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Wren Martin Ruins It All
Now that Wren Martin is student council president (on a technicality, but hey, it counts) he’s going to fix Rapture High. His first order of abolish the school’s annual Valentine’s Day dance, a drain on the school’s resources and general social nightmare—especially when you’re asexual.
His greatest Leo Reyes, vice president and all-around annoyingly perfect student. Leo has a solution to Wren’s budget problem—a sponsorship from Buddy, the anonymous “not a dating” app sweeping the nation. Now instead of a danceless senior year, Wren is in charge of the biggest dance Rapture High has ever seen. He’s even secretly signed up for the app. For research, of course.
But when Wren develops capital F-Feelings for his anonymous match, things spiral out of control. Wren decided a long time ago that dating while asexual wasn’t worth the hassle. With the big night rapidly approaching, he isn’t sure what will kill him the dance, his relationship drama, or the growing realization that Leo’s perfect life might not be so perfect after all.
In an unforgettably quippy and endearingly chaotic voice, narrator Wren Martin explores the complexities of falling in love while asexual.
His greatest Leo Reyes, vice president and all-around annoyingly perfect student. Leo has a solution to Wren’s budget problem—a sponsorship from Buddy, the anonymous “not a dating” app sweeping the nation. Now instead of a danceless senior year, Wren is in charge of the biggest dance Rapture High has ever seen. He’s even secretly signed up for the app. For research, of course.
But when Wren develops capital F-Feelings for his anonymous match, things spiral out of control. Wren decided a long time ago that dating while asexual wasn’t worth the hassle. With the big night rapidly approaching, he isn’t sure what will kill him the dance, his relationship drama, or the growing realization that Leo’s perfect life might not be so perfect after all.
In an unforgettably quippy and endearingly chaotic voice, narrator Wren Martin explores the complexities of falling in love while asexual.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
67 people are currently reading
8337 people want to read
About the author
Amanda DeWitt
4 books299 followersAmanda DeWitt is an author and librarian, ensuring that she spends as much time as books as possible. She also enjoys Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragon-ing, and also writing, just not whatever it is she really should be writing. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a Masters in Information and Library Science. She lives in Clearwater, Florida with her dogs, cats, and assortment of chickens. Aces Wild: A Heist is her debut novel.
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December 27, 2023
Sometimes you have to say things you don’t want to. You can finally push the words out, but that doesn’t mean you don’t desperately want to pull them back in.
As a story trying to present different themes and storylines usual YA stories don’t show, Wren Martin Ruins It All succeeds at becoming a new and refreshing voice for YA LGBTQ+ fiction. However, as YA story trying to show some romance, I believe the romance it attempted to deliver was lacking, and its execution failed.
To say I’ve been excited about this would be an understatement. I initially became interested in this only because of the asexual representation, so of course, I had to give this a chance as soon as I could. Despite my disappointment, the story as a whole is a winner in my eyes, considering my biggest issue is on the romance only. From the asexual representation to the friendships, to the main character of Wren himself, as well as handling the sub-themes the story has, in no way do I regret patiently waiting for this to become available at my library.
Being in Wren’s head was entertaining and my favorite part of this. Witty, sarcastic, and highly amusing, I don’t think this author missed a single beat with his persona. His attitude is highly comical, and the author’s writing is stellar in keeping the reader entertained with his behavior. His 17-year-old teenage self is realistic and relatable, even at my twenty-three years old. Not overly angsty, but still a little concerning with unfortunate circumstances and events caused by teenagers in high school. Yet, I’m happy to note that Wren has character development, which had been missing in the previous YA stories I’ve read recently. Despite how little he wanted to do it, I loved seeing him acknowledge and accept his wrongdoings. It’s easy to root for him because he’s willing to learn from his mistakes without making a big deal about it. His inner monologue was hilarious, always offering a new form of laughter, never dry and flat. Even though I ignore points of view, the first-person single-pov here worked great. The narration is fantastic, and the author never changes Wren’s voice for the sake of it.
Some of my favorite quotes from my highlights:
If this calculates matches based on star sign, I’m going to throw my phone out the window. It’s not my fault I’m a Capricorn.
No, the elections were at the end of last year, when she was blessedly still in middle school. I didn’t appreciate those days enough when I still had them.
She looks as unenthused to see me as ever when I step into her classroom, probably because she wants to get this over with and go home as badly as I do. I especially get this impression when she straightens her papers and says, “Let’s get this over with so we can go home.”
What can I say? I’m perceptive.
I don’t think everything is about me. I like it when things aren’t about me. It’s just that everyone else keeps dragging me into things.
If everyone did things right in the first place, I wouldn’t have to be involved at all.
Why is Leo emailing me? I don’t want any email that isn’t offering me something for free, or at least a coupon.
Some people (freaks) run to alleviate stress. Some do crossword puzzles or read a book or any number of semi-productive things. I, it seems, send cat videos to strangers. We all cope in different ways, I guess.
“Uh, hello,” I say, belatedly leaning closer to the mic. My voice echoes around me. God, do I really sound like that or is it just the school’s cheap audio equipment?
“Why doesn’t it make sense, Wren?” Leo prompts helpfully. “Use more words.”
Words and I ended our working relationship around fourth period. Now we’re not even on speaking terms.
Dante was wrong when he wrote about the circles of hell—one of them is definitely a high school dance.
It’s horrible, but I’ll drink anything caffeinated when the sun hasn’t even risen yet.
He is me; I am him.
Also, huge props to the author for balancing many themes in this story without overindulging or using them for characterization only. There are themes of grief, growing up, family pressure, obligations, coming of age, college, and more. The people around Wren are an additional layer to Wren’s life—his best friend Ryan and her loud, hilarious self; his father, who is trying his best to be a single parent moving on; his teachers, who, in my opinion, didn’t always show support in the best way but sadly high school teachers never do (at least where I’m from; and of course, Wren’s opponent, who he ends up realizing is not who Wren thought he was (when are they ever?), Leo Reyes. The author also doesn’t make an unnecessarily big deal about Wren’s asexuality. Instead, it is a part of Wren and makes a big part of him, but it doesn’t define him. It was nice to see Wren know who he was without insulting himself, making him come off as someone who believes he’s “not normal,” for lack of a better word. There are a few incidents that show us how asexuality is something he feels is a burden, but, again, from how I saw it, the author never wrote it off in a stereotypical, insulting manner. It was a part of Wren without being written off for characterization but instead to show a refreshing, authentic voice. His need to be labeled was refreshingly realistic. I, too, need to figure out what label suits and fits me to accept it. Not that I use the label all the time to describe myself, but personally, it helps me settle into a box because I know what I’m feeling or who I love isn’t just my own and instead is something many people can fit into as well.
The friendship between Leo and Wren, as a whole, is a favorite of mine. I loved witnessing their one-sided hate and one-sided pining. With Wren hating Leo and Leo secretly harboring a crush on Wren, it made for the perfect unrequited romance. While this part of the story could have fooled me, seeing their alliance and friendship growing was delightful. We slowly see how Wren notices things about Leo he hasn’t noticed before and changes his perspective on him due to previous judgment. Compared to adult romances, this nailed it much better on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Wren’s reasons are juvenile, sure, but what teenage reasons aren’t? Plus, we see him reject his feelings in the beginning; their moments create an awkward sense for Wren, and we see his dialogue show some slight disgust for Leo. I consider myself a critic of this trope, but because this is YA, it was easier to accept and understand where the hate was coming from. It didn’t last long, which is still unfortunate, but with Wren’s dialogue and inner monologue and how he honestly didn’t like Leo that way but was still willing to change how he felt, I could pass it off quicker.
I’m afraid of getting rejected. Easy. And pretty reasonable, I think. I don’t want someone to look at me and tell me my sexuality is a deal breaker. I don’t want to be pressured or to be a disappointment. I want to be Wren and I want that to be enough, and that’s not going to happen.
That said, one word is appropriate enough to describe the romance in this: lackluster. I’m confused about how I should feel, to be honest, because I didn’t not feel anything, but I didn’t feel enough. The romance was supposedly described as grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, and mutual pining. I guess the grumpy x sunshine makes sense, for as much as a YA novel could show that, and the enemies to lovers felt appropriate for a teenage audience, but the pining was flat. Not only because we don’t get Leo’s POV, but it felt like there was hardly anything between Wren and Leo. The way I saw it, the potential was growing, with how Wren and Leo shifted from one-sided enemies to classroom acquaintances to potential friends. The relationship, however, felt very underdeveloped if I was supposed to feel anything between the two other than platonic feelings.
This has the “anonymously talking to your enemy but not knowing it’s them” trope, giving this much potential. I can admit his crush on Buddy Boy felt realistic, considering what a crush does to you physically and emotionally. Still, his supposed crush on Leo felt unexpected and as if it came out of nowhere. Before we know it, his feelings for Buddy Boy have been forgotten, and he’s suddenly crushing on Leo mostly because Maggie, a friend of Leo’s, told him. Wren takes this as something he didn’t know but then decides it was something he didn’t notice. I would disagree because everything Maggie mentioned that implied feelings and crushing and flirting came off as platonic and acquaintances to me. And even when Leo started suspecting Buddy Boy was Leo, it didn’t make sense to me for him to accept his crush on him because it was Buddy Boy he liked, not Leo, despite them being the same person. Wren didn’t know that, even if we did. Additionally, I felt there was no appropriate shift to show Wren’s feelings change towards Leo. We don’t see him gradually change from friend to more. Instead, it happens as if we need to accept it just because someone else noticed it for Wren. This might make sense for those who have read this with the whole BB thing.
I’m one of the only ones who took it this way, though, considering most of my friends who have read this have talked about their appreciation for the romance. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see it that way, but I can still appreciate many moments.
I’d also like to mention how aggravating and annoying the use of constant italicized words was. It's unnecessary, given how I’m the type of reader who can’t ignore this because the narrator’s voice becomes my own. So, each time I read these italicized words, my brain would process and read them off as words with emphasis. A few times made sense, but the book was written this way. And it wasn’t only with Wren’s narration cause every side character spoke the same. It’s as if they needed to add emphasis on every other word to prove their point.
But it’s impossible not to think about her, and me, and what I’m doing here. Because I know what I’m doing. I’m waiting. I’m waiting for my life to go back to what it was, waiting for my mom to come back, waiting to start my life again. Those things aren’t going to happen. I graduate from high school, I go to community college, and—what? I live in my same room, I go to my night shift at the Holiday Inn, I go to class. That’s it, I guess. Nothing changes, but nothing stays the same either. I already know what I should do. What I want to do, past all the grief and the fear like an old, familiar bruise. No one has to ask the right question.
While this story was yet another disappointing anticipated release, I can understand why and how others have enjoyed it. Even though I couldn’t appreciate it enough, the author does a fantastic job at creating a witty character with hilarious inner monologue, realistic high school experiences, and asexuality as something a part of people and who they are but not using it to define them, and lovely high school relationships that are worth keeping till later in life. I’ll check out more of this author when she releases something else!
As a story trying to present different themes and storylines usual YA stories don’t show, Wren Martin Ruins It All succeeds at becoming a new and refreshing voice for YA LGBTQ+ fiction. However, as YA story trying to show some romance, I believe the romance it attempted to deliver was lacking, and its execution failed.
To say I’ve been excited about this would be an understatement. I initially became interested in this only because of the asexual representation, so of course, I had to give this a chance as soon as I could. Despite my disappointment, the story as a whole is a winner in my eyes, considering my biggest issue is on the romance only. From the asexual representation to the friendships, to the main character of Wren himself, as well as handling the sub-themes the story has, in no way do I regret patiently waiting for this to become available at my library.
Being in Wren’s head was entertaining and my favorite part of this. Witty, sarcastic, and highly amusing, I don’t think this author missed a single beat with his persona. His attitude is highly comical, and the author’s writing is stellar in keeping the reader entertained with his behavior. His 17-year-old teenage self is realistic and relatable, even at my twenty-three years old. Not overly angsty, but still a little concerning with unfortunate circumstances and events caused by teenagers in high school. Yet, I’m happy to note that Wren has character development, which had been missing in the previous YA stories I’ve read recently. Despite how little he wanted to do it, I loved seeing him acknowledge and accept his wrongdoings. It’s easy to root for him because he’s willing to learn from his mistakes without making a big deal about it. His inner monologue was hilarious, always offering a new form of laughter, never dry and flat. Even though I ignore points of view, the first-person single-pov here worked great. The narration is fantastic, and the author never changes Wren’s voice for the sake of it.
Some of my favorite quotes from my highlights:
If this calculates matches based on star sign, I’m going to throw my phone out the window. It’s not my fault I’m a Capricorn.
No, the elections were at the end of last year, when she was blessedly still in middle school. I didn’t appreciate those days enough when I still had them.
She looks as unenthused to see me as ever when I step into her classroom, probably because she wants to get this over with and go home as badly as I do. I especially get this impression when she straightens her papers and says, “Let’s get this over with so we can go home.”
What can I say? I’m perceptive.
I don’t think everything is about me. I like it when things aren’t about me. It’s just that everyone else keeps dragging me into things.
If everyone did things right in the first place, I wouldn’t have to be involved at all.
Why is Leo emailing me? I don’t want any email that isn’t offering me something for free, or at least a coupon.
Some people (freaks) run to alleviate stress. Some do crossword puzzles or read a book or any number of semi-productive things. I, it seems, send cat videos to strangers. We all cope in different ways, I guess.
“Uh, hello,” I say, belatedly leaning closer to the mic. My voice echoes around me. God, do I really sound like that or is it just the school’s cheap audio equipment?
“Why doesn’t it make sense, Wren?” Leo prompts helpfully. “Use more words.”
Words and I ended our working relationship around fourth period. Now we’re not even on speaking terms.
Dante was wrong when he wrote about the circles of hell—one of them is definitely a high school dance.
It’s horrible, but I’ll drink anything caffeinated when the sun hasn’t even risen yet.
He is me; I am him.
Also, huge props to the author for balancing many themes in this story without overindulging or using them for characterization only. There are themes of grief, growing up, family pressure, obligations, coming of age, college, and more. The people around Wren are an additional layer to Wren’s life—his best friend Ryan and her loud, hilarious self; his father, who is trying his best to be a single parent moving on; his teachers, who, in my opinion, didn’t always show support in the best way but sadly high school teachers never do (at least where I’m from; and of course, Wren’s opponent, who he ends up realizing is not who Wren thought he was (when are they ever?), Leo Reyes. The author also doesn’t make an unnecessarily big deal about Wren’s asexuality. Instead, it is a part of Wren and makes a big part of him, but it doesn’t define him. It was nice to see Wren know who he was without insulting himself, making him come off as someone who believes he’s “not normal,” for lack of a better word. There are a few incidents that show us how asexuality is something he feels is a burden, but, again, from how I saw it, the author never wrote it off in a stereotypical, insulting manner. It was a part of Wren without being written off for characterization but instead to show a refreshing, authentic voice. His need to be labeled was refreshingly realistic. I, too, need to figure out what label suits and fits me to accept it. Not that I use the label all the time to describe myself, but personally, it helps me settle into a box because I know what I’m feeling or who I love isn’t just my own and instead is something many people can fit into as well.
The friendship between Leo and Wren, as a whole, is a favorite of mine. I loved witnessing their one-sided hate and one-sided pining. With Wren hating Leo and Leo secretly harboring a crush on Wren, it made for the perfect unrequited romance. While this part of the story could have fooled me, seeing their alliance and friendship growing was delightful. We slowly see how Wren notices things about Leo he hasn’t noticed before and changes his perspective on him due to previous judgment. Compared to adult romances, this nailed it much better on the enemies-to-lovers trope. Wren’s reasons are juvenile, sure, but what teenage reasons aren’t? Plus, we see him reject his feelings in the beginning; their moments create an awkward sense for Wren, and we see his dialogue show some slight disgust for Leo. I consider myself a critic of this trope, but because this is YA, it was easier to accept and understand where the hate was coming from. It didn’t last long, which is still unfortunate, but with Wren’s dialogue and inner monologue and how he honestly didn’t like Leo that way but was still willing to change how he felt, I could pass it off quicker.
I’m afraid of getting rejected. Easy. And pretty reasonable, I think. I don’t want someone to look at me and tell me my sexuality is a deal breaker. I don’t want to be pressured or to be a disappointment. I want to be Wren and I want that to be enough, and that’s not going to happen.
That said, one word is appropriate enough to describe the romance in this: lackluster. I’m confused about how I should feel, to be honest, because I didn’t not feel anything, but I didn’t feel enough. The romance was supposedly described as grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers, and mutual pining. I guess the grumpy x sunshine makes sense, for as much as a YA novel could show that, and the enemies to lovers felt appropriate for a teenage audience, but the pining was flat. Not only because we don’t get Leo’s POV, but it felt like there was hardly anything between Wren and Leo. The way I saw it, the potential was growing, with how Wren and Leo shifted from one-sided enemies to classroom acquaintances to potential friends. The relationship, however, felt very underdeveloped if I was supposed to feel anything between the two other than platonic feelings.
This has the “anonymously talking to your enemy but not knowing it’s them” trope, giving this much potential. I can admit his crush on Buddy Boy felt realistic, considering what a crush does to you physically and emotionally. Still, his supposed crush on Leo felt unexpected and as if it came out of nowhere. Before we know it, his feelings for Buddy Boy have been forgotten, and he’s suddenly crushing on Leo mostly because Maggie, a friend of Leo’s, told him. Wren takes this as something he didn’t know but then decides it was something he didn’t notice. I would disagree because everything Maggie mentioned that implied feelings and crushing and flirting came off as platonic and acquaintances to me. And even when Leo started suspecting Buddy Boy was Leo, it didn’t make sense to me for him to accept his crush on him because it was Buddy Boy he liked, not Leo, despite them being the same person. Wren didn’t know that, even if we did. Additionally, I felt there was no appropriate shift to show Wren’s feelings change towards Leo. We don’t see him gradually change from friend to more. Instead, it happens as if we need to accept it just because someone else noticed it for Wren. This might make sense for those who have read this with the whole BB thing.
I’m one of the only ones who took it this way, though, considering most of my friends who have read this have talked about their appreciation for the romance. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see it that way, but I can still appreciate many moments.
I’d also like to mention how aggravating and annoying the use of constant italicized words was. It's unnecessary, given how I’m the type of reader who can’t ignore this because the narrator’s voice becomes my own. So, each time I read these italicized words, my brain would process and read them off as words with emphasis. A few times made sense, but the book was written this way. And it wasn’t only with Wren’s narration cause every side character spoke the same. It’s as if they needed to add emphasis on every other word to prove their point.
But it’s impossible not to think about her, and me, and what I’m doing here. Because I know what I’m doing. I’m waiting. I’m waiting for my life to go back to what it was, waiting for my mom to come back, waiting to start my life again. Those things aren’t going to happen. I graduate from high school, I go to community college, and—what? I live in my same room, I go to my night shift at the Holiday Inn, I go to class. That’s it, I guess. Nothing changes, but nothing stays the same either. I already know what I should do. What I want to do, past all the grief and the fear like an old, familiar bruise. No one has to ask the right question.
While this story was yet another disappointing anticipated release, I can understand why and how others have enjoyed it. Even though I couldn’t appreciate it enough, the author does a fantastic job at creating a witty character with hilarious inner monologue, realistic high school experiences, and asexuality as something a part of people and who they are but not using it to define them, and lovely high school relationships that are worth keeping till later in life. I’ll check out more of this author when she releases something else!
February 11, 2024
3.5 stars
I thought this was very sweet. I really liked the characters, the dynamics between Wren and Leo, and the humor.
However, I found the story predictable and it dragged for me at times. Based on the blurb, I expected There were also some aspects that didn't click for me and I did find the romance part a bit lacking. The writing was really good, though, and I enjoyed how the story developed overall.
I listened to the audiobook and I think that the narrator did a good job with Wren's character, making him sound both annoying and endearing. Another plus for choosing a narrator who actually sounds like a teenager, and not a grown-up man.
I thought this was very sweet. I really liked the characters, the dynamics between Wren and Leo, and the humor.
However, I found the story predictable and it dragged for me at times. Based on the blurb, I expected There were also some aspects that didn't click for me and I did find the romance part a bit lacking. The writing was really good, though, and I enjoyed how the story developed overall.
I listened to the audiobook and I think that the narrator did a good job with Wren's character, making him sound both annoying and endearing. Another plus for choosing a narrator who actually sounds like a teenager, and not a grown-up man.
September 16, 2023
Smile, smile, smile, even a huger smile. Smile, smile, smile, laughing out loud. And then suddenly, a lump in my throat because Amanda DeWitt managed to put so much depth into this story, too.
If I’d compare the atmosphere of this book to others, I think They Hate Each Other, and All That’s Left in the World come closest. All these three books belong to the romcomtraum genre. Funny while darkness is luring around a corner. One of my favorite genres, to be honest!
Amanda DeWitt hid the darkness in this story really well, but it’s tangible between the lines, and while I read, my lips pulling up so many times in a smile, I felt something itch in my body, and suddenly a lump formed in my throat. It’s a gift when you’re able to write like this. The dynamics between Wren with all his flaws and cinnamon roll Leo were fantastic. Leo’s reaction (as Buddy Boy) to Wren’s coming out as asexual was so sweet, and I rooted for those two boys so much!
I wasn’t a huge fan of Amanda’s debut, but this book was an amazing sophomore story, and I can’t wait for what she has in store for us next!
I received an ARC from Peachtree Teen and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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If I’d compare the atmosphere of this book to others, I think They Hate Each Other, and All That’s Left in the World come closest. All these three books belong to the romcomtraum genre. Funny while darkness is luring around a corner. One of my favorite genres, to be honest!
Amanda DeWitt hid the darkness in this story really well, but it’s tangible between the lines, and while I read, my lips pulling up so many times in a smile, I felt something itch in my body, and suddenly a lump formed in my throat. It’s a gift when you’re able to write like this. The dynamics between Wren with all his flaws and cinnamon roll Leo were fantastic. Leo’s reaction (as Buddy Boy) to Wren’s coming out as asexual was so sweet, and I rooted for those two boys so much!
I wasn’t a huge fan of Amanda’s debut, but this book was an amazing sophomore story, and I can’t wait for what she has in store for us next!
I received an ARC from Peachtree Teen and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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November 3, 2023
5 Stars
This is probably the easiest, most morish book I’ve read all year. I loved every minute of Amanda DeWitt’s witty, heartfelt, and relatable sophomore story—start to finish, I was totally *hearts-in-my-eyes* OBSESSED with this story!
Asexual high school senior Wren Martin was an extremely likeable and relevant character. His wit and sarcasm, paired with his unique view of the world (and people) around him and his constant challenging/questioning of societal norms, were something I could respect and relate to a great deal.
Wren’s voice was strong and loud and thoughtful and funny and vulnerable. He was the kind of complex, ever-learning and ever-growing character that I crave to read about, and despite the fun plot and the charming slow-burn romance, I was here for every single thought, feeling, hilarious moment of commentary, insecurity, mistake, and triumph that his character went through, literally from the first page until the very last.
I seriously lucked out too, because this story (unexpectedly) featured one of my absolutely favourite romance tropes: anonymously falling for someone online without knowing who they are or what they look like. I throw this under the banner of epistolary romances and, sweet baby Jesus, do I gobble these kinds of stories up with eagerness and delight. Even better is when said anonymous person is already someone in their lives, which here they totally were (as a wonderful surprise to Wren at the end and not-at-all a surprise to the reader).
Which leads me to the support cast. They were just wonderful. Seriously, chef’s kiss!!! If you’re anything like me and you predominantly love reading (in any genre) for the characters and the relationships (romantic or not, any dynamic will do), then you’ll surely enjoy the people who made up Wren’s small part of the world. From his teachers to his friends, to his dad and his arch-nemesis Leo (who are we kidding!!!), every single person shined in their own unique light and served to love, support, champion and challenge Wren at every turn, making him a more grounded and thoughtful human being for the better.
The romance is the best kind of slow-burn, with a slight (one-sided) enemies-to-lovers vibe and lots of delicious banter and cute precious moments to make your heart swoon. I honestly can’t decide if I liked the online-anonymous connection or the face-to-face interactions better, literally every moment between these boys was perfection and made me smile the goofiest smile, to the point that those around me were looking at me funny, wondering if I was in my right mind.
