Prejudice and Pride

Passing Through Cafe #5

by Nik Knight, Heather Caryn (Editor)

There’s a fine line between love and hate, and for Dex, Cya just might cross it.

Born into wealth and luxury, Cylene Vysov is as accustomed to privilege as they are the stifling rules it demands of them. When forced into a tutoring arrangement with Dex, an insufferable jock, Cya’s pride and preconceived perceptions are challenged, and they’re faced with a choice: hold on to their cushy lifestyle, or risk everything for a chance at real happiness.

But authenticity comes at a cost, and as far as Dex is concerned, Cya has a bill to settle.

Dex Triever might not be the smartest guy, but that doesn’t stop him from killing it in the stadium, providing for his mom and sister, or chiseling away at Cya’s icy exterior to uncover the fragile heart hidden beneath. Despite their attempts to keep him at arm’s length, Dex refuses to concede defeat, and piece by piece, Cya’s defenses begin to crumble.

What sparks as volatile friction quickly ignites into explosive chemistry, but before Cya can win his heart, Dex must first earn their trust.

Neither come cheap, but both are worth the price.

Join Cya, Dex, and the rest of the eccentric staff of The Passing Through Cafe in this laugh-out-loud LGBTQ+ urban fantasy rom-com, full of found family, hysterical himbo-syncrasies, accountability and acceptance, and a gentle love that feels like home.

Genres: Queer, M M Romance, Paranormal Romance, Paranormal, Monsters, Romance, Slow Burn

436 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 13, 2026

About the author

Nik Knight (they/them) is a born and bred Hoosier living in a top-secret location in Europe. They are a single parent to two wonderful gremlins, and they write love in all its forms.

When they aren’t busy adulting, Nik can be found in their writing nook, typing away as their fingers turn to nubs.

Reviews

[ivanareadsalot]

I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

🐍🐺☕

Oh.
Oh my.
Yes.
All the yesses.

Nik Knight has a way of making me fall head first into a love story and not emerge until the book's done.
And though the last book was just ok for me,
Dex and Cya's romance was
every
single
thing
I love about this series done right, and I absolutely loved it!

What really did it for me was the RETURN of the giggles! I didn't stop laughing. I couldn't.
ALL the characters brought THEIR high-vibe energy, and I just loved how funny and charming and sweet and sassy they all made this story, together! And ON TOP OF THE FUN JOY, both Dex and Cya were emotionally expansive and got me all up in my feelings until the very last page, and I could not get enough of them!

***Dex & Cya are right up there with Ollie & Liel (romance)…with besties Gem and Toni holding it down in the "89% inappropriate + no-filter real ones" (just friends) category***

Both of their POVs were unique, compelling, and highly immersive, and I felt very connected to them both! I LOOOOOOOOOVED Cya's aesthetic, and their fanged + semi-snooty characterization. Their emotional challenges with identity and toxic family dynamics were intense and enraging to read. But luckily they had Hemersyn's support over the years, and managed to develop and find joy in their passions, despite the parental neglect, misgendering, and narcissism (to name a few) they'd had to endure. And I would be remiss if I did not mention that their immaculate sartorial chicness + jewellery game was aspirational.

And I ESPECIALLY loved how their sinuous, shiny sleekness contrasted veeeery hotly with the furry, gregarious, jock-bro Dex.
He
Had
Abs, math proficiency, the kindest most sweetest most gentlest heart,
AND had me rolling on the floor!

I would die for him. But he wouldn't let me so he's a 10.

Cya needed his everything, and when they'd yielded to his charms and basically learned HOW to LET him BE himself with, to, and for them, they'd bloomed under his watchful eye, his realness, and his snuggly love. And it was beautiful and entirely touching to read how loving Dex opened them up to expressing their love to Hemersyn, who'd got them through the business of living with care and compassion like any real parent would.

Prejudice and Pride was everything I LOVE ABOUT THIS SERIES and I'm so happy THIS VIBE was back! The Passing Through Cafe's found family/pack showed up in all their charismatic, hilarious, wholehearted, delightful energy, and I loved it!

[Poppy || Monster Lover]

Cya was a snob but an outcast. Luckily they found Passing Through Cafe and Dex. Dex was a golden retriever of a himbo and deserved all the loves. He was so determined to be Cya’s friend, even though Cya pushed him away. I loved the slow burn and the personal growth arcs for both characters. Cya learned how to let down some guards and Dex learned to care for his own needs. Cya’s parents’ awfulness was so hard to stomach, especially what they did to them as a baby to try to make them not intersex. I spent a good amount of time crying during this book because Nik always drags you in emotionally.

Spice: 3/5


Triggers: Parental neglect and toxic parent-child dynamics, including but not limited to misgendering, gaslighting and manipulation, withholding love and affection as punishment, constant criticism, etc. Parental abandonment in childhood (past) Themes of sexism/misogyny, classism, speciesism, and bigotry Self-hatred in thinking and speech, centered around Cya’s intersex identity, genitalia, and sex traits due to parental and societal rejection and pressures including surgery as an infant and child, Transphobic rhetoric and culturally-offensive terms wielded as slurs, specifically tranny and hermaphrodite Pro-choice/abortion stance: A side character discovers an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy, and subsequently seeks an (off-page) abortion

[isthisakink]

4.5/5. Every single book in this series has been amazing. This one was no exception. There was so much to love, and new characters to be obsessed with, and Cya’s growth was fucking beautifully done, and Dex was the perfect sweetheart angel bb… and my precious Tony and my precious Jude and all of my tears for them AND I COULD KEEP GOING. ‘Tism spiral activate? When this book world comes to an end, I will not be okay. The themes and realities the author chooses to explore within each installment are so heavy, but they give no fucking quarter when they do, just some hilarity and fluff to help your heart feel less bruised. That they included the disgusting and horrific practices that intersex folx have to deal with and reminded the world to not forget them or their continued struggles was fucking great. I’ve seen a couple other books hem and haw around things before, but no one straight up said that shit out loud and made no apologies for it. Since a lot of folx won’t ever dive deeper into topics they don’t feel serve them, or see those folx that need their voices heard and their identities cherished and supported, books like this one are wonderful and vital to making sure people start listening to those they used to ignore or were unaware of. Like, this is why I get so mad when folx dismiss any genre of literature. You don’t do that. They (almost) all say important shit, you just gotta use your comprehension skills. I know most folx aren’t here for what I sit at the table for, but I got my meal. I loved this one just as much as all the others, and I can’t wait to keep going as long as the author decides to keep the lights on.


