Thank you so much Net Galley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

The book had the academic rivals trope which I absolutely love! I thought it was a cute YA romance with great representation for women in STEM. I loved being able to read the evolution of both characters. It was a quick and fun read with double POV. Although, I love double POV I felt like POV switched between both characters a little too much.

My Mechanical Romance is a cute YA Romance that has a great representation of Women in STEM. This book was a very cute read that had the enemies to lovers trope in it. Bel and Teo started as academic rivals and eventually get to know one another after working closely together. I loved how this book shows the struggles a woman in the STEM field faces. I also really enjoyed watching the character evolution of both characters. Bel learned how to stand up for herself and really work as a team while Teo was able to see the many obstacles his female teammates faced in the STEM field. Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House and Alexene for this arc !!

I really really adored this book! It's definitely one of my favourite romances now I'm obsessed with it and everything about it!! I highly recommend reading it

4.25 stars ☆ An academic rivals to lovers and in STEM?! YES PLEASEEE.

I’m not gonna lie, I did struggle reading this book at the beginning because this story didn’t click or catch my interest that quick which made me put it off for a while (idk is it because I’m not used to reading YA romances that often) buttt when I did picked up again around 40%, the book was getting so freaking good.

I did enjoy reading this even though I’m not into or relate to STEM but this book made me feel like I’m a part of their robotics skills and it made me feel lowkey smart lmaooo. I also loved the diversity here.

Bel, I loved her personality, her compassion for doing the things she loves beside her struggles at first on what she wanted to pursue and everything to consider as you leave high school which for me was totally relatable. Oooh and the fact that she’s half filipino?! ahhh I was so happy that I can relate to her. My fellow filipino <3 (I also love her mom speaks a few tagalog words in the book which made me smile)

Teo, he doesn’t really interest me from the first half of the book but the second half?? he’s actually so sweet and I was just in love 🥹🫶🏻. He’s amazing.

Overall, this book was a perfect, fun and lovely read. Thank you to NetGalley, Holiday House and Alexene for this arc !! 🫶🏻

Overall : 5/5 Stars
Characters : 5/5
Setting : 5/5
Writing : 5/5
Plot and Themes : 5/5

Being a huge fan of the author's previous works under her adult pen name (aka Olivie Blake), I HAD to check out her newest release, and I have to say that it's been a long time since I enjoyed a YA book that much. And how could I not ? Alexene's writing has always been appealing to me, and how she manages to build her stories never fazes yo amaze me.

"My Mechanical Romance" is a cute academic romance, about hot nerds, finding your talent, and figuring your life out. Oh and did I mention it has an enemies to lovers trope ? Well it is extremely well done, it was everything I was looking for in a YA romcom. Our female lead, Bel is energetic, compassionate, and resourceful and she manages perfectly to dive into this STEM male dominated world that she is thrown in - where she meets Mateo (her soon to be rival). He is an interesting lead as well, driven, ambitious and so endearing. Their dynamic together was so good, there was never a dull moment and their character development throughout the book was amazingly done.

Not to mention that it has a diverse cast of characters and besides its lighthearted, romantic aspect, its funny moments, this novel approached so many serious issues, making me relate to it (being a woman in STEM myself) and loving it every pages a little more. It was a pleasure to read it and discover our characters's emotional and physical journey.
A guilty pleasure of mine which made me enjoy it even more : the Taylor Swift references ;)

Overall, as expect Alexene didn't disappoint at all. She delivered the perfect rivals to lovers in engineering novel I was looking for, and didn't knew I needed and I will definitely reread. I suggest you all to secure a copy on may 31st.

Was this book super cute and maybe a little cheesy? yes. did i absolutely love it? also yes. I loved the plot and how fast paced this book was! I also really liked the main character and related to her a lot. Bel has such a unique and exciting personality and I felt like I didn’t know what she was gonna do next! And Teo Luna is definitely the super cute high school bf that I fall absolutely head over heels for in books.
Something about this book that I loved is the amount of depth each character has so we weren’t just reading about the same two people but you learn about the other people who are influencing their lives. Which most romcoms don’t have this many interesting characters.
I loved the plot, and although I’ve never taken any stem classes or know anything about robots it was easy to follow and very fun! And I like that the author had female and racial representation in the book which made it all the better!
An easy quick read and would highly recommend:)

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for this E-ARC in exchange for a honest review!

For someone who absolutely hates science, this book was AMAZING!! This academic rivals to lovers in STEM was so cute!

The characters are FILLED with personality, which I think is what made me drawn to this book. Bel’s POV was full of energy and compassion. Teo was made out to be not to perfect, even though most of the characters believed he was perfect. Most of the friendship dynamic was written well, even though my least favorite character was Neelam, especially in the beginning of this book. I gained a little bit of respect for her at the end of the book.

