This was a good read, unfortunately I just don't think it was meant for me.
I felt like I didn't relate enough to the story/characters and ultimately felt myself not absorbing anything.

The main characters Bel and Teo are on the same robotics team in high school. Bel is amazing at design and has a knack for knowing whether or not something will work. Teo is better at the engineering side. Follmuth does a great job with women in STEM representation but also in writing a story about finding your place and being secure in your choices. Bel got onto the robotics team mostly by luck without having the foundation as a teammate points out to her as she wrestles with not getting into the college she applied to. From there, Bel strives to build that foundation and not let others help her achieve what she hasn't earned. In the end, she shows that she's proud of herself and her accomplishments. This story was more than just a romance and I feel it was really well done.

A huge thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book!!!

I loved this book. The whole academic rivals to lovers, the relationships between different characters(there were so many personalities and relations executed very well- you would assume something but then find out their reasoning and they would instantly become your favorite character!)

The main relationship Bel & Teo was honestly so cute and healthy, they're my favorite book couple now. With their banter and understanding of eachother. Beautiful.

I really liked the "finding yourself" trope cause the author wrote it really well.

If you want to read a fluffy but also more directional book about romance AND?!!? science, academic achievements, the pressure of parents... I- READ IT. comes out on May 28.

thank you netgalley for providing me with an arc!

This was such a cute and fun read! Both Bel and Teo stand really well on their own as individual characters, while also working perfectly together as a couple.

Their struggles as individuals and development was really fun to read. I especially liked to read about Bel’s struggles, about not knowing exactly what she wants for collage, and is something i relate with. The development in their relationship was also very enjoyable.

The side characters in this, were also something i really enjoyed.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Woman in STEM
- Lovers in STEM

First of all, as a Filipino, I was so excited when I heard that the protagonist is half-Filipino. It is not common that we get representation in books so I was really looking forward to reading this book, and boy oh boy did I enjoy it.

I read this for the enemies-to-forced colleague-to-lovers but I stayed for the woman in STEM rep. This book is honestly so empowering. It talks about sexism and systemic misogyny in STEM. Bel's journey on self-discovery and "owning her own space" was simply so fun to read. As a Filipino in the STEM field, I was really able to connect with her. Apart from Bel, Teo's character was also endearing. I mean, yes, I initially thought that his character was annoying and entitled but his character development was good. He was able to recognize his flaws in the end (although I am still a little bit bummed with the whole Neelam situation thing in the Nationals). Moreover, can I just stress how much I love the friendship of Jamie, Lo, and Bel? Their bond was just amazing. It was such a healthy relationship. Additionally, I also LOVED the chapters about the robot competition. Olivie Blake/Alexene Farol Follmuth has a way with words that made me feel as if I were part of the crowd of the competition. Reading the descriptions about robot driving was exhilarating. Apart from the robot competitions, I also loved how the author showcased their senior year of high school. It made me think of my own experience. Bel feeling lost and confused about what to do with her future after high school is honestly such a relatable experience. It happens to more people than what is usually portrayed in high school movies/books. This book perfectly showcased how stressful it is to choose a university and a course when you feel like everyone around you has their life together already. The quote: "It's not fair that I'm supposed to know everything at eighteen" was able to perfectly capture the raw feeling of being lost and afraid of what comes next after high school. That part of the plot was such a great addition. As for Teo's dad, I initially thought that the ending felt lacking for not discussing or diving more into the issues he'd caused with his son. However, after much thought, I realized that what the book did was realistic. Sometimes confrontations don't get to happen, and that's okay. Thus, I conclude that I enjoyed reading this book.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth

Personal Rating: ★★★★/5 Stars

Book Statistics:
Genre: Young Adult Romance
Year of Publication: 2022
Pages: 272

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of 'My Mechanical Romance' in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a wonderful young adult romance! In 'My Mechanical Romance', many of my favorite book tropes were included that made me more keen to read it but also the fact that this is a women in STEM book that we need more of.

Bel, the protagonist of 'My Mechanical Romance', has to be one of my favorite protagonists with her internal struggles that I can relate to but also her relationship with her friends and family. I wish I had a teacher like Mrs. Voss!

When it comes to the romance of this book I was happy with Teo and his characterization. He was always supporting Bel, constantly trying to understand what she was going through and support with all he had. Teo and Bel as a couple were also adorable together and their banter was sweet.

The problems they faced throughout the novel were concluded wonderfully and I am glad they made their relationship work out.

I highly recommend 'My Mechanical Romance' for anyone who wishes to read a quick and fun romance book about a wonderful set of characters and equally badass bots.

Lastly and please do remember that, nerds are hot!

I’m usually not that into high school contemporary anymore because I find it hard to connect with characters almost ten years younger than me, but not in this book!
I loved the banter. Scratch that; I lived for the banter! These two, you guys!

We need way more books about women in STEM, because we need more women in STEM, period.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher and thank you to Alexene Faroul Follmuth. I loved it.

IT'S SOOO GOOD AND I LOVE IT SO MUCH.

Meet Isabel "Bel" Maier:
The new transfer kid, has zesty fashion sense (glittery eye shadows, dangling earrings, sparkly Docmart) but has a big potential in engineering (which is a "boy's stuff"), A SWIFTIE, either in super aggressive of super passive mode.

Meet Mateo "Teo" Luna jr:
The golden child, teacher's favorite, rich asf, BIG NERD, the leader, the ever reliable, very busy, too serious person.

Convincing YOU to add My Mechanical Romance to your TBR:
- half filipino female MC, half mexican male MC (diverse! The author is half filipino too)
- grumpy FMC x grumpy MMC
- light academia
- hate to tolerate to love each other trope
- CUTE FLUFF ❤❤❤
- dont have vulgar scene, minor friendly
- VERY AMUSING BANTER
- dual POV
- robotic and mechanical stuffs
- subtle feminism
- hardworking girls in male-dominated fields
- did i mention banter? Yes deserved to be mentioned twice because I love it so much
- the best YA romance contemporary I've ever read
- went straight to my "Best Reads of 2022" list!!

That's it. I coudn't put this review into coherent paraghraps because this book is just perfect and I'm obsessed! I NEED THE PHYSICAL COPY AFTER IT COMES OUT BECAUSE I WANT TO HUG THIS BOOK SOO BAD

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange of a honest review!

I am NOT a romcom contemporary girl. Definitely not my favorite. And yet... If all books were like this one, I would absolutely DEVOUR the genre. 5/5 stars, no doubt.

Let's start with the writing. Alexene has such a way with words; i saw it in The Atlas Six, her adult fantasy book, and now here, too. If I could highlight the whole book, I would have. I love how the main characters have very different personalities and how it echoes in their voice – the first person narrative was a great choice here.

Bel is my queen; I love her sarcastic remarks and her weird phrasings just as much as Teo does. I am just.. so proud of her?? And Teo!!!! In the beginning, I had the feeling he would be insufferable, you know, like rich smart boys in high school are, but the insight on his thoughts and how he sees the world really helped his case here. And damn, what a development.

I also loved the side characters. Each of them added something special to the narrative, and it's ridiculous how it only took me 272 pages to care SO MUCH about these kids and feel so proud whenever they accomplished something. A big shout-out to Neelam, another girl in the robotics team, and Luke, Bel's older brother; they are absolutely amazing.

This book made go back in time to when I was the one making the big choice of "what do you wanna do in the future?". In fact, so many of my personal challenges since my teenage years were exposed here, thrown in my face: how Bel is affected by her home situation, her relationship with her brothers, her struggle to find out what she wants to do when she's so damn young and should still be learning, how she has to try twice harder than the boys to be heard and seen in STEM; how Teo feels like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, how he thinks people will only love him as long as he can be of service to them, how he must be the top on everything like that will prove his worth... Like, dude. I was emotional during the whole damn book. The author took all of these themes and wrote them in a cute and light-hearted way, while still making me teary.

As for the romance... Perfection. Chef's kiss. Their big banter and rivalry didn't last long, but it was wonderful anyway. They are so damn cute, and I love how they push each other forward. The ending got me wishing a whole new book following them.

So, yeah! I strongly recommend this one. It's already on my top 2022 reads for sure!

What happens when you give someone who doesn't like contemporary books a contemporary written by Olivie Blake/Alexene Farol Follmuth? You get someone who suddenly has a new genre they love. I truly cannot say how much I loved this book. The romance was absolutely adorable. Teo and Bel are literally perfect for each other. They pushed each other to grow through the book, and it was truly beautiful to see; Teo helped Bel realize her genius, while she helped him realize his privilege. Their awkwardness, their cuteness, the way their genuine with one another, all of it- I was grinning like idiot because I loved them too much. Gosh, I need a whole series about them. Ok now to the stuff that brought me to tears. Mateo Luna- I haven't felt that represented in a character for a very long time. The overachieving, Latinx student who takes on everyone's problems because that's the only way he thinks people will love him? CALL ME OUT Olivie! Olivie wrote this part of so many students so beautifully and it brought me to tears. The discussions of sexism in the STEM fields? Olivie wove it in so perfectly. Neelam is literally one of the best characters in this book. The way Olivie showed the sexism from robotic club, to competition, to college acceptances, to teachers. She's truly a genius. I wish this book could be mandatory reading for all STEM clubs. Just so perfect. The discussions on making students at 18 figure out their entire damn lives? SO NEEDED. Honestly, this book belongs in every high school curriculum. Alexene is such a gifted writer and I've found a new favorite author. Basically, this is going to be one of my favorite reads of this year and is going to launch me trying a new genre. If you're wondering whether you should read this bool, don't even hesitate; the answer is YES!