—I received an ARC from Gay Romance Reviews (GRR), because I’m impatient and couldn’t wait like a normal fucking person. All ratings, reviews, and unwanted, unnecessary opinions are my own.—

[Lionelle Pmuls (That's Slump Backwards & It's What I Do)]

5 Stars ⭐ | 3 🌶️
ARC Read: 06/07/2026
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you GRR & Nik Knight for this gift. 🥰

What to expect from this book? 🤔
🫶 MX Adult Rom-Com
☕ Slow Burn
🐍 Demon x Monster
💜 One-Sided Hate To Lovers
🐕 Forced Proximity
💚 Co-Workers
☕ Friends To Lovers
💛 Black Cat x Golden Retriever Himbo
🐍 Opposites Attract
💜 Virgin MC
💚 Sypent x Lupyn
🐕 Class Difference
💛 Medium Angst
☕ Intersex Rep
💚 Nonbinary Rep
🐍 Queer Awakening
💜 Found Family

Format: Ebook/ARC
Cover: 5/5

Love love love this so much.
I connected with both characters so much. Dex obviously has dyslexia and Cya's black cat energy was so spot on 😅
As always Nik sucks me into this paranormal series! I read this in one sitting.
I just started the first book on audio AGAIN 🤭 I needed more time in this wolrd.

Series: Passing Through Cafe Series #5
Story: 5/5
POV: 3rd Person
Plot: 5/5

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

"They were prickly and covered in thorns, but the way he saw it, no one was ice all the way through. They just needed a bit of warmth to melt the harsh edges and get to their gooey center. Dex had a feeling Cya had the gooiest center of all."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Main Characters:
5/5 - Cya Vysov: they/them, intersex, non-binary. Sypent.
5/5 - Dex Triever: he/him. Lupyn.
Side Characters: 5/5
Steam Level: 4/5
Romance: High Focus

✨✨✨✨Q✨u✨o✨t✨e✨✨✨✨

"Cya was his now, so he needed to smell like them, and they needed to smell like him. It was pure logic."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨

Humor: High Focus
Angst: Medium High Focus
Cheating? No
The Ending: 5/5
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger: HEA

Favorite character? BOTH
Enjoyment: 5/5
This is my 5th book by Nik Knight

Where To Find My Reviews: GOODREADS|BOOKBUB|
My Socials: CARRD|INSTAGRAM|BLUESKY|TIKTOK|FACEBOOK|TUMBLR|AO3|

!!Please remember that all my reviews are a matter of my personal taste. Your opinion and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read is your own. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect that. It's just a book... but reading is still political!
No AI was used to make this review. These are my own words. And I support real artists.

[Julia Toth]

This series is one of my favorites and this is another great book in it. This great found family is expanding slowly and we're getting more characters to laugh with, love and swoon over.
I loved Dex and Cya so much! Dex is such a fun character and I loved how supportive and loving he was with Cya. I loved seeing him do his little pack rituals with everyone in the gang. Cya was so guarded and cold at the start, but Dex slowly got behind their wall and got them to open up and trust again. I loved their banter and how sassy Cya was with Dex. I loved how their whole relationship developed. Loved how they got to really know each other and I adored how much fun they had together. They had a playfulness in their intimate moments that was so great to see and read about. I loved how Dex cherished and worshipped Cya giving them the touched they missed and being their biggest fan and advocate.
As usual I loved seeing everyone from previous books and getting updates on their lives. The banter and ribbing is always great so I'm always looking forward to scenes with the gang.

This was sweet and fun and I enjoyed every moment I got to spend with the Passing Through Cafe crew.

[Hannah Dorsey]

If I had a nickel for every time Nik Knight introduced me to a new letter in the LGBTQIA alphabet through a well rounded, three dimensional character that I was sobbing over… well I guess I would have enough money to buy myself some empathy and respect for a new people group since that’s what you get.

Cya might appear like a stuck up rich snob that could not care less about the people around them, and Dex might appear like your classic himbo dumb jock, but just like in the real world, these two are so much more then meets the eye. And it might takes months of painstaking friction, setting boundaries, cruel fights and glimpses at vulnerability to finally let these two open up to each other to accept the love the other one longs to give the other.
The worst part of this entire series is the intensely real and emotional feelings that you will be forced to have for these very fictional made up cast of characters. Every glimpse of life within the cafe feels like coming home, and where as there were some moments that felt like a sucker punch directly to my heart and/or tear ducts, they were always wrapped up in so many warm and fuzzy feelings that I was just desperately happy to see them wrapped up in the comfort I longed for them to have.

[Hunter037]

Another wonderful installment of this series. Nik Knight knocks it out of the park again with another 5 star book. Cya and Dex are total sweethearts. I wasn't sure about a book with these two, who have previously been very much side characters to the "main" cafe regulars. But they were written so well that by the end I loved them both just as much as the others. As always, the characters from other books show up and the found family is such a strong part of this series. I also loved Hermersyn and I would love to read a short story of him finding love later in life!

It doesn't quite beat Books 4 and 5 as my series favourites, but is certainly up there. As always the queer rep (in this case - intersex and non-binary, and a queer pansexual awakening) was handled beautifully, but realistically, with Cya experiencing queer phobia from other university students and their parents.

[AnnaMeansFun]

If I’m being honest, I’m starting to care less and less about the characters as the series goes on, because the found family vibe from the first books seems to be fading away.

There were barely any scenes happening at the cafe in this book; neither one of the main characters were particularly involved with the other characters in the series and so all that banter and camaraderie that were a big part of what made this series so enticing, stopped being a main theme and became more of an echo of what used to be.
Moreover so, as the author suddenly made the characters start “establishing boundaries” (that had exaggerated political correctness written all over them) between the older ones and the younger ones, which further divided the group.
Toni trying to act like an “older man” while talking to Dex, instead of his peer, while they’re both in their twenties, was just laughable. I would get it, if one of them was a teenager, but they were all just a group of young adults working the same job, for crying out loud.

On top of that, this series is becoming too… animalistic to me. We’re basically reading about an anthropomorphic snake and a dog falling in love at this point and since I don’t have whatever Kash Patel has, it’s just giving me an ick.

