Reviews - Wren Martin Ruins It All

585 reviews for:

Wren Martin Ruins It All

Amanda DeWitt

4.28 AVERAGE

gail_force_winds's review

4.75

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

samanthalreads's review against another edition

4.0

fast-paced

mauraswift's review against another edition

4.0

funny lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

jess_the_best's review against another edition

4.0

emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

grckl's review against another edition

5.0

CN: mentions of cancer, parent and/or sibling illness/death

I really loved this book. The writing style and first-person POV is witty, dramatic, sarcastic, and delightfully comical. Wren is a relatable character, especially if you're: nerdy, opinionated, queer/ace...and if your mother had cancer and died when you were in high school. Which was the case for me (many moons ago). I picked up this book because I found the title charming and relatable (have we not all felt like we've ruined it all?) and because it was on an ace rep books list, but the themes explored through it really surprised and gripped me.

Ultimately, this is a book about first impressions, assumptions about others, and the fact that we can never know what someone is going through. One can be beautiful and successful, but they may be fighting a losing battle, bruises and scars (literal or metaphorical) unseen.

As a coming-of-age novel, the best thing it does, aside from shedding light on the aforementioned unreliability of assumptions we make about others, is emphasizing the consequences of our actions and the importance of taking accountability. Wren's prickliness and jealousy of the popular kid is perhaps not abnormal for a teenager, especially one who is marginalised and well, nerdy. Still, his behaviour through the years towards Leo who is *actually* a nice person is hurtful and unjustified; we see first-hand the effect this has. He has to learn that, and that actions have consequences; he has to assume responsibility and commit to making a change. And it's not because Leo is having a hard time, and Wren's mum dying is not an excuse (because his behaviour was like that long before that happened). It's just something he has to learn as he takes his first steps into adulthood.

If you're a young person reading this, I hope it stays with you.

catn_001's review against another edition

3.75

Still really good. I really enjoyed that Wren was asexual, and the portrayal of how difficult it can be to date, because like he said ace is often not considered real. Nevertheless it didn’t define him.
Reread - different medium
I enjoyed the narrator too.