Opposites attract in this battle-robot-building YA romance from the NYT best-selling author of The Atlas Six.
"It’s rom-com perfection."—Adiba Jaigirdar
Bel would rather die than think about the future. College apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel—and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesn't seem to like her either.
Enter Mateo Luna, captain of the club, who recognizes Bel as a potential asset—until they start butting heads. Bel doesn’t care about Nationals, while Teo cares too much. But as the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize they've made more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they’ve made each other and the team better. Because girls do belong 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. With an adorable, opposites-attract romance at its center and lines that beg to be read aloud, My Mechanical Romance is swoonworthy perfection.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection A Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee A Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award Nominee
AWARD Missouri Gateway Readers Award
NOMINEE
| 2023 Georgia Peach Book Award
"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
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.
Opposites attract in this battle-robot-building YA romance from the NYT best-selling author of The Atlas Six.
"It’s rom-com perfection."—Adiba Jaigirdar
Bel would rather die than think about the future. College apps? You’re funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, she’s basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel—and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesn't seem to like her either.
Enter Mateo Luna, captain of the club, who recognizes Bel as a potential asset—until they start butting heads. Bel doesn’t care about Nationals, while Teo cares too much. But as the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize they've made more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: they’ve made each other and the team better. Because girls do belong 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. With an adorable, opposites-attract romance at its center and lines that beg to be read aloud, My Mechanical Romance is swoonworthy perfection.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection A Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee A Massachusetts Teen Choice Book Award Nominee
Awards
AWARD Missouri Gateway Readers Award
NOMINEE
| 2023 Georgia Peach Book Award
Praise
"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
Author
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.