That being said, Cya and Dex were a cool pair of your basic opposite attracts trope, though romance didn’t start until at least the second half of the book. Even then, it never managed to turn into the HEA, more like a cautious HFN.

Overall, the story on its own was a cute one, but it’s everything around it that made me enjoy it less than I would wish to.

[queerromancereads ♡]

Holy fuck. I adored this book. This may be my favourite book of the series yet. For me, Rusty remains the GOAT. But the dynamics here are my favourite so far.

The college setting worked surprisingly well! I actually really enjoyed it and it was interesting to see in terms of world building. The way it delved into class dynamics was also really interesting.

The chemistry is chemistrying. Ughhhh. I absolutely loved the chemistry between Cya and Dex. They are both such fantastic characters. The way Dex has frat bro vibes but a heart of gold and has clearly educated himself on minority experiences and tries so hard to be inclusive makes him so likeable. He's such a golden retriever. And Cya! They are so layered and nuanced. I enjoyed reading about them so much.

The found family vibes are so strong and endearing. I adored Quin and Tony in this book.

The book continues to do what it does best and be an excellent example of diversity that doesn't shy away from difficult subject matter and challenges heteronormative expectations intimacy and what sex is or "should" be. The intersex representation was done really well here. And I also appreciated the further exploration of trans issues.

I cannot wait to return to this universe in the next installment coming in October. So excited.

[SJ]

This is the first book I've read both by this author and in the series. Let me just say this world, and these characters are absolutely amazing. I couldn't get enough. Coming in at book 5, I found it was easy to get into and enjoy without having read the previous books in the series. That being said, I can't believe I just found this series and am definitely going back for more.

This paranormal rom-com with medium angst was the perfect blend of funny, sweet, heartfelt yet emotional plot.

Dex and Cya were so much fun and equally as heartwarming. Cya is a straight-up snob in the beginning, but I found his character so much more endearing as his shell broke open to our fun-loving himbo Dex. I immediately wanted to hug Dex he's just adorable. Their slow-burn was just right.

I laughed, I cried, but ultimately had a great time reading this one.

Tropes:
Paranormal
Demon/Monster
Intersex
Opposites attract
Black cat + Golden Retriever himbo
Coworkers
Forced proximity
One-sided hate to love
Class difference
Queer awekening
Vigin MC
Slow-burn
Found family
Dual POV

Check TW

Thank you, GRR and Nik Knight, for the opportunity to read this book.

[Madam Ra]

Emersyn McKlaw 👏 Thank you for giving our Cya a father!
This book restored my faith in non- humanity! It was sweet and reassuring and helpful and inspiring, it was all those things. Dex! That guy! All the stars! He was the best friend and best boyfriend anyone could wish for. And I loved Cya, cuz damn could you imagine being the badass they became, omg! Cya was a great character, the author really spread their wings trying to encompass everything Cya is and boy, I was there for it. Such a growth, so much self- hate, so much external pressure, but Cya endured all! Love them! Another amazing book from this series and I have a sense we’ll be getting more! 🥹🫣🫠

[read•me•romance]

This series just makes me so happy and Nik did it again with this one. Endearing characters that grow on you, all the shenanigans, and all the heart!

[Cassandra]

HOLYYYYYY FUCK
I loved this book so much. I wasn’t initially sure how I felt about Dex and Cya when they were introduced as the next couple in the last book but I still knew it was gonna be a good book. And now? NOW they are probably my favourite couple right after Gem and Rusty.

Fuck their parents btw. Like so hard. They pissed me off so much and I’m so glad Cya found their pack 🥹

I also loved how the rude way Cya initially treated Dex wasn’t brushed off when they started getting closer or as Dex tried to get closer. It was addressed and we have Dex standing up for himself too and Cya acknowledging their behaviour. I just really appreciated that it wasn’t just excused because they have bad parents.

I am incredibly excited for the next book!!! This series is just fantastic and I’m debating doing a reread of every book 😂😍

[Bere Peltier]

This book completely stole my heart💛

Nik Knight has done it again. If there's one thing you can always count on, it's the perfect amount of angst wrapped around an incredibly compelling plot, and their books delivers every single time. The grumpy x sunshine dynamic? Absolute perfection. Every interaction had me smiling one moment and emotionally devastated the next.

One of the things I admire most about Nik Knight is the genuine care they have for their characters. So many authors treat marginalized identities as plot devices or sources of shock value, but never Nik. Their characters are never commodified. They're respected, protected, and allowed to be vulnerable without ever feeling like their pain exists for the reader's entertainment.

The way this book handles intersexuality is thoughtful, respectful, and beautifully human, something that's still far too rare in romance.

But what truly stayed with me was The subplot storyline. The discussion around it is honest, compassionate, and refreshingly free of sensationalism. It isn't handled with kid gloves, nor is it turned into trauma for the sake of drama. Instead, it feels real. Jude is given the space to make his own decisions, surrounded by friends who love him and offer a safe place without judgment. Watching Toni stand beside him through every impossible emotion was one of the most beautiful parts of the book.

And I genuinely loved that this was closed door. Some moments are so deeply personal that putting them on the page in graphic detail would've felt like reading someone's private diary without permission. Keeping those intimate moments off-page wasn't a limitation. It was an act of respect, and it made the emotional impact even stronger.

If I have one tiny criticism, it's the same feeling I had after the previous book. Every time I reach the ending, there's this little something missing that I can't quite put my finger on. I still haven't figured out what it is, but it never takes away from how much I love the journey.

Without a doubt, this is another gem from Nik Knight. You'll laugh. You'll cry. Then you'll cry again. Jude and Cya will leave you feeling heartbreakingly vulnerable, and somewhere along the way you'll probably find pieces of yourself reflected in more than one character.

We also got to see a whole new side of Tadora! 🐸💚 I seriously can't wait for her book... or honestly, I'll happily survive on whatever tiny crumbs you keep feeding us about her in every book😭

She radiates shadow mafia mommy energy and I'm absolutely obsessed with her. I've loved her since the very beginning. She's delightfully unhinged, completely unpredictable, and every time she opens her mouth I have no idea what's about to come out. The way her emotions show up in every situation keeps me on my toes and somehow makes me love her even more.

Please, Nik... I'm begging. Give us more of my beautiful frog queen Tadora. She has completely stolen my heart💚✨

An easy, wholehearted recommendation. My heart never stood a chance.

