So cute and enjoyable!
Read this so quick and it was too wholesome. Bel and Teos high school relationship was so realistic which was really refreshing.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth follows high school senior Bel, who couldn’t care less about college applications and the future. Unfortunately, the deadlines are creeping in and she just accidentally revealed her knack for engineering to her teacher. Bel is forced to try out for the robotics club at her school, and to her dismay, she actually gets in. There, she learns what it means to be a team, discovers a little more about what she might want to do after high school, and maybe… finds love? I absolutely adored this book and it was definitely one of my favorite young adult romances!
I really enjoyed Follmuth’s writing style and the way the book was paced. There was never a dull moment and I was constantly finding myself wanting to keep going. I finished this book in less than 24 hours and genuinely enjoyed every second of it. The plot was never boring and kept getting better and better as I kept reading. This made it very difficult to put the book down once I got to the last quarter.
Both characters were equally enjoyable. Bel had this boldness to her that I adored. She knew how to stick up for herself and was so unapologetically unique. I liked that she never let men walk all over her and fought to be included whenever people started to get a little too misogynistic. Bel’s sense of loyalty was one of my favorite traits she had. Mateo was strong willed and always confident. He knew he had what it takes and refused to let anyone down. Teo’s love for others was definitely a curse and a blessing. He tried so hard to fix any problem anyone he loved came across. It was both endearing and frustrating. I wanted him to know that he didn’t need to take on everyone’s burdens and could focus on himself a little more. Overall, I loved both characters so much and found myself rooting for their success the entire time.
Follmuth dove into some serious societal issues that I would love to see more books uncover. The discussion on misogyny in STEM based areas in this book really made the story more enjoyable and gave depth to the plot. I loved seeing the girls on the robotics team stand up for themselves and show others that women belong in STEM just as much as men do.
Ultimately, I genuinely really enjoyed this book. It was both relatable and unique. I gave this book 5 stars (out of 5 stars) because there wasn’t a single moment I wasn’t entertained. It was a quick, super cute, and easy read and I totally recommend this book to all high schoolers- although anyone could enjoy a love story like Bel and Teo’s.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book as an eARC.
You can find my public review of this book on my Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/paperbackfrogs/) and on my Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/haleyyun). These reviews will be posted sometime in the week prior to the release day of My Mechanical Romance. I will also be talking about this book in an upcoming video on my YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS9Dcya1aVVxRvALp9FVKMw).

Rivals to lovers, women in STEM, robotics competitions.. This book has it all!! I adore Bel and Tao. This book gives such a fun balance of their relationship and Bel really coming into her own. This book is a really sweet and fun summer read that also delves into the discrimination that women, women of color in particular, experience in the STEM field every day.

I am not usually a huge fan of YA romance, but this book has melted my jaded heart. I really enjoy the other novels this author has written, and she really knocked it out of the park with YA.

Thank you to netgalley and Holiday House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Bel foi transferida de escola e precisa resgatar uma nota ruim, quando a professora sugere que ela faça um teste para entrar na equipe de robótica ela não coloca muita fé. Teo não quer pessoas novas na sua equipe, mas quando ele vê um desenho de Bel logo a coloca na equipe.

O que mais me incomodei nesse livro foram falas e pequenas atitudes machistas, eu sei que esse era o propósito porque há muito preconceito de mulheres nesse meio, mas foi difícil não me incomodar com isso. Eu amei que as meninas deram a volta por cima e mostraram que são tão capazes quanto os meninos. Acredito que essa tenha sido a mensagem geral da história.

O romance é bem fofo, mas não consegui me conectar totalmente. Não sei bem o que senti falta para criar essa conexão, mas uma coisa é certa, não queria que eles tivessem demorado tanto para se envolver e logo ocorrer uma briga. Esse foi outro ponto que não curti, eles ficaram uns 20% do livro juntos, talvez isso tenha prejudicado minha conexão. Gostaria mesmo de ter tido mais momentos deles, porque o que teve foram as minhas cenas favoritas.

É uma leitura gostosinha e rápida. Tem muitas coisas que a gente não conhece do universo da robótica, mas você acaba se acostumando. E a mensagem é bem legal.

