I loved this book! While it was extremely predictable, I had a blast reading this. I enjoyed this more than Aces Wild, mainly because Wren felt more like a real person than Jack (don’t look at my rating for that book, my rating system changes with the seasons).

The playful banted between Wren and his cohort was really funny and heart-warming. Wren is a grumpy sarcastic 17yo who is going through some serious shit. His disdain for Leo is over the top but I enjoyed watching Wren reel in his behaviour as the book went on.

Veeeeery slow, slow burn, which left me wanting more at the end.

I could see the plot twist coming a mile away but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment for the book.

I thought Wren’s asexuality was handled really casually, just like his obvious attraction to boys. It was nice to have an ace MC just existing and crushing on boys without having to come out as ace or navigate realising he’s ace.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wren Martin is a senior at Rapture High in a coastal Florida panhandle town. He’s stagnated since the death of his mother two years ago, eschewing friendships and planning for his future because he’s afraid to be disappointed. Wren wants to help the underdogs in the world, because he considers himself an underdog, of sorts, as an asexual teen boy. While he would like to have a relationship, Wren avoids even the possibility of intimacy, sure no one could truly want him if sex isn’t on the table. Which is why he’s extra motivated, as the newly installed student council president (following the removal of the previous president and VP for indelicate reasons), to cancel the school’s lauded Valentine’s Day Dance.

Unfortunately, Wren’s plot to end the dance and use the funds it would have soaked up to make much-needed repairs to the school stage gets derailed by his nemesis, Leo Reyes. Leo, Wren often notes, is perfect in most every way–which is why Wren despises him. He’d hoped Leo would leave student council to assist the Robotics team gain yet another huge championship. But, no. Instead, Leo’s proposing to get a new social app, Buddy, to help sponsor the dance. Buddy anonymously connects people in local circles, optimally for friendship, though users mostly turn it into a matchmaking app. Naturally, Wren hates it because he’s not looking for a sexual partner. The bargain on a Buddy-Dance sponsorship should be a win-win: student council helps the school, and the dance still happens. Well, Wren’s still frustrated, especially so when he figures out that all the activities of student council–Homecoming, Halloween, Winter Fest, Dance planning–mean that he’s working with Leo a lot. It’s awfully hard for Wren to maintain his animosity toward Leo with his first-hand experience of Leo’s sweetness, compassion, and imperfections.

Meanwhile, Wren clandestinely downloads Buddy and signs up, convinced it will fail to match him with a reasonable online friend. He’s startled to connect with a user he dubs “Buddy Boy” with whom he can be a more vulnerable version of himself. Buddy Boy likes Wren’s pithy banter, much to Wren’s surprise. It’s wild, actually, and Wren has to fight to keep his bestie from discovering how deeply he caved into the app.

As the school year progresses, Wren isn’t sure if he’s falling for Buddy Boy or Leo–and there are ramifications to both. Does he want to start living his life again, and risk rejection? The Valentine’s Day Dance is coming, and Wren’s maybe going to ask one of these people to be his date. Even if he has an apoplexy with all his worrying.

I really loved Wren. He’s deliciously prickly, and absolutely a self-righteous jerk with a heart of gooey marshmallows. Having survived the loss of his mom, Wren’s also emotionally damaged, and he’s artfully written as a super sympathetic kid lacking self-confidence. I wanted so much to give Wren a hug, even though I knew he wouldn’t really appreciate that kind of bodily contact. And Leo! That boy has it all, and is still on the precipice of sorrow. I loved how Wren saw Leo’s need and was an actual friend to him in his darkest hours.

The story is 100% YA, with a dash of romantic intent, and I honestly adored the whole journey – even when I could see from the start how the ending would play out. I kept waiting for the big reveal(s). The author does an awesome job of pacing and scattering the breadcrumbs, so I had the space to ponder and pine alongside Wren. There are some plot points that gave me pause, like the stage situation, because I teach high school and these plain-out exaggerations seemed to stretch the definition of “literary license,” yet I loved Wren so hard and clamored for his happiness. This story is sweet and tender and funny–everything I look for in a YA read. Definitely recommend for fans of queer YA literature.

