T.J. Klune

Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves. Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life). Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl meets Marissa Meyer's Renegades in TJ Klune's YA debut.

The Extraordinaries

Cassidy Nolan

“Let’s go,” Nick said cheerfully. “I need to get to school in time to tell as many people as possible that some of the rumors going around about me might be somewhat true. Especially the threesome one, because that makes me sound awesome.”

 he crowed, and led Team Pyro Storm toward the stairs.

It was hotter than he expected. Literally. Seth’s lips were so warm, it felt like he was burning from the inside out. And it was also slightly awkward, Seth’s mask digging into Nick’s skin. But Nick couldn’t bring himself to care. He was too busy having his mind blown by the fact that he was being kissed by his best friend, and it felt like coming home.

Nick (always and forever being Nick) blurted, “You make my heart so full, I think I’ll die.”

“I’m going to date your nephew so hard,” Nick told them. “We need to help him so I can tell him that. Also, I like his hair and the way he smells and how he makes me laugh. And he needs to wear bow ties forever because there is nothing in the world more adorable than Seth Gray in a bow tie.”

“I don’t need you to be an Extraordinary, Nicky. Not when you’re already extraordinary to me.”

“Do you say stupid things like he does?” Nick demanded. “Because if you do, I don’t think I can be seen in public with you. God, what the hell was I thinking? Both of you suck. Extraordinaries are the worst. My new dream is to become a dentist with my own private practice in Idaho. People with superpowers are terrible.”

“I know how you see Seth, Nick. I’ve spent years watching you both. You think the sun rises and sets with him. That all the stars in the sky appear because of him. But what you fail to see, 

“Love is such a weapon in the face of darkness, if only you know how to wield it.”

“Hey,” Seth said, coming up from behind them. He was wearing a bow tie with koala bears on it. Nick wanted to put him in his pocket and keep him forever.

“Hi,” Nick said, blushing and looking down at his beat-up Chucks.

“Hello,” Seth said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oh my god,” Gibby muttered. “This os excruciating to watch.”

It was the worst kind of foul mood, and he was probably the only person in the world who felt this way. No one could ever understand.

It’s well known that regardless of what else they are, teenage boys are inherently stupid.

“Maybe because you don’t always see things that are right in front of you.”

And if that night, while lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, Nick thought about the veins in Seth’s arms, well.

Seth scowled at him. “I don’t like it when you say that. You’re not crazy. You’re fine the way you are.”

His mom had told him the same thing. And now that she was gone, it was Seth who understood him more than anyone else in the world, had seen through the tornado of words that was Nick Bell, even when they were just kids.

“The Nicky knot,” Gibby said. “Seriously.”

“I liked the way it looked,” Seth muttered.

He felt badly for all the generations that had come before him, unable to access queries immediately such as if it was okay for boys to give other boys flowers.

Two minutes later, he was somehow reading a Wikipedia article on the Women’s Cricket World Cup, unsure of how he got there.

“I need my own origin story,” Nick announced grandly. “I’m going to become an Extraordinary.”

“I told you. I was volunteering at the animal shelter. And don’t you say what I know you’re going to say—“

“You’re far too precious for this world,” Nick said. “You’re like a Disney princess except real.”

He understood at that moment that Shadow Star had seen through Nick’s failings as a human being and had somehow already fallen in love with him right back. He didn’t know how it’d happened (especially so 

—maybe Nick was cooler than he thought), but he was already picturing a house in the suburbs where he’d go to book club meetings and say things like, “Yes, 

 is an old book about stuff, but I didn’t get a chance to finish it because Shadow Star took me out to dinner last night at a fancy restaurant that had separate forks for the salad.”

“Not going to happen,” Nick said immediately. “Seth and I already have plans to go to the same school where we’ll share a dorm the first year, and then move off campus the following years. When we graduate, we’ll get an apartment in the city where I’ll spend four years on the force before leaving to open my detective agency-slash-bakery. Seth will become a famous author who writes true crime stories that won’t actually be true because they’ll have dragons in them, or he’ll be a lawyer that wins every case since he’ll be the voice for those who can’t speak for themselves.“

Nick decided a long time ago that Seth needed to be protected at all costs. He wore bow ties and loafers and could recite the Greek alphabet backwards, and there was no one else like him in the world.

