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The Tuxedo Society
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
Published May 26, 2026
About the author
Paul Rudnick
13 books333 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 - 30 of 351 reviews
June 7, 2026
I wish more authors would stop writing books as though they were writing a movie screenplay. It's a thing I've been noticing a lot recently and it's so infuriating. That aside, this was overwhelmingly centred around cis white queer culture, and the fact that our narrator has to say/reference pop culture moments every 4 lines does not help reading this be less obnoxious. I hate to dnf books but it is pride month and there's more I could be enjoying reading than this.
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.
July 24, 2026
Woooeee! a devilishly fun rollercoaster ride of globe-hopping spies and over-the-top villains, The Tuxedo Society was an unapologetically gay, campy read of laugh-out-loud-funny humor that was filled to the brim with heart, snark, and wit. From the quirky characters and ridiculous disguises to the creative gadgets and escalating stakes, it was everything I love in a palate cleansing read. You see, while I had to suspend all disbelief pretty much by page two, this lighthearted spy thriller also came with a decent dose of social commentary and political satire. A bizarre yet delectable combo of James Bond and The Guncle, I easily sped through this razor-sharp novel in one single sitting. After all, the lightning-fast pace, high-energy plot, and action-slash-comedy vibe came together into a Get Smart-esque read that I couldn’t put down despite the late hour.
I do have to say, though, that, before diving into this hilarious novel, you need to put all of your seriousness on the back burner. Deliciously unhinged and fun in an absurd, goofy way, the tongue-in-cheek humor and fast-paced adventures worked themselves into a fever pitch of stomach-holding laughs that made my family look at me as if I was going mad. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of underlying themes that took a hard look at society. Exploring identity, friendship, and belonging, the found-family dynamics had my heart in an instant. In spite of this, though, you need to go into this book expecting a fun, flamboyant good time and not a straitlaced spy thriller. After all, this spoof on espionage thrills had me crossing my fingers and toes for a film or TV series in my immediate future. Or at the very least maybe a sequel??? Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you love:
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Fun, campy reads
- Action-meets-comedy vibes
- Over-the-top villains
- Laugh-out-loud-funny humor
- Social commentary
- Lightning-fast pacing
- A found-family feel
- Unapologetically gay characters
- Pop culture laughs
- Globe-trotting missions
- A lovable underdog
- Deliciously unhinged storylines
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you Paul Rudnick and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 26, 2026
Content warning: gun violence, homophobia, suicidal ideation, violence, kidnapping, outing, sexual content, drug use
I do have to say, though, that, before diving into this hilarious novel, you need to put all of your seriousness on the back burner. Deliciously unhinged and fun in an absurd, goofy way, the tongue-in-cheek humor and fast-paced adventures worked themselves into a fever pitch of stomach-holding laughs that made my family look at me as if I was going mad. Don’t get me wrong, there were plenty of underlying themes that took a hard look at society. Exploring identity, friendship, and belonging, the found-family dynamics had my heart in an instant. In spite of this, though, you need to go into this book expecting a fun, flamboyant good time and not a straitlaced spy thriller. After all, this spoof on espionage thrills had me crossing my fingers and toes for a film or TV series in my immediate future. Or at the very least maybe a sequel??? Rating of 4.5 stars.
Read if you love:
- LGBTQ+ representation
- Fun, campy reads
- Action-meets-comedy vibes
- Over-the-top villains
- Laugh-out-loud-funny humor
- Social commentary
- Lightning-fast pacing
- A found-family feel
- Unapologetically gay characters
- Pop culture laughs
- Globe-trotting missions
- A lovable underdog
- Deliciously unhinged storylines
SYNOPSIS:
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.
Thank you Paul Rudnick and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: May 26, 2026
Content warning: gun violence, homophobia, suicidal ideation, violence, kidnapping, outing, sexual content, drug use
Read
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.
Did Not Finish
June 19, 2026dnf at 47%
review
ohhh god. i really hate dnf-ing. in fact, this is my first dnf of the year, and it’s mid june.
but this book was just bad. i couldn’t convince myself to keep going.
i don’t know exactly what made it so bad- it’s more like a combination of boring, boring things.
the plot… um. it was kind of everywhere, but not in a good way. at first, i didn’t even get it- it’s fast-paced in a way that feels like there’s no pace at all.
then… it started to feel like some sort of tintin comic, or maybe a mission impossible thing, expect bad. like, really bad.
“oh no, there’s these three jewels with super real powers! we must, as the unqualified randos we are, get them back.”
please. the plot is such a terrible knockoff.
originally, i wanted to read this for two reasons:
1. it’s pride month and this is gay, so yay
2. the cover looks really cool
for point number one:
the main character was indeed gay. he was also bland. he had the personality of a cardboard. i hated him.
the rest of the characters were also mostly gay. they were also incredibly, incredibly boring.
for point number two:
i mean, the cool cover is the only redeeming quality this book has.
i might come back and add more things i disliked because im a hater (jk)
honestly i just want to save my time for better pride books. i love reading gay stuff and supporting gay authors, but this was not it.
anyways happy reading!
review
ohhh god. i really hate dnf-ing. in fact, this is my first dnf of the year, and it’s mid june.
but this book was just bad. i couldn’t convince myself to keep going.
i don’t know exactly what made it so bad- it’s more like a combination of boring, boring things.
the plot… um. it was kind of everywhere, but not in a good way. at first, i didn’t even get it- it’s fast-paced in a way that feels like there’s no pace at all.
then… it started to feel like some sort of tintin comic, or maybe a mission impossible thing, expect bad. like, really bad.
“oh no, there’s these three jewels with super real powers! we must, as the unqualified randos we are, get them back.”
please. the plot is such a terrible knockoff.
originally, i wanted to read this for two reasons:
1. it’s pride month and this is gay, so yay
2. the cover looks really cool
for point number one:
the main character was indeed gay. he was also bland. he had the personality of a cardboard. i hated him.
the rest of the characters were also mostly gay. they were also incredibly, incredibly boring.
for point number two:
i mean, the cool cover is the only redeeming quality this book has.
i might come back and add more things i disliked because im a hater (jk)
honestly i just want to save my time for better pride books. i love reading gay stuff and supporting gay authors, but this was not it.
anyways happy reading!
