THE BOOK OF LUKE

A D.C. sex scandal breaks up a two-dad household, sending one partner back into the treacherous (and spicy) arena of the reality show where the men first met.

Luke Griffin met his husband, Barnes Appleby, on the first season of Endeavor, a reality show that, in format and longevity, resembles Survivor. Luke had graduated from Dartmouth and was on his way to the NFL draft when a car accident changed his life. As he and two other contestants forge alliances, more accidents occur, some of which will not be revealed until much later in the book. The story begins in 2015, when Luke and Barnes—happily married for more than a decade—have two adorable children and a gorgeous home outside D.C. Barnes is an openly gay Republican senator who ran on a platform of transphobia that Luke tolerates for the sake of his role as stay-at-home dad. What he won’t tolerate is the shocking news that his husband is a serial adulterer. If Luke wants to win full custody of the kids, he’ll need money, fast, and that’s when the producers of Endeavor reel him in as a contestant on Season 20. The narrative cuts back and forth between the show’s early years and the new season, allowing Luke to relive painful memories while also resolving some of them in the present. Time-traveling can make it tough to remember who’s who and who’s zooming whom, although reality-show enthusiasts will follow the various tests and eliminations with glee; the production interference and player strategies ring true. The sex scenes include many filled with love and affection, and along with Luke’s deep devotion to his son and daughter, keep his reality-show self from seeming too superficial. Despite a few overwrought plot twists, Luke figures that what’s most important to him has less to do with winning a competition and more to do with creating a balanced life.

This story of a man’s reckoning with his past is fast, fun, and steamy to boot.