In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

First off- gotta say, being aroace myself it's always lovely to see some representation. So my sincerest of thank yous to the author for that.

Now for the bulk of my review.

The amount of expys in this novel might be a turnoff for some readers. Especially since other existant IPs are namedropped like Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

One thing I think that Tingle fails at though is trusting intelligence from his readers. There is enough evidence provided about certain aspects of the story that don't need for characters to essentially call out- "hey! That thing that happened to that guy was super coincidental right? Isn't that weird!?" That's a thought that a lot of attentive readers are already going to have themselves.

That's not to say that authors are mind readers but with the amount of prodding and hinting at the twist, it would be remiss to assume the readers would be surprised by this novel.

If he had maybe put a little more faith in his readers there might have been more oomph to the twist but as it stands- it can be seen from several miles away. You'd have to try *not* to see what's happening.

The breadcrumbs dropped are too big, too obvious, though there is still merit in twists towards the end of the novel.


Tingle has no room for subtlety on who and what he is criticizing (the protagonist's name is Misha for Pete's sake). That's an undeniable strength for the novel. Tingle lampoons the worst practices and trends of the entertainment industry.

Bury Your Gays is one of the rare instances of a well-constructed satire for the modern age. It's just unfortunate that the satirical construction of the novel initially lies upon a shaky foundation- unstable and untrustworthy of readers' understanding.

The fourth quarter of the novel though? Excellent. The commentary on algorithms, capitalism, and the unfortunate reality of our entertainment industry is biting and true.

Despite all these gripes of mine, this is still horror with heart. A story that we need to hear and follow through with.

Bury Your Gays is a remarkable exploration of what could potentially happen (and somewhat, what has already happened) when capitalists get their hands on technology that's beyond their scope to control. There's a great bit of nuance to this story, delivered in easy to digest prose. There's, of course, a lot of commentary on the treatment of LGBTQ+ identities (especially asexual folks). And all of this is wrapped up in Tingle's classic spine-tingling horror voice. Not one to miss!

This book was on my most-anticipated list for 2024; Camp Damascus was one of my favorites in 2023. Thank you, Tor Nightfire, for the advance copy.

Creepy, fun, and insightful! There are a lot of themes examined in Bury Your Gays: queerness and horror, AI and algorithms, corporate co-opting of Pride, showbiz...

To be honest, the journey was slightly rocky at first. There's a strong start, then occasional confusing passages and some slow parts. It really kicks into gear about a third of the way in, leading up to an ending where things come together in a satisfying but not "neat" way. Queer joy doesn't necessarily mean there is no conflict, trauma, and/or struggle!

There's a passage in the first third that explains the purpose of horror in such a beautiful way that I had to share it with a friend and I'm saving it for the next time I talk with someone who dismisses horror as a genre. And Tara, the aro-ace character in the end--no spoiler, just wish I could high-five the physical manifestation of that particular section.

(Since this is an ARC it may be fixed in the final version) My very minor complaint is that the phrase "my boyfriend" repeats, often awkwardly, when the character's name or pronoun would fit better. It almost seems like it was intended to be fixed later with find-and-replace.

When this book releases in July trot on over to your local bookstore and pick up a copy!

Content Warnings: Homophobia, Graphic violence, Child neglect

Like Camp Damascus, which I enjoyed tremendously, this book has some great horror moments. Tingle balances several forms of horror throughout this book (existential, psychological, physical, comedic), but what stood out to me was that all of them were, ultimately, examinations of queer horror. The novel illustrated beautifully how varied queer horror can be, how it can illustrate and help process different forms of trauma, and why it’s powerful as one type of queer storytelling. At the same time, Tingle does an excellent job showing that it’s only one type of queer storytelling. Without giving away spoilers, the fact that main character Misha navigates and champions multiple types of queer narratives situates that all are worthy. Showing the dangers of going too far to one type of narrative or the other without being polarizing can be difficult to do, and I think Tingle succeeded with it.

The characters also hooked me. I was invested throughout the book in Misha’s life, both personal and professional. Misha was a protagonist that I wanted to see succeed through all the tribulations in his way. As an aroace person, I also have to give a shoutout to Tara, Misha’s friend, who I immediately fell in love with and was glad to see throughout the book.

For me, there were two down sides to the book. First, at times the book shifts perspectives to be written like scripts. I eventually figured out what was happening by the end of the book and the purpose of these shifts – but during my time reading, the meta-narrative nature was lost on me and pulled me out of the book rather than hooking me further. Second, I found the book dragged in some places. Most of the book had a good pace and rhythm, but certain scenes lasted too long or felt unnecessary. This book covers A LOT of ground, so anything that made it lag really stood out to me. That said, others may like the meta-nature of the work and have no problem with the pacing.

I think those who enjoy Tingle’s work will like this book, and I think for the examination of queer horror, characters, and commentary, it was well worth the read.

I was thrilled to get an early copy of this newest Chuck Tingle novel, I finished this gem of a book in a little less than 24 hours, though I could have burned through it in half the time had life not gotten in the way, pesky things like needing to eat and sleep. I cannot stress enough how delightful, moving, and readable this book was. From the very first scene I was firmly hooked and could hardly rest or put it down until I read the whole thing.

The basic premise of Bury Your Gays is that a successful screenwriter, Misha, is told by studio executives to kill off the stars of his show right after they finally express their long simmering love for each other. He refuses and afterwards is stalked and attacked by movie monsters from his own filmography. The story builds tension and parcels out context and clues carefully, making for an increasingly tense, frightening tale where the stakes so much higher than just one man’s life.

This book is doing a lot, not only is it by turns genuinely funny, utterly horrific, and deeply moving, it also grapples with issues as varied as AI in art, trauma and representation in media, and corporate pride ™ in a refreshingly acute and lucid way. All of these elements are perfectly balanced, working in concert to push the whole narrative forward, rather than drowning out the other themes or hampering the flow of the novel. Believe me when I tell you that, Bury Your Gays does not miss a beat, not once.

This novel was a triumph, I can hardly think of many books that try to do so much and succeed so adeptly. In addition to being a compulsive joy to read, Bury Your Gays represents the creative apotheosis of a genuinely talented and authentic queer voice in fiction. If Chuck Tingle’s previous, “mainstream” titles like Straight and Camp Damascus, weren’t enough to clue people in that the man behind the pink mask is a powerful and talented writer with a unique and arresting vision of queer horror, Bury Your Gays should be a shot across the bow and a wakeup call.

Do yourself a favor and see what all the hype is about, Bury Your Gays is a memorable, thrilling read, quite unlike anything else you’re likely to pick up this year.