Week 22 Review: My Mechanical Romance

From Goodreads:

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.

My Review:
I just loved reading this book! I've loved every book I've read by Alexene Farol Follmuth, and I was so excited to see what this story would be, with high school students, one who is putting 110% effort into school and his future, and her who is just putting the bare minimum, but when a last minute gets her joining the robotics club...I had so much fun reading this book! 

The personalities of these two really had me laughing and flying through the pages. That they have complicated family lives, what with his dad being in the tech field and doesn't know about parenting, that's a lot of pressure on Teo. Then Bel, her parents separated, and her older brother just moved into her dad's place now that he's an adult, is bringing up uncomfortable questions given the circumstances of the break up of her parent's marriage. 

The mix of them being people of colour, and she's a woman in the area, both are not the most welcomed in the group. Given that he was the president, and honestly worshipped by most others in the group-besides the other girl-was pretty interesting dynamics.

I adored their relationship, how they both pushed each other, for her to explore her talents in robotics, and for him to relax, to have fun. Watching as things developed, as romance bloomed, and issues arose, I was rooting for them! 

Loved reading this book and I can't wait to read more by Alexene Farol Follmuth! 

Author: Alexene Farol Follmuth

Read: May 25th, 2025
Source: Bought  
Reason Why: Love her writing and it sounded good, and it's a SAC 2025 Book! 
Publisher: Holiday House 
Published: May 31st 2022

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars