Chuck Tingle. The author that you are. I am in awe of your brain!!!
BURY YOUR GAYS is a fast-paced sci-fi satirical horror about all-consuming corporate greed, and the nuanced topic of queer representation in media—and it’s brilliant. I absolutely devoured this book, despite never reading the genre (or author) before. Everything about it was larger than life while simultaneously extremely plausible and familiar. Certainly a stand-out novel, and I can’t wait to recommend it to others.

I will be honest, I had never read a Chuck Tingle book up until now. And truthfully, when I requested this on NetGalley, the premise and the title were what drew me in before I even noticed it was a Chuck Tingle book. This was fabulous. What a fun, weird, creepy read. Absolutely solid writing and some very well thought out character and plot development. I loved this.

While Oscar-nominated Hollywood screenwriter Misha Byrne is not loudly “out,” he’s not closeted either. He just isn’t ready to bring his loving boyfriend Zeke to his conservative hometown in Montana. But at work, there’s even more stress. Misha is asked to kill off his two queer characters in his hit show Travellers, which he really doesn’t want to do. The studio has a nefarious way of persuading him to do what they want.

Author Chuck Tingle is SO good at cranking up the tension and knowing the perfect moment to reveal blood, guts and scary AI. But as a romance writer at heart, Tingle makes certain that queer love prevails, including the love of friendship through seldom-seen asexual representation. The book straddles the line between a Black Mirror episode and incredibly sincere queer drama. Highly recommend to all horror fans who love camp, especially fans of the recent queer horror "I Saw the TV Glow" and sci-fi lovers. 4.5 stars, rounded up.

This is the second queer horror novel I've read by Chuck Tingle (the first being Camp Damascus and I fully plan on picking up Straight soon as well) and I am so happy to say I was not disappointed in the slightest. Misha is a likeable and believable protagonist, and I genuinely cared about his well being as well as the well being of the characters he cared about. He felt real and grounded, and the way he processed his trauma through his screenplays was an incredible way to make what was happening on the horror side of the plot feel personal in a very natural way. Aside from him, the characters around him were also all dynamic and incredibly enjoyable to read about (Tara being my personal favorite, I was overjoyed when I realized we were getting aroace rep) even the less likeable ones never felt boring or two dimensional when they were on page. Along with incredible characters, the plot itself was wonderful- it was unique and layered in a way that was always clear but never too "in your face". Bury Your Gays was not only a very honest depiction of how the entertainment industry treats queer stories as well as their creators, but also a very hopeful depiction of the support and love the queer community can offer one another. I really hope Chuck Tingle puts out another queer horror novel next year- we could always use more queer stories with happy endings in the world.

Chuck Tingle is back with another horror novel! And while it's a tonal shift from Camp Damascus, it definitely did not disappoint. Bury Your Gays is incredibly entertaining and campy. But it also has something to say about relevant issues in Hollywood, including (but not limited to) the treatment of gay character in film and television, and the controversial rise of AI.

I feel like it's best to go into this without knowing too much, but it follows a semi-closeted screen writer who has seen some success with queer horror and other films. But now, the studio wants him to change a script and kill off queer characters. Then things start to get weird...

I did not expect where this book ended up going, but I thought it was both smart and entertaining. And a good place to dip your toes into the genre if horror makes you nervous, because most of it isn't TOO scary. Except maybe in an existential sort of way. I definitely didn't find it as emotionally intense as Camp Damascus. It is quite a ride though and I enjoyed the genre blending. Give it a try! The audio narration is really great, produced with some sound effects and fun cameos from queer authors. I received an audio review copy via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle is an electrifying LGBTQ+ sci-fi horror novel that had me hooked from the very first page. This was my first Chuck Tingle book, and I was absolutely captivated by his unique writing style. The book seamlessly blends elements of horror and sci-fi, delivering a queer story that is both thrilling and thought-provoking. Misha, the protagonist, is incredibly relatable, and his journey through the cutthroat world of Hollywood had me rooting for him from beginning to end.

The synopsis sets the stage perfectly: Misha finally gets his big break with an Oscar nomination, but the studio executives want to kill off the gay characters in his show to cater to the algorithm. Misha's refusal to comply puts him in grave danger, as he becomes hunted by the monsters from his horror movie past. This premise alone is enough to send chills down your spine, and the book does not disappoint in delivering a suspenseful, heart-pounding experience.

