Thank you to Holiday House, RB Media, Recorded Books and NetGalley for the ALC/ARC in return for my honest review.

I was attracted by the title and the girl in STEM theme, but unfortunately, the book wasn’t for me.
So, I expected more MCR because of the title. A bit disappointing. And, I had a hard time finishing the audiobook because both narrators didn’t work for me. The female narrator was over the top and the male was quite slow. The dialogues seemed forced. But, don’t take my word for it because there are many positive reviews out there.

DNF. I just couldn’t get into either character. I’ll abstain from rating it on GR or Amazon. The story sounded interesting though and I really like this author’s other book.

It's not very often that a YA romance gives me chills at the end of the book, but this one did. My Mechanical Romance was such an enjoyable book to read, and it has everything I'm looking for in a YA contemporary romance. Things like characters that actually seem their age, a believable romance (that's semi-slow burn), and an amazing group of friends are basically essential for me to enjoy this genre, and this book had all three!

Ever since I watched Big Hero Six years ago, I have been consuming media (anything from books, movies, and more) focused on robotics competitions. Follmuth does such an amazing job at bringing these competitions to life that I felt like I was there with Bel and Teo taking on Richardson. She also makes the engineering included in the books pretty easy to grasp. There were definitely points where I was confused, but for the most part everything was explained really well without feeling bulky. Honestly, I can tell the author did a lot of research about engineering when writing this book, I don't know if she was in robotics herself, but her knowledge of the subject really shines in this novel.

The relationship between Bel and Teo was also very believable as well, there was never a point where I felt like they weren't meant to be together, and I was even rooting for them throughout the classic third-act breakup. At first it seemed like they didnt have much in common, but as the story progresses you can really see their mutual interests grow into something of their own and I can see these two growing old with each other and living out their best lives.

Now, this book has been advertised as an academic rivals to lovers and honestly, I don't really think that's how it should be marketed. While Bel and Teo have their disagreements at first, the term academic rivals usually refers to two competing valedictorians, or somewhere along that vein. While reading it, I didnt get that vibe from these two. To me, it just seemed like they were two people who were warming up to someone they just met. I can understand Teo not taking Bel's suggestions in immediately because she didn't have much knowledge on robotics from the start, while Teo had 4 years of experience so it makes sense that he would try to protect his view of things.

I know that this is an author writing under a pen name and usually writes SFF, but I think she nailed the writing style in this book. If I didn't now better, I would have thought this book was written by someone with multiple YA romances in their backlist.

The only negative thing I found in this book is something that I honestly think will only be something that bothered me, it's pretty often found in books so most people probably wont think anything of it. Most books will include a quintessential "mean-girl" to keep some contrast between the friend group, which is where Neelam comes in. She's portrayed as short-handed, and gets straight to the point which I think can be good traits depending on the book, but this time it seemed like she was the "mean-girl" from the start. I found myself relating her a lot, so I ended up enjoying her redemption arc at the end of the book, but I think that I would have enjoyed this just a little bit more had Bel and Neelam become the unlikely friend pairing a lot sooner. But, this was really a minor concern of mine and by the end of the book I understood why the author wrote her this way.

**Might contain a Spoiler**

Some might say that Bel getting rejected from MIT was damaging to the story line and left a lackluster ending, but I honestly enjoyed that her plans weren't meeting her expectations. It shows a picture into the life of so many real-life students who have been rejected from dream schools, or apply to college too late. It was really refreshing to see something not go right in Bel's life for once (and yes I realize how bad that sounds). It is actually one of the many things I agree with Neelan on. Bel's journey onto the robotics team was very simple and really didn't take her much effort. From the very beginning of the book, we see her basically getting lucky (or having incredible skills recognized by unlikely sources) for doing the absolute bare minimum, so I think it was good for her to get rejected and have to figure something else out. It's not very often that community college is even brought up in books, and I go to a community college so I really appreciate the addition of that.


