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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
Thank you for having me on the tour @peachtreeteen, @colorbooktour and the author @
Rating 4.5/5☆
E-book
352 pages
Pub day November 7, 2023 - upcoming release
Peachtree Teen
Gr avg. 4.56/5⭐
It makes my heart so happy to see these amazing young adult books and knowing youth will have access to books to help them understand themselves, relationships and love. Relationships are complex and when you are going through puberty it's hard enough never mind feelings or emotions that you don't quite understand. Also growing up is awkward AF!!!
I am a person that thrives with lists so seeing lists in the book was so fun. I also love to see mixed media in books it adds to the story.
This was so well done, I plan to read the authors backlist next.
Suggest giving it a try
Rating 4.5/5☆
E-book
352 pages
Pub day November 7, 2023 - upcoming release
Peachtree Teen
Gr avg. 4.56/5⭐
It makes my heart so happy to see these amazing young adult books and knowing youth will have access to books to help them understand themselves, relationships and love. Relationships are complex and when you are going through puberty it's hard enough never mind feelings or emotions that you don't quite understand. Also growing up is awkward AF!!!
I am a person that thrives with lists so seeing lists in the book was so fun. I also love to see mixed media in books it adds to the story.
This was so well done, I plan to read the authors backlist next.
Suggest giving it a try
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I definitely have mixed feelings on this one. The beginning of Wren Martin Ruins It All was rather slow-going for me, and I really struggled to get through the first ten or so chapters.
I initially picked it up because we asexuals so seldom get explicit representation, but I was quickly put off by Wren’s adamant hatred of all things romance. Obviously there’s overlap between sex and romance, but his characterization initially felt like it was conflating asexuality and aromanticism and reinforcing the idea that asexual people are frigid and loveless. I’m still fifty-fifty on his characterization, honestly, because there certainly are asexual people put off by dating as a whole. Representation should be able to include the “good” and the “bad.”
This story really picks up in the second half, though. Wren, Ryan, and Leo become so damn lovable.And even though it’s clear as day that Wren and Ryan are talking to each other on Buddy, the tension still had me devouring this book. And the twist that Leo founded Buddy for Wren, though evident in hindsight, was so shocking and swoon-worthy!
Overall, this was an easy and adorable read. I tend to stay away from books about high schoolers, but this was an enjoyable change of pace. I have a few personal issues with the framing of Wren’s sexuality, but, again—representation shouldn’t aim to be “perfect.” Highly recommend if you’re looking for an easy read with vibrant characters.
I initially picked it up because we asexuals so seldom get explicit representation, but I was quickly put off by Wren’s adamant hatred of all things romance. Obviously there’s overlap between sex and romance, but his characterization initially felt like it was conflating asexuality and aromanticism and reinforcing the idea that asexual people are frigid and loveless. I’m still fifty-fifty on his characterization, honestly, because there certainly are asexual people put off by dating as a whole. Representation should be able to include the “good” and the “bad.”
This story really picks up in the second half, though. Wren, Ryan, and Leo become so damn lovable.
Overall, this was an easy and adorable read. I tend to stay away from books about high schoolers, but this was an enjoyable change of pace. I have a few personal issues with the framing of Wren’s sexuality, but, again—representation shouldn’t aim to be “perfect.” Highly recommend if you’re looking for an easy read with vibrant characters.
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's been a while since I've read a character like Wren and I loved every minute of it. It's a light and funny read, and even though I wish I got to know more about the side characters, I enjoyed Wren's and Leo's time.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death of parent
funny
hopeful
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
thanks netgalley for sending me the e-arc of this book.
this was BY FAR one of the easiest-reading book I've had the pleasure to deal with this year.
i had some difficulties feeling "involved" in the story at first but during the second half of the book it all changed completely. i didn't feel like i "knew" the characters but i found it very interesting because i kinda felt like knowing them better along side Wren, the main character. more he knew more i felt included. i'm not usually a fan of "in first person" narrations, mostly because i need to know everything immediately, but this time it felt like the right choice to make.
speaking of characters, i fell in love too many times while reading this book. everyone was so lovely in their own way and Wren is very relatable most of the time. i liked him a lot as a main character
i initally requested the arc because of the asexual rep and i'm glad to say it did not disappoint at all. i liked how it was talked about, even if superficially, and how the word asexual was repeated many times. it's nice seeing it not being treated like a bad word.
i started for the ace rep and i stayed for the plot. it was nothing new, nothing never seen before BUT it really kept me reading like i didn't know what could have happened next. some plot twist were so "clear" i did not expect them to happen at all.
the romance part was absolutely stunning, it kept me interested and it was never boring (when it's actually easy for me to be bored by a romantic plot) and it also made me really jealous of wren from time to time.
this was BY FAR one of the easiest-reading book I've had the pleasure to deal with this year.
i had some difficulties feeling "involved" in the story at first but during the second half of the book it all changed completely. i didn't feel like i "knew" the characters but i found it very interesting because i kinda felt like knowing them better along side Wren, the main character. more he knew more i felt included. i'm not usually a fan of "in first person" narrations, mostly because i need to know everything immediately, but this time it felt like the right choice to make.
