Member Reviews
This audiobook and story were very fun! The narrator had the right amount of sardonic tone to completely sincere and it made for a very enjoyable listen. The story itself was not at all what I had expected and through the infuriating but hilarious business speak and the banter from Brian's friends I understood the vibes and tone of this book. Very happy to have read an imperfect gay character in this book during pride month!
📚📚📚🎧#werewolfwednesday #pridemonth❤️💛💚💙💜 🎧📚📚📚
Thank you to @netgalley @wfhowes for my ALC 🎧 of #boredgaywerewolf . It was exactly the comedy I needed for today! I will definitely be looking for more escapades from Brian and his found family in book 2 ; where this was light on the paranormal it was campy much like Zombieland..there was always laughter that took the edge of the blood .
✔ A+ for all gender groups being portrayed.. I particularly liked Darby (they them) whose diologue made me see David Rose in Schitts Creek ..they were an amazing character.
✔ A+ for Brian standing up for himself in all aspects of his life. Our MMC has had a rough road and has just been "coasting" and people keep telling him he needs to be "living up to more potential" He gets pulled into a werewolf pyramid scheme, bullied into going camping , then subjected to a human Barbie who invades his boundaries.
I liked this character, and there is no rule book that says you have to go to college and everybody's definition of success is different.
✔ The found family in this book is 👨🍳💋 Nik and Darby teach Brian lessons of what a true friend is..and I was so there for it.
I really felt I was in the middle of a 90s Rave party for some of the book : the afterhours of city barhopping with those in the service industry really was nostalgic.
The werewolf aspect ..I would have liked more because it felt like an afterthought it wasnt developed as some of my fave shifter books ..i grabbed it for the werewolves baby!
The narrator was excellent ..Anthony Nyro gets a thumbs up from me ..hope to see more of him in the future. OVERALL i give it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for an outstanding narrator that had me listen in one sitting.
This supernatural dramedy had the right balance of outlandish themes and deadpan delivery. Brian is barely getting by; spending late nights at the bar with his two work friends, Nik and Darby, not looking after his studio apartment and dealing with the tricky task of turning into a werewolf every month. The mysterious and handsome Tyler steps in, becoming Brian's were-life coach. But soon Brian figures out Tyler isn't doing it all out of the goodness of his heart.
The book is wonderfully self aware, it knows how ridiculous it is but it executes it with sass and seriousness to get away with it. The supernatural elements are built into elements that are very much real like life coaching and toxic masculinity. It was a really interesting way of exploring dark issues without becoming completely depressing.
The characters are fully rounded out, Brian's sarcasm is first class. I loved seeing a gender fluid character (Darby) written so well, their gender was never fussed over which is an issue in more books than not sadly. Nik's tough love made her my fave character. Nobody feels stereotyped and if they are (Tyler for example), it's pointed out to good effect. The dialogue was especially tight, as I listened to the audio book version it would have become obvious if the dialogue was poor. All the conversation felt real from the banter to the deep emotional moments. The 'coming out' scene in particular tugged at my eyes a bit!
The one issue I had was pacing and had I been reading the physical book I think I'd have found this even more distracting. The chapters were very long, with multiple scenes happening and there was no obvious nod on the audio book to when we changed scene. It threw me a few times where I would have to go back and make sure I knew what was happening, or when we had shifted.
I'd recommend this if you're looking for an easy, funny read and like to dip your toes into the supernatural genre. It's not overwhelming with creatures or magic, just a dude trying to get his sh*t together who also happens to be a werewolf too. The audio book is narrated really well and the characters all have clear voices, I was really impressed.
This book is a wonderfully unusual take on urban fantasy, focusing very much on the lens of contemporary queer fiction and using the fantasy elements as literary devices to much success. As a primarily SFF reader, it took me a moment to get my bearings, but typical fiction and urban fantasy readers will readily appreciate this story. Despite not being to my personal taste, I found this to be a very enjoyable read with some relatable political statements and good character work.
Bored Gay Werewolf is a fun, mystical romp through Bryan's life as a Werewolf and we get to see his journey to coming out as said Werewolf.
Bryan inadvertently gets himself involved in a pyramid scheme style Werewolf pack. While falling for his new pack, he loses sight of his real friends. He eventually realizes what and who really matter to him and we get to see him protect them.
Thank you for the audio ARC of Bored Gay Werewolf. It was a fun Werewolf coming out story.
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This was great!
I really like those main characters who are just so normal and realistically flawed. Not perfectly imperfect in beautiful ways, but believably humanly flawed… even if they’re actually a werewolf. Even though I didn’t relate to Brian’s specific situations, I could still relate to just struggling sometimes, because life is hard! Especially when a problem gets dropped into your lap and changes your life, and you’re not given a manual or any help, you’re just supposed to figure it out. He also had a fun sort of sarcastic sense of humor. And he had a lot of the same thoughts that I was having in response to all the weird and/or problematic stuff happening around him.
Speaking of which, this was such a great queer perspective book. Toxic masculinity, having to sort of tone down his queerness in order to be palatable for straight men, the entitlement of people thinking it’s ok to ask personal questions. Those topics and other little things were included so naturally, just part of the book and the character.
But it wasn’t too serious of a book. It never got too dark or heavy. Which was a little weird when everyone was super casual about murder, but eh, I can let that go. I think it was meant to be an entertaining story with some commentary, and that is indeed what it was.
Brian’s friends, Nick and Darby, were great! That doesn’t quite do justice to how important the theme of friendship was in the book, but you’ll just have to trust me.
There was no romance, which really was for the best, Brian had enough on his plate. Seriously though, I don’t read a lot of books that don’t have romance, so it’s always refreshing to find one, especially with a queer MC.
The plot was mostly quiet and sorta calm, but interesting. It was a cool take on werewolves. Not anything wildly different from other books I’ve read, but not the alpha and pack sort of thing either. He just happened to sprout fur every full moon and have strong senses and extra strength and healing abilities, but he was still, mostly, just a person existing in the world, trying to figure life out.
The audiobook narration by Anthony Nyro was wonderful! It sounded perfectly natural, it suited the character, and it hit all the right tones of apathy, frustration, exasperation, and sass. Plus, every character sounded different enough to easily tell them apart.
Overall, this was a fairly calm but entertaining story with queer perspective and sweet friendship and a main character who was imperfectly human (and imperfectly werewolf)!
Bored Gay Werewolf follows Brian, a queer server in his early twenties who is struggling with adulting almost as much as he is being. a werewolf (and he's really not good at either). When his murderous accidents get the attention of Tyler, a fellow werewolf looking to mentor others and change the werewolf world, Brian finds himself being recruited to his pack. The closer Brian gets to the pack, the further he is drawn away from his own friends, and the more he is drawn into Tyler's increasingly sinister plans.
This book seemed fun, and it wasn't horrible, but it just didn't really strike a chord with me. I really enjoyed a lot of the themes, including the explorations of toxic masculinity and unapologetic critiques of capitalism, and therefore expected to like the book, but the story itself just wasn't my cup of tea. The protagonists friends were more likeable than he was and I probably would've preferred to read a whole book about them.
4 stars!
"Bored Gay Werewolf" by Tony Santorella is a hilarious, interesting, sarcastic, fresh queer horror comedy with compelling characters and wild scenarios. I really enjoyed reading this one! I loved all of the individuals in this book despite their flaws. Brian is sort of a loser with no prospects going for him. He is hiding this big secret from his found family: he's a werewolf. When Brian meets Tyler, who promises to give him direction and help him be the best werewolf he can be, he ditches his friends and overwhelmingly puts all his eggs in the Tyler basket. Brian continually ignores Tyler's red flags as he further isolates from everything and everyone he knows and loves. Can he find his way back to them, and to himself? This premise puts a unique spin on the werewolf genre and gives an intriguing commentary on how toxic masculinity attempts to infiltrate the queer community. How people ignore red flags because their abuser is charming or gives their life meaning. This book is extremely clever and wholly original. I laughed multiple times while reading it. I absolutely loved audiobook narrator Anthony Nyro's work here. He was a fabulous choice for this book! He really did a wonderful job giving each character a unique voice. 10/10 for him!
Thank you to NetGalley, Tony Santorella, and W.F. Howes Ltd for the ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for my review.
Fun, fast paced read with a nuanced gay MC. I appreciated the found family aspect of the story as well as the tackling of toxic masculinity.
This book was a clever, hilarious satire. The narration was great, and conveyed the wit and sarcasm of the character so well.
I much prefer the beginning of the book which was lighter and funnier. The middle of the book was much more serious and felt at odds with the beginning of the book.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed it a lot and was a very fun listen!
Bored gay werewolf was a quirky read of a gay man dealing with adulthood and also being a werewolf.
Brian was such a relatable and witty character as we all have times when life gets overwhelming.
This was a fun story that also dealt with some complex themes, such as toxic masculinity and the importance of community.
Read For:
Found Family
Happy Ending
Self-Discovery
Good Friendships
Werewolves (duh)
This book had such a great mix of fantasy and contemporary. Following the mundane life of a relatable—and sarcastic main character who is also a confused werewolf who doesn’t really know what he’s doing.
Brian was a great MC, he was flawed and realistic—and his sarcastic comments were always on point. His path for self-discovery was aggravating, yet, all so satisfying. He really fell into some toxic ‘friendships’ only to be slapped to reality by his actual friends. Which was super satisfying in the end but the poor customers that had to deal with him before then.
The found family really shined in this book. There wasn’t this big push for romance for Brian, sure he had hookups but nothing more than that. I think it really worked well for this book. The plot having more of a focus on the friendships to family relationships. Darby, Nic, and Abe were all so loveable. Darby’s dialogue had be laughing so hard.
It was an entertaining listen with a great narrator who brought the book to life. Thanks to NetGalley and the author/publisher for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
(Third Person POV)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Rep: Gay MC, LGBTQIA+ SCs
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Cursing, Violence, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content, Injury/Injury detail, Drug abuse, Classism, Homophobia, and Mental illness
Minor: Fatphobia, Murder, and Blood
This book was such a ride! Enjoyable from the very first page and filled with unexpected turns. I adored the supporting cast, Nik and Darby will live in my heart for a long time to come. At it’s core, it’s a story about finding yourself and the importance of supportive friendships but the layering of supernatural beings adds a wildly entertaining spin.
I feel like this book is the sweet but misguided younger brother to ‘My Best Friend’s Exorcism’ by Grady Hendrix’s edgy older sister. I would go so far as to call this book a cosy soft horror, if such a genre exists. I hope it does.
I look forward to more from Tony Santorella, there better be a sequel!
P.s. This would make a cracking film, just saying…
A lighthearted and satiricallly funny audiobook with some deeper themes running throughout It is summed up perfectly in the title : Bored Gay Werewolf! This lone wolf, having just adjusting to being openly gay now finds himself grappling with his werewolf status. What he really needs is the support and safety of a pack. Whilst trying hard to fit in by toning down his identity, he is confronted by misogyny, classism, homophobia and toxic masculinity. Eventually, finding his true people are so much closer to home. The narration is so well delivered, conveying the right amount of humour and boredom. #boredgaywerewolf #tonysantorella #netgalley #queerlitature #werewolfrepresentation #gayrepresentation
This was such an amazing feel good story! I have found that I truly love Horror with a touch of humor in it. Bored Gay Werewolf is what I’d call a “cozy horror” and I loved every second of it!! It was truly a heartwarming story about finding your way in life, found family or “pack”, and believing in yourself. I recommend this book to all readers, and if you like to listen to audiobooks then that’s the route you should take. The narration was seamless and so engaging!
Admittedly, I was drawn in by the amazing cover and title, but this just did not live up to my expectations. Largely, I am sure, my fault - I was expecting something more Grady Hendrix. That said, I did enjoy it, it was an easy read that managed to deal with some pretty heavy topics.
With a title like Bored Gay Werewolf, you bet I’m gonna wanna read it. Well, thanks to NetGalley, I got to enjoy this via audiobook.
I adore Brian. His sarcasm is delicious. I can’t tell you how many times he left me “howling” (get it? Cos he’s a werewolf! Lol) Anyway, he is a great character. Very relatable. No, I’m not a guy and/or gay, but the struggles of finding your way in life, connecting with people & learning who to trust, those are all relatable issues and, like Brian, can lead you down the wrong path, which is where we meet Tyler.
Tyler’s character is brilliantly written. Innocent and kind, but as the story develops, his manipulation slowly reveals itself.
An aspected I loved was highlighting how entitled (mainly) straight people can be when talking to someone who is queer about their personal life. Brian’s response was perfect.
I also adored Nic, Darby & Abe, but you’ll have to read/listen to understand why.
Oh, and there was a little twist/surprise that I didn’t see coming. Love it! Again read it. Maybe you’ll see the twist coming but I didn’t.
Ironically there was a part in the book which meant I was a Bored Queer Listener (sorry 😆), but it was very brief & might have been because of the mood I was in.
A fantastic book highlighting things like toxic masculinity, friendship, and a desire to fit in.
I hope there’s a sequel. ♥️
With regards to the narrator, Anthony Nyro, he did a fantastic job. Each character was unique and distinctive, which, of course, makes it easier to follow and helps the flow of the story. I also loved his tone especially with the sarcastic dialogue. Brilliant! 🥰
If I may, well I can because it’s my review! Here are 2 lines that I LOVED. Out of context, but read/listen and you’ll understand. 😀
~ “F@(ked a cartoon character” ~ Brilliant
~ “Hold on, Funky Bunch” ~ Amazing!
Thank you NetGalley & W.F. Howes Ltd, for the audiobook in return for an honest review.
I have to say although I’m not keen on fantasy as a genre, I do love everything to do with vampires, werewolves witches etc, probably due to my life long love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! So when I saw other bloggers receiving copies of Bored Gay Werewolf (complete with a howling box), I begged for a copy!
Brian is a bit of a loser – he works as a waiter in a bar having dropped out of college after being turned into a werewolf. He doesn’t really have a plan of how to live his life as a werewolf, drinking heavily and often waking up in a forest with blood on his face and he knows he has killed at least a couple of people. His relationships exist purely from hook-ups on Grindr. His work colleagues Nik and Darby try to look after him but obviously he can’t tell them what is going on so when he meets Tyler, another werewolf who completely has a handle on the werewolf side of life, he is glad to have found another like him.
Tyler has a whole plan to find other werewolves and to create a website and brand around them which Brian isn’t too keen on (he thinks their lifestyle should be secret) but he also teaches Brian the advantages of his wolf self, getting him fit and offering advice about what to do during the transition to avoid killing people!
I thoroughly enjoyed Bored Gay Werewolf! Brian was frustrating at times but I’m not sure how I would cope with being a werewolf so I can’t judge! His origin story did make me laugh though. I really liked his friendship with Nik and Darby – Brian doesn’t give much back but they are a constant source of support and love and they were great! I’m hoping the way it ended means there is another book on the horizon – I’d love to see Brian’s adventures continue with Nik and Darby by his side!
Thank you to Kirsty at Atlantic Books for sending me a proof after my begging email and for approving me on Netgalley for an audiobook version!
Bored Gay Werewolf wasn’t at all what I expected and something entirely its own. In theory, a book about a werewolf could go one of two ways: campy and whimsical, or dark and edgy. Bored Gay Werewolf opts for secret option number three: neither… and also sort of… both? I don’t know. I never felt like I quite /got/ the tone the author was going for.
As far as genre, it is fantasy (urban fantasy?) through and through and whoever sold this as a sort of light horror (or perhaps I misunderstood?) was way off. The stakes in BGW are pretty low and the story quite chill given that this guy literally kills people 🙈🥰 This will either be to the book’s credit or not depending on the reader’s preference.
BGW’s triumph comes in its relationships. BGW is gloriously queer without a central romance. The characters’ friendships are the big gooey centre of the book. Found family goes hand in hand with queerness, and Santorella does it so well. Ditto the seamless conversations about masculinity and performance. I really loved that.
While BGW is not my personal cup of tea (I am simply the wrong reader) I would heartily to recommend it to people who enjoy urban fantasy and paranormal stories. Especially anyone looking for a fun, heartfelt portrayal of queer friendships.
The audio was great! Perfectly suited to the story and well-performed. Forgot I was listening a grew times. No notes!
A huge thank you to WF Howes, Atlantic, Netgalley and the author for the ALC in exchange for an unbiased review! Bored Gay Werewolf is out now.
This is the werewolf book I didn't know I was waiting for! Brian is living his not so great werewolf life holding down a job as a waiter, drinking with his coworkers Nik and Darby, and spending the rest of his non-wolf time doomscrolling, binge watching shows on Netflix, and going out on awkward Grindr hookups. He's been in a funk since his transformation, and everything is too much and he has no one to talk to about his problems. Enter Tyler, the poster boy for rich, entitled, and toxic masculinity. Oh, and he's also a werewolf. He's convinced he can turn Brian's life around, unlock his true potential, and get him to join his in up and coming, highly suspicious, online community for werewolves, The Pack TM. Pyramid scheme for the supernatural? It's more likely than you think!
I listened to the audiobook and binged right through! Brian's point of view is humorous, sarcastic, self-deprecating, and full of the mundane details of day to day life. I kept finding myself laughing and grinning at his narration. I really love underdog stories, and you can't get much more underdog than Brian. His friends Nik and Darby are the best friends a closeted werewolf could have, and deliver tough love, honesty, and camaraderie. They are A+++ supporting characters! Tyler made me want to murder him every time he opened his mouth. The plot is compact, compelling, and highly entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it left me wanting a sequel!