The heaviest things we carry aren’t always measured in pounds.
In his forties, Valentino Assenza learns he has a blockage in his heart. His father died of a heart attack at fifty-one. Suddenly, a number that has haunted him for years feels uncomfortably close.
But What Roller Coasters Taught Me is about much more than the fear of an early death. Through memories of Sicilian family meals, childhood ridicule, late-night takeout and the quiet rituals of everyday life, Assenza explores what it means to grow up loving food in a world that judges the body enjoying it.
Drawing on pop culture touchpoints like The Sopranos and John Candy, Assenza confronts grief, shame and belonging with humour, vulnerability and an unmistakably personal voice. He makes room for the joy food brings alongside the physical and emotional toll of a lifelong struggle with weight.
Divided into sections titled Glutton, Indulge and Nourish, this collection is not a story of easy answers or a finished transformation. It is about learning to live differently without losing the things that make life worth living, and discovering that taking care of ourselves is a journey that continues long after the last page.