This book took me longer than normal to get through. It was a very cute premise and a good change on the enemy to lovers trope. I think if I had a little more interest in STEM romance I would love this book.

Dear Alexene Farol Follmuth - You had me at “dystopian-flavored LaCroix” (I’m still giggling). This book, which I received a free advanced copy of via NetGalley (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review, was just wonderful. This is the story of two high school seniors who meet on the robotics club (our heroine is a reluctant participant) and slowly fall in love while building robots. So if your high school physics teacher ever showed you that video of the college robotics championships and you thought it looked cool (or if you would like to see it - I think this book works equally well for 14 year olds and 44 year olds), this book is for you. Bel was so much fun, and so real, and Teo was also very relatable as a too-serious, overly stressed out high schooler. The banter is delightful, the sexism is maddeningly recognizable, and it’s a truly excellent enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. Also shout out to a beautifully done platonic male-female friendship (Bel and Dash) where he asks her out and she says no and they stay friends. Loved the strong female friendships, loved the complicated family dynamics. Didn't totally love the easy way the kind of dick-ish, subtlely sexist, kinda condescending physics teacher was just suddenly redeemed at the end. It didn't feel like he earned it with one two random positive comments to Bel. I thought there was the beginning of an effort to explore the subtle, and often unintentional ways that men can exclude women and make them feel unwelcome in predominantly male spaces simply because they're more comfortable with other men, other people like them, but it didn't completely succeed for me. I also didn't love Neelam telling Bel that she hadn't "earned" her place because she hasn't worked twice as hard as the men. I completely understood why Neelam would feel that way, and would feel resentful of Bel for that reason, but I wished the author had pushed back on that a little more, because I see that a lot, and I really hope that our goal as women who have made some space in male-dominated industries is to make it so that if a woman is recognized as having talent early on, she doesn't have to struggle, and she's supported so that it's not any harder for her than it would be for her naturally talented male colleague. That being said, those were small quibbles, and the story is really great. The writing is clever and heart-felt, and I highly, highly recommend.

I am not one to normally read YA, being in my 20s I like to read my lets say um adult content😉, but occasionally every once in a while I like to dabble in the genre to read about the simpler times like being concerned about teenage angst or puppy love. Its been actually a while since I have actually read YA romance but I am glad I gave this book a chance. I have absolutely zero regrets. It turned out to be a great read after all, I love it when a book surprises you and exceeds your expectations. This book was that.

It was not just about teenage angst, high school drama or fluffy puppy love it was much more than that. It was about a teenage girl finding her place in STEM, a male dominated field. Isobel "Bel" Maier is in her senior year, and has transferred in her final year of high school to a new school, not the most ideal time to be transferring especially when its your final year in high school.

Bel navigates her senior in a new school with fresh faces in sight some friendly ones and others not so much. One of those faces happens to be that of Mateo "Teo" Luna, the hot nerd and golden boy at Bel's new school who also happens to be Bel's eventual love interest.

We will come back to our lovebirds eventually.

But for now lets discuss Bel and her journey in engineering.

As a result of a teacher witnessing Bel's potential in engineering, she is transferred into the AP Physics course and eventually joins the school's robotics team (per her teacher/Ms. Voss's encouragement).

Robotics or AP courses are the last thing on Bel's mind when she enrolls in a new school, one that is much more different than her previous school. Here academics are the focus and sure while Bel was interested in STEM, it was not something she considered herself doing at her new school, however thanks to Ms. Voss, we see Bel flourish in both robotics and Physics, furthering her interest and passion in STEM.

Bel is smart, more than people give her credit for, especially her male teachers and classmates. I felt Bel heavily on this and I think many female students too have unfortunately doubted their potential in a given subject or field. I remember being in high school telling one of my teacher's that I wanted to eventually pursue law one day but he said that "I think girls like you are more suited to studying fashion no?". I won't ever forget that. The sexism and the judgment. Sadly that didn't stop in high school or university or now at grad school. I have had asshole professors who don't take female students seriously and dismiss us as if we aren't any more intelligent than our male colleagues. I don't mean to get carried away but I am sure my experience along with Bel's will hit close to home for some of us who suffered the judgement of our teachers that are supposed to guide us and not diminish our potential.

I loved Ms. Voss and her constant encouragement of Bel's goals and ambitions. We all need a Ms. Voss in our corner especially when we are just starting out our lives and are planning for our future.

In terms of the romance in this book it was cute af. I loved how we get to see Teo and Bel go from I guess "enemies"-to-friends-to-lovers. They are both so adorably nerdy, awkward and precious. Their interactions were so pure and innocent. Despite Teo being the golden boy, he knew Bel was intelligent and in his own way he always encouraged her to live up to her potential even if at times it was felt differently by Bel.

Both characters have complicated family dynamics and being a teenager while trying to deal with all of that and your future at the same time... is a lot. Too much pressure. In Teo's case, I felt for the kid, I really did. I feel like he never got to be a kid, always trying to please everyone around him. I think I liked him best when he was with Bel. He noticed everything about her, from her weird/adorable fashion sense to her building things. Just absolutely adorable.

Bel didn't have it easier at all, a working mom, divorced parents, trying not to pick a side while trying to figure out your life at 17 is not ideal. But despite their struggles, these two confided in each other and got through high school together. <i>*sobs due to their cuteness*😭💕</i>

Their friend group was also entertaining. I was not a fan of Neelam at first, you will see why but let me just say this girl surprises you and will eventually win you over.

I also liked Dash who is Teo's friend, he added much humor to the story and shipped Teo and Bel together.

Overall, this was a heartfelt YA romance that touched upon the difficulties of women in STEM, complicated family dynamics, discovering your own potential, making new friends and finding romance when you least expect it.

I think you will find yourself enjoying this as much as I did or at least I hope you do!

You will not regret it💕.

***Much thanks to NetGallery, the publisher and the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review***

Oh! My! STEM!!!!

First of all, thank you Holiday House for the advanced readers copy of this book!

This book was so good! It was the perfect mix of a romance and a girl finding her way in STEM!

Bel and Teo were so entertaining and their banter was top tier! And the dual POV really helps us to see both perspectives!

Watching Bel and Teo fall in love after denying their feelings was such a rush! Completely opened me up to YA Romances again!

As someone who graduated high school fairly recently it was definitely relatable in the sense of feeling pressure to know exactly what to do with your life and applying to college!

The tension is so good at the beginning especially reading how both Teo and Bel had crushes on each other!

Also the physics aspect in this book was very well executed! It never got too dense and people who took introductory physics courses would be able to follow along for the most part!

Overall this book is the perfect mix of the stresses of senior year, falling in love, and being a woman navigating a mainly male dominated field in science.

5/5 and I’m definitely preordering this book!

I enjoyed the focus on STEM and robotics! The depth the book went into the mechanics gave it depth and showed the background the author has to the field (or the research they did!), and how it touched on being a girl in the field and how you were automatically taken less seriously than the boys.

I liked Bel's character a lot - she was also different and I liked how she knew how to build things so well but didn't make a big deal out of it, and her "quirky" personality wasn't something that ever came off as a "not like other girls" / "this character is so special" situation because Bel was so genuinely who she was and held so many other insecurities as well. Bel's relationship with her brother Luke was perhaps one of my favorites in the book, though I did like Bel and Teo's relationship.

The ending and epilogue were both satisfying! As someone who considered going into engineering but didn't have the requisite background, it made a lot of sense to me, and I liked the realistic feel over if she had made it into MIT (a top school, with her lack of math and computer background, and the only school she applied to). I liked seeing where Bel ended up and how she had gained skills and confidence.

I really love this book! Bel was an amazing and relatable protagonist, I love her so much. I think the characters are developed so well, al of them (including Neelam) were amazing.

I adored the relationship between Teo and Bel and being able to see the development of the relationship between the two of them made me very happy. The were so cute together.


Something I really enjoyed about this book is that it shows us the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated field.

I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I wish that My Mechanical Romance had been written when I was in high school. This is a bit cinnamon-roll but with a little bit of something extra. The premise of the book is Bel (our female MC) has just transferred to a new school in Los Angeles. She seems to not think she is a good student, yet her mechanical/physics aptitude is inherently strong. Early on, a teacher, named Ms. Voss, takes notice that Bel has untapped potential, and encourages her to try out for the high school robotics club (think high school Battle Bots!). Meanwhile, Teo (our male MC) is the straight-A, all honors/AP, soccer star, leader, and hot nerd at the school. Teo is the lead of robotics club, and at tryouts he instantly notices Bel (not only how good she is, but how pretty t00). And so begins a story of senior year friendship to something more, and robotics competition.

