These 20 STEM Romance Books Are a Whole Mood (and Yes, There’s Math)

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One of my favorite things ever is reading romance novels with smart and beautiful characters. 

And one thing that has never failed me is a lovely STEM romance novel. 

STEM essentially stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. 

While I’m not in this field, I can definitely see the potential for lots of lovely romance novels and stories. 

If you love a good STEM romance book – and if, perhaps just like me, you were swept into this lovely genre with the STEMinist series by Ali Hazelwood a couple of years ago – then you definitely need to check out this list.

The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

Ember is a Chickasaw woman who just wants a chance, but no one’s calling her back. 

So when her 37th job application is rejected, she tweaks the truth a little.

She finally lands a dream job as an accountant by pretending to be something she’s not, and for a while, it feels like life’s finally working out. 

She’s killing it at work and crushing hard on the charming IT guy, Danuwoa, who just so happens to share her roots. 

But her new life is built on a shaky foundation, and when a nosy coworker tries to use her secrets against her, Ember has to choose between keeping her job and telling the truth. 

I loved how this one explores identity, workplace dynamics, and finding pride in your heritage, with a smart, tech-savvy romance at its heart.

A Brush with Love by Mazey Eddings

Harper is a dental student with a lot of anxiety and an even bigger dream: getting into a top oral surgery program. 

She’s laser-focused on her future, until she quite literally crashes into Dan – adorably awkward, a little clumsy, and just starting his own dental school journey. 

Harper tries to keep it strictly friendly because love is messy and unpredictable (unlike molars, which are supposed to be predictable). 

But chemistry isn’t something you can plan, and feelings sneak in between study sessions and dental drills. 

I loved how this book made the dental world feel exciting and full of possibility – plus, Harper’s drive and Dan’s sweetness are the perfect match.

All Fired Up by M.K. England

Nic is back in Seattle, newly armed with a master’s degree in fire dynamics – which is exactly what it sounds like: the study of how fire behaves (so cool, right?). 

She wants to restart her life and maybe even sort out her long-held feelings for her best friend, Skylar. 

But Skylar’s suddenly moving to Fiji, and Nic’s whole plan goes up in smoke. 

Enter Kira, a gorgeous firefighter with a heart of gold and a killer smile. 

Together, Nic and Kira try to talk Skylar out of leaving, but their rescue mission turns into a slow, sizzling love story of its own. 

If you love chemistry in all its forms – romantic and literal – you’ll adore this one. 

Sparks fly, and it’s a celebration of queer joy and the science of fire.

The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

Event planner Amerie is at rock bottom – broke, single, and desperate – when she bumps into a very attractive stranger and tells her ex she’s dating him. 

Big mistake? Maybe. 

Until the stranger turns out to be a real astronaut named Vincent (yes, actual NASA). 

They make a deal: she’ll be his pretend girlfriend for a few months so he can get his nosy family off his back before his space mission, and he’ll let her live rent-free while she tries to save her business. 

The only problem? Their fake love starts feeling real. 

I was obsessed with how the romance and space talk wove together – Vincent’s calm astronaut energy, Amerie’s event-planning chaos, and the beautiful idea of love feeling like its own kind of gravity.

A Love by Design by Elizabeth Everett

Margaret is a brilliant engineer and a widow with big dreams to launch the first woman-owned engineering firm in England. 

She’s smart, determined, and not about to let a charming man distract her. 

Especially not George, the handsome Earl who once broke her heart. 

But George is just as determined to win her back and maybe help her with her mission too. 

This one gave me all the brainy historical romance feels, with gears, blueprints, and big ideas. 

The engineering details are such a treat, and watching Margaret fight for her place in a man’s world is just the kind of inspiring romance I love – especially when it includes secret societies and sizzling slow-burn tension.

Give Me Butterflies by Jillian Meadows

Millie works at a museum and lives for bugs. 

She’s an entomologist (which means she studies insects!), and she’s finally up for a promotion. 

But life throws a curveball in the form of Finn – a grumpy coworker with the kindest heart and the saddest eyes. 

He’s dealing with a lot – raising his nieces and grieving his sister – and the last thing he wants is a flirty workplace crush. 

But Millie and Finn keep finding each other, and soon, their shared love for science (and sweet nerdy banter) blooms into something more. 

I adored Millie’s museum world, the science-y passion, and how love crept in slowly like butterflies taking flight – unexpected and beautiful.

My Mechanical Romance by Alexene Follmuth

Bel is trying to coast through her senior year. 

She doesn’t have a plan, and she definitely doesn’t want to join the all-boy robotics club. 

But after a surprise project shows off her hidden talent, she’s pulled into the world of engineering – and face-to-face with Teo, the cute but intense team captain. 

They clash at first, but their connection grows fast. 

It’s a story about finding your place, especially in STEM spaces where girls often get overlooked. 

This book was like a warm hug and a fist bump all in one.

Bel’s journey made me smile, and I just loved how their relationship blossomed alongside gears, wires, and late-night builds.

Wild Life by Opal Wei

Zoey is a scientist with a purpose – she’s chasing a cure after cancer nearly took her sister. 

But burnout hits hard, and a mix-up sends her straight to a remote island with a mysterious, rugged man named Davy. 

He runs an animal sanctuary and just wants peace but Zoey’s not exactly the peaceful type. 

She’s full of fire and purpose, and the wild surroundings bring out something unexpected in both of them. 

Imagine falling in love while being chased by a cougar named Baby or nursing injured raccoons. 

This one’s full of heart, hope, and messy, wild love with just the right dose of biology and second chances.

Role Playing by Cathy Yardley

Maggie is 48 and happily grumpy. 

She likes her quiet life and her role as Bogwitch in an online gaming guild. 

Aiden is a sweet, optimistic 50-year-old caregiver dealing with family messes and heartbreak. 

Online, they become fast friends, but both have the wrong idea about each other’s age. 

When they meet IRL, sparks fly and it’s awkward then perfect. 

I loved how gaming, coding, and the emotional depth of their lives tied into their romance. 

This one is perfect if you want to read more romantic books with older protagonists and I loved every bit of it.

The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

Olive is a biology PhD student who doesn’t believe in love, but she needs her best friend to think she’s in a happy relationship. 

So she fake-kisses the first guy she sees and it’s the intimidating professor, Adam. 

Surprisingly, he agrees to keep pretending. 

What starts as fake dating for science slowly turns into something sweet, full of longing looks, lab gossip, and soft moments over coffee. 

I’m still swooning over how nerdy and genuine this romance is. 

Lab coats, awkward science humor, and all that bottled-up tension – it’s perfection for anyone who thinks science and love are both messy, beautiful experiments.

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So tell me – do you think you’d want to check out any of these lovely STEM romance books? I’d love to know! 

And if you’re curious to read more about them, why not check out these posts about the best books featuring women in STEM?