On a more serious note, Wren is living in the aftermath of the loss of his mother and the pressing grief he hasn’t quite dealt with, while Leo (the love interest) is quietly dealing with a sick relative (with cancer) and all the many and varying impacts that has on him as a loved one. I appreciated the way such themes were explored and reflected upon, both thought-provoking and beautifully emotive.
Yet, while these serious themes are explored with respect and due consideration throughout the narrative, for the most part, this story remains quite uplifting and humorous in tone and telling, sparking a nice balance between heavy and light storytelling that I relished every second of.
I also appreciated the way Wren's asexuality was handled, naturally and (from my lens) authentically. It's not a defining element of the story or his romantic journey, it's simply a part of who he is, but it does shape the way he sees himself and the way he considers potential relationships and being accepted for who he is.
I’d liken Wren Martin Ruins It All to other wonderfully crafted queer YA stories of recent years, such as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I Wish You All the Best, and All That’s Left in the World. Although plot, themes, and tone may vary in these comparisons, all of these books are beautifully written, by some of the most talented YA authors of this generation, featuring standout characters and covering a wide range of relevant themes that impact readers hearts and minds in equal measure.
Wren Martin Ruins It All is, undoubtedly, my favourite YA queer contemporary story of 2023. I adored this story so much that I legitimately hope no other book even comes close to beating it out for my top YA spot of the year in the few months we have remaining.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! <3
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is probably the easiest, most morish book I’ve read all year. I loved every minute of Amanda DeWitt’s witty, heartfelt, and relatable sophomore story—start to finish, I was totally *hearts-in-my-eyes* OBSESSED with this story!
Asexual high school senior Wren Martin was an extremely likeable and relevant character. His wit and sarcasm, paired with his unique view of the world (and people) around him and his constant challenging/questioning of societal norms, were something I could respect and relate to a great deal.
Wren’s voice was strong and loud and thoughtful and funny and vulnerable. He was the kind of complex, ever-learning and ever-growing character that I crave to read about, and despite the fun plot and the charming slow-burn romance, I was here for every single thought, feeling, hilarious moment of commentary, insecurity, mistake, and triumph that his character went through, literally from the first page until the very last.
I seriously lucked out too, because this story (unexpectedly) featured one of my absolutely favourite romance tropes: anonymously falling for someone online without knowing who they are or what they look like. I throw this under the banner of epistolary romances and, sweet baby Jesus, do I gobble these kinds of stories up with eagerness and delight. Even better is when said anonymous person is already someone in their lives, which here they totally were (as a wonderful surprise to Wren at the end and not-at-all a surprise to the reader).
Which leads me to the support cast. They were just wonderful. Seriously, chef’s kiss!!! If you’re anything like me and you predominantly love reading (in any genre) for the characters and the relationships (romantic or not, any dynamic will do), then you’ll surely enjoy the people who made up Wren’s small part of the world. From his teachers to his friends, to his dad and his arch-nemesis Leo (who are we kidding!!!), every single person shined in their own unique light and served to love, support, champion and challenge Wren at every turn, making him a more grounded and thoughtful human being for the better.
The romance is the best kind of slow-burn, with a slight (one-sided) enemies-to-lovers vibe and lots of delicious banter and cute precious moments to make your heart swoon. I honestly can’t decide if I liked the online-anonymous connection or the face-to-face interactions better, literally every moment between these boys was perfection and made me smile the goofiest smile, to the point that those around me were looking at me funny, wondering if I was in my right mind.
“I don’t like you,” I say without preamble.
Leo actually laughs, which is not what I was expecting. “Oh,” he says, shooting me a sideways look, “was that not a joke?”
I scowl, which probably doesn’t help my case. I’ve been trying to scowl less ever since he asked how I was making that face, but it’s been difficult. “I dislike a lot of people, I mean,” I try again. “You’re not special.”
… “Why? Just curious. I’ve always wanted to ask.”
… I suppress a sigh. “Because you’re perfect.”
On a more serious note, Wren is living in the aftermath of the loss of his mother and the pressing grief he hasn’t quite dealt with, while Leo (the love interest) is quietly dealing with a sick relative (with cancer) and all the many and varying impacts that has on him as a loved one. I appreciated the way such themes were explored and reflected upon, both thought-provoking and beautifully emotive.
It’s different, without my mom. Kinda like sitting next to an empty chair, waiting for someone to come sit down, but they never do. You don’t mention it—what’s there to say about an empty chair?—but you don’t put the chair away either. You just sit with it. I guess a lot about losing someone is just sitting with it. There’s not much else you can do.
Yet, while these serious themes are explored with respect and due consideration throughout the narrative, for the most part, this story remains quite uplifting and humorous in tone and telling, sparking a nice balance between heavy and light storytelling that I relished every second of.
I also appreciated the way Wren's asexuality was handled, naturally and (from my lens) authentically. It's not a defining element of the story or his romantic journey, it's simply a part of who he is, but it does shape the way he sees himself and the way he considers potential relationships and being accepted for who he is.
I’m okay with being asexual—I’ve really never seen anyone and thought Wow, I really wish I experienced sexual attraction—but it would be naïve to pretend it doesn’t complicate things. Society has made it abundantly clear how important sex is to just about everyone else, and… What am I afraid of? The question nags at me again. I’m afraid of getting rejected. Easy. And pretty reasonable, I think. I don't want someone to look at me and tell me my sexuality is a deal breaker. I don't want to be pressured or to be a disappointment. I want to be Wren and I want that to be enough.
I’d liken Wren Martin Ruins It All to other wonderfully crafted queer YA stories of recent years, such as Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, I Wish You All the Best, and All That’s Left in the World. Although plot, themes, and tone may vary in these comparisons, all of these books are beautifully written, by some of the most talented YA authors of this generation, featuring standout characters and covering a wide range of relevant themes that impact readers hearts and minds in equal measure.
Wren Martin Ruins It All is, undoubtedly, my favourite YA queer contemporary story of 2023. I adored this story so much that I legitimately hope no other book even comes close to beating it out for my top YA spot of the year in the few months we have remaining.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!! <3
***A special thanks to the publishers (via Netgalley) for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2023
✰ 4 stars ✰
“What can I say? Feelings are confusing.”
If I had to use one word to describe Wren Martin Ruins It All, it would be refreshing. For while the premise of this story has undoubtedly been done numerous times before - the real triumphant hero and stand-out strength of this take was Wren's voice. From his perspective and personality, the narration was fun and engaging and really so very fresh - that made reading it such a breeze to read.
What also made it such a delightful read was that no matter how stressed out Wren may have been - about his feelings or his studies or his relationships - I never felt stressed out - how rare is that!? 😀 The writing was very light - never truly annoying. His comments and remarks - almost, like a journal-style, that guided us from the start of the school year till the impending Valentine's Day Dance progressed at such a gradual pace that it felt so very believable; and it provided ample enough time for relationships to develop honestly and naturally. Wren takes student council very seriously - his position as the newly appointed president even more so - and all that senior year equates all the challenges that lie ahead to the future - all that affected him to this point - the individual losses and the personal gains - were written believably well. 🤍🤍
“I don’t not like you,” I say without preamble.
Leo actually laughs, which is not what I was expecting.
“Oh,” he says, shooting me a sideways look, “was that not a joke?”
“Why are you being nice to me?” I counter. “If you know I don’t like you.”
“Because I’d like you to like me,” Leo says, like he didn’t even have to think about it.”
I loved those soft heart-to-heart moments that Wren and Leo shared - opening up to one another about their own family issues, that gave so much depth into why they were they way they were -Wren, especially. The dialogue was heart-warming - but never OTT - just a casual, friendly banter that underneath lay the tentative beginnings for a promising friendship. And then, those instances when the realizations slowly dawned on him that what he's feeling towards Leo may bes an attraction - it was so very well-done. Again, I could not remove the smile from my face, because it would just sneak up on him and hit him - that 'oh' feeling. 🥹🥹
And then watching him assess it, that there was no way this was anything real - dismissing it as a one-time thing was so very adorable. And in turn, how he navigates his convos with Buddy Boy on the Buddy app and coincidentally, refusing to acknowledge his growing friendship with acting vice president Leo, someone he's sworn to despise since a misunderstood altercation from their younger days, wonderfully showed how Wren's emotions were growing, as a whole. 🧡🧡
“What makes you think I know any hot boys?” I ask, exasperated. I’m not exactly an expert on hot, but I suspect Reed and I have different standards.
“You know Leo,” she says loftily.
I narrow my eyes. “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
“Fine, keep them all for yourself.”
Wren and Ryan's friendship was also a gem - funny, open, best friends forever vibes thrived on their way of embracing honesty and vulnerability with each other, while also staying true to the notion that 'sometimes having a best friend is more risk than reward.' I also enjoyed the wholesome camaraderie of the other supporting cast that unknowingly cheered Wren on - believed in him, when he never felt that they did. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
“But the truth is far worse than that.
I think I might have a crush.
Shit.”
I absolutely adored the confession scene! Simple, but spoke volumes! No, really, it was sweetness perfection! 🥰🥰 Uff, even now, adored seems too slight a word to describe how much I was smiling like a silly little schoolgirl - watching from the sidelines as it slowly played out. It was adorably written - the cheesy grin on my face - just so so sweet and written so very well that I could picture it in my head - all the little details that painted that scene into life. I actually re-read it twice, because for all that Wren thought that he had ruined it all - this final scene was most certainly not ruined. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
“And the ace stuff?”
My heart sinks just a bit. Yeah, that problem is still there, that anxiety chewing on my heart from the inside.
“I don’t know,” I confess. “I guess I’ll just have to—”
“Trust that if he really likes the real you, it means accepting every part of you?”
I am always hesitant about mentioning if someone's sexuality is accurately portrayed, because from my own personal experience, I would not be able to do it's due diligence. But, what I can appreciate, is that Wren's asexuality was never viewed as a hindrance - it was not just a part of him - it was who he is - and he allowed himself to still feel and acknowledge and admit that there was a part of him that was having 'horrible, squishy feelings for him' and it was okay to feel that - no matter how afraid or terrified he was of ever sharing this truth about himself with others! 👍🏻👍🏻
A very strong solid YA read; entertaining and well-paced, it definitely promises to be worth your while. 💚💚 I also appreciate that Young Adult books continue to not only focus on the romance in a story - that they can shed light on issues in a respectful manner that fits seamlessly into the narrative. Wren truly is the star of the hour - he made you root for him when the chips are down, he made you cheer him on through his rants and raves, and through it all - you get to have a dash of romance so sweet and endearing - cute and predictable, but most certainly, very enjoyable. And again, the cover truly captures Wren's exasperation and demeanor to a perfect tee! 😍
*Thank you Amanda DeWitt and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
“What can I say? Feelings are confusing.”
If I had to use one word to describe Wren Martin Ruins It All, it would be refreshing. For while the premise of this story has undoubtedly been done numerous times before - the real triumphant hero and stand-out strength of this take was Wren's voice. From his perspective and personality, the narration was fun and engaging and really so very fresh - that made reading it such a breeze to read.
What also made it such a delightful read was that no matter how stressed out Wren may have been - about his feelings or his studies or his relationships - I never felt stressed out - how rare is that!? 😀 The writing was very light - never truly annoying. His comments and remarks - almost, like a journal-style, that guided us from the start of the school year till the impending Valentine's Day Dance progressed at such a gradual pace that it felt so very believable; and it provided ample enough time for relationships to develop honestly and naturally. Wren takes student council very seriously - his position as the newly appointed president even more so - and all that senior year equates all the challenges that lie ahead to the future - all that affected him to this point - the individual losses and the personal gains - were written believably well. 🤍🤍
“I don’t not like you,” I say without preamble.
Leo actually laughs, which is not what I was expecting.
“Oh,” he says, shooting me a sideways look, “was that not a joke?”
“Why are you being nice to me?” I counter. “If you know I don’t like you.”
“Because I’d like you to like me,” Leo says, like he didn’t even have to think about it.”
I loved those soft heart-to-heart moments that Wren and Leo shared - opening up to one another about their own family issues, that gave so much depth into why they were they way they were -Wren, especially. The dialogue was heart-warming - but never OTT - just a casual, friendly banter that underneath lay the tentative beginnings for a promising friendship. And then, those instances when the realizations slowly dawned on him that what he's feeling towards Leo may bes an attraction - it was so very well-done. Again, I could not remove the smile from my face, because it would just sneak up on him and hit him - that 'oh' feeling. 🥹🥹
And then watching him assess it, that there was no way this was anything real - dismissing it as a one-time thing was so very adorable. And in turn, how he navigates his convos with Buddy Boy on the Buddy app and coincidentally, refusing to acknowledge his growing friendship with acting vice president Leo, someone he's sworn to despise since a misunderstood altercation from their younger days, wonderfully showed how Wren's emotions were growing, as a whole. 🧡🧡
“What makes you think I know any hot boys?” I ask, exasperated. I’m not exactly an expert on hot, but I suspect Reed and I have different standards.
“You know Leo,” she says loftily.
I narrow my eyes. “That’s my offer. Take it or leave it.”
“Fine, keep them all for yourself.”
Wren and Ryan's friendship was also a gem - funny, open, best friends forever vibes thrived on their way of embracing honesty and vulnerability with each other, while also staying true to the notion that 'sometimes having a best friend is more risk than reward.' I also enjoyed the wholesome camaraderie of the other supporting cast that unknowingly cheered Wren on - believed in him, when he never felt that they did. 🤌🏼🤌🏼
“But the truth is far worse than that.
I think I might have a crush.
Shit.”
I absolutely adored the confession scene! Simple, but spoke volumes! No, really, it was sweetness perfection! 🥰🥰 Uff, even now, adored seems too slight a word to describe how much I was smiling like a silly little schoolgirl - watching from the sidelines as it slowly played out. It was adorably written - the cheesy grin on my face - just so so sweet and written so very well that I could picture it in my head - all the little details that painted that scene into life. I actually re-read it twice, because for all that Wren thought that he had ruined it all - this final scene was most certainly not ruined. 🫶🏼🫶🏼
“And the ace stuff?”
My heart sinks just a bit. Yeah, that problem is still there, that anxiety chewing on my heart from the inside.
“I don’t know,” I confess. “I guess I’ll just have to—”
“Trust that if he really likes the real you, it means accepting every part of you?”
I am always hesitant about mentioning if someone's sexuality is accurately portrayed, because from my own personal experience, I would not be able to do it's due diligence. But, what I can appreciate, is that Wren's asexuality was never viewed as a hindrance - it was not just a part of him - it was who he is - and he allowed himself to still feel and acknowledge and admit that there was a part of him that was having 'horrible, squishy feelings for him' and it was okay to feel that - no matter how afraid or terrified he was of ever sharing this truth about himself with others! 👍🏻👍🏻
A very strong solid YA read; entertaining and well-paced, it definitely promises to be worth your while. 💚💚 I also appreciate that Young Adult books continue to not only focus on the romance in a story - that they can shed light on issues in a respectful manner that fits seamlessly into the narrative. Wren truly is the star of the hour - he made you root for him when the chips are down, he made you cheer him on through his rants and raves, and through it all - you get to have a dash of romance so sweet and endearing - cute and predictable, but most certainly, very enjoyable. And again, the cover truly captures Wren's exasperation and demeanor to a perfect tee! 😍
*Thank you Amanda DeWitt and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
November 9, 2023
5 stars. Lovely YA novel about a senior in high school, navigating this last school year between slowly forming new friendships, accepting grief as a part of himself not a hindrance, slowly realising that opening up (although frightening) can be liberating, and finding out that maybe his approach to (not) forming romantic relationships as an asexual teen needs to be thought through again, and maybe differently.
It was awesome seeing Wren's life through his eyes. His thoughts were so endearing, he made me smile with his self deprecating and confused musings. I just wanted to hug him and tell him that everything would be allright in the end.
The story was told in single pov, which is (when competently done like in this book) the most rewarding reading experience for me.
The author showed us Leo through Wren's eyes in a fabulous way. I loved Leo so, so much, espescially in the last part of the book, days before The Dance.
Until then the book was solid 4 maybe 4,5 stars for me, but the last part of the book was truly awesome. The way Leo and Wren acted and reacted was impressive and beautiful to read, and these scenes will stay on my mind for a while.
I'll reread this in the future, and can't recommend it enough.
It doesn't feel like a punch to the gut like The Long Run by James Acker felt (sorry if this year I inevitably seem to compare every YA book to The Long Run), but in it's own, lighter way, Wren Martin Ruins It All is another amazing, heart warming YA novel.
It was awesome seeing Wren's life through his eyes. His thoughts were so endearing, he made me smile with his self deprecating and confused musings. I just wanted to hug him and tell him that everything would be allright in the end.
The story was told in single pov, which is (when competently done like in this book) the most rewarding reading experience for me.
The author showed us Leo through Wren's eyes in a fabulous way. I loved Leo so, so much, espescially in the last part of the book, days before The Dance.
Until then the book was solid 4 maybe 4,5 stars for me, but the last part of the book was truly awesome. The way Leo and Wren acted and reacted was impressive and beautiful to read, and these scenes will stay on my mind for a while.
I'll reread this in the future, and can't recommend it enough.
It doesn't feel like a punch to the gut like The Long Run by James Acker felt (sorry if this year I inevitably seem to compare every YA book to The Long Run), but in it's own, lighter way, Wren Martin Ruins It All is another amazing, heart warming YA novel.
August 14, 2023
Did I see every single twist in this book coming from page 10? Yes.
Did this negatively impact my enjoyment of it in any way, shape or form? Nope.
The characters were absolutely likable and charming, Wren and Leo in particular. Their banter and Wren's internal monologue were so fun that they made me actually laugh out loud several times, which basically never happens when I'm reading a print book.
This also featured one of my favorite romantic tropes ever: (technically spoilers, but you absolutely see it coming early on):
The book is a coming of age story in addition to a romance, and focuses on Wren dealing with his grief over the death of his mother. This storyline was delicately and realistically drawn. Related to this storyline, content warnings for: death of a parent, grief, mention of cancer and cancer treatments.
I wish the story had gone more in depth about Wren's asexuality. It's not quite the story of someone who just happens to be asexual: Wren's hatred of the Dance (which kickstarts the story) is partly rooted in his belief that people won't want to date him due to his asexuality and so he resents the focus on an even so rooted in romance. At the same time, this insecurity is resolved and brushed away very quickly.
Overall, though, this was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it!
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Did this negatively impact my enjoyment of it in any way, shape or form? Nope.
The characters were absolutely likable and charming, Wren and Leo in particular. Their banter and Wren's internal monologue were so fun that they made me actually laugh out loud several times, which basically never happens when I'm reading a print book.
This also featured one of my favorite romantic tropes ever: (technically spoilers, but you absolutely see it coming early on):
The book is a coming of age story in addition to a romance, and focuses on Wren dealing with his grief over the death of his mother. This storyline was delicately and realistically drawn. Related to this storyline, content warnings for: death of a parent, grief, mention of cancer and cancer treatments.
I wish the story had gone more in depth about Wren's asexuality. It's not quite the story of someone who just happens to be asexual: Wren's hatred of the Dance (which kickstarts the story) is partly rooted in his belief that people won't want to date him due to his asexuality and so he resents the focus on an even so rooted in romance. At the same time, this insecurity is resolved and brushed away very quickly.
Overall, though, this was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend it!
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 9, 2023
This is one of those books that makes me feel robbed of the term "asexual" when I was growing up back in the good old 1990's. Oh how different life would be now if that label existed then (maybe it did exist, but I surely didn't know about it). This was such a good book and a breath of fresh air after enduring a hypersexualized take on aromanticism in the last book I read. I related to Wren on so many levels and started to wonder if there has been any research done on common personality traits in ace-spec people because, yeah...same. But most of all, I loved that this book wasn't about Wren's asexuality. It was a part of who he was, something he knew about himself and something that presented some unique challenges, but it was not his entire personality or the primary hurdle in this story.
I loved being in Wren's head. There were definitely moments when I craved Leo's perspective and made some incorrect assumptions based on what I thought I knew, but depending solely on the POV of a snarky, self-deprecating protagonist was not a hardship by any means. For a person who didn't like people all that much, Wren was incredibly empathetic. He didn't want to sit around complaining about injustices, he wanted to take action, even if it meant becoming a social pariah and the most hated student council president in the history of Rapture High. His lists of "reasons why" were fantastic. I mean, honestly, if I saw someone eat a banana without removing the strings first, it would color my opinion of them too. The side characters were also great, especially Ryan and Ms. Little. But my most favorite, favorite, favorite parts were the anonymous chats in the Buddy app. This trope will never get old for me. I didn't expect it to last quite as long as it did and wished there had been a little more time given to real life A and BB in the end, but that's just me wanting more of a good thing. I would definitely call the ending a HFN, but it's YA so it gets a pass.
I'm looking forward to more from this author. I really dig her writing style and enjoyed reading this book.
I loved being in Wren's head. There were definitely moments when I craved Leo's perspective and made some incorrect assumptions based on what I thought I knew, but depending solely on the POV of a snarky, self-deprecating protagonist was not a hardship by any means. For a person who didn't like people all that much, Wren was incredibly empathetic. He didn't want to sit around complaining about injustices, he wanted to take action, even if it meant becoming a social pariah and the most hated student council president in the history of Rapture High. His lists of "reasons why" were fantastic. I mean, honestly, if I saw someone eat a banana without removing the strings first, it would color my opinion of them too. The side characters were also great, especially Ryan and Ms. Little. But my most favorite, favorite, favorite parts were the anonymous chats in the Buddy app. This trope will never get old for me. I didn't expect it to last quite as long as it did and wished there had been a little more time given to real life A and BB in the end, but that's just me wanting more of a good thing. I would definitely call the ending a HFN, but it's YA so it gets a pass.
I'm looking forward to more from this author. I really dig her writing style and enjoyed reading this book.
October 9, 2023
[3.5] impulse control is not my strong suit. i see “ace” anything, and my finger's clicking on the request button before i can even register the movement. sprinkle on some harvest moon reminiscent chickens (the cover art is gorgeous! so gorgeous, in fact, i had to scour the web for the artist: https://cherriielle.portfolio.site/fa...) and the hidden identity trope of connecting over socmed without knowing exactly whom they're chatting with (what i lovingly call "the unintentional catfish"), and my seatbelt was long buckled.
i'll admit i had my reservations at the start: the teen snarkage bordered on too much too fast, and i was worried the massive chip on newly-appointed student council president Wren's shoulder would compel him to take anything and everything unfavorable as a personal affront after nemesis and vice president Leo upends his agenda.
however, as we got into the meat of his arc, he gradually unfurled his layers and endeared himself to me.
i consider representation to be good and robust when it drives reflection on my own experiences in a way that makes me feel seen. the discourse around what it means to not experience sexual and/or romantic attraction (which the author makes a point to differentiate, thank you!) is incredibly important in an allo world where ace/aro stories are not as prominently heard. there's so much standing on the fringes, wrestling with our wants and what society tells us we should want, and ocean-deep fear that barges into the equation in the topsy-turvy world of relationships and dating.
but at the same time, i'm learning to refrain from sitting on that defeatist throne long enough for my tush to go numb. there was an old Ace Dad Advice clip about how, in many ways, we're socially conditioned to believe the issues we face in relationships are centered on our aceness. while it's okay to see our identity as not for everyone, it’s a heavy burden to believe that our identity is wrong for everyone. treating a part of ourselves solely as an obstacle ties us too closely to a place of rejection, when we should be celebrating: i think it's incredible that we are beyond equating sex and love, when people are more than capable of having one without the other. that we aren't basing our self-esteem on how much action we get, or feel undesirable or unloved because of it. love is complex and beautiful and wonderful in all its many forms - thinking that we can restrict it to the confines of what's portrayed in oversexualized media does it a great disservice.
(vague spoiler territory) this with Wren's other concerns coincide with many that i have wrestled with in the past and some still today.
shout-out to my ace homies 💜🤍🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review :)
i'll admit i had my reservations at the start: the teen snarkage bordered on too much too fast, and i was worried the massive chip on newly-appointed student council president Wren's shoulder would compel him to take anything and everything unfavorable as a personal affront after nemesis and vice president Leo upends his agenda.
however, as we got into the meat of his arc, he gradually unfurled his layers and endeared himself to me.
