Bel Maier is a new transfer to a wealthy private school with exceptional students and high standards. At 17 and still reeling with issues relating to her family, Bel finds life pretty daunting. She then finds herself tossed into the world of competitive robotic combat when she joins her school's robotics club. This is where she meets the talented and popular Teo Luna.

The reader sees Bel going through difficult times, including struggling with knowing what to do in her future when the present is still so challenging. She faces pressure as the youngest child caught between newly divorced parents and polar opposite brothers. Pressure from jumping into a world of engineering where being a girl deems you at a disadvantage by others despite your proven talent. Pressure to know precisely what you want to do for the rest of your life despite only being 17 years old. We also see Teo's own struggles falling under the shadows of his tech giant but often absent father and feeling the need to shoulder the responsibilities for everyone else around him.

I enjoyed the diversity this book brought in several aspects (something a younger me would have adored at the time and happy others get). We get POC representation from not just BOTH main characters but from a majority of our ensemble. We also see the struggles of being a woman in a heavily male-dominated field, not just the struggles Bel faces but also her teammate Neelam. I liked that characters who contributed to the misogynistic problem weren't given a perfect redemption arc because that often feels too ideal or perfect, even in fiction. Instead, we see people come to terms and slowly progress toward changing their viewpoints; it's not an out-of-nowhere 180 to being this morally perfect individual. I loved that Bel had a strong female support system with her friends Jamie and Lora, and her teacher Ms. Voss. I loved that the solution to our final issue doesn't go the way it was instructed to go by Teo. Bel took things into her own hands and ultimately her solution was the right one because it allowed those who deserved to gain recognition to do so. To me, it showed greater character development than her simply going with the original plan.

In short, I wish I had My Mechanical Romance when I was in high school. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers/author for the opportunity to read an ARC!

Being in my 20s, I don't usually read YA anymore. BUT I loved the synopsis of this and the cover is too cute to pass up + it was written by one of my favorite authors ever!

What I loved about My Mechanical Romance are the characters. Every character in this book has a distinct personality, not just Bel and Teo. I especially love Dash and Jamie.

For me, this book really had the perfect blend of happiness (with Bel and Teo's cuteness) and sadness (of the hardships they went through).

If you're at a point of your life where you don't know where to go, this book is for you. I overall loved its core message and to be honest it made me remember being 15, feeling pressured to already know my life plans. I wish I read a book like this during that time in my life, and I'm hoping a ton of young readers would love the message as well!

I rated it a 4/5 because there were some parts that didn't really have the best build-up, and some issues could be tackled a bit better (Bel's parents' issues, Teo's parent issue, etc.). There's still this feeling that it could have been better planned out, because there are still issues that were left hanging.

But, aside from that, this book made me laugh and grin with it's adorable scenes, and made my cry with the scenes that just hit you right in the heart especially as a WOC who /almost/ went into STEM.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I wanted to read My Mechanical Romance for two reasons, I loved Atlas Six and I’ve really been into STEM romances recently. The author Alexene Farol Follmuth wrote Atlas Six under the pen name Olivie Blake and these two books are as different as her two names! Both the genre and style are very different from each other. I was personally drawn to Atlas Six more but I would recommend My Mechanical Romance to all of my students. The messaging in this story is exactly what kids need to be reading. Be nerdy, be smart, and do what you love! Teenagers get so wrapped up in being cool, when what’s really cool is being yourself and going after what you find interesting. In addition to a really important message, this is a well done book. Rivals to lovers, competition, and representation wrapped up in moving and adorable plot!

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a cute academic rivals to lovers read!

Bel joins the robotics team after missing an assignment. She has a knack for it but doesn't like team activities. She meets Teo, the team captain. They share a somewhat enemies-to-lovers trope.

I really enjoyed the character and romance development in this book.

Overall a great read!

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t read a lot of YA anymore, but I’ll have to change that if this is what I’ve been missing out on. I loved this book so much - the writing style sucked me in, the premise was interesting and the main characters were beautifully developed. It was so emotional watching Bel struggle to find her place and something she cared about, and Teo realizing that he doesn’t have to be the one person everyone else relies on all the time. I would definitely recommend this book and will be watching for Alexene’s next release.

I knew this book was going to be good when I found out it was the same author as The Atlas Six, no one does academic rivals better than Olivie Blake! This was definitely the best YA book I have read this year, everyone add it to your cart ASAP.
This story follows the main characters, Bel and Teo. Bel is dreading her process of applying to college (didn't we all). I'll take a raincheck on all of the applications and the amount of planning that goes into it. Don't get me wrong Bel is not lazy she has a tremendous passion for engineering which is why she is transferred to a different course. Teo is the good-looking nerdy kid and happens to be captain of the robotics club at Bel's school. These two encounter each other when Bel is encouraged to join the robotics team. I really enjoyed the representation of women in STEM, not just a girl in STEM that's a total clutz when she sees a cute boy. I thought the author really showed the struggles of being in a men-dominated field. I also enjoyed the support system Bel had, her teacher, Ms. Voss really helped her throughout the year.
Overall this was an amazing read and will definitely be re-reading it in the near future. It was a great academic rivals to lovers.

Thank you, NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked it and enjoyed this book plus, I like the robotics aspect of the plot too. And also there was a nice romance in here as well.

"Take up your own space, Bel. Don't let other people tread over it."

I loved this book sooo much! I honestly wasn't expecting to like it as much as I did—since I'm not that big on YA contemporary or robotics lol—but boy, was this a pleasant surprise!
I decided to read Olivie Blake's YA debut because I like her writing, and she did not disappoint! She really knows how to write romance with compelling characters, and My Mechanical Romance is further proof of that.

We follow Bel Maier, an eccentric high school student who would rather die than think about her future. She hasn't started working on her college apps, she doesn't even know what college she wants to go to – she doesn't know anything about her future. When a teacher notices her talent for engineering, she forces Bel to join the robotics team, which consists of all boys and only one girl (who doesn't seem to like her very much). The captain of the club, Mateo Luna, recognizes Bel's potential, but they quickly start butting heads, since Teo, who is used to being in charge and on top of things, isn't quick to accept advice from a newcomer, and a girl at that. Where Bel doesn’t care about Nationals all that much, Teo cares too much. But, as they spend more and more time together working on their robot for the competition, they realize that they aren't so different, and that they make the team and each other better.

I loved Bel and Teo, they are such complex and interesting characters in their own right, and I really enjoyed watching their relationship slowly go from reluctant teammates to friends and finally to lovers. Their banter was EXCELLENT, and I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. Bel and Teo's romance was honestly so sweet and wholesome; they helped each other grow individually and come to realizations about who they really want to be. Everyone deserves a love like theirs. 🥺❤️

Despite not being a teenager nor a STEM gal, I found myself completely immersed in the story and I never felt bored. Seriously, the scenes with the robot battles? They had me on the edge of my seat! That stuff was intense! 😂
I really appreciate how realistic the story felt – the pressure of being 18 and having to decide your whole future when you're basically still a kid, being a girl (and a POC) in a male-dominated field, having complicated relationships with your family, struggling to find something you're truly passionate about etc. (I also loved all the Taylor Swift references. 😉)

All in all, this was a great book and I'm so glad I read it. I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good romance, relatable characters, is maybe a bit of a nerd, and (though it's not mandatory) has a thing for engineering!

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book very much. It was lighthearted and fast-paced, and the characters were very well developed. The plot interested me, and it included many interesting, important points about misogyny in fields such as mechanical engineering and other sciences. The romance itself was pretty good, and I found the stories of both characters fairly compelling.

This book is making it onto my list of best books I read this year.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

While this field isn’t for me, I have so much respect for women in STEM, especially women of color. If dealing with that one guy in my class who kept asking if I was confused over a slide for our presentation bugged me, I can’t imagine what it must be like to deal with the micro aggressions and blatant sexism in this field. That’s not to mention understanding the concepts and being able to build such amazing things. I think this book really shows that frustration when you enjoy the work but there are guys who try to make it seem like you don’t deserve to even be in the room.

Women belong in STEM, and what’s ironic is that while this is the message of the book, the main character, Bel, didn’t even want to be put on her school’s robotics team at first. But a teacher saw the potential she had, and she encouraged (lowkey forced) her to go to tryouts. She’s as surprised as anyone that she made the team (most of the team was surprised and didn’t think she even belonged there). But Mateo Luna could see the same potential. The only issue is that they are complete opposites and don’t always agree. This is where the academic rivals to lovers and opposites attract tropes come in!

I loved both characters and watching them develop throughout the story. It’s dual POV, which I think was definitely the right way to go. While it is about Bel discovering a talent and developing a love for engineering, I think it was important we also saw certain things from Teo’s point of view. I don’t know if I would’ve liked him if we didn’t learn more about him. He is the way he is because he’s so used to having everyone depend on him and that he has to reach everyone’s expectations. He’s been on the team all throughout high school, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t some things he can’t learn from Bel. We see Bel struggle with handling decisions about her future, which I think many teens can relate to. After all, it’s not easy for 17/18-year-olds to figure out what they want to do after high school. Seeing her start to fall in love with engineering and competing in competitions was amazing to see, and she eventually realized that this is what she wanted to do. Meanwhile, Teo has a clear plan of what his future will be, and I think there are definitely teens out there who are very sure of what they want for the future. But whether you know what you want to do or not, it doesn’t guarantee your life is perfect.

The author included family issues within this STEM romance book, and I thought they were handled very realistically. Bel’s dealing with her parents’ divorce. This book addresses how children of divorce feel like they have to pick a side but it’s hard when they’re your parents and you love them both. Her relationship with her dad was especially complicated for reasons I won’t say so as to not spoil, and I think it made the situation even harder. Teo also has issues with his dad, who he feels very distanced from. Both grew up very differently, but it goes to show that no family is perfect.

As I kept reading, I began to understand better why Neelam is cold with Bel and mostly everyone else. It was nice to see Bel have such supportive friends like Jamie and Lora, who each have their own goals and ambitions. Dash, Teo’s best friend, was one of the only guys to really talk to Bel at first, and I really liked his character as well. I would love to read a novella of how they’re all doing after high school!

The robotics competitions were so intense and I kept rooting for them, hoping they’d especially beat those boys who thought Bel and Neelam didn’t deserve to be there. What happened at the last competition was so unexpected, but it needed to happen. I think it really drove home the point that girls do belong in STEM.

Their romance was so cute, the message was well-executed, the side characters were interesting, and if the author were to write a novella about their college life, I’d read it. Overall, I give it 5 stars!

i loved so so much about this book. i went into it without really knowing anything about it and i immediately felt connected to bel, i love her! i also really really loved the humor in this book, there were several scenes where i laughed out loud and both main characters were super relatable. another small detail that made the book a little better were the few taylor swift mentions :) i usually hate pop culture references in books but these were so cute and not cringe at all!! i would say this is exactly what i want in a ya contemporary romance!

If you are looking for a STEM YA read with a sprinkle of academic rivals to lovers, with High School Musical vibes, this is the read for you. While the overall pacing of the book is on the slower side, I loved the topics it addressed and what I love even more is the gorgeous cover 😍

The characters were very well fleshed out and developed. What I enjoyed more than the romance was how Alexene (aka Olivie Blake) highlights the challenges females (of colour too) in STEM face. The microaggression and sexism were also brought out in a very realistic manner and shown through little details. Given that it is a coming of age romance, it addresses the difficulties teenagers face such as dealing with family dynamics, being uncertain about their future, what they want to pursue and who they want to be. Since these are big topics, the romance did take a step back in my view. I hope this read empowers the high school kids who read it and know that they can be who they want to be.

This is a great book for a young adult/new adult.

We need more book encouraging 1) young girls that they can do what their counterparts can do 2) show young girls/women that they are smart and strong.

I like that teachers and friends were able to see the potential in Bel. Even though it seemed she was pushed into joining the team, others saw what she was capable of, encouraged her and helped her what she wanted for her future.

This is a book i would approve for our daughter once she is of age.

This book was read thanks to NetGalley.

This book is a YA about academic rivals that have to work together just for them realizing that they have more in common that they realized, which is nice.


It was a solid 4 starts read. I am a sucker for stories that portrait how is to be a WOC in STEM, because it feels like if I had these kind of stories when i was a kid, my decision of going to STEM would've been easier.

Love and STEM can get together everyone.

I recommend this book if you like Never Have I Ever and the love hypothesis...

A 30-second building hack buts Bel on the radar of a science teacher who sticks her on the school's robotics team. Bel has always liked to work with her hands and understand mechanical engineering even if she lacks the technical terminology to explain her ideas. But Bel and Neelam (the only other girl on the team) aren't treated like engineers and Neelam isn't willing to work with Bel. Superstar Teo Luna is used to making all the decisions, and doesn't know what to make of Bel's ideas. Everyone will need to check their prejudices if the robotics team has a chance at winning.

There were many great characters in this novel and I loved that it confronted stereotypes about girls in math and science. Bel has to make some tough decisions in this book. I look forward to reading other things by this author.

I buddy read this with Julie & Dini! I think the secret to all books is a buddy read. haha! It’s been so amazing to bounce off ideas and talk about things we did and didn’t like. I also didn’t realize this was the author of Atlas Six!

This one didn’t start off as a love at first read. Is that a thing? If not, then I’m saying it is. It took me a while to really get into it and actually like the MC love interest. Eventually, we learn a lot more and it definitely changed my opinion on him. I absolutely adored the MC- Bel. Her humor is amazing, and she was such a refreshing MC to read about. She kind of lives in her own world and does her own thing. She’s unapologetically doing her own thing and it’s empowering. The supporting characters were amazing! Dash and Jamie brought so much to this story, and I loved them to death.

The STEM in this is what I loved the most. I think it’s really important that girls can feel like they belong in STEM and it’s definitely a hard world to crack. Not to mention, being a girl of color. This really put a spotlight on the injustices girls face in this world. It’s tough and I like how there’s so many lessons in this. The fact that they had people in their corner to help them shine. On the flip side, there are people who are not (teachers) their side and I’m glad that some of them learned their mistakes.

One of the things I didn’t like at all, was the female competition aspect. I understand that Neelam feels like she’s owed something because she’s been doing it longer. It doesn’t matter how someone gets somewhere; women should always support women. Women have enough of a time competing and fighting men, we don’t need to be doing it to each other. This was a huge downfall to this book because it’s not a message that I will ever get behind.

Overall, I (and my buddy reads) really enjoyed this story. There’s a lot of great messages and it was such a sweet romance. I think it’s important to shine a light on how hard STEM or anything considered a “mans” world is. I loved how we even had teachers realizing their ways, good or bad. I think it’s an important message and this book was really empowering! I loved Bel and she’s such a great role model for girls. I want to be more like Bel. 🙂

Thank you to Holiday House for providing and arc via Netgalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Okay, everything about this appealed to my inner science nerd! My Mechanical Romance was a cute coming of age YA novel, and I enjoyed every page of it. Well almost, the beginning started off slow, Bel and Teo were both well-developed characters, and I loved how they learned to trust and open up to one another, and how they both had a positive impact on the other.

What to expect:
• high school seniors
• STEM + robotics
• talk nerdy to me
• competitiveness
• new girl + popular boy
• sweet coming of age story

What an adorable read!! This book was such an easy 5 stars for me, definitely my favourite in May! The writing style flowed so beautifully, and I felt immersed in the lives of Bel and Teo almost instantly. Images of them and the places described in the book danced around my mind for days like a movie, it was such a comforting and easy read, enough so that I truly want a physical copy, unlike other e-books I read! If that doesn't show how much I genuinely adored the characters and how wrapped up in their lives I became, I don't know what will! Pub day is tomorrow, May 31st!

The debut novel of Alexene Farol Follmuth takes the mechanics of romance and engineers a story where high school ambitions, robotics and academic enemies to lovers are the final product. Opposites attract in this YA contemporary; Bel who takes everything day by day and haven't even planned for college yet and Teo who is a star athlete and captain of the robotics club end up working together on a robot. It sounds worse than it really is. Bel loves building things and is motivated (more or less pushed) by her teacher, she finds herself in the robotics club and actually enjoys it. But she quickly realises that it's a difficult ground to cover as her supposed teammates aren't that welcoming.

Even though the first half of the book was somewhat slow, the second half picked up and I was intrigued by the events. I loved seeing the relationship between Bel and Teo develop, I liked seeing Bel grow into her character and achieve more than she expected to. Thank you Ms. Voss for motivating Bel!

There is so much more to this book than a high school romance and building robots. There are women in STEM representation and some lessons to be learned. This is a quick read with a dual POV, characters with a streak of competitiveness (can we appreciate Neelam for a second, I love her!) and unexpected friendships.
Pub date: 31 May 2022

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

My Mechanical Romance is a dual-perspective YA romance focusing on Bel and Teo, who end up on the same robotics team. Initially, the two don’t get along, but as they spend more time with each other, they start to realize if they might just be the perfect fit.

I was disappointed by this book. It wasn’t bad, by any means, but it felt quite average. I had expected more from this author due to the raging success of The Atlas Six, which they wrote under a penname.

There wasn’t much plot in this book, which is to be expected as it is a contemporary. I felt it was quite a slow read, and the conflicts never felt very realistic to me – they all seemed to be solved very neatly.

I didn’t like Bel or Teo’s characters. They felt very one-dimensional and like characters that I had read many times before. I will say that I enjoyed seeing Bel make a name for herself as a young girl in STEM, but other than that, there wasn’t anything about the characters that stood out to me.

The writing was easy to read, although it didn’t wow me. I did enjoy the characters’ internal dialogue – especially Bel’s, as it felt very reminiscent of the thoughts I had when I was Bel’s age. I wish there had been a bit more relationship development when it came to Bel and Teo, as it seemed like it went from zero to a hundred, although there were a few very cute and enjoyable parts. I also wish we had gotten to know some of the side characters a bit better.

While this review may sound negative, it honestly wasn’t a bad book. It was fun to read, and I think it’s a very important book that could end up inspiring a lot of young girls who are interested in STEM. It may not have impressed me a whole lot, but I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.