What do you think?
Rate this book
Masters of Love Engineering
As the only girl in her financial engineering cohort, and an ex-girlfriend of the program’s golden boy, Rosie Mendoza struggles for respect. She’s been told enough times she’s too emotional and too sensitive for the industry ahead.
Rosie knows being taken seriously is key if she wants to land her dream internship. But with so many people criticizing her every move, she’s crumbling under the scrutiny, and her new roommate seems to be the only person in the program who believes in her when it matters.
Beyond being his millionaire father’s prodigy, Locke McCarthy has no sense of identity. So when his dad threatens to cut him off—starting with his high-rise apartment—there’s no choice but to fall in line and obey.
Locke’s sense of self turns upside-down when his new roommate ends up being the first person to see him. With his complicated family dynamics seeping into every part of his life, it’s only a matter of time before he discovers who he really is, and the life he wants to live.
This book is intended for adult readers (18+) as it contains mature elements, including explicit language and sexual content.
Rosie knows being taken seriously is key if she wants to land her dream internship. But with so many people criticizing her every move, she’s crumbling under the scrutiny, and her new roommate seems to be the only person in the program who believes in her when it matters.
Beyond being his millionaire father’s prodigy, Locke McCarthy has no sense of identity. So when his dad threatens to cut him off—starting with his high-rise apartment—there’s no choice but to fall in line and obey.
Locke’s sense of self turns upside-down when his new roommate ends up being the first person to see him. With his complicated family dynamics seeping into every part of his life, it’s only a matter of time before he discovers who he really is, and the life he wants to live.
This book is intended for adult readers (18+) as it contains mature elements, including explicit language and sexual content.
- GenresRomance
356 pages, Paperback
Published May 8, 2026
About the author
Krysta Pa'e
2 books33 followersKrysta 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
May 8, 2026
Locke McCarthy I would defend you in court.
This book absolutely wrecked me emotionally in the softest way possible.
Masters of Love Engineering is about pressure, identity, emotional abuse, vulnerability, and what happens when someone finally sees the person underneath all the expectations. Locke and Rosie both feel so painfully human, especially in the way they struggle against the boxes people force them into.
Rosie is trying to survive in an environment that constantly dismisses her emotions as weakness, while Locke has spent his entire life being molded into whatever his father wants him to be. Their connection feels less like insta-love and more like emotional recognition - two exhausted people quietly realizing they don't have to perform around each other.
And Locke… god. He is one of my favorite MMCs I've read in awhile.
He's awkward. Repressed. Lonely. Hyper-competent academically but emotionally lost. The kind of man who has spent so long being controlled that genuine kindness almost confuses him. Watching him slowly unravel and learn who he is outside his father's expectations hurt so good.
The romance itself is tender, intimate, and full of yearning. Once Locke falls, he falls completely. I LOVE a man who worships his woman like she's the first safe place he's ever known.
Also Ghost the cat deserves royalties.
This book absolutely wrecked me emotionally in the softest way possible.
Masters of Love Engineering is about pressure, identity, emotional abuse, vulnerability, and what happens when someone finally sees the person underneath all the expectations. Locke and Rosie both feel so painfully human, especially in the way they struggle against the boxes people force them into.
Rosie is trying to survive in an environment that constantly dismisses her emotions as weakness, while Locke has spent his entire life being molded into whatever his father wants him to be. Their connection feels less like insta-love and more like emotional recognition - two exhausted people quietly realizing they don't have to perform around each other.
And Locke… god. He is one of my favorite MMCs I've read in awhile.
He's awkward. Repressed. Lonely. Hyper-competent academically but emotionally lost. The kind of man who has spent so long being controlled that genuine kindness almost confuses him. Watching him slowly unravel and learn who he is outside his father's expectations hurt so good.
The romance itself is tender, intimate, and full of yearning. Once Locke falls, he falls completely. I LOVE a man who worships his woman like she's the first safe place he's ever known.
Also Ghost the cat deserves royalties.
April 25, 2026
thank you to the author for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest review!
i absolutely LOVED the first book in this series so i was super excited for this one. i love locke down!!! nerdy man who is not shy in bed 😋🙂↕️😏 and his growth throughout the book was amazing. him realizing that just because his dad is his dad doesn’t mean he should take whatever shit is thrown at him.
and rosie!!! god i loved her so much. and the things she goes through are actual things that women in stem fields go through. she is that bitch and she will be more then whatever shorty jeremiah thinks he will be.
i absolutely LOVED the first book in this series so i was super excited for this one. i love locke down!!! nerdy man who is not shy in bed 😋🙂↕️😏 and his growth throughout the book was amazing. him realizing that just because his dad is his dad doesn’t mean he should take whatever shit is thrown at him.
and rosie!!! god i loved her so much. and the things she goes through are actual things that women in stem fields go through. she is that bitch and she will be more then whatever shorty jeremiah thinks he will be.
May 7, 2026
4/5 ☆ really liked this. the characters had great chemistry, but the content of the book still managed to be strong outside of the romance. social anxiety, power dynamics between parent and child, sexism in academia. super impressed with how well it all tied together, and i will definitely be going back to read the first book. very interested in grant’s story.
docked a star because i did catch a few typos - another round of revisions could easily make this a five star read for me. also, i think the relationship developed pretty quickly. could have used a little bit more time in crush territory imo. 🍿
big thank you to krysta pa’e for giving me an advanced copy <3 all thoughts are my own!
docked a star because i did catch a few typos - another round of revisions could easily make this a five star read for me. also, i think the relationship developed pretty quickly. could have used a little bit more time in crush territory imo. 🍿
big thank you to krysta pa’e for giving me an advanced copy <3 all thoughts are my own!
May 8, 2026
ARC REVIEW
This book was such a cozy and easy read from start to finish. From the very first pages, the autumn setting creates this warm atmosphere that makes you want to curl up under a blanket and stay in the story for hours.
What immediately stood out to me was how different Rosie and Locke are from each other. Rosie is warm, social, and the kind of person who can start a conversation with anyone. I loved how naturally she connected with people and how easily others gravitated toward her. And honestly, Rosie… I completely understand you. I am just as much of a hopeless romantic.
Locke, on the other hand, took me a little longer to understand. I will be honest, I was skeptical about him at first, but the more the story unfolded, the more he completely grew on me. Underneath his reserved personality, there is so much vulnerability and self-doubt, and some of his thoughts genuinely broke my heart.
“I could write a twenty-page long dissertation on my flaws. Every single one of them in great detail, their origins, their impact on my life. At the height of the paper, in bold letters, it would be this. I can’t fucking talk.”
That line hurt.
As Rosie and Locke grow closer, their relationship develops in such a soft and emotional way. They balance each other perfectly despite being complete opposites, and watching their connection slowly deepen was one of my favorite parts of the book.
And then Locke says things like this:
“I know I’ll never have this again. My heart won’t connect to someone else like this. My soul won’t yearn for someone who isn’t you. I think about you, your passions, your mind, every minute. Every day. There’s only you, Rosie. Your existence, the fact that you’re real, is almost too much for me to comprehend.”
PLEASE Locke, why are you so perfect 😭
Moments like him standing up for Rosie made me love him even more. Seeing him finally put Jeremiah in his place was so satisfying, but what really got me was him asking Rosie afterward if he defended her well. That was genuinely one of the sweetest moments in the book.
And while we are talking about Jeremiah… fuck Jeremiah.
I also really appreciated how the book handled Rosie’s experience as a woman in STEM. The misogynistic and sexist behavior from some of the boys in her classes felt frustratingly realistic, and I liked that the story acknowledged those struggles instead of ignoring them. It made Rosie’s passion and determination even more admirable.
Another thing that made this story feel so comforting was the found family aspect. Everyone cared for each other in such a genuine way, and it added so much warmth to the story. Billie was easily my favorite side character. Her being the biggest Rosie and Locke shipper was honestly adorable 🥺
And seeing Locke finally stand up to his father? That moment felt so deserved. After everything he carried throughout the story, I was genuinely so happy for him.
Overall, this book was cozy, emotional, and incredibly comforting to read. It had lovable characters, a beautiful autumn atmosphere, and a romance that slowly sneaks up on your heart before completely taking over it.
This book was such a cozy and easy read from start to finish. From the very first pages, the autumn setting creates this warm atmosphere that makes you want to curl up under a blanket and stay in the story for hours.
What immediately stood out to me was how different Rosie and Locke are from each other. Rosie is warm, social, and the kind of person who can start a conversation with anyone. I loved how naturally she connected with people and how easily others gravitated toward her. And honestly, Rosie… I completely understand you. I am just as much of a hopeless romantic.
Locke, on the other hand, took me a little longer to understand. I will be honest, I was skeptical about him at first, but the more the story unfolded, the more he completely grew on me. Underneath his reserved personality, there is so much vulnerability and self-doubt, and some of his thoughts genuinely broke my heart.
“I could write a twenty-page long dissertation on my flaws. Every single one of them in great detail, their origins, their impact on my life. At the height of the paper, in bold letters, it would be this. I can’t fucking talk.”
That line hurt.
As Rosie and Locke grow closer, their relationship develops in such a soft and emotional way. They balance each other perfectly despite being complete opposites, and watching their connection slowly deepen was one of my favorite parts of the book.
And then Locke says things like this:
“I know I’ll never have this again. My heart won’t connect to someone else like this. My soul won’t yearn for someone who isn’t you. I think about you, your passions, your mind, every minute. Every day. There’s only you, Rosie. Your existence, the fact that you’re real, is almost too much for me to comprehend.”
PLEASE Locke, why are you so perfect 😭
Moments like him standing up for Rosie made me love him even more. Seeing him finally put Jeremiah in his place was so satisfying, but what really got me was him asking Rosie afterward if he defended her well. That was genuinely one of the sweetest moments in the book.
And while we are talking about Jeremiah… fuck Jeremiah.
I also really appreciated how the book handled Rosie’s experience as a woman in STEM. The misogynistic and sexist behavior from some of the boys in her classes felt frustratingly realistic, and I liked that the story acknowledged those struggles instead of ignoring them. It made Rosie’s passion and determination even more admirable.
Another thing that made this story feel so comforting was the found family aspect. Everyone cared for each other in such a genuine way, and it added so much warmth to the story. Billie was easily my favorite side character. Her being the biggest Rosie and Locke shipper was honestly adorable 🥺
And seeing Locke finally stand up to his father? That moment felt so deserved. After everything he carried throughout the story, I was genuinely so happy for him.
Overall, this book was cozy, emotional, and incredibly comforting to read. It had lovable characters, a beautiful autumn atmosphere, and a romance that slowly sneaks up on your heart before completely taking over it.
May 7, 2026
✨ ARC BOOK REVIEW ✨
5 ⭐️ MOLE is book 2 in the Degrees of Love series, which follows Rosie & Locke. We meet both characters in book 1, where Rosie is the FMC’s best friend & Locke is the MMC’s half-brother, and from the moment they were introduced, I absolutely loved them. Rosie is a woman in STEM, where all the boys in her cohort are rude and don’t respect her. They are constantly criticizing her for either being too emotional/sensitive, even though she’s smarter than all of them combined. The pressure to land her dream internship starts to get to her, especially when she needs to be taken seriously in this industry. Enter the adorable, shy boy, Locke, as her roommate; he seems to be the only one in the engineering program who sees her & fully believes in her. My heart breaks for Locke; his entire identity revolves around his obnoxious millionaire father, set to take his father’s place in the company. Locke is forced to obey his father and make no mistakes. I loved how Rosie is the only one who truly sees the real Locke, aside from his siblings, and helps him discover who he truly is. 📐🧡
Locke & Rosie found comfort & a safe space within each other as roommates. I really loved how they both knew what the person needed before it was even mentioned. They created a home where they felt safe to go to after a bad day. I was so pissed about Rosie & Locke’s situations, every time Locke’s dad or Rosie’s ex opened their mouths, I wanted to jump into the book and smack them. I’m happy these two found their happy ending. Being able to see Locke break out of his shell and completely find himself was my fav part of the book. I was emotional and was rooting for him the entire time. My little nerd did something to me. Every time he spoke to Rosie, I felt like he was speaking to me. I was giggling and kicking my feet over a fictional man, wow. The way Krysta wrote Locke, she deserves an award. WHEN THIS MAN GOT INTO BED, OOO, HE HAD ME IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND!!! It really is the quiet, shy ones (iykyk) hehe 🤭. Loved watching Rosie & Locke stand up to those putting them down, I felt like a proud mom watching them blossom.🫶🏻
Overall, I absolutely loved this book; I could reread this one forever & love it even more.
5 ⭐️ MOLE is book 2 in the Degrees of Love series, which follows Rosie & Locke. We meet both characters in book 1, where Rosie is the FMC’s best friend & Locke is the MMC’s half-brother, and from the moment they were introduced, I absolutely loved them. Rosie is a woman in STEM, where all the boys in her cohort are rude and don’t respect her. They are constantly criticizing her for either being too emotional/sensitive, even though she’s smarter than all of them combined. The pressure to land her dream internship starts to get to her, especially when she needs to be taken seriously in this industry. Enter the adorable, shy boy, Locke, as her roommate; he seems to be the only one in the engineering program who sees her & fully believes in her. My heart breaks for Locke; his entire identity revolves around his obnoxious millionaire father, set to take his father’s place in the company. Locke is forced to obey his father and make no mistakes. I loved how Rosie is the only one who truly sees the real Locke, aside from his siblings, and helps him discover who he truly is. 📐🧡
Locke & Rosie found comfort & a safe space within each other as roommates. I really loved how they both knew what the person needed before it was even mentioned. They created a home where they felt safe to go to after a bad day. I was so pissed about Rosie & Locke’s situations, every time Locke’s dad or Rosie’s ex opened their mouths, I wanted to jump into the book and smack them. I’m happy these two found their happy ending. Being able to see Locke break out of his shell and completely find himself was my fav part of the book. I was emotional and was rooting for him the entire time. My little nerd did something to me. Every time he spoke to Rosie, I felt like he was speaking to me. I was giggling and kicking my feet over a fictional man, wow. The way Krysta wrote Locke, she deserves an award. WHEN THIS MAN GOT INTO BED, OOO, HE HAD ME IN THE PALM OF HIS HAND!!! It really is the quiet, shy ones (iykyk) hehe 🤭. Loved watching Rosie & Locke stand up to those putting them down, I felt like a proud mom watching them blossom.🫶🏻
Overall, I absolutely loved this book; I could reread this one forever & love it even more.
May 10, 2026
Masters of Love Engineering by Krysta Pa’e
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reading Method: eARC
Tropes: roommates to lovers, forced proximity, popular girl x shy boy, dual POV, college romance, women in STEM
First off, thank you @krystapaeauthor for choosing me to be one of your ARC readers! 🥹. In preparation for Masters of Love Engineering (MOLE), I read your first book Masters of Fine Hearts (MOFH) and omg…that storyline is heartwarming! I just knew MOLE would be equally just as so! I am going to apologize in advance because I MIGHT give some spoilers (to those who haven’t read MOLE yet); I’ll try my best not too 😅
You know the phrase: “anything men can do, women can do better”—that is Rosie, the Filipina FMC who is in graduate school (her major: financial engineering) working her butt off in a male dominated field. Throughout this storyline, you see different sides of Rosie: her determination, her insecurities, her resilience, and her vulnerability. Rosie basically gives her all in everything that matters to her: her family/friends, building her upcoming career, rising above misogynistic adversity, and…her love…Locke.
Locke, oh Locke 🥰… that’s all I have to say 🤭. I’m just playing! Locke, the shy MMC who is also in graduate school (his major: software engineering), started off as Rosie’s roommate, but slowly and surely became her own Prince Charming. In MOFH, you get snippets of Locke’s “demeanor” per se where he comes off cold or detached. In MOLE you see these multifaceted sides of him that he keeps locked inside (no pun intended), but later reveals: his anxiousness—whether it be in social gatherings or dealing with his father, his “cat dad” persona, the geeky-cute anime-gamer side, and (in my opinion) his quiet hopeless romantic side.
Although MOLE is a romance story, it also showcases: Filipino culture , being a child of immigrants, (as mentioned earlier) misogynistic adversity, and good and bad family dynamics. Reading MOLE was such a privilege and I cannot thank @krystapaeauthor enough! If you have made it this far into reading my review, please check this story out!
P.S. Because I know y’all wanna know…yes there’s spice in this book…you just need to read the book lol 🤭😍.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Reading Method: eARC
Tropes: roommates to lovers, forced proximity, popular girl x shy boy, dual POV, college romance, women in STEM
First off, thank you @krystapaeauthor for choosing me to be one of your ARC readers! 🥹. In preparation for Masters of Love Engineering (MOLE), I read your first book Masters of Fine Hearts (MOFH) and omg…that storyline is heartwarming! I just knew MOLE would be equally just as so! I am going to apologize in advance because I MIGHT give some spoilers (to those who haven’t read MOLE yet); I’ll try my best not too 😅
You know the phrase: “anything men can do, women can do better”—that is Rosie, the Filipina FMC who is in graduate school (her major: financial engineering) working her butt off in a male dominated field. Throughout this storyline, you see different sides of Rosie: her determination, her insecurities, her resilience, and her vulnerability. Rosie basically gives her all in everything that matters to her: her family/friends, building her upcoming career, rising above misogynistic adversity, and…her love…Locke.
Locke, oh Locke 🥰… that’s all I have to say 🤭. I’m just playing! Locke, the shy MMC who is also in graduate school (his major: software engineering), started off as Rosie’s roommate, but slowly and surely became her own Prince Charming. In MOFH, you get snippets of Locke’s “demeanor” per se where he comes off cold or detached. In MOLE you see these multifaceted sides of him that he keeps locked inside (no pun intended), but later reveals: his anxiousness—whether it be in social gatherings or dealing with his father, his “cat dad” persona, the geeky-cute anime-gamer side, and (in my opinion) his quiet hopeless romantic side.
Although MOLE is a romance story, it also showcases: Filipino culture , being a child of immigrants, (as mentioned earlier) misogynistic adversity, and good and bad family dynamics. Reading MOLE was such a privilege and I cannot thank @krystapaeauthor enough! If you have made it this far into reading my review, please check this story out!
P.S. Because I know y’all wanna know…yes there’s spice in this book…you just need to read the book lol 🤭😍.
Review of advance copy received from Author
۶ৎ 𝙈𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙀𝙣𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙮 𝙆𝙧𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙖 𝙋𝙖’𝙚
#arcreview
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
Tropes- college romance, roommates to lovers, found family, no third act breakup, woman in STEM, filipino FMC, popular girl x shy boy, slutty glasses
—
Wheww this book was everything and more I read this book in one sitting and I couldn’t believe it was over like give me 15 more books pleaseee I absolutely love them so much. This is my first book by Krysta and I will be definitely reading book 1 later cause this was just amazing
Rosie is such an amazing FMC I love her so much, Rosie is a financial engineering student who’s been having a hard time with the males in her class she’s worked so hard to get where she is today. I love her so much and relate to her so much plus we have so many of the same favorite movies.
Rosie and Locke are roommates cause both are engineering majors and had to get to a dorm last minute seeing them become friends and the movie nights on the couch with cat was everything and then they became more and my heart was just so filled cause they deserved each other so bad, locke just worship her like no other
LOCKE BABYYYY guess who became my favorite book boyfriend ekkkk. He’s so amazing, patient and kind plus he’s a cat dad who wears slutty glasses , Locke is also struggling with his horrible father trying to shape him into an image of himself. You guys know how they say it’s always the quiet ones who the freakiest hehehe definitely him. Locke is also an engineer major but not by choice, he loves video games and anime
I had such an amazing time reading this book, the pacing was incredible and the plot was plotting and I loved seeing Locke stand up to his father. Rosie and Locke connecting and getting to know each other was everything.
I love these two so much, they just get each other and are SOULMATES they love and take care of each other at their lowest and just be there for each other. The found family in this book was absolutely amazing I loved seeing everyone together and can’t wait for the next two books and read the first book
Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤
#arcreview
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ★★★★★
Tropes- college romance, roommates to lovers, found family, no third act breakup, woman in STEM, filipino FMC, popular girl x shy boy, slutty glasses
—
Wheww this book was everything and more I read this book in one sitting and I couldn’t believe it was over like give me 15 more books pleaseee I absolutely love them so much. This is my first book by Krysta and I will be definitely reading book 1 later cause this was just amazing
Rosie is such an amazing FMC I love her so much, Rosie is a financial engineering student who’s been having a hard time with the males in her class she’s worked so hard to get where she is today. I love her so much and relate to her so much plus we have so many of the same favorite movies.
Rosie and Locke are roommates cause both are engineering majors and had to get to a dorm last minute seeing them become friends and the movie nights on the couch with cat was everything and then they became more and my heart was just so filled cause they deserved each other so bad, locke just worship her like no other
LOCKE BABYYYY guess who became my favorite book boyfriend ekkkk. He’s so amazing, patient and kind plus he’s a cat dad who wears slutty glasses , Locke is also struggling with his horrible father trying to shape him into an image of himself. You guys know how they say it’s always the quiet ones who the freakiest hehehe definitely him. Locke is also an engineer major but not by choice, he loves video games and anime
I had such an amazing time reading this book, the pacing was incredible and the plot was plotting and I loved seeing Locke stand up to his father. Rosie and Locke connecting and getting to know each other was everything.