“It feels like an asterisk after my name, or a warning label on the back of my head.”
i consider representation to be good and robust when it drives reflection on my own experiences in a way that makes me feel seen. the discourse around what it means to not experience sexual and/or romantic attraction (which the author makes a point to differentiate, thank you!) is incredibly important in an allo world where ace/aro stories are not as prominently heard. there's so much standing on the fringes, wrestling with our wants and what society tells us we should want, and ocean-deep fear that barges into the equation in the topsy-turvy world of relationships and dating.
but at the same time, i'm learning to refrain from sitting on that defeatist throne long enough for my tush to go numb. there was an old Ace Dad Advice clip about how, in many ways, we're socially conditioned to believe the issues we face in relationships are centered on our aceness. while it's okay to see our identity as not for everyone, it’s a heavy burden to believe that our identity is wrong for everyone. treating a part of ourselves solely as an obstacle ties us too closely to a place of rejection, when we should be celebrating: i think it's incredible that we are beyond equating sex and love, when people are more than capable of having one without the other. that we aren't basing our self-esteem on how much action we get, or feel undesirable or unloved because of it. love is complex and beautiful and wonderful in all its many forms - thinking that we can restrict it to the confines of what's portrayed in oversexualized media does it a great disservice.
(vague spoiler territory) this with Wren's other concerns coincide with many that i have wrestled with in the past and some still today.
shout-out to my ace homies 💜🤍🖤
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review :)
August 12, 2024
I don't know where the title is coming from, because Wren Martin does in fact not ruin a single thing in this book. Very sweet story.
July 15, 2023
full review to come but one of the BEST ace books i’ve EVER read, tbh probably the best. i love wren, i love leo i love the chickens, just everything is so good 😭
February 24, 2024
{ 3.75 Stars } ~ { YA, Asexual Romance, Contemporary }
Howdy, y'all 🤠
This is my first Goodreads review! I'm gonna pretend like I know what I'm doing, and my delusion will simply manifest into confidence; we got this 😎
!¡!SPOILERS AHEAD!¡!
Trigger Warnings
~-~-~
Synopsis
Wren Martin, now student council presidenton a technicality (👀), vows to fix everything wrong with Rapture High; obviously, this immediately translates into absolutely decimating (🤘) the annual Valentine's Day Dance (asexual angst: ✅). HOWEVER! Sworn Enemy, Leo Reyes, student council vice president, provides a solution to the dance's economic hoarding: Buddy, an anonymous "friendship" app offering to sponsor the event. (Let's be honest, we all know this is an allusion to Bumble BFF 😭). Now becoming in charge of the largest dance his school has ever seen, and matching with an anonymous stranger (*cough* I wonder who... *cough*) on Bumble Buddy, will all of Wren Martin's new and icky feelings... ruin it all?
~-~-~
Characters
Wren (MC): so sassy, so angsty, I love him, now my fictional child ☺️
Leo (Wren'sLover Mortal Enemy): literally the physical embodiment of a ✨Cinammon Roll✨ and someone give this boy a hug, he's going through so much ☹️
Ryan (Wren's BFF): her vibes = immaculate. I wish we got to hear more about her aro journey, there was so much to explore!
Ms Little (Wren's Reluctant "Mentor"): honestly wish I had a teacher/mentor like this in secondary school, she actually cared about Wren ☺️
Reed (Ryan's Little Sister): very mischievous and manipulative... reminds me of a certain sibling I may have in my life 😑
Archer (Fun Min Twin): such dude-bro energy, but I'm honestly here for it 😎
Maggie (Aloof Min Twin): if she's protecting Leo from getting hurt, I'm protecting her, full support 🫡
Mr. Vernon (Drama Teacher): I wasn't planning to include tertiary characters, but Mr. Vernon deserves it, he reminds me so much of previous drama teachers I've had 🥹 #fixthehole!
~-~-~
Plot Highlights
Chapter 14: I just loved watching Martin having fun at this point in the story and breaking his traditional character mould 😊 (🎶 He did the Mash 🎶); and don't forget about that CUPCAAAKE!!!
Chapter 19: MR. Wren and MR. Leo MARTIN... y'all, I lost it at this point 😆 this was such a wild move on Wren's part (that he didn't even register to be a move???), and the fact that they constructed a whole fictitious life and wedding together to still get that free dinner 😭 I could not, and am currently still unable to can 🥴
Chapter 27: I just included this chapter because the kiss between Leo and Stephen was so out of left field 😳 10/10, elevated the drama, but at the poor expense of hurting baby Wren 😫
~-~-~
Plot Hiccups
Chapter 12: there's nothing wrong with a Late Parent plot line, I just wasn't expecting it, and I had unfortunately picked up this book at a time when I was dealing with a lot of big emotions about familial mortality 🫠 (Of course, this didn't greatly affect my rating, but I definitely should have read the tags before reading 🙃)
Chapter 20: I found it hilarious how Wren and Ryan caught each other with the other's phone, and Reed's devious intellect 😏 but I just wish we got to hear more about Ryan's aro identity and what that meant for her character; I think I just would have liked more dimension and story development from the ensemble cast 😊
Chapter 33: y'all, I know this is the second to last chapter, but I absolutely REFUSE to believe that Wren and Leo did not know that they were messaging each other on Buddy 🥴 Maybe, as the reader, it was easier to see the foreshadowing with the ice, and the chickens, and the general ~vibes~, (and considering the fact that they were spending soooo much time together outside of Buddy 👀), but, like... these are perceptive individuals. How did they not perceive who was on the other end of the phone until the last second 😭
~-~-~
Important Quote
Wren Martin, Chapter 1:
~-~-~
Closing Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed Wren Martin Ruins It All. It was a very cozy and warm read, and it's currently my second favourite fictional ace story that I've read. If anything, I think I would have liked the story a bit more if the ensemble cast were more developed, which I think Amanda DeWitt does a wonderful job of in her debut novel Aces Wild: A Heist, so make sure to also check that book out 😄
Either way, I thought it would be fun for my first Goodreads review to be the first book I read this year! I have absolutely no clue what to review next 😃 but I'll figure it out 😊 Let me know what you thought of Wren Martin Ruins It All and if you have any recommendations for what I should read/review next!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. And have a stellar day ✨
~-~-~
Book Vibes → Song Vibes
"Prom Dress" by mxmtoon
"Why Am I Like This?" by Orla Gartland
"cynical fairytale" by Egg
"Ready Now" by dodie
"i'll die anyway." by girl in red
Howdy, y'all 🤠
This is my first Goodreads review! I'm gonna pretend like I know what I'm doing, and my delusion will simply manifest into confidence; we got this 😎
!¡!SPOILERS AHEAD!¡!
Trigger Warnings
~-~-~
Synopsis
Wren Martin, now student council president
~-~-~
Characters
Wren (MC): so sassy, so angsty, I love him, now my fictional child ☺️
Leo (Wren's
Ryan (Wren's BFF): her vibes = immaculate. I wish we got to hear more about her aro journey, there was so much to explore!
Ms Little (Wren's Reluctant "Mentor"): honestly wish I had a teacher/mentor like this in secondary school, she actually cared about Wren ☺️
Reed (Ryan's Little Sister): very mischievous and manipulative... reminds me of a certain sibling I may have in my life 😑
Archer (Fun Min Twin): such dude-bro energy, but I'm honestly here for it 😎
Maggie (Aloof Min Twin): if she's protecting Leo from getting hurt, I'm protecting her, full support 🫡
Mr. Vernon (Drama Teacher): I wasn't planning to include tertiary characters, but Mr. Vernon deserves it, he reminds me so much of previous drama teachers I've had 🥹 #fixthehole!
~-~-~
Plot Highlights
Chapter 14: I just loved watching Martin having fun at this point in the story and breaking his traditional character mould 😊 (🎶 He did the Mash 🎶); and don't forget about that CUPCAAAKE!!!
Chapter 19: MR. Wren and MR. Leo MARTIN... y'all, I lost it at this point 😆 this was such a wild move on Wren's part (that he didn't even register to be a move???), and the fact that they constructed a whole fictitious life and wedding together to still get that free dinner 😭 I could not, and am currently still unable to can 🥴
Chapter 27: I just included this chapter because the kiss between Leo and Stephen was so out of left field 😳 10/10, elevated the drama, but at the poor expense of hurting baby Wren 😫
~-~-~
Plot Hiccups
Chapter 12: there's nothing wrong with a Late Parent plot line, I just wasn't expecting it, and I had unfortunately picked up this book at a time when I was dealing with a lot of big emotions about familial mortality 🫠 (Of course, this didn't greatly affect my rating, but I definitely should have read the tags before reading 🙃)
Chapter 20: I found it hilarious how Wren and Ryan caught each other with the other's phone, and Reed's devious intellect 😏 but I just wish we got to hear more about Ryan's aro identity and what that meant for her character; I think I just would have liked more dimension and story development from the ensemble cast 😊
Chapter 33: y'all, I know this is the second to last chapter, but I absolutely REFUSE to believe that Wren and Leo did not know that they were messaging each other on Buddy 🥴 Maybe, as the reader, it was easier to see the foreshadowing with the ice, and the chickens, and the general ~vibes~, (and considering the fact that they were spending soooo much time together outside of Buddy 👀), but, like... these are perceptive individuals. How did they not perceive who was on the other end of the phone until the last second 😭
~-~-~
Important Quote
Wren Martin, Chapter 1:
"Reasons why I hate Leo Reyes: 1. He's tall. I don't trust tall people."Compared to Wren Martin, Chapter 34:
"Reasons why I like Leo Reyes: ...3. He's tall. I know that was a bad thing before, but it's a good thing now. Shut up."And that's on character growth.
~-~-~
Closing Thoughts
Overall, I really enjoyed Wren Martin Ruins It All. It was a very cozy and warm read, and it's currently my second favourite fictional ace story that I've read. If anything, I think I would have liked the story a bit more if the ensemble cast were more developed, which I think Amanda DeWitt does a wonderful job of in her debut novel Aces Wild: A Heist, so make sure to also check that book out 😄
Either way, I thought it would be fun for my first Goodreads review to be the first book I read this year! I have absolutely no clue what to review next 😃 but I'll figure it out 😊 Let me know what you thought of Wren Martin Ruins It All and if you have any recommendations for what I should read/review next!
Laugh hard, run fast, be kind. And have a stellar day ✨
~-~-~
Book Vibes → Song Vibes
"Prom Dress" by mxmtoon
"Why Am I Like This?" by Orla Gartland
"cynical fairytale" by Egg
"Ready Now" by dodie
"i'll die anyway." by girl in red
October 11, 2023
Thanks to Holiday House / Pixel Ink / Peachtree and Edelweiss for providing me with an eARC of this book!
4,5 * – right now it’s probably more of a 4 star book, but I had sooooo much fun reading this that I’m giving it a 4,5. I’m absolutely obsessed!! 🥺
The “secret buddy” storyline was genuinely so much fun!! I was giggling the whole way through (especially with the gifts!!!!! 🤭). Around the 40% mark we find something out () and it changes the dynamic between the characters in a way that I absolutely loved!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goddd!! It was so good!!!
Throughout the rest of the book I just had the biggest smile on my face whenever the characters interacted! They were so sweet! Also, I really loved the way the author set up the 3rd act conflict! A lot of romance books just have the characters break up for a ridiculous reason (which I’m absolutely fed up with!), but in this book that didn’t happen, and the last conflict actually made a lot of sense, it allowed the characters to grow even more, and was wrapped up in an incredible way! I really enjoyed it!
I also really liked the characters! Wren was such a funny narrator! I loved seeing this story through his eyes. Ryan was a really fun friend, and Leo was an absolute cutie!! 🥺 I loved him so much!!!! I also really enjoyed seeing these characters grow throughout the story. Wren’s character development in particular was really nice to see.
Now, regarding the asexual representation: the main reason this book got my attention was because I saw it had ace rep. As an asexual person, I’m always looking or more representation, and I can say that the rep in this book is exactly what I wanted!! Don’t get me wrong: I like stories where characters figure out they’re asexual, but I also crave stories where asexual people just… exist, and that’s what this book provided! Wren knows he’s asexual, it is mentioned a couple of times that it makes it hard for him to date, and that’s about it! It felt so… normal! I just LOVE this type of “casual” ace rep, especially in romance books! I wish more authors would write stories like this (and I can say, without a doubt, that I’d be the 1st in line to read those books)!!!