The amount of details that the author wrote about robotics made me feel like I was learning robotics but in a fun kind of way.

This book is not only about robotics and love, but it’s about finding out what you want, what you are good at, and how much you love what you do.

I had such an awesome time while reading this book! I have discovered a love for these kinds of clean and witty rom-coms and this one was by far the best yet. It never failed to bring a smile to my face but I also appreciated how raw it remained at times which is a hard thing to balance but it worked out so well here! The characters were so relatable and funny and I think that the dual view point narrative worked really well for the MC’s. I was here for the diversity of the cast as well which I though was awesome! What I liked about Bel was how confident she was in her individuality. I bet the author had a lot of fun thinking up her different outfits and it was really cool to see Bel not dress for anyone but herself. I also thought that the resolution of her college dilemma fit perfectly with her character and it did a great job of tying up the book.

I could also identify a lot with Teo’s character and how he felt responsible for the success of his team which caused the team to lean on him too hard at times and the freedom which he found in relinquishing that responsibility to those he trusted. Bottom line, both characters underwent positive changes that, in no way left them perfect, but in a much different and better place than they’d started which is always fun to reflect on as a reader! One cool thing I discovered while reading this book is that the author also writes under the pen name Olivie Blake whose books are blowing up on Tiktok and other platforms right now! I’m not really interested in the books she writes under that name but it was pretty neat to discover that they are one and the same person.

Overall, this book was so fun and refreshing and just the pick-me-up I needed. I am so happy to have discovered a new favorite in this one and would highly recommend grabbing a copy when it's released! Happy Reading :)

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.
It is 4.5 ⭐ actually.

“What he and I have together is the best thing we’ve ever built.”

>What’s this about?<
Bel has no interest in thinking about her future. But that might change when she reveals her talent for engineering at her new school. She never thought girls could be in a robotic team, but there she is now, being one of the two women in the team.

The bad thing? Boys think the best thing is just ignoring Bel and Neelam because they are not good assets for the team. But Teo Luna, team’s captain, recognizes Bel has a lot of potential. After nights of hard work, Bel is starting to care more about robotic. And even more about Teo.
They realize that they are not building just robots, but maybe something bigger.

>What do I think about it?<
The title and the cover caught my eye right away. I knew I was going to like it. But I didn’t like it, I LOVED IT. The representation of women in STEM should be the main topic for more novels.

This is not a simple romance novel. Is a novel about how hard is being 18 and having so many doubts about: Where do you see yourself in the future? Are you good at this? Should you study that?
Having eighteen is the worst, and Bel and Teo represented that very well. Bel had so many doubts about college. On the other hand, Teo knew exactly what he wanted for his future. They are the representation of how a choice can change your entire life.

The relationship between them is the cutest thing. I thought it was an enemies-to-lovers but is more a colleagues-to-lovers. I have no complaints with them. Teo was so thoughtful as a boyfriend and as a leader. And Bel was so self-confident determined to discover what was best for her future.

I felt really identified with them. I was like Teo when I was eighteen, the leader that always had lots of work just to have the perfect grades. But, I also was like Bel, I lost a great scholarship just for not being complete aware of what I wanted for my future.

My highlight is the epilogue. It was just perfect.

So, why do I recommend it? Because it is perfect for those that are about to go to college and for those women that think that they can’t be scientists.

From Bel I learned that the college doesn’t define the person, you have to build your own future. From Teo I learned that sometimes you just have to let other to do your work. And from The Girls I learned that both men and women are capable to do the same things, like building robots or being presidents.

I want to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before its release.

Rating:
5/5 stars

Tropes:
-Academic Rivals/ Enemies to lovers
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Found Family
-WOC in stem

Favorite Quote: "Because she surprise me, because she makes me laugh, and because of this, whatever it is with her, is the only thing I ever do that's easy. "

I started this book with low expectations and did not think I would enjoy it as much as I did! Bel and Teo's relationship was downright wholesome. Their interactions made my heart want to combust due to all the feels and their back and fourth banter made me laugh. I liked that the story showed both characters developing individually while, also growing together from a relationship standpoint. We see Bel transitioning from a girl who feels a bit lost when it comes to navigating her future to finally gaining the confidence to "take up her space in life". Teo on the other hand feels he has to fix everyone's problem in life to slowly learning that is not always the case.

In addition, I also liked how this book did not only focus on the romance in story but, a variety of different issues as well. This book showcased the struggles women face when it comes to choosing a STEM career to the struggles of finding your passions in life. Overall, I definitely recommend this book! I can definitely see myself rereading this book and will spend the next month forcing all my friends to read it once it comes out.

