A perfect YA romance for fans of rivals to lovers! I thought it was very sweet and was an addictive read for those looking for a wonderful romance with great representation and discussions of women in STEM.

I recently had the pleasure of reading My Mechanical Romance, a YA romance novel by Alexene Farol Follmuth. I don’t usually turn to YA romance because I tend to stick with new adult stories but I am glad I ventured out of my comfort zone! The story revolves around Bel, who is forced to join the robotics club at school and butts heads with the captain, Teo. As they work together to build a battle-ready robot for a championship, their rivalry turns into something more.

One of the things I loved about this book was how it tackled the difficulties women face in STEM fields, the American education system's inequities, and the pressures many teens face, all while offering great STEM representation for women. The secondary characters were also a great addition, offering support and encouragement to the protagonists.

Bel and Teo's relationship was well developed and their communication was spot on. It was refreshing to see a book couple talk to each other about what was bothering them so clearly. I loved seeing Bel grow in confidence and stand up to the people around her who have always put her in a box. I only wish that they were rivals for a smidge longer because that would have really added to the tension and made the happy ending so much more delicious in my opinion.

The town in which the story is set was also a highlight for me. It was cozy and I enjoyed meeting all of the characters and wanted to spend more time with them in the end. I do wish there was little more development for some of the characters though just because I liked them so much that having more would have been great!
I also didn’t know this at the time of reading but the author, Alexene Farol Follmuth, is the same person who wrote the Atlas Six which is a fantasy novel so it was cool to see her be able to switch between genres!
Overall, My Mechanical Romance was a good read, perfect for those who enjoy YA contemporary and coming-of-age romances, especially with STEM elements

This was such an interesting and incredible read, there was such depth and intrigue. I found myself completely entranced by the story.

If you're looking for a rollercoaster of emotions and unexpected twists, this book is for you! With vivid characters and a gripping plot, "My Chemical Romance" kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Follmuth's writing style is engaging and poetic, and the story deals with some deep themes like grief, addiction, and mental health in a sensitive way. I highly recommend it!

Robotics is one of those subjects that I was interested in as a kid but because I didn’t get any encouragement, the interest just sort of… fizzled. This book just reminded me that trying to break into a STEM field as a woman is not easy.

Bel kind of just falls into robotics and only then does she discover her passion for it. I love reading about her journey, finding something new that she ends up falling in love with.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. (The version I read was a finished copy.)

I had high hopes for this book, and they were met. It's YA but not cringey. The plot is well executed, and the writing is superb (as expected from Olivie Blake, aka Alexene). The characters are relatable, especially Bel, dealing with the pressure of uncertainty while others have their plans. The book addresses the issue of women in STEM, challenging stereotypes. The national competition was a proud moment for Neelam and Bel. The sweet and wholesome epilogue wraps it up. Overall, it's a must-read that exceeded my expectations.

Thank you, Netgalley and the publishers for the arc

I really enjoyed this YA novel! There is something about the cute slow burn of a highschool romance. I love any book with STEM. It would recommend this book and did actually recommend it to my young teenage daughter.
A sincere thank you to NetGallery for this book.

Cute and lighthearted. Bel and Teo have very sweet banter and I love how the book lightly addresses the issues of gender in STEM (particularly how subconscious biases from educators affects girls’ participations in STEM in schools).

Highly recommend reading this AND listening to it (at once)☺️

I actually got this as a digital ARC a long time ago and didn't download it before it expired. But I did really want to read it and finally got a chance to listen to the audio. I'll be honest, it took a little while for me to get into it (and to appreciate the narrators) but I really enjoyed it and found it a super quick listen. This is a great young adult novel and I think the author found a good balance in letting each character be flawed and grow and not *need* each other - which I appreciate in any romance but is even more important for young adults. The characters were well developed and I liked the way the friend, family and school dynamics were weaved in. The drama level was just right for some the relatively well-adjusted characters. And I am always happy for some girl power (in STEM no less.)

