4.25 This was such a cute and fast, easy read. I’m honestly so surprised I liked this book as much as I did. I just couldn’t put this book down.

The characters and plot felt well developed and realistic. The struggles the seniors went through were very relatable to me as someone who recently graduated.

In the synopsis and in the book, they are said to be enemies to lovers, but they’re not enemies at any point in the story. And I wouldn’t say they were academic rivals either.

I do think the romance could have been a bit better. I did really enjoy the romance but I just felt something was missing.

I loved that this was about women in STEM and about the challenges they go through, like the sexism in STEM. At one point in the story it did kind of feel like it was being shoved down our throats, but all the other times it didn’t feel like that.

I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and cute YA romance book with dual POV!

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, huge thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an advanced reader's copy in exchange of a honest review. All thoughts are on my own.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. It's amazing and cute and sweet and fluffy and everything I love to read in a romcom.

But I do have to say that this is NOT an academic rivals to lovers, they were never rivals, more like strangers to colleagues to lovers. It doesn't mean it's less cute.

I loved Bel and Teo, I loved how complex they are as characters, I could particularly connect with Isabel due to all her doubts about college (which I had), her complicated feelings towards her father (which I have) and how she felt towards Teo.

This book also has many messages towards women in STEM and feminism and I think it's a great read for girls that want to be scientists or engineers and to read a cute love story.

Can't wait for the book to come out (which is conveniently on my birthday) and buy it! It's a 10/10.

This was so cute and easy to read. Enemy to lovers is something I can't say no to so when I saw this book I knew I needed to read it. And oh God, it didn't disappointed me at all.

I quickly realized that this book was amazingly written. I never expected to start reading this book and become hooked in the first few chapters.
Firstly, I loved seeing Bel go through her senior year of high school unknowing of what she wanted. It felt so real and I could really feel her astonishment when she realized what she wanted to do in college. The robotics element was there, but it wasn’t overpowering to the plot. It was really the perfect balance.
I also really enjoyed the relationships that grew in the book. The most obvious being between between Teo and Bel. I really loved how the relationship grew, it wasn’t too fast but it also wasn’t too slow. The friendship bonds between Bel and the robotics team were also written amazingly.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an eARC copy of this novel.

Cute read! Loved the connection with girls in engineering, and the nerdy being hot was something not seen very often in YA. Hot boys can like robotics and soccer-love that. Girls can be into science and engineering fields, too. Heck yes! Nice female teacher mentor in here as well. Full review on Goodreads

rating- 4.5/5
Hands down the best ARC i've received till date, no kidding.

Like the author just SERVED woc in STEM and academic rivals to lovers with no warning whatsoever. Did I mention it's also dual pov???? It's definitely making it to my 'Books i will pay you to read' shelf (The title isn't literal, i'm broke.)

(review may contain spoilers after this point)
THOUGHTS
I absolutely loved this book. The writing style felt very casual that helped the narrative of the book. The plot and the characters were extremely well developed and felt three dimensional and realistic throughout. The friendship dynamics were also really well done. Every single character felt complex, realistic and had their own form of development. Bel had actual problems and thoughts that weren't limited to the male protagonist. Her parents going through a divorce, not knowing what she wanted to do with her life, feeling alone., etc. Teo despite being more privileged than Bel, also had his own set of problems. The evolution of their relationship also felt very natural and was so much fun to read. The side characters felt fleshed out despite little description. Can we please talk about Neelam. Absolutely loved her. Her whole dynamic with Bel seemed so natural, even during the animosity. (no typical mean girl bull-crap. because let's be real, we don't have those in real life after middle school.)
Coming back to Bel and Teo's relationship. my heart. my absolute fucking heart. Teo's pov about Bel>>>. Honestly this is the standard. They have such an easy going, normal relationship which again, I LOVE SO MUCH. Give me all the normalcy in romantic relationships and i will absolutely devour it.

The pacing of the book was also really well done. Despite it being generally on the slower side, I was completely invested and didn't want the pace to be faster, at any point.
Last but not the least, the ending was perfect. The author already had me in a chokehold by this point, but the epilogue just made everything better.

The only problem I think people might find with it is the technical jargon. The plot does have a lot of physics terms. I love learning new things and eat that shit up. But i could see how a lot of people might not like this. However I do want to say that Bel doesn't use a lot of terms until much later. So for most part of the book, things are also explained in simplistic terms.
Another problem I had was, easing myself into the author's writing style. I found that Alexene Farol Follmuth / Olivie Blake writes in continuous sentences? Like she uses longer sentences than most authors do. My brain took a chapter or two to get used to this, but I devoured the book once I did.

Finally, I think the reason I enjoyed this book the most, was because I found comfort in the problems faced by Bel being a woc in STEM. I'm a south asian girl, in sciences and despite being from a country where everybody is essentially brown, there is a large amount of discrimination based on colour here and needless to say, TONS of sexism. I've never felt more understood tbh. My kindle is FILLED with notes because I would aggressively highlight everything i related to.
I loved that most instances of sexism in the books aren't blaringly obvious. The intricate way these instances are written in the book also stood out to me, for eg: something as simple as the conversations with Mac to extreme cases like Richardson (yes people like these exist). It felt extremely realistic and are things that have happened to every other woman at some point in life.

My Mechanical Romance has easily made it to my favourites and I'm definitely getting a physical copy as soon as it comes out. Please. go. read. this. book. as SOON as it comes out. You're definitely missing out if you don't.

i love reading books about women in STEM and this was one of the reason I loved this book. we all know that it's not easy for a woman when she decides to pursue STEM as a career and same thing happens with our main female character of the book , BEL . She is confused about her career and with her parent's divorce and moving to a new school it's tough experience for her. The author described struggle so splendidly that I can relate with Bel. I love Bel's character so much. She is smart , reliable and funny. and what can I say about Bel and Teo's relationship , It was so cute!
so if you're looking for YA romance with cute love story , woman in STEM and brilliant family dynamic , I'd surely recommend this book.
Thank you Netgalley , publisher and Author for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
5/5
It was a bit slow for my taste but honestly, I was okay with it. This had one of my favorite troupes, academic rivals to lovers. Also loved the women in STEM representation, I feel like a lot of books these days are showing women in more male-dominated industries, and I love it. I also really related to her struggle to work in a team. Overall I loved this book, it was cute, fun, and uplifting.

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

This book was such a fun and fast-paced read. I could not put it down. The characters were so enjoyable and relatable. I loved the academic rivals to lovers romance and how it was incorporated into a STEM environment. Bel and Teo’s growth and development throughout the book was so well done. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a cute YA romance!

This book was adorable! Had a blast reading this definitely going to pick up a copy to have a beach read this summer!! Plus the titles play on one of my favorite bands!!!

Robots, Girls in STEM, and drama--Oh My!

We get to know Bel during her senior year of High School, avoiding college applications, extracurriculars, and honestly every typical thing that a High School senior might want to participate in. When she is forced into joining the school's robotics club, a typical bro club. Even the only other girl in the club seems to hate her for getting into the club purely on Mateo Luna's instinct that Bel would be an asset.

As Bel and Mateo spend more time together in the club and outside working on their combat-ready robot, they've given themselves more in the long run.

The humor and honesty about challenges girls face in STEM was excellently portrayed in My Mechanical Romance. Bel is not what you would consider to be an over achiever but she's also not a slacker like she makes it out to be either. She sees the world in a way that helps her in physics and robotics.

The complexity of Bel and her personal life give ebb and flow to the story. We get to see Bel working to make herself a fixture and make a permanent place for her in the robotics club, all while dealing with the ramifications of her parents divorce. Her journey to find her place is not perfect, it is a bumpy and tough road to battle.

I felt like the depiction of her parents divorce and wanting to hide what you're doing because you don't want to upset them was a very true and valid representation of an actual experience for a high school senior. I Loved the uplifting of other women, and how some may not see it as such and instead of discussing how to do it better they fight.

Overall this was a great lighthearted read for anyone interested in STEM or wanting to learn how not to exclude someone. Which is why I gave this a 4/5 stars.

Between romance, robots, friendship, and the dilemma of what to do with one's life after high school, this book has something for almost every reader, and Follmuth balances the joys and heartaches of senior year with skill. The plot is quick-moving but doesn't skimp on the banter, both friendly and romantic, and fans of happy endings will certainly not leave this book disappointed, though the resolution is less predictable and pat than many romance stories. Bel and Teo's personalities shine through, as do those of secondary characters, while some of the background cast tended towards one-dimensional; I was reminded little of War and Speech by Don Zolidis in the specific details of a high school extracurricular, except this had way more people of color and a more balanced tone. I will recommend this to readers who want a PG-friendly romance with a substantial non-romance base and a hearty dose of nerdiness.

⌜★★★★✰⌟

Thanks to the people of NetGalley, the Holiday House publisher, and Alexene Farol Follmuth for this ARC.

๑ Dual POV

๑ Standalone

✼ ----------- ✼

:·.☽ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 ☾.·:

➛ So, it looks like STEM novels are over to stay and I love it, seriously, I could read thousands of them. Now, we have a pretty sweet and cuddly YA to pass the time; but I assure you it'd become one of your favorites.

➛ Senior year is always the hardest. From there I tell you that the book was very relatable... As a recent graduate from school, i also feel that anxiety and that uncertainty of not knowing what's next. So they get a point for it. In addition, the whole dynamic between the characters (students, teachers, and parents) is so conventional something like a slice of life that it's not difficult for me to see myself in that situation.

➛ As if that were not enough, the feminist characters and the message that ALL the characters give us is great, especially for the audience for which it is directed. I think that the target of this book should read it, yes or yes, there is no loss

"We all know the male ego is notoriously fragile. Even the cutes ones are a lost cause"

:·.☽ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 ☾.·:

➛ Absolutely all the characters are great... Even the teachers (I don't even know Mac, ok?). Anyway, somehow it's very easy to feel comfortable reading them. The author does such a good job that I wish I'd read more of them if I could.

‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ↬ Bel (♀): My dear bel canto. By far, one of the most real and authentic characters you can find in YA right now. I love her personality, and in a certain way, I accompany her in the stress and anxiety to see how everyone advances and one barely knows how to walk (I don't know if you understand me, but ok). Her dialogue and her POV are fresh and funny, she feels like talking to a friend, and I like that feeling.

‎‍‍‍‍‍‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‏‏‎‎ ‏‏‎‎ ↬ Teo (♂): Ngl, if you asked me what I thought of him in the first pages I would've said that I hated him... luckily, that changed. I also felt connected to him in some way, the desire to live up to all expectations and not let anyone down is something I have also dealt with (and do). Umh... WHat? I'm sorry, new book bf? Maybe...

➛ Of course, I can't ignore the romance. God? Yes, hello, hmm, I want something like that. Thanks. Seriously, I wouldn't have such high expectations if I didn't read these books, but you can't blame me, you and I are on the same page. They are so sweet and had me fangirling every time they blinked. I liked the communication between them, the space they give each other, and how they went from wanting to cut each other's throats to smiling every time they see each other

:·.☽ 𝑩𝒐𝒏𝒖𝒔 ☾.·:

➛ Let's talk about this cover. Is there something more beautiful? No, okay. I do judge a book by its cover and this one made me fall in love at first sight.

➛ If you're reading this and wondering "But I don't know anything about robots, how am I going to understand him?" Listen to me carefully, I was thinking the same thing; but no. Things are so easy to understand that I even felt like an expert. So there's no excuse, go buy it as soon as it comes out.

✼ ----------- ✼
first read: 4 stars (mar, 2022)

I've been LOVING this nerdy kick with all this romance books! Reading about women in STEM literally brings a tear to my eyes. REPRESENTATION MATTERS!

I loved the rivalry and banter between Bel and Teo. Loved seeing their romance grow and develop as the book went on. The way that the two of them built each other up and supported each other's goals was exactly the reason why I read romance novels.

Overall I just adored this book and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

(4.5*)
Oh Gosh, where to start'? I've loved everthing of this book since its first page.

Bel's narration style is catchy and funny, but it could be serious and most importantly reletable too, while Teo's is more composed but at the same time confused about things that are out of his control; the author did a good job in potraying their characters in the way they interacted with the reader.

