A contemporary YA romance with a paranormal twist: what happens when in between trying to decide which boy is the right boy, a girl finds out the funeral home her family owns might be haunted?

Elaine’s home is a bit . . . different. It’s a funeral home that has been in her family since the 1800s–and it’s why everyone calls her Funeral Girl. And even though she’s lived there her whole life, there are still secrets to be found.

When Xander, a cute new boy with a penchant for ghost hunting, arrives in town, Elaine feels an instant spark. His daring and spontaneous ways help her go from Funeral Girl to Fun Girl. Then there’s Miles, Elaine’s oldest friend, who she’s starting to see in a completely new light.

After Xander convinces her to stage a seance one night, Elaine discovers that her home might be haunted by a kindred spirit–the daughter of the funeral home’s original owner. But who wants to be haunted by the dead when there are boys to spend time with? After all, you only live once. . . .

Review:

This book’s blurb captured my attention right away: a girl who works at a haunted funeral home and captures the interest of a young ghost hunter? Count me in!

Grave Things Like Love is aYA romance novel with just a touch of the paranormal that follows Elaine (aka “Funeral Girl”), who is expected to take over the family funeral business from her parents. She’s not too keen on the idea but has resigned herself to having her future planned out for her. Things change, however, when a young man named Xander comes into town — an intense and attractive boy who is determined to make a name for himself as a ghost hunter. Elaine attracts his attention, and the two begin spending more and more time together, much to the chagrin of her best friend, Miles and her parents.

Now, if you’re going into this expecting a straight-up ghost story, you might be disappointed. The actual ghost encounters play only a small part in the plot. Instead, the story mainly explores Elaine as she begins to discover who she is and who she wants to be and, through Xander’s influence, realizes that she does have choices and can make her own life decisions, even if it means stepping away from her family. All of this, combined with Elaine’s dating dilemmas, lead to quite a bit of high drama. In fact, after a series of bad decisions, Elaine ends up in quite a bit of hot water and soon finds herself in over her head.

Let me also mention that there’s also a bit of a love triangle in the story. Now, typically, I’m not a fan of this plot device, but it was handled exceptionally well in the novel, and I didn’t mind it here at all.

All in all, Grave Things Like Love was a cute YA contemporary with just a whisper of the paranormal. I thought the author did a fantastic job weaving through the intricacies of family expectations, leading to a fun, engaging story with a fair amount of angst. I also enjoyed the tantalizing glimpse into the everyday life of funeral directors, which added an extra compelling element to the story. Recommended!

England, fall 1993. Sent against his will, Owen Appletoff arrives at Little Rock boarding school from his hometown of San Diego. Within its high walls awaits Taylor, his handsome golden-haired roommate, with whom a strong friendship quickly blossoms. Meanwhile, Daniel, the sexy school bully, lends a watchful eye to the school’s newest arrival. As the days go by, any harmony Owen sought is torn apart by the strange visions haunting his dreams. The kelpie, a spirit of ancient Celtic legend, has marked him out as a target. In a school where things are not quite as they first appear and everyone seems to be hiding something, Owen, Taylor, and Daniel must put aside their differences to unravel the mysteries of Little Rock.

Review

Full of dark menace and sinister undertones, Little Rock takes place in 1993 and follows Owen Appleton, a new student at a boarding school who is attending against his will. He is, as of yet, confused about his sexuality and finds himself developing romantic feelings for his roommate, Daniel. To add to his confusion, he’s also sexually attracted to the school bully/bad boy Daniel and begins developing romantic feelings for him as well. Normally, I’m not a fan of love triangles, but I enjoyed the way the author handled it in this novel. I soon found myself rooting for the boy I hoped Daniel would choose.

But alas, Little Rock is not solely about a boy falling in love. Daniel soon begins to have nightmares and even visions about a Kelpie, a shape-changing aquatic spirit of Scottish Legend, often in the shape of a horse or with the skull of a horse. The spirit is said to haunt rivers and streams. Daniel soon hears murmurs about a student who had drowned in the lake the year prior, and many say it was a Kelpie that killed him. As Daniel’s nightmares intensify, he is certain that the Kelpie is now targeting him and that perhaps his days are numbered.

This was the first story I’ve ever read that featured a Kelpie, and I feel this really added a compelling element to the narrative. In this way, the author takes the fantasy genre and turns it into something interesting and new — at least, for me. I loved how the author ratchets up the menace, as the narrative turns a bit dark, with an overall sense of foreboding, hints of menace, and a nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

In telling the story, the author touches on some tough themes, such as bullying, abuse, murder, and more, though the author handles them with sensitivity. I enjoyed journeying with Daniel, Owen, and Taylor as they navigate a dark and twisting path, investigating old Celtic legends and unearthing dark secrets about their school. All three characters were distinct in their own ways, and I loved seeing their relationships play out on the page.

Let me also add that the original version of this book was much more graphic and much darker than this latest version. The author informed me that he had made some significant updates to the story and had removed the most disturbing sections of it. Thus, you may read earlier reviews that speak of these now absent scenes. Though the story in its current form does touch upon some dark topics, there are no gruesome, gory, or especially disturbing explicit scenes (or at least from my perspective).

All in all, I really enjoyed this unique story. It was heartbreaking in places, a tad disturbing but ultimately hopeful. I like how the tension, drama, and surprising denouement bring this unorthodox novel home to a pretty compelling and satisfying conclusion, and though the story takes place in 1993, I enjoyed how the flowing prose added a gothic, old-timey feel to it. Recommended!

A huge thank you to Álex Beltrán and BookSirens for providing me with a review copy of this book.

Blue is having a hard time moving on. He’s in love with his best friend. He’s also dead. Luckily, Hamal can see ghosts, leaving Blue free to haunt him to his heart’s content. But something eerie is happening in town, leaving the local afterlife unsettled, and when Blue realizes Hamal’s strange ability may be putting him in danger, Blue has to find a way to protect him, even if it means… leaving him.

Review

What a fun, sweet little paranormal romance this was! The story follows Hamal, a young gardener who sees ghosts, and one of the ghosts who has attached himself to Hamal is a young man named Blue. It doesn’t take long for Blue to start falling for Hamal. But things turn a bit dangerous when Hamal’s ability catches the attention of an otherworldly being.

Though there was a tinge of horror to the story, it was mostly a sweet queer love story that I ended up loving. The art is quite stunning, and I loved how the author seamlessly combined words and pictures into such a delightful yet layered narrative that ended up being surprisingly profound. Young is a skillful artist, and the way in which they manage to show, capture and evoke emotions via their panels is impressive. I also thought the whimsical art did a lovely job of being appropriately atmospheric and expressive through the green and blue color palette (and the grey and brown color palette when the story becomes a bit scarier). The diverse characters were an added plus.

All in all, this was an incredibly moving, meaningful, and beautiful story with an ultra-sweet narrative that I loved. I hope the author creates other stories set in this world.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.

After spending most of high school as the quiet girl, Ellie Kobata is ready to take some risks and have a life-changing summer, starting with her Anti-Wallflower List—thirteen items she’s going to check off one by one. She’s looking forward to riding rollercoasters, making her art Instagram public (maybe), and going on an epic road-trip with her best friend Lia.

But when number four on Ellie’s list goes horribly wrong—revenge on Jack Yasuda—she’s certain her summer has gone from charmed to cursed. Instead of a road trip with Lia, Ellie finds herself stuck in a car with Jack driving to a magical convention. But as Ellie and Jack travel down the coast of California, number thirteen on her list—fall in love—may be happening without her realizing it.

In The Charmed List, Julie Abe sweeps readers away to a secret magical world, complete with cupcakes and tea with added sparks of joy, and an enchanted cottage where you can dance under the stars.

Review

What a delightful witchy book this was! It was just the kind of story I was looking for. The Charmed List follows our main character Ellie Kobata, a “magic-aware” shy high school student who is a bit of a wallflower and prefers to be “invisible.” She also used to be best friends with Jack Yasuda, but after Jack ghosted her and humiliated her at school, they’ve been enemies ever since.

Ellie is on the verge of leaving on a summer road trip with her best friend, Lia. Determined to no longer remain invisible and let life pass her by, Ellie has also created an ‘anti-wallflower list’ containing 13 items that she wants to complete over the summer, including dancing under the stars and kissing a boy, and getting revenge on Jack Yasuda. However, her vengeance scheme doesn’t go according to plan and instead lands her in plenty of hot water with both their parents. As punishment, Ellie’s and Lia’s trip is canceled, and instead, Ellie and Jack have to travel together to a Magical Convention where both their families will be selling their wares.

They reluctantly agree to bury the hatchet and attempt to get along during the trip. But as the journey progresses (including stops in a Magical Village and at a Magical Hotel), Ellie begins to realize how much she’s missed having Jack in her life. Moreover, her feelings for him may be shifted from enemy to…something more, something different than before.

I tend to enjoy road trip books (especially the forced proximity kind), and this one was super fun. I loved the witchy vibe to this story, rendering it a magical reading experience. The friends-to-lovers aspect was exceptionally well done, and I adored the lovely relationship that developed between Ellie and Jack, evolving into something more than the friendship they once had experienced. It’s also worth mentioning that some hidden secrets and non-evident family dynamics are revealed as we move through the pages.

The Charmed List ended up being such a heartfelt and whimsical story about feeling: feeling love, feeling friendship, feeling magical, leading to the inevitable conclusion that the one reason there are walls around us is that we put them there ourselves. That being said, I loved the characters of both Ellie and Jack and found them to be believable and relatable, and charming. In addition, I thought the world-building was exceptional and enjoyed the easy-to-understand magic system that the author created.

All in all, this book is a delightful friends-to-enemies-to-lover romp that I’m so glad came to my attention. The author’s lush writing gives way to a sweet and endearing tale of love and forgiveness ―all with just a hint of magic—and I loved this book through and through. A wonderful, heart-tugger of a love story for anyone who enjoys a sweet love story with a dash of magical realism thrown in.

A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing a review copy of this novel. Expected publication date is July 5, 2022.

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Sixteen-year-old Dylan Highmark thought his winter was going to be full of boring shifts at the Dairy Queen, until he finds himself in love with a boy who’s literally too hot to handle.

Dylan has always wanted a boyfriend, but the suburbs surrounding Philadelphia do not have a lot in the way of options. Then, in walks Jordan, a completely normal (and undeniably cute) boy who also happens to run at a cool 110 degrees Fahrenheit. When the boys start spending time together, Dylan begins feeling all kinds of ways, and when he spikes a fever for two weeks and is suddenly coughing flames, he thinks he might be suffering from something more than just a crush. Jordan forces Dylan to keep his symptoms a secret. But as the pressure mounts and Dylan becomes distant with his closest friends and family, he pushes Jordan for answers. Jordan’s revelations of why he’s like this, where he came from, and who’s after him leaves Dylan realizing how much first love is truly out of this world. And if Earth supports life that breathes oxygen, then love can only keep Jordan and Dylan together for so long.

Review

I love queer superhero books, so I was super excited when this book crossed my path. It follows a lonely and somewhat anxious sixteen-year-old gay kid named Dylan Highmark who is awestruck when a cute but mysterious boy named Jordan comes into the Dairy Queen where Dylan works. Jordan is different from most boys in that he is very hot — hot as in he runs at 110 degrees Fahrenheit and can shoot fire from his hands.

As Dylan and Jordan get to know each other, we learn that Jordan’s power is the result of an accident that killed his parents, and now, he’s on the run from an evil corporation out to kidnap him so their scientists can perform experiments on him. But when a new complication arises, they have to fight not only to find each other again but also to stay alive.

This fast-paced story drew me in almost immediately, and I had fun getting to know Jordan and Dylan. They were so cute together, with a phenomenal romantic chemistry between them. I appreciated the witty and fun banter between them and the character growth they both experienced as the events unfolded.

Additionally, the book touched on many important themes such as romance, first love, secrets, friendship, enemies vs. allies, and family, all of which were well done by the author. The book especially focused on the various friendships in the book – old friends, new friendships, and unlikely friendships, all the while examining the sometimes challenging relationship dynamics therein. That being said, this is a beautiful story about love and friendship and how they can spring up in the most unlikely of places. Thus, alongside this engaging story, the author also gives us an incredible cast of characters.

The book contained a compelling and engaging mystery that kept me frantically reading until the end. I loved how the author ratcheted up the tension as the suspense and intrigue continued to build and build until the final climax. Brian Zepka really nails the teenage voice in this story. He seems to really understand the teenage soul—the longing, the self-awareness, the anxiety, the awkwardness, the challenges, the confusion. I would definitely love to see more future books with Dylan and Jordan in them.

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A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.

This was such a fun, witchy, and ghosty read! It follows our main character Yadriel, a sixteen-year-old Latinx boy born into a family of witches or “Brujos and Brujas.” He’s hoping to partake in a ceremony in which he’ll become an office Brujo, a ritual overseen by Lady Death herself. However, the problem is that his traditional family is having a difficult time accepting his gender, and they deny him the ceremony.

So Yadriel, determined to prove to himself and to his family that he’s a real Brujo, performs the ritual himself. But to be a true Brujo, he needs to find a ghost and set it free. He decides to summon the spirit of his murdered cousin Miguel; however, the summoning didn’t quite go as he planned, and he ends up summoning Julian Diaz, the school’s snarky resident bad boy. Julian refuses to break set free until he can find out what happened to him, how he died. Yadriel has no choice but to help the rebellious boy because the sooner he finds out what happened to Julian, the sooner he can release him and become an official Brujo. But the more time he spends with Julian, the more he wants him to stay.

Oh, and there’s also an evil villain who may or may not bring about the end of the world.

This was such a clever and unique plot with a compelling mystery to solve as well. I also loved the developing relationship between Yadriel and Julian, and there was plenty of witty banter and bickering between them that had me laughing out loud several times. I truly enjoyed the dynamic between these two characters — they just felt so genuine to me as well as purposeful.

But I will say that my heart broke for Yadriel, who desperately craved to be accepted by his family and his community. Though his family wasn’t unlikable by any means, they were extremely traditional, so Yadriel had quite a task in tearing down those patriarchal walls built up over generations and show them that you can combine the traditional with the modern. Though, to be fair, they did use his chosen name and his correct pronouns, but some traditions were so firmly entrenched that they were unwilling to budge.

Though the book’s overall tone was light, the author touched on some serious and heartbreaking themes, such as homophobia, transphobia, deadnaming, misgendering, gang violence, teen homelessness, child abuse, deportation, and racism. So that being said, there were definitely some difficult and heartbreaking moments in the story.

Now, I love books about Latinx culture, identity, and mythology, so I enjoyed learning about this family of witches who lives in a cemetery and who commune with the local spirits, setting them free when necessary. I especially enjoyed reading about Yadriel’s family and their history and journeying along with them as they prepared for the Día de Muertos celebration.

That being said, I loved the book’s heavy focus on family and friendship. Additionally, though Yadriel being trans is the basis of the plot, the book is not solely about his difficulties in that regard, but at its core, Cemetery Boys is a lovely romance between a boy and a ghost, a romance which was extremely well-done in my opinion.

All in all, I thought this book was a wonderfully diverse, affirming, atmospheric, and well-written paranormal urban fantasy with delightful characters and a heart-warming slow-burn romance. I sure hope this author continues to write and look forward to seeing what they’ll come out with in the future.

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This is the latest offering by Justin A. Reynolds, an author whose work I always enjoy. It’s difficult to classify this book…I was thinking maybe magical realism? But on second thought, I think I’d go with contemporary with a touch of sci-fi.

So the story follows a young man named Jamal. He once had a best friend named Q (which was short for Quinn), but we learn right away that somehow Jamal blames Q for his parents’ death two years earlier and hasn’t spoken to Q since the funeral. Now Q resents Jamal and feels abandoned by him, so we have a very messy relationship dynamic.

So one night, Jamal is walking by the water, and he hears a cry for help. He dives in to rescue the person, and of course, it’s Q. He begins dragging Q to shore but ends up losing strength on the way. He makes it, but Q is unconscious but alive. Jamal heads to the hospital, where he learns that Q has died.

But that’s not the end of our story because, you see, there is a new technology that would allow Q to be reanimated — that is to say, to be brought back to life with no memory of his death or of what happened to him. But there’s a catch: he’ll only be alive for a short time: a couple of weeks max, maybe only days, and once that time has passed, he’s gone for good.

Jamal discusses this possibility with Q’s mom, and she agrees to have the people in charge of this technology — it’s not the doctors at the hospital — bring Q back to life. But there is a stipulation: nobody is to tell Q that he died nor that his days are numbered.

I love redemption stories, and that’s kind of what we have here as Jamal has one more chance to make things right with Q. What’s interesting is that in so doing, Jamal ends up creating a new type of family that supports him and surrounds him with love. I thought this aspect of the story was incredibly moving. So we have a significant focus on friendship and family in the novel as well as forgiveness.

My huge takeaway from this story was how we are all on limited time with the people we love, and now is the time to focus on making these relationships and the moments of our life count. So imagine how you would do if you only have a few days left? We definitely see the importance here of “seizing the day.”

But I will say that this story is incredibly sad, so be sure to have tissues handy. This is kind of like “They Both Die at The End” by Adam Silvera in that we know how it’s all going to turn out, and I knew there’d no way I wouldn’t tear up at the end. The book is beautiful, happy, and heartfelt but also, of course, heartbreaking as well. I loved this story. I loved the entire premise of this story where a grieving young man gets a second chance to say goodbye to someone he lost and maybe even make up for some of his mistakes.

This story certainly provides a lot to think about and contemplate, such as how forgiveness can not be expected or assumed but only hoped for and, of course, the importance of living life to the fullest now because…you never know. With that in mind, it’s a reminder not to waste our time being angry and resentful with others. I remember a speaker once said that being angry about something that happened in the past is like investing in a mausoleum – it will never pay off.

This may be one of those books that I’ll need to reread at some point. It totally surprised me how it wasn’t really about death, but instead was a celebration of life, friendship, and family,

Another new favorite book by Justin a Reynolds. I love this author!

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This book is kind of difficult to classify. It’s kind of a speculative fiction, alternate reality, paranormal murder mystery, I guess.

The world in the story is pretty identical to ours except that it is no stranger to magic, and discussions about monsters, magic, and ghosts, and heroes of legends are not unusual. There are also vampires who’ve pretty much been accepted by society and even fairy rings, which serve as a mode of transportation.

Our tale follows a young Lipan Apache girl named Elatsoe, who has the ability to raise the ghosts of animals. She even has a ghost dog named Kirby as a companion. This skill has been passed down to her through the women in her family. In fact, her six-great grandmother was quite a legendary hero. We learn that Elatsoe’s cousin Trevor has just been killed in an automobile accident, but he appears to her in her dreams and informs her that his death was no accident. He even names his murderer: a man in Willowbee called Abe Allerton and asks Elatsoe to ensure that justice is done and protect his family.

She ends up investigating the odd little town where her cousin’s murderer lives and, in the process, unearths some pretty dark secrets, and she soon discovers that the murderer is a key figure in a much larger and more dangerous conspiracy.

I especially loved this book because of the numerous indigenous stories that everyone told and how they were seamlessly intertwined with the plot. It’s clear that the concept of “story” is a key theme in this book, and I enjoyed how the stories about “Six-Great” rendered her immortal. I especially loved the tales about her and her ghostly mammoth.

Ellie’s character is also so lovable and real. She’s strong, delightfully nerdy confident, and never doubts her ability to succeed. Her touch of sarcasm and biting wit endeared her all the more to me. She’s also proudly asexual, so I enjoyed that rep in this story. What also really worked for me in this novel was the strong circle of support that Elatsoe has around her, including her parents, her friends, her ever-faithful, and protective ghost dog. Oh, and I absolutely adored her relationship with the ghost dog.

All of the secondary characters are well-fleshed out and vivid, and I enjoyed getting to know all of them. There were also quite riveting in their own right, such as her Fey friend and another character — I think it was her friend’s sister — who’s in love with and hopes to marry a vampire. Additionally, I loved the fact that no matter how far out Elatsoe’s experiences are, her parents and friend never doubt her or question her. At no point does anyone think she’s lying or fail to show her the utmost respect.

This book has a plethora of riveting themes such as grief, loss, family, the exploitation and genocide of indigenous people, colonialism, murder, greed, racism, and so much more. The fact that this was a book focused on Indigenous culture and its traditions was a huge plus for me. We got to see those traditions firsthand in the everyday life of Elosoe and her family.

So yes, this was a wonderfully written magical story with phenomenal world-building and a cast of realistic characters.

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Blurb:

Xochital is destined to wander the desert alone, speaking her troubled village’s stories into its arid winds. Her only companions are the blessed stars above and enimagic lines of poetry magically strewn across dusty dunes.

Her one desire: to share her heart with a kindred spirit.

One night, Xo’s wish is granted—in the form of Emilia, the cold and beautiful daughter of the town’s murderous mayor. But when the two set out on a magical journey across the desert, they find their hearts could be a match… if only they can survive the nightmare-like terrors that arise when the sun goes down.

Review:

The story follows Xochitl, who lives in Empalme in Central America. Since she was eight years old, she has filled the role of the “cuentista” of her village, which is sort of a sin-eater. She has the power to “take in” the villagers’ stories and, later, deliver those stories to Solís, their god. Giving their stories to a cuentista removes the burden of their transgressions, guilt, and secrets from the villagers, in essence, freeing their conscience in the process. So in taking their stories, Xochitl refreshes them, unburdens them, and cleanses them. Once Xochitl gives the story back to Solís in the desert through a ritual, she no longer remembers any of the story that was given to her, though she is utterly drained, exhausted and forgetful for quite some time afterward.

After a particularly horrendous and brutal event in her village, Xochitl decides to head out into the desert to find her true self — to try and discover her place in the world. Along the way, she encounters all sorts of unusual beings, some human, some magical.

She ends up traveling with a girl named Emilia, which may seem surprising given that Emilia is the daughter of the brutal, murderous man who terrorized Xochitl’s entire village. In the beginning, neither woman trusts the other, but they slowly warm to each other as they progress along their perilous journey.

It’s also worth mentioning that this is a post-apocalyptic story, in that the world was burned by Solís, an event referred to as La Quema. This event is considered to be Solís’s wrath/curse upon humanity. Thus, the majority of the story takes place in the desert, and the author does an excellent job of taking the reader along with our characters into this harsh environment. The setting is vivid, intense, and atmospheric, and we really get a sense of the desperation, sadness, and mistrust of the people of the various villages that were ravaged by the angry god’s fire. In this way, I found the world-building to be phenomenal.

I loved Xochitl’s character arc throughout the story as she ends up being quite a different person by the end of the book — strong, brave, and resilient. Moreover, she learns that just because a story/belief has been passed down to you, doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s true. In the process, Xochitl discovers, in an eye-opening way, that though a belief or an idea can extend through generations and across different lands, the actuality of that idea may be different from culture to culture and from village to village. And it is this aspect of the story I found especially riveting. In this way, our main character learns that things are not always what they seem, and there may be more than one “right” way of viewing a situation, thus challenging her belief system in the process.

As Xochitl and Emilia journeyed through the desert, several different themes and lessons unfold in the story, such as freedom, the power of stories, sacrifice, responsibility, human shortcomings, the coexistence of different belief systems and destiny. I really enjoy stories centered around the idea and power of “story,” and this novel was no exception. I loved how the story focused on not just our own personal stories but how those stories fit in with the stories of our community and of our land.

Additionally, I found the prose to be utterly beautiful — ethereal and flowing. I thought that the substantial inclusion of Spanish words added to the authentic feel of this story, though it did send me running to my Spanish dictionary many times. I imagine some people may find this aspect of the book a bit off-putting as not every Spanish word’s meaning is clear from the context. So the reader may have to put in a bit of work.

The LGBTQ+ relationship in this story was such a beautiful, slow burn, and though it was by no means the main point of the story, it was satisfying and a joy to read.

All in all, I really loved this powerful story. Though I found the ending a tad abrupt, overall, Each of Us a Desert is an ambitious, unique, and at times heartbreaking novel with compelling characters and lush, gorgeous writing. This is my first Mark Oshiro novel, and I hope to read more of his work.

Each of Us a Desert will be release on September 15, 2020 though it is available now for preorder.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a review copy of this novel.

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The story follows our main character Nick Bell, a high school junior with ADHD who lives alone with his father, a police officer.

They reside in Nova City, a city of superheroes (who are called “Extraordinaries”) and Nick is a die-hard fan of one particular local superhero: Shadow Star (and Nick harbors a not-so-secret crush on the superhero). Nick spends his days writing fan fiction about Shadow Star and his arch-nemesis Pyro Storm. Nick’s best friend Seth, how also happens to be super cute (and may or may not be a potential love interest), beta-reads all of Nick’s writings.

Nick is crushing pretty seriously on Shadow Storm, and that crush becomes even more exacerbated after Nick has a real live encounter with the superhero. After that encounter, Nick decides he’s going to do whatever it takes to become an “Extraordinary” himself — that is to say, to somehow morph into a superhero.

But when the battle between Shadow Star and Pyro Storm escalates to epic proportions, Nick is thrust right in the center of it.

I loved this book on so many different levels. First off, the humor and banter was superb and caused me to cackle out loud several times. The author’s witty and clever use of language also succeeded in bringing a smile to my face all throughout the story. It was so much fun following along with Nick and his friends as Nick learned not only about himself but also about the superheroes that he worships. I fell in love with the fumbly, clueless, bumbling Nick with all of his flaws and shortcomings, rendering him utterly endearing and adorable. I enjoyed how everything he did seemed to land him in hot water.

Nick’s voice grabbed me instantly, with sharp humor and tender growing up moments, and didn’t let go until the very last page. This is openhearted storytelling at its best. Humor is often tough for me, but I felt the author really nailed it here. The fluffy romantic aspect of the story — notably the angsty (and sometimes infuriating) mutual pining between two of the characters — really warmed my heart and found myself rooting for them to get together right from the get-go.

I loved the positive LGBTQ+ and ADHD representation in this queer coming-of-age tale about a lovable boy with ADHD. The secondary characters, many of whom are also queer, were also equally amazing. There’s Seth who is bisexual; we have Gibby (the badass) and Jazz (former popular girl), the two lesbian best friends of both Nick and Seth who are also romantically involved with each other; and then there’s Nick’s ex-boyfriend Owen who continues to thrust himself into Nick’s circle of friends and who, as we learn later on in the story, has some pretty serious issues of his own to contend with.

Speaking of serious issues, at first glance, The Extraordinaries seems like a fun, lighthearted romp but as is typical for a TJ Klune novel, it delves into some pretty serious topics such as grief, ADHD, death of a parent, loss, self-discovery, complicated relationships, self-esteem and perhaps most importantly, self-acceptance all of which were handled expertly by the author.

The author, whom I believe is neurodiverse himself, masterfully portrays Nick’s struggles with ADHD, such as his difficulty concentrating, his chaotic thoughts, his challenges at school, and how his verbal “filter” doesn’t always come to his rescue. Additionally, the author nicely illustrates the strain that ADHD can cause in one’s relationships. But that being said, the author does give Nick a fantastic circle of support in both his father and his friends.

All in all, I found The Extraordinaries to be a delightful, poignant novel that’s heartbreaking in places, angsty in others but with exciting twists and surprises along the way. As is typical of this author’s work, I was immediately captivated by the superlative writing and remained riveted throughout the entire novel. The characters were not only compelling but also relatable, and no doubt, many people will be able to see themselves in the characters on these pages. I felt it was the perfect blend between lightheartedness and seriousness. I absolutely loved this little gem of a novel and found it wildly entertaining with its secret identities, its mysteries, and its tender coming-of-age.

The book did leave the possibility for a sequel, and I hope the author continues on with this delightful world and these delightful characters.

A huge thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy of this book.

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