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bookterror 's review for:
Wren Martin Ruins It All
by Amanda DeWitt
fast-paced
I have similar feelings than I did about her debut Aces Wild; a lukewarm 3 stars.
• it's not a secret that teenagers are more online than ever, so creating a plot around a social media app that is about connecting with like-minded people together with an opinionated, sometimes judgemental protagonist is a smart move. I did genuinely enjoy how DeWitt included text messages and such in the story.
• What even is a "romcom" anymore, I don't understand how this label is applied anymore. What is it with these kind of "funny" books and the inclusion of death? (view spoiler) Humor is subjective, so maybe that's just on me but the overall atmosphere was more that of a general contemporary coming-of-age tale, sad and funny moments included. I personally liked the somber parts but I am also a lover of sad books.
• Wren as a main character is... look, I was never really sold on his outwardly almost aggressive dislike of anything school dance and Leo related. It did not feel genuine and more contrived to make the plot work. But there is a lot of growing and learning on his part that was important for the story to work that did happen.
• On the flipside, his asexual identity was well established from the start and I liked that any anxieties he had came from other people and their perceptions and not from himself.
• Overall, the story has its charms and you could do worse if you are looking for recent asexual YA releases if a little bland.
• ( but was Leo supposed to be Latino??)
• The big reveal, however... what? < spoiler> I'm sorry, he founded Buddy? we know Leo's got the computer smarts and has money but how did he keep his multi-million passion project secret enough that his name is not listed on Wikipedia?? This made me laugh so hard but I don't think that was the intention of the book. lmao though
I received an advanced reading copy from Peachtree Teen through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
• it's not a secret that teenagers are more online than ever, so creating a plot around a social media app that is about connecting with like-minded people together with an opinionated, sometimes judgemental protagonist is a smart move. I did genuinely enjoy how DeWitt included text messages and such in the story.
• What even is a "romcom" anymore, I don't understand how this label is applied anymore. What is it with these kind of "funny" books and the inclusion of death? (view spoiler) Humor is subjective, so maybe that's just on me but the overall atmosphere was more that of a general contemporary coming-of-age tale, sad and funny moments included. I personally liked the somber parts but I am also a lover of sad books.
• Wren as a main character is... look, I was never really sold on his outwardly almost aggressive dislike of anything school dance and Leo related. It did not feel genuine and more contrived to make the plot work. But there is a lot of growing and learning on his part that was important for the story to work that did happen.
• On the flipside, his asexual identity was well established from the start and I liked that any anxieties he had came from other people and their perceptions and not from himself.
• Overall, the story has its charms and you could do worse if you are looking for recent asexual YA releases if a little bland.
• ( but was Leo supposed to be Latino??)
• The big reveal, however... what? < spoiler> I'm sorry, he founded Buddy? we know Leo's got the computer smarts and has money but how did he keep his multi-million passion project secret enough that his name is not listed on Wikipedia?? This made me laugh so hard but I don't think that was the intention of the book.
I received an advanced reading copy from Peachtree Teen through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.