June 3, 2026
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 from me! This book really wanted to be a movie, and I think it would've worked better on screen. It has a very John Wick quality; you jump from location to location with time ellipses and action scenes and things are constantly happening, and then you end up completely disoriented; like what are we doing, what's happening? How did we even get here? It's all very overwhelming while also feeling like empty calories, turn-your-brain-off kind of entertainment. (Can you tell I don't actually like John Wick movies? woops)
At its core is a very hopeful story, full of heart and American patriotism. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling particularly charitable toward the general concept of America these days, so I had trouble getting into it. This is more a me-problem than anything, but this was definitely the worst possible time for me to be reading a "queer heroes saving American politics while cracking jokes" book. I don't want to sniff the Hopium the author is on, I'm not exactly feeling optimistic these days. So if anything, an adventure to save the (fictional, thankfully) Super Uber Cool First Lady of the United States had me more like,
All of this to say, I found the book hard to follow, and what I did get from it didn't appeal to me. I missed what I loved about the author's previous book, What Is Wrong With You? . It was cynical, a bit mean-spirited, but very poignant. This felt more like a parody of the author's voice to me.
That said, this book isn't amateurish, it has its brilliant moments. It's undeniably entertaining and has breakneck pacing. The author knows his readership and his humor is sure to land for many. If you're someone who gets bored easily while reading, this could absolutely be for you. It just missed for me because my heart wasn't in it. Of course, YMMV! I'd be happy to read whatever Paul Rudnick comes up with next.
3.5 from me! This book really wanted to be a movie, and I think it would've worked better on screen. It has a very John Wick quality; you jump from location to location with time ellipses and action scenes and things are constantly happening, and then you end up completely disoriented; like what are we doing, what's happening? How did we even get here? It's all very overwhelming while also feeling like empty calories, turn-your-brain-off kind of entertainment. (Can you tell I don't actually like John Wick movies? woops)
At its core is a very hopeful story, full of heart and American patriotism. Unfortunately, I'm not feeling particularly charitable toward the general concept of America these days, so I had trouble getting into it. This is more a me-problem than anything, but this was definitely the worst possible time for me to be reading a "queer heroes saving American politics while cracking jokes" book. I don't want to sniff the Hopium the author is on, I'm not exactly feeling optimistic these days. So if anything, an adventure to save the (fictional, thankfully) Super Uber Cool First Lady of the United States had me more like,
All of this to say, I found the book hard to follow, and what I did get from it didn't appeal to me. I missed what I loved about the author's previous book, What Is Wrong With You? . It was cynical, a bit mean-spirited, but very poignant. This felt more like a parody of the author's voice to me.
That said, this book isn't amateurish, it has its brilliant moments. It's undeniably entertaining and has breakneck pacing. The author knows his readership and his humor is sure to land for many. If you're someone who gets bored easily while reading, this could absolutely be for you. It just missed for me because my heart wasn't in it. Of course, YMMV! I'd be happy to read whatever Paul Rudnick comes up with next.
June 30, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5 stars)
James Bond meets The Guncle—pure, campy fun!
This book is an absolute riot. Paul Rudnick delivers a hilariously chaotic, campy spy thriller that feels like a classic Hollywood caper re-imagined with maximum wit and style.
What I loved:
* The Premise: An elite, all-queer, top-secret counterespionage unit protecting American democracy? Sign me up.
* The Humor: From yoga mats that double as assault rifles to weaponized AMEX Black Cards, the absurd spy gadgetry and rapid-fire one-liners had me laughing out loud.
* The Heart: Beneath the global jet-setting and theatrical set pieces, the "chosen family" dynamic at the core of the Tuxedo Society gives the story a genuinely sweet undercurrent.
Why it’s a 4-star instead of a 5:
The pacing is so dizzyingly fast and the plot is so intentionally ridiculous that you have to completely suspend your disbelief. It prioritizes dazzling vibes and humor over deep, gritty realism—but as a fun, breezy satirical romp, it completely succeeds.
Highly recommended if you want a fast, funny summer read with a lot of bite!
James Bond meets The Guncle—pure, campy fun!
This book is an absolute riot. Paul Rudnick delivers a hilariously chaotic, campy spy thriller that feels like a classic Hollywood caper re-imagined with maximum wit and style.
What I loved:
* The Premise: An elite, all-queer, top-secret counterespionage unit protecting American democracy? Sign me up.
* The Humor: From yoga mats that double as assault rifles to weaponized AMEX Black Cards, the absurd spy gadgetry and rapid-fire one-liners had me laughing out loud.
* The Heart: Beneath the global jet-setting and theatrical set pieces, the "chosen family" dynamic at the core of the Tuxedo Society gives the story a genuinely sweet undercurrent.
Why it’s a 4-star instead of a 5:
The pacing is so dizzyingly fast and the plot is so intentionally ridiculous that you have to completely suspend your disbelief. It prioritizes dazzling vibes and humor over deep, gritty realism—but as a fun, breezy satirical romp, it completely succeeds.
Highly recommended if you want a fast, funny summer read with a lot of bite!
June 22, 2026
A stupid and campy gay action novel - what’s not to love?! I highly recommend the audiobook because the narrator is fantastic. If you’re a fan of Benjamin Stevenson’s ‘Ernest Cunningham’ novels then you’ll love this.
So many references that had me laughing out loud. I really had fun with this one. I hope the author writes 20 more!
So many references that had me laughing out loud. I really had fun with this one. I hope the author writes 20 more!
June 21, 2026
Thank you to publishers and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Be gay. Do keep the Diadem of Apollo out of the wrong hands. Save the world. Although I did enjoy reading about Andrew and his ridiculous escapades to save the world, the book was just chockfull of pop culture references that I didn’t care about and white gay humor that fell flat for me. Even though the book was unrealistic, I did enjoy the story and I liked that every chapter was a new location and new situation for Andrew to navigate as a new Tux member. I didn’t feel an attachment to any of the characters but I liked how everyone worked well together and that everyone had their own reason for joining the Society.