I genuinely liked this story a lot. It's a quick read at 272 pages, and has dual perspectives (Bel and Teo). There is a bit of breaking the fourth wall through parentheticals, which could be awkward, but Follmuth executes well in this book. This book does more than just have a cute fluffy friends-to-lovers romance though. It talks about gender-bias in STEM. It talks about whether kids should take life so seriously so early on. It talks about family dynamics (divorce, semi-absent parents). It talks about friendships and diversity. Some other books may feel like this is a lot to pack in such a short book, but it's woven in nicely, no threads untied.

I'm so glad to see that being smart is now something appreciated and popular in today's teens. This felt fresh, fun, and interesting. I would definitely recommend this book, especially for early high school girls interested in STEM.

I saw academic rivals to lovers and I had to have it, and this book did not disappoint. The cover is so pretty and the writing style made this book so easy to read.

The dual-pov made knowing and loving the characters so easy. The development of the romantic relationship was a slow burn, but so perfect. The developments of all the relationships involved made this book an absolute delight to read.

Bel was so witty and quirky. I loved when I found out that she's half-Filipino too. I've never read a book where the main character was at least a little similar to me. This book had so much diversity in general, which was perfect. The girl power in this book was great. STEM can be such a hard area for women to want to go into, and this book highlighted perfectly why. The only thing I would have liked more would be more Bel and Teo. I would so so recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All views expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bel would rather die than think about the future. College apps? Extracurriculars? No thanks. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? Everyone on the team ignores her, apart from Teo Luna. Unfortunately they clash a little when it comes to building bots. As the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize they've made more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they’ve made each other and the team better. Because girls do belong in STEM.

"if I want the world to recognize what I am truly capable of, I have to show them,"

Synopsis: Main character Bel would rather die than think about school, the monotony of college applications, extracurriculars - no, thanks! But when she accidentally reveals a hidden talent for engineering in school she is forced to join the robotics club, or fail. What's worse? Everyone ignores her on the team, except for Mateo who recognizes her potential asset - until they begin to but heads. As they work towards Nationals, Bel and Too realize they have built more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship, they have made space for each other and themselves.

Personal Review: 4 Stars

Not normally a fan of Young Adult Romance, but enemies to lovers trope and STEM oriented. This novel was a slow burn academic rivals to lovers tale and so much better than I expected. The cover is beautiful, and the writing, as well. The characters were so relatable in high school, and I enjoyed watching their friendship and romance evolve throughout the book. Bel is quirky, smart, witty, and quick on her feet - girl power! I found it interesting to read the academic elements in this novel- as I am way past my high school prime! My only qualm is that I needed a bit more in terms of the relationship between Bel and Teo, but overall a cute, appropriate YA quick read novel.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel through Holiday House and NetGalley, the opinions expressed in my review are solely my own.

Beating that 'outgrowing YA' allegation as I presented you my first five stars read of the year!

I have to say the pun to have the title close to reminding you of your emo phrase is just something you wouldn't want to pass. I'm honestly not sure what I was expecting, but I've seen nothing but praises for this new try-out from Olivie Blake. It's safe to say, the book was delivered! Amid time constraints with no zest to read, this book is just what I needed.

When the author said they're writing STEM romance, this is exactly what I had in mind. Not just a character with a STEM background and proceed with the dunce-like love story. And I think what impresses me the most is how robotics or engineering is not my type of nerd and my least favorite field in STEM but there was not one time where I feel bored or clueless. In which to say, Follmuth/Blake had written the journey between Bel and Teo so compellingly.

The highlight on the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated field was such a good accost. This novel tackled a lot of serious issues including heavy family dynamics, but it was still lighthearted, romantic, and did not come off as preachy. I would understand if some people don't think of this as a great romance book sure, but sometimes a good book has to do more with what the reader needs at that given time in their life. Bel and Teo just reminded me of how young love can be gullible yet thrilling.

Incidentally, their character development is also something I reveled in. Bel's indecisiveness about herself, her abilities, right down to her glistening fashion was such a fun thing to read. It prompts me of the time my peers had things figured out while I was still obsessing over BTS and had no idea what to pursue. Meanwhile, Teo who despite having everything worked out, is a people pleaser that carried the pressure of being the team leader and the perfect son — which in all fairness, is not the kind that teenagers can withstand. Still, this propels the story forwards as we see them overcoming their struggles together.

