thank you to netgalley and holiday house for an eARC of this book!

Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olivie Blake) is one of my favorite authors so I expected to enjoy this, and I definitely did!

this dual POV, academic rivals to lovers, high school romance, tackles very relevant topics in an authentic way. the difficulties women (especially women of color) face in male-dominated fields, complicated family dynamics, micro-aggressions, and self confidence are all themes of this book. I loved the writing, the plot line, and the supportive friendships. The character development, of not only the main characters, was beautiful. I particularly loved Bel because I relate so much to her. I'm in love with her wit and sarcasm, and I would very much like to be her friend! Bel's journey of self-discovery is something I think everyone can connect with.

Bel and Teo's dynamic was so fun to read! Their banter and chemistry was adorable. Also the supporting characters were so well written, and I just loved how you could really connect with their struggles. I want to shout out Ms. Voss because I think we all need someone like her in our lives, and she was just dropping gems the entire book. Neelam's storyline is so complex! Like everyone, I didn't like her at first, but throughout the book I started to see her frustration and anger was a result of the way she's treated. I loved her monologue in the later half of the book; it captured so much from a real place and it was powerful. I appreciate that we got to see these girls with different personalities taking up space in their own way.

I also loved the diversity in this book! I particularly loved reading about the Holi festival!

Honestly, I think this book is expertly written. Everything feels so real, rather than forced or cringey, and I will definitely be buying the physical copy of this book when it comes out.

>> women in STEM have my entire heart! <<

thank you to netgalley and holiday house for an eARC of this book!

my mechanical romance is everything i want is a ya contemporary–its funny, fast paced, and the two main characters have perfectly written chemistry its palpable from the pages. the author does an incredible job with the combining a very cute romance with a plotline about how girls in stem, specifically engineering, deserve their place to shine, and i genuinely loved how it was written.

often times books with these types of concepts (see: misogyny in the workplace) are done poorly and i end up hating it, but this time around it was so well done i loved it. the main character, bel's, coming of age plotline was genuinely SO adorable and i love that it truly was her own journey, not one particularly tied to teo.

i genuinely loved the dynamic between teo and bel–it wasn't quite rivals to lovers, but that's as close a description as i can find and i just think they were SO cute. i mean, he learned taylor's discography for her. that's a win to me.

all in all a very cute ya romcom with a very cute ending. definitely one of my new favorites <3

Awh, this was so cute! There were several things I loved, especially seeing girls in STEM and kicking butt and that both main characters were POC and had bits of their culture sprinkled in. It makes me happy to see stories with a diverse cast and girls doing things that have been traditionally 'boys club' in the past. Who runs the world?!

Bel has been through some upheaval recently, with her parents separating and being moved to a new school for senior year. She doesn't know what she wants for her future and is struggling just to get through each day. She was a bit of a wishy-washy character, which wasn't my favorite, but I enjoyed her finding a passion and having people support her to follow her dreams.

Teo has grown up privileged and is feeling the pressure of his many commitments and the adults in his life. It was an interesting mash-up, because Teo has more help and support just for being a wealthy male, but he also has more pressure to succeed and lead every team he's on. Luckily he has a girl bulldoze into his life and flip everything upside down.

I thought the ending could have been a bit more developed, especially with the main characters relationship with their parents. The epilogue was super cute though and this was just a really fun story to read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for the copy.

this was a very cute and fun read! i loved its depiction of stem environments as well as its portrayal of the many doubts students have regarding their futures. this book also did a great job at characterization and character development - it was great to see them grow and work through their issues. the humor was great, too. i’d definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for a nice, lighthearted read!

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for a review)
I first saw this book was coming out when I was mindlessly browsing amazon and I immediately felt drawn to it. I don't know if it was because of the title or because of beautiful artwork but I knew I had to read it. And then I found out I can get an eARC on NetGalley so I jumped on that opportunity and let me tell you - I did not end up being disappointed. The only reason it took me so long to finish this book was three exams I had to pass in March and April that were basically back to back.
Everytime I picked up this book, I couldn't bring myself to put it down. The story was flowing, characters felt real and I couldn't wait to find out what happens to them. I also found myself wanting to scream at some of the characters and I feel like I had a good reason for that.
My unexpected favourite (who am I kidding, I knew I was going to love her when she was first mentioned) was Neelam. I wish there was an entire book just about her - I could read about her doing grocery shopping and I would be happy with it.
Right now I can't wait to put a physical copy of this book on my ever-growing bookshelf and to give it a reread. If you're thinking about picking up this book - please, do it. There's a good chance you won't be disappointed.

