One thing about me, you never know what I’ll read next. Case in point, I just went from a horror novella to a young adult romcom.

I received a digital advance reader’s copy (ARC) of Wren Martin Ruins It All by Amanda Dewitt. Since this version is just a proof and not the final version, I won’t quote directly and will keep my comments general.

In Wren Martin Ruins It All, Wren is president of the student council, and it’s senior year, so he’s determined to make an impact. First and foremost, he wants to do away with the school’s much-loved Valentine’s Day dance and allocate that money elsewhere. However, his fellow council members—especially the vice president and annoyingly perfect person Leo Reyes—suggest that they get a sponsorship for the dance instead. They choose Buddy, the popular anonymous not-dating app. Wren is forced to agree, and sinks into planning for the dance, organizing other council duties, and surviving homework. He also, however, downloads Buddy out of curiosity and finds it to be… better than he thought. Especially when he ends up with a crush on the boy he starts chatting with. But having feelings for someone while you’re asexual is messier than Wren wants to deal with. Then, of course, there’s Leo, and the more time Wren spends with him, the more he realizes that under that perfect veneer, there’s a fascinating and flawed boy who he might actually care about.

This is a very cute story! Wren is such a sassy main character, and while he’s kind of an obnoxious teenage boy sometimes, he’s also very relatable and sympathetic. I loved his friendship with Ryan, and how his bond with Leo develops over time. Leo is also a great character, full of compassion and insecurity.

As for the plot, there’s a lot of drama around Wren having a crush on his anonymous match (who he calls “Buddy Boy,” knowing full well how cringey that is) and on Leo. This may be spoilers, but doubtful—to me, it was so obvious that Buddy Boy and Leo were the same person. It was, however, so entertaining to watch Wren navigate life not knowing that. There was a sort of “You’ve Got Mail” element to this that I had a great time with.

The struggles Wren faces around his asexuality, his grief over losing his mother a couple years previous, and Leo’s worry about his sick brother also add a lot of nuance to the pair’s journeys. Their struggles are portrayed with realism and empathy, and I loved how they helped each other work through those and learn to be vulnerable together. It’s a good example of a mostly healthy teenage relationship.

In the end, Wren Martin Ruins It All is a lovely story. The characters are sweet, the plot is filled with just the right amount of high school drama and antics, and there’s a great balance of funny and heartfelt moments. I liked this book even more than Dewitt’s debut novel, in fact, and if you want a lighthearted teen romcom with excellent queer representation, look no further.

Wren Martin Ruins It All is available now!