The Book of Luke

A Novel

By: Lovell Holder

Narrated by: Charlie Thurston

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 past: 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.

Critic reviews

"Reality TV devotees will eat this book up with a spoon. Add a sweet, unresolved romance for Luke, and it’s a winning debut novel from Holder."—Library Journal, starred review

“A novel of quiet growth and resiliency against the wild and propulsive backdrop of reality TV. The most fun you'll have reading all year.”—Steven Rowley, New York Times bestselling author of The Celebrants

"The Book of Luke is a delight! Squid Game meets Kramer vs Kramer – a heartfelt odyssey through the cutthroat world of reality TV. With (sometimes literal) cliffhangers, Holder expertly unfolds his story of twists and turns, taking us on an emotionally devastating yet ultimately redemptive journey of love and forgiveness, most importantly for oneself."—Stacy Rukeyser, Peabody Award-winning Executive Producer of Sex/Life and UnREAL

“Bold and provocative, The Book of Luke is equal parts satire and drama, told through the lens of a reality television contestant in the midst of a divorce from his husband. Holder writes with both wit and frankness as he navigates queer identity, reality television, and love. It had me laughing and tearing up—sometimes both at the same time.”—Lauren Ling Brown, USA Today Bestselling author of Society of Lies

"A wildly entertaining, adrenaline-fueled novel of betrayal, redemption and second chances, set in the blistering world of reality television. Keenly observed and beautifully realized, Lovell Holder has created an irresistible protagonist, surrounded by an indelible cast of globetrotting characters, navigating the regrets of their past while pursuing the hopes of the future. Funny, clever, heartbreakingly human, The Book of Luke is an unforgettable ride and a remarkable debut!"
—Bill Gaythwaite, author of Underburn and winner of the 2025 Drue Heinz Literature Prize

"The Book of Luke is as intriguing, propulsive, sexy, entertaining, and compulsively bingeable as your favorite reality show (and don’t pretend you don’t have one). Lovell Holder is the rare breed of storyteller who can pull off twists that will make you gasp."—Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of Colton Gentry’s Third Act

"Holder takes readers inside the reality TV universe as only a novelist of his skill can: with wit, warmth, imagination, and acute psychological insight. Come for the hijinks, furtive romances, and catfights; stay for the moving, thoroughly compelling story of one man’s journey through the merciless worlds of American politics and entertainment, set on the very cusp of an era in which the two dissolve into one."—Daniel Lefferts, author of Ways and Means

What a ride!

This was such a fun read! I was enthralled from the beginning, all the way through the insane climax of the finish. The characters leapt off the page.

This is the only book I’ve read that really nailed both the capital-D Drama and weird joys of reality TV. What makes it so fascinating to watch, and why it remains so seductively compelling - even when our better angels know it for what it is.

My only question is when are they going to make this an actual movie or TV show? Because I can’t wait to watch.

Favorite book of the year!

This is a fun, smart, and HIGHLY engrossing novel- I neglected most of my responsibilities for two days so I could devour this book. I laughed, I gasped audibly, and I will definitely be revisiting the Endeavor gang again soon!

A queer reality TV fan's dream!

A fantastic story about how the choices we make can haunt us later in life, but it's never too late to make amends.

original

didn't keep my attention. was literally waiting for it to end so I could start another book