speaking of characters, i fell in love too many times while reading this book. everyone was so lovely in their own way and Wren is very relatable most of the time. i liked him a lot as a main character
i initally requested the arc because of the asexual rep and i'm glad to say it did not disappoint at all. i liked how it was talked about, even if superficially, and how the word asexual was repeated many times. it's nice seeing it not being treated like a bad word.
i started for the ace rep and i stayed for the plot. it was nothing new, nothing never seen before BUT it really kept me reading like i didn't know what could have happened next. some plot twist were so "clear" i did not expect them to happen at all.
the romance part was absolutely stunning, it kept me interested and it was never boring (when it's actually easy for me to be bored by a romantic plot) and it also made me really jealous of wren from time to time.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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
Wren Martin Ruins It All was another total Amanda DeWitt win!
In this story we follow Wren, an asexual teenager who after stepping into a role of student council president decides to abolish the beloved Valentine's Day dance at their school and make better budgeting choices. But his nemesis and vice-president, the perfect Leo, has a solution to his budget problems - find a sponsor for the dance! And who else would be a better sponsor than Buddy, the anonymous not-dating app taking over the nation, fixing their money problem and turning Valentine's Day dance into something for everyone, not just coupled teens.
Wren decides to secretly give this hellish app a go and things slowly spiral out of control as he starts developing feelings for his anonymous match while also juggling the biggest dance their school has ever seen and a budding friendship (or something more?) with Leo. What will happen when Wren finally realizes that Leo and his life are not that perfect at all but that he might just be perfect for Wren? And what about his anonymous match that makes Wren drop down his guard and makes him feel understood?
This was such a spectacular YA novel!! Full of all the things I love best - questioning characters that are nowhere near perfect, but wonderful to read about exactly because of that, epic friendship groups, nemesis to friends to maybe lovers trope, anonymous pen pals, and a lot of high school drama! It was a painfully relatable book at some parts and I really wish I had this when I was still in high school.
I loved Wren and his sarcasm and his abject rejection of societal norms in high school that make it all about dating and romance. Mind you, this was a YA contemporary book that had a romantic plotline in its center, but it also refused the allocishet definitions of it and I really wish I could follow Wren and Leo's story onward, into college and then adult life (ya know, after school is over and you have to find a job yada yada hehe).
There was also a subplot about loss that hit hard and while it was a difficult story to read, it was also written with a lot of care and I know it'll mean a lot to so, so many. Because losing our loved ones is always soul-shattering and Wren's feelings, thoughts, and decisions were coloured a lot by that as well.
All in all, Wren Martin Ruins It All is a beautiful YA story about love and sexuality (and asexuality), friendship and looking towards your future while being stuck in the past by loss and hurt. It is a laugh-out-loud-novel while also packing quite a few emotional punches, and I truly can't recommend it enough!
In this story we follow Wren, an asexual teenager who after stepping into a role of student council president decides to abolish the beloved Valentine's Day dance at their school and make better budgeting choices. But his nemesis and vice-president, the perfect Leo, has a solution to his budget problems - find a sponsor for the dance! And who else would be a better sponsor than Buddy, the anonymous not-dating app taking over the nation, fixing their money problem and turning Valentine's Day dance into something for everyone, not just coupled teens.
Wren decides to secretly give this hellish app a go and things slowly spiral out of control as he starts developing feelings for his anonymous match while also juggling the biggest dance their school has ever seen and a budding friendship (or something more?) with Leo. What will happen when Wren finally realizes that Leo and his life are not that perfect at all but that he might just be perfect for Wren? And what about his anonymous match that makes Wren drop down his guard and makes him feel understood?
This was such a spectacular YA novel!! Full of all the things I love best - questioning characters that are nowhere near perfect, but wonderful to read about exactly because of that, epic friendship groups, nemesis to friends to maybe lovers trope, anonymous pen pals, and a lot of high school drama! It was a painfully relatable book at some parts and I really wish I had this when I was still in high school.
I loved Wren and his sarcasm and his abject rejection of societal norms in high school that make it all about dating and romance. Mind you, this was a YA contemporary book that had a romantic plotline in its center, but it also refused the allocishet definitions of it and I really wish I could follow Wren and Leo's story onward, into college and then adult life (ya know, after school is over and you have to find a job yada yada hehe).
There was also a subplot about loss that hit hard and while it was a difficult story to read, it was also written with a lot of care and I know it'll mean a lot to so, so many. Because losing our loved ones is always soul-shattering and Wren's feelings, thoughts, and decisions were coloured a lot by that as well.
All in all, Wren Martin Ruins It All is a beautiful YA story about love and sexuality (and asexuality), friendship and looking towards your future while being stuck in the past by loss and hurt. It is a laugh-out-loud-novel while also packing quite a few emotional punches, and I truly can't recommend it enough!
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
funny
hopeful
fast-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
Cute, but the twist was really obvious, but I didn't mind
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Terminal illness, Grief, Death of parent, Acephobia/Arophobia, Alcohol, Classism