thank you to netgalley for the opportunity to read this wonderful story!! my mechanical romance hooked me from the title if i’m honest lol. an enemies to lovers story about a girl new in STEM? yes please!

one of the things i love about YA is putting myself back at that age. and bel was one of the most relatable characters i’ve ever read. the uncertainty and pressure that she felt about her future was something i think so many seniors experience, i know i wasn’t fully sure of what i wanted to do at that age (hence me changing my career path after graduating). bel’s growth over this entire story was inspiring. one of the best things about this story was how the women and girls in her life helped and encouraged her to take up space in a male-dominated field!

teo was also so wholesome and supportive. at first he sees bel as an adversary but once he realizes how smart and capable she is, he pulls out all the stops to support and teach her 🥺. his growth was so heartwarming and he was so cute with bel!

i really loved how important supporting women and girls in STEM was to this story. in bel’s own words: “Ms. Voss once told me that I needed to take up my own space in this life, and as right as she was then, I think I’ve managed to take it a step further. It took me some time, but I think I finally know the secret: that you can stand up without standing alone.”

stand-alone rating 📚
* my mechanical romance ⭐️ 4.75

p.s. this is the same author who wrote the atlas six, which is another amazing book! if you’re into dark academia/urban fantasy things check that one out!!

I really liked this book. It was a quick and very sweet read. I found myself relating to some of Bel's journey and it really helped me connect to this story. I also think the relationship between Bel and Teo was really well done. Overall, I would definitely read it again.

4 5*
Thank you to netgally and the publisher for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review. I really really liked this book, it was pretty funny (I laughed out loud on few occasions which is mildly embarrassing but whatever), it was inspiring and it was addictive. I finished this in like two days.
So what did I like:
~ I liked that Bel was girly and a stem girl
~ I really love Teo even though I can't relate to his situation his internal thought were very real and relatable (which by the way is coming from someone who doesn't like dual pov but it worked really well in this one).
~it was super nerdy which is always a plus
~it distracted me from my assignments
~Naleem's arc
~Third act conflict made sense for the characters
~realistic end that was still cute
Overall a super fun romcom but with a little more depth. Definitely recommend <3

Super cute YA romance! I think so many people will enjoy this book and reading about Bel and Teo. I liked the women in STEM representation in the book but thought that the applying to college process depicted in the book was not realistic. Overall, easy and enjoyable to read, great cast of supporting characters and an accessible story. Could be pitched as The Love Hypothesis but for younger readers.

This book was extremely cute. (So cute that I would even read it again! ) I think the book really under-expressed how hard the college process is. Getting into schools like MIT is so difficult. With an acceptance rate of around 4%, Teo had no idea what he was saying when he was like “just come with me to MIT”. I thought it was so cute though. I’m glad the book didn’t go into a lot of detail about the college experience, though, because it would have been boring. On a more important note, I loved Bel. Women of color in stem!! I think yes!! Discovering her love for mechanical engineering was the best part of the book:))

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5 Stars
My Mechanical Romance
Author: Alexene Farol Follmuth
This is a cute enemies to friends to lovers high school STEM romance. The main character, Bel, has a talent machine oriented tasks, and, to save her Physics grade is pretty much coerced into joining the Robotics team. She gets involved in an adorable romance with the captain of the team, Teo, and, despite their initial disagreement form a delightfully adorable friendship.
Pros:
- Super light, easy read
- I liked how the conflict (‘cause, come on, there’s got to be one) is actually something relatable that a lot of high school students suffer from, but also tied in nicely with her personality
- All of the characters were well rounded and developed nicely
- The title! I saw the title, and the evilest, most excited girl spread across my face!
- The writing. I mean, the author manages to pack so much into so few pages. I read this in one sitting, and am legitimately sad that I didn’t savor it
Cons:
- Okay, I don’t know if these are just phrases, but I spotted few comedic references from various stand up artists’ routines (for example: https://c.tenor.comL6W9wne9BNoAAAAC/like-a-liar-liar.gif)
- This next one is just something that kind of confused me. In the blurb it says that Neheem is the only other girl on the Robitics team, but there’s another girl Lora, which kind of confused me for a while
Would I read it again?
Absolutely, without a doubt in my mind

thank you netgalley, holiday house and alexene farol follmuth for the arc <3

"I mean come on, boys can do it. So how hard can it be?"

This is my first YA romance in a long while and I have loved every second of it.

POC representation, girls in STEM, witty and smart young adults? YES PLEASE!

This book follows the story of Bel Maier, a girl who joins a new school in her senior year. And joins the robotics team led by Teo Luna, son of a tech genuis and a millionaire who has set the bar high for his son.

What can be better than academic rivals to friends to lovers?

I love how this book focuses on girls taking up their space, on not being afraid to be the most authentic self you can be. Loved how girls prove again and again that you can be successful and strong and smart and do it just as good as boys can. I feel like girls are programmed from early childhood to be quiet, not stick their nose out and not be a leader. I loved the friendship Neelam and Bel develop, how the characters talked about how they feel and explained their feelings to each other. A lot of times YA romance books portray teenagers as these bratty little kids who have no idea how to communicate with each other.

Bel is hilarious and I want her jeans with the birds on them NOW. I love the journey she went on, how she chose to be her authentic self despite people saying that she can't do something or simply not having faith in her. Her relationship with Luke is amazing and I love how the car was the safe space for them.

I loved Ms. Voss - she knew how important it was to support Bel, to guide her. Sometimes that's all you need - one adult to give you a nudge, to give you advise on what to do - when you're 18, you're lost, you can't have it all figured out but if someone sees your potential, sees what you are capable of and gives you genuine help - it means the world.

I loved the character growth of Teo, and I loved seeing his thoughts. I don't usually have anything to say about male characters for some reason but I did love seeing a guy who is kind, determined, has a good heart.

And Mac has pleasantly surprised me by the end of the book.

Needless to say, the writing of this one is superb. I've loved every page of it. I'm usually wary of the miscommunication trope but it was done great here, not giving me the ick it usually does in romance books.

Take up your space, don't be afraid to show everyone your worth and don't give up on your dreams as much as sometimes it feels like the easiest way out.

4.75/5, cute, light YA romance that doesn't just center around the romance itself but gives us so much more.

So much better than what I expected. This was a very wholesome read. I enjoyed it so much😩😩

The pace of the book was a bit slow for me but it never got boring. The author has written it so well. The plot is very investing, honestly it took me by surprise. I had thought to myself it's robotics how much fun can it get? But IT DID GET FUN!! (Please excuse, I have an arts background 😂).

The characters are full of personality, and they get along so well together. Leo Tuna (My mind kept reading his name like that the whole time, so am going to stick to that lol) is a good lead. I like how he wasn't too perfect, he had flaws which made him endearing. My girl Bel was so good. I really enjoyed her POV, she was full of energy and compassion, and you do feel that when you read it. What I didn't like about her though is the way she expresses herself, the way she communicates. I guess the author intended Bel to be like that, but I honestly didn't see the point of that. At a certain point she overused the word "like" and it did get slightly annoying. The supporting characters Ms. Voss and Dash are equally well written. Honestly, we all need a Ms. Voss in our lives.
I like how Neelam's struggles are shown. I was a bit harsh on her at first but towards the end of the book she gained my respect and I do understand her perspective. I don't agree with how she managed it, but I understand.

Overall, this was a super fun read and I would totally recommend it if you're a looking for a cute romance set in academia. Nerds are so hot! Also, women in STEM- more power to you👏

eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

first off i NEVER thought i'd read a book about robots and ACTUALLY enjoy it but this is...different. the vibe. the MCs. the chemistry. everything just clicks. i like the fact that Bel's style of fashion is different and the author didn't make it a weird quirk she had to have for character development or something and that Teo(sexiest name ever) accepts that straight away.
the bond between them is amazing and A++ for them not dancing around each other the first time they kiss.
there is no spice BUT their personalities make up for it (it's also YA what did you expect?)
5/5 :)

Aww some nerds so 🥵 especially robot building nerds 🙈 omg this book really really sweet!! I fell in love with all the characters 😭 I highlighted almost every sentence and I'm proud of all the women in this book!! And I loved Bel and Leo's relationship, I accepted their mistakes and I'm proud of them for who they are. I liked how this book touches on topics such as the difficulty and prejudice that girls had to face. I want to express myself about how much i love this book but i’m simply speechless😭😭

Honestly, I have zero knowledge about robots & engineering whatsoever, but seeing these two nerds talk about their passion made my heart happy! This was so cute and heartwarming, and I love the topics that have been discussed in this story <3

I liked this book. It was cute. I liked Teo and Bel but the rest of the characters were kind of flat. They did not really have much personality and were basically just there as fillers.

This book was so entretaining and so easy to read. All the characters were flawed bit when you discovered their reasons, it made you love them more.. The chemistry between the 2 main characters was coming off the page. It also taljwd about the problems of women in STEM in a serious but not the kind that will make depressed for the rest of the day, it put this into perspective on both points of view whilst being easy to read

Raise your hand if you have ever felt personally victimized by a male STEM teacher.

As someone who was the only girl in her AP Physics class and whose teacher definitely treated the boys better in that class, wow this book hit HOME. But beyond the story line that follows women in STEM and the misogyny that is faced on the daily, the intersection of feminism portrayed in this 300-something page book while still being a fluffy, adorable romance blew my mind.

MY MECHANICAL ROMANCE (which, as a lifelong MCR fan, this title had me chortling) follows Bel, a bright and kinda nerdy senior in college who… has no idea what she wants to do with her life. When she’s basically forced into joining her high school’s robotics team, she meets Teo, who sees immediately how smart Bel is but is frustrated by seemingly little she cares. These two argue a lot (a true academic rivals to lovers plotline) but with Nationals looming, these two are going to have to get on the same page – academically and romantically.

This story DELIVERS. The characters really shine in this story – not just Bel and Teo, but their families and friends. They are complex and interesting for a multitude of reasons. Dash and Neelam especially were personal favorites. The dynamics between the robotics team as well was engaging and cute and this really captures the uncertainty that haunts every high school senior during the whole college application (and waiting!) process.

Additionally, watching the character development in Bel and Teo was incredible – they really bring out the best in each other and strive to push each other to do better. Teo adopts some of Bel’s laissez-faire attitude, which is sorely needed as a privileged boy who seems to believe he needs to carry the expectations of the world (or just his wildly successful tech bro father) on his shoulders and Bel, conversely, begins to critically think about the space she occupies – the space she deserves. She stops letting life happen to her and begins to assert her desires and opinions.

Neelam played a large role in Bel’s development and she is a prickly character that is unlikeable at first but gives Bel a well-needed wakeup call that she (Bel) can’t expect everything in life to happen for her. She’s been lucky so far and she’s talented, yes, but she needs to also WORK to dismantle the misogyny she will be facing in a career in STEM. Brown women are the unsung heros, truly.

I loved how this book tackled the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated field. I loved how nuanced it was (which is impressive because, again, it’s only 300-something pages long!). I loved how it tackled privilege and the intersectionality of identity in your struggles. I also loved how realistically it portrayed how dismissive male STEM teachers are of girls in their classes. This book was fantastic and I sincerely think it will help a generation of young girls assert themselves in STEM.

I also really want to shout out the Holi scene – it was so fun for me to read as it brought back some really fond memories of college Holi parties – down to the competition and flirting.

Special thanks to Holiday House and Netgalley for sharing this advance reader’s copy with me in exchange for an honest review!

That was so adorable! I loved every second of My Mechanical Romance. I think this is the first academic rivals-to-lovers book I've read that featured a new girl x popular kid combo so this was super unique! I absolutely loved Bel and her awkward quips, genius mind, and super cool fashion sense. Seeing her rock Teo's whole world just from her small mannerisms was everything. Their relationship was so pure and I loved how they supported each other in every way possible.

I also just loved how this book reminded me so much of my own public high school experience. Alexene nailed the diversity among the student body, the camaraderie between everyone on the robotics team, the discussions of classism (especially surrounding college), and of course the discussions of WOC in STEM. Neelam and Bel's dynamic felt so authentic even during their times of animosity. I need an extended epilogue or bonus scene that shows all these kids thriving in college--I love them all so much!

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth is a contemporary young adult romance featuring two young teens in robotics club. Bel and Teo start off as enemies, which is obviously one of my favourite tropes. The book also discusses the challenges that women, particularly women of colour, face in STEM fields and I hope it inspires some young people to work to overcome these challenges too.

What I liked: I found My Mechanical Romance and the subject matter to be accessible, even though I do not know the first thing about robotics. I was still able to enjoy and visualize the narrative without much prior knowledge. Additionally, Bel begins the story without a clear passion or drive to succeed and slowly finds her way - I like that the author showed that not everyone knows what they want to do with their life right away. I also thought that Neelam, while not the most lovable character originally, was pivotal to some of the important discussions in the story.

What could be better: Both Bel and Teo are shaped by their family life and it has an obvious impact on who they are as characters. I felt like I never got to learn enough about either family and I especially wanted more detail about how things were resolved with their families at the end of the book. Each family had a part to play in the development of the story but it was kind of brushed aside for the larger picture in the final chapters and epilogue.

I did enjoy reading My Mechanical Romance and I would give it four out of five stars. I liked the perspective into the STEM fields, particularly robotics and engineering. I also appreciated that the characters had some diversity and that it described a high school experience that was entirely different from my own.

*Please note that the ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*

This book was, in simple words, stunning. Everything in this book — from the intellectual talks, to the invigorating rivalry (and chemistry), to the excellent diversity and women empowerment in STEM — this book was an absolute treat in ways more than one, and I'll be sure to recommend this to friends and family.

My mechanical romance is a entertaining, relatable coming of age read that I would say mainly focuses on Bel, a senior high school student exploring her talents in engineering as a team mate in the robotics club.

This book contains all the wonderful things I love in a romance book: dual pov, relatable charchters, humour and the plot never dragged on and went at a perfect pace (like I couldn’t put it down!! I read up until 2am it was that addicting to read)

I personally love how the story explored how overwhelming student life can be especially of making monumental decisions of choosing which universities you want to go to, what career path to choose all whilst balancing your academic subjects and maintaining the stressful expectations of your parents (I can all say that this is a universal problem that both Bel and Teo are definitely not immune to)

A quote to really summarise the trope of this book as said by the most loveable character, Jamie ‘enemies to academic colleagues to lovers’ so fans of the love hypothesis would just love this.


Okay now onto the big spoilers:

The thing that made this book quite different from others is that you didn’t have to suspend your disbelief, usually when I read YA contemporary romance book I sometimes just ponder how a series of events a character would go through is even possible, but this book maintains it’s funny and entertaining side; all things a fictional book should posses but also makes sure to have some realism in the plot.

This is shown when Bel applied to MIT, and unfortunately did not get in (which would have been the expected ending, I mean come on has anyone seen the kissing booth we’re used to fictional characters succeeding at extremely difficult things that people in the real world would have worked tirelessly over years for.) It made sense and is realistic that regardless of her being the main character, she did apply super late and was really only interested in MIT cause that would benefit her romantic relationship, so it wouldn’t have even been a fulfilling ending for Bel.

Her rejection acted as a great a conflict that allowed her character to grow and also strengthened the relationships around her.

Overall, a fantastic read that was entertaining, relatable and a plot that made sure not to suspend our disbelief so high that you would need one of those space telescopes to see it.

My Mechanical Romance is one of those books that I would still buy even after having already read it. YA romance isn't my go-to genre and I admit I'm just exploring it but I couldn't be more glad that this was my first YA romance. I loved how realistic this was. It showed the struggle almost every 17/18 year old goes through very well.

The pressure teenagers feel about having a plan for the future, to live up to expectations, to figure out the confusion around what path to follow... All of this topped with the challenges that women have to face in a male-dominated field. I related a lot with the characters having myself faced some of the issues. Another reason why this book instantly earned a place in m y heart.

While in the beginning, Bel did seem like the cliché I'm not like other girls type of female lead but I loved how her personality and circumstances later explained all of that. One more thing I loved was that even the side characters had their own unique traits. Even the sort-of-antagonistic Neelam had her reasons (and pretty valid ones) for her behavior. It made the story more lovable.

All in all, I loved the story to bits. Can't wait for the book to get published so I could have a copy of it on my shelf.

Thank you Netgalley and Holiday House for the ARC.

This is a cute read. The writing is light and easy to consume, and the pacing is pretty good and consistent for the most of the book, only speeding up near the end.
I liked the dynamics between the characters, though I didn't quite connect to them. I found that a lot was kinda convenient for the characters. Also, it might be just a pet peeve of mine when the main character is great at everything and is clueless about it at the same time. I didn't like that bit.
However, the book is fun and enjoyable. It wasn't the greatest choice for me but I think that other readers will love it.