i am grateful to have been granted access to this ARC but I won't be reading it anymore due to some issues I found with the author

Thank you to @NetGalley and @holidayhousebks for gifting me a copy of My Mechanical Romance in exchange for an honest review.

🔧 Mini Review ⚙️
When I read the synopsis for My Mechanical Romance I knew I had to read it asap. I was so excited to be approved!!

I don’t even know where to start with this review because I loved this book soo soo much! Like I couldn’t put it down! Reading at night has been hard for me lately, but this one kept me up. I was never really into robotics in high school but now being a homeschool teacher I’m all into it.

Bel changes schools in the middle of the year while being a senior. Not exactly what she planned. But if she thinks about it, she has no idea what she wants to do with her life, and she’s okay with that. Until she gets picked to be part of the robotics team. She knows how to weld things, because she used to tinker around with her dad, and help her brother with his car, but she doesn’t know how to run programs. That’s where Teo comes in. Head of the robotics team, amazing soccer player, good looking, and rich. And immediately Teo and Bel butt heads. Even being on the team together isn’t budding a relationship.

Until Teo decides to give Bel some help in learning the programs. Love might be in the air for these totally opposite people…

I can’t get enough of Teo and Bel. They were both such great characters. And together they were even better! I honestly loved all the characters in this book. Neelam, Jamie, Dash, Lora, and Luke!! I would love to get a second book to see what happens next!!

If you love robotics or swoon-worthy-opposites-attract books then I totally recommend this to you!!! I gave it ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

SO cute. I adored this pairing. I love women in stem too, I can't get enough. At the beginning I didn't really connect until later on, and then I was hooked, they are an adorable pair. I also really loved the cover, I thought it was so cute. I would definitely purchase for a friend, especially someone I know wanted to be in STEM, because who doesn't want to fall in love with a smartie?

Thank you so much for the early copy, a bit late in reviewing. Again, thanks.


I love opposites attract romances, but I felt like a good ways in that Teo, who I kept reading as Tuna as my eyes drifted around and Bel weren't that different. Both felt kinda monotone and flat, indifferent to people and each other. His reasons for not liking her at first felt childish, then whiplash of suddenly spending 10 seconds together and he's in love. While Teo is called a nerd by his Mom, Bel is called weird, but I didn't quite understand because beyond robotics, she didn't do much that was weird or eccentric? It felt a little counterproductive for what I assume was trying to shine a light that stem is fun and cool. I also found also there was a lot of characters, many I couldn't keep track of beyond Bel's friend Lora. In the end it felt like they weren't really academic rivals and just teammate and teo kept dismissing her due to his own BS or subconscious sexism.

The book was a good night, quick read. But didn't end up caring much for either character or their romance.

4 out of 5 stars. If you ask me, I'll tell you to read it.

I wish books like this had been more common when I was in high school. I went through an entire 5 years and 2 degrees in college, only to realize that I probably should have done engineering the first time around!

Ugh, this book. It seems alright and then this FMC comes and is just so obnoxious. She has gifts that she could better and make a full career out of, but instead, she's really lazy and very obnoxious. I didn't get much time with the MMC but he also seemed so full of himself, not at all what I wanted in this book.

Absolutely loved this and can't wait to read more stories from Alexene Farol Follmuth! This was a quick read that kept me engaged and and interested. The writing was quick and witty and I loved the chemistry of Bel and Teo. I also loved the dual points of view to understand the characters thought. Very cute, wholesome YA read! Did not dissapoint!

A cute, young adult book.

I enjoyed this - it was an easy read with likeable characters and I loved how it was female driven!

While somewhat cute, My Mechanical Romance offers young adults a different perspective on what hardships some of these young adults face.

I had a little trouble at first connecting with the characters. It wasn’t necessarily because they’re high school students, but being inside their minds got annoying a little early on. However, I liked the pace of the story, and that helped the characters minds transition into a smoother and must more well-adapted perspective that offered sympathy and understanding.

