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Nothing Tastes as Good
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26The acclaimed author of the “disorienting, creepy, paranoia-inducing” (Paul Tremblay, author of The Cabin at the End of the World) A History of Fear returns with a spine-tingling new thriller about a weight loss treatment with potentially murderous side effects.
Retail worker Emmett Truesdale has never fit the Southern California mold of six-pack, suntanned masculinity. Over three hundred pounds, he carries the weight of his childhood trauma and millennial ennui around his waist and in his soul. After trying every diet under the sun, he remains stuck—in his dead-end job, in love, and in his body.
Desperate for help, he enrolls in a clinical trial for a new weight loss product called Obexity. The treatment is as horrifying as the results are miraculous and as Emmett sheds pounds at superhuman speed, every part of his life improves overnight.
Unfortunately, Obexity comes with some killer side effects, including lost stretches of time and overwhelming cravings. Worse, people who were cruel to him have started disappearing and when the police warn of a cannibalistic killer on the loose, he fears that Obexity is turning him into a monster. But how can he give it up now that people are finally starting to treat him like he’s human?
Nerve-racking, sinister, and at times surreal, Nothing Tastes as Good is an unputdownable thriller that combines The Substance with the best of Stephen King and keeps you guessing until the final page.
Retail worker Emmett Truesdale has never fit the Southern California mold of six-pack, suntanned masculinity. Over three hundred pounds, he carries the weight of his childhood trauma and millennial ennui around his waist and in his soul. After trying every diet under the sun, he remains stuck—in his dead-end job, in love, and in his body.
Desperate for help, he enrolls in a clinical trial for a new weight loss product called Obexity. The treatment is as horrifying as the results are miraculous and as Emmett sheds pounds at superhuman speed, every part of his life improves overnight.
Unfortunately, Obexity comes with some killer side effects, including lost stretches of time and overwhelming cravings. Worse, people who were cruel to him have started disappearing and when the police warn of a cannibalistic killer on the loose, he fears that Obexity is turning him into a monster. But how can he give it up now that people are finally starting to treat him like he’s human?
Nerve-racking, sinister, and at times surreal, Nothing Tastes as Good is an unputdownable thriller that combines The Substance with the best of Stephen King and keeps you guessing until the final page.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 31, 2026
18131 people want to read
About the author
Luke Dumas
5 books360 followersLuke Dumas is the USA Today bestselling author of Nothing Tastes as Good, The Paleontologist, and A History of Fear.
He is the winner of a 2024 ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original, was nominated for the Silver Falchion Award for Best Supernatural, and his work has been optioned for film and TV.
He received his master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh, and has worked in nonprofit philanthropy for more than a decade with organizations including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the American Red Cross.
Luke was born and raised in San Diego, California, where he lives with his husband and dogs and works for a biomedical research institute.
He is the winner of a 2024 ITW Thriller Award for Best Paperback Original, was nominated for the Silver Falchion Award for Best Supernatural, and his work has been optioned for film and TV.
He received his master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Edinburgh, and has worked in nonprofit philanthropy for more than a decade with organizations including San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the American Red Cross.
Luke was born and raised in San Diego, California, where he lives with his husband and dogs and works for a biomedical research institute.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
October 29, 2025
Well … huh. That was messed up. I can't say that I exactly enjoyed this one since it's pretty twisted in the most uncomfortable of ways, but it was basically unputdownable. I read the last 60% last night and ended up finally putting the book down around 3 a.m. I mean, sure, being well rested is important and all, but finishing an exciting novel will win out over sleep every single time!
Anyway, Nothing Tastes as Good is a horror novel, but it's also a scathing social commentary on fatphobia, diet culture, the weight loss industry, and social media. And the commentary is not subtle, mind you. It felt a little over the top at times, but it's also kind of refreshing to read a book where the author makes his message obvious (because I still don't understand what that Kurt Vonnegut novel was supposed to be about, you guys). I'm packing a few (or, okay, several) more pounds now than in my younger years, but I've never been truly “fat” (not that that stops my mother from mentioning how much weight I've gained every time I see her) so it was kind of horrifying to realize how society treats individuals with serious weight issues. And the author does mention in the acknowledgments that he's been overweight for most of his life, so I assume he's speaking from a place of experience.
This wasn't as gory of a read as I expected it to be considering the subject matter (cannibalism), but there are a few scenes that the squeamish probably won't enjoy. There's a little body horror, too, but mostly this book focuses on Emmett's mental unraveling and the lengths he's willing to go to be thin and to be as “worthy” as those around him.
You mostly know where this story is headed from the very beginning, but it's still a suspenseful ride. The opening chapters make it obvious that things aren't going to end well for Emmett, but the author keeps you guessing as to how he's going to wind up where he does. I did figure out the big plot twist 30 or 40 pages before Emmett did, and although I found it rather implausible (not that this whole book isn't an exercise in implausibility), I still rather liked it.
I think a lot of of us have a messed up relationship with food and dieting. I personally came of age during an era when “heroin chic” was all the rage (see: the 90s and Kate Moss), so … yeah. This book points out how unhealthy and all-consuming these hangups can be, but in the most exaggerated and twisted and uncomfortable way possible. It's not a fun read, but it's definitely eye-opening and completely riveting.
3.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 31, 2026.
Anyway, Nothing Tastes as Good is a horror novel, but it's also a scathing social commentary on fatphobia, diet culture, the weight loss industry, and social media. And the commentary is not subtle, mind you. It felt a little over the top at times, but it's also kind of refreshing to read a book where the author makes his message obvious (because I still don't understand what that Kurt Vonnegut novel was supposed to be about, you guys). I'm packing a few (or, okay, several) more pounds now than in my younger years, but I've never been truly “fat” (not that that stops my mother from mentioning how much weight I've gained every time I see her) so it was kind of horrifying to realize how society treats individuals with serious weight issues. And the author does mention in the acknowledgments that he's been overweight for most of his life, so I assume he's speaking from a place of experience.
This wasn't as gory of a read as I expected it to be considering the subject matter (cannibalism), but there are a few scenes that the squeamish probably won't enjoy. There's a little body horror, too, but mostly this book focuses on Emmett's mental unraveling and the lengths he's willing to go to be thin and to be as “worthy” as those around him.
You mostly know where this story is headed from the very beginning, but it's still a suspenseful ride. The opening chapters make it obvious that things aren't going to end well for Emmett, but the author keeps you guessing as to how he's going to wind up where he does. I did figure out the big plot twist 30 or 40 pages before Emmett did, and although I found it rather implausible (not that this whole book isn't an exercise in implausibility), I still rather liked it.
I think a lot of of us have a messed up relationship with food and dieting. I personally came of age during an era when “heroin chic” was all the rage (see: the 90s and Kate Moss), so … yeah. This book points out how unhealthy and all-consuming these hangups can be, but in the most exaggerated and twisted and uncomfortable way possible. It's not a fun read, but it's definitely eye-opening and completely riveting.
3.8 stars, rounded up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review. Its expected publication date is March 31, 2026.
November 17, 2025
Nothing Tastes As Good as SKINNY. Weight loss drugs that come with killer side effects—lost stretches of time and cravings of carnal nature? Sounds like it’s getting more dangerous than Ozempic.
Obesity, we have been friends until 2 years ago. RTF!!!
Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books Publisher and the author, Luke Dumas for sending me the eARC!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
Obesity, we have been friends until 2 years ago. RTF!!!
Thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books Publisher and the author, Luke Dumas for sending me the eARC!
Publication date: March 31, 2026
September 10, 2025
What a helluva ride this took me on! I devoured it in two days! I inhaled it!
Emmett Truesdale is an overweight single man over 300lbs. Emmett is miserably unhealthy, unhappy, and eats his feelings. It’s the only life he’s ever known. Until one day, he sees an ad pop up on the screen for Obexity. Obexity is offering him to participate in a clinical trial to lose weight. Just a shot (like all the others) that offers amazing results.
However, Obexity comes with some killer side effects. Literally. 😳😳😳😳😳
I will share that I once was over 200lbs and by-gawd, so much of this hit home! Whether it’s food, alcohol or drugs… I was abusing it. I could not control my hunger to numb the trauma of the past.
This story is RAW and IN YOUR FACE! The fact that Dumas could turn the weight loss shot fads into a true horror story was so fitting for the times! I freaking LOVED IT! Bravo Luke Dumas 👏. I now need to read everything you’ve written! I dare you guys to take a bite outta this!
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trigger warnings of weight, eating disorders, and childhood trauma.
Thank you to Atria and Luke Dumas for the gifted copy!
Expected Pub Date - 3/31/26
Emmett Truesdale is an overweight single man over 300lbs. Emmett is miserably unhealthy, unhappy, and eats his feelings. It’s the only life he’s ever known. Until one day, he sees an ad pop up on the screen for Obexity. Obexity is offering him to participate in a clinical trial to lose weight. Just a shot (like all the others) that offers amazing results.
However, Obexity comes with some killer side effects. Literally. 😳😳😳😳😳
I will share that I once was over 200lbs and by-gawd, so much of this hit home! Whether it’s food, alcohol or drugs… I was abusing it. I could not control my hunger to numb the trauma of the past.
This story is RAW and IN YOUR FACE! The fact that Dumas could turn the weight loss shot fads into a true horror story was so fitting for the times! I freaking LOVED IT! Bravo Luke Dumas 👏. I now need to read everything you’ve written! I dare you guys to take a bite outta this!
4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trigger warnings of weight, eating disorders, and childhood trauma.
Thank you to Atria and Luke Dumas for the gifted copy!
Expected Pub Date - 3/31/26
September 15, 2025
Thanks for checking out NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD, my cross between The Substance and Stephen King's Thinner. I hope you've got the appetite for body horror, cannibalism, and a biting critique of the weight loss industry and fatphobia!
October 10, 2025
This book ended up being so much more than what I was expecting.
The book is billed as an obese man that gets chosen to start a clinical trial for a new weight loss drug. As he starts to shed pounds rapidly his craving for murder becomes insatiable.
Sign me up!!!
What I hadn't expected was how much I would come to care for Emmett Truesdale.
Emmett has been overweight his entire life. Bullied his entire life. Abused by a cruel step father that took glee in his suffering.
Needless to say Emmett's self esteem is non-existent.
Listening to Emmett's thoughts really hit home. I felt so sorry for him. I have never been obese but as a woman I certainly understand the pressure society puts on you to look a certain way and to feel less than if you aren't able to meet those ridiculous standards.
