It took me a while to get hooked into the story, the pacing was a bit slow the first part of the story and I'm not a fan of the writing style.
Fortunately, things pick up in the second half part of the book.

The characters are a bit hard to like but eventually they grow on me and I ended up liking them even more in the last few chapters.

I love reading about the main characters romantic relationship, how they started to open up to each other. However, I don't feel the academic rivals to lovers here, nevertheless I still love it.

While it can be view as a light romance reading, it also highlighted a couple of important topics that will appeal to teenage readers.
Personally, I feel some relatable things here because I thought the same thing as Bel when I was in senior high school preparing to step out to the real world.

Overall, this is a simple, enjoyable, entertaining, cute young adult contemporary romance!
Really love how the book talks about women in STEM, how to let go of holding control, and finding out your place in the world - all of that was written really well.

Actual rating: 3.5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley, Alexene Farol Follmuth and Holiday House for granting me this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Apparently I'm the only one but I just didn't like this and I thought the STEM representation was poorly done. I will preface this by saying there is a cute romance in here and if you're not really looking for the STEM piece or don't have much to personally compare it to, you'll probably enjoy it. However, I'm a female mechanical engineer who spent a good chunk of my time in college as the only girl in the robotics lab so maybe I set the bar too high but this really fell flat.

My main complaint about this book is Bel, I just didn't like her character and she didn't remind me of a single female engineer I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. Maybe this was the point but really there aren't many books out there about female mechanical engineers so lets get something reasonable out there before we go trying to find the Elle Woods of engineering.

Bel's inner monologue and actions at the beginning were so ridiculous, I couldn't deal. When she got to saying they didn't think she could do it because she was a girl over and over again, I was actually rolling my eyes and may have stopped reading if I didn't have an ARC or if it was any longer. They don't trust you because you are the new person and every time you are asked to explain your reasoning or do something, you run away or don't say anything. So yes, you have to prove yourself and maybe you need to do so more because you're a girl but just showing up and expecting to be taken seriously and have everyone say you're brilliant is absurd. She was so arrogant about her abilities and convinced that her ideas were better than everyone else's and the only possible issue they could have with her is her gender. The way she went about applying for college was also similarly ridiculous but won't go into detail to avoid spoilers. She needed a reality check and it eventually did come but it was way too late for my liking.

I also hate that every female engineering or science character needs to be quirky and really this extends to books without STEM too. Why does every YA author feel the need to focus on the clothes of their female characters and how they're so different? I'm over it. Especially in this case it seemed like trying to go above and beyond to make her special or weird or I don't even know. I could deal with the glittery eyeshadow and bird jeans but spoon necklaces and weird socks with skirts just was too much and totally unnecessary. This is a 272-page book about a girl and boy falling in love building robots, we didn't need so many musing on her odd clothing choices. What's wrong with a girl in jeans and a t-shirt?

Some of the points being made about sexism in engineering were true but it was so heavy handed. The number of people who actually say you can't do engineering because you are a girl are limited, it happens in much more subtle ways. Only having size XL gloves in the mechanics lab, having far fewer women's bathrooms in the engineering building, having people talk to the guy beside you even when you are the one in charge. Even more obvious things like being the only female in a huge room of engineers or having a guy make a slight funny face when you tell them what you do. These types of things are my experiences and I would have liked to see at least one similar thing reflected. Yes, there are idiots like Richardson but whatever. There are 3 girls on this robotics team of 10? (I seriously couldn't keep track and the author didn't make it clear) people so not bad at all. Maybe there weren't any girls on the other teams but don't know, the only team they specifically said was all boys was from an all boys school so not really a sexism issue. Bel is also chosen for the team when she's the only girl to tryout and doesn't even do the tryout correctly. They try to point at Mac as sexist but it seemed like a stretch and typical complaining students always do that a teachers has favorites rather than anything specifically sexist (and his statement near the end had me fuming but no spoilers so I'll keep that rant to myself). There was some stuff in the sappy ending that did ring true but it took way too long to get there.

