Opposites attract in this nerdy YA romance from the NYT best-selling author of The Atlas Six!
"It’s rom-com perfection."—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars
Bel doesn't want to think about the future. College apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. Joining a robotics club filled with boys who ignore her or--even worse--constantly ask if she needs help? Please, anything but that. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering in class, she has no choice. Enter Mateo Luna, the handsome captain of the club.
Teo instantly recognizes Bel's talent. He needs her on the team. And not just because he can't stop thinking about the tiny dusting of freckles around her eyes, or how she got him hooked on Taylor Swift--it's because Bel sees him. She challenges him. But when they seriously start butting heads, Bel wonders: Is there really room for a girl like her in STEM?
In her YA debut, Alexene Farol Follmuth, author of The Atlas Six (under the penname Olivie Blake), explores both the challenges girls of color face in STEM and the vulnerability of first love with unfailing wit and honesty. Told from dual points of view, My Mechanical Romance is not only swoonworthy--it's downright empowering.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
A Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee
A Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award Nominee
Alexene 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 New York Times best seller and BookTok-viral The Atlas Six. My Mechanical Romance is her YA debut. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, new baby, and rescue pit bull. Find her at alexenefarolfollmuth.com.
"The characters' struggles are realistic, and the romantic chemistry is palpable, making this a joyful read."—Publishers Weekly
"This novel is full of charm. . . . An engaging story, filled with lessons about believing in yourself when you never thought you could and believing others who might see the shine you never thought was possible."—School Library Journal
"This lively teen romance, with alternating narration from Bel and Teo, is packed with humor as well as tender moments, while also reflecting common anxieties. . . ."—The Horn Book
"The message is clear: Women deserve to take up space in the STEM world too. A delightful teen romance about building robots—and new futures."—Kirkus Reviews
"My Mechanical Romance shines a light on the struggles bright young girls face in STEM fields, and combines it with an adorable romance that will leave you warm and smiling long after the last page. It’s rom-com perfection."—Adiba Jaigirdar, author of The Henna Wars
"Hilarious, heartfelt, and positively banterific, My Mechanical Romance is a can’t-miss debut. Bel and Teo are two brilliant teens whose snarky chemistry leaps off the page, even as they slowly reveal the layers of their hearts—Bel’s struggle to be taken seriously as a girl of color in STEM, and Teo’s fear that he’ll never live up to everyone’s sky-high expectations. Bel and Teo don’t just build kick-ass robots; they create a beautiful organic love story that helps them both discover all the best versions of themselves. I swooned, I cheered, and I will definitely read everything else Alexene Farol Follmuth writes!"—Monica Gomez-Hira, author of Once Upon a Quinceañera
