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The Tuxedo Society: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 26 May 26Win a free print copy of this book!
13 days and 01:30:24
50 copies available
U.S. only
If Guy Ritchie directed an episode of Queer Eye, it might look something like this hilarious and action-packed spy thriller by Paul Rudnick, acclaimed screenwriter and author of Farrell Covington and the Limits of Style, that blends espionage and social commentary, with an elite, gay secret society.
They are fierce patriots. They are licensed to kill. And they are really, really gay. Welcome to democracy’s secret weapon, the Tuxedo Society.
When Andrew Birnbaum, a struggling actor making ends meet by working in a candle shop, gets invited to have dinner with the exclusive Tuxedo Society by his best friend, Brock, his life takes an unexpected turn. What seems like a group of wealthy socialites gathering for gossip and cocktails quickly spirals into a world of espionage, danger, and hilarity.
Andrew soon meets Reggie O’Malley, a Navy SEAL with a penchant for black tie, who recruits Andrew to join the society’s covert mission to protect national security. Armed with gadgets like an inflatable life raft backpack, a yoga mat that doubles as an assault rifle, and, of course, an AMEX Black Card, Andrew quickly finds himself tackling spies, thwarting assassinations, and facing a host of unexpected threats in settings from the White House to the Vatican to the Summer Olympic Games.
The stakes escalate when Andrew and his comrades are sent on a jet-setting mission to uncover the truth about an ancient artifact. Along the way, they clash with oligarchs, crooked senators, and a smarmy televangelist with sinister plans for world domination.
Packed with Paul Rudnick’s signature wit, The Tuxedo Society is a wild ride through decadence, danger, and unexpected heroism, as Andrew discovers that saving the world might just be the role he’s been waiting for.
They are fierce patriots. They are licensed to kill. And they are really, really gay. Welcome to democracy’s secret weapon, the Tuxedo Society.
When Andrew Birnbaum, a struggling actor making ends meet by working in a candle shop, gets invited to have dinner with the exclusive Tuxedo Society by his best friend, Brock, his life takes an unexpected turn. What seems like a group of wealthy socialites gathering for gossip and cocktails quickly spirals into a world of espionage, danger, and hilarity.
Andrew soon meets Reggie O’Malley, a Navy SEAL with a penchant for black tie, who recruits Andrew to join the society’s covert mission to protect national security. Armed with gadgets like an inflatable life raft backpack, a yoga mat that doubles as an assault rifle, and, of course, an AMEX Black Card, Andrew quickly finds himself tackling spies, thwarting assassinations, and facing a host of unexpected threats in settings from the White House to the Vatican to the Summer Olympic Games.
The stakes escalate when Andrew and his comrades are sent on a jet-setting mission to uncover the truth about an ancient artifact. Along the way, they clash with oligarchs, crooked senators, and a smarmy televangelist with sinister plans for world domination.
Packed with Paul Rudnick’s signature wit, The Tuxedo Society is a wild ride through decadence, danger, and unexpected heroism, as Andrew discovers that saving the world might just be the role he’s been waiting for.
288 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication May 26, 2026
5 people are currently reading
1897 people want to read
About the author
Paul Rudnick
13 books307 followersPaul M. Rudnick is an American playwright, screenwriter and novelist. His plays include I Hate Hamlet, Jeffrey, The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Valhalla and The New Century. He also wrote for Premiere magazine under the pseudonym Libby Gelman-Waxner. He is openly gay.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
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February 9, 2026It's a farce from the gitgo. If you haven't picked that up by the end of the first page, and adjusted your expectations, you won't get the maximum fun out of this tongue-firmly-in-cheek extra super gay spy romp.
I kept thinking it would be absolutely perfect as an audiobook, read by someone who could do that snarky narrative voice justice. But as it was, I enjoyed it immensely as a not-very-realistic spoof.
I kept thinking it would be absolutely perfect as an audiobook, read by someone who could do that snarky narrative voice justice. But as it was, I enjoyed it immensely as a not-very-realistic spoof.
January 24, 2026
Very interesting premise but sadly this was both way too much and not enough for me to really like. It was way too much in the sense that there is a lot (and I mean a lot) of “telling” rather than showing which really interrupted the comedy and action. The main character essentially thinks in pop culture references and while one or two are cute, the many on the nose overly explained (some are like several paragraphs) references just took the wind out of reading.
And it’s not enough, because I was kind of left thinking this didn’t use it’s fun premise enough because it really just focused on a group of annoying white cis gays and really only showed off one aspect of queer culture but was sort of speaking as if the Tuxedo Society represented it all. There’s one scene where they overhear people being like omg that group is too much and I was thinking I sort of agree… That and much of the plot felt repetitive and deus (or gayus here?) ex machina. The jokes and comedic bits also just didn’t land for me so they left something to be desired as well.
Really wanted to like this as it seemed really up my alley as a mashup of queer culture and Mission Impossible but this did not hit for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early ARC in exchange for an honest review.
And it’s not enough, because I was kind of left thinking this didn’t use it’s fun premise enough because it really just focused on a group of annoying white cis gays and really only showed off one aspect of queer culture but was sort of speaking as if the Tuxedo Society represented it all. There’s one scene where they overhear people being like omg that group is too much and I was thinking I sort of agree… That and much of the plot felt repetitive and deus (or gayus here?) ex machina. The jokes and comedic bits also just didn’t land for me so they left something to be desired as well.
Really wanted to like this as it seemed really up my alley as a mashup of queer culture and Mission Impossible but this did not hit for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. A hilarious adventure! Andrew Birnbaum is a struggling actor who has to make ends meet by working in a candle shop. Then he gets invited to a meeting with the Tuxedo Society. At first he views this as an opportunity to schmooze and gossip with a bunch of wealthy socialites but boy is he in for a rude awakening! It turns out the Tuxedo Society is all about espionage and danger. Andrew is soon invited to join a mission to protect national security, he’ll find himself fighting spies, thwarting assassins, a facing a whole lot of threats. Things get more difficult when they set off to find the truth about an ancient artifact but they’ll face enemies along the way all determined to stop them. Can the find what they’re looking for or are they putting themselves in harms way? A fun read that was quick, silly, and cute! Packed with hilarity and adventure! Paul Rudnick takes the spy thriller and mixes in a modern queer take that is thrilling and exciting!
December 30, 2025
The Tuxedo Society is an outrageously entertaining new addition to LGBTQ+ literature in the form of a story of espionage, comedy, and queer culture all mixed into one. The story follows Andrew, a man who is drawn into a secret gay society that undertakes difficult and dangerous secret missions, led by the handsome and fearless Reggie. Together the team searches the globe for mysterious artifacts and attempts to thwart evil (and closeted) villains.
I had a blast reading this book. The characters were enjoyable, the dialogue was hilarious, and the story was fun and heartfelt. The author inserts hysterical references that had me laughing out loud at times. This is the kind of story and world-building that could definitely spawn a sequel.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
I had a blast reading this book. The characters were enjoyable, the dialogue was hilarious, and the story was fun and heartfelt. The author inserts hysterical references that had me laughing out loud at times. This is the kind of story and world-building that could definitely spawn a sequel.
My thanks to the publisher for sending me an Advance Reader Copy of this book. It was provided to me through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Everything stated in my review is my own opinion written in my own words.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC for review. To be published May 26, 2026.
3 stars
Readers, Paul Rudnick will always be tops with me and I’ll tell you why, three words, one hyphen: Libby Gelman Waxner. Her columns in a now defunct film magazine (the name escapes me) were gold , absolute pure, real gold, and “her” book, IF YOU ASK ME….well, darling, it’s truly magical. She makes an appearance in this book in a slightly different and, if I’m being honest, less fabulous form, but just seeing her again after the joy she’s brought me….*chef’s kiss*
Besides that, though, this is a somewhat clever conceit surrounded by just OK story, a gay band of government operatives on a mission. It’s cute at times, incredibly stereotypical at times, super silly at times. If it does well, there’s definite series potential here, and I would love to see that for Rudnick.
3 stars
Readers, Paul Rudnick will always be tops with me and I’ll tell you why, three words, one hyphen: Libby Gelman Waxner. Her columns in a now defunct film magazine (the name escapes me) were gold , absolute pure, real gold, and “her” book, IF YOU ASK ME….well, darling, it’s truly magical. She makes an appearance in this book in a slightly different and, if I’m being honest, less fabulous form, but just seeing her again after the joy she’s brought me….*chef’s kiss*
Besides that, though, this is a somewhat clever conceit surrounded by just OK story, a gay band of government operatives on a mission. It’s cute at times, incredibly stereotypical at times, super silly at times. If it does well, there’s definite series potential here, and I would love to see that for Rudnick.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Struggling actor Andrew is pulled from his day job at a candle shop into a glamorous secret society, known as The Tuxedo Society, that’s actually a secret spy organization to help protect the nation. Recruited by Reggie, a tuxedo-loving Navy SEAL, Andrew is swept into a global adventure filled with high-tech gadgets, powerful enemies, and crazy danger. As missions escalate from social intrigue to saving the world, Andrew discovers unexpected courage and the best role of his career.
This was a quick read due to how fun and crazy it was; there is laughter and hijinks, and it's always fun to take a wild adventure around the globe. I can see this character and this world spinning this book into a few more, and I'd happily read them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a quick read due to how fun and crazy it was; there is laughter and hijinks, and it's always fun to take a wild adventure around the globe. I can see this character and this world spinning this book into a few more, and I'd happily read them.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Special thanks to Atria Books and Netgalley for the digital ARC (advance reader copy) of The Tuxedo Society. I adore Paul Rudnick. His books always make me so happy. The Tuxedo Society not only did that but introduced Rudnick's wit and charm to yet another genre - the thriller. The sexy, tuxedoed international secret society of Americans tasked with protecting others and the world thriller. With his own personal touch, Rudnick makes all of us queer folk proud to be a part of the world. I can already see the adaptation in my head. But for now, I say run to get this from your library or bookstore on May 26, 2026. Because no matter what, the books are always better. So much fun.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This novel is laugh-out-loud funny as it details The Tuxedo Society, a group of gay men, the president and First Lady, and exclusive jewels. The plot is convoluted and hilarious as we witness the gentlemen of the Society flirt, seduce, and just generally cause mayhem. It's one of those books that had me snickering all the way through!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
SO MUCH FUN!!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Simon & Shuster and NetGalley for the ARC.
A totally outlandish, impossible storyline - exactly what you want in a spy novel.
A totally outlandish, impossible storyline - exactly what you want in a spy novel.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
DNF at 50% - more thorough review will be added in future
For now: did not find funny, did not like focus on primarily cis, white, gay men or how the lesbians in the Tuxedo Society had barely any meaningful presence and overall lack of other queer identities being represented ; kind of stopped liking at 25% but kept reading in hopes would start to like it more
Others may enjoy this type of comedy and caricatures of political figures even if I didn’t — primary focus character is a little annoying but overall likable
For now: did not find funny, did not like focus on primarily cis, white, gay men or how the lesbians in the Tuxedo Society had barely any meaningful presence and overall lack of other queer identities being represented ; kind of stopped liking at 25% but kept reading in hopes would start to like it more
Others may enjoy this type of comedy and caricatures of political figures even if I didn’t — primary focus character is a little annoying but overall likable
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews