
Member Reviews

"Take up your own space, Bel. Don't let other people tread over it."
My Mechanical Romance is such a great YA novel about a girl who feels like she can't do anything and a boy who feels like he has to do everything. Bel feels the pressure from everyone to decide who she should be and where to go for college. Teo feels the pressure to be a leader in every aspect of his life. Their lives collide when the robotics team needs a new member and Teo feels Bel is the best fit even if she doesn't believe in her own skills. Teo and Bel lean and learn from each other and realize that they are enough in their own unique way. The supporting characters in this story also empower both of the characters and have their own fun stories that I enjoyed reading about.
I absolutely enjoyed this YA story. This novel touches on how much pressure high schoolers feel to make huge life decisions and how that shouldn't be taken lightly. It touches on how hard it is for girls (and women) to be accepted into careers that are typically led by men. It touches on how sweet it is to fall in love for the first time. It touches on female empowerment. It touches on how some young people feel an overwhelming pressure from adults to do everything it takes to have a successful life even if their mental health takes a toll.
This, in my opinion, is a great and important read for any young person or adult who has felt like they aren't enough or even if they felt like they have to do everything.

Moving to a new school is always a struggle, but it's even worse during senior year. Bel’s life isn't going to plan - a new house, a new school, college applications, and now her new teacher wants her to join the robotics team - it's a lot.
On the other hand, Mateo Luna, captain of the robotics team, captain of the soccer team and student extraordinaire, seems to be handling life perfectly. As opposites attract, and robots grow, will Bel’s future begin to fall into place? She doesn't want to think about it.
This brilliant YA debut explores the challenges faced by women of colour in the exciting world of STEM and the uncertainties of first love and the pressure to be something you're not.

Thanks you to NetGalley and HolidayHouse for the e-ARC.
Spanish review below, post in Goodreads, and Instagram soon.
Amé completamente esta historia, disfrute como hace tiempo no hacía con un libro de romance. Los rivals to lovers con slow burn son mis favoritos por lejos. Pero vamos por partes:
1) Un acercamiento a la trama: si es tu primera vez viendo esta portada o leyendo este título, por favor déjame contarte un poco de qué va la historia. Bel es una chica alegre e inteligente que acaba de cambiarse de escuela en su último año. Una profesora descubre que pese a su poco interés en las materias, ella podría tener un talento natural para la mecánica, un muy buen instinto en esta área (pese a no manejarse bien en los conceptos); por ello la motiva a ingresar al taller de robótica de la escuela. Aquí Bel conocerá a Teo, el capitán del equipo (de fútbol y de robótica), quien tiene aparentemente una vida perfecta y que además tiene muy claro lo que quiere para su futuro.
2) A partir de esto la historia se desarrolla a lo largo de un año completo donde conocemos a los protagonistas, vemos sus conflictos personales y frustraciones, pero además, podemos descubrir página a página su crecimiento y madurez. Me encantó. De alguna forma los problemas de los chicos de este libro son muy reales, me pude ver reflejada en algunos de sus personajes más de una vez.
3) La narración: es ligera y divertida, causa a la vez ternura y ganas de saber más. Muchas veces me costó parar de leer porque siempre quería avanzar un poco más, descubrir qué pasaría después, cómo les afectaría eso a los personajes, etc. Es un libro muy adictivo, se lee en un suspiro. El humor con el que cuenta, además, lo vuelve un super buen panorama.
4) Me resultó novedoso e interesante leer un libro que hablara sobre el STEM, la robótica y física en general. Tener una protagonista interesada en la mecánica, y aun más, buena en ello resultó refrescante. Dentro de la historia Bel igual se encuentra un poco fuera de los estereotipos, ya que en el libro se plantea el prejuicio presente en la actualidad de que las mujeres no pueden "construir" cosas, no saben usar herramientas, y no tienen nada que hacer en competencias de robots, porque ese es campo para los hombres. Bel llega a esta nueva escuela y se ve rodeada por este nuevo mundo de posibilidades, pero también de prejuicios y trabas. Acompañarla en este viaje de autodescubrimiento (vocacional y personal) mientras supera los obstáculos con los que a día de hoy hay chicas en el mundo que aun deben lidiar es simplemente hermoso. Sirve para abrir los ojos al mundo de que las mujeres -y las niñas- pueden hacer y lograr lo que sea que se propongan, (también aplica a los hombres). No hay actividades más masculinas o femeninas que otras, son solo eso, actividades, hobbies, trabajos, carreras que pueden ser aprendidas y desempeñadas por cualquiera que tenga ganas de. Y a su vez, para envalentonar a quienes alguna vez hayan recibido esos comentarios como "jamás podrás lograr hacer x cosa", "esto no es trabajo de mujeres", por ejemplo, demostrando que de alguna forma tenemos el derecho de hacer lo que queramos con nuestra vida, mientras nos haga felices y no pase a llevar a los demás.
5) Esta historia está escrita para adolescentes -está catalogada como novela juvenil-, pero a mi parecer es perfecta para el público general. Niños, adultos, ancianos, todos deben tener la posibilidad de acercarse a esta historia si así lo desean.
6) Por si aun no se notó, lo recomiendo ampliamente. No creo que se arrepientan de leerlo, porque seguro que pasan una buena tarde. De todas formas quedo super atenta a sus comentarios sobre la lectura y qué les pareció.
7) Ojalá se traduzca pronto al español para que más chicos puedan tener acceso a la historia.

I first saw this book floating around Instagram. I could tell from the cover it was a STEM romance and those are my favourite. I was so happy to get an ARC. I dove right in without reading the blurb and was surprised to find out it was about high schoolers. I was worried I wouldn’t connect with the characters since I am old and they are babies! But honestly, it didn’t take me long to get into the story and feel really invested in the characters. This book is well written, action packed (I mean it has fighting robots in it), adorably romantic, and hilarious. Not only did I love the MCs but I loved all their friends, teachers and siblings too. This book talks about figuring out who you want to be and how to pursue it. It talks about the barriers woman face, especially in STEM. I really enjoyed it. It was a very sweet, romantic comedy with positive and encouraging messages for young woman.

This book is a coming of age story of Bel and her path to finding her career path or the college/university program she wants to study, which is very relatable. I think a lot of us have struggled with this kind of dilemma, I know I did. I understands Bel’s inner crisis with being undecided on what she wants for her future and being surrounded by people who are sure of what they want. It is an overwhelming situation, which was properly portrayed in this story. In the beginning, Bel was trying to cope up by avoiding talks about career paths and filling up college/university application forms.
Teo was also a joy to read. He is someone that I resonated with. He is goal oriented and driven, which can be distressing because there is this constant pressure to be perfect. The quote “You don’t have to make the world perfect just so people will love you” from Bel hit me hard as it is one of the constant negative thoughts that I have. I am glad that Bel was reassuring Teo that he does not have to fix everyones problem and help everyone. Their relationship grounds them both as Teo is able to nudge Bel to find her passion.
The romance aspect was lacking for me. I think that it was underdeveloped and the transitions to enemies to lovers was quick. Their relationship felt superficial and a bit too forced for me. What Bel and Teo have is more of friendship for me. But I do like how Bel calls out Teo for his bad attitude, especially in the beginning. I also like their group of friends and how they interacted with one another. It was very entertaining especially Dash’s dialogues.
Nevertheless, I love the representation in this book. There is not a lot of book where the main character is Filipina. I just wished that there were more Filipino culture integrated in the book. I do commend the author for writing about women in STEM and how they are usually discriminated in the field. It is an important discourse and it is something that should be talked about, especially for young adults.

“There’s a lot more kinds of strength than just being outwardly tough, and it’s a lot to ask of anyone to succeed when most people in the room are waiting to see you fail.”
I loved it, for me it is a 4.5/5,
I really enjoyed this book very much, for me it was very easy to get into the story and it helps a lot that the characters are so charismatic (even those who are not so likeable at first, you can't help but enjoy them). I am Language Teaching major, so I know absolutely nothing about engineering or physics but even so I was able to understand everything they talked about in terms of the robots and their classes, the explanations are very good in that sense.
I was nice reading about women in STEM, representation is always welcome, you never know who’ll need this kind of story to feel seen, and to see this being talked about in YA’s literature is amazing to me.
"I feel like I'm so aware of what I have to live up to, but also, what happens if I disappoint everyone?"
BEL, I FEEL YOU, I was extremely easy to relate with her because I've been in her shoes. The whole issue of deciding your future is very overwhelming and seeing how everyone around you is sure of what they want to do but you still don't know which way to go it’s tough. GOD, and all that on top of the panic of disappointing the people who trust you, let me cry for a second.
I really liked the whole development of the story, I think it flows in a very good way. AND TEO AND BEL, GOD I LOVE YOU, I was dying with every interaction they had.
I have the book full of notes and highlights, I can't wait for it to finally come out because I want to share everything I wrote down.
PS: This book made me discover my new favorite trope: Guys who become Swifties because the girl they like is a Swiftie.

My Mechanical Romance begins with Bel -who recently transferred to a new High School (senior year), making a catapult, a bizarre but very good, so much for her teacher to recommend her for AP classes and the Robotics Team. This is a love story, yes. But its also so much more: is about being vulnerable, about making yourself seen and heard. And what I liked the most: it was realistic. I fell in love with most characters but I felt like some needed more development than their quircks.
But I totally reccomend it.

My Mechanical Romance follows Bel and Teo, rivals on a school robotics team. New to the school. Bel is encouraged to try out for the team, and the team is impressed with her creativity and innovativeness. However, Teo is used to being in charge, and Bel can’t find a way to make friends with her academic rival. Teo doesn’t think Bel is serious enough about the team, but as the pair works together to build an unbeatable battle bot for an upcoming competition, Teo and Bel’s rivalry turns into something more.
This was a fun YA romance with great representation of women in STEM. Bel and Teo have a cute rivals-to-lovers romance that develops slowly over the course of the novel. Their banter and chemistry are great, and I like how they begin to learn more about each other and grow closer. They seem so different, but they complement each other well. At first, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Teo and saw many of the same things Bel saw – arrogance and loftiness. However, as the story progressed and I learned more about Teo, my opinions of him changed. I loved that about this book! The way people’s actions and words changed my initial perceptions were great and made me think about the validity of first impressions.
I also really liked many of the secondary characters, especially Dash and Jamie. They are so supportive and encouraging! I do wish some of the secondary characters were a bit more developed, as I didn’t really understand some of their actions, words, and motivations, especially the robotics teacher, a couple of the parents, and one member of the robotics team who is particularly rude and harsh.
The story definitely has some powerful messages about the difficulties women face in STEM-related fields. It’s also a good commentary on the inequities of the American education system. There are so many disparities depending on where people live and socioeconomic status, and this story sheds light on that. The story also focuses on pressures many teens face – college worries and ambitions, applications, relationships, school stress, and more. I think readers will find many aspects of the story really relatable.
I think this is a really good read for people who like YA contemporary romance, coming-of-age romances, and YA books with strong STEM elements. Plus, there are some really cool battle bot and robotics elements in the story! I enjoyed seeing the characters prepare for and compete in the battle bot arena. Special thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

An adorable YA romcom that involves robot building. Bel is at a new school for her senior year. She feels a bit aimless, just going through the motions to get by. In stark contrast is Teo. He is not only captain of the soccer team, but also captain of the Robotics club. When Bel is encouraged to join the team, she discovers a love she never knew she had before. And then there is Teo. As they work on the robots together, they get closer and closer. However, Bel also has to deal with difficulties of being a girl in what is traditionally seen as a boy/man's field.
This book was so cute! If you've ever seen Battlebots, the robotics competitions they fight in are basically the same exact format. I loved that this was not just about their romance but also about them finding themselves as well.
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

thank you to netgalley and holiday house for an eARC of this book!
Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olivie Blake) is one of my favorite authors so I expected to enjoy this, and I definitely did!
this dual POV, academic rivals to lovers, high school romance, tackles very relevant topics in an authentic way. the difficulties women (especially women of color) face in male-dominated fields, complicated family dynamics, micro-aggressions, and self confidence are all themes of this book. I loved the writing, the plot line, and the supportive friendships. The character development, of not only the main characters, was beautiful. I particularly loved Bel because I relate so much to her. I'm in love with her wit and sarcasm, and I would very much like to be her friend! Bel's journey of self-discovery is something I think everyone can connect with.
Bel and Teo's dynamic was so fun to read! Their banter and chemistry was adorable. Also the supporting characters were so well written, and I just loved how you could really connect with their struggles. I want to shout out Ms. Voss because I think we all need someone like her in our lives, and she was just dropping gems the entire book. Neelam's storyline is so complex! Like everyone, I didn't like her at first, but throughout the book I started to see her frustration and anger was a result of the way she's treated. I loved her monologue in the later half of the book; it captured so much from a real place and it was powerful. I appreciate that we got to see these girls with different personalities taking up space in their own way.
I also loved the diversity in this book! I particularly loved reading about the Holi festival!
Honestly, I think this book is expertly written. Everything feels so real, rather than forced or cringey, and I will definitely be buying the physical copy of this book when it comes out.
>> women in STEM have my entire heart! <<

thank you to netgalley and holiday house for an eARC of this book!
my mechanical romance is everything i want is a ya contemporary–its funny, fast paced, and the two main characters have perfectly written chemistry its palpable from the pages. the author does an incredible job with the combining a very cute romance with a plotline about how girls in stem, specifically engineering, deserve their place to shine, and i genuinely loved how it was written.
often times books with these types of concepts (see: misogyny in the workplace) are done poorly and i end up hating it, but this time around it was so well done i loved it. the main character, bel's, coming of age plotline was genuinely SO adorable and i love that it truly was her own journey, not one particularly tied to teo.
i genuinely loved the dynamic between teo and bel–it wasn't quite rivals to lovers, but that's as close a description as i can find and i just think they were SO cute. i mean, he learned taylor's discography for her. that's a win to me.
all in all a very cute ya romcom with a very cute ending. definitely one of my new favorites <3

Awh, this was so cute! There were several things I loved, especially seeing girls in STEM and kicking butt and that both main characters were POC and had bits of their culture sprinkled in. It makes me happy to see stories with a diverse cast and girls doing things that have been traditionally 'boys club' in the past. Who runs the world?!
Bel has been through some upheaval recently, with her parents separating and being moved to a new school for senior year. She doesn't know what she wants for her future and is struggling just to get through each day. She was a bit of a wishy-washy character, which wasn't my favorite, but I enjoyed her finding a passion and having people support her to follow her dreams.
Teo has grown up privileged and is feeling the pressure of his many commitments and the adults in his life. It was an interesting mash-up, because Teo has more help and support just for being a wealthy male, but he also has more pressure to succeed and lead every team he's on. Luckily he has a girl bulldoze into his life and flip everything upside down.
I thought the ending could have been a bit more developed, especially with the main characters relationship with their parents. The epilogue was super cute though and this was just a really fun story to read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Holiday House and NetGalley for the copy.

this was a very cute and fun read! i loved its depiction of stem environments as well as its portrayal of the many doubts students have regarding their futures. this book also did a great job at characterization and character development - it was great to see them grow and work through their issues. the humor was great, too. i’d definitely recommend this novel to anyone looking for a nice, lighthearted read!

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for a review)
I first saw this book was coming out when I was mindlessly browsing amazon and I immediately felt drawn to it. I don't know if it was because of the title or because of beautiful artwork but I knew I had to read it. And then I found out I can get an eARC on NetGalley so I jumped on that opportunity and let me tell you - I did not end up being disappointed. The only reason it took me so long to finish this book was three exams I had to pass in March and April that were basically back to back.
Everytime I picked up this book, I couldn't bring myself to put it down. The story was flowing, characters felt real and I couldn't wait to find out what happens to them. I also found myself wanting to scream at some of the characters and I feel like I had a good reason for that.
My unexpected favourite (who am I kidding, I knew I was going to love her when she was first mentioned) was Neelam. I wish there was an entire book just about her - I could read about her doing grocery shopping and I would be happy with it.
Right now I can't wait to put a physical copy of this book on my ever-growing bookshelf and to give it a reread. If you're thinking about picking up this book - please, do it. There's a good chance you won't be disappointed.

I was provided with an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
Okay. I have to admit. This is my first Olivie Blake book.
I have two others sitting on my shelves, I just haven't had the courage to read them yet. People rave about them so much I just can't bring myself to start them; my expectations are so high that I'm almost certain they will be disappointed.
That was kind of the case with this book? Unfortunately. 3.5 stars, rounded up to four because that last part really went off.
This book is being described as an enemies-to-lovers romance, but it really isn't. It's just a cute teen romance. (Just because the characters are ambigious towards each other instead of it being insta-love doesn't mean it's enemies-to-lovers! Oh my God!!!!) That doesn't take away from the sweetness of the romance, though. Not everything has to be enemies-to-lovers!
Otherwise, this book delivers on everything it's advertised to be. A cute romance, diversity, girls in STEM. If you're looking for some of that, this one is perfect.
The writing is fluid and easy to read, although it sometimes feels a bit disorganized and info-dumpy (a lot like my reviews), especially in the first few chapters, but after that it gets a lot better. It*s sweet and lighthearted and very enjoyable. The first-person POV switches between our two protagonists, Bel and Teo, but the writing style never adapts to that switch; their voices are exactly the same.
In the beginning, this book felt kind of slow, but the pace became more manageable towards the last third of the book. Furthermore, I very much dislike the fact how much this book dates itself, both with pop culture references and actual mentioned years, something that could have been avoided easily by just taking out the "MIT 2024" comment and making some of the pop culture references just a tad more ambiguous.
But my major problem with this book (and I assume that this is just a subjective, personal opinion) is that I was extremely annoyed with our male protagonist, Teo Luna. I just thought he was insufferable. That unbelievable attitude, paired with the mixture of I-have-to-do-so-much-to-be-respected-by-my-parents and everything-has-been-given-to-me-because-I'm-rich-and-popular just made me roll my eyes. Constantly. If I met this boy in real life, I would hate him so much. However, I do understand that this is my own opinion. And while it massively took away from my enjoyment of the book, if you like his character, I assume the book will be a lot better.

First things first, thank you netgalley for the arc!
Okay now onto the review!
One thing I adored in this book was the fact that it revolves around STEM. Even though it's nowhere near the STEM I'm currently working and learning in, I just love everything about it. Like I never knew I would get this excited about robots. Even if some paragraphs were an onslaught of information, I found myself devouring each word written (I finished this book in less than a day and that says something).
I felt like a giggling high schooler while reading this book. The interactions between the main couple, the ones with their friends.. ugh.. it was just one adorably cute book!!
The women empowering women part?! LOVED IT! It was much needed in this book because it reflects what usually happens in STEM for women. When men - and sometimes women themselves - look down on people just because they are missing a Y chromosome. So this aspect was much needed and it will definitely inspire little girls to see that everything boys are doing, girls can do too!
All in all, a very enjoyable read and I needed more. But also not really, because it was perfect just the way it is. I definitely recommend!

Made it through to 25%, however as much as I wanted to love this, I just don’t.
The title alone had me, and as the characters are young, I thought it would be different/unique. I’m not one for smut, really, especially with romance, so I was looking forward to this.
Nope, not for me :(
The writing was quite well done, so I’d give this 3/5 stars!

This book was the CUTEST. After The Love Hypothesis I have been devouring all things enemies/friends to lovers in STEM and this book just satiated my thirst.
Enemies(ish) to lovers - CHECK
STEM - Check
Robots - Didn’t even know I needed this but CHECK!
This book brought back my love for YA Contemporary Romance. I loved quirky and nerdy Isabel who despite being the new transfer student quickly made a name for herself. And our MMC golden child workaholic won me over with his witty banter with our girl Bel. I’m usually drawn more to the smutty side of Romance but I adored this palate cleanser which is definitely middle grade friendly.
If you’re looking for a cute, clean, quirky and feminist friendly romance then this is the book for you!

This novel is so cute and perfect! I love the protagonists in STEM! This sciency and cute novel is the perfect summer read for science romantics

This book was a bit out of what I usually read , but I loved it. To be honest , the robotics part threw me over the edge a bit but majority of it was well explained and easy to catch on.
I personally think Bel is an adorable badass, she dresses how she wants and she puts people in their place. I like the confidence that she built up over time ,it was inspiring to read.
I liked Teo as well , his personality and how he pushed Bel to be her best self. However I kept waiting for the part where he stood up to his father, for him to stop being the "obedient son".
Teo and Bels relationship was cute yet too slow , i expected more. Although their chemistry made up for it.
I liked how the book ended , Bel giving Neelam the chance to drive the robot was honorable. Although Neelam crawled under my skin throughout the whole book , the ending had me feeling proud and it was something unexpected.
All in all, i give this book 4 out of 5 stars
And I highly recommend it!