I was provided with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

Okay. I have to admit. This is my first Olivie Blake book.
I have two others sitting on my shelves, I just haven't had the courage to read them yet. People rave about them so much I just can't bring myself to start them; my expectations are so high that I'm almost certain they will be disappointed.
That was kind of the case with this book? Unfortunately. 3.5 stars, rounded up to four because that last part really went off.

This book is being described as an enemies-to-lovers romance, but it really isn't. It's just a cute teen romance. (Just because the characters are ambigious towards each other instead of it being insta-love doesn't mean it's enemies-to-lovers! Oh my God!!!!) That doesn't take away from the sweetness of the romance, though. Not everything has to be enemies-to-lovers!
Otherwise, this book delivers on everything it's advertised to be. A cute romance, diversity, girls in STEM. If you're looking for some of that, this one is perfect.

The writing is fluid and easy to read, although it sometimes feels a bit disorganized and info-dumpy (a lot like my reviews), especially in the first few chapters, but after that it gets a lot better. It*s sweet and lighthearted and very enjoyable. The first-person POV switches between our two protagonists, Bel and Teo, but the writing style never adapts to that switch; their voices are exactly the same.

In the beginning, this book felt kind of slow, but the pace became more manageable towards the last third of the book. Furthermore, I very much dislike the fact how much this book dates itself, both with pop culture references and actual mentioned years, something that could have been avoided easily by just taking out the "MIT 2024" comment and making some of the pop culture references just a tad more ambiguous.

But my major problem with this book (and I assume that this is just a subjective, personal opinion) is that I was extremely annoyed with our male protagonist, Teo Luna. I just thought he was insufferable. That unbelievable attitude, paired with the mixture of I-have-to-do-so-much-to-be-respected-by-my-parents and everything-has-been-given-to-me-because-I'm-rich-and-popular just made me roll my eyes. Constantly. If I met this boy in real life, I would hate him so much. However, I do understand that this is my own opinion. And while it massively took away from my enjoyment of the book, if you like his character, I assume the book will be a lot better.

First things first, thank you netgalley for the arc!
Okay now onto the review!
One thing I adored in this book was the fact that it revolves around STEM. Even though it's nowhere near the STEM I'm currently working and learning in, I just love everything about it. Like I never knew I would get this excited about robots. Even if some paragraphs were an onslaught of information, I found myself devouring each word written (I finished this book in less than a day and that says something).
I felt like a giggling high schooler while reading this book. The interactions between the main couple, the ones with their friends.. ugh.. it was just one adorably cute book!!
The women empowering women part?! LOVED IT! It was much needed in this book because it reflects what usually happens in STEM for women. When men - and sometimes women themselves - look down on people just because they are missing a Y chromosome. So this aspect was much needed and it will definitely inspire little girls to see that everything boys are doing, girls can do too!
All in all, a very enjoyable read and I needed more. But also not really, because it was perfect just the way it is. I definitely recommend!

Made it through to 25%, however as much as I wanted to love this, I just don’t.

The title alone had me, and as the characters are young, I thought it would be different/unique. I’m not one for smut, really, especially with romance, so I was looking forward to this.

Nope, not for me :(

The writing was quite well done, so I’d give this 3/5 stars!

This book was the CUTEST. After The Love Hypothesis I have been devouring all things enemies/friends to lovers in STEM and this book just satiated my thirst.

Enemies(ish) to lovers - CHECK
STEM - Check
Robots - Didn’t even know I needed this but CHECK!

This book brought back my love for YA Contemporary Romance. I loved quirky and nerdy Isabel who despite being the new transfer student quickly made a name for herself. And our MMC golden child workaholic won me over with his witty banter with our girl Bel. I’m usually drawn more to the smutty side of Romance but I adored this palate cleanser which is definitely middle grade friendly.

If you’re looking for a cute, clean, quirky and feminist friendly romance then this is the book for you!

