I had a hard time listening to Bury Your Gays because I just couldn’t connect to the narrator, which made it difficult for me to stay engaged. Unfortunately, I had to set it aside, but that’s more of a personal preference than a reflection on the book itself. That said, I think this would be a great pick for readers who enjoy horror with a darkly comedic edge—especially fans of Grady Hendrix. While it wasn’t the right fit for me, I can definitely see it resonating with the right audience!

Thank you to Chuck Tingle, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for sending me the ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely phenomenal. I was so invested in what was going on and this is usually not my genre. I loved Misha's character so much but TARA IS MY QUEEN. I loved the asexual representation with her so much and felt so seen by this because of her. No spoilers but that ENDING HELL YEAH. I really loved this and how when we got to the "ending" you knew it wasn't quite done and it made it even more terrifying with how the big bad "learned". It's so hard not to spoil this while reviewing but I highly highly highly recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance listeners' copy.

This is everything for me! It's extremely relevant to the current status of the entertainment industry and its relationship between its clients and technology. It hits on the predatory nature of capitalism towards gay culture, whether it's our pride or our trauma. The story manages to be funny, touching, and disturbing many times over! I love the trio of Misha, Zeke, and Tara, how Tara and Zeke dont question Misha's experience and simply support him, and Misha and Zeke's romance is so sweet. The narration was perfect, Andre Santana made Misha's point of view even more personable and relatable, and the extra cast throughout was a nice touch. I highly recommend reading this, and if you can get the audiobook, it is worth it.

*Bury Your Gays* is a standout horror novel that delves deep into the challenges queer creators face in today's pop culture landscape. Tingle wonderfully blends genuine scares with sharp social commentary, making it both a chilling and thought-provoking read. The narrative doesn't shy away from critiquing the pressures of the entertainment industry, especially the harmful "bury your gays" trope. I especially appreciated the eerie, supernatural elements interwoven with real-world issues. Overall, it's a smart, original, and engaging story that resonates on multiple levels.

Here is a book that gave me more than I expected. I was on board for a queer horror but what I was gifted was a deeper, more meaningful message to anyone who lived under the thumb of a system or shoved what made them unique and powerful into a deep little hole inside of themselves. This is a beautiful and tragic blend of entertainment and commentary on life. Also, the audiobook quality is some of the best I've ever listened to. The added sounds and ambiance were perfectly executed. It added to the performance and experience without taking anything away from the suspense and tension of the plot.

Misha is up for an award for a short, and his streaming show is a hit. Despite things going right in his professional life, he's unhappy because he's been asked to kill off gay characters in his show to maximize streaming revenue. Should he follow his own vision for what happens to his characters or that of the studio execs?

This was such a good read! I finished it in a day and a half. I liked Misha, his friend, and his boyfriend and how they interact with each other. I liked the plot and pacing. The narrators were all fantastic as well. I definitely recommend listening to the audio version!

My thanks to McMillan Audio, Chuck Tingle, and NetGalley for gifting me an advance listening copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved the social commentary frrom this book. It was fast paced and well written with great narration.

Read 7/7/24

I have absolutely no idea what the f*ck I just read but I loved it. My emotions were all over the place. So much gore. So much f*ckery. So much Tingle, not enough time. Ahhhh.

I had a hard time getting into Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle - horror is a genre I often struggle with. That being said, wonderful production and narration and will be a great fit for those who enjoy the genre. Bury Your Gays is out now! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

If you read last year's Camp Damascus, you knew Chuck Tingle had this in him. I was a big fan of that one, but even going into this knowing what a phenomenal writer he was, I did not expect Bury Your Gays to go as hard as it did.

Mischa is a screenwriter living in Hollywood who has just been nominated for his first Oscar. He should be on cloud 9, right? Well, he's not. Despite his success, he doesn't feel like he can come out of the closet to his family or friends, so he's kind of living a double life. When he's pressured by his producers to kill off a gay character in his show's finale, he's conflicted. Does he follow his heart or risk everything?

I don't want to get too into what happens, but it's pulse-pounding, absolutely wild and fantastical horror in a way I haven't experienced before. The seedy underworld of Hollywood is reimagined in a chilling way, and every turn brings some fresh hell to Mischa's doorstep. Of course, Tingle brings his signature wit to the dialogue so while what you're reading might be horrific, it's also so funny you can't help but have an amazing time.

