3,75 stars. thank you netgalley for the arc of this book!!

possible spoilers, read at your own risk.

first off, i did enjoy this book. i liked reading it, i think it was funny, i think the plot is interesting and i think the main couple is adorable. but, i did have some things i personally didn’t really like. the pace was a bit confusing to me, sometimes it was really slow, and the other time it was quite fast. also i felt like there were quite a few time skips? i personally really don’t like time skips, so when the main couple had their first kiss at the end of a chapter and the beginning of the next chapter was them being lovey-dovey girlfriend and boyfriend, i felt like it was going way to fast. i missed a lot of the romance scenes. it felt a tiny bit insta-lovey, after they realized they had feelings for eachother it went hella fast, it definitely wasn’t a slowburn. and i feel like there were a lot of ‘important’ scenes that were skipped, like bel meeting teo’s mom, the first robotics meeting, things like that. i would’ve loved to read more of those things. i wouldn’t call this an enemies to lovers, academic rivals to lovers i can see, but i don’t feel like they were rivals tbh. i also missed a lot of the depth in the characters and the romance between bel and teo. most of the characters did have personality, but they felt like side/background characters to me, when i feel like they were supposed to be more prominent characters. i kinda missed reading about the friendship between bel and jamie. and the friendship between bel and lora came really out of nowhere, page one they had never met, and the next page they were besties.

also, i sometimes got a bit bored while reading, because of the plot. the plot is great, don’t get me wrong, but i don’t understand a single thing about engineering and robotics, i feel like if you’re more into those kinds of things, you would like it way more than i did. i think i’m just way to dumb for it lol.

lastly, the pop-culture references were sometimes a bit too much for me. it mostly got me confused and pulled me out of my little reading world lol. i did totally love the taylor swift references though.

so after all, i did like this book, but it’s not a personal favorite. it’s a funny and cute story, and totally interesting if robotics is something you’re interested in. if you’re intrigued by the plot/discription of the book, definitely read it!

these are all my personal opinions, nothing in this review is meant to be disrespecting to anyone.

(sorry if this review is a bit incoherent lol, english in not my first language, it’s currently midnight and i haven’t slept in like 26 hours lol goodnight)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4595713343

4/5

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth is about Bel, who just transferred to a private school full of students who all have their futures planned and their dreams in reach. All except for Bel, who at this point of her 17 year old life has no clue what she wants to do. When a physics teacher sees potential for Bel in engineering, she grudgingly accepts to try-out for the robotics team, and is as shocked as everyone when she’s accepted.

I was hooked on the title alone. Genius.

This was a really sweet book! And I LOVE the message it gives to girls who want to pursue STEM. I thought most of the characters were really rounded and had problems that I could relate to. I loved the dichotomy between Bel and Neelam, and seeing there’s more than one way to be a nerd.

The romance is okay, but honestly I was here for Bel to prove her worth in front of a bunch of boys while still rocking her unique fashion. Yes. Please.

I felt bad cause I didn’t remember half of the characters since they didn’t really make a difference in the end? There are maybe 5 characters out of like 15 that actually matter to the story.

Also, Bel is half-Filipino (like me <3) which is another reason why I related to her so hard. Thanks Follmuth for writing her. Though I’m not STEM inclined, I still felt like I was seen, if only a little.
Representation matters.

A 'romance for smart girls' - MUST READ!

As a big fan of the writer Alexene Farol Follmouth (otherwise also writing/known as Olivia Blake) and the international bestseller The Atlas Six, my expectations were sky high… and let me just tell you, SHE DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

Not only is this a real page-turner, full of hilarious dialogue and an ‘enemies to lovers’ storyline, but it manages to get infuse the genre with real depth and meaning. Follmouth masterfully creates real, genuinely authentic-feeling characters (all of whom are super smart) that represent a real diversity of racial, economic and social backgrounds.

But her biggest accomplishment is getting the reader excited in not only STEM sciences but the world of Robotics in a way that is incredibly approachable whilst making you feel smart. I never thought I would be so enticed by mechanical engineering let alone figure out what it actually involves… in a romance novel. I cannot imagine what this book would have done for me had I read it back in high school, especially as a young woman of colour who never saw herself represented in the sciences.

The social commentary is woven into the dialogue expertly, always sharp yet hilarious served and the diversity/representation truly meaningful. The love story manages to be steamy whilst fairly chaste, perfect for both a YA audience as well as us older millennials!

Last but not least, I am not ashamed to say I may have shed a tear or two and finished the book feeling like I just got a big squeeze and a pep talk too!

If you loved ‘The Love Hypothesis', this is definitely going to be your next obsession!

*** I received an early complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Finding a way to describe My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth challenged me enough that I’ve had to sit on it for a few days. After extensive puzzlement, I’ve come to realize that, in fact, the author has broken me. I lack the words to describe her deeply romantic, complex story. To call it a YA romance is too limiting, too narrow for the rich and emotional ride that is this book. And I write that with a deep and abiding love for YA romance.

Bel is angry, disinterested, unrepentantly agnostic about life, and beautifully weird. She is also a new senior at an elite high school of over-achievers. For a young woman who hasn’t given a thought to a career, it’s an annoying place to be. Jamie has her entire life mapped and will probably be president someday. Bel and her brother, Luke, spend their free time fiddling with his car and giving a middle finger to the future.

It’s no coincidence that a woman, Ms Voss, changes the course of Bel’s meandering life. Only a woman could truly understand the painful and debilitating effects of women being talked down to, held to different standards, and expected to fail. The author writes authentically and also brilliantly highlights the impact of young girls seeing themselves in roles that women have been discouraged – and outright barred – from holding.

Honestly, My Mechanical Romance is sometimes difficult to read. Every woman, no matter her age, will identify with (especially) Bel’s and Neelam’s experiences. But Alexene Farol Follmuth pushes the boundaries further, taking on the privilege of wealthy private schools and well-placed friends. She challenges us to care about more than the romance, though it too is well-done, sweetly pining and lovely.

That’s My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth. I’m sorry to have to tell you that it isn’t out yet (as of this writing obv). You’re going to have to wait until May 31, 2022, which also means that I’m going to have to wait until June 1st to have anyone to talk to about this remarkable book. We’re all suffering right now, @HolidayHousebks.

Also, I’m fully annoyed that I didn’t get more time with Dash. I’m picturing him creating a really popular restaurant blog while he’s going to NYU and falling hard for a chef whose restaurant he trashes. IYKYK. And you will know once you read this book.

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

- 4.5 Stars -
This book was cute! I really loved the way that Bel and Teo both were given their own unique voices throughout the book with differing POVs.

I’m always a big fan of women in STEM so this was a really cool thing to see, especially at the high school level. The way that Bel notices the favoritism that is placed on the boys on the robotics team and in AP Physics over the females (the 4 females..) by the male teacher, and comments on it to Teo was very well done.
As a female myself, I’ve felt these kinds of things in my own life and know just how unfair it can be. Teo, realizing what is going on, does his best to make things better, to fix it all, but this isn’t something that can just quickly be righted and then fixed. The way Mac acknowledges this in the last few chapters makes my heart sing with feminist pride!

I do love that elitist post-secondary education plays into this story as well. The way the story plays out, wasn’t exactly how I expected it to be so I was pleasantly surprised by it! I’ve seen others calling this the “YA Love Hypothesis” and honestly I would have to agree. It's definitely a sweet, coming-of-age story for both Teo and Bel as they grow into who THEY want to be, not who OTHERS want them to be.

Overall, I would recommend this book in a heartbeat to anyone who is looking for a new read!

Thank you NetGalley // Holiday House // Alexene Farol Folluth for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review! All of the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a cute book! It’s a great Girls-in-STEM book, with a lot of character growth for both the main characters, Bel and Teo.

I appreciated that the characters in the book all felt real — not like the often overblown caricatures that are common in YA. The teenagers feel like teens, though because of the setting of this story, they are all exceptionally smart and driven. Bel perfectly encapsulates the terror and uncertainty that come with senior year and trying to decide what to do with the future. Teo, on the other side of things, is the kid who is so certain of his future that he becomes obsessive and has to have things shaken up a bit to relax.

The romance part of the book was cute, but I think it was secondary to the journey of the kids through their senior year. I would say it’s a 1 on the “spicy” scale and contains basically no swearing, so it’s a safe bet for anyone worried about those things for themselves or their kids or students.

Finally, I liked that the ending of the story wasn’t fairy tale perfect. Things shake out in a realistic way, but it’s still satisfying for those who like happy endings.

Very enjoyable read!

