My mechanical heart has WoC in stem, a Jewish love interest and academic rivals to lovers. This was written by the same author of the atlas six just under a different pen name. I liked this a lot better than the atlas six! If you’re looking for a YA version of the love hypothesis, you’ll enjoy this! It was a cute read while also tackling important issues like misogyny. I related a lot to Bel, feeling stuck between divorced parents and really stressed out by college applications. I really liked her supportive brothers, friends and teacher though. This book is not even 300 pages but did not feel too short.

A solid 3.5 ⭐ It was bit surprising to realize this shares an author with The Atlas Six, but it makes sense if you squint at the tropes (if not themes). Though the two POVs in My Mechanical Romance are set up to seem like polar opposites, personality and background-wise - Bel's steadily oddball remarks, relentless tinkering and penchant for spontaneously stumbling into things makes her the perfect antithesis to Teo's regimen of plans, privilege and perfectionism - there's a bunch that's relatable about them both, and their alternating accounts matched up so well that it overwrote some of the book's minor problems.

Bel may start off as an outsider in their science-oriented private school's robotics squad until she's taken under Teo's reluctant wing (this review warrants a minimum of one bird pun, please), but she winds up pulling more than her weight on the team after a rocky welcome rich in unpleasant prejudices and boatloads of patronization. Her stressors as a relatively aimless senior stranded in the mostly all-boy's world of high-school robotics are almost on par as the sky-high standards and relentless pressure that popular boy mechanics prodigy Mr. Always-Ready-To-Step-Up-To-The-Plate is under. They turn out to be more twin souls that they think, and the budding romance between them is realistically sweet off the bat; the academic-rivalry-to-being-in-a-relationship pipeline is pretty much always a sure thing. that, and thankfully the third-act setback typical of romance books is resolved without being too overworked.

Though it plays into stereotypes at multiple points (these are particularly rife among their respective parents, siblings and school peers), My Mechanical Romance (also, serious props for that title!) packs a powerful punch in its razor-sharp rebuke of sexist biases and the space women should take up in STEM overall, while also staying optimistic and above petty revenge whimsies.

Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for kindly passing on this ARC! 💫

Thank you, Holiday House, for allowing me to read My Mechanical Romance early!

I requested this title principally for two reasons: firstly, the cover is to die for; secondly, Alexene Farol Follmuth is Olivie Blake's alter ego and I want to read everything that mind comes up with. I really enjoyed reading this book, but I didn't expect any less from the author. It was fun and quirky and romantic and I loved it.

I'm a total sucker for nerd love and girls/women in STEM, and absolutely LOOOOVED My Mechanical Romance. I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olivie Blake) given that this is VASTLY different from The Atlas Six, but this was phenomenal!

Bel and Teo were adorable. I loved the academic rivalry between the two of them and that Bel refused to be cowed by Teo Luna just because of who he was/who is father was... The pair work well together, and I loved that they were able to help each other grow and step into their full potential in robotics (and personally).

Also the representation of not only being a girl in STEM but also a woman of color was *chefs kiss*. Love to see it, loooove to see it!

Cute, enemies to lovers STEM focused high school romance that takes place in…robotics club!

Not a plot point I would have imagined, but it worked for Bel and Teo.

4,5 stars (swipe for a synopsis)
i picked this up when no other book seemed to be right for me and "my mechanical romance" was just what i needed; i couldn't put it down at all. i loved both bel, the main character, and teo, her love interest, so much! i related to both of them and even when i didn't, their struggles of being a girl in a male-dominated field and not being good enough were so understandable and seriously broke my heart. so, while this book touched on a lot of important topics, it was still light-hearted and cute and romantic. the stem part was so interesting and while i didn't understand all of it, i absolutely adored it. another thing i loved were the side characters: they felt like people and especially the stem team made me laugh a lot!!! i recommend this to everyone, especially to people looking for a more fluffy but interesting rom-com book (a lot of rom-coms are kind of boring to me, at least to some extent, but this book wasn't at all :) )

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

“Birds of a feather, right?”