My Mechanical Romance also did a wonderful job of highlighting the misogyny that is so prevalent in male-dominated fields like engineering, and it was very fun to watch guys like Richardson and Mac be put in their place by teenage girls.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a fun and inspiring YA romance. Thank you to netgalley for the free copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

My Chemical Romance was such a cute book that I devoured in a day. I have to say that I became a fan of Alexene Farol Follmuth writing and I can’t wait to read anything she publishes and in the future. I haven’t read any YA romance lately and this is exactly what I needed. The romance, the friendship, and the STEM field had me hooked. I teach in a science academy based school and I can’t wait to introduce this wonderful book to my students. Thank you so much NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to receive an early copy.

A senior in HS, Bel Maier has no idea what she wants to do with her life. She hasn’t even started applying to colleges yet. Then one of her teachers convinces a very hesitant Bel to join the Robotics team. Bring in Teo Luna who not only has his head in the game, but pretty much is the golden boy in all aspects of his life. Bel and Teo seem to butt heads making things even harder for Bel, but when they discover they actually work well together, they finally see each other for real for the first time. Then it’s crunch time and it comes down to the nitty gritty. Will the pressure be too much for them to handle?
Thank you Netgalley, Alexene Farol Follmuth, and Holiday House for the opportunity to read and review this book. This was such a cute yet very strong book. I loved every minute of this book! There were so many strong topics in this book from women being able to make it in STEM and the engineering world, not knowing entirely what you want in life, and even the pressure of feeling as though you have the weight of the world on your shoulders, trying to fix everything and make everyone happy. I loved watching the characters grow and evolve. I think the part that grabbed me the most was that even though it was a cute, fun and very entertaining book, it was also thought provoking as well as realistic. I highly recommend this book! I’m rating it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Wanted to like this since I enjoyed the Atlas Six, but this book was not for me. The writing style felt a bit exaggerated and the dialogue contrived. Thanks for giving me the chance to read though, I appreciate it :)

I kept seeing my friends get approved for this arc and loving it and I wanted to read it so bad! I was so excited when I got sent the arc. It didn’t disappoint, it was such a good book! Definitely recommend to friends and anyone who reads this review.

First I wanted to thank Holiday House for providing an ARC in exchange for a honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When I need a break from work I like to browse NetGalley and this book was the result of this. When I came across the book, the cover captured me at first, I’m a sucker for drawn/cartoon covers, but then I read the synopsis and was excited that it was about romance and STEM, specifically ROBOTS.

I was so happy I requested this books because it turned out to be such a sweet read with a lot of #girlboss vibes that I LOVE to see in all books.

What I loved:
- Ladies in STEM, a lot of this book focuses on how girls/women are perceived in the STEM world.
- Bel & Teo, this is an adorable relationship which goes from acquaintances to friends to more and I really loved the progression cause it never seems rushed and felt natural for their age and situation
- ROBOTS, I wish I has something like the robotics team in the book at my high school. Building robots from scratch and then fighting with them just sounds so challenging and fun!
- Non-traditional post high-school, there are so many characters within this book who go the traditional college route after high school, but I LOVED that not everyone does and just showing there are different options is so refreshing
- Strong female characters, there are a lot of female characters in this book and they are strong in their own way. I really liked how each female was dealing with similar issues in different ways but they all ended up supporting each other through their struggles without sacrificing their own goals.

There are so many great/sweet aspects of this book that I can’t even try to list everything but I do think this is a great book for anyone who enjoys YA romance. The addition of robotics, strong female characters and dealing with real issues that females experience participating in the sciences there is a lot more than just a romance.

If you are a reader who likes romance, STEM, family drama and good friendships I would absolutely recommend this book. Also, if you have daughters, cousins, sisters, etc who are in high school interested in the sciences I would suggest you recommend this book to them as well.

Wow, did I love My Mechanical Romance or what?! I adore Bel and Teo and loved watching their journey together! This is a great book if you're in the mood for something light and fluffy but with a great message for young girls interested in STEM.

