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The Book of Luke
For fans of Survivor and Less, this fast-paced debut novel shines an unflinching light on the drama of reality TV when a gay man returns to the cut-throat show he won in his youth after his adult life begins to unravel.
Following the car accident that ended his football career and left his body scarred, 22-year-old Luke Griffin joins the cast of Endeavor, a new competition-based reality show that pits the tabloids’ darlings against one another in tasks of endurance and problem solving. At first, he thrives, effortlessly forming friendships and even a romantic relationship that he thinks will last a lifetime. But Luke has aspirations far bigger than the show's million-dollar prize, and soon a series of betrayals leads to irreversible tragedy, changing the course of his and his fellow contestants' lives forever.
Ten years later, Luke’s world looks very he is now a father of two and the stay-at-home husband to America’s only openly gay senator. When his husband's serial cheating is exposed, Luke impulsively joins the cast of Endeavor's latest season in a desperate bid to earn some fast cash. Back on set, he is confronted with everything he tried to leave in the bitter rivalries, shattered friendships, and crushing guilt, all of which threaten to tear down the walls he’s spent a decade building. As Season 20 of Endeavor kicks off, Luke must give everything to the game, even as he finally learns what it means––and what it costs––to face the truth.
Combining the fabulous rivalries of The Traitors with the epic physical stunts of The Challenge, THE BOOK OF LUKE offers a grounded portrait of what it means to reinvent yourself when no one will let you forget your past - especially if it's immortalized on streaming services.
Following the car accident that ended his football career and left his body scarred, 22-year-old Luke Griffin joins the cast of Endeavor, a new competition-based reality show that pits the tabloids’ darlings against one another in tasks of endurance and problem solving. At first, he thrives, effortlessly forming friendships and even a romantic relationship that he thinks will last a lifetime. But Luke has aspirations far bigger than the show's million-dollar prize, and soon a series of betrayals leads to irreversible tragedy, changing the course of his and his fellow contestants' lives forever.
Ten years later, Luke’s world looks very he is now a father of two and the stay-at-home husband to America’s only openly gay senator. When his husband's serial cheating is exposed, Luke impulsively joins the cast of Endeavor's latest season in a desperate bid to earn some fast cash. Back on set, he is confronted with everything he tried to leave in the bitter rivalries, shattered friendships, and crushing guilt, all of which threaten to tear down the walls he’s spent a decade building. As Season 20 of Endeavor kicks off, Luke must give everything to the game, even as he finally learns what it means––and what it costs––to face the truth.
Combining the fabulous rivalries of The Traitors with the epic physical stunts of The Challenge, THE BOOK OF LUKE offers a grounded portrait of what it means to reinvent yourself when no one will let you forget your past - especially if it's immortalized on streaming services.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published December 2, 2025
466 people are currently reading
13336 people want to read
About the author
Lovell Holder
2 books68 followersLovell Holder is a filmmaker who has directed and co-written the feature films Lavender Men and Loserville. As a producer, his movies include The Surrender, Peak Season, Midday Black Midnight Blue, The End of Us, Working Man, and Some Freaks. A graduate of Princeton University and Brown University (MFA), he currently lives in Los Angeles, California and Charlotte, North Carolina. The Book of Luke is his first novel. Instagram: @lovell.holder
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 483 reviews
February 3, 2026
This book was messsssyyyy and I had so much fun with it! If you're someone who is a fan of reality tv, whether it be The Challenge, Traitors, or something like the Housewives franchise, you'll eat this one up. It's filled to the brim with drama, plot twists, and chaos. I was glad to see it explore how reality tv manufactures storylines to push a specific narrative and shape how the audience will perceive it. As a reality tv junkie myself, this is something I've been thinking about a lot lately. I'm only giving it a 3.5, because I felt it could've been condensed by 100 pages and the constant flipping between timelines made it feel convoluted, but overall it was a fun read!
December 3, 2025
Didn’t think it was possible, but Lovell Holder has successfully created a story that combines the best contestants and shocking moments of MTV’s The Challenge, the drama from Bravo’s reality TV, and action-packed set pieces from the Hunger Games to create “The Book of Luke,” a reality tv fan’s dream of a book. While no one dies here (no need to volunteer, Katniss), if you’re a fan of Survivor and other competition shows that blend politics and endurance, you’ll be dying to check this one out.
