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La mecánica del amor
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Young Adult Fiction (2022)Bel preferiría morir antes que pensar en el futuro. ¿Solicitudes de ingreso en la universidad? Qué gracioso. ¿Actividades extracurriculares? Ni hablar. Pero cuando sin querer revela su talento para la ingeniería, no le queda otra alternativa que unirse al club de robótica de su instituto. Aunque eso no es lo peor. Todos los chicos la ignoran, y ni siquiera parece caerle bien a Neelam, la única otra chica del equipo.
Por otro lado, está Mateo Luna, el capitán del club, que reconoce el potencial de Bel. hasta que comienzan a tener diferencias. A Bel no le preocupa el campeonato nacional, y a Teo le preocupa demasiado. Sin embargo, a medida que las noches de trabajo después de las clases se hacen cada vez más largas, Bel y Teo se dan cuenta de que han creado algo más que un robot listo para competir en el campeonato: también han conseguido sacar lo mejor de ambos, así como del equipo. Porque las chicas sí que pertenecen al campo de las ciencias, la tecnología, la ingeniería y las matemáticas.
Por otro lado, está Mateo Luna, el capitán del club, que reconoce el potencial de Bel. hasta que comienzan a tener diferencias. A Bel no le preocupa el campeonato nacional, y a Teo le preocupa demasiado. Sin embargo, a medida que las noches de trabajo después de las clases se hacen cada vez más largas, Bel y Teo se dan cuenta de que han creado algo más que un robot listo para competir en el campeonato: también han conseguido sacar lo mejor de ambos, así como del equipo. Porque las chicas sí que pertenecen al campo de las ciencias, la tecnología, la ingeniería y las matemáticas.
320 pages, Paperback
First published May 31, 2022
819 people are currently reading
55018 people want to read
About the author
Alexene Farol Follmuth
4 books1,040 followersAlexene Farol Follmuth is a first-generation American, a romance enthusiast, and a lover and writer of stories. Alexene has penned a number of adult SFF projects under the name Olivie Blake, including the webtoon Clara and the Devil and the BookTok-viral The Atlas Six. My Mechanical Romance is her YA debut, coming Summer 2022 from Holiday House. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, new baby, and rescue pit bull.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 6,148 reviews
July 5, 2022
I'm sorry but i cant take a man seriously if he is named Teo Luna, i keep reading it as tuna 💀
Anyways, now that that critical piece of info is out of the way lets continue.
This book was average. It could have been SOOO much better, if only Teo and Bel were academic rivals and enemies for a longer time. That along with everythinhg else in this book it would have been EPICCC.
I though that this was going to be academic rivals and enemies to friends to lovers but it was more like i dislike you for a stupid reason to im annoyed that you are smarter then me to sorta friends to ohhh i like him to lovers. I'm not mad, just disapointed.
Tuna (yes i will be refering to him as that now) was average ( i will proably be using that a lot) hes not too special, everything a love interest could be. Hot, smart, charming, nice. As Tunas mother said 'nerds are hot' But hes noting compared to any one else i have read about. He was still sweet tho.
And Bel was just plain weird. Not average weird. Cool weird or weird weird i dont know yet. I dont really have much to say about her to be honest she wasnt too interesting.
Apart from that, i really enjoyed the representation about women in stem being dismissed because they are women and because stem is usually a degree that is dominated by men. And how some of them think that just because they are men it means that they are automatically smarter. And im happy that this book showed that with the prick Richardson.
Im so mad that this book was average, i was so hyped for it and it makes me super sad that i am 100% going to forget everything about this book in four days.
Avveragee
also two birds of a feather were cute.
toodles,
Zoe
3.5 stars
{previous review}
im sorry, enemies to lovers in STEM? yes please
Anyways, now that that critical piece of info is out of the way lets continue.
This book was average. It could have been SOOO much better, if only Teo and Bel were academic rivals and enemies for a longer time. That along with everythinhg else in this book it would have been EPICCC.
I though that this was going to be academic rivals and enemies to friends to lovers but it was more like i dislike you for a stupid reason to im annoyed that you are smarter then me to sorta friends to ohhh i like him to lovers. I'm not mad, just disapointed.
Tuna (yes i will be refering to him as that now) was average ( i will proably be using that a lot) hes not too special, everything a love interest could be. Hot, smart, charming, nice. As Tunas mother said 'nerds are hot' But hes noting compared to any one else i have read about. He was still sweet tho.
And Bel was just plain weird. Not average weird. Cool weird or weird weird i dont know yet. I dont really have much to say about her to be honest she wasnt too interesting.
Apart from that, i really enjoyed the representation about women in stem being dismissed because they are women and because stem is usually a degree that is dominated by men. And how some of them think that just because they are men it means that they are automatically smarter. And im happy that this book showed that with the prick Richardson.
Im so mad that this book was average, i was so hyped for it and it makes me super sad that i am 100% going to forget everything about this book in four days.
Avveragee
also two birds of a feather were cute.
toodles,
Zoe
3.5 stars
{previous review}
im sorry, enemies to lovers in STEM? yes please
July 13, 2022
So much better than what I expected. This was a very wholesome read. I enjoyed it so much😩😩
The pace of the book was a bit slow for me but it never got boring. The author has written it so well. The plot is very investing, honestly it took me by surprise. I had thought to myself it's robotics how much fun can it get? But IT DID GET FUN!! (Please excuse, I have an arts background 😂).
The characters are full of personality, and they get along so well together. Leo Tuna (My mind kept reading his name like that the whole time, so am going to stick to that lol) is a good lead. I like how he wasn't too perfect, he had flaws which made him endearing. My girl Bel was so good. I really enjoyed her POV, she was full of energy and compassion, and you do feel that when you read it. What I didn't like about her though is the way she expresses herself, the way she communicates. I guess the author intended Bel to be like that, but I honestly didn't see the point of that. At a certain point she overused the word "like" and it did get slightly annoying. The supporting characters Ms. Voss and Dash are equally well written. Honestly, we all need a Ms. Voss in our lives.
I like how Neelam's struggles are shown. I was a bit harsh on her at first but towards the end of the book she gained my respect and I do understand her perspective. I don't agree with how she managed it, but I understand.
Overall, this was a super fun read and I would totally recommend it if you're a looking for a cute romance set in academia. Nerds are so hot! Also, women in STEM- more power to you👏
eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
The pace of the book was a bit slow for me but it never got boring. The author has written it so well. The plot is very investing, honestly it took me by surprise. I had thought to myself it's robotics how much fun can it get? But IT DID GET FUN!! (Please excuse, I have an arts background 😂).
The characters are full of personality, and they get along so well together. Leo Tuna (My mind kept reading his name like that the whole time, so am going to stick to that lol) is a good lead. I like how he wasn't too perfect, he had flaws which made him endearing. My girl Bel was so good. I really enjoyed her POV, she was full of energy and compassion, and you do feel that when you read it. What I didn't like about her though is the way she expresses herself, the way she communicates. I guess the author intended Bel to be like that, but I honestly didn't see the point of that. At a certain point she overused the word "like" and it did get slightly annoying. The supporting characters Ms. Voss and Dash are equally well written. Honestly, we all need a Ms. Voss in our lives.
I like how Neelam's struggles are shown. I was a bit harsh on her at first but towards the end of the book she gained my respect and I do understand her perspective. I don't agree with how she managed it, but I understand.
Overall, this was a super fun read and I would totally recommend it if you're a looking for a cute romance set in academia. Nerds are so hot! Also, women in STEM- more power to you👏
eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
July 11, 2023
WOMEN IN STEM >>>
I’m having a difficult time rating this book.
On one hand I want to give it 4⭐️ because of the character development Bel went through. From the beginning I was cheering her on and hoping she would finally fight back and stand up for herself and when she did, I felt proud. FOR A FICTIONAL CHARACTER.
I also loved the “robot- talk”. As a fellow kind of nerd, this was very fun. We actually had some good conversations between the two main characters that aren’t just him growling that she is his.
SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD ON THE TOPIC OF MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN IN THIS BOOK:
.
.
.
.
.
I also loved how even though Naleem was very rude in the beginning of the book towards Bel, that Bel never stop trying to be nice to her. You might think “oh Naleem is a bitch” but when you read her story and see how Mateo and the other guys treat her, you see why she had to grow a thicker skin. I mean let’s be honest I feel like a lot of women would react similarly after so many years of fighting and not being respected.
That leads me to my next point which is the focus on women in stem and how they are often not trusted and how their ideas are ignored. I loved the talk between Naleem and Bel. It was probably one of my favorite scenes because yes even though this is only high school, this is where this all starts. Seeing Bel realize why Naleem is as cold as she is , also towards her made me happy and sad at the same time. I mean Bel already was mistreated and dismissed by the men at the competition but at least not by Mateo since he likes likes her. So then obviously Mateo’s minions follow behind. Yet sadly, Naleem was never accepted by Mateo and she had to endure being dismissed for 3 fucking years before Bel arrived. OF COURSE SHE IS THE WAY SHE IS I MEAN WTF. I AM A NALEEM DEFENDER THROUGH AND THROUGH.
Yet, on the other hand I want to give this book 2⭐️ because of some others reasons:
1) I absolutely hated the teacher. What a sexist, women belittling little shit. No wonder Naleem was always so grumpy, I mean I think I would have been ever worse. The way this teacher told the girls to be a team player when they had new ideas BUT THEN always listened to the boys, especially everything Mateo said was infuriating.
And yes, I know that he changed in the end BUT WOW, you’re a fully fucking grown adult. Act like one.
2) The way Naleem was treated by everyone (except Bel). This book has both Bel’s and Mateo’s POVs and the way Mateo talked about Naleem was in my opinion, disgusting. Yes she might be a bit grumpy but wow I mean no wonder with how you treat her and how you think she’s really dumb and doesn’t know anything. She obviously had to grow thicker skin to survive a group of teenage boys as well as a sexist teacher when the only other girl, Laura wasn’t in the robot club to build for for the website. I am a Naleem defender through and through.
3) The dad. Mateo’s father was… special. By that I mean he clearly treats his son like he’s a full grown 40 year old CEO of a company not a teenager with hormones. I felt like there wasn’t enough conflict resolving and it made me sad because I understood where Mateo’s need to win and succeed and to lead came from.
So since there were both lots of misses but also wins I thought I could go with the middle aka 3 stars
I’m having a difficult time rating this book.
On one hand I want to give it 4⭐️ because of the character development Bel went through. From the beginning I was cheering her on and hoping she would finally fight back and stand up for herself and when she did, I felt proud. FOR A FICTIONAL CHARACTER.
I also loved the “robot- talk”. As a fellow kind of nerd, this was very fun. We actually had some good conversations between the two main characters that aren’t just him growling that she is his.
SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD ON THE TOPIC OF MISTREATMENT OF WOMEN IN THIS BOOK:
.
.
.
.
.
I also loved how even though Naleem was very rude in the beginning of the book towards Bel, that Bel never stop trying to be nice to her. You might think “oh Naleem is a bitch” but when you read her story and see how Mateo and the other guys treat her, you see why she had to grow a thicker skin. I mean let’s be honest I feel like a lot of women would react similarly after so many years of fighting and not being respected.
That leads me to my next point which is the focus on women in stem and how they are often not trusted and how their ideas are ignored. I loved the talk between Naleem and Bel. It was probably one of my favorite scenes because yes even though this is only high school, this is where this all starts. Seeing Bel realize why Naleem is as cold as she is , also towards her made me happy and sad at the same time. I mean Bel already was mistreated and dismissed by the men at the competition but at least not by Mateo since he likes likes her. So then obviously Mateo’s minions follow behind. Yet sadly, Naleem was never accepted by Mateo and she had to endure being dismissed for 3 fucking years before Bel arrived. OF COURSE SHE IS THE WAY SHE IS I MEAN WTF. I AM A NALEEM DEFENDER THROUGH AND THROUGH.
Yet, on the other hand I want to give this book 2⭐️ because of some others reasons:
1) I absolutely hated the teacher. What a sexist, women belittling little shit. No wonder Naleem was always so grumpy, I mean I think I would have been ever worse. The way this teacher told the girls to be a team player when they had new ideas BUT THEN always listened to the boys, especially everything Mateo said was infuriating.
And yes, I know that he changed in the end BUT WOW, you’re a fully fucking grown adult. Act like one.
2) The way Naleem was treated by everyone (except Bel). This book has both Bel’s and Mateo’s POVs and the way Mateo talked about Naleem was in my opinion, disgusting. Yes she might be a bit grumpy but wow I mean no wonder with how you treat her and how you think she’s really dumb and doesn’t know anything. She obviously had to grow thicker skin to survive a group of teenage boys as well as a sexist teacher when the only other girl, Laura wasn’t in the robot club to build for for the website. I am a Naleem defender through and through.
3) The dad. Mateo’s father was… special. By that I mean he clearly treats his son like he’s a full grown 40 year old CEO of a company not a teenager with hormones. I felt like there wasn’t enough conflict resolving and it made me sad because I understood where Mateo’s need to win and succeed and to lead came from.
So since there were both lots of misses but also wins I thought I could go with the middle aka 3 stars
May 3, 2022
"If I want the world to recognize what I am truly capable of, I have to show them."
find my review also here
Many thanks to Netgalley, Holiday House and Alexene Farol Follmuth aka Olivie Blake for the arc in exchange of an honest review!
I practically devoured this book... Of course, if we don't count the times I stopped reading to go to do my homeworks, lol.
I'll try to not to give spoilers because this book comes out next month and many of you want to know if it's good or what.
And the truth is... I really fucking loved it. I still can't get my shit together and explain how much I loved this book. I spent the night thinking about it and how much I love nerds.
Back in high school, I was in love with a nerd, the dude was hot and he was aware of it, but I didn't like him for it: it was because he was a fucking nerd, he was funny and cleveR AND OH MY FUCKING GOD, HE WAS AMAZING AND CHARMING WITH ME. And then, he played with my feelings for a year, and I returned the favor playing with him the next year. Sad, right? But I have good memories. Haha, don't mind me, I'm just trying to break the ice, lol.
In any case, we're not here to talk about my failed and inexistent and funny love life. Those are jokes for another day.
When I knew this book is written by the same woman who wrote The Atlas Six, I was hesitant. I started TAS a couple months ago and I wasn't liking it as I thought I would (I've read all of these good reviews and thought it was gonna be great, but hehe life, right?) but gave this book a chance, and I don't regret of it.
My Mechanical Romance is cute, funny, nerdy and great.
Bel Maier doesn't know what she wants to do with her life, or what she wants to study in college and it's something 19 y/o me related with, a really long time ago (now I'm seriously regretting my decision, lmao). Until one day, by accident, her teacher sees a talent in Bel: engineering. So, she sends Bel straight to the robotics team. Worst of all? All the boy ignore her. And the only other girl in the team, Neelam? Doesn't seem to like Bel either.
Teo Luna is the robotics team captain and he also sees the talent in Bel, so he helps her out. Which develop things between them and dkfjdkjfhdkjhfg you got me melting here.
As I said in one of my updates: I don't understand a single shit of physics, hydraulics or robotics. I once read a book about the Chernobyl disaster and had a really fucking hard time trying to understand nuclear physics. But I pretend like I did understand it here, lmao. I'm a literature girl, I envy (mind you, in the good way) girls and women in STEM... y'ALL ARE FUCKING GODDESSES, I LOVE YOU, PLEASE ADOPT ME. Y'all are gonna rule this world. Queens.
Alexene/Olivie portrayed the way girls are treated in a world/workspace/study space dominated by men in its majory, and I totally liked it. I can totally confirm this. Let me explain. My career (literature) is plagued by girls, there's a lot of us and like 11 boys (in my classes) but teachers (mostly men, ugh) only ask for their opinions to the boys, what about us? Well, we can overreact or argue. We don't "share our opinion", we just fucking yell and fight— which I've done with many teachers because, duh! I'm not a fucking dumb and I am so fucking smart (mind you, it took me years to accept the fact that I'm smart because people told me for years that I wasn't smart, not even a bit) and I have good opinions of my own. I just fucking hate the way we're treated —like we're dumb and we don't know a shit.
So, even if it's not the same study/work field, I get it. I get how frustrating is try to prove your own worth, work your way and show what are you capable of. It's exhausting.
I loved how this book wasn't just about robotics and love. It was about find out what you want, what are good at and how much you love what you do, or also how's not easy make your way in some fields.
I was really hesitant about Neelam. But once I found out why she was with Bel the way she was, I understood her. (I was gonna set this fucking world on fire if there was girl-on-girl-hate just over a boy, ew) I get why she was mad and acting like a sour person.
The romance was cute, funny and soft. I liked Bel and Teo together and separated. They're really smart, clever, also funny, and a couple of nerds, and weirdos. And the way that Bel transformed Teo into a Swiftie? *chef kiss*
I love nerds, they're my weakness, trust me. And Teo is my new fictional boyfriend, one of my faves. Straight to the top 10 shelf.
The side characters were okay. I don't complain. Jamie and Lora were wonderful. But Dash? Dashius ma boy, love of my life. He's the fucking MVP, I love him so much and I must protect him at all cost.
I liked the complexities of Bel and Teo's families. Teo is basically the perfect guy: excellent grades, going to MIT, captain of the soccer team, a nerd, a fucking handsome nerd, funny and smart, but even he has problems that he struggles with, and many flaws, and I liked it.
I thought I was gonna prefer Gabe over Luke, but nah, Luke is way better and a good boy. He supports Bel all the way and he's funny, too.
Overall. I really really really liked this book, a lot for my own sanity. I mean, please, I have to keep a reputation of a cold-hearted bitch, and this book made me cry and throw my phone away and blush several times. If you saw me crying, no, you didn't. That wasn't me, it was Patricia.
I'd totally recommend it once is out!
previous review:
okay, review to come when i collect my thoughts and stop crying.
previous update:
rivals to lovers + woc in stem? shut up, i'm here for it!
December 18, 2023
teo memorized taylor swift songs for bel <3
June 16, 2025
(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC copy in exchange for a review)
Beating that 'outgrowing YA' allegation as I presented you my first five stars read of the year!
I have to say the pun to have the title close to reminding you of your emo phrase is just something you wouldn't want to pass. I'm honestly not sure what I was expecting, but I've seen nothing but praises for this new try-out from Olivie Blake. It's safe to say, the book was delivered! Amid time constraints with no zest to read, this book is just what I needed.
When the author said they're writing STEM romance, this is exactly what I had in mind. Not just a character with a STEM background and proceed with the dunce-like love story. And I think what impresses me the most is how robotics or engineering is not my type of nerd and my least favorite field in STEM but there was not one time where I feel bored or clueless. In which to say, Follmuth/Blake had written the journey between Bel and Teo so compellingly.
The highlight on the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated field was such a good accost. This novel tackled a lot of serious issues including heavy family dynamics, but it was still lighthearted, romantic, and did not come off as preachy. I would understand if some people don't think of this as a great romance book sure, but sometimes a good book has to do more with what the reader needs at that given time in their life. Bel and Teo just reminded me of how young love can be gullible yet thrilling.
Incidentally, their character development is also something I reveled in. Bel's indecisiveness about herself, her abilities, right down to her glistening fashion was such a fun thing to read. It prompts me of the time my peers had things figured out while I was still obsessing over BTS and had no idea what to pursue. Meanwhile, Teo who despite having everything worked out, is a people pleaser that carried the pressure of being the team leader and the perfect son — which in all fairness, is not the kind that teenagers can withstand. Still, this propels the story forwards as we see them overcoming their struggles together.
Given the diverse characters, the sweet romance, and the high pressuring backdrop, I'd say this book has it all. Despite its flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany Bel, Teo, and their physical and emotional journey. I love every single page of this book and I know I'm securing that copy for May 31st.
Beating that 'outgrowing YA' allegation as I presented you my first five stars read of the year!
I have to say the pun to have the title close to reminding you of your emo phrase is just something you wouldn't want to pass. I'm honestly not sure what I was expecting, but I've seen nothing but praises for this new try-out from Olivie Blake. It's safe to say, the book was delivered! Amid time constraints with no zest to read, this book is just what I needed.
When the author said they're writing STEM romance, this is exactly what I had in mind. Not just a character with a STEM background and proceed with the dunce-like love story. And I think what impresses me the most is how robotics or engineering is not my type of nerd and my least favorite field in STEM but there was not one time where I feel bored or clueless. In which to say, Follmuth/Blake had written the journey between Bel and Teo so compellingly.
The highlight on the challenges of being a female in a male-dominated field was such a good accost. This novel tackled a lot of serious issues including heavy family dynamics, but it was still lighthearted, romantic, and did not come off as preachy. I would understand if some people don't think of this as a great romance book sure, but sometimes a good book has to do more with what the reader needs at that given time in their life. Bel and Teo just reminded me of how young love can be gullible yet thrilling.
Incidentally, their character development is also something I reveled in. Bel's indecisiveness about herself, her abilities, right down to her glistening fashion was such a fun thing to read. It prompts me of the time my peers had things figured out while I was still obsessing over BTS and had no idea what to pursue. Meanwhile, Teo who despite having everything worked out, is a people pleaser that carried the pressure of being the team leader and the perfect son — which in all fairness, is not the kind that teenagers can withstand. Still, this propels the story forwards as we see them overcoming their struggles together.
Given the diverse characters, the sweet romance, and the high pressuring backdrop, I'd say this book has it all. Despite its flaws, it’s a pleasure to accompany Bel, Teo, and their physical and emotional journey. I love every single page of this book and I know I'm securing that copy for May 31st.
August 12, 2022
this book has done more for women in STEM than a certain author who keeps publishing the same book just with different covers
i liked Bel's journey from not really caring what she's going to do with her life, to realising that she's actually really into engineering and wants to build things
i also think this book can be a good encouragement for young girls, who maybe want to get into STEM but were always made to feel like it "isn't for them". while also realistically portraying that there will always be men who will ridicule you and not take you seriously but that their opinion doesn't matter and if you love what you do, there will be people who support you and your work
the problem with reading YA though is that i don't believe in highschool romance
you can't tell me those 17/18 year olds will stay together for their entire life. imagine you'd have to marry the person you dated when you were 18. personally i would rather shoot that guy, but maybe that's just me.
Bel's and Teo's relationship progression was literally the most fourteen year old teen romance progression i have ever seen. they spent like a fifteen minutes alone together and went home like "am i... in love".
but romance novels not having any emotional build-up is more of a rule than an exception nowadays so.. my expectations were low to begin with.
i think the friendships portrayed in this were really cute and more investment worthy than the romantic relationship. and i think Bel and Teo could have stayed friends and it would have been fine (better even)
i mostly enjoyed it but kinda stopped caring for the last 25%. the audiobook narrators did a great job though, especially Bel's, and i would recommend a listen
also, very important to me: i will absolutely beat that male teacher up. someone should fire him. he doesn't only suck, he's also an absolute asshole, and i don't care about him being like "you taught me a lot this year, Bel". shut the fuck up. i have fists and i'm not afraid to use them.
TL;DR: it's an alright book. 3 stars. catch those hands Mr Mac and Cheese.
i liked Bel's journey from not really caring what she's going to do with her life, to realising that she's actually really into engineering and wants to build things
i also think this book can be a good encouragement for young girls, who maybe want to get into STEM but were always made to feel like it "isn't for them". while also realistically portraying that there will always be men who will ridicule you and not take you seriously but that their opinion doesn't matter and if you love what you do, there will be people who support you and your work
the problem with reading YA though is that i don't believe in highschool romance
you can't tell me those 17/18 year olds will stay together for their entire life. imagine you'd have to marry the person you dated when you were 18. personally i would rather shoot that guy, but maybe that's just me.
Bel's and Teo's relationship progression was literally the most fourteen year old teen romance progression i have ever seen. they spent like a fifteen minutes alone together and went home like "am i... in love".
but romance novels not having any emotional build-up is more of a rule than an exception nowadays so.. my expectations were low to begin with.
i think the friendships portrayed in this were really cute and more investment worthy than the romantic relationship. and i think Bel and Teo could have stayed friends and it would have been fine (better even)
i mostly enjoyed it but kinda stopped caring for the last 25%. the audiobook narrators did a great job though, especially Bel's, and i would recommend a listen
also, very important to me: i will absolutely beat that male teacher up. someone should fire him. he doesn't only suck, he's also an absolute asshole, and i don't care about him being like "you taught me a lot this year, Bel". shut the fuck up. i have fists and i'm not afraid to use them.
TL;DR: it's an alright book. 3 stars. catch those hands Mr Mac and Cheese.
July 29, 2025
princess gf and bf who’d do anything to see her happy
January 31, 2024
— 3.5 Stars ★
“I know that win or lose, Teo Luna and I are made of a strong foundation. What he and I have together is the best thing we’ve ever built.”
This was so much better than what I expected. I wanted something cute, wholesome and endearing and this book delivered everything. The pacing was a bit slow which just made this book a bit boring and there was too much robot-building talking and mechanical engineering. Though I had no problem with it because Bel and Teo were just so adorable 🥺💘 and the friendships in this book was so precious.
I know it's not possible to find myself a hot nerd like Teo but DEAR GOD WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN!?!?
My Mechanical Romance is not just a love story but also a coming of age story about teenagers finding their ways in life and a tale of resilience and self-discovery. This was my first book by Alexene (I didn't knew Alexene was Olivie Blake's pen name for YA contemporary romance books 😭). I loved her writing and the execution of plot from the starting to the end. The academic pressure in this book was so real 😭 The character's development was so well executed and it was not just a one-time process. They all had their flaws in the beginning and it was good to see how academics pressure, school and life changed them in a better way.
Neelam was annoying in the starting and I hated how she treated Bel in this book. However, I was sympathising with her when I finally got to know her reasons for doing those things to Bel. She was right in her own place and I hate every men in engineering who makes women feel like they can't do anything on their own because all women are supposed to do in their life is to smile, or to look pretty and be polite and just be......dainty. This world would be a better place for all the women had men never existed.
