Reading this book wasn’t enough. I need it to be injected into my bloodstream. I was definitely judging this book by it’s cover and it lived up to my expectations.

Bel. Isabel. Bella. If I had to describe her character in short then she’s like unexplored mine. She has quickly became one of my favourites, mostly because I found her character to be so freaking relatable. Hates thinking about the future? Check. Hates anything related to college? Check. Loves Taylor Swift? Check. Is unapologetically awkward? Double check. She’s just like me. And I adore her. I loved how she’s figuring out herself. It shows the journey. This is book depicts the ‘coming of age’ factor so accurately.

Teo. Mateo. Mateo the second. He’s the super focused guy. I mean that guy is the captain of the soccer squad AND the robotics team he knows what he’s doing (on the outside that is). But Teo is also like every other teen. He’s indecisive, has doubts and is uncertain. So, I loved how this character is balanced in the book. And he’s definitely one of the most realistic fictional guy I’ve ever read.

I loved Bel and Teo’s meet cute. It was adorable to the T. I loved how their dynamics developed through the book. It’s Rivals to Lovers and as a plus, both of them are grumpy. I adored the sub characters as well. Each member of the Robotics team. Neelam, Lora, Jamie and Dash have a special place in my heart.

I loved how this book is basically breaking the stereotypes. It was exhilarating to see Bel fight for what’s right. Diversity in STEM with a side of Feminism is what makes this book unique.

I loved how the book put forward the message that it’s okay to be uncertain about the future, to not have everything planned out. Things would work out the way that they have to, just never stop trying and that’s such a powerful subject matter for a YA book.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the arc!

Wow, just, wow! A high school romance story with characters that actually act like real high school students? I’m kidding, kind of. This one is for the nerds who constantly worry about the letter “A”.

As a person who struggles with academic validation all my life, I can relate with the characters so much. Although the romance story is very cute (trust me it’s very very heartwarming), I can’t help to compare my own experience searching for the right direction on what to do next in my academic life. Bel, a transfer student from a mediocre school, finds herself struggling to find her passion in her new-full-of-high-achieving-kids high school. It is kind of unfair to be an 18 year old and people expect us to pick a major that going to define our life. It is such a huge responsibility to shoulder on a barely-even-an-adult.

It is a story about failure, learning, passion, and this one also tackles on how to deal with privileges as a student. Teo has been a rich and smart kid all his life and not to mention a bunch of his achievements. Basically he’s your dream kid if you are a parent. But as all humans, he has his flaws. For Teo, this story is about making peace with his flaws and accept your life is not entirely yours to control.

All in all, this book is worth the time and I really really looking forward to seeing it in the bookstores! 🥳

Thank you holiday house pub & netgalley for providing me with the eARC in exchange for an honest review. The synopsis is from Goodreads.

The academic rivals to lovers trope fun to read but what I love the most about this book is how it discussed the sexism/gender discrimination in certain fields like STEM jobs that are predominantly male. I love how the author tackled such heavy topic while keeping the story simple, engaging, and light.
I also liked that the characters have personalities and not just one-dimensional. I truly enjoyed reading the character development of the 2 main characters. Even the side characters are well written, especially Neelam!
The high school romance is cute, and the STEM/robotics element is engaging, the the issues discussed can also be still be relatable even to older readers.
A totally fun light read! Highly recommend to those into academia romance and books with awesome female lead!

This was adorable. A genuine joy to read. The author, one of my favourites, truly has a stunning way with words.

“I’ve always believed that there’s a possibility for everything in the world to collide for a single perfect moment, and that sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get to have one for yourself. This one is ours.”

I finished this book in less than a day, consumed in one sitting. It is well written and funny, and the characters are likeable and relatable. I spent a good portion with a grin on my face.

“We’re not friends, we’re academic colleagues.” “Enemies to academic colleagues to lovers.”
“Stop saying that!”


All in all, this book was throughly enjoyable. The character development is terrific. It handles difficult concepts (females in a male dominated STEM world) without making light of them. The teenagers, while obviously being very bright and knowledgeable, still clearly act like teenagers. Highly recommend.


eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

This book was undeniable cute. It gave me so much serotonin, I am in love.

Everything is perfect, the relationship between the characters are just *chef’s kiss*. A romance between academical rivals is AMAZING, I loved it so much. As someone who is going through university now, and dealing with academic life, it is really amazing and fun to read a book that is about characters that are going through similar things.

Also, I was shocked to discover that the author is actually Olivie Blake.

Yup yup yup!!!! I really liked this book!! Very wholesome academic rivals to lovers, plus representation and STEM! It is a YA contemporary romance. Also, same author as Olivia Blake (pen name) so if you like her writing style, you'll probably also like this!

I IMMEDIATELY downloaded this book when I saw it pop up. Atlas Six (same author under different names) was an instant favorite, and I was so excited to read more from this author. While I can definitely see similarities in the writing style, this work did not carry the same weight in it's prose or plot that Atlas did, nor did it wreak the same emotional damage as Alone with You in the Ether. I think a lot of that had to do with subject matter and target audience, both of which are a good deal younger than me. This high school romance was sweet and smart, and I loved the messages for Women in STEM, but that's just about the max depth of the book. I'd frankly still read this author's grocery lists, she's that good, but I look forward to reading more of her adult works soon.

4/5 stars

EVERYTHING I NEEDED AND MORE OUT OF A STEM YA RIVALS-TO-LOVERS ROMANCE....

Bel very much has no clue what she's doing in life (same girl). But when she transfers to a new school at the beginning of her senior year, her advisor makes it very clear things are going to have to change if she wants to be on her teacher's good side (and you know, graduate). Enter Teo, Mr. Hot and-he-knows-it who happens to be the son of a huge tech mogul and is super smart too. When the two of them have to work together on the robotics club, it's a recipe for disaster. Bel is certain she and Teo will never be friends. But turns out sparks fly both on and off the circuit board, let's just hope the

I. Loved. This. I really did. I knew just from the title and the cover (DID YOU SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL THAT COVER ART IS???) that I was going to be obsessed with this book. The characters are so lovable, Bel is honestly my spirit animal and I desperately want those bird jeans. Teo is the cute, smart, techy boy my performing arts high school was missing. There's none of that miscommunication trope thank goodness and the conflict was handled super well. I was literally giggling and kicking my legs like a maniac while reading this it was so gosh darn cute.

WE LOVE WOMEN IN STEM. WE LOVE WOMEN CALLING EACH OTHER OUT WHILE STILL SUPPORTING ONE ANOTHER. WE LOVE MEN BECOMING AWARE OF THEIR OWN PREJUDICES.

Thank you Alexene Farol Follmuth for writing what I think is going to become my 2022 YA comfort book. I will most definitely be reading this again very, very soon. Everyone please stop what you're doing and go read this. I beg you.



Thank you Netgalley and Junior Library Guild for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

The book was adorable, in terms of the enemies to lovers trope, and the way the relationship progressed. I often caught myself fangirling, and it was really nice.

Even though this books seems like a light read there are lots of moments when you are shown what is it like to be a girl in a field where mostly men work. How often you are thought of less just because it's not a place with lot of women and you have to prove your worth.

I related to the main character in a lot of ways, which made me feel quite nostalgic, so I just flew through the pages and read most of the book during one evening.

I definitely recommend this book, if you are looking for a fun and thought provoking book at the same time.

I liked it so much. I was so excited for this book, that when I heard there were arcs avalaible, I took my chance

It is a very light-read book, it took me a day or so, it's cute, sweet and very fast-paced. The whole robotic topic, I LOVED IT! It made me want to dig deep on the topic. It made me think a lot about how I should have my future planned and all that, like Theo, so I felt seen with Bel and her whole dilemma with the future.

I would recomend it so much for someone that wants to see a perspective of the future, and how you can get to that future. I really liked it, so I gave it 3/5

I was super excited to read this book for a few reasons: I, myself, am a Woman in STEM™, and know how attractive a pretty, smart boy can be; I'm a sucker for a romance novel, and I love Alexene's (aka Olivie Blake's) writing.

To my surprise, her normally poetic prose didn't feature in the book as much, but rather the writing is more witty and sharp; it has a lot of dialogue (which was engaging most of the time, although I did roll my eyes at some of the lines that were supposed to be feminist but felt more out of touch, like "Do you have to be so painfuly heteronormative?", or a point in which Bel points out that her conversation with her friend Jamie isn't passing the Bechdel test), and many afterthoughts between parenthesis, but still delivers some gorgeous quotes that had me kicking my feet in excitement.