I’m a bit of a fair weather YA reader. As in, I can enjoy them, but I usually only pick them up once I know they’re popular and well received. The cover of My Mechanical Romance was just so appealing though, and the summary had so many of my favorite things, so I read it and look at me - I’m a trendsetter! I’m telling you so early that this book just consumed me. If Rachel Lynn Soloman and Ali Hazelwood had a book baby than this would be it’s the baby we all want. The characters were so engaging. The writing was captivating and relatable. I just genuinely cared so much about Bel and Teo.

Bel is bit of an underachiever and starting her senior year at a new private high school. She’s not a joiner, and doesn’t know where to apply for college or what she would even study once she’s there. After some soft, well-meaning, blackmail from a science teacher that sees her potential, Bel tries out and makes it on the robotics team. This puts her right in the path of Teo, who is robotics captain and all around golden-boy. They clash, are a bit enemies-to-lovers, but they find their way to one another and Bel finds her direction in a place she never expected.

I wish I was a better writer myself, so I could accurately convey how deeply this book put me in my feelings. I mean, high school was 20+ years ago for me at this point, but I just *felt* every setback of Bel’s deep down in my soul. Reading this book was like listening to the Olivia Rodrigo album last year. As an almost 40yo woman with 3 kids, I don’t exactly relate to the high school drama, but the feelings of betrayal, ambition, love, anguish, heartache, and hope just rattle around in my brain and give me all the serotonin. I wouldn’t change a single thing about this book, and it’s going on my re-read pile.

I received a free copy of this e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 ⭐️ I throughly enjoyed reading this, finished it in a day! It’s a great and lighthearted YA romance, featuring women in STEM, Asian representation, and my favorite trope, academic rivals to lovers. AND ITS DUAL POV!!! sign me tf up !
This felt authentic to the teenage experience, from the way the characters acted, their thoughts and struggles felt like I was back to my teenage self. I found myself relating a lot to Bel at that age. Also she’s a swiftie so I love that for her <3
I loved how Bel and Teo’s relationship progressed naturally through the story (it didn’t feel forced) the slow burn was fantastic. The humor, banter, the tension!!!
I appreciated the themes and issues presented in this story. (Sexism, privilege, family, imposter syndrome) I love how it challenged how society views women of color in STEM: the expectations of how woman have to carry themselves a certain way to be taken seriously by men.
Also the science and physics stuff was described that made sense even to me (who knows absolutely nothing)
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review

'"The world is not very helpful to a smart girl," says Ms. Voss. "More often it will try to force you inside a box. But I urge you not to listen."'

I seriously have not enjoyed a YA book this much in a long time! This YA contemporary romance delivered an incredible story with a fantastic cast of characters that led me to read this book in one sitting!

Any book that has women in STEM representation is an automatic must-read for me. It's even better when the representation is done right. This book perfectly encapsulated what it's like being a woman in STEM in an easy-to-understand and digest format for YA audiences. My own high school experience parallels Bel so much that it was easy to empathize with her and root for her to succeed. This book perfectly captures the drive you have to have to survive in STEM and how women have to work twice as hard for the same opportunities men automatically get. As for Teo, it took me a while to warm up to him as he was always quick to write others off and take care of things himself, but I warmed up to him by the end as I felt like he and Bel and fantastic character arcs. Having flawed characters complete such a great arc is no easy feat, but it was done well here! I also can't forget to mention that all the side characters were excellent and it made every character interaction enjoyable and entertaining.

What I loved about the plot was that it wasn't overshadowed by the romance and was perfectly balanced. While it IS technically a YA contemporary romance, there are fantastic lessons about finding yourself, understanding your potential, and ultimately believing in yourself enough to make big decisions and put yourself out there. It made the book more empowering and the perfect coming-of-age story.

Overall, I can say with certainty that I will be recommending this book to everyone I know that loves a great YA book as this is easily a new favorite of mine!

What makes this book different from all others? And why should anyone care?
This book is such a great read, the romance wasn't all in my face and it focused a lot on the aspect of being a woman in STEM. I'm glad the other characters are so involved and it builds so well with the environment of being in teams.
It was well-written, from the characters and their backgrounds AHHHHH it made me so happy that the author put in those details. As I come from the same background it's nice to see representation and do it justice, I truly relate to some parts shown anyways it's nakakakilig.
The book was so good and people would absolutely enjoy every single page I know I did. It's not often that I feel satisfied with endings but this was very warm and I wish I could read it for the first time again.

