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beckyyreadss's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm not going to lie, I picked this book up because it was £2 at The Works, if it was on Amazon or Waterstones at full retail price, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. However, it was a cute read.
This book has two points of view. The first is Isabel, but she prefers Bel and she has accidently revealed a talent for engineering whilst at her new school and now she is being forced to try out for the robotics club. Bel has got too much going on at home, with her parents recently splitting up, joining a new school, her older brother being Mr. Perfect and then her oldest brother just quitting college. Her parents have pushed Bel to try and get into a decent college, but she doesn’t know what for until she discovers the robotics club where everyone believes she is there for the “Diversity” quota. The second point of view is Mateo, but he prefers Teo, he is perfect on paper – captain of the football team and the robotics club and his parents are celebrities with his dad being a CEO and his mum being an influencer. He just wants to be himself and try and get through senior year so he can finally be him at M.I.T not Harvard like his dad wants. Teo sees Bel as a potential asset, but they couldn’t be more different and as the nights of after-school work grow longer, Bel and Teo realise they’ve made more than just a combat-ready robot for nationals, they’ve made a connection. But with graduation approaching, their differences and what they want for their futures, threatens what they’ve built together.
It was a very cute and easy read. I didn’t need a lot of brain power to read it and felt like it was very fluffy. The storyline was predictable but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it; it just means I knew exactly what was going to happen. Dash saved this book as well; he was so funny throughout and just reminds me of every single sidekick that people love more than the MC.
I didn’t like how quick it changed from enemies-to-lovers; it could have been so much more. The characters were very two-dimensional and expect for them both hating being at home and that Bel was “weird” for how she dressed, and everyone fancied Teo. That was it really. Teo became like his dad with trying to force Bel to be the perfect girlfriend when they have only been dating for weeks. The men in this book (Mr Luna and Mac) hating on Bel for no reason except that Teo was hanging out with her drove me nuts especially Mac like you are a teacher that looks like the robotics club surely you would be pushing all your students and not just your best student. I would have preferred a bit more of the academic rivals' side, it was like one minute they had their differences due to Bel calling out something with Teo’s robot and the next Teo’s like I can’t stop thinking about her.
I feel like this book would have been better if it was a bit longer, the epilogue just jumped straight into two years, but I would have liked to see Bel and Teo progress through college.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity and Vomit
Minor: Cultural appropriation and Classism
takarakei's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-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
3.5
- Battle bots x YA romance
- Women in STEM!
- Dual POV
This was a very cute YA contemporary romance. I don't think that's really my genre... but if it is I think you would really enjoy this! I did love Bel's journey of finding her path into young adulthood.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Minor: Classism, Vomit, Infidelity, and Cultural appropriation
Bel deals with a misogynistic male teacher. Bel's parents are divorcing because her dad cheated.edsheeranslittleelf's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Vomit, Racism, and Infidelity
Minor: Classism and Cultural appropriation
sweetsxrrxw's review
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
the main reason why i picked up this book is because it was one of the shortest in my tbr. it took me about 4 days to finish it, not gonna lie, but still it was a nice read.
overall the book was really sweet. i felt like the main characters (even some of the side ones) were well-built and three-dimensional. like, i don't know, it was easy to understand them and see where they were coming from. (this is dedicated to kai, i dont care if they portrayed him as someone who was constantly panicking or stressing about stuff, he is so me)
both teo and bel were really relatable characters. i could totally understand bel's struggle of not knowing what to do with her future and never really having anything planned. i would be totally lying if i said i stopped being like her. i do not have a filipino mom, divorced parents or an older brother who i should look up and, what the hell, im not even a stem girlie, but it was super easy to understand bel.btw, i loved the fact that she ended up not attending mit. it was a nice way to prove that, even if your plans fail, you can still succeed and/or be happy with your path.
and what can i say about teo? a character who feels the need to fix everything and not ever letting anyone down? someone who believes people will stop loving them if he stops being perfect? HE IS SO ME. and if we take into account the love for his girlfriend and how he would do anything to spend time with her or see her smile, he just turns out to be one of those characters you can't help but love.however, even though i know this was a short romance novel and that she lowkey did so, i am kind of disappointed that the author didn't deepen more in that topic. but i guess we can forgive that because of the sick confession!
but it has to be said that the romance plotline was a bit fast-paced and partly ofr-screen. i can understand why, though. i believe that since this is a book focusing on women on stem, it had to show the struggles they face.one detail i really loved is how neelam, the character who had probably faced more of that sexism (mixed with racism because, yeah, it happens) never really changed her personality. although she becomes friends with bel once she understands why neelam acts the way she does, by the end of the book neelam hasnt been sugarcoated or anything and is still true to herself. AND OF COURSE, i was super happy when bel let neelam be the driver. i truly did not think about that option for a few pages, but it was nice to see a female friendship boooming
so, yeah, i am not sure if this is one of the best romance books i've ever read or whatever but it was truly nice to read; it was cute, funny, empowering and inspiring... each thing at the right time. and the diverse cast of characters is definitely a big plus so i would truly recommend this if you're in the mood for a stem-themed ya romance <3
ps: when i added this book to my tbr i had absolutely no idea it was from the author of the atlas six. i guess this counts as my first olivie blake book, lmao.
overall the book was really sweet. i felt like the main characters (even some of the side ones) were well-built and three-dimensional. like, i don't know, it was easy to understand them and see where they were coming from. (this is dedicated to kai, i dont care if they portrayed him as someone who was constantly panicking or stressing about stuff, he is so me)
both teo and bel were really relatable characters. i could totally understand bel's struggle of not knowing what to do with her future and never really having anything planned. i would be totally lying if i said i stopped being like her. i do not have a filipino mom, divorced parents or an older brother who i should look up and, what the hell, im not even a stem girlie, but it was super easy to understand bel.
and what can i say about teo? a character who feels the need to fix everything and not ever letting anyone down? someone who believes people will stop loving them if he stops being perfect? HE IS SO ME. and if we take into account the love for his girlfriend and how he would do anything to spend time with her or see her smile, he just turns out to be one of those characters you can't help but love.
but it has to be said that the romance plotline was a bit fast-paced and partly ofr-screen. i can understand why, though. i believe that since this is a book focusing on women on stem, it had to show the struggles they face.
so, yeah, i am not sure if this is one of the best romance books i've ever read or whatever but it was truly nice to read; it was cute, funny, empowering and inspiring... each thing at the right time. and the diverse cast of characters is definitely a big plus so i would truly recommend this if you're in the mood for a stem-themed ya romance <3
ps: when i added this book to my tbr i had absolutely no idea it was from the author of the atlas six. i guess this counts as my first olivie blake book, lmao.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Infidelity and Vomit
Minor: Cultural appropriation and Classism
annikaa's review
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity and Classism
Minor: Vomit and Cultural appropriation
roshanreads's review
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-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
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Holiday House Books for the eARC!
If there’s one book you should read this year, this is it. I love this book. It’s definitely one of my favourites this year, possibly ever. My Mechanical Romance has everything I possibly could have wanted in a book; dual POV, girls in STEM, a diverse cast, and characters that fail sometimes, and quite badly. Once I picked this book up, I could barely put it down. Obviously, it was a five-star read without hesitation, and that’s a rating I don’t usually give to romance novels.
My Mechanical Romance is the story of Bel Maier as her talents for robotics and doing her homework the day it's due lands her in an advanced physics class and gets her a place on the school robotics team. She’s not particularly happy with either of those events, which is understandable considering the less than warm reception from some of the other robotics team members. However, over the course of the book, she finds her place and her natural talents begin to shine as the team prepares for the biggest robotics competition of the year.
I have so many good things to say about this book that I almost don’t know where to start, but that doesn’t help convince people that they should read the book (you really should, by the way). I loved this book so much I basically forgot to make notes because I was so focused on finding out what was on the next page and what was going to happen.
Bel and Teo are so cute. I love how they worked together as rivals and when they didn’t see eye to eye, and then still competed with each other after they were together. They talked to each other about the problems they were having, and they worked so well as a team! Also, how could I not ship them after reading the line ‘Because wherever I am, I want her close by’? It would be literally impossible. Spoiler time, even when they broke up, they still cared about each other and believed in each other.
Now, time for even more spoilers because I want to talk about everything that happened in this book to whoever will listen.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, read this book. You won’t regret it at all. This book alone makes me want to auto-buy anything and everything Alexene Farol Follmuth writes. I gave it a five-star rating, and it’s the reason I made a 2022 Favourite Books list. Read My Mechanical Romance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Misogyny, and Vomit
Moderate: Infidelity and Violence
Minor: Classism, Sexual content, and Cultural appropriation
booktribe's review against another edition
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book is a teen romance between two members of a battle-bot-building team. If that doesn’t make you want to read this book then I don’t know what will! The cover immediately drew me to this book, but when I read the synopsis I just knew I had to read it!
There were so many great things about this book. Yes this book is a romance, but it also tackles all the misogyny that girls and women in STEM have to go through. I really loved that this book touched on that because so many young girls that will read this book need to know that it happens and that they can and will overcome it! And although that was a part of the story, the novel never lost its fun and lighthearted flow. I also found the descriptions of all the robot information, including the battle bot fights, very easy to follow. There was technical talk, but I never got confused. Another thing I loved about this book was Bel, the female main character! She was so likable and I just wanted the best for her in life. The character development in this story was great, even with the characters I disliked, I understood them and their motivations.
However, speaking of characters I didn’t like, I didn’t like Teo, the male main character. He was very arrogant and self centered. Though his character did improve eventually, I would’ve enjoyed the story better if the romance had been between Bel and Dash, Teo’s best friend. Put Dash in the forefront and make Teo a side character and this could’ve been a five star read for me. I also didn’t like Neelam, the only other girl on the robotics team. I wanted to love her, but I’ve never been a fan of the “this character is rude, but only because they’re misunderstood” trope. Like I said previously, I understood every character’s motivations, I know that her character was meant to show that a lot of times women and girls in STEM have to have a guard up to protect themselves from the overwhelming misogyny, but there was no excuse for her to be continually rude to Bel when Bel never did anything to her.
I enjoyed this book! The end was very satisfying for me! Though, I would’ve enjoyed it more if I liked the male main character. But, I found it very enjoyable and can’t wait for young girls in STEM to read it!
Thank you Holiday House and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.
TW: misogyny, parental divorce, cultural appropriation
There were so many great things about this book. Yes this book is a romance, but it also tackles all the misogyny that girls and women in STEM have to go through. I really loved that this book touched on that because so many young girls that will read this book need to know that it happens and that they can and will overcome it! And although that was a part of the story, the novel never lost its fun and lighthearted flow. I also found the descriptions of all the robot information, including the battle bot fights, very easy to follow. There was technical talk, but I never got confused. Another thing I loved about this book was Bel, the female main character! She was so likable and I just wanted the best for her in life. The character development in this story was great, even with the characters I disliked, I understood them and their motivations.
However, speaking of characters I didn’t like, I didn’t like Teo, the male main character. He was very arrogant and self centered. Though his character did improve eventually, I would’ve enjoyed the story better if the romance had been between Bel and Dash, Teo’s best friend. Put Dash in the forefront and make Teo a side character and this could’ve been a five star read for me. I also didn’t like Neelam, the only other girl on the robotics team. I wanted to love her, but I’ve never been a fan of the “this character is rude, but only because they’re misunderstood” trope. Like I said previously, I understood every character’s motivations, I know that her character was meant to show that a lot of times women and girls in STEM have to have a guard up to protect themselves from the overwhelming misogyny, but there was no excuse for her to be continually rude to Bel when Bel never did anything to her.