The Book of Luke follows titular Luke, a former reality TV competitor who after discovering his husband, a gay republican (oh vey!) has been having an affair (or two, or three, or more) must jump back into the very career he left behind so he can better provide for his children. The invitation, seemingly out the blue, is his chance to pick up some easy cash and move him and his two kids out of DC and into a new life. Of course, easier said than done, as Luke arrives to season 20 of the popular reality tv completion, Endeavor, reunited with former best friend, but now sworn enemy, Imogen, and others from his past, who are sure to make his time back on tv a bit of a nightmare. There’s some nuance (emphasis on the “some”) here — Luke isn’t a perfect lead, having made some bad decisions since his first appearance, including outing a cast member, marrying a republican who’s voting record has put members of underserved communities at more of a risk, and overall is a crappy friend. This all comes to a head over these 400 pages of twists, backstabbing, reveals, and countless characters.
Speaking of, there are a lot of characters in this book. Almost laughably so. It’s almost too difficult to keep track of these people, though it does get easier as more eliminations occur. I would have loved more double eliminations or Challenge-like purge moments. Thankfully, no redemption house here so once people are eliminated they stay eliminated. Another issue lay with how Luke was written. At times, you want to root for him, but there are others where you can’t — a moment from his past is pretty despicable no matter how much Lovell wants to say it was part “of the game.” It’s too bad because serious topics are handled with a lot of care including the trans identity on television, which as a viewer of reality tv, is all but missing in real life. This pipe dream extends to the ending and boy does this book end on a happy ending. It’s sweet but maybe too sweet.
This one was a fun one for me — I ripped through these pages as more layers of this onion were removed, but mileage will vary. If you’re a fan of the source material, then this one is for you. If you’re looking for dramatics and some inner workings of reality tv, also give this a shot. At times I wasn’t sure if it was my love of The Challenge that kept me going (sometimes thinking to myself “I wonder if the author will pull a twist like MTV did in The Rivals 3”) or if it was my interest in the story. The story at times, may fall flat, but your interest in this genre of TV will make up for it. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
The Book of Luke follows titular Luke, a former reality TV competitor who after discovering his husband, a gay republican (oh vey!) has been having an affair (or two, or three, or more) must jump back into the very career he left behind so he can better provide for his children. The invitation, seemingly out the blue, is his chance to pick up some easy cash and move him and his two kids out of DC and into a new life. Of course, easier said than done, as Luke arrives to season 20 of the popular reality tv completion, Endeavor, reunited with former best friend, but now sworn enemy, Imogen, and others from his past, who are sure to make his time back on tv a bit of a nightmare. There’s some nuance (emphasis on the “some”) here — Luke isn’t a perfect lead, having made some bad decisions since his first appearance, including outing a cast member, marrying a republican who’s voting record has put members of underserved communities at more of a risk, and overall is a crappy friend. This all comes to a head over these 400 pages of twists, backstabbing, reveals, and countless characters.
Speaking of, there are a lot of characters in this book. Almost laughably so. It’s almost too difficult to keep track of these people, though it does get easier as more eliminations occur. I would have loved more double eliminations or Challenge-like purge moments. Thankfully, no redemption house here so once people are eliminated they stay eliminated. Another issue lay with how Luke was written. At times, you want to root for him, but there are others where you can’t — a moment from his past is pretty despicable no matter how much Lovell wants to say it was part “of the game.” It’s too bad because serious topics are handled with a lot of care including the trans identity on television, which as a viewer of reality tv, is all but missing in real life. This pipe dream extends to the ending and boy does this book end on a happy ending. It’s sweet but maybe too sweet.
This one was a fun one for me — I ripped through these pages as more layers of this onion were removed, but mileage will vary. If you’re a fan of the source material, then this one is for you. If you’re looking for dramatics and some inner workings of reality tv, also give this a shot. At times I wasn’t sure if it was my love of The Challenge that kept me going (sometimes thinking to myself “I wonder if the author will pull a twist like MTV did in The Rivals 3”) or if it was my interest in the story. The story at times, may fall flat, but your interest in this genre of TV will make up for it. My thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC.
February 21, 2026
As a 90s kid who watched reality TV evolve from scrappy social experiment to cultural machine, I loved how sharply this captures that world. Holder doesn’t just use that world as his backdrop, he weaponizes it, trapping Luke in that pressure cooker and forcing him to face the darkest parts of himself.
The pacing is frantic and addictive. It’s dramatic, hard to put down, and heightened in a way that feels intentional. If a real season ever escalated like this, it would be legendary and that’s the point. The book takes everything we love about the genre and pushes it to the edge without losing its emotional core.
Through all of it, the characters help the story stay grounded even at its most unhinged. The familiar archetypes are morally gray in a way that feels honest. You root for them and then immediately question why. They’re layered and human enough to carry a messy, complicated redemption story that truly lands, all while interrogating both the human condition and the machinery of reality television itself.