The basics:
- Young Adult romance
- STEM romance
- Filipino (heroine) and Mexican (hero) representation
- Academic rivals to lovers
- Slow burn

To be frank, I am not one to gravitate towards YA romance anymore. But I do make my occasional exceptions. When I read the blurb for this book, I had a strong inkling that this would be worth picking up.
I am beyond glad to say that this book is one of those books that make me want to dip my toes in YA romance again, and more often.

If I were to describe this book in one word, it would be ‘refreshing’. For most of my time reading this, I kept thinking “wow this thing doesn’t have the typical immature-kids-making-bad-decisions plotline.” Don’t get me wrong, the characters in this book are not perfect, but they surprisingly read more mature than I expected.

Speaking of the characters, is it too bold to say that I love them all? Like I said, they were far from perfect BUT their decisions, ways of thinking, their personalities in general were well fleshed-out that I eventually understood where they were coming from. And I’m not just talking about the hero and heroine. I’m talking all the characters, especially their friend group (which I honestly want to be a part of myself even though I know nothing about robots).

As for Bel and Teo’s romance, it felt real and believable to me. Their relationship naturally progressed throughout the story that it didn’t feel forced when they first declared their love for each other. I loved how their romance had a strong friendship as its foundation. The slow burn was fantastic; there were a lot of sweet moments during the platonic stage of their relationship that made me want to continue reading to get to that part when they finally get together. I rooted for them from start to finish, and I want more! (I mean there was an epilogue, but I guess a novella wouldn’t hurt?)

Going much deeper, I really appreciated the themes and issues this story delved into. I love how it challenged how society views women of color in STEM: the expectations that tend to be burdensome and how that affects how they view themselves. As a woman of color myself (Filipino, too and that rep was a win!), although not in STEM, I resonated with how Bel felt. I also appreciated how it focused on how young people get indecisive about what they want to do in life. The struggles the characters faced when it comes to deciding on their next steps with their careers were so relatable even to a woman like me who is currently in her mid 20’s, in the workforce, with a supposed career path. The hero Teo’s struggles with trying to constantly fix problems, even though they’re not his, hit too close to home. Burnout is real and I’m grateful this book chose to show that.

This is an important and powerful book that I think all people, young adult or not, should read. Not only does it deliver on the romance, but it also presents real life experiences that anyone can relate to.

This was such a cute read!
It's a dual POV YA romance following Bel, a new student in a super competitive high school, and Teo, the captain of the robotics club in that high school. Pushed by her (female) physics teacher, Bel joins the robotics club and they bond over building battle robots.

I really liked the "women in STEM" rep in this book - even though I'm not one myself (I chose the easy route and went to business school), I think that's so important. There was a scene where Bel meets a little girl who tells her she "didn't think girls could build robots too" and admires her so much for it, and that warmed my heart.
I also thought the way sexism was depicted in the book was very subtle. Most of the injustice wasn't in-your-face interactions (except for the dumb boys from opposite teams looking down at the girls in the robotics team). It was the (male) physics teacher favouring the boys in his class, it was the only two girls in the team besides Bel being 1) the social media and business manager of the team, a traditionally more female position, and 2) depicted as a huge bitch. It was the way Teo, even though he was the main character and we were meant to like him, still expected everyone to follow his lead without questions.
I also LOVED the female friendships in this book. Jamie and Lora were both sweet, loyal, and even though they came from very different places and had different personalities and ambitions, their group of 3 (with Bel) and their complicity and female solidarity was a highlight of the story for me.
The last thing I really appreciated was the commentary on social injustice. The reason why Bel wasn't as prepared for her future as Teo wasn't only because she was a girl and was never pushed into engineering, it was also because she didn't come from such a privileged background. And like her teacher tells Bel, MONEY has a huge impact on colleges' decisions to accept a student on not (which, as a European, sounds absolutely insane to me). I really liked the way everything turned out in the end: things did not go as planned (aka easily), which Bel made her peace with, and she made another plan and kept moving. I thought that was a great message, but it doesn't make it any less true that if she had had money and privilege, she wouldn't even have had to take these detours.

Finally, I wanna talk about the characters a little.