Things I think could still be polished before the release:
I know these seem like a lot, but they’re mostly nitpicks and little things. I genuinely believe that, after some editing, this book could become one of my all-time favourites (and, even right now, I absolutely adored it regardless!!!).
(review written on 21/05/2023)
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GUESS WHO JUST GOT AN ARC??!?!? ACE RIGHTS LET'S GOOOO
(17/05/2023)
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ACE REP ACE REP ACE REP ACE REP!!!!!!!!!!!!
(07/04/2023)
4,5 * – right now it’s probably more of a 4 star book, but I had sooooo much fun reading this that I’m giving it a 4,5. I’m absolutely obsessed!! 🥺
The “secret buddy” storyline was genuinely so much fun!! I was giggling the whole way through (especially with the gifts!!!!! 🤭). Around the 40% mark we find something out () and it changes the dynamic between the characters in a way that I absolutely loved!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goddd!! It was so good!!!
Throughout the rest of the book I just had the biggest smile on my face whenever the characters interacted! They were so sweet! Also, I really loved the way the author set up the 3rd act conflict! A lot of romance books just have the characters break up for a ridiculous reason (which I’m absolutely fed up with!), but in this book that didn’t happen, and the last conflict actually made a lot of sense, it allowed the characters to grow even more, and was wrapped up in an incredible way! I really enjoyed it!
I also really liked the characters! Wren was such a funny narrator! I loved seeing this story through his eyes. Ryan was a really fun friend, and Leo was an absolute cutie!! 🥺 I loved him so much!!!! I also really enjoyed seeing these characters grow throughout the story. Wren’s character development in particular was really nice to see.
Now, regarding the asexual representation: the main reason this book got my attention was because I saw it had ace rep. As an asexual person, I’m always looking or more representation, and I can say that the rep in this book is exactly what I wanted!! Don’t get me wrong: I like stories where characters figure out they’re asexual, but I also crave stories where asexual people just… exist, and that’s what this book provided! Wren knows he’s asexual, it is mentioned a couple of times that it makes it hard for him to date, and that’s about it! It felt so… normal! I just LOVE this type of “casual” ace rep, especially in romance books! I wish more authors would write stories like this (and I can say, without a doubt, that I’d be the 1st in line to read those books)!!!
Things I think could still be polished before the release:
I know these seem like a lot, but they’re mostly nitpicks and little things. I genuinely believe that, after some editing, this book could become one of my all-time favourites (and, even right now, I absolutely adored it regardless!!!).
(review written on 21/05/2023)
-----------
GUESS WHO JUST GOT AN ARC??!?!? ACE RIGHTS LET'S GOOOO
(17/05/2023)
--------
ACE REP ACE REP ACE REP ACE REP!!!!!!!!!!!!
(07/04/2023)
February 1, 2025
I didn't want to put this book down and when it ended I was devastated because I just wanted more. I want to continue and know what happens next!!!
Yeah the main character is asexual and yeah being ace has an impact on who he is and how he views his possible dating life and relationships and that spoke to me so much!
But also, there is so much more to Wren and to this story. This is about accepting love, it's about grief, it's about making decisions for the future.
It's a very well rounded coming of age story about a funny sarcastic and loveable character who had almost given up on a few things in life and who slowly gives them another chance.
I talk about books here: Instagram / TikTok / Linktree
Yeah the main character is asexual and yeah being ace has an impact on who he is and how he views his possible dating life and relationships and that spoke to me so much!
But also, there is so much more to Wren and to this story. This is about accepting love, it's about grief, it's about making decisions for the future.
It's a very well rounded coming of age story about a funny sarcastic and loveable character who had almost given up on a few things in life and who slowly gives them another chance.
I talk about books here: Instagram / TikTok / Linktree
November 3, 2023
4.5 stars
Wren has just been promoted to president of the student council following the departure of the previous president and vice president. This is his chance to finally cancel the Valentine's Day Dance, a ridiculous waste of money that marginalises anyone who doesn't fit into a heteronormative dating ideal.
Thankfully for Wren, Leo, the new vice president and Wren's "rival" of years, is there to save him from committing social suicide by suggesting they partner with social media app Buddy, that allows users to meet friends anonymously. Extra money, and a solution that doesn't revolve around dating, what more could Wren ask for?
Except now he's stuck planning the dance he wanted to cancel with the boy he dislikes more than any other, and to avoid being a massive hypocrite, he has to download Buddy so he at least knows how it works. Imagine his surprise when it actually makes a friend...imagine his dismay when he realises he has a crush on this anonymous friend.
This book just made me happy, what can I say, it was lovely!
I found Wren to be a very endearing character. He's flawed: difficult, oblivious, stubborn, resentful; but at his core he's a kind and caring person who's still struggling deeply with his mother's death. He's also given up on the idea of dating as an asexual man, feeling like he always comes with an asterisk or a warning label. I can't speak from personal experience but I really empathised with Wren's fears and fatigue, and even his occasional questioning of his place in the queer community.
Leo was really such a sweetheart. I mean, poor guy though, Wren is so tremendously oblivious. I think this was done in a very enjoyable way though. Though the online identity business - I'm not spoilering any of this, everyone knows what's going on here based on the blurb, ok? - did go on for an extremely long time, I was more than satisfied with the amount of time Wren and Leo spent together as not-friends, acquaintances, then eventually friends.
I really enjoyed the writing style and thought it suited the YA genre very well. Wren breaks the fourth wall a few times, and the prose was fresh and funny without it seeming forced.
I do wish there had been more interaction between Wren and his father though, the author really just brushed over the difficulty and tension in their relationship without giving it any development.
All in all, a lovely coming of age story that I'd recommend to anyone looking for something bright but that tackles some tough questions.
I kindly received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
Wren has just been promoted to president of the student council following the departure of the previous president and vice president. This is his chance to finally cancel the Valentine's Day Dance, a ridiculous waste of money that marginalises anyone who doesn't fit into a heteronormative dating ideal.
Thankfully for Wren, Leo, the new vice president and Wren's "rival" of years, is there to save him from committing social suicide by suggesting they partner with social media app Buddy, that allows users to meet friends anonymously. Extra money, and a solution that doesn't revolve around dating, what more could Wren ask for?
Except now he's stuck planning the dance he wanted to cancel with the boy he dislikes more than any other, and to avoid being a massive hypocrite, he has to download Buddy so he at least knows how it works. Imagine his surprise when it actually makes a friend...imagine his dismay when he realises he has a crush on this anonymous friend.
This book just made me happy, what can I say, it was lovely!
I found Wren to be a very endearing character. He's flawed: difficult, oblivious, stubborn, resentful; but at his core he's a kind and caring person who's still struggling deeply with his mother's death. He's also given up on the idea of dating as an asexual man, feeling like he always comes with an asterisk or a warning label. I can't speak from personal experience but I really empathised with Wren's fears and fatigue, and even his occasional questioning of his place in the queer community.
Leo was really such a sweetheart. I mean, poor guy though, Wren is so tremendously oblivious. I think this was done in a very enjoyable way though. Though the online identity business - I'm not spoilering any of this, everyone knows what's going on here based on the blurb, ok? - did go on for an extremely long time, I was more than satisfied with the amount of time Wren and Leo spent together as not-friends, acquaintances, then eventually friends.
I really enjoyed the writing style and thought it suited the YA genre very well. Wren breaks the fourth wall a few times, and the prose was fresh and funny without it seeming forced.
I do wish there had been more interaction between Wren and his father though, the author really just brushed over the difficulty and tension in their relationship without giving it any development.
All in all, a lovely coming of age story that I'd recommend to anyone looking for something bright but that tackles some tough questions.
I kindly received an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
February 5, 2024
I received an ARC from Edelweiss
TW: parental death, cancer
4.6
This is the book of my asexual, A-Cinderella-Story loving, messy characters who snarkily protect their vulnerabilities/heart obsessing over self dreams. I love this book so much- I love Wren Martin, I love Buddy, I love the one-sided rivalry, the Valentine's theme, I love it all.
Wren Martin is an absolute brat, he reads in that way like one of my favorite characters (Eliot from In Other Lands) mixed with some charm of Alex Claremont-Diaz with his own unique spin keeping him very much himself. He is bitchy and frigid and defensive and he is also a secretly soft chicken owner, so that is all to say that he is a layered character of contradictions and hidden feelings, and he is, in his imperfections, completely perfect.
Wren also gives me something incredibly important- good, well written, relatable asexual rep! I mean, DeWitt does this well in general, but I really have never felt so seen as I have through Wren Martin. I love that this book isn't all about him being ace, but that his asexuality is still so inherent. It's important to the journey, and to Wren's point of view, and it always rings true.
Not only is Wren a wonderfully written, 3-dimmensional character, but I feel I can say that about all of the characters within this story. They are all real and interesting, and it's insanely easy to care about even the most background character. I feel invested in Wren, yes, but Archer? Ryan? Not a single person felt like a place filler or a flat cliche with legs. That's remarkable.
I also, as a fan of hidden identity, adored the Buddy part of things. It really did remind me of A Cinderella Story, and I can see the Love is Blind comparison, but beyond all of that, it's also a very clever way of framing and setting out this story!
I did not see the twist of this coming (well, not the... main one), which was a good and a bad thing for me. It keeps things interesting and added a new layer, but it also came a bit out of the blue and seemed to make things just a little too neat.
Personally, I really would've enjoyed having Leo's point of view as well. Knowing why he's interested and getting a full love confession really would have cinched this and put the romance over the top for me. I'm genuinely disappointed that there are two love confession scenes and we get basically no details for both.
I also am not the biggest fan of Ryan, and the whole phone stealing scene made me enjoy this and their friendship just a tick less.
All in all, though, I love this book! It's lived happily in my head since I read it, and will be living there rent free for many years more.
Pre-review comments below
Excuse me while I go flail about this 😭
TW: parental death, cancer
4.6
This is the book of my asexual, A-Cinderella-Story loving, messy characters who snarkily protect their vulnerabilities/heart obsessing over self dreams. I love this book so much- I love Wren Martin, I love Buddy, I love the one-sided rivalry, the Valentine's theme, I love it all.
Wren Martin is an absolute brat, he reads in that way like one of my favorite characters (Eliot from In Other Lands) mixed with some charm of Alex Claremont-Diaz with his own unique spin keeping him very much himself. He is bitchy and frigid and defensive and he is also a secretly soft chicken owner, so that is all to say that he is a layered character of contradictions and hidden feelings, and he is, in his imperfections, completely perfect.
Wren also gives me something incredibly important- good, well written, relatable asexual rep! I mean, DeWitt does this well in general, but I really have never felt so seen as I have through Wren Martin. I love that this book isn't all about him being ace, but that his asexuality is still so inherent. It's important to the journey, and to Wren's point of view, and it always rings true.
Not only is Wren a wonderfully written, 3-dimmensional character, but I feel I can say that about all of the characters within this story. They are all real and interesting, and it's insanely easy to care about even the most background character. I feel invested in Wren, yes, but Archer? Ryan? Not a single person felt like a place filler or a flat cliche with legs. That's remarkable.
I also, as a fan of hidden identity, adored the Buddy part of things. It really did remind me of A Cinderella Story, and I can see the Love is Blind comparison, but beyond all of that, it's also a very clever way of framing and setting out this story!
I did not see the twist of this coming (well, not the... main one), which was a good and a bad thing for me. It keeps things interesting and added a new layer, but it also came a bit out of the blue and seemed to make things just a little too neat.
Personally, I really would've enjoyed having Leo's point of view as well. Knowing why he's interested and getting a full love confession really would have cinched this and put the romance over the top for me. I'm genuinely disappointed that there are two love confession scenes and we get basically no details for both.
I also am not the biggest fan of Ryan, and the whole phone stealing scene made me enjoy this and their friendship just a tick less.
All in all, though, I love this book! It's lived happily in my head since I read it, and will be living there rent free for many years more.