[San Lemonade]

Prejudice and Pride by Nik Knight
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 High-Five Stars... Boom 🤜🤛
⬆️ Ebook ARC
🔀 Dual POV Third-Person Narrative
🎨 Cover: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚 Passing Through Café Series Book Five
👉 Each book follows a different couple with its own HEA.
👉 Can Be Read as a Standalone, but I Highly Recommend Reading the Series in Order (for full emotional impact).
‌‌‌‌‌‌‌
🌈 Adult MM Contemporary Urban Fantasy Rom-Com
👉 Low Angst
📍Set in the Hell Dimension
❤️‍🩹 Hurt to Comfort
😈 Humans & Demons Coexisting
💰 Rich x Working Class

☕ Cozy Café in Purgatory & Lovable Eccentric Staff
🤣 Unhinged Comedy
🖤 Spicy Fun Sprinkled w/ Dark Humor
😏 Hilarious "Wild/Kinky" Demon Shenanigans
👀 Cameos (Loved it! 💖)
🤟 Sign Language Communication

🏳️‍🌈 Intersex & Nonbinary MC
🌈 Queer Awakening
❤️ Learning to Love Yourself
🪞 Self-Acceptance Journey
🫶 Mutual Healing
📝 Grammar is Optional (Dex Edition 🤣)

🐍 Snake x Wolf Demon 🐺
🎓 Student x Tutor
🤨 Grumpy x Sunshine 😁
👑 Ice Queen (Facade) x Cinnamon Roll Himbo 🥰
🖤 Skittish Black Cat x Golden Retriever Jock 🥏
🛡️ Protective MC
🧲 Opposites Attract

🔥 Dynamics & Spice:
👉 First-Time (but well educated thanks to lots of smut reading 😏🤌)
📱 Sexting & Naughty Pics
🗯 Dirty Talk & Teasing
💋 Oral Fixation
👉 Light Tail Play
👉 Scent-Marking
👉 Piercings/Jewelry & Praise Kink
👉 Slight Degradation/Humiliation Kink
🤲 Caretaking
🔥 Slow-Burn
🥵 Spice Level (Intensity, not frequency):
🌶🌶🌶🌶

🌈 MCs:
☕️💍🐍💚👉Cylene "Cya" Zoia Vysov (21), They/ Them:
🐍 "Sypent: Species of demon resembling a snake. Common features include scaled skin, two arms, a single tail in place of legs, fangs, and forked tongues."
🐍 Live in the Pride District.
🐍 Studies at Pride University and works as a barista at The Passing Through Cafe, without their parents' knowledge.
🐍 Bronze skin with shimmering emerald scales, green hair, golden eyes, and a lean build.
🐍 Always adorned with gold jewelry and chains they made themselves, along with multiple piercings.
🐍 Exceptionally talented artist, especially in jewelry making, and also with painting, music, and academics.
🐍 Proud, sharp-tongued, and emotionally guarded.
🐍 Hides deep loneliness and insecurity behind an icy exterior.
🐍 Comes from a wealthy but emotionally abusive family that values appearances above everything else.
🐍 Hemersyn, the family butler/driver, was their safe place, their biggest supporter, their only friend, and the closest thing they ever had to a parent.

☕️🥏🐺💛👉 Dex Triever (21), He/Him:
🐺 "Lupyn: Species of demon resembling a wolf. Common features include thick fur, canines, fuzzy ears, tails, and claws."
🐺 Lives in Gluttony, in a close-knit neighborhood where different species live together.
🐺 Tall, broad, muscular, with creamy blond fur.
🐺 Has one bright blue eye and one dark amber eye.
🐺 Dyscus athlete at Pride University, and he's very good at it. It's "like football meets ultimate frisbee." (Observed by Oliver 💖)
🐺 Recently started working at The Passing Through Cafe while tutoring Cya in math.
🐺 The sweetest himbo ever with endless patience, optimism, and a heart of gold.
🐺 His mother and sister mean everything to him, and he's guided by a strong pack mentality.
🐺 Always sees the best in others. 💝

⚠️ Content Warnings:
⚠️ Toxic & Emotionally Abusive Parents
⚠️ Misgendering & Transphobic Slurs
⚠️ Intersex Discrimination & Self-Hatred
⚠️ Emotional Manipulation & Gaslighting
⚠️ Parental Neglect & Abandonment
⚠️ Classism, Speciesism & Bigotry
⚠️ Past Medical Trauma
⚠️ Pro-choice/abortion Stance (SC)
⚠️ Mention of Child Loss (SC Past)

🌈 Eccentric Chaotic Found Family/Pack 🐾
👏 Solid Character Development
💯 Sweet and Wild Side Characters
🥰 Love the Ending
😍 HEA

💭 My Thoughts:
📖 This book completely stole my heart. It made me laugh, cry, smile, and fall in love with another sweet and unforgettable couple from the Passing Through Café series.
🐺 Dex is the definition of a cinnamon roll. So kind, endlessly supportive, and somehow capable of seeing the good in Cya long before they could see it themselves. Watching him slowly chip away at Cya's walls without ever trying to change who they were was simply beautiful.
🐍 Cya absolutely broke my heart. They had spent their entire life believing they were somehow "wrong." Watching them finally allow themselves to be loved was incredibly emotional and beautifully written.
❤️ I especially loved how respectfully the author handles Cya's intersex identity. It never feels exploitative or reduced to a plot device. Instead, it's portrayed with compassion, dignity, and so much humanity.
☕ All the staff once again felt like the definition of found family. They constantly made me laugh, cry, or both. And Hemersyn completely stole my heart. His unconditional love, guidance, and unwavering support made him one of the most touching characters in the story.
🤟 I also loved the sign language representation. I'm always excited to see it in books, and I thought it was handled naturally and with so much care.
😂 As always, Nik Knight perfectly balances emotional moments with absolutely chaotic comedy. Between Dex's himbo logic, the ridiculous conversations, and the wonderfully unhinged demons, I had an absolute blast reading it.
🥹 Watching Cya slowly find a safe place with Dex, the café family, and finally within themselves was my favorite part of the book.
💚 This is probably the most emotional installment in the series so far... then again, I think I said the same thing about the previous book. Guilty. 😂
🤌 It's full of acceptance, healing, smut, laughter, and unconditional love. I couldn't stop smiling.

▪︎FAV QUOTES▪︎

😂🤣■ “At least I didn’t start any fires this time,” Rusty mumbled wearily. 
“Has that happened before?” Cya asked, and the Pyclon held up three mauve fingers. “Unholy shit.”
...
‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​“They were all accidents,” Rusty growled.

📱■ Don’t be. It’s the worst, but also the best. I’m gonna send you so many videos about screaming goats.
I don’t know what a goat is. (Dex & Cya)

■ I hate you.” 
Working his jaw, he hummed. “Nah, I don’t think you do. I’m too cute and lovable.” (Dex)

😂■ “Kwinoah,” Dex breathed in awe. “I feel so fancy right now.” 
“Oh, it’s pronounced, keen-waa, actually,” Yve corrected.
The Lupyn frowned, then he spun on Cya, mouth agape in betrayal. “You let me walk around calling it kwinoah. You monster!”
With a self-satisfied smirk, Cya shrugged. “Oops.”

■ Cya burst into laughter. “Sleep sex?”
“Like sleep walking,” he reasoned as he nuzzled the neckline of the shirt they wore. “But sex. Sleep sexxing.”
“I didn’t realize you suffered from sexsomnia.”
‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​“Psh, you and your fancy words. Mine are better.”(Cya & Dex)

■ Her face scrunched in indignation. “Hiding bodies in a storage locker; do I look like an amateur to you?” 
“Um, no?” they said—er, asked. 
“Fucking insulting. And after I did you a favor,” (Tad being Tad. 😂)

💯 I can’t wait for the next book!
😉 Thanks for reading, hope this helps!
I received this book for free from GRR and am voluntarily leaving this review.

Socials: https://linktr.ee/sunnylemonadereads

[Zoe]

Dex and Cya are the loveliest new additions to the Passing Through Cafe family. Every single book in this series so far has been delightful including this one. I am the biggest fan of Dex and Cya. These two made me laugh and sob and through it all I was rooting for them to find their happily ever after together. Dex is just as sweet, energetic, and slightly himbo-y as you’d expect but he is genuinely just so good. I loved Dex’s energy and positive outlook towards everything, especially his friendship with Cya who was very much against their friendship.

It was so much fun seeing how Dex got along with everyone at the cafe and I love how he’s like a little brother to all of them. Cya on the other hand does start off a little bit colder than Dex when it comes to their relationships with everyone but they grew up in a cold environment and their icy exterior was very much an armour they needed to wear. I honestly really loved Cya’s POV even though it was a little heavier. They were so lovely and a little lonely that it made me happy watching them slowly find a place with the Cafe crew and with Dex.

There were definitely some really rocky moments between Cya and Dex and just in Cya’s life in general throughout the book but it also allowed both of them the chance to reflect and grow. Cya’s growth throughout the book was very visible and beautiful, I loved seeing them open up and also choose the people who they want to be in their life. I loved seeing them learn how to live a more normal life that they aren’t accustomed to but still learn to accept and love it too. And while there was definitely a lot of growth for Cya they didn’t lose their personality and were still wonderfully snarky and just a tiny bit pretentious. While Cya’s growth was more in the forefront of the story Dex also got his moment of growth and learning too. Dex had to learn how to set some boundaries and let Cya come to him. I think that these rocky moments were such an important part of making their relationship what it is and it was wonderful going on that journey with them

This book is definitely the angsiest or most emotional book in the series so far in my opinion but it wasn't all sad. There were many fun found family moments in this book just like what you’d expect from this series. I loved seeing this crew show up and support one another and seeing how well Cya and Dex fit into it. There were also many very silly and chaotic moments that were helped along into that chaos by Gem of course. And then there were so many cute relationship moments between Dex and Cya while they figure out how to juggle their friendship and relationship along with all the other many things college students deal with. I loved seeing Cya with Dex’s family and it was so sweet how accepting they were of them. And even with all the rockiness in the beginning Dex and Cya’s relationship was so sweet and warm, with so much heart written into it. Though one of the biggest surprises for me in this book was how wonderful Cya and Hemersyn’s relationship was. Hemersyn was a shining example of a safe place and unconditional love throughout Cya’s life. This book was utterly flawless and I can not wait to jump into whatever Nik Knight writes next for this rowdy crew of misfits!

Thank you GRR for the ARC!

[avis03]

NBi/M, Urban Fantasy, Rom-Com, 3rd Dual POV

Status: KU, Series, Third Act Conflict - External

Cya: NBi (They/Them), Intersex, 21 Urs Old, Sypent (Serpent Tail, Green Scales, Bronze Skin, Forked Tongue), Long Green Hair, College Student, Wealthy (Nepo Baby), Pierced (Ears, Nipples, Navel), Crafts Thier Own Jewelry, Learns Sign Language, Sexually Inexperienced

Dex: Lupine (Blonde Fur, Knot), 22 Yrs Old, Himbo, College Student (Sports Therapy), Jock (Dyscus), Heterochromia (Blue, Brown), Pan (Awakening), Knows Sign Language

Rep: Autism (Zef), ADHD (Gem), Deaf (Jasmyn), Casual ND Rep, Queer Normative, Defaults to They/Them when Pronouns are Unknown, Trans and NBi Characters, Sex Positivity, Body Positivity, Ace Positivity, Pro-choice

Side Characters:

Gem: ADHD, Araknis (Spider Like) (6 Arms, Grey Skin, Red Markings), 28 Yrs Old, Barista of 2nd Cafe Location

Rusty: Autistic Coded, Pyclon (Racoon Like, Pink Fur), 25 Yrs Old, Bi, Demisexual, Baker Case Expert / Cashier

Toni: Elas (Shark Like) (Sharp Teeth, Blue Skin, Back Fin, Gills, Small Fins, Sensitive Hearing, Diphallic), 29 Yrs Old, Pan, Line Cook

Oliver: Human, 27 Yrs Old, Pan, Manager of 2nd Cafe Location

Jude: Human, 26 Yrs Old, Trans, Works in Architecture in Greed

Liel: Gymnot, 31 Yrs Old, Corporate Lawyer

Willow: Dryad (Tree Like), Can Sense Other's Emotions, Baker

Glyma: Succubus (Lilac Skin, Lavender Hair), Cafe Owner, Baker, Quin's Wife

Quin: Cafe Owner, Daemon (Dark Red Skin, Black Dreads, Horns), Glyma's Wife

Zef: Autistic, Mantodea (Insect Like) (4 Arms, Green Skin, Insectoid Wings, White Hair, Compound Eyes, Antennas), Agender (They/Them), Ace, Line Cook

Bryce: Human, Demisexual, Bi, Veterinarian (Farm Animals)

Tad: Anura (Frog Like), Dishwasher

Notes: Found Family, Oddball Cast, Found Family, Forced Proximity, Co-workers, One-sided Enemies to Lovers, Math Tutoring, Pan Awakening (Dex), Black Cat / Golden Retriever

Sex Notes: Blowjob, Swallowing, Nipple Stimulation, Grinding, Dirty Talk (Dex), Ejaculating on Partner, Tail Play (Cock Jerking), No Penetration

CWs: Parental neglect and toxic parent-child dynamics (including but not limited to misgendering, gaslighting and manipulation, withholding love and affection as punishment, constant criticism, etc.), Parental abandonment in childhood (past), Themes of: sexism/misogyny, classism, speciesism, and bigotry; Self-hatred in thinking and speech, (centered around Cya’s intersex identity, genitalia, and sex traits due to parental and societal rejection and pressures including surgery as an infant and child), Transphobic rhetoric and culturally-offensive terms wielded as slurs (specifically tranny and hermaphrodite), Pro-choice/abortion stance: A side character discovers an unplanned, unwanted pregnancy, and subsequently seeks an (off-page) abortion

Author Notes: (Nik Knight), They/He, NBi, Transmasc, Queer, UK Based

[Brooke]

⭐️ 4.5 stars ⭐️

They were prickly and covered in thorns, but the way he saw it, no one was ice all the way through. They just needed a bit of warmth to melt the harsh edges and get to their gooey center. Dex had a feeling Cya had the gooiest center of all.

An unlikely friendship, study buddies become more, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract. Dex and Cya were both like cake, and I just wanted to gobble them up.

Heterochromatic eyes gleaming with excitement, Dex lifted a hand, palm out, and gleefully exclaimed, “Destiny high-five!”

There is one thing I love above all else, and that is definitely sunshine himbo puppy bois. But I also love characters like Cya, a little broken, a little touch-starved, that make you feel seen, prickly on the outside but with a warm gooey center.

“Best sex ever high-five.” Dex nodded in approval. “Boom!” ‌‌‌‌‌ And Cya laughed. “Boom.”

The smut was both lovely and sexy. Lots of acceptance and cuddles, worshipping touches and praise, and a bit of dirtiness (Cya likes it messy).

“You wanna come on my knot, highness?”

But, just like the last installment, the ending left me wanting. It felt more like a happy-for-now. But, I still really loved Prejudice and Pride and am super excited for the next one as well.

“You’re worth the world, Dex Triever.”

I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

CW and NSFW info (spoilers):
- Parental neglect and toxic parents
- Parental abandonment (past)
- Themes of sexism, speciesism & bigotry
- Self-hatred/self-image issues
- Transphobia
- Mention of abortion (side character, off page)
- Mention of child loss (off page, side character)
- Mention of past surgeries & scars
- Non-binary MC
- Virgin MC
- Intersex MC
- Scent-marking
- Piercings/jewelry kink
- Praise/degradation kink
- Non-human genitalia
- Queer awakening
- Light tail play
- Grinding/dry humping
- No penetrative sex

[Emily Hernandez]

It's no secret that I've adored every book in the Passing Through Cafe series, and Cya and Dex's was no exception! I'll admit that I wasn't sure what to make of Cya at first -- they maintained an icy, haughty persona to keep everyone at a distance and I didn't understand why. When Dex decided he and Cya were destined to be friends, Cya acted like the worst version of themself, hurting Dex's feelings multiple times in an effort to protect themself. It was only Dex's boisterous, happy personality that kept him coming back around, and even that reached a breaking point part way through the book. As I learned more about both leads, it became clear that their approach to interacting with others had been shaped by their abandonment issues. Cya just wanted to be accepted and loved for who they were, but their experiences had taught them that no one could be trusted with authenticity. Dex, on the other hand, wanted to be chosen by someone, to be good enough to not walk away from. It feels weird to say, but their emotional scars allowed them to understand each other, to see past each other's outer facades to the person struggling within. It was wonderful to watch as Cya grew brave enough to express themself openly, to be loud and messy and imperfect without fear of losing their found family. I especially adored watching their relationship with Hemersyn grow -- he truly was the father figure they didn't realize they'd been relying on for their entire life. Dex, in turn, found someone who wouldn't run away from a bad day, who wanted to learn HSL with his sister and fussed about meeting his mom. I knew that the honeymoon period of their relationship would be popped when Cya's parents came back in town, but that didn't make it any easier to swallow that bitter pill. I'm so proud of Cya for choosing happiness over a lifestyle that kept them small and sad, and with Dex and the Passing Through crew by their side, there's nothing they can't tackle together. 

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Adeselna]

Thank you so much Gay Romance Reviews for the ARC

“Prejudice and Pride” stole my heart! I thought Luxuries of Lust was going to be hard to top and become my absolute favourite, but Cya and Dex were just the absolute most adorable characters for a book.

The premise is fun and simple, Cya is having a hard time with math and they need a tutor. Dex is a jock, who’s kind of himbo, but he’s great with numbers. They both work at the “Passing Through” Cafe, Dex has a sister that he takes care (since their mom is working full-time), Cya is a single child with absent parents. While Dex is an absolute joy, he never lets anything drag him down, he’s always there for Cya, he’s just a great brother who tries his best; Cya is the total opposite. They’re the dark cloud. Their parents don’t pay attention to them, they don’t have friends, and they’re always struggling to be accepted, which they achieve a little bit of that with the crew from the cafe. We see the MC’s from the other books, and how the people we meet in life are better than the family we were born into.

Also, I loved that Dex had his own journey of queer awakening, but he was never mean. I loved that he was such a chill dude. He was Tod from Scrubs, but without the creepy tone. Dex is such so cheerful, supportive, and just sunshine. He tried a lot to be respectful with everyone, he never judged. When I have a sunshine character, this is what that character to be.

Cya’s POV is a lot darker, but it’s understandable, since we are witnessing their feelings grow. They go from someone who’s used to push people away, who’s used to not be adored, to having Dex just follow him around and be happy. Cya never made anyone happy, so they have a lot of conflicting feelings at first, to the point where they’re insulting themselves, because they’ve internalized all the hate towards them. Cya’s POV is the most heart-wrenching one, and as soon as they realised Dex is just someone they can trust, their feelings get much more easy to witness.

