Heat Wave

T J Klune writes cute/awkward, like nobody else. Moving and funny in equal measure. A young adult book that doesn’t forget the “adult” part and a wonderful finale to a trilogy that hopefully doesn’t end here . I loved this book.

This book was perfect to me. This was the ending I most desired but it gave me so much more than I actually expected. It exceeded my expectations so much that it now lives rent free in my brain and heart.
TJ Klune knows how to walk the thin line between being too much for YA and being the perfect kind of YA, because teen nowadays do think and do these things. They do, and the way Klune wrote certain scenes, was extremely hilarious and I wouldn't wish this to any teenager alive; but in writing, these scenes were exactly the perfect way to portray, for example, a boy and his dad who bought him a very embarrassing thing. I spend most of the book giggling, then of course I also worried, because this is Klune, he is a master of pain when there needs to be some. And he does it so well! The book had to perfect mix of happiness, sadness, deep conversations, twists, angst, comedy, all wrapped in one of the queerest books in existence.
I think Klune is a fantastic storyteller and the things he has in his mind need to live on pages because they're masterpieces.
I adored the friendships, the family, the romance, the over the top situations, and the most random side characters. The dad squad stole the scene and you all need a dad squad in your life! Trust me, you do!
Perfect ending of a perfect trilogy! All hail the superqueeros!

Do I lowkey want to fly to the States just so I can congratulate TJ Klune in person on how he dealt with that brutal cliffhanger from Flash Fire? Why yes, I really do. Now, for spoiler’s sake I can’t talk a lot about the plot of Heat Wave but if you remember the ending of Flash Fire, you’d think we jump right into the explanation of said plot twist. Instead, things are deceptively normal…It went so far that I questioned my own memory of what happened at the end of book two which is just – honestly, it’s so Klune to have me question my own sanity instead of wondering whether there were other forces at play. But yeah, let’s just say that the way the cliffhanger from book two is resolved is nothing short of ingenious.
Do you ever read those finales of series that give you exactly what you wanted but not in the way you expected but somehow in a better way? Yeah, that was Heat Wave for me. Honestly, this review could just be me screaming random things that would make absolutely no sense but let me just highlight the crème de la crème of this story. Beyond that cliffhanger resolution, it’s just an absolute tour de force to be reunited with Nick, Seth, Gibby and Jazz for one last time. Probably the most dramatic installment in the series, this story brings everything to a dangerous, explosive climax as old enemies return, hidden identities are exposed, the political situation of Nova City comes to an almost catastrophic close and everyone tries to figure out what they want to do after high school – you know, all while half of them are superheroes. It’s both so relatable and utterly absurd and it makes for an unputdownable story as you root for your heroes to keep the city safe once more while people actively try to rid the world of Extraordinaries altogether.
Also, Klune does not hold back in this one when it comes to humor – we get our fair share of wanting to lose consciousness because of the secondhand embarrassment one feels when Nick and his father (or other members of his ragtag group of friends) interact. I’m always lost for words whenever we have a “Dad, no” “Dad, yes” moment on our hands that makes me laugh so hard I’m clapping my hands like a seal while actual tears run down my cheeks. If you thought dental dams in Flash Fire would break you, you’re not ready for Heat Wave. Beyond a dad squad (yes, I said dad squad) forming an Avengers-esque group to…friends appearing in inopportune moments to hear things going on in the basement that they shouldn’t, this book made me lose my cool about five hundred times. All that being said though, hat’s off to Klune for putting such a big emphasis on consent and communication when it comes to things happening behind closed bedroom doors and parents giving it their all to 1) embarrass their children during ‘the talk’ while also 2) making sure that they’re prepared and don’t rush into things. I have never been this mortified and validated in the same book, jeez.
Truly, Heat Wave is a bittersweet book in the best way. It’s incredibly hard to say goodbye to this lively, fantastic group of characters, yes, but they get the hopeful, inspiring ending they’ve fought hard for and absolutely deserve.
With Klune’s trademark concoction of heart and hilarity, Heat Wave is the explosive, absurd and ingenious conclusion to the Extraordinaries trilogy. With loads of fluff, secondhand-embarrassment and a whole lot of platonic and romantic love, Heat Wave will give its characters the emotional, uplifting ending they (and the readers) deserve.

