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Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything
Murder most fowl? In this sardonic and campy YA thriller, an anxious, introverted nonbinary teen birder somehow finds themself solving a murder mystery with their neighbor/fellow anime lover, all while falling for a cute girl from their birding group . . . and trying not to get murdered.
Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbors. When their gaze wanders from the birds to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbor’s life. Worse, the death is ruled a suicide, forcing Bianca to make a choice—succumb to their long list of fears (including #3: Murder and #55: Breaking into a Dead Guy’s Apartment) or investigate what happened.
Bianca enlists the help of their friend Anderson Coleman, but the two have more knowledge of anime than true crime. As Bianca and Anderson dig deeper into the murder with a little help from Bianca’s crush and fellow birding aficionado, Elaine Yee (#13: Beautiful People, #11: Parents Discovering They’re A Raging Lesbian), the trio uncovers a conspiracy much larger—and weirder—than imagined. But when the killer catches wind of the investigation, Bianca’s #1 fear of public speaking doesn’t sound so bad compared to the threat of being silenced for good.
In this absurdist, bizarrely comical YA thriller that is at turns a deceptively deep exploration of anxiety and identity, perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.
Sixteen-year-old Bianca Torre is an avid birder undergoing a gender identity crisis and grappling with an ever-growing list of fears. Some, like Fear #6: Initiating Conversation, keep them constrained, forcing them to watch birds from the telescope in their bedroom. And, occasionally, their neighbors. When their gaze wanders from the birds to one particular window across the street, Bianca witnesses a creepy plague-masked murderer take their neighbor’s life. Worse, the death is ruled a suicide, forcing Bianca to make a choice—succumb to their long list of fears (including #3: Murder and #55: Breaking into a Dead Guy’s Apartment) or investigate what happened.
Bianca enlists the help of their friend Anderson Coleman, but the two have more knowledge of anime than true crime. As Bianca and Anderson dig deeper into the murder with a little help from Bianca’s crush and fellow birding aficionado, Elaine Yee (#13: Beautiful People, #11: Parents Discovering They’re A Raging Lesbian), the trio uncovers a conspiracy much larger—and weirder—than imagined. But when the killer catches wind of the investigation, Bianca’s #1 fear of public speaking doesn’t sound so bad compared to the threat of being silenced for good.
In this absurdist, bizarrely comical YA thriller that is at turns a deceptively deep exploration of anxiety and identity, perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2023
45 people are currently reading
6646 people want to read
About the author
Justine Pucella Winans
8 books183 followersJustine Pucella Winans (they/she) is a critically acclaimed and award winning author of queer fiction. They have written a variety of funny and/or scary books across age ranges, receiving accolades such as a Stonewall Honor, Indies Introduce, Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selections, and multiple starred reviews. When not writing, she can be found taking too many photos of her cats, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, actively avoiding real life scary situations, and working their true goal of becoming a Pokémon trainer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
July 26, 2024
This book’s pitch wasn’t lying when it said “Perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.”
April 20, 2023
to quote the love of my life benoit blanc: "it's so dumb that it's brilliant! - ... no, actually, it's just dumb."
i relate to bianca because i too am afraid of everything. sometimes, i have panic attacks even though literally nothing is happening at the given moment. if a spider sat on me i would set myself on fire. i reread every email i send ten times before and after sending it - even the one word responses - and even then i'm not completely sure i haven't accidentally insulted the recipient's mother or randomly attached my nudes.
ahem, my point is, i found bianca very relatable.
the mystery in this though... listen, the first half was fine and intriguing but. i can excuse something being totally farfetched if i'm in a good mood. i can't really excuse something being dumb and man... was this stupid.
the writing was also on the weaker side which didn't bother me that much in the first half but it was hard not to notice how average it is once you're a couple hours in.
all that being said, i did enjoy the book. the characters were fun and the story was a good time and i chuckled a few times. the gender crisis felt a bit rushed but it was still relatable.
overall it gave what i wanted to be given: a quick, fun, and engaging read to finish in one sitting and never think about again
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
april reading: 16/26
i relate to bianca because i too am afraid of everything. sometimes, i have panic attacks even though literally nothing is happening at the given moment. if a spider sat on me i would set myself on fire. i reread every email i send ten times before and after sending it - even the one word responses - and even then i'm not completely sure i haven't accidentally insulted the recipient's mother or randomly attached my nudes.
ahem, my point is, i found bianca very relatable.
the mystery in this though... listen, the first half was fine and intriguing but. i can excuse something being totally farfetched if i'm in a good mood. i can't really excuse something being dumb and man... was this stupid.
the writing was also on the weaker side which didn't bother me that much in the first half but it was hard not to notice how average it is once you're a couple hours in.
all that being said, i did enjoy the book. the characters were fun and the story was a good time and i chuckled a few times. the gender crisis felt a bit rushed but it was still relatable.
overall it gave what i wanted to be given: a quick, fun, and engaging read to finish in one sitting and never think about again
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
april reading: 16/26
June 30, 2023
We all see these lists that ask what books do you wish you could read again for the first time. With an exclamation point, I am adding this audiobook to mine. Bianca Torre is Afraid of Everything has an off beat beginning, involving a misdirected telescope and a death. Bianca is a teen who is fearful yet curious, shy but loving. They underestimate themselves but keep moving forward regardless of how many missteps they make. I loved their heart. The book also has amazing secondary characters like Anderson, Bianca’s best friend and his brother, Ronan. If you decide to go for it, please listen to the audiobook, the narrator, Vico Ortiz, is a hoot.
Bianca and their pals are a diverse and mostly queer Scooby gang working to bring justice on behalf of some innocent people who suffered under a corrupt secret organization. But the joy of the book is in the characters, their individual stories and how they all come together as extended found family. I rooted for them all and laughed hard at their shenanigans. Then when Bianca speaks their truth first to themselves, then to the world, I admit, I did an ugly cry.
If you read YA at all, put this audiobook at the top of your tbr. I wholeheartedly recommend this one. Five stars all way.
Bianca and their pals are a diverse and mostly queer Scooby gang working to bring justice on behalf of some innocent people who suffered under a corrupt secret organization. But the joy of the book is in the characters, their individual stories and how they all come together as extended found family. I rooted for them all and laughed hard at their shenanigans. Then when Bianca speaks their truth first to themselves, then to the world, I admit, I did an ugly cry.
If you read YA at all, put this audiobook at the top of your tbr. I wholeheartedly recommend this one. Five stars all way.
October 16, 2022
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!
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!
April 20, 2023
This was so fun, it's just hard to review. The characters were great, I loved the conspiracy, the story didn't take itself too seriously and there were some great, funny moments - and I loved the romance too.
April 28, 2023
This book is everything my gay anxious nerdy mystery loving heart has ever ever wanted!!!
I knew it would have my whole heart once I read this line on the jacket:
“Perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.”
I was not wrong!
Full RTC when I stop rereading my favorite parts obsessively!
I knew it would have my whole heart once I read this line on the jacket:
“Perhaps the real murder investigation is the friends we make along the way.”
I was not wrong!
Full RTC when I stop rereading my favorite parts obsessively!
January 10, 2024
First and last things: the cover is heavenly and the blurb is awesome.
The actual story, plot, writing give very young middle grade sleuth even though it’s a YA which unfortunately will never work for me. Okay the cover trick worked 😑
The actual story, plot, writing give very young middle grade sleuth even though it’s a YA which unfortunately will never work for me. Okay the cover trick worked 😑
March 31, 2023
the mystery was ridiculous but in a way that didn't take itself too seriously & there were some genuinely funny parts
see my review on instagram
Rep: nonbinary lesbian mc with anxiety, Chinese American pan li, Black side characters, Black trans side character, Vietnamese side character
CWs: misgendering, violence, panic attacks
see my review on instagram
Rep: nonbinary lesbian mc with anxiety, Chinese American pan li, Black side characters, Black trans side character, Vietnamese side character
CWs: misgendering, violence, panic attacks
December 23, 2023
murderous fun and friendship with an anxious nb lesbian protagonist!! birdwatching bianca and her small squad are investigating a murder and possible cult situation, which is a chirping good time. the story keeps up a tense pace but still allows bianca time to question their gender and tentatively come out to a handful of people. i appreciate the balance.
it's interesting to read a book that handles the coming out experience so didactically. bianca spells out every detail, every thought and feeling about their gender identity and sexuality. it felt a lil bit over the top to me personally, but i can see it being helpful to younger teens, or people who haven't consumed much lgbt+ media.
the anxiety rep is also iffy for me. the book deals in dark humor, sometimes leaning into the absurd. but bianca's neverending list of fears almost seems to be played as a joke rather than as a real issue. it gave me pause, but hopefully it's meant to be self deprecation as a coping mechanism.
anyway. the plot is a blast, weird and horrifying but also preposterous and entertaining. i love when a good teen mystery team comes together, and it's lovely how everyone in their lil group truly has each other's backs. also, mutual unspoken sapphic yearning!! and the climactic reveals are super fun and freaky.
unfortunately the audiobook narration was the downfall of the reading experience for me. it's so exaggerated and overacted, which is rough for a book that's already pretty campy. so many squeaks!! i'd recommend this one in print form.
it's interesting to read a book that handles the coming out experience so didactically. bianca spells out every detail, every thought and feeling about their gender identity and sexuality. it felt a lil bit over the top to me personally, but i can see it being helpful to younger teens, or people who haven't consumed much lgbt+ media.
the anxiety rep is also iffy for me. the book deals in dark humor, sometimes leaning into the absurd. but bianca's neverending list of fears almost seems to be played as a joke rather than as a real issue. it gave me pause, but hopefully it's meant to be self deprecation as a coping mechanism.
anyway. the plot is a blast, weird and horrifying but also preposterous and entertaining. i love when a good teen mystery team comes together, and it's lovely how everyone in their lil group truly has each other's backs. also, mutual unspoken sapphic yearning!! and the climactic reveals are super fun and freaky.
unfortunately the audiobook narration was the downfall of the reading experience for me. it's so exaggerated and overacted, which is rough for a book that's already pretty campy. so many squeaks!! i'd recommend this one in print form.
June 1, 2025
6 stars
i know it's only been like a month but how does this book not have more ratings/readers?!?
this book should tick off every mark on a gay's YA checklist:
- great nonbinary rep
- actually good bipoc rep from a white writer
- cute/chaotic sapphics
- great family dynamics + found family
- relatable fears
- not annoying YA tropes (or extremely mild)
- cozy-adjacent murder mystery
- good messages for teens
books targeted towards the "young adult" demographic haven't been hitting for me like they used to in my big girl age of 30 (which makes sense) so this means a lot when i say to PLEASE give this book a chance!! if even 3 of these items make you mildly interested, give it a shot. i almost guarantee that the first few chapters will hook you. bianca torre is afraid of everything is funny, has a lot of heart, and the friends bianca makes are so absolutely perfect in every way. i was listening to the audiobook and about 30% of the way, i decided i needed to have it physically to follow along. i didn't like the way the narrator did some of the voices because there were some weird and out-of-place tone choices but it wasn't enough to deter me. the story was engaging and the characters had an infinite mana pool of charm. this book is a hit for anime geeks, murder mystery lovers, and bird lovers. please give it a chance to soar into your hearts the way it did mine.
i couldn't find a list of tw's anywhere so i wrote one to the best of my memory;
trigger warnings: anxiety, graphic murder (knife and gun violence), on-page vomiting, police incompetence, gruesome animal death (implied via remains), misgendering, stalking, threatening children, cults
---
cover artist: mariia menshikova
i know it's only been like a month but how does this book not have more ratings/readers?!?
this book should tick off every mark on a gay's YA checklist:
- great nonbinary rep
- actually good bipoc rep from a white writer
- cute/chaotic sapphics
- great family dynamics + found family
- relatable fears
- not annoying YA tropes (or extremely mild)
- cozy-adjacent murder mystery
- good messages for teens
books targeted towards the "young adult" demographic haven't been hitting for me like they used to in my big girl age of 30 (which makes sense) so this means a lot when i say to PLEASE give this book a chance!! if even 3 of these items make you mildly interested, give it a shot. i almost guarantee that the first few chapters will hook you. bianca torre is afraid of everything is funny, has a lot of heart, and the friends bianca makes are so absolutely perfect in every way. i was listening to the audiobook and about 30% of the way, i decided i needed to have it physically to follow along. i didn't like the way the narrator did some of the voices because there were some weird and out-of-place tone choices but it wasn't enough to deter me. the story was engaging and the characters had an infinite mana pool of charm. this book is a hit for anime geeks, murder mystery lovers, and bird lovers. please give it a chance to soar into your hearts the way it did mine.
i couldn't find a list of tw's anywhere so i wrote one to the best of my memory;
trigger warnings: anxiety, graphic murder (knife and gun violence), on-page vomiting, police incompetence, gruesome animal death (implied via remains), misgendering, stalking, threatening children, cults
---
cover artist: mariia menshikova
September 17, 2022
This book is fantastic and wonderful! And the author is okay too, I guess.