I loved both POV’s, I think it’s a great book with so much representation. We have trans characters, sapphic couples, non-binary MCs, voice-off secondary character. It’s a series that makes me happy for being so diverse, and having a type of love different for everybody. While “Prejudice and Pride” is my favourite so far, I totally recommend this series.

[Kayla (anxietea-reads)]

I honestly don’t know where to start with this book. I adore this series and getting the opportunity to arc read these last two books has made me so happy. There is so much heart and soul in these characters that I never want to leave the world. I will be heartbroken honestly when this series ends.

When you meet Cya and Dex, they are new coworkers and classmates at their university. Neither knows the other, but Dex wants to know Cya because destiny. These two butt heads a lot, well more so Cya is prickly and defensive about Dex being in their space but I digress. It is very much a black cat/golden retriever dynamic and I LOVE it so much. The growth these two go on together, I think I have said that I adored the journey all these couples have gone on. Nik does just such a good job showing their progression and it never feels overnight or sudden. The whole opposites in personality on the surface but underneath seeing that really these two aren’t that different. One just wears their anger and frustration as armor and the other has so much love to give that they show the other that its ok to be vulnerable.

Something Nik just does well with this series is the found family trope. There is such camaraderie between this cast of characters and I just love that. I’m in tears no matter what is happening in the book, either from laughing so hard or being moved by these words on a page. I always can feel the emotions in my chest when hard moments happen in Nik’s book, like to the point when characters are having panic attacks, my brain is almost thinking I am having one too. I just love their writing so much.

Genuinely I wont know what to do when this series comes to an end. I am so excited for the next one and am thankful to GRR for the opportunity to read this early. This is my honest review.

[True Loveislovereview]

Cya is a Sypent, coming from a rich cold family. They are bullied at the university, and feels alone. They only have Hemersyn, who raised them and looked after them their whole life, instead of Cya’s awful parents.
Cya has been close to someone only once, and they burned themself. The guy made them ridiculous, told private things about their body, their intersex identity. Since then, they avoided contact with anyone.
Dex is in their face the whole time, no rude comments can shove him away.

Dex is a Lupyn, he’s an optimistic sunshine, and just shrugs when Cya makes rude and sarcastic comments. Cya’s venomous tongue should discourage Dex, but he’s easy-going and laughs it away.

“Dex, meet your new tutoring student. Cya, meet your new tutor.” Gulp! Cya wants to run. And Dex was like, yess!! He is happy to spend time with Cya.

Dex is head over heels, he’s too much for Cya, right? Nah, he’s magnificent! And wait for it, Cya is slowly melting for Dex, and it was everything!!
They both work at the Passing Through Cafe. We’ll meet all our awesome friends from this series there.

Btw, Hemersyn is the bomb!!

“P. A. C. K.”

The story and characters have so much depth. Both their background stories are superbly executed, the characteristics, the insecurities, the hurt comfort, the humor, the smexy moments it was one glorious story.

There are hundreds of lines I wanted to highlight, really too many to mention!
These creatures are downright brilliant! I love this author’s mind!

High five for this absolutely fabulous story. Boom!!

Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews

[Flick]

This had all the emotions wrapped up in a beautiful, happy bow

Oof, this one packed a punch. To be fair, what I love the most about Nik's Passing Through series is that it does not shy away from big, heavy, often almost overwhelming feelings but it deals with them so honestly and kindly that it doesn't feel like too much. Cya and Dex, at least on the surface, don't seem like they'd work and initially they really didn't. Cya was so closed off and aggressively protective of himself (to be fair, it was understandable why) usually in the form of lashing out to keep people away. Dex was complete sunshine wrapped up in a joyful and happy wrapper. He also didn't always understand his worth and sometimes I really wanted to tell him that he was just as deserving of care and respect. They both grow a lot over the course of the book; in some ways it seems like Cya grows the most. They go from being exceptionally defensive, closed off and unwilling to believe in others to being willing to open up and be vulnerable with people and to create the family they needed and wanted. Personally though, I think Dex's growth is massive. He's a person who is so sweet and open and such a people pleaser but that leaves him open to really having a lot of boundaries trampled. I'm so glad that he learnt that he was worth setting boundaries and that he was worth having them respected. In the end, it also really pushed Cya to do some of the work in their relationship and not rely on Dex putting all the effort in. Don't get me wrong, I love them both but I think Dex is my favourite. Plus, on top of all of that we got to see the other characters in the Passing Through Cafe. I'm going to be devastated when this series ends because I adore these characters so much.

[RavieReads]

*ARC Review*

Cya tries to get through their life day by day; going to classes, trying to fit in at home, going to work, and trying not to fail their math class. Dex, who recognizes Cya from his interview when applying for the Passing Through Cafe, is bound and determined to get closer to them because it must be destiny. When the cold and tense Cya is forced to work with Dex to pass this class, what happens when they have to spend more time with one another?


Honestly before this book I did not think I was going to like it. With previous books we had at least a bit of an understanding of how the next book's characters would be, but Cya and Dex were so new to me that I wasn't sure. Sadly I was not able to read book 4 in time, because I didn't request it when it was able to be read as an arc.

I loved these two characters. I dont know how Knight does it, but they somehow make every character they create just so rich and full of character and emotion. I dont often read books with nonbinary or intersex characters but honestly Knight knocked it right out of the park. It was just so easy for Cya to fit in with their identity, and Dex was just so understanding and sweet that there was never any doubt in his mind to refer to Cya as anything else.

Both characters, while not all of their backstories were thoroughly explained, enough was explained to make an impact and actually make the reader invested in them as a character.

Knights writing just gets better and better and I cant wait for more. Hopefully I'll have time to go back and read the ones I missed soon! <33

[Nina Diab]

“Dex, meet your new tutoring student. Cya, meet your new tutor.
“What!” Cya cried in dismay as Dex’s entire countenance lit up. ‌‌‌‌‌ ​‌ ​‌ ​‌‌ ​ ​‌ ​
​‌ He grinned so wide it was practically cartoonish, tail wagging hard enough against the professor’s desk that one of her pens rolled right across it and clattered to the floor. “Alright, alright!”
“But— but— no,” Cya breathed miserably. Heterochromatic eyes gleaming with excitement, Dex lifted a hand, palm out, and gleefully exclaimed, “Destiny high-five!”

I absolutely loved this book! As expected from this amazing series- great world building and wonderful characters. And I was completely hooked from the start. I liked Cya right away- their family life, school life, friend count was painful, but also accentuated their strength and fortitude against the people who didn't deserve them. Cya was sassy, but deadpan, and I loved that combo. And I loved Dex from the beginning. A sweet, cheerful, himbo. I absolutely loveeee himbos. So this grumpy/himbo-level sunshine dynamic between their personalities couldn't make me happier. I couldn't get enough of the two of them! When Cya was assigned Dex as their tutor and the guy lit right up, I cackled so loud!

Dex and our beloved cafe found family were exactly what lonely Cya needed. And as cheerful and happy as Dex was, his life wasn't sunshine and rainbows either. So there were lots of emotions and serious moments as well as the humor. I cannot wait until this comes out in audio!! 5 stars

[GreenwingReads]

This is probably one of the most unique series I have ever read. The world building is amazing and you can tell how much thought and depth Nik put into creating it. I have loved all the books so far, and this one was no different. The primary trope is grumpy/sunshine and it really delivered on that. Dex looks and acts like a happy-go-lucky golden retriever. But that doesn't mean his life is easy, it's not. He has his own stressors and issues that he is navigating, but he never lets it get him down and chooses to be happy. He's accepting and friendly. It's easy to see how his personality would be exactly what Cya needs, he's everything Cya didn't have in their life.

Cya's POV was tough because it was so heavy. They have had to endure so much and are so lonely. Finding their tribe in the Passing Through crew becomes a turning point for them. Found family > birth family by miles here. The cafe crew was so exactly what I expected them to be, pulling Cya in and not letting them isolate themselves.

There are aspects of the plot that felt heavy and were incredibly emotional. The road to their HEA was not easy for Cya and Dex and they had their challenges. But following their journey and seeing who they become together and separately through their growth was very rewarding. And as always, Nik balances it well with humor and the usual antics of the Passing Through staff and their partners. Loved getting cameos from all the past couples too!

[Em (Diversify Your Shelf)]

*I got an arc* 7.5/10

CW: at the front of the book

First off, I *adore* that Nik Knight features so many characters that transcend the gender binary! I think they do a phenomenal job illustration their characters' gender and sexual identities without without fetishization.

"Prejudice & Pride" is a lovely story about found family, trying to unlearn familial toxic beliefs, and knowing the importance of apologising when you've been a bit of a jerk. Cya is forced to realise that an air of superiority isn't the healthiest way to live and, conversely, Dex has to learn that he deserves more than being the butt of every joke.

There are a lot of very important points and storylines in this book. While it was a bit slow going (Cya was *a lot* in the first 13% or so), I loved seeing their bond grow and how everyone in the cafe strives to be better versions of themselves (other than my gloriously concerning Tad).

Unfortunately, I think the book misses its mark a bit by having the moment with the most emotional weight not be between or about the two main characters. While I imagine Nik Knight is very pro-reproductive rights, the narrative surrounding the issue is a bit nebulous and, I think, overshadows the Cya/Dex and Cya/family conflicts. These books do tend to have overlapping timelines, but I think having such an emotional situation in a book about completely other characters muddied the story a bit.

[antonia&#x1fae7;]

I received an ARC from the author via GRR & this review only contains my honest thoughts and feelings about this book.💐

I'm so grateful that Nik Knight has blessed us with ARCs of this series!🙏🏻


Honestly, all I have to say is that I loved Cya and Dex! I want to give both of them a huge hug. They're so cute, together and separately.
I would have wanted to see a bit more of all the others from the passing through cafe, because I'm literally obsessed but what we got was also really nice.


Relief and hope had Dex sagging against Cya's back. "Unholy shit, you guys came."
Quin offered him a tight smile. "You called, didn't you?"
"Cavalry's here, motherfuckers," the Elas said with a jagged smile that was far more threatening than it was friendly. I LOVE THIS and I honestly want it for myself... Toni could have been my absolute favourite character if he was such a DOUCHEBUG to my boy Rusty.😤

And I'm so happy that despite their HORRIBLE family, Cya still had such a wonderful father figure...



This series continues to have the most amazing covers by the way.😭

I don't know if Nik Knight and Lily Mayne have affected each others works and writing style but this reminded me a looot of the Goliaths of Wrestling by Lily Mayne. (That could be because I just read book 4 & I just noticed the similarities)

[Dani]

I feel like I say this for every book in this series, but this is my favourite!!

Dex and Cya are just so bloody adorable!

Dex's enthusiasm and happy persona was just so fun, and I loved how he was so caring and so determined to get things right when it came to other people's identities. The way he has zero filter was hilarious and I would totally high five him with a BOOM!!!

Cya was Dex's opposite - closed off, lashing out because they were hurting, reluctant to embrace anything that wasn't prim and proper, but they work together so well. Getting to see who Cya is as a person was really great to see. I did want to smack them with their own rattle though when they made Dex sad!

The whole paranormal university plot was fun too! Dex as the sports star and Cya as the outcast just added a whole other level of drama and fun, and I loved how they build their friendship through learning together and supporting each other.

I loved how the wider family came together to support Dex and Cya, as well as Jude and Toni, and I really liked how they became pack. I cannot wait for more books in this series - I honestly never want it to end because all of these characters are so great!

*****
I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review

[juli✨]

“You’re so much more than meets than eye,” they said, thumbs rubbing over his cheeks. “I’m sorry I didn’t see it sooner.”
Their words were so beautiful they made his heart hurt, and he leaned in and pressed his forehead to theirs. “It’s okay. Maybe you just weren’t looking.”
Cya tilted their head, kissing him softly, a mere whisper against his lips. “I’m looking now.”

Let's give Nik Knight their flowers for once again delivering another banger enemies-to-lovers romance. More authors need to give us true black cat x golden retriever romances. Cause Cya truly was a black cat the entire time. Meanwhile Dex and his himbo energy was perfect. Also, just because he was a himbo did not mean he was a pushover (which i greatly appreciated). Similarly, Cya had moments where they took accountability for their hurtful words/actions. And both characters, Dex and Cya, grew because of the other.

While no couple can touch the love I have for Gem and Rusty, I'd say Cya and Dex came really damn close. Very excited for the next book, and I also really need to go back and read Gratification in Gluttony and Enchanted by Envy.