There are so many things going for this book: the chemistry between Bel and Teo is adorable, the diversity of the characters was great, and the character development and growth for Bel and Teo is well-portrayed. I really enjoyed that the struggles and hardships of women in STEM was discussed and challenged throughout the story. Seeing both Bel's and Teo's perspectives on this important topic was really cool to see!

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Holiday House for an advanced copy of the copy in exchange for my honest review.

I can’t emphasis how much I love this book! Since graduating from high school, I haven’t read much YA. Partly because it feels too juvenile now and partly because it reminds me of the last few stressful years. This book touched on parental expectations, the stress of making important life decisions at such a young age, the danger of academic excellency, and sexism in the STEM field. It was all handled and written so well that I loved it, even though I did find it stressful (because it reminded me of me).

The book follows Bel, a high school senior with separated parents and no guidance academically. She doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life or what she’s actually good at. When she procrastinated on a school project and haphazardly threw together an ingenious contraption, her science teacher moved her to a more advanced class and recommends she joins the robotics club.

This is when we meet Teo. He’s another high school senior, but he’s known what he wanted to be since he was a kid. He’s perfect in every way, especially academically, and is always there when needed. As the captain of the robotics team, he has to teach Bel the ropes. When they clash, their quasi-enemies-to-lovers story begins.

First, the representation was amazing. There was a wide range of diverse characters and cultures. There was even a Holi celebration! There was also the repeated message about girl friends and women in STEM. I thought this was handled so well, especially toward the end.

I loved the characters as well. Their interactions and relationships were all amazing. I could tell who they were talking to just by the writing. The character development was amazing and I appreciated how it wasn’t a perfect journey. Bel’s relationships with her parents and brothers aren’t perfect either and she has to make tough decisions and learn. I appreciated that because I can relate.

Now we can talk about the romance. IT WAS SO CUTE!!! I love Bel and Teo with my whole heart. I loved their journey and the epilogue was so cute. I love love love it.

I cannot recommend this book enough and I hope people join me in buying My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth. Out now.

MY MECHANICAL ROMANCE
i honestly don't think I've ever related to any character more than i have with bel. the way her problems were written was so REAL to me. I was grinning throughout the book and really adored bel and teo together as friends and man i love how the writer showed the normalised sexism in our everyday life that we most of the time don't even know we're facing. definitely need a teo in my life. All in all , it was extremely witty and well written and so so fun to read. I'd reread it again and again and again. ( probably in one sitting , just like this time)

When I picked up this book, I honestly knew I wanted something light and enjoyable to read. It was a busy week and I just felt I really wanted to read something fluffy and romantic. I was not disappointed.

I’ve been struggling a lot to figure out how I feel about this book. It’s a good book, with a nice story and adorable characters; but I still have the feeling that something didn’t quite click with me.
To be honest, I had a hard time getting hooked with the first and last parts of the book. The writing wasn’t getting to me, and the characters weren’t connecting either.

Still, I admit I really loved reading the middle of the book. This is mainly because I love the chase.
I love those moments of romantic tension between characters, I love the thrill of wanting them to get together. And of course I love a good enemies to lovers trope (even though, I had to admit… they didn’t seem to hate each other that much to start with,). That’s what I wanted to read at the moment, so I guess that also affected the way I took in the book.

Now, on the other hand, as a Mechanical Engineer myself, I really liked the way the book takes on the subject of women in STEM. I loved that when they talk about more technical stuff, they’re completely correct. I love that it is also very realistic in the way it covers these subjects, not only the classes and interaction among team members (and external people), but the whole thing with college applications and the idea that continuous effort is a biiiig part of everything.

I love the representation this book gives to girls, the motivation that we need to put out into the world right now. As a woman in STEM, I felt proud to see Bel accomplish all she does. I felt the frustration that comes of knowing that even though most people will see you as an engineer without doubt, there are still those who will refuse to because you’re a girl.

Overall, I like what this book represents, while being an adorable romance, it gives a strong message and motivation.

I want to thank Netgalley for giving me a copy of My Mechanical Romance to read and review--even though I was disappointed there wasn't a single Gerard Way reference in the book.

I absolutely loved this book! Its a true YA, with plenty of character development, romance, and a side helping of robots.
I love that this book doesn't shy away from the topic of women in STEM fields, and how unwelcoming those spaces often are. It took me back to being a teen girl who was into science and video games, and how I allowed myself to be marginalized and uncomfortable in those spaces. Bel's character development during her time in the bot club made the story more interesting than that of a standard YA romance. I often found myself relating to her character, in regards to how she felt in her relationship with her parents, as well as her aimless direction at the start of the novel.

I found Teo, Bel, and their friends to be believable characters, and their dynamic to be fun without being too over-the-top. (And it was refreshing that Bel was written as both smart and feminine.) I would recommend this book to anyone who likes slow burn romances and stories about first love. As a true YA novel there aren't any spicy scenes, so IMO its perfect for young adult readers ages 14+.

My Mechanical Romance was an absolutely lovely read! As a fellow woman in engineering, this book spoke to me and made me feel heard in ways I wish I'd been as a child. Follmuth so perfectly captured the young nerd voice and wrote a story that made me relate to elements of every single character.

My Mechanical Romance follows the story of two high school seniors, Bel and Teo, as they work together as part of their school's robotics team, while also (you guessed it!) falling in love! While the romance was cute and heartwarming, the key to this book lies in the growth we see in the characters. I absolutely adored being able to see both Bel and Teo's voices come through, providing more views of the difficulties that surround being a young female engineer. I appreciated how Follmuth was able to address so many issues that young girls face beyond the most obvious instances. I believe this book would have been my favorite read as a young girl Bel's age and would've inspired me so much!

This book is a perfect read for young people that want to change the world, young people that aren't quite sure what they want to do, and especially for the women in STEM that want a read that heals a bit of their inner child!

My Mechanical Romance es muy lindo, cómico, nerdy y está hermosamente escrito.
Bel Maier no sabe qué quiere hacer con su vida o, mismo, qué quiere estudiar en la universidad (yo a los 17). Hasta que un día, su profesor ve que la piba tiene talento PARA LA INGENIERIA. Asique la manda para robótica. Lo peor? todos los chicos la ignoran. Y la única piba, Neelam, es mala con ella.
Teo Luna es el capitán del equipo y tambien ve el talento de Bel, asi que la ayuda. Y de ahí crecen ciertos sentimientos (guiño guiño).
Alexene, la autora, escribe la manera en la que las chicas son tratadas en los ámbitos donde el hombre es el dominante, y me encantó. Tambien, me gustó como no es solo es robotica y amor, sino sobre encontrar lo que te gusta, en lo que sos buenx y aprender a amar eso.
La verdad que el personaje de Neelam era bastante predecible. Pero cuando llegó el momento "revelación", medio como que se justificó su comportamiento? aún así no tenia que tratarla para el culo.
El romance era bastante tierno. Me gustaron los protagonistas, juntos como separados. Ambos son inteligentes y la forma en la que Bel transforma a Teo en un Swiftie? chef kiss.
Los personajes secundarios estuvieron bien. No me quejo, Jamie y Lora estuvieron genial, pero mi avorito fue Dash. un capo.
Me re gustó este libro :)

Alexene Farol Follmuth (also known as Olivie Blake) has done it again! Though this is her debut under this name, I enjoyed her story “The Atlas Six” under her Olivie Blake pen name. This is a cute young adult contemporary romance that has a female main character in STEM. I highly recommend it if you enjoyed “The Atlas Six” or “The Love Hypothesis”.

Be still my beating heart, this book was just too cute!

Bel Maier doesn't want to think about college. How can any 17/18 year old really know what they want to be for the rest of their lives? Enter said 17/18 year old: Mateo (Teo) Luna. Teo has it all; rich parents, a 4.3 GPA, he's captain of the soccer and robotics team, and the all around golden boy of Sherman Oaks High School. Teo has always known what he wants: go to MIT and become an engineer. That has been his sole purpose, that is until a strange girl with a love for glitter and Shakespearean lexicons and a knack for engineering walks into his life.

My Mechanical Romance (as a die hard MCR fan I really appreciate this title) is a sweet YA romance/coming of age story that I think any teen getting ready to graduate High School could benefit from reading. A slow burn romance about the trials and tribulations of high school, familial expectations, and the struggles of being a woman in STEM. A truly wonderful read.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book! I was instantly intrigued just by the title of the book “My Mechanical Romance” because I knew there would be a little alternative music reference somewhere in this book! I really enjoyed this young adult romance / coming of age book. A story told in two perspectives of very different people, but who are both struggling with the pressure of what do with their futures and wanting to make sure they are doing enough, or what they think is expected of them. Robots, cute romance and witty banter, what more could you ask for?! I definitely recommend reading this book. It did start off a little show but as the book continued, I love seeing how both their stories unfolded!

this book was absolutely amazing. i’m not a stem major but even so, i connected so much with the characters. i really connected the most with bel. both characters struggled with a sense of identity in different ways but bel felt mostly lost in the sense of not understand what to do with her life. which is a completely valid and important topic to discuss especially for kids who feel this way. i felt this way when i was 18. i still feel this way at 21. while i know what i want to do and am striving towards that goal, it took me a while to get here. bel having that moment where she’s crying and says that it’s not fair that you have to know what you want at 18 really stuck with me the most. she was an amazing character and really portrayed being a teenager well. as for teobel together, i loved them so much. they pushed each other. they both wanted more for each other and it was refreshing reading a ya book that didn’t have unnecessary drama. their friendship and relationship flowed so smoothly and it was a really well written story. dash was also so cute and such a good friend. :)

I initially picked up My Mechanical Romance because I was intrigued by the idea of a STEM-centric enemies-to-lovers story and by the idea that so many bloggers I was following were reading it. (I've since learned that Alexene Farol Follmuth is the author behind The Atlas Six.) I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much because I judge books by their covers, and My Mechanical Romance looked like a debut novel by a small press (not that I have anything against small or indie pubs, but I've also read enough to be cautious.)

We'll start off with the positives: I loved Bel as a narrator. From the opening paragraph, her voice is distinct and draws you in right away. I love that she doesn't follow the cookie cutter mold of a girl in STEM. She's nerdy and girly, geeky and quirky. She solder and sews and sings T. Swift songs all while sailing through physics and silencing the haters. She's funny and awkward and way too relatable, and reading her chapters was so much fun.

Which brings me to the other side of the coin: Teo. I wish this book had been done in single POV because as much as I loved Bel, Teo was not it. His voice was nowhere near as strong as Bel's, and I just found him kind of boring. Average. Forgettable, even. Which is ironic because for someone who's supposed to be this all-star jock/nerd/genius combo, he's a very normal character. I never really got invested in his story and wasn't a huge fan of him as a character. I found his chapters much less interesting and actually thought they made Bel sound like a MPDG.

So it shouldn't be a surprise that I wasn't all that invested in the romance that I came here to read.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about the overall story and plot that needs work. The strength of My Mechanical Romance lies in the relationships. I'm starting to realize more and more that I'm a character-driven kind of girl. Give me solid characters, and I'll enjoy your book. And I really enjoyed the relational aspect of My Mechanical Romance. When she's not busy building robots, Bel grapples with the fallout from her parents' divorce and struggles to adjust to a new school away from all her old friends. And I loved it.

I love Jamie and Bel's friendship.
I love Bel's relationship with her big brother, Luke.
I love her friendship with the affable and hilarious, Dash.
I even love her reluctant and eventual frienemy-ship with Neesha.

Basically I love every relationship Bel had except for her relationship with Teo. (I also could've done without the love isosceles, but since it was minor, I'll let it go.)

I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy the romance, but it was just too cheesy and undeveloped for me, personally.

Anyway, My Mechanical Romance was a cute and fun read that made the science nerd in me squeal with excitement.