What a refreshing read. I haven't read any good YA recently, and this did the job perfectly. Even though I do like a good and-then-everyting-went-perfectly story, this was also (surprisingly) really good. the obstacles made it Much more realistic which I (again, surprisingly) liked.

Teo and Bel are perfect actually. Like genuinely, actually perfect. Bel is such, SUCH a fun character to read and Teo really is perfect, I loved them together and I loved the epilogue.

I'm sure this book will be a huge hit when it's released, and I'm really excited to see what the author is going to do next.

This book was adorable!

Okay now that I’ve gotten that out of my system. I loved a lot of things about this book. It follows Bel, who’s struggling to think about her future and find her footing in a new school. She eventually makes it onto the robotics team after encouragement from a teacher, where she meets Teo, the leader of the robotics club and overall “it” guy. I was extremely surprised how quickly I got pulled into the plot and how much I adored Bel as a main character. She’s so unique and I loved reading from her perspective. She is full of passion, spontaneity and quirkiness that I loved, and there were moments that I could see myself in her with about half the intelligence.

Teo was a character I had to learn to love. I didn’t understand his perspective for awhile until more about him was uncovered, but you do learn to love and understand him. He’s the captain of all the teams, the leader everyone relies on and that comes with a lot of pressure that he thinks he can handle. There’s a lot of pressure put on him to be perfect from his super rich and successful parents, pressure from his teachers and his classmates and there’s only so much a person can take of that.

I loved the fact this book centered around STEM and robotics. While I know next to nothing about battle bots, one of my good friends actually has a bot he fights with, and this made me so happy that I could find a book like that. I’m shocked to find out this is the same author who wrote The Atlas Six, which I definitely did not like, so I’m so surprised to like this one so much. I did not understand a lot of the robots and STEM talk, it felt very genuine and something the author knows a bit about.

There’s such good discussion about women in STEM, the discrimination they face from men and are seen as less than. While I have never experienced anything like that myself (because I am a dum dum when it comes to anything science related), it’s something we know happens so often and it’s so frustrating. I loved the ending and how it really called out that discrimination. The author’s notes at the end were also an interesting read, so when you pick this one up, read all the way to the end! I always read the author notes, they’re usually interesting.

The romance was also very cute! It’s a little slow burn, a little enemies to lovers. It does get a little dramatic toward the third-act conflict, but it all works out in the end.

I thought the writing style was not necessarily for me, but I was able to move past that because I adored the characters so much. I think there was an overuse of the word like, and I dislike how Bel often expresses herself in certain instances. There are also moments regarding Teo’s mom that made me feel a little weird, mostly with her calling her son a hot nerd, but I digress.

Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book via NetGalley.

The title of this book got my attention at first. The book was a very sweet and wholesome quick read. As a female that actually went to an engineering school, I found the characters very relatable and the situations and interactions really brought me back to my own experiences.

Some of the elements of the book I really loved:
The female forward mindset and the focus on a place for female in STEM
The diversity of the characters, which really was an accurate representation. It also felt like the author took time to celebrate how special the different cultures are.


I did feel like the book dragged at some points. I also felt that when conflicts came up like Bel's struggles with figuring out her future, the intensity of the situations did not translate into the writing.

All in all this was a fun little book especially for those that are nerdy at heart!

This is probably my favorite YA that I have read so far this year. This book follows Bel who has transferred to a very academically driven and prestigious school for her senior year. Reluctantly, she joins AP Physics and the robotics club where she meets Mateo ‘Teo’ Luna who is the captain of his robotics and soccer teams who helps her uncover her love for engineering and possibly for him too.

I was drawn to this book by a few things. One, I love the cover and after reading it I think it perfectly captures the book. I also saw that it was STEM centered enemies to lovers romance and I was sold. While this was a more romantic YA, I loved that it also focused on Bel finding her way and her love for engineering. I loved that Bel was a smart and confident girl who dressed how she wanted to dress even if others might have looked down on her for it. I loved how this book addressed academic pressure, discrimination, and family relationships. I really enjoyed Teo’s journey of coming to terms with the fact that he was treated differently partially because he was male.

It's so refreshing to be getting more YA books with these great themes and that young women are getting stories where the girl stays true to herself but also gets the love story. I will definitely be suggesting this title for my local library! This was a very strong 4.75 for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a freaking cute story. I would have loved this in high school, with my little robotics-team-engineering-studying self!

Bel and Teo are seniors in high school who are like night and day: Teo knows what he wants to do and has a plan for it. Bel is dealing with family drama and hasn't put a lot of thought into her future-until a teacher pushes her into joining the Robotics Team at school, which Teo ring-leads. They butt heads, but as time goes on, chemistry develops. There's some slow burn, some misogyny (that is addressed often), girls killing it in STEM, and robotics competitions galore! It's a true nerdy love story.

Recommended for you if you are looking for a diverse YA romance-in cultures, upbringings, and women in fields that are stereotypically male, if you want a book that you can read in a day, or if you can relate to being a senior in high school and having no idea what you want to do (yes, I'm looking in the mirror for that one.)

Thanks to Netgalley and Holiday House for the e-ARC.

To be fair, I went into the book based on one thing--the author. And she does not disappoint. The book talks about a girl, Bel, who goes to a high-school full of over-achievers that seem to only think about their big and successful future. Bel, on the other hand, refuses to spend a second of thought regarding her future, however, that changes once she reluctantly makes it into the school's robotics team. Teo, the captain of his robotics and football (as a European, I will NEVER call it the s-word) team, helps Bel uncover her love for engineering and maybe, possibly for him too.
The whole story is similar to other young-adult romances, but that is why we love them. Nevertheless, it did have a particular theme that I wish I had in my young-adult books when I was a teenager: a confident and smart girl, who dresses in girly clothes and is not afraid of being who she is. Despite this being a more romantic YA book, the romance was kind of a secondary plot and we got to see Bel stay true to herself and find her love for engineering.
I am so glad that books with such themes are now getting written and that the younger generations are getting stories of girls who fall in love and stay true to themselves, no matter what.

When I saw the title I knew I had to read this book. I am not a STEM person and I know nothing about engineering and robotics but the story sucked me in and I read it in one day. I love the diverse characters and points of view.. Bel and Teo are adorable, their arc was so sweet and fun to read. I loved watching Bel come into her own as a woman in STEM, a teammate and daughter.

I'd give it 4.25 stars and recommend everyone read it.

Robot wars and romance what more can I ask for!

As a women in stem I really wanted to read this. It felt real as I have experienced many of the issues described in the book, including being called a diversity hire.
The characters felt authentic and the duel perspective allowed you to learn more about all the characters!

I have and will recommend this book to anyone that will listen! I read it in 24 hours and couldn't put it down!

Oh wow when I found out this book was going to be an enemies-to-lovers proper nerdy and stubbornness teenagers I was all for it because we've all been there.
As I know that this book isn't going to be out until next month I don't want to give too much away so I'm going to try and keep any spoilers out of this review.
I love the bel character so much just for the fact that we've all been 19 and not knowing at times when we want to be in life and this is what bel is trying to do and then one day when she's in class in college her teacher assembles across the fact that she can actually do engineering , and so there it all begins she goes off to this class where she meet Teo the captain of robotics( hello that's sexy nerd) !!
And where are you can guess a Love Story starts to progress you stubborn and very competitive there's nothing wrong with that.

I loved the fact or so that the story wasn't completely based around love and robotics it was also based around the fat of how someone is trying to find ourselves I don't think it matters what age you are when you're a teenager or a lot older I think that were always trying to do that I'm always changing and finding new things that we love and also showing how hard it can be to be a girl in that kind of industry that you really have to prove yourself to others but not just to others but also to yourself. And knowing what you want out of life if and knowing your own worth.

The book in general I absolutely loved there's so much we're so much humour I, was laughing quite a lot to be honest but also rooting for the main character all the time I'm it was so well written so if you're looking for a book which is just very easy going then this is for you .