Darn, I was sort of disappointed by this book in the end. The premise sounded amazing and I was super excited to get into it, but the relationship kind of let me down. I went into this expecting Ali Hazelwood for teens, but I didn't feel the tension in this supposed enemies-to-lovers book. Since the title even has 'romance' in it, that was what I was most looking forward to, so I'm pretty bummed. The main character was quirky, but I feel like I was never able to fully connect with her, which was such a let down! I originally went to college for a STEM field, so I thought I would be able to feel emotionally attached to her, but that didn't really happen. Maybe it's because this is set in high school and it's been awhile since I was there, but some of the actions of the background characters felt a bit unbelievable. For example, when they're at the robotics competition and the captains of the opposing team are giving our main girl slack for being there, it was hard to match up with my own experiences. Sure, there was a lot of doubt about my abilities from my male classmates in STEM classes, but they weren't so forward about their discrimination. If anything, I feel like they were scared to talk to me because I was a girl LOL. I'm sure that this book is really great for girls who have had similarly disheartening experiences with peers and teachers, but that just wasn't my experience most of the time. I still think it's definitely a valuable subject to talk about, but it wasn't for me. Since I couldn't connect on this front and the romance wasn't anything super special, it was just a middle of the road read for me. I'd definitely be interested in checking out future YA released from this author, though.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was enjoyable and the characters were likeable. We all love women in stem. I liked the book a lot and would recommend though I did find myself skimming some pages here and there.

This was such a surprising read for me. As i didn't expect much from this book but got so much! It was beautiful, sweet, cute and so much! 🥺❤️

Loved it! Thanks Netgalley for rhe ARC!

The novel has a lot of potential, but it ultimately falls short. The characters are not well-developed, and the plot is predictable. The writing is also clunky and awkward at times.Overall, My Mechanical Romance is a disappointing read. The characters are not well-developed, the plot is predictable, and the writing is clunky. I would not recommend this novel to anyone.

3.25 I cannot seem to get into this authors writing. I’ve tried her Fantasy series and could not get into either. That being said I think there is a large audience that would enjoy this book it was cute and quirky. My main issue was the pacing it felt like there were parts of the story that were unnecessary drawn out and I got bored with while other parts such as the romance felt like it needed to be more flushed out. Overall I really enjoyed the plot I found the world of robot fighting intriguing so much show I was more interested in that then the characters. I will say though I do find myself enjoying these STEM romances and hope to see many more. I want to thank Netgalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I am beginning to think I will love every book this author writes! I don't read much Romance Ya anymore, unfortunately it's a genre I don't like much anymore but, this book completely won me over! Amazing characters, addictive story and a super fast and fluid read!

I’ve been looking for a book for the 8th graders in my class, who are really into building, maker spaces, and STEM/STEAM in general. This book is it! With real, spunky characters who stand up for themselves and what they believe in, this book will give teenagers the fun read they need while still reinforcing all the good things.

Loved this YA Stem rom com. Gave me Ali Hazelwood vibes only YA, and loved that it was about robotics which isn’t one of the sciences I’ve seen covered before in rom coms. Bel and Mateo’s acquaintances to lovers storyline was really enjoyable and I can’t wait to read more by the author. 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

If you have any pre-conceived notions about "YA romance" type novels being too formulaic without enough substance, throw those notions out with this one.

Although the attraction between sassy Bel and the charming Teo is evident early on, this story is so much more.than just the love story. Intermixed with budding romance is Bel's introduction to the robotics club and all their hard work preparing for their upcoming competition. Interpersonal relations between club members in both positive and negative ways adds spice as the group discovers each other's strengths as life throws curveballs

Teo, Bel, and all the supporting characters were a joy to read about. Everyone had such depth and the robotics competition added an extra layer of anticipation into the reading experience!

"My Mechanical Romance" é um livro que aborda temas importantes, como a representatividade feminina na ciência e a pressão social sobre os jovens em relação aos planos futuros. A autora, Alexene Farol Follmuth, constrói personagens cativantes e bem desenvolvidos, que têm que lidar com questões familiares, pressão escolar e as expectativas sociais em relação ao futuro. A forma como a autora aborda o tema do preconceito de gênero é sutil, mas muito impactante, mostrando como ele está presente em todas as esferas da vida, inclusive na escola e nas relações pessoais. É uma história sobre amor, amizade, perseverança e representatividade feminina na ciência. Com uma narrativa bem equilibrada entre robótica e romance, é um livro que vale a pena ser lido por todos aqueles que buscam uma leitura inspiradora e emocionante.

This was such a fun, adorable and quick read. Loved the main characters and the plot. It was a little slow at times, but not at all boring.

The relationship between Teo and Bel however was my absolute favorite part of the book. Seeing them slowly become friends and then seeing that blossom into love was so precious. They really cared about each other and seeing that, warmed my heart!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher, Holiday House, for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!