ARC review: My Mechanical Romance

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Hello!!!!! Yes, I am alive, but only just. I have around 20 ARC reviews to get through and I’ve only read 8! How are y’all doing?

Anyways, here’s my review for My Mechanical Romance, a cute enemies to lovers YA rom com, with women in STEM.

Look at that cover! So adorable 🥺

“The world is not very helpful to a smart girl,” says Ms. Voss. “More often it will try to force you inside a box. But I urge you not to listen.”

Ok so first of all, I had no idea that this was Olivie Blake, the author of the Atlas Six! Either way, I loved it. I’m not so hooked by YA romance anymore, but I read this in one sitting and couldn’t stop.

Firstly, the characters. Bel went through so much character development, it was amazing to see her become more confident and assertive and believe in herself more. I will never stop loving women in STEM and this was done so well. Bel didn’t really think about engineering as an option for her, but once she started, she couldn’t stop.
Second, Teo. I didn’t like him as much as Bel, because of his super pushover vibe, and he was very dismissive of Neelam, the other girl. He only really listened to Bel because he liked her, which doesn’t say much about him, in my opinion. He could have had a bit more development so that he’s nice to everyone, not just Bel.

Next, the plot. I love reading books about things I don’t know much about, so engineering was definitely a new one. I liked the competition and the race to build a robot that would win, and the dynamics between the characters. I did think that the Neelam-Bel rivalry thing was unnecessary. I know they resolved it, but there was no real reason that Neelam hated Bel, it just seemed like added drama.

The writing was, obviously, amazing. I’m pretty sure I teared up a little bit at some of the more emotional bits. Quote worthy and cute, I loved it!

The romance was average. It definitely wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t the main focus of the book. It was cute, angsty, prety much a typical well written YA romance.

Overal, I would definitely recommend to anyone who likes women in STEM, engineering (even if you don’t!), rom coms and general badassery.

My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, Holiday House for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My Mechanical Romance releases May 31st, so go grab your copy because I swear you won’t regret it!

Happy reading!! 💖📚

Madinah

End of year survey 2021

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So, as we know, it’s the end of the year, and my friend recently did this survey on her blog, which looked so cool and I decided that since I have so much spare time, I’d do something similar. The original post came from perpetualpageturner, and I used the 2020 version of it. This is basically a spotlight on everything I read this year, which I’m going to confess, I’m using my 2021 Year in Books on Goodreads to help!

Reading stats

Number Of Books You Read: 277 (but I’m doing an all nighter so this is definitely going to increase 😉)
Number of Re-Reads: I tried to count this but I couldn’t so I’m going to estimate… a lot?
Genre You Read The Most From: This is shameful but I think it’s a toss up between romance and YA, with romance probably edging YA out a bit. It’s because I read romances for comfort when I need something not too complex.

Best of…

Best book of 2021?

Ok, you can’t do that and I refuse to answer.

Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

Ace of Spades. This is only one, obviously, but it stood out because it was an impulse buy and I had heard about the hype and the blurb looked good but it was pretty mediocre. I’m probably going to sell my copy to raise funds for better books.

Most surprising (in a good way or bad way) book you read?

Hmmmm, it would have to be The Seven Husbands Of Evelyn Hugo. I read this with a team for a Goodreads challenge and I had never really read contemporary before. It was definitely a good surprise!

Book You “Pushed” The Most People To Read (And They Did)?

Haha, this is basically me all the time because I end up having read so many books before they get hyped. Let’s see.. probably Six of Crows because it had it’s spotlight moment this year so lots of people fell in love with it. Also, I got a bunch of school friends into Throne of Glass, my Goodreads friends hated it though 😦

Best series you started in 2020? Best Sequel? Best Series Ender of 2020?

Best series is The Cruel Prince, the Bromance Book Club series and Stalking Jack the Ripper. Best sequel is Our Violent Ends. And best series ender… As Good as Dead

Favorite new author you discovered in 2020?

Ohh I’ve discovered so many new authors that I’m in love with! Ok, from YA, we’re going with Kerri Maniscalo, in romance, Emily Henry and Sally Thorne, in NA, Jennifer L Armentrout, in crime and thrillers, Kendra Elliott, Mary Burton, and in contemporary, Taylor Jenkins Reid. I couldn’t just do one, sorry! Anyways, I think with rep for authors, more is better.

Best book from a genre you don’t typically read/was out of your comfort zone?

Circe in historical kinda contemporary mixed with myth (that’s not a genre but meh)

Most action-packed/thrilling/unputdownable book of the year?

These are pretty well known, A Court of Silver Flames and The Crown of Gilded Bones. There were a lot more, but these two I can just remember being totally hooked and unable to function normally if I wasn’t reading them.

Book You Read In 2021 That You Would Be MOST Likely To Re-Read Next Year?

Hmmm, again, a few. Kingdom of the Wicked, and I’ll probably reread Legendborn before the second one comes out. I’ve already reread this multiple times but definitely House of Earth and Blood.

Favorite cover of a book you read in 2021?

Ahhhh no, don’t make me choose. I am totally one of those people who judges by covers so most of my books have drop dead gorgeous covers. Let’s see, The Inheritance Games, American edition, These Violent Delights, Rule of Wolves. I basically love covers with little Easter eggs hidden in them so you end up staring at them and finding little things hidden everywhere.

Most memorable character of 2021?

Ughh no. Go see my 4 and 5 star reads and basically the main characters from those.

Most beautifully written book read in 2021?

Too many! I’m going with We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal because practically every other line of hers is a quote.

Most Thought-Provoking/ Life-Changing Book of 2021?

I didn’t read any non fiction this year (I know, shameful), so it’s going to be a recent YA read that actually made me rethink all my ideas about feminism. Not Here to Be Liked doesn’t look like it has any earth shattering revelations but it seriously made me think more about how feminism is not just standing up and shouting for equal rights.

Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2021 to finally read?

Easy. These Violent Delights and Scythe. I was scared of TVD because it was a Romeo and Juliet retelling and I hate Romeo and Juliet but it was actually amazing. And Scythe because it’s sci fi dystopian which I don’t really like. It’s going well so far though.

Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2021?

I have an entire 1000+ pages book in my head where my favourite quotes live rent free but here’s one that kinda stuck with me:

‘Carry yourself with the confidence of a mediocre white man’

The Love Hypothesis

Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2021?

Oh this is easy. Goodreads Year in Books here I come! Shortest book was one of the Throne of Glass novellas and longest was Kingdom of Ash.

Book That Shocked You The Most

It’s not the only book but Kingdom of the Cursed. That ending! And all the freakin plot twists in the middle!

OTP OF THE YEAR (you will go down with this ship!)

Again, please see my 4 and 5 star reads and pick any and all ships except SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Matthew and Cordelia SPOILER OVER

Favorite Non-Romantic Relationship Of The Year

Arghh I have it in my head but I can’t remember. Ok, it’ll have to be Inej and Jesper

Favorite Book You Read in 2021 From An Author You’ve Read Previously

House of Earth and Blood. I loved how SJM went into a totally different type of world and I have officially christened this book the comfort book of my life.

Best Book You Read In 2021 That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else/Peer Pressure/Bookstagram, Etc.:

The Midnight Library, which was unfortunately a disappointment. Check out my review of it here!

Newest fictional crush from a book you read in 2021?

Adam Carlsen. He’s in my dream career, super shy, I relate to him so much and just wanna cuddle him.

Best 2021 debut you read?

One Night Only by Catherine Walsh. Absolutely amazing. I also wrote an ARC review on that here.

Best Worldbuilding/Most Vivid Setting You Read This Year?

Ooooh that’s hard. I like the wordbuilding in These Violent Delights and I loved the intricacies and richness of the setting in Mask of Mirrors.

Book That Put A Smile On Your Face/Was The Most FUN To Read?

These are mostly rom coms, but the whole Bromance Book Club series, they had me cracked up. Also, a very recent read, The Plight before Christmas, which was super heartwarming, funny and overall amazing.

Book That Made You Cry Or Nearly Cry in 2021?

SO MANY DAMN BOOKS. I had tears streaming when I read A House of Earth and Blood, also ACOSF and practically every sad book. Also, a bunch of not so sad ones that I read on my period and I blame hormones. I am a big crier when things get emotional though.

Hidden Gem Of The Year?

You Deserve Each Other. Here, I just picked a random book that I loved and that didn’t have much rep.

Book That Crushed Your Soul?

I don’t have a soul to crush but ok. It’s an entire series but Vampire Academy! I loved it so much, even though a small part of my brain was just screaming that it was super trashy. Either way Rose and Dimitri are endgame and the whole series pretty much crushed my non existent soul.

Most Unique Book You Read In 2021?

Probably The Princess Bride. It was so random and totally not what I was expecting. I pretty much read the whole book while scratching my head.

Book That Made You The Most Mad (doesn’t necessarily mean you didn’t like it)?

A Good as Dead, because I was hating on all the misogynistic asshole men that are out there. Doesn’t mean I didn’t love it, obviously.

Your blogging/bookish life

New favorite book blog/Bookstagram/Youtube channel you discovered in 2021?

Ah ha! So, I got Instagram this year and oh the community of bookstagrammers out there is amazing. One of my favourites is definitely Leila, who’s insta handle is @carranam_parabatai. Her feed is super aesthetic and I love all the tweets she posts, they seriously make my day. Another amazing bookstagram is Shay, @shashaybooks, because her feed is so prettyyyyyy and I love her reviews. Seriously, check them out. In book blogging, I have a bunch of people who I don’t want to miss out, so go check out my following widget in the dropdown menu. In terms of Booktube, I don’t really watch much of that so no recs!

Favorite post you wrote in 2021?

Definitely this one:

August Misconception: Hijab

Favorite bookish related photo you took in 2020?

Yeah, none because I don’t take photos of books because I have no suitable camera and mediocre props.

Best bookish event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events,  etc.)?

None because I just started blogging and haven’t really been part of much. That is hopefully going to change next year.

Best moment of bookish/blogging life in 2021?

Definitely starting my blog because that was cool and also finding loads of supportive friends and communities on Goodreads.

Most challenging thing about blogging or your reading life this year?

Keeping up with it and remembering to post. I need to find a blog/life/reading/college balance for next year.

Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

By comments, it was the above Hijab post, and by likes, the first post of the blog, which was just an August TBR.

Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

*sobs* all of them. Ok, no, probably my review of We Can’t Keep Meeting Like This. I spent some time on it, and I don’t normally write reviews so I’d love for people to check it out. (Hint: It’s linked, so you know what you have to do!)

Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Thrift stores! Ok, I’m not American, we call them charity shops, which sounds super lame but oh well. But seriously, so cheap! The only thing is that I hardly find good YA in them, unfortunately. So another amazing thing I discovered was the Z Library. Omg, it has been a lifesaver. It has practically every book on it, and I’ve recently started using the articles feature too, for a research project.

Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 I COMPLETED MY READING CHALLENGE 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

Oh yes I did. It was originally 200 books, but I was finishing that by like, September so I increased to 270 and I am currently on 275!!

Looking Ahead

One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2021 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2022?

Song of Achilles, I don’t know if I want to read it but I’ll see when I’m in the mood.

Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2022 (non-debut)?

See my previous post for a whole list!

2022 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?

A Botanist’s Guide to Parties and Poisons, which I think is a debut, but I got rejected for the ARC so I have to wait till it’s released 😦

Series Ending/A Sequel You Are Most Anticipating in 2022?

The ending for the Rook and Rose trilogy. At least, I think it’s going to be a trilogy?

One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2022?

Hmm, post more, read more, get a better balance between the things I love doing and the things I have to do. Also, learn how to stay up all night without getting tired!

A 2022 Release You’ve Already Read & Recommend To Everyone (if applicable):

The Rebound, which you can read my review for here.

That was so fun! Now, y’all get a collage of all the books featured in this post because I was too lazy to put then where they were supposed to go:

Happy New Year and here’s to many more books in 2022! (As I write this, I can hear the fireworks outside 😂)

Madinah 📚💖

Most anticipated reads of 2022!!!