Regardless of the issues I had with the book, I did enjoy this campy, gay spy book and ate up the second half of the book. I will say Jenn stole the show for me and I love how over the top and dramatic she is. I liked the ending and I’m happy that Reggie and Chet were able to get revenge and that Andrew was able to prove himself as a Tux!
This was not the book for me but I’m sure other readers out there will appreciate the humor and characters.
Be gay. Do keep the Diadem of Apollo out of the wrong hands. Save the world. Although I did enjoy reading about Andrew and his ridiculous escapades to save the world, the book was just chockfull of pop culture references that I didn’t care about and white gay humor that fell flat for me. Even though the book was unrealistic, I did enjoy the story and I liked that every chapter was a new location and new situation for Andrew to navigate as a new Tux member. I didn’t feel an attachment to any of the characters but I liked how everyone worked well together and that everyone had their own reason for joining the Society.
Regardless of the issues I had with the book, I did enjoy this campy, gay spy book and ate up the second half of the book. I will say Jenn stole the show for me and I love how over the top and dramatic she is. I liked the ending and I’m happy that Reggie and Chet were able to get revenge and that Andrew was able to prove himself as a Tux!
This was not the book for me but I’m sure other readers out there will appreciate the humor and characters.
June 17, 2026
Me lo sono divorata in 3 giorni, non riuscivo a staccarmene, è completamente fuori di testa, NON HA SENSO NIENTE ma lo adoro. È Kingsman ma ghei. Seriamente, ha lo stesso tipo di humor e di nonsense. Me lo meritavo un libro così, ne voglio altri 250 sulla Tuxedo Society, NON SCHERZO!
May 10, 2026
The tuxedo Society by Paul Rudnick, in this book we meet down and out actor and candle seller Andrew who has been invited to a dinner at a pretty fancy restaurant by his best friend Ralph Lauren salesman Brock. this dinner will be Andrew‘s introduction into the tuxedo Society, a group of LGBT plus members who are like the FBI they’re gay and they dress better. Andrew is from a family a professionals his parents or teachers his cousins and siblings are mostly doctors and definitely feels like a failure. This job will not only change the way he lives but the way he feels about himself… That’s if he lives through it all! I want to say books like this a written for people like myself I can eat these books up and still be left wanting more this book was so much fun I especially thought Jen and her fiancé at first were just hoe-hum but then they became fabulous I mean really… Are you serious? That was just so good especially when they were about to be married I don’t want to give anything away but just know if you think you’ve seen shallow people you haven’t seen anything yet! OMG worst thing ever. I also thought when Andrew was at the Olympics was hilarious as well there’s so many parts of this book that just thinking of them makes me laugh out loud I loved it and really hope there’s more to come from the tuxedo Society because OMG I loved it! Did I say that already? I could absolutely see this being a movie not that I watch movies but I could see that seeing it would probably be even more funny than reading it in a book and trust me I thought this book was fabulous. Hope to see Andrew again. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,
February 21, 2026
Arc. Thank you Atria books for a gifted NetGalley widget to this title in return for my honest opinion!
This book was cute! I had fun with Andrew and the rest of the Tuxes. I even had some LOL moments! There were SO many queer references, queer representation, and campy gay drama in this book that it just feels like a warm hug from a gay elder. This is the perfect book for someone who has been in a reading slump and just needs something silly and campy to entertain you!! There were times when I was reading that that author should put away the thesaurus but other than that this is nothing but a cute campy gay little spy book. I hope to see more from this universe and especially given the ending!
This book was cute! I had fun with Andrew and the rest of the Tuxes. I even had some LOL moments! There were SO many queer references, queer representation, and campy gay drama in this book that it just feels like a warm hug from a gay elder. This is the perfect book for someone who has been in a reading slump and just needs something silly and campy to entertain you!! There were times when I was reading that that author should put away the thesaurus but other than that this is nothing but a cute campy gay little spy book. I hope to see more from this universe and especially given the ending!
July 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This sounded like such a fun story that I couldn’t resist. Espionage and social commentary combined with humor and a secret society of gay men? Color me intrigued, and I was so excited to get to this one. Since I was late in reading this, I listened to part of it as an audiobook, which was immensely amusing.
It was so easy to like Andrew, the main character. He’s 25, an aspiring actor, and he pays the bills by working at a candle shop. So when his friend Brock invites him to dinner with the illustrious Tuxedo Society, he can’t wait to see what it is all about. And what is it all about? Apparently it’s about gay men wearing tuxedos and having a hidden agenda, which was a good start. But once he gets recruited, he sees what lies underneath the gossipy socialite facade.
Before long, Andrew finds himself on a mission. Things move at a pretty fast pace from there, and it reads like a cozy mystery combined with LGBTQ+ politics, which was a great mashup. It includes some elements of magical realism, which felt a bit over the top and took a little away from a story that was already over the top. Clearly, this didn’t impact my enjoyment or my rating for the story.
This isn’t a perfect book, although it came close enough for me to become my first five star read of July. It takes a lot for a book to do more than make me chuckle, and this one accomplished that easily—it had me cracking up and it made me laugh so hard at times that I woke my dogs up. The story itself is more than a little over the top, but it was still a really enjoyable read. I love when humor is incorporated and there are not only some ridiculous situations the MC finds himself in, Andrew and Reggie especially were hilarious.
Reggie becomes sort of a mentor to Andrew, but he’s more than a little rough around the edges, with a sweet, kind heart. He’s another funny character, and the interactions between Andrew and Reggie were one of my favorite parts of the book. The side characters are a little flat and we don’t really ever get to know too much about them, while the major players in the book (mostly Andrew and Reggie) are much more well-rounded. I would have liked to see a little more depth from the side characters, but I’m also hoping that this is the start to a series, so if there is another book we might get to know the side characters better. Even so, I absolutely loved the cast of characters.
The pacing is consistently fast. I found myself having to go back and restart because I’ve been reading some really slow books and this is fast enough that I really had to focus while reading. Genre-wise, the fast pace felt natural, although at times, I had to reread a scene just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. It did feel a little chaotic at the end, but the story was such a good one that it didn’t make a big impact.
I love the idea of a society of spies that are exclusively gay, and it leads to a lot of campy humor. The spy gadgets were really fun to hear about—a yoga mat that doubles as a rifle, exploding power bars, and a black Amex card with some special privileges, and it really brought home the Bond-esque feel of the story while maintaining the wonderfully over the top-ness that separates this from any other mystery or spy novel I’ve read. Even the villains were unique and fascinating, and they were well-developed characters. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know how much I love the found family trope, and it’s done beautifully in this novel. The Tuxedo Society becomes a found family group pretty quickly, and I was absolutely here for it.
Overall, this was such a fun and funny book. The characters find themselves going from Manhattan to Long Island to Vatican City and beyond, and while it didn’t exactly feel realistic, it was an engrossing read and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, making me seriously wish for a sequel! The diverse cast of characters incorporates some gay stereotypes, but as someone who grew up on Long Island, Andrew’s character just screamed ‘typical Long Island gay man,’ and I was thrilled to see that I wasn’t wrong. Also, the author’s familiarity with Long Island is easy to see since I was able to identify with quite a few of the places and characters, making the story feel a little like home for me. While there are some aspects I didn’t love, such as the super-fast pacing, the flat side characters, and the inclusion of magical realism on top of everything, there was enough that I liked that it was easy to overlook the other things. The found family feel among the Tuxedo Society and their allies was comfortable and easy, and it kept me eagerly reading on. Rudnick is a new-to-me author, but not for long, because I’ll be checking out more of his work while keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel to this.
Bottom line: A unique, hilarious take on a society made up of gay men engaging in espionage, with some heartwarming moments, a found family dynamic, and a breakneck pace, this has become my favorite recent read.
This sounded like such a fun story that I couldn’t resist. Espionage and social commentary combined with humor and a secret society of gay men? Color me intrigued, and I was so excited to get to this one. Since I was late in reading this, I listened to part of it as an audiobook, which was immensely amusing.
It was so easy to like Andrew, the main character. He’s 25, an aspiring actor, and he pays the bills by working at a candle shop. So when his friend Brock invites him to dinner with the illustrious Tuxedo Society, he can’t wait to see what it is all about. And what is it all about? Apparently it’s about gay men wearing tuxedos and having a hidden agenda, which was a good start. But once he gets recruited, he sees what lies underneath the gossipy socialite facade.
Before long, Andrew finds himself on a mission. Things move at a pretty fast pace from there, and it reads like a cozy mystery combined with LGBTQ+ politics, which was a great mashup. It includes some elements of magical realism, which felt a bit over the top and took a little away from a story that was already over the top. Clearly, this didn’t impact my enjoyment or my rating for the story.
This isn’t a perfect book, although it came close enough for me to become my first five star read of July. It takes a lot for a book to do more than make me chuckle, and this one accomplished that easily—it had me cracking up and it made me laugh so hard at times that I woke my dogs up. The story itself is more than a little over the top, but it was still a really enjoyable read. I love when humor is incorporated and there are not only some ridiculous situations the MC finds himself in, Andrew and Reggie especially were hilarious.
Reggie becomes sort of a mentor to Andrew, but he’s more than a little rough around the edges, with a sweet, kind heart. He’s another funny character, and the interactions between Andrew and Reggie were one of my favorite parts of the book. The side characters are a little flat and we don’t really ever get to know too much about them, while the major players in the book (mostly Andrew and Reggie) are much more well-rounded. I would have liked to see a little more depth from the side characters, but I’m also hoping that this is the start to a series, so if there is another book we might get to know the side characters better. Even so, I absolutely loved the cast of characters.
The pacing is consistently fast. I found myself having to go back and restart because I’ve been reading some really slow books and this is fast enough that I really had to focus while reading. Genre-wise, the fast pace felt natural, although at times, I had to reread a scene just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. It did feel a little chaotic at the end, but the story was such a good one that it didn’t make a big impact.
I love the idea of a society of spies that are exclusively gay, and it leads to a lot of campy humor. The spy gadgets were really fun to hear about—a yoga mat that doubles as a rifle, exploding power bars, and a black Amex card with some special privileges, and it really brought home the Bond-esque feel of the story while maintaining the wonderfully over the top-ness that separates this from any other mystery or spy novel I’ve read. Even the villains were unique and fascinating, and they were well-developed characters. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know how much I love the found family trope, and it’s done beautifully in this novel. The Tuxedo Society becomes a found family group pretty quickly, and I was absolutely here for it.
Overall, this was such a fun and funny book. The characters find themselves going from Manhattan to Long Island to Vatican City and beyond, and while it didn’t exactly feel realistic, it was an engrossing read and I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next, making me seriously wish for a sequel! The diverse cast of characters incorporates some gay stereotypes, but as someone who grew up on Long Island, Andrew’s character just screamed ‘typical Long Island gay man,’ and I was thrilled to see that I wasn’t wrong. Also, the author’s familiarity with Long Island is easy to see since I was able to identify with quite a few of the places and characters, making the story feel a little like home for me. While there are some aspects I didn’t love, such as the super-fast pacing, the flat side characters, and the inclusion of magical realism on top of everything, there was enough that I liked that it was easy to overlook the other things. The found family feel among the Tuxedo Society and their allies was comfortable and easy, and it kept me eagerly reading on. Rudnick is a new-to-me author, but not for long, because I’ll be checking out more of his work while keeping my fingers crossed for a sequel to this.
Bottom line: A unique, hilarious take on a society made up of gay men engaging in espionage, with some heartwarming moments, a found family dynamic, and a breakneck pace, this has become my favorite recent read.
May 27, 2026
Thank you to Atria Books and Paul Rudnick for the gifted earc in exchange for my review. All opinions that follow are always honest and my own!
Spy thriller with a gay secret society? Well this is definitely not something I normally read (besides the gayness lol) but it certainly caught my eye and so I figured, why not?
The Tuxedo Society is an elite group that helps take down criminals anywhere from jewelry thieves to suicide bombers all while serving the best looks. Andrew is unexpectedly involved in their most recent mission thanks to his friend Brock. Andrew is most definitely not prepared for what comes next but soon he may discover a whole new side of himself. Who knew saving the world would be his true calling?
