Bored Gay Werewolf

I do not typically read a lot of werewolf fiction due to the frequency of it being over-the-top alpha masculine attitudes. But seeing the description of this book being of a gay man in a dead end job trying to work out where he'd going in life...whilst juggling monthly transformations?
That sounded different, and I was excited to dive into Brian; a twenty-something, bored gay man. Who is a werewolf.

I also never thought I'd relate so much to this character but as someone who worked as a waiter and lost their direction in my twenties? Sure, I found it very easy to understand a lot of Brian's thoughts and opinions. Admittedly, I like to think I hold life to a higher standard than Brian's fairly flippant "oopsie-daisies", but than again, I'm not a werewolf.

Brian is not exactly a hero, and he is frequently a frustrating protagonist. Lost and isolated, he is found by another werewolf, who wants to show him the ropes, help him master his beast, as it were. As someone who has met many Tylers (sadly), I did pick up the vibe faster than our protagonist (had to agree with side character Nik, begging him to pick up a book!)

Speaking of Nik! The side characters were really enjoyable, all servers, balancing the life of serving while working toward their goals. Nik, the older woman who manages evenings at the restaurant while simultaneously revising and Derby the colourful nonbinary explosion of artful expression and performance. I loved them both, especially as a nonbinary person myself. (Also enjoyed Derby's love interest from the get go). Watching Brian desperately wanting to form closer connections with these two but holding them at arm's length was both relatable and again, frustrating.

The antagonists! I highlighted so much of Tyler's speech as rage inducing frequently, so the author here did a great job of executing the trust fund "bro" character well. I wish we'd got to know Mark somewhat more, as I felt there was more to know maybe after the first time we meet him.

I don't want to give more of the plot away than is in the blurb, but I found it engaging and genuinely funny throughout. While I was not surprised by some of the revelations, I was pleased to have worked it out and I wonder if a sequel will be in the works. I genuinely hope so because I'd love to see more of Brian and his motley crew (and hopefully see him get a bedframe and maybe a sofa?)

4*

Well, this is fun! The bored gay werewolf in question being Brian, a waiter who dropped out of college after being 'turned' and is struggling with his monthly change when alpha-werewolf Tyler finds him post-full moon carnage and promises him there is another way. Cue lots of fun as Brian tries to channel his inner Goop and keep his canine instincts under control as Tyler tries to establish his new werewolf-only social network, The Pack (TM). The expected carnage follows, with lots of laughs along the way like a hairier, full moon-only Buffy. This big-hearted novel is about finding your 'pack' in unexpected places. Lovely.

Bored Gay Werewolf is a novel about an aimless guy who happens to be a werewolf and what happens when he meets someone trying to create what seems to be a start-up for werewolves. Brian works at a restaurant, spends his time drinking with his coworkers Nik and Darby or having Grindr hookups, and doesn't deal well with his monthly transitions into a wolf. When he meets Tyler, who seems to have everything sorted out and is also a werewolf, maybe it is the chance Brian needs to get his life on track. Tyler's plan for the The Pack (™) includes getting Brian in shape and in control, but it seems that Tyler's business plans might go further than that, and meanwhile, Brian is drifting away from his friends and his previous self.

The title of this book is such a hilarious draw to read it, and it really gets across the tone, which is partly satirical, partly fun, and partly a sincere look at queer community and finding your people. I love books that integrate some kind of mythological creature into an everyday modern world and this one is a pretty funny way of doing it, exploring toxic masculinity within hustle culture and within ideas of werewolves at once (and it's not just the name Tyler that offers hints of Fight Club). The plot turns from a slower paced slacker falls into something unexpected to a faster pace by the end, with at least one twist I didn't see coming. I did expect the ending to be less uplifting yet ridiculous and maybe more satirical or dark, but to be honest, I think the ending does suit the book generally (and seems to set up for a potential sequel).

If we're going through each part of the title, then the werewolf element is well-covered and fun, it's got some classic slacker protagonist stuff, and then there's the depiction of Brian being gay and of queerness in general, which really makes this book enjoyable. There's lots of interesting parts of the book exploring queerness, like excessive heterosexuality of the people Brian meets through Tyler (and the ways in which Brian has to navigate the gender and sexual stereotypes that arise when he's around these people) and the various jokes about coming out as a werewolf, and it was nice to see a non-binary friend character in adult fiction who, yes, is a bit notably quirky, but is also a rounded person.

I had a lot of fun with this book, which is like hustle culture werewolf Fight Club but the protagonist has some friends. It's not what you'd expect from a werewolf novel and that makes it an enjoyable read, even if the ending is perhaps a little too easily resolved. Definitely one where the wild title and cover actually deliver a suitably fun book.