Tony Santorella’s werewolf-themed debut novel, Bored Gay Werewolf, plays on stereotypes of alpha males – these ones gallivant around, luxuriating in their masculine attitudes after howling at the moon and trying to hide their wolf selves, which they transform into on a monthly basis. Protagonist Brian is tackling all this while stuck in a dead-end restaurant job, too, leaving him exposed and volatile.

Brian doesn’t pretend to be a hero, or especially want to save anyone else from this curse, however lost and isolating he finds being a werewolf. Restaurant manager Nik and co-worker Darby – both marvellous, vibrant characters – represent the light of this narrative: Brian is eager to have closer companionship with them, but maintains frustratingly arm’s-length friendships. Notwithstanding the lycanthropic occurrences, Santorella’s depiction of twentysomething contemporary life feels truthful and representative, and Bored Gay Werewolf’s secondary characters take their place in this tapestry with diverting results as it heads to the conclusion. 

Equally engaging, if decidedly less sympathetic, is entrepreneurial grifter Tyler, whose comeuppance I was vying for almost as soon as he shows up, seemingly wanting to control Brian from the off. The mythological creature functions here as an allegory of sorts for toxic masculinity and hustle culture; Santorella, though, portrays the queer community in a more positive, even comforting light.