My Mechanical Romance, Follmuth Alexene Farol

Bel would rather die than think about the future. College apps? Youre funny. Extracurriculars? Not a chance. But when she accidentally reveals a talent for engineering at school, shes basically forced into joining the robotics club. Even worse? All the boys ignore Bel--and Neelam, the only other girl on the team, doesnt 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 doesnt care about Nationals, while Teo cares too much. But as the nights of after-school work grow longer and longer, Bel and Teo realize theyve made more than just a combat-ready robot for the championship: theyve 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.