An epic finale to one of my favourite series ever. This series is so chaotic and funny and brilliant and sweet and I genuinely couldn't love it more. This, too, was a genius story that I devoured so quickly as if *that* was my superpower.

Omg how I love this series, I don't want it to end ever!!! Can I just say that the narrator, Michael Lesley, is a genius!

Nicky, Seth, Gibby, Jazz and their parental units. Back with the Lighthouse crew!

I will say first of all that this book felt different from the others, still funny but this was a bit more serious I guess. There was something up, Nicky could feel it, I thought I'd guessed it but I was wrong!!!

There were still moments that made me laugh out loud, the shop door part, the enema part, the wedding! And also Burrito Jerry is my hero! Full of action, humour and revelations, was a superb conclusion!

I have to say that even though I absolutely love Nicky, Gibby is my utter fave. She is sarcastic and cutting and everything that is right with the world!

Oh bittersweet. The end. It was perfect.

Thank you to @hodderbooks for the arc, I screamed when I got it!!!

What can I say, I adore TJ Klune, he could write his grocery list and it would be epic. It’s just fantastic, I love the tongue in cheek moments, the clear love of fandoms, fanfic, dupes, fantasy, well the whole geek/nerd world, he is the master of the awkward cute. I love how he knows how to balance a book perfectly. All the feels, the right levels of hurt, sadness, but also hope, uplifting and fun ultimately. This was the perfect end to the trilogy, not the ending you expect, but one so much better than you can imagine, sad to say goodbye to these characters, but delighted with the ending they deserve

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

To know Nick, Seth, Gibby, and Jazz is to love them and, three books later, it’s hard to let them go. I couldn’t wait to see what was next for Lighthouse but … there are no new Extraordinaries books for me to look forward to, so the only way I get to spend time with these kindred spirits again is to stalk them reread style.

“Extraordinary groupies are weird and don’t understand boundaries.”

Touché.

I’d been desperately holding on after being practically thrown off a cliff at the end of the second book and for much of the first half of this one I sharpened my ability to gaslight myself. Meanwhile, it’s business as usual for Nick which, these days, means superhero training, although he’s keen to ditch the training wheels.

“What’s the point of being an Extraordinary if I don’t get to be extraordinary?”

This book was everything I hoped it would be. It made my heart go all melty. The ante was upped on mortifying teenage moments. My need to adopt Nick’s father skyrocketed. There were a couple of misty-eyed moments of the ‘that’s so beautiful’ variety.

This book is bow ties, watermelon flavoured Skwinkles Salsagheti, code words and stabby forks. It’s also college applications, “Backflip of Chaos!”, relationship goals and villains from the past becoming villains of the present.

“You’re the bad guy. Blah, blah, blah. Heard it all before. Get some new material.”

Nick is as adorable as usual, his mouth still kicking into gear before he has time to think. Things are heating up with Seth, AKA “Sexy Sex Beast Who Looks Good in Pretty Much Everything.”

“Oh my god, what is wrong with me? I’m trying to get laid while also trying to talk you out of it? No wonder I’m a virgin.”

Gibby and Jazz are as badass as ever. And don’t get me started on Dad Squad. Hello, spin-off potential! Bonus points if Burrito Jerry is there too.

I’m having trouble coming up with sentences to tell you how much I love this series but if you’d seen how often I smiled while I was reading each book, you’d have a pretty good idea. These characters have taken up residence in my heart and it’s been an absolute joy getting to tag along as they make their world a better place. I’m more convinced than ever that I need a catchphrase.

“It’s time to take out the trash.”

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book.

I have never been more satisfied with how a story has ended than with this masterpiece...my life is complete, thank you T.J Klune

Thank you also Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review