➸ Bel Maier
Bel's character was so relatable for my teenage self. She was sweet, kind and had bubbly personality as compared to Teo. Teenage Bel was equal to anxious Bel because of the constant need to figure out her future because everyone around her in school or in home had plans for their future and all she could do is just listen to them telling her "You should do that", "You should try this thing or that thing". I liked how she tried to change herself but in a positive way that was both beneficial for her future as well as for her. I love the she treated her friends with kindness and even though Neelam was calling her out in front of their robotics group Bel never stopped trying with her. She always tried to make things better with everyone whether it's her family or her friends. It took her some time and courage but I loved the way she unapologetically took up her own space in academics or robotics.
➸ Matteo Luna
Why the hell everyone called him "Teo Luna"? I couldn't stop reading it as Tuna and this happened till the ending of this book 😭 Teo was a nerd (a hot nerd if I must say 🤭 and where did all the hot nerds were when I was in school 🥲) He had this sense of duty towards everyone in his life and he liked being busy or trusted by other people which is a good thing until he made it his habbit or a need. In a crisis, you always call Teo Luna because that's who he is—a fixer/ leader. I didn't particularly felt connected with his character but Teo was great until he tried to make or fix everything right for everyone. I know it's who he was. I liked how he actually worked on that annoying trait of his. I also wanted to see him call out his father for the way he treated Teo but that never happened.
╰┈➤ Teo and Bel
Bel and Teo are opposites of each other but these two had same views and opinions when it comes to future and academic pressure. It wasn't just Bel who was scared for her future but Teo was just as affraid of the new changes life would bring them once they left their school life behind. And that's why I think they were perfect for each other because they understood each other so well whether it's robotics or life. They were academic rivals turned friends to lovers and it was so cute to watch them help each other in robot building while also falling for each other. It was a bit insta-loving but the slow-burn was so worth it. I was waiting for them to get together and just be done with it. The way he calls her "Bel Conto" and paid attention to everything she did, things she liked or the clothes she wore was the cutest thing ever. And why the hell am I jealous of their first kiss because it was just so damn perfect 😭🤌🏻💘💗💞🦋💕
Bel and Teo had a positive effect on each other's lives. Bel changed Teo and his habbit of always being a fixer and she loved herself the most when she was with Teo—which was both a good thing and a bad thing. It wasn't a co-dependent relationship or friendship but Bel needed to find her trueself which wasn't "Bel with Teo" but "The best version of Bel". Bel working on her insecurities and her future was the best thing in this book. I also liked how they didn't went to the same college because that would be just the perfect ending and this book wasn't about Bel and Teo having their happy perfect ending but it was more about them finding their way in academics and while also discovering and evolving into the best version of themselves.
—————————————————————————
I want cute, fluffy and wholesome romance so here we go 🤭
“I know that win or lose, Teo Luna and I are made of a strong foundation. What he and I have together is the best thing we’ve ever built.”
This was so much better than what I expected. I wanted something cute, wholesome and endearing and this book delivered everything. The pacing was a bit slow which just made this book a bit boring and there was too much robot-building talking and mechanical engineering. Though I had no problem with it because Bel and Teo were just so adorable 🥺💘 and the friendships in this book was so precious.
“It’s probably really stupid how much it unravels me to look at her right then, but I’ve never seen eyes that make me think about the mysteries of the universe the way hers do. It’s like walking through the redwoods. Like feeling the earth beneath your feet while knowing there are things flying free above you, and things living and breathing below you, and for a moment you just feel connected to everything. Like there’s some sort of unstoppable tide of existence and you’re part of it, even for just a second.”
I know it's not possible to find myself a hot nerd like Teo but DEAR GOD WHEN WILL IT BE MY TURN!?!?
My Mechanical Romance is not just a love story but also a coming of age story about teenagers finding their ways in life and a tale of resilience and self-discovery. This was my first book by Alexene (I didn't knew Alexene was Olivie Blake's pen name for YA contemporary romance books 😭). I loved her writing and the execution of plot from the starting to the end. The academic pressure in this book was so real 😭 The character's development was so well executed and it was not just a one-time process. They all had their flaws in the beginning and it was good to see how academics pressure, school and life changed them in a better way.
Neelam was annoying in the starting and I hated how she treated Bel in this book. However, I was sympathising with her when I finally got to know her reasons for doing those things to Bel. She was right in her own place and I hate every men in engineering who makes women feel like they can't do anything on their own because all women are supposed to do in their life is to smile, or to look pretty and be polite and just be......dainty. This world would be a better place for all the women had men never existed.
“I think about how much I want them to succeed in life; to go far, as far as possible, until every girl who succeeds is like a beacon of light for all the others.”
➸ Bel Maier
Bel's character was so relatable for my teenage self. She was sweet, kind and had bubbly personality as compared to Teo. Teenage Bel was equal to anxious Bel because of the constant need to figure out her future because everyone around her in school or in home had plans for their future and all she could do is just listen to them telling her "You should do that", "You should try this thing or that thing". I liked how she tried to change herself but in a positive way that was both beneficial for her future as well as for her. I love the she treated her friends with kindness and even though Neelam was calling her out in front of their robotics group Bel never stopped trying with her. She always tried to make things better with everyone whether it's her family or her friends. It took her some time and courage but I loved the way she unapologetically took up her own space in academics or robotics.
“I finally know the secret: that you can stand up without standing alone.”
➸ Matteo Luna
Why the hell everyone called him "Teo Luna"? I couldn't stop reading it as Tuna and this happened till the ending of this book 😭 Teo was a nerd (a hot nerd if I must say 🤭 and where did all the hot nerds were when I was in school 🥲) He had this sense of duty towards everyone in his life and he liked being busy or trusted by other people which is a good thing until he made it his habbit or a need. In a crisis, you always call Teo Luna because that's who he is—a fixer/ leader. I didn't particularly felt connected with his character but Teo was great until he tried to make or fix everything right for everyone. I know it's who he was. I liked how he actually worked on that annoying trait of his. I also wanted to see him call out his father for the way he treated Teo but that never happened.
“Take up your own space, Bel. Don’t let other people tread over it.”
╰┈➤ Teo and Bel
Bel and Teo are opposites of each other but these two had same views and opinions when it comes to future and academic pressure. It wasn't just Bel who was scared for her future but Teo was just as affraid of the new changes life would bring them once they left their school life behind. And that's why I think they were perfect for each other because they understood each other so well whether it's robotics or life. They were academic rivals turned friends to lovers and it was so cute to watch them help each other in robot building while also falling for each other. It was a bit insta-loving but the slow-burn was so worth it. I was waiting for them to get together and just be done with it. The way he calls her "Bel Conto" and paid attention to everything she did, things she liked or the clothes she wore was the cutest thing ever. And why the hell am I jealous of their first kiss because it was just so damn perfect 😭🤌🏻💘💗💞🦋💕
“I’ve always believed that there’s a possibility for everything in the world to collide for a single perfect moment, and that sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get to have one for yourself. This one is ours.”
Bel and Teo had a positive effect on each other's lives. Bel changed Teo and his habbit of always being a fixer and she loved herself the most when she was with Teo—which was both a good thing and a bad thing. It wasn't a co-dependent relationship or friendship but Bel needed to find her trueself which wasn't "Bel with Teo" but "The best version of Bel". Bel working on her insecurities and her future was the best thing in this book. I also liked how they didn't went to the same college because that would be just the perfect ending and this book wasn't about Bel and Teo having their happy perfect ending but it was more about them finding their way in academics and while also discovering and evolving into the best version of themselves.
“Hey. Bel.” I glance over at Teo, who winks at me. “See you on the other side.”
“You’re the worst.” An easy shorthand for love you.
“Yeah, yeah.” He smiles.
—————————————————————————
I want cute, fluffy and wholesome romance so here we go 🤭
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August 27, 2024
My Mechanical Romance is all the right vibes and my heart is bursting with adorable goodness. I have to say this is an author who makes me want to read romance, she has such a sharp and smart approach to it that captures your mind as much as your heart and just allows you to really, truly think about the emotional mechanics of blossoming relationships. You might know Alexene Farol Follmuth best by her pen name Olivie Blake, and after reading and loving her novel Alone With You in the Ether I knew I had to give her another read. My Mechanical Romance, published without the pen name, is an absolutely lovely YA that is a romance built within an engaging examination of the gender politics around women in STEM fields. Bel has been plunged into a new school for her senior year and persuaded to join the school’s robotics team where she meets team captain Teo who is as bright as he is beautiful and overbearing. Beset by rocky team dynamics, biases and frequent disputes, Bel is determined to prove she belongs and Farol Follmuth delivers a swoon-worthy good time that feels honest and insightful as well as heartwarmingly romantic. Picture me with cartoon hearts for eyes and that's basically how I was reading this whole thing.
‘I promise I'll still like you, even if I ever have a problem you can't fix.’
Farol Follmuth is exceptional at characters and I enjoy how in both of her books I’ve read the romance is really a vehicle for in-depth character studies of rather intellectual leads that pauses to reflect on issues of interpersonal frustrations, mental health and personality. Her stories are smart and make character flaws learning opportunities—I really enjoy how these characters develop through recognizing how their actions affect others and how trying to be better versions of themselves requires a lot of self-reflection as to why you are the way you are—that not only feel real but are good reminders to the reader about themselves. But this book also really addresses how our perceptions of others are often biased based on initial reactions to them and as we learn more about these characters our own perception of them changes. Teo comes across as rather arrogant at first and his whole quest to get himself into MIT can feel rather smug, but as the story progresses we discover a sweetness in him and as we learn more about him he becomes a rather endearing character. Same with many of the side characters, although they are a lot less developed and can occasionally feel a little flat. Though a big theme is about working together, recognizing that people can have a variety of strengths, that we can’t always solve every problem the way we solve math, and that being caring is much more productive than being cruel.
‘The world is not very helpful to a smart girl. More often it will try to force you inside a box. But I urge you not to listen.’
A big aspect of this book centers on how Bel is overlooked on the team and issues of misogyny lurk under a lot of the interactions. Even Neelam, the only other girl on the team, is instantly hostile to Bel in a way that seems to indicate underlying issues of internalized misogyny that pit women against each other by seeing the other as a threat. Not that Bel is exactly effective at being a team player, a lesson that everyone has to learn (especially as they all rely too heavinly on Teo). There is a big, bold message that women have a place in STEM and its done in a really lovely and empowering way.
But what just really works for me is how much I love Farol Follmuth’s writing. While Alone With You in the Ether felt effectively geared towards a more adult audience, her writing here fits perfectly for a YA audience without feeling pandering and still being equally engaging to adults. She has such a good grasp on voice, you can practically hear these characters on the page and her dual perspective from Bel to Teo is nicely nuanced. Plus she is so funny. I love Bel’s quirkiness and snark and she can roll out some comical (and often self-depricating) humor that doesn’t feel forced and the pop culture references feel earned and honest (I kind of loved the teacher holding up a sign with a Beyonce reference as it feels sort of dated in a way that shows the age gap between the characters). The banter is great and while I found Emily Henry to have great one-liners it never felt like how people actually talk whereas the conversations here seem like you could actually be hearing them in a high school hallway. Plus the character dynamics really work and I feel a lot of this owes to her attention to getting down the character’s psychological moods quite well.
‘I’m at my best when I’m with you.’
Overall, My Mechanical Romance is a winner and I am fully on board with Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olive Blake) and will read anything she writes. She is just a delight and this book is so adorable while still being a rather smart and empowering look at feminist issues and the current conversations around STEM fields. Heartfelt and heartwarming, I loved this.
4.5/5
‘And then I kiss him, in a moment that feels like all I’ll ever need.’
‘I promise I'll still like you, even if I ever have a problem you can't fix.’
Farol Follmuth is exceptional at characters and I enjoy how in both of her books I’ve read the romance is really a vehicle for in-depth character studies of rather intellectual leads that pauses to reflect on issues of interpersonal frustrations, mental health and personality. Her stories are smart and make character flaws learning opportunities—I really enjoy how these characters develop through recognizing how their actions affect others and how trying to be better versions of themselves requires a lot of self-reflection as to why you are the way you are—that not only feel real but are good reminders to the reader about themselves. But this book also really addresses how our perceptions of others are often biased based on initial reactions to them and as we learn more about these characters our own perception of them changes. Teo comes across as rather arrogant at first and his whole quest to get himself into MIT can feel rather smug, but as the story progresses we discover a sweetness in him and as we learn more about him he becomes a rather endearing character. Same with many of the side characters, although they are a lot less developed and can occasionally feel a little flat. Though a big theme is about working together, recognizing that people can have a variety of strengths, that we can’t always solve every problem the way we solve math, and that being caring is much more productive than being cruel.
‘The world is not very helpful to a smart girl. More often it will try to force you inside a box. But I urge you not to listen.’
A big aspect of this book centers on how Bel is overlooked on the team and issues of misogyny lurk under a lot of the interactions. Even Neelam, the only other girl on the team, is instantly hostile to Bel in a way that seems to indicate underlying issues of internalized misogyny that pit women against each other by seeing the other as a threat. Not that Bel is exactly effective at being a team player, a lesson that everyone has to learn (especially as they all rely too heavinly on Teo). There is a big, bold message that women have a place in STEM and its done in a really lovely and empowering way.
But what just really works for me is how much I love Farol Follmuth’s writing. While Alone With You in the Ether felt effectively geared towards a more adult audience, her writing here fits perfectly for a YA audience without feeling pandering and still being equally engaging to adults. She has such a good grasp on voice, you can practically hear these characters on the page and her dual perspective from Bel to Teo is nicely nuanced. Plus she is so funny. I love Bel’s quirkiness and snark and she can roll out some comical (and often self-depricating) humor that doesn’t feel forced and the pop culture references feel earned and honest (I kind of loved the teacher holding up a sign with a Beyonce reference as it feels sort of dated in a way that shows the age gap between the characters). The banter is great and while I found Emily Henry to have great one-liners it never felt like how people actually talk whereas the conversations here seem like you could actually be hearing them in a high school hallway. Plus the character dynamics really work and I feel a lot of this owes to her attention to getting down the character’s psychological moods quite well.
‘I’m at my best when I’m with you.’
Overall, My Mechanical Romance is a winner and I am fully on board with Alexene Farol Follmuth (aka Olive Blake) and will read anything she writes. She is just a delight and this book is so adorable while still being a rather smart and empowering look at feminist issues and the current conversations around STEM fields. Heartfelt and heartwarming, I loved this.
4.5/5
‘And then I kiss him, in a moment that feels like all I’ll ever need.’
June 12, 2022
4.6 stars
Bel doesn't know what to do in the future after she graduates high school. Then Bel's science teacher highly recommends her to join the robotics club after she shows a talent for engineering. But the boys in the club don't listen to her and Naleem, the other girl on the team doesn't like her. Teo, the captain of the robotics team sees her as a smart and capable team member, but then after an incident they don't see eye-to-eye. But as they work together on the robot after school they learn that they can create a well-built robot for the Championship and make room for each other in their life.
This book was SO good!! This was such a sweet and fun rom-com about first love, figuring out what you love and learning to collaborate as a team. The pacing in the book was perfect and the plot was so interesting. I love the characters so much, especially Bel and Teo. I love Bel, she is creative, smart, determined and kind. I'm so glad that Bel grew so much as person, she learned a lot about herself and her future. I'm in love with Teo, he is very ambitious, smart, sweet, handsome and reliable. I really like Jamie, she is fun, sweet, helpful, smart, and ambitious. I love how all the side characters have their own personality and share an important part in the story. I really liked that the characters are so realistic, they are each going through a unique challenge and trying to find their own way. I loved the banter between Bel and Teo and the chemistry between them was amazing!! I really appreciated that the author highlighted the challenges that women of color face in STEM careers. The ending was so good, I'm so happy it ended on a happy note!
Bel doesn't know what to do in the future after she graduates high school. Then Bel's science teacher highly recommends her to join the robotics club after she shows a talent for engineering. But the boys in the club don't listen to her and Naleem, the other girl on the team doesn't like her. Teo, the captain of the robotics team sees her as a smart and capable team member, but then after an incident they don't see eye-to-eye. But as they work together on the robot after school they learn that they can create a well-built robot for the Championship and make room for each other in their life.
This book was SO good!! This was such a sweet and fun rom-com about first love, figuring out what you love and learning to collaborate as a team. The pacing in the book was perfect and the plot was so interesting. I love the characters so much, especially Bel and Teo. I love Bel, she is creative, smart, determined and kind. I'm so glad that Bel grew so much as person, she learned a lot about herself and her future. I'm in love with Teo, he is very ambitious, smart, sweet, handsome and reliable. I really like Jamie, she is fun, sweet, helpful, smart, and ambitious. I love how all the side characters have their own personality and share an important part in the story. I really liked that the characters are so realistic, they are each going through a unique challenge and trying to find their own way. I loved the banter between Bel and Teo and the chemistry between them was amazing!! I really appreciated that the author highlighted the challenges that women of color face in STEM careers. The ending was so good, I'm so happy it ended on a happy note!
November 19, 2023
4.25/5.0 stars
i adored this book much more than i expected. it was so fun and it genuinely made me laugh whether it was because of the banter or just a funny moment between the characters. i went in with low expectations and this book definitely exceeded them. i’m ngl tho i found the names to be simple and not that creative. nonetheless this book was still good!!
right from the get-go, the main character was feisty. i found her to be so relatable and funny and i loved her character. i think this book underplayed her ability at first bc i thought she wasn’t on top of her tasks when quite the opposite was the truth. she was also the type of person that wanted to find out her goal along the way rather than knowing what she wanted which i deeply related to.
this book would’ve gotten a higher rating if it wasn’t for the third-act conflict. i kept desperately wishing there was none bc the book was going so well. that being said, i do think it was still a cute book overall. another thing that bothered me was how confusing the writing was. it consisted of all these terms i didn’t understand but it did eventually get better. a majority of the quotes were such long paragraphs that went on and on which got annoying and boring bc it seemed to get lost in the writing. she also seemed to friend zone him a lot in this book. however, it felt less repetitive because it was more like a constant reminder for herself.
this was a bit of a slow burn and it was like with every interaction I was waiting with anticipation until they got together. this book delivered with practically every scene! it didn’t feel dragged out as much mainly because of how short the book was and how fast i flew through it. it only had a few scenes where it felt excruciating but it was still so cute. i’m throwing up at how cute this book was
spoiler quote?
reading through teo’s pov was so cute. he talked about bel and compared her to the most beautiful things and i wanted to cry. the way teo listened to taylor swift’s discography just to listen to bel’s favorite lyrics and memorize them to make her smile? AND the way he embraced her weirdness and style too?? i need someone like teo in life. it was so nice for a change where he didn’t talk about her in a degrading way and just saw her for her. i also felt that the way bel talked kind of seemed like a pick me. she viewed herself as different but her personality was spot on.
spoilers from this point on
something that confused me was their dynamic. they set up the foundation for academic rivals to lovers from the way they talked about one another and how she seemed to get annoyed with him from the start. but it also seemed as though they “hated” each other way too easily and it did feel a bit natural on bel’s part but it never held up. not to mention the ignorance that happened after confessing he saw potential in her?? it was more like a friends to lovers because of the way they so easily warmed up to one another afterwards. she also seemed like a pessimist who thought the worst of things from her outbursts to her assumptions.
i really liked the found family in this book. this book was so good about bringing people up and never down-talking people. however, i wish bel tried harder to be friends with neelam and get to know her after learning about how she felt and what her life was like. instead, she continued to give her shit and never really changed her approach. i’m glad neelam put bel in her place tho. i did like how they became closer but i wish it would’ve happened sooner.
this book wasn’t that good with communication. the way that they refused to speak to one another after dash asked bel to hoco was so sad. it was like their progress of becoming friends was just erased because they refused to acknowledge their feelings. the excuse of not being able to get together with teammates was pathetic bc it doesn’t justify how they didn’t communicate. communication was still key within their group!! it felt like teen angst on their part but i wish it was settled in a better way bc they never addressed it and just went back to being friends.
pre-review
THIS HAD NO RIGHT BEING SO CUTE. ali hazelwood better be taking notes on this book
rtc!!
“Take up your own space, Bel. Don’t let other people tread over it.”
“If high school is good for anything, it’s proving that nothing lasts forever.”
“He smiles, and I know that win or lose, Teo Luna and I are made of a strong foundation. What he and I have together is the best thing we’ve ever built.”
i adored this book much more than i expected. it was so fun and it genuinely made me laugh whether it was because of the banter or just a funny moment between the characters. i went in with low expectations and this book definitely exceeded them. i’m ngl tho i found the names to be simple and not that creative. nonetheless this book was still good!!
“Everyone at this school has plans, and then they want me to have plans, and I’m just so overwhelmed by their good intentions that I constantly feel the need to lie down for a solid five minutes before trying again.”
“Sometimes I think I’d rather be forty and wondering where my life went instead of seventeen and relentlessly hounded about my future”
right from the get-go, the main character was feisty. i found her to be so relatable and funny and i loved her character. i think this book underplayed her ability at first bc i thought she wasn’t on top of her tasks when quite the opposite was the truth. she was also the type of person that wanted to find out her goal along the way rather than knowing what she wanted which i deeply related to.
“Welcome to robotics,” I say, and I know it sounds kind of formal, but even I can hear the pride in my voice when I say it. This is the most important thing in my life, and I picked her. I chose her. I want her to know that means something.”
“I don’t really like to close the door on anything. There’s something interesting about most things, I think.”
“Even robots?”
She smiles faintly at the computer screen. “Even robots.”
this book would’ve gotten a higher rating if it wasn’t for the third-act conflict. i kept desperately wishing there was none bc the book was going so well. that being said, i do think it was still a cute book overall. another thing that bothered me was how confusing the writing was. it consisted of all these terms i didn’t understand but it did eventually get better. a majority of the quotes were such long paragraphs that went on and on which got annoying and boring bc it seemed to get lost in the writing. she also seemed to friend zone him a lot in this book. however, it felt less repetitive because it was more like a constant reminder for herself.
“I can see the tiny dusting of freckles around her eyes, like distant constellations.” 💌
“I know the world doesn’t revolve around me, but for a second it’s totally cinematic, like we’re the stars of our own movie and all the people dancing around us are celebrating us the same way we are. The sun is high and the joy is sharp and everything is rich and saturated and glittering, technicolor and exhilarating, us and the universe connecting symphonically in that kiss. It’s like everything we’ve ever learned about force in physics, about materials that connect, about strong bonds and magnetic ones, about gravity and mystery. I’ve always believed that there’s a possibility for everything in the world to collide for a single perfect moment, and that sometimes, if you’re lucky, you get to have one for yourself. This one is ours.”
this was a bit of a slow burn and it was like with every interaction I was waiting with anticipation until they got together. this book delivered with practically every scene! it didn’t feel dragged out as much mainly because of how short the book was and how fast i flew through it. it only had a few scenes where it felt excruciating but it was still so cute. i’m throwing up at how cute this book was
“It’s probably really stupid how much it unravels me to look at her right then, but I’ve never seen eyes that make me think about the mysteries of the universe the way hers do. It’s like walking through the redwoods. Like feeling the earth beneath your feet while knowing there are things flying free above you, and things living and breathing below you, and for a moment you just feel connected to everything. Like there’s some sort of unstoppable tide of existence and you’re part of it, even for just a second.”
“Because I think about her all the time. Because she surprises me, because she makes me laugh, and because this, whatever it is with her, is the only thing I ever do that’s easy. Because wherever I am, I want her close by.”
“I wish I could say I considered saying no. I wish I could say it mattered even a little bit what his question was, but it really never crossed my mind to choose anything but him.”
spoiler quote?
“All I can think about is how glad I am to be near her. How much better everything feels when she’s close to me. I keep thinking how dull everything’s felt over the last month without her, how empty it was compared to all the months before it, and I don’t even care how far away Massachusetts is. Even just the sound of her voice feels more like home than my parents’ gigantic mansion ever has.”
reading through teo’s pov was so cute. he talked about bel and compared her to the most beautiful things and i wanted to cry. the way teo listened to taylor swift’s discography just to listen to bel’s favorite lyrics and memorize them to make her smile? AND the way he embraced her weirdness and style too?? i need someone like teo in life. it was so nice for a change where he didn’t talk about her in a degrading way and just saw her for her. i also felt that the way bel talked kind of seemed like a pick me. she viewed herself as different but her personality was spot on.
“While she was yelling at me her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were wide and she was like, actually alive, which is the version of her I find way more interesting than this one. Even if I’m not exactly thrilled with anything she’s saying.”
“But I swear there must be something in the water, because his hair looks so soft and when he’s designing something he gets this kind of squinty, concentrate-y look on his face and he smells like clean laundry and summer and I hate it. I hate all of it”
spoilers from this point on
something that confused me was their dynamic. they set up the foundation for academic rivals to lovers from the way they talked about one another and how she seemed to get annoyed with him from the start. but it also seemed as though they “hated” each other way too easily and it did feel a bit natural on bel’s part but it never held up. not to mention the ignorance that happened after confessing he saw potential in her?? it was more like a friends to lovers because of the way they so easily warmed up to one another afterwards. she also seemed like a pessimist who thought the worst of things from her outbursts to her assumptions.
“So what’s sad for me isn’t that I’m not driving, but that I’m not part of it, win or lose. The people in this fifteen-second video that I’ve been watching on a loop are my best friends in the whole world. They’re my team. We’ve spent the last however many weeks and months and years building shit together that we let other people destroy, and somehow the only thing that never gets broken is the bond that we have with one another.”
“I think about how much I want them to succeed in life; to go far, as far as possible, until every girl who succeeds is like a beacon of light for all the others.”
i really liked the found family in this book. this book was so good about bringing people up and never down-talking people. however, i wish bel tried harder to be friends with neelam and get to know her after learning about how she felt and what her life was like. instead, she continued to give her shit and never really changed her approach. i’m glad neelam put bel in her place tho. i did like how they became closer but i wish it would’ve happened sooner.
this book wasn’t that good with communication. the way that they refused to speak to one another after dash asked bel to hoco was so sad. it was like their progress of becoming friends was just erased because they refused to acknowledge their feelings. the excuse of not being able to get together with teammates was pathetic bc it doesn’t justify how they didn’t communicate. communication was still key within their group!! it felt like teen angst on their part but i wish it was settled in a better way bc they never addressed it and just went back to being friends.
pre-review
THIS HAD NO RIGHT BEING SO CUTE. ali hazelwood better be taking notes on this book
rtc!!
Read
June 3, 2022Source of book: NetGalley (thank you)
Relevant disclaimers: none
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if they’re glowing. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book, then write a detailed review about it that a handful of people on GR will look at would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
Review contains mild spoilers.
Ahhh, this was lovely. I kind of legitimately teared up at the end, partly over the book but mostly because I just feel strongly about young women in STEM.
In any case, this is a charming YA romance that also—and this is very much my perspective—explores the issue facing (young) women, especially young WOC, in STEM with a touch more nuance that I’ve generally seen. I mean, there is an opposing team in the fighting robots competition (yes, this book is also about building robots—be still my beating my heart) who are very much “hur hur girls suck” but they’re on page twice and they're not actually positioned as more than irritating-in-the-moment. Because, the truth is, the issue of women in STEM isn’t really “hur hur girls suck” any more than queerphobia is really strangers in the street calling you the f-word. It’s essentially an institutional problem in that we basically tell AFAB people (and POC) that maths and hard science aren’t “for” them in about twenty-seven six gazillion subtle and hard-to-challenge ways, and then we use the fact there aren’t as many women in these fields to justify the initial exclusion as well as implementing new ones. Basically, it’s a fucking mess and—with my dayjob hat on, as well as my human being hat—I hate it.
Anyway, what we have here is the story of Bel. She has to change to schools due to her parents’ complicated divorce and, once her talent for engineering is spotted by a well-meaning teacher (a genuinely well-meaning teacher, I hasten to add) she ends up joining the school’s robotics club. At first—despite her instinct for design—she has trouble fitting in: the boys are inclined to disregard her and the only other girl is actively hostile. Eventually, though, she manages to forge a fragile peace with the over-achieving robotics team captain, golden boy Theo Luna, and this leads to wider acceptance in the team as a whole. What follows is a fair bit of fighting robot realness, an incredibly sweet love story between two people who are, basically, a pair of academically gifted nerds, a really nuanced exploration of identity and self-agency, and—without ever getting preachy about it—an unremitting affirmation of the place of women (including WOC) in STEM.
There are many many things to love about this book, from the witty energetic writing, to the deft characterisation, and the effortless diversity of the cast. While I can’t speak to the engineering, I can also confirm that the physics is rock solid—not that I’m claiming authority or expertise over the entirety of the field, but I do think if you’re making a case for women in STEM you kind of need to know what you’re talking about, either because you have a background in it yourself or you’ve done some research (especially because I strongly agree with one of the central tenets of the book itself: STEM isn’t hard, or at least no harder than anything else, you just have to put the work in and anyone can put the work in, regardless of their gender identity, race, academic background or how they were socialised). But, for me, what I extra mostest loved was that … this story doesn’t really have a villain? I mean, okay, there are the two "hur hur" two boys at the robot wars regional/finals but while they’re annoying they’re on page for, like, two seconds and nobody really sees them as a credible threat.
Or rather, the only villain is … err … systematic inequality.
For example, Bel’s parents are divorced, because Bel’s father cheated on Bel’s mum, perhaps repeatedly, and—as well it might—this has caused deep rifts in the family, including where the children stay, their sense of conflicted loyalty and love to both parents, and the inadvertent pressures both parents put on them in terms of feeling the need to navigate this very adult situation that should, in fact, not really be their problem. What’s interesting about this is that Bel’s father is very much allowed to be a good and loving father (even if he’s also clearly a terrible husband) and Bel's mother is allowed to be good and loving mother who feels independently fucked about what went down with her husband (which means she can take it a bit personally if her kids spend time with him).
Similarly, the AP physics teacher into whose class Bel is transferred is initially is … how can I put this … a non-ideal teacher for her, albeit in subtle and unintentional ways, for example he (unconsciously) prioritises the boys in the class, is more engaged and responsive with them, encourages them in ways he doesn’t the girls, positions benches for the boys nearer his desk, is always happy to be asked for help but never volunteers assist to the girls the way he does instinctively for the boys, things like that. When Bel tries to push back a little against some of this, he gently suggests to her that she needs to be a better team player. Basically, these are all non-malicious, non-invasive ways that a teacher can fail to full understand their own biases. But I also appreciated that Mac (the teacher) wasn’t an out-and-out bad ‘un. He’s clearly passionate about his subject and committed to his students. There’s no direct reckoning with any of this but by the end of the book he admits to Bel that he’s learned a lot from her and we can hope he’s a more self-aware (and consequently better) teacher in the future.
Where the book’s willingness to embrace complexity shines most specifically, though, is with Neelam, the only other girl in the robotics club. Despite Bel’s best attempts to connect with her, Neelam is angry, frustrated and unfriendly. And while it can sometimes be … problematic … to portray women as being in conflict with each other (especially since the ‘evil other woman’ trope still looms over us a bit) I actually think it’s also important to allow women characters to be specific individuals who experience unique interpersonal dynamics with other people (including other women). Obviously it’s great when marginalised people can support each other but the automatic assumption that people marginalised within their context are obligated to be instant best buds is … kinda messed up. Intra-community conflict IS a real thing. And Neelam does, in fact, have her reasons for her anger and frustration, and her anger and frustration with Bel in particular. But also, when it comes down to it, she is there for Bel and, in return, Bel is there for her, I guess the point being, that you can still support someone because you recognise their experiences and their struggles, and want them to succeed, but you don’t have to be super snuggly besties to do it. I should also add that Bel has female friends who are not involved in the robotics club: and I really enjoyed this gentle teasing apart of support and friendship. Like, both are great, and you can’t really have a non-supportive friendship, but you don’t HAVE to be friends with someone to support them. I felt that was a subtle and unusual relationship dynamic to explore, especially in YA, especially as regards women in STEM.
The other theme I appreciated the book taking on very gently was that of (and here we’re getting a bit more explicitly spoilery) failure. At one point the heroine, discovering her love of engineering, is encouraged to apply for MIT. She does not, however, get in. She does, of course, find her own path after this but I kind of loved the fact we see a YA heroine want something very sincerely, do her best to get it, and still not … get it? For reasons that are probably fairly justified. It kind of honestly took me by surprise when this happened—I’m very used to feel-good romances and YA stories following a pretty direct line from lostness to commitment to success entirely the way the character envisages it. The fact that Bel’s story can encompass disappointments and setbacks (and all the emotions attendant on such experiences), without these things ruining her life is refreshing and, I felt, very vital to a story that I hope a lot of young people will read and be inspired by. After all, growing up is very much an exercise in figuring out what you want and then figuring out how to get it, even if (especially if) your initial attempt to get it didn’t pan out perfectly. Whether that’s building a robot, going to college, or falling for someone.
I will also add that Bel’s insecurities and her brushes with real and significant failure serve to make her a very three dimensional and relatable heroine. Again, this might just be me and my oldness speaking, but I like the way that she is allowed to have natural ability, but that her natural abilities are never allowed to substitute for actual work. I’m afraid the hero, Teo, didn’t come across quite as successfully to me: he’s very charming and I got the broad outlines of his character (he’s the son of a very successful tech billionaire, who puts a huge amount of pressure on him to succeed) but, even though the book is told in dual POV between him and Bel, his emotional arc felt less coherent. There’s a bit near the end where circumstances force Teo to let go of his ruthless control of everything and accept that his team can support him as well as be supported by him but that’s … like … one incident? He does also tell Bel that before he met her he felt like he was drowning, and couldn’t be himself, but … I don’t know. For me, his story didn’t cohere into a meaningful growth arc quite as cleanly as Bel’s does. I mean, it might just be that “I was lost, now I’ve realised I’m good at something and I have an idea for my future” is more accessible then … um, “I feel I need to control everything because I’m so brilliant and my dad?” Of course, Teo’s fine at the end, so he must figure it out. But I didn’t feel as intimately involved in his side of the narrative than I did Bel’s.
I also wasn’t entirely convinced about the early “academic rivals” part of their relationship because it felt a bit forced. Like, it requires Teo to dismiss Bel either because of unexamined sexism or personal bullshit—and later she does decide she hasn’t been great to him either, but I didn’t really see any evidence of that? I just saw him using privilege and his position as team captain to disempower her. Again, it’s not a big deal and once Bel and Teo are a team their relationship is delightful and mutually supportive … but I do think the “we are rivals for 5 minutes” bit didn’t reflect super well on Teo and came across to me as an external deployment of a trope than a natural dynamic between two particular people.
Random nit-picks aside, though, I loved this. By the end, I had so many young women in STEM warm fuzzies that I was sobbing happily into my duvet. I wish I had, like, twenty-seven daughters I could give this book to, although I’m pretty sure they’d refuse to read it because their embarrassing dad had foisted it on them. If you, however, have twenty-seven (or even one) daughter to foist this on as an embarrassing parent, I strongly encourage you to start foisting. Also read it yourself because it’s a brilliant balance of nuance, complexity, wit and tenderness.
(Oh, and if you’re a fan of The Atlas Six, this is the, um, non-penname—is this even a thing—of Olivie Blake. Super impressive genre-hopping from this author.)
Edit: Wow, I posted this in the early hours of the morning and it was a touch incoherent. I've re-edited it to make actual sense to humans.
Relevant disclaimers: none
Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
Further disclaimer: Readers, please stop accusing me of trying to take down “my competition” because I wrote a review you didn’t like. This is complete nonsense. Firstly, writing isn’t a competitive sport. Secondly, I only publish reviews of books in the subgenre where I’m best known (queer romcom) if they’re glowing. And finally: taking time out of my life to read an entire book, then write a detailed review about it that a handful of people on GR will look at would be a profoundly inefficient and ineffective way to damage the careers of other authors. If you can’t credit me with simply being a person who loves books and likes talking about them, at least credit me with enough common sense to be a better villain.
*******************************************
Review contains mild spoilers.
Ahhh, this was lovely. I kind of legitimately teared up at the end, partly over the book but mostly because I just feel strongly about young women in STEM.
In any case, this is a charming YA romance that also—and this is very much my perspective—explores the issue facing (young) women, especially young WOC, in STEM with a touch more nuance that I’ve generally seen. I mean, there is an opposing team in the fighting robots competition (yes, this book is also about building robots—be still my beating my heart) who are very much “hur hur girls suck” but they’re on page twice and they're not actually positioned as more than irritating-in-the-moment. Because, the truth is, the issue of women in STEM isn’t really “hur hur girls suck” any more than queerphobia is really strangers in the street calling you the f-word. It’s essentially an institutional problem in that we basically tell AFAB people (and POC) that maths and hard science aren’t “for” them in about twenty-seven six gazillion subtle and hard-to-challenge ways, and then we use the fact there aren’t as many women in these fields to justify the initial exclusion as well as implementing new ones. Basically, it’s a fucking mess and—with my dayjob hat on, as well as my human being hat—I hate it.
Anyway, what we have here is the story of Bel. She has to change to schools due to her parents’ complicated divorce and, once her talent for engineering is spotted by a well-meaning teacher (a genuinely well-meaning teacher, I hasten to add) she ends up joining the school’s robotics club. At first—despite her instinct for design—she has trouble fitting in: the boys are inclined to disregard her and the only other girl is actively hostile. Eventually, though, she manages to forge a fragile peace with the over-achieving robotics team captain, golden boy Theo Luna, and this leads to wider acceptance in the team as a whole. What follows is a fair bit of fighting robot realness, an incredibly sweet love story between two people who are, basically, a pair of academically gifted nerds, a really nuanced exploration of identity and self-agency, and—without ever getting preachy about it—an unremitting affirmation of the place of women (including WOC) in STEM.
There are many many things to love about this book, from the witty energetic writing, to the deft characterisation, and the effortless diversity of the cast. While I can’t speak to the engineering, I can also confirm that the physics is rock solid—not that I’m claiming authority or expertise over the entirety of the field, but I do think if you’re making a case for women in STEM you kind of need to know what you’re talking about, either because you have a background in it yourself or you’ve done some research (especially because I strongly agree with one of the central tenets of the book itself: STEM isn’t hard, or at least no harder than anything else, you just have to put the work in and anyone can put the work in, regardless of their gender identity, race, academic background or how they were socialised). But, for me, what I extra mostest loved was that … this story doesn’t really have a villain? I mean, okay, there are the two "hur hur" two boys at the robot wars regional/finals but while they’re annoying they’re on page for, like, two seconds and nobody really sees them as a credible threat.
Or rather, the only villain is … err … systematic inequality.
For example, Bel’s parents are divorced, because Bel’s father cheated on Bel’s mum, perhaps repeatedly, and—as well it might—this has caused deep rifts in the family, including where the children stay, their sense of conflicted loyalty and love to both parents, and the inadvertent pressures both parents put on them in terms of feeling the need to navigate this very adult situation that should, in fact, not really be their problem. What’s interesting about this is that Bel’s father is very much allowed to be a good and loving father (even if he’s also clearly a terrible husband) and Bel's mother is allowed to be good and loving mother who feels independently fucked about what went down with her husband (which means she can take it a bit personally if her kids spend time with him).
