A review by booklifeisthelife
The Extraordinaries by TJ Klune

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I really adored this book. I've been searching for a superhero m/m type book for awhile after reading a few I liked but couldn't manage to find one. This was recommended by a fellow book person (duh) and I'm grateful. This was more young adult than I'm used to even with the young adult genre. But I still was able to love this book. It was great. I could relate to the main character in some aspects though occasionally I found him too silly, oblivious and dense. A little too much to be realistic. I liked how (besides for what I just mentioned) real everything was. This wasn't just a superhero and supervillain book, it was so much more. It also wasn't just full of romance.

Admittedly the romance was awkward yet sweet and adorable. I can't wait to see more of it. But this book had a lot more than that just that. Again, awkward and sweet fill this relationship best too, Nick and his father. They both are trying to right by the other and wanting to care/protect the other. There is some ups and downs in their relationship, it isnt perfect but you can tell their love for each other drives so much of this story. It's so real. Then there is Nick and his struggles with adhd. He hates taking his medicine, he takes that he needs a pill to be function. He just wants to be enough on his own. His dad made mistakes during this but he learned from it and made sure Nick didn't feel like that by the end. He made sure Nick knew he was enough. So did his friends and other loved ones. That even without powers he was extraordinary. It was touching, I teared up a few times reading this. Then there is his friends, Gibby and Jazz. There is Seth too but I'll mention him later. Both of them were supporting and accepting and there for Nick through his struggles, just like Nick was for them. I'll admit Jazz was my favorite compared to Gibby. She was more..warm and caring. Not to say Gibby wasn't. But Jazz I just loved more. The way she interacted with Nick. The way she is. Both girls were great friends to Nick (and Seth.) I admired their friend group. Then Seth, Nick's best friend. Who everyone but Nick could tell was in love with him. It was so painfully obvious. It was a bit unrealistic just how dense Nick was to that but meh. Seth was Nick's favorite person in the world aside from his dad. Their relationship was endearing. I enjoyed reading their jounry, of Nick realizing his feelings. Then there was a big twist I wasn't expecting. I was sure Seth was Shadow star up until a period of time I realized he wasn't. Around when Nick punched firestone in the face. I didn't quite realize it at the time but that's when my suspicions went up. I thought Owen was firestone. It wasn't until Owen seemed genuinely surprised that Nick met up with Firestone I realized he wasn't. Then had to change my theories. After that it was kinda easy enough to figure it out. I hate that Nick doubted Seth when he found out, after everything. He had even started to suspect that maybe firestone wasn't so bad and had been doing good but he still refused to accept that Seth/firestone wasn't a villain and didn't hurt his dad even after he found out it was Seth. It was heartbreaking. I felt so bad for Seth. I'm glad Nick had friends and loved ones to slap him in the face (figuratively) and wake him up. Make him come to his senses and tell him how much of an ass he was being. Not that his feeling of sadness his best friend didn't tell him this secret isn't valid but the way he acted as if Seth was a villain and didn't do it all for him was selfish and a dick move. So I'm glad he had people around him to make him see that. And Seth. Seth was great. He did so much for Nick without Nick knowing. So self sacrificing. He loved Nick so much. I'm glad they finally got together. I also love how there was little hints here and there Nick has powers. He made the glass shatter at the first big fight he was in. I realized he was guardian, the former superhero as soon as the person in the hospital called him a guardian angel and he reacted weirdly. Kinda did suspect his pills to be some form of suppression after his dad asked if he was taking his pills after talking about wanting to be extraordinary. I did however not expect the manufacturer of the pills to be Owen's dad but it does make sense. I hate Nick's dad is in the position he is with them..he wants to do good but Owen's dad is going to make him do some bad stuff I imagine. I also didn't suspect his mom to be a superhero either. Lots of twists, good ones that made sense. I didn't love the hot/cool feelings Nick had towards Owen though. I know Owen was manipulating him but I wish Nick didn't sometimes show mixed feelings about him, like finding him hot or wanting to kiss him. That was a bit annoying to read. I enjoyed Nick's journey of self discovery, bettering himself while also realizing he's amazing how he is but needs to shape up. The loving yet awkward relationship between him and his father. The sweet, awkward but adorable and endearing relationship with his best friend, Seth. The supporting and accepting friendship he has with Jazz and Gibby. The touching relationship he has with Cap and his wife, Mary. I love how everything was so intricte and real. Even Owen, one of the main antagonistics wasn't just one dimensional. He was complex. There was no character that just felt like they were flapped into the story with no purpose and with no life. 

Anyway. I loved that this book pulled me into it and immersed me. The story, the characters, the struggles. All of it felt so real.