Tony Santorella’s Bored Gay Werewolf is exactly what it promises—silly, chaotic, and incredibly fun, while also being surprisingly heartfelt and sharp in its satire. Brian, a college dropout with a dead-end job, a messy apartment, and a werewolf problem, is just trying to get through life one full moon at a time. But when a smooth-talking “alpha” named Tyler takes him under his wing, Brian finds himself slipping into a pack that feels eerily like the toxic corners of the internet where masculinity is rebranded as dominance and self-worth is measured by power. The book brilliantly skewers the way vulnerable young men can be seduced into these spaces, especially in a world where traditional structures of success seem inaccessible. Yet, despite its biting social commentary, Bored Gay Werewolf never loses its sense of humor.

What makes this book so special is its huge, goofy heart. Underneath the absurdity, Brian’s journey is one of self-acceptance—learning to love the weird, awkward, occasionally pathetic parts of himself rather than chasing some unattainable idea of what he should be. His friendships with Nik and Darby are the soul of the novel, showing how true belonging isn’t about power or status but about the people who love you even when you’re at your absolute worst. It’s a story about finding your people, even if they’ve been right in front of you all along. And, most importantly, it’s unapologetically queer in a way that feels both delightfully irreverent and deeply genuine. Brian is a disaster, but he’s our disaster, and I adored every ridiculous, and unexpectedly touching moment of his story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5