4.5

Okay, it's official: Alexene Farol Follmuth/Olivie Blake could write a grocery list and I would be in raptures over it. I literally can't think of another contemporary author who is so adept in so many different literary sandboxes; Alone With You In The Ether is different stylistically from The Atlas Six, is different stylistically from My Mechanical Romance, but they all share some similar threads and themes that make them recognizably Alexene's/Olivie's.

I've been experiencing some definite YA fatigue lately (it could be said that I have perhaps overindulged lmao), and I just finished Alone With You In The Ether, so I wasn't sure this was going to be a vibe I was looking for when I started. But, despite the fact that this is undoubtedly a YA book with YA themes and YA tone, it didn't feel like a slog to read yet another high school story. In fact, despite the fact that I've been riding on a book slump rollercoaster for a few months now, it managed to pull me entirely in within a few pages. Magic.

I laughed, I cried, I wanted to build robots and fall in love.

Oh my heavens! This was good. I mean really good. The author pulled off having a really great story without making it PG or R rated. It was brilliantly done with a new idea and wonderful characters that had a special romance. I loved Belle and Tao. So sweet watching them. All of it worked for me and I’ll be thinking about this for awhile. I highly recommend you put this on your summer reading list.
I started reading this and then switched to the audiobook. It was narrated by Amielynn Abellera and Christopher Salazar. They were awesome. Perfect for the story.
Thanks Holiday House and Recorded Books via NetGalley.

This was such a cute read!! I really enjoyed it, and it was really easy to get through - I constantly wanted to just keep going. I also loved the strong emphasis on women in STEM and just all the positivity with women in general. I struggled a little with Teo, but I loved Bel. I just wish the side characters had a little more personality to them - a lot of them fell a little flat, but overall, really enjoyed this one and recommend it.

I was very excited to be able to review this book. there were things I loved & things I didn't love so much. this book had a realistic representation of life after high school. I love how it featured women in STEM. it contains some really important topics such as mental health & cultural pressure. I also loved that it was dual POV. the growth in both of the characters was great. the side characters were a great touch. I finished this book in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. on the other hand, what I didn't love so much was the fact that there was no explanation of why the robotics teacher acted the way he did. I also wish Teo's home life would have been explained in better detail.

I haven’t read a good old contemporary YA Romance in a while, so this was a much-needed breather for me.

First of all, our main character, Bel, is a Filipino-American, and I don’t think I’ve read a YA novel with a Filipino as the protagonist in a while (the last one I read was probably “Patron Saints of Nothing” by Randy Ribay) so I was really happy when I realized that I would be reading from the POV of a Filipino character.

Even the love interests and most of the side characters were POC. Though some of their nicknames made me forget sometimes they weren’t white, I was just glad to see that we were are finally starting to see a bit more representation!

The story itself was simple and a little predictable, but what kept me entertained was watching Bel and Teo fall for each other while going through their senior year of high school, attending robotics club, and whatever melting pot of expectations Teo’s parents (well, his dad) are putting him through.

Bel as a character was so fun to read about! Her happy-go-lucky attitude mixed in with how much of a physics genius she is was such a breath of fresh air. I mean this in the highest compliment possible, but the last time I read a character like this was in an MCU Peter Parker-centric fanfic.

Too, on the other hand, had a LOT of character development to go through when I first started reading his POV. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he did seem pretty sketch at the start (due to what could be counted as minor spoilers, I’m not going into details about that) so I really hoped he would improve later on.

Though I enjoyed the book as a whole, I believe that Bel and Teo could have been more fleshed out, especially Teo. But, I was happy with how it ended and how the character development went.

Overall, I enjoyed it and I hope you’ll be able to pick this up once this book is out!

As a woman in STEM, this book really resonated in me. It perfectly portrays how difficult it is to be a woman in science, and the struggle of being perceived as less able than a man. I loved all the characters in this story, and how neelams and Bel’s ‘friendship’ evolved. It told a story of how women should always support women.
This book was full of cute romance that makes your heart melt… I know mine did.
I highly recommend this book to all people in STEM, and those who love romance and amazing character development.

This was cute read and it got me out of my reading slump for a little while. But despite all its cuteness, I do have a few qualms. This was one of my most anticipated reads because of the POC characters, the mc being a woman in STEM, along with the very pretty cover which pretty much piqued my interests. But one of the first things that turned me off was the writing style. For some reason, I found it very awkward that I almost decided not to continue, but since I'm a loveless potato I pushed on for the romance because I did find Bel and Teo cute. Then, there's the issue with regards to the lack of personality and individuality of the characters, which, when pointed out by another reviewer, I realized to be true. But it's a cute, short romance novel so it's doesn't matter that much, I guess.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.

UM I LOVED THIS? After just reading The Love Hypothesis I am really loving the GIRLS IN STEM!?!?

This was an amazing read and I had moments where I was relating to both of the characters. I loved the pace of this book and felt like the timing of all conflicts and events and cringe-worthy moments were spot on! I absolutely loved the attention this bought to girls/women in science and having real moments where this was shown. I thought that was really well done.

I absolutely loved how Teo and Bel were opposites in so many ways but also similar in others.

Throughout the book, I didn't really get the vibe that Teo understood this was a team challenge, until right at the end and even then.... I don't believe it. Despite Teo being on the Football? (idk there was mention of kicking goals so I think that is more Soccer?) team, the correlation of team work required there didn't translate into the robotics team. I wish we saw a little bit more of the conflict with Teo and his Dad.

Overall I loved seeing the growth of Bel in particular in this book.

If you loved The Love Hypothesis, you are going to love this!! Everyone needs to go out and read this!

this book was such a delight to read. i'm something of an expert of young adult romance myself so reading such a vibrant, refreshing young adult romance book brought me the most joy. i love how alexene farol foulmuth showed both perspectives and gave bel and teo distinct and personable voices. i loved how i could easily tell which character i was reading from simply through their personality.

the romance, of course, was so sweet and fun to read from but another highlight of the book was the experiences of bel as a woman of color in STEM. i especially appreciated showcasing how women have different experiences--a number of varying factors contribute to the nuanced experiences of women in STEM. i went into this book expecting a cute romance but came out of it with that and also much more. seeing bel come into her own not only through finding her passion but also her family relationships were really well-done aspects of the book.

i also wanted to add that last year i actually had a breakdown over the fact that i had never seen a filipino-american character at the center of the light, fluffy young adult romance books that i love so much. the surprise i felt when i read that bel was half-filipino was unparalleled. i absolutely fell in love with how alexene didn't shy away from her culture and how it was casually incorporated throughout the book. it just goes to show that representation really does matter and i look forward to diving into more of her books after this one was such a hit.

overall, this book gave me everything i wanted and then some. and that epilogue was EVEN MORE than what i could have asked for.

"You're this new color I didn't know existed and now I see it everywhere and I'm like , thank God I can see it now"

I confess that I pushed the first 50% of the story, maybe because I'm too old for high school love, maybe because the book was kiiiinda slow. After the 50% mark the book definitely got better, I remembered a lot of my time in high school and how just like our MC I also believed it was absurd to have to make a choice that would change my whole life. And yes, some decisions from that time changed my life path, but mostly things change so quickly, nothing in life is how we plan or expect and that made me really like the end of the book.

The women in STEM representation was awesome as always and the refs to The Music Industry (Taylor Swift) made me love the book even more. Thank you Netgalley, Holiday House and Alexene Farol Follmuth for the ARC. It was a great and i definitely recommend.

Bel was a riot, I loved her character! She is incredibly smart and unapologetic, comfortable in her own skin. Always so great to see STRONG females represented. The side characters were all pretty great as well, a diverse group of teens with a passion for robots. There is a lot going on in both Bel and Teo’s lives, but it all flowed so well with their stories. The romance aspect is great as well, enemies to lovers, yes please! I read it in one sitting, it was just so good!

Lots of smiles, laughs and even a few tears. Definitely recommend.

The mechanical romance delves into women in stem and the discrimination they face while also managing to keep it lighthearted and a brilliant romance novel. I loved this book from beginning to end, from the diverse characters such as the main characters: Bel and Teo aswell as the side characters with Neelam becoming one of my favourites in the end, to the plot, to the great writing. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a comforting read. The romance and relationships were well developed between all characters. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for allowing me the e-arc of this book to give my honest review. Overall 4.5 stars out of 5!

“Me Mechanical Romance” by Alexene Farol Follmuth is one of a kind heartwarming reads which makes you want to dash in the world of STEM and discover what robotics is all about!

Follmuth’s story follows Bel, Teo, and their friends adventures during their last year at an elitist high-school, as they navigate senior year, romance, challenging friendships, and of course, robots! As a senior transfer in her last year of high-school, Bel has a hard time figuring out her next step into adulthood. As her luck has it a late assignment gets her shortlisted to join her school’s exclusive robotics club. While she doesn’t believe too much in her abilities, team captain Mateo Luna sees Bel as the right person to complete the team and bring them their much-awaited victory in the upcoming robotics championship!

The reason I enjoyed so much this audio-book was not only because of its depiction of teen years adventures, but also because of its exploration of women in STEM theme. Through the book, we see Bel learning what it means to be part of a STEM environment, both plus & minus sides. I enjoyed a lot her learning curve, from being a shy, non-involved team member, all the way to… the events from the last chapters! It also helped a lot to see her evolution both from her viewpoint (narration) as well as Teo’s. I can’t wait to hear what Folmuth brings us next!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Holiday House, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC, and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads!

#LifeLongLearning #MyMechanicalRomance #NetGalley

My mechanical romance by:Alexene Farol Follmuth
5/5⭐️

Ya, contemporary romance, academic enemies to lovers, women in stem.

Bel is a senior in high school and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. Teo has always had his life planned out. When Bel shows a talent in engineering, her teacher pushes her to join the robotics club. Their quest for nationals might bring these two more than just a national title.

This is by the same author as the Atlas Six! This book is written very differently from the Atlas six and I felt like that fit.

I really liked how this book highlighted the struggles that women in STEM face, not only from peers, but from teachers as well.

I really like Teo. His character is well written, but I would’ve liked to see his dad get chewed out.

I loved the ending so much. I think it shows that you don’t have to follow the preset plan perfectly to end up happy and fulfilled.

My Mechanical Romance releases on May 31st!

As a high schooler who loves Taylor Swift, is interested in STEM and on a robotics team, this book was literally me. Follmuth described the experience of being a girl on a robotics team to a T, and made me feel seen in a way I haven’t been before. As the only girl on my team, I related a lot to Bel and Neelam, and their experience made me feel extremely validated and helped me fall in love with engineering and robotics just a little bit more. I especially loved the dual pov that you rarely see in romcoms, and loved how Bel didn’t have a conventional, stereotypical prep-school post-secondary experience. This book really renewed my interest in robotics and made me feel as if I could keep going and one day run the team. LOVED IT. If you love women empowerment, diverse characters, and academic validation, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

This book is charming, a standout for me as it does what so many others try to do.

The characters! I need to start with them because my goodness is they not only charming and hilarious but unique in the distinctive characteristics that allow them to seem real, playing off each other to make an enjoyable cast who have the worries of teenagers at that stage in their lives: what they're going to do, parents, family and your place in life.

This story follows Beth as she not only tries to find her path and place, within life, within the school, within STEM, and within her own family. We watch her join the school’s robotics team (absolutely loved this aspect because it was such a new facet of STEM that held me so engaged just from the passion they had for the area), headed by Mateo (Teo, my love).

This story has many realistic mirrors of senior life and just regular teens! I love when books for teens make teens sound like and have problems with what they are! Nothing overcomplicated to make it more ‘adult’ but very real and very hard choices that any individual at any stage of their life would find hard.

The topic dealt with in the book was *chef’s kiss*. From speaking of women’s place in STEM to the microaggressions against women in sciences it was a story of a girl seeking validation from those who were supposed to give it to her but ended up realizing how to craft her own. The arc of determining your future at one’s own pace, accepting failure, and letting life unfold was poignant, a great message that I wish I had when I was younger.


This book encompasses the fixtures of a great young adult romance, put together so well. The romance is so wholesome, so HEALTHY that I was just rooting for them from start to finish. They aren’t part of a whole, but individuals that lead different paths after high school, have different quirks and endearments but appreciate the differences that end up complementing each other. It wasn’t what made the story great, not the entire thought behind the plot, but a part of it that was the icing.

I adored this book. Thank you Netgalley, Holiday House and Alexene Farol Follmuth for the ARC. It made me so happy to be able to read this. If you want a book with a heart, a lot of laughter and great life themes all contained in a quick read then read this. This book comes out on May 31st and I will be buying a copy for my shelf hehe.