Pre-review comments below
Excuse me while I go flail about this 😭
November 7, 2023
bumping because this comes out tomorrow!
thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Wren Martin was made the President of his school council this year and the first thing he wants to do to fix Raptur High is eliminate the Valentine's Day Dance. Unfortunately for him, his school has been taken over by an anonymous (but everyone uses it for dating) friendship app called Buddy and when Wren's VP suggests that Buddy sponsor the dance, Wren is outnumbered. Things get complicated for asexual Wren when he downloads the Buddy app and starts falling for his new anonymous friend.
This book was so cute. Wren is a very complicated character -- he's kind of sarcastic and funny in a way that's really relatable and doesn't come across as really corny like it can in other books. I think the fact that he's a little bit bitter and dry instead of being super peppy and positive was nice and different from other books and as I said, in other books where the main character is sarcastic and dry, it can come across as a little unlikeable and embarrassing for me, but I never had that problem with Wren.
I liked that his asexuality wasn't a big deal, it was just a fact and it only became a conflicting plot point when he was thinking about the fact that his crush(es) might not be so into it because he was so aware that everyone else around him seems so interested in sexual relationships. Aside from that, it was just a fact and a part of who Wren is and I liked that this book skipped over the self-discovery and figuring himself out in favor of just presenting Wren as-is.
The identity of Wren's anonymous Buddy Boy was obvious pretty much immediately, but that didn't make it any less cute. I found that it added to it as I was excited for them to figure out who the other was and it was so cute watching Wren fall for the same person twice without even realizing they were the same person. I really liked the way that their relationship was split across these two different "people" and it added a lot of depth.
thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Dante was wrong when he wrote about the circles of hell -- one of them is definitely a high school dance.
Wren Martin was made the President of his school council this year and the first thing he wants to do to fix Raptur High is eliminate the Valentine's Day Dance. Unfortunately for him, his school has been taken over by an anonymous (but everyone uses it for dating) friendship app called Buddy and when Wren's VP suggests that Buddy sponsor the dance, Wren is outnumbered. Things get complicated for asexual Wren when he downloads the Buddy app and starts falling for his new anonymous friend.
This book was so cute. Wren is a very complicated character -- he's kind of sarcastic and funny in a way that's really relatable and doesn't come across as really corny like it can in other books. I think the fact that he's a little bit bitter and dry instead of being super peppy and positive was nice and different from other books and as I said, in other books where the main character is sarcastic and dry, it can come across as a little unlikeable and embarrassing for me, but I never had that problem with Wren.
I liked that his asexuality wasn't a big deal, it was just a fact and it only became a conflicting plot point when he was thinking about the fact that his crush(es) might not be so into it because he was so aware that everyone else around him seems so interested in sexual relationships. Aside from that, it was just a fact and a part of who Wren is and I liked that this book skipped over the self-discovery and figuring himself out in favor of just presenting Wren as-is.
The identity of Wren's anonymous Buddy Boy was obvious pretty much immediately, but that didn't make it any less cute. I found that it added to it as I was excited for them to figure out who the other was and it was so cute watching Wren fall for the same person twice without even realizing they were the same person. I really liked the way that their relationship was split across these two different "people" and it added a lot of depth.
June 19, 2023
oh that was DELIGHTFUL
February 15, 2024
Dante was wrong when he wrote about the circles of hell—one of them is definitely a high school dance.
Я в полном восторге от этой книги и скачу рассказать о ней всему миру!
Главный персонаж Рен Мартин — семнадцатилетний старшеклассник, ворчливый, не особо социальный, чаще всего проводящий свое время в компании единственной подруги и ее семьи. По удачному стечению обстоятельств он становится президентом школьного совета, чему он очень рад, потому что больше всего на свете хочет воспользоваться этой ситуацией и отменить ежегодную традицию танцев для старших классов. Она кажется ему глупой и обязывающей к романтическому партнеру, и вообще тратить деньги на это не нужно, потому что в школе хватает других проблем. Он ненавидит праздники и шумные вечеринки и предпочитает уединяться со своими курочками на заднем дворе, когда ему плохо.
Главный любовный интерес Лео Рейес — высокий, красивый, дружелюбный, добрый и готовый к инициативам. Ему переходит место вице-президента, и вместе со своими друзьями он рад посещать собрания школьного совета, где и предлагает решение вопроса о танцах. Лео приходит в голову идея договориться о спонсорстве с местным приложением Buddy, где подростки могут найти себе в том числе друзей, и превратить танцы в карнавал, куда можно было бы привести как и тех, с кем ты встречаешься, так и просто приятелей. Естественно Рен терпеть не может Лео. Естественно это абсолютно не обоснованно.
“They’re twins,” Leo supplies.
“They can speak for themselves,” I scoff, rolling my eyes. “If they’re going to be a part of student council, they should have their own opinions. Right?”
Archer and Maggie trade a look. “We’re . . . twins?” Maggie says, more nonplussed than ever.
Таким образом, решается, что темой танцев станет Buddy, там их одноклассники смогут анонимно познакомиться с кем-то из школы, а в назначенный час личность собеседника раскроется. Рен не очень этому рад, но это наилучший вариант, который ему представляется.
Он сам регистрируется в Buddy, хотя не признается в этом никому под дулом пистолета, и начинает общаться с анонимным парнем, из чего потом вылезает его огромный нелепый краш. И конечно же это Лео.
Мне нравится, что одновременно вместе с этим в реальной жизни Рен постепенно сближается с Лео на фоне общих занятий в совете или просто случайных встреч. Он начинает понимать, что неприязнь к Лео — надуманная и бессмысленная, а сам Лео очень хороший, пусть даже и выглядит как звезда школы, шаблон, от которого Рена тошнит. Здесь много маленьких личных моментов на грани между зарождающейся дружбой с обоими Лео — из приложения Buddy и вживую: тайные подарки в виде пирожных, спрятанная в специальном месте милая подвеска, разговоры ночью, когда все ощущается более интимно, кофе в благодарность за работу вместе, признания в том, чего Лео, как и Рен, боится, потому что их связывает общая травма из-за болезни близкого.
Вместе с серьезными темами об идентичности, месте в обществе, потери одного из родителей и неожиданной влюбленности, в книге очень много юмора и забавных ситуаций. Именно поэтому персонажи выглядят живыми, хотя некоторые из них появляются очень редко. Рен часто ведет себя как будто ему не семнадцать, а сто семьдесят, Лео напоминает пушистого ретривера и любит мягко смеяться, Райан стала Рену родной сестрой и экстравертом, благодаря которому он еще не покрылся плесенью в своей комнате. Мэгги готова пристрелить Рена, ему он обидит Лео, а ее брат Арчер — типичный глуповатый качок-химбо, который все же хорошо относится к Рену. Они представляются мне как персонажи какого-нибудь ромкома про подростков, и эту историю очень хотелось бы увидеть как минимум в виде фильма. Как максимум — сериалом на тысячу серий.
Not like they died or anything. Josh Barker moved to Arkansas because his dad’s in the Air Force, and Samantha Ford got impeached for selling calculus test answer keys because her dad teaches the class. Maybe the idea of facing student council drama was too much for poor Mr. Duncan, but more realistically, I think he realized how sad it was that Samantha was making better money off academic dishonesty than he was off teaching.
Одна из интересных, на мой взгляд, вещей — это структура книги. Рен всем сердцем ненавидит любые праздники, а после смерти мамы ему очень тяжело делать вид, что жизнь не стоит на месте, но тем не менее главы в основном повествуют о том, как он проводит эти самые праздники. Вместе с подругой Райан, в обществе папы, с ее родителями и младшей сестрой, Лео — неважно, но он всегда оказывается в ситуациях особых дней. И это тоже шаг к пониманию его собственного мира за пределами внутреннего.
А еще я открыла для себя, что текст наполнен отсылками к названиям птиц. Не уверена, что это действительно так, так как не смогла найти ничего об этом, но получается вот так: Рен — Wren, крапивники, Мэгги — Magpie, сороки, Арчер — есть несколько птиц с подобным названием, например, Archer's Robin-Chat, рувензорская чекановая горихвостка, в фамилии Райан есть слово Робин — малиновка, Рид — Reed warbler, тростниковая камышовка.
Одна из важных тем в книге — это репрезентация асексуальности, и я вряд ли смогу сказать, хорошая она или нет, но она есть, и это влияет на общий тон отношений между Реном и Лео. Тем не менее это не препятствие в жизни Рена, не то, из-за чего он комплексует или боится показать настоящего себя. Оно просто существует, и я думаю, это хороший пример того, что твоя идентичность — это не всегда слезы и война с окружающим миром. Иногда это просто как черта характера, и она с тобой по умолчанию.
“Don’t take it personally.”
Please take it personally. Please quit student council and leave me alone. Go be tall somewhere else.
Мне было супер интересно читать, текст держится на одном дыхании, особенно с шутками в каждой строчке, и очень напоминает старые добрые фанфики, которые я тоже люблю. Может быть, я бы хотела, чтобы в сюжете было больше общения Рена с Лео и больше переписок, но все равно книга вышла отличной.
February 28, 2025
i'm sobbing
в который раз убедилась, что я Обожаю школьный повседневный сеттинг, где персонажи просто биинг силли без хтоней и прочего
рен - потрясающий персонаж, прекрасный повествователь, а это многое значит для меня, человека который закатывает глаза при виде повествования от первого лица. рен такой хороший, такой рилейтебл, в общем просто золотой персонаж. их отношения с лео абсолютный бэнгер (кэнт билив здесь был использован фейк дейтинг и аномниное дейтинговое приложение - персональный дабл килл). сам лео тоже хорош и его слова о том, что он не хочет быть собой просто ударили меня в самое сердце.
в общем для меня эта книга реально стала пластырем после "окон во двор" и всего того кошмара который творился ирл. слава богу я растянула ее, а не прочитала запоем (хотя оторваться было сложно)
в который раз убедилась, что я Обожаю школьный повседневный сеттинг, где персонажи просто биинг силли без хтоней и прочего
рен - потрясающий персонаж, прекрасный повествователь, а это многое значит для меня, человека который закатывает глаза при виде повествования от первого лица. рен такой хороший, такой рилейтебл, в общем просто золотой персонаж. их отношения с лео абсолютный бэнгер (кэнт билив здесь был использован фейк дейтинг и аномниное дейтинговое приложение - персональный дабл килл). сам лео тоже хорош и его слова о том, что он не хочет быть собой просто ударили меня в самое сердце.
в общем для меня эта книга реально стала пластырем после "окон во двор" и всего того кошмара который творился ирл. слава богу я растянула ее, а не прочитала запоем (хотя оторваться было сложно)
August 27, 2024
If you want a book cure for Red, White, and Royal Blue, or books by Alice Oseman, I would recommend this!
Wren is president of the student council and he is determined to make an impact. Starting with ridding the school of the much-loved Valentine’s Day dance to allocate that money elsewhere. However, his fellow council members—especially the vice president and annoyingly perfect person Leo Reyes—suggest that they use Buddy, the popular anonymous not-dating app to sponsor it instead.
Whilst managing homework, council duties, and expectations, Wren secretly curiously downloads Buddy and makes a connection with the boy he starts chatting with.
This was so cute! Wren is such a sassy, chaotic main character. He can also be an obnoxious teen sometimes, but he’s also very relatable and sympathetic.
This also presents Wren struggling with expressing his asexuality, as well as his grief over losing his mother a couple of years previous. His experience is portrayed with empathy and opens up discussions on how we should approach exposing Young Adult audiences to important topics in a way that is open and not treated negatively.
Yes, it was obvious who the Buddy Wren chats with is, so all the drama and mystery initially felt overdone. This predictably did make me roll my eyes and mutter, get on with it, but I had to remind myself, this is a type of romance type of book where ‘I hated this guy forever, but maybe that’s because I actually had feelings for him’ is expected.
I think I would have wanted more emotional exploration of Wren’s asexuality. There isn’t many conversations between him and his family, friends, etc. which could have provided a good framework to deal with how we navigate such experiences.
Wren is president of the student council and he is determined to make an impact. Starting with ridding the school of the much-loved Valentine’s Day dance to allocate that money elsewhere. However, his fellow council members—especially the vice president and annoyingly perfect person Leo Reyes—suggest that they use Buddy, the popular anonymous not-dating app to sponsor it instead.
