Future Skinny

By: Peter Rosch

Narrated by: T.W. Robbert

Casey Banks is a devoutly anorexic man who discovers he can see the future by binge-eating. His new plan? Perform visions for cash while staying thin by any means necessary. Reading futures proves to be lucrative, but when he ignores a vision of his girlfriend committing a grisly murder, it sets Casey on a dangerous path toward a destiny he'll do anything to avoid.

©2022 Peter Rosch (P)2022 Peter Rosch

Original and Satisfying Thriller Horror

I read this on the recommendation of The Well Read Beard’s YouTube channel, and it didn’t disappoint. Rosch does an excellent job posing questions in the reader’s mind, answering some, and allowing us to speculate on others. The writing is refreshingly lean and punchy. If you enjoy page after page of tedious description, thus may not be the book for you. If you enjoy smart, quirky thrillers with nuanced characters that pack an emotional punch, check this one out. It’s a gem.

Great Read

Rosch creates a fascinating and seedy world where an anorexic discovers his superpower in his own disorder. Full of plot twist, Rosch expertly keeps the reader wanting more in this truly original thriller. Great read/listen. Check it out!

Very cool concept

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and didn’t get around to it until long after it had been published. So I was reading the e-arc and completely engrossed because the idea of someone who can tell the future when he binge eats is such an interesting and unique plot. When I became aware of the up to 85% off everything Audible sale, naturally I looked for this book and bought it.

I’m a terrible reviewer, I know. But in my defense, I try to write honest and thoughtful reviews and I end up buying the audio companions to the ones I loved. This is one such book.

As I often do, I listened to the audiobook as I read along. Quick note about the audiobook, this is my first experience with the narrator T.W. Robbert. His reading is crisp and clear and while not overly emotive, it is just enough to accentuate this story perfectly. His vocal shifts between characters is enough to differentiate them but not so dramatic that it’s annoying. I know a lot of readers love full cast audiobooks or those whose narrators do elaborate voices, but I just find that distracting. T.W. Robbert has a talent that I can appreciate.

This is the story of an anorexic man who discovers future seeing abilities aided by bulimia, binge eating and purging. Eat to see, see to live. The story is told from the points of view of alternating narrators, one in the moment and one as an interview at an institution. We meet Casey Banks and Lylian Ayer (Spanish for yesterday…intentional?) in the middle of a reading. Casey is stuffing his face with fervor, trying to cram more and more because he believes that the more he eats, the more he will see. We learn that Casey and Lylian do readings from time to time to make money. Eventually, the criminal element (who happens to be Lyl’s ex) gets word of his ability and compels him to work for them, to read for them. As expected, things get complicated and weird and I’m here for it.

If descriptions of body dysmorphia and eating disorders are triggers for you, maybe skip this one. I have no experience with either and can’t say if the descriptions are super realistic, but I found this book to be overall well written. The imagery is top notch. I read a lot of extreme horror. Descriptions of blood and gore barely phase me but some of the descriptions of eating and purging scenes are both beautiful and disgusting. As I read, I found myself appreciating the interview sections more and more. I loved getting to dig in Casey’s head. And this is a minor thing, but I appreciate the little Texas references scattered throughout. A quick look at Peter Rosch’s Goodreads profile shows that this is his first novel in a while. I hope it won’t be his last.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read for me. The story is original and engaging and layered with surprising depth. There are twists and turns throughout that make this one difficult to put down. If you can stomach the eating scenes, you should read this book.

Fantastic Book

I absolutely loved this book … I was fully absorbed from start to finish … The writing was witty and engaging and the plot kept me wanting to listen more … Great addition to my Audible library 👍👍

Great narrator!

I really enjoyed T.W. Robbert’s narration of Rosch’s book. Very well done. The story was intriguing and interesting to listen to!

Fscinating Start to Finish

I started reading this book at a friend's this weekend. it was sitting on the nightstand and it looked interesting.
As soon as we left left I had to download it.
The premise is as wild as the intricate ride into layers of time unferrling this story of eating disorders, love, the super natural, criminal organization, skeletons in closests, existential quandary, therapy...
This is a great read! Highly recommend.
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(Listened at 1.15)

Perfect for Runners who like Carl Hiassen

Like Hiassen, Rosch creates raw characters, warts, and all. The subject is an antihero perfectly paradoxical to his gritty surrounding. The plot twists in all the right ways, and the writing is a really good even great in moments.

Future Skinny will leave you cringing, then cheering, then cringing, then cheering even more.

Different but a little confusing

I loved the idea of the story but it did fall a little flat for me. Overall, I didn’t feel like this was that much of a “guy sees the future” (which caught my eye in the blurb) because even though the idea of readings and what they entail was brought up many times, Casey didn’t do many readings and the reader never got the readee’s reactions afterward. It was more of them going back and forth in the timelines, interviewing with the supposed good guys, or fighting to get free from the back guys, when in reality, Casey was always with the bad guys.

The narrator did a pretty good job. I'd listen to him again. Thankfully, he was able to do a decent female voice.

Comments/Questions:

The interviewer’s revelation that Casey had a harder time seeing visions when he threw up was a surprise to me. Although that didn’t really make sense to me given Casey threw up after the vision, usually. Right? I mean, he’d either have a vision or not, then throw up. I’m wondering if the confusion was because of the timeline issue I had. I was confused as to which was taking place first/present, the place where the interviews were happening, or Casey and Lilian’s time with Connor/David. I thought I figured it out until Connor’s death and the next chapter (I think) had the interviewer asking Casey about Connor finding him, then I was still confused.

What was the point of doing the “redacted” regarding the interviewer’s name but then pointing out her name was Candace near the end? Yet, strangely (unless it’s because of my continued confusion), Casey didn’t seem to know who she was.

I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Great use of a Narrator!

I really enjoyed the narrator's performance in this book. It was a much different story than I was used to and the jumping around in scenes could have gotten lost. But the story teller did a great job with keeping me on track. I also really appreciate the range of characters that he can do. Good story, good book, good narration...good combination. Well done!

So glad I tried it

I am so glad I listened to this!!! Knew I would enjoy something different, but had no idea the teenagers would be just as invested as I was when I tried to turn it off.
The writing truly puts you in the room with each turn of events! Incredible story for everyone.