To say this book was a wild ride from start to finish would be an understatement. Whether it was the pages of crazy action that seemed so fake it had to be real to the paragraphs of musical and pop culture references that made my head spin, it was hard to keep up with everything that was going on. Was it witty and hilarious enough to make me laugh at loud? Sure. Was it a little too far fetched to the point I lost interest in the main story until it was solved? Mmmm yeah a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, these characters were all a hoot and I love some good pop culture references I jsut think we could’ve done with a little less…and a lot more back story. Overall, I’m glad I took the chance and who knows, maybe I’ll go pick up another one of Rudnicks books to see if I can latch onto it any better.
Spy thriller with a gay secret society? Well this is definitely not something I normally read (besides the gayness lol) but it certainly caught my eye and so I figured, why not?
The Tuxedo Society is an elite group that helps take down criminals anywhere from jewelry thieves to suicide bombers all while serving the best looks. Andrew is unexpectedly involved in their most recent mission thanks to his friend Brock. Andrew is most definitely not prepared for what comes next but soon he may discover a whole new side of himself. Who knew saving the world would be his true calling?
To say this book was a wild ride from start to finish would be an understatement. Whether it was the pages of crazy action that seemed so fake it had to be real to the paragraphs of musical and pop culture references that made my head spin, it was hard to keep up with everything that was going on. Was it witty and hilarious enough to make me laugh at loud? Sure. Was it a little too far fetched to the point I lost interest in the main story until it was solved? Mmmm yeah a bit.
Don’t get me wrong, these characters were all a hoot and I love some good pop culture references I jsut think we could’ve done with a little less…and a lot more back story. Overall, I’m glad I took the chance and who knows, maybe I’ll go pick up another one of Rudnicks books to see if I can latch onto it any better.
May 26, 2026
Be gay. Do espionage. Save the world.
A down-on-his-luck actor thinks he’s going to a fancy dinner. He’s actually being recruited into America’s most fabulous covert operation.
The Tuxedo Society by Paul Rudnick is the most fun I’ve had with an audiobook in a long time, and I need everyone to know about it.
Andrew, a struggling actor and candle shop employee, is invited by his best friend Brock to what he assumes is just a really nice dinner with a group of very gay, very stylish guys. What it actually is? An introduction to the Tuxedo Society: a secret government intelligence network made up entirely of LGBTQ+ members. Licensed to kill. Impeccably dressed.
From the White House to the Vatican to the Summer Olympic Games, Andrew ends up tackling spies, thwarting assassinations, and facing off against oligarchs, crooked senators, and a smarmy televangelist with sinister plans for world domination. Oh, and at one point he has to pose as a US Olympic diver and actually dive in competition. It’s exactly as chaotic and hilarious as it sounds.
This book is completely over the top, and it knows it. That’s the whole point. The characters are all wildly likable: Andrew, Brock, Reggie the Navy SEAL with a black-tie obsession, and a First Lady who also happens to be a world-leading archaeologist. The pace never lets up. The wit is sharp. The social commentary sneaks up on you in the middle of all the absurdity.
Narrator Daniel Henning is pitch-perfect. There are a lot of characters to track and I never lost a single one. That’s not easy to pull off.
If you’ve been looking for a summer read that’s pure, unapologetic fun, this is it.
Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted early listen.
A down-on-his-luck actor thinks he’s going to a fancy dinner. He’s actually being recruited into America’s most fabulous covert operation.
The Tuxedo Society by Paul Rudnick is the most fun I’ve had with an audiobook in a long time, and I need everyone to know about it.
Andrew, a struggling actor and candle shop employee, is invited by his best friend Brock to what he assumes is just a really nice dinner with a group of very gay, very stylish guys. What it actually is? An introduction to the Tuxedo Society: a secret government intelligence network made up entirely of LGBTQ+ members. Licensed to kill. Impeccably dressed.
From the White House to the Vatican to the Summer Olympic Games, Andrew ends up tackling spies, thwarting assassinations, and facing off against oligarchs, crooked senators, and a smarmy televangelist with sinister plans for world domination. Oh, and at one point he has to pose as a US Olympic diver and actually dive in competition. It’s exactly as chaotic and hilarious as it sounds.
This book is completely over the top, and it knows it. That’s the whole point. The characters are all wildly likable: Andrew, Brock, Reggie the Navy SEAL with a black-tie obsession, and a First Lady who also happens to be a world-leading archaeologist. The pace never lets up. The wit is sharp. The social commentary sneaks up on you in the middle of all the absurdity.
Narrator Daniel Henning is pitch-perfect. There are a lot of characters to track and I never lost a single one. That’s not easy to pull off.
If you’ve been looking for a summer read that’s pure, unapologetic fun, this is it.
Thank you to Simon Audio for the gifted early listen.
May 21, 2026
Close your eyes and imagine if James Bond and Monty Python had a love child. Really think about that. Now imagine that love child had the self awareness (none) of Agent Maxwell Smart and delivered one liners like Austin Powers. What you envision would be THE TUXEDO SOCIETY by Paul Rudnick.
The key to reading this comedic spy-fi thriller is to go in with the right expectations. This book knows exactly what it is and never pretends to be anything it is not. It is fun, cheeky, chaotic, absurd, and wildly ridiculous and, after a big of a slow start, I strapped in and enjoyed the ride even when I had no idea where it was taking me.
Andrew Birnbaum is an underemployed struggling actor who finds himself recruited into a group of secret elite LGBTQ+ espionage agents trying to save the world from evil oligarchs, corrupt politicians, and hypocritical televangelists—all while looking fashionably fabulous. The tree of social and political satire is ripe and Rudnick picks all the fruit. ALL. THE. FRUIT.
He leaves no stereotype untouched, wields quips and zingers like a sword, and places the characters (and readers) in the most outlandish settings from the Vatican to the Olympics with a few stops in iconic locations along the way.
This book will appeal to anyone looking for a fast paced, wholly unhinged, impossibly wild good time. If it is not adapted for the screen I will be sadly disappointed. Grab a friend or two and laugh your way through this romp on the wild side.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the gifted advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
The key to reading this comedic spy-fi thriller is to go in with the right expectations. This book knows exactly what it is and never pretends to be anything it is not. It is fun, cheeky, chaotic, absurd, and wildly ridiculous and, after a big of a slow start, I strapped in and enjoyed the ride even when I had no idea where it was taking me.