Whilst managing homework, council duties, and expectations, Wren secretly curiously downloads Buddy and makes a connection with the boy he starts chatting with.
This was so cute! Wren is such a sassy, chaotic main character. He can also be an obnoxious teen sometimes, but he’s also very relatable and sympathetic.
This also presents Wren struggling with expressing his asexuality, as well as his grief over losing his mother a couple of years previous. His experience is portrayed with empathy and opens up discussions on how we should approach exposing Young Adult audiences to important topics in a way that is open and not treated negatively.
Yes, it was obvious who the Buddy Wren chats with is, so all the drama and mystery initially felt overdone. This predictably did make me roll my eyes and mutter, get on with it, but I had to remind myself, this is a type of romance type of book where ‘I hated this guy forever, but maybe that’s because I actually had feelings for him’ is expected.
I think I would have wanted more emotional exploration of Wren’s asexuality. There isn’t many conversations between him and his family, friends, etc. which could have provided a good framework to deal with how we navigate such experiences.
January 19, 2024
Trigger Warnings: aphobia, anxiety, past death of a parent, cursing, grief, underage drinking, coming out, terminal illness/cancer
Representation: Asexual, mental health, Asian, Aromantic, Gay
Wren Martin Ruins it All is a young adult, contemporary romance told in an unforgettably quippy and endearingly chaotic voice, where narrator Wren Martin explores the complexities of falling in love while asexual.
Now that Wren Martin is student council president (on a technicality, but hey, it counts) he’s going to fix Rapture High. His first order of business: abolish the school’s annual Valentine’s Day Dance, a drain on the school’s resources and general social nightmare—especially when you’re asexual. His greatest opponent: Leo Reyes, vice president and all-around annoyingly perfect student, has a solution to Wren’s budget problem. A sponsorship from Buddy, the anonymous “not a dating” app sweeping the nation. Now instead of a dance-less senior year, Wren is in charge of the biggest dance Rapture High has ever seen. He’s even secretly signed up for the app. For research, of course.
When Wren develops feelings for his anonymous match, things spiral out of control. Wren decided a long time ago that dating while asexual wasn’t worth the hassle. Now with the dance rapidly approaching, he isn’t sure what will kill him first: the dance, his relationship drama, or the growing realization that Leo’s perfect life might not be so perfect after all.
Representation: Asexual, mental health, Asian, Aromantic, Gay
Wren Martin Ruins it All is a young adult, contemporary romance told in an unforgettably quippy and endearingly chaotic voice, where narrator Wren Martin explores the complexities of falling in love while asexual.
Now that Wren Martin is student council president (on a technicality, but hey, it counts) he’s going to fix Rapture High. His first order of business: abolish the school’s annual Valentine’s Day Dance, a drain on the school’s resources and general social nightmare—especially when you’re asexual. His greatest opponent: Leo Reyes, vice president and all-around annoyingly perfect student, has a solution to Wren’s budget problem. A sponsorship from Buddy, the anonymous “not a dating” app sweeping the nation. Now instead of a dance-less senior year, Wren is in charge of the biggest dance Rapture High has ever seen. He’s even secretly signed up for the app. For research, of course.
When Wren develops feelings for his anonymous match, things spiral out of control. Wren decided a long time ago that dating while asexual wasn’t worth the hassle. Now with the dance rapidly approaching, he isn’t sure what will kill him first: the dance, his relationship drama, or the growing realization that Leo’s perfect life might not be so perfect after all.
April 26, 2024
I loved Leo, I loved Wren, I loved how grumpy and funny this was, how sweet it was and I just love a damn good texting book.
100+ points for an ace MC.
If you liked Technically you started it or any Simon James Green book you’ll love this one too.
I was hoping for a little more ace relationship discussion in the end, but this seemed very much a tame YA book, so maybe it just wasn’t a point of discussion.
100+ points for an ace MC.
If you liked Technically you started it or any Simon James Green book you’ll love this one too.
I was hoping for a little more ace relationship discussion in the end, but this seemed very much a tame YA book, so maybe it just wasn’t a point of discussion.
October 17, 2023
Got an arc from the publisher!
This was a lot of fun! It was sweet and feelsy and yeah we all saw the “twist” coming a mile away but the road there was still fun. The narrative voice is full of personality and one silly line made me laugh louder than I cared to admit. I’m just glad it didn’t conflate aromantic and asexual like I thought it would in the begging but yeah! I really liked this!
This was a lot of fun! It was sweet and feelsy and yeah we all saw the “twist” coming a mile away but the road there was still fun. The narrative voice is full of personality and one silly line made me laugh louder than I cared to admit. I’m just glad it didn’t conflate aromantic and asexual like I thought it would in the begging but yeah! I really liked this!
November 20, 2024
Dramatic irony, how I love you so.
Witnessing the same pair fall in love twice through different means, when both times they are oblivious to each others feelings? Truly a recipe for success. And the protagonist Wren Martin is a nerdy, awkward, sometimes unintentionally rude teenager! His narration was effortlessly humorous (especially listening to the audiobook), though full of so much heart when the circumstances called for it. There was truly so many great messages sprinkled throughout what on the outside, can seem like just another lost high school senior.
The closest thing I've read to this book is Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and I can confidently say I enjoyed this more. I adored the concept of the Buddy app, and how it allowed Wren to let go of his insecurities and create a meaningful connection with someone free of trivial real-life hangups. His character development and slow-growing emotional maturity made for a heartening journey to follow.
Leo was the sweetest, but that goes without saying. Loved this book!
Witnessing the same pair fall in love twice through different means, when both times they are oblivious to each others feelings? Truly a recipe for success. And the protagonist Wren Martin is a nerdy, awkward, sometimes unintentionally rude teenager! His narration was effortlessly humorous (especially listening to the audiobook), though full of so much heart when the circumstances called for it. There was truly so many great messages sprinkled throughout what on the outside, can seem like just another lost high school senior.
The closest thing I've read to this book is Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, and I can confidently say I enjoyed this more. I adored the concept of the Buddy app, and how it allowed Wren to let go of his insecurities and create a meaningful connection with someone free of trivial real-life hangups. His character development and slow-growing emotional maturity made for a heartening journey to follow.
Leo was the sweetest, but that goes without saying. Loved this book!
October 22, 2025
✧˖°. this book was like a warm hug 🖤🩶🤍💜 ended up loving it so so much! wren & leo 🥹 their romance was so (tooth-achingly) sweet and hilarious!
kinda shocked how relatable wren was, whether it came to his opinions on love, his grief, his vulnerability..i just loved him sm and his silly, witty personality was the cherry on top!! his interactions with leo had me kicking and giggling my feet whole time i was reading. leo was also such a pleasant character and the cutest little yearner. their messages to each other on the buddy app were so so fun to read omg. in conclusion, this book was so healing and teen me would've felt so seen
(p.s i loved the fake wedding scene sm!)
"What am I afraid of? The question nags at me again. I'm afraid of getting rejected. I don't want someone to look at me and tell me my sexuality is a deal breaker. I don't want to be pressured or to be a disappointment. I want to be Wren and I want that to be enough"
kinda shocked how relatable wren was, whether it came to his opinions on love, his grief, his vulnerability..i just loved him sm and his silly, witty personality was the cherry on top!! his interactions with leo had me kicking and giggling my feet whole time i was reading. leo was also such a pleasant character and the cutest little yearner. their messages to each other on the buddy app were so so fun to read omg. in conclusion, this book was so healing and teen me would've felt so seen
(p.s i loved the fake wedding scene sm!)
"What am I afraid of? The question nags at me again. I'm afraid of getting rejected. I don't want someone to look at me and tell me my sexuality is a deal breaker. I don't want to be pressured or to be a disappointment. I want to be Wren and I want that to be enough"
September 13, 2023
This is the kind of book that I wish I could have had in high school, because there are certain elements of Wren that just hit close to home.
A proper review will come soon.
A proper review will come soon.
May 23, 2023
When I say I grinned my way through Wren Martin Ruins It All I mean I GRINNED MY WAY THROUGH THIS BOOK.
It is completely and utterly DELIGHTFUL with a grumpy, sarcastic, chicken having ace teen at its center who is one of the funniest boys I have ever read. Utterly delightful.
It was so CUTE I want to squish it’s FACE and inject the joy it made me feel into my VEINS. So completely heartfelt and chaotic and downright adorable and so so good.
It is completely and utterly DELIGHTFUL with a grumpy, sarcastic, chicken having ace teen at its center who is one of the funniest boys I have ever read. Utterly delightful.
It was so CUTE I want to squish it’s FACE and inject the joy it made me feel into my VEINS. So completely heartfelt and chaotic and downright adorable and so so good.
August 13, 2023
✧˖*°࿐5 glowing stars
‘Wren Martin Ruins it All’ follows Wren as he tries to demolish the Valentine’s Day dance, a plan which promptly fails. It was just an overall DELIGHT. If you’re in the mood for an asexual romcom reminiscent of RWRB (because everyone should be), then it is perfect for you. The one-sided rivalry/crush was so first prince coded idc.
This book is such a quintessential romcom I’m actually smiling just thinking back at the scenes. First off, Wren is the most perfect narrator. He’s genuinely funny and it’s very rare for me to find a book where I laughed as much as I did here. Also, this is exactly how you write a flawed character and make them likeable. I was rooting for Wren despite how chaotic and messy he could be.
The writing was so charming, which also ties into Wren’s narration. The romance was also just as charming and had many of the tropes that make stories like this so fun. I’m a sucker for tropes and cheesy plots like this, so this was my stuff right here. I did feel they could have concealed some things better (romance wise) because they were pretty obvious from the start, but that’s spoilery, so I won’t get into that.
Also, I started this because of the ace rep and that was super cool as well! It’s very casual, with the MC already having figured this out and it still playing into the story.
Overall, if you’re looking for a silly queer romcom with an ace MC, this is the book you need in your life. Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
‘Wren Martin Ruins it All’ follows Wren as he tries to demolish the Valentine’s Day dance, a plan which promptly fails. It was just an overall DELIGHT. If you’re in the mood for an asexual romcom reminiscent of RWRB (because everyone should be), then it is perfect for you. The one-sided rivalry/crush was so first prince coded idc.
This book is such a quintessential romcom I’m actually smiling just thinking back at the scenes. First off, Wren is the most perfect narrator. He’s genuinely funny and it’s very rare for me to find a book where I laughed as much as I did here. Also, this is exactly how you write a flawed character and make them likeable. I was rooting for Wren despite how chaotic and messy he could be.
The writing was so charming, which also ties into Wren’s narration. The romance was also just as charming and had many of the tropes that make stories like this so fun. I’m a sucker for tropes and cheesy plots like this, so this was my stuff right here. I did feel they could have concealed some things better (romance wise) because they were pretty obvious from the start, but that’s spoilery, so I won’t get into that.
Also, I started this because of the ace rep and that was super cool as well! It’s very casual, with the MC already having figured this out and it still playing into the story.
Overall, if you’re looking for a silly queer romcom with an ace MC, this is the book you need in your life. Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 11, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I had no idea how much I would end up loving this book when I began it, but by the end I knew this was a new favourite. It was incredibly heartfelt, and Wren is a fantastic main character, despite being flawed and not making the best decisions, you can't help but love him and root for him. This book was just a delight from start to finish - it's funny, thoughtful, a little cheesy and predictable but in the best way. The side characters were also so charming, and really brought the best out of Wren. It was also quite emotional to see the side plot, involving the death of Wren's mother a couple of years ago, and how he and his dad are dealing with that. I would highly recommend this book to anybody looking for a great YA novel, for something that is both lighthearted and emotional - very well written, and a lovely time.
I had no idea how much I would end up loving this book when I began it, but by the end I knew this was a new favourite. It was incredibly heartfelt, and Wren is a fantastic main character, despite being flawed and not making the best decisions, you can't help but love him and root for him. This book was just a delight from start to finish - it's funny, thoughtful, a little cheesy and predictable but in the best way. The side characters were also so charming, and really brought the best out of Wren. It was also quite emotional to see the side plot, involving the death of Wren's mother a couple of years ago, and how he and his dad are dealing with that. I would highly recommend this book to anybody looking for a great YA novel, for something that is both lighthearted and emotional - very well written, and a lovely time.
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