THE FRUIT CURE
"Like an episode of Maintenance Phase meets the essay collection The Empathy Exams."
-Emma Copley Eisenberg
In The Fruit Cure, Jacqueline Alnes takes readers on an unforgettable deep dive into the world of fruitarianism, populated by eccentric internet personalities and people in pain, ultimately placing her own powerful narrative within the wider problematic history of fruit-based, raw food lifestyles.
For readers plagued by mysterious symptoms, inundated by messages from media about how to attain “the perfect body,” or caught in the grips of a fast-paced culture of capitalism, The Fruit Cure offers a powerful critique of the failures of our healthcare system, and an inquiry into the dark world of wellness culture schemes, scams, and diets masquerading as hope.
I have never been more compelled by a book, and I have never felt more moved by the offering of a self — honest, tender, and vulnerable — that Alnes presents. In a culture focused on fixing rather than healing, and on perfection rather than complication, Alnes offers a compassionate and critical voice that reminds us of our humanity, of the generous fact that there is beauty in our uncertainty and imperfection.
Devin Gael Kelly, author of In This Quiet Church of Night, I Say Amen and the newsletter Ordinary Plots
A fantastic look at wellness and diet culture and the influencer economy, all done with nuance, humor, and empathy.
Christine Yu, author of Up to Speed
Alnes's book is an eye-opening journey into how isolating the pursuit of health can be when our society does not keep an open mind and inclusive practice that prioritizes care, and the dangers that come with the push toward individualism.
Casey Johnston, editor, "She's a Beast" newsletter and author of Liftoff: Couch to Barbell
Alnes writes with honesty and a clear curiosity about how her own experience reflects larger societal trends. The Fruit Cure is a spellbinding reminder of how susceptible we are to quick fixes, and, ultimately, how our communities can save us.
BookPage Review (Starred), Amy Scribner