I received an eARC of this book for review from Peachtree Teen via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

• The Brief: Wren is an acerbic Floridian high school senior unexpectedly, yet happily, leading student government. Unluckily, the annoyingly perfect Leo Reyes is vice-president. They have two work together to improve their school and discover their futures.
• If you enjoyed Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, give Wren a try.

When I first started reading, I had serious Don’t Care High vibes. Trust me, that’s a good thing. (Or actually, don’t trust me – hurry up and read that 1985 YA classic by Gordon Korman for yourself.) Wren Martin Ruins It All is a hilarious, poignant, coming of age story updated for 2023. Wren struggles to understand his relationships with fellow students, his family, and his future. What’s the update? It’s a romance featuring an asexual panromantic main character. As with many genre romance novels, there aren’t many surprises here. What it does have is heartfelt humor, interesting character work, and authentic ace rep (at least from my POV). Happily, he brings the reader along with him.

4.5 Stars

Having just finished this, I already know I want to reread this eventually. Throughout most of the book, I thought this was an okay read, but I just didn't really click with it. Which is a shame to me, because as an aroace person, if a book has an ace main character, I want to love that book! Towards the end though, I started enjoying it a whole lot more. So with that in mind, I would like to reread this at some point to see if I'll feel differently.

Having enjoyed Aces Wild, I was so excited for Wren Martin Ruins It All. And I feel totally validated in how much I loved this book. From the premise alone, we will always love a You've Got Mail vibe, rivals, and a school dance. Wren Martin Ruins It All is a charming book about these (mis)conceptions we have about someone. How anonymity can help us feel closer to someone, to ourselves, to have this freedom to be who we are, who we want to be.

This is just, like, stupidly adorable for 99% of the book, and the other 1% is heart-wrenching in a really good way, and I loved every bit of it so much more than I expected. This is a trope I've loved since I was a kid watching You've Got Mail, and it just never gets old. I can't say Amanda Dewitt added much of a new spin on it - she didn't - but she didn't <i>need</i> to. Wren and Leo slowly circling each other on their way to that final crash is everything a rom-com lover like me could hope for. And there were some quality laugh out loud moments along the way, because Wren has a hell of a personality.

I think my only quibble is that we don't really get much of a feel for the side characters, even Wren's best friend. Partly this is because the POV is very locked on Wren's first person perspective. But I think a little more page time could have been given to them, just a smidge.

Overall though, this was an easy, quick read, insanely adorable, a ton of fun, and exactly what my heart (torn to mutilated threads after my last read) needed today. <3

So, so good! Wren is a curmudgeonly high school senior who hates the romance obsessed Valentine's Day dance due to his own asexuality (though he's totally a sucker for romance himself), and after becoming student president due to a series of unfortunate events (which happen off screen), almost commits social suicide by canceling the dance altogether. Luckily he is saved by Leo, a coding wiz who is beloved by all (but hated by Wren) and proposes having a dating/social media app named Buddy sponsor the dance. The rest of the book follows Wren and Leo as they plan the dance and do typical high school senior type things.

During the course of this, Wren secretly signs up for Buddy (despite loudly proclaiming he hates it) and starts falling for his anonymous match (who of course is also a senior at their high school). A lot of the twists and turns are rather predictable, and the drama in this book is pretty mild. It doesn't hit significant highs or lows, any kind of conflict is usually resolved pretty quickly, and nothing is especially high stakes.

Where the book does shine is in the character's voice (the book is single POV so we stay with Wren the entire time), and the bigger non-romance questions that come up throughout, like how to plan for your future when it feels like your world is falling apart, and whether it's worth dating while asexual, and do people actually deserve a second chance after a bad first impression. I really enjoyed Wren's prickliness throughout, hints about Leo's pining, and even the app interactions, which I'm usually not a fan of. The ending is also pretty satisfying - it doesn't tie up everything neatly or answer all possible questions, but we see the characters in a good place and ready to face whatever comes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree for the ARC.

