Pride and Protest
by Nikki Payne
DJ and activist Liza Bennet is fighting the developer turning her Washington, DC, neighborhood into pricey condos. At a protest she mistakes the company's CEO, Dorsey Fitzgerald, for a waiter, and the confrontation becomes a viral meme. Dorsey, the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family, is struggling to prove himself as heir to Pemberley Development. Forced into each other's orbit, both must question their first impressions. A sharp, modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
About This Book
Pride and Protest is a contemporary romance novel by Nikki Payne, first published in 2022 by Berkley. It runs 416 pages.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Length
- 416 pages
- Format
- Paperback
Where to read or listen
Get Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- In a modern D.C. retelling of Pride and Prejudice, an activist protesting neighborhood gentrification clashes with the CEO responsible for the development.
- Fans of Pride and Prejudice retellings
- Readers who enjoy social-issue focused romance
- Features Enemies to Lovers
- Strong premise
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Initially skewed by socioeconomic status and professional roles, evolving through forced proximity.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High tension, moderate angst.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Recommended audience: Adult
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
Liza Bennet is dedicated to protecting her Washington, DC neighborhood from gentrification at the hands of Pemberley Development. When a public protest leads her to mistake the CEO, Dorsey Fitzgerald, for a waiter, their interaction goes viral. Dorsey, the adopted Filipino son of a wealthy white family, is navigating the pressure of proving his worth as the company's heir. As they are forced into contact, both must reevaluate their initial perceptions of one another in this contemporary retelling of Jane Austen's classic.
Central Conflict
Liza and Dorsey are on opposing sides of a neighborhood gentrification battle, complicated by initial misunderstandings and professional pressures.
Setting
Washington, DC
Strengths
- Strong premise
- Clear character motivations
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Nikki Payne
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Berkley
- Format
- Paperback
- Length
- 416 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780593440940
Pride and Protest: quick answers
- Who wrote Pride and Protest?
- Pride and Protest was written by Nikki Payne.
- When was Pride and Protest published?
- Pride and Protest was first published in 2022 by Berkley.
- What genre is Pride and Protest?
- Pride and Protest is a contemporary romance novel.
- How many pages is Pride and Protest?
- Pride and Protest is 416 pages long (Paperback).
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inWhere to read or listen
Get Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne
These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.
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