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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Review copy: Purchased
One of the positive results of the pandemic is that I got back into reading romance novels again (both adult & YA) and while yes they are incredibly formulaic, a good romance that pulls you in has great characters, an interesting challenge for them, and often times as of late, also makes commentary on current social issues. My Mechanical Romance does all of this by having the two main characters, Bel and Teo, be on the high school robotics team, addressing the need for having more girls in STEM.
I liked that Alexene Carol Follmuth didn’t have Bel be a complete “fish out of water” on the robotics team, but more of a teen who loved creating complex structures with a brilliant mind, but just didn’t have direction. I know many teens like this who love engineering stuff but for whatever reason could not see themselves being engineers. For Bel, designing mechanical structures was something she did with her father and her brother, and something that also brought her contentment. By being pushed by a teacher, Bel learns more about herself and the possibilities for her future. Her relationship with Teo comes about after the confidence in herself and her skills grows. Because of this, when the two finally realize their feelings for each other, the relationship is very balanced and I enjoyed that part of the story. In fact, Teo becomes more open to how he has unwittingly participated in the discrimination of girls in STEM through his friendship with Bel and his view of the world is changed, making him an equal to Bel as well.
As for the romance, it was very, very slow-burning, and actually not very “swoon worthy” as the two characters are actually very logically minded people. The romanic tension was very subtle, as Bel and Teo naturally went from good friends to a couple. There wasn’t much “pinning” for the other in the text. There were moments, but both were mainly focused on the building of their robot, AP courses, applying for college, family pressure, you know…all the regular senior in high school stresses. I found the novel to be quite real in that aspect and enjoyed how not just Bel and Teo grew throughout the story, but the other characters around them (including one of their teachers!). The story felt real to life and that is what pulled me into the novel.
One of the positive results of the pandemic is that I got back into reading romance novels again (both adult & YA) and while yes they are incredibly formulaic, a good romance that pulls you in has great characters, an interesting challenge for them, and often times as of late, also makes commentary on current social issues. My Mechanical Romance does all of this by having the two main characters, Bel and Teo, be on the high school robotics team, addressing the need for having more girls in STEM.
I liked that Alexene Carol Follmuth didn’t have Bel be a complete “fish out of water” on the robotics team, but more of a teen who loved creating complex structures with a brilliant mind, but just didn’t have direction. I know many teens like this who love engineering stuff but for whatever reason could not see themselves being engineers. For Bel, designing mechanical structures was something she did with her father and her brother, and something that also brought her contentment. By being pushed by a teacher, Bel learns more about herself and the possibilities for her future. Her relationship with Teo comes about after the confidence in herself and her skills grows. Because of this, when the two finally realize their feelings for each other, the relationship is very balanced and I enjoyed that part of the story. In fact, Teo becomes more open to how he has unwittingly participated in the discrimination of girls in STEM through his friendship with Bel and his view of the world is changed, making him an equal to Bel as well.
As for the romance, it was very, very slow-burning, and actually not very “swoon worthy” as the two characters are actually very logically minded people. The romanic tension was very subtle, as Bel and Teo naturally went from good friends to a couple. There wasn’t much “pinning” for the other in the text. There were moments, but both were mainly focused on the building of their robot, AP courses, applying for college, family pressure, you know…all the regular senior in high school stresses. I found the novel to be quite real in that aspect and enjoyed how not just Bel and Teo grew throughout the story, but the other characters around them (including one of their teachers!). The story felt real to life and that is what pulled me into the novel.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for this eArc. All thoughts are my own.
Book review time ✨
I read My Chemical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth. This book follows Theo and Bel as they go to high school in Silicon Valley. There’s a heavy emphasis on stem and robotics in this book. The premise follows Bel as she takes on her senior year of high school. Bel is a new student and doesn’t have any friends, but when a teacher suggests she join the robotics club, she finds her friends in an unlikely assortment of people. Teo son of a tech genius who everyone in school (including the teachers) idolizes. However, Teo is immediately intrigued by the new girl Bel. He finds her to be smart and able to stand up to him (something everyone else fails to do). He soon learns that differing views on a team make for a stronger outcome. These characters are navigating all the ups and downs that come with prom, college applications, and the final goodbyes that come with senior year. It’s the perfect read if you’re looking for something cute and fun! It’s all about stem and the importance of finding your passion.
The plot was incredible. I felt like it might’ve been a little slow at the beginning and a tad repetitive, but it picked up about 20% through the book. Fullmuth also did such a great job of tying in all these complex feelings towards school and family and wrapping it all together in this one character of Bel. Bel had so many challenges and honestly, I’m so glad that someone else’s writing about figuring out your passions. Even her side characters in Bel’s brothers showed the different sides to graduating high school, from trade school jobs to traditional college programs. I felt isolated and alone in high school when faced with the decision for my future. Fullmuth was able to draw out the complex emotions and help her main protagonists reach satisfying conclusions. Whether it be a traditional 4-year college, or something else, it was nice to see all the options listed in the book. It was heartwarming to see someone talk about endings in such a way that makes it feel like more of a beginning. This book is perfect if you like to read about families and futures, especially if you are unsure of the next steps to take!
Book review time ✨
I read My Chemical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth. This book follows Theo and Bel as they go to high school in Silicon Valley. There’s a heavy emphasis on stem and robotics in this book. The premise follows Bel as she takes on her senior year of high school. Bel is a new student and doesn’t have any friends, but when a teacher suggests she join the robotics club, she finds her friends in an unlikely assortment of people. Teo son of a tech genius who everyone in school (including the teachers) idolizes. However, Teo is immediately intrigued by the new girl Bel. He finds her to be smart and able to stand up to him (something everyone else fails to do). He soon learns that differing views on a team make for a stronger outcome. These characters are navigating all the ups and downs that come with prom, college applications, and the final goodbyes that come with senior year. It’s the perfect read if you’re looking for something cute and fun! It’s all about stem and the importance of finding your passion.
The plot was incredible. I felt like it might’ve been a little slow at the beginning and a tad repetitive, but it picked up about 20% through the book. Fullmuth also did such a great job of tying in all these complex feelings towards school and family and wrapping it all together in this one character of Bel. Bel had so many challenges and honestly, I’m so glad that someone else’s writing about figuring out your passions. Even her side characters in Bel’s brothers showed the different sides to graduating high school, from trade school jobs to traditional college programs. I felt isolated and alone in high school when faced with the decision for my future. Fullmuth was able to draw out the complex emotions and help her main protagonists reach satisfying conclusions. Whether it be a traditional 4-year college, or something else, it was nice to see all the options listed in the book. It was heartwarming to see someone talk about endings in such a way that makes it feel like more of a beginning. This book is perfect if you like to read about families and futures, especially if you are unsure of the next steps to take!
La primer mitad del libro me aburrió muchísimo, pero la 2da mitad me gustó un poco más.
Me gustaron todos los personajes y sus problemas, pero al mismo tiempo siento que habían como 80 personajes de relleno, osea Gabe para que existe¿. Y si bien me gustaron los problemas que tenían, me seguían aburriendo, pero eso es problema mio que ya no puedo leer libros de colegio o con protagonistas más chicos que yo.
Me gustaron Bel y Teo, tanto individualmente como pareja, me gustó que no haya ninguna gran pelea en que hieran los sentimientos del otro apropósito y cosas por el estilo.
El tema con los papás de Bel ni se vuelve a tocar cuando ella ni siquiera podía responderle unos mensajes al papá y ni siquiera se lo nombra al hermano del medio en el final, pero bueno detalles.
En cuanto a Teo, nadie aparte del consejero al principio del libro y Bel le dijeron que no tenía que ser perfecto todo el tiempo, no se como ese chico tenía fuerzas para levantarse de la cama cada mañana.
Me gustó mucho el tema de las mujeres en la robotica/ingeniería, quise entrar al libro y golpear al profesor Mac y a cualquier hombre que dijera una mínima pelotudez desacreditando a Bel o a cualquier mujer solo por el hecho de ser mujer como 30 veces durante la lectura.
Fue ligero, corto y tranqui, pero no es mi tipo de libro. Igual lo banco porque me suma una lectura al reto :).
Me gustaron todos los personajes y sus problemas, pero al mismo tiempo siento que habían como 80 personajes de relleno, osea Gabe para que existe¿. Y si bien me gustaron los problemas que tenían, me seguían aburriendo, pero eso es problema mio que ya no puedo leer libros de colegio o con protagonistas más chicos que yo.
Me gustaron Bel y Teo, tanto individualmente como pareja, me gustó que no haya ninguna gran pelea en que hieran los sentimientos del otro apropósito y cosas por el estilo.
El tema con los papás de Bel ni se vuelve a tocar cuando ella ni siquiera podía responderle unos mensajes al papá y ni siquiera se lo nombra al hermano del medio en el final, pero bueno detalles.
En cuanto a Teo, nadie aparte del consejero al principio del libro y Bel le dijeron que no tenía que ser perfecto todo el tiempo, no se como ese chico tenía fuerzas para levantarse de la cama cada mañana.
Me gustó mucho el tema de las mujeres en la robotica/ingeniería, quise entrar al libro y golpear al profesor Mac y a cualquier hombre que dijera una mínima pelotudez desacreditando a Bel o a cualquier mujer solo por el hecho de ser mujer como 30 veces durante la lectura.
Fue ligero, corto y tranqui, pero no es mi tipo de libro. Igual lo banco porque me suma una lectura al reto :).
turns out i just really love anything olivie blake writes—wether it’s a young-adult romance or a depressing fan fiction.
fast-paced
4.5/5 stars.
✨ full review here! ✨
I adored this novel so much! I'm not one to dive into YA Romances, but when I saw who the author was (aka the author of The Atlas Six, one of my favourite novels) I knew I had to read this, and I'm so glad I did!
I loved all the elements that made up this novel - the rivals to lovers, Type A and Type B personalities, and a look into what it's like to be a young woman wanting to pursue a life in the STEM field. Bel and Teo had a fantastic dynamic, and their interactions as rivals, friends, and eventually as a couple, were all so much fun to read. Especially because it had dual POVs so I got to see their bond develop from both POVs.
I also appreciate how this novel delved into the issues in STEM when it comes to how men in this field treat women, especially women in STEM. It was a little heavier and more serious than I expected, but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless.
Overall I really loved this novel !
✨ full review here! ✨
"nobody has ever, in the history of time, fallen in love in a robotics lab."
I adored this novel so much! I'm not one to dive into YA Romances, but when I saw who the author was (aka the author of The Atlas Six, one of my favourite novels) I knew I had to read this, and I'm so glad I did!
I loved all the elements that made up this novel - the rivals to lovers, Type A and Type B personalities, and a look into what it's like to be a young woman wanting to pursue a life in the STEM field. Bel and Teo had a fantastic dynamic, and their interactions as rivals, friends, and eventually as a couple, were all so much fun to read. Especially because it had dual POVs so I got to see their bond develop from both POVs.
I also appreciate how this novel delved into the issues in STEM when it comes to how men in this field treat women, especially women in STEM. It was a little heavier and more serious than I expected, but I enjoyed reading it nonetheless.
Overall I really loved this novel !