Seth’s face softened. “I know. And twitchy, somehow, always leads to calamity.”

Lola Gibson had three smiles: the loving one she gave to Jazz, the one she had when she was trying not to laugh, and the one when she was about to be a magnificent dick.

He loved his queer girls. He just didn’t want to watch them swallow each other’s tongues, which was why he’d given them their space. He was selfless that way.

Ngl he did surprise me a bit with the fakeout plot twist that was quite the move. 

Emily Klo

How,,, very YA. 

Ngl he did surprise me a bit with the fakeout plot twist that was quite the move. 

An Indie Next Pick! Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves. Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right? After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life). Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl meets Marissa Meyer's Renegades in TJ Klune's YA debut.

Teodora Nagy

Erzse Reed

4.5 rounded up!!!

this is the hero / protagonist / villain gay love triangle i absolutely deserved.

Flavia Louise

I was sadly a bit disappointed. I know this is supposed to be tropey. But it was just too much so in a not great way imho.

Farid Martínez Yd

VERY slow beginning but it picks up after a while.

Tatiana Alvarez 

This book was unbelievably cute and adorable. It definitely plays into the cheesiness and campiness of superheroes and young romance. Which I appreciated it because it made it that much better. 

The reader of this book was AMAZING! He really brought all the characters to life. The dialogue was so funny and witty, and very teenager. I loved it. I highly recommend it. 

Cannot wait for book 2!

Tiffany Robinson

The Extraordinaries is set in a world where superheroes and villains really exist. Nick Bell lives in this world and while he doesn't have any powers of his own he loves to write fan fiction about his favorite superhero and crush Shadow Star. One day by chance they meet and Nick decides that he will do anything to become a superhero also. Along for the ride is his best friend Seth who Nick might like as more then friends even if he does seem to be keeping a secret from him. 
I really enjoyed The Extraordinaries. I loved that it mixed superheroes and fanfiction which you can never go wrong with. The pacing was really well done and you never get bored. You just want to know what happed next and it keeps you on the edge of your seat. I also really liked all the characters. This books leaves you on a cliffhanger so I am glad that there is going to be another book in the series so that I can see where the story goes from here.

Candyce Kirk

After loving The House in the Cerulean so much I decided I needed to read everything by T.J. Klune. The Extraordinaries was on my Netgalley shelf for quite some time and I knew it was time to pick it up. This book did not disappoint at all.

The Extraordinaries was the perfect balance of humor, heartwarming moments, and amazing characters. This book was predictable in many ways, but that did not bug me at all. The author was able to surprise me a few times and that was really nice. I’m a big fan of superheroes and villains and the world created by Klune made me look at them differently. I loved that the whole concept of superhero and villain was discussed. Not something I’ve seen done like this before.

Besides an interesting plot we also get an amazing cast of characters. Nick is such an amazing character. He is flawed and knows he isn’t perfect. His friends know this as well and accept it. He’s still dealing with things that have happened in his family and this really hit me in the feels. I have to admit this book had me in tears a few times. Nick has ADHD and some anxiety after a tragic event in his life. I can’t say if these things were done completely right, but they felt genuine and are similar to things I’ve seen in my own family members. He’s still discovering a lot about himself and I love how clueless he still is about certain aspects in his life.

Nick’s best friends and his father are amazing side characters and I enjoyed reading about them all. The aspect of fan fiction was also included and while it stays more in the background it was definitely interesting. All in all, I really liked this book and I’m excited to read the sequel.

