Wren Martin Ruins It All l is a funny and sweet YA novel that’s perfect for fans of books like Loveless by Alice Oseman.
This book had me chuckling one minute and “awwing” out loud the next. I really loved the main character’s voice and was hooked from beginning to end. If you are in the mood for a quippy and entertaining novel, then definitely check out Wren Martin Ruins It All.

This years ya books have blown me out of the water. I went into Wren hopeful this would be another grand slam and I was not disappointed. From the first ten pages I knew this was gonna change my life. My psyche was changed in ways I don’t wanna unpack.

The pacing, the storyline, the characters and the cat were perfect. I genuinely have no complaints. I felt like wren was me written in a different font and I am two seconds away from getting chickens just to sit with them and contemplate life. It’s a new life goal.

The banter and humor were so delectable that it hit me even harder when illness and grief were brought up. I was laughing then suddenly crying and having no idea what just happened to me. The only thing I would’ve liked was more from wren and his dad but honestly I feel like their relationship was done in a way that it’s not a big deal we didn’t get more from them (I will take a second book just saying). Also, wren repressing his emotions made me wanna look at the wall and make eye contact with no one.

Overall, this made my top tier list of this year and I can’t wait to get a physical copy of this book so I can sit in a dark corner and weep without a glowing screen showing my vulnerability.

I received this ARC free from the publisher through NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book. It was young adult without feeling to young or cringe. And without falling into the "fellow kids" trap that can happen. The story was interesting and I enjoyed reading about the experiences of an asexual teen still wanting romance (despite how much he may deny it). And to see his friend realize her own sexuality was interesting as well.

Both Wren and Leo felt real and I loved seeing how they interacted in different way throughout the book. Really well done and a good read even for adults.

Wren Martin is now the student council president and his first order of business is to abolish the school dance. He feels the dance is too big of a drain on the school’s budget and he has strong feelings about the social connotations of the dance, especially because he’s asexual. With a strong narrative voice, this book brings you the story of an asexual high schooler struggling with personal issues and budding feelings for his student council vice president.

The Good:

✔️ I read this book in less than a day mainly because the narration is so strong and personable

✔️ I adore all the characters

✔️ The anonymous “dating” app is an interesting addition and I haven’t read anything like it

✔️ The asexual representation is immaculate, I could talk for days about how it made me feel but let me just say it’s *chef’s kiss*

✔️ THE CHICKENS

The Bad:

❌ The ending felt rushed

❌ I think the twist with Leo and Buddy at the end could have been foreshadowed better because we never see Leo actually coding, we’re only told that he’s on the robotics team

Amanda DeWitt out here giving me the asexual representation we all needed. The book doesn’t explain asexuality just as you wouldn’t bother explaining gay, lesbian, or bisexuality. Wren is just asexual, it’s who he is, and it’s a big part of the narrative. I could list out all the sections that I related to as an ace person, but I would end up listing the entire novel. No, seriously, I haven’t felt this seen in a novel in a very long time. Thank you, Amanda DeWitt.

I was seriously reading this book smiling and giggling the entire time. The only part that didn’t do it for me was the ending. The Dance itself was rushed and the Leo/Buddy reveal felt flat. I also wish we could have seen more of Wren and Leo’s relationship as a couple, but that’s just my personal preference.

That being said, absolutely five stars. I’m going to buy the paperback as soon as it comes out. Go read this book. Seriously.

Oh. My. God. This book is like paper gold. When I tell you I squealed, hey, I’m telling the truth here! The writing and the way it is set up is so beautiful and soft, it provides such comfort and sweet feelings. I was so excited to read this, and I must say, DeWitt did not disappoint!

First up, the representation in this book! I loved how it was a theme, but the character's personalities were not built up around it. Wren is ace, and it was expanded on, but it felt very real as it was just something about him. Everyone treated him the same, every character treated being queer not as something to be avoided but just part of everyday life, and it was some of the sweetest representation I have seen in a book to date.

Second up, the sensitive handling of topics. It showed the bitter parts of life, such as the premature death of a loved one. It showed elements of cancer, even though it didn’t dive too deep into it. I liked how it showed these topics without being harsh or insensitive, something most authors have a problem with.

Third, the lovely characters and their relationships! They all mingled so well together, and all their relationships were so healthy and enviable. Amanda DeWitt’s writing made me wish for a lovable friend like Archer, a best friend like Ryan, and a significant other as sweet as Leo. It’s not like they were all written as perfect, either. They all had personality flaws, which only added to their charm.

Lastly, the presentation of the teen experience. It showed academic pressure, and then later emphasized that sometimes, you don’t need to have amazing scores in tests or other things, but instead need to show your willingness to participate and care for things. I liked how the SATs were treated as something routine, not the whole focus of your life. It was uplifting, in a way, and could motivate other teens going through the same thing.

All in all, this book was definitely one of the better ones I have read. I loved every second of it, and I wish I could read it again without previous knowledge of it. Thank you Netgalley, Peachtree Teen, and Amanda DeWitt for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Oh, what an absolute sweetheart of a book this was. Wren Martin is chaos incarnated, such a mess of a lovable idiot who you just wants to keep on rooting for. It's been a while since I've read a YA book but I really enjoyed this one. So much cooler because of its ace rep and the other cast of characters were equally hilarious and sweet. I loved this book so much and will be reading other books from this author, for sure.

Thank you netgalley for this ARC

I was really excited to read this because ace representation is rare and I try to read as many ace mc books I can find. At the beginning, I was unsure if I liked the book, but the further in I got the more I thoroughly enjoyed it. The characters grow on you through out the book, especially Wren, who starts out knowing he's a hard to like person. All the hardships the characters went through, was mention in a very subtle way without making it too much of the main focus. Although I did wish it went into more detail on some stuff, but that's personally because I like angst. I usually have a hard time reading books with chat logs, but this one I really loved. There was a part where the normal paragraph got mixed up with the chat log, but hopefully that gets fixed. I am so glad I got an ARC for this. It was my favorite read of this month.

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 Leo 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.

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

What a book!!!
This book was fun and entertaining. Funny and Made me swoon. I loved every representation that portrayed here. And yes, our MC was chaotic but so so adorable. A solid 5 stars for this fun book!

this was quite fun! i love soft coming-of-age stories with queer rep and i felt so seen by wren’s journey that i actually felt a little emotional at times. i feel like i’ve generally outgrown ya so i wouldn’t say it was a 5-star read for me but i would definitely recommend it to those within its target age range! :)

This was an heartfelt and adorable read! There is so much humor and light in it.

Wren is newly appointed as student council president and has BIG plans for this year, like allocating funding for things that really matter, like fixing major repairs inside of the school. The last thing he wanted to do was plan a school dance... Finding the idea of school dances and all that go into them daunting as an asexual person, he feels that these kinds of events aren't inclusive to people like him.

The student council vice president, and bane of his existence, Leo is all about the dance, suggesting they find a sponsor... like this new "not dating" app that everyone is raving about, BUDDY. Doing his due diligence, he checks out the app, secretly making a profile and soon finds someone he really enjoys talking to, though he would never tell anyone... besides, the app is completely anonymous.

Meanwhile, working so closely with Leo, he learns that there may be more to the perfect on paper boy than he previously thought. Now, he is even more confused because he finds himself traversing dating life as an asexual person, which, for Wren, is uncharted territory.

Told with such humor and a cast of lovable characters, this book was super sweet and holds a very special place in my heart.

Wren Martin Ruins It All was a book that I liked more than I expected! Honestly, I'm a little tired of books with relationships through anonymous messages, but I was satisfied with the development made in the book! Wren was a character who wasn't always very pleasant, but it's impossible not to get attached to him. Leo was also a big surprise during the book and I found myself rooting for them to get together soon. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

I LOVED everything about this book! This was such an easy book to read, one of those that’s truly hard to put down. Amanda’s writing is fun and so good. I love the little remarks for the readers that make the reading very engaging. Wren stole my heart with his hate of school dances and their uselessness (oops, forget I said that), his tendency of making lists, his love of chickens and cats, his experience with being asexual, his obliviousness, and more. The friendships were lovely, the talks about inclusivity in various aspects were much appreciated, and the plot in general was wrapped me up in the story very easily.

I had so much fun getting to know Wren as a character. He's kind of annoying sometimes, but if he were a real person, I'd want him as a friend. Especially Ryan. Ryan just amuses me. Wren's friendship with her just works. Leo, on the other hand, is like warm caramel candy. I love how he's so patient with Wren. The way he pines after him is evident, but never desperate. Their friendship is very natural throughout the chapters, and is approached so well, that by the time of the dance, Wren and Leo's emotional connection has already gotten so vivid and real for me. Even thought the "anonymous match" reveal isn't quite what I expected, I'm happy with it.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda DeWitt.

