the characters & it surprised me a few times too, the way all was planned out!
the adrenaline peaks! so good. so satisfying. first by keeping my minds on different theories, then on secret reveals & action scenes. more & more toward the end. exactly what I experienced in watching such a movie.
& every time I figured a tiny Spiderman vibes I squealed in delight
I loved the characters. Nick was an absolute dramatic overthinking idiot, ma sweet sweet Seth, Gibby & Jazz (I loved these two, so good, so funny & supportive friends in their own way) & even Owen, & the tension he brought every time he popped up! & the supportive understanding adults.
I wish the cover had rainbow flag colours
& the fanfiction parts were so genius & funny! & the references! the writing style was hilarious!
the only thing slightly bugged me was the excessive amounts of dirty jokes. but I let it slide, because I laughed a lot & being interactive & kept guessing & generally having a great time. I'm glad I read it when I was in the right mood & could enjoy it to all of its potential.
-
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! I'm getting a book hangover! *more whale noises* I need Seth & Nicky & Gibby & Jazz & the next book!
or something align this vibes!
with Golden Sparks
(rounding up because, Seth Seth Seth! you're so precious!)
LGBT+
sci-fi: Superheroes
high school vibes
🌈 probably the last book of my 2023 Pride month Marathon
2023 Top 10
this was the superhero novel I've been waiting for! to see on papers! it felt like I was dropped in a teen Marvel movie, or more like an animated series, since the characters were in High school age & it had more fun, not just excitements & dreads & surprises of a flashy superhero movie, but teen dramas & comedy too.
it even had a post-credit scene! (I nearly missed it, just like some of the first Marvel movies I'd missed the first time. but thanks to one of the reviews I was scrolling, I noticed it & BAM!)
It was different than Klune's other works (the standalones) I've read. of course it was heartwarming (sweet Seth! sweet Seth!), but also Adrenaline rush & fast-paced & Superheroes & bombardingly Comical! a roller-coaster of fights & fun & teen dramas!
& even though I kind of guessed some of the plot points -because I saw a lot of Marvel/superhero movies/series & know how it usually was revealed (& always love it)- & not in a bad or boring or predictable way. I was thrilled it when I saw one of my theories proved true! (the suspenseful anticipation!) I was so invested in the characters & it surprised me a few times too, the way all was planned out!
the adrenaline peaks! so good. so satisfying. first by keeping my minds on different theories, then on secret reveals & action scenes. more & more toward the end. exactly what I experienced in watching such a movie.
& every time I figured a tiny Spiderman vibes I squealed in delight
I loved the characters. Nick was an absolute dramatic overthinking idiot, ma sweet sweet Seth, Gibby & Jazz (I loved these two, so good, so funny & supportive friends in their own way) & even Owen, & the tension he brought every time he popped up! & the supportive understanding adults.
I wish the cover had rainbow flag colours
& the fanfiction parts were so genius & funny! & the references! the writing style was hilarious!
the only thing slightly bugged me was the excessive amounts of dirty jokes. but I let it slide, because I laughed a lot & being interactive & kept guessing & generally having a great time. I'm glad I read it when I was in the right mood & could enjoy it to all of its potential.
-
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH! I'm getting a book hangover! *more whale noises* I need Seth & Nicky & Gibby & Jazz & the next book!
or something align this vibes!
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