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Ok, so, end of the year already! Damn that went fast, but.. as a bookworm there’s always something else to look forward to: new releases!

Oh yes, I’m practically dying of anticipation from all the books I’m waiting for, and making this list is just going to make it worse. So why make this list, I hear you ask? Well, because we I love torturing ourselves obviously! Anyways, here you go, my most anticipated releases of 2022!

House of Sky and Breath- Sarah J Maas

Oh lord, I just need some Hunt/Bryce action! The ending of HoEaB absolutely smashed it so I can’t wait for this next book. Also I think these are quite different from ToG and ACOTAR, with all the tech but also combining magic, and humans and creatures co existing and I think it’s pretty cool so I can’t wait to see where she goes with the plot. Is it just me but does Hunt look kinda watery? Like, why is he blue?

Release date: February 15, 2022

The War of Two Queens- Jennifer L Armentrout

Eeeek!!!! Ok so I know a bunch of you are both SJM and FBAA haters but oh my goddd. After the ending of ACOGB I have been in mental hibernation waiting for this. Also, it’s clashing more with the ASITE world so I can’t wait to look out for references and Easter eggs.

Release date: March 15, 2022

A Tempest of Tea- Hafsah Faizal

Yesss, it’s our fave Muslim author coming through with yet another amazing book! After my recent reread of WHTF, I’ve only fallen more in love with her writing and now I can’t wait for a whole new story from her (also it has vampires 😍)

Release date: November 8, 2022

Hook, Line and Sinker- Tessa Bailey

Yes, we get to the first romance of my list. Oh Tessa Bailey had better blow my mind with this. I can’t wait for this (I keep repeating this but it’s an anticipation list so…) because I could see this romance coming from the moment they met in It Happened One Summer.

Release date: March 1, 2022

Bloodmarked- Tracy Deonn

Uh we need some Sel action here please. Also, I didn’t fully grasp the plot in the last book, probably time for a reread, but still. Nick shall be friend zoned and Sel will be promoted to boyfriend position. I decree it so it must happen. The whole situation gives me TVD vibes actually (iykyk). Back on track, that cover is 🔥🔥🔥

Release date: November 8, 2022 (I thought it was going to be July?) Never mind, some editions will be out July 26, 2022

Chain of Thorns- Cassandra Clare

Yessss our Shadowhunters book of the year. After that ending, Cassandra Clare owes us all. And all the conspiracy theories and headcanons going round, make my head spin. However, she does seem to have a …unique… way of resolving love triangles. Anyways, I’m just here for Alastair and Christopher, my little precious darlings.

Release date: November 1, 2022

Kingdom of the Feared- Kerri Maniscalo

Ahhhhh another crazy ending. Kerri Maniscalo said it would pick up ‘right after the ending of KOTC’ which I can only hope is quite literally. Also that last minute plot twist pretty much gave me a heart attack so I need resuscitation (hopefully with a good dose of smut). No cover yet so I just used a pretty aesthetic of KotW

Release date: ???

Book Lovers- Emily Henry

No that wasn’t a call to action, y’all can put your bookmarks down. That is the name of Emily Henry’s new book, releasing next year (duh). And can I just say, those two things put together have got me. Also, this list needed more romance so…

Release date: May 3, 2022

Untitled ASITE #2- Jennifer L Armentrout

Ok this doesn’t even have a title and I’m hyping but it says fall 2022 so here we go people!

Release date: fall 2022

The Final Gambit- Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Ahhhhh that cover!!! For the sole sake of these covers I’m forcing my cousin to get me the American editions for these even though they are super expensive. Anyways, I’m only partly interested in the plot for this, even though I’m sure it’ll be killer. I just need GRAYSON! Do you agree? Let me know below!

Release date: August 30, 2022

Ok guys, that’s it, but what’s really killing me is that half these books are being published at the end of the year and I CAN’T WAIT. Anyways, until they all come out, you’re just going to have to listen to my ramblings.

Happy Reading and tell me your most anticipated books for next year!

Madinah 📚💝