To see life through Emmett's eyes was eye opening for me. The way people treat him. The obnoxious things people would say to him under the guise of helping. The looks, the snickers and smirks, from complete strangers. My goodness did this get my blood boiling. I was so damn angry to see how he was treated because he was such a thoughtful and kind person. Someone that would never treat anyone the way people treated him. The only person he was ever cruel to was himself. A vicious cycle of self loathing. It's making me teary eyed just thinking about it.
The story asks the question: When you want something so badly how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice?
It's a grim story with a gruesome outcome.
Lizette, Emmett's best friend, is a bright and dazzling light in this book. Everyone needs a Lizette in their life.
Dumas has once again impressed me. I loved his debut and this book is just as brilliant. Though I will warn that my faint hearted reading friends should probably steer clear. 🤢 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
The book is billed as an obese man that gets chosen to start a clinical trial for a new weight loss drug. As he starts to shed pounds rapidly his craving for murder becomes insatiable.
Sign me up!!!
What I hadn't expected was how much I would come to care for Emmett Truesdale.
Emmett has been overweight his entire life. Bullied his entire life. Abused by a cruel step father that took glee in his suffering.
Needless to say Emmett's self esteem is non-existent.
Listening to Emmett's thoughts really hit home. I felt so sorry for him. I have never been obese but as a woman I certainly understand the pressure society puts on you to look a certain way and to feel less than if you aren't able to meet those ridiculous standards.
To see life through Emmett's eyes was eye opening for me. The way people treat him. The obnoxious things people would say to him under the guise of helping. The looks, the snickers and smirks, from complete strangers. My goodness did this get my blood boiling. I was so damn angry to see how he was treated because he was such a thoughtful and kind person. Someone that would never treat anyone the way people treated him. The only person he was ever cruel to was himself. A vicious cycle of self loathing. It's making me teary eyed just thinking about it.
The story asks the question: When you want something so badly how much of yourself are you willing to sacrifice?
It's a grim story with a gruesome outcome.
Lizette, Emmett's best friend, is a bright and dazzling light in this book. Everyone needs a Lizette in their life.
Dumas has once again impressed me. I loved his debut and this book is just as brilliant. Though I will warn that my faint hearted reading friends should probably steer clear. 🤢 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for my complimentary copy.
November 14, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 1/2
Food and I go way back. We have been exclusive for as long as I can remember. She comforts me when I’m sad, she pats me on my back when it’s time to celebrate. She even entertains me when I’m bored. I’m pretty certain that we’re soul mates. I ate a donut while I was writing this review. Our relationship is healthy, although she does her best to keep my jeans fitting snugly around my waist. I think that’s the only thing she does that gets under my skin.
Speaking of getting under one’s skin, let’s talk about this book. It was definitely a wild ride. I really enjoyed getting to know Emmitt, and I found him to be sympathetic, supremely likable character, when he wasn’t killing people and eating their body parts that is. His relationship with food is at the heart of this novel. He uses it as a shielding device, as an escape hatch, as a way to feel whole. Although my relationship with food doesn’t possess the extremes his does, I can very much relate to using external sources as a way to find self-fulfillment.
My only complaint about this book is that it gets a little repetitive in the middle. I mean, I get it, he’s fat and likes to eat. No need to dwell on certain aspects for as long as the author did. But it’s clear he can write, and this is overall a very enjoyable story.
I’d recommend reading it
Food and I go way back. We have been exclusive for as long as I can remember. She comforts me when I’m sad, she pats me on my back when it’s time to celebrate. She even entertains me when I’m bored. I’m pretty certain that we’re soul mates. I ate a donut while I was writing this review. Our relationship is healthy, although she does her best to keep my jeans fitting snugly around my waist. I think that’s the only thing she does that gets under my skin.
Speaking of getting under one’s skin, let’s talk about this book. It was definitely a wild ride. I really enjoyed getting to know Emmitt, and I found him to be sympathetic, supremely likable character, when he wasn’t killing people and eating their body parts that is. His relationship with food is at the heart of this novel. He uses it as a shielding device, as an escape hatch, as a way to feel whole. Although my relationship with food doesn’t possess the extremes his does, I can very much relate to using external sources as a way to find self-fulfillment.
My only complaint about this book is that it gets a little repetitive in the middle. I mean, I get it, he’s fat and likes to eat. No need to dwell on certain aspects for as long as the author did. But it’s clear he can write, and this is overall a very enjoyable story.
I’d recommend reading it
October 31, 2025
Fantastic! I was unable to put this book down. I was sneaking chapters, just like snacks, whenever I had a chance.
Emmett has struggled with his weight since childhood. He’s dealt with so much continuous bullying throughout his life that he’s left lacking any type of self-confidence. His roommate, Lizette, is the exact opposite and tries to get him to embrace himself and his body. He just can’t and is miserable until one day he stumbles across an ad for Obexity. This new and upcoming weight loss drug is looking for people to be part of their clinical trials. Emmett is more than thrilled when he is accepted, and after a very short period of time, the drug begins to work and his self-confidence begins to grow. However, there are some very unusual side effects. Specifically one that increases his hunger, but it’s not for what you would expect!
