Seeing this book compared to Red, White, and Royal Blue makes total sense; the amount of times I got Alex Claremont-Diaz vibes from Wren was unmatched. Plus, the whole "I hate this man with every fiber of my being. Unless..." is always a win in my book

That being said, this story knows how to hold its own. Asexual and aromantics are often overlooked, so to have a book narrated by such a well flushed out character was refreshing to see.

The relationship, and the way it was given space to flourish, was probably my favorite aspect of this story. I love Leo, and the way he and Wren slowly were able to bond and get to know one another over a shared experience. It was pretty obvious from the get go, for me at least, on who Buddy Boy was, but the idea of an anonymous app based solely on mutual interests was another plot point that grabbed my attention. Plus, the added turning point of why, and who, it was created for and by, was a nice touch.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree for the e-arc!

This was such a great book! I loved how it explored it’s themes of asexuality and how relatable it felt!! Thank you for the eARC! It felt like I was back in high school!

This book was absolutely delightful, Wren is such an entertaining narrator and his inner monologue had me laughing so many times, he is such a chaotic but also relatable character, i absolutely loved him! I also absolutely loved the cast of characters and all their dynamics were just so funny and entertaining to read about✨ This story was not only funny but also super heartwarming, it had me a little teary eyed at moments and also my heart feeling super full🥺 It's not often you get to read a cute romance book where the main character is ace, so this was on top of everything else also just so nice and refreshing to read❤️ I would absolutely recommend this to everyone and especially anyone looking for a super fun and cute romance book that will leave you laughing out loud and also wanting to hug all the characters at the same time❤️❤️❤️
and if you need more convincing to read this it also has chickens🐔

4.5/5⭐

*Thank you NetGalley, Peachtree and Amanda DeWitt for the eARC in exchange for an honest review*

[3.5] <b>impulse control is not my strong suit.</b> 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/fanzine-covers) 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 continually take anything unfavorable as a personal affront (apart from the main conflict with nemesis and vice president Leo, who upends his agenda by pitching a Buddy app sponsorship to fund the school dance).

however, as we got into the meat of his arc, he gradually unfurled his layers and endeared himself to me.

<blockquote><i><b>“It feels like an asterisk after my name, or a warning label on the back of my head.”</b></i></blockquote>
i consider representation to be productive 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 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 for so long that my butt goes 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 <i>wrong</i> 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 amazing that we are beyond equating love and sex, when people can very well have one without the other. that we aren't basing our self-esteem on how much sex we have, and feel undesirable or unloved because of it. love is complex and beautiful and wonderful in all its many forms; believing 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. <spoiler>it was eye-opening to see the common fear of not knowing what to do with our life extending to wondering what's the point in a boy forced to face loss at a young age. my only wish was that his grief had been explored further in his interactions with his father. there was also a twisty twist that was nixed in a single, one-off line that had me questioning what was true/false. it was strange how quickly it was brushed off, but it didn't detract from the warm fuzzies i got during the confession scene.</spoiler>

shout-out to my ace homies 💜🤍🖤

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review :)</i>

Thank you Peachtree and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. This book is so sweet! Wren Martin has finally become the student council President, his first act as President is to cancel the Dance that takes place around Valentines Day. It emphasizes couples, love, and romance, not to mention costs a ton. With a the school falling apart that money could be better used elsewhere. Wren’s also asexual and recognizes that not everyone connects to what this dance represents. But his archenemy, Leo Vice President, complicates things by suggesting they partner with the Buddy app. Buddy is supposed to be about meeting new people and creating connections in an anonymous way, though most people use it to find dates. Wren’s not a fan of this plan but it does give him what he wants. The problem is he decides to download the app and actually makes a connection on it and at the same time comes to learn that Leo is not who he thought he was. Is Wren developing a crush? Can he work with Leo to provide a successful dance? Will he ever learn who his Buddy friend is? First off I loved the snark, it made it highly entertaining to read! But also Amanda DeWitt does an excellent job portraying grief and how that can impact lives. Combine that with sweet touchy feely moments and you’ll get all the warm and fuzzies! Highly recommend! Can’t wait to read it again.

This was so cute and funny and emotional my cheeks are hurting from all the smiling!
Wren’s voice is so entertaining and real. The author talks about difficult and serious topics like grief and regret in a profound yet light way.
Loved all the characters and Leo was sooo sweet and tall 😇.
I liked the way their relationship grew and also the choices they made at the end. I also appreciated how the author portrayed Wren’s asexuality.
Such a heartwarming read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for a honest review.

I could not stop reading! It's sweet and silly and surprisingly touching, with great ace representation.

This book combined traits from two other pieces of media that I love: 'Date me, Bryson Keller' by Kevin van Whye and the love square from miraculous ladybug. Wren is ace and hates all of the events like school dances and I always felt the same in school and I felt that the ace (and potential aro although not confirmed in Ryan) representation was very relatable and well done.

While it felt pretty early on that I knew what was going to happen, I enjoyed being taken through the story and getting to know all the characters. A very cute and fun book.

This was so fun and adorable. Both MCs were extremely lovable and the side characters were also great. There were a couple of heavy story lines (check CWs) that were handled well, but for the most part this was a lighthearted read. I think it's pretty perfectly geared towards a YA audience. Some elements of the story are very obvious, but I didn't find it annoying, I was happy to go along for the ride with these oblivious dorks. I thought the ace rep was very well done, I definitely identified with a lot of what Wren feels. I liked that his asexuality is just a small part of the story, since it's just one small part of what makes Wren who he is. Loved the chickens. Was genuinely surprised by one of the reveals at the end. I did wish there was a little more time spent on the relationship between Wren and his dad. Overall really enjoyed this one and definitely recommend it for when you want a quick, charming read.

"If she's going to hate me, it might as well be for something I did. I can give her options."

Wren Martin made me annoyed and protective as fuck at the same time. He made me laugh (a lot, Amanda DeWitt has that kind of witty sense of humor that 90% of YA writers desperately try to pull off but more often than not fail miserably at). He made me groan in frustration. I wanted to shake him like I would have wanted to shake tiny 17-year-old me.

He's self-centric. He hates people for no reason. He thinks he knows things. (And gosh, he does not.) But he's trying so goddamn hard. And I love him for it.

Also this will sound a little bad but... I love how this was a queer book but not a queer(TM) book. You know what I mean? Wren is ace and that's something that's important for his character but the book does not diverge into a Asexuality 101 pamphlet. Maybe because the book is not about Wren figuring his identity out but it's such a breath of fresh air to have a book not shouting about queer things on every single page. Queer people are not just queer and YA books that seem hellbent on ticking every single diversity quota are making me slightly annoyed. (Very annoyed.)

I will also say that I'm not the prime audience for YA books. I'm too old for them and I find it unfair that I judge them for not living up to my too high expectations that are rooted in false nostalgia. And that's on me, I know. But 'Wren Martin Ruins It All' was top-tier for the genre. It was endearing. The very definition of feel good. Like a cozy blanket on a too chilly late September day. Chaotic and loveable, true to its roots but still fairly realistic. I'm definitely looking forwars to DeWitt's next book.

I have to be honest and say I went into this only thinking "it's asexual representation, it might be good, but it also might be awful". Thankfully it was the first option and a lot more. Wren is so dramatic and his dynamic with both Ryan and Reed is so refreshing to read. One of my favorite aspects of "Wren Martin Ruins It All" is how the writing is light and easy, even when the topic at hand might not be the most positive, the way everything is written is lighthearted enough so that I could get through it.

I saw too much of myself in this book, as someone who is asexual and also lost their mother to cancer, reading about Wren's reaction to just knowing someone is going through what he went and, especially, knowing how things are going to end, felt very real to me.

With that being said, I feel like the only thing missing is more insight into Wren's family and his relationship with his dad. I get the ambiguity and wanting the reader to kind of figure out what happened to Wren to make him act the way he does, but all his interactions with his dad seem more like an afterthought than anything and, because of that, his whole dilemma about staying or moving for college don't seem as important for his character as it should. I wish there was more there, so when we get the truth about his mother, and how it affected his school performance, the reveal would feel more impactful.

Other than that, I think this book is great asexual representation and it shows us that being ace doesn't mean being forever alone.

One line stuck to me a lot: “It feels like an asterisk after my name, or a warning label on the back of my head” and I believe that truly encapsulates the feeling of being asexual in a world where you will never meet the basic criteria for most people in a relationship.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Clumsy and Cute! You would love the book or love to hate the book. A Protagonist is sarcastic, arrogant sometimes but has their own insecurities and depth. Young romance is refreshingly adorable. You would literally want the characters to drop their acts and fall in love like they want. But no, these kids go on and on and on, and then it happens. All you can do about it is laugh out loud and hope they have a good life! Would love to continue living in their world.

Wren Martin is so dramatic and I'm here for it. He's flawed and funny and realistic and I only want the best for him. I genuinely laughed out loud every few pages but also teared up more than once as Wren dealt with the grief of loss and being a teen with a crush. Though Wren is the star, in his honest, dramatic, and ultimately caring role as our protagonist, I loved all the characters (except Stephen Hannigan, yuck). Leo quickly became a favorite as well and I found the depiction of Ms. Little to be particularly hilarious and accurate to my experience as a high school English teacher.

As someone who identifies as asexual, I really liked the ace rep in Wren Martin Ruins it All. I've found that a lot of books with asexual characters end up sounding more like an encyclopedia entry or a lecture than a story, but that's not the case in this book. Wren mentions being ace and how that affects his dating life without sounding like he's reading a definition. As all ace experiences are different, he describes what it means for him within the context of the story, without losing his voice or distracting from the plot.