This novel is so cute and perfect! I love the protagonists in STEM! This sciency and cute novel is the perfect summer read for science romantics

This book was a bit out of what I usually read , but I loved it. To be honest , the robotics part threw me over the edge a bit but majority of it was well explained and easy to catch on.

I personally think Bel is an adorable badass, she dresses how she wants and she puts people in their place. I like the confidence that she built up over time ,it was inspiring to read.

I liked Teo as well , his personality and how he pushed Bel to be her best self. However I kept waiting for the part where he stood up to his father, for him to stop being the "obedient son".

Teo and Bels relationship was cute yet too slow , i expected more. Although their chemistry made up for it.

I liked how the book ended , Bel giving Neelam the chance to drive the robot was honorable. Although Neelam crawled under my skin throughout the whole book , the ending had me feeling proud and it was something unexpected.

All in all, i give this book 4 out of 5 stars
And I highly recommend it!

I was very excited for this release after reading the author’s previous works.

This book was fun from start to finish, with intriguing characters and a very real exploration of life after highschool.

What I loved:

- An accurate portrayal of the struggles women (specifically women of colour) face in TEM and other male dominated fields.
- The sibling dynamics between Luke and Bel,
- How Bel stayed true to herself throughout the book. She made mistakes, as kids often do, and learned from them.
- The whole robotics team (and other friends) all gelled well together and you could picture their interactions playing in front of your eyes.


What I wanted more of:

- I wished there was a better explanation of the robotics teacher and why he acted the way he did. There was a moment near the end of the book but I felt it could’ve been further fleshed out.
- The romance aspect seemed rushed in some aspects and I felt took away from both Bel and Teo’s journey as individuals.
- Teo’s home life was also not fleshed out fully which was a missed opportunity.

All in all, it was an extremely fun read and I would recommend this book to others.

3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS

Thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

My Mechanical Romance is a cute high school romance featured around STEM and robotics. Bel is the new girl in school and quickly makes a few new friends. Her teacher recommends her to the robotics program which she is hesitant about. Teo is somewhat the leader of the robotics group and is at first, unsure of newcomer Bel. While working together and strategizing for their robotic competitions, they start developing feelings for each other. The book also reflects on different family dynamics between the two main characters.

The last time I read a book that I WHOLEHEARTEDLY wanted to shout from the rooftops and have a copy for our HS library, it was How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe. This is the second.

This book is brilliant. I love how it featured women in STEM, and how rich and multi-layered it is. It contains such relevant topics such as mental health, societal and cultural pressure, and basically everything a young adult thinks and worries about. It's also about the power of making space for yourself and claiming your life. I honestly cannot recommend this enough.

5 BRILLIANT STARS!!!

4.5 ⭐️

My Mechanical Romance is a quick cute and wholesome read. It’s dual pov, following the growth and romance of Bel and Teo. All of the characters had so much depth and were very realistic. It felt like I was actually inside this story and not just reading about it. The characters could be really dumb sometimes, but this book was still great. I loved the dynamic of the characters and the supportive teachers. It’s women of color in stem AND YA AND “enemies to lovers.”

thank you netgalley for providing me with a free eARC for an honest review

Big thanks to NetGalley, Alexene Farol Follmuth, and Holiday House for this eARC.

“Take up your own space, Bel. Don’t let other people tread over it.”

I feel like I’ve just read a perfect book. I genuinely LOVED every bit of this. I think I’ve found a new comfort book.

Something about sort-of academic rivals to lovers, the whole story being science-y, the protagonists and side characters being so likeable and lovable…. It’s a book worth every penny. I wish I weren’t broke so I could pre-order because this one of those reads where at the end of reading, I feel absolutely sure it’s a must to have this in my possession so I can read this whenever I feel like I have no place in the world.

Some thoughts about the characters:

- Bel’s character resonates SO MUCH with me. I love her with every bit of my heart. She’s so funny. I love her wit, and the way her sarcasm and nonchalance don’t come with being apathetic or unfriendly as they sometimes do. She’s so cool, I would very much love to her her friend. Bel’s got this very technical vocabulary I noticed from the first paragraph. Her POV and Teo’s POV were really distinct from each other. I wrote on my notes: From the first paragraph, I realized I’m gonna enjoy this narration. Later, I wrote: Just ended the first chapter and I’m in love with Bel. Pls be my best friend!!! I really want to be friends with Bel.

