Reviews with content warning for Homophobia - Bored Gay Werewolf

This book is a different take on werewolves, i've seen elements of it done before in older media where it didn't quit mirror modern toxic masculinity as well as this book and I found that refreshing. However, while I did like this book, it just felt rushed. It's fast-paced anyway but sometimes I felt that moments that were left to breath didn't need it and others needed a step back before continuing.

The ending felt really tacked on to me as well, I don't know if this is more to do with me, but the whole joining up as a supernatural defense squad genuinely disappointed me. I get that the author obviously has a sequel in the works and is excited for that but it just felt so forced. My other nitpick was the flippant responses to murder throughout the book, the overarching tone didn't make casual murder any less jarring when played off for laughs.

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yarbroughac's review against another edition

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emotional funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The form and structure mirror elements of the plot so well, and this marriage of form and narrative scratches a particular itch in my brain. It was an incredibly fun read, and for anyone who picks it up - keep an eye out for the paragraph that masterfully pulls off a “jump cut” in a way I have never experienced in print before, believe me, you will know what paragraph I am referring to when you get there.

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cjwitch's review

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medium-paced

Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

ARC Review: A werewolf satire about toxic masculinity with the title of "Bored Gay Werewolf"...Admittedly, I went into this with a lot of expectations. I expected a lot of humor, some lovable and some deplorable characters, and a lot of werewolf action.

Sadly, I ended the book feeling very...mid. Despite what the title suggests, this is not really a book about werewolves and it definitely didn't have the humor that the title seemed to me to promise. In the full book, there were three werewolf scenes and two of those were only a few short paragraphs in length.

Where the book did deliver is in the commentary on toxic masculinity.

Tyler is the exact type of guy that I despise, which is intentional by the author. He is a stereotype of reasonably rich, white, CIS male entrepreneur: always talking while actually saying and doing nothing, yet somehow also doling out tasks and taking credit for everything that happens anywhere in his vicinity. Brian, unfortunately, is not much better. He is selfish, self-centered, and self-destructive. He ignores his friends, doesn't care about who or what he hurts, and drinks and does drugs to exist in a perpetual state of oblivion.

Brian's coworker friends, however, I did greatly enjoy. They aren't perfect either, with some realistic character flaws, but they aren't annoying in the way Tyler and Brian are and are responsible for the only real elements of humor within the book.

It wasn't until around chapters 6 or 7 when I started enjoying the book for what it had to say, though I didn't fully engage with the story until the climax near the end. Ultimately, my disappointment in this book lay in my own expectations with it. Don't go into this looking for a fantasy/action werewolf book or even a humorous satire (because the humor is scarce). If you go into this expecting a commentary on toxic masculinity with a slight fantasy element, you will likely enjoy it.

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caseyreadslol's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Loveable characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

majorly cheugay

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mooncxrx's review against another edition

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lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

i want to not be a hater but this book really was not for me.. the plot sounded intriguing but it really just fell flat. i appreciate it for what it wanted to be, a critique of capitalism and toxic masculinity and systemic problems, a modern day fight club...... but i feel like the author was focusing too much on trying to be relatable with jokes (?) and pop culture references that the plot got lost. i do also think that darcy's or abe's perspective would have done better for the story </3

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grets_reads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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e_r_q's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

"Brian liked learning about the moon, how astrology and folklore brought a magic and queerness to the werewolf stuff that was otherwise always so carnal and aggressive."

Personally, I believe Werewolves have always been an inherently queer concept, as they disrupt the binaries of gender, sexuality and even humanity. But, in Bored Gay Werewolf, through his very witty and engaging writing, Tony Santorella brings the concept back to its queer (and matriarchal) roots, whilst also criticising the toxically masculine heteronormative alpha trope that has plagued the werewolf genre.
🐺🏳️‍🌈
Bored Gay Werewolf is not only a genuinely relatable portrait of the modern queer experience, but it also explores an incredibly creative"Werewolf business/pyramid scheme" concept. The main cast of characters are also extremely lovable and well-crafted.

It's a very well paced novel, however some stuff feels a bit too rushed or glossed over. It honestly could do with being a bit longer, so it has more room to flesh things out and explore some ideas further. But it ends on the note that suggests the potential for sequels, so hopefully there will be the opportunity for expansion in those books.

"He tries to remember how he came out to his parents. Maybe he could use that as a template ... although there is no werewolf equivalent of finding gay porn on the family computer."

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sailortrash's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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