This one worked a lot better for me than this author's debut and I am so happy about that. This one is a very cute YA with an ace main character. It has a lot of texting in it which sometimes doesn't work in audiobook format but I didn't have any issues with it. I really liked both Wren and Leo and the entire premise of the Buddy app. It definitely feels like something that would exist (I mean it kinda does in the Bumble friends section) but people always use it for romantic pursuits instead of the intended platonic ones.

My one genuine annoyance with this was the younger sister of the MCs best friend. Wren is the MC and his best friend is named Ryan. Her little sister Reed is a fairly large part of the book as a secondary character and she is supposed to be a freshman, meaning 13-14 years old yet she reads like a 10 year old. I was more annoyed at this aspect than anything else.

As a whole though, this is a solid sophomore book and I look forward to what Amanda DeWitt writes next.

4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC.

Wren Martin isn't the most likable person, but it's his sarcastic narration that shows his cute quirks and abundant flaws. He messes up a lot (and likes to double down instead of apologize), but at the same time, he's authentic, funny, and passionate.

Amanda DeWitt's writing style is what makes her books some of the best I've read this year. It's refreshing to see books with asexual and aromantic representation, especially when they're treated normally. In Wren Martin Ruins It All and Aces Wild, we aren't following teenagers as they figure out their sexuality and face bigotry in their high schools. Rather, we're seeing teens who already know who they are and how they navigate the world with that knowledge. There's nothing wrong with those kinds of stories, but I appreciate that they're not the only ones we're seeing in the publishing industry.

I adored this entire cast of characters, and although the book was predictable, it was part of the charm. Readers can look forward to Wren and the LI making references in person about their anonymous, online relationship and laugh as they continue to be oblivious to their reality.

I could say a lot more about this book, but then I'd have to spoil it for you. Just know that this is beyond worth the read and I can't wait to get a physical copy for my bookshelf!

I've enjoyed everything I've read by Amanda DeWitt so far, and am looking forward to more! This is the story of a high school ace control freak who makes a mess of things by trying to be perfect. If you like hidden identity stories like You've Got Mail, this one's for you.

Omg this book is SO GOOD!!! 😍 It reminded me a lot of Simon vs (which is a huge compliment coming from me) and I loved it so much!! The ace rep alone was incredible, like probably the best I’ve read in a YA book! It was an important part of who Wren is without it being a shameful thing for him! The romance was also top notch and had me invested from start to finish!! I did guess both “twists” early on in the book but that didn’t change how much I absolutely loved everything about it!

This was a perfect YA book if you are looking for a sweet, final year of high school romance! It had some of the best ACE representation I've ever seen in a book that still had a romantic interest, which was just incredible to see. The story was paced well and the main character was quirky and full of melodrama while still being entirely likeable as a POV. I loved it. I loved the side characters, I loved the side storylines, and if anything, I felt like the book could have been longer and I wouldn't complain. This was a great book, and I look forward to reading more by DeWitt!

A wild, witty romp of a book filled with memorable characters and lots of hijinks and humor! I really enjoyed the writing style and pacing in this one. It felt modern and timeless at the same time and was a hard read to put down (in the best way).

I loved every minuto the this book. Is probably the best book I’ve read all year, confirmed. Okay, things I liked:
1. Excellent Asexual representation. 10/10
2. Good comedy and no absurd fights. As a matter of fact, there are no fights at all. And this I liked especially, because I´m tired that in YA books when there´s a plot of enemies to lovers the characters quarrell about the most useless stuff just for the sake of drama.
4. I seriously lucked out too, because this story featured one of my absolutely favourite romance tropes: anonymously falling for someone online without knowing who they are or what they look like (OMG. I Know, do not judge me).
5. Also loved the sense of humor. LOL.

