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Wren Martin Ruins It All
by Amanda DeWitt
Wren Martin has a goal for his senior year: use his unexpected spot as student council president to abolish the Dance, the legendary school dance on Valentine's Day. He's frustrated that the school administration won't put money toward fixing things like the hole in the auditorium stage, and he's frankly just not interested in school dances at all. His plan is immediately thwarted by his vice-president and nemesis, Leo Reyes, the too-tall and too-talented and too-perfect star of the award-winning robotics team (the only other thing the administration cares about other than the dance). Leo suggests that the council approach the company behind the app Buddy (for making anonymous platonic connections, but generally used for dating) to get them to sponsor the dance in order to use the funding on school infrastructure. And since everyone else on council agrees, Wren is stuck having to help plan a dance he doesn't want.
Though he's not interested in dating, Wren decides to download the Buddy app and tries to find evidence to support his skepticism. What he doesn't expect is to make a match with someone from his school -- and to enjoy talking with him. In fact, it feels like they might be... flirting? And Wren might... have a crush? And maybe the dance wouldn't be such a bad idea?
This book really captured the chaos of senior year, between activities and social life and plans for after high school and friends and crushes and EVERYTHING. Wren is a really prickly character at first glance, though the reader quickly learns what has affected his outlook on school, life, and Leo Reyes. He's got a wonderful, supportive best friend in Ryan, but she also doesn't let him get away with some of his more unreasonable stances. And Leo starts off as the perfect student who inspires your jealousy but ends up as something so much more. There's good, positive LGTBQIA+ representation, particularly ace/aro, among the characters.
You'll find all the typical teen angst and miscommunication and conflict in this story, but you'll also find something to warm your heart. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you, Peachtree Teen and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.
Though he's not interested in dating, Wren decides to download the Buddy app and tries to find evidence to support his skepticism. What he doesn't expect is to make a match with someone from his school -- and to enjoy talking with him. In fact, it feels like they might be... flirting? And Wren might... have a crush? And maybe the dance wouldn't be such a bad idea?
This book really captured the chaos of senior year, between activities and social life and plans for after high school and friends and crushes and EVERYTHING. Wren is a really prickly character at first glance, though the reader quickly learns what has affected his outlook on school, life, and Leo Reyes. He's got a wonderful, supportive best friend in Ryan, but she also doesn't let him get away with some of his more unreasonable stances. And Leo starts off as the perfect student who inspires your jealousy but ends up as something so much more. There's good, positive LGTBQIA+ representation, particularly ace/aro, among the characters.
You'll find all the typical teen angst and miscommunication and conflict in this story, but you'll also find something to warm your heart. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you, Peachtree Teen and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.