What I loved most about Bury Your Gays is how it tackles the struggles of being a queer artist in an industry that often exploits talent while erasing true artistic vision. The discussions on algorithms and AI art are incredibly timely and relevant, adding depth to the narrative. Misha's journey is a powerful conduit for exploring these themes, and his resilience in the face of adversity is truly inspiring. The message of allowing queer artists to create art that is true to themselves, whether it depicts tragedy or joy, is profoundly moving and resonated with me on a deep level.

The book excels in creating a mysterious and eerie atmosphere that kept me guessing at every turn. The big reveal was unexpected and intriguing, adding another layer of complexity to the plot. Despite the dark and chilling moments that made my skin crawl, the story maintains an optimistic essence, offering glimpses of hope throughout. Bury Your Gays is a masterful blend of horror and sci-fi with a powerful queer narrative that will stay with me for a long time. I can't wait to dive into more of Chuck Tingle's work.

Phenomenal read. Chuck Tingle does an excellent job of weaving in reflections about LGBTQIA+ identity with horror.

Big fan of Chuck’s new work including this and Camp Damascus.
Hoping this one opens him up to a whole new fanbase beyond the Tinglers.

Freaky deaky, suspenseful , gory! I’m impressed with how well Tingle has packed all of that into one novel. The way the story starts, you think it is going in one direction, then the author takes you on a journey. A journey that comments on today’s negative elements of society (homophobia, capitalism, AI). I could’ve done without most of the flashbacks of the protagonist’s childhood. I think this would translate into a great full length film or limited series. I find this novel, overall, thrilling and creative.

To dismiss this sci-fi thriller as just a gay trauma tragedy is a huge disservice. There is a dystopian sci-fi thriller that happens to have a couple gay characters and an asexual character, and that is tangential to the plot. A Hollywood horror screenwriter is told to kill off two gay characters by “the board” because that is what will make profits, when he refuses the intimidation and threats to harm/kill begin. To tell more would be major spoiler, but just know the writing it witty and sardonic when it needs to be and terrifically horrific when it needs to be. This should scare the bejeezus out of anyone concerned with AI and intelligent robotics.

Overall, I really enjoyed this. The build-up in the first half was creepy and had me hooked, but lost some momentum around the 65% mark. Still, the characters were well-done and I was invested in Misha's emotional arc.


I received an e-arc for an honest review.

I am speechless. This is definitely going to be one of my top reads not only of the year, but ever. The audiobook had the perfect balance of crawl up your spine creepies and empathetic characters that had me tearing up. I absolutely loved the concept of this story and Misha. He was so enthralling and his person was so captivating. Misha's battle between giving 'the world' what they want while suppressing his person, or staying true to himself was beautiful. The Oscar's speech had my crying in the shower. The representation of this book was so on point. And as someone who likes to stay true to what they love year round vs. following a societal 'trend', I greatly empathized with this story. So many tears and air punches for joy. This is a must read for EVERYONE. Chuck, you are an official auto-buy author. Thank you so much Tor, Netgalley, and Macmillan for the eARC and ALC. This book deserves all of the praise!

A huge thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the eARC!

In a world where art is on the brink of extinction thanks to the emergence and development of artificial intelligence, there has never been a timelier novel than Chuck Tingle’s Bury Your Gays. Write what you know. This is often the advice given to any burgeoning writer on the cusp of something great. For Misha Byrne, he’s written what he knows, damn good and well. His TV series Travelers is up for award consideration, yet the production company is calling for one thing. To kill off the gay leads or let them live straight. Their reasoning? The predictive cost-benefit analysis algorithm says so. While Misha is quick to fight this idea, threats begin to emerge in the unlikeliest of forms demanding that Misha bury his gays.

Blurring the lines of fact and fiction, Tingle takes us on an entertaining ride through his fictional version of Hollywood, although I’m not fully convinced there isn’t more truth than not. The inspiration for the fictional shows Tingle crafts feels like a fun game of “I Spy,” calling to mind media such as Supernatural, The X-Files, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Truman Show. Misha Byrne (Misha Collins x David Byrne?) has gained what many deem as commercial success for his writing abilities, his shows and movies always balancing between the status quo and featuring a welcome change of underrepresented leads. However, this external struggle of being forced to suppress his original idea is mirrored through his inner strife as a gay man still working through his own trauma. There’s a brilliant form of characterization that Tingle utilizes to give life to Misha, someone who is rallying against those working to keep him down.

