Title: Luxuries of Lust
Author: Nik Knight
Series: Passing Through Cafe #3
Pages: 505
After reading the previous books, I was so excited to get to this book because Rusty and Gem were my two favorite characters. We have also seen small teases of how their relationship was getting closer in the previous books, so I was excited to read what happened. Not only that, this is dual POV, which made me extremely happy because I needed both sides of the story with these two.
Rusty has had a rough life but working at the Passing Through Cafe has been the best part of the past few years. He now has friends who actually care about him but he still keeps barriers between them out of fear. I have adored Rusty since the first book and I fell even more in love with him after this book. He was so closed off but wanted desperately to be a part of the group. I really loved the progression of him letting Gem in and opening up about his past. Also, his courting of Gem was beautiful and sweet. I couldn’t get enough of it.
“I don’t know. I think it’s, like, I’m generally a lot. I overwhelm and annoy people, maybe? Or like, I’m too intense or just too much for people.” “Then they’re not your people,” Rusty said simply. “You’re a lot of you, sure. But no one can be too much of themselves. Like you’re just you, and that should be okay.”
Gem was spunky, snarky, and so sweet. I loved how fun and open Gem is about his life. It was a great contrast with Rusty being grumpy and closed off. Gem was just perfect with Rusty. He sets out to just become a better friend of Rusty’s and helps him start to have fun, but quickly starts falling for him. The best part, for me, was that Gem let Rusty set the pace and never pushed Rusty to do anything he didn’t want to do. He even helps Rusty get over some of the trauma and make new memories to replace it.
“You’re more beautiful than the rain and the stardust and the desert combined.”
Rusty and Gem were just absolutely adorable! They are definitely my favorite couple for this series! Their friends to lovers romance was perfectly paced and full of emotion. Their friendship was adorable to begin with, but how these two supported each other was the icing on the cake. Their friendship was so strong and realistic that I couldn’t put the book down. I adored that Gem let Rusty set the pace of their relationship and never pushed for anything. Also the banter between Rusty and Gem was hilarious and perfect. I laughed and smiled so much while reading this book. Basically, I just really loved these two and I have no complaints with their relationship.
Overall, this was perfect and I adored these two so much. I am actually a bit sad that their book is over because I couldn’t get enough of them, and their banter. I can’t wait to read more of this series.
TW: PTSD and flashbacks; sexual harassment; death of mother discussed; grief; discussions of being a teenage sex worker; teenage homelessness; one MMC has their drink spiked; alcohol use;
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Previous books and reviews for the series:
Red-Haired Ash Reads 