Leni Bulat

Anna Wilson

I think I love all things super hero now 🥰

Thank you TJ Klune for making me love superhero books more than I ever thought possible! Nick is the superhero I most relate to. He has big dreams of becoming an extraordinary (aka a superhero) and will stop at nothing to achieve that goal. Even if that means jumping into a quiet smelly river! The since of family the friend group had was lovely. For me personally, found families are one of my favorite tropes. This friend group did not let me down in that aspect AT ALL! I would absolutely sit with them at lunch! Seth Grey the cinnamon roll we all need in our lives and the Owen Burke we all know and hate ourselves for loving! Who knew that I could be so invested in the story that I remember both first and last names of these characters! So excited for the sequel this summer!!! I hope in the next book we get even more of nicks fan fic! After knowing the ending I’m interested to see where it goes next!


https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRsQwDLM...

Paige Green

Updated review:

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Extraordinaries

Author: T.J. Klune

Book Series: The Extraordinaries Book 1

Diversity: M/m romance, ADHD gay MC, F/f relationship, Lesbian side characters, Black side character

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, LGBT+, superheroes

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publication Date: July 14, 2020

Publisher: Tor Teen

Pages: 405

Recommended Age: 14+ (Sexual content, Sexual jokes, Slight Language, Violence, Slight gore)

Explanation of CWs: Some mentions of masturbation, sexual acts, and teenage jokes about sex and sexual organs.

Synopsis: 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).

Review: I really forgot how much I loved this book the first go around and now I love it even more! It's an absolutely amazing book with a fun story (I've also discovered I like superhero storylines lol). The characters were amazing, the diversity was on point, and the world building was immaculate. I also loved the tropes, I loved how the author switched up the Mary Jane like story to one for a male character, and I loved how well written it was.

My only issue with the book is that I wish that there was more to the superheroes than just fighting each other all the time. I kinda wanted to see them interact more with their environment, but it was still amazing overall!

Verdict: Absolutely amazing.

Old Review:

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley. Thanks! All opinions are my own.


Book: The Extraordinaires 


Author: T.J. Klune


Book Series: The Extraordinaires Book 1


Rating: 5/5


Diversity: ADHD rep, gay main character, bi love interest, lesbian friends.


Publication Date: July 14, 2020


Genre: YA Contemporary


Recommended Age: 14+ (ADHD, death mention, medication usage)


Publisher: Tor Teen


Pages: 400


Amazon Link


Synopsis: Some people are extraordinary. Some are just extra. TJ Klune's YA debut, The Extraordinaries, is a queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heroes he loves.

Nick Bell? Not extraordinary. But being the most popular fanfiction writer in the Extraordinaries fandom is a superpower, right?

After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. And he’ll do it with or without the reluctant help of Seth Gray, Nick's best friend (and maybe the love of his life).


Review: I really liked this one! It was rich with detail and character development. The writing was amazing and I loved the representation of ADHD! I thought that Nick was perfectly portrayed from what I know about it. It was also rich in LGBT friendly characters.

However, the pacing can be slow, especially in the beginning. Other than that I was swept away by this novel!


Verdict: Highly recommend this one!

Ariel Himboi

“Be gay. Do crimes.” 

The Extraordinaries is a story about a sixteen year old boy, Nick, whose in love with a super hero named Shadow Star. His dad is a cop, he’s the mourning the death of his mother, and he’s frustrated with taking his medication for ADHD, which often gets him in heaps of trouble. 

This is a comic style, YA cheesy and very comical romance about a boy whose living up to the fan fiction he’s written about his hero, and the villain, and how both are never what they seem. Even when it’s right in front of him. 

This book surprised me, mainly because I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I do. I am not a huge fan of super hero anythings, really. Comic books? Bleh. Super hero movies? Bleh. The pitch for this book? Meh. 

As someone who had and continues to struggle with being neuro-diverse, ADHD, etc., it’s nice to see a book solely centering on a kid who needs a HUGE break. I thought the bond between Nick and his father was nice at times, messy and a bit borderline abusive, as realistically some parents are, and sometimes sweet as it is bitter. The way they try to protect each other, and show how they care while guarding their deepest secrets and burdens, I felt for them the most. 

I also adored the characters and most amazing couple, aside from the main/obvious couple of the series, Gibby and Jazz. I thought they were incredibly smart, dazzling and so important to the novel. I loved the real touches of feminism, two iconic and strong lesbians, and how they both loved each other fiercely despite worrying about things that couples do, what’s going to happen after? Will they grow apart? I really enjoyed reading about them the most. 

As for the others… 

I wasn’t sure how I felt about Owen, and now I at least have a semblance of an idea. I thought mostly for the first and second half that he was a bit bland, color coded, quite obvious. His dialogue rarely matched his personality, hardly did we see any development besides the comic stereotype of bad vs evil. Yes, there were the incredibly surprising twists concerning identities.. but… The origin story was quite unoriginal, and too underdeveloped for my liking, especially for the first book. Owen was the only character who stood out in a bad way. I wanted, and expected more. I know that perhaps Tj Klune will obviously expand on his character more, hopefully, but I was disappointed. 

I loved Seth. And Nick. And GODS Seth and Nick. I adore them. So much. 

This book, as all Klune books are, is funny and full of heart and realness mixed in with the fantastical. I’m hoping Klune is very careful about how he handles the take on medication, and hope it doesn’t become an issue involving certain someone’s growing powers. 

I really enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I will say I was bothered by his perspective in third person past tense, I prefer his first person written novels, and got a bit annoyed and confused by how many times he wrote “he had, they had, it had” and it took me out of the story sometimes. 

It also, begrudgingly, was really long. I mean, there were only 20 chapters and nearly 400 pages. Each chapter was SO long and it made me feel like it had been FOREVER since I started reading it. 

I also never want to read “had been” ever again in a book. EVER. My brain hurts. 

But I had fun, I laughed, I was surprised and joyous. I thought it was pretty good. I liked it a lot and I recommend for any Klune fans!

Helena Cristina Nogueira Pereira

This book was so funny! I found myself laughing out loud a lot.
And Seth and Nick were so cute. In particular Seth. Nick kinda got on my nerves a little but not to the point of affecting my enjoyment.

Bethany Phillips

4.5 stars rounded up since Goodreads refuses to allow for halfway points. Still. :) I absolutely loved this book, which I wasn't fully expecting. I read the synopsis of it a while ago and was like "eh...superheroes are not my usual cup of tea" so I just kind of skipped over it, regardless of being a huge fan of literally anything Klune writes. My friend's review of it convinced me to try it and honestly, if nothing else, this book taught me just to trust TJ Klune and his writing. 

Nicky, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz are the sweetest group of friends. They're all so different and bring such unique things to the friend group, but they're so perfect for each other. Nicky is a cinnamon roll and I just want to hug him. I love him so so much. 

I don't want to get too detailed because there are some ~*~Things~*~ that are really big plot reveals in this book, but the surprise of them is really what makes it. I thought I had it figured out at one point and I was V E R Y wrong. haha So so good. Seriously, this book might seem like it's about a kid who is super obsessed with the superheroes in his city--and he is--but it's about so much more than that, too. Absolutely worth it.

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.

Isabella Stocka

This book was a joy to read. It is fantastic!
You have action, passion, friendship, love and superheroes and villians. It is everything you ever wanted packed in one book and the best thing is, it doesn't feel too much. You won't get enough of the characters. You won't like the book to end.
I kept thinking that I'm in a movie and not reading a book because the story sucked me in in no time.
This one is great until the end and oh my, the end. I need the next volume now!

Ocean

This is the feel good superhero book everyone needs to read! The queer rep is great, the ADHD rep is amazing, and the story blew my mind. I adore Nick Bell, even though he is oblivious to literally everything. Seth Gray is the kind of beautiful and complicated character I would absolutely be friends with if he were real. Gibby and Jazz are wonderful and it made me so happy to read such a good sapphic couple! There were some unexpected twists throughout the story and I enjoyed seeing everything unfold. The ending was shocking and I need more of this story. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to escape and just enjoy a great story for a few hours.

Lisa Beasley

I adored this. The characters were so cute and really endearing, the plot while at times very obvious was great and I kind of liked facepalming at Nick sometimes lol. It had some really sweet moments, very dramatic moments, relatable moments and some moments where people around me thought I was crazy when I literally laughed out loud. Just brilliant. And that extra epilogue! OMG!

The Extraordinaries

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