As a woman in STEM, this book really resonated in me. It perfectly portrays how difficult it is to be a woman in science, and the struggle of being perceived as less able than a man. I loved all the characters in this story, and how neelams and Bel’s ‘friendship’ evolved. It told a story of how women should always support women.
This book was full of cute romance that makes your heart melt… I know mine did.
I highly recommend this book to all people in STEM, and those who love romance and amazing character development.

This was cute read and it got me out of my reading slump for a little while. But despite all its cuteness, I do have a few qualms. This was one of my most anticipated reads because of the POC characters, the mc being a woman in STEM, along with the very pretty cover which pretty much piqued my interests. But one of the first things that turned me off was the writing style. For some reason, I found it very awkward that I almost decided not to continue, but since I'm a loveless potato I pushed on for the romance because I did find Bel and Teo cute. Then, there's the issue with regards to the lack of personality and individuality of the characters, which, when pointed out by another reviewer, I realized to be true. But it's a cute, short romance novel so it's doesn't matter that much, I guess.

this book was such a delight to read. i'm something of an expert of young adult romance myself so reading such a vibrant, refreshing young adult romance book brought me the most joy. i love how alexene farol foulmuth showed both perspectives and gave bel and teo distinct and personable voices. i loved how i could easily tell which character i was reading from simply through their personality.

the romance, of course, was so sweet and fun to read from but another highlight of the book was the experiences of bel as a woman of color in STEM. i especially appreciated showcasing how women have different experiences--a number of varying factors contribute to the nuanced experiences of women in STEM. i went into this book expecting a cute romance but came out of it with that and also much more. seeing bel come into her own not only through finding her passion but also her family relationships were really well-done aspects of the book.

i also wanted to add that last year i actually had a breakdown over the fact that i had never seen a filipino-american character at the center of the light, fluffy young adult romance books that i love so much. the surprise i felt when i read that bel was half-filipino was unparalleled. i absolutely fell in love with how alexene didn't shy away from her culture and how it was casually incorporated throughout the book. it just goes to show that representation really does matter and i look forward to diving into more of her books after this one was such a hit.

overall, this book gave me everything i wanted and then some. and that epilogue was EVEN MORE than what i could have asked for.

"You're this new color I didn't know existed and now I see it everywhere and I'm like , thank God I can see it now"

I confess that I pushed the first 50% of the story, maybe because I'm too old for high school love, maybe because the book was kiiiinda slow. After the 50% mark the book definitely got better, I remembered a lot of my time in high school and how just like our MC I also believed it was absurd to have to make a choice that would change my whole life. And yes, some decisions from that time changed my life path, but mostly things change so quickly, nothing in life is how we plan or expect and that made me really like the end of the book.

The women in STEM representation was awesome as always and the refs to The Music Industry (Taylor Swift) made me love the book even more. Thank you Netgalley, Holiday House and Alexene Farol Follmuth for the ARC. It was a great and i definitely recommend.

Bel was a riot, I loved her character! She is incredibly smart and unapologetic, comfortable in her own skin. Always so great to see STRONG females represented. The side characters were all pretty great as well, a diverse group of teens with a passion for robots. There is a lot going on in both Bel and Teo’s lives, but it all flowed so well with their stories. The romance aspect is great as well, enemies to lovers, yes please! I read it in one sitting, it was just so good!

Lots of smiles, laughs and even a few tears. Definitely recommend.

The mechanical romance delves into women in stem and the discrimination they face while also managing to keep it lighthearted and a brilliant romance novel. I loved this book from beginning to end, from the diverse characters such as the main characters: Bel and Teo aswell as the side characters with Neelam becoming one of my favourites in the end, to the plot, to the great writing. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a comforting read. The romance and relationships were well developed between all characters. Thank you to net galley and the publisher for allowing me the e-arc of this book to give my honest review. Overall 4.5 stars out of 5!

“Me Mechanical Romance” by Alexene Farol Follmuth is one of a kind heartwarming reads which makes you want to dash in the world of STEM and discover what robotics is all about!