- I wish I could be best friends with Lora, Jamie and Dash. They’re all so supportive of and welcoming towards Bel. There’s this thing Jamie told Bel which was one of the most “romantic” line in the book--if not The most (Sorry, Teo)-- and it feels so fresh and delightful that it was said between friends. The quote was: “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. Such a bummer if I never did.” Imagine being told something like this by a friend!!! I would melt over its tenderness and pure love.

- When I started reading this, I really wished for the male MC to not be a jerk. Teo’s definitely not!! He’s smart, he plays football (SWOOOON)…. He’s confident in a way that privileged boys and men usually are. He’s not an asshole or an arrogant jerk though, he’s just assured by and confident of his skills, but of course it comes pressure from family and mentors which he internalized. As Bel observed: “He’s pretty entitled, which, I guess he would be, wouldn’t he? With a house like that and parents like that.” Teo’s father is a popular tech business guy and his mom’s a model. They’re pretty rich. He’s bound to be somewhat entitled. Although, his character development was subtle but an crucial aspect in the story.

- The character Neelam was pretty minor but her story hold so much significance for me. Initially, she seemed like this mean girl who just hates Bel because now she’s not the only girl in the Robotics club anymore, but later it was expounded that Neelam’s hostility towards Bel was actually nuanced. Though partly, it’s just her personality -- she’s indifferent and sometimes mean. I just can’t help wondering: how much of it was shaped because she had to be tough and ungirly to be given more respect and be taken seriously by her male peers?

I love the feminist themes in the book which didn’t feel forced. It’s natural and authentic. I feel for Bel’s monologues about being a woman in STEM. The microaggression, the prejudice, the blatant sexism… I kept thinking, if she were male with the same exact situation, Bel wouldn’t suffered as she did being a girl. It’s hard to cope with being doubted not because of your skills but because of your gender, as if that tells everything one needs to know about you. I like that this was a major theme that was explored in the book.

I’m happy for all the positive feelings this book offered me. It’s got some heavy parts --mostly about gender discrimination-- but it’s also very uplifting. Bel and Teo made each other better. Isn’t that what a relationship should be like? I love this quote said by Bel: “Sometimes when Teo’s around me I feel like there’s this golden, shining thing between us. Or like maybe I’m the shining thing and the rays around me radiate further and wider and they stretch out so far that, for once, I’m not contained to the shapes of my usual worries and fears. For once, I get to feel vast and unstoppable and …bright.”

The romance was cute and kilig. There’s nothing exaggerated. It’s all very believable, very expertly written and not cringey. I am sooo impressed at how well-written this whole thing was. And I am so glad to have found and fallen in love with this book.

Ultimately, this book feels empowering. It makes me feel inspired to take on new things despite the uncertainty. To “Dare Mighty Things” as was written in the Perseverance rover parachute when it landed on the surface of Mars. It gives me “What if it doesn’t work out” “But what if it does” vibes that I really go crazy over.

TMI. I lost my hearing five years ago and had to give up my dream of pursuing medicine. Now, I’m trying to start over which includes trying to decide whether I should go pursue engineering, even when I’m not good at math, because I’d really love to be in the space science industry. Math is unnerving but I want to be in that track, that I know. It feels intimidating especially with the extra burden of my disability, but this book gave me so much comfort and encouraging. “Life is long, with plenty of chances to start over.”

My Mechanical Romance means so much to me and I thank Alexene Farol Follmuth for having written it. It feels almost like magic. <3

My Mechanical Romance is reminiscent of The Love Hypothesis, in that it's a story about women in STEM but at high school level.

Like almost every single teenager on the planet, Bel is trying to figure what she wants to do in life. It's senior year and she's transferred to a new school, one where all her classmates seem to have their futures figured out. When a teacher accidentally discovers that Bel has a knack for engineering and that she's actually good, she makes Bel try out for the school robotics team.

As you might imagine, it's a boys club. It only has one other girl member, Neelam, and most of the boys don't think much of either of the girls. Except, of course, our main love interest, Teo Luna.

To be honest, I found Teo to be a bit of a jerk at first and wasn't a big fan m. Same with Bel. But then as I got more into the book, I realised that was whole point, that these are flawed teenagers like us, not some perfect people taht you can't relate to.

The way Follmuth deals with representation is something a lot of people will relate with, I think. The blatant sexism women have to endure, the open judgment about their skills, the not-so-subtle misogynistic suggestions that are doled out - it's all too common and disheartening. But the way Bel deals with it, plus the support she receives from Ms. Voss, really bring heart to the story.

Like yes girl, show these bigots what you're made of.

I won't lie, the beginning was a little slow for me, and I actually thought of Teo as a priveleged, egotistical boy, but my opinion was turned around pretty quickly.

Another good thing about the book was the side characters - both Teo and Luna have complicated families and they're shown well. Plus, the friendships aaahhh.

This is one of the best YA books I've ever read, especially with the story of figuring out one's future and what you're supposed to do in life.

Talk about cheesy nerd stuff! These two, man. This was different from most books I read and I loved it! Robotics and all that good stuff and love!

thank you for the eARC provided by the publisher via netgallery.

I loved this book a lot. I enjoyed reading it so much, I finished it in one sitting.

the book follows, bel and Teo, bel is a new transfer student and shows a talent for engineering and robotics. Her teacher, Ms. Voss, notices this and pushes her towards robotics and engineering. She eventually becomes a part of the robotics club whose captain is Teo, Teo is an all-rounder overachiever. From football, to academics, he excels in everything. The only thing he does for himself, his passion, is robotics. Robotics and robotics competition brings bel and Teo together. It's a very cute YA romance based on academia.

First off, I admired the women in STEM representation in the book. It was accurate and I feel that more books need this. I absolutely adore Teo and Bel. They're very cute and good for each other. Academia based romances are just very good. I love them. Apart from them, even the other characters felt three-dimensional and contributed a lot to the plot. I also love how the book didn't solely focus on the romance but added things like friendship and family dynamics, which made the characters feel more real. The ending of the book was absolutely perfect. I like how it isn't depended on the romance but the characters.

overall, I enjoyed this book very much and I would recommend it.

"Sometimes I think I'd rather be forty and wondering where my life went instead of seventeen and relentlessly hounded about my future."

This is one of my favorite authors so you can imagine how I felt when I got approved by Net Galley for the arc I LITERALLY SCREAMED and decided to drop my cr (sorry Jane Eyre, I'll be back now) and pick up this one (which I read in one sitting, y'all)

My Mechanical Romance tells us the story of Bel and Teo, opposites in every sense but complementary (btw they are ACADEMIC RIVALS, I will say no more about that; but if you know you know) I was laughing the whole time reading this and even tho it is a funny and entertaining read it also goes into some topics that should be ALWAYS discussed, like misogyny in STEM and the effects of divorce on children, how parents can make their kids (even if they are not kids) take sides and the toxicity of it all. Oh and btw, it is dual pov, DUAL POV.

Bel is such an amazing characters and so it's Mateo but we also get amazing secondary characters (including a girl that I could only define as Paris Geller from Gilmore Girls, she is the kind of "mean girl" you cannot help but love and truly enjoy, the embodiment of female rage) also I really loved Dash, he is hilarious and such a great friend and Jamie is basically how I wanted to be when I grew up.

I think Alexene does a great job of showing us how the stress of "figuring out the future" can drive one crazy, it is ACTUALLY realistic and the fact that we get Taylor Swift reference and Lizzo like c'mon THIS IS GREAT CONTENT (the girls that get it, get it) I will read everything this author publishes, truly. EVEN A COOKING BOOK.

I'm glad that we truly get to see the depth of the characters, not just a superficial conflict but we say their day to day struggles and become a part of it with them.

I hope this review was helpful and that y'all give it a read, it comes out this 31st of May and I am telling you it is a 100% worth the read.

Here are some quotes I really liked to see if I can convince you:

"And now I understand how Rome was able to distract everyone from destitution and starvation with gladiators. There's a real trill to carnage, even if it's just metal parts"

"It's probably really stupid how much it unravels me to look at her right then, but I've never seen eyes that make me think about the mysteries of the universe the way hers do."

"Collect all the keys, pass Go" (reminded me of Alone With You in the Ether)

songs that I thought about while reading: Enchanted & The Man by Taylor Swift

PD: the chapters have TITLES, BRING BACK BOOKS WITH TITLED CHAPTERS

'kay, I'm out
Bye