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.

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.