I dare anybody to read this novel and not feel for Emmett! The author did an amazing job with the characterization of him and took a different approach to what could’ve been a normal horror story. As opposed to being so far out there, this novel uses things such as weight loss drugs, and bullying as the true horror.
I have never read anything by this author before, but I am certainly going to check out his prior novels.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
Emmett has struggled with his weight since childhood. He’s dealt with so much continuous bullying throughout his life that he’s left lacking any type of self-confidence. His roommate, Lizette, is the exact opposite and tries to get him to embrace himself and his body. He just can’t and is miserable until one day he stumbles across an ad for Obexity. This new and upcoming weight loss drug is looking for people to be part of their clinical trials. Emmett is more than thrilled when he is accepted, and after a very short period of time, the drug begins to work and his self-confidence begins to grow. However, there are some very unusual side effects. Specifically one that increases his hunger, but it’s not for what you would expect!
I dare anybody to read this novel and not feel for Emmett! The author did an amazing job with the characterization of him and took a different approach to what could’ve been a normal horror story. As opposed to being so far out there, this novel uses things such as weight loss drugs, and bullying as the true horror.
I have never read anything by this author before, but I am certainly going to check out his prior novels.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review
October 9, 2025
It feels a little inappropriate to say I binge-read this but I did in fact devour it in a few sittings. Absolutely brilliant!
Emmett's adult life has been a series of yo-yo diets, eating disorders, and embarrassments, so when he gets the opportunity to be a trial subject for a sparkling new weight loss drug he figures it couldn't hurt. Sure enough he starts losing weight rapidly, gaining fame online and worrying his loved ones, but the hunger never stops and it's only getting worse.
To be momentarily vulnerable, I was always doomed to have an eating disorder. 1 in 3 trans men experience disordered eating, and Celiacs, EDS, and OCD are all significant risk factors, so I was screwed. I'm sure we're all familiar with the societal messaging around food and dieting, not to mention the rampant fatphobia in the media and (more crucially) among healthcare workers. I'm sure many of us, like Emmett, had a parental figure in our life who promoted disordered eating habits. All this to say, I can't blame Emmett for his choices and his obsession with weight loss, and (at least at some point in my life) I probably would have made the same choices.
The obvious comparison for this book is The Substance, but I was actually reminded of The Troop by Nick Cutter in which the horrible parasite that antagonizes a boy scout troop originated as a weight loss drug. The most terrifying (and my favorite) scene in the book is record of one of the animal test subjects and the horror that the drug wreaks on the creature. Nothing Tastes as Good is the closest I've found to emulating the soul-deep horror of that scene.
I love the posts from Emmett's blog and social media and interviews from the investigation, they're a great way to break up the story. Despite this book satirizing weight loss drugs, the characters don't feel one dimensional or like caricatures. I really enjoyed A History of Fear by Luke Dumas so I'm thrilled to discover that I like this book even more.
There's a lot to love here and even more to make your skin crawl. Horror fans, read it!
Thank you to Luke Dumas and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
Emmett's adult life has been a series of yo-yo diets, eating disorders, and embarrassments, so when he gets the opportunity to be a trial subject for a sparkling new weight loss drug he figures it couldn't hurt. Sure enough he starts losing weight rapidly, gaining fame online and worrying his loved ones, but the hunger never stops and it's only getting worse.
To be momentarily vulnerable, I was always doomed to have an eating disorder. 1 in 3 trans men experience disordered eating, and Celiacs, EDS, and OCD are all significant risk factors, so I was screwed. I'm sure we're all familiar with the societal messaging around food and dieting, not to mention the rampant fatphobia in the media and (more crucially) among healthcare workers. I'm sure many of us, like Emmett, had a parental figure in our life who promoted disordered eating habits. All this to say, I can't blame Emmett for his choices and his obsession with weight loss, and (at least at some point in my life) I probably would have made the same choices.
The obvious comparison for this book is The Substance, but I was actually reminded of The Troop by Nick Cutter in which the horrible parasite that antagonizes a boy scout troop originated as a weight loss drug. The most terrifying (and my favorite) scene in the book is record of one of the animal test subjects and the horror that the drug wreaks on the creature. Nothing Tastes as Good is the closest I've found to emulating the soul-deep horror of that scene.
I love the posts from Emmett's blog and social media and interviews from the investigation, they're a great way to break up the story. Despite this book satirizing weight loss drugs, the characters don't feel one dimensional or like caricatures. I really enjoyed A History of Fear by Luke Dumas so I'm thrilled to discover that I like this book even more.
There's a lot to love here and even more to make your skin crawl. Horror fans, read it!
Thank you to Luke Dumas and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for my full, honest review!
Happy reading!
November 3, 2025
review to come 🍽️🩸
November 22, 2025
The Substance meets Black Mirror meets Ozempic.
This book was addictive and SO hard to put down. This was such an original concept and was unlike anything I have ever read before! Release Date: 3/31/2026
This book was addictive and SO hard to put down. This was such an original concept and was unlike anything I have ever read before! Release Date: 3/31/2026
October 22, 2025
My first book by Dumas and it was a creepy, wild ride! Emmett Truesdale is over 300 lbs. Despite trying every diet imaginable, he cannot lose weight. He carries the trauma it's caused him throughout his life. People have treated him so awful. When he hears of a new clinical trial for a weight loss product called Obexity. But with the extremely fast weight loss, also comes killer side effects, like overwhelming cravings and lost stretches of time. Then people that were cruel to him start turning up dead. He starts to fear that Obexity is turning him into a monster, but now that he's lost weight, and people are treating him so much better, he doesn't want to give it up.
The first half of the book was slower, with the set-up of his struggles with obesity and his relationships throughout his life. I understand why this had to be done. The second half really picked up. I loved the bits of mixed media throughout. This deals a lot with fatphobia, binge eating so beware of that if that could be triggering. It's also pretty gory. Overall, a great read that I found to be really unique. I enjoyed it
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
The first half of the book was slower, with the set-up of his struggles with obesity and his relationships throughout his life. I understand why this had to be done. The second half really picked up. I loved the bits of mixed media throughout. This deals a lot with fatphobia, binge eating so beware of that if that could be triggering. It's also pretty gory. Overall, a great read that I found to be really unique. I enjoyed it
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
October 23, 2025
How far would you be willing to go for the body of your dreams?
This story is both very thrilling, and very deep as well.
* Full RTC closer to official publication date!
This story is both very thrilling, and very deep as well.
* Full RTC closer to official publication date!
November 15, 2025
This was one hell of a wild ride and while some parts truly made me feel so angry for our main character Emmett, I was completely enthralled and could not put this one down easily.
I was immediately drawn in by the killer cover and intriguing premise, but this story as a whole was so much more than I expected.Our main characters best friend Lizette offered such a confident and sassy flare to the whole story and I loved her just as much as Emmett. The commentary on fatphobia was so poignant and I truly wanted to burn it all down for both of them at times.
Nothing Tastes as Good offered a uniquely creepy premise, engaging multimedia elements, quick chapters, and a main character you can’t help but root for in his character ARC. This was my first read by this author and I’m so looking forward to picking up his previous two releases.
Huge thank you to Atria for my gorgeous early copy, I can’t wait for horror readers to love this one as much as I did come March 2026!
I was immediately drawn in by the killer cover and intriguing premise, but this story as a whole was so much more than I expected.Our main characters best friend Lizette offered such a confident and sassy flare to the whole story and I loved her just as much as Emmett. The commentary on fatphobia was so poignant and I truly wanted to burn it all down for both of them at times.
Nothing Tastes as Good offered a uniquely creepy premise, engaging multimedia elements, quick chapters, and a main character you can’t help but root for in his character ARC. This was my first read by this author and I’m so looking forward to picking up his previous two releases.
Huge thank you to Atria for my gorgeous early copy, I can’t wait for horror readers to love this one as much as I did come March 2026!
November 9, 2025
I enjoyed this book. It has an intresting blurb and theme to explore. Horror about dieting? I've never read anything like that before. And true, I finished reading it quickly. The plot makes me constantly wanted to know what happens next, and the characters have personalities and aren't monotonous.
This book isn't just a straight narrative, though. It also includes something like blog, interviews, and Instagram posts from our MC, Emmet. These interviews actually spoil the twists a little bit, but well ... it's an interesting combination compared to having just full narration. And maybe because of his blog, I ended up liking Emmet and learning about his traumatic(?) lore. Also, he's kinda funny.
It's just ... was all that (kinky) sex necessary? Instead of the horror of cannibalism, that was the part that made me actually uncomfortable. I didn't think it was important for the plot, and I didn't feel it had anything to do with the story. And let's not forget the slight touch of MM romance as well.
So yeah, that's all from me. 3.5, but rounded down to 3 stars because of that.
This book isn't just a straight narrative, though. It also includes something like blog, interviews, and Instagram posts from our MC, Emmet. These interviews actually spoil the twists a little bit, but well ... it's an interesting combination compared to having just full narration. And maybe because of his blog, I ended up liking Emmet and learning about his traumatic(?) lore. Also, he's kinda funny.
It's just ... was all that (kinky) sex necessary? Instead of the horror of cannibalism, that was the part that made me actually uncomfortable. I didn't think it was important for the plot, and I didn't feel it had anything to do with the story. And let's not forget the slight touch of MM romance as well.
So yeah, that's all from me. 3.5, but rounded down to 3 stars because of that.
November 29, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Nothing Tastes as Good by Luke Dumas is a satirical horror title about Emmett, an overweight man whose life seems stuck in a perpetual rut. Frustrated by both his life circumstances and his size, when offered the chance to join a highly secretive drug trial of a weight loss drug, he immediately signs on the dotted line. While he sheds pounds quickly and finds himself enjoying the perks of a smaller body, he also finds himself with memory loss, a fierce temper, and literal blood on his hands.
Something that I absolutely loved about this book is how many different facets of the fat experience, diet culture, and the current obsession with social media feedback the author managed to work into the narrative. It really shows that Dumas had a great understanding of the litany of ways being obese in America can feel punishing, and the overwhelming obsession with physical perfection that permeates the social climate. Dumas shingles these different issues all at different times, in a beautiful weave that shows such a great understanding of the psychosocial elements of Emmett’s life. When you stack up all of the indignities of his existence, it’s no wonder that the choice to gamble on the drug seems easy. It makes such an elegant contrast; sure, being a fat person isn’t the same horror as waking up covered in unfamiliar blood, but it sure wasn’t a picnic either.
I particularly loved the character of Lizette. I loved that she was detailed, goal-oriented, and unashamed. I loved that she never wavered in her beliefs about Emmett, and that she loved who he was. I also loved that for a depiction of a plus sized woman that she was neither a sad sack nor a sexless jolly blob.
The sticking point about Nothing Tastes as Good for me is that it is not subtle. It is unsettling, funny at times, and very culturally aware. It isn’t subtle, though. At times I felt like even though I agreed with the points Dumas was trying to make, that he could have eased back a little bit and let the reader come to their own conclusion. It felt very much like the last chapter, written as a case report, felt like an explanation of the whole story with an on the nose conclusion. I felt like I would have enjoyed this as a horror story more if this chapter had been omitted, although I understand its inclusion for the satire.
Full disclosure, I’m a fat woman. This resonated with me on a personal level. Although I see myself as a Lizette and not an Emmett, I understand the experiences that come up during this story and felt very seen. Nothing Tastes as Good gets a 4/5 star rating.
October 3, 2025
The book is just as yummy as the cover.
Here's my official blurb <3
"Deeply unsettling, complex, and visceral. Nothing Tastes as Good is a grotesque body horror that perfectly encapsulates the destructive pitfalls of our modern Ozempic era. It’s a book that will eat away at you with every page, leaving you hungry for more."
Here's my official blurb <3
"Deeply unsettling, complex, and visceral. Nothing Tastes as Good is a grotesque body horror that perfectly encapsulates the destructive pitfalls of our modern Ozempic era. It’s a book that will eat away at you with every page, leaving you hungry for more."
September 1, 2025
Here we’re following a morbidly obese gay man who is taking an experimental drug for weight loss. I'm loved the names of the drug and the drug company itself which is called Monstera with drugs like an appetite suppressant called ConSumin and the drug he ends up with which was EmaC-8.
I am conflicted about the first part of the book. I understand the need to fully describe the struggle of morbid obesity and our main characters struggle in particular. I just wish it didn't take up the whole first half of the book. The second half of the book took off like a rocket. I loved the investigative pieces interspersed throughout.
The writing flowed with the narrative ease that marked A History of Fear.
Overall I loved this and would recommend it to any fan of horror. It stands on its own as a unique work. It would be perfect for anyone who has struggled with their weight, General body issues, or just fitting in! 4 1/2 stars! Check it out when this one hits the market on March 30, 2026. Thank you to Atria Press and Net Galley for the ARC!
I am conflicted about the first part of the book. I understand the need to fully describe the struggle of morbid obesity and our main characters struggle in particular. I just wish it didn't take up the whole first half of the book. The second half of the book took off like a rocket. I loved the investigative pieces interspersed throughout.
The writing flowed with the narrative ease that marked A History of Fear.
Overall I loved this and would recommend it to any fan of horror. It stands on its own as a unique work. It would be perfect for anyone who has struggled with their weight, General body issues, or just fitting in! 4 1/2 stars! Check it out when this one hits the market on March 30, 2026. Thank you to Atria Press and Net Galley for the ARC!
October 17, 2025
An incredible story that's a mix between cannibal/body horror and society horror. This book is largely a commentary on our fatphobic society, with a well paced horror story to carry the message even further.
I genuinely felt like I knew Emmett, he was written with so much personality and emotion that I became attached to him and his story. This is a heavy story, not for the faint of heart!
TW: binge eating disorder, gorey body horror, verbal abuse, and severe food related abuse.
I genuinely felt like I knew Emmett, he was written with so much personality and emotion that I became attached to him and his story. This is a heavy story, not for the faint of heart!
TW: binge eating disorder, gorey body horror, verbal abuse, and severe food related abuse.
October 26, 2025
I loved Dumas’s debut a few years ago, but sadly his next book didn’t work for me…so I’m veryyyy happy to report this is probably my favorite from him! he builds the really fleshed out (hehe) character of Emmett so well; at times unlikeable and frustrating yet we still somehow root for him. the story follow him as someone who’s struggled with obesity his entire life, as he is offered a chance to participate in testing a new weight loss drug. as he loses weight, he has drastic changes in personality and American Psycho style urges.
this one was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the author’s note in which Dumas says this was a really personal novel for him to write, which definitely comes across in the story.
this one was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the author’s note in which Dumas says this was a really personal novel for him to write, which definitely comes across in the story.
December 26, 2025
A skin tingling horror story blended seamlessly with actual reality, this is the stuff of nightmares and hits so close to home with how relevant and topical the subject matter is
October 23, 2025
Thanks to Atria Books, the author, and Goodreads for sending me an Advanced Reader's Edition of this book in exchange for a fair review.
I have read all of the author's previous books and have enjoyed both of them. But this book is his best in my opinion. The book is about a man who have struggled with his weight all of his life. He is accepted into a clinical trial of a new drug for weight loss. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. 5 🌟
I have read all of the author's previous books and have enjoyed both of them. But this book is his best in my opinion. The book is about a man who have struggled with his weight all of his life. He is accepted into a clinical trial of a new drug for weight loss. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. 5 🌟
December 18, 2025
Dumas delivers his best work yet. A gut wrenching, blood chilling, emotional, thought provoking piece of horror brilliance. It brought to mind Stephen King’s Thinner in all the best ways but far exceeds that novel. As a gay man who has struggled with weight my whole life it was amazing to finally have a character like Emmett front and center. It was even more moving to hear his thoughts, concerns, angers, wants and experiences that mirror so much of what I’ve gone through in my life. While so much of this is fantastical, the heart of it is so beautifully human and heartbreaking. It is a masterpiece of horror and sure to become a horror classic. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected eproof ARC of 'Nothing Tastes As Good' by Luke Dumas - expected release date of 03/31/2026.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an uncomfortably intense read but it was very well written and the characters were fully developed and rich. A bit of a slow burn, and repetitive at times but Dumas did not hold back, once it got going it did not stop. He covered so many potentially triggering topics, to an extreme degree (physical and mental abuse, parental neglect, childhood trauma, fatphobia/body shaming, diet culture, eating disorders, gore/cannibalism, social media obsession, im probably missing some). I don't typically go for horror books but this one sounded interesting and it did not disappoint. My heart hurt for Emmett, an obesely gay man with money troubles whom most everyone (including his family) treated horribly from childhood through adulthood. The only person who seemed to truly care about Emmett was his best friend Lizette. She was such an amazing character and always had his back. The ending made me sad, I was pulling for a better outcome for him but his journey ended just as poorly as his life had been.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was an uncomfortably intense read but it was very well written and the characters were fully developed and rich. A bit of a slow burn, and repetitive at times but Dumas did not hold back, once it got going it did not stop. He covered so many potentially triggering topics, to an extreme degree (physical and mental abuse, parental neglect, childhood trauma, fatphobia/body shaming, diet culture, eating disorders, gore/cannibalism, social media obsession, im probably missing some). I don't typically go for horror books but this one sounded interesting and it did not disappoint. My heart hurt for Emmett, an obesely gay man with money troubles whom most everyone (including his family) treated horribly from childhood through adulthood. The only person who seemed to truly care about Emmett was his best friend Lizette. She was such an amazing character and always had his back. The ending made me sad, I was pulling for a better outcome for him but his journey ended just as poorly as his life had been.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2025
I absolutely devoured Nothing Tastes as Good. The story is clearly influenced by the current Ozempic/weight loss drug craze and takes a stab at the pharmaceutical industry and its grip on our bodies, minds, and wallets. I loved the inclusion of posts from Emmett's blog, social media, drug trial journal, and interviews from the investigation. They were a great way to break up the story and brought Emmett’s voice to life which made his downward spiral all the more engaging. As a millennial, I loved the cultural flashbacks to the early 2000s. This was one of those books that was hard to put down because I wanted to see what was going to happen next.
This is a not just a story about a man's strange new appetite and cravings, but a story about family dynamics, trauma, depression, and the search for identity. I think we can all relate to Emmett's struggle with weight loss, and how cruel and fatphobic our society is and the pressure that takes a toll on you mentally.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
This is a not just a story about a man's strange new appetite and cravings, but a story about family dynamics, trauma, depression, and the search for identity. I think we can all relate to Emmett's struggle with weight loss, and how cruel and fatphobic our society is and the pressure that takes a toll on you mentally.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
October 9, 2025
Emmett made me so sad. I so desperately wanted him to find his happy, even if happy meant eating people.
I've read and enjoyed the author before and I do think that this is his most accessible and personal story yet. I wasn't surprised to read in the afterword that the author has experience with being overweight and everything that entails. Body horror or not, the book feels authentic.
And body horror there is!
The book isn't for the squeamish. It's not just the very enthusiastic people eating - it's body horror in general and it gets graphic.
I loved the book and (I'm so sorry) devoured it so quickly!
* ARC via Publisher
I've read and enjoyed the author before and I do think that this is his most accessible and personal story yet. I wasn't surprised to read in the afterword that the author has experience with being overweight and everything that entails. Body horror or not, the book feels authentic.
And body horror there is!
The book isn't for the squeamish. It's not just the very enthusiastic people eating - it's body horror in general and it gets graphic.
I loved the book and (I'm so sorry) devoured it so quickly!
* ARC via Publisher
October 23, 2025
Thank you Atria for gifting me an ARC of Nothing Tastes as Good!
This book was something that’s for sure. It is a slow burn, but worth it. I believe it is written well and keeps your interest to wanting more. I loved Emmett, then I hated him, then I felt bad for him. I had all kinds of emotions about him. I wish the ending didn’t turn out the way it did, but aye, it is what it is.
I believe Luke Dumas did a great job of keeping the twist going all the way until the last 30 pages of the book. There were no clues to how it was going to turn out, or maybe they were and a reread would make me realize haha.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the toes 😅👀 HAHA
This book was something that’s for sure. It is a slow burn, but worth it. I believe it is written well and keeps your interest to wanting more. I loved Emmett, then I hated him, then I felt bad for him. I had all kinds of emotions about him. I wish the ending didn’t turn out the way it did, but aye, it is what it is.
I believe Luke Dumas did a great job of keeping the twist going all the way until the last 30 pages of the book. There were no clues to how it was going to turn out, or maybe they were and a reread would make me realize haha.
The only thing I didn’t like about the book was the toes 😅👀 HAHA
September 30, 2025
Another stunning example of the horror genre from Luke Dumas. He’s so good at building dread and creating an ominous atmosphere and Nothing Tastes as Good is no different. If you are a fan of the horror genre and enjoy literary “jump scares” to the end, this one’s for you!
Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for the ARC!
Thank you to Net Galley and Atria Books for the ARC!
October 3, 2025
Thank you, #Partner @atriabooks, @atriathrillers, and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 3/31/26.
Holy cow, this book was insane in the best possible way, like WTF did I just read?? I can definitely resonate with the main character as struggling with weight loss, and I'm sure many others will too. This book was heartbreaking at times, funny, and I'd categorize it in the thriller/horror genre with the cannibalism going on. I have never read a book like this, and you're just going to have to read it to see what I mean, lol.
Emmett Truesdale has struggled with his weight his whole life. He was doomscrolling when he came across an ad for a weight loss clinical trial for a new weight loss product called Obexity, and he immediately applied. Once he is accepted into the trial and starts the new drug, he starts losing weight like crazy, but the side effects are a whole different story. How far would you go to fit in? 4.5 stars!
Holy cow, this book was insane in the best possible way, like WTF did I just read?? I can definitely resonate with the main character as struggling with weight loss, and I'm sure many others will too. This book was heartbreaking at times, funny, and I'd categorize it in the thriller/horror genre with the cannibalism going on. I have never read a book like this, and you're just going to have to read it to see what I mean, lol.
Emmett Truesdale has struggled with his weight his whole life. He was doomscrolling when he came across an ad for a weight loss clinical trial for a new weight loss product called Obexity, and he immediately applied. Once he is accepted into the trial and starts the new drug, he starts losing weight like crazy, but the side effects are a whole different story. How far would you go to fit in? 4.5 stars!
October 28, 2025
~thank you to Atria books, the author & NetGalley for giving me a chance to read and review this book~
What intrigued me about this book was the concept. It was different and interesting and caught my attention. I did enjoy it but the ending didn’t do it for me. The cover of the book also caught my eye. The characters were okay. Emmet was fine but I didn’t really like his friend, Lizette. Something about her through me off. Id still recommend people to read this either way but 3/5.
What intrigued me about this book was the concept. It was different and interesting and caught my attention. I did enjoy it but the ending didn’t do it for me. The cover of the book also caught my eye. The characters were okay. Emmet was fine but I didn’t really like his friend, Lizette. Something about her through me off. Id still recommend people to read this either way but 3/5.
November 20, 2025
Thank you so much to @atriabooks for the gifted ARC!
Have I already found a favorite 2026 horror release with NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD?!?
Over 300 pounds, Emmett Truesdale has always felt out of place in image-obsessed Southern California. Out of desperation, he joins a clinical trial for a radical weight-loss drug called Obexity. The sudden transformation seems miraculous until the terrifying side effects begin. But as his body changes so does the world’s treatment of him and he is forced to confront a monstrous truth.
I truly felt for Emmett during his moments of dread, shame, and eventual unraveling. He slowly reveals a traumatic incident from his past and I found this to be even more disturbing and chilling than the gore that comes later in the book. This reveal made the body horror feel almoooost understandable considering all the emotional weight he had been carrying for years.
And while Emmett’s journey is disturbing at times, his friendship with Lizette was a joy. Does a friend like this exist because she was truly a ride or die and an anchor in Emmett’s chaos. I just loved how steadfast and reliable she was as her best friend’s world started spiraling. Also the multimedia storytelling with blog posts, Instagram captions and comments, and interviews woven throughout the narrative added so much depth and made the characters feel incredibly real. It gave the book an addictive and almost documentary-style momentum so anytime I had to put it down, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up.
@thenewdumas digs into fatphobia, shame, trauma, and the cultural obsession with weight-loss drugs with sharpness and an empathy for Emmett that makes you question why you’re rooting for everyone else’s demise. You could tell this story felt personal to the author, and I especially appreciated how he explores the mental toll of weight shifting back and forth.
Have I already found a favorite 2026 horror release with NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD?!?
Over 300 pounds, Emmett Truesdale has always felt out of place in image-obsessed Southern California. Out of desperation, he joins a clinical trial for a radical weight-loss drug called Obexity. The sudden transformation seems miraculous until the terrifying side effects begin. But as his body changes so does the world’s treatment of him and he is forced to confront a monstrous truth.
I truly felt for Emmett during his moments of dread, shame, and eventual unraveling. He slowly reveals a traumatic incident from his past and I found this to be even more disturbing and chilling than the gore that comes later in the book. This reveal made the body horror feel almoooost understandable considering all the emotional weight he had been carrying for years.
And while Emmett’s journey is disturbing at times, his friendship with Lizette was a joy. Does a friend like this exist because she was truly a ride or die and an anchor in Emmett’s chaos. I just loved how steadfast and reliable she was as her best friend’s world started spiraling. Also the multimedia storytelling with blog posts, Instagram captions and comments, and interviews woven throughout the narrative added so much depth and made the characters feel incredibly real. It gave the book an addictive and almost documentary-style momentum so anytime I had to put it down, I couldn’t wait to pick it back up.
@thenewdumas digs into fatphobia, shame, trauma, and the cultural obsession with weight-loss drugs with sharpness and an empathy for Emmett that makes you question why you’re rooting for everyone else’s demise. You could tell this story felt personal to the author, and I especially appreciated how he explores the mental toll of weight shifting back and forth.
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