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.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle!

A sophomore horror outing that feels much more like Tingle coming into his own as a genre writer. With its commentary on the usage of AI and the ethics of studios owning a person's likeness, it couldn't be emerging into the world at a more relevant time, and it packs genuine scares to boot.

Chuck Tingle is becoming the (masked) face of modern horror lit and I'm so glad. His knack of character development unfolding through tragedy is absolutely remarkable to read- it feels like you're conversing with a friend instead of reading a book.

Chuck Tingle is a pure genius. This was hands down, one of the best books I have read this year. I absolutely love the way he can weave a story together and make all the pieces connect. Absolutely brilliant book!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

It's a longstanding Hollywood trope that LGBTQ characters don't get happy endings. So when the suits at the studio behind Misha's long-running TV show tell him to either cut the queer storyline or kill off the characters, Misha's disappointed, but not particularly surprised. However, Misha also has an Oscar nomination, which gives him a bit more leverage (just a bit though, as it's for live action short, not one of the big categories). Or so he thinks. But before long, the monsters from Misha's horror movies are coming to life and stalking him, and Misha's trying to save not just his beloved show but also himself and his friends. There is definitely something strange afoot...

Somehow this horror novel manages to have complex relatable characters, skewer the entertainment industry, and comment on the threats of emerging technology while being truly scary and also funny? I don't know how Tingle managed to swing it, but this is quite the feat, and I absolutely loved it.

I absolutely adored the newest Chuck Tingle horror. Tingle can write chilling but humorous novels like no other. This particular look at Hollywood, celebrity, queerness, identity, fame, and the arts really had me thinking on this one for a long time after.

This was my first Chuck Tingle novel, despite following the author for several years. I quite enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading some of his backlog.
Bury Your Gays tells the story of Misha, a Hollywood writer who is haunted by his own creations after being told to kill off his characters or lose his job. Interspersed with flashbacks detailing Misha's trauma and screenplay style interludes, we touch on topics of homophobia, ai, corporate greed, and the necessity of queer joy.
It took me a while to get into (I read the book over the course of 3.5 months) but I feel that is more of an issue with me being a mood reader rather an issue with the writing.

I love the intricacies of film and media, so add in the commentary on queer media and I was hooked.

Misha is tasked with killing off his two queer characters on the show he had written. But when he refuses, weird things start happening around him and the clock is ticking for him to piece it all together.
P.S. I laughed OUT LOUD when the character was named Carey Lexa like I SEE YOU CHUCK TINGLE.

Anyway, I wasn’t sure where the horror was gonna go in this, but I loved the suspense and overall creepy/eerie feeling for the majority of the book. Once things become unraveled and the mystery dissolves (ha get it?), I felt much less of the horror vibes, but still loved where the story was going.

I loved the spooks in this Hollywood glitz and glam story about a writer wrestling with the demons of being gay and growing up in small town America. They wiggle into view with a dark Looney Tunes vibe, and leave the reader feeling a bit wtf? It was a lovely ride, both amazingly uncomfortable (written to be so) and white-knuckle gripping tension that keeps you up past your bedtime.

Thank you Tor Nightfire for the advanced readers copy, and thanks to Chuck Tingle for the inspiring characters.

Thank you, Tor Publishing Group for this ARC!

5/5 Stars

Chuck Tingle is an instant-buy author for me after reading this book. I was familiar with his name since his short erotic parody novels went viral, but he truly shows his grit in his novels.

Bury Your Gays follows the harrowing journey of gay and LGBTQIA+ peoples within the treacherous Hollywood industry. The play on words in the title itself is a clever alert that this book will not hold back from the cruelties this minority group has historically (and currently) faced for the sake of entertainment, all while combining it with some true horror.

I don't usually get scared from books even though I read majority horror, but Tingle created some bone-chilling moments that had me pausing to take a breath.

I especially love how Tingle uses tropes in this book, not as Easter eggs, but as moments that feel natural to the world and characters he gives. He's checking off boxes, but letting us in on it too.

I loved this book and can't wait to read what more he has in store for us.

Chuck Tingle does not disappoint! Bury Your Gays cleverly deconstructs horror tropes in media and wields incisive commentary on capitalism, rainbow washing, and the cutthroat nature of Hollywood. It manages to be equal parts funny, heartwarming, and (most importantly) horrifying, and its twisty plot and novel premise kept me engaged the whole way through. My only gripe is that when it comes to his queer thesis, Tingle got a little too overt and heavy handed for my taste. Queer horror is my favorite genre, so I definitely am not objecting to the content, but I think the messaging could have been handled a little more cleverly. That being said, I'd still absolutely recommend this to any fan of queer horror, horror, or queer lit in general! Well worth the read. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the e-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.

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.

Chuck Tingle's CAMP DAMASCUS blew me away, deeply changed my outlook on myself and the world, balancing deeply touching emotional stakes with radically joyful storytelling. BURY YOUR GAYS is another triumph-- funny, smart, devastating, terrifying all at once. Chuck Tingle is writing some of the best stories out there currently all while embodying radical joy and acceptance-- a hero in my book!

Look. I am all for Chuck Tingle's forays into straight... err... gay horror novels. The jump from witty romance send-offs to cultural criticism as horror novel was a good start in Camp Damascus. But that was just a stretching of his muscles- this novel is where his horror chops and writing skill shine. I am all for it. My new favorite genre is horror as overt social commentary, and my local library laughed when I said I needed much more of it (for the record, I've read a lot of Mona Awad, so Bury Your Gays isn't my first experience with this hyper-specific and fantastic genre. But I loved this the most It was funny, it was snarky, the backstory had heart and pain. But mostly it was also a rollicking ride that kept me up past bedtime because I had to know how it ended. Five stars, well deserved. And I can't wait for his next novel, taking us from gay conversion summer camp to Hollywood and commercialism killing gay youth to... the moon? Who knows, but I'm ready to hop on and ride to wherever we're headed.

A glorious sendup of Hollywood tropes, especially the death of gay characters, yet injected with fierce emotion that shows Tingle's gays (and other people on the LGBTQ spectrum) won't be buried quietly.

4.5 rounded up

"there are scary things in the world, that's just a fact, and if you pretend they're not all around us then you're in for a rude awakening. Horror offers a chance to recognize this truth, to explore dark places in a safe way "

Misha is a writer who, while preparing to potentially win his first Oscar, is told by his bosses that he needs to kill off the queer characters in his show. He grapples with the decision and as he considers it, he becomes haunted by ghosts, or characters rather, from his past. Can he figure out what's going on and can he save his public image?

This book was really great and took a lot of turns I didn't expect. There were absolutely terrifying moments (Mrs. Why on the plane, I nearly died) and some times that were just so wonderfully campy. Alongside being a great horror novel, this book was able to fit in some really important dialogue about a.i. taking creative jobs and deciding what sells, posthumous use of actors and their characters, executives no longer caring about storytelling as long as they make a fraction of a sent more, and the absolutely long time rampant trend of killing off gay characters or using them as a devise to push the other characters forward. There's a lot of discussion of trauma, heartbreak, finding yourself, and inclusion (gay, bi, and ace main characters whaaaat). Idk it sounds like a lot going on because there was a lot going on, but absolutely never hard to follow. It was a twisty journey but you never felt lost or overwhelmed so it was very much a ride and I highly recommend it!

Definitely a favorite read of the year and one that I've been thinking about nonstop since finishing it. Tingle really has the perfect blend of humor, social commentary, and wit - and Bury Your Gays was just riveting from start to finish. I needed to know more and could NOT put it down! I can't rate it highly enough and really can't wait to see what else he brings us.

INCREDIBLE. I became a fan of Chuck Tingle due to his online presence, but his latest YA and adult novels have been so impressive. I've purchased copies of this for all my friends. Tingle's work is intelligent and deeply funny, but his satire also pinpoints issues that must be discussed. I can't wait to read and purchase future works!