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Bored Gay Werewolf
Brian, an aimless slacker, works doubles at his shift job, forgets to clean his room and lays about with his friends Nik and Darby. He's been struggling to manage his transition to adulthood almost as much as his monthly transitions to a werewolf. Really, he is not great at the whole werewolf thing, and his recent murderous slip-ups have caught the attention of Tyler, a Millennial were-mentor determined to take the mythological world by storm. Tyler has got a plan, and weirdly his self-help punditry actually encourages Brian to shape up and to stop accidently marking out guys who ghosted him on Grindr as potential monthly victims. But as Brian gets closer to Tyler's pack, and alienated from Nik and Darby, he realises that Tyler's expansion plans are much more nefarious than a little lupine enlightenment...
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2023
263 people are currently reading
6209 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,048 reviews
May 23, 2024
This book is exactly what the title says it is – the story of a bored gay werewolf. Unfortunately it left me a little bored too, as there's really not much werewolf action and it's more about a sort of club, even a sort of fight club, that a group of werewolves decide to create, and a bossy, toxic alpha wolf who wants to turn it into a pyramid scheme with social media and all. They eventually fall apart with our protagonist, and if the story until now didn't scare you off, then the ending won't either.
I feel like the teenager me would have loved this even though it's not tagged as young adult or new adult, but then again it's the grown-ass me who chose to read a book with the title Bored Gay Werewolf, so I have myself to blame, I guess - 2,5.
I feel like the teenager me would have loved this even though it's not tagged as young adult or new adult, but then again it's the grown-ass me who chose to read a book with the title Bored Gay Werewolf, so I have myself to blame, I guess - 2,5.
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August 27, 2023At times, Bored Gay Werewolf reads like an explicitly queer Fight Club for the new millennium. A novel about themes toxic masculinity and capitalism, expressed with charm, humour, and a few splatters of blood.
Our protagonist, Brian, is a twenty-five-year-old waiter with two close friends whom he works with. His life is aimless and uninteresting, except for the fact that he’s a werewolf who was cursed with lycanthropy while at college.
Soon enough, Brian meets Tyler (Fight Club reference?), a young cishet guy with inherited wealth who talks a big game about alpha males and grind culture.
Brian sees Tyler’s talk for what it is: toxic bullshit. But Tyler is also a werewolf, and that bond between them goes a long way. Tyler has come to understand things about this curse that Brian wishes to grasp.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/lgbtq-books-f...
Our protagonist, Brian, is a twenty-five-year-old waiter with two close friends whom he works with. His life is aimless and uninteresting, except for the fact that he’s a werewolf who was cursed with lycanthropy while at college.
Soon enough, Brian meets Tyler (Fight Club reference?), a young cishet guy with inherited wealth who talks a big game about alpha males and grind culture.
Brian sees Tyler’s talk for what it is: toxic bullshit. But Tyler is also a werewolf, and that bond between them goes a long way. Tyler has come to understand things about this curse that Brian wishes to grasp.
My full thoughts: https://booksandbao.com/lgbtq-books-f...
May 31, 2023
*I received an audio copy of this via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
This was great!
I really like those main characters who are just so normal and realistically flawed. Not perfectly imperfect in beautiful ways, but believably humanly flawed… even if they’re actually a werewolf. Even though I didn’t relate to Brian’s specific situations, I could still relate to just struggling sometimes, because life is hard! Especially when a problem gets dropped into your lap and changes your life, and you’re not given a manual or any help, you’re just supposed to figure it out. He also had a fun sort of sarcastic sense of humor. And he had a lot of the same thoughts that I was having in response to all the weird and/or problematic stuff happening around him.
Speaking of which, this was such a great queer perspective book. Toxic masculinity, having to sort of tone down his queerness in order to be palatable for straight men, the entitlement of people thinking it’s ok to ask personal questions. Those topics and other little things were included so naturally, just part of the book and the character.
But it wasn’t too serious of a book. It never got too dark or heavy. Which was a little weird when everyone was super casual about murder, but eh, I can let that go. I think it was meant to be an entertaining story with some commentary, and that is indeed what it was.
Brian’s friends, Nick and Darby, were great! That doesn’t quite do justice to how important the theme of friendship was in the book, but you’ll just have to trust me.
There was no romance, which really was for the best, Brian had enough on his plate. Seriously though, I don’t read a lot of books that don’t have romance, so it’s always refreshing to find one, especially with a queer MC.
The plot was mostly quiet and sorta calm, but interesting. It was a cool take on werewolves. Not anything wildly different from other books I’ve read, but not the alpha and pack sort of thing either. He just happened to sprout fur every full moon and have strong senses and extra strength and healing abilities, but he was still, mostly, just a person existing in the world, trying to figure life out.
The audiobook narration by Anthony Nyro was wonderful! It sounded perfectly natural, it suited the character, and it hit all the right tones of apathy, frustration, exasperation, and sass. Plus, every character sounded different enough to easily tell them apart.
Overall, this was a fairly calm but entertaining story with queer perspective and sweet friendship and a main character who was imperfectly human (and imperfectly werewolf)!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes realistically flawed characters, unique werewolf portrayals, gay rep that isn't about romance, and friendship.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
This was great!
I really like those main characters who are just so normal and realistically flawed. Not perfectly imperfect in beautiful ways, but believably humanly flawed… even if they’re actually a werewolf. Even though I didn’t relate to Brian’s specific situations, I could still relate to just struggling sometimes, because life is hard! Especially when a problem gets dropped into your lap and changes your life, and you’re not given a manual or any help, you’re just supposed to figure it out. He also had a fun sort of sarcastic sense of humor. And he had a lot of the same thoughts that I was having in response to all the weird and/or problematic stuff happening around him.
Speaking of which, this was such a great queer perspective book. Toxic masculinity, having to sort of tone down his queerness in order to be palatable for straight men, the entitlement of people thinking it’s ok to ask personal questions. Those topics and other little things were included so naturally, just part of the book and the character.
But it wasn’t too serious of a book. It never got too dark or heavy. Which was a little weird when everyone was super casual about murder, but eh, I can let that go. I think it was meant to be an entertaining story with some commentary, and that is indeed what it was.
Brian’s friends, Nick and Darby, were great! That doesn’t quite do justice to how important the theme of friendship was in the book, but you’ll just have to trust me.
There was no romance, which really was for the best, Brian had enough on his plate. Seriously though, I don’t read a lot of books that don’t have romance, so it’s always refreshing to find one, especially with a queer MC.
The plot was mostly quiet and sorta calm, but interesting. It was a cool take on werewolves. Not anything wildly different from other books I’ve read, but not the alpha and pack sort of thing either. He just happened to sprout fur every full moon and have strong senses and extra strength and healing abilities, but he was still, mostly, just a person existing in the world, trying to figure life out.
The audiobook narration by Anthony Nyro was wonderful! It sounded perfectly natural, it suited the character, and it hit all the right tones of apathy, frustration, exasperation, and sass. Plus, every character sounded different enough to easily tell them apart.
Overall, this was a fairly calm but entertaining story with queer perspective and sweet friendship and a main character who was imperfectly human (and imperfectly werewolf)!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2023 // Format: Audiobook*
Recommended For:
Anyone who likes realistically flawed characters, unique werewolf portrayals, gay rep that isn't about romance, and friendship.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
June 28, 2024
not enough gay, not enough werewolf
September 23, 2023
Was gonna give it 2 stars but the ending threatened the possibility of a series and that was the final straw.
February 4, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy -
I enjoyed my time with this book, but I wasn’t exactly blown away. It was a quick read though, and I was able to get through it in one sitting. The biggest hurdle was the present-tense writing though, I don’t usually enjoy books written in that tense and it always takes me a while to get past it when I do.
The characters were the best part, Brian was relatable and his group of friends did a lot to ground the story. The story, on the other hand, didn’t do too much for me. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t something that I hadn’t seen done somewhere else before too but I don’t fault the book for that, It’s not the books fault that werewolves have been used as a metaphor for everything under the sun/moon.
The commentary on toxic masculinity was a tad too on the nose, but it’s always refreshing to see it touched upon in any form.
Overall, it’s a fun book and I enjoyed my time with it, but there’s not much more for me to say than that. I saw another review saying that the book felt that a WB show, and that was the perfect description. If you’re in the mood for something quick, and a little bit hairy, then I think you’d really enjoy this book.
I enjoyed my time with this book, but I wasn’t exactly blown away. It was a quick read though, and I was able to get through it in one sitting. The biggest hurdle was the present-tense writing though, I don’t usually enjoy books written in that tense and it always takes me a while to get past it when I do.
The characters were the best part, Brian was relatable and his group of friends did a lot to ground the story. The story, on the other hand, didn’t do too much for me. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t something that I hadn’t seen done somewhere else before too but I don’t fault the book for that, It’s not the books fault that werewolves have been used as a metaphor for everything under the sun/moon.
The commentary on toxic masculinity was a tad too on the nose, but it’s always refreshing to see it touched upon in any form.
Overall, it’s a fun book and I enjoyed my time with it, but there’s not much more for me to say than that. I saw another review saying that the book felt that a WB show, and that was the perfect description. If you’re in the mood for something quick, and a little bit hairy, then I think you’d really enjoy this book.
January 14, 2024
I’m VERY confused as to what this book was trying to do? Cuz it’s not doing “werewolf” good and besides that it’s kind of just a boring story about some dude who needs to get his shit together?
Pros: solid writing and funny
Cons: THE PLOT??? WHERE IS IT??? Bro what? The whole plot is like some dude trying to get him into a weird pyramid scheme? Snoozefest.
I almost never give a 2 star because that’s like the absolute bare minimum for me to still reccomend the book but only if someone’s asking for something very specific?
But yeah I did not enjoy this book, but the writing saved it from a 1 star. I kept waiting for it to get good then it was over.
Pros: solid writing and funny
Cons: THE PLOT??? WHERE IS IT??? Bro what? The whole plot is like some dude trying to get him into a weird pyramid scheme? Snoozefest.
I almost never give a 2 star because that’s like the absolute bare minimum for me to still reccomend the book but only if someone’s asking for something very specific?
But yeah I did not enjoy this book, but the writing saved it from a 1 star. I kept waiting for it to get good then it was over.
June 26, 2025
Maybe it’s all those years I spent trying to fit in with my straight cohorts, but Bored Gay Werewolf really hit home. Its wild, satirical take on toxic masculinity paired with the classic queer allegories baked into every werewolf story hits all the right notes. It’s campy, hilarious, and effortlessly readable. Honestly, it feels like the chaotic love child of Fight Club and Teen Wolf (the series), and for that reason alone, it’s kind of perfect.
It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you grew up on Buffy or Supernatural, this might just be your next favorite read.
It’s definitely not for everyone, but if you grew up on Buffy or Supernatural, this might just be your next favorite read.
May 21, 2023
2.75/5
Thank you Pride Book Tours for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a hard book to review. Because of the title, I expected a fun, playful book and in parts it achieved that, however what confused me was its ever-changing tone.
Both the beginning and the end of this book were, as you would expect, fun and whimsical in nature. However most of the book (the large chunk in the middle) took on a more complicated, serious tone. It was never dark, it was never truly serious but it was unexpected and peculiar.
This more serious tone was actually quite interesting and explored themes you would often expect to find in dark academia books (ones such as classism, toxic friendships/relationships, misogyny, homophobia, toxic masculinity, and more) and did so in a way that you were clearly meant to find uncomfortable. My problem with this was that these two tones did not flow well together.
I cannot point to one of them and say it was that one that didn't feel right in the book, it was simply that they did not feel right coexisting with each other. It made for an incredibly strange reading experience.
I am truly struggling trying to review this book and put into words how I felt about it. It was just quite odd, and not in the 'this is a strange little book, how perfect' way, but in a 'this is strange and something about this doesn't fit' way.
I think these two wildly varying tones conflicted too much with each other for the book to feel cohesive.
Thank you Pride Book Tours for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a hard book to review. Because of the title, I expected a fun, playful book and in parts it achieved that, however what confused me was its ever-changing tone.
Both the beginning and the end of this book were, as you would expect, fun and whimsical in nature. However most of the book (the large chunk in the middle) took on a more complicated, serious tone. It was never dark, it was never truly serious but it was unexpected and peculiar.
This more serious tone was actually quite interesting and explored themes you would often expect to find in dark academia books (ones such as classism, toxic friendships/relationships, misogyny, homophobia, toxic masculinity, and more) and did so in a way that you were clearly meant to find uncomfortable. My problem with this was that these two tones did not flow well together.
I cannot point to one of them and say it was that one that didn't feel right in the book, it was simply that they did not feel right coexisting with each other. It made for an incredibly strange reading experience.
I am truly struggling trying to review this book and put into words how I felt about it. It was just quite odd, and not in the 'this is a strange little book, how perfect' way, but in a 'this is strange and something about this doesn't fit' way.
I think these two wildly varying tones conflicted too much with each other for the book to feel cohesive.
October 20, 2024
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.
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.
January 31, 2024
3 stars. This is a bit of a hard one to put my thoughts and feelings together into one piece. The title and the cover grabbed me immediately, I was stoked for something cool, fun and queer with werewolves, but ultimately I don’t think it completely delivered on that.
I feel like top of the order is to clarify that the writing in this is totally fine. This is a perfectly easy book to read. None of my problems are really with the writing craft of this book.
I did have some issues with the lack of clarity with establishing the rules of werewolves in this world. I feel like the lore around werewolves is so varied that it’s kind of important to make it clear what the rules and limitations are for your readers. I got kind of confused that on one hand Brain is painted as this useless slob, but then when he starts working out is already immediately super strong and fast, but then we spend a portion of the story with him being physically taken out by a hike? I’m also a bit confused with how exposed the supernatural is meant to be in this world? Cause there is a lot of flippancy around it, yet also it’s discussed as this big secret.
Something about this really kind of reminded me a bit of vibe that some of the early 00s/ older Kevin Smith movies used to give. I struggle to put my finger on it, but there’s a certain vibe I can’t escape.
I thought it was an interesting less serious take on some serious issues like toxic masculinity, capitalism and classism. I appreciate that Tyler was meant to be used as satire, but even with that knowledge his ‘dude bro’ pyramid scheme personality was completely insufferable. Darby and Nik were fun characters and I thought served the role of anchoring Brian well.
Nothing in the end of this surprised me though, and if you know my track record of how often I don’t guess the surprises in books you’ll realize how much that means. I’m still kind of a bit confused about the ending honestly. It’s a bit strange in the context of the wider story.
The more I reflect on it the more I think my rating is a me issue. I came into this wanting a fun queer werewolf time and what I got was a quick satirical read on toxic elements in modern society.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.
I feel like top of the order is to clarify that the writing in this is totally fine. This is a perfectly easy book to read. None of my problems are really with the writing craft of this book.
I did have some issues with the lack of clarity with establishing the rules of werewolves in this world. I feel like the lore around werewolves is so varied that it’s kind of important to make it clear what the rules and limitations are for your readers. I got kind of confused that on one hand Brain is painted as this useless slob, but then when he starts working out is already immediately super strong and fast, but then we spend a portion of the story with him being physically taken out by a hike? I’m also a bit confused with how exposed the supernatural is meant to be in this world? Cause there is a lot of flippancy around it, yet also it’s discussed as this big secret.
Something about this really kind of reminded me a bit of vibe that some of the early 00s/ older Kevin Smith movies used to give. I struggle to put my finger on it, but there’s a certain vibe I can’t escape.
I thought it was an interesting less serious take on some serious issues like toxic masculinity, capitalism and classism. I appreciate that Tyler was meant to be used as satire, but even with that knowledge his ‘dude bro’ pyramid scheme personality was completely insufferable. Darby and Nik were fun characters and I thought served the role of anchoring Brian well.
Nothing in the end of this surprised me though, and if you know my track record of how often I don’t guess the surprises in books you’ll realize how much that means. I’m still kind of a bit confused about the ending honestly. It’s a bit strange in the context of the wider story.
The more I reflect on it the more I think my rating is a me issue. I came into this wanting a fun queer werewolf time and what I got was a quick satirical read on toxic elements in modern society.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.
February 16, 2024
I was intrigued by the premise, but this did not hit at all. Brian is an absolute charisma suck, a complete waste of space. I'm all for unlikable characters, but he's not even unlikable: he's just a void. The risk of having a character whose main personality trait is "bored" is, in retrospect, glaringly obvious. Give me something to root for! Nik and Darby are two-dimensional, and Tyler is so transparently villainous that there's never really any tension. The satire is low-hanging fruit. The writing is proficient, with occasional glimpses of genuine insight and humor that are, unfortunately, lost in too-clever-by-half showiness.
This is not a romance, and is not pitched to romance readers. Which is fine! But if anyone stumbles across this review and wants excellent stories about gay werewolves that actually do interrogate masculinity, patriarchy, and the friction between secretive, closed societies trying to navigate the unknowing world -- with the bonus of lots of banging it out -- then I highly recommend Charlie Adhara's excellent, funny, incisive Big Bad Wolf series; SP Wayne's exquisite, heart-wrenching (but HEA!) Axton and Leander series; and Kaje Harper's brutal, dystopian Hidden Wolves.
The promotional material indicates that this book has already been picked up by Netflix, so while I don't like giving debut authors bad reviews, I comfort myself that this guy is laughing all the way to the bank. 4-star premise, 1-star execution, 2 stars it is.
This is not a romance, and is not pitched to romance readers. Which is fine! But if anyone stumbles across this review and wants excellent stories about gay werewolves that actually do interrogate masculinity, patriarchy, and the friction between secretive, closed societies trying to navigate the unknowing world -- with the bonus of lots of banging it out -- then I highly recommend Charlie Adhara's excellent, funny, incisive Big Bad Wolf series; SP Wayne's exquisite, heart-wrenching (but HEA!) Axton and Leander series; and Kaje Harper's brutal, dystopian Hidden Wolves.
The promotional material indicates that this book has already been picked up by Netflix, so while I don't like giving debut authors bad reviews, I comfort myself that this guy is laughing all the way to the bank. 4-star premise, 1-star execution, 2 stars it is.
June 15, 2023
Brian is a dropout, he's in a dead-end job and barely remembers what he did the previous night. But Brian is also a werewolf and not remembering eating a jogger the previous night is probably a good thing....
Then Brian meets Tyler who has all the answers and is there to help! Or is he?
Witty and clever observations, a punchy plot, likeable characters (well most of them) a fun read.
Then Brian meets Tyler who has all the answers and is there to help! Or is he?
Witty and clever observations, a punchy plot, likeable characters (well most of them) a fun read.
July 8, 2023
I picked Bored Gay Werewolf off the library's June pride display, because who could resist a title like that? It delivers all that the title promises: Brian works as a waiter, gets drunk with his friends, picks up guys on grindr, and largely ignores his monthly shifts into a wolf. Then he meets an annoying bro who wants to mentor him and monetise werewolf lifestyle coaching. I found the satire of business hustle culture very funny, probably because it's something I can observe from a safe distance:
If that made you smile, you'll enjoy Bored Gay Werewolf. Brian puts up with this shit for a while, getting increasingly estranged from his friends, until Tyler goes too far. At that point the plot becomes pretty silly and there is an absurd yet predictable twist.
I found Bored Gay Werewolf a fun read, like a much lighter version of Woman, Eating which also uses supernatural creatures to comment on the absurdity of 21st century life. Both novels drop a couple of isolated werewolves/vampires into the real world, rather than setting up a whole lot of supernatural lore. I didn't find the results hugely profound in either case, but Bored Gay Werewolf includes some witty satire and is very entertaining.
"Ah, yes!" Tyler claps his hans. "My 'passion project'. Well, I've been in the wolf game for a while. I've learned so much through the process. You know as well as I, werewolves have this inner animus, an aggression that drives us. We need to be the alpha and take what's ours in both our personal and professional lives."
"Uh-huh."
"And the success of a wolf in the wild depends on harnessing this power, to dominate, gain status and win the respect of others. Now, what does this sound like to you?" Tyler asks.
"A men's rights blog?"
"Business," corrects Tyler. "All of a sudden it hit me that I need to explore these synergies. Integrating lupine insights with my professional life and then lending my mentorship and business acumen to the mystical. There all are these lessons I've learned on my way: how to 'harness the best within' through strength training; the importance of communing with nature; repeating regular affirmations to control your emotions and manage your monthly transition. If I could formalise this into an offering, I could break this market wide open."
"Wait, the werewolf market?"
If that made you smile, you'll enjoy Bored Gay Werewolf. Brian puts up with this shit for a while, getting increasingly estranged from his friends, until Tyler goes too far. At that point the plot becomes pretty silly and there is an absurd yet predictable twist.
I found Bored Gay Werewolf a fun read, like a much lighter version of Woman, Eating which also uses supernatural creatures to comment on the absurdity of 21st century life. Both novels drop a couple of isolated werewolves/vampires into the real world, rather than setting up a whole lot of supernatural lore. I didn't find the results hugely profound in either case, but Bored Gay Werewolf includes some witty satire and is very entertaining.
February 18, 2024
This book was frustrating, to say the least. The plot was great, and the sardonic witty tone and characterization of the MC were enjoyable, but what killed this book was being written in the second person. You never truly got to know or connect with any of the characters. I saw in the beginning of the book this title already sold rights for a TV show, and at times it felt as if the second person narration was used to make it easier to option for TV. Overall, the book was enjoyable but because of the awkward narration at times, I couldn't rate it any higher.
****Thank you to Netgalley and Independent Publishers Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*****
****Thank you to Netgalley and Independent Publishers Group for an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.*****
July 20, 2023
An absolute gem of a book !
A summer-read classic to be !
You got your camp ! You got your queer ! You got your monsters ! You got you bodies !
Literally had to pick my jaw up off of the floor at the end - absolutely seeing this become a series or something !
Fucking beautiful work, fucking hilarious ! 10/10 would order from JustEat again !
A summer-read classic to be !
You got your camp ! You got your queer ! You got your monsters ! You got you bodies !