The romance was good, and gradual, and this made me like the novel even more (even tho I think an even more in depth analysis of the start of their feelings might have made it perfect).
I loved how their characters were so different, almost complete opposites, so that they would initially only crush against each other, but then, in the end, help them become better versions of themselves. And so Bel, at first unsure about her future and with a non-existent approach to life, became more self conscious about it but most importantly about herself and her passions, while Teo, who forced himself to be the best at everything and the backbone of everyone, who had anything under control, learns how to be calmer and let things happen, step by step.

Despite some narration choices, by which sometime we jump from a day to another missing the in-between time, the general pace of the book was good and never left a sense of "rush", so we had the possibility to see the different changes, for the worse or for the betters, of their lives' paths, and almost nothing seemed left behind.

The representation of the condition of women in STEM was great and, especially in the last part of the novel, well portrayed. I seldom hear about the constant discriminations women suffer in this branch of study, and seeing it represented here, even if in a "lighter" way, with also explanations by female characters in different positions (teachers, students, wannabes students etc.) was great and necessary in this novel, if not the most fundamental part of it despite it being mainly a romance.

(Plus, I'd recently found out this is the same author who wrote 'The Atlas Six' and I want to praise Olivie/Alexene for her incedible duality, I almost couldn't believe the same pen that wrote that masterpiece of darkness, chaos and pure geniality could have written also this cute, soft and catchy story - even tho the geniality of the characters stays the same, so I guess it makes sense)
(Bonus point for the memes references and of course Taylor's songs. These were "my own space")

Can't wait for my physical pre-order to arrive!

This is the first YA book I have read in about 5 years. It took me a few chapters to really get into the book. I wasn't sure of the direction it was going. I was expecting an enemies to lovers book, and there was a bit of a play on that, but the story was so much more. It was about self discovery. Learning that it's ok to not have all the answers. It's ok to fail. Just get up again and again.

I loved how the author explored the characters. We see the protagonists, Bel and Teo trying to figure out their lives as high school seniors. We get a glimpse of their other friends as well. I got lost a lot of times with all the technicalities of robot building, but I loved how the author used her platform to speak about team work and the need for more females in the engineering field.

As adults, we forget how insecure it is to be a high schooler. We forget how much pressure it is for teens to have it all together by the time they're 18. Here I am at 41, still not knowing what I want to do when I grow up! My favorite line in this book is "Life is long, with plenty of chances to start over." pg 295. Isn't that something to think about.

Thank you publishers and NetGalley for this ARC.

After a teacher recognizes Bel's academic talent and pushes her to join the robotics team, she quickly butts heads with the team captain. Enemies/rivals to lovers. This had a very cute love story, but also focused on heavy girl power and that it's okay not to have a life plan. I did request the ARC strictly because of the title, but I hope this gets all the praise when it's released.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded

<b> “I realize I’m watching Bel fall in love (with robotics, obviously).” </b>

<i>Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!</i>

Ok, so we were already off to a great start with a cute cover and diversity in STEM. I was honestly hyped for this book, even more, when I saw that it was an academic enemies-to-lovers and the high ratings. That’s one of my favourite tropes.

First off, we’ve already mentioned the cover but our half-Filipino FMC has my heart. The cherry on top is that, like me, she hates being called by her full name. Bel was a very relatable protagonist who isn’t sure what to do with her future just as Theo who has his own expectations and pressures. Both of them were very cute and fun, although I wasn’t really getting the enemies of “enemies-to-lovers” as promised in the synopsis. That was a letdown. Bel was more antagonistic with Neelam than Teo should’ve probably been. A part of me thought the book would’ve been better in her POV.

Admittedly, the book was slow and it did take a bit to grab my attention. The pacing in developing Bel and Teo’s chemistry was odd. To me, it felt like they were strangers to now in love in the span of a few pages. Their moments together were very cute and dorky, hence the half-star. I enjoyed reading about the robotics club and its inner dynamics of Women of Colour, STEM/Nerd culture, and immigrant kid situations.

I do respect what the book aimed to do, but the execution could’ve been done better.

My Mechanical Romance is about a senior student named Bel who tries out for her school's robotics team after her teacher "suggests" it (either she tries out or gets a C on an assignment). She's a little hesitant about it, but she still shows up, not expecting to get in - but as fate would have it, the unofficial official leader of the robotics team, Teo, is impressed and, against his previous reservations about bringing in new team members, asks her to join the team. We then follow the epic highs and lows of high school robotics as they prepare for competitions.

So let's start out with what I liked:
- It was short
- Women in STEM (there's something very pleasing to me about men being proven wrong)
- The friendships

Yeah, that was kind of it.

As for the things I didn't like, I would like to preface this by saying that it's not like I hated any of these things - I just wasn't overly impressed by them.

Let's start with the romance.

This book was marketed as "academic rivals to lovers"...I read this with my glasses on and yet I still couldn't see the rivalry. They had one "major" disagreement when she first joined the team that had Teo mad at her for 0.2 seconds and then they were besties soon after. In my books, disagreeing about something and trying to prove the other person wrong in an argument does not make two people rivals - that's just what happens in teams sometimes. It's not as if they were competing for team captain or anything. If anything, the actual rivals were Teo and Neelam. Jamie even had the audacity to call them ENEMIES TO LOVERS...please.

The fact that I was bamboozled by what trope they were wasn't even that big of a deal - it's more that I didn't particularly like their dynamic. Don't get me wrong - they definitely had some cute moments - but most of the time, their banter made me cringe. Everything they were saying felt so forced. It's as if they were trying so hard to be witty, and it just didn't work for me. It did improve by the end of the book, but by then I had already decided I just didn't care.

Of course, the fact that I didn't particularly like the ship is probably because I don't like the characters. They felt very flat, and I can't even pinpoint why. I read all about how they had their issues and all their ~feelings~, but I just didn't buy it. Even though this was written in first person POV, it felt like it was "all tell and no show". I don't know if that even makes sense, but I felt very distant to the characters because it's almost as if I didn't believe them (you are sad because your dad is a billionaire and that makes people have incorrect assumptions about you that you don't make any effort to disprove and your dad doesn't even like you...sure you are). In all honestly, I don't even know how to describe them as people because of how little I grasped of their personalities. If I had to summarise them, Bel is weird (like, so weird) and used the word "heteronormative" twice, which was two times too many for my liking, and Teo is very...bland. I get that everyone in the school is meant to have a "little crush" on him because he's rich and good looking, but other than that, what exactly does he have going for him? He didn't seem particularly nice or charming to me. The way he treated Bel versus Neelam also annoyed me - he always had faith in Bel and her ability, but never in Neelam. I get that Neelam can be harsh and rude, but he owed it to her to actually listen to her. It's almost as if Teo only respected Bel because he thought she was pretty/liked her...

As for the plot, I didn't care. This is entirely on me though, because I do not care about robots. I wanted them to win their competitions of course, but I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat. In my defence, the main challenges we faced were mainly in relation to the romance (which we know by now that I didn't care about). Ultimately, I didn't feel like there were any high stake moments vis-à-vis robotics, so why would I care anyway?

I know this seems like a pretty negative review, but it's very subjective. In all honestly, I don't think this is a bad book - it just wasn't for me.

Thank you, Holiday House, and Netgalley for my E-ARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: May 31, 2022

This novel reminds me of Love Hypothesis, which I enjoy. My Mechanical Romance follows the story of Bel, who discovers her passion for robotics and engineering late, putting her under a lot of stress as she prepares for future college applications. On the other hand, Teo is the captain of the robotics club, which Bel is pushed to join. Teo has always had a plan for his future, which he is consistently and actively pursuing. As the team prepares for nationals, Teo picks her as a new member, and they are placed in various head-to-head situations.

The book was well-written. The plot is engaging, and it caught me surprised. The characters have distinct personalities and get along well. Because of the robotics and engineering topics, I was afraid I wouldn't love it. I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this book as much as I did. It brought back memories of high school and what it's like to fall in love.

The thing that pulled me in was the cover. But I'm grateful that I read this book. Teo and Bel's relationship is adorable. The continuous banter between them was hilarious. Their friendship was so lovely. I caught myself grinning at them while reading. Both characters have problems, yet they are lovable and bring the story to life.

It's a lighthearted, fluffy, sweet, and romantic story about two STEM nerds who fall in love. Perfectionism, women in STEM, and academic and family pressure are all addressed. The story is fast-paced and endearing. It's written from two points of view, and you may get a sense of each character's personality as you read.