I had to read this book on title alone. I mean, who wouldn’t want to read a book called Bored Gay Werewolf? Seriously! I wasn’t disappointed.

Brian is a 20-something college dropout who is not living up to his potential. When he’s not waiting tables, he could be found barhopping with his work colleagues and best friends Nik and Darby. Or he could be recovering from a hangover, using the hair-of-the-dog method while watching Netflix and scrolling photos of shirtless, faceless guys on Grindr. He’s also a very messy werewolf.

When a jogger is mauled to death in an ‘animal attack’, no one is fingering Brian as the culprit, except entrepreneur bro Tyler who quietly confronts Brian at his workplace the day after the attack. But Tyler isn’t looking to report Brian to police. He wants to recruit Brian for a business venture: a lifestyle and wellness enterprise for werewolves that Tyler has dubbed The Pack TM. With nothing else going on for Brian, he accedes and is put through a regime of meditation and one-on-one workout sessions (think Fight Club). With the application of Tyler’s program, Brian finds himself able to focus and rein in his were-self during his monthly transitions. Things are going relatively well, until a third werewolf, Mark, is introduced to The PackTM and group dynamics alter.

Tony Santorella’s debut expertly describes the juxtaposition of a queer character getting caught up in a toxic masculine culture and of the sense of isolation and hopelessness one might feel while keeping those that care for them at a distance. But it’s also a celebration of friendship, loyalty and, dare I say, finding your pack (sorry).

Bored Gay Werewolf is a joyous satirical romp. It’s genuinely laugh-out-loud funny in places and I’ve not read anything this fun in quite some time.