First of all, the main two. I thought Bel was a great character - she was funny, strong, faced many problems at home and in school. Her character actually faced real conflict: her parents' divorce, feeling lost, not knowing what she wanted to do with her life. And she had great character development too. Admittedly, she had a little "not like other girls" vibe, but I'll forgive it because she never brought down other girls. But the problem was that she was such a complex character that in comparison, Teo felt kinda bland? What did he have going on for him? Rich, successful, big house, loving parents. Sure, his dad was a little absent, and I sympathised with that, but again compared to Bel's struggles it was a bit small. Early in the book, there's a scene where Bel describes his character, and that was my opinion of him the entire time:
"On the one hand, he's essentially the cult leader for a squad of worshiping dorks, and watching him in AP Physics today gave me the impression that maybe he knows it. He's clearly Mac [the teacher]'s favorite student, and he's definitely not dumb, but he's pretty entitled - which I guess he would be, wouldn't he? With a house like this and parents like that".
And he ACKNOWLEDGES that he is entitled and not used to being questioned. But I just didn't really see his evolution.
Now don't get me wrong, I thought their relationship was super cute. But as much as I understood why he fell for her, I'm not sure I get what she saw in him haha? At some point she says he's "the best person she knows" and I was like, why? But then I'm also into hot, rich cocky dudes, so I guess I get it.

All the supportive characters were amazing tho! Like I already said, I loved Jamie and Lora from the robotics club. Dash was also an absolute sweetheart. I also really liked Ms Voss, the physics teacher who initially encourages (well, kinda forces) Bel to join the robotics club, and Luke (Bel's brother) was great too.
And there's Neelam of course, who honestly deserves a book of her own. I understood where she was coming from, being a girl in robotics and never being taken seriously and having to fight extra hard to get what the boys get easily. But I guess I would've liked to see women supporting each other too? Band together, fight the patriarchy, you know. Although that's exactly what happens at the end so I can appreciate the way it built up to it. Character development!

Overall, this was a super enjoyable read, right up my alley. If you like cute YA romance and light banter and strong female characters, I definitely recommend it!
TWs for sexism.

I read this book as a voluntary ARC before it’s official release.
I very much enjoyed this book. I think it’s a great YA novel that tackles women in STEM, stereotypes, and happiness in your teen years. I greatly appreciate that the author was able to show truly how hard it can be and that there are stereotypes about girls in STEM that people don’t even realize they are making. I would definitely recommend this book to any high schooler but also anyone in the STEM field.

That was extremely cute!!!
If I was a few years younger I would have loved the romance and basically everything about this book. But I’ve been reading New Adult/Adult for the past few months, so this wasn’t really IT for me, but I still liked it. I did love the emphasis on science (or robotics) because, well, I love science. And the fact that it was (kind of?) enemies to lovers? Amazing.
So, if you want YA, enemies to lovers, banter and women in STEM, you should definitely read it.
And I think the writing style got better throughout the book so I enjoyed it more and more.

You know those books that just leave you feeling strong after you read them? Like, you're motivated to get your life together, to make something of yourself, to BE yourself? That's this book for you. But it's so much more.

It's a PURE, innocent, adorable first-love romance story, and yet... there are tears in my eyes. Like, actual tears. Not of sadness (although there were moments of that as well), but of an abundance of emotion.

I ADORED the protagonist. She was quirky and weird, but in a good way, I swear. She reminded me of myself (and not just in the name). It unlocked memories of my junior/senior years of of high school, where I embraced the engineering side of me. I was never the strictly academic type, like her. I was concerned about the here and now, having fun. I didn't want to think about college apps or the future.

Teo. Teo frickin' Luna. I... (I have nothing more to say. I am in love.) He was so well developed as a character. The juxtaposition between Teo's ambition and certainty of what he wants and Bel's desire to hide in the background and do what she wants was done very well. Bel is constantly surrounded by people who all seem to have it figured out while she has no clue what she wants to do. I felt that. Hard.

Did I mention it's dual pov?

There was a huge cast of characters, all super diverse and well-rounded. They all served a purpose in the story & had their own personal goals and arcs. The book focused on stressing the theme of girls in STEM. Girls in science and math career paths. We have it hard sometimes, and this book did an amazing job showing that without making it annoying or cliché.

The story itself centered around Isabel Maier--Bel. "Bel as in bel canto, not Belle the princess". And if you're thinking Teo Luna won't make a habit of calling her Bel Canto, you would be wrong. Bel is a high-level procrastinator. It's her senior year, and she hasn't touched her college apps. But don't mention it. She'll shut you down.