I'll start off by saying I will almost always purchase and recommend titles with (well done) ace rep, especially from a male perspective. This alone makes this title hugely valuable for any collection.
The story was cute and a quick read, I think it successfully did what it set out to do, however I do wish that we got a little bit more time to get to know the characters before diving head first into the conflict. I also feel like things happened way too quickly to feel realistic.
Personal rating: 3.5, but rounding up for the unique representation

light insightful and refreshing read.
a book that shows a well known and often done story -high school kid shares part of their life- in a refreshing way.

i really enjoyed the writing style and tone, i enjoyed the characters and of the entire book was done.

a great read!

A sweet and romantic story in this new book for fans of Casey Mcquiston, with unforgettable characters.

Wren Martin doesn't do dances. Or romance. Or fun. The last one is a joke. Mostly. He has bigger aspirations for his school than hosting the same Valentine's dance. Being elected to his school's office is his chance to make a difference finally. Except that his mortal enemy, Leo, is also elected. And he has a plan that will not only continue the tradition but guarantee that it becomes one of the biggest dances in school history. Underneath his prickly exterior, Wren Martin has his own complicated feelings on the matter and his life plans. A push from unexpected sources could be the driving force he needs to change.

Wren Martin Ruins it All was witty and entertaining. It gives a glimpse into being a teenager who feels like they don't always fit into a crowd and also the importance of being able to reflect on the passing of a loved one and not feel held down by grief. Falling in love while asexual presents its own set of unique challenges for Wren, and the reader goes on a journey with Wren as he explores more about himself and what exactly he desires. The fictitious app Buddy parallels real-world usage (and misuse) of social media and how far it can reach.

The plot here is a fairly obvious one. When characters are rivals it almost always spells romance. The characters are well developed and interesting. And the plot goes beyond the surface. A solid way of normalizing marginalized groups.

This was a book I didn't know I needed, even as a twenty-four year old adult, still struggling with self-identity and the feeling of not fitting in. The book itself was a delight, I loved the back and forth between characters and the relationships between them all. It took me back to high school but not necessarily in a bad way. I enjoyed this book.

A solid ya story with great aro/ace rep. We definitely need more of these kind of stories where everything doesn't revolve around sex.

I really liked the syoryline of the book. We have a saying in Finnish (I don't know if it's purely a Finnish thing or not), which translates as "even a horse kicks out of love", which I think describes perfectly Wren's "hatered" towards Leo. Even though he didn't knew it himself yet.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this title

This is a kind of Ace love story I am looking for in a book. I will admit that it took me a couple chapters to clue in that are main character was male however it did not affect the story at all. As an ace individual I was happy to see the opportunity to read an ace main character, however, I was hesitant because I've been burned before. That is not what happened here. This was a beautifully written story and I was happy to see that the main character did not give up a part of themselves to be in love. I feel like this book was written very well in the teenage perspective. The way the characters spoke and acted match the very well with the way that I see teenagers in my own life.

Wie finde ich das?

Nachdem ich bereits "Aces Wild" von Amanda Dewitt verschlungen und über alles geliebt hatte, war für mich klar, dass ich auch das neue Buch der Autorin "Wren Martin ruins it all" lesen muss, nicht zuletzt, weil auch hier wieder die Repräsentation von Asexualität eine Rolle spielt.

"Wren Martin ruins it all" ist ein Young Adult-Roman, der einige bekannte Tropes miteinander vereint: Academic Rivals to lovers und Falling in love through text (ist as ein Trope? Ich finde, es sollte einer sein!) sind dabei die präsentesten, doch die Liebesgeschichte steht gar nicht so sehr im Fokus. Eher im Gegenteil. Eigentlich ist es Wrens erklärtes Ziel, den jährlichen Valentinsball und alles, was irgendwie mit Romance zu tun hat, abzuschaffen.

Das gelingt natürlich nicht und auf einmal muss Wren - mit seinem akademischen Rivalen Leo - den größten Ball in der Geschichte ganzen Highschool planen und tut dabei so ziemlich alles, um es zu vermasseln. Der Titel "Wren Martin ruins it all" (dt: Wren Martin ruiniert es alles) ist hier alles Programm und manchmal ist das beim Lesen echt nervig, aber meistens auch einfach nur verdammt amüsant.

