I was given a free copy of the audio-ARC in exchange for a fair review. Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan!

Bury Your Gays is a horror story about hollywood, homophobia, the dangers of uncontrolled capitalism, artificial intelligence and queer joy. It follows the moderately successful writer Misha, who is given the ultimatum of killing off the leads of his hit TV show or rewriting the script to make them straight. Misha is also coming to terms with his own sexuality, and being semi-closeted.

I am not really a horror fan, so the references to existing horror films and tropes were lost on me, but I found myself unable to put the book down (or on pause as the case may be). Tingle's prose is expertly crafted and uses evocative imagery, and he does a great job of keeping the tension up through the book. I did not see all of the plot twists coming, and it had a very satisfying ending.

Overall I recommend it assuming you can handle the contents (definitely read the CWs)! And if you're into audiobooks I recommend the format; the narrator is great and I think it adds A LOT.

While the premise of satirizing Hollywood and its treatment of LGBTQ+ characters initially intrigued me, the execution of “Bury Your Gays” left much to be desired. The writing style did not resonate with me; it felt flat and lacked the vividness needed to bring such a dynamic story to life. Instead of being captivated by the narrative, I often found myself bored, struggling to stay focused on the actual plot.

The novel’s attempt to weave in numerous societal issues, from corporate greed and AI manipulation to data privacy, seemed overly ambitious and resulted in a convoluted storyline. Rather than seamlessly integrating these themes, the book often felt disjointed, making it difficult to follow and appreciate the central message. The supernatural elements, which should have added a layer of intrigue and suspense, instead contributed to the overall confusion, as their connection to the main plot wasn't always clear.

However, despite my personal struggles with the book, I can appreciate Chuck Tingle's boldness in addressing important themes and his unique approach to storytelling.
The critique of Hollywood’s treatment of LGBTQ+ characters is a significant and timely issue, and Tingle's effort to shine a light on it is commendable. While "Bury Your Gays" may not have resonated with me, it might still find an audience that appreciates its ambition and message. For those who enjoy satirical horror with a social commentary twist, this novel could offer a thought-provoking and memorable read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I knew I would love this book as soon as that piano fell. Chuck Tingle has a way with mixing humor and horror in such a way as to keep the pages turning. Weaving in Mishas troubled past as a young gay teen with bringing his childhood monsters forward shows just how much we can never escape our past and just how deeply it influences us.

Absolutely fantastic. It's a fun story with such good horror moments. Chuck Tingle has grown into such a great writer. It's more than horror but at the same time it shows how important horror and any genre is special because it allows people to explore ourselves.
Loved the multiple narrators. I had looked up who they all were, it was so fun to learn they were other authors I love.

I really loved this story that circles around the entertainment industry and its tendency to kill of the gays in movies and TV shows without any good reasons. The MC is a very famous star that his in the closet, and throughout the book he has to bite his tongue many times in meetings. I won't spoil the ending but it was really good and a positive outlook for the LGBTQIA community. I also thought the narrator did an excellent job. I want to thank the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for giving me a copy of this audiobook, in return for an honest review.

The story leaned more science fiction than I expected but it was a wild ride. The overall narration was excellent and the addition of the extra narrators was a nice touch when the scenes jumped.

Chuck Tingle is the most brilliant buckaroo out there! "Bury Your Gays" is not just a horror novel—it’s a searing commentary on societal injustices, wrapped in a meta-narrative that blends terror with poignant introspection. Tingle masterfully weaves together themes of LGBTQIA+ erasure, corporate greed, and the ethics of artificial intelligence into a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is chillingly entertaining.

At its core, "Bury Your Gays" follows Misha Byrne, a seasoned Hollywood writer grappling not only with the pressures of creating compelling horror but also with the insidious demands of a profit-driven studio system. Misha’s journey is a visceral exploration of identity and self-acceptance, set against the backdrop of a cutthroat industry that commodifies everything, including love and creativity.

The novel’s strength lies in its multifaceted storytelling. Tingle deftly shifts between Misha’s present-day struggles and poignant flashbacks that illuminate his personal growth and acceptance of his sexuality. These moments are tenderly written, evoking a deep emotional resonance that underscores the horrors Misha faces—both supernatural and societal.

Tingle’s narrative prowess shines through in his portrayal of supporting characters like Tara and Zeke, who, despite needing more fleshing out, serve as crucial anchors in Misha’s tumultuous journey. Their relationships with Misha add layers of depth, grounding the narrative in themes of friendship and love amidst chaos and terror.

The meta-textual references throughout "Bury Your Gays" add a layer of complexity and satire that elevates the storytelling. Tingle fearlessly critiques Hollywood’s treatment of LGBTQIA+ characters, deftly exposing the trope of queer characters being sacrificial lambs for narrative convenience—a commentary both sharp and necessary in today’s media landscape.

While the novel’s middle section could benefit from tighter pacing and deeper exploration of character traumas, the overarching narrative remains compelling. Tingle’s prose is engaging and often darkly humorous, guiding readers through a rollercoaster of emotions that culminates in a satisfying, if bittersweet, conclusion.

The audiobook narration, predominantly by André Santana, enhances the experience with its emotive delivery, although expectations set by promotional materials may mislead listeners about the extent of its ensemble cast.

In conclusion, "Bury Your Gays" is a triumph of queer horror fiction, blending terror with social commentary in a way that resonates long after the final page. Chuck Tingle’s exploration of identity, love, and the corrupting influence of capitalism is a timely reminder of the power of storytelling—and the dangers of erasing authentic queer narratives. For readers seeking a blend of psychological terror, LGBTQIA+ representation, and incisive cultural critique, "Bury Your Gays" is a must-read.

Chuck Tingle has a way of making you go "WTF am I reading" for the first half of the book, and then, he slowly starts to unravel what appears to be chaos, but each layer pieces together perfectly as you crescendo toward the climax. I've never read anything quite like his work, and I can't wait to read more.

Bury Your Gays is wild fun! Just like Camp Damascus, you are thrown into a unhinged world of horror that Tingle has perfectly crafted to make the reader feel uneasy and terrified. I don't want to give too much away because that would just ruin the fun, but Bury Your Gays had so many elements that I love. The reader not only gets to experience a very dark side of Hollywood, but also gets to experience the frightening side of capitalism and how far the wealthy will go make money.

Bury Your Gays is a mix of horror and comedy at its finest. I highly recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

"Bury Your Gays" is a unique and chilling queer horror story that imagines a near-future where technological advances make its premise frighteningly plausible. Chuck Tingle, known for "Camp Damascus," delivers a gripping tale that blends psychological terror and body horror with a sharp commentary on corporate greed and queer erasure. This is a page turner and one you do not want to put down!

I listened to the audiobook and found that a speed of 1.5x enhanced the experience, making the emotions and terror even more compelling. "Bury Your Gays" is a must-read (or listen) for horror fans and anyone intrigued by a thought-provoking story about the cost of success and queer resilience.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Chuck Tingle for this ARC!

3.5 Stars

I won a copy of Bury Your Gays and was so stoked! This cover is amazing and I hadn’t read anything but Chuck Tingle but had heard great things. My book got lost in the mail and Tor was amazing enough to send a replacement and then the second one showed up.
I really had no clue what Bury Your Gays was about I just liked the title and the cover (oops ahha I am a cover whore). And I actually requested an audiobook copy as well and was approved for that. I mostly listened to this book. Now I should have not been tempted by beautiful covers and perfect titles, this read did fall slightly short for me but only because I found that the horror was leaning more towards science fiction horror than just horror. I didn’t find it particularly scary as far as the monsters went but I’m sure our main character almost shit himself a few times, especially knowing the monsters and what they are capable of. I really, really enjoyed the overall message and that queerness of this read. As a late in life queer I can related to some of Misha’s thoughts and actions in life.it is hard to show everyone your true self but once you do it’s freeing.
As for characters I enjoyed Misha, Tara and Zeke, everyone else not so much haha. If you read it you will know why. I did like hearing about different characters. I’m very curious about the Bride, I’ll need to see if she’s in a different book or not.
As my first Chunk Tingle read I absolutely want to read more of his work even though this one didn’t quite hit home for me. His ideas are wild and chaotic and I love it. Reading this on audio was also cool because there were different narrators and different sounds which played all into the book.
I would still recommend this book to others!

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and Netgalley for my review copies.

4/5
An interesting story and concept that reminds me of a mix of Grady Hendrix and Scooby Doo. Loved the story, the characters were a bit hard to get on board with, but inclusive, even having an AroAce as a semi-main character. I liked the way this story jumped around a little bit, it made it harder to guess what actually was going on behind the scenes. I felt very cool as I put the pieces together at the same time as the main character lol. I listened to the audiobook by MacMillan Audio, and apart from a few short chapters with different narrators, the main VA was very good, and made the story come alive. Thanks again to MacMillan and to NetGalley for allowing me an early access listen!

Misha is a Hollywood scriptwriter who has creative control over a popular TV series, but is under pressure by the production company to write off his main characters to be either straight or dead to appease them. This kicks off a horror thriller that perfectly encapsulates my feelings of anger, frustration and hopelessness as a queer creative under capitalism.

Bury Your Gays feels like some of the raw anger of an Andrew Joseph White novel mixed in with the over-the-top and visually exciting horror of a Sam Raimi film. The antagonists depicted are scary and deeply unsettling, but I found that the moments that made me genuinely experience discomfort and anxiety were in the flashbacks that connected Misha's past to his present to show how trauma can feed into the horror stories one writes and what happens when the demons you try to dispel through your creativity come back to haunt.

The audiobook of Bury Your Gays was extremely well-performed, though the additional voices credited were just short cameos from what I can tell. The narrator captured Misha's personality so well and knew how to keep the listener hooked.

After finishing the book, there are still two moments that have not left me and probably won't leave me for a long time. One was the song selection for the iconic scene in the woods - so creepy and haunting it would easily make its way into the movie trailer if this book were adapted into one.

The other moment was near the end and it had to do with Lily. As a someone who found a successful niche in a difficult industry that does not value the worth and efforts of artists, I feel very strongly about supporting others who need a leg up (especially those that capitalism would deem my direct competitors -- i.e. other queer creatives in my niche). In brutal systems where the only concern is with the bottom line, we should do everything we can to uplift each other. So the scene between Lily and Misha might not have been important to the plot, but it was really important to me. I appreciate that Chuck Tingle wrote it and how he is doing his best to show the importance of good things in a bleak world.

There's something to be said about the heavy-handedness in his writing, but I don't find it preachy nor off-putting. There are moments where characters over-explain concepts that the LGBTQIA+ community tends to discuss in great depth already, but I feel like those are Chuck Tingle's attempts to reach folks who are unfamiliar with these important discussions, such as the effect of poor representation in media, the necessity of community and creativity to push back against capitalist ideas and, of course, the need to understand the Bury Your Gays trope. I respect that he takes the time to do that.

I only wish this story were made into a movie and that we could watch it right now. Because I can't think of any story that is as relevant to experience and discuss than right now: where marginalized artists are under threat by the systems that do not value either their art or their existence.

The ending pushed this one over the edge for me. But so much about this book is five-star worthy: great characters, horror concepts that genuinely made me uncomfortable, a slew of subtle references to things that I love, amazing queer representation, smart dialogue, and a killer understanding of story. I knew Chuck Tingle had a five-star book in him, it just wasn't Camp Damascus for me, it was this.

Loved the use of other authors narrating bit parts! Great main narrator as well. Pace and inflection felt right. Loved this one. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I went into this on mostly just a recommendation from a friend. I was pleasantly surprised! The mix of horror and social commentary was so well done with engaging characters and superior storytelling. Absolutely fantastic!

A Hollywood screenwriter named Misha is told by the studio to either kill off his presumed lesbian characters after a love confession, or make them straight. He has struggled with being partially closeted and he feels his characters allow him to express himself. While he is reflecting on his choices, terrifying events begin to occur in his life. His written creations are coming to life and trying to kill him. But it is so much more than that….

“…we can listen to stories and take lessons from them, this is how scary stories work. We are all still here safe and alive. Horror is a reminder that death is coming, but not today.”

This was a great piece of societal commentary written in horror format. Chuck is focusing on queer erasure in media while delivering us body horror, sci-fi elements, comedic breaks, and psychological trauma. We really got to know Misha as a person through his characters and how they came to be.

This audiobook was to dieeee for (preferably not by the Smoker), but all of these beloved authors contributing was so cool.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and Net Galley for an ARC of this book!

Now THIS is an audiobook!! From primary narrator André Santana's excellent performance to the full cast reading of the screenplay sections, this audiobook was thrilling from start to finish. Of course, under all that is author Chuck Tingle's sharp, funny, engaging story. I am in the middle of my first foray into queer horror, and I'm so glad this novel is included in this adventure. I loved the relatable characters, the criticisms of corporate "pride," and the horror elements that made me go "ew, nasty!" while driving around town. I need to read CAMP DAMASCUS immediately!

Thank you publisher and net galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Bury Your Gays follows Misha as they navigate Hollywood and horrors. This book was extremely fun, interesting, and fast paced. I enjoyed the narrators and storyline. I was never bored and felt enveloped in the story. 10/10 recommend.

I had never read a book by Chuck Tingle previously, but after reading this one, I now want to read everything he’s ever written. This did everything a horror book should do. It kept me at the edge of my seat. And the narration on the audiobook was fantastic! If you are an audio fan, 10/10 would recommend..

This was a captivating horror novel that left me thoroughly impressed and entertained. As someone who appreciates both satire and horror, this book struck a perfect balance between the two, delivering a thought-provoking narrative with a sharp edge.

In the story we follow Misha Byrne, a gay screenwriter striving to create the queer shows and movies he wished he had growing up. His journey becomes increasingly difficult as he faces pressure from studio executives who demand he kill off his lesbian lead characters to boost viewership.

Misha's refusal to comply is a testament to his integrity, but it sets off a series of terrifying events that had my full attention. The horror elements are masterfully crafted, with stalkers dressed as monsters from Misha's past projects adding an eerie and personal touch to the threats he faces.

What I found particularly compelling was Tingle's exploration of the rise of AI in the entertainment industry. Tingle's satirical lens shines a harsh light on corporate dynamics, making this not just a horror story, but a pointed commentary on the state of modern Hollywood.

Chuck Tingle has proven once again that love is real, even in the midst of horror.