Masters of Fine Hearts

by Krysta Pa'e

Logical and play-by-the-book perfectionist Liliana Kahale has decided to finally take a risk on pursuing a Creative Writing master’s degree. What she thinks will be a fun experience actually consists of failed writing assignments and her rapidly declining self-esteem.

With grades plummeting and a degree at risk, Liliana will do anything to recover her academic footing. Even if it means talking to the boy from undergrad who she swore to never forgive.

Grant McCarthy doesn’t have much going on. Art classes, a millionaire father that makes up for missed birthdays with new cars... and more art classes. When the family he desperately avoids asks to see him more often, Grant hastily comes up with an excuse that won’t jeopardize his allowance.

But it’s not long until Grant gets caught up in his lies, pushing him to strike a deal with the cute girl from undergrad, and maybe earn himself a second chance.

Masters of Fine Hearts is a contemporary college romance centering on two creatives falling in love, despite their own issues and history.

This book is intended for adult readers (18+) as it contains mature elements, including explicit language and sexual content.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

ebook

Published August 15, 2025

About the author

Krysta Pa’e is a Hawai’i born, Los Angeles-based romance author.

When she’s not writing relatable and lovable characters getting their happy endings, she spends her time reading with her book club, playing video games, and visiting Disneyland.

Reviews

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masters of Fine Hearts was a really cute story, and a great debut. I mainly picked this up because of the Polynesian FMC and was not disappointed. But I wish more of the spotlight was on Liliana's family, rather than Grant's.

I really enjoyed all the social commentary about Hawai'i though, that made the book for me. Also loved that it was dual PoV, it was nice to see how obsessed Grant was from day one while Lilly was unaware, and how he noticed AND REMEMBERED (!!!) everything about her.

I could've done without the early miscommunication, but that was the only real flaw, everything else was really sweet, and I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series.

[ari ⋆˚ · Rating 5 out of 5]

˚ ༘♡ pre-read:

the fact i watched my friend put her soul into this book and it’s now on goodreads imma cry 😭 can’t wait for this to drop

⋆˚࿔ masters of fine hearts review 𝜗𝜚˚⋆

┆ ⤿ 💌 5 stars!

I absolutely loved this and can tell it's the start of interconnected standalones that I'm going to love! As an artist myself I enjoyed seeing Grant use his knowledge to help aid Liliana with her short romance story. And I loved finally seeing some Polynesian rep in romance! Grant's issues with his family really made me feel for his character I loved that his character didn't just revolve around our FMC but rather he had many facets to his life and personality. Through out that I also absolutely became obsessed with Locke (his brother) and am on my knees waiting for this man to get his book

If you're a fan of:
🎓 college romance
✍🏼 writer x artist
💗 dual pov
🎀 polynesian fmc
😮‍💨 he falls first
👀 loathing to friends to lovers (loathing from her, of course)
🚪 open door spice

This is perfect for you!


｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ

“You're impossible.” "I'm yours."

｡ﾟ• ┈ ┈ ┈ ┈꒰ა ♡ ໒꒱┈ ┈ ┈ ┈• ｡ﾟ

⤿ follow me on instagram!

[coconats (⁠◕⁠ᴗ⁠◕⁠✿⁠) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✮✮✮✮✮✮
𓍯𓂃𓏧♡˚⊱🀦⊰˚
MASTERS OF FINE HEARTS is a contemporary college romance centering on two fine arts students falling in love, despite their own issues and history.

I love how they complement each other and how they grow into better versions of themselves when they're together. Grant isn’t bossy or pushy. When Liliana’s working on her assignments, he doesn’t insist his opinion is the right one. He simply shares his thoughts, gently suggests ideas, and encourages her to follow what she truly wants instead of just sticking to a strict outline. 🥹

The author really captured the pressure of feeling like you have to be the best to deserve love or success. And how miscommunication can make you feel like you don’t truly know the people closest to you. That part hit hard.

As someone who loves planning, I totally understand the appeal of a 10-year plan. But the story made me realize that maybe it's better to follow what makes you feel fulfilled, not what others think you should do. When I found out Liliana is a psych major, it felt so me-coded. Even the reason she chose that major felt too real. It really shows the kind of pressure kids face when their parents are professors who moved across the world to give them a better life.

Liliana's struggles and the way she overcame them show how much one person can really make a difference. I saw so much of myself in her. She felt like a failure of a daughter because she was struggling in her master’s program, knowing her parents gave up their retirement plan for her education. That guilt and fear of not being enough? Way too relatable. And let’s not forget, she loves romance books. I love romance books. Soul sisters.

Also, I’m now craving a hazelnut latte and a matcha.
Fun fact: Grant drinks and loves matcha, so yes, I like him.

I went on a "I hate Grant, I love Grant, I hate Grant, I love Grant, Grant is such a green forest" streak. Seriously.
Also, we’re matcha besties now.


He’s such a green forest. He makes sure Liliana is okay, that she’s safe and comfortable. He notices her fidgeting and knows what it means. The way he tries to earn her back? So soft. So sincere. I sobbed when I finished the book because I already miss them.

Kung si Shuvee may TDH, si Liliana may TCH:
T – Tall
C – Caring
H – Handsome

Overall I absolutely devoured this book and loved it sooo much!!!! 6 stars (yes I know I've been giving a lot of books 6 stars but it truly is 6 stars)

[paris ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

pre-read ⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆
imma need everyone to go ahead and find a new career

₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
*at my funeral*
my mom: what’s krysta pa’e, indie romance author doing here?
me: that’s oomf 😭

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to the author for this ARC! this had me forgetting it was a debut novel!

liliana and grant are two college graduate students trying to figure out life, and each-other. when they have the opportunity to "try again" after a school project gone wrong, things turn for the best and a relationship begins to form.

this book builds a beautiful relationship between the two characters based on intelligence, emotional maturity, difficulties, and sarcasm. this pair is one i could really picture working in real life. i loved the use of family values in this book and the contrast between two character's experiences within their own.

i loved how each character built up their own sort of confidence and personality throughout the story despite life's challenges. i loved watching liliana find herself and make it known that she can do anything she sets her mind to, with or without grant's help. (period queen).

grant is a perfect golden retriever MMC to liliana's black cat FMC (despite the frills and bows).

I could definitely see myself reading the next book in this series and the ones to come!

if you're looking for an easy romance to pull you in, try this out!

4.5 stars

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like college romance, young love, second chances, minority representation (Native Hawaiian/Hawai’i), “he falls first”, golden retriever x black cat, this book is calling your name. It reads like a cozy young(ish) love story that leaves you feeling wholesome and warm.

Masters of Fine Hearts is a debut novel about two former college classmates, brought together again by a grad program assignment after a lil snafu created a rift during their undergrad finals. This college assignment leads Liliana to Grant in desperation bc she’s (surprise surprise) a bit of an overachiever and can’t fathom letting her parents down. Through this assignment, Liliana and Grant grow as friends to lovers and we see them confront their own personal conflicts too.

Why did I love this? First of all, Liliana is Native Hawaiian - but born and raised in the mainland aka the continental United States after her parents were priced outta paradise from their own rightful lands. As someone who was born and raised in Hawai’i for 26 years (but I am not Native Hawaiian), I can attest to this and I LOVE seeing an accurate representation of Hawai’i that isn’t a vacation/touristy island. There is something inexplicable about that lived experience of the Aloha Spirit that stays embedded in you. This book brought me home to that feeling even 2,500 miles away.

I loved that Liliana and Grant worked through and talked through their conflict - they grew in their relationship and helped each other confront their own personal issues.

Second, I identified so much with Liliana and with their love story. My husband and I met while we were in college and it felt like the story was being written about us. Grant is a golden retriever with a secret spicy side and he’s also hard on himself, given his family situation.

It gave me all the feels and had me kicking and screaming like a lil college girl again (but also I am in college again - pursuing my masters degree so really it does make sense).

Overall, a great debut romance and start to a series! I can’t wait to read the next book and have high hopes that it will only get better from here. This is me locking in for the long haul!

** Thank you Krysta Pa’e for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. **

[Mackenzie Hirschmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great story. When I seen this was a he falls first and college romance I was already sold.
But I did not realize how much I would love these characters. I loved the Polynesian rep for the FMC in this. As I love when other cultures are represented in books because of the inclusivity. And I really just love learning about other cultures. When I tell you that Grant is the standard. HE IS THE STANDARD. I am down BAD for that man. There’s so many real topics in this story. Grant having, I guess you’d say daddy issues and his issues with being unforgiving. And Liliana has to be a perfectionist. With her agenda and planner and needing to the exception for her parents. It was really great watching them grow closer and him finally showing just how much he truly cares for her and teach her that she does not need to be a perfectionist. I’m telling you right now yall ain’t ready for the words that come out of this man’s mouth🥵
The plot flowed well and I loved the side characters all the same. If you’re looking for something sweet and spicy this is your book :)

[⟢ mirela ⟢ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this eARC!

I loved this book so much! The romance was so cute & I loved the character development for Grant & Liliana. I hate miscommunication tropes & the author did a great job writing a mature couple who were able to communicate & resolve an argument quickly.

As a child of immigrants (& someone who has a bachelor’s in psychology), I related so heavily to Liliana. Everyone who’s ever been in her shoes understands the pressures of always wanting to make sure your parents are proud & make their sacrifices mean something worthwhile.

I also really loved learning about Hawai’i & the rich culture there! And I have to add I appreciate a psychology degree being referred to as “practical”, as that is not something people usually say about our field of study 😅

[Hope Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got this book as an arc and I’ve never finished anything so quickly before! I loved every second of it!! Would totally read and recommend this book to anyone!

[April-Joy Suga · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 .5/5⭐

Masters of Fine Hearts!!! 💜 What a cute, fun, read! This book took me a few weeks to finish (thanks mood reading for having to read another book in between). But I ended up enjoying it at the end!

Liliana and Grant are two best friends from undergrad, thanks to a team project which brought them together. Both seemingly had feelings for one another at the time. However, life happened, and lots of miscommunication between the two of them driving a major wedge into their relationship. Now, both in grad school, at the same college; fate brings them back together again were they get a second chance at rekindling old feelings that were never realized.

But what makes this book so unique? Liliana the FMC is Native Hawaiian, but was born and raised in the "mainland" (which locals to Hawaii call the continental US) because her parents couldn't afford to live in Hawaii anymore. As a person who was born and raised in Hawaii myself, (I am NOT of Hawaiian ancestry though) moved to the mainland for college and back, and whose entire family have now moved to the mainland 🥲, I can attest that the struggles depicted in this story are SOOOO real and accurate! Hawaii is expensive AF Y'ALL. I absolutely loved the representation - you don't get to see that a lot in books written about Hawaii. Many of them romanticize "island life" and talk about it from a vacation view point, which don't get be wrong, is great and all. But to Liliana and her family, Hawaii means so much more! Krysta went the extra mile to even include examples of pidgin! (A local language developed in Hawaii when people from many different countries needed a common way to communicate with each other during the plantation era).

I enjoyed seeing Liliana and Grant's relationship grow over their renewed time together. I also appreciated the family dynamics, and how challenging those can be when you have such strong personalities. I especially appreciated how Liliana felt towards her parents because let's be honest, most Asian parents give that same expectation feel to get a "REAL" career (like being an engineer or a nurse), not go into art or writing 🤣☠️ Ofc, Liliana's end up being supportive of her career choice, which I loved! For me, the only downside is that I felt the pacing of the story felt a bit slow in some places and a bit fast in others. However, I don't think that negatively impacted the story in anyway.

Overall, I thought Krysta did an amazing job for her debut novel! There was accurate representation of Hawaii culture and I loved leaning into Liliana and Grant's story. I definitely will keep reading Krysta's work, and can't wait for her new novel next year!! 💜 💜 💜

[bad.mad.wisreads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story starts off strong with a twist on friends to lovers. Liliana our FMC is struggling to complete her writing assignments and feels as though she is a burden to her parents- who gave up so much for her. Grant is a love-struck art student with eyes for “Lily”, but struggles with new family dynamics. Due to tension in their past Liliana isn’t too fond of Grant, but I wouldn’t necessarily say enemies. In order for Grant to get out of a family function he uses an excused that pulls Liliana into the plan, a win-win for Grant. Not so much for Liliana initially. Throughout the story amends are made and Lily and Grant find themselves again with each other.

Spoilers come into play now:

I enjoyed the first half of the book very much. I thought it has the perfect amount of cute moments with Grant flirting with Lily and her trying to decide if she likes him or not. I thought the plot of the artist helping the writing find her creativity was enjoyable and honestly as an art person myself- a fun way to see myself in the book.
However the miscommunication trope right off the bat and Lily not letting Grant explain the initial issue was too much. We could have skipped a whole lot of basic dialogue and the same conversation multiple times. I got over that though when we were able to dive deeper into Grants family dynamics- which were wild. I wanted to hear so much more about Lilianas family and traditions but instead got a whole soap opera with Grant’s.

The books started losing me when after realizing that these are master students, about 24 years old, who very much act like high schoolers. Having to read the “fight” between Grant and Lily was hard. Grant getting upset and blowing things way out of proportion was something someone younger than him would have done. The whole going back to “I can’t tell you something” “you’re not on my side for not telling me” was rough. I think that if the story was tweaked and made a high school romance the dialogue would have been better suited.

The open door spice was fun until it just became slightly uncomfortable. I’m all about the spice, so if you’re going to go for it- really go! I feel like it was mostly just trying to talk sexy than actual spice.

I overall enjoyed reading the story and give a solid 3. I think the author definitely has something and with time I feel like her future stories will have improved! I think it is worth a read if you are going in with an open mind that it is the authors debut!

[Jennah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took this up by reading about the tropes and wanted to try reading something of my own age group (of who are actually in college and not fighting off dragons or the government 🙂) and I did well 🤧
this was such a sweet romance where the MMC is OBSESSED, I mean, disney prince level obsessed with the FMC. The guy is actually ready to resolve all his shortcomings and actually listens to her and tries to become a better person JUST to be with her 😭🤌🏻 No, its not toxic that he listens to her, it's not changing his identity. It's actually discovering himself and the people around him ✨
And that doesn't only go one way. The story actually starts with him helping her. Making her see herself the way he does. Making her understand how wonderful she is 🥹 For a people pleaser as myself, his encouragements for her and everything else that he says to keep her rooted actually felt like pointing directly at me 😮‍💨❤️
I just Loved how he gives advices. It's never undermining her or looking past her troubles, it's exactly what she should've been told even though she doesn't wanna hear it. Even when she's undermining herself.
And the character development she has towards the end was EVERYTHING 🤌🏻✨ From being someone who lives only for her parents to realising she can live for herself and has always gotten things done her way if she just put her mind to it...damn 🔥
Their relationship is so real. When they're fighting, or in normal situations, the annoyance that they felt are actually shown...not sugarcoated unrealistically as "whatever they do won't make me angry". That's not how life works and it's okay. Love how that is written.

Among all this, the best thing about this book was how he loved talking about her. Every chance he gets, he doesn't wanna stop talking about her. He wanna let the world know that this beautiful, most wonderful girl is his and only his🥹❤️

I would definitely recommend this if you wanna read about a real relationship, if you wanna read about two people who actually knows how to love and how to be in a relationship 😮‍💨
Because being in love is easy. Feelings things for someone is very easy. But being in a relationship and actually maintaining one...that's the hard part and these two accomplished that so beautifully.
Bonus: pillow talks😭💗

[Janella Juan · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 stars for me!

Masters of Fine Hearts brings us Lilianna, a perfectionist pursing a creative writing degree. However, she realizes quickly that she is at risk for failing the class unless she can pass her next assignment— a romance assignment. Desperate for help, she, reluctantly, agrees to help Grant, a boy she dislikes, in exchange for his help on the assignment.

Let me tell you. The realistic and relatable characters are what really sold this book to me. Yes, it's a cute romance, but it dives deeper into family dynamics and the roles the characters play in them. Reading Lilianna's internal struggles with being the best daughter and trying not to disappoint her parents really hit hard for me. As an only child, I understood the pressures of getting good grades and not wanting to fail my family. This book healed that part of me that still continues to have that internal struggles on really bad days. I also appreciate the multilayered characters that is Grant. I adore his ability to acknowledge his wrongs and communicate his feelings towards Lilianna. In the world of tough alpha MMCs, I forget to appreciate the MMCs that are good and sweet without all the stereotypical masculinity that my typical favorite romance genres have. Grant isn't perfect but he's someone with passion and I appreciate that a lot because he isn't afraid to show it and balances out Lilianna. I also liked that the author didn't just make him one dimensional. The mental health representation of how grief can affects us, no matter how much time has passed, is appreciated. As a mental health rep, I always love seeing when an author can execute real scenarios and conversation about them really well and Krysta Pa'e did!

If you like a contemporary romance with two individuals who balance each other and goes through real life situations, this book should be your next read!

Thank you so much to the author, Krysta Pa'e for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚✨ ARC REVIEW ✨📚
Masters of Fine Hearts by @krystapaeauthor
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 stars)

Thank you to Krysta Pa’e and @myuniverse.pr for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

High-achieving Liliana takes her first big risk—enrolling in a Creative Writing master’s program. But when she keeps failing her romantic short story assignments, she turns to the one person she never thought she’d ask for help… Grant.

Grant, an art student, is desperate to dodge weekly family dinners with his father and half-siblings, so he fibs about working on a group project. When his brother catches him at Liliana’s coffee shop, he begs her to play along as his “study buddy.” She agrees on one condition: he has to help her with her short story.

Liliana and Grant have a history together. In undergrad, they worked on a project together—flirting galore—until Grant stood her up on presentation day. She’s held a grudge ever since… while he’s been quietly pining for her.

When Liliana learns the real reason for his disappearance, the ice between them melts fast. Their second chance is sweet, emotionally mature, and refreshingly low-angst, filled with honest conversations and mutual respect.

Liliana’s graduate school pressures and her desire to succeed for her parents felt incredibly real. The way the book explores fear of failure—especially under the weight of familial expectations—was spot on.

Grant’s complicated feelings toward his half-siblings also stood out, steering away from the cliché resentment arc and delivering something much more nuanced.

For fans of: 📚 Academic Romance | 🎨 Artist x Writer | 💕 Second Chance | 🌸 Low Angst | 🏫 Grad School Setting | 🪞 Emotional Depth

#MastersOfFineHearts #KrystaPae #AcademicRomance #SecondChanceRomance #LowAngstRomance #ArtistAndWriter #GradSchoolRomance #RomanceReads #BookstagramRomance

[Ariel Cash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. This. BOOK. I loved it so much, Krysta did a fantastic job😍

Our characters Grant and Liliana compliment each other very well. It reads as so genuine, and they grow into better versions of themselves when together.

Krysta really captures the feeling of the pressure to be the best to feel deserving of success (or even love) in life. She does a fantastic job as well writing about how miscommunication can make you feel like you really don't know anyone after all. It was just SO relatable for me, I don't think I've read something I connected to so much💖

I saw so much of myself and my childhood in Liliana- how she felt like a failure because of struggling in her education, the fear and guilt of not being enough for others? It hit me so hard because I've been there😭

I adored the representation of Hawaii as well, being married to someone who is Hawaiian and having kids who are mixed, it's wonderful seeing that rep in literature as it doesn't seem super common in what I've seen/read so far.

I definitely went back and forth between loving and hating Grant, eventually settling on loving him. He makes sure Liliana is okay, and tries to make sure that she’s comfortable. There is such sincerity in him trying to win her back.

This is definitely the book for you if you like college romance, young love, minority rep (Native Hawaiian), good ole golden retriever×black cat, and "he falls first". It's a cozy love story that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy💜

Thank you so much to My Universe PR and Krysta for the amazing ARC read 🫶

[ahopelessreader]

I was given an arc in exchange for an honest review

dnf @ 53%

Not to make a joke of things, but this book really had me in the first half. I really liked Lilianna and her tension with Grant and how she was almost putting her dreams aside to mold herself into what she thought her parents would be most proud of, what would make their sacrifices the most worth it. I like that she loved writing and romance but struggled with it. It felt real and raw and earnest.

I even liked Grant in the beginning for the most part. I thought he was funny and charming. The thing that bothered me though is he knew he did something that hurt Lilianna a year ago, and it took her calling him out for it for him to even begin to apologize. It was like he just expected them to still be cool and was shocked when she was mad at him for a justifiable reason. I understand how the mistake happened, but I don't love the way he was acting in the wake of it.

I was enjoying myself up to the minigolf scene, and it just felt like all the tension broke. It also feels like we didn't see any real change in how either Grant or Lilianna saw each other. Mostly because Grant had been obsessed with Lilianna since he showed up, and Lilianna was still attracted to Grant even when she was upset. After the confession and the first smut scene, it truly felt like all the tension was gone and I didn't care about the other elements enough to continue.

[Aliandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Book Review ✨

Masters of Fine Arts by Krysta Pa’e is a promising debut novel!

🌺 I was excited to get a copy of this book when I found out the author and the female main character are islanders! Loved seeing the representation out there!

✨ The story follows Liliana, attending grad school as an aspiring writer. All her life she’s been striving to be the perfect daughter to make up for the sacrifices her parents made ie leaving their home in Hawaii, be worth it. In the middle of her writers block for her romance writers class, Grant, the guy that stood her up a year ago, propositions her to help him lie to his half brother. She reluctantly agrees but with the condition he helps her with her writers block. Together they rediscover what truly happened the day he stood her up and rekindle their friendship they lost and even turn it into something more. ✨

Loved Liliana’s strong connection to her roots and culture and the insight she brought to the aloha spirit. I can relate to the need to be a people pleaser and a perfectionist. The personal growth she had with overcoming that need and with the realization she really just needed to be proud of herself is an important message that resonates. Not to mention the growth Grant faces with his family dynamics is a reminder to give an olive branch to those we initially misunderstand or have grudges with. On a side note - Grants devotion to Liliana is chefs kiss! 👀🤭

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so fun. I loved how in love Grant was with Liliana from the start. Too bad men are kind of oblivious to a lot of things. 😅

Liliana is a grad student in Boston. Her parents uprooted their lives in Hawai’i for her education. So she does feel a lot of (self imposed) pressure. The determination she has is definitely admirable. That feeling of wanting to do well for your parents who have sacrificed so much is definitely a relatable trait. The added social commentary of locals/natives of Hawai’i being forced out of their home due to rising costs of living, makes Liliana’s story that much more compelling.

Grant has his own familial history, a rich father that only comes back into his life after tragedy. 2 half siblings he barely knows. A lot of unspoken feelings. As a person with her own daddy issues (though different), I definitely relate to Grant as well.

The two of them together seems like the last option when we start the book off. But watching them slowly open up and learn how to better communicate with each other and their respective families was a type of growth I think everyone can relate to. Main take away being, communication is absolutely key in all facets of life, and live your life how you want. Definitely a cute read (and hot 😏😏) and I can’t wait for more!

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was everything I needed! I absolutely breezed through this read; I may or may not have read it in nearly one sitting. The tension?? The banter?? 10/10!! Liliana and Grant's story was beautiful from start to finish, and I loved seeing them both grow into better versions of themselves as the book progressed.

Liliana was incredibly relatable, and the author expertly portrayed the plight of a perfectionist/daughter who just wants her parents to be proud of her (former gifted kid approved, lol). The way Lily didn't back down when standing up for Grant's siblings, while still showing her love for Grant was admirable; it was nice to see a fully healthy relationship, especially in a college romance.

Grant was a fantastic MMC, yearning the perfect amount mixed with enough flaws to still make him seem real. His growth was one of my favorite aspects of this read, and I can't wait to see how his relationships continue to grow (particularly with his siblings) in the next book. He's also a better person than me because I definitely would have thrown that flash drive right at Lily's head, iykyk.

If you're a fan of second chances, academic settings, and cute, cozy love stories, you'll definitely love Masters of Fine Hearts!

Thank you to the author and My Universe PR for the eARC :)

[lei ˚ ༘ ೀ⋆｡˚ · Rating 3 out of 5]

masters of fine hearts ~ krysta pa’e
★★★.5/5

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𝘜𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦, 𝘐 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘪𝘭𝘺’𝘴. “𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘴𝘰 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦. 𝘐𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

this one was so goood as a debut novel! I recently discovered krysta a couple of months ago, & as soon as I seen her tease this book & it being a Polynesian girl with hawaii reference, IMMEDIATELY had the urge to add it to the tbr & let’s say, I definitely enjoyed this one!

I adored everything about “masters of fine hearts”! both grant & liliana was admirable! lilana was someone I truly connected to, in terms of her living for her parents is what I was able to relate to & just the way that she was so strongly motivated to make her parents happy & proud. & grant was just such a sweet & wholesome boy. him remembering every detail of liliana + his drawings, the way that he was the one that fell first, it was just too cute. & absolutely loved the praises that he gave to liliana. them two together was also really cute, the way they developed a relationship & just the playful banter relationship they had.

but really, my favorite was the way krysta portrayed hawaii & just the topic overall whenever it was mentioned throughout the book. it was the main thing that drawed my attention to “masters of fine hearts”, & the way she brings up the reality of it.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masters of fine hearts lived up to every single expectation I had and more. As fine arts kids, we often base ourselves around our success. Like Lilliana, I used to think my worth was determined by my achievements. I wish I had this book then, maybe I would have realized sooner that there is so much more to creating, to living. That the whole point of life is to do what makes you happy, not what makes other people happy. In this way, I find parts of myself in Lilliana.

And Grant!!! Grant “three each” McCarthy is a dream. There is something about a man who yearns like his life depends on it that always hits. He would do absolutely anything for Lily, and I adore that.

This book had a lot of real, raw conversations. Between dealing with family trauma and discovering how to accept failure, there was fantastic character growth from start to finish.

I think the thing I love the most about this book was that it’s a college romance that doesn’t center around sports, which are hard to come by. I feel like a fine arts based college romance wasn’t even a thing I knew I was missing until now. Masters of Fine Hearts was an absolute joy, and a brilliant debut novel. I can’t wait to see what Krysta Pa’e does next, because I already know it will be great.

[Bryanna R. Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciate how Grant and Liliana complement each other and help each other grow into better versions of themselves. Grant's gentle nature stands out; he doesn't impose his opinions on Liliana when she's working on her assignments. Instead, he thoughtfully shares his ideas and encourages her to pursue her own path rather than rigidly adhering to an outline. It's such a nurturing dynamic they have.🫶🏼

The author beautifully captures the intense pressure we often feel to be perfect in order to deserve love or success. That moment of miscommunication, where you feel distant from those closest to you, resonated deeply with me. It’s a hard truth we all face at times.🥹♥️

Liliana’s journey through her struggles and how she manages to overcome them is incredibly inspiring. I could see myself in her—the guilt of feeling like a failure because of the weight of expectations is something I've felt too. What I currently feel especially while I'm going three the nursing program. It’s heartbreaking to think about how her parents gave up their plans for her, and that sense of not being enough is just too relatable. Plus, her love for romance books makes her feel like a kindred spirit to me.♾️💕

[Kelly {SpaceOnTheBookcase] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liliana is the ever punctual perfectionist who has enrolled in a Master's program that may just eat her alive. Grant is the guy from undergrad who left her hanging on the day their group project was due. Now he's a repeat customer at the coffee shop Liliana works at, and despite knowing his coffee order, they don't talk. That is, until Grant's overbearing dad pushes him to make up a "thing on Thursdays" and Grant is forced to talk to and rope Liliana into helping; which, ironically enough, ends up helping Liliana too.

Liliana sees Grant as an enemy because of their past history while Grant views Liliana as the girl that got away, so I wouldn't necessarily say this is a full on enemies to lovers, but close. I was definitely hooked from the beginning, and as we learned more about the characters I liked to see their development as a couple and as individuals dealing with their own family dramas. Grant with his newfound family and Liliana who feels she's is failing hers. I also like the infusion of Hawaiian culture through the book too. This was a relatively quick read.

Thank you to the author for the gifted ARC.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin with this masterpiece with Master’s Degrees?!

How in the world is this the author’s DEBUT NOVEL and why has she been hiding her talent from us for this long?

MoFH follows Liliana and Grant through their time in Boston as they navigate the nuances of coursework, familial obligations, loss, and love that comes in so many different forms. We see their growth, both individually and with each other. We watch as they learn to communicate in order to obtain that growth. Most importantly, we watch them navigate a disagreement WITHOUT A THIRD-ACT BREAKUP!!!!!

Pa’e states in her author’s note that this book is a love letter to Hawaii, but it is so clearly also a love letter to her family and her chosen family as well.

I cannot wait to see what else this author has in store for us readers. I’m already clearing out a space on my bookshelf for this iconic piece.

I loved Masters of Fine Hearts from beginning to end and I am already quaking with need for Book 2!!

Thank you Krysta Pa’e for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Megs · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎨💻ARC Review💻🎨

Thank you Krysta Pa'e for this ARC copy of Masters of Fine Hearts!

I love how real this one felt, NO excess drama, NO crazy out of this world plot twist. Everything felt like it could happen at any given moment to two college students finding their way and finding each other!

The way the MMC, Grant was so in love with Liliana from the first time they met and Liliana crushing hard on Grant too. Until Grant seemed to abandon her for their team project for one of their classes.

Fast forward to the following semester and Liliana keeps running into Grant and she isn’t happy, she is annoyed and frustrated with him after he ghosted her for their project with no explanation and no apology. However, once she learns why and how they move past it was perfect.

A second chance romance of sorts and once the spice hits it HITS! 🥵
Tropes:
💻He Helps her
🎨Second Chance
💻Friends to Lovers
🎨He falls first/ she says “it” first
💻NO third act Break up
🎨He gives her nicknames

I am SO EXCITED for book 2, Rosie and Locke story! 😁☺️

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

thank you to the author for giving me an arc copy in exchange for my honest opinion/review!

first of all, i just want to say i can tell how much love was put into this book. especially with how hawaii was talked about and how proud liliana is of her heritage. this is the first book ive read with a hawaiian fmc!

i relate to liliana in so many ways. betting a degree to make her parents happy. the anxiety and getting stuck in her head is something i relate to so so much. and judging someone based off of on time being screwed over lolol.

grant was just amazing as well. you can tell how down bad he is for liliana and it’s just the most cutest thing. well…. what he wants to do to her ISNT cute 😋😏 but you get what i mean. he had me giggling and everything at 3 am.

i would say there was a little bit of a miscommunication which caused the tension between them, but it was something that was easily resolved and not “annoying” as it sometimes can be with miscommunication. it was done perfectly in this book.

this was a perfect college romance with the perfect amount of spice!

[Sohinee Reads & Reviews (Bookarlo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I say this was the absolute sweetest college romance that I have read, I am not even exaggerating!

Both Liliana and Grant were such cuties. Even though Liliana despises Grant initially for ghosting her right before an important project submission, Grant later makes up for it (he had actual reasons). Grant is a sweetheart! He had been yearning for Liliana ever since his eyes landed on her! He is a complete green forest through and through. The way he would always reach out to her, help her without even her asking and simply be smitten was just so cute to read about!

There's a healthy dose of spice too, just saying!

I loved seeing the way Liliana and Grant communicated even when there were moments of arguments.

Apart from the romance, Masters of Fine Hearts also discusses themes of family, friendships, living up to parents' expectations (something that I as a South Asian heavily related to) and the rich Hawaiian culture.

If you love sweet and spicy romance, definitely add this book to your tbr!

[Isabella Cardenas · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ such a super cute & fun read. super quick read as well! i loved Liliana’s character, i really saw myself in her a lot when it came to not wanting to fail her parents with school, as she decided to take a risk and pursue a creative writing degree. Grant, i feel is also a really relatable character. Grant struggles with his rich father when he comes back into his life after a tragedy, also throw in the mix 2 half siblings he barely even knows. Grant has a lot of unsaid feelings which aren’t vocalized till Liliana renters his life. That man was so down bad for Lily from the start and i absolutely ate it up!!! Watching Liliana & Grant come together as friends turned lovers was so cute, they both grew as individuals because of one another but also grew as a couple. This book does a great job at showing you that communication is KEY in any situation in life. The story shows you that it’s okay to make decisions for yourself, do something you love just cause as well as being open to how others feel and put judgment aside.

[Her Bookish Shelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet and spicy college romance. Liliana and Grant are both creatives. Grant in art and Liliana in writing. Liliana is struggling in her master's program and is facing self-doubt, while Grant is facing familial dilemmas. After a rocky start to their relationship in undergrad, Liliana loathes Grant. However, Grant has been enamored with Liliana since they first met and were paired together for a group project. Through a series of events, Grant and Liliana find themselves thrust together again. Eventually, Liliana is able to forgive Grant for his mistakes in undergrad and a romance begins to blossom between the two of them. Grant helps Liliana with her writing program and Liliana helps Grant navigate familial drama. Ultimately, they are both successful in their endeavors. The two find a happily ever after with one another. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to receive an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Claudia M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC- this is my honest review.

This contemporary fictional romance takes place in Boston, picturing grad life in college for Lillian and Grant.
It’s a lovely read and I really really really enjoyed the parts where she was describing Hawaiian culture, island life and how people sometimes have to move away to find and support a different lifestyle .

Lillian is brilliant, and very real. I just didn’t get the real reason why a writer would need another art student’s point of you to “crack the romanticism code”.

Grant is at a point in his life where he’s growing opinions and healing his heart from an absent father figure - but he’s..too perfect in the way he’s devoted to Lillian. Too good to be true maybe…?

The writing style is young adult with a couple of 🌶️ scenes… nothing to make you blush too much- but those 2/3 chapters have a different vocabulary/ writing style which differ from the rest of the book.