Okay I really wanted to like this but the plot moved so slow, it bored me to tears not to mention. The pages of nothing but bird watching. This is YA. Not a non fiction novel about birds.

My awkward, anxious, nonbinary lesbian child Bianca has found their place in my heart. With my favorite blend of hilarity, weirdness, murder hijinks, and lesbian sheep, it’s a book that cemented itself as one I adore.

It's as hilarious as it is heartfelt. With the presence of bravery existing alongside fear, and how Bianca feels and reacts to the world and to their anxiety, it hit me head on, and it was special, seeing that depiction.

Also, it has CATS. What more could you want?

This book was fabulous, I'm really torn between 4 and 5 stars, but I'm giving it the extra oomph for the high-quality bird jokes.

Bianca Torre is an awkward, anxious, introverted anime lover (relatable amiright?) who loves birdwatching and (despite the fact that their twenty-third ranked fear is "Being Watched") neighbor-watching. Unfortunately, this hobby of theirs exposes them to fear #3: Murder and fear #5: Dead Bodies, when they see their stranger-neighbor-friend die at the hands of someone in a black cloak and a plague mask. After they go to the tragically unhelpful cops, Bianca and their anime-loving bestie must investigate this crime on their own, even earning a spot on the murderer's hit list themselves.

Half murder-mystery, half coming-of-age/teenage-identity-exploration, this book was insanely lovable. The witty humor, the absurd mystery plot, the awkwardness, the anxiety, the enby rep, it all adds up to deliver an extremely enjoyable read. Mystery, thrillers, and suspense in general are not my genres, but the blurb just sounded too fun and different to not pick it up and I'm so happy I did.

My favorite thing about the book is the main character's arc. Bianca starts the novel timid, lonely, controlled by their fears, and sorta kinda unhappy in a vague way, but by the end of the book, Bianca is trying new things, making new friends, meeting new people, even talking to a crush! They also take a huge step in improving their happiness and comfort - they explore their gender identity and expression and find new pronouns that feel like a better fit (also, they punch a murderer in the face so that helps with the confidence, I imagine).

I did think, however, that the book could have benefitted from stronger edits - for one thing, the exploration of MC's gender is delivered in dry, stultifying monologues multiple paragraphs in length that don't really make sense with the MC's personality. One chapter they're an awkward lesbian sheep, the next chapter they speak with the confidence of an expert on gender expression and societal standards and gatekeeping? I mean don't get me wrong, I was happy to read these parts, and I think they were written well but they felt out of place for Bianca's campy teen thriller - it sometimes came off more like an educational nonfic or memoir? That being said, I'm glad publishing money is being dedicated to stories of gender exploration and questioning and I hope to see more stories like Bianca's. Another picky thing I think the editor missed was how many "rich white lady" jokes there are. I mean I'm going to laugh at a white lady joke as much as the next millennial... the *first* time, but by the tenth joke it just felt like they were really milking that low hanging fruit for all it was worth lmao.

that cover is what drew me in and I'm glad I did, it might have been one of my favorite mystery novels going on in this. the story does what I was hoping for and it really worked as a mystery novel. The characters were interesting and felt like real people. Justine Pucella Winans has a great career in the young adult mystery genre.

“Okay. What about the symbol Ryan found?” I double-check the window of the study room for any strange plague-masked figures out in the library before I pull Mr. Conspiracy’s book from my bag. “We can try to look into this—it might have something to do with Valley Quail.” I check over my shoulders again, even though we’re alone in the room. I guess I’m a little paranoid after yesterday. “If someone from the school is involved, should we come up with a code name or something to discuss this?”

Bianca Torre is afraid of everything just like I, too, am afraid of everything. I don't actually have an itemized list of fears like they do, but there's... a lot. So this book started off immediately relatable, and then it became even more so because Bianca goes on a journey to figure out their gender identity. This ended up being some of the most relatable non-binary rep I've read - the way they described their gender and even mentioned my own label (genderflux) as a possible label, which I haven't really seen before!

But not only was this book super relatable for me, even moreso than I'd hoped when I read it was about an anxious non-binary person, it was also really, genuinely funny. As in, it had me laughing on the first page. It was all-around an extremely fun read and perfect for spooky season for people who are easily scared, like me.

While this is a YA thriller following Biance as they try to solve a murder, it's mainly a really fun book that focuses on Bianca's coming of age. But I also found the murder mystery actually interesting, which isn't always the case for me in thrillers. So all in all this was a big hit for me on all levels!

Come for the bird puns, stay for the incredible character development and a narrator you won't soon forget! I love Bianca, their journey, and their murder-solving group of friends. This debut is not to be missed!

Thanks NetGalley and Clarion Books for this eARC, these opinions are my own. What a hilarious twist on the mystery genre! Bianca was funny and relatable! I was hooked on the humor for the very first chapter! I also enjoyed the take on a character who has a lot of anxiety as well as struggles with their gender. I have struggled with anxiety for years and am still figuring out what being non-binary looks like for me so it was extremely nice to be able to connect to the character! It’s full of suspense and the plot will have you hooked, you’ll be unable to put it down! Can’t wait to read it again!

I really liked the story. It was funny and heartwarming and didn’t fail to make me tear up once or twice. The plot was engaging and I had no problem reading it in one sitting. The characters were easy to sympathize with and had relatable experiences. As a non-binary person myself it was nice to get a character who felt the same way. Additionally, the anxiety of Bianca was also something that felt quite relatable.
I know every experience is different, but I couldn’t help feeling that Bianca’s realization of being non-binary was a bit rushed, just as their coming out to others – although I appreciated the fact that they didn’t come out to everyone. Then again, that is just my personal view: I myself have been pondering about my gender identity for over seven years and am only starting to come out myself. As such, it felt a bit fast compared to my personal experience, but again, I can only speak for myself.
All in all it was a great read and I am looking forward to its official release!

Bianca Torre Is a Damn Delight. It has everything I look for in a reading experience; a suspenseful, gripping plot, an extremely lovable cast of [queer!] characters, empathy, growth, and so much fun. Bianca [and Pucella Winans] is FUNNY, and their humor allows the story to tackle topics like anxiety and coming out gracefully and compassionately. I related to Bianca so much; as a [deeply anxious] nonbinary person still figuring myself out, I felt comforted by the kindness characters extended to them as they share who they are with the world. I already know I'll be recommending this novel to so many people of all different ages. It's an escape, an adventure, a mystery, and a truly good time. Bound to be a cult classic (cheeky, I know).

A hilarious thriller with a side of nonbinary gender exploration (and an adorable crush), this book defies genre and sucks you in with it's complex characters and well-defined murder mystery. I have so many students who are going to devour this book whole.