And the arrival of very real threats to Misha and his friends is quite terrifying indeed, providing a meta twist on the haunting qualities of your own creations, your own proverbial ghosts. Just imagine if 1988’s Who Framed Roger Rabbit was a smidge darker, the limits of violence nonexistent. In fact, Misha’s creation (or I guess Tingle’s) of Mrs. Why, an shadowy female figure with great power, generated serious moments of fear that were palpable on the page. Yes, Bury Your Gays reads as a horror novel for these haunting creations and the violence enacted, but moreover, Tingle institutes an existential state of dread regarding our very real world through this novel. The presence of AI is all too large and all too consuming in a society that’s obsessed with capitalism and monetization.

Speaking of timeliness, there has never been a better moment to pick up a book that shares an invigorating narrative of authenticity such as this. Misha’s internal struggles, which are exacerbated by the very real threats around him, tap into a deeper philosophy of acceptance and vulnerability. Reading Bury Your Gays harkened the same message as Jane Schoenbrun’s latest movie, I Saw the TV Glow: “There is still time.” There is still time to find yourself, there is still time to make peace with your past, and there is still time to live authentically. Chuck Tingle’s greatest missive is that “love is real,” the idea that hinges upon opening yourself to the possibility of joy and acceptance through authenticity. The ways in which Misha’s boyfriend Zeke and best friend Tara are depicted in this story embody of this idea. These main relationships in proximity to Misha don’t need to thrive off dysfunction or trauma to read as noteworthy. They simply are through the merits of their goodness, of their love. Bury Your Gays indeed proves that love is real even in the face of the bleak, seemingly uncaring world around us for these very reasons.

A refreshing dive into the meta form of horror, Bury Your Gays walks a fine line of delivering deep-seated dread while still imparting tones of hope. As with Camp Damascus, Chuck Tingle argues the greatest evils come in the form of suppression of self, a life lived in a valley of rejection. Utilizing horror in this way feels like the perfect opportunity for despair, yet Tingle never leaves us in a state of darkness. After all, love is real.

This was incredible. I couldn’t have imagined this book being any more amazing than it already is. It’s legit perfect. I appreciated the queer representation and how they handled queer issues. I also loved the horror aspect to it. It was a interesting read for sure.

AHHHHHHH! One of my highly anticipated reads just rolled down the line. I am so thankful to Macmillan Audio, Tor Nightfire, Chuck Tingle, and Netgalley for granting me advanced audio and digital access to this out-of-this-world monster-horror before it hits shelves on July 9, 2024. PLUS this audiobook had a FULL CAST of some of my favorite authors and creators including CJ Leede, Stephen Graham Jones, Liz Kerin, and T. Kingfisher… Full casts on audiobooks always make the experience more fun.

Misha is a burnt-out writer in Hollywood, creating queer horror narratives for the big screen, and he’s finally made it big after receiving an Oscar nomination. But lo and behold, the executives on set are set on having his queer characters killed off in the upcoming season finale… Totally not okay with this, Misha bucks the system and refuses to go their way, which ends up stabbing him in the back, as all of his horror characters have seemingly come to life to haunt him and take his life and sanity out from his grasp.

This one was fun and thrilling, and the cast just made it so spectacular to listen to from multiple different angles, like I was really on-set behind the camera watching this trainwreck in action. Live laugh love, and Chuck Tingle. Period.

The first thing you need to understand: this book is camp. If you're expecting a very serious plot, with lots of realism, look elsewhere. However, I truly enjoyed this book and am discovering that I do quite like camp, when done well, and I think this is a pretty good example. Bury Your Gays is about queerness in media - queer trauma and queer joy - and the machine of capitalism (<spoiler>literally</spoiler>) and I loved everything this wanted to be. A highly self-aware narrator who is super familiar with tropes? Check. An asexual character who is everything my asexual heart ever hoped for? CHECK. Campy villains who also somehow manage to be pretty creepy and ultimately horrifying? Check! A message that is relevant and meaningful? Yep!

I think the one drawback to this book is the flashbacks; while they're important for understanding Misha and his past, and where the horror films he writes come from, they also slow down the story at points. I think a number of things could have been inferred, or never delved into fully, in order to keep the story moving along. However, I understand what the author was doing by including them (because this book is all about what sort of queer stories are allowed to be told!), so while I think they slowed things down, I understand and can appreciate why they are there.

This is such a vibrant story, very sharp, very meta, both angry and joyful, and ultimately made me feel very seen. Tingle is definitely an author whose horror I will keep seeking out! Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC; all opinions are my own.

YAAAAAS! I loved this book and the only thing that I felt was missing was more book! I really liked the underlaying themes as well of acceptance, coming out, and standing up for yourself.

So I think this was a masterpiece of a book.

I gave *Camp Damascus* a good review, but (as I said in the review) that was in no small part out of affection for the author as a person. It wasn’t bad, by any stretch, but I didn’t think it was all that great either. It had a bit too much of the classic Tingler in it to make it work as a serious book, in my opinion.

None of those complaints apply to *Bury Your Gays*. This was, I say again, a masterpiece.

The protagonist, Misha, is a Hollywood screenwriter who mostly does queer horror. He’s doing well enough to make a living; the stuff he writes is broadly well-reviewed and modestly commercially successful, but with a hard core of dedicated fans who love it. And he’s on the rise; he just got an Oscar nomination. But then he’s in a meeting with a studio exec to talk about an X Files-esque series he writes. He’s been building towards the two (female) agent leads getting together as the season finale, but the studio exec says that’s not going to work. He has a choice: abandon them finally confessing their feelings for each other … or have them do it, but they need to die at the end of the episode, as per the long-standing Hollywood trope of killing off gay characters. It’s not that the studio exec is a homophobe or anything, Misha is assured; it’s just what the algorithms say will sell the best.

As he wrestles with the decision of what to do - give the studio what they want, or stay true to himself and burn down his career - things get more interesting when monsters from various movies he’s written start showing up threatening his life and those he loves.

The story is very well crafted - it’s a master class of tension-building. Misha has to deal with his career choices, his own personal demons (he’s “Los Angeles out,” not “Montana out”), and more literal demons. His past is addressed as well; there are flashbacks to what it was like growing up in Montana knowing he was gay, and all the trauma he had to deal with. There were a few emotional stomach-punches along the way, and an excellent reversal of a climax that I should have seen coming but am kind of glad I didn’t.

Beyond the obvious, it touches on a bunch of other themes, both timeless and topical. AI in Hollywood; MeToo; the tension between movies as art and movies as business; corporations happy to celebrate Pride as long as it’s profitable; a recognition of conflicting pressure on gay people to come out against their own desire for privacy.

Putting on my /r/Fantasy Moderator hat for a moment: we frequently get threads where someone asks for a book featuring someone like them themselves. This could be a queer person, a person of color, a disabled person, or anything else. About the only version of this we don’t see is “I’m looking for a book with a cishet white male protagonist,” for obvious reasons. And almost without fail, someone will ask why it matters. Why can’t people just enjoy a book and not worry about the color or orientation or whatever of the protagonist?

The answer is that representation matters. Reading a book where you can see yourself in the protagonist matters. It matters for everyone, but I would say it’s especially important for kids growing up in not the most welcoming of homes, who might see no one like them in the movies and books they love and reach the conclusion that they are *wrong* in some way. I want everyone who doesn’t understand why representation matters to read this book. I’ve been a reddit mod too long to not be cynical about how much good it would actually do, but (as Chuck Tingle would be the first to say) it’s always important to try and make the world I want to live in.

This is one of my recent favorites!

Chuck Tingle has managed to do it again for me, after being completely surprised by Camp Damascus.

The biggest thing for me that Tingle does is comment on very REAL issues within society. The fact that he does it through a queer lens, just adds more of an insightful take on the realities that exist in our world. Horror needs to SAY something, and Tingle manages to get across his message and themes while simultaneously writing a phenomenal book.

The point of view jumps through moments of time, and I found myself equally captivated by the horrors that exist both in the past and the present. IFYKYK. Misha as a character, while flawed, has very real motivations for doing the things that he does. Even as I write this, I'm realizing that Tingle has done a masterful job of creating a multi-faceted character in Misha. Misha's past trauma informs his writing decisions and then to have to face your own horror creations come to life? Beautiful.

Loved this book. Get it. Read it. Love it.

3.5 stars - If "Camp Damascus" left me with an impression of earnestness blended with body horror, "Bury Your Gays" is pure camp. I honestly think this would be an amazing book to screen adaptation (perhaps ironically given the setting?) and the writing felt very cinematic in a positive way. I think the pacing was off for me - I can always do without a flashback - so I'm not sure I liked this quite as much as the last one. But this definitely shows that His Royal Chuckness has plenty of ideas left in this genre. I look forward to more!