Follmuth’s story follows Bel, Teo, and their friends adventures during their last year at an elitist high-school, as they navigate senior year, romance, challenging friendships, and of course, robots! As a senior transfer in her last year of high-school, Bel has a hard time figuring out her next step into adulthood. As her luck has it a late assignment gets her shortlisted to join her school’s exclusive robotics club. While she doesn’t believe too much in her abilities, team captain Mateo Luna sees Bel as the right person to complete the team and bring them their much-awaited victory in the upcoming robotics championship!

The reason I enjoyed so much this audio-book was not only because of its depiction of teen years adventures, but also because of its exploration of women in STEM theme. Through the book, we see Bel learning what it means to be part of a STEM environment, both plus & minus sides. I enjoyed a lot her learning curve, from being a shy, non-involved team member, all the way to… the events from the last chapters! It also helped a lot to see her evolution both from her viewpoint (narration) as well as Teo’s. I can’t wait to hear what Folmuth brings us next!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Holiday House, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC, and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

If you are interested in other of my book reviews, make sure to follow me on GoodReads!

#LifeLongLearning #MyMechanicalRomance #NetGalley

My mechanical romance by:Alexene Farol Follmuth
5/5⭐️

Ya, contemporary romance, academic enemies to lovers, women in stem.

Bel is a senior in high school and has no idea what she wants to do with her life. Teo has always had his life planned out. When Bel shows a talent in engineering, her teacher pushes her to join the robotics club. Their quest for nationals might bring these two more than just a national title.

This is by the same author as the Atlas Six! This book is written very differently from the Atlas six and I felt like that fit.

I really liked how this book highlighted the struggles that women in STEM face, not only from peers, but from teachers as well.

I really like Teo. His character is well written, but I would’ve liked to see his dad get chewed out.

I loved the ending so much. I think it shows that you don’t have to follow the preset plan perfectly to end up happy and fulfilled.

My Mechanical Romance releases on May 31st!

As a high schooler who loves Taylor Swift, is interested in STEM and on a robotics team, this book was literally me. Follmuth described the experience of being a girl on a robotics team to a T, and made me feel seen in a way I haven’t been before. As the only girl on my team, I related a lot to Bel and Neelam, and their experience made me feel extremely validated and helped me fall in love with engineering and robotics just a little bit more. I especially loved the dual pov that you rarely see in romcoms, and loved how Bel didn’t have a conventional, stereotypical prep-school post-secondary experience. This book really renewed my interest in robotics and made me feel as if I could keep going and one day run the team. LOVED IT. If you love women empowerment, diverse characters, and academic validation, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

This book is charming, a standout for me as it does what so many others try to do.

The characters! I need to start with them because my goodness is they not only charming and hilarious but unique in the distinctive characteristics that allow them to seem real, playing off each other to make an enjoyable cast who have the worries of teenagers at that stage in their lives: what they're going to do, parents, family and your place in life.

This story follows Beth as she not only tries to find her path and place, within life, within the school, within STEM, and within her own family. We watch her join the school’s robotics team (absolutely loved this aspect because it was such a new facet of STEM that held me so engaged just from the passion they had for the area), headed by Mateo (Teo, my love).

This story has many realistic mirrors of senior life and just regular teens! I love when books for teens make teens sound like and have problems with what they are! Nothing overcomplicated to make it more ‘adult’ but very real and very hard choices that any individual at any stage of their life would find hard.

The topic dealt with in the book was *chef’s kiss*. From speaking of women’s place in STEM to the microaggressions against women in sciences it was a story of a girl seeking validation from those who were supposed to give it to her but ended up realizing how to craft her own. The arc of determining your future at one’s own pace, accepting failure, and letting life unfold was poignant, a great message that I wish I had when I was younger.