Though the plot was somewhat predictable, there were a couple of surprise reveals that got me. The real surprise, however, is how real and funny and heartbreaking and hopeful this book is. Beautiful.

[Digital copy provided by Netgalley]

This was such a lovely read! Wren is a snarky loveable dork whose narrative voice adds an extra layer on top of a story that manages to subvert typical YA romcom standards. Beyond its charming characters and fun take on the "secret lovers" concept, this book is another in the line of having actually fun texting conversations! Great representation, fun writing, what more do you want?

I was so excited for the premise of this book and I was not disappointed. I loved the asexual representation and the feelings that Wren had about being asexual- they felt very honest and real, thoughts that I have had as someone on the ace spectrum.
I thought all the characters were fleshed out very well, I wish there was a little more background on Wren’s family, but I also kinda liked the ambiguity. The romance was sweet and only slightly stressful, which I appreciated. I would 100% recommend this book!

This book is one of the best books i have ever read for Asexual and AroAce rep! Not many asexual media will acknowledge that asexuals can want to date and I loved it so much.

there was this one quote that stuck out and it honestly felt like punch to the gut.

“it feels like an asterisk after my name, or a warning label on the back of my head”

I genuinely had to stop reading and be like wow cause i’ve never heard my own feelings about asexuality described so perfectly.

More than that, I loved that this wasn’t a book about him discovering his sexuality. So few stories will have characters that are confident in it and i understand why, but it’s nice to see someone be confident and happy while still acknowledging the parts that suck like having to tell and explain to others about it.

In terms of the actual story, really good! The whole student council drama aspect was very fun, especially since I never really see much about how dramatic highschool council can be.

Parts of the actual romance made me cringe but it was cute. Wren drove me a little insane though sometimes.

Also this book is just straight up hilarious sometimes, like Wren had the most sarcastic character voice.

Overall, AMAZING AROACE REP I LOVE IT JUST FOR THAT

I love Wren Martin! It's easy to get lost inside Wren's head as he ruminates (somewhat obsessively) over student council issues and his love life both in & outside of the newly popular 'Buddy App.' He's a lovable, snarky, and clever character. All of the characters were really quite likable: from Leo, to Wren's best friend Ryan, to the Min twins, and even their club advisor Ms. Little! What a great cast!

Tiny Bit of Spoilers:
I think it was pretty cool to see that Wren truly cared about the future of the students and opportunities at Rapture High School beyond the school dance(s.) However those motivations definitely got a little blurry after the middle of the book or so. I might have liked to see him fight for one or two other upgrades to the school or 'school life' since he was really behind that program in the beginning. He really only had the opportunity to fix one (arguably large and expensive) problem.

I'm a sap for the hidden identity and miscommunication tropes. There was a lot of buildup and I enjoyed the pacing as it got me super psyched for the 'Buddy Boy' reveal (even though it was desperately obvious who Buddy Boy was. The dramatic irony worked well though, because I knew I was getting to know an important character in a way that was not presented outside of the Buddy App.) I do feel like the ending reveal was a bit of a letdown for all the buildup. I also feel a little let down that there was no solidified closure with Wren's father as Wren kept pushing him away.

A+ for Ace & Aro Representation! I'm Aro and I don't know if I've ever come across a character who identifies as Aro in the Romance genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC!

"Wren Martin Ruins it All" follows Wren once he becomes student council president. The first thing he tries to do is get rid of the Valentine's Day dance since it uses up a lot of the school's resources and generally sucks especially since he's asexual. But Leo, the vice president, proposes having the dance sponsored by Buddy, an anonymous non-dating app, so the dance doesn't have to be cancelled. Once the sponsorship gets approved, Wren secretly signs up for the app and eventually starts to develop feelings for his anonymous match.

I loved this book so much! Wren was insanely relatable and I love him so much. I think that my favorite part of this book was seeing Wren figure out how to navigate dating while being asexual. A lot of the feelings and anxieties that he has towards dating as asexual mirrored a lot of my own so it was nice to see him work through all of the feelings that he was having. I loved the dynamics between Wren and his friends. I constantly found myself smiling and laughing while I was reading, especially with scenes that had Wren and Ryan. I enjoyed seeing Wren's relationship with Leo develop throughout the book. I also loved the text conversations that Wren and Buddy Boy would have. They were insanely adorable! I'm so in love with this book and I can't wait to read whatever else Amanda writes.

I loved this book so much. Wren is a loveable, clueless mess and Leo isn’t much better. I did actually believe that they wouldn’t figure each other out for ages, which is rare, and I really related with wrens opinions on dating when ace. I really look forward to what this author writes next,

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review,

Is the book predictable, cheesy and a teenage cliche? Absolutely! But I think it’s done in such a good way and l also liked how the book handled the asexual aspect of the story. It was done in such a great way and when it was brought up it was because it was relevant to what was happening. It wasn’t over done or underdone in my opinion. It was perfect for the story!