Literally had to pick my jaw up off of the floor at the end - absolutely seeing this become a series or something !
Fucking beautiful work, fucking hilarious ! 10/10 would order from JustEat again !
May 4, 2024
Picked this up hoping for a fun read. Got a fun read. But also a surprisingly layered read too with themes of masculinity, mental health, sexuality, gender, class and friendship.
May 30, 2023
Thank you to Atlantic Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bored Gay Werewolf does what it says on the tin: the main character, Brian, is bored, he’s gay, and he’s a werewolf. As someone who ticks two of those boxes (I’ll let you decide which), I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw it, but I was not prepared for how much I would love it.
The plot of Bored Gay Werewolf is simple and excellent: Brian isn’t very good at being a werewolf, and when someone comes along and offers to change his life, he can’t say no. But this stranger’s motives might not be as pure as Brian first thinks, and this new relationship puts a strain on Brian’s friendships. As well as loving the plot, I also loved the writing style, and thought the pacing was great. It’s really easy to read and I inhaled it in a short space of time because I didn’t want to put it down. No spoilers here but I really enjoyed the ending and hope this becomes a series, because I would love to see what the gang does next.
Reading Bored Gay Werewolf is the most fun an enby can have without taking their clothes off. The witty banter between the characters is genuinely funny, and I loved Brian’s cynical, bemused, and indeed, bored, narration. Also a werewolf being called Brian is just objectively hilarious. I highlighted so many quotes that made me laugh, and I love how, behind the silly werewolf disguise (affectionate), this book is actually a deeply satirical exploration of queer culture, capitalism, and toxic masculinity.
In addition to Brian, there are two wonderful supporting characters in Darby, a Non-Binary polymath, and Nik, an overworked and under-paid bar manager and medical student. Darby is your classic ethereal and quirky enby, and they have more emotional maturity in their little finger than Brian does in his entire werewolf body. Nik is warm and sensible but takes no shit, and is exactly the kind of work mum everyone should have in their life. For someone not used to having close friends, Brian is reluctant to let Nik and Darby in, and seeing his barriers come down and their relationships flourishing is a really enjoyable part of the book.
Brian attempts to make some other new friends over the course of the book, and these characters present a chilling insight into millennial straight culture and toxic masculinity. Bored Gay Werewolf is very much about finding your pack and embracing the people who embrace you for who you are, rather than changing yourself to fit in with people you don’t even want to fit in with in the first place. You shouldn't have to force yourself to go camping for anybody.
I don’t always manage to see books in my head as I’m reading them, but I could picture Bored Gay Werewolf really clearly - particularly the characters of Tyler and Mark, who I fancast as Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan, respectively, in the movie version of Bored Gay Werewolf. Someone please make this happen. I can offer zero money in terms of funding, but would be a happy and willing extra. It gave me the same fun and campy feels as a cheesy 00s horror comedy, and I think we should bring that genre back. It’s also a lot like What We Do In The Shadows, which I adore.
In conclusion, Bored Gay Werewolf is a great fun and campy read that belies the satirical examination of queer culture, capitalism, and toxic masculinity underneath. I recommend it to all the other bored gay werewolves out there who want to enjoy life a bit more.
Bored Gay Werewolf does what it says on the tin: the main character, Brian, is bored, he’s gay, and he’s a werewolf. As someone who ticks two of those boxes (I’ll let you decide which), I knew I had to read this book as soon as I saw it, but I was not prepared for how much I would love it.
The plot of Bored Gay Werewolf is simple and excellent: Brian isn’t very good at being a werewolf, and when someone comes along and offers to change his life, he can’t say no. But this stranger’s motives might not be as pure as Brian first thinks, and this new relationship puts a strain on Brian’s friendships. As well as loving the plot, I also loved the writing style, and thought the pacing was great. It’s really easy to read and I inhaled it in a short space of time because I didn’t want to put it down. No spoilers here but I really enjoyed the ending and hope this becomes a series, because I would love to see what the gang does next.
Reading Bored Gay Werewolf is the most fun an enby can have without taking their clothes off. The witty banter between the characters is genuinely funny, and I loved Brian’s cynical, bemused, and indeed, bored, narration. Also a werewolf being called Brian is just objectively hilarious. I highlighted so many quotes that made me laugh, and I love how, behind the silly werewolf disguise (affectionate), this book is actually a deeply satirical exploration of queer culture, capitalism, and toxic masculinity.