Ein weiterer wichtiger Handlungspunkt ist der Umgang mit Trauer und wieder in einen Alltag zurückzufinden, nachdem nan einen geliebten Menschen verloren hat. Auch wenn man die Schwere des Themas nicht erwartet, wenn man das Buch aufschlägt, so ist es doch sensibel umgesetzt und hat eine wirklich schöne Message.

Auch Freundschaft spielt eine essenzielle Rolle. Für Wren, der sich selbst als asexuell identifiziert und das Daten aufgegeben hat, weil die meisten potenziellen Partner seine Identität nicht akzeptiert haben, ist Freundschaft wahnsinnig wichtig und das merkt man. Das Bund mit seiner besten Freundin ist sehr stark und mit Sicherheit eine der besten Freundschaften, von der ich seit langem gelesen habe.

Im Großen und Ganzen...

"Wren Martin ruins it all" ist nicht nur die Geschichte zwischen zwei Jungs, die einen Ball planen und sich dabei näher kommen. Es ist auch eine Geschichte über Zusammenhalt, Freundschaft und Selbstfindung. Aber vor allem ist es eine Geschichte zum Lachen, zum Weinen und zum Mitfühlen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

When his school secures a sponsorship from a friendship app called Buddy for their school dance, anti-dance student council president Wren Martin is surprised to actually find a connection with someone he met through the app. Meanwhile, Wren is struggling with planning for his future, navigating his first crush, and getting along with his student council vice president and rival Leo Reyes.

I really enjoyed this queer YA romance and coming-of-age story. Although I cannot speak to the authenticity of the portrayals, I liked the representation of an asexual main character, and aromantic side character. The concept of using a friendship app to make school dances more welcoming to ace/aro students was refreshing and original. I like the trope of hidden identities and felt that this was done will with minimal miscommunication. The relationships between the characters and their development throughout the book felt natural, and I liked the growth the characters showed. I enjoyed Wren’s snarky narration throughout, it was hilarious, but his voice did not always feel believable as a teenage boy. I recommend this for fans of queer YA stories, and will look for more from this author in the future!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC of Wren Martin Ruins It All.
This book is really fun to read. I loved the character dynamics. It's really fun to read and I enjoyed reading it.

To sum it up: OMG I LOVED THIS IT WAS SO CUTE

My favorite trope (if you can call it a trope?) is when they hate each other in real life, but then they message each other, not knowing who they‘re actually talking to, and fall in love with this person. Is it predictable every time? Yes. But is it the cutest, most romantic thing ever that always has me giggling and kicking my feet? YES!!!!
And in this book we have this trope but queer, with an asexual MC and a gay love interest!!!

I loved the characters - Wren might have been a bit grumpy and pessimistic at times, but I still adored him, and Leo was just the sweetest!!!! I loved reading their conversations so much!!! I also loved Wren‘s best friend Ryan and all the other side characters, everything just fit into the story so perfectly!

I thought the concept with the app to meet people at your school anonymously based on connection instead of looks was great and I would love to have such an app in real life!

Overall, the story and the writing style were very fast-paced and I read it in 1,5 days because I just couldn’t put it down!

If you‘re looking for a cute and queer YA romance with ace representation, I highly recommend!!! <3

I enjoyed this novel a lot. Like, a LOT lot.
After the author's debut, that I liked but was missing something to me, I was quite nervous to start a new title written by Amanda DeWitt, but it ended up being an amazing decision. It might one of the softest and easiest to go through books I have read in 2023.

Being an asexual myself, the representation holds a lot of importance to me, and I really loved what the author did with the main character, Wren. And the romance was everything I needed to read as an ace, as it can be hard to find a good one that stays true to the sexuality of the characters.

I highly recommend this book, that will make you spend a great time for sure. Perfect for the summer or spring season, and for fans of Becky Albertalli and Sophie Gonzales!