When Wren Martin becomes student council president, he finally has a chance to make his school better. To get the funding to make it happen, he proposes to cancel the school's Valentine's Day dance, its pride and joy. Instead, the dance gets sponsored by Buddy, the hot new anonymous chatting app. Now he has to work with his nemesis Leo, the school's golden boy, to organize the dance, and he begrudgingly, secretly, makes a Buddy account. He soon realizes Leo's life might not be as perfect as he thought, and that he's developing feelings for a Buddy match.
The banter was perfect to me, so sweet and funny, and it's delightful how everyone except Wren and Leo understands what's happening. But this humor is kept balanced and grounded with serious topics, like a major loss Wren experienced a few years before the book opens. He never talks about it, but it profoundly shapes how he experiences the world.
I loved that Wren, as a high schooler, is comfortable with his asexuality and isn't at all phased by romantic feelings for another boy. Even though I never heard the word asexual until a few years after college, I saw so much of myself in Wren and his struggles with dating while ace. With wanting a relationship, but feeling like you'll never meet your partner's needs because you're pouring from too small a cup. Or, as Wren puts it, like you're a house with a broken roof, and you have to disclose it before anyone can sign the lease. So to see him get a HEA was particularly special.
I've read quite a few ace books at this point, encompassing a wide variety of experiences, and I'm so grateful that so many kinds of asexual stories are being told. But I'm also grateful to have finally found one that feels like me.

"I've always liked having the word asexual. I like how it makes me feel like I belong somewhere even when the rest of the world thinks I'm not quite right."

Wren Martin Ruins It All was a book I could barely put down and whenever I wasn't reading it I was thinking about it! It's an easy heart-warming read with lots of good humour but also touches on serious topics about grief, sexuality and identity that give it so much soul. Wren is a charming character, even through his struggles and his more annoying teenage moments and I couldn't help but root for him.

The book starts with Wren becoming student council president and finally being able to put an end to the St. Valentine's dance. In his words, it's too expensive and the money could be used elsewhere, but the truth is it's simply too focused on romance and relationships. Wren is asexual, and with everything else he already has going on, the fact everyone around him seems to be obsessed with Buddy - an app to make connections anonymously but that everyone is using as a dating app - is just too much. Unfortunately for him, Leo, the too tall, too handsome, too perfect guy that seems to always get in his way, comes up with a solution where they can both keep the money and have the dance. Then begins their attempt at working together to make the dance a success while Wren also tries to keep under wraps the fact he not only downloaded Buddy but is also actively using it.

There's many other characters to this book and all of them were interesting in their own right but the moments between Wren and Leo were the best for me. I'd gladly read a sequel to their story.

Lastly, I'm now an adult but I wish this book was around when I was a teenager and figured out that I too was asexual. That said, as an asexual, this book hit many right spots for me. I could see my younger struggles through Wren as he tried to navigate the world that so often makes you feel wrong for being different, sometimes even in LGBTQ+ circles. I feel having stories like this and diverse representation is important both for the current and future generations and I'm now very curious to read the author's previous book as it too has ace characters!

I love to see authentic ace representation in books and this was an absolutely adorable depiction of a young person learning themself. Although Wren could be a little bit difficult like sometimes he was always relatable and funny. His relationship with Leo was sweet and the people who Wren has surrounded himself with are fun to read about.

I had an issue with my digital collection while reading and was not able to finish but I'm looking forward to purchasing and finishing it soon.

This book was exactly four stars for me. This young adult novel is told from the POV of 17-year-old Wren who is simultaneously charming and annoying. Like most 17 year olds? While the pacing did not always work for me - sometimes it felt like it was dragging - I didn't really want to put it down and I had fun. Really this is Wren's book and despite his flaws, his is likable and just doing his best with his circumstances. I also thought the ace rep was lovely. While some of the plot was super predictable, there were some surprises in there so I would suggest jumping in without too much pre-reading and just enjoy the ride but for one big content warning (spoiler re grief:) of parental and other family loss due to cancer.

To start, thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel, however, all thoughts and opinions in the review are my own. Spoiler alert: I really liked this and think you should read it.

I'm basically in the winter of my young adult reading life. I don't read as much as I used to and I request it less than ever, but I'm still a sucker for cute queer love stories, particularly when they have ace MCs and chickens. Okay, the chickens don't play that large of a role in the story, but I love seeing ace representation out and about more. Especially when it also notes like this one that just because someone is asexual, that doesn't necessarily mean they don't want romance. Wren, if I have to stick labels on him, I would say is asexual, but homoromantic. And it is adorable.

Wren is definitely a little bit of a hot mess character, partly of his own making and partly because he recently lost his mother. He's a bit grumpy. He doesn't like school dances. He also thinks social media apps are a bit stupid. He loves Reeses. And dislikes people that he considers popular/stupidly perfect. Basically, my high school self would have found him insanely relatable. And Leo, well, perfect on the outside, but having problems that aren't as easily seen. Also prone to grand gestures. Sort of adore them both.

I liked watching the two of them go back and forth as they participated in student council together. The plot didn't go any places that I didn't expect it too on a whole, which honestly, I'm fine with. This books, for me at least, was well-written and executed. I didn't need it to go crazy places to keep my attention. There was at least one reveal at the end that I didn't see coming, but checked out when I thought about it a bit more. Others may realize it quicker than I did, but otherwise I was happy just to be along for the ride of watching two cuties fall in love. I guess we could say that it had a little bit of 'right book at the right time' going on.

I haven't read anything else by DeWitt, but I am apparently sleeping on her. I remember when Aces Wild came out, and I was offered an ARC, but I had too many others at the time so I didn't read it. Now I wish I had just squeezed it in because this was great. I'm going to have to go back and read it. I think that this is going to be perfect for readers of Café con Lychee, Fake Dates and Mooncakes, and other soft queer contemporary romances. This book has a few serious topics that are touched on, but it isn't heavy or really serious. It's just really nice and cozy.

This was a cute read, with a grumpy/sunshine pairing and anonymous messages. Most of the story is lighthearted, with funny banter and supportive friends, but there is some angst and sadness sprinkled throughout to give it some depth.

I liked following Wren as he is pushed by his best friend Ryan and nemesis (or crush?) Leo into participating in various holiday and school activities. He's kind of a rain cloud, but is surrounded by sunny people and I liked seeing Wren open up and have some fun.

I did skim some of this and felt like there was too much filler, plus it's easy to see where the story is heading and what's going on with the messages from Buddy Boy. I still had a good time reading it and if you're looking for an easy book with a happy ending, check this out!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Peachtree Teen and NetGalley for the copy.

This was such a fun and enjoyable read! Told in Wren Martin’s point of view we witness Wren understanding his emotions while organizing the “Dance” as student council president.

This was a predictable story, yet refreshing, engaging and well written. The twists and overall plot is predictable. What stands out in this story is the writing. Written in Wren’s perspective, as a reader we really get to understand and know who Wren is and how Wren will act. The writing is engaging and filled with emotions throughout. It makes you laugh, it makes you sad, but overall you’ll know Wren as if they’re your best friend.

Wren’s personality was intelligently crafted and painted in the writing. Wren isn’t perfect. Wren is slightly cunning, self centered, selfish and adorably cute in love. I loved Wren’s banter with Buddy Boy and Leo. Specifically the exchanged messages exuded such emotion and flow that I loved them. They didn’t feel disconnected from the story and added to the building of the relationship. That said, I also enjoyed Wren’s lists because I usually have difficulties liking those.

Aside from Leo there are many other characters in this book that stood out. They are far from unique characters but each one’s personality shone through even if there was no eventual character growth for them. I liked how they were all supportive and honestly there was no villain.

The story does slightly venture into characters dealing with someone in their family who has cancer. Honestly I liked how the book handled it, because it wasn’t too deep yet emotional enough to understand the silent pain each character was going through. That said, I loved how this book handled sexuality because it felt normal, not awkward.

I also enjoyed the details woven throughout the book that made this story feel normal. Such as Wren’s cat being a common nuisance, to Ryan’s love for costumes. It felt so natural and acceptable while reading and not out of place or surprising.

Overall, I loved this book and really wish this becomes a movie! I loved Wren, Leo and Ryan the most but the supporting cast is just as important to have this story flowing. This was definitely one of my favorite reads this year, and I recommend you to give it a try as well. You’ll definitely be smiling throughout this book.

4.5 stars

Thank you netgalley for providing this arc.

This was super cute. Every once in a while, a cute little romance like this is the perfect palette cleanser. I loved the concept. Wren did slightly annoy because bro, come on it’s obviously him, but him knowing would ruin the plot so sjdjdjdnd I get it. I loved having the ace rep, especially when the love interest doesn’t make a big deal about it, and they have a normal relationship. ✨Casual aceness✨ beautiful.

I finally finished my eARC of Wren Martin Ruins it All by Amanda Dewitt and it was nothing short of delightful!!! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC <3

IThis novel is so incredibly, wonderfully queer, and with all its wit and all its heart, it has been such a lovely break from all the stress of real life these past few weeks! I cannot recommend it enough! <3 <3 <3

Wren is a wonderful main character, and I loved getting to know him, his humor, his grief, his big oblivious heart!!! Following along as he slowly figures out his own feelings was such a joy, and I adored the chemistry between the characters! The entire student council team has my heart <3

It was also SO refreshing to read a queer YA novel where queer-phobia or coming out isn’t the focal point of the story. Those stories are important, but this one is too! A story where the main characters are allowed to just deal with their messy feelings and their grief.

TW: Death of loved one (not on page), grief, terminal illness of loved one.

An absolutely wonderful contemporary YA book! Wren Martin Ruins It All has the perfect balance of plot and I loved Wren as a character. I think this story has the right pacing and build but also adds in new elements with identity and teen struggle. With rivals-to-lovers, which is one of my favorites, this book is easily one of my new favorites!

A very, very funny YA romance with just the right amounts of angst and fluff. Absolutely every reader knows going in what the resolution of the "who is this mystery person on a chat app" plot line will be—if you've at all read the cover blurb, you probably know already—but the journey to the destination is absolutely delightful. Like all romcom fans I'm a sucker for a ridiculous situation and a load of snappy, humorous dialogue, and this book delivers like an overachieving student body president.

Honestly, I didn´t expect to like this book as much as I did, it´s written from Wren´s perspective and follows his inner monologue, which is not my favorite. But he is so chaotic, loveable, and quite relatable that I found myself rooting for him and laughing out loud more than once.
The whole cast is just amazing, Rayn is so quirky and lovely, the twins are amazing and Leo is just so relatable. Bonus the chickens stole the show, I was in love with them every time they appeared on the page.
There are a lot of discussions around losing a family member and grief, so check the trigger warnings, but it´s very beautifully handled and it left me sometimes crying and other times just full of hope.
The plot twists were pretty obvious, at least to me, but that didn´t take away from my enjoyment. Instead, it was fun watching Leo and Wren be completely obvious and just straight-up miss clues that were just in front of them.

“It feels weird, defining yourself by the absence of something. Sometimes I wonder if I would have ever realized my asexuality needed a label if the world didn’t keep telling me I did.“

I loved the Ace representation, Wren’s struggles are both a very important part of the story but at the same time not the main focus. My favorite trope is having LGBTIQAI+ characters just living their lives and falling in love without necessarily having their identity being their only trait. Don´t get me wrong, I love a good coming-out story but sometimes I just wanna read about queer people just existing.
I think at the end of the day Wren Marting ruins it all it´s just a rom-com, it´s funny, heart-warming, and just straight-up lovable. Was it cheesy? yes!! Maybe I am biased because I am a sucker for rom-coms but I had a blast reading it and couldn´t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Peachtree for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I thought this book was very enjoyable. I can see similar vibes as to Love Simon. I found the two main characters relationship was well built and the enemies to romance very cute. I would defiantly recommend this to my viewers.