Table Scraps: ARC Review and Book Promo

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Necessary disclaimer: Table Scraps is a horror/comedy novel (yes, you read that right) that I thoroughly enjoyed. However, it also definitely knocked my sensory socks off at (several) points, and indeed, I often don’t review works from the more graphic and gruesome category. So, as I have said before, while I will never stop championing books I love, I’m aware taste is subjective, and that not every work I enjoy will find its slot with every single reader that comes across this review. But, for those of you that may have just found their next favorite, this is absolutely why I’m here.

Okay, onwards!

This is technically an ARC review, though I beta-read the final draft of this soon-to-be-published story. Table Scraps by Anthony LaFauci begins by introducing the narrator/protagonist, Cole, and his other half, Erin, who seems to be trying to break up on this balmy evening in a park in Florida. During this less-than-pleasant situation, an unspecified monstrous creature erupts out of the shadows and attacks Erin and Cole.

After this gangbusters opening, we find ourselves following Cole’s observations as he awakes in a morgue, and it’s revealed he’s not dead — he’s undead, namely, a ghoul. We quickly find out two things: Cole is as shocked as we are, and no, he’s not the same as a zombie — though he does feel an overwhelming need to nosh on humans.

With the assistance of the mortician, Terry (I can’t say anything else without spoilers!), Cole begins to conquer his new hunger, and to navigate a bit of this strange world he’s now part of. (The idea of the instruction manuals cracked me up!)

After a truly trope-breaking section, during which Cole attends his own funeral (brilliant), he finds himself drafted into accompanying Terry on, basically, monster-hunting missions.

In this universe, so many of the typical creatures we’ve come to expect from such a tale do exist — vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghouls (already established), and the like. Terry gets his marching orders from a dude called Roman (NO spoilers!), and almost right away, we the readers can begin to tell there is much more to the plot than appears on the surface.

Moment of dropping the professional pen: Guys, this book is so good. Yes, there were plenty of parts that made me go, “Hahahaha-aaaeeeewwww,” “GAAAAAH,” and even, “YOWSER”; but there were also so many that made me shake with laughter, or feel the sting of tears and a lump in my throat. As I read on, each chapter brought fresh swells of emotion, be it hilarity, poignance, or honestly grossed out. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next, and when I reached the end of the story, I immediately wanted more.

(For example, I could’ve easily done with an entire spinoff about the side character Tessa. I love Tessa.)

This is a book about monsters that asks the question: When do you lose your humanity? What’s an unnecessary kill, and how do you develop the creature moral compass that determines how far is too far?

And this discussion is had around finely-structured blocks of insane action, and a bit dark but always witty and unique sense of humor. The fight scenes don’t get stale; there’s always new methods, new motives, new enemies; and the narration adapts to the growing backstory as Cole fills in the gaps. This is a tale that never feels stuck in a repetitive loop; I always looked forward to what would come next, even when I started to guess some things. (NO SPOILERS!)

My notes were chock full of hearts and stars and emojis, underlining quotes or quips that nearly broke my heart, or dissolve in giggles. In short, this is a novel that reminds us why combining genres is important, and how doing so gives us greater joy and insight into what may otherwise be seen simply as a silly, icky monster romp.

Cover reveal below (warning: ’tis graphic)

Table Scraps is expected to release this fall. If you’re interested, follow the author, @AnthonyLaFauci, on Twitter/X, and/or subscribe to the podcast he co-hosts on YouTube, We Have Issues.