This book encompasses the fixtures of a great young adult romance, put together so well. The romance is so wholesome, so HEALTHY that I was just rooting for them from start to finish. They aren’t part of a whole, but individuals that lead different paths after high school, have different quirks and endearments but appreciate the differences that end up complementing each other. It wasn’t what made the story great, not the entire thought behind the plot, but a part of it that was the icing.

I adored this book. Thank you Netgalley, Holiday House and Alexene Farol Follmuth for the ARC. It made me so happy to be able to read this. If you want a book with a heart, a lot of laughter and great life themes all contained in a quick read then read this. This book comes out on May 31st and I will be buying a copy for my shelf hehe.

Thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. A lot more books I have read recently have been fighting against the patriarchy and I am here for it. The book hit some of the tropes I expected but it was still a well-told story. The epilogue was not what I expected but hey that means I can still be surprised. The world does put a lot of pressure on high school seniors to know what they want to do with their lives and determine their course when they may just need more time. Bel exemplifies this as someone who is still finding themselves and somewhat coasting through life while Teo has a very specific role he has filled for almost too long. They find a way to help the other grow and open their eyes to the possibilities of their world. I would definitely go check this out at the library if you can.

My Mechanical Romance is a YA novel that follows Bel and Teo’s budding relationship. They first meet in robotics club. Bel is laid back and more easy going while Teo is her opposite being super serious and studious. They clash right from the beginning becoming rivals. However, as things continue and they get to know each other they realize that they do indeed have feelings for each other.

Y’all I really wanted to love this one. I mean women in STEM and the enemies to lovers trope. Who wouldn’t want to love this one? Don’t get me wrong or take my 3 star rating as bad because this really was a cute story. It just didn’t live up to my expectations and maybe part of it was it read for me as too juvenile. The first chunk of this one was a bit slow but then it finally picked up. That being said I did read it in just a few days.

this book was a great, lighthearted high school romance. i loved the representation of women in stem, particularly the extra work they must do to prove themselves. teo and bel as a couple was adorable. the book was well-paced and is perfect for young adult readers.

E-ARC provided by from Holiday House / Peachtree / Pixel + Ink through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you very much!

4 stars. My Mechanical Romance is simultaneously a sweet teenage love story and an ode to women in STEM.

A special thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC of My Mechanical Romance.

MC Bel is forced to join the robotics team after failing to deliver an assignment (girls worst nightmare?)...turns out. She's actually pretty good at it. She is frustrated with team activities and there's also a lot of drama going on with her parents divorce - cue Teo, the team captain. Obviously they don't see eye to eye in the beginning but then they start spending more time together and they change their minds about each other.

This story was so cute! I really liked the characters, their interactions and how their relationship developed.
It was also really interesting to discuss the sexism in the engineering area, not only when Bel joins the team, but with Neelam, the only other girl in the team.

Overall, really cute and fun book

High school senior Bel is a natural engineer who doesn't understand how talented she is. She's afraid of success and afraid of failure, so she feels most comfortable acting as if she doesn't care about academics. After a teacher convinces her to join the robotics club, she gets to know Teo. He's the perfectionist son of a tech billionaire, and way too serious about school. Bel and Teo start out as rivals, but over time, she helps him relax, while he helps her believe in herself.

I loved the diversity in this book and the girls-in-STEM representation. Bel and Teo were well-developed, plus the writing and story were good. It seemed a little light on emotion, but the romantic attraction was well done.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book was amazing. I loved the book's focus on encouraging women to stand up and work together towards their success. The book's perspective shifts between Teo and Bel. Bel is a senior, who recently transferred to a new school after her parents split up. She has no plans for the future and actively avoids making plans. Teo was born with a future planned out for him. His father is famous in the tech field and, because of his father's reputation and pressure, Teo constantly strives toward perfection. After accepting a deal to try out for her school's robotics team, Bel accidentally catches Teo's attention. Bel has experience with welding and, although she does not have the technical knowledge, is talented when it comes to engineering. Although originally at odds, Teo and Bel work together and realize that they are better with each other. This book is so beautiful, highlighting the daily struggles women face, specifically in engineering. Teo must overcome the constant need to fix things while Bel has to accept her future and work for it. My favorite character ended up being Neelam. She had so much depth that a reader won't be able to see at first, but her motivation is so clear at the end of the book. The only reason I gave it four stars is that I believe the audience targeted was a little unclear. The book originally seems to be for a younger audience, yet there were a lot of scenes that were too mature. Young adult is a very vague category because it is a wide range when it comes to the level of maturity. I would just say that it would be for a mature, younger reader. Otherwise, it was so well written. Bel has to be one of the best main characters I've read and her growth was spectacular. I can't lie, I cried during the epilogue.

Ah young love ❤️

This is an enemies to lovers STEM young adult romance.

Bel, a senior high school transfer student, joins the robotic team and quickly becomes an enemy of Teo, senior captain of the soccer team and robotics team. They struggle to get along as a team as they build robots for regionals. Also, Bel is struggling to figure out what her future holds. She doesn’t know what she wants to do.

I am always a sucker for a strong female lead and that is exactly what Bel is. She isn’t afraid to be a smart and nerdy girl. As a fellow woman in STEM, I understand how hard it is to be taken seriously by others. Bel never backs down and proves she can do anything.

This was so wholesome and definitely would recommend to anyone who just wants to smile like an idiot the whole time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.25 Stars

"Nerds are so hot these days."
Off course they are and the nerds in this book are no exception.

Teo is the captain of the robotics and soccer teams and is enrolled in about half a dozen other science programs, and basically everyone is in love with him.
Bel is a new student at an elite high school. Unlike most of her colleagues, who seem to know what they want to do with their lives, Bel has absolutely no idea. As she spend more time as a member of the robotics team, Bel and Teo start to develop feelings for each other.

"Not for the first time, I get the feeling that if I leaned in closer, it would be like magnets. Like being drawn into some sort of gravitational field where things would just magically fit."

It's basically the new girl and the popular guy falling for each other, a classic one, right?! But no. this one is better. It's two nerdy teens falling for each other in a robotics lab.

"The world is not very helpful to a smart girl."
A very important part of the book explores what it's like to be a woman/ girl in STEM. The stereotypes and discrimination girls face each day and the need to work harder just to prove that you deserve to be here as much as everyone else.

Science, physics, and robotics are the beating heart of the novel. But don't worry, you don't have to be good at science to love this book. The author weaves in all of these subjects into the narrative in a very interesting way. The characters.just seem to get high on physics! (JUST KIDDING!!)

OMG! This book is so nerdy I just love it. It definitely exceeded my expectations and surprised me in a very good way.

It is definitely more YA than romance. So, it's great for anyone who likes a little bit of romance in their novels or for those of you who want to dip their toes into romance.

By now I think you can already tell that I'm in love with this book. If you're into STEM, you need to read this. I know I've probably said that this book is nerdy for like a hundred times, but yeah, it's nerdy in a very good way. In a way that will make you fall in love with science.

Thanks to Netgalley and Holiday House for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

It's Bel's senior year of high school and the last thing she wants to think about is her future. But after accidentally showing talent for engineering at her new school, she is put on the robotics team. Naturally, the robotics team consists of guys who ignore her and one girl who doesn't seem to like her. But when Mateo, the captain, notices her potential to help the team, all they can do is seem to butt heads. After many late nights of designing robots together, they come to realize that not only did they make an awesome robot for Nationals, they have made each other and the team better.

This is a book about believing in yourself and fighting for what you want. I really liked how the author addressed difficulties for females in science, especially STEM. I love a good enemies to lovers and the author did not disappoint. This is a YA so even though there wasn't any spice, it was still really cute. I thought this book addressed a lot of the troubles of teens now and would be a good read for early high schoolers. I found it hard to believe that Bel had no direction, either from family or counselors, when applying to colleges though. I also would have enjoyed learning more about her family dynamic and seeing some healing between her and her dad. Definitely a quick and cute read!

Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC! This book will be out May 31st ❤️