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The Book of Luke: A Novel
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER
NAMED A BEST NOVEL OF 2025 BY MARIE CLAIRE * AN AUDIBLE DECEMBER PICK * A PEOPLE BEST BOOK OF DECEMBER
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, twenty-two-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 different: 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.
NAMED A BEST NOVEL OF 2025 BY MARIE CLAIRE * AN AUDIBLE DECEMBER PICK * A PEOPLE BEST BOOK OF DECEMBER
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, twenty-two-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 different: 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.
396 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 2, 2025
304 people are currently reading
11690 people want to read
About the author
Lovell Holder
1 book57 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 306 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.
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 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 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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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.
January 3, 2026
3.5/4 Fun read! Especially if you’re a fan of the challenge or survivor
January 13, 2026
this book captured the rush and electricity of watching traitors when you’ve already seen pilot petes season of the bachelor, survivor heroes vs villains, and whatever season of the challenge ct and trishelle started their beef on. jacob tierney i have a book for you…
wish i was genuinely rooting for the couple but alas i could not care less
wish i was genuinely rooting for the couple but alas i could not care less
November 29, 2025
The Book of Luke is about Luke, the stay at home father married to a US Senator , who finds out (with the rest of the world) that his husband cheated on him A LOT, and he decides to return to the Survivor-like reality show they met on, Endeavor. On Endeavor, he encounters his former best friend who now hates him and many other scheming competitors.
So, Endeavor is chaotic as fuck and such a mess of a show. There is so much open hostility between the competitors, sometimes turning to physical violence. There are SO MANY characters at the start, and I had such a hard time keeping track of these characters. There is also so so much detail about all the challenges they compete in, way more than necessary. They really bogged down the book for me, and I found myself not really wanting to keep going multiple times because I was just really bored. I think it could be really exciting to see on tv, and maybe this author could be a good reality show producer, but the number of challenges and time spent on them was just way too much.
I also found Luke to be pretty boring until **that thing happens** and he goes off the rails. He kinda had a naïveté shtick that got real old real quick. Towards the end, one of the competitors read him for filth and I was like "FINALLY, someone says it!!!" He alternates between bad decisions and being more boring than a saltine cracker.
I really didn't enjoy vast chunks of this book because of how vicious and toxic the competitors were, Luke's boringness, and getting bogged down in the challenges. HOWEVER. The last 15% or so did get really exciting and juicy, redeeming the story somewhat. If you love competitive reality shows with extremely toxic casts, you may enjoy this book, but it was not for me.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
So, Endeavor is chaotic as fuck and such a mess of a show. There is so much open hostility between the competitors, sometimes turning to physical violence. There are SO MANY characters at the start, and I had such a hard time keeping track of these characters. There is also so so much detail about all the challenges they compete in, way more than necessary. They really bogged down the book for me, and I found myself not really wanting to keep going multiple times because I was just really bored. I think it could be really exciting to see on tv, and maybe this author could be a good reality show producer, but the number of challenges and time spent on them was just way too much.
I also found Luke to be pretty boring until **that thing happens** and he goes off the rails. He kinda had a naïveté shtick that got real old real quick. Towards the end, one of the competitors read him for filth and I was like "FINALLY, someone says it!!!" He alternates between bad decisions and being more boring than a saltine cracker.
I really didn't enjoy vast chunks of this book because of how vicious and toxic the competitors were, Luke's boringness, and getting bogged down in the challenges. HOWEVER. The last 15% or so did get really exciting and juicy, redeeming the story somewhat. If you love competitive reality shows with extremely toxic casts, you may enjoy this book, but it was not for me.
(I received a free advanced review copy from the publisher/NetGalley.)
October 31, 2025
4.5 stars
This book is reality tv gold! It’s backed with drama, secrets and lots of surprising turns. The characters are also surprisingly complex. Everyone exists in shades of gray, and no one is just a hero or a villain. They’re all just people making messy and entertaining choices. I will say that with so many characters with tangled histories, especially in the callbacks to previous seasons, it can be a bit hard to track who is who and how they are connected, and the plot occasionally feels a little rushed. But it’s such a fun read, I really sped through it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!
This book is reality tv gold! It’s backed with drama, secrets and lots of surprising turns. The characters are also surprisingly complex. Everyone exists in shades of gray, and no one is just a hero or a villain. They’re all just people making messy and entertaining choices. I will say that with so many characters with tangled histories, especially in the callbacks to previous seasons, it can be a bit hard to track who is who and how they are connected, and the plot occasionally feels a little rushed. But it’s such a fun read, I really sped through it!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC!
January 4, 2026
4.5!
Luke was on a reality TV show back in 2003. Now in 2015, his life looks nothing like it used to. He’s just found out that his husband has been cheating on him with several people; the cheating scandal hits the news and goes public at the same time. He’s suddenly in the middle of a messy divorce, fighting to keep custody of his kids, and money is becoming a real problem.
That’s when he’s offered a chance to go back on TV. And it’s an offer he can’t resist.
The offer is wild. $250,000 just for boarding cthe plane, $25,000 for every episode he survives, and a $5 million grand prize. It’s not just about the money though. It’s also his chance for redemption.
The Book of Luke is told in alternating timelines, following Luke during his first time on reality TV in 2003 and then again in the present day. I liked how the past slowly fills in the gaps and shows how much those early experiences still affect him years later.
This book ended up being a lot deeper than I expected. It deals with grief, betrayal, public scrutiny, and the way life keeps piling things on even when you’re already at your breaking point. A lot of Luke’s emotions felt raw and very real.
My only real issue was the challenges themselves. I had a hard time picturing the games, which usually isn’t a problem for me with competition-based stories. I’m not sure if it was the way they were described or just me, but those scenes didn’t always land.
That said, I really enjoyed the cast of characters. The diversity in characters, and the chapter titles that added a fun touch with pop culture references. Overall, this was an emotional, thoughtful read that stuck with me more than I expected.
Luke was on a reality TV show back in 2003. Now in 2015, his life looks nothing like it used to. He’s just found out that his husband has been cheating on him with several people; the cheating scandal hits the news and goes public at the same time. He’s suddenly in the middle of a messy divorce, fighting to keep custody of his kids, and money is becoming a real problem.
That’s when he’s offered a chance to go back on TV. And it’s an offer he can’t resist.
The offer is wild. $250,000 just for boarding cthe plane, $25,000 for every episode he survives, and a $5 million grand prize. It’s not just about the money though. It’s also his chance for redemption.
The Book of Luke is told in alternating timelines, following Luke during his first time on reality TV in 2003 and then again in the present day. I liked how the past slowly fills in the gaps and shows how much those early experiences still affect him years later.
This book ended up being a lot deeper than I expected. It deals with grief, betrayal, public scrutiny, and the way life keeps piling things on even when you’re already at your breaking point. A lot of Luke’s emotions felt raw and very real.
My only real issue was the challenges themselves. I had a hard time picturing the games, which usually isn’t a problem for me with competition-based stories. I’m not sure if it was the way they were described or just me, but those scenes didn’t always land.
That said, I really enjoyed the cast of characters. The diversity in characters, and the chapter titles that added a fun touch with pop culture references. Overall, this was an emotional, thoughtful read that stuck with me more than I expected.
December 18, 2025
This was super fun. As a lifelong fan of Survivor, the competition reality show backdrop really had me excited to jump in, and it felt like a unique but topical setting for a novel.
I only have one gripe, and I'll get it out of the way, because overall I really enjoyed this novel. My one gripe is that so much of the plotting and the strategizing of the contestants was done off camera, un-miked. Why were they all so secretive about this plotting! We all want to see on the show, the strategizing and the alliances, and the betrayals, yet these contestants kept waiting for the cameras to leave, or hiding in bathrooms. Don't you want all that on the show!?
I was worried about the large cast of characters, but it never really harmed the narrative. Much like in a season of reality tv, we got some glimpses at some before and early boot, and the ones that stuck around continued to develop and grow as characters. In fact, the narrative played out pretty closely to how a season would of a competition reality show.
I really thought this was a fun, but also deep novel, that never took itself too seriously. There were some serious issues tackled here that gave the novel depth, but it always felt like a lighter novel that honestly, was just really fun to read. Being someone who usually gravitates towards some darker novels, it was really good to be able to sink into something fun and exciting.
I only have one gripe, and I'll get it out of the way, because overall I really enjoyed this novel. My one gripe is that so much of the plotting and the strategizing of the contestants was done off camera, un-miked. Why were they all so secretive about this plotting! We all want to see on the show, the strategizing and the alliances, and the betrayals, yet these contestants kept waiting for the cameras to leave, or hiding in bathrooms. Don't you want all that on the show!?
I was worried about the large cast of characters, but it never really harmed the narrative. Much like in a season of reality tv, we got some glimpses at some before and early boot, and the ones that stuck around continued to develop and grow as characters. In fact, the narrative played out pretty closely to how a season would of a competition reality show.
I really thought this was a fun, but also deep novel, that never took itself too seriously. There were some serious issues tackled here that gave the novel depth, but it always felt like a lighter novel that honestly, was just really fun to read. Being someone who usually gravitates towards some darker novels, it was really good to be able to sink into something fun and exciting.
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)
December 28, 2025
This was great!! As a huge reality tv fan, I was hooked from the beginning. Complex characters, tons of twists and turns, and lots of drama (both in front of the camera and behind the scenes). Would gladly read a sequel if one were ever written. 4.5/5
January 10, 2026
A depressed gay guy doing reality tv… this book was written for me. I would recommend for ppl who really like MTV’s The Challenge because this is basically a chaotic season of the Challenge with behind the scenes lol
January 19, 2026
This book is not for everyone, but it is for me
January 26, 2026
*insert chef's kiss emoji*
September 5, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I absolutely love competition show–inspired books and I was so excited to see one that leaned heavily on The Challenge. I’ve found most authors use Survivor or The Amazing Race, so this felt fresh and different.
The writing was undeniably strong and compelling, but the plot was slow at times and every character was deeply flawed and unlikable. It was absolutely PACKED with drama (and when I say packed, I mean PACKED) but it didn’t have enough real action. The only action came from the challenge descriptions, which eventually started to feel repetitive and left the drama to really drive the plot.
I’d definitely recommend this for fans of queer fiction and/or lit fic. Personally though, I gravitate toward faster pacing and more likable characters. This debut was great and I will definitely pick up whatever Holder comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I absolutely love competition show–inspired books and I was so excited to see one that leaned heavily on The Challenge. I’ve found most authors use Survivor or The Amazing Race, so this felt fresh and different.
The writing was undeniably strong and compelling, but the plot was slow at times and every character was deeply flawed and unlikable. It was absolutely PACKED with drama (and when I say packed, I mean PACKED) but it didn’t have enough real action. The only action came from the challenge descriptions, which eventually started to feel repetitive and left the drama to really drive the plot.
I’d definitely recommend this for fans of queer fiction and/or lit fic. Personally though, I gravitate toward faster pacing and more likable characters. This debut was great and I will definitely pick up whatever Holder comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
September 25, 2025
I read this book in two sittings and adored it. I immediately went to find other books by this author, only to learn it was a debut! What a way to start.
As someone who loves reality tv, but tends to stick to housewives, I wasn’t sure how much i could get behind this plot, but I’m glad I was wrong. I was very invested in the characters, loved all the little twists and turns, and was really rooting for Luke the whole time. I thought I wouldn’t like the timeline switches, but they felt very natural throughout the book.
Can’t wait to see what else Holder comes out with!! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
As someone who loves reality tv, but tends to stick to housewives, I wasn’t sure how much i could get behind this plot, but I’m glad I was wrong. I was very invested in the characters, loved all the little twists and turns, and was really rooting for Luke the whole time. I thought I wouldn’t like the timeline switches, but they felt very natural throughout the book.
Can’t wait to see what else Holder comes out with!! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.
November 16, 2025
I was lucky enough to win an ARC from a Goodreads giveaway.
As a lover of the show Survivor, I think that this book did a great justice to the reality TV industry and some of the goings-on of behind the scenes. What makes good reality tv? It is not just the challenges laid forth by the producers but the drama and inner machinations of the contestants.
The book follows the last 10 years of Luke's life after a tragic accident changes the trajectory of his life. He joins the first season of Endeavor, a new reality TV show that takes contestants from other network shows to compete against each other. Over multiple seasons of Endeavor, Luke experiences new relationships, betrayal, love and so much drama until settling down and marrying someone he meets on the show. Years later and after his politician husband's scandal of affairs goes public, Luke rejoins Endeavor on its 20th season as a way to earn some money in the hopes to get full custody of his children during the divorce. I can't say much more without giving it away, but in true reality TV show fashion - you will not see what is coming.
The only thing I struggle with in this book was the sheer volume of timelines and characters. Flashing backwards and forwards from multiple seasons of the show was sometimes hard to keep track of. This could just have been a me problem and did get better as the book went on. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I flew through the book. There were multiple times my jaw dropped. The drama is real !
As a lover of the show Survivor, I think that this book did a great justice to the reality TV industry and some of the goings-on of behind the scenes. What makes good reality tv? It is not just the challenges laid forth by the producers but the drama and inner machinations of the contestants.
The book follows the last 10 years of Luke's life after a tragic accident changes the trajectory of his life. He joins the first season of Endeavor, a new reality TV show that takes contestants from other network shows to compete against each other. Over multiple seasons of Endeavor, Luke experiences new relationships, betrayal, love and so much drama until settling down and marrying someone he meets on the show. Years later and after his politician husband's scandal of affairs goes public, Luke rejoins Endeavor on its 20th season as a way to earn some money in the hopes to get full custody of his children during the divorce. I can't say much more without giving it away, but in true reality TV show fashion - you will not see what is coming.
The only thing I struggle with in this book was the sheer volume of timelines and characters. Flashing backwards and forwards from multiple seasons of the show was sometimes hard to keep track of. This could just have been a me problem and did get better as the book went on. Overall, I enjoyed the story, and I flew through the book. There were multiple times my jaw dropped. The drama is real !
January 4, 2026
This was a fun premise, but the execution got a bit convoluted and uninteresting around the 50% mark. The central conceit of a reality show book is that we have a cast of interesting and nuanced characters competing with each other, forming alliances, participating in betrayals and scandals, and having their own motivations and goals in the show.
Unfortunately, none of the characters are interesting enough (and there are many of them, more than I cared to keep track of to start with), not even our main character, Luke. There are machinations, "tribulations", lots of betrayals and scheming and ulterior motives and sad backstories but ultimately it feels like there is a lot going on, but without significant investment in the characters, I didn't have a reason to feel invested. There is definitely an opportunity lost here to make Luke more interesting as a person or have him struggle with going back to reality television after ten years as a homemaker and father, or show his growth in the decade as a political partner, but he remains mostly static, naive, and uninteresting, which really killed the emotional investment for me.
Unfortunately, none of the characters are interesting enough (and there are many of them, more than I cared to keep track of to start with), not even our main character, Luke. There are machinations, "tribulations", lots of betrayals and scheming and ulterior motives and sad backstories but ultimately it feels like there is a lot going on, but without significant investment in the characters, I didn't have a reason to feel invested. There is definitely an opportunity lost here to make Luke more interesting as a person or have him struggle with going back to reality television after ten years as a homemaker and father, or show his growth in the decade as a political partner, but he remains mostly static, naive, and uninteresting, which really killed the emotional investment for me.
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