BOOK REVIEW - Luke Dumas' "Nothing Tastes As Good" Leaves Readers Physically Full, Yet Hungry For More

If we are to believe in the cliche, “we are what we eat,” then Emmett Truesdale is making his best attempt to become the human being he’s always wanted to be in Luke Dumas’ new novel.

NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD is Dumas’ third standalone book. Its powerful narrative can likely be traced back to the author’s personal experiences both in his day job at a biomedical research facility, and also his admitted life-long struggle to manage his own weight. The confessional narrative style is punched up with deliciously dark humor and a satirical shot at how the American healthcare system views body standards.

Emmett Truesdale is the morbidly obese protagonist whose life is a living hell. His ever-increasing weight spotlights him as a monster in the superficial society of Southern California. His career, love life, and friendships have rotted away, leaving only copious quantities of food giving him a fresh release. When he discovers the opportunity to test out a new weight-loss drug Obexity, he starts to see results. But as the medication shows some hideous side effects, Emmett’s infinite hunger can only be satisfied through ravenous revenge. During uncontrollable blackouts, the protagonist hunts down his bullies to ensure that their insults are no longer simply ‘food for thought.’

Dumas creates a unique spin on the body horror genre. Though the comparisons made to Stephen King seem a little under-seasoned, fans of films like The Substance and Raw (the latter of which is vaguely referenced in the novel) will find their flavors in Emmett’s descent into cannibalistic madness. The book is written in snack-sized chapters, which keeps the reader biting even when they think they’ve had enough.

This ARC was provided courtesy of Atria Books and NetGalley. Stay tuned for more horrific book reviews.