Given the diverse characters, the sweet romance, and the high pressuring backdrop, I'd say this book has it all. Despite its flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany Bel, Teo, and their physical and emotional journey. I love every single page of this book and I know I'm securing that copy for May 31st.

Romance meeting empowerment. This book battles the topic of women in "men" jobs. An issue that has to be adressed and did Alexene Farol Follmuth a good job adressing. Though, maybe it's my personal experiences speaking, I believe that the misogyny came too direct from the people. They always showed their prejudices toward women right at the beginning and to the female characters directly and openly. In my opinion sexists are not that "brave" which means they talk behind womens backs or to their superiors about their doubts towards them. Also they mostly don't do it openly and publicly as e.g. Richardson did at the competition.
Another thing I noticed is that the women didn't stand in each others way and always stood up for themselves. This is a little glossed over version of how it is. Sadly women often stand in their own and each other way and in my opinion this was not portrayed in this book.
But apart from the issue of sexism I liked the book. It was well written and really entertaining. I finished it in one day. But it is not one of these books where I am hooked and don't know what to do with my life after I finished and want to read more of the characters. I liked how we did not learned how the competition ended and this was the perfect ending to that story for me.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmouth is such a cute and wholesome read. I like how this is a romance book set in an academic/STEM setting, while still addressing the sexism that women and girls face in science and engineering.

This book will not only make you fall in love with characters, but also make you dislike quite a few. I know when books are written well when I start to feel actual emotions for fictional characters.

Overall this book is written well and has a cute romance with lovable characters. I rate this book as a 4 out of 5 stars. Also I love the cover and how simple it is!

Talk to me about the inherent elitism and misogyny in education (especially in STEM, whew) and I’ll indulge you. Or just read this book if you don’t wanna talk to me at all (which is fair, since I also wouldn’t wanna talk to a person who can’t whip up a good argument from her jumble of thoughts.) You’ll feel understood, but on top of it all, you’ll swoon at the sweet high school romance this book has to offer.


full review: https://ruddy-jitterbug-af6.notion.site/My-Mechanical-Romance-a055a58d29d04842872af1d1657219e6

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book.

My Mechanical Romance is a sweet YA love story that will appeal to many readers. I can picture a number of my high school library patrons who will love this story.

1. Fish Out of Water. Bel, one of the main characters, is new to this prestigious private school and its robotic club. She is a bit different than the surrounding cast of super-high achievers.

2. Enemies to Lovers: Take a fish out of water and throw her into a robotics club filled with super-high achievers? You have enemies!

3. Realistic Family Issues: Both main characters, Bel and Teo, deal with those universal issues that many teens deal with. Divorce, busy parents, etc.

4. Girls fighting for their space and respect in a traditional boys' realm of robotics.

I truly cannot wait to add this to the school library and promote it to students: a high school romance where characters grapple with their looming futures while participating in robotics.

This is a great young adult romantic comedy. It reminds me of The Love Hypothesis for a couple of reasons, namely the writing, relationship, and focus on STEM, and I have a feeling people who loved that novel will like this one as well! I read it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. It’s a short book, less than 300 pages, but it’s still so meaningful and fun. This book follows Bel, our main character, as she joins her school’s robotics team. There she meets Mateo, aka Teo, who quickly became one of my favorite love interests because of how much he cares about Bel and is proud of her.

I also thought that all of the characters were realistic, especially in terms of teenagers today, and likable. Bel is a great character, and I related to her a lot while reading, especially when it talked about how she never really knew what she wanted to do with her future because girls are typically expected to like and do certain things. And, as I mentioned earlier, Teo is one of the sweetest characters, and I loved him! Their relationship was so perfect and I loved witnessing the struggles they went through because they were realistic and were solved in productive ways. The side characters are also great as well.

This book is well-written, and I laughed out loud a couple of times while reading it! I was truly immersed in the story and highly recommend it. The only warning I have is that there’s a good bit of technical talk regarding robots and science, which I didn’t understand, but people who are interested in these things would really love it. But the book does a good job of explaining everything, and I learned some new things.

“For the women we will be; for the many who will come after us and find, if we do our job right, that there is room for them here.”

An absolute 5/5 stars for this gem. I’m so thankful that I could get my hands on this a little early thanks to NetGalley.

Reading this YA novel really brought me back to my teenage years. I saw my self laying on my bed, daydreaming about my future and writing in my diary about crushes I’d had. The romance in this was sweet and pure and it made my heart swell.

I loved Bel. I think she’s one of the more relatable teenage characters I’ve read in a long time. I like that she’s smart and capable and creative. I also like that she didn’t know exactly what she wanted from life at first; that the idea of deciding was scary for her. That’s relatable and it was refreshing to read. I actually love all of the girls in this novel. Bel is creative, intelligent and artistic. Jamie is disciplined, drive. And smart. Lora is outgoing, positive and kind. Neelam is hungry for success, she’s determined snd smart. These girls were a joy to read about. I would’ve loved to read about girls with goals like theirs when I was a teenager.

I really loved reading Teo’s story, too.
I can relate to the struggles his people pleasing tendencies created. I think that he’s kind and I loved the way he loved Bel.

The representation of women in STEM was stellar. This novel touched on the judgement and hardships women face when they enter into a field or career dominated by men. What a beautiful story for the girls and young women who are smart and creative and capable. Let this story give them hope and let them know they’re enough.

I want to shout my love for this from the rooftops!!

IM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK!

Bel was so unique and relatable. It was so refreshing to have a girl in STEM protagonist who doesn’t have it all figured out. One who hasn’t had her life planned out since middle school, or who isn’t so cutthroat about school and SATs as others. It made her feel so much more human and vulnerable and genuine. I want to be her when I grow up!

Oh I want to just give Teo a hug. He is so sweet and hardworking but he deserves a BREAK! The juxtaposition of Bel’s laid back attitude to science and his no nonsense hard core work ethic was endearing! I’m a sucker for opposites attract!

I loved the descriptions of the engineering and physics. (I learned quite a lot.) I hope it helps some kids understand these concepts, or become more interested in the field!

Sometimes YA books feel either too juvenile or too adult, but this felt just right. I’ve met teens just like this team. They feel real and tangible and I hope they have a beautiful future!

Thank you for the Arc!

Actually I find this book quite cute. It's the story about rivalry in high school life. However, I don't really enjoying the way author tell her story, maybe it's just not my cup of tea. It seems tedious, to much characters that made me confused about the main plot.

The good point is I love the way author talk about patriarcy in STEM world, especially when many people see women are not compete enough. I also love the way author show reader about how difficult to choose our next future. Because not all people are like Teo.

If you are into STEM, Young-Adult, rivalry and Rom-com things, this one for you!

A fun, but no less challenging, expose into the battles girls and women still face in STEM, and the incredible talents they showcase when given the space to shine.

I just adored everything about this book, and I cannot wait to share this with the girls in my life! Both Bel and Teo had a strong and natural presence on the page, their personalities both vivid and compelling. The execution of this rivals turned friends turned lovers relationship between them was emotionally pleasing, and I loved the fun - and adorably honest - banter, and the growth exhibited in both of their arcs.

High school is tough and facing the future that lies beyond it tougher still. This was a relatable uncertainty that Bel couldn’t escape. But, the heart she conveyed, and the way she grew comfortable in her passions, spurred on by the encouragements of her newfound friendships and physics teacher, Ms. Voss was enlightening, and as her confidence in what she wanted grew, so did my pride in her. Teo’s character was equally developed and the truths he learned, and the trust he built in his teammates, served him well.

Though I admired both Bel and Teo’s characters, the real hero for me was Ms. Voss. The way she recognized Bel’s talent and became a solid presence for her, championing her and encouraging her to pursue and enjoy the things she wanted to pursue, regardless of what molds she broke along the way. And molds she did break! The grin I bore, and the celebration that ensued during a certain robot battle…I was so happy with how it all played out.

My Mechanical Romance is an empowering read featuring a diverse POC cast, and a strong heroine boldly occupying her space in the world, that every teen girl should read! Pre-order now, and secure your copy for May 31st.

Thank you, Net Galley and Holiday House for the complimentary e-copy of this book. 4.5⭐️

Well, this was just the sweetest YA book I've read in a while!

As a Mum of two girls, I loved how it centred around Bel and how she finds her goal in life - one that isn't traditionally female.

Bel is the new girl at school, she has to deal with finding her passion, navigating friendships, hostility from her peers and fitting in, when Bel is designed to do anything but fit in, she's got spunk, tenacity and her own individuality

Teo plays the usual role of hunky teenage boy, who also happens to be loaded and super smart. I appreciated that it focused on the pressure he was under from all of those around him and also, from himself. Gave the character depth, so he wasn't just "man candy"

It's a book I will happily buy for my girls to read when they hit their teens.