This was a joy to read! I loved every minute I spent reading this.

This story follows Bel, a transfer student who is not sure what she wants to do with her life, and Teo, smart and mysterious bad boy type who has his whole life planned out. On a teachers recommendation. Bel joins the robotics team with Teo and a bunch of other amazing characters (Shoutout to Dash <3 ) Teo and Bel start out the story butting heads but when they spend some time together, they start to see the best parts of each other.

This book was so incredibly cute! I do not have a background or understanding of the engineering topics in this book but it didn't take away from my enjoyment. I loved seeing girls in STEM and the STEM aspect of the book was pushed to the background, it was a very important and present theme in the book. I can't wait to see what my friends think of this one when it comes out later this year.

Thank you NetGalley and Holiday House for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

There is so much I want to say about this book but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

Let’s start with Bel. Bel is such a genuinely likable character. I think a lot of people will relate to her, even those of us who aren’t teens anymore. Her character growth through the book is nothing short of amazing.

Oh Teo. This guy carries the weight of his whole world on his shoulders. Everything I want to say about Teo would spoil parts of the book so I’m just going to say, he’s perfect for Bel and you’ll have to read the book to find out why.

One thing I want to add, the author did an amazing job of depicting women in STEM (and in life in general) and how much harder we have to work for things that are just given to men. Things like promotions, responsibility, and recognition. As someone who is working towards a degree in a male dominated STEM field, thank you for not ignoring the challenges women face in these industries.

This is such an adorable romcom focused on STEM! And, unlike some STEM related books, is actually focused on STEM for a large part of the book and shows how it affects the characters and their lives. It has the perfect amount of pop culture references and witty banter to make you smile. I loved the spin with the MC not truly knowing what she wants to do as usually STEM characters are so insanely devoted to their work and what they want to do that it consumes them. But this book shows that not everyone knows which is much more in tune with high schoolers trying to figure out what in the world they want to do with their lives. I don't typically read high school romance (solely because I'm older than the MCs which feels a little weird), but I thought this story was adorably dorky.

Long story short, if you're a fan of YA romance, witty banter, The Love Hypothesis, and pop culture, this is the book for you!

Review will be poatwd to Amazon closer to oub date.

Review:
God, I love this book. I was provided an ARC by the publisher (thank you!) but will also be purchasing my own physical copy to highlight and share with my daughter someday. This book is so important. I highlighted half of the book because it had me crying laughing and the other half because it had me just crying.

First off, let’s get the amazing premise out of the way. Coming of age POC academic rivals to lovers? Featuring girls in STEM building battle robots? Sold. Sign me up.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way…

I was the girl in high school who was an academic overachiever and no idea of what she wanted to do with her life. Because, ya know, all children must have set all their long-term academic and career goals by the age of sixteen *insert eyeroll*. I was a girl who felt shame and guilt for her uncertainty of the future because she was supposed to have big plans, she was supposed to be someone special. And I was also the girl who received comments about how often she smiled, how nice she was, and how those kinds of things couldn’t go hand in hand with being smart.

I needed this book then. I needed to know that it was okay if I didn’t get it all right on the first try. That I could take up space and make myself be heard. That I could be whatever kind of girl I wanted to, and wear what I wanted to, and eat what I wanted to, and enjoyed what I wanted to. That I could be so multi-faceted that I sparkled and shined and blinded.

So yeah, this book is special. My Mechanical Romance is a lovely high school romance story, and its also so much more. I hope every girl gets a chance to read it and feel seen too.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5/5 stars. I really enjoyed this book! It's told from two POVs and focuses on robotics competitions, how girls and women are treated in STEM, the feelings associated with completing high school and grappling with what the future holds, and high school friendships and romance. Bel and Teo were dynamic characters whose motivations and actions made sense throughout the story. Their romance was believable and fit the context it was meant for (high school), and I was rooting for them! You could see how the two characters fit together and understand why it couldn't just be anyone else. The robotics competitions were also very entertaining! Additionally, the writing was fun, lighthearted, and engaging.

I do wish the passage of time felt a bit less jarring throughout the novel; it didn't feel like any time passed at all⁠— even when the text said it did⁠— which made the romance between Bel and Teo seem faster than it was. I also wish the book was a bit longer because that would have given us more time to explore both Bel and Teo's home lives. While their struggles with their families were briefly mentioned, there wasn't much of a resolution, especially for Teo. However, I can appreciate that not every issue a character deals with can be resolved in that moment of their life, and this story is just a snapshot of these characters' lives, but it did feel like Bel's POV was a bit stronger than Teo's at times.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable read!

My Mechanical Romance was a really fun read that I enjoyed more than I thought I would!

It tells the story of Bel, who has just transfered to a new school for her senior year following her parents' divorce, and Teo, who is the star of the robotics team at this school.
Bel doesn't know what she wants to do in the future, even though the deadline for college applications is drawing nearer and nearer. It takes the advice of a teacher who sees her potential to push her in the right direction: She joins the robotics team and quickly learns to love engineering. This is also where she meets Teo, and while they butt heads at the start, they eventually see that they can work together very well and maybe even more than that...

The first thing I really liked about this book is that it is told through both Bel's and Teo's point of views, which is not all that common in romance fiction. It gives great insight into both main characters and makes both of them very likeable. While the author's writing is very fun and easy to read, this isn't just your typical romance novel. Both Bel and Teo have quite complicated family dynamics - Bel has to come to terms with the aftermath of her parents divorce and Teo has a workaholic, perfectionist father who wants him to be the same way and doesn't really show much interest in him apart from his academic successes.

The fact that the characters don't have "perfect" lives makes the story feel realistic. This is also true for the other characters, especially Neelam, who may seem unpleasant but whose behavior is actually quite understandable given what she has to deal with.

Most important of all, this is a story that feels encouraging! The message is loud and clear: Girls belong in STEM just as much as boys do! However, they often have to fight a lot harder and have to prove themselves over and over again, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't try.

This book was exactly what I wanted it to be, that is how I am going to start this.

First, I would like to thank Netgalley with providing me with an eARC! It is always a pleasure to read books for you.

We meet two narrators, Bel and Teo, who are seniors in high school dealing with difficulties such as friends, school, their families, college... all that jazz that we deal as teenagers. Olivie has a way of making us fall in love with all of her characters, even the minor ones (I would die for Neelam), and even if the 'real' plot started a little bit late I did not mind for how lovable all the characters were.

This should be the new 'love hyphotesis'!

Ok, I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting from this book... but it wasn't that. It is exactly what a STEM romance should be. Unlike other "STEM" romances, the STEM element is actually important to the plot (and the characters), it's not just a side note. Not only that, but it was enemies to lovers too. Definitely one of the best romance books I've read in a long time.

The book had really good pacing throughout. Really interesting characters, especially Neelan. I absolutely loved the ending! On the one hand, it had a really satisfying and unambiguous ending, but it also left the door WIDE open for a sequel (which I would love to see).

It is a YA book, so don't expect some literary masterpiece - but it is overwhelmingly enjoyable. Would recommend.

3.5

To be honest, it was the name of the book that drew my attention to it, I remember giving it a good chuckle and then being intrigued about the plot.

Bel is a senior and she is the new girl at the private school that is "like a weird laboratory for startup CEOs" and one of the things she hates the most is being asked what she wants to do with her life. Ironically, her teacher notices her potential and innate aptitude for engineering when she fails to turn in her homework on time and manages to encourage her to try out for the robotics team. As a result, she meets Teo, the leader of the team and straight-A student everybody has a crush on (he's also overly stressed and the soccer team captain). From there we are being teleported to high school days of teenagers building robots and trying to figure out their lives and career choices.

A quick, fun and lighthearted read involving rivals to "academic colleagues" to lovers and showcasing challenges women face in STEM. I really enjoyed the double POV, although I would have loved to have Bel and Teo interacting way more outside of school while figuring out their feelings and developing their friendship.

I love seeing smart girls be smart and funny and absolutely unapologetic about being themselves! Bel was such an interesting character and I really loved how she slowly discovered things that she loved despite feeling like she had nothing figured out!

And Mateo?! He was absolutely adorable and nerdy and also needed a hug. I loved getting to see his POV and see his relationship with his parents and how he struggled to match up with how others saw him versus what he wanted to be.

While I loved their relationship, I think what really made the book enjoyable for me was how each character got their own arc and grew. Usually when reading a dual POV it can be hard to differentiate between the two characters but this book did such a good job of individualizing each of the POVs and creating amazing growth outside of the relationship.

I had so much fun reading about this robot fighting competition! As someone who knows absolutely zero things about this, it was still really fun and I could really imagine everything in my head!

Also, shoutout to Neelam because it made me so excited to see my friend’s name in a book 😆 She was such an interesting character and I loved the discussions she and Bel brought to the book, especially in regards to being women in STEM!

If you want a book with iconic first kisses, robotics competitions, trying to figure out what you want to do with your life, interesting family dynamics and wonderful supportive friendships, then you should definitely check this one out!