I enjoyed this book! The end was very satisfying for me! Though, I would’ve enjoyed it more if I liked the male main character. But, I found it very enjoyable and can’t wait for young girls in STEM to read it!
Thank you Holiday House and NetGalley for this arc. All opinions are my own.
TW: misogyny, parental divorce, cultural appropriation
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Cultural appropriation
ashylibrarian's review
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
**Thank you to NetGalley, author Alexene Farol Follmuth, and Holiday House for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.**
My Mechanical Romance is a story that brings together family, friendship, women in STEAM, and learning how to explore the future without fear. Told through a dual perspective, readers are immersed in the senior year of Bel and Teo, along with their friends, as they navigate friendship, college applications, and budding romances.
Bel moved schools for her senior year and is not eager nor excited to be thinking about the future. AP courses? Only if she has to. Filling out college applications? Yeah right. Joining clubs? No thank you.
It is not until Bel's physics teacher, Ms. Voss, gives her the ultimatum of receiving a poor grade on a project that Bel neglected or moving up to AP physics and joining the robotics team that Bel realizes she might actually be able to enjoy her knack for building and tinkering as a future career. With the encouragement of Ms. Voss, Jamie (Bel's best friend), and Lora (Jamie's friend), Bel enters both AP physics and the robotics team…with a few reservations.
Robots, romance, regret, and restart. Those are the words I think of after reading My Mechanical Romance.
Much of this book is focused on young women in STEAM and the realities of having to fight for space in a male-dominated field. Author Alexene Farol Follmuth intertwines the intricacies of wanting to take up space in this field while also earning that space among other women.
At the beginning of the novel, Ms. Voss (an underrated character whom we need more of in the real world) tells Bel that she needs to be confident and bold. That she has the talent, smarts, and determination to succeed in what she wants but she needs to apply it. Ms. Voss tells Bel, "Take up your own space, Bel. Don't let other people tread over it." (29). Yes! We can use more characters who will encourage women, historically marginalized groups, minorities, and those less confident to - Take. Up. Their. Own. (Deserved.) Space. It takes Bel most of the novel, and a raw heart-to-heart with a teammate, to really take and truly understand this advice. But once she does, Bel’s character grows and expands in wonderful ways.
The female characters in this novel are all so independent of eachother and take up their own space in the storyline. This was really refreshing to read and made the underlying theme of empowerment naturally powerful. The relationship between Bel and Neelam was one of my favorites because they both had their minds set on accomplishing a similar task, however, they approached things differently. Neelam, through tough conversations, helped guide Bel to be a better version of what she (Bel) wanted.
I wanted to also touch on the fact that Teo’s character, though not my favorite young adult love interest, was a strong representation of what pressure, stress, and societal expecatations can do to young people. Multiple times throughout the novel, readers are reminded of everything Teo is expected to be - a leader in robotics, the team captain of the soccer team, the MIT early admittant, and a perfect, loyal son. These expectations were set forth on him by many adults, including his father and his teachers. Interestingly enough, however, it was his friends and peers who noted that he does not have to be perfect, he does not have to be the leader of everything, and he is allowed to take a break. Though I didn’t love the way Teo’s “break” was written into the story (without spoilers, it just felt a bit rushed and random, almost), I am glad it happened to show him that he can trust in others and doesn’t need to be at the center of everything all the time.
I really enjoyed the addition of the epilogue in this story and felt that it wrapped the robots and romance up nicely. I am happy I read this one and will keep it in mind for future recommendations.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Cultural appropriation and Vomit
Minor: Infidelity and Classism
fiwwa's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
When I found out that this book had a STEM romance with academic rivals to lovers trope, I read it right away and it did not disappoint!! This was a wholesome lighthearted read with an interesting plot, you’ll be surprised when you found out how fun robotics can be.
Except for the point where she gets to date the cutest geek in school, I relate so much to Bel's character. She's bright and compassionate, but she does have one flaw: she struggles to see the best in herself, which is... one reason why I relate to her. I'm not going to say much about Teo, but my my my, he's an absolute dream guy to date. Intelligent guys is my weakness, and Teo is certainly one of them.
The supporting characters are also excellent. Especially Ms. Voss, she’s a very supportive teacher, I believe we all need someone like her in our lives. And Dash?? Oh my God, that man brings the comedy to this romcom. It was hard for me to like Neelam at first but then I realized she's just like Paris Geller.
TeoBel’s romance is SUPER CUTE!! through the dual pov chapters, we can see how they both developed feelings for each other and secretly crushing, just how I imagined my high school romance would go if I ever had one. But despite the use of the word "romance" in the title, I like how this book was not only about teenage angsty drama. There was a lot more than that: about figuring out what you want and overcoming the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. the feminism is wonderfully portrayed.
The diversity and representation in this book is a amaaazing!! characters with various backgrounds, the chatter, the cultural foods and events?? I’ll let you find out yourself but my favorite scene is cheerful and colorful.
And I love how the STEM topic is actually highlighted and portrayed, instead of just having characters with STEM background or interest.
Thank you Netgalley, HolidayHouse, and the author Alexene Follmuth for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!
Except for the point where she gets to date the cutest geek in school, I relate so much to Bel's character. She's bright and compassionate, but she does have one flaw: she struggles to see the best in herself, which is... one reason why I relate to her. I'm not going to say much about Teo, but my my my, he's an absolute dream guy to date. Intelligent guys is my weakness, and Teo is certainly one of them.
The supporting characters are also excellent. Especially Ms. Voss, she’s a very supportive teacher, I believe we all need someone like her in our lives. And Dash?? Oh my God, that man brings the comedy to this romcom. It was hard for me to like Neelam at first but then I realized she's just like Paris Geller.
TeoBel’s romance is SUPER CUTE!! through the dual pov chapters, we can see how they both developed feelings for each other and secretly crushing, just how I imagined my high school romance would go if I ever had one. But despite the use of the word "romance" in the title, I like how this book was not only about teenage angsty drama. There was a lot more than that: about figuring out what you want and overcoming the challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated field. the feminism is wonderfully portrayed.
The diversity and representation in this book is a amaaazing!! characters with various backgrounds, the chatter, the cultural foods and events?? I’ll let you find out yourself but my favorite scene is cheerful and colorful.
And I love how the STEM topic is actually highlighted and portrayed, instead of just having characters with STEM background or interest.
Thank you Netgalley, HolidayHouse, and the author Alexene Follmuth for the ARC in exchange of an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Cultural appropriation
dlrosebyh's review against another edition
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
5.0
Women in stem. Need I explain more?
Firstly, I’d like to thank NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of My Mechanical Romance in exchange of an honest review.
The cover was the first thing that drew me into this book. Then there's the synopsis. See, I'm not a big fan of science. Actually, if I'm being completely honest, I despise science, especially physics. That being stated, I was undecided about whether or not to request this book. At the end of the day, I was fortunate to pick this up.
Teo Luna and Bel Maier are two "nerds" who are compelled to work together in My Mechanical Romance. Teo has been the robotics club's captain for several years. He has a reputation for being serious, studious, and a nerd. Not just any nerd, but a really attractive one. Bel, on the other hand, is a new student who is working hard to maintain her GPA in preparation for her future.
This book covers misogyny, sexism, and racism all at the same time, which are important topics. To be honest, it's rare to come across a romance book that tackles these issues without relying on preconceptions, so kudos to Follmuth for that.
The romance in this novel made me laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. To avoid spoilers, I'm not going to say much more— but academic rivals to lovers and forced proximity? Excellent tropes. Did I mention Teo memorized Taylor Swift's discography in order to make Bel laugh?
In terms of the characters, each one is relatable in their own manner. Bel is the character with whom I have the most in common. Her academic aspirations, her love for Taylor Swift, and her Filipino heritage? Yes, she is unquestionably one of the most relatable protagonist.
Overall, I love this book. Please don't mind if I start using it as my main personality right now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Infidelity, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Classism and Cultural appropriation