Tyler has a plan, and weirdly his self-help exercises are actually helping Brian from accidentally marking guys who ghosted him as monthly victims… but are Tyler’s motivations more insidious that Brian first thought? I am hopeful that a sequel is in the works, as I am eager to delve deeper into the world that the author has created and witness the further development of these intriguing characters. I really liked his friendship with Nik and Darby – Brian doesn’t give much back but they are a constant source of support and love and they were great!

But as Brian gets closer to Tyler's pack, and alienated from Nik and Darby, he realises that Tyler's expansion plans are much more nefarious than a little lupine enlightenment. Towards the end, the topical jokes veer towards the "cringy" side, heavy on quippy dialogue and millennial humor. More than that, though, and like Scooby Doo with Grindr or Stranger Things with sex and ennui, it's a buddy novel about finding your pack, the power of friendship, and learning how to be comfortable in your own, shaggy werewolf pelt. It’s really easy to read and I inhaled it in a short space of time because I didn’t want to put it down.Living with his conservative Christian parents becomes less than ideal, prompting Brian to make the move to the city. The introduction of the characters allowed me to fully immerse myself in the story from the very beginning.

When he’s not writing novels about werewolves, he’s spending time with his husband Robert and their cat Fannie Mae. There, he lands a waiting job at a local restaurant and forms fast friendships with coworkers Nik and Darby. 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. His work colleagues Nik and Darby try to look after him but obviously he can’t tell them what is going on so when he meets Tyler, another werewolf who completely has a handle on the werewolf side of life, he is glad to have found another like him.

Darby is your classic ethereal and quirky enby, and they have more emotional maturity in their little finger than Brian does in his entire werewolf body. Tyler has got a plan and he wants Brian to be part of it, and weirdly his brand of self-help punditry actually encourages Brian to shape up and to stop accidently marking out bad tippers at the restaurant as potential monthly victims. The messages and themes of masculinity, queerness and wellness culture explored in the book are not exactly subtle or overly clever but are still important and interesting.

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. Protagonist Brian is tackling all this while stuck in a dead-end restaurant job, too, leaving him exposed and volatile. The reading experience was thoroughly enjoyable, and the flaws don't significantly impact my overall appreciation of it. The author skilfully weaves together a story that balances both whimsy and realism, resulting in a truly captivating read. But this stranger’s motives might not be as pure as Brian first thinks, and this new relationship puts a strain on Brian’s friendships.Being my first experience with Tony's work, and after reading this story, I'm eager to explore more of his books in the future. Cuz it’s not doing “werewolf” good and besides that it’s kind of just a boring story about some dude who needs to get his shit together? He doesn’t really have a plan of how to live his life as a werewolf, drinking heavily and often waking up in a forest with blood on his face and he knows he has killed at least a couple of people.

i was dubious at first, i didn’t really know what to make of this book, i wouldn’t say i found it good though, but it was definitely enjoyable. For someone not used to having close friends, Brian is reluctant to let Nik and Darby in, and seeing his barriers come down and their relationships flourishing is a really enjoyable part of the book. The book explores just that, the intertwining of being loved and being known, emphasizing how loneliness can make one desperate for connection.

In my personal opinion, I feel that the book would have been a bit more captivating for me if it had commenced with the day Brian was turned rather than just alluding to it. Author Tony Santorella uses the concept of being a werewolf to discuss a journey of self-discovery where he realises that while his life may not be exciting, it is good. I have to say although I’m not keen on fantasy as a genre, I do love everything to do with vampires, werewolves witches etc, probably due to my life long love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer!