The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune
The Extraordinaries #1
YA Superhero Fantasy
Tor Teen | July 14, 2020
About the Book:
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.
My first thought upon completion:
Damn, TJ can write!
I admit, it was a little odd to read TJ’s snark and humor minus the curse words and lewd jokes. At first, The Extraordinaries felt slightly watered down, but just like any other Klune book I quickly invested in the life of Nicky.
Friendships, relationships, comedy… all the best parts of a story were included. We also got a fantastic, swoony, romantic young adult love story. Seth and Nicky were so goals, both as friends and as more. The patience in Seth, and the cluelessness in Nicky are two of my favorite tropes because they both lack an overwhelming angst. I’m not talking about drama either, because there was plenty of drama.
In fact, there were so many threads going on in The Extraordinaries, it felt like a full and well-rounded story. It wasn’t only about Nicky, Seth, and the superheroes. There was also a thread between Nicky and his father. There was drama between Seth and Owen… everywhere I looked there was another story with this story.
It gives me such hope for the trilogy overall.
And the cliffhanger was perfection. It left me eager for the next book, but without feeling like I’m hanging on a precipice. It didn’t feel mean, instead it felt like the best kind of foreshadowing.
It was a really good book by a really amazing author. I only wished I hadn’t been able to guess where The Extraordinaries was going to go. I figured out almost all of the reveals far before they happened, and I would have liked to be more surprised. Luckily I don’t read this author for the shock value. I read him for his heart.
The Extraordinaries had a beautiful heart.
Birdie Bookworm 
It’s such a bittersweet feeling when you can guess all the twists, right? Still, I’m so glad you enjoyed it, it sounds amazing 😍
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It is bittersweet. I mean, there’s part of me that’s disappointed I guessed it. But then, there’s another part of me who’s proud of myself. 😀
It didn’t really detract from the story. Like I said, I don’t read this author for the shock. Plus, I think maybe I was able to guess it because I’m familiar with his worldviews. 🙂
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This was my first TJ Klune book and now I’m wondering what rock I’ve been living under to never haven read his stuff before! I immediately want to read EVERYTHING he has written! I LOVED this story, it was so so good! I didn’t realize it was going to be a trilogy either but I feel like it can kinda stand as a standalone too, which is nice!
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It really can, ha! Though that last chapter from his dad’s perspective really shook things up. If you loved this one, I highly recommend Wolfsong. 😀
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Thank you I’m gonna check that one out!!!
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Wonderful review! I LOVED this book! I read The House in the Cerulean Sea earlier this year, and now The Extraordinaries… and now I need to read everything TJ! Wolfsong, Verania, How to Be — where to start?
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Oh man… that’s so hard! My three favorites are the Green Creek books, the How to Be books, and the Immemorial Year duology. (Immemorial was supposed to be longer than two books, but due to lack of sales he decided not to continue it. But the two books are FANTASTIC!). It depends on what you’re in the mood for. Green Creek is melancholy and almost haunting. How to Be is all romantic comedy. Immemorial Year is dystopian. My advice is to read How to Be a Normal Person and Wolfsong first, because in those two books you really get an idea of TJ’s range.
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Hi Birdie, so glad I found your blog again (former Twin in Book Twins :D)
I just finished the audiobook of The Extraordinaries, and had such a great time with it. So much FUN!!! ALSO I didn’t realize this was going to be a series 😍
~ Corina | The Brown Eyed Bookworm
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I’m happy to see you again! You branched off on your own?
The Extraordinaries was really good. Everything by TJ is. He’s a fantastic author. 🙂
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