The best part of this book is the core message, and that is essentially to put your mind to your dreams and desires. While Bel and Teo are two classmates who start off with a rivalry, there are still advantages and disadvantages both sides have. It delves into the belief that young women should not be involved in male-dominated positions, but I loved the approach Olivia Blake took with this to show that women can be just as strong and determined as men. But, what’s even better is how sympathetic and understanding she made Teo’s development. Despite his weariness and hesitancy at first, we see that he’s only come to think a certain way because of how society has accustomed us to believe people belong in categories. In the end, he realizes the two make a great team, and the effort of having someone like Bel in his team helped their success. There are a couple other things the book unpacks, such as gender discrimination, impostor syndrome, and peer pressure. It shows a realistic perspective on high school life, such as how Bel felt like she didn’t belong, Teo’s pressure from his family, and having to do your best to prove your worth.

With characters development in mind, it’s one of the highlights of the story, showing a steady process as the characters grow to become stronger in an emotional level. Despite Bee not being a character I liked in the beginning, her strength, course, and determination to prove her worth was quite inspiring, There’s enough about her that even mature adults can learn from her. She goes from being someone unsure to feeling confident, noting that her abilities are needed in order to get the grand victory. It’s courageous and lovely of her, especially with how she started. On the other hand, Teo has peer-pressure from his family, but Bee’s carefree and energetic self actually helps him loosen up a little and realize there is more to life than just academics. I think both balanced each other so well, and their small relationship that grew from the mutual attraction offers a small, loosed distraction. Considering they are in high school, obviously there will be some conflict presented, but it wasn’t anything that created too much unnecessary drama.

My Mechanical Romance is a realistic, contemporary YA book with a small side relationship, an amazing and supportive teacher that encourages you to chase your dreams, a couple friends hyping you up along the way, and a realization that life is more than just academics.

This book was the cutest romance ever! I had such a fun time reading it and fangirling over all the characters. Teo is just the sweetest overachiver ever and Bel had me giggling from the very beginning.

Romance aside, it really put into perspective the academic pressure teens are under to succeed while simultaneously dealing with personal problems.

I absolutely love how this book sheds light on challenges faced by budding STEM-inistas and I hope more books like this are published. I just wish they were already out when I was growing up!

In general, the book is focusing more on equality than the romance itself and I don't mind, really. It's more interesting to be honest. Listening to this book feels like being forced to sit in Physics class LOL. But seriously, this is like a breath of fresh air for me. Listening to a romance audiobook and learning how to build a robot? Awesome.

Learning about hydraulics and shits, pushing each other to be the best version of themselves, women equality in STEM, this book has it all. I came from women-majority career so I might not be able to relate to Bel but this book makes me understand a little about her struggle in STEM. I know just being a woman in regular workplace often receive discrimination, so I can't imagine being her. She's constantly reminded that her position in the team is only to gain diversity point when in fact she's better than all the men.

At first, I really didn't like Teo's character, he sounds like Mr. Know-It-All, brushing off Neelam's and Bel's input and didn't like being told no. But I see his character development throughout the book, so at the end I'm okay with him I guess.

I also love Bel and her character development, hers is more defined than Teo. She transferred to her new school, not knowing (or acknowledging?) her potential and especially didn't know what she wants to do for her future (and that's totally understandable, I've been there, we all have). But she's open to suggestion and always pushes herself to grow. Love that for her!

Overall, it's a nice experience listening to this book, the narrators made the story more lively and I'd recommend you to read this if you want a lighthearted and insightful reads.

YA romance is so hit and miss for me so I personally was not expecting much from this book (I couldn’t resist the cute title and cover) but this was a fun read with such cute characters I was pleasantly surprised! I love my ladies in STEM, especially when they’re socially awkward and unapologetically themselves.

Lovely book really lovely very descriptive very nice ! It really reflected a lot of stuff and it made me think about shit so therefore it was a lovely book really worth the read do I remember anything? Fuck no. But I remember the vibes and the vibes were immaculate and that's all you need to know. Who need the plot when you have the vibes ?

I absolutely loved this book!
Such a cute, fun read, absolutely delightful !

Contemporary romance is usually a hit or miss for me, and I've been burned with YA rom coms in the past, but books like My Mechanical Romance are the reason why I continue to give this genre a chance.

The MCs are likeable, relatable and they act their age. Everything just flowed so easily and naturally and I was never bored. The banter was great, laughed out loud more than once. The romance was *chef's kiss*. Really I have 0 complaints about this book, it actually got me out of my reading slump and I'm so excited to read more books from this author! I'm so grateful for the epilogue , I was so not expecting there to be one it made me wanna cry (obviously in a good way lol). If you love books like The Love Hypothesis I think you should definitely give this one a chance!

This story is a cute and simple journey of high school love. I think it's a really food page-turner.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book!
Thank you NetGalley for this ebook for an honest review.

I was really curious about this book and after reading it, my all in all conclusion is that this book is THE BOOK you have to read when you are in high school, struggling to choose your future path. Filled with family drama, school drama, friendships, alliances, first crushes and failures, this book teaches you how to get back up, trust your gut and your friends, and how your rival can be the person for you!

Loved the stem representation! ;)

This was an excellent book full of women in STEM badassery and incredible representation. This rivals to lovers was super adorable and the chemistry between Mateo and Bel was funny and exciting. This was an extremely well written and well balanced book, juggling heavy topics and humour with ease and finesse

Have you ever seen a more beautifully crafted cover?? I'm obsessed, and I know this will pop great on the shelves!

My Mechanical Romance is the YA, robot-battle building romance, where our lead, Bel, find herself in an unlikely group of boys (and one other girl) of the robotics club. Bel is basically forced to join the robot building club, but not everyone in the group is welcoming. Mateo, the team captain, recognizes potential in Bel, but their idea soon clash. Will Bel be able to find her way in the club. Will Bel be able to prove to herself and classmate that women DO belong in STEM?

This story is a wholesome journey of high school love, but in the light of the "nerd". I think it's a breath of fresh air, and a page-turner. I love hear new voices and new points of view, and I feel this story creates a unique point of view for today's modern high schooler. I think this will be a great end of summer/beginning of school read for any high schooler.

This was a cute, simple, straightforward story. I didn't care for this high school romance but over all this was ok for a YA read. Light and fluffy. 



Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ebook for an honest review.

My Mechanical Romance was not at all what I'd expected. To be quite honest, I thought this was your stereotypical teenage romance where the girl is into STEM. I expected it to be a bit cliché. OH BOY I have never been this happy to be wrong. Bel is SUCH A WEIRDO. And I couldn't love her more. She has absolutely nothing figured out and sort of just floats along. She has a brother who dropped out of school and another who is at an elite college and she is more or less stuck in the middle. Even though she is pretty blasé about everything, she is unapologetically herself. Different coloured knobs on her dresser? Check. Jeans with birds on them? Check. Feisty comeback when someone undermines her just because she's a girl? CHECK. The fact that she understands the mechanism behind a robot and can (at one glance) see how it will do in a combat fight is extraordinary. And yet, Bel just treats it as it's part of her. She knows she's good at mechanics but she doesn't bother impressing everyone by choosing the correct terms. She rambles and she is herself and you just have to love her for it.

Mateo Luna, our second main character, is at first glance the complete opposite. There is a lot pressure on him to succeed and he finds himself in a position where he does all of the things expected from him. Sure, he has money and great grades and teachers value him and he is a shoo in for all the great colleges, but is he happy? All he knows is that he is happiest when he is working on robots. And when Bel challenges him.

The two characters immediately have amazing chemistry and this whole story is just such a joy to read. The writing flowed easily, I was quickly immersed in what was happening and it was just as heartfelt as it was funny. MAJOR recommend to everyone!