I really enjoyed this book. Misha is a screenwriter who is nominated for his first Oscar. When Misha is asked to kill off his gay characters, he refuses. Suddenly, characters from his past shows are haunting and hunting him. Misha is on a timeline, fighting for his life and the storyline he wished he saw as a child.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Tingle's previous book, Camp Damascus, I was very excited to receive NetGalley approval for his latest.

Here we have Misha, a much-lauded Hollywood writer, who's also pretty excited at the prospect of having his two female leads in the TV show he's currently scripting reveal their love for one another in the season finale. The studio he works for, however, wants the characters killed off. Apparently the audience LOVES queer tragedy. No happy endings for the gays, it seems . . .

And as if that's not enough, fictional creatures from the writer's horror movie past are coming out of the woodwork to terrorize him.

Can Misha figure out how to stop all this before his own life story becomes a queer tragedy?

This one had an imaginative premise, and a strong message, but the material seemed stretched from short story to novel length. Though there were some genuinely creepy moments, I had trouble staying focused on the story.

If only we could sic some of Tingle's "imaginary" monsters on the creators of Project 2025. What a wonderful, wonderful world this could be . . .

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

I loved Camp Damascus last year, so I was excited when I saw that this book was coming out. My husband and I also watch a lot of movies which also played into my interest. This has lots of camp, which I also love. If you liked Camp Damascus or murder mysteries wrapped in horror, then this is for you.

Rating: 4.5/5

Rating: 4.5 stars

Telling stories has always been part of Misha’s life and he’s pretty good at it. His current show, a sci-fi mystery series, Travelers, is headed into its third season and his short film about a mouse has been nominated for an Oscar. When Misha is suddenly called into his boss’ office for a meeting, he’s pretty sure it’s just going to be a few notes on the new season, maybe some congratulations for the nomination. What he doesn’t expect is for Jack to tell him to kill off his characters.

Agents Lexa and Naomi, the stars of Travelers, have been in a will-they-won’t-they relationship for two seasons, and Misha was planning for season three to cement their romance. Now, Jack’s telling him has to either make one of them straight, or kill them off. Misha, of course, refuses, leaving the office in a fury. He can’t help but feel betrayed that Jack doesn’t believe in him, that he is letting some think-tank change his story because some poll says the numbers do better without Lexa and Naomi being allowed to be in love, and it pisses Misha off.

While venting to his best friend, Tara, at a cafe, Misha is accosted by a fan who looks just like a character from one of his movies: The Smoker. He is a monstrous, supernatural killer who promises to be seeing Misha in five days … when he comes to kill him. Misha has no idea what the fuck is going on, but he’s soon moving from anger to terror because The Smoker isn’t alone. While flying back home for a high school reunion, Misha sees Mrs. Why, a seven-foot tall alien whose touch destroys the minds and souls of those around her. Mrs. Why is a character on Travelers who shouldn’t … can’t … be real, but whose touch is killing the passengers around her as she struggles to get to Misha. And let’s not forget the Black Lamb, an eldritch creature from one of his early films, who stares at him with blank, wide eyes on a jogging path.

Is this a stunt by the studio to make him kill his characters? Is this just some prank by fans having a good time? Because the third option — that this is real — is too ridiculous and too frightening to be believed.

This book is a murder mystery wrapped in a horror novel, with some very visceral, gory moments and some wonderfully tragic ones. Misha has always looked at the world with a writer’s eye, seeing people — such as his boss, Jack, or Tara, or even his boyfriend Zeke — through the roles they fill: the sassy friend, the devoted boyfriend, the blustering but good natured boss. And yet, they’re still people. Jack and Tara and Zeke are all integral parts of Misha’s life, and when someone threatens them, he’s there to … well, to do his best. Even if it isn’t good enough.

There’s a scene where Jack’s life is being threatened and Misha, knowing he’s not a physically inclined individual, tries to bolster himself up by thinking “how would an action star handle this?” He tries to put himself in the mindset of a character who can do the things he wants to do, needs to do, to give him the courage to move. And yet, when it comes to being open with who he is when he’s not pretending to be a character, Misha tends to simply want to be invisible. It’s easier to people watch when you’re not a part of the crowd, but apart from it.

That invisibility, Misha’s desire to stay safe, leads to him heading to his high school reunion without Zeke, because Misha isn’t out, doesn’t feel safe telling everyone that he has a boyfriend. He knows this hurts Zeke, even as he apologizes for it. And Zeke, for his part, is understanding. Zeke is here for the long haul, expecting if not to be brought for the twenty-year anniversary, then maybe to come along for the fifty. Because he loves Misha. Misha leans on that love, sees Zeke as his rock, as one of the good things in his life. Their romance, while not the focus of the story, is made of warm and lovely moments sprinkled through the book, much as Misha’s relationship with Tara, an outspoken black, asexual woman who is more sarcasm and cutting wit than ‘sassy.’ She both supports and mocks Misha, loves him enough to yell at him when he needs it, and trusts him enough to run to him for help when she needs it.

I settled down to read this book after dinner. As it grew later, I thought .. one more page. I mean, I have to get to the end of the chapter. Then it was “one more chapter” and, before I knew it it, was two in the morning and I’d finished the book. The author has a gift in making this book just so approachable and readable and smooth. The pace was constant, with no lulls or slow moments, and the tension was on point, with a quiet and character-driven focus that kept me wanting to know what was going to happen next. Really, this was just so much fun to read.

Chuck Tingle went all the way in with this critique of capitalism, mass and social media, and cultural appropriation within a fast-paced time-is-running-out horror mystery. Misha, a television screenwriter, is urged to kill off his gay characters and his reluctance kicks off a series of increasingly frightening and dangerous events. Why are his most terrifying characters coming to life? Buckle your seatbelts, you'll love this bumpy ride.

This was a fun, gory take on the entertainment industry. I really liked the main trio and rooted for them throughout. There's a lot going on in this one. The social commentary was on point.

I tend to be a very squeamish reader who can't handle much gore. There were some parts that made me cringe here, but I got through them fairly easily. The story held my attention from start to finish and kept me guessing. The ending was bizarre in a fun way.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

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. Can't wait to go pick up a physical copy for myself and the library. <3

MISHA BYRNE is a successful Hollywood screenwriter working with Harold Brothers Studios. He writes horror films with varying degrees of success, but he always has work. He has a beautiful, disturbed mind and his creations scared me.

TARA ITO is the brains leading the cybersecurity team for Harold Brothers Studios. She is wildly amazing and has the best fashion sense.

EZEKIEL ROMERO, Zeke, is the charming, lovable, supportive side character. His work is completely unrelated to HBS, but as Misha’s boyfriend, he is dragged into the story.

HAROLD BROTHERS STUDIOS… the less said the better. They are probably reading this right now.

CHUCK TINGLE is the mad genius that wrote the fantastically horrific novel, Bury Your Gays. It is a slasher flick fan’s dream ─ buckets or gore, homicidal maniacs, slow building tension, and a brilliant ending.

I want this book to be optioned for a movie release more than I can explain. While we are on the subject, I would like to watch Camp Damascus, Tingle’s previous novel, also. I love the fact that he wrote the events of that book into this one because I live for meta-references like this.

Content warning: violence, profanity, gore, homophobic slurs & stereotyping, child neglect, trauma

Campy but so incredibly relevant. Tingle has a way of making a story funny while also dealing with super relevant topics. Well done!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Publishing for a digital ARC of this highly anticipated novel!

I love queer stories! I knew I had to read this book during pride month because it absolutely hit the nail on the head. Chuck Tingle had some excellent commentary on capitalism and the media’s desire to profit off of queer stories. I loved the application of artificial intelligence and how it juxtaposes the creative expression of writers in Hollywood. I feel like this is a really struggle with artists today and it was analyzed in such a clever way.

The characters in this story were so real and human to me. This made the storyline so compelling, especially following a queer but closeted writer. The dual timeline that shows his childhood trauma made his villains come to life and mirrors many of the villains LGBTQIA+ people encounter. This book gets extra points from me for the aro ace representation.

If you’re looking for a humorous but dark take on the “Bury Your Gays” trope in the media that provides relevant social commentary on both AI and capitalism, then Bury Your Gays is a great book to read- especially in the month of June!

Genuine edge of your seat situations, a fun look at the entertainment industry from someone clearly in the know. Emotionally impactful, humorous and at times bats ass crazy, one of those books you don't want to put down.

Misha is a Hollywood screenwriter who just got his first Oscar nomination for one of his short films. Despite this prestigious nomination he is currently in a stalemate with his producers as they want him to kill off one of his gay characters in the season finale for his tv show. Simply because “the algorithm” shows that it’s more profitable to have traumatic queer stories. Misha, obviously disgusted and enraged by this demand, decides to defy them and go forward with his original story line.

