Cover of The Book of Luke by Lovell Holder
American literatureSweet

The Book of Luke

by Lovell Holder

2025 · 394 pages

For fans of Survivor and Less, this fast-paced debut novel shines an unflinching light on the drama of reality TV when a gay man returns to the cut-throat show he won in his youth after his adult life begins to unravel. Following the car accident that ended his football career and left his body scarred, 22-year-old Luke Griffin joins the cast of Endeavor, a new competition-based reality show that pits the tabloids' darlings against one another in tasks of endurance and problem solving. At first, he thrives, effortlessly forming friendships and even a romantic relationship that he thinks will last a lifetime. But Luke has aspirations far bigger than the show's million-dollar prize, and soon a series of betrayals leads to irreversible tragedy, changing the course of his and his fellow contestants' lives forever. Ten years later, Luke's world looks very 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.

Second ChanceRivals to LoversForced Proximity
Editor ReviewedAI-AssistedRomance Profile Available
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About This Book

The Book of Luke is an american literature romance novel by Lovell Holder, first published in 2025 by Grand Central Publishing. It runs 394 pages. Readers can expect second chance, rivals to lovers, forced proximity; sweet heat; a emotional and dark tone.

At a glance

Genre
American literature
Trope
Second Chance
Heat
Sweet
Mood
Emotional
Published
2025
Length
394 pages

Where to read or listen

Get The Book of Luke by Lovell Holder

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

Should I read this?

Why You May Love This Book

You may love this if…

  • Ten years after winning a cut-throat reality show, a stay-at-home father and husband to a disgraced senator returns to the screen to confront the tragedy and betrayals of his past.
  • Fans of reality TV dramas
  • Readers who enjoy character-driven literary fiction
  • compulsive
  • Features second chance

This may not be ideal if…

  • Readers looking for a lighthearted romance
  • Readers triggered by infidelity
  • Those who dislike reality TV tropes
Romance Profile

The Romance

Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.

Tropes

Relationship Dynamics

bitter rivalriesshattered truststrained marriagepast romance

Details

Type: gay romance

Pairing: MM

Power balance: uneven due to public status and past secrets

Slow BurnStrong (50 out of 100)
Relationship TensionVery strong (85 out of 100)
Emotional IntimacyMild (40 out of 100)
Emotional Experience

How It Feels

The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.

Mild comfort, high tension, high angst, and a satisfying emotional payoff.

AngstVery strong (85 out of 100)
ComfortMild (30 out of 100)
HumorLow (20 out of 100)
TensionVery strong (90 out of 100)
DarknessStrong (60 out of 100)
Emotional IntensityVery strong (80 out of 100)
Emotional PayoffStrong (70 out of 100)
Tear RatingStrong (50 out of 100)
Pacing: fast-paced
Tone:dramaticintrospectivegrittytense
Heat & Explicitness

Heat Level

Based on available metadata and editorial review.

Explicitness: unknown
Heat information is based on available metadata and editorial review. Reader sensitivities vary.
Reader Fit

Who Is This Book For?

Best for

Fans of reality TV dramasReaders who enjoy character-driven literary fictionFans of Survivor and The ChallengeReaders interested in the intersection of celebrity and privacy

Reading mood

compulsivereflectivestressfuldramatic

May not suit

Readers looking for a lighthearted romanceReaders triggered by infidelityThose who dislike reality TV tropes

Recommended audience: Adult

Content Guidance

Content Guidance

Story & Themes

The Story

Spoiler-Free Synopsis

Luke Griffin was once the golden boy of reality TV, winning a million-dollar prize while hiding the scars of a career-ending accident. But the game left him with more than just money—it left him with irreversible guilt and shattered friendships. A decade later, Luke is a stay-at-home dad whose stable life is upended by his husband's public cheating scandal. Desperate for money and a way out, he returns to the set of Endeavor. Amidst physical stunts and psychological warfare, Luke must navigate a cast of people who haven't forgotten the way he won the first time, all while trying to protect his future from the ghosts of his past.

Central Conflict

Luke must survive the grueling physical and social demands of a reality competition while navigating the public fallout of his marriage and the resurfacing trauma of a tragedy he caused or witnessed during his first season.

Setting

A reality television production set (contemporary)

Themes

SurvivorThe TraitorsLessreality TV dramaredemptionReality TVGay FictionFatherhoodBetrayalCompetition

Strengths

  • Unique premise combining literary fiction with reality TV competition
  • High emotional stakes
  • Exploration of the 'stay-at-home' dynamic in a high-profile queer marriage

Consider before reading

  • The heavy focus on past tragedy might overshadow the present-day competition for some readers
  • Luke's husband's actions may make for a frustrating read
Book Club

Discussion Guide

Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.

  1. 1

    How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?

  2. 2

    Which theme — Survivor — resonated most strongly with you, and why?

  3. 3

    How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?

  4. 4

    Did the emotional payoff feel earned by the story's buildup?

  5. 5

    How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?

  6. 6

    Who would you most want to recommend this book to?

  7. 7

    How did the pacing affect your reading experience?

  8. 8

    Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?

Questions are generated from approved book intelligence and may not reflect every reader's experience.
Trust & Transparency

How This Profile Was Created

Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.

Editor reviewed:
Yes
Last reviewed:
August 30, 2026
Confidence:
High confidence
Profile version:
eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
Meet the writer

About the Author

LH

Lovell Holder

1 books
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What Readers Say

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Publication Details

Publisher
Grand Central Publishing
Published
2025
Length
394 pages
Language
English
ISBN-13
9781538770153
ISBN-10
1538770156

The Book of Luke: quick answers

Who wrote The Book of Luke?
The Book of Luke was written by Lovell Holder.
When was The Book of Luke published?
The Book of Luke was first published in 2025 by Grand Central Publishing.
What genre is The Book of Luke?
The Book of Luke is an american literature romance novel, with second chance, rivals to lovers, forced proximity.
How many pages is The Book of Luke?
The Book of Luke is 394 pages long.
How spicy is The Book of Luke?
EIKNA rates The Book of Luke as sweet heat.

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Where to read or listen

Get The Book of Luke by Lovell Holder

These store links are affiliate links (Amazon, Audible, Bookshop.org and Libro.fm). As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Learn more.

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