What’s performance and what’s real? What do we offer up to the camera, and what do we hide? And when we curate ourselves for public consumption, who are we actually becoming?
This won’t be for everyone. But if you love reality television or if you’re the most dramatic, gossip-loving member of your friend group… this one will absolutely deliver.
The pacing is frantic and addictive. It’s dramatic, hard to put down, and heightened in a way that feels intentional. If a real season ever escalated like this, it would be legendary and that’s the point. The book takes everything we love about the genre and pushes it to the edge without losing its emotional core.
Through all of it, the characters help the story stay grounded even at its most unhinged. The familiar archetypes are morally gray in a way that feels honest. You root for them and then immediately question why. They’re layered and human enough to carry a messy, complicated redemption story that truly lands, all while interrogating both the human condition and the machinery of reality television itself.
What’s performance and what’s real? What do we offer up to the camera, and what do we hide? And when we curate ourselves for public consumption, who are we actually becoming?
This won’t be for everyone. But if you love reality television or if you’re the most dramatic, gossip-loving member of your friend group… this one will absolutely deliver.
October 6, 2025
Who loves reality tv? 🙋♂️
I remember the days of Katie and Veronica screaming at each other on the Inferno and Coral being a reality television legend on MTV’s The Challenge, so once I heard that Lovell Holder’s debut novel, THE BOOK OF LUKE, was giving a queer fictional tale of my once favorite teenage years show, I knew that I needed to prioritize this! Books featuring reality tv storylines can be hit or miss with me, but I am excited that I dove into this one. Thank you @grandcentralpub for this gifted copy!
This book hooked me from the start—equal parts reality TV chaos, queer drama, and emotional depth. Centering on Luke Griffin, a former reality show star who returns to Endeavor after finding out about his politician husband’s affairs, he is nervous to return to the competition that once made him famous. The story balances the tension of past and present timelines with plenty of betrayal, redemption, and scandal. The pacing is slow moving at times, but the writing is sharp, the characters layered, and the drama relentless. Even when the plot leaned repetitive or the cast felt overwhelming, the author’s insight into fame, guilt, and reinvention kept me invested.
For fans of The Challenge, this debut offers a smart, heartfelt take on queer identity and the toxic allure of second chances in the spotlight. It’s packed with emotion and moral complexity, handling serious themes like trans representation and public shame with nuance. While the ending may feel a bit too neat, the journey there is full of tension, twists, and humanity. It’s a standout for readers who love messy, dramatic, and unflinchingly real queer fiction. STARS: 4, PUB: 12/2
I remember the days of Katie and Veronica screaming at each other on the Inferno and Coral being a reality television legend on MTV’s The Challenge, so once I heard that Lovell Holder’s debut novel, THE BOOK OF LUKE, was giving a queer fictional tale of my once favorite teenage years show, I knew that I needed to prioritize this! Books featuring reality tv storylines can be hit or miss with me, but I am excited that I dove into this one. Thank you @grandcentralpub for this gifted copy!
This book hooked me from the start—equal parts reality TV chaos, queer drama, and emotional depth. Centering on Luke Griffin, a former reality show star who returns to Endeavor after finding out about his politician husband’s affairs, he is nervous to return to the competition that once made him famous. The story balances the tension of past and present timelines with plenty of betrayal, redemption, and scandal. The pacing is slow moving at times, but the writing is sharp, the characters layered, and the drama relentless. Even when the plot leaned repetitive or the cast felt overwhelming, the author’s insight into fame, guilt, and reinvention kept me invested.
For fans of The Challenge, this debut offers a smart, heartfelt take on queer identity and the toxic allure of second chances in the spotlight. It’s packed with emotion and moral complexity, handling serious themes like trans representation and public shame with nuance. While the ending may feel a bit too neat, the journey there is full of tension, twists, and humanity. It’s a standout for readers who love messy, dramatic, and unflinchingly real queer fiction. STARS: 4, PUB: 12/2
December 6, 2025
I had a lot of trouble with this. It's not a bad book, but it's difficult premise to work with and largely just didn't land for me at all.
Ten years ago, Luke was on a reality show that changed his life. Ten years later his senator husband is exposed as a serial cheater and Luke must once again face the spotlight to secure a future for him and his family.
I like challenge-based reality tv shows (or at least youtube videos giving me all the tea without the boring bits) and pretty much anything queer so I thought this might be up my alley. Unfortunately, it was not, but I think that's more due to the premise than anything the author did. The nature of writing about a reality show is that there will inevitably be a ton of characters, far too many to properly establish and characterize, and a lot of drama that isn't super central to the plot. Of course, there is also drama that is central to the plot but it's hard to disentangle from all the peripheral plots. The challenge scenes were also super uninteresting to me, and since there was so much interference behind the scenes it was hard to get a feel for the stakes. Luke was just kind of a normal guy, sometimes shitty but pure of heart, which is fine but doesn't make for a very interesting protagonist.
Nothing here really went right for me, except maybe the cover which I'm still kind of obsessed with.
Thank you to Lovell Holder and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Ten years ago, Luke was on a reality show that changed his life. Ten years later his senator husband is exposed as a serial cheater and Luke must once again face the spotlight to secure a future for him and his family.
I like challenge-based reality tv shows (or at least youtube videos giving me all the tea without the boring bits) and pretty much anything queer so I thought this might be up my alley. Unfortunately, it was not, but I think that's more due to the premise than anything the author did. The nature of writing about a reality show is that there will inevitably be a ton of characters, far too many to properly establish and characterize, and a lot of drama that isn't super central to the plot. Of course, there is also drama that is central to the plot but it's hard to disentangle from all the peripheral plots. The challenge scenes were also super uninteresting to me, and since there was so much interference behind the scenes it was hard to get a feel for the stakes. Luke was just kind of a normal guy, sometimes shitty but pure of heart, which is fine but doesn't make for a very interesting protagonist.
Nothing here really went right for me, except maybe the cover which I'm still kind of obsessed with.
Thank you to Lovell Holder and Grand Central Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
December 12, 2025
If you like reality TV shows and interpersonal politics, I highly recommend this book. It’s about a homemaker, former football star and former reality show contestant. Luke’s husband, a US senator, is caught in a cheating scandal. Luke asks for a divorce but really is desperate to get full custody of the kids. But he has no job and - in a sweep of fate- he gets the opportunity to appear and compete in the same reality show he once competed in ten years earlier.
Luke has some surprises in the cast, including one time alliances and the sister of a now deceased friend and ally. He is ripe for a showmance and even gets the chance to make things right that he regrets.
This is a fun ride with some admittedly one dimensional villains and really clever plotting. Luke is a reluctant hero with secrets. He is flawed but likable. I’m grateful the publisher took a chance on this quirky fun book.
I enjoyed the audio from Libro.fm but I ordered a trophy copy for my shelf.
Luke has some surprises in the cast, including one time alliances and the sister of a now deceased friend and ally. He is ripe for a showmance and even gets the chance to make things right that he regrets.
This is a fun ride with some admittedly one dimensional villains and really clever plotting. Luke is a reluctant hero with secrets. He is flawed but likable. I’m grateful the publisher took a chance on this quirky fun book.
I enjoyed the audio from Libro.fm but I ordered a trophy copy for my shelf.
December 22, 2025
TW: Rape and sexual assault
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Sooooo I was moderately enjoying this book, not a standout but having a good time with the unhinged characters. Then the big twist happens. And we discover the antagonist had sex with the love interest when the love interest was so high that he didn't know what was going on, then the producer (in the room, nonconsensually filming) suggests that he keep having sex with the love interest because he's so high that he won't realize that it's a different person. The antagonist is like are you sure, well okay and steps aside. That's rape. Period. But gasp, the big twist is that the producer had just signed the love interest for a TV show, so it goes against the producer's contract, and they'll have to fire him. NO CALL THE POLICE. There is ZERO acknowledgment of what actually happened or real accountability for the antagonist or producer. I thought there was a moment when the protagonist was going to tell the love interest so at least there could be a conversation and a moment where the love interest was given agency in acknowledging what happened and getting to decide what he wanted to do. But nope. There's no thoughtful engagement with how companies cover up SA or get people to sign NDAs or pay people off or what powerful men can get away with. Nope nopity nope.
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Sooooo I was moderately enjoying this book, not a standout but having a good time with the unhinged characters. Then the big twist happens. And we discover the antagonist had sex with the love interest when the love interest was so high that he didn't know what was going on, then the producer (in the room, nonconsensually filming) suggests that he keep having sex with the love interest because he's so high that he won't realize that it's a different person. The antagonist is like are you sure, well okay and steps aside. That's rape. Period. But gasp, the big twist is that the producer had just signed the love interest for a TV show, so it goes against the producer's contract, and they'll have to fire him. NO CALL THE POLICE. There is ZERO acknowledgment of what actually happened or real accountability for the antagonist or producer. I thought there was a moment when the protagonist was going to tell the love interest so at least there could be a conversation and a moment where the love interest was given agency in acknowledging what happened and getting to decide what he wanted to do. But nope. There's no thoughtful engagement with how companies cover up SA or get people to sign NDAs or pay people off or what powerful men can get away with. Nope nopity nope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2025
As a long-time Survivor and reality TV competition fan, this absolutely ate. I was fed, it was delicious, and I loved it.