It starts of a little slow, but once it hits the halfway mark it picks up: it took me almost two weeks to get through the first half, but only a few hours to get through the second. Bel is a main character that I really liked. Even though the book tries to sell her as a little bit of a quirky-not-basic MC, she still resonated so much with me with her struggles to determine what she wanted her future to be like, the feeling that she doesn't really know as much as her peers, and the sense that she just got lucky most of the times and didn't deserve things. I wasn't a huuuge fan of Teo at the beginning, but he definitely earned points by being so in love with Bel and by trying to be supportive of her.

The romance is adorable, and the robotics element was definitely engaging, especially during the tournaments. I really liked the side characters as well: Dash, Jamie and Lora are a charming bunch. All around a very cute, light-hearted read!

I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

Although YA isn’t my usual go-to genre, I really liked this! I love reading books with heroines in STEM, and this was such an encouragement for teenage girls aspiring to pursue this field. I really enjoyed this read and would definitely be getting this when it’s officially out, as well as recommend it to friends!

An enemies to lovers romance at its core, My Mechanical Romance (I also love the name choice for the book because… MCR.) explores the struggles girls of color face in STEM and showcases the high expectations high school seniors have to deal with, such as college applications, not getting into your college of choice, and trying to date at the same time.

I enjoyed the character growth for Bel & Teo along with the enemies to lovers relationship (truly my favorite kind). Both characters are super relatable and i also never thought about reading books about characters who enjoy robotics classes in high school but i was into it. i couldn’t put this book down and finished it within a day and a half.

It’s an adorable and very well written YA novel and you should definitely pick it up in stores on May 31st. 😊

Thanks to netgalley for the arc! 😊

My Mechanical Romance is a callback to a quintessential 80s romcom/coming of age! With the focus on STEM students, there is also a much needed conversation surrounding the challenges women in STEM face. More than that, it's a love letter to the science itself, featuring a diverse cast who embody the high school experience. It challenges girls to take up their space in the world and embrace ideas that scare them.
This book has:
✅ challenging family relationships
✅ struggles of women in STEM
✅ realistic Gen Z outlook on the future
✅ academic overachievers + students who have no clue what they want
✅ the nostalgia of senior year of high school
This book is perfect for anyone looking for a cute YA contemporary!

The best YA nerd romance is this one.

Bel is kind of really good at building things and thanks to a project in school (that she barely made minutes before class) her teacher made her move to AP physics and go to the tryouts for the robotics team. Bel will have to find her place and realize what to do with her future.

I loved this book. Bel was such a relatable protagonist and her relationship with Teo felt super natural and sweet. The side characters were a fun company and all the robotics things were fun and understandable.

I flew by the pages and I'm definitely re reading this book someday. Also, has you seen the cover? Stunning.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

First of all, I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before its release.
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PLOT: My Mechanical Romance is a young adult story about a team of students who are in their senior year; a senior year that entails fears, ambitions, passion etc.
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Bel is a quirky and smart girl who isn’t really sure what to do with her life. She doesn’t want to deal with college applications because she feels she is too young to decide just one thing for her whole future. Through some circumstances that I won’t mention (no spoilers), she gets into the robotics team, and there she meets Teo. Teo is the exact opposite of Bel; he is driven, ambitious, unstoppable, and persistent. He knows what he wants and he is thriving. He is cute and nerdy, and he and Bel make a great team. They are becoming fast friends, and perhaps something more.
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Nothing comes easy in life, and these characters have to figure out what they are passionate about.
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THOUGHTS: I wasn’t hooked in this story immediately. Perhaps, because robotics isn’t really something that I know much about. It was really slow for me in the beginning. I would say the second half of the book is more interesting. The dynamic between the characters is stronger, as well.
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The characters are well-written. Both the main and secondary, I would say. This is what I actually liked more in this book. Every single character is unique.
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Plus, it’s interesting to see the academic element in books, and also, the difficulties teenagers have to face in order to achieve their dreams.
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However, I wasn’t convinced 100% by the relationship between Bel and Teo. Perhaps, it needed more buildup.
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On the whole, I needed a bit more.

Holy moly - I truly could not get enough of this book. Completely loved it, front to back, and was so sad when it was over. This was new and different and still very precious and wholesome. Sometimes I get a little nervous with how adult YA can actually be, but I would love for any YA-er in my life to read this and would happily give it away to anyone to enjoy.

All of the characters were very endearing but also felt like just the right amount of teenage angst. The pressures of high school are intense, especially in a settling like we see in this book, and I enjoyed the attention and care paid to that, while also keeping things light and funny. There is nothing like some text banter between friends and a good old-fashioned crush, and I loved every bit. Some more serious topics were also tackled like divorce and parental strife, both handled with care. I loved, loved, loved Bel and her evolution through the story - the storyline itself was great and different - bots! Robotics competitions! Regionals! It's like Glee but circuit boards and well, far less singing tbh. I SHIP IT.

Five raving stars and I can't wait to read this again when it comes out in May. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this, and I will keep my eyes peeled for more books from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with this ARC in return for my honest opinion

Bel's life changes when her parents get divorced and she is enrolled in a private school her senior year. She starts off fairly aimless, just trying to get by until a Woman Science teacher sees potential in her. Bel is pushed into trying out for the robotics team and despite not wanting to join it becomes life changing. Teo, the leader of the robotics team, is a genius with the weight of the world on his shoulders. The two clash at first but begin to see that they may be building towards something great together.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the way this Young Adult Romance took on the way girls are discouraged from trying in STEM fields. Bel is such a realistic character and watching Bel grow and learn to believe in what she has to offer was beautiful

The robotics elements of the story were exciting. I was getting super into it. The book had just the right amount of robotics/science and always kept it to a level a reader without much knowledge could enjoy.

The Romance was a slow burn but adorable. The dorky banter between Bel and Teo was everything. The characters complimented each other , including the secondary cast.

Overall, I loved it. This is a book I would recommend if you love female empowerment, teenage romance, and think nerds are so hot right now.

This one is available for pre-order and comes out May 31st.

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I knew I would love this book when I finished the first chapter. I instantly felt connected to Bel. I loved reading her point of view. Her character development was done so well. I love how authentic and creative she is. She likes to wear colorful and sparkly outfits, unique jewelry, and even makes some of her clothing pieces herself. I appreciate reading about a character who isn’t afraid to embrace her passion for style. At the beginning of the book, she doesn’t really know where she fits in or who she wants to be. She struggles with finding her place in the world. Reading about this specific struggle felt like receiving a hug, it was so comforting. I think this book is exactly what I needed when I was in high school. I’m in college now but it took me a long time to choose what I wanted to study and what I wanted my future to look like. I was rooting for Bel and wanted to see her succeed. It was great to see her find passion and inspiration as she explored her interests. Bell is brilliant and intelligent. Who doesn’t love women of color in STEM? This topic was written beautifully and realistically. Bel wasn’t given the same treatment as her male teammates and even though this initially discouraged her, she quickly proved how she was just as capable as them, if not more. The topic of elitism and classism is also discussed well. As a woman of color myself, I saw firsthand the opportunities I lacked and the challenges I would have to overcome in order to be successful. I relate to Bel so much, even in the simple aspects of her character. The friendships in this book are amazing! I wanted to be part of the girl group so bad. And the romance was just as awesome. The academic rivals to lovers trope is one of my favorites. It was so cute! It captured all of the feelings that come with falling in love. Teo was a great boyfriend. He was thoughtful and respectful. It was so apparent how in love he was with Bel. There was also so much depth to his character and I like how his point of view also felt authentic. As book lovers, we love smart boys and like the author said, nerds are hot. I don’t make the rules but that’s a fact. I strongly urge you to pre-order this book now! It is out May 31, 2022. It’s one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I will not know peace until I own a physical copy of it. I’m pre-ordering it now!

I guess I'm not exaggerating when I say it's the sweetest book I've ever read.
First of all, I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.
The genre of the book is "Teen romance", so if you're tired of the repetitive adult romances, you're in the right place.
I had read the author's The Atlas Six before, and although the genres were completely different, I did not miss the similarities. In the book, our main characters Bel and Teo are high school seniors at a private school and they are both interested in robotics. Naturally, be prepared to hear occasional physical remarks, which I find quite sincere; It shows that the author knows what they're talking about.
Apart from the sweetness and harmony of Teo and Bel, I especially admired Bel's character design. We all know those classic "I'm not like other girls" stereotypes. Here's Bel, the person those characters wanted to be but couldn't be. She is such a unique character that deep down I wanted to be her too.
Let me quickly mention that the book has the tropes "academic rivals to lovers" and "boy falls first" 😉.
The book will be released on May 31, until then I hope you can wait because you should definitely read it 🤍