Andrew Birnbaum is an underemployed struggling actor who finds himself recruited into a group of secret elite LGBTQ+ espionage agents trying to save the world from evil oligarchs, corrupt politicians, and hypocritical televangelists—all while looking fashionably fabulous. The tree of social and political satire is ripe and Rudnick picks all the fruit. ALL. THE. FRUIT.
He leaves no stereotype untouched, wields quips and zingers like a sword, and places the characters (and readers) in the most outlandish settings from the Vatican to the Olympics with a few stops in iconic locations along the way.
This book will appeal to anyone looking for a fast paced, wholly unhinged, impossibly wild good time. If it is not adapted for the screen I will be sadly disappointed. Grab a friend or two and laugh your way through this romp on the wild side.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the gifted advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
June 21, 2026
Fun enough to look out for a sequel.
July 10, 2026
Thank you Atria Books, the author Paul Rudnik and Netgalley for free electronic copy of The Tuxedo Society. Reviews are mine.
Paul Rudnik is an author and screenplay writer and this shows clearly in The Tuxedo Society. The novel is full of action, a great accumulation of good ideas in a way that this accumulation makes sense and funny. Overall this is definitely a beach read but be careful, it gets exciting!
The Tuxedo Society is like watching a spy film with a lot of funny characters. I think it is more like spy society films rather than one man shows like James Bond and this makes the novel wittier. There are parts that feel cheesy, stereotypical and too much in the area of fantasy. Still, I was smiling when there was a fake dating! I still fall for these stuff 😄 Anyway, with its diversity, cosy family relations and fun, The Tuxedo Society will be a fun read for adults with a heart for spy films.
#reklam Tarafıma Netgalley tarafından 54 günlüğüne kitaba elektronik ortamda ücretsiz erişim hakkı tanınmıştır.
Paul Rudnik is an author and screenplay writer and this shows clearly in The Tuxedo Society. The novel is full of action, a great accumulation of good ideas in a way that this accumulation makes sense and funny. Overall this is definitely a beach read but be careful, it gets exciting!
The Tuxedo Society is like watching a spy film with a lot of funny characters. I think it is more like spy society films rather than one man shows like James Bond and this makes the novel wittier. There are parts that feel cheesy, stereotypical and too much in the area of fantasy. Still, I was smiling when there was a fake dating! I still fall for these stuff 😄 Anyway, with its diversity, cosy family relations and fun, The Tuxedo Society will be a fun read for adults with a heart for spy films.
#reklam Tarafıma Netgalley tarafından 54 günlüğüne kitaba elektronik ortamda ücretsiz erişim hakkı tanınmıştır.
July 8, 2026
2.5 stars. i had an incredibly difficult time getting into this book. its cast of characters consists of a group of white middle-aged men who’s only defining characteristic is that… they’re gay? after 24 chapters i still couldn’t really tell who was who and had been bombarded by more pop culture references than i thought possible. if this book wasn’t written by a gay man i would have assumed it was some sort of homophobic commentary on what a straight person thinks gay people are like.
June 2, 2026
Delightfully campy spin on spy novels and the regular gay guy plucked from obscurity and into great adventure genre/trope. It was such a fun spin on something familiar but new. Great for anyone who loves movies and theater and the world of fabulous LGBTQ+ characters. Yes, it’s over the top but it’s a great little jaunt to pick up your spirits.
I really enjoyed the audio book read by the same narrator of TJ Klune’s “House in the Cerulean Sea”, Daniel Henning. Just like in those books, he adds such a special touch to each character that makes the whole experience a joy to listen to! I hope it becomes a series that would make his aunt Libby proud! At least a romantic sequel… pretty please.
I really enjoyed the audio book read by the same narrator of TJ Klune’s “House in the Cerulean Sea”, Daniel Henning. Just like in those books, he adds such a special touch to each character that makes the whole experience a joy to listen to! I hope it becomes a series that would make his aunt Libby proud! At least a romantic sequel… pretty please.
May 30, 2026
The Tuxedo Society is a campy, gay spy romp. It should have worked for me, but it didn't. I'm rating it 3 stars because this might just be a me problem, idk.
Andrew is a struggling actor in New York City who works at a candle store and seems to be the only member of his family who has nothing to brag about. One night, his friend Brock invites Andrew to dinner with his Tuxedo Society friends - a group of super hot gays who get together to drink and wear tuxedos. And then Andrew walks into the restaurant bathroom and quickly discovers that nope, actually this is a secret government organization of gay spies/assassins started by a Navy SEAL who was kicked out of the military during Don't Ask, Don't Tell. When the First Lady (archaeologist and gay icon) asks the Tuxedo Society to help track down a certain item, Andrew finds himself zipping around the world and then finds himself.
So. Ok. One thing that bugged me throughout the book was that Andrew never asked if the Tuxedo Society would pay him any money or provide any benefits? Which seems important if you're going to be fighting terrorists and possibly going to the hospital. Is this guy just rich? How can he afford to miss shifts from the candle store to travel to France? I got the feeling that this book would work better as a movie, which never shows the characters negotiating a paycheck or going to the doctor.
The characters all annoyed me. Andrew felt too much like a manic pixie dream boy for me, and the plot moved so fast that I don't think he sat down long enough for the big realizations or career thoughts that the plot required him to have. Andrew goes from being afraid of commitment and lacking a plan to... I guess confidence that he's in the Tuxedo Society? But there was a weird bit in the middle where
It's a romp. The characters are all very White Gays and the only two lesbians are both femmes and everything just felt like the inspiration was "Fire Island but with spies." Seeing as I am not a white gay, I don't think I'm the target audience. But hey, happy Pride.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.
