for such a comic title, the book isn't nearly as humorous as one would think... but there's certainly some situational humor, as well as plenty of awkward straight girls attempting to over-bond with their token gay 'friend.'
oddly enough, I could have used more Mark time, particularly with Brian, as that relationship interested me quite a bit. it's certainly good, I enjoyed it, and I'd definitely recommend it, but I didn't love it.


I received a free copy from NetGalley in in exchange for an honest review.

Great, quick read. Loved it. I was unsure at first, but it quickly grabbed me with it’s wit and humor. Also, the sexy stuff kept me turning pages. It’s a great story about finding your “pack” and realizing we shouldn’t put unrealistic expectations on what things “should be.” Instead we should just look at those who are always there, in front of us. Sometimes the answers are right there. I think it is set up really well in the end for a sequel or a franchise. I really want to read more with these characters. It feels almost like a prelude to a larger epic.

Kind of ridiculous, a little on the nose, a little predictable, but overall a really fun and at times thought-provoking read. 3,5+ stars

What must it be like to be a werewolf these days? I’m guessing probably about as tricky as it seems to be for our MC, Brian. He’s a mess when we start this story, and then he gets himself into an even worse mess. With Tate-style Alpha bro werewolves, no less.

I was really, really excited to read this. My expectations were pretty high, and I wasn’t disappointed.

The references to Fight Club and Van Helsing lore were a LOT. I can’t say I was always a fan, although this story is self-aware and tongue-in-cheek enough to mostly get away with it. The way the temptation of Alpha-manning your way to success was portrayed felt quite authentic. As much as Brian questioned what was happening, there’s a reason pyramid schemes are so successful.

Brian is a bit of a whiner, but I really enjoyed being in his head for this story. Classic overthinker, with his coworkers and friends to occasionally ground him and hold up a mirror. They were their own characters, though, and especially Nik was great. As said, some of the characterisation was pretty on the nose (looking at you, Mark) and some more background and fleshing out would have been nice. If very strong character building is your thing, this might be a dealbreaker.

All in all, this is a perfect book if you’re looking for both some intellectual stimulation and a fast-paced, fun(ny) story.

This book was an absolute delight from start to finish. It's funny, relevant, queer, and heartwarming—I just couldn't get enough of it. Despite a few concerns about pacing and composition, the sheer enjoyment factor was off the charts.

Meet Brian, a werewolf whose life has taken an unexpected turn for the worse. Struggling with the aftermath of his transformation, he finds himself back at his parents' suburban home, contending with secretive shifts and awkward nighttime encounters. Living with his conservative Christian parents becomes less than ideal, prompting Brian to make the move to the city. There, he lands a waiting job at a local restaurant and forms fast friendships with coworkers Nik and Darby. However, the city doesn't magically solve his lupine problems; instead, his bad habits and self-loathing escalate, and his lack of control during full moons doesn't help. Enter Tyler, a sharp-witted trust fund kid turned werewolf, eager to monetize his new reality. Dragging Brian into a world of power posing, mantras, meditation, and venture capitalism, Tyler introduces him to a new way of living. While resistant initially, Brian discovers purpose in Tyler's world, but it strains his relationships with other friends. As Brian delves deeper into Tyler's worldview, darker motivations emerge, and he must use everything he's learned and everyone he knows to escape it.

Setting aside the paranormal elements for a moment, I had a blast with this book as a gay man. It's humorous, current, and offers a genuine reflection of the queer experience. The portrayal of Grindr hookups, navigating tokenization in a group of girlfriends, and the complex self-loathing associated with seeking approval from DL guys paints a vivid picture that resonates with those familiar with such experiences.

Adding the paranormal layer dialed up the fun factor. While the werewolf storyline took a backseat to navigating identity and complex relationships, it brought humor and carried significant queer themes.

Despite my overall enjoyment, the book has its flaws. If you're seeking a deep dive into werewolves or occult lore, this isn't the right fit. It's more of a satirical exploration of werewolves in a hyper-capitalist world, so don't expect, like, ABO content. The focus on Brian's relationships dominates most of the story, and parts of the middle can feel slow with sequences of exercising, meditating, and hiking. The writing, while amusing, is highly topical, filled with references to Love Island, Amazon, Netflix, etc. This makes the story less timeless and more anchored in a current context. Towards the end, the topical jokes veer towards the "cringy" side, heavy on quippy dialogue and millennial humor.

Despite these flaws, I can't help but give this book a solid 5 stars. The reading experience was thoroughly enjoyable, and the flaws don't significantly impact my overall appreciation of it.

Bored Gay Werewolf is exactly the queer fiction you're missing in your life!

Bored Gay Werewolf follows Brian, our luckless main character, as he navigates his life as a werewolf. Being a part of the supernatural community is not all that it is cracked up to be and suffice it to say, Brian is struggling. Struggling to fit in, struggling to keep his secrets, and more. These feelings lead Brian to Tyler, who at first glance could be the answer to all these problems. What happens next is a thrill ride full of belonging, comedy, and even a dash of horror.

I LOVED THIS BOOK! I was seriously shocked at how much fun I had with this story. It is so funny. It doesn't take itself seriously, while also really tackling some difficult conversations about belonging and being queer. Readers are truly going to love this story. I think one of the most initial eye-catching moments in this novel, is how blatantly bold the main character seems to be. Whether he is nonchalantly hooking up with married men, quizzing his coworkers/friends, or tearing innocent humans to pieces as a wolf, he is unapologetically himself. However, he knows that there is much more to life.

I think I connected with this story (I swear I'm not a werewolf), but I definitely felt myself represented through Brian. Fitting "in" within the gay community is tough and finding your "pack" is even more difficult, but when you do find it, that makes it that much more special.

All in all, this is such a fun story. Readers are truly going to be delighted and laughing out loud with this. OH and did I mention the fun twist at the end of this novel? YEAH, BIG TWIST - and still kept it tongue in cheek.

Check this out!!

Bored Gay Werewolf by Tony Santorella felt like I was watching a WB11 TV show, but a little less interesting. The trials and tribulations in the book for the MC were very average. There were no big twists in the plot, everything that happens was fairly predictable. Even though the story takes place in modern day, I feel like its a story that has been told and told again making this seem more like a YA novel but with gay sex scenes thrown in. There was only 1 cool twist at the end, and unfortunately it came too late and played too little of a part to truly matter.

I guess we should all start getting used to lackluster MC, because in 1 week, I've read the same character across multiple stories. The 20-something year old floating through life as they are left to fend for themselves and find their "calling" in life. I realize this is a very common struggle for this age group, to find oneself and finally start making real money, even the antagonist in the story is trying to do just that, but it's also a really awkward and 'boring' personality trait to focus on a MC.

The writing itself was ok, it wasn't great but it definitely was not the worst. I like to be shown and not told what is happening. Overall a fun, quick read if anyone is interested in a modern day werewolf story but I wouldn't recommend it based on the characters' personalities and the lack of originality throughout the book.