Title: Wren Martin Ruins It All
Author: Amanda DeWitt
Publisher: Peachtree Teen
Publication date: November 7, 2023
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Summary
Wren Martin has officially become student council president, which means he’s finally going to fix the school. His first order of business: abolish the Valentine’s Day Dance. Not just because he’s asexual, but because it drains the school of resources it actually needs.
Enter Leo, the new vice president and advocate for the dance. When he suggests getting the popular friendship app, Buddy, to sponsor the dance, it technically solves all of the budget problems. Curious, Wren downloads the app. What he doesn’t expect is to fall for his match. After all, dating wasn’t in his plans. Now, Wren has to balance the dance, his new feelings, and his realization that he might not hate Leo after all.
Review: Wren Martin Ruins It All
Thanks to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for an advanced copy of Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda DeWitt to review! This queer rom-com is definitely a book that you’ll want on your TBR this fall. I don’t think I stopped smiling the entire time I read it.
Let me start by saying that DeWitt absolutely nails the voice in this. Wren is a bit chaotic, a bit stuck in his ways, but his panic about possibly developing a romantic crush? Adorable. Perfect. A teenager in every way. Especially as he realizes that he maybe has feelings for his rival, Leo, as well. If you love that sort of “I hated this guy forever, but maybe that’s because I actually had feelings for him” kind of story, this hits it to the tee. With some great secondary characters to boot.
I am so glad that YA books like this exist now, but man, I wish they had existed when I was a teenager. They maybe would have saved some stress when I was in my late 20s. Wren’s doubts and fears about dating as someone who identifies as asexual are just so spot on. And his developing relationship with Leo works well with the plot of the story, moving at just the right pace.
While a lot of the story is rom-com hijinks, there is also a deeper emotional core to Wren, and to Leo. Wren is dealing with losing his mother to cancer, and how that’s maybe changed his ideas for the future. When Wren realizes that Leo struggles with similar problems, the connection they form? It just works so well. I can’t say that enough about this book: the relationship progression just works so well.
Is the plot a tad predictable? Yes, but I did not care. I was so invested in Wren, rooting for him the entire way. It’s honestly the kind of rom-com I needed after being in a sort of movie/TV hangover with Red, White, & Royal Blue and Heartstopper. If you’re into those things too, you’ll love this when it comes out in November.
5/5 stars