Fantastic young adult book I've given this book 4 stars 🌟

Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House, and Alexene Farol Follmuth for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a sucker for rom-coms, so naturally, I loved this book! It’s an easy, wholesome, and lighthearted read. I loved the main characters, Bel and Teo, and that we got a glimpse of both their prospectives. I appreciate that the supporting characters all had a purpose and they each played a specific role in the book that continued until the end. They were all really supportive (for the most part) and helped to uncover each other’s greatest potential even when some didn’t see potential in themselves.

Shout out to Dash for being the most underrated relatable foodie with a dgaf attitude.

The nerdy, bot-building aspect was a plus. I used to watch Bot Wars (LOL) as a bonding moment with my husband and in-laws, so this just brings back all of the best feelings for me.

Overall, a really cute read! Would recommend.

"...but apparently nerds are hot now."
Just one of my favourite quotes from this book. Firstly, if you are looking for something that goes against social norms like your typical high-school heartthrob or gender stereotypes then this is perfect. I love how it addressed academic pressure, discrimination and family relationships. who would have thought that a story centered around academics could be so fun and motivating! i enjoyed the romance aspect and how it did not dominate in the story. no spoilers but their relationship was so pure and so felt genuine. this is definitely a book that you will miss once done because i just didn't want it to end, i thoroughly enjoyed it.

This a cute, sweet book about women in STEM awesome. I was intrigued by the oremise from the start and it was executed well. Teo and Bel are great and enjoyable protagonists to read from. I liked the small insights into the side character but my favorite to hear from was definitely Dash. So sweet!

*Thank you Netgalley for a copy for an honest review*

This was such a fun book, I really enjoyed the academic rivals to lovers, the bots, the characters, the story, just about everything.

This is a YA book and although I did misread the synopsis, I thought these were college kids, I still really enjoyed this book so much.

Bel has transferred to a very academically driven prestigious school. She ends up being in AP Physics and joins the robotics club, enter Mateo Luna. Mateo is driven, he has his goals and he knows what he wants and has his life all planned out - Definitely opposites attract.

The characters were all very well written and just somehow made this story even more amazing. They were witty, and the challenges each of them faced, especially some as women in STEM, really made it easy to connect to them. The writing had a great pace and I never felt bored or wanted to switch out books (I'm a chronic multi-book reader)
And something that makes it a win in my books, I read until late at night.

I can't wait for more people to discover this gem.

4 ⭐

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth is a YA contemporary romance novel following the protagonist Bel who moves to a new high school in her senior year and is forced to join the robotics club by captain of the club, Mateo Luna, who recognises Bel's engineering talent as a potential asset for his team.

Bel is an extremely relatable teenager, at least for me, when it comes to her lack of motivation and confusion in life and for her future. Mateo was also an interesting and likeable character and I really liked the realism of him being a flawed overachiever with pressure and expectations from his parents as well as having the difficulty of managing his academic, athletic and personal life. I thought the other characters such as Dash, Luke, Neelam, Kai, the parents, etc were thought out as well.

The romance was super adorable. It really had me blushing over them because I haven't read a good romance in a while. They had great banter and cute nicknames too. I thought they connected really well and I loved how they had an interest in something they both loved and enjoyed.

I loved the diversity and it featuring a woman of colour in STEM, an academic rivals to lovers romance and dual pov. It touched on things such as the sexism women face in STEM fields. And I appreciate how this book highlights that its not all sunshine and roses because of how difficult engineering can be to get into, especially to Bel as a new comer and lover.

I'm only giving it 4 stars because I didn't like the subplot of Neelam being a rude character towards everyone in their team, especially to Bel. It feels unnecessary and makes it seem that women are out to get each other and aren't capable of being team mates. I personally would have liked it better if Neelam got along with the girls because she could have connected and related with the other girls and their experiences being a girl in a challenging field.

Overall, this book is cute ya romance and I can't wait to read more of their work in the future :)

This was so damn cute. It was a quick read with a sweet romance & a good plot. Bel's journey through the world of engineering was great to read. Overall it was very wholesome and I really enjoyed it!!

The world of competitive high school robotics is explored in My Mechanical Romance. Filipino transfer student Isabel (Bel) Maier enters Essex Academy for Art and Science Technology, having no plans for her future. When she unwittingly captures the attention of Mateo Luna, captain of the robotics and soccer teams, by creating an ingenious egg drop design, she reluctantly switches to AP Physics and joins the robotics team. Even though she has Mateo's support, her male teammates dismiss her ideas, and even Neelam Dasari, the only other girl on the team, shuns her. Her engineering prowess and her knack for building things keep her engaged, even as she clashes with Mateo and her teammates over her unorthodox ideas. As her relationship with Mateo becomes romantic, they struggle to navigate new love amidst the cutthroat world of the robotics competition. Even as Bel shows there is a place for women in the STEM world, she realizes that she needs to be more of a team player. This is an upbeat romantic comedy with great chemistry between Bel and Mateo and a sympathetic supporting cast.

4.5 ⭐️

This was such a cute YA coming-of-age story with some romance sprinkled in! I found myself relating HARDCORE with Bel because I still don’t know what I want to do with my life (and I’m 21 lol). Her internal struggles were easily what I’ve been going through for the past 5 years, as I've tried to figure out what I’m good at, what makes me happy, and how I can make that my career.

My high school did not have a robotics club nor did it have any push for STEM classes, but man I wish it did! This is the side of science that I find interesting, so getting to see a little behind the scenes through the plot of this book was so fun for me.

Also, WOMEN IN STEM>>>> I love seeing women do what they do best: be awesome & seeing it in male-dominated areas is even more rewarding. The microaggressions that women face in STEM fields and specifically in the robotics & engineering side focused on in the book are frustrating but a reality. I loved how Neelam still held her ground in the field, and eventually, assisted Bel with understanding how it all worked and how she, herself, had stayed strong.

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for sending me an eARC!

Thank you @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review! 😌
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
this was SO wholesome. Bel, one of the main characters, is unsure about her future and hasn't applied to any colleges yet despite the peer pressure and everyone having everything figured out already weighing on her but when she displays an extraordinary talent that makes Teo Luna add her to his robotics team, her ambitions soon start to grow. I absolutely loved how smart Bel was. We need more books about girls and women in STEM. So, basically, Bel joins the team and soon finds herself enjoying her teammates' company but also facing some hurdles like her male teacher's and some dude teammates' sexist remarks doubting her ability to be an engineer. I liked how the author dealt with that and it's accurate isn't it? There were some things I found a little weird, like the cultural appropriation of Holi. The characters didn't bother to learn about it and treated the only unlikeable Indian character as a joke when she tries to explain what it is. I didn't like her either but that's no excuse to appropriate someone's culture and then not consider their explanation. That's the only reason I dropped one star.
This book deals with the stress high schoolers have about college applications and SAT scores and how ambitions change and evolve. I liked how it deals with the consequences of divorce on children and how they struggle to accept their feelings about one parent or both.
Overall, a really cool read. Would definitely recommend. It's been a while since I read a YA contemporary and this was pretty awesome.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

*Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review*


This is a super wholesome love story about two nerds, with the personalities of a breadstick,falling in love while building Robots.

Pros
•women in STEM
•Diversity
•Neelam dragging everyone(she swears shes me)

It was very cutesy but i feel like this was marketed as academic rivals to lovers and i didn’t get that vibe at all. Its genuinely just young love blossoming . Little angst. Nothing really gripping maybe my expectations were too high? Definitely pick it up if you just need something heartfelt & pure.

Potentially closer to a 3.5 but I hesitated so much we’re rounding up.

Getting this ARC made my weeeeek. The YA readers have some incredible books coming at them. I really wish 16 year old could have gotten her hands on this. I would have passed out a few times from Teo and Bel’s everything.

An absolutely funny, quirky and well written story. I loved the side characters and the plot and the way the MC’s were described while they managed their senior year stress.

A few things felt untied and rushed to me - the third act nonsense as per usual, the first half of the book was drawn out well and I loved it , but the second half - especially the last quarter absolutely sped by.

Some of the family drama and other issues presented never really felt resolved - a big one for me was Mac.

Overall this was warm and lovely , and funny. Definitely a great quick read. And my weekly reminder that I’m not cut out to be an engineer but fighting robots for a living sounds like a great time.