And the audiobook was even better. Truly phenomenal.

Chuck Tingle gave a horror book that both induced fear and celebrated queer joy. Our main character is a bisexual man, unsure of how to fully accept his queerness while being in the public spotlight. While he writes characters dripping in queer subtext he has yet to stick up for his characters and give them the queer happy endings they deserve. When our main character finally decides to stand up for what he believes, he becomes haunted in real life by his own horror creations. This book was an amazing commentary of Hollywood and it's unwillingness to accept queerness it can't profit on. It also attacks the use of AI, particularly in creative spaces. The audio narration was amazing with added sound effects that added a lot of production value.

This was my very first Chuck Tingle book and I was NOT disappointed. I will be coming back for more. I listened to the audiobook, and it was fantastic in this format. The narrator did a sensational job, and I appreciated the sound effects that went into building up the atmosphere. This was campy horror fun that took a satirical approach at Hollywood's "buy your gays" trope. The book is filled with pop culture references and it's exciting to see classic horror tropes receive a twist.

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle is a satirical, sci-fi rollercoaster that offers biting social commentary wrapped in a fast-paced, gore-filled narrative. Following Misha, a Hollywood creative battling industry pressures and literal monsters, Tingle dismantles tired tropes with wit and relentless energy. While the book is marketed as horror, it leans more into the sci-fi realm, reminiscent of Michael Crichton’s Prey. The blend of humor, bloody action, and thoughtful critique of queer representation in media makes this a standout. The gore is satisfyingly vivid, and the plot's pacing keeps the tension high from start to finish.

André Santana and the rest of the cast bring Misha’s Hollywood world to life, perfectly balancing the humor, tension, and emotional depth. The narration enhances the brisk pacing and complements the book's blend of satire and horror. For audiobook lovers, this is an engaging and immersive way to experience Tingle’s sharp and thrilling tale.

This book was definitely not my typical choice of genre. Yet, I was hooked from the beginning. I was surprised at every turn. And what stuck with me the most was the meta approach to the topic of gay drama. The author proved that there's no need for martyrdom and sacrifice of a gay MC to make an impact. And how genius that is, I can't even begin to explain. Overall, the story was smooth, and the audiobook with this performance was a masterpiece.

Chuck Tingle’s Bury Your Gays is a clever, genre-bending take on the horror and mystery genres, packed with poignant social commentary. With its eerie small-town setting and deeply empathetic characters, Tingle masterfully subverts tropes while delivering a story that is equal parts thrilling and heartfelt.

This book is more than just a spooky read—it’s a powerful statement about identity, belonging, and resilience. A must-read for fans of queer fiction and unconventional storytelling!

A sendup of Hollywood that also works as an emotional dedication to all the gay characters that have suffered under the Hollywood pen.

In this horror novel, screenwriter Misha won’t give up on his principles, even as studio executives pressure him to kill off his tv show’s queer lead. But things take a turn when he’s hunted by stalkers dressed as monsters from his past movies.

This was my first Chuck Tingle and definitely won't be my last! I loved the blend of horror tropes with social commentary. Misha had a great narrative voice, and the plot kept me guessing as the truth of what's happening to him and why unfolded. Add on great narration and I was hooked. I can't wait to read more from Tingle!

Such a good book! Definitely a mindf***, had me questioning what was happening the whole time. Fort like every good slasher is, this novel was genuinely terrifying to read. Came a bit undone toward the end but still a really solid book.

Enjoyed the critique on LGBT representation within hollywood as well as commodification and capitalism that will be the downfall of all in the end.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an audio ARC of Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

I am so happy to have had early access to this book. It has so many important themes and messages for society as a whole, specifically that the LGBTQIA2S+ community needs to be accepted always—not just when it feeds the corporate agenda or bottom line. Horror with social commentary is the best kind, and Chuck Tingle does just that in Bury Your Gays. This was my first Chuck Tingle read, but it definitely won’t be my last.

As one reviewer put it, 'this book is a triumph.' It's the epitome of queer horror excellence and a must have for all collections! The audiobook is superb, highly recommend.