Luckily, the brilliant and compassionate science teacher Ms. Voss sees something special in Bel. She sees a talent for building and designing in the catapult she built for class. She switches Bel to the AP Physics class and urges her to try out for the robotics team. It's through the robotics team that Teo also sees her potential. (It's too bad the physics teacher doesn't see Bel's value in quite the same way.)

Bel, of course, needs to learn how to work as a team, because that's what robotics is about. That's what engineering is about. And Bel doesn't quite get it. That, and their conflicting "plans" for the future, cause Teo and Bel to butt heads quite a bit.

But through their long study sessions and late afternoons building their robot together, they begin to see each other in a new light. Watching these characters, through both POVs, slowly fall in love with each other was addicting. Seriously. By the time I was barely half way through the book, I was so invested in these fictional people that I could not put the book down.

If you are a girl and you even KINDA like science and math, if you've ever felt wrong because of that interest, read this book. If you like fictional boys who make note of your weirdness and then slowly begin to realize he can't live without it, read this book. If you like academic rivals-to-lovers, the found family trope, witty humor and pop-culture references, and characters you can laugh with and cry over, READ. THIS. BOOK!!

Seriously.

I'm wary to give any book 5 stars because, well--5 stars?? that's quite the statement, but honestly, I don't think I can give this book any less. For what it was, a cutesy YA romance novel, it won me over. It destroyed me, emotionally. It is a 5 star book.

I loved how the author discussed the discrimination that women face in a male-dominated engineering field.
As a teenage girl myself, I found the main character Bel very relatable, because I am also interested in STEM but hate to think about my future or anything college related (and love Taylor Swift!).
Teo was a very well-written character because under all the confidence he had his own insecurities and doubts. The relationship of these two characters was super adorable, yet realistic.
You will enjoy this book if you love the academic rivals to lovers trope, women of color in STEM!
Trigger warnings: sexism/misogyny, classism, infidelity, vomit.

This was cute! I did like the main relationship and I did appreciate the STEM field. Seeing the way women were treated definitely hit home for me.

My frustration with this came from the later portion. I also felt like some storylines were never fully resolved. I’m not sure I liked the dialogue choices in some parts.

This was a cute read. I appreciated the ending. I liked a lot of this… but this comes in at a 3.5 due to other reasons.

"Bel Canto"

Teo Luna could make just about any girl swoon, which is one of the reasons he is my favorite character in the story. While this book was not exactly a five star read, it did have characteristics that I throughly enjoyed. Overall the concept of the story was sweet and cute but also aware of today's societal trends. Firstly, the diversity throughout this story was pleasurable, something that is not too rare within today's books but also not as common. I enjoyed the raw and transparency problems these characters are go though, it makes them relatable and real. What prevented this book from receiving a five-star rating from me was the writing style in which the novel was written in. While the writing style may be a personal preference, there were things that I found frustrating when reading. For example, Bel would explain to the reader certain robotic terms that were being used while she was building the robots as though she new we were in her head, thus taking away from the realism this story was to provide. Instead I was left feeling as though I was reading a science paper, and the student was trying to explain to the reader what everything was. It left me feeling as though I was reading a science paper instead of a novel. While I get this was mainly used to explain to the reader what was happening so they would not be left behind, I feel it took away from the story and was somewhat focused on too much.

Overall I liked the book and I'm interested to see what else this author writes next. Thank you Peachtree Teen for providing and allowing me to read this ARC.

Slow burn, enemies to lovers in STEM. Exciting plot with Bel who is forced to join the robotics team and Teo having to work with her to win nationals.

Cute romance novel. Thoroughly enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I liked this book a lot. It has a diverse cast of characters and is able to display cultures fairly well. The characters are very lovable, I wish we got to know more about them. I, however, can only give this 4 stars because I feel as though the romance between the 2 main characters were a little rushed and I really wanted them to delve into Teo's character flaw a little more than they did. The focus on Bel's struggles in STEM was very endearing and is honestly so relatable the #girlpower sentiment was great. I loved Neelam as a character (honestly I loved all the side characters, so often in romances the leads will just be by themselves with no friends and all they have is each other like you don't lose yourself and your friends just because you have a bf, come on) she really embodies a girl that's just over the misogyny. Like, there was a reason for her bitchy-ness you know? Filipino representation as well is a plus for me. There definitely are some cute moments in this book like the first kiss and Teo and Bel pining after the other. All in all, this is definitely worth a read. It's cute, it's got struggles of being a woman in STEM and not knowing what you want to do with your life, Robots, and super good side characters. 4.25/5