This was suchhhhh a cutie read! I love the romance and dynamics between Bel and Teo, which is really well developed, it progressed naturally and felt authentic rather than instantaneous and I loved that!

Nerdy romance + STEM struggles = a total win. Bel accidentally reveals her engineering skills and gets roped into the robotics club, where she butts heads with Mateo, the ultra-focused captain. Cue banter, competition, and slow-burn chemistry as they build more than just a battle-ready robot.
It’s fun, empowering, and packed with girl-in-STEM energy, perfect for fans of opposites-attract romance and academic chaos!

I really liked this book! The pacing feels really consistent and I love all of the characters and story. I loved the tension between the main characters and found all of the robotics so interesting... it was super cute and nerdy which was exactly my mood when I read it!

The growth throughout is so lovely as well... all in all this was a very feel good read for me and so enjoyable, I'll definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

Such a cute YA read. I really enjoyed the characters. They felt real, sweet, and had great chemistry. The dynamic between them made the story super fun to follow. The writing style was very digestible and entertaining, which made it easy to get into and hard to put down.

It’s one of those books that just makes you smile. Not a life-changer, but definitely a feel-good read I’d recommend if you’re in the mood for something light, fun, and with a little STEM romance twist

To be young and in love. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said a thousand times, YA romance is the best romance and this book just enforced my belief. For some reason it felt really nostalgic and I loved every part of it from start to finish.

The writing is so light and amazing, the plot is refreshing and the characters are all lovable. Bel is the kind of character young girls should look up to and Teo is the guy every girl deserves. Not once did I feel bored reading this book.

Yes to biracial main characters. Yes to romance in STEM. Yes to girls in mechanical engineering and to girls building robots. This book highlighted the constant gatekeeping and doubtful looks girls are subjected to when it comes to STEM and as a girl with a degree in mechanical engineering it felt too close. This will be my new comfort book and I’m happy with that.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


My Mechanical Romance is a refreshing YA rom-com with a STEM twist, and it’s exactly as fun and heartfelt as it sounds. Alexene Farol Follmuth brings smart, snarky characters, a sweet enemies-to-lovers arc, and a dose of girl power to the world of high school robotics—and the result is both empowering and entertaining.

What I Loved:
The protagonist, Bel, is instantly relatable—witty, a bit guarded, and navigating the awkward balance between self-doubt and hidden potential. Watching her find her voice in a male-dominated STEM club is both satisfying and inspiring. The romance with Teo is cute and well-paced, with just the right amount of banter and vulnerability.

One of the biggest strengths of the book is how it tackles sexism in STEM without turning into a lecture. It’s woven naturally into the story, and you genuinely root for Bel as she pushes back against stereotypes and claims her space.

Also, bonus points for making robotics interesting without overloading the reader with jargon. Whether you’re into coding or not, the passion comes through.

What I Didn’t Love:
Some side characters felt a bit flat, especially compared to Bel and Teo. I would’ve loved a little more depth or backstory from the supporting cast. The ending also wraps up a bit too neatly—realistic in some ways, but it left me wanting a few more pages to explore the aftermath.

Final Thoughts:
My Mechanical Romance is clever, empowering, and full of heart. It’s a great pick for readers who love smart heroines, nerdy romance, and stories that celebrate ambition and self-discovery. A strong YA debut that proves love and logic can coexist—even in high school.


❤️shaye.reads

This was so cute!!! I read this after The Atlas Six and was blown away by how the writer can excel at different genres and audiences so well.

Love a good book with women in stem! This one had wonderful representation and loved the chemistry between the two main characters

Es la comedia romántica juvenil, más cute, adorable y friki que he leído este año, De verdad que lo he adorado ✨

Y por si con el video reseña no os termino de convencer, solo decir que también encontrareis referencias a Taylor Swift.

I thought this book was fantastic.

Romance was excellent, the stem focus was really well done. Just a great book all round.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth is a charming YA novel that explores themes of self-discovery and sexism in STEM. The story follows Bel, an unmotivated student who unexpectedly joins a robotics club, leading to a rivalry-turned-romance with the ambitious Mateo. The characters' development is engaging, though some readers may find the romance's rapid progression lacking depth. The narrative balances humor and serious topics, making it relatable for teens unsure about their futures. Overall, it's an entertaining read with a strong message about women's roles in engineering.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Farol Follmuth is a refreshing young adult romance that celebrates women in STEM. Bel, a high school student, accidentally reveals her talent for engineering and joins the robotics club.

Bel’s journey of self-discovery and her struggles in the male-dominated world of robotics are portrayed with authenticity. Mateo Luna, the captain of the robotics club, is a compelling love interest. Their relationship is filled with witty banter and sweet moments.

Follmuth’s writing is witty and engaging. The dialogue is natural, and the chemistry between Bel and Mateo is palpable. The exploration of the challenges girls of color face in STEM adds an important layer to the story.

Overall, My Mechanical Romance is a delightful and empowering read that offers a perfect blend of romance and STEM. It’s a story about finding your passion, breaking barriers, and falling in love. Highly recommended for fans of young adult romance.

2.5 ⭐️

thank you netgalley and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

wellll i didn’t hate it. i didn’t particularly like it either. i can’t quite put my finger on it, but i just felt like this book lacked a lot of depth and i couldn’t connect with the characters most of the time. there were some parts where it seemed like it was starting to get better though but unfortunately that didn’t last. to me, this book read like a rough first draft. not sure if the published book is like that as well, though. the writing was just so basic it’s no wonder the author choose to publish this under her actual name instead of her pen name. in her defense, i didn’t like the atlas six either because it was too complicated, so maybe this author just isn’t for me.

I found this book to be a good read but nothing extraordinary. The plot moves along nicely, and there are moments of intrigue, but the characters didn’t have enough depth to really pull me in. The writing itself is strong, but the story can feel a bit repetitive at times. It’s not a bad book, but it doesn’t do much to stand out in its genre.

It was very entertaining and I loved the characters, I loved the topic of girls in stem and how difficult it can be on their self esteem because they are constantly judged on everything they do. I highly recommend this book! 5 stars!

What a cute YA rom-com with references to some things I love (like My Chemical Romance), but also smart and outspoken about how women and girls are treated in STEM fields. I really appreciated that Bel was so smart, but so so scared of the future. She didn’t know what she had a talent for, but knew the things she enjoyed. I loved that she had a female teacher who saw her potential and gently, yet firmly pushed her in the right direction.

I loved so much about this book, and even though I’m not in STEM, I do work with students, and this book, unintentionally, reminded me about why I do the work I do and that the conversations I have with students and the confidence I have in them can truly make a difference in what comes next for them.

I’ve had this on my shelf for close to three years. I don’t know why I kept putting off reading it, but I’m so glad I finally did. I really loved this one, and I also loved that the ending gave a sneak peek into the future, and let us readers know there was basically a HEA, which I really appreciated.

This is an adorable contemporary romance, that covers important topics, whilst being funny.
But I think this book is a little overhyped.
So I did like certain aspects of the book.
Like how teenage girls/women are portrayed in STEM, the character growth of Bel and Teo, friendships and romance.
The STEM concept sounded interesting but I think wasn’t dived deeper enough in the book.
I had lots of issues with the dialogue, characters, writing, and the number of clichés.
Overall I liked the dual pov, and the representation of characters, but I was just expecting a lot more.
3.5

I absolutely adored this book and it’s definitely now one of my favourite ever. It’s definitely a book I’ll be thinking about for a while. I was engaged from the start and everything about it is absolutely captivating 😩Teo and Bel are freaking perfect for each other but I also love how great of a message it sends about women in STEM. This book is such an inspiration to any young woman and I just know y’all will absolutely LOVE it😩😩😩

I love a book that represents women in STEM!! We need more of this in the world.

I enjoyed this. It was an average read as I enjoyed it but there wasn’t too many memorable features that will stand out to me in a few months time. I was anticipating some academic rivalry.

This was such a wholesome read!

Bel has a brilliant mind, and robotics was the perfect fit for her love of creating complex structures - and what are robots, if not exactly that.

Mateo is the captain of the robotics team. Even though they butt heads at the start, he trusts her work, and they grow closer together.

I like that the discrimination against women in STEM was addressed and recognised by the hero. We need more girls in the field and less assholes.

It was cute, quick, and a delight to read.