Around the same time Misha begins to be stalked by a some of the unsettling characters from his horror movies. At first he suspects them to be over enthusiastic fans pulling a prank, but the more they close on him the more he begins to suspect some other sinister motivation. With his past coming back to haunt him and the clock ticking down, Misha must uncover the truth behind his characters coming to life. As well as decide if he is ready to make a stand, and fully accept his queer identity.

I really enjoyed Camp Damascus by Chuck and it’s interesting to see how Bury Your Gays is structured using a similar formula. However despite this similar structure, they ended up with such different tones and themes. Bury Your Gays is all about corporate greed and the push to sacrifice artistic integrity in favor of soulless blockbuster fodder. It’s a lot more heavy on the horror and gore while leaning into fears of AI and the lengths corporations will go to earn a single buck more in profits. I really liked how it explored the way writers inject aspects of their own lives into their art, and how they can in turn overcome them through this medium.

This was super fast paced and had me constantly on the edge of my seat! I highly recommend.

Loved it! Chuck Tingle is a great writer and I will read everything he puts out. Loved the balance and blend of the genres used. Will absolutely be recommending this one. Thank you Tor, my favorite publisher, and Netgalley for the advanced read. I will be buying a copy for the home library.

Chuck Tingle's "Bury Your Gays" delivers a gripping and thought-provoking narrative that deftly blends horror with social commentary. Set against the backdrop of Hollywood, this novel explores the challenges faced by queer individuals in the entertainment industry while presenting a thrilling and eerie story.

The protagonist, Misha, is a seasoned scriptwriter on the brink of winning his first Oscar. However, when pressured by his producers to kill off a gay character in the upcoming season finale for the sake of "the algorithm," Misha finds himself in a moral quandary. As he battles with this decision, he is haunted by his past mistakes and faces a series of increasingly horrifying events.

Tingle's writing is sharp and engaging, with vivid descriptions that bring the Hollywood setting and its underlying darkness to life. The character development, particularly of Misha, is well-executed, making him a relatable and sympathetic figure. The supporting characters, while not as deeply explored, add depth and complexity to the story.

One of the novel's strengths is its exploration of the "Bury Your Gays" trope, a harmful narrative device where LGBTQ+ characters are frequently killed off in media. Tingle addresses this issue head-on, using Misha's internal conflict and external challenges to critique the entertainment industry's treatment of queer characters. The novel also delves into other relevant themes, such as corporate greed, AI ethics, and the power of creators.

The horror elements are effectively intertwined with the social commentary, creating a tense and immersive reading experience. The pacing is generally well-maintained, though some middle sections could have been tighter. The book's climax is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving readers with much to ponder about the real-world implications of the story.

The audiobook version, narrated by André Santana and featuring a full cast, enhances the emotional impact of the narrative. The performance is compelling, capturing the terror and urgency of Misha's journey.

Overall, "Bury Your Gays" is a standout horror novel that succeeds in being both entertaining and socially relevant. Chuck Tingle's ability to balance dark humor, horror, and meaningful commentary makes this a must-read for fans of the genre and those interested in LGBTQ+ representation in media.

This book was fun, with body horror and a main character losing his mind as he's hunted down by his own creations. It's engaging and seamlessly weaves in the commentary. I loved it. It didn't absolutely floor me and there were things that I didn't find as enjoyable. Zeke, Tara, and pretty much everyone who wasn't Misha felt one note. They served their purpose and nothing more. There were also moments when it felt as if I could put the book down and not pick it back up, but those moments were few and far in between.

In which Chuck Tingle goes to Hollywood.

Misha Byrne is a screenwriter, and he’s just locked in his first Oscar nomination. He’s also gay, and executive meddling is on the cusp of forcing him to kill off the two queer leads of his latest TV series. Nearly four seasons of wildly successful X-Files-esque television, and he’s finding his work being subject to one of the oldest tropes in fiction: bury your gays. For Misha, this is particularly egregious, as his favorite childhood show fell victim to the same treatment years before. However, if he doesn’t go along with the studio’s plans, he’ll be in breach of contract and lose his job, and potentially any chance of working in Hollywood again.

Then, things start to get weird at the studio lot. Raymond Nelson, one of the oldest working animators at the studio, is crushed by a piano in an ironic echo of a cartoon death. Not long after, Misha spots a character from one of his horror films while walking out of a bar. This omen warns him that he has only five day to live, a timeline that coincides with the night of the Academy Awards ceremony. Soon, more of his horror characters begin intruding into his life, and he’s forced to face the very real traumas that shaped his career (and are threatening his boyfriend). Will Misha succumb to studio pressure by Oscar night, or will he fall to a twisted version of one of his own creations?

Chuck Tingle is absolutely killing it in the horror genre, y’all. Bury Your Gays is littered with little nods to actual Hollywood staples, all while carefully avoiding name-dropping any specific real world studio. Tingle builds phenomenal tension and intersperses some clever screenwriting aspects between segments of the story. This is a brilliant follow-up to last year’s Camp Damascus, and further solidifies Chuck as a horror writer of note. My utmost thanks to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for a fair review. Bury Your Gays is out as of yesterday, 7/9/24. Go get it.

This review originally appeared here: https://swordsoftheancients.com/2024/07/10/bury-your-gays-a-review/

This book was such a fun and wild ride. It follows a semi-closeted horror filmmaker in LA. He starts noticing his characters around him and then they start to follow the rules of his films. Things just get progressively weirder from there. I don’t want to give away anything because this book is the kind of fever dream that just needs to be experienced.

This book is great for lovers of horror, both book and film.

This was one of my most highly anticipated books of the year and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Q: What was your favorite television show as a kid?

If you’re one of those people who’s ever been completely incensed when a television show has been working for seasons towards putting a queer couple together only to have one (or both!) of those characters killed off or suddenly being magically straight as a plank, then you might completely identify with Misha, the protagonist of Chuck Tingle’s speculative fiction novel Bury Your Gays.

Yes, you read that correctly: speculative fiction novel. This novel is marketed as both horror and science fiction, but that’s a spectacular indicator a book is likely to end up in that nebulous category called speculative fiction. When you throw genre fiction into a blender and add a dash of, “What if we add in this variable here?”, then I consider that to be speculative fiction. I hate pigeonholing books like this further because I believe it lessens their appeal and reach. If you like body horror, over-the-top violence, poorly-veiled Hollywood references that were likely written that way on purpose, a protagonist who starts out the book righteously angry and just keeps on getting more justifiably angry, mysterious Hollywood execs who are only worried about money to an inhuman degree, Hollywood caricatures and stereotypes, coming out stories, award show shenanigans, horror villain origin stories, seeing the true damage of AI on the environment and on Hollywood manifested, and love an easter egg, then you’ll dig this.

Did I like it as much as Camp Damascus? No. I find Camp Damascus to be the better of the two novels, but that’s not down to Tingle’s talent as a writer. That’s all about my tastes as a reader. I have a harder time with books that have male protagonists just in general, and I also had expectations this book would lean further into body horror than it did. Combine that with me correctly guessing a good chunk of what happens in the back half early on and it just affected my overall enjoyment. Tingle is a really effective story plotter and has a great sense of energy, imagery, and atmosphere.

It’s a great novel and a lot of fun. You’ll enjoy getting to be as mad at Hollywood as Misha is and cheer him on as he fights to write what he wants.

TWs for: Child abuse/neglect, homophobia, hate speech, gore, very violent deaths, blood

I was provided a copy of this title by Netgalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: Body Horror/Horror/LGBTQ Horror/LGBTQ Fiction/Science Fiction/Speculative Fiction

5/5✨

This was my first Tingle book and absolutely loved it. I was about to listen and read this title and let me tell you, the narrators were amazing!

This was so much more than a quirky story about how Hollywood always kills off the queer character. It represents the power of chosen family, being true to yourself to live your most authentic life, and doing what you know is right, even when the world says it is "wrong" by the masses.

The zany characters and vivid descriptions of the situations, horror, and environment really made this a top read this year! If you are looking for a unique and thrilling read with a dash of horror, this is your next read.

Narrated by: André Santana; Charlie Jane Anders; CJ Leede; Georgia Bird; Liz Kerin; Mara Wilson; Mark Oshiro; Sarah Gailey; Stephen Graham Jones; T. Kingfisher; TJ Klune

As always, thank you to NetGalley, Chuck Tingle, and Tor Publishing Group for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Ahh where to start with Bury Your Gays. While it took a minute for it to grab my attention, once it did, it didn't let go! I loved our main character Meesha, his boyfriend Zeke and his bestie Tara and the entire premise of the book. Screen Writer being forced to kill off his gay MCs or turn them straight is suddenly being targeted by his own imagined monsters turned real because he won't agree. This Queer adult horror is a packed full of monsters created from childhood trauma, gore , mind fudgery, being true to ones self , queer authenticity , an Ace to save the day and a completely satisfying ending. I look forward to the next horror Chuck Thingle thinks up !

4.5 stars