Similarly, the AP physics teacher into whose class Bel is transferred is initially is … how can I put this … a non-ideal teacher for her, albeit in subtle and unintentional ways, for example he (unconsciously) prioritises the boys in the class, is more engaged and responsive with them, encourages them in ways he doesn’t the girls, positions benches for the boys nearer his desk, is always happy to be asked for help but never volunteers assist to the girls the way he does instinctively for the boys, things like that. When Bel tries to push back a little against some of this, he gently suggests to her that she needs to be a better team player. Basically, these are all non-malicious, non-invasive ways that a teacher can fail to full understand their own biases. But I also appreciated that Mac (the teacher) wasn’t an out-and-out bad ‘un. He’s clearly passionate about his subject and committed to his students. There’s no direct reckoning with any of this but by the end of the book he admits to Bel that he’s learned a lot from her and we can hope he’s a more self-aware (and consequently better) teacher in the future.
Where the book’s willingness to embrace complexity shines most specifically, though, is with Neelam, the only other girl in the robotics club. Despite Bel’s best attempts to connect with her, Neelam is angry, frustrated and unfriendly. And while it can sometimes be … problematic … to portray women as being in conflict with each other (especially since the ‘evil other woman’ trope still looms over us a bit) I actually think it’s also important to allow women characters to be specific individuals who experience unique interpersonal dynamics with other people (including other women). Obviously it’s great when marginalised people can support each other but the automatic assumption that people marginalised within their context are obligated to be instant best buds is … kinda messed up. Intra-community conflict IS a real thing. And Neelam does, in fact, have her reasons for her anger and frustration, and her anger and frustration with Bel in particular. But also, when it comes down to it, she is there for Bel and, in return, Bel is there for her, I guess the point being, that you can still support someone because you recognise their experiences and their struggles, and want them to succeed, but you don’t have to be super snuggly besties to do it. I should also add that Bel has female friends who are not involved in the robotics club: and I really enjoyed this gentle teasing apart of support and friendship. Like, both are great, and you can’t really have a non-supportive friendship, but you don’t HAVE to be friends with someone to support them. I felt that was a subtle and unusual relationship dynamic to explore, especially in YA, especially as regards women in STEM.
The other theme I appreciated the book taking on very gently was that of (and here we’re getting a bit more explicitly spoilery) failure. At one point the heroine, discovering her love of engineering, is encouraged to apply for MIT. She does not, however, get in. She does, of course, find her own path after this but I kind of loved the fact we see a YA heroine want something very sincerely, do her best to get it, and still not … get it? For reasons that are probably fairly justified. It kind of honestly took me by surprise when this happened—I’m very used to feel-good romances and YA stories following a pretty direct line from lostness to commitment to success entirely the way the character envisages it. The fact that Bel’s story can encompass disappointments and setbacks (and all the emotions attendant on such experiences), without these things ruining her life is refreshing and, I felt, very vital to a story that I hope a lot of young people will read and be inspired by. After all, growing up is very much an exercise in figuring out what you want and then figuring out how to get it, even if (especially if) your initial attempt to get it didn’t pan out perfectly. Whether that’s building a robot, going to college, or falling for someone.
I will also add that Bel’s insecurities and her brushes with real and significant failure serve to make her a very three dimensional and relatable heroine. Again, this might just be me and my oldness speaking, but I like the way that she is allowed to have natural ability, but that her natural abilities are never allowed to substitute for actual work. I’m afraid the hero, Teo, didn’t come across quite as successfully to me: he’s very charming and I got the broad outlines of his character (he’s the son of a very successful tech billionaire, who puts a huge amount of pressure on him to succeed) but, even though the book is told in dual POV between him and Bel, his emotional arc felt less coherent. There’s a bit near the end where circumstances force Teo to let go of his ruthless control of everything and accept that his team can support him as well as be supported by him but that’s … like … one incident? He does also tell Bel that before he met her he felt like he was drowning, and couldn’t be himself, but … I don’t know. For me, his story didn’t cohere into a meaningful growth arc quite as cleanly as Bel’s does. I mean, it might just be that “I was lost, now I’ve realised I’m good at something and I have an idea for my future” is more accessible then … um, “I feel I need to control everything because I’m so brilliant and my dad?” Of course, Teo’s fine at the end, so he must figure it out. But I didn’t feel as intimately involved in his side of the narrative than I did Bel’s.
I also wasn’t entirely convinced about the early “academic rivals” part of their relationship because it felt a bit forced. Like, it requires Teo to dismiss Bel either because of unexamined sexism or personal bullshit—and later she does decide she hasn’t been great to him either, but I didn’t really see any evidence of that? I just saw him using privilege and his position as team captain to disempower her. Again, it’s not a big deal and once Bel and Teo are a team their relationship is delightful and mutually supportive … but I do think the “we are rivals for 5 minutes” bit didn’t reflect super well on Teo and came across to me as an external deployment of a trope than a natural dynamic between two particular people.
Random nit-picks aside, though, I loved this. By the end, I had so many young women in STEM warm fuzzies that I was sobbing happily into my duvet. I wish I had, like, twenty-seven daughters I could give this book to, although I’m pretty sure they’d refuse to read it because their embarrassing dad had foisted it on them. If you, however, have twenty-seven (or even one) daughter to foist this on as an embarrassing parent, I strongly encourage you to start foisting. Also read it yourself because it’s a brilliant balance of nuance, complexity, wit and tenderness.
(Oh, and if you’re a fan of The Atlas Six, this is the, um, non-penname—is this even a thing—of Olivie Blake. Super impressive genre-hopping from this author.)
Edit: Wow, I posted this in the early hours of the morning and it was a touch incoherent. I've re-edited it to make actual sense to humans.
June 3, 2022
this was extremely mediocre and i’m pissed cus i spent my last $11 on this book.. i could’ve bought snacks instead 😞🥲
June 23, 2022
ladies find yourself a man who listens to taylor’s swifts whole discography for you
April 17, 2022
okay i get it now, this book was incredible and i need everyone to read it
![Profile Image for ahana ⊹ [ ia ].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1745486243i%2F169798388._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
December 13, 2024
oh how i love hot nerds.
they definitely don’t mean the version whose spotify is currently paused on taylor swift’s entire discography so he can learn all the words that make her smile, even when she doesn’t want to. especially then.
April 1, 2022
Before you get any ideas about my rating, I really loved the potential as well as some elements of this book!
❤️ - The female forward mindset of this book was off the charts awesome. Having two daughters, I want them to always know that they can do anything they want in life so this book spoke to me in that regard.
❤️ - The diversity was really cool too. There were a ton of characters with all sorts of backgrounds and the author took it a step further and even included different cultural references for the characters.
😕 - There were a lot of times I noticed my mind wandering and couldn’t really get into the vibe of the book. There were chapters that bored me to tears or seemed rather repetitive.
😕 - Okay, so my husband completely disagrees with me on this one as we had an in-depth discussion over this while drinking wine. 😂 For the record, I only attributed a 1/2 ⭐️ knockoff for this.
There was a lot of swearing (no F-bombs or anything), references to sex and teen drinking in this book for it being a YA novel. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read many a book that has had its fair share of swearing and sex but none of which are YA novels. (Maybe it’s the mom in me….) It all seemed so unnecessary as the sex didn’t drive the plot forward and the teen drinking was portrayed in a relatively positive light. While in this intense yet friendly debate, I looked up the age range for YA books and didn’t realize that’s it’s a pretty gray area topic and apparently rather controversial. (I literally had no idea, did you??) Some say 12-18 years old while others say 18-24 years old which is a drastic age difference between the two sets. I started reading YA novels as young as 12/13ish and being the rather innocent and book-loving kid I was, I wouldn’t have been interested in reading anything with swearing, drinking or sex references and 12 and 13 years old seems too young for such mature topics anyways.
However! My husband, who was a high school/AP Chemistry and Biology teacher for 8 years, brought up some good points himself: He said the age doesn’t matter as much as the maturity of a child. He also asked me ‘Haven’t you ever read Catcher in the Rye in school?’ (I actually haven’t).
Shoutout to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
3.25⭐️ .’ve seen some people who have just adored this book so check out other reviews or give it a shot yourself! 🤗
❤️ - The female forward mindset of this book was off the charts awesome. Having two daughters, I want them to always know that they can do anything they want in life so this book spoke to me in that regard.
❤️ - The diversity was really cool too. There were a ton of characters with all sorts of backgrounds and the author took it a step further and even included different cultural references for the characters.
😕 - There were a lot of times I noticed my mind wandering and couldn’t really get into the vibe of the book. There were chapters that bored me to tears or seemed rather repetitive.
😕 - Okay, so my husband completely disagrees with me on this one as we had an in-depth discussion over this while drinking wine. 😂 For the record, I only attributed a 1/2 ⭐️ knockoff for this.
There was a lot of swearing (no F-bombs or anything), references to sex and teen drinking in this book for it being a YA novel. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read many a book that has had its fair share of swearing and sex but none of which are YA novels. (Maybe it’s the mom in me….) It all seemed so unnecessary as the sex didn’t drive the plot forward and the teen drinking was portrayed in a relatively positive light. While in this intense yet friendly debate, I looked up the age range for YA books and didn’t realize that’s it’s a pretty gray area topic and apparently rather controversial. (I literally had no idea, did you??) Some say 12-18 years old while others say 18-24 years old which is a drastic age difference between the two sets. I started reading YA novels as young as 12/13ish and being the rather innocent and book-loving kid I was, I wouldn’t have been interested in reading anything with swearing, drinking or sex references and 12 and 13 years old seems too young for such mature topics anyways.
However! My husband, who was a high school/AP Chemistry and Biology teacher for 8 years, brought up some good points himself: He said the age doesn’t matter as much as the maturity of a child. He also asked me ‘Haven’t you ever read Catcher in the Rye in school?’ (I actually haven’t).
Shoutout to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!
3.25⭐️ .’ve seen some people who have just adored this book so check out other reviews or give it a shot yourself! 🤗
March 29, 2023
first book i've read this year and it's been three months
pre-release musings:
not me thinking this had to do with MCR 😢
pre-release musings:
not me thinking this had to do with MCR 😢
February 25, 2024
she kept saluting him and all i could think of was
June 1, 2022
3.5
women in stem for the win
–
pre-read thoughts:
okay so you're telling me I get academic rivals to lovers AND woc in stem ALL IN ONE BOOK???
AND JUST LOOK AT THAT COVER
author has me in a chokehold🧎♀️🧎♀️
women in stem for the win
–
pre-read thoughts:
okay so you're telling me I get academic rivals to lovers AND woc in stem ALL IN ONE BOOK???
AND JUST LOOK AT THAT COVER
author has me in a chokehold🧎♀️🧎♀️
March 20, 2023
Many, many thanks to Holiday House and NetGalley for providing me with this digital ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.
My professional review:
I am so glad that I loved this book with my whole heart because at the beginning I was really skeptical of the story but Alexene Farol Follmuth aka Olivie Blake definitely did not disappoint.
Firstly, the plot is so interesting - it's surely not only a romance as I expected. As a woman in STEM, I really appreciate the commentary on sexism and elitism of the field as they are very well-represented in my opinion. The story about academic validation also amuses me a lot - as I relate very much to some of the characters in this regard. Furthermore, the way AFF wrote the succession of the events is very smooth and it really helps with the reading after the rough beginning (at least for me).
Next, the characters and their development, without surprise, were well-executed. Every character has their own flaws at the beginning, and it's quite satisfying to see their evolution and how their relationships helped them with it. Indeed, the development can be considered "rushed", but I am definitely not mad because it's a short book, and overall, very consistent.
Finally, the romance. As expected from the one of only Olivie Blake, it's *chef's kiss*. I love how their relationship played out, and how the spark of the yearning period doesn't disappear after the relationship started. The competitiveness of a classic-academic-rivals-to-lovers arc, the tension, the yearning... Everything was perfect. After that rough beginning, Bel and Teo indeed became one of the couples I am gonna think about for a long time.
However, I do have some small complaints. As previously said, the beginning was hard for me to get through because it felt very juvenile and disconnected from the rest of the book. Additionally, while I have never really hated Neelam, I find her actions around Bel kind of unjustified. Other than that, this book was a solid 4.75/5 for me. I really hope Olivie Blake will write more YA romances because her writing in this book is so good.
Anyways...
My unprofessional review that CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS:
1. ACADEMIC VALIDATION IS THE BEST FORM OF VALIDATION BITCHES
2. *cries* He calls her "bel canto" *SCREAMS*
3. kisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskiss...... OH MY FUCKING GODDDDDDDDD BWJSWJJSJNSJWJSJJSJ
4. Kai my little sunshine
5. Confident, unapologetic girlbosses in STEM who aren't afraid to take up space >>>>>>>>>>>
6. If she doesn't make you a mechanical sparrow bot, does she even love you?
7. The reunion *cries*
8. Do I want to date them, or do I want to be them...?
My professional review:
I am so glad that I loved this book with my whole heart because at the beginning I was really skeptical of the story but Alexene Farol Follmuth aka Olivie Blake definitely did not disappoint.
Firstly, the plot is so interesting - it's surely not only a romance as I expected. As a woman in STEM, I really appreciate the commentary on sexism and elitism of the field as they are very well-represented in my opinion. The story about academic validation also amuses me a lot - as I relate very much to some of the characters in this regard. Furthermore, the way AFF wrote the succession of the events is very smooth and it really helps with the reading after the rough beginning (at least for me).
Next, the characters and their development, without surprise, were well-executed. Every character has their own flaws at the beginning, and it's quite satisfying to see their evolution and how their relationships helped them with it. Indeed, the development can be considered "rushed", but I am definitely not mad because it's a short book, and overall, very consistent.
Finally, the romance. As expected from the one of only Olivie Blake, it's *chef's kiss*. I love how their relationship played out, and how the spark of the yearning period doesn't disappear after the relationship started. The competitiveness of a classic-academic-rivals-to-lovers arc, the tension, the yearning... Everything was perfect. After that rough beginning, Bel and Teo indeed became one of the couples I am gonna think about for a long time.
However, I do have some small complaints. As previously said, the beginning was hard for me to get through because it felt very juvenile and disconnected from the rest of the book. Additionally, while I have never really hated Neelam, I find her actions around Bel kind of unjustified. Other than that, this book was a solid 4.75/5 for me. I really hope Olivie Blake will write more YA romances because her writing in this book is so good.
Anyways...
My unprofessional review that CONTAINS MILD SPOILERS:
1. ACADEMIC VALIDATION IS THE BEST FORM OF VALIDATION BITCHES
2. *cries* He calls her "bel canto" *SCREAMS*
3. kisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskisskiss...... OH MY FUCKING GODDDDDDDDD BWJSWJJSJNSJWJSJJSJ
4. Kai my little sunshine
5. Confident, unapologetic girlbosses in STEM who aren't afraid to take up space >>>>>>>>>>>
6. If she doesn't make you a mechanical sparrow bot, does she even love you?
7. The reunion *cries*
8. Do I want to date them, or do I want to be them...?
Read
April 24, 202224/04/22
*deep sigh* i'm glad that others seem to be enjoying this but it just was not for me... i'm so disappointed because the premise sounded incredible and like something i'd love but i don't think it was executed very well
---
An adorable cover, academic rivals to lovers, girls of color in STEM?
💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥
*deep sigh* i'm glad that others seem to be enjoying this but it just was not for me... i'm so disappointed because the premise sounded incredible and like something i'd love but i don't think it was executed very well
---
An adorable cover, academic rivals to lovers, girls of color in STEM?
💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥💳💥
December 18, 2024
'i've never seen eyes that make me think about the mysteries of the universe the way hers do.'
they're nothing more than crushes to each other- that's how boring their "chemistry" was
March 1, 2023
“It's really, really hard to recognize someone as the villain in someone else's life when you're pretty sure you love them both.”
At least now I won't have a five star average for the books I've read in August
I was looking forward to reading this SO MUCH because I've had such good luck with rom-coms recently, Today Tonight Tomorrow and Better Than the Movies being my top two favorite rom-com books, but this book just annoyed me. I shouldn't have gone in with such high expectations.
Everytime I saw Bel's name, the name Belly from the Summer I turned Pretty series came to my head and I haven't even read those books. Sorry, just thought I'd say that. Bel was so annoying at times in the book, starting unnecessary conflict and just being irritating to other characters. I do like her character though, and I like how she got to figure out where she wanted to go in life, who she wanted to be, and what she wanted to do. I honestly wish I was as smart as her.
Teo was . . . ok. I didn't care for him much, and I just didn't connect with his character. I liked how he interacted with Bel, and his friends, but that's all I really remember. He's a hot nerd (he's literally referred to as such by his mother, I believe) who likes robotics, plays soccer, and has a strict dad. I wish I could say more, but I don't even remember anything he did, which is saying something about the impact he had on me.
Speaking of friendships, I liked the friendships much more than the romance. The characters and their friends just had such great connections with each other, and it was interesting diving deeper into the side character's lives.
And then the romance. So, I'm very much a hypocrite: I literally was just writing a review a few days ago and I said that the insta-love in that book didn't really faze me at all, while other situations, like Gilded just irritated me to the point that I disliked the book because of it. The insta-love in the book annoyed me a lot, not to the point that Gilded did, but this one was still so annoying. They hung out after school like ONCE and then Bel was noticing how attractive Teo was. I think it was because in Scarlet (the book I'm referring to with the insta-love I liked) I actually felt connected with the characters, and I really liked them. That didn't happen in this book, and so I just didn't care for their romance.
AND WHERE IS THE "BUTTING HEADS" I WAS PROMISED?? They argued a few times, but it never turned into rivals. They had just met each other that year, so they couldn't really form the "rivals to lovers" I was expecting, which was frustrating because rivals/enemies to lovers is my favorite trope of all time.
I did like the messages said throughout this story: Women could also succeed in STEM and they were also smart, and it wasn't just men. I also liked the diversity in this book.
And to be quite honest, I liked Neelam better than Teo and Bel combined, even when she was incredibly rude to everyone.
The beginning was also a little slow, and it was honestly boring me, but again, that could be because I wasn't connected with the characters.
And Bel got Teo into Taylor Swift, which is the ultimate goal for me.
So, I'm not that into robotics and engineering and all that stuff, so during the inventing parts I was kind of skimming, because I didn't really understand, and so I did miss out on a few pieces of information, so learn from me: TRY NOT TO SKIM. I'm never going to be able to stop skimming, but maybe other people can.
Anyways, this was very disappointing considering my sky high expectations. I wish they had been "rivals" (they hardly were in the first place) for longer and that they had had more of a slowburn. This book did have cute moments, yet it could be confusing to me at times.
3 stars
“The world is not very helpful to a smart girl. More often it will try to force you inside a box. But I urge you not to listen.”
<><><><><><><>
Well that was disappointing
Rtc
At least now I won't have a five star average for the books I've read in August
I was looking forward to reading this SO MUCH because I've had such good luck with rom-coms recently, Today Tonight Tomorrow and Better Than the Movies being my top two favorite rom-com books, but this book just annoyed me. I shouldn't have gone in with such high expectations.
Everytime I saw Bel's name, the name Belly from the Summer I turned Pretty series came to my head and I haven't even read those books. Sorry, just thought I'd say that. Bel was so annoying at times in the book, starting unnecessary conflict and just being irritating to other characters. I do like her character though, and I like how she got to figure out where she wanted to go in life, who she wanted to be, and what she wanted to do. I honestly wish I was as smart as her.
Teo was . . . ok. I didn't care for him much, and I just didn't connect with his character. I liked how he interacted with Bel, and his friends, but that's all I really remember. He's a hot nerd (he's literally referred to as such by his mother, I believe) who likes robotics, plays soccer, and has a strict dad. I wish I could say more, but I don't even remember anything he did, which is saying something about the impact he had on me.
Speaking of friendships, I liked the friendships much more than the romance. The characters and their friends just had such great connections with each other, and it was interesting diving deeper into the side character's lives.
And then the romance. So, I'm very much a hypocrite: I literally was just writing a review a few days ago and I said that the insta-love in that book didn't really faze me at all, while other situations, like Gilded just irritated me to the point that I disliked the book because of it. The insta-love in the book annoyed me a lot, not to the point that Gilded did, but this one was still so annoying. They hung out after school like ONCE and then Bel was noticing how attractive Teo was. I think it was because in Scarlet (the book I'm referring to with the insta-love I liked) I actually felt connected with the characters, and I really liked them. That didn't happen in this book, and so I just didn't care for their romance.
AND WHERE IS THE "BUTTING HEADS" I WAS PROMISED?? They argued a few times, but it never turned into rivals. They had just met each other that year, so they couldn't really form the "rivals to lovers" I was expecting, which was frustrating because rivals/enemies to lovers is my favorite trope of all time.
I did like the messages said throughout this story: Women could also succeed in STEM and they were also smart, and it wasn't just men. I also liked the diversity in this book.
And to be quite honest, I liked Neelam better than Teo and Bel combined, even when she was incredibly rude to everyone.
The beginning was also a little slow, and it was honestly boring me, but again, that could be because I wasn't connected with the characters.
And Bel got Teo into Taylor Swift, which is the ultimate goal for me.
So, I'm not that into robotics and engineering and all that stuff, so during the inventing parts I was kind of skimming, because I didn't really understand, and so I did miss out on a few pieces of information, so learn from me: TRY NOT TO SKIM. I'm never going to be able to stop skimming, but maybe other people can.
Anyways, this was very disappointing considering my sky high expectations. I wish they had been "rivals" (they hardly were in the first place) for longer and that they had had more of a slowburn. This book did have cute moments, yet it could be confusing to me at times.
3 stars
“The world is not very helpful to a smart girl. More often it will try to force you inside a box. But I urge you not to listen.”
<><><><><><><>
Well that was disappointing
Rtc
February 5, 2024
Yeah, so I don’t really find "funny" books all that funny. I’m not trying to say that I have such an elevated and sophisticated sense of humor or anything, I just don’t normally laugh when the book wants me to. It's more of an acknowledgment that something's funny. "ah, that was a joke... ha... ha." However I did find this one pretty funny at several points, just maybe not in the intended way. It has a corny, charming kind of earnestness that I couldn't help but be reminded of movies like Step Up 2: The Streets or Drumline. I think the fact that this book is about a pretty niche hobby that everyone besides Bel takes it so seriously is hilarious. Robotics club? I mean, come on now. Speaking of Bel, she exudes such “youngest sibling” energy throughout… which I clocked from page one because I'm also a youngest sibling. So basically, it’s not really “ha ha” funny, but enough to make this a light, cute, and fun read. If this is similar to anything; I’d say this is kind of like Tweet Cute, the book Tweet Cute.
Otherwise, this book is like if someone wrote an entire story about the mathletes from Mean Girls. The blurb states that “nerds are hot,” (eye roll) which is an odd blanket statement to center your novel around. Especially when for a large portion of the book, those nerds are entitled, sexist dorks surrounded by other misogynistic yes-men. It’s actually a pretty accurate depiction of how hostile nerd guys are towards women in male dominated fields. My issue was that this undercurrent is thrown to the wayside and glossed over by the time we reach the third-act. I know this is fiction, but I just know that this book would be precisely 70 pages (I marked it) if I were the main character. Oh yeah, the robotics teacher (the main sexist guy) wants students to call him by his first name, which is a huge red flag, in my opinion at least. I've only had bad experiences with teachers like that! Mateo was a pretty annoying too, I had a hard time relating to any of his issues. Oh no, so he’s rich, handsome, and everyone is a “little in love with him,” … whatever guy (I’m rolling my eyes again).
“And are you a tool?" she asks me, arching a brow.
"I’m the tool,” I correct her.
Hey man, you said it not me.
Otherwise, this book is like if someone wrote an entire story about the mathletes from Mean Girls. The blurb states that “nerds are hot,” (eye roll) which is an odd blanket statement to center your novel around. Especially when for a large portion of the book, those nerds are entitled, sexist dorks surrounded by other misogynistic yes-men. It’s actually a pretty accurate depiction of how hostile nerd guys are towards women in male dominated fields. My issue was that this undercurrent is thrown to the wayside and glossed over by the time we reach the third-act. I know this is fiction, but I just know that this book would be precisely 70 pages (I marked it) if I were the main character. Oh yeah, the robotics teacher (the main sexist guy) wants students to call him by his first name, which is a huge red flag, in my opinion at least. I've only had bad experiences with teachers like that! Mateo was a pretty annoying too, I had a hard time relating to any of his issues. Oh no, so he’s rich, handsome, and everyone is a “little in love with him,” … whatever guy (I’m rolling my eyes again).
“And are you a tool?" she asks me, arching a brow.
"I’m the tool,” I correct her.
Hey man, you said it not me.
January 1, 2023
5/5 stars, this was just as cute as I hoped
Thank you Holiday House for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I did not know until I read another review that this is the same author that wrote 'The Atlas Six' which I have been dying to read for a long time, but that's so exciting considering how much I adored this cute book. I was reading it during a really busy time in my life, and the content within the book actually represented that. The main characters are seniors who get ready to go to college and talk about having AP and harder classes often. That's what I was doing as well, so it was both rewarding and reassuring that these characters were doing the same things I was doing.
I'm a nerd, something that I openly admit, and seeing all of the main characters have the same love for learning that I did especially in the STEM fields felt so amazing. I love nerds, I just love them. There is something else about a person so committed to learning and growing in all aspects of life, especially academically that I admire, probably why I aspire to be like them and surround myself with similar people. While I do not want to go into such a science-specific field as most of the characters, I love seeing women in STEM be represented in all books as I will be going for the same. I want to do Psychology, and while that was not represented, I have taken lots of other STEM classes that are both hard and so rewarding. I was really able to connect with the main characters that way.
As well, the author really portrayed the way girls are treated in a primarily male-dominated world, workspace, and school so tremendously well. There were lots of little details that showed how women are treated as well as little instances where the reader was meant to ask themselves if that was indeed sexism (hint: most of the time it was). Creating a book where this is well represented while having room for the reader to recognize subtle sexism made it such a powerful message.
I was also able to really connect with the main character, Bel because her parents were basically divorced before the novel started, and she had to deal with the implications throughout the entire book. While it was sad to see a character struggle with what I've been experiencing my whole life, it was also validating. It reminded me that I am not the only person with divorced parents and that every negative and positive experience that comes with it, and any emotions I may feel about any of it is valid. Children shouldn't have to deal with this outcome from their parents, but it happens.
The science in this book was written in a way that is probably going to be easy for many people, from all types of backgrounds, to understand. I'm not really into robotics or physics, but I still enjoy a bit of science (mainly biology). Despite my overall lack of background knowledge on the subject, I never felt lost when the characters were referencing topics, as the author explained them in a simple way. It was still obvious that it was a complicated subject full of math and science, but I felt that it was easy enough to understand that the general reader should be able to enjoy it without an issue.
Bel in many aspects was a very relatable character for me, especially as we shared the trait of being a person of color and a woman. There were so many instances when she was competing in robotics where people on the opposite teams said she was just "diversity points" or "token diversity girl." which was disgusting but seriously how people consider women in the STEM field, especially women of color. Bel never let it deter her though, she had moments where she was unsure, but she still did what she loved and found her place in the team. I adored her perseverance and really related to her in lots of ways. I think how she handled her family situation was also very mature of her, and I am so proud of her for finding herself over the course of the book.
Teo Luna was also an amazing character, in the beginning I was a bit hesitant on his story and personality, but he won me over by the end. I really enjoyed how involved he was in his school and extracurriculars, but sometimes struggled with what he wanted to do. He was really committed to his friends, robotics, and felt the need to be the leader. I am really glad that as the novel progressed he learned to be leniant with himself and not be so focused on leading and organizing everything. It was not his sole responsibility, and him learning that was so cute. I really liked how he also learned to recognize the signs of subtle sexism present in his own school, robotics team, and the competitions in general. He grew from the boy who just didn't notice it, to be the boy that actively tried to correct himself and help Bel and Neelam. I really enjoyed the little glimpse of him in the epilogue as well.
The side characters really added to the lively feel of the book as well, they were all so much fun and some really great friends to the main characters. My favorite was probably Neelam or Dash, they were pretty much opposites but were both very interesting. In the beginning, I was really hesitant about Neelam and the direction her story was going to go, but I ended up really enjoying her. She knows that she doesn't owe anyone anything besides herself, and I get why she acted like a sour person. Dash was just really funny and I enjoyed his character.
Sometimes romance in these types of books makes me feel like it's unrealistic, but I think this was written in a very mature way. The enemies-to-lovers romance found between Bel and Teo was actually very cute, and I loved the progression of their relationship. It never felt forced and overall was very well done, especially at the end of the novel. The decision that they made concerning their relationship was very mature of them and I loved seeing it play out in the epilogue as well. I was proud of them for making the decision they did. As well, both characters had their own lives outside of the relationship, and I really enjoyed how the relationship was not just all about each other. Oftentimes that's how it is, but I don't think it's necessary healthy for teenagers who are dating to only have each other in their lives and no one else, and no outside hobbies. So seeing that they were able to have this healthy balance was so important for me as well.
As I was a senior while reading this, it felt rewarding watching the characters leave high school and prep for their college years, for example like I said before with AP tests and finals. They began to realize themselves in a positive way and supported one another, which was absolutely fantastic to see. One of my favorite "lessons" of the book was when Bel didn't get into the school she wanted, and instead chose a community school, and no one hated on her for it. Even the people that placed expectations on her to go somewhere big and prestigious didn't shame her for it. I enjoyed how the book talked about how getting into the best school is NOT ALL that matters, and you can be really smart while choosing something else, because it is YOUR education no one else's. I did the same, I didn't choose the most "prestigious" school, but still chose a school in the same system as the "prestigious" school just smaller, as this would be better for me in the long run in terms of money and my own wellbeing.
Overall, this was such a lovely book with lots of important topics, mostly concerning college and leaving high school, which should be represented more. I enjoyed how it handled all of these, and the characters all felt very mature and realistic. I really adored this book and only took off a half-star as at first it was hard to connect to, but I was also in a busy time in my life and it was probably not the book's fault. After this, I cannot wait to read The Atlas Six by the same author.
[TW: sexism, divorce, infidelity (mentioned), anxiety depiction, racist comments]
Thank you Holiday House for the arc through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!
I did not know until I read another review that this is the same author that wrote 'The Atlas Six' which I have been dying to read for a long time, but that's so exciting considering how much I adored this cute book. I was reading it during a really busy time in my life, and the content within the book actually represented that. The main characters are seniors who get ready to go to college and talk about having AP and harder classes often. That's what I was doing as well, so it was both rewarding and reassuring that these characters were doing the same things I was doing.
I'm a nerd, something that I openly admit, and seeing all of the main characters have the same love for learning that I did especially in the STEM fields felt so amazing. I love nerds, I just love them. There is something else about a person so committed to learning and growing in all aspects of life, especially academically that I admire, probably why I aspire to be like them and surround myself with similar people. While I do not want to go into such a science-specific field as most of the characters, I love seeing women in STEM be represented in all books as I will be going for the same. I want to do Psychology, and while that was not represented, I have taken lots of other STEM classes that are both hard and so rewarding. I was really able to connect with the main characters that way.
As well, the author really portrayed the way girls are treated in a primarily male-dominated world, workspace, and school so tremendously well. There were lots of little details that showed how women are treated as well as little instances where the reader was meant to ask themselves if that was indeed sexism (hint: most of the time it was). Creating a book where this is well represented while having room for the reader to recognize subtle sexism made it such a powerful message.
I was also able to really connect with the main character, Bel because her parents were basically divorced before the novel started, and she had to deal with the implications throughout the entire book. While it was sad to see a character struggle with what I've been experiencing my whole life, it was also validating. It reminded me that I am not the only person with divorced parents and that every negative and positive experience that comes with it, and any emotions I may feel about any of it is valid. Children shouldn't have to deal with this outcome from their parents, but it happens.
The science in this book was written in a way that is probably going to be easy for many people, from all types of backgrounds, to understand. I'm not really into robotics or physics, but I still enjoy a bit of science (mainly biology). Despite my overall lack of background knowledge on the subject, I never felt lost when the characters were referencing topics, as the author explained them in a simple way. It was still obvious that it was a complicated subject full of math and science, but I felt that it was easy enough to understand that the general reader should be able to enjoy it without an issue.
Bel in many aspects was a very relatable character for me, especially as we shared the trait of being a person of color and a woman. There were so many instances when she was competing in robotics where people on the opposite teams said she was just "diversity points" or "token diversity girl." which was disgusting but seriously how people consider women in the STEM field, especially women of color. Bel never let it deter her though, she had moments where she was unsure, but she still did what she loved and found her place in the team. I adored her perseverance and really related to her in lots of ways. I think how she handled her family situation was also very mature of her, and I am so proud of her for finding herself over the course of the book.
Teo Luna was also an amazing character, in the beginning I was a bit hesitant on his story and personality, but he won me over by the end. I really enjoyed how involved he was in his school and extracurriculars, but sometimes struggled with what he wanted to do. He was really committed to his friends, robotics, and felt the need to be the leader. I am really glad that as the novel progressed he learned to be leniant with himself and not be so focused on leading and organizing everything. It was not his sole responsibility, and him learning that was so cute. I really liked how he also learned to recognize the signs of subtle sexism present in his own school, robotics team, and the competitions in general. He grew from the boy who just didn't notice it, to be the boy that actively tried to correct himself and help Bel and Neelam. I really enjoyed the little glimpse of him in the epilogue as well.
The side characters really added to the lively feel of the book as well, they were all so much fun and some really great friends to the main characters. My favorite was probably Neelam or Dash, they were pretty much opposites but were both very interesting. In the beginning, I was really hesitant about Neelam and the direction her story was going to go, but I ended up really enjoying her. She knows that she doesn't owe anyone anything besides herself, and I get why she acted like a sour person. Dash was just really funny and I enjoyed his character.
Sometimes romance in these types of books makes me feel like it's unrealistic, but I think this was written in a very mature way. The enemies-to-lovers romance found between Bel and Teo was actually very cute, and I loved the progression of their relationship. It never felt forced and overall was very well done, especially at the end of the novel. The decision that they made concerning their relationship was very mature of them and I loved seeing it play out in the epilogue as well. I was proud of them for making the decision they did. As well, both characters had their own lives outside of the relationship, and I really enjoyed how the relationship was not just all about each other. Oftentimes that's how it is, but I don't think it's necessary healthy for teenagers who are dating to only have each other in their lives and no one else, and no outside hobbies. So seeing that they were able to have this healthy balance was so important for me as well.
As I was a senior while reading this, it felt rewarding watching the characters leave high school and prep for their college years, for example like I said before with AP tests and finals. They began to realize themselves in a positive way and supported one another, which was absolutely fantastic to see. One of my favorite "lessons" of the book was when Bel didn't get into the school she wanted, and instead chose a community school, and no one hated on her for it. Even the people that placed expectations on her to go somewhere big and prestigious didn't shame her for it. I enjoyed how the book talked about how getting into the best school is NOT ALL that matters, and you can be really smart while choosing something else, because it is YOUR education no one else's. I did the same, I didn't choose the most "prestigious" school, but still chose a school in the same system as the "prestigious" school just smaller, as this would be better for me in the long run in terms of money and my own wellbeing.
Overall, this was such a lovely book with lots of important topics, mostly concerning college and leaving high school, which should be represented more. I enjoyed how it handled all of these, and the characters all felt very mature and realistic. I really adored this book and only took off a half-star as at first it was hard to connect to, but I was also in a busy time in my life and it was probably not the book's fault. After this, I cannot wait to read The Atlas Six by the same author.
[TW: sexism, divorce, infidelity (mentioned), anxiety depiction, racist comments]
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August 22, 2024
do i know anything about robotics? nope
did i understand even the slightest thing about any science they talked about? absolutely not
did i eat this up? most definitely 🙂↕️
no seriously this was the cutest read ever. I had so much fun reading this the whole time.
was going to do a full depth review but my mind kinda went blank after reading this and honestly nothing really happens it’s just about two high schoolers on the robotics team, who have a lot going on with their families and like any other senior in high school what plans they have for the future.
rating: ★ ★ ★.5
only reason I won’t rate this higher or round it up to four stars is because tbh this wasn’t memorable and I’ll probably forget about this after a while.
still a very cute, adorable, and fun read.
ᯓᡣ𐭩 pre read: i keep seeing cute collage edits on pinterest so it must be a sign to finally read this 🙂↕️
did i understand even the slightest thing about any science they talked about? absolutely not
did i eat this up? most definitely 🙂↕️
no seriously this was the cutest read ever. I had so much fun reading this the whole time.
was going to do a full depth review but my mind kinda went blank after reading this and honestly nothing really happens it’s just about two high schoolers on the robotics team, who have a lot going on with their families and like any other senior in high school what plans they have for the future.
rating: ★ ★ ★.5
only reason I won’t rate this higher or round it up to four stars is because tbh this wasn’t memorable and I’ll probably forget about this after a while.
still a very cute, adorable, and fun read.
ᯓᡣ𐭩 pre read: i keep seeing cute collage edits on pinterest so it must be a sign to finally read this 🙂↕️
August 17, 2022
Because she surprises me, because she makes me laugh, and because this, whatever it is with her, is the only thing I ever do that’s easy.
Because wherever I am, I want her close by.
Themes & vibes:
• nerdy YA romance
• high school setting
• rivals-to-friends-to-lovers
• coming of age
• girls in STEM
• dual POV
This was so adorable! Cute, and fun, and well written, and deliciously nerdy!
Building robots is not how I picture a good time, but this kept me engaged and glued to the page the whole time. I loved how entertaining both the plot and the writing style were.
The MCs were so sweet! They were amazing separately and even better together. And they grew so much throughout the book.
And the romance aspect of this book was just - chef's kisses. Honestly, I think this may be the best YA contemporary romance I’ve ever read. It gave me all I’ve been looking for and more.
I really hope Follmuth will write more in this genre - I’d be the first one to read it all and I’m sure many more people feel the same.
If you want to see my much more in depth review, you can check it out on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth in exchange for an honest review.
Because wherever I am, I want her close by.
Themes & vibes:
• nerdy YA romance
• high school setting
• rivals-to-friends-to-lovers
• coming of age
• girls in STEM
• dual POV
This was so adorable! Cute, and fun, and well written, and deliciously nerdy!
Building robots is not how I picture a good time, but this kept me engaged and glued to the page the whole time. I loved how entertaining both the plot and the writing style were.
The MCs were so sweet! They were amazing separately and even better together. And they grew so much throughout the book.
And the romance aspect of this book was just - chef's kisses. Honestly, I think this may be the best YA contemporary romance I’ve ever read. It gave me all I’ve been looking for and more.
I really hope Follmuth will write more in this genre - I’d be the first one to read it all and I’m sure many more people feel the same.
If you want to see my much more in depth review, you can check it out on my book blog NovelOnMyMind.
Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth in exchange for an honest review.
July 3, 2024
Do bólu przeciętna i nijaka :(
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