This book was super cute. I absolutely flew through it with a bright smile on my face. I was kind of addicted to reading this book. Once I started reading it just wouldn't let me go. I also really loved our two main characters. I thought they were great to follow and I was really interested in the things they had going on. I absolutely loved the robotics element to this book. I thought it was very interesting and I really loved seeing the passion both of these characters had for it. I also just loved the group dynamic of the robotics team. The romance was also just the cutest thing ever and I loved the way it was set up. However, I did have some issues with this. There were quite a few time jumps in the book, which made it feel like I was missing some important developement scenes. That caused for the romance to feel a little bit insta-lovey and intense even though the book takes place over almost an entire school year. I also feel like in times this got a bit preachy about its messaging while other times it didn't get enough in depth at all. But overall I just had a blast reading this and that's all that really matters. This is definitely a book I recommend you pick up once it comes out.

4.5 ⭐ This book was so good!! Normally I have difficulty getting into YA romance, because oftentimes it feels unrealistic and too formulated to be enjoyable—I’m constantly feeling like the characters aren’t real people, even if they’re supposed to be. This book, however, does the complete opposite of that. It’s so well-paced and funny, and I found myself laughing out loud several times while reading. Bel is a fully realized, complex main character that I’ve rarely found in this genre, and Teo has got to be one of my favorite characters of realistic fiction ever—his characterization was done perfectly, and Farol Follmuth’s wonderful writing style makes all of it that much better. This book was such a fun—but also deeply real and full of realistic issues that teens face in real life—story that left me hoping for more of this style of book from Alexene Farol Follmuth. God I loved this book so fucking much. I can't wait for everything the author is going to do next.

This is the STEM academic rivals to lovers book of my dreams. It took me a while to get used to the writing style as I thought that it was a bit juvenile at first. But as soon as I got past 50 pages, I was hooked! I understand why the author took to this approach in writing, after all, it's a teen romance. I really have to give it to the author though because strangely this didn't feel like she was trying too hard to make it relatable for the younger audience, the dialogues were natural.

The cast of characters was a joy to read. The chemistry between our main protagonists had me giggling to myself at 2 AM in the morning. It's cheesy but never did it make me cringe as most romance novels do. I like how it touched on themes of gender biases, how sometimes people don't take young girls as seriously as they do with boys, as if their thoughts and opinions matter more than girls. If a girl succeeds it's because she's a hard worker, if a boy does he's just naturally gifted. That's what I always observed while growing up, especially when it comes to the academic world. And this book did not fail to show that side of academics. This book is relatable, and we get to see the characters grow and develop too. I don't know what else to say aside from the fact that I loved loved this!

I admit that I was hesitant at first since I had great expectations and the first few pages didn't hold my attention as well as I had hoped. Later on, though, I found myself smiling and giggling at these characters who I had assumed would bore me. If I'm being honest, it's not peak literature, but I adore it for what it is.

This has everything I've ever wanted in a book: it's a nice little STEM academic rivals teen rom-com that is delivered pretty well. I do have some issues with the writing style, which initially put me off. However, this was more of a personal taste and I eventually got over it and ended up enjoying it more than I thought. When it comes to this book, there's so much I could say. The characters are well-developed and endearing. I liked how it touched on so many topics, such as discovering one's passion and potential, as well as the uncertainties and existential crises that come with it, especially for disadvantaged children who may not have had the same headstart and opportunities as their more privileged peers. It realistically portrays complicated family relationships. It also addresses the gender biases that occur in a male-dominated field like STEM. Bel, Neelam, Jamie, and Lora all have my heart. I'm not sure anyone can understand how much I want to see these fictional characters succeed.

I adored this YA. Robotics, college applications, extracurriculars what more can run through Bel’s head, well maybe besides Mateo? Mateo is the captain of the robotics club and cares deeply for the club, all while butting heads with Bel who isn’t as focused.
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This book had so much. Academic rivals, a sharp and quick wit, which I always love and women in STEM. I hate to say this is a nerdy romance because I hate to classify smart as nerdy. I love to see differences and showcasing how difficult it can be for a woman in STEM and even more so a woman of color in STEM. I love seeing the diversity in this one, especially as a YA! This was a great one.

Thanks so much to #HolidayHouse for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars
Alexa, play team by Lorde.

I'll admit, it took me a bit to start liking this. I'm a big fan of Alexene's work, and while I knew going in that this was going to be much different than her other books, it still took me a few hundred pages to get used to the writing style and overrall maturity level. But once I was in I was hooked.

Though Teo annoyed me throughout, I really enjoyed his and Bel's relationship, particularly towards the end. I usually dislike romance epilogues, but the one in this was so cute. The side characters made no impression on me, as they usually do, but I loved getting to read about Bel's relationship with her brother, and the bits where she discussed her parent's relationship hit a bit too close to home.

My Mechanical Romance is a solid YA debut by an already great adult author, and I can't wait to see what Alexene puts out next.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

First of all, I'm rounding down, but I would give this a solid 3.5 stars.

Genuinely had such a fun time reading this. It felt like candy for my brain, in the best way possible. The author KNOWS how to write romance that is sweet but never in a way that feels overdone, and the focus on the characters' lives and how that impacted their interpersonal dynamics was really nice.