The other characters were better although still had some issues. Teo had some good points and some bad. I ended up almost liking him in the end. I thought the discussions of the pressure he was feeling were done well. My biggest issue with him was that he shows some sexist leanings and is never called out on it. It isn't in how he treats the girls on the team but in talking about Bel applying for college, he twice mentioned something about how they'll be looking for female engineers. This rubbed me the wrong way entirely as this is one of the things I hate the most about how people view women in engineering programs. It implies she'll get chosen for simply being a girl, not because she earned it (which granted she didn't). I hate this idea and the fact it was not called out at all really bothered me. There is no affirmative action for women in engineering, women aren't hired or promoted over men because they are women, it's simply not true and anyone who implies I got where I am because of my gender is going to get an earful from me. Given the situation, it was like Bel was hoping he was right and she would get chosen because of her gender and that's just not acceptable.

Neelam was my favorite character as I thought she was the most interesting look at women in engineering. She's still a stereotype but she did remind me of some classmates and colleagues of mine. Her discussion about what it was like for her as a girl who liked robots was by far the best and most realistic part of the book. The other friends and characters were fine, all pretty standard YA secondary characters.

Overall, I didn't like this one but think others will. I just hope a realistic view of women mechanical engineers will be written one day because this isn't it. I want the story of Neelam's experience. I want the story of a female Teo who is challenged by a new guy at school coming on the team. I want the story of the all girls robotics team. I don't need the story of a flaky girl who happens to be a secret genius with robots.

* I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

I have finally settled myself down enough to write a comprehensive review. Or maybe not. The point is that I am not the type to seek out romcoms, especially not books actively. I just decided to read it because of women in STEM and the fact that this is Olivie Blake.

Let me say... oh my GOD this one was so good. Everything about this book brings the best feeling to me. I read this while I'm having a sleepover with my friends and they can testify how much I smile and squeal while stuffing my face into a pillow. It elicit a visceral reaction from me, and teobel meant the whole world.

I especially love the characters. They're all flawed, including both Teo and Bel, and the way they both learn from each other and bring out the best while also growing as individuals is so refreshing and amazing to read about. Even though they're all high-school students (and I'm no longer one), I feel their struggles (as a woman who's in the medical field). Plus, their relationship isn't all fluffy and perfect. Okay, most of the time, it is. But they have their downs too and I'm glad they manage to handle them well.

To put it simply, I will now hunt down more feel-good books because god knows I'm constantly anxious and dying from reading all the fantasy and sci-fi books.

[Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion!] This romcom was so REAL. I really enjoyed how easy going it was while still keeping a bit harsher aspects of life, such as sexism and divorce. I LOVED the main characters and their relationship. Both Bel and Teo get amazing character development throughout the book, but it expands to their friendships too. It’s great how the author doesn’t just use their friends as accessories but as real people with their own minds too, even if the book doesn’t revolve around them.
Plus, there are a few pop culture references (hey! she’s a swiftie!) but not in a forced and cringey way, which not every author gets right.
I’ve also seen people mentioning the “excessive” physics talk, but I can assure you there’s no such thing and definitely nothing too hard to understand or anything that pulls you out of the plot.

Last but not least, the EPILOGUE made me so happy in many ways… You just have to read it.

Let me preface this by saying that I’m usually not the biggest fan of YA contemporary romance. The reason for this is that I often feel that the topics and themes being discussed and written about are ones that I’ve already been through and therefore don’t relate to much more at this point in my life. This book was an exception though, and one that surprised me quite a lot.

My Mechanical Romance follows Isabel Maier, Bel, who is very uncertain about what the future brings, and what exactly she wants to achieve and reach for. When Bel is more or less beseeched to join her new school's robotics team her love and enthusiasm for mechanics, engineering, and everything else that includes starts to grow.

Throughout the book we see how Bel struggles with her insecurities, especially regarding her academic future, as well as imposter syndrome and feeling like she might not belong where she so clearly thrives after all. All of this, unfortunately, goes hand in hand with the fact that Bel is a young woman in STEM who is very obviously being treated differently than the boys in the same field as her. The sexism and misogyny in the book are often portrayed in minor ways that Bel is being talked to, talked at, and talked over, which in my opinion is a perfect portrayal of how it sometimes feels to be a woman. Misogyny doesn’t necessarily come in the form of sexist hate speech, sometimes it’s way more discreet and maybe even disguised as “simple dislike”, and I feel that insight on this was handled perfectly in the book.

We see how Bel fights to take up her space in a field where women usually make up less than 30% of the workforce; and even less in high school classes. We see how she fights to survive a huge change in her personal life. And we see how she manages to bring forward the best in others while still unsure about who she is and where she belongs in this world. Her personal development is very remarkable, and some of the best I’ve read.

As “the leader” of the robotics team which Bel joins we have Mateo Luna, Teo, who is a straight-A student with his entire future carefully planned out. No form of relationship with Bel is a part of the future that he, his teacher, and his parents expect him to have. Living up to the expectations of the people around him and the ones he has for himself turns out to be more difficult and harmful than previously expected. And adding to this the unknown entity that is Bel, we see how Teo is suddenly faced with possibilities and decisions that he has never previously had to consider.

The development in Bel and Teo’s relationship was extremely wonderful and honestly made this such a refreshing and adorable read. I enjoyed how their connection flowed as naturally as it did, and nothing between them ever felt forced or rushed in any way. I think what added to this positive experience was the fact that both characters were three-dimensional and so well-developed that it made them both complex and dynamic, and I could do nothing but very quickly connect to them.

(( bonus points for including Taylor Swift references ))

Thank you to the publisher who very kindly provided this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.25/5 stars

This book was honestly really entertaining?

The actual chemistry between the two mcs didn't kick in until, like, 40% through. However, I was still motivated to read it, and It was still really entertaining!

I DO feel like the messages and, I guess theme of the book were a little mixed at the end, but the epilogue did it for me! (We love an author who can write a good epilogue)

The writing style was fine, it didn't annoy me at all but it wasn't anything special.

also: WHY ARE BEL'S OUTFITS SO CUTE LIKE WHAT

anyways, 4.5/5 stars for this one! it was really cute!

I loved this book. The love story is as cute as can be BUT the book also touches on other topics that are important today. For example, the fact that in the engineering world women tend to not get taken seriously and how wrong that is. I would highly recommend this book for everyone BUT especially for lovers of “the love hypothesis”, I don’t know why but it reminded me of that book in such a good way.

This book gets published on the 31st of may so be sure to buy it.

Pub Date: 5/31/22
CW: brief mention of cheating and alcohol

“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.”

“I’m in my own space now.”

I owe a gigantic thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an earc. As promised, here’s my review.

I’ve been wanting to get my hands on this book for quite some time and I honestly didn’t know it wasn’t already out yet until 5/25, lol, which would explain why I couldn’t ever find it anywhere.

Anywho. Right off the bat, Bel’s voice caught my attention and held it. I LOVE her voice. It’s sarcastic, it’s dry, it’s humorous. It’s perfect. I love how she embraces her “lazy” side (not wanting to put effort into things) and how sharp she is. Teo’s voice is just as amusing—albeit arrogant, like Bel mentioned—and I was so eager to see how their characters conflicted (‘cause I live for chaos, ask my best friends).

Their relationship progressed a bit weirdly… the whole “oh no I’m starting to like this person” seemed to come on way too fast considering they didn’t really spend a lot of time together prior, except for some tutoring… which, I guess, something could happen there. I liked the whole “enemies—>academic colleagues—>lovers” pipeline tho so it’s not that big a deal.

The chapter they finally got together and subsequent chapters were the cutest things ever. I loved them. And then my heart shattered when they broke up. AND then it stitched itself back up again after the bot competition.

Needless to say, it was a rollercoaster of emotions.

In a good way.

It took me maybe half an hour to read the last ten/fifteen minutes of the book. I didn’t want it to end but omg it was the best thing ever. It’s such a perfect ending to Teo and Bel’s story. They are so frickin cute and if you’ve read this far and still aren’t convinced you need to read this book, I’ll tell you once more:

Read this book.

Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

Bel is a transfer student in her senior year and is lost, not knowing what she wants to do with her life surrounded by friends who all seem set on a future. Her teacher pushes her to explore engineering and join the robotics team. She butts heads with the school golden boy, Teo, the robotics team captain. Once they finally start working together... well, romance.

Aside from the adorable romance between these two teens, this book is a fantastic commentary on the obstacles facing young women hoping to break into the science and engineering world. The story expertly documents the ways the sexism in STEM not only affects the way men see other women, the way young women see themselves, but the way that women see fellow women in STEM. The story details the way that Bel struggles to find confidence in herself and her passion for engineering.

I absolutely loved the way this book explores the concept of making space for yourself a woman of color in a white male world. Additionally, I actually appreciated the development of the dynamic between Neelam and Bel, demonstrating how the male-dominated STEM atmosphere can also affect the way women treat each other. Neelam has been taught that she will not be seen as equal to the boys on the team and that she will be compared to other women. I think seeing that fade away a little as she and Bel are forced to work together was amazing. The idea that bolstering these two women made such a dramatic difference for both of them and their self-esteem. I loved that with the right support this story demonstrates just how successful Bel can be and that much of her hang-up and lack of confidence stems from the sexist environment around her.

Of course, the romance here is absolutely adorable and heartwarming. The way that both Teo and Bel force the other out of their comfort zone while still building the other's confidence up is amazing. Teo is scared of crumbling under the expectations of others while Bel doesn't seem to have many people pushing her to explore what she loves. 'This story was one that touched me personally, being such a great representation of my own struggles and journey as a woman in STEM. I think this romance is so much more than a romance. It's an amazing story that explores issues of diversity and gender in the world of STEM and how important it can be to support young women in their passions. I loved it!

"My Mechanical Romance" by Alexene Farol Follmuth is a hilarious, binge-worthy book centered around high school students building killer robots. And if that isn't exciting enough, it also features women in STEM, relatable friendships, and witty banter between the two love interests. In short, it's probably one of the best books I've read so far in 2022.

Bel and Teo have amazing chemistry, and I love that they push each other to follow their dreams. They also do normal high school things together like participate in a club, study for AP exams, and spend time with friends. I like that their romance isn't the main focus of the story and that they stayed true to their passions and interests.

As the story progressed, I began to see the characters as role model. Teo worked really hard to maintain a 4.3 GPA, and I love how realistic his experience was. As someone who graduated from high school with a 4.2 GPA, it's nice to finally read a book that shows the hard work necessary for academic success. I think it sends an empowering message to young readers about the importance of working hard and striving to reach their full potential. I'd recommend this book based on that side plot alone!

This story also featured strong female characters pursuing a career in STEM. I speak from experience when I say it's difficult to work in a male-dominated field. Alexene Farol Follmuth approached this topic with courage and humor, making it enjoyable to read about.

There were times when this book got into physics and engineering lingo, and I was there for it! I loved learning more about the engineering design process and the creation of killer robots. The robot battles were hilarious to read about, and I'm so glad I got to watch the protagonists heal and come together around the tournaments.

Also, I have to say a quick line about the epilogue. It was a perfect ending, and it made me love the story even more! I know there will be a large audience for this book, and I wish it all the best in finding a home on people's shelves. It deserves it!

4.25/5 stars and a solid recommendation.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and Netgalley; all opinions are my own.

My Mechanical Romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: YA Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 5/31/22
Author: Alexene Farol Follmuth
Publisher: Holiday House
Pages: 272
Goodreads Rating: 4.21

TW ⚠️: Sexism, divorce, and infidelity is mentioned.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing a digital copy of the book for me to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

Synopsis: When Bel accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel—and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesn't seem to like her either. Enter Teo Luna, captain of the club, who recognizes Bel as a potential asset—until they start butting heads. Bel doesn’t care about Nationals, while Teo cares too much. But as the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize they've made more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they’ve made each other and the team better. Because girls do belong in STEM.
 
My Thoughts: The book started off slow but I was engaged and not bored. I really like YA Romance and for a debut author, this was amazing. The characters were very well developed and I loved our MCs, Bel and Teo, just amazing duo, they had depth, quirkiness, and complexity, everything you hope for in a book (or at least I do). The MCs also have their family dynamics weaved in which I really enjoyed. I also like how the author forecasts a female into this predominant male career, it shows younger girls that girls can truly do anything they put their mind to! I also love the enemies to lovers with a friend in the middle trope. I really enjoyed this cute and funny romance that was a light read that I devoured!

I had no idea that this book was written by the same author as the Atlas Six, but I absolutely loved this book, it was so adorable. This book has a Holi scene, woman in STEM and that's all I need.

4.5 stars ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

‘If I want the world to recognize what I am truly capable of, I have to show them.’

This was AMAZING. I’ve had my eye on this book for a while … I mean how can I not?!
Academic rivals to lovers romance in STEM ??
*chef’s kiss 👌

Plot:
Bel ( Isabel ) Maier doesn’t know what to do in life or what she wants to pursue in collage. Until one day by accident, her teacher sees her potential in engineering so she encourages her to take AP physics and try out the robotics team. Worst of all, it’s an all boys team with only one girl, Neelam, who doesn’t seem to like her either.

“You’re such a nerd.”
“Oh, I know. My mom tells me all the time, but apparently nerds are hot now.”

Mateo Luna aka Teo, the hot nerd and the golden boy, is the team’s captain. He also sees talent in Bel and helps her out. That’s when their story begins.

The romance:

‘ I’ve never seen eyes that make me think about the mysteries of the universe the way hers do. ‘

It was so cute, fluffy and nerdy. I loved how we got to see their development from somewhat-enemies-to-friends-to-lovers. They’re freaking adorable.
When they finally got together … ahhh hehbxhdjdbdb cute

Overall, everyone should read this book. I’m sure that it’s gonna go viral on tik tok soon.

Bel’s fracturing family life has led to her being enrolled in a new school, where she feels like everyone but her is some kind of academic genius. What Bel really enjoys is making things - and when one of her science teacher forces her to join the robotics team, she realises she might have the chance to explore that more deeply. But the robotics team is more or less run by one boy - Teo, the best student in school, and whilst he initially seems impressed by Bel’s intuitive skills when it comes to robotics, it’s not long before they’re butting heads. That is, until they start working together more closely, and realise that they have more in common than they first thought. It’s not long before they both start to develop deeper feelings, but with the pressures of school, college applications, and the expectations of their family, friends and teachers getting in the way, romance isn’t going to be easy.

This was just really lovely. The writing style was really funny and engaging, and it was really easy to read. It had a bit of a slow start but once I was past that I was all-in - I just thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked Bel and Teo, both as individual characters and as a couple; her quirkiness and individuality was really nice as was her hints of vulnerability, and I liked seeing Teo’s stiffness soften as he began to develop a bond with Bel.

The plot was good as well - it was very simple but never slipped into being dull, and I thought the conflict between Bel and Teo and their respective families was worked in quite nicely. Nothing felt forced - it all felt very natural. The romance was very sweet and cute, and I liked how the final conflict between them was negotiated. As a whole the book was just really lovely and sweet - a real joy to read and I just loved it. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

<b>Content Notes:</b> Sexism / misogyny, vomiting, divorce (parents, in-process), infidelity / cheating (parents).

My mechanical romance by @afarolfollmuth

I got extremely lucky and received an eARC from @netgalley before the release date! However, all opinions are my own. This book comes out may 31st.

This is such a cute young adult read! The main characters are really loveable and while being a high school romance, this book also introduces other relevant topics such as gender bias. The story is sweet, but with an ‘oompf’ ☺️ (no clue how to explain this in any other way). I think this book has the potential to inspire a lot of young people to do what they like and pursue this. As well as letting them know it is okay if you don’t exactly know what your future will look like yet.

Are you excited to pick this one up?

I loved and enjoyed this book. I'm not usually type to read teens romance but after reading this one i changed my mind. I have to say, this is my first teens&ya romance and already want to reread it again.

The story was so cute and amazing. Bel and Teo are my favourite teen couples and their banter was just *chefs kiss*. The romance between them ? I swooned. I loved the concept of the book and STEM. It has dual POV's so we could know how Bel and Teo lives and thoughts were. The others characters are good as well. And it was definitely acadmic enemies to lovers so yep, i love it.

The plot, characters, teenage life, STEM career, everything was fantastic and i would totally recommend to teenagers and ya lovers.

Thank you Netgalley and Holiday House for providing me an ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I loved this book! Engaging writing, character-driven plot, and loveable leads. Teo and Bel are a joy to read, and their romance is very cute. The interactions between all the characters feel so real! I’m definitely going to recommend this to my students.

First of all: how cute are the title and the cover art?

This was so sweet, wonderful and wholesome, I still have my face in my hands. I really loved everything about this, especially Bel and Teo. The story is written in dual POV with each chapter being split between the two of them. I think that was a great choice as it gives us insights into their lives and thoughts. Both of them were great narrators and I didn't prefer one over the other, as is sometimes the case with multiple POVs. 'Academic rivals to friends to lovers' probably describes their relationship best and it was so cute to watch them on the way.

Bel doesn't have much of a clue what she wants to do with her life, also dealing with her parent's divorce, Teo has the opposite problem. Both feel a lot of pressure and great expectations on them while handling it in different ways, also because they come from different backgrounds with different resources. (I really liked how that was addressed.)

I was rooting for both Teo and Bel as a couple as well as their robotics team the entire book. The characters felt like teenagers trying to figure out their future and their place in it. The dialogue was great and funny. (My one minor complaint would be that sometimes the sentence structure took me a bit out of my reading, i.e. "What?" says Jamie. It's grammatically correct, but not what I'm commonly used to.)

The other main theme of the book was how girls in STEM are often not given the same opportunities and treatment and how it shapes the way they act and react. It was a great arc and well done in my opinion. Neelam reminded me of Paris Gellar from Gilmore Girls if that makes sense? While I originally didn't like her too much in the beginning and was a little concerned it would be some unfounded girl vs. girl fight, the reasoning and the resolution of the issue were very satisfying. I just loved it a lot.

If you liked the STEM aspect of The Love Hypothesis (not trying to compare the two books per se, because they are very much different genres) AND like YA romances, then I'd definitely recommend this book. I'd also recommend it to anyone who loves a good, cute romance in general. Because you know, nerds are hot right these days.

I'm so glad to have read this as it's one of my favourite books of 2022.

I went into this book blind. I figured something mechanical and I was hooked from the beginning, I enjoyed the point of views from Bel & Teo. I loved the STEM aspect of the story. I love that girls are getting more options of what they can do and be able to see those options. Representation is so important. I loved their friendship and the romance. This was such a fantastic read. I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

This was such a fun read, I enjoyed it. I liked the discussions between the characters about the challenges women in STEM often face and I would highly recommend this book to teens/young adults who are interested in a STEM career. I especially loved Neelam's character. The book is a good reminder that you should always take up space especially in areas where you are made to feel as if you don't belong and you shouldn't try to change to please anybody!