Andrew is a struggling actor in New York City who works at a candle store and seems to be the only member of his family who has nothing to brag about. One night, his friend Brock invites Andrew to dinner with his Tuxedo Society friends - a group of super hot gays who get together to drink and wear tuxedos. And then Andrew walks into the restaurant bathroom and quickly discovers that nope, actually this is a secret government organization of gay spies/assassins started by a Navy SEAL who was kicked out of the military during Don't Ask, Don't Tell. When the First Lady (archaeologist and gay icon) asks the Tuxedo Society to help track down a certain item, Andrew finds himself zipping around the world and then finds himself.
So. Ok. One thing that bugged me throughout the book was that Andrew never asked if the Tuxedo Society would pay him any money or provide any benefits? Which seems important if you're going to be fighting terrorists and possibly going to the hospital. Is this guy just rich? How can he afford to miss shifts from the candle store to travel to France? I got the feeling that this book would work better as a movie, which never shows the characters negotiating a paycheck or going to the doctor.
The characters all annoyed me. Andrew felt too much like a manic pixie dream boy for me, and the plot moved so fast that I don't think he sat down long enough for the big realizations or career thoughts that the plot required him to have. Andrew goes from being afraid of commitment and lacking a plan to... I guess confidence that he's in the Tuxedo Society? But there was a weird bit in the middle where
It's a romp. The characters are all very White Gays and the only two lesbians are both femmes and everything just felt like the inspiration was "Fire Island but with spies." Seeing as I am not a white gay, I don't think I'm the target audience. But hey, happy Pride.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for the ARC.
June 5, 2026
Thank you @simonaudio and @atriabooks for the gifted audiobook!
Aspiring actor Andrew Birnbaum makes ends meet as a salesperson at a candle store. But all of that is about to change because he’s about to go to dinner with his best friend Brock where he is introduced to the Tuxedo Society - an elite government agency. They are talented patriots who travel the world on secret dangerous missions and they are all VERY, VERY gay. Soon, Andrew finds himself traversing the globe armed with Bond-like gadgets, a government-funded black AMEX, and a charmingly sarcastic group of spies who will stop at nothing to take down the bad guys and protect our country.
Oh good grief! This book is just a WILD RIDE from the very first page. If you love humor, adventure, and a whole lot of political commentary rolled together in your books, you’ll have to pick this one up. I simply cannot count the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this one. I’m really hopeful it is the start of a series, because these characters are all absolutely charming and I need more of them all.
🎧 On audio: Daniel Henning is an absolute GIFT in this performance. The way he brings this quirky ensemble to vivid life is an absolute master class. (9 hrs and 41 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Aspiring actor Andrew Birnbaum makes ends meet as a salesperson at a candle store. But all of that is about to change because he’s about to go to dinner with his best friend Brock where he is introduced to the Tuxedo Society - an elite government agency. They are talented patriots who travel the world on secret dangerous missions and they are all VERY, VERY gay. Soon, Andrew finds himself traversing the globe armed with Bond-like gadgets, a government-funded black AMEX, and a charmingly sarcastic group of spies who will stop at nothing to take down the bad guys and protect our country.
Oh good grief! This book is just a WILD RIDE from the very first page. If you love humor, adventure, and a whole lot of political commentary rolled together in your books, you’ll have to pick this one up. I simply cannot count the number of times I laughed out loud while reading this one. I’m really hopeful it is the start of a series, because these characters are all absolutely charming and I need more of them all.
🎧 On audio: Daniel Henning is an absolute GIFT in this performance. The way he brings this quirky ensemble to vivid life is an absolute master class. (9 hrs and 41 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
June 5, 2026
Rudnick delivers a witty, hilarious and irreverent take on the Spy Thriller genre.
When 25 year old wannabe actor and candle salesman Andrew is suddenly recruited into the elite all queer Tuxedo Society, an agency tasked with harrowing counter-espionage missions, his world is turned upside down.
What ensues is a whirlwind of chaos, danger, and hilarious hijinks across the globe from The Vatican to the Tokyo Summer Olympics. This is a riveting edge-of-your-seat thriller driven by humor, social commentary, and grounded by earnest characters and emotional backstories.
I adored Andrew and the Tuxedos and was absolutely hooked on the mystery they unraveled. Following him as he steps up, grows, falls in love (a few times), and eventually learns that maybe he’s destined for greater things than he ever imagined.
What you’ll get:
•Spy [Comedy]Thriller
•Elite Undercover LGBTQIA+ Agency
•Witty •Hilarious
•Social Commentary
•Saving the World
•Underdog Hero
•James Bond meets The Da Vinci Code but make it super gay and funny AF
When 25 year old wannabe actor and candle salesman Andrew is suddenly recruited into the elite all queer Tuxedo Society, an agency tasked with harrowing counter-espionage missions, his world is turned upside down.
What ensues is a whirlwind of chaos, danger, and hilarious hijinks across the globe from The Vatican to the Tokyo Summer Olympics. This is a riveting edge-of-your-seat thriller driven by humor, social commentary, and grounded by earnest characters and emotional backstories.
I adored Andrew and the Tuxedos and was absolutely hooked on the mystery they unraveled. Following him as he steps up, grows, falls in love (a few times), and eventually learns that maybe he’s destined for greater things than he ever imagined.
What you’ll get:
•Spy [Comedy]Thriller
•Elite Undercover LGBTQIA+ Agency
•Witty •Hilarious
•Social Commentary
•Saving the World
•Underdog Hero
•James Bond meets The Da Vinci Code but make it super gay and funny AF
May 26, 2026
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Andrew Birnbaum, a struggling actor who makes ends meet by working in a candle shop, is invited to a dinner with the exclusive Tuxedo Society by his best friend, Brock. What he expects - a group of wealthy socialites gathering for gossip and cocktails , what it was actually all about - danger, espionage, , and hilarity. Andrew is recruited to join the society. The mission of the society is covert protection for national security. Do they have all the neat little James Bond-like gadgets? Why yes they do. The story blends espionage and social commentary, with an elite, gay secret society. There is a lot of witty banter, and that gave me quite a few laugh out loud moments. You had to suspend disbelief for the entire book, and there were parts that made my eyes glaze over a bit (the bits where it was straight up action, with no humor involved). Overall, a solid 3 out of 5.
