To be completely honest, I did not know what I expected when I went into Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella. I thought the concept sounded fun, and you know what, it was. I enjoyed the book. Was it groundbreaking? Maybe not, but the idea of it was fun and there were parts of the writing, the quips, the voice, that I thoroughly enjoyed. It read to me as a metaphor for toxic masculinity and the experience of being a gay man trying to fit into "straight culture" with the false promise of validation and success. I actually didn’t mind that it didn’t go further with the werewolf bit. I think the novel had enough of it to say what it needed to say.

The downsides of Bored Gay Werewolf would be some of the pop-culture references (mention of Love Island, TikTok and mentioning “charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent” for example) which typically make a book feel dated, sometimes even before it actually is. I also couldn’t really put my finger on the character of Brian. I liked him, but the sudden change between him being a college drop-out and party-boy, to trying to fit in with “corporate bros” felt a little abrupt. I get it, but also it needed some more motivation.

The other part I didn't really like is how long we seemed to linger on describing Tyler’s business plan and what they were trying to do - kinda got boring, and working in corporate myself, it gave me an ick that I wasn’t prepared for (but that one might be on me). Brian’s whole character also leaned heavily into the millennial listlessness, which, I get, being a frazzled millennial myself, but at this point I would like to see something else since most of us are no longer in our early 20’s.

Overall I would recommend this quick, cheeky read. However, there was a hint at the end that this might be a series, and I to that I say - why? I think it would be a good idea to leave it as a one-off, though I am interested to see what Santorella will do in the future.

2.5/5

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I went into this book really hoping to like it because it checks a lot of boxes of things that I like. While there were moments that I did like this book, I was overall underwhelmed by it. The timing and pacing seemed off to me. It took me about 6 days to read because I just could not get into it until I got to the last third of the book, which I finished in a day. It felt so rushed in the end but so slow in the beginning and middle. I enjoyed the last few chapters the most but did not like how rushed and thrown together it seemed. It also seemed like a such a weird cliffhanger to end on. I did not find myself liking Brian a lot until the end but I did love Darby and Nik. I think the author was able to address some societal issues well but they did seem sugarcoated.

Again, overall underwhelming but okay read.

Thank you Independent Publishers Group, Atlantic Books, and NetGalley for an Advanced Readers Copy of Tony Santorella’s BORED GAY WEREWOLF (Paperback, June 6 2024).

Have you ever finished reading a book and thought, damn, I want to write an essay on this? Well, that was me after reading Tony Santorella’s BORED GAY WEREWOLF. Smart. Funny. Deadly. My only question is, when are we getting a sequel?

As someone who loves literary monsters, I devoured this. And If you’re anything like me, add BORED GAY WEREWOLF to your TBR.

Modern and diverse characters in a familiar, contemporary setting. There were some good laugh-out-loud moments, as well as some good satire, which draws readers' attention to social issues such as the pressures of conformity, toxic masculinity, classism, homophobia, and the modern wellness culture.

For me, the writing did feel a bit clunky in places, like it could have used some more polish and depth, but overall it was a fun read.

I really enjoyed this book!!! It hit all the right spots for me - it had a somewhat messy protagonist and is a story that’s all about finding yourself in this complex world. As a baby adult myself, it was definitely a story that I resonated with. I also really enjoyed the commentary on toxic masculinity although it did feel slightly too obvious at times.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time reading this and I am so grateful that I was sent an ARC. Thank you so much!!

Bored Gay Werewolf is a fun spin on the traditional werewolf story and also takes a critical look at toxic masculinity.

Bored Gay Werewolf follows Brian, a relatively new werewolf who is working as a server at a semi-trendy restaurant alongside Nik, the bartender and manager, and Darby, another server. These three folks work together and end most nights drinking a bit too much at a local dive after their shifts. Brian has been floundering after dropping out of college once he became a werewolf, but things seem to take a turn in his life when he meets Tyler.

I enjoyed the book, but wished the characters had a bit more depth to them, particularly Darby and Nik. I'm curious to see where this goes and would definitely pick up the next one as the ending leaves this open for a sequel. I imagine that we'd get more about the other characters' backstory and I hope for more adventures with that trio as I enjoyed their relationships together.

I was provided a free electronic copy of this book from the Atria Books (the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.

I really like those main characters who are so believably humanly flawed (even if they’re an actual werewolf) and that's Brian for us. I felt like I could somewhat relate to Brian's struggles and ways of processing emotions as I, too, am a lost, burnt out 20 something year old! He also had a fun sort of sarcastic sense of humor which I adore, both in real life and characters. Also, I want to add that I really liked the approach towards toxic masculinity, for example when Brian had to tone down his own identity in order to be "palatable" for straight men, capitalism, amongst others things, but I do wish there was more nuance to it.
Plotwise it was a bit too dependent on vibes but not hard to get through. Some scenes should've been shorter or flat out cut, but as this is a debut that is to be expected.
In terms of writing I think it was solid. It was funny, which is usually a type of writing that I like and tend to read, but the plot was very predictable. Because the writing was as it was, it saved the book, but it's still something I felt the need to point out.
The biggest downsides for me were that the side characters didn't really feel like characters, they were more like cardboard cutouts. I didn't believe they were people, not in the same way I believed in Brian, and no one really stood out to me. I also wish to add that, as a fan of werewolves, it lacked depth in that regard. Brian was a very superficial werewolf, just a big bad who's scared of eating others, when there's much more that can be explored with this fantasy/supernatural race. The goal of making lycanthropy a metaphor for toxic masculinity kind of falls flat when there's almost never an actual description of any werewolf-specific goings-on but simply SAY over and over again that the main character is a werewolf...

Overall, it's an interesting, modern and a bit of a hipster book and I had fun while reading it!

I enjoyed my time with this book, but I wasn’t exactly blown away. It was a quick read though, and I was able to get through it in one sitting. The biggest hurdle was the present-tense writing though, I don’t usually enjoy books written in that tense and it always takes me a while to get past it when I do.

The characters were the best part, Brian was relatable and his group of friends did a lot to ground the story. The story, on the other hand, didn’t do too much for me. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t something that I hadn’t seen done somewhere else before too but I don’t fault the book for that, It’s not the books fault that werewolves have been used as a metaphor for everything under the sun/moon.

The commentary on toxic masculinity was a tad too on the nose, but it’s always refreshing to see it touched upon in any form.

Overall, it’s a fun book and I enjoyed my time with it, but there’s not much more for me to say than that. I saw another review saying that the book felt that a WB show, and that was the perfect description. If you’re in the mood for something quick, and a little bit hairy, then I think you’d really enjoy this book.

After an unfortunate run in with an old woman, Brian was cursed and became a werewolf.

Eventually he meets a fellow werewolf who’s a trust fund dude bro trying to monetize being a werewolf into an mlm scheme focused on toxic masculinity.

Things get even weirder toward the end tbh.

I suppose this is satire about toxic masculinity, the patriarchy and heteronormativity. It definitely doesn’t take itself very seriously. If you don’t either you might just enjoy this.

Something I enjoyed with the book was the modern urban setting and that the characters felt like actual people with problems, emotions and relationships. The overall story maybe wasn’t something that fitted me specifically but I did like the humoristic tone of the text itself.

3 stars. This is a bit of a hard one to put my thoughts and feelings together into one piece. The title and the cover grabbed me immediately, I was stoked for something cool, fun and queer with werewolves, but ultimately I don’t think it completely delivered on that.

I feel like top of the order is to clarify that the writing in this is totally fine. This is a perfectly easy book to read. None of my problems are really with the writing craft of this book.

I did have some issues with the lack of clarity with establishing the rules of werewolves in this world. I feel like the lore around werewolves is so varied that it’s kind of important to make it clear what the rules and limitations are for your readers. I got kind of confused that on one hand Brain is painted as this useless slob, but then when he starts working out is already immediately super strong and fast, but then we spend a portion of the story with him being physically taken out by a hike? I’m also a bit confused with how exposed the supernatural is meant to be in this world? Cause there is a lot of flippancy around it, yet also it’s discussed as this big secret.

Something about this really kind of reminded me a bit of vibe that some of the early 00s/ older Kevin Smith movies used to give. I struggle to put my finger on it, but there’s a certain vibe I can’t escape.

I thought it was an interesting less serious take on some serious issues like toxic masculinity, capitalism and classism. I appreciate that Tyler was meant to be used as satire, but even with that knowledge his ‘dude bro’ pyramid scheme personality was completely insufferable. Darby and Nik were fun characters and I thought served the role of anchoring Brian well.

Nothing in the end of this surprised me though, and if you know my track record of how often I don’t guess the surprises in books you’ll realize how much that means. I’m still kind of a bit confused about the ending honestly. It’s a bit strange in the context of the wider story.

The more I reflect on it the more I think my rating is a me issue. I came into this wanting a fun queer werewolf time and what I got was a quick satirical read on toxic elements in modern society.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

DNF’d at 28% unfortunately.
I was drawn in by the title but everything about this book was grating on me.
I can see it working really well as a graphic novel and probably as a movie/tv show as well, though.

Thank you, Tony Santorella NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

Getting into this, I was disappointed. It took me a good while to finally enjoy it. I think it had to do with the fact that it was all male masculinity and the fact it dragged on in the middle so much. It picks up quickly at the end, though, and I enjoyed every moment of it, especially the unexpected twist that happened. I mean, not every book is for every person. Of course, I am glad I stuck with it till the end. If I hadn't, my rating of this would be lower.

A gay werewolve trying to make it in today's world, another of his kind finding him and trying to help him out to be better and more in control of himself and the wolf. All he asks is that he helps him create something. Is this for the better, or is something more sinister afoot? Read to find out and see the bumps and twists that come.

I also think another reason I had a hard time reading this was the cultish way things turned. Don't get me wrong, I love a good horror book dealing with cults but not the kind where it's the pyramid scheme. Even so, I got through it and enjoyed the book in all.

This book went places I was not expecting.

Based on the art on the cover and the name of the book, I was expecting to have a story that was about a 20something werewolf who was a bit of a slacker and just cruising on snack food and video games and belly rubs. I was imagining a subversion of the “alpha dude bro” werewolf, and expecting a humorous exploration of a werewolf that behaved more like a domestic dog. But that is on me, because I didn’t aggressively read the blurb….

BUT what I got was something that hit me in my very specific horror zone. Rich and privileged people who manage to turn something with some level or merit into a Lifestyle Brand TM, and then do all the Social Media influence, TedTalk stuff *shudder*. I absolutely love a story with a Werewolf Boyfriend, but watching someone try to leverage that into a Lifestyle Brand, was more terrifying to me than any axe or chainsaw wielding sociopath could EVER be!

I don’t normally enjoy horror, and I will admit to reading some of this pretty fast because of the Social Ick that poor Brian went through. BUT he made it, and I made it, and I was able to end in a very satisfying place.

Thank you Net Galley and publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

When I say I was pleasantly surprised by this book - I mean it. I wanted to read it on a whim just by the title alone (I mean, come on, how could you not be obsessed) and loved every second of it. It is simultaneously a beautiful story of opening up to those who truly care about you, and a critique on just how far toxic masculinity can make people go. Had me cackling and I can't wait for others to read it!

fun, weird, very much about toxic masculinity and dudebro culture put into a very well written and very queer story! thanks for the arc.

Brian is a college drop-out making it work in a dead-end job with his best friends at a local restaurant. Brian is also a werewolf and doesn’t have a good plan for avoiding his accidental full moon murders. Tyler, another werewolf who sought him out after the last full moon, offers him a solution. The necessary steps to a better were-life and the camaraderie of The Pack—a social media/subscription service to lycanthropic self-help. Brian likes the changes he is experiencing working with Tyler, though he can’t help but notice that Tyler is your run-of-the-mill privileged and toxically masculine Bro. Brian soon finds out that getting away from this multi-level marketing scheme for supernatural is a little more dangerous than he thought.

Bored Gay Werewolf was honestly a pretty funny book. I will try to read almost anything queer but I’m not sure this book was my cup of tea. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the writing—I actually found myself thinking it would make an amazing T.V. show. I think that for me, a lot happened really fast, and I wanted something more from Brian specifically. I liked it. I liked it enough to read it in its entirety and I liked it enough to laugh out loud multiple times while I read.

This was a fun read - quirky, weirdly relatable and warm. I liked the characterisation and really enjoyed how real Brian felt with his struggle to adult, keep his low paid job, and navigate life as an openly gay man. Relatable and frustrating enough before you add in his attempts to come to terms with his werewolf status. Into this story comes Tyler, and we dive into a satire of long-standing classism, sexism, homophobia, alpha male flexing, and modern wellness culture.

Brian's journey concerns the things we are told about ourselves, where we find our place when we feel untethered and the loyalty of true friendship. The werewolf aspect makes for a clever and funny way to explore these issues and brings a different edge to the story. It is absolutely a key theme, but weirdly, Brian's wolf identity is somehow the least important thing about him.

There is lupine action, but I'm not sure it's the kind that will appeal to anyone looking purely for a werewolf book
Given Brian's age, this isn't a coming of age story, more of a coming of identity one.

3.25 stars

Thank you NetGalley for this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book has a ton of potential and there was a lot I did like about it, but overall it didn't quite come together for me.

First the good stuff:
The title is amazing and as soon as I saw that title I wanted it. Also, it's really funny. Lots of cleverness and laugh-out-loud moments. Finally, I loved how the villain was trying to build an MLM/cult and recruit the hero. The werewolf lore was a great allegory for how toxic MLMs and cults prey on vulnerable people and this book does a great job exploring that in a really humorous and smart way.

Despite all that, most of this book just dragged for me, and I felt there was a lot of unnecessary material that didn't add anything to the story.

A quick fun read that is more bark than bite. I enjoyed this novel but wasn’t blown away by it. The characters all more or less fit into stereotypes or genre archetypes, but they were still given enough character to be fun and have a sense of individuality. The story was well-paced, knowing when to employ time jumps to keep the action going and keep you invested, and it really did pull me from chapter to chapter, never lagging or feeling monotonous. However, I wasn’t especially excited by the writing, especially during some dialogue scenes. It just felt very talk-y, with almost every conversation having characters speak in monologues. It was sometimes appropriate, for the character and scene, but it often just felt performative. The characters were saying nice things, though, and the inner dialogue and regular narration was well done, nothing fancy but compelling and fun to read. The story itself, though, was remarkably predictable. I felt like every character and plotline took the most expected route, and literally the moment we were introduced to a new character it was easy to see what was going to happen. It didn’t feel hackneyed, but it was kind of expected. The story tries to provide commentary on concepts of gender and masculinity at the intersection of late-stage capitalism, but this too felt surface-level and expected. It wasn’t offensive or anything, just not particularly insightful. The fact that the main character is queer is entirely incidental to the plot. There are a few hook-ups and nods to queer/progressive lifestyles and a few mild instances of homophobia, but nothing that really defined the character or impacted the story. Whether this is a point for or against the story is personal preference. Personally, for the most part I don’t mind the normalization of queer identities to allow stories to prominently feature queer protagonists (or antagonists, for that matter) whose queerness is incidental to the story. However, with a title like “Bored Gay Werewolf” one would expect queerness to be a more prominent factor in the character development or story. Plus, aside from maybe a paragraph or two comparing coming out as a werewolf to coming out as gay, none of the symbolism, thematic imagery or clear metaphors linking a burgeoning queer identity in a heteronormative world to the monstrous monthly explosion of a hidden mystical ailment were explored at all. Again, they don’t have to be, but with a novel that feels like it is trying to provide some sort of social commentary, it was a little disappointing to have all those delicious opportunities literally built-in to the framework of the story but then not explored.

That critique makes me sound more down on the book than I am. It is a fun story, that is well-paced and has characters that are fun to get to know, even if they are a bit expected. It isn’t particularly novel or surprising, but it takes a good idea and runs with it just enough to have a good time and not overstay its welcome. It has good queer rep and, if you don’t go in expecting anything other than a light, fun time, there is a lot to enjoy in this book.

I want to thank the author, the publisher Independent Publishers Group, Atlantic Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.