However I do wish we had gotten more from characters outside of Bel and Teo. While they both shone, it felt like the author wanted to give other characters, such as Neelam and Dash, their own arcs, but they generally faded to a murky buzz outside of the perspective characters' emotions.

I think that's the failing of this book, which is that it is trying to do a lot, and doesn't quite deliver on all of the beats it wants to hit for both romance, and what it means to be a marginalized individual in a STEM field. It's trying to cover a lot of ground with a limited amount of space, so in some places, it really can wear thin.

But overall, did have a nice time, did love the characters and their relationships, and def would recommend this to someone looking for something fun and happy to read!

Did I just hug a book and wish it existed two years ago when I was picking an STEM major? Yes I did.

This book served exactly what it promised, a cute nerdy young adult romcom, but romance aside - no hate bel&teo, you're my babies and i'll protect you forever- this book reminded me what high school was like. I found myself relating to many characters in the book, even the side characters. I think it's a book I needed when I was 17, when I was confused about my passion, my potential, my comfort, my dreams, and everyone's expectations of me. I understood the characters and surprisingly felt understood by them, I was totally immersed and bewitched AND I didn't feel like pulling my hair out while reading about physics, uh hello?? New comfort book unlocked, the diversity and the representation of women in STEM were just the cherry on top.

I am not saying this is the best piece of literature or a perfect book page to page, but I'd highly recommend it for the friendship, the growth and the relatability, your age doesn't matter, your major doesn't matter. It felt like a fresh breath of air amidst all what's going on with life.

P.S: I hate to be that person but who won the last match?? I MUST KNOW FOR SCIENTIFIC REASONS.

PPS: Alexene, how dare you make physics and engineering so much fun? D; this is very wicked of you.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Bel joins her school’s robotics club and soon finds herself at odds with the talented Teo Luna. Their rivalry soon develops into something more.

My Mechanical Romance is a cute STEM themed YA romance. I appreciate that the author wrote realistic situations into the plot - college application anxiety, not getting into the 1st choice of schools, changing academic interests. I like that while the storyline did have romance in it, it was also focused on Bel’s personal growth.

I have no words to describe how good this was. I have read previous books by this author (under olivie blake) so i knew i would like the writing style BUT THE STORY?? it was so cute. literally the perfect ya romance. i loved teo and bel they were the cutest. AND THAT ENDING?? it was actually perfect. i could cry right now.

i just finished reading so im still on that reader high but anyway I DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS. I LOVE LOVE.

This is an ownvoices novel about biracial teenagers building robots! WHAT IS NOT TO LOVE!

I knew this was going to be good when I realized it’s Olivie Blake- but I had no idea what a RomCom by the author of The Atlas Six was going to look like. It turns out, it was hilarious & beautiful & perfectly captured the feeling of having a crush… WHILE BUILDING BATTLE ROBOTS. I love nerd love & I’m so happy to be seeing more books about girls in stem- there’s so much joy to be found in books that include positive representation.

Thank you so much netgalley & holiday house books for the eArc!

This is the STEM ya romance I would have loved to have read when I was in high school. This book is gonna mean so much to a lot of younger readers, especially girls who want to go into mechanical engineering and robotics. It tackles the issues of gatekeeping, microagressions, sexism, misogyny, and imposter syndrome, but it left me feeling so freaking hopeful. Hopeful that the younger generations will not face the same amount of gatekeeping and will know what it means to keep going in spite of that negativity.

Teo and Bel are so wholesome in this. Teo has his moments where you wanna shake his shoulders and say “how do you not see the differences?!” But I liked that he came to view the obstacles Bel faced in a different light as the book went on; it felt much more authentic that way. MMR also depicted strong, smart women but in various forms! Neelam really grew on me and Jamie and Lora were such supportive friends. Also, I loved the depiction of just how hard high school students work. This book is not spicy (obviously, because it’s YA) but it was really, really sweet! The epilogue chapter was amazing and had me tearing up 😭

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy!

4.5

I’ve read a few books under Alexene Farol Follmuth’s pen name, Olivie Blake and have enjoyed them so much it was a no-brainer to pick this up.

I found both Bel and Teo so interesting and relatable - I love them so much! The tension, the banter, the little details they remembered about each other AHHHHH it was such a delight to read. I dont think it was quite the academic rivals trope i was expecting but it truly felt a lot more natural than a lot of other romcoms!

The side characters were also great! They felt familiar and endearing if that makes sense. Alexene really really fleshed them out and made them distinct and lovable. I love the friendships in this book and how supportive they are of each other,

I love that this books shows the struggles of being a woman in a male-dominated field. How hard it is to be taken seriously, how male colleagues will think you’re not good/smart enough and that you’re annoying if you do speak up, as well as how underestimated women are. It also did great on sexism, privilege, and family struggles! Also on being uncertain with your future. While this book touched on important topics, I also loved how it was still light-hearted and cute.

The Filipino rep in this book is unlike any I’ve seen before. I haven’t had the chance to see my culture represented in books but this one was such a great start. Although it wasn’t a lot, it was a lot more than other authors that just establish their characters having a certain heritage and not expounding on it. I truly commend Farol Follmuth for this! It made me feel seen being a Filipina living in North America.

I’ll definitely buy a copy of this once it comes out!

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).