“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.”

At the start of her senior year and following her parents’ divorce, Bel transfers to a new school and feels like more than ever she has no plan, no direction, and honestly doesn’t really care to have one. Her physics teacher recommends she try out for the robotics team, and she gets in. As she discovers the world of high school robotics, Bel discovers herself, and robotics captain Teo Luna along the way.

At its very core, this is so much more than a high school love story. This is a story about figuring out your place and the world, which during your senior year of high school can seem incredibly daunting. Bel’s going through a major transition when she starts at Essex Academy, and while she is initially despondent about high school, college, and her future, she discovers something and someone that she loves! I love that this book not only features girls in STEM, but it also brings to light some of the issues they face, and the fact that not everyone believes they belong there (not true, they totally belong there). I’m not typically one to poo-poo a book romance, and while I LOVE Teo and Bel together and love that they helped each other navigate a difficult season together, I think I appreciated the narrative of Bel taking up her own space in life MORE, and I would’ve loved if she didn’t do it with a boy by her side.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing this ARC. All opinions are my own.

My Mechanical Romance is not, by any means, a bad book. It is, however, a story I found incredibly hard to connect to. Something was just… missing. I didn’t click with either one of the main characters, to the point that I wasn’t even really rooting for them: not as individuals, not as a couple. It was still enjoyable to see their relationship develop, and though the “academic rivals-to-lovers” trope didn’t exactly reach its full potential, I had fun. Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me grinning the entire time. I was in a bit of a reading slump and then this book came along and I breezed through it in 2 days! I loved the portrayal of the struggle of woman in STEM, and the characters were simply fantastic. Also, if you loved Big Hero 6, you absolutely have to read this. Overall, of you are looking for a YA romance with a focus on math, science, and robotics, you NEED to read this!!!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for an honest review.

It was a cute concept. The Teo-Bel relationship with a Dash thrown in felt too contrived and I wasn’t here for it. We need more girls in STEM, and this story could have brought a lot more power.

Thanks to NetGalley and Holiday House for the ARC.

I'm in tears after finishing this book. I just loved it so much! It completely has my heart. It's so weird because usually, I like a very specific kind of contemporary, and this would not be it. I don't typically like high school romance or high school drama books or just fluffy contemporaries in general, but for whatever reason, I felt like I would adore this, and I did.

5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was one of my most awaited reads for this year, and I am so very glad to say that it did not disappoint. Bel and Teo might just be one of my new favourite ships and all the characters in this book are so lovable. 10/10 would recommend.

i had such high hopes for this book ever since i first came across this book cover on goodreads and read the description. that hope increased tenfold when i found out the author of this book is olivie blake (aka the author of one of my fav books from 2021) writing under the pen name, alexene farol follmuth. and then i got the book as an ARC through @netgalley last week and i abandoned all my currenr reads and proceeded to read the entire book in a couple hours. and my high hopes were met.

it’s only february but this might be one of my fav YA romances of the year. i absolutely loved all the characters and understood them and their conflicts and wants/needs so well because of the way they were written. (yes i’m talking about neelam too.)

idk how many people will relate or understand neelam and her pov but i completely understood her and where she was coming from and i could relate to her situation and feel her rage at the world and the way the world kept closing in and shutting her out of opportunities. i don’t think i’ve read a character like neelam in a long while and i was really happy to read about her even if she wasn’t the main character. ofc it wouldn’t be a romance and more of a commentary on this world if she were the main character lol, and ofc i did and still do love bel and teo with my entire heart but i wanted to highlight my pov about neelam because idk how many people are going to talk about her.

anyway, this book was perfection. all the physics and robotics stuff obviously went right over my head (there’s a reason it was my least fav science lol) but i absolutely loved it and highly recommend reading it if you enjoy YA romances.

if this love letter to this book hasn’t convinced you already, here are some of the tropes that are this book to convince you to add this one to your tbr and read it as soon as it comes out on May 31st!
- enemies to lovers
- grumpy x sunshine
- found family// ragtag group of friends
- lovers in STEM

Thank you NetGalley and Alexene Farol Follmuth for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

'My Mechanical Romance' is a fun YA romance novel, complete with academic rivals and a sweet and empowering narrative on women in STEM and feminism in general (particularly targeted toward young girls). The character arc of the main female character, Bel, follows the struggles of belonging, especially in a male-dominated group, and not knowing what to do in life. It's something that most people, especially girls, can relate to.

The romance aspect of the book was charming and adorably filled with good cheesy moments - the kind that leaves you smiling in real life! The main characters were relatable and had such Gen Z personalities, I was actually shocked that an author could express high school language so well and it didn't feel forced at all. The book had plenty of light and heart-warming moments to love.

The book is on a simpler level in terms of how mature the writing is, and it was different from Olivie Blake's (Follmuth's alter) sophisticated writing that it took a while to get used to. I also didn't like the amount of political buzzwords used in the book, though it's more common nowadays in Gen Z to use, it felt almost like a Riverdale scene attempting to sound woke. However, it's writing style is fitting for many young readers!

Overall, this is an enjoyable read perfectly suited for YA audiences and romance lovers, it's sure to make your day reading it!

Didn't expect this to hit so personally with me. At first I was thrown off by Luke's offhanded joke of Filipinos being "dumb Asians" or "jungle Asians" but I'm sure Alexene didn't mean any harm or to offend anyone with that comment. Sure, it did enrage me at the time, but now that I've finished the book, I can definitely say that Filipino culture here has been shown with respect and undeniable love. The little quirks of Bel's mom like immediately feeding Teo upon arrival is *very very Filipino-mom-like.* It is a CRIME in Filipino households to NOT feed your guests the moment they step into the house. That scene also just reminded me of how much I missed eating my grandmother's lumpia, and my mom's sinigang. There's none better in the world.

For as long as I can remember, I've always been top of my class. If not valedictorian, then salutatorian. I winced as I read the pressure Teo was feeling, because I've been there too many times to count. Knowing that you *can't* fail, because you're the leader, you've got many people counting on you, expecting the best of you, and have no choice but to continually shine and shine that only facet of yourself for everyone else's pleasure that your true self becomes abandoned. I sympathized with Teo for that, and when he slowly learned to let go, to ease a bit, and give myself a lot more sympathy, care, understanding, I couldn't love him more.

I'm currently a freshman in my fallback school, and to be honest, I'm not enjoying it. The struggles I feel right now are so in line with both Bel's and Teo's. The fact that I don't have a definite plan in the future and I feel like I'm *always* being pushed to something. In elementary, I was pushed into journalism. I was good at it, I won competitions, but I never really enjoyed it. Yet I still did it, because I was good at it, and people said I was, and there was already an expectation burdened upon me. So that little scene at the end when Dash did exactly what I couldn't made me feel very proud of him. The fact that Bel finally found the courage of taking a decision upon herself to take hold of her future and embrace her passion and her talents made me tear up a bit. Like her, I didn't get into my dream school. The rejection crushed me because deep down I knew that of course I didn't get in, that I deserve it. Because truthfully, for the last few months, I didn't even try. I just skated by on the goodwill from the teachers and classmates I've gained over the years of being Little Miss Perfect. I feel so close on giving up, though, but after reading Bel and her beautiful journey, I can only hope I get an ounce of her strength one day.

Alexene, if you're reading this, salamat. Grabe naitulong sa akin ng istorya mo, at alam kong marami ring ibang mga taong babasa neto at mararamdaman ang kasiyahang naramdaman ko.

Charmingly Quirky Enemies to Academic Rivals to Lovers

I've known this author's writing style since her fanfiction days as Dramione was the first fandom I joined. I squealed when she made a few references to her fanfic work like How To Win Friends And Influence People.

If you like...
-cool young women building robots
-quirky characters
-weird, precious love

You need to read this!

It was refreshing to have a story where the main character, Bel, didn't have a set plan for her life in high school and felt overwhelmed by the pressure to just know. Uncertainty about the future is such a relatable concept for all ages, especially with the pandemic. At 25, I still do not know what I want to do with my life. I have had so many jobs and different forms of income, and I never felt like I could fit in with a world determined to put me in a box. My heart was with Bel the entire story.

Funnily enough, my husband is a mechanical engineer and he did robotics from middle school through high school (he coached as well in college). Teo reminded me so much of him cause my husband just knew what he wanted from life and what he wanted to be since a young age. Even though you are set in what you want, you still have to face all the pressures and the assumptions of the world.

The beauty of this story is in the quote in the epilogue, "you can stand up without having to stand alone". In this world, we are encouraged to do it all on our own, to not need or seek help. Witnessing Bel and Teo fall in love, you can sense that they are better together. For some of us, we are truly ourselves when we are with the people who are there and support us, whether that be a partner or a best friend.

This was a quick read and I truly enjoyed the romance between Bel and Teo. Unfortunately, there were some parts that dragged on where I would have liked a longer epilogue or more chapters of post Nationals. In her fanfics, I also was more connected to the side characters than I was in this book.

Overall, I felt like this was a unique and captivating plot for both Bel and Teo as I could relate to both of them even now in my mid 20s.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book!