Andrew Birnbaum, a struggling actor who makes ends meet by working in a candle shop, is invited to a dinner with the exclusive Tuxedo Society by his best friend, Brock. What he expects - a group of wealthy socialites gathering for gossip and cocktails , what it was actually all about - danger, espionage, , and hilarity. Andrew is recruited to join the society. The mission of the society is covert protection for national security. Do they have all the neat little James Bond-like gadgets? Why yes they do. The story blends espionage and social commentary, with an elite, gay secret society. There is a lot of witty banter, and that gave me quite a few laugh out loud moments. You had to suspend disbelief for the entire book, and there were parts that made my eyes glaze over a bit (the bits where it was straight up action, with no humor involved). Overall, a solid 3 out of 5.
May 13, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Andrew is a struggling actor working in candle shop when a friend of his invites him to a dinner where the dress code is a tuxedo. He is expecting a posh dinner with posh people but he finds himself witnessing the workings of a spy organization. He gets an invite to join them, The tuxedo society a group of queer people who work in the shadows to prevent global incidents.
Honestly this was such a fun time, the camp in this was top tier. This felt like a cozy mystery, meets James Bond but make it super gay. I liked the found family aspect and the humour. This book doesn’t take itself too seriously and felt like an entertaining jaunt around the world collecting artifacts and thwarting bad guys.
Andrew is a struggling actor working in candle shop when a friend of his invites him to a dinner where the dress code is a tuxedo. He is expecting a posh dinner with posh people but he finds himself witnessing the workings of a spy organization. He gets an invite to join them, The tuxedo society a group of queer people who work in the shadows to prevent global incidents.
Honestly this was such a fun time, the camp in this was top tier. This felt like a cozy mystery, meets James Bond but make it super gay. I liked the found family aspect and the humour. This book doesn’t take itself too seriously and felt like an entertaining jaunt around the world collecting artifacts and thwarting bad guys.
May 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley & Atria Books for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review!
Comedic, gay male spies traipsing around the world to solve crimes with a hint of magic? YES PLEASE!
“They are fierce patriots. They are licensed to kill and they are really, really gay.”
The Tuxedo Society was so much fun! I read 95% of it in one day! I loved every clever quip and dig, every pop culture reference and every fabulous disguise. I read this while sitting in a hospital waiting room and it was the perfect pick me up for an otherwise gloomy day. Do you need to suspend belief in a story being realistic for a bit? Yes, absolutely but I highly recommend picking this up if you need a fast paced, quick lighthearted mystery!
Comedic, gay male spies traipsing around the world to solve crimes with a hint of magic? YES PLEASE!
“They are fierce patriots. They are licensed to kill and they are really, really gay.”
The Tuxedo Society was so much fun! I read 95% of it in one day! I loved every clever quip and dig, every pop culture reference and every fabulous disguise. I read this while sitting in a hospital waiting room and it was the perfect pick me up for an otherwise gloomy day. Do you need to suspend belief in a story being realistic for a bit? Yes, absolutely but I highly recommend picking this up if you need a fast paced, quick lighthearted mystery!
June 21, 2026
DNF: 18%
I should not have been bored by something that pitches itself as an "action-packed spy thriller" but here we are.
The characters are bland and forgettable. And I say that having read and given up on this book in the same six hour window. What I saw of the plot seemed weak and easy. It should've had stakes I could feel -- someone tries to kill the (fictional) First Lady -- and yet, it was a blip. The pacing was strange from the very start and everything was overexplained. The narrative felt like it paused multiple times in the 5-ish chapters I read so the MC could monologue at me in a weird, quasi-aside style. None of it worked.
To be fair, while this book has the aforementioned technical issues, it's also not to my taste. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose with all the pop culture references. Most went over my head and I'm not sure if that's because I'm not up-to-date on them or if it's because I'm not a cis, white, gay man. Either way, it was too much. I don't know what it was supposed to add to the story. It felt like hashtag bingo for the latest trends, if I'm honest.
I'm so disappointed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I should not have been bored by something that pitches itself as an "action-packed spy thriller" but here we are.
The characters are bland and forgettable. And I say that having read and given up on this book in the same six hour window. What I saw of the plot seemed weak and easy. It should've had stakes I could feel -- someone tries to kill the (fictional) First Lady -- and yet, it was a blip. The pacing was strange from the very start and everything was overexplained. The narrative felt like it paused multiple times in the 5-ish chapters I read so the MC could monologue at me in a weird, quasi-aside style. None of it worked.
To be fair, while this book has the aforementioned technical issues, it's also not to my taste. I felt like I was drinking from a firehose with all the pop culture references. Most went over my head and I'm not sure if that's because I'm not up-to-date on them or if it's because I'm not a cis, white, gay man. Either way, it was too much. I don't know what it was supposed to add to the story. It felt like hashtag bingo for the latest trends, if I'm honest.
I'm so disappointed.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2026
I loved this... it's a witty take on the espionage trope. Andrew is a single gay man living in New York City, hoping to make it as an actor. His day job is working in a scented candle store. He's VERY funny about the scented candles. When Andrew is invited out to a party by a single gay friend, he learns about the Tuxedo Society, a government-adjacent espionage group of gay men who delight in dressing formally. Andrew joins the group, and the capers ensue. This is like if James Bond were snarky and way into musical theater. I loved it. The ending hints at a sequel, and I certainly hope there will be one. I would read another by this author.
May 26, 2026
When I started this book, I was worried. It seemed so over the top that I thought I would find it exhausting to read. As I continued, it really grew on me, and I found myself laughing out loud. Ultimately, this is a fun, implausible, delightfully campy sendup of spy novels and movies. It’s impossible not to root for Andrew to find his place and purpose in the Tuxedo Society (and hopefully get a boyfriend in the process).
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2026
Andrew has found himself in a group called the Tuxedo Society where he goes on assignments to try to protect the First Lady's prize possessions from criminal groups. This story was full of humor that I found funny at times, other times I wasn't into it.
This story had a lot of action, though I didn't find it very thrilling. This did have a lot of relevant conversations and education about the LGBTQ+ community. I really enjoyed those parts.
This story had a lot of action, though I didn't find it very thrilling. This did have a lot of relevant conversations and education about the LGBTQ+ community. I really enjoyed those parts.
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