In addition to Brian, there are two wonderful supporting characters in Darby, a Non-Binary polymath, and Nik, an overworked and under-paid bar manager and medical student. Darby is your classic ethereal and quirky enby, and they have more emotional maturity in their little finger than Brian does in his entire werewolf body. Nik is warm and sensible but takes no shit, and is exactly the kind of work mum everyone should have in their life. For someone not used to having close friends, Brian is reluctant to let Nik and Darby in, and seeing his barriers come down and their relationships flourishing is a really enjoyable part of the book.
Brian attempts to make some other new friends over the course of the book, and these characters present a chilling insight into millennial straight culture and toxic masculinity. Bored Gay Werewolf is very much about finding your pack and embracing the people who embrace you for who you are, rather than changing yourself to fit in with people you don’t even want to fit in with in the first place. You shouldn't have to force yourself to go camping for anybody.
I don’t always manage to see books in my head as I’m reading them, but I could picture Bored Gay Werewolf really clearly - particularly the characters of Tyler and Mark, who I fancast as Chris Evans and Sebastian Stan, respectively, in the movie version of Bored Gay Werewolf. Someone please make this happen. I can offer zero money in terms of funding, but would be a happy and willing extra. It gave me the same fun and campy feels as a cheesy 00s horror comedy, and I think we should bring that genre back. It’s also a lot like What We Do In The Shadows, which I adore.
In conclusion, Bored Gay Werewolf is a great fun and campy read that belies the satirical examination of queer culture, capitalism, and toxic masculinity underneath. I recommend it to all the other bored gay werewolves out there who want to enjoy life a bit more.
November 1, 2023
I wanted to give up after the first chapter but I pushed myself, wanting to give it a fair shot, I’m 44% in and I just can’t! I’m more bored than the werewolf, the writing is incredibly stiff, it feels like reading a report honestly. Not for me ⭐️
July 18, 2023
“On day three, Brian realizes he is a gay frog in Sarah’s pot of slowly boiling fag hag water.”
June 11, 2023
Dissolving toxic masculinity, having a sassy group of found family friends, and slaying the fucking house down what more can you want from a book?
Oh also the cultish behaviour of Tyler made this book so fun to read.
Oh also the cultish behaviour of Tyler made this book so fun to read.
May 29, 2023
Queer Werewolf MLM is my new favorite genre
April 18, 2024
Maybe 2.5? Loved the commentary on the dangers of toxic masculinity and negative impact of the patriarchy. Mildly funny at times. For the most part though I, like the werewolf, was bored.
December 26, 2025
This is how you write an urban werewolf fantasy book. Tony Santorella absolutely DEVOURS this trope and gives it a new life in Bored Gay Werewolf. (See what I did there?) Using themes like toxic masculinity, pyramid schemes, and the human need for acceptance he writes a scathing rebuke of our modern late-stage capitalist society. But with werewolves. And some pretty killer friends. (Iykyk.)
This was an absolute trip to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the perfect palate cleanser after four really dark, heavy books. And while this one still had some pretty heavy themes, Santorella’s humor and incredible skill with WTF-ery is masterful. I found myself giggling at the very first pages. It’s perfect, it’s funny, and it’s a good reminder your friends might be more than you realize and EVERYTHING you need. Pick this one up with a quickness and read it!
This was an absolute trip to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was the perfect palate cleanser after four really dark, heavy books. And while this one still had some pretty heavy themes, Santorella’s humor and incredible skill with WTF-ery is masterful. I found myself giggling at the very first pages. It’s perfect, it’s funny, and it’s a good reminder your friends might be more than you realize and EVERYTHING you need. Pick this one up with a quickness and read it!
August 22, 2024
Pretty funny, and absurd in the best kind of way but more emotional than I expected. Enjoyed the exploration of toxic masculinity. I just wished it trusted the audience enough to not explain EVERY SINGLE FEELING AND CONFLICT our main character experienced.
TW:
TW:
December 3, 2024
I don’t think I was the target audience for this book so let’s leave it at that. Can’t believe this actually made into my 2024 books read.
November 27, 2023
“I guess when all you have is a hammer, everything is a nail.”
I had a great time reading this book. Not only is Brian a bored gay werewolf, but he's a college dropout stuck in a dead-end job, that desperately craves a sense of belonging while simultaneously fearing the vulnerability that comes with being known.The book explores just that, the intertwining of being loved and being known, emphasizing how loneliness can make one desperate for connection. This is a book about that craving for belonging (somewhere, anywhere).
The villain in the story is particularly... Real. Tyler is one of Those Guys™: an entrepreneur tech bro that exploits men's insecurities, by offering a seemingly foolproof formula for success. I've encountered, at least, three or four real-life 'Tylers', but that might be because I work in tech lol.
Towards the end (and in the resolution of the conflict), there's a sudden shift in tone. The narrative transitions from a contemporary adult novel to a fantasy young adult one in the blink of an eye. While I'd be excited to follow Brian, Nick, and Darby as they kick mythological-ass, the shift caught me off guard. Personally, I prefer the satirical and somewhat bitter tone of the beginning, and as such, I was hoping for a different ending.
A great time and not what you'd expect from a werewolf novel. 3.8/5 💖.
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October 21, 2024i fear that what i would like to say about this book would be too unkind for the high likelihood that the author reads their goodreads reviews
February 3, 2024
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.
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.
April 15, 2023
I do not typically read a lot of werewolf fiction due to the frequency of it being over-the-top alpha masculine attitudes. But seeing the description of this book being of a gay man in a dead end job trying to work out where he'd going in life...whilst juggling monthly transformations?
That sounded different, and I was excited to dive into Brian; a twenty-something, bored gay man. Who is a werewolf.
I also never thought I'd relate so much to this character but as someone who worked as a waiter and lost their direction in my twenties? Sure, I found it very easy to understand a lot of Brian's thoughts and opinions. Admittedly, I like to think I hold life to a higher standard than Brian's fairly flippant "oopsie-daisies", but than again, I'm not a werewolf.
Brian is not exactly a hero, and he is frequently a frustrating protagonist. Lost and isolated, he is found by another werewolf, who wants to show him the ropes, help him master his beast, as it were. As someone who has met many Tylers (sadly), I did pick up the vibe faster than our protagonist (had to agree with side character Nik, begging him to pick up a book!)
Speaking of Nik! The side characters were really enjoyable, all servers, balancing the life of serving while working toward their goals. Nik, the older woman who manages evenings at the restaurant while simultaneously revising and Derby the colourful nonbinary explosion of artful expression and performance. I loved them both, especially as a nonbinary person myself. (Also enjoyed Derby's love interest from the get go). Watching Brian desperately wanting to form closer connections with these two but holding them at arm's length was both relatable and again, frustrating.
The antagonists! I highlighted so much of Tyler's speech as rage inducing frequently, so the author here did a great job of executing the trust fund "bro" character well. I wish we'd got to know Mark somewhat more, as I felt there was more to know maybe after the first time we meet him.
I don't want to give more of the plot away than is in the blurb, but I found it engaging and genuinely funny throughout. While I was not surprised by some of the revelations, I was pleased to have worked it out and I wonder if a sequel will be in the works. I genuinely hope so because I'd love to see more of Brian and his motley crew (and hopefully see him get a bedframe and maybe a sofa?)
4*
That sounded different, and I was excited to dive into Brian; a twenty-something, bored gay man. Who is a werewolf.
I also never thought I'd relate so much to this character but as someone who worked as a waiter and lost their direction in my twenties? Sure, I found it very easy to understand a lot of Brian's thoughts and opinions. Admittedly, I like to think I hold life to a higher standard than Brian's fairly flippant "oopsie-daisies", but than again, I'm not a werewolf.
Brian is not exactly a hero, and he is frequently a frustrating protagonist. Lost and isolated, he is found by another werewolf, who wants to show him the ropes, help him master his beast, as it were. As someone who has met many Tylers (sadly), I did pick up the vibe faster than our protagonist (had to agree with side character Nik, begging him to pick up a book!)
Speaking of Nik! The side characters were really enjoyable, all servers, balancing the life of serving while working toward their goals. Nik, the older woman who manages evenings at the restaurant while simultaneously revising and Derby the colourful nonbinary explosion of artful expression and performance. I loved them both, especially as a nonbinary person myself. (Also enjoyed Derby's love interest from the get go). Watching Brian desperately wanting to form closer connections with these two but holding them at arm's length was both relatable and again, frustrating.
The antagonists! I highlighted so much of Tyler's speech as rage inducing frequently, so the author here did a great job of executing the trust fund "bro" character well. I wish we'd got to know Mark somewhat more, as I felt there was more to know maybe after the first time we meet him.
I don't want to give more of the plot away than is in the blurb, but I found it engaging and genuinely funny throughout. While I was not surprised by some of the revelations, I was pleased to have worked it out and I wonder if a sequel will be in the works. I genuinely hope so because I'd love to see more of Brian and his motley crew (and hopefully see him get a bedframe and maybe a sofa?)
4*
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