The story follows Wren Martins, an asexual main character who is scared of dating because of his sexuality and who just became president of the student council. His first order of business ? Cancel the Valentine Day's Dance. His excuse ? It's too expensive (the real problem? It's too focused on relationship and romance). That's when vice-president and arch nemesis Leo Reyes suggests collaborating with Buddy (an app that anonymously pairs you with other people with same interest). It is settled, the Valentine Day's Dance will now be about all kind of love, to the displeasure of Wren. He then decides to download the app and see for himself. That's when Buddy Boy comes into his life. Wren will have to learn how to understand dating while asexual and he'll have to choose between his IRL crush and his Buddy crush.....

I would rate this book 4.25 or 4.5. It took me a little while to get into this book but once I was immersed in the story, I could not put it down. I know Wren does not always make sense, but I thought his character was really well written. I think some secondary characters could have been more developed but I liked Wren's best friend, Ryan's side story.

It such a pleasure to have a happy ending with an asexual character, without having the asexuality being a problem. It was mentioned multiple times in the story but it was never the main focus which was a blessing.

My only problem with the book was with the credibility of the story. There were some moments where I could not believe that the characters could not see more clearly. It was right in front of their eyes and they still were too oblivious.

I would highly recommend this book to people !

This book was pain and so much joy all together bundled up in a queer romcom.

Romcoms that talk about difficult things in life have a special place in my heart. The struggles Wren has in life are right there on page and the book doesn't hide it at all. The facts that he struggles with seeing the future, the fact that he is a prickly teen, the fact that he's quite bit impulsive sometimes and tends to hurt the people he cares about. Like the title says, "Wren Martin Ruins it all." But in the book this never felt as an annoying kind of main character to follow. Wren is a human flawed character that tries to do better with all of the struggles in his life and sometimes succeeds at that. And to be honest, I think it is magical to follow along with someone's path like that.

Don't start thinking though this is a dark and depressive kind of YA book. Because I laughed so so much from all of the stupid jokes and fun antics the teens did. The teenagers have some lovely activities and pranks they pull that were a lot of fun to see unfold. But the banter between all of the friends (and potential crushes) are so much fun too and I enjoyed every second of it. This book made me smile and feel wholesome happy because it is just as much a feelgood book to me.

I also really love the asexual rep in this and the way the book had it's conversations around it. There is one conversation specifically between Wren and his best friend Ryan that I absolutely loved and it made me simply smile. As I am not asexual I don't feel that I can say that much about it, but as a queer person I really enjoyed it.

Concluding this was a great book that I really loved and wholeheartedly will recommend to my friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for giving me a free eARC of this book to read in exchange for my review!

3.5⭐️
I found this story very sweet and tender, but also quite predictable and perhaps not very intriguing.
What should have been the biggest plot twist in this book was in fact easily guessed from the very first chapter and, because of that, the events did not captivate me as much as I would have liked. Nevertheless, I still found it an enjoyable read; this book is definitely a cuddle.
The story is told from Wren's point of view. Wren is a gruff protagonist and I did not always appreciate his attitude. I would have also preferred to read the co-protagonist's povs, Leo, who instead I fell in love with right away for his sweet and always selfless manner.
Too bad for the secondary characters who were given very little space.
A point in favor of the book is definitely the well-done ACE representation; there are several simple and effective but never superficial speeches about asexuality.
As for the ship, I found Leo and Wren really tender: their moments together were by far my favorite.
To conclude, I have to make a small remark about the book: important topics, such as illness and grief, are discussed, cancer in particular. I felt like pointing this out because I was caught a bit unprepared by this.

Extremely sweet enemies-to-lovers YA novel featuring a snarky ace protagonist, the charming Wren Martin, and his antagonist, Leo Reyes, who is equally delightful.

Wren Martin Ruins It All is similar in feel to this year's also excellent enemies-to-lovers novel, They Hate Each Other, with both books showcasing teenage characters grappling with real problems and trauma.

Yes, the big twist is very predictable, but with such delightful characters, who really cares? Read this, then grab They Hate Each Other if you haven't already.

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for the ARC.

#happyaceweek