→ 4.5 stars

It's a slow pace romance but never been boring.So much better than what I expected. This was a very wholesome read. I enjoyed it so much😩😩 I never thought that I'll enjoy robotics and anything about engineering. I highly recommend this book if you're a looking for a cute romance set in academia. Nerds are so hot! Also, women in STEM- more power to you!

thank you netgalley for the arc! as soon as i saw academic rivals to lovers and women of colour in stem i was so excited and thankfully it didn’t disappoint. i loved all the characters and their different relationships so much. they all felt very real which is refreshing because when some authors try to write modern teenagers it ends up being inaccurate and really awkward to read. bel and teo were so cute i was invested in them the whole way. i cant wait for ig editors to read the book because teobel had such good quotes im obsessed i need edits now!! i appreciated the way that sexism and privilege were discussed in the book and it is super important to have those types of conversations in real life. the only slight problem i had was with the end. bel and teos personal issues/problems didn’t feel fully resolved to me, i wish the book was a bit longer so they could get wrapped up better. all in all this was a super cute ya romance and i had a lot of fun reading it, id definitely recommend!

A very cute romance. I was expecting a lot of engineering terminologies which would go above me but they were fairly good. Along with romance, this book had a healthy amount of side stories like divorce, school change, new friends, bias based on gender and many more. I was waiting for Teo and Bel to get together for so long and it was just beautiful that they stayed together. It wasn't forced on a happy ending where they stayed together forever and ever but a much more plausible ending which I love. I really can't pick out anything I would like to change about the book. It was awesome and I loved it😍

Thank you Holiday House, NetGalley, and Alexene Farol Follmuth for the ARC!!

This book is absolutely adorable, a classically cheesy romance with vivid characters and a heartwarming main couple. The backdrop of the plot being senior year of high school at a private school with a record for STEM-related excellence was so interesting and the book provided valuable insights on being a woman, specifically a woman of color, in STEM. The inclusion of robotics competitions also heightened the stakes for the whole main cast as well as the readers.

Bel is someone who has no earthly idea what she's doing in life at the age of 17/18 and it's very refreshing to see. Teo is very aggressively in the opposite direction, and so their initial incompatibility is obvious and is heightened by their character flaws. However, over the course of the book, they mature together and their relationship is heart-wrenchingly cute. It was really nice to see that both Teo and Bel had things to overcome and they didn't just magically go away when the two got together.

The side characters are all highly likeable, specifically Dash was a standout. However, I found the remarks made about Lora and Holi to be a bit off putting as a South Asian person. I got the joke though I didn't like it.

I’ll start by simply stating that this book is wonderful in the first line.

This book follows Bel and Teo. We get to read the story from both of their perspectives and see how Bel goes from being a new student in a new school in her last year and her progress in the magnificent world of STEM (I might be biased here) on a high school robotics team.

The main characters are lovely, and I liked how, even though there was a "connection," the relationship progressed slowly. This made the story feel more real to me. I also really love how the character development wasn’t limited just to the main characters, and some of the side characters progressed and weren’t just linear cheerleaders for the main characters.

TBH, I wish I had a book like this when I was in high school because it left me wishing I knew how to build a robot. I would happily recommend this book to anyone, but mainly girls that are just like Bel at the beginning of the book, in a school where science programs are grossly underdeveloped and are struggling to find themselves in the world, hoping to make them see that they can dream and make it in STEM.

This book is a ya enemies-to-lovers romance about two students who do engineering. That's a really bad explanation, so probably just read the blurb instead lol.

This is by Olivie Blake, which I only found out when I read other reviews, and she so successfully switches from writing The Atlas Six to this book, even though it's completely different.

I really liked the diversity of the two main characters, and how their families and home life were a big part of their lives. Both Bel and Teo were really well developed and I liked both of them a lot; they were both likeable but had their flaws which made them human. The other characters were also really well-written too, they were developed and didn't just feel like side characters.

As someone who doesn't have a STEM bone in their body, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the engineering and physics side of the book. It's all explained really well and is easy to grasp if you don't know anything about science.

There are a lot of important things covered in this book, I particularly loved Neelam's story line, and I loved Bel's relationship with her teacher.

The romance itself was really really sweet, Bel and Teo's relationship felt genuine and actually felt like two kids who were falling in love. However, I don't think that they necessarily had the chemistry that I would have wanted them to have.

Overall, I really liked this book, it made me smile a lot and I had such a fun time reading it.

Bel has just transferred to a new private high school for her senior year, and things are a bit up in the air. As she settles into her new surroundings, she struggles with a lack of direction for her college applications. When she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering though, she is recruited to the school's robotics team, where she meets the competitive, accomplished Teo Luna, who seems to have everything figured out. Heads butt and sparks fly as Bel explores a newfound love for robotics while carving her own space in a world where not many people look like her. As Teo and Bel challenge each other, enmity turns to camaraderie, and maybe something more...

I absolutely love STEM romance, and I think this one really excelled at exploring the intricacies of a relationship in an academic setting. There are a lot of things that are often glossed over for the sake of a cute story, like a woman needing room to find her own space, and I think the author really got to the heart of that in this novel. The plot was surprisingly complex, exploring not only Bel's individuality but also the weight of parental expectations, the complexities of female friendship in STEM, and the perspectives of people of color. These topics were coupled with an exciting, fast paced plot and explosive chemistry between the two main characters. I absolutely loved this novel, and I highly recommend it for fans of YA romance!

i loved this book so much!!! not only did it include my fav trope ever (rivals to lovers), but it had filipino representation and women in stem!! honestly 3 of my favorite things ever. the characters were so well written, even the side characters, and the plot too. i also loved how there were filipino words in the book, and seeing my fav filo foods (sinigang and lumpia)? i was freaking out!! will definitely reread it again once it comes out because bel and teo mean so much to me. this is definitely one of my fav reads this yr, can’t wait to read more from the author<3

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc!!

I. LOVED. THIS.

This was the cutest thing I have read in a long time!!

Academic (rivals?) To lovers with a diverse cast of characters? YES. PLEASE.

I loved every minute of this, nothing fell short and everything was well written. The issues the characters faced were on track with what seniors in hs face (finally)!!

Dual POV with both Teo and Bel (the cutest)

And just an overall heartwarming read!!

I’m not going to lie, I grabbed this book because of the cover and the title alone. The wordplay on My Chemical Romance screamed out to my 2006 teenage emo girl and I couldn’t pass it up. All that is to say, I started reading without reading so much as a blurb and was a little shocked to find myself reading a Young Adult novel. Not that I have anything against young adult novels but when you go from reading what is essentially porn on paper to YA it’s a bit of an adjustment.

Once I was able to switch gears I couldn’t put this down. Bel and her indecision about who she is, her skills, her abilities, what she wants out of life, all the way down to her glittery Doc Martins spoke to me. Okay, yes, I’m nearly twice her age and am not debating my collegiate future but life in general but I still related hard to the girl who didn’t have a clue.

Opposite her was the boy who had it all together…kind of. Teo was that all too perfect kid that seemed to always have the answers and was the backbone of the groups he was involved in. Of course, no one, and especially not a teenager, can withstand that kind of pressure all of the time. Especially when most of it came from himself.

The romance is so well done. Bel and Teo switch from antagonistic to friends to more in such a seamless, natural fashion. The moments of tension and the “will they, won’t they” is masterfully done. As is the moment when it all falls apart and the slow path back together. It was just masterful. Alexene writes under Olivie Blake and I’ve put her on the TBR list because I can’t wait to see how she handles it in an adult romance.

I liked this book, I found the POVs quite realistic for a bunch of 17 yos, which is nice because they always act so mature in YA novels! So kudos for the author, good job. I liked the premise of the story, the way MIT was included in it and we as readers were led to believe that of course she'd be accepted right away! And it was such a shock at first, I could not believe it. I felt betrayed! I felt like I was reading a Peter Parker fanfic :') My favourite part about it was Teo, he reminded me so much of myself that It kinda hurt to read 3/4 of his chapters. I'm glad I did not read this book when I was a teenager, or it would've set my standards so high...

Thank you Netgalley, and also Alexene Farol Fullmuth (Olivie Blake) who is my favorite author for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book reminded me of my high school time. It has an aura, it's written in a way that gets you back to those time. Bel is, in so many ways, just like I was. And Teo is so cute, honestly it was hard to not fall for him.

This book follows Bel and Teo and their love story, and even tho I honestly expected more about how it was constructed, it still gave me butterflies at the end. The whole STEM thing was so interesting but, at times, I felt like it was just too much. Not forced, but like maybe those lines used for descriptions of a robot, it may had been used developing their relationship. Don't get me wrong, Olive Blake <i>knows</i> how to write characters and their chemistry, but after I read other books of her, I honestly expected that spark at the middle that I didn't feel this time.

Anyway, it's a cute and fun read, it's entertaining, dynamic and lovely. The problems the characters had felt so real, their insecurities and even the fight they had. It felt like... yes, had to be that way. Couldn't be otherwise. I loved Bel, I loved Teo, loved their dynamic, and loved the end they chose for both of them. I think that sometimes you just need someone who listens to yoh without <i>trying to fix you</i>, and someone who is proud of who you are even when you aren't proud of yourself at the moment.

Perfect book for a quick read. Highly recommended!

3.5 stars out of 5

This book is so cute! I was nervous to read it since it was YA but it didn’t feel like it. If there wasn’t the reminder that they’re high school students I would have forgotten. Each character spoke and acted super mature for eighteen which I’m not sure if that’s a good or bad thing yet. I love the representation especially showing the struggles for women in STEM! I dislike the miscommunication trope which it seems I’ve been reading more if lately. However, it starts out where the two lovers are enemies which justifies the miscommunication between them. As the relationship between them progresses so does their communication so it’s limited and is easily fixed. I really related to Bel as the youngest child of divorced parents I really understood her. The writing is also super well written! There is just so much about this book I really liked that I’d ramble on and on about it.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC!

Definitely worth ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑

This book is super cute and I loved seeing Tao and Bel let down their walls. There are times in the book where it seems like it’s trying to be “woke” but it didn’t take away from the overall story so I didn’t mind it. I really liked that the book was more about her finding who she is and what she likes than it was the romance. Don’t get me wrong it’s definitely still a romance I just think that Bel’s personal journey is more important.

I received an arc through netgalley.

WOMEN IN STEM❗️💯👌🏻😩👏🏻

i know it's only March but this might be one of my favorite reads this year. it was a wholesome read & i enjoyed it very very much. as someone who's not good with scientific things, the author written it so well and made it super easy to understand. the pace was a bit slow at the start for me but it never got boring. i also love the dual POVs as i got to understand both Bel and Teo from their own perspectives. it was a super fun read and i got totally hooked.

the characters was everything and all of them are so well developed. i love bel's uniqueness and i loved watching Bel gain confidence. Bel's development was everything. and then there's our dear Teo who carried all of those responsibilities on his own shoulder. my heart rooted for him with his absent yet demanding father and all the pressure that everyone and he, himself, put on him. i'm glad that they both helped each other to grow. the banter between Bel and Teo was adorable and had me screaming. like ''please just kiss already!!!".

the supporting characters were equally well-written. Bel's friendship with Jamie and Lora was heartwarming and also Teo's friendship with Dash. Dash was super adorable and i love his platonic friendship with Bel. pretty sure everyone would kinda get pissed at Neelam at first but her anger about how she was treated hit home. Ms. Voss was my favorite and pretty sure we all need her in our lives. special mention to Luke, i love him and i'm glad Bel has him as a brother.

i loved the diversity, how there's a lot of representation of so many different cultures and ethnicities. i also love how the author showed the double standards of woman in STEM. the narrator's voice was funny and made it super interesting. overall, i especially loved the epilogue. overall, it's a really fun and quick read. if you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, i'm sure you'll enjoy this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

4 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Another one to go on my favorites shelf! This book was a sweet, teenage romance story that I definitely recommend if you’re looking to get out of a reading slump, or looking for a cute, light read. It was a tiny bit slow in the beginning and some parts in the middle, but I didn’t mind at all. The plot really started to pick up when the robotics team takes part in the Regionals. The characters were all facing their own struggles and problems, which made them really relatable. Take Bel for example. She was facing a situation where she felt like she had to choose from two people that she really loves, which I’m pretty sure a lot of people have experienced before. Mateo, the love interest in this book, was also very relatable because he was struggling since everyone had expectations of him, he was feeling really stressed and pressured, which I’m sure a lot of people have felt before. I love both Bel and Teo, but my favorite character has to be Neelam. She was jealous of and disliked Bel in the beginning because Bel never had to work for anything, she got in by luck, whereas Neelam worked for everything but people still disregarded her. She was so upset, I just wanted to go and hug her, but I knew she was the type that hated hugs, so I didn’t haha. The relationships in this book were sooo cute and so well developed! I absolutely loved the dynamics between Bel and Teo, they are so cute together! I also liked how the tension between Bel and Neelam got resolved. Another thing I would like to point out is that it was great how femenism was incoorperated into the story! As a femenist myself, I was a bit mad to see how the girls in the AP Physics class were treated. Overall, this was a great read for me and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone!

Bel does not want to think about the future. College applications? What is that? But after she gets accepted into the robotics club, she discovers a passion she did not think was possible. However, because she’s a girl, some people don’t seem to take her seriously. On the other side of the spectrum, there’s Teo, whose whole life revolves around getting into his dream college, MIT. Captain of the football and robotics teams, Teo has his whole future planned out. When Bel and Teo first meet, their personalities clash, but Teo sees potential in Bel, and he will not let it go to waste.

The characters were very likeable. I think the author did a very good job at characterising teenagers, which sometimes can be exasperating. Overall, I liked all of them, specially Teo. Are we surprised?
Bel is a very special girl with such a brilliant mind. She has a special eye and her personal touch on the robots was the best. I think Bel’s character is so important for girls who want to get into sciences but are discouraged because it is a male-dominating field. I felt for these girls so much, but I am glad they proved everyone wrong and they succeeded in the things they liked.
Teo has a lot of pressure from his family, teachers, and friends to be the best version of himself. They all think that Teo can manage everything and do not realize that he is a teenage boy who is probably going to get burnt out and who maybe just wants to live a little and not have to worry constantly. The adults put so much pressure on him I was scared he was going to break. I loved Teo and I think he deserves many good things.

I love the message towards girls who want to get into science/mechanics but are discouraged by bigots. Good representation. Very cute novel.

Women in stem. Need I explain more?

Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of My Mechanical Romance in exchange of an honest review.

The cover was the first thing that drew me into this book. Then there's the synopsis. See, I'm not a big fan of science. Actually, if I'm being completely honest, I despise science, especially physics. That being stated, I was undecided about whether or not to request this book. At the end of the day, I was fortunate to pick this up.

Teo Luna and Bel Maier are two "nerds" who are compelled to work together in My Mechanical Romance. Teo has been the robotics club's captain for several years. He has a reputation for being serious, studious, and a nerd. Not just any nerd, but a really attractive one. Bel, on the other hand, is a new student who is working hard to maintain her GPA in preparation for her future.

This book covers misogyny, sexism, and racism all at the same time, which are important topics. To be honest, it's rare to come across a romance book that tackles these issues without relying on preconceptions, so kudos to Follmuth for that.

The romance in this novel made me laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. To avoid spoilers, I'm not going to say much more— but academic rivals to lovers and forced proximity? Excellent tropes. Did I mention Teo memorized Taylor Swift's discography in order to make Bel laugh?

In terms of the characters, each one is relatable in their own manner. Bel is the character with whom I have the most in common. Her academic aspirations, her love for Taylor Swift, and her Filipino heritage? Yes, she is unquestionably one of the most relatable protagonist.

Overall, I love this book. Please don't mind if I start using it as my main personality right now.

Bel is a bright student who especially has great ideas on physics and a new transfer to highschool. Through her teachers' guidance (some kind of obligation) she had to attend robotics team and met Teo. Teo was a completely another story, he was cute, smart but also overwhelmed by expectations. In this super cute story Bel and Teo discovered their expectations from life, from love and also from themselves.

The story is incredibly cute and I really loved to read the development of the characters. Every one of the character represents another issue about being a teenager: like being a girl in STEM community, being perfect, being subject to discrimination, being in love etc.

As a conclusion this story is not an ordinary high school romance, it also contains growing pains of the characters and this made the all book is so real. I would recommend My Mechanical Romance all of the YA readers who love to read about first loves but also the life struggles.

PS: After I finished the book I get that author of the book Alexene Farol Follmuth is also Olivie Blake ! OMG ( Atlas Six is one my favs!)

I am just a huge sucker for YA contemporary romances, although I will admit that the romance genre hasn’t been serving me well lately. BUT, this was absolutely perfect and took me out of that slump with contemporary romance. I’m kind of at the same point in my life as these characters where I’m having to think about my future (likely also going into STEM as a woman), while also not really being sure if what I’m passionate about, or if there’s anything I’m even good at, like Bel. I think the book does a really good job of showing that, especially how life isn’t just a set linear timeline of primary school, secondary, sixth form and uni. School isn’t for everyone, or people might need some time figuring it out or might not have the resources to go after something they’re passionate about yet, and that’s okay! This book did a wonderful job of showing that with a cast of very lovable and relatable characters.

An important theme as well was the exploration of the struggles and nuances of being a woman in STEM. In other YA contemporary books I’ve read that explore this, the female protagonists tend to also in a way come off misogynistic, shaming more feminine presenting or stereotypically ‘girly’ women; or the book could come off as a bit discouraging to women who are looking to work in STEM. This book doesn’t suffer from that, and if anything I felt encouraged to learn and work harder towards experimenting and figuring out what I want. Altogether, I loved reading about the bot fights and how they were building their robot. I expected to be bored, but it ended up being v v engaging!!

I must also mention the romance because aaahhhhhh it’s been so long since I’ve felt this giddy throughout reading a romance book!! It’s just very wholesome and I think the pace at which their relationship progressed was just so perfect. I feel we got a good amount of time with both characters and their feelings and ahhhhhh I just loved it. It is definitely going down as one of my favourites of this genre. (little aside to make a recommendation of one of my favourite YA romances ever: Tweet Cute!! granted, it’s not stem but the rivals to friends to lovers aaaaaaa man i love it)

There are obviously some things I didn’t enjoy as much about this book; for one, I feel the third act conflict could have been handled better, I’d have liked to see Neelam be fleshed out more…but overall, I just really enjoyed the book and I can’t imagine giving this a lower rating or really dwelling on any of that. It’s just a good-fun time, and despite my apprehension considering how this author is known for more dark fantasy books, I am very much looking forward to her upcoming work like this!