I love these two so much, they just get each other and are SOULMATES they love and take care of each other at their lowest and just be there for each other. The found family in this book was absolutely amazing I loved seeing everyone together and can’t wait for the next two books and read the first book
Thank You So Much for giving me this incredible arc !💐🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
STEM FMC: financial engineering grad student; STEM MMC: software engineering grad student
This is my first book by Krysta, and I really enjoyed it! This is the first time I've read a book and truly wished I wasn't an only child. Locke has a narcissistic and emotionally/verbally abusive parent. He tries to be the loyal and dutiful son to keep his dad's focus off of him and his siblings. Meanwhile, he's just a bundle of nerves trying to avoid any potential missteps, and I love him! I love the relationship the siblings have with each other, it's so supportive and none of them are ever really alone in their battles.
Rosie is literally every woman in STEM ever. She isn't taken seriously, she's held to a higher and different standard, her romantic relationships are held against her, and she's the only woman in her cohort (not to mention also the only non-white person and child of immigrants). STEM grad school is literally just sausage fest.
These two are a perfect opposites attract situation, and I love them together. They compliment each other beautifully. For as quiet and introverted as he is outside of the bedroom, he was surprisingly not that inside of the bedroom.
This is the second book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. I didn't read the first book, and I had no issues keeping up with the story and the first couple. However, I will say that the first couple is heavily featured in this book, so you will get a nice update with them as well.
My only real issue with this book is that it needed another round of editing. There were some words flipped around in sentences or words missing, and it was a bit distracting at times.
4.5 stars!
This is my first book by Krysta, and I really enjoyed it! This is the first time I've read a book and truly wished I wasn't an only child. Locke has a narcissistic and emotionally/verbally abusive parent. He tries to be the loyal and dutiful son to keep his dad's focus off of him and his siblings. Meanwhile, he's just a bundle of nerves trying to avoid any potential missteps, and I love him! I love the relationship the siblings have with each other, it's so supportive and none of them are ever really alone in their battles.
Rosie is literally every woman in STEM ever. She isn't taken seriously, she's held to a higher and different standard, her romantic relationships are held against her, and she's the only woman in her cohort (not to mention also the only non-white person and child of immigrants). STEM grad school is literally just sausage fest.
These two are a perfect opposites attract situation, and I love them together. They compliment each other beautifully. For as quiet and introverted as he is outside of the bedroom, he was surprisingly not that inside of the bedroom.
This is the second book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone. I didn't read the first book, and I had no issues keeping up with the story and the first couple. However, I will say that the first couple is heavily featured in this book, so you will get a nice update with them as well.
My only real issue with this book is that it needed another round of editing. There were some words flipped around in sentences or words missing, and it was a bit distracting at times.
4.5 stars!
April 30, 2026
Welcome back to Brookstone University!
This one’s for all the women in male-dominated fields and people with horrible dads.
In Masters of Fine Hearts, I was cautious of Locke and already loved Rosie. In this book, we got to learn more about Locke and I’m mad at myself for ever being suspicious of him. Poor guy just has an abusive father and is understandably guarded. And Rosie is still as hard working and energetic as she was before.
Rosie and Locke are one of those book couples that are so obviously soulmates, and it’s adorable. They compliment each other so well, and their relationship dynamic was SO CUTE! and… fun ;)
Not gonna speak too in depth about the spice, but let’s just say it is spicy.
The part I loved the most about this book was Rosie and her journey. She is a woman in engineering and faces so much criticism and harassment from the men in her program, and this is sadly all too real in academia. As a woman, and further a woman of color, she has to fight twice as hard to achieve the same recognition her peers are given. It’s defeating, but she rises above it, and for that she is someone I look up to. While Liliana taught me about myself, rosie showed me who I want to be. She showed me that it doesn’t matter what other people think, only what you think and how much you believe in yourself. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
Some other smaller parts I loved:
Getting to know Derek and Billie more (can’t wait for their book)
Ghost the emotional support cat
Lockes glasses
Locke standing up to his dad
Anyways, long story short, you should read this book. You won’t regret it!
Thank u to my fav Krysta for the early review copy!
This one’s for all the women in male-dominated fields and people with horrible dads.
In Masters of Fine Hearts, I was cautious of Locke and already loved Rosie. In this book, we got to learn more about Locke and I’m mad at myself for ever being suspicious of him. Poor guy just has an abusive father and is understandably guarded. And Rosie is still as hard working and energetic as she was before.
Rosie and Locke are one of those book couples that are so obviously soulmates, and it’s adorable. They compliment each other so well, and their relationship dynamic was SO CUTE! and… fun ;)
Not gonna speak too in depth about the spice, but let’s just say it is spicy.
The part I loved the most about this book was Rosie and her journey. She is a woman in engineering and faces so much criticism and harassment from the men in her program, and this is sadly all too real in academia. As a woman, and further a woman of color, she has to fight twice as hard to achieve the same recognition her peers are given. It’s defeating, but she rises above it, and for that she is someone I look up to. While Liliana taught me about myself, rosie showed me who I want to be. She showed me that it doesn’t matter what other people think, only what you think and how much you believe in yourself. It sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
Some other smaller parts I loved:
Getting to know Derek and Billie more (can’t wait for their book)
Ghost the emotional support cat
Lockes glasses
Locke standing up to his dad
Anyways, long story short, you should read this book. You won’t regret it!
Thank u to my fav Krysta for the early review copy!
May 12, 2026
4.5⭐️
This book was so adorable while still having serious topics. It was just beautiful to see how both of the MCs grew into better, more confident versions of themselves together.
Rosalie or Rosie, is a badass Filipina woman who is pursuing her masters in Financial Engineering. She is at the top of her class and works tirelessly to ensure she’s the best. In true male fashion, the boys in her cohort make it their life’s mission to belittle her achievements and make her out to be less than.
Locke is a shy boy who is pursuing his masters in Software Engineering while trying to live up to the pressure of being Keller McCarthy’s son. Nothing he does is good enough for his dad and it’s better for him to fall in line than face his wrath.
Rosie and Locke both have to move into the dorms due to last minute housing situations and end up as roommates. Through their time together they are both able to become each other’s safe space. Through Saturday night movies, they start to fall in love.
They empowered eachother to stand up to those who suppressed them throughout the years and by the end they were both better versions of themselves.
The side characters were amazing too! I love the family they created with Liliana, Grant, Billie, and Derek. They all came together and formed an impenetrable support system.
If you’re looking for a story with a strong female lead in STEM, packed with found family, character development, and love, this is the one for you!
This book was so adorable while still having serious topics. It was just beautiful to see how both of the MCs grew into better, more confident versions of themselves together.
Rosalie or Rosie, is a badass Filipina woman who is pursuing her masters in Financial Engineering. She is at the top of her class and works tirelessly to ensure she’s the best. In true male fashion, the boys in her cohort make it their life’s mission to belittle her achievements and make her out to be less than.
Locke is a shy boy who is pursuing his masters in Software Engineering while trying to live up to the pressure of being Keller McCarthy’s son. Nothing he does is good enough for his dad and it’s better for him to fall in line than face his wrath.
Rosie and Locke both have to move into the dorms due to last minute housing situations and end up as roommates. Through their time together they are both able to become each other’s safe space. Through Saturday night movies, they start to fall in love.
They empowered eachother to stand up to those who suppressed them throughout the years and by the end they were both better versions of themselves.
The side characters were amazing too! I love the family they created with Liliana, Grant, Billie, and Derek. They all came together and formed an impenetrable support system.
If you’re looking for a story with a strong female lead in STEM, packed with found family, character development, and love, this is the one for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
*ARC REVIEW*
Masters of love engineering was my first book by this author and it had me hooked from the start. I loved everything about Locke and Rosie, separately and together.
Rosie is just trying to work towards the career she loves despite the males in her field continuously trying to tear her down and having to work harder than all of them combined to succeed and she’s killing it.
Locke oh man the shy quiet guy I loved his character right away. He’s not much of a people person and likes to just stay in away from the crowd, has trouble standing up for himself because it’s just how he was conditioned but get him with his siblings and you see a whole other side of Locke that’s just swoon worthy.
Bringing Locke and Rosie together they are the kind of friend each other needs just hanging out learning about each other quietly being there for one another when it’s needed. I was hooked on them from their first meeting loving and laughing at the encounter. Then somewhere in the middle you see them fall in love and it’s glorious and we also see a glimpse of Locke being more than just the shy quiet guy and all I have to say is I want more of that.
I could go on and on about this book and how amazing it is but then I’d probably be saying to much, so I’m gonna end it here saying read this book when it comes out it’s so freaking good and so worth the read
Masters of love engineering was my first book by this author and it had me hooked from the start. I loved everything about Locke and Rosie, separately and together.
Rosie is just trying to work towards the career she loves despite the males in her field continuously trying to tear her down and having to work harder than all of them combined to succeed and she’s killing it.
Locke oh man the shy quiet guy I loved his character right away. He’s not much of a people person and likes to just stay in away from the crowd, has trouble standing up for himself because it’s just how he was conditioned but get him with his siblings and you see a whole other side of Locke that’s just swoon worthy.
Bringing Locke and Rosie together they are the kind of friend each other needs just hanging out learning about each other quietly being there for one another when it’s needed. I was hooked on them from their first meeting loving and laughing at the encounter. Then somewhere in the middle you see them fall in love and it’s glorious and we also see a glimpse of Locke being more than just the shy quiet guy and all I have to say is I want more of that.
I could go on and on about this book and how amazing it is but then I’d probably be saying to much, so I’m gonna end it here saying read this book when it comes out it’s so freaking good and so worth the read
Review of advance copy received from Author
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Masters of Love Engineering is my first Krysta Pa'e novel, and it won't be my last. There's something about autumn that makes everything automatically cozy. I couldn't read this book without a cup of tea or cocoa nearby. Also, I just want to hug Rosie's parents for letting her follow her dreams, instead of pushing her to follow their dreams for her; it healed my teenaged Filipina heart. And who doesn't want a partner who learns how to cook your culture's dishes?! Locke, our sweet shy boy, you definitely healed a part of my past that needed closure.
Rosie is already a strong FMC to begin with, with rocky past relationships; then we have Locke, our rich blonde boy with toxic father & absent mother. Thank goodness for his siblings & the found family. Can we point out his character development by the end, because I'm hella proud of you Locke!
Both Rosie & Locke couldn't be any more opposite of each other, but "they just go together". Let's not forget little Ghost, either! They all just fit as a little family.
Thank you, Krysta Pa'e, for writing Rosie & Locke's story. There were parts of the book that truly hit home, not just because FMC is Filipina. You can find yourself in both MCs & side characters as they're truly relatable if you read carefully.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Masters of Love Engineering is my first Krysta Pa'e novel, and it won't be my last. There's something about autumn that makes everything automatically cozy. I couldn't read this book without a cup of tea or cocoa nearby. Also, I just want to hug Rosie's parents for letting her follow her dreams, instead of pushing her to follow their dreams for her; it healed my teenaged Filipina heart. And who doesn't want a partner who learns how to cook your culture's dishes?! Locke, our sweet shy boy, you definitely healed a part of my past that needed closure.
Rosie is already a strong FMC to begin with, with rocky past relationships; then we have Locke, our rich blonde boy with toxic father & absent mother. Thank goodness for his siblings & the found family. Can we point out his character development by the end, because I'm hella proud of you Locke!
Both Rosie & Locke couldn't be any more opposite of each other, but "they just go together". Let's not forget little Ghost, either! They all just fit as a little family.
Thank you, Krysta Pa'e, for writing Rosie & Locke's story. There were parts of the book that truly hit home, not just because FMC is Filipina. You can find yourself in both MCs & side characters as they're truly relatable if you read carefully.
May 5, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author.
This is my first book from Krysta Pa'e and it will not be my last! When I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to start this right away, even though I hadn't read the first in the series. What I loved so much about this story was how Locke (mmc) and Rosie (fmc) each had their own challenges (Locke with his father and Rosie with her career), but they never burdened each other with it. Instead, they made the most of their time together and took their time to build that trust until they were ready to share their feelings. The way the author stuck with a realistic story and captivate my attention with the characters' growth made this book hard to put down!
And of course, I LOVE a shy, nerdy boy. It was so refreshing to have the fmc be the character that was more extroverted, outspoken, strong-willed, and just so badass. Sure, there was Locke to provide that emotional support, but from the beginning, Rosie knew what she wanted and she went for it. Lastly, the way Filipino culture was tied into the story was so cute and, not to mention, so relatable. I hope everyone's interest is peaked with the the mention of Filipino foods and be brave enough to try it or even learn how to cook it!
I WILL be going back to read Master of Fine Arts (book 1) and looking forward to book 3's release!
This is my first book from Krysta Pa'e and it will not be my last! When I read the synopsis, I knew I needed to start this right away, even though I hadn't read the first in the series. What I loved so much about this story was how Locke (mmc) and Rosie (fmc) each had their own challenges (Locke with his father and Rosie with her career), but they never burdened each other with it. Instead, they made the most of their time together and took their time to build that trust until they were ready to share their feelings. The way the author stuck with a realistic story and captivate my attention with the characters' growth made this book hard to put down!
And of course, I LOVE a shy, nerdy boy. It was so refreshing to have the fmc be the character that was more extroverted, outspoken, strong-willed, and just so badass. Sure, there was Locke to provide that emotional support, but from the beginning, Rosie knew what she wanted and she went for it. Lastly, the way Filipino culture was tied into the story was so cute and, not to mention, so relatable. I hope everyone's interest is peaked with the the mention of Filipino foods and be brave enough to try it or even learn how to cook it!
I WILL be going back to read Master of Fine Arts (book 1) and looking forward to book 3's release!
May 8, 2026
Masters of Love Engineering ARC Review
4.5⭐️
A woman in STEM in a male dominated field who is significantly smarter and more successful than her male classmates but is looked down on because of her gender? Unfortunately this is a very believable plot because it happens all the time and I loved seeing Rosie get her HEA. Rosie and Locke’s slow progression from strangers, to acquaintances to friends to partners was realistic and beautiful to see. Both of them completely understood each other, their quirks, their emotions, their needs, and gave each other the connection that they so desperately needed, even when it was so new and fresh.
Rosie and Locke were each battling their own pressures and expectations from society and peers in their respective careers that made them vulnerable, stressed, and doubtful, but their confidence gradually built up and were able to stand up for themselves, each other, and their friends turned family. Not only were they able to grow their connection to each other through their own external battles, but they were able to grow as individuals who didn’t need the validation from others to know their self-worth.
This book is perfect for anyone who has been pushed down, belittled, or made to feel unworthy of love and success. You are worthy and you are loved.
Thank you Krysta Pa’e for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
4.5⭐️
A woman in STEM in a male dominated field who is significantly smarter and more successful than her male classmates but is looked down on because of her gender? Unfortunately this is a very believable plot because it happens all the time and I loved seeing Rosie get her HEA. Rosie and Locke’s slow progression from strangers, to acquaintances to friends to partners was realistic and beautiful to see. Both of them completely understood each other, their quirks, their emotions, their needs, and gave each other the connection that they so desperately needed, even when it was so new and fresh.
Rosie and Locke were each battling their own pressures and expectations from society and peers in their respective careers that made them vulnerable, stressed, and doubtful, but their confidence gradually built up and were able to stand up for themselves, each other, and their friends turned family. Not only were they able to grow their connection to each other through their own external battles, but they were able to grow as individuals who didn’t need the validation from others to know their self-worth.
This book is perfect for anyone who has been pushed down, belittled, or made to feel unworthy of love and success. You are worthy and you are loved.
Thank you Krysta Pa’e for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Update: Upon re-read, I realize how much I really love Rosie and Locke and the whole found fam 🥹
Masters of Love Engineering is the second book in the Degrees of Love series and follows Locke McCarthy and Rosie Mendoza's story.
Locke is trying to navigate his toxic relationship with his dad while also trying to decide who he wants to be, what path he wants to follow. Rosie is trying to accomplish her academic dreams in financial engineering but the system dominated by men (and built by men) isn't kind to her, especially when her jerk faced ex diminishes her efforts and achievements at every turn.
These two find comfort and safety in each other while being dorm roommates. The forced proximity, opposites attract, but equally understanding of one another worked for them. Sometimes all you need is a safe place to come home to after a bad day.
I felt so much rage for Rosie and Locke in their own situations. If I could beat down walls, I would have. Rosie's sweet spirit being dampened and Locke's years of childhood trauma shaped by an abusive parent really got under my skin. I'm happy that these two found their safe spaces and happy ending tho.
All that to say - let's break the stereotypes that women don't belong in male dominated fields and that women are less of *anything* because time and time again, women have shown that we can do the damn thing! SO GO ROSIE MENDOZA YOU B.A.
Thank you Krysta Pa'e for the eARC. These are my honest thoughts.
Masters of Love Engineering is the second book in the Degrees of Love series and follows Locke McCarthy and Rosie Mendoza's story.
Locke is trying to navigate his toxic relationship with his dad while also trying to decide who he wants to be, what path he wants to follow. Rosie is trying to accomplish her academic dreams in financial engineering but the system dominated by men (and built by men) isn't kind to her, especially when her jerk faced ex diminishes her efforts and achievements at every turn.
These two find comfort and safety in each other while being dorm roommates. The forced proximity, opposites attract, but equally understanding of one another worked for them. Sometimes all you need is a safe place to come home to after a bad day.
I felt so much rage for Rosie and Locke in their own situations. If I could beat down walls, I would have. Rosie's sweet spirit being dampened and Locke's years of childhood trauma shaped by an abusive parent really got under my skin. I'm happy that these two found their safe spaces and happy ending tho.
All that to say - let's break the stereotypes that women don't belong in male dominated fields and that women are less of *anything* because time and time again, women have shown that we can do the damn thing! SO GO ROSIE MENDOZA YOU B.A.
Thank you Krysta Pa'e for the eARC. These are my honest thoughts.
May 12, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Rosie & Locke are two individuals who cross paths in the most unusual way, as randomly paired roommates. When things start to get more personal between the two of them they are faced with life’s challenges; including family feuds, misogyny in the workplace, and becoming able to stand strong in your own skin.
I loved book two! Locke has easily become one of my favorite characters of this universe. It was nice watching him grow alongside Rosie.
I loved the strong theme of found family within this group of people and the emphasis on knowing your worth.
The romance between Rosie & Locke had me kicking my feet, i would have loved for the longing to go on just a little bit more before they jumped into it, but they were perfect together nonetheless.
Locke’s alternate side was a SHOCKER as well 😅
I absolutely adored how Rosie represented women in STEM & all fields who are constantly looked over for simply being a woman. She is a badass.
I would definitely recommend this book, as well as book 1. I cannot wait to read what else is to come!!!
Thank you to the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
Rosie & Locke are two individuals who cross paths in the most unusual way, as randomly paired roommates. When things start to get more personal between the two of them they are faced with life’s challenges; including family feuds, misogyny in the workplace, and becoming able to stand strong in your own skin.
I loved book two! Locke has easily become one of my favorite characters of this universe. It was nice watching him grow alongside Rosie.
I loved the strong theme of found family within this group of people and the emphasis on knowing your worth.
The romance between Rosie & Locke had me kicking my feet, i would have loved for the longing to go on just a little bit more before they jumped into it, but they were perfect together nonetheless.
Locke’s alternate side was a SHOCKER as well 😅
I absolutely adored how Rosie represented women in STEM & all fields who are constantly looked over for simply being a woman. She is a badass.
I would definitely recommend this book, as well as book 1. I cannot wait to read what else is to come!!!
May 7, 2026
INFINITE STARS FOR ROSIE AND LOCKE!
the way i fell in love with both of these characters instantly, goes to show how well they’re written.
both have these hardships but when put together as roommates, they have this … connection. it’s indescribable and it happens within a course of days maybe weeks. we see these two become a safe place for each other. a place where they can fully and truly be themselves.
seeing locke flourish and find himself…was heartwarming but also made me emotional. his character, his mannerisms, his shynes..i related to it on a deep level. he’s such a sweetheart and DOES HE MAKE YOU SWOON!!! the way he talks about and to rosie is wow! he’s a man!!!!! like please where can i find mine??!? no…like literally.
rosie goes through so many hardships being a woman in her program but she always pushes through. locke really pushes her and makes her see her worth, that she deserves everything and more. watching her dreams come true was everything and more.
these two are everything and more … like im obsessed. the way i could reread this book so many times.
the way i fell in love with both of these characters instantly, goes to show how well they’re written.
both have these hardships but when put together as roommates, they have this … connection. it’s indescribable and it happens within a course of days maybe weeks. we see these two become a safe place for each other. a place where they can fully and truly be themselves.
seeing locke flourish and find himself…was heartwarming but also made me emotional. his character, his mannerisms, his shynes..i related to it on a deep level. he’s such a sweetheart and DOES HE MAKE YOU SWOON!!! the way he talks about and to rosie is wow! he’s a man!!!!! like please where can i find mine??!? no…like literally.
rosie goes through so many hardships being a woman in her program but she always pushes through. locke really pushes her and makes her see her worth, that she deserves everything and more. watching her dreams come true was everything and more.
these two are everything and more … like im obsessed. the way i could reread this book so many times.
May 7, 2026
Such a fun read! Locke is a software engineering grad student who’s the heir to his father’s e-commerce business. He’s struggling with dealing with his father’s emotional abuse and trying to figure out his future. Rosie is a finance engineering grad student working to earn an internship at Xion Group while dealing with misogynistic comments and feeling like she’s not enough in the field she loves.
Reading Locke and Rosie’s love story was a joy! It was slow burn with pockets of love seen when they’re together. I love that Locke loves and respects Rosie so much (hello Consent King! 😍) and he wants to do everything he can to make her happy.
The side characters were so much fun too! Now I have to read Liliana and Grant’s book 🥰
Thank you Krysta Pa’e for the ARC of this book! Highly recommend if you love reading about women in STEM, AAPI characters and just a fun group of found family loving each other 🩷
Reading Locke and Rosie’s love story was a joy! It was slow burn with pockets of love seen when they’re together. I love that Locke loves and respects Rosie so much (hello Consent King! 😍) and he wants to do everything he can to make her happy.
The side characters were so much fun too! Now I have to read Liliana and Grant’s book 🥰
Thank you Krysta Pa’e for the ARC of this book! Highly recommend if you love reading about women in STEM, AAPI characters and just a fun group of found family loving each other 🩷
Review of advance copy received from Author
Masters of Love Engineering is an ode to the girls who’ve been shut down again and again for being a woman in her field, specifically a woman in STEM, and to those that have dealt with an emotionally abusive parent.
Krysta Pa’e made sure we saw a very gradual strangers-to-friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance and made sure we didn’t go through alllll of that just for a third-act breakup!! I LOVE A NO THIRD-ACT BREAKUP!!!
Locke… the perceptive man that you are!!! Rosie, the patient woman that you are!!! The bits that we get to see of Grant and Liliana!! The Billie interactions!! The setup for Books 3 and 4!!! I loved it all!!!!!!!!
The care that Pa’e put into the Filipina representation was so wholesome, I hope she writes a Viet FMC one day.
Thank you Krysta Pa’e for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Krysta Pa’e made sure we saw a very gradual strangers-to-friends-to-lovers slow-burn romance and made sure we didn’t go through alllll of that just for a third-act breakup!! I LOVE A NO THIRD-ACT BREAKUP!!!
Locke… the perceptive man that you are!!! Rosie, the patient woman that you are!!! The bits that we get to see of Grant and Liliana!! The Billie interactions!! The setup for Books 3 and 4!!! I loved it all!!!!!!!!
The care that Pa’e put into the Filipina representation was so wholesome, I hope she writes a Viet FMC one day.
Thank you Krysta Pa’e for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Masters of Love Engineering was my first read of Krysta Pa'e, and it will not be my last. This book follows Locke and Rosie, and both characters are experiencing their own problems in their lives. However, it seems they are each other's solutions and find comfort and love in each other. This college romance explores strangers/roommates-to-friends-to-lovers with a perfect slow burn. This book highlights people are stronger than their problems and can overcome them. With the right people in your corner, you can achieve anything you put your mind to and believe in yourself that you can do it. The relationship shared between Locke and Rosie is so pure and comforting. They have so much trust, love, and respect for one another, and I was so happy to read their love story. I have to read Lil and Grant's love story, and I can't wait for whats in store for this series.
April 30, 2026
*ARC REVIEW*
This was such a great book! I love Rosie and Locke so much and their love story 🥹
Rosie is a baddie Filipina FMC majoring in finance engineering, trying to find her place in a male dominated field where she constantly has to prove herself. Then there’s Locke, our shy and mysterious boy, who struggles under the weight of his father’s harsh expectations and constant criticism.
Their relationship follows a roommates to lovers, slow burn dynamic. Together, they found a sense of safety and peace in each other and slowly learned how to face their own struggles. Watching them grow, especially when they found their voices and stood up to the people who tried to tear them down, was literally everything.
Thank you to Krysta Pa’e for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC! I enjoyed it so much and can’t wait for Billie and Derek’s love story in the third book!
This was such a great book! I love Rosie and Locke so much and their love story 🥹
Rosie is a baddie Filipina FMC majoring in finance engineering, trying to find her place in a male dominated field where she constantly has to prove herself. Then there’s Locke, our shy and mysterious boy, who struggles under the weight of his father’s harsh expectations and constant criticism.
Their relationship follows a roommates to lovers, slow burn dynamic. Together, they found a sense of safety and peace in each other and slowly learned how to face their own struggles. Watching them grow, especially when they found their voices and stood up to the people who tried to tear them down, was literally everything.
Thank you to Krysta Pa’e for giving me the opportunity to read this eARC! I enjoyed it so much and can’t wait for Billie and Derek’s love story in the third book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I absolutely adored this book. Locke is the cutest, most perfect man ever. He’s a shy, nerdy guy navigating the corporate world, and he would do anything for his friends and family. Rosie is a total sweetheart and a corporate powerhouse. She deals with constant pressure from her male counterparts, but she’s better than all of them, and she knows it.
Their relationship is so adorable, and they truly feel perfect for each other. It was amazing to watch both of them grow into themselves with each other’s support. I especially appreciated that there was no toxicity in their relationship. It was so refreshing to read a romance where the main couple doesn’t rely on secrets or unnecessary drama.
Overall, if you love a friends to lovers, forced proximity romance with a confident FMC and a shy, down bad MMC, I highly recommend this book! :)
Their relationship is so adorable, and they truly feel perfect for each other. It was amazing to watch both of them grow into themselves with each other’s support. I especially appreciated that there was no toxicity in their relationship. It was so refreshing to read a romance where the main couple doesn’t rely on secrets or unnecessary drama.
Overall, if you love a friends to lovers, forced proximity romance with a confident FMC and a shy, down bad MMC, I highly recommend this book! :)
May 10, 2026
THIS BOOK PUT ME IN EVERY SHADE OF FEELS LIKE I'M MENTALLY UNSTABLE. 5 STARS.
Locke and Rosie are fcking IT for me. Their personal growth, their growth with each other, their found family. All *chefs kiss*. I feel personally connected to them in many different ways and I just love their freaking love!!!!!!!!
If you are a woman, POC, constantly surrounded by men and battling through misogyny in any setting, you would relate to Rosie hardcore. (And c'mon, in today's climate in America? Yeah. 'Nuff said'.) If you have dealt with emotional abuse and/or anxiety in your life? Parental issues? You would def relate to Locke. Their stories are so hard hitting, but the love, understanding, and care that they find in eachother? UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Honestly, stop reading this review and just go read it :)
Locke and Rosie are fcking IT for me. Their personal growth, their growth with each other, their found family. All *chefs kiss*. I feel personally connected to them in many different ways and I just love their freaking love!!!!!!!!
If you are a woman, POC, constantly surrounded by men and battling through misogyny in any setting, you would relate to Rosie hardcore. (And c'mon, in today's climate in America? Yeah. 'Nuff said'.) If you have dealt with emotional abuse and/or anxiety in your life? Parental issues? You would def relate to Locke. Their stories are so hard hitting, but the love, understanding, and care that they find in eachother? UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
Honestly, stop reading this review and just go read it :)
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book was sooooo good! OMG the slow burn was perfect. You fall in love with both of them right away, and the stolen glances and real friendship building because of their forced proximity as roommates made me really care about them. Rosie is such a strong, badass boss FMC, and Locke is an introverted MMC who has lived his life caring for others and taking the brunt of things that he's a little lost. He suffers a lot of social anxiety, which felt so relatable. Together they make each other better and find a family with their small group.
There is no pregnancy at the end, so if you're averse you'll enjoy this one.
Totally would recommend, and of course, I'm going to read book 1 - Grant & Liliana's story.
Thank you to the author for the eARC.
There is no pregnancy at the end, so if you're averse you'll enjoy this one.
Totally would recommend, and of course, I'm going to read book 1 - Grant & Liliana's story.
Thank you to the author for the eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review | Masters of Love Engineering by Krysta Pa'e
The tender and cosy roommates to friends to lovers romance you didn't know you needed!
This is my first book from Krysta Pa'e and it definitely won't be my last. It scores full points for everything--pacing, complex relatable characters, spice. (The SPICE!!!) This one has it all!
Also did I mention that there's no third act break up? Phenomenal! My favourite kind of book!
Rosie and Locke come together in the most organic way. I loved seeing all the normal, cosily domestic moments that brought them together. And their individual arcs? Seeing Locke become his own person and Rosie realize the only validation she needed was her own? It was EVERYTHING.
The tender and cosy roommates to friends to lovers romance you didn't know you needed!
This is my first book from Krysta Pa'e and it definitely won't be my last. It scores full points for everything--pacing, complex relatable characters, spice. (The SPICE!!!) This one has it all!
Also did I mention that there's no third act break up? Phenomenal! My favourite kind of book!
Rosie and Locke come together in the most organic way. I loved seeing all the normal, cosily domestic moments that brought them together. And their individual arcs? Seeing Locke become his own person and Rosie realize the only validation she needed was her own? It was EVERYTHING.
May 11, 2026
I love Locke and Rosie so much!
This story was so beautiful. Reading about Locke's relationship with his dad was heartbreaking, but watching him grow, take control of his life, alongside Rosie was everything.
I loved seeing Rosie grow too; especially how she became more confident around her peers. That felt so satisfying.
Their love felt so easy and real, like true love you can actually feel while reading. It was soft and comforting in the quiet moments, but still passionate and spicy.
When it was just them sitting together, talking or watching movies it made my heart so full.Their relationship as a whole just made me so happy! I seriously can’t wait to read Derek’s story!
Thank you to the Author for the opportunity to read the ARC edition of this book!
This story was so beautiful. Reading about Locke's relationship with his dad was heartbreaking, but watching him grow, take control of his life, alongside Rosie was everything.
I loved seeing Rosie grow too; especially how she became more confident around her peers. That felt so satisfying.
Their love felt so easy and real, like true love you can actually feel while reading. It was soft and comforting in the quiet moments, but still passionate and spicy.
When it was just them sitting together, talking or watching movies it made my heart so full.Their relationship as a whole just made me so happy! I seriously can’t wait to read Derek’s story!
Thank you to the Author for the opportunity to read the ARC edition of this book!
May 12, 2026
Who runs this world! GIRLS!!!!! This is what I kept thinking while reading this book. Because this book was full of female empowerment! Rosie is THAT GIRL! She knew who she was and no one was going to tell her other wise. And don’t get me started on Locke, I loved that they were opposite from each other. He was the shy, nerdy guy. It’s always the quiet ones that catch you off guard 🤭 And I loved seeing their relationship grow. They truly found safety, comfort, and love in each other when they were both struggling with their own problems. With love, compassion, safety, and respect, you truly blossom into the person you want to become. And Locke and Rosie did that for each other. Truly such a cute read! Definitely recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Who does not like a nerdy, awkward golden retriever mmc with slutty little glasses who is thoroughly obsessed with the fmc? Because I certainly do hehehehe. I loved both these characters so much. Rosie is such a BAMF and I absolutely love her character growth (and would love to punch some of these small d- boys). And Locke, my poor baby, he did not deserve the way his father treated him and I loved his character growth too, like yes tell him!!! They are actually so cute together, giving each other a safe place to be vulnerable and comfortable and gahhhh just so sweet. I love the little found family too and I need to read book 1 like right now!
Thank you Krysta Pa'e for the ARC!!!
Thank you Krysta Pa'e for the ARC!!!
May 8, 2026
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
First off, a huge thank you to the author for an advanced copy of the book !!
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
[ 🦢 My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars !! ]
Review:
SUCH A GREAT READ OMG
I LOVED Rosie and Locke so much !!
Rosie is an incredibly hard working woman and I absolutely loved her character. Locke had me wanting to give him such a big hug.
I loved this book so much and if I keep rambling, I fear I'll spoil everything. You should definitely check it out!
Some tropes for this book:
- roommates to lovers (OMG they were roommates)
- forced proximity
- Filipina MC
- woman in STEM
- popular girl x shy boy
- open door spice
- dual POV
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
First off, a huge thank you to the author for an advanced copy of the book !!
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
[ 🦢 My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 Stars !! ]
Review:
SUCH A GREAT READ OMG
I LOVED Rosie and Locke so much !!
Rosie is an incredibly hard working woman and I absolutely loved her character. Locke had me wanting to give him such a big hug.
I loved this book so much and if I keep rambling, I fear I'll spoil everything. You should definitely check it out!
Some tropes for this book:
- roommates to lovers (OMG they were roommates)
- forced proximity
- Filipina MC
- woman in STEM
- popular girl x shy boy
- open door spice
- dual POV
⋆ ₊ ‧ ° 𐐪 ♡ 𐑂 ° ₊ ⋆ ₊
May 11, 2026
5/5 stars
2/5 spice
Tropes:
Roommates to lovers
Grad school students
Woman in STEM
Filipina FMC
Introvert MMC
Opposites attract
He cooks for her
Anime/gaming nerd
Found family
Emotional support cat
Dual POV
There's so much about this book that I loved but I'll sum it up to the connection between Rosie and Locke. It was soooo sweet and beautiful to see them softening their rough edges for each other. Their safe space was wherever the other was and I loved that for them. Locke is simply put, top tier boyfriend/ soulmate material... he just needed to meet his life partner, Rosie, to realize it. And Rosie is such a badass. I hated to see her diminished by insecure, selfish boys... she just needed to meet the right man who would appreciate her, like Locke.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in this series and diving into the first book while I wait.
Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
2/5 spice
Tropes:
Roommates to lovers
Grad school students
Woman in STEM
Filipina FMC
Introvert MMC
Opposites attract
He cooks for her
Anime/gaming nerd
Found family
Emotional support cat
Dual POV
There's so much about this book that I loved but I'll sum it up to the connection between Rosie and Locke. It was soooo sweet and beautiful to see them softening their rough edges for each other. Their safe space was wherever the other was and I loved that for them. Locke is simply put, top tier boyfriend/ soulmate material... he just needed to meet his life partner, Rosie, to realize it. And Rosie is such a badass. I hated to see her diminished by insecure, selfish boys... she just needed to meet the right man who would appreciate her, like Locke.
I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in this series and diving into the first book while I wait.
Thank you to the author for giving me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and offered voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews