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.
Hardcover edition comes with an exclusive, reversible jacket!
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.
At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Amazon US
Audible US
I’m going to start this review with the things I normally don’t do. I normally don’t read YA, like really ever. I normally don’t read an ebook, and then immediately listen to the audio (Audio takes WAAAAYYYYY more time). I don’t normally read much in the superhero genre. These are the things that I normally don’t do when it comes to my reading habits. Reading Habits meet The Extraordinaries…you are about to be crushed under a mighty thumb.
This was such a sweet, but well written book. I loved the MC’s. Nick and Seth were just so perfect together, as best friends, but also as future loves of each other’s lives. The “side” characters were just a much of the story as Nick and Seth. Gibby and her cheerleader girlfriend Jazz. And Nick’s police officer father, Aaron Bell. (I do believe that TJ is going to address police issues with regards to the current unrest and Nick’s father in an upcoming book, if that is a concern). All in all, this was a fun swing through super hero worlds, finding what makes one extraordinary, and that healing wounds that no one saw coming is an ongoing process.
I didn’t want to write up a review for The Extraordinaries, after reading it, until I listened to Michael Lesley’s narration. He has a fantastic ability to get right into TJ Klune’s characters, and create small little details that the reader might not see in an MC otherwise. I just enjoyed his narration so much for this story. Michael Lesley brought these characters to life for me! It is so obvious when he narrates that he enjoys every minute of what he is doing, and what he is reading. It was great fun to enjoy the book right along with him
Overall, this was such a pleasant surprise for me, a non YA, non super hero and non back to back read/listen person, that I just didn’t want it to end. But hopefully, we will see more of what makes these characters extraordinary in the future.
Story: 4.5 pieces of eye candy
Narration: 4.5 pieces of eye candy