There’s a delicate art in crafting stories that showcase multiple timelines, which is like a song and dance where each consecutive move, action, and reaction are determined by what comes before and after. The chapters are interwoven so well, carefully revealing plot lines and stories and the moments that align even if they are years apart, and I truly appreciated this kind of storytelling.
Apart from the writing and stylistic nature of the plot, I truly enjoyed the characters. Whilst I normally turn away from characters I loathe, and also find myself disliking a book where the quantity of annoying characters outnumbers lovable characters, it wasn't the case here. Many of the characters were love-to-hate, and actually had layers to dive into. At one point I even wanted to scream at the MC Luke, but his context gave me understanding for his actions/sayings.
This book is riveting, hard to put down, and I could really picture it all unfolding as I read. I think I knew the book was going to be 5 stars when I was only three chapters in, so that’s truly telling!
There’s a delicate art in crafting stories that showcase multiple timelines, which is like a song and dance where each consecutive move, action, and reaction are determined by what comes before and after. The chapters are interwoven so well, carefully revealing plot lines and stories and the moments that align even if they are years apart, and I truly appreciated this kind of storytelling.
Apart from the writing and stylistic nature of the plot, I truly enjoyed the characters. Whilst I normally turn away from characters I loathe, and also find myself disliking a book where the quantity of annoying characters outnumbers lovable characters, it wasn't the case here. Many of the characters were love-to-hate, and actually had layers to dive into. At one point I even wanted to scream at the MC Luke, but his context gave me understanding for his actions/sayings.
This book is riveting, hard to put down, and I could really picture it all unfolding as I read. I think I knew the book was going to be 5 stars when I was only three chapters in, so that’s truly telling!
Read
June 22, 2025DNF @ 40%
Setting: Italy/US/China
rep: gay protagonist, multiple queer & poc side characters
The writing never quite gripped me but based on the high reviews I decided to power on through the messy plot and the too many characters, but after two separate but extensive Harry Potter references I have to call it quits. seriously, HP references in a queer book is not on in 2025. do better.
Setting: Italy/US/China
rep: gay protagonist, multiple queer & poc side characters
The writing never quite gripped me but based on the high reviews I decided to power on through the messy plot and the too many characters, but after two separate but extensive Harry Potter references I have to call it quits. seriously, HP references in a queer book is not on in 2025. do better.
February 7, 2026
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ⭐
I wasn’t totally sure what to expect going into The Book of Luke, but it ended up being way more engaging (and entertaining) than anticipated. This novel blends the cutthroat chaos of reality TV competitions with literary ambition and emotional depth—and somehow, it works.
The story follows Luke Griffin, a former reality-show legend whose life implodes years later due to a public political scandal involving his husband. Told through dual timelines, the book explores fame, shame, ambition, and how past choices refuse to stay buried. I especially loved how Lovell Holder juxtaposes highbrow literary references with the messy, backstabbing world of reality television—it perfectly mirrors Luke himself.
Smart, dramatic, and surprisingly fun 📺📖
I wasn’t totally sure what to expect going into The Book of Luke, but it ended up being way more engaging (and entertaining) than anticipated. This novel blends the cutthroat chaos of reality TV competitions with literary ambition and emotional depth—and somehow, it works.
The story follows Luke Griffin, a former reality-show legend whose life implodes years later due to a public political scandal involving his husband. Told through dual timelines, the book explores fame, shame, ambition, and how past choices refuse to stay buried. I especially loved how Lovell Holder juxtaposes highbrow literary references with the messy, backstabbing world of reality television—it perfectly mirrors Luke himself.
Smart, dramatic, and surprisingly fun 📺📖
August 12, 2025
Hands down one of the best books I’ve read this year! I didn’t think a story about a gay guy on a reality show would be my cup of tea, but I was ever so wrong. This is a rollercoaster ride I never wanted to get off of. I laughed, I cheered, I held my breath, I cried. This story has it all, action, betrayal, love, family, secrets and lies, messy gays and well written “to the point” sex scenes. The characters here are just so wonderfully crafted and realized. Some of the best written gay characters in a book I’ve read. They feel like real humans. He doesn’t shy away from the tough things. I love that Holder lets his characters be messy and complex. Showing the complexities and shapes that love takes. He captures the dehumanizing nature of reality television. And he gives us one of the most exciting and emotional novels of 2025. Read it!! Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!
October 26, 2025
gimme anything billed with Survivor and I’m immediately in! Reality show books are hit and miss with me but i really enjoyed this one. former reality star Luke is recently divorced from a scandalized politician and is offered to return for an ‘all stars’ type season of the show he won over a decade ago. a lot of the book is spent in flashbacks following Luke when he was in his original run of the show; then of course jumping forward to the current season.
Holder creates a dynamic character in Luke, and a game show that’s pretty interesting to follow - although with any Survivor type show, we’re introduced to a lot of characters at once which sometimes got confusing. But overall i definitely recommend this for fans of reality game shows or just queer fiction in general!
Holder creates a dynamic character in Luke, and a game show that’s pretty interesting to follow - although with any Survivor type show, we’re introduced to a lot of characters at once which sometimes got confusing. But overall i definitely recommend this for fans of reality game shows or just queer fiction in general!
December 28, 2025
1.5 stars generously rounded up to 2.
——
i’m currently trying to hobble to the finish line of my 2025 reading challenge, and after skimming the synopsis & some reviews, i thought The Book of Luke would be just part one of my epic end-of-the-year reading finale. but in all reality, i finished this book mostly out of contempt, and i’m even less motivated than before to try and finish two more books in the next two days.
overall, this book is not good, primarily because it’s a character-driven drama where nearly all of the characters are actually insanely, irritatingly unlikeable, and the ones who are potentially redeemable are abysmally one-dimensional. on one hand, Holder succeeds in fulfilling TV personality archetypes in this way, but it was still incredibly frustrating to read.
the story itself is also so convoluted at times, especially as it arcs back and forth chronologically, that at certain points i genuinely had to reread entire pages to understand what exactly was happening.
my biggest gripe with this book, however, was mostly with the trans rep. from jump, i wouldn’t have even picked up this book if i had known that Luke’s senator husband, Barnes, was Republican (because like, what the fuck?), but what really was the nail in the coffin for me was that Luke’s husband’s whole platform and rise to political infamy was due to his stance and lobbying against trans people. yes, it’s clear in the story that Barnes was just doing whatever it took to ride the wave to power (even if it wasn’t foundationally a value of his), but like… are you serious? leave us out of this???? why couldn’t Barnes’s character have run on an anti-same sex marriage stance, which would’ve been much more politically relevant due to the early-2000s to 2010s era this story is set in? it would’ve also been FAR more interesting to see how self-hating white gays in power pull up the ladder behind them once they reach a certain status, and how that dynamic evolved? like i just don’t get why trans identities had to get involved, and no amount of self-flagellating from Luke in his narrative arc can make up for that.
the only reason this book isn’t 1 solo star is because, try as i might, i couldn’t Not be intrigued to see what was going to happen next in this shitstorm. so, yay to that.
anyway. i’m expending more mental energy into this review than necessary. i wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, and if i could get the money back for the purchase of this book, i would!
oh, and justice for Balthazar, also. his character assassination (from “LGBTQ SJW” to Barnes’s sex groupie) was actually asinine.
——
i’m currently trying to hobble to the finish line of my 2025 reading challenge, and after skimming the synopsis & some reviews, i thought The Book of Luke would be just part one of my epic end-of-the-year reading finale. but in all reality, i finished this book mostly out of contempt, and i’m even less motivated than before to try and finish two more books in the next two days.
overall, this book is not good, primarily because it’s a character-driven drama where nearly all of the characters are actually insanely, irritatingly unlikeable, and the ones who are potentially redeemable are abysmally one-dimensional. on one hand, Holder succeeds in fulfilling TV personality archetypes in this way, but it was still incredibly frustrating to read.
the story itself is also so convoluted at times, especially as it arcs back and forth chronologically, that at certain points i genuinely had to reread entire pages to understand what exactly was happening.
my biggest gripe with this book, however, was mostly with the trans rep. from jump, i wouldn’t have even picked up this book if i had known that Luke’s senator husband, Barnes, was Republican (because like, what the fuck?), but what really was the nail in the coffin for me was that Luke’s husband’s whole platform and rise to political infamy was due to his stance and lobbying against trans people. yes, it’s clear in the story that Barnes was just doing whatever it took to ride the wave to power (even if it wasn’t foundationally a value of his), but like… are you serious? leave us out of this???? why couldn’t Barnes’s character have run on an anti-same sex marriage stance, which would’ve been much more politically relevant due to the early-2000s to 2010s era this story is set in? it would’ve also been FAR more interesting to see how self-hating white gays in power pull up the ladder behind them once they reach a certain status, and how that dynamic evolved? like i just don’t get why trans identities had to get involved, and no amount of self-flagellating from Luke in his narrative arc can make up for that.
the only reason this book isn’t 1 solo star is because, try as i might, i couldn’t Not be intrigued to see what was going to happen next in this shitstorm. so, yay to that.
anyway. i’m expending more mental energy into this review than necessary. i wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone, and if i could get the money back for the purchase of this book, i would!
oh, and justice for Balthazar, also. his character assassination (from “LGBTQ SJW” to Barnes’s sex groupie) was actually asinine.
March 12, 2026
*3.5 STARS*
this book was just gag after gag. I literally love The Challenge and I fear this is gonna make me start watching again. what the book had in character depth and plot, it lost in some of the writing. at times things were a bit messy and there were some plot points that could have been written in a much more impactful way.
but we’re here for fun and this book was FUN
this book was just gag after gag. I literally love The Challenge and I fear this is gonna make me start watching again. what the book had in character depth and plot, it lost in some of the writing. at times things were a bit messy and there were some plot points that could have been written in a much more impactful way.
but we’re here for fun and this book was FUN
Did not finish
March 16, 2026DNF@20%
Maybe someday I’ll be in the mood to read about a Log Cabin Republican’s jilted ex-husband finding fulfillment and redemption on a cheap reality show (today is not that day).
Maybe someday I’ll be in the mood to read about a Log Cabin Republican’s jilted ex-husband finding fulfillment and redemption on a cheap reality show (today is not that day).
February 8, 2026
el protagonista no puede ser más tonto en la mayoría de sus decisiones, pero hay momentos en los que es imposible no empatizar con él y con lo tonto que es a veces, porque se rodea de gente peor que él. pero todo el drama y salseo que hay alrededor de un reality de televisión siempre es bienvenido.
nunca había leído una novela que tuviese como protagonista un programa de televisión de este estilo. me gusta cómo describe las pruebas del programa, aunque a veces me cueste imaginármelas. a veces estados unidos nos da cosas muy divertidas (= cultura pop). estoy deseando ponerme a traducir!!! (deseadme suerte)
nunca había leído una novela que tuviese como protagonista un programa de televisión de este estilo. me gusta cómo describe las pruebas del programa, aunque a veces me cueste imaginármelas. a veces estados unidos nos da cosas muy divertidas (= cultura pop). estoy deseando ponerme a traducir!!! (deseadme suerte)
February 4, 2026
One of the most surprising reads I’ve had in a while … I was excited for a frothy romp through the world of reality TV, but it had so much more depth and pathos than I expected. I’m going to keep an eye on Lovell Holder — impressive debut!
March 14, 2026
The Book of Luke was SO MUCH FUN. Written by @lovell.holder and beautifully narrated by one of my favorite narrators @charlietthurston - I literally could NOT stop listening to it.
This book was my road trip buddy a couple weeks ago and i got home, put my clothes in the washer, and laid down in my bed to finish. I had just gotten to the part where *redacted* shows up!!! How could I NOT finish????
There was SO MUCH to unpack in this book. From complex family dynamics, love, marriage, kids, relationships, broken friendships, exploring, playing games, trust, and it was a contemporary fiction at heart but had such great undertones of found family, queer politics, and relationship development…. It was just incredible.
I loved Luke as a character and it was so easy to root for him. I *immediately* felt protective and wanted to know what would happen to him. The kids were so precocious and funny, and the dynamics with his fellow “challengers” was fantastic. I will not spoil anything but the ending was SO WORTH IT and I cannot recommend this one highly enough.
Also - I LOVE the dual timeline storytelling. It was so effective and really had me on my toes the whole time.
Happy reading!
#TheBookOfLuke #LovellHolder #CharlieThurston #Audiobooks #FictionBooks
This book was my road trip buddy a couple weeks ago and i got home, put my clothes in the washer, and laid down in my bed to finish. I had just gotten to the part where *redacted* shows up!!! How could I NOT finish????
There was SO MUCH to unpack in this book. From complex family dynamics, love, marriage, kids, relationships, broken friendships, exploring, playing games, trust, and it was a contemporary fiction at heart but had such great undertones of found family, queer politics, and relationship development…. It was just incredible.
I loved Luke as a character and it was so easy to root for him. I *immediately* felt protective and wanted to know what would happen to him. The kids were so precocious and funny, and the dynamics with his fellow “challengers” was fantastic. I will not spoil anything but the ending was SO WORTH IT and I cannot recommend this one highly enough.
Also - I LOVE the dual timeline storytelling. It was so effective and really had me on my toes the whole time.
Happy reading!
#TheBookOfLuke #LovellHolder #CharlieThurston #Audiobooks #FictionBooks
February 11, 2026
This was—and I’m sorry for the dramatics—SO. MUCH. FUN. So fun! It was maybe even more fun than watching actual reality television, because you get to really see the characters as people, not just contestants or cast. Well crafted characters who are both good and flawed. There were points that had me wishing I had been on a reality tv show, and points where I was desperately grateful to live an unobserved life. I was glued to the page (maybe not entirely surprisingly, as I’m glued to Traitors and RHOSLC every week). My only complaint (and this might just be a personal problem) is that I had a hard time keeping all the characters straight, and I had a hard time envisioning some of the games and challenges they were participating in on the show. A lot of relationships and alliances and betrayals to keep straight, and a little over the top in a couple points. But overall, I really had so much damn fun.
January 19, 2026
This book is not for everyone, but it is for me
October 22, 2025
Interesting premise but poorly written and plotted. I wanted to like this book.
January 15, 2026
This book was completely addictive, and I almost missed it. I turned down an ARC because I wasn’t sure it would be for me. Then I saw the rave reviews, picked it up after release, and loved it. Lesson learned. This book has everything I love. Gay male romance, reality TV drama, messy people, and emotional fallout that actually hurts.
Luke Griffin is a former football star whose career ends after a devastating accident. At twenty-two, he joins the cast of Endeavor, a brutal competition show where friendships form fast and betrayals hit harder. Things go terribly wrong, and Luke carries that fallout with him for years.
A decade later, Luke is a stay-at-home dad married to America’s only openly gay senator. (Republican no less.) When his husband’s serial cheating becomes public, Luke makes a reckless choice and returns to Endeavor for its twentieth season. What follows is part competition, part emotional reckoning.
The reality TV elements are so well done. I could easily picture the challenges, the sets, and the tension between contestants. The twists hit just as hard as they would on shows like The Traitors or Drag Race. I was fully locked in.
Luke is a flawed but deeply sympathetic main character. I understood his choices even when I didn’t agree with them. And his soon-to-be ex-husband? A truly excellent character to loathe.
I also loved how the book uses flashbacks to slowly reveal what happened during Luke’s first season. Watching the past and present collide adds real emotional weight.
If you like reality TV competitions, relationship drama, messy queer characters, and stories about reinvention under a public microscope, this book is absolutely worth your time.
Luke Griffin is a former football star whose career ends after a devastating accident. At twenty-two, he joins the cast of Endeavor, a brutal competition show where friendships form fast and betrayals hit harder. Things go terribly wrong, and Luke carries that fallout with him for years.
A decade later, Luke is a stay-at-home dad married to America’s only openly gay senator. (Republican no less.) When his husband’s serial cheating becomes public, Luke makes a reckless choice and returns to Endeavor for its twentieth season. What follows is part competition, part emotional reckoning.
The reality TV elements are so well done. I could easily picture the challenges, the sets, and the tension between contestants. The twists hit just as hard as they would on shows like The Traitors or Drag Race. I was fully locked in.
Luke is a flawed but deeply sympathetic main character. I understood his choices even when I didn’t agree with them. And his soon-to-be ex-husband? A truly excellent character to loathe.
I also loved how the book uses flashbacks to slowly reveal what happened during Luke’s first season. Watching the past and present collide adds real emotional weight.
If you like reality TV competitions, relationship drama, messy queer characters, and stories about reinvention under a public microscope, this book is absolutely worth your time.
February 11, 2026
This book was designed in a lab to hit me like CR*CK and I had to finish it on my lunch break. My head was spinning with so many twists and turns and I read so fast I don't know if I got them all, but fine with me, I got the gist and who the bad guys were.
February 24, 2026
So entertaining and original
March 1, 2026
Fans of Survivor will recognize immediately that the competition aspect of Endeavor is completely based off MTVs The Challenge and not Survivor.
March 5, 2026
This book was so messy!!!! It was neat to really feel like you were watching a reality tv show through words. Justice for Shawn!!!
March 14, 2026
good concept and for the most part, i'll always enjoy a book in reality tv show format but I do agree with most people saying this was 100 pages too long
January 3, 2026
3.5/4 Fun read! Especially if you’re a fan of the challenge or survivor
March 2, 2026
I was impressed by one facet of this book: that the author managed to write a main character who is a bad friend, bad partner, and bad parent, but told the story in such a way that it was never fun or interesting to see him behaving badly.
February 16, 2026
This was such a fun read!
Giving the Challenge mixed with the Real World.
Fell in love with Luke and his backstory. It was done in such a seamless way.
Highly entertaining!
Giving the Challenge mixed with the Real World.
Fell in love with Luke and his backstory. It was done in such a seamless way.
Highly entertaining!
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