This past week has been one of the worst of my life, and thank GOD for this book because it’s just what I needed. Enemies to lovers? Check. Quality banter? Check. Adorable protagonists that had me smiling into my phone like an idiot? Check check check. (I’m in love with both Teo AND Bel, and nobody can stop me.) This book even has ROBOTS!!!

The writing was so cute and fluffy and some of these pages just made my heart swell and I HAD to bookmark them so I could come back later when I’m feeling down.

I could relate to Teo and Bel both in that I feel all of the pressure to be a fixer and be involved in literally everything like Teo (we’re even both nerdy athletes!), and I’m a woman who always felt out of place or like I had to work extra hard or have all of the natural talent in “men’s” spaces.

Reading some of the dialogue that the male characters had in this book took me back to those days when teachers would turn down my offer of help because they’d rather have some “strong boys” take care of it or when, despite me being the best performing student in STEM-based classes (math and physics - shout out - especially), people would ask male students who were underperforming for help after I had already offered. So Neelam also ended up being a character that I identified strongly with, despite being more of a Bel in real life (I, too, have no idea what the future looks like for me, but Bel Canto figured it out, so I guess I will too. Also, as a singer, if someone’s nickname for me was “beautiful song” I think I’d spontaneously combust because that’s so cute.)

Dash, Jamie, and Lora were all such a delight, and I loved reading about them, and don’t even get me STARTED on Ms. Voss because I love her too. Healthy and amazing teacher-student relationships are my jam, and even Mac started to grow on me a bit by the end.

All in all, this was just such a nice book to read, and I enjoyed every second of it (even the angst, which is very rare).

OH. MY. GOD.
I've been an Olivie Blake reader for a while now so expected a good story going into this. But let me tell you: this was one of the most feel-good, make-you-smile romances I've read in general, not just for YA. It focused on the struggles of women in STEM in a way that wasn't at all surface level, with characters that were extremely likeable, and realistic. Bel and Teo's dynamic was so fun to read, and the "third act breakup" that all romances have to have did not at all feel forced, and neither did the inevitable HEA.
Definitely recommend for anyone wanting a feel-good romance - this book will have you grinning like an idiot.

thank you so much to netalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

5 ★

one of the easiest 5 stars i've ever given. welcome to my all-time favorites shelf.

oh my god, u guys. omfg i cant this book was so so so good.

i was giggling, swooning, smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, just never wanting this book to ever end. favorite romcom of all time, not even a question.

where do i even start..

the characters omg the characters. bel has got to be one of my favorite protagonists of all time- i just adore her personality, her eccentric little touches, how she always stood up for herself and those around her. she's also just so relatable??!? teo- god i am literally in love with him. i will cry myself to sleep every night knowing he's not real. a literal genius, star athlete, hot as hell, AND amazing personality??? he's too good to be true yall. i felt for his character so much and just jkdhgfjkag i love him.

the side characters were also incredible. it was like a little found family. the author took time to actually flesh them out and give them distinctive personalities, and i adore every single one of them. especially dash. pls this man was so funny i was actually crying from laughter. i love the friendships both bel and teo had, and this entire friend group holds such a special place in my heart.

”Hey, you still have the schematic saved on your iPad, right?”
“Yeah, it’s right, uh . . . HEY, WHERE’S MY IPAD?” bellows Dash, startling me. Teo looks used to it.
“Yo,” says a kid in my Civics class, handing the iPad to Dash from where it’s sitting on a high-top table.
“Oh cool,” says Dash happily, like he didn’t just explosively make demands on Teo’s behalf.


the romance ... im literally screaming and typing this all out with such a big smile on my face i look like an actual idiot. bel and teo had the most perfect romance. the banter, the tension, the angst, the fluff ugrhkjdghjkfd. it was such a perfect slowburn, from academic rivals-to mutual understanding-to friends-to lovers, and it was done SO WELL. it literally didn't feel forced at all: not too fast or too slow, and god the build-up was perfect, ok they were just perfect.
the way teo was so proud of her, the way he payed attention to all her little details, the way he remembered anything that made her laugh, the way this man researched and remembered taylor swift lyrics for her i cant I CANT THEY'RE SO CUTE IM LITERALLY GONNA JUMP OFF A FCKING CLIFF

Jamie: OMG THIS IS EXACTLY HOW PEOPLE FALL IN LOVE
Bel: uhhh stop
Bel: we’re friends
Jamie: FRIENDS WHO SPEND SECRET HOURS CLOISTERED IN THE ROBOTICS LAB
Bel: you watch too many hallmark movies
Bel: tell your mom she needs to stop enabling you and intervene
Jamie: SECRET!! ROBOTICS!! TUTORING!!
Jamie: this is a CLASSIC trope
Bel: this is not a classic trope


and ofc, i have to bring up all the beautiful diversity and rep the author included. both mcs are biracial, and almost all the side characters were incredibly diverse. the story actually fleshed out different cultures and traditions (the holi scene will forever be one of my favorite scenes i've ever read), while also touching on topics like sexism, privilege, family struggles, and how its okay to be uncertain about your future. also, WOC IN STEM !!!! the stem aspect, specifically engineering and physics, was so fun to read about. teo's mom is right: nerds are so fcking hot.

i flew through this book in a couple of hours, and honestly kept forcing myself to put it down bc i just never wanted it to end. the complex characters, swoony romance, hilarious banter and wit, incredible representation, and lyrical writing make this an all-time favorite, one i will never stop recommending and rereading. i cant wait till this officially releases bc i want my own copy. now.

*3.5/5
this book was really cute, i wasn't a big fan of the writing but there were many quotes that were just so good that i couldn't help but highlight them. the romance was cute as well, bel and teo were two complex characters. teo thinks he can fix everything himself and bel doesn't really know what she wants to do with her life. throughout the book, they both manage to figure out their flaws, not without the help of other characters. i also liked reading about neelam, who i ended up loving in the end, as she wasn't afraid to call bel out and make her realise how hard women in stem have to work in order to be taken seriously. i also really loved dash, he was funny and kind of stole the show sometimes. in general, i loved reading about nerds but i have to confess that i couldn't understand most of the mechanics/engineering/physics talk but that's on me.
overall, this was a nice, quick read and i definitely recommend it!

arc provided by netgalley and holiday house in exchange for an honest review

This was such an unexpected cute read that got me an academic rivals to lovers, read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Definitely one that will take you away, give you a good time and both relate and grow to love these two way overachievers that almost missed out on something great.
So glad I too, took a chance, dove in and had a great, heartwarming time.

ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you NetGalley for sending me an arc if this book.
This book was amazing! If you loved the love hypothesis and are looking for a more lighthearted version of it this is the perfect book for that. The characters were very lovable and relatable. If you have watched the show trinkets on Netflix and wanted to see more of Moe and Chase, this book really reminded me of their relationship (without the love triangle). Please give this book a chance it is beautifully written and a very fun read.

(Posted on GoodReads)

THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING. I’ve read a lot of this author’s work under the pen name Olivie Blake and I was so excited to she what she did in the YA genre! I was not dissapointed. This book was so cute. It included so many of my favorite things: dual POVs, academic rivals to lovers, and women in STEM. I enjoyed every part of this book, especially the pacing. It was one of the few books where I did not lose any interest in the beginning of the novel. I love Teo and Bel and definitely recommend this book!

*3.5 stars rounded up
All hail Olivie Blake/Alexene Farol Follmuth, queen of every genre!
When I read about a STEM romance with a bit of rivals to lovers, I NEEDED it. The first thing oI’ll say is how accurate the High School Experience TM is. We have stress! We have procrastination! We have texts with no capital letters! We have people who can’t use CAD programs! (Me and Bel) In all seriousness, I really loved this book. It’s HORRIBLE for escapism if you’re a high school student (flashbacks to my CAD course last year that made me cry a dozen times), but it can be really fun anyways.
I really loved all of the characters, but I do have a bone to pick. While there were some women in STEM friendships later on, I really don’t like it when women are pitted against each other. I do think that was the point with Bel and Neelam, but it bothered me that Neelam would talk about serious issues and people would label her as a bitch or even that she would actually act cruelly and not see an issue with it at all! This brings me to my problem with the romance too, I absolutely love Teo and Bel, but I think they made valid, negative points about each other that weren’t resolved terribly well. Teo genuinely is controlling, and although he does have hidden depths, he is rich and thinks many things are catered specifically towards him. Meanwhile, Bel may be driven, but she doesn’t make any sort of relevant plans. While the stress is understandable, Neelam is right in a few instances: she expects things to go right because they have before and then doesn’t put enough effort into trying to help things along. These things definitely didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book, but I didn’t love it.
The romance up until these grievances were aired and subsequently ignored was actually great. There was a logical and natural progression of the relationship between Teo and Bel. They were similar in some ways and completely different in others, and they really did complement each other well. I had even more problems with some of the outside characters than these two, so they were the eye in the storm of people who bothered me (people who were meant to bother me though, not badly WRITTEN characters).
I had no problems with the plot at all. I actually really liked it; eventually the characters progressed a lot and managed to make changes and be better. Bel really applies herself and I was really proud.
I wouldn’t say this is a perfect book by any means, but I really enjoyed it. I’d recommend this book to STEM fans who want fun and great characters, just not people trying to decide on colleges! This was a really fun experience and I read it in a few hours!

Thank you NetGalley, Holiday House, and Alexene Farol Follmuth, aka Olivie Blake, for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review! I truly didn’t expect to love this book as much as I did, but I’m so happy about it. It reminded me of the best parts of high school and falling in love.

This is a great young adult romantic comedy. It reminds me of The Love Hypothesis for a couple of reasons, namely the writing, relationship, and focus on STEM, and I have a feeling people who loved that novel will like this one as well! I read it in one sitting and couldn’t put it down. It’s a short book, less than 300 pages, but it’s still so meaningful and fun. This book follows Bel, our main character, as she joins her school’s robotics team. There she meets Mateo - aka Teo - who quickly became one of my favorite love interests because of how much he cares about Bel and is proud of her.

This book reminded me a lot of high school and my time on our academic challenge team. It was always so fun going to competitions and being on the bus with all of my friends and this book perfectly encapsulates all of those feelings. I also thought that all of the characters were realistic, especially in terms of teenagers today, and likable. Bel is a great character and I related to her a lot while reading, especially when it talked about how she never really knew what she wanted to do with her future because girls are typically expected to like and do certain things. And, as I mentioned earlier, Teo is one of the sweetest characters and I loved him! Their relationship was so perfect and I loved witnessing the struggles they went through because they were realistic and were solved in productive ways. The side characters are also great as well.

This book is well-written and I laughed out loud a couple times while reading! I was truly immersed in the story and highly recommend it. The only warning I have is that there’s a good bit of technical talk regarding the robots and science, which I didn’t understand, but people who are interested in these things would really love it. The book does a good job of explaining everything though and I learned some new things.

If you want a sweet and entertaining young adult read, this is the book for you! I love the current trend of STEM related books and I hope to read more of them in the future :)

OH MY GOD???? this book was genuinely the best thing!!! i loved reading about bel and teo and i loved the fact that the book highlighted women in stem, especially woc in stem. can't wait till this book is out for everyone to read !!! 4/5 stars

Lovely book!! I adored all that characters and the development was great throughout. Kept me wanting more. I would definitely recommend! Really fun light read.

Follmuth has written the most delightful YA Romance. I loved reading about the Women in STEM rep, and while Ive never been in robotics, this book has me very intrigued about it. It's one that I'll definitely recommend to others! I also really appreciated that there was no shame around her choice to go to community college.

As far as tropes are concerned, academic rivals to lovers is the best. There's a reason they are the most prominent in YA contemporary rather than adult contemporary and I think in part, it has to do with the academic setting (whereas the adult counterpart would be workplace rivals to lovers) and how when you're coming of age, the stakes appear to be so much higher. Bel's reluctance and hesitancy to think of the future is something a lot of young adults can relate to. The future is scary and I like how instead of the "gunner" characters that are usually the protagonist of an academic rivals story, the author decided to go about it in a different way. It was refreshing and definitely made this book stand out. My Mechanical Romance's exploration of being a woman in a male-dominated sphere is reminiscent of Michelle Quach's Not Here to Be Liked in the best way. There's something so sincere and tender about witnessing first love and this book was such a pleasure to read. Definitely recommend this book and it is definitely one of the cutest YA contemporaries I've ever read.