(I am a little biased, but this is the book of my anxious queer heart, and I'm so excited to share it with all of you!)
Edit: updating with CWs: murder, animal death (bird), mention of suicide, gender dysphoria, anxiety/panic attacks, off page drug use (marijuana), cults, kidnapping, violent threats
(I am a little biased, but this is the book of my anxious queer heart, and I'm so excited to share it with all of you!)
Edit: updating with CWs: murder, animal death (bird), mention of suicide, gender dysphoria, anxiety/panic attacks, off page drug use (marijuana), cults, kidnapping, violent threats
July 16, 2023
Bianca's many anxieties and their journey to realizing their nonbinary identity were both such a mood. This is also one of the best YA narrative voices I've ever read. I feel lucky to be alive in a time when books like this are getting published.
If you're a Bianca fan, keep your eyes peeled for Pucella Winan's next novel, THE OTHERWOODS, out in September 2023. It's middle grade and seriously delightful. I'm also excited to read their next YA in 2024 😀
If you're a Bianca fan, keep your eyes peeled for Pucella Winan's next novel, THE OTHERWOODS, out in September 2023. It's middle grade and seriously delightful. I'm also excited to read their next YA in 2024 😀
August 3, 2024
This is adorable, and really fun. Anxiety-laden Bianca, with their literal list of fears, witnesses a neighbor's murder through her telescope, and along with her best (only) friend, Anderson, ends up investigating a— Well, I don't wanna spoil it, but let's just say large portions of this book would have been right at home in the 70s. :)
We've got lesbian, pansexual, nonbinary and trans rep in the central characters. Bianca doesn't have a diagnosis, despite her doctor father, but her anxiety level feels to me like it might warrant one.
The plot is Scooby-Doo in the best possible sense. There are no talking dogs, but the killer does wear a mask. What I really mean though is the plausibility, all the connections, the nature and reach of the conspiracy, the behavior of the characters in the face of danger, the lack of trauma from what would, in real life, potentially be very traumatic events, all this requires a suspension of disbelief that feels perhaps more suited to an audience younger than teens of driving age.
I suspect it's that bar Winans has set for plausibility with regards to the plot that lets her do something I don't recall seeing before in my (admitedly limited) YA/MG reading. The parents here are present, and supportive, without getting in the way of the teens investigating a murderous adult crime ring. I mean, I'm perfectly happy to have the adults MIA if that makes for a better story, but this was a refreshing change.
So, despite this being a bit different from the sort of YA I'd typically consider, I really enjoyed it, and will definitely look out for more from this author.
We've got lesbian, pansexual, nonbinary and trans rep in the central characters. Bianca doesn't have a diagnosis, despite her doctor father, but her anxiety level feels to me like it might warrant one.
The plot is Scooby-Doo in the best possible sense. There are no talking dogs, but the killer does wear a mask. What I really mean though is the plausibility, all the connections, the nature and reach of the conspiracy, the behavior of the characters in the face of danger, the lack of trauma from what would, in real life, potentially be very traumatic events, all this requires a suspension of disbelief that feels perhaps more suited to an audience younger than teens of driving age.
I suspect it's that bar Winans has set for plausibility with regards to the plot that lets her do something I don't recall seeing before in my (admitedly limited) YA/MG reading. The parents here are present, and supportive, without getting in the way of the teens investigating a murderous adult crime ring. I mean, I'm perfectly happy to have the adults MIA if that makes for a better story, but this was a refreshing change.
So, despite this being a bit different from the sort of YA I'd typically consider, I really enjoyed it, and will definitely look out for more from this author.
June 19, 2025
Bianca Torre Is Afraid Of Everything by Justine Pucella Winans turned out to be a pleasant surprise of a YA mystery. I didn't quite know what expect from it, but I really ended up enjoying it. I'll have to read more from this author soon because I really liked their style. My favorite aspect of this book are the characters and Bianca's own nerdiness and internal narration. The darker sense of humor also really worked for me as well as. I'll have to try One Killer Problem asap.
July 7, 2023
ooh, this book hit really hard with teenage me — it’s a fun little mystery starring a very anxious teenager and their group of friends.
i did think the main plot was a bit … out there in that the tone wasn’t congruous with the amount of danger that the characters were in? which made it hard to care about them because plot wise i didn’t feel like they were in any danger. i guess it didn’t take the mystery part too seriously, but it does take the coming of age, discovering identity, and overcoming fears part seriously, which is more important.
bianca has a very strong voice and it was quirky funny, which isn’t my favourite, but if you like it then it’s very well written, fun and refreshing
i did think the main plot was a bit … out there in that the tone wasn’t congruous with the amount of danger that the characters were in? which made it hard to care about them because plot wise i didn’t feel like they were in any danger. i guess it didn’t take the mystery part too seriously, but it does take the coming of age, discovering identity, and overcoming fears part seriously, which is more important.
bianca has a very strong voice and it was quirky funny, which isn’t my favourite, but if you like it then it’s very well written, fun and refreshing
May 29, 2024
BIANCA TORRE IS AFRAID OF EVERYTHING is a book that feels so personal to me it might as well have been written for me. Not only does it have birds (BIRDS!!), but also lesbians, murder, gender questioning, heartwarming friendships, and anxious teens. It just SCREAMS my name at this point!
Justine writes some of the most fun books out there. They’re a little weird, but so exciting, heartwarming, and highly relatable. I flew through this book thanks to the voice, the mystery, and of course the incredible cast of characters.
Seriously, I could rave about this book for hours, but I’ll just leave it to this: I can’t wait for Justine to take over the world starting in 2023!!
Justine writes some of the most fun books out there. They’re a little weird, but so exciting, heartwarming, and highly relatable. I flew through this book thanks to the voice, the mystery, and of course the incredible cast of characters.
Seriously, I could rave about this book for hours, but I’ll just leave it to this: I can’t wait for Justine to take over the world starting in 2023!!
August 21, 2023
This book was just so campy and fun while also giving me a thrill. It's very similar to one of my favorite books of last year, The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester, in that this is part-thriller, past friendship-and-identity-exploration contemporary. Our main character Bianca is such a relatable and weird teen and I loved their friendship with Anderson. Even once I figured out where the clues were leading, I was still intrigued to see how things went down and to see Bianca develop and grow.
August 13, 2024
I loved everything about this book.
Bianca, their friends, their found family, their love interest, the murder mystery, the birding and the journey Bianca takes while all of this is orbiting around them.
The banter, sarcasm and queer culture references are fabulous and I encourage everyone to read it!
I did the audio and loved it!
This was the August choice for one of the book clubs I am in and we met last night.
Every single member LOVED it!!!
Bianca, their friends, their found family, their love interest, the murder mystery, the birding and the journey Bianca takes while all of this is orbiting around them.
The banter, sarcasm and queer culture references are fabulous and I encourage everyone to read it!
I did the audio and loved it!
This was the August choice for one of the book clubs I am in and we met last night.
Every single member LOVED it!!!
March 25, 2023
I received an ARC and I’m leaving an honest review.
Okay, WHERE DO I BEGIN...
I absolutely loved every single second of this. It was humorous, it was cute, it was entertaining. It was perfect.
1) The mystery gets a little predictable at some point, but I think it feels appropriately executed for a young adult book, and even though you can already feel who the culprits are, I don't think it took the fun from finding out about it. I actually really loved reading it even though I already knew who it was, and I was still very curious to read forward and find out what was going to happen next.
2) Bianca has an identity crisis during the story. At first I thought they started using the label nonbinary very quickly, which made me wish we could have seen more of their thoughts about gender (even though it made sense that we didn't focus on that considering it wasn't the main focus of the plot). But then later in the story we see Bianca go to a trans support group which was really amazing (and satisfied my previous wish). I loved how supportive everyone was, and how Ronan (Anderson's trans brother) was the first to notice that something was changing. Personally, I think the gender crisis was perfectly written into the story, never feeling clunky or out of place.
3) The characters were ALL so lovely and amazing. Anderson? The love of my life. Ronan? The love of my life. Mrs Coleman? The love of my life? Elaine? The love of my life. You get the message... Even the random stoner side character was great (Ryan, you will always be a hero).
And Bianca was literally me. Like, all the time. We're the same person...
I only found Bianca's sister and mom to be a little annoying sometimes, but they have their own good moments too.
4) The romance was really just a subplot and an afterthought, which is great. Don't get me wrong, I love to read about sapphics in love, but the main plot of the book was the mystery, so I'm glad we focused on that without taking away from it. I also loved that when the attention was on the relationships, it was mostly on the platonic ones, rather than the slowly blossoming romance. (Yes, that means there's a found family in here, and it's THE SWEETEST).
It's not confirmed, but I feel very strong autistic vibes from Bianca and I personally loved that.
Oh, I forgot to mention! I loved that Bianca and Anderson bonded thanks to anime! It was lovely.
Okay, WHERE DO I BEGIN...
I absolutely loved every single second of this. It was humorous, it was cute, it was entertaining. It was perfect.
1) The mystery gets a little predictable at some point, but I think it feels appropriately executed for a young adult book, and even though you can already feel who the culprits are, I don't think it took the fun from finding out about it. I actually really loved reading it even though I already knew who it was, and I was still very curious to read forward and find out what was going to happen next.
2) Bianca has an identity crisis during the story. At first I thought they started using the label nonbinary very quickly, which made me wish we could have seen more of their thoughts about gender (even though it made sense that we didn't focus on that considering it wasn't the main focus of the plot). But then later in the story we see Bianca go to a trans support group which was really amazing (and satisfied my previous wish). I loved how supportive everyone was, and how Ronan (Anderson's trans brother) was the first to notice that something was changing. Personally, I think the gender crisis was perfectly written into the story, never feeling clunky or out of place.
3) The characters were ALL so lovely and amazing. Anderson? The love of my life. Ronan? The love of my life. Mrs Coleman? The love of my life? Elaine? The love of my life. You get the message... Even the random stoner side character was great (Ryan, you will always be a hero).
And Bianca was literally me. Like, all the time. We're the same person...
I only found Bianca's sister and mom to be a little annoying sometimes, but they have their own good moments too.
4) The romance was really just a subplot and an afterthought, which is great. Don't get me wrong, I love to read about sapphics in love, but the main plot of the book was the mystery, so I'm glad we focused on that without taking away from it. I also loved that when the attention was on the relationships, it was mostly on the platonic ones, rather than the slowly blossoming romance. (Yes, that means there's a found family in here, and it's THE SWEETEST).
It's not confirmed, but I feel very strong autistic vibes from Bianca and I personally loved that.
Oh, I forgot to mention! I loved that Bianca and Anderson bonded thanks to anime! It was lovely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2023
Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. A murder mystery, a conspiracy, a cult... this was TENSE. Just like Bianca Torre, I have a long list of fears, and I am trying to overcome them just like they did.
"No time to question your gender identity like the middle of a murder investigation."
Bianca questioning their gender identity is extremely relatable to me as a nonbinary lesbian. For a long time, I didn't think I could be a lesbian and be nonbinary. I thought I had to choose between the sexuality I'd identified with for years or the gender identity I was just coming to terms with. I love the way identities are discussed in this book, and ultimately, Bianca realises that they don't *have* to come out to everyone, that as long as they know who they are and they have friends they can let in, that's all that matters.
Anderson is an incredible best friend to Bianca, and actually, his whole family is amazing. His little brother Ronan is a trans guy, and his family are so accepting, not only of him but of Bianca, too. When Bianca receives threats, Anderson's family welcome Bianca into their home.
By the time the mystery is uncovered and the cult is revealed, I had my suspicions about two characters in particular. What a wild ride, though! I was not prepared for the cult to be quite so weird.
I love the relationship between Bianca and Elaine. The awkwardness was extremely relatable, I also suck at talking to people I'm attracted to, but roping Elaine into the mystery really broke the ice!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I hope Justine Pucella Winans publishes more books for me to devour.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. A murder mystery, a conspiracy, a cult... this was TENSE. Just like Bianca Torre, I have a long list of fears, and I am trying to overcome them just like they did.
"No time to question your gender identity like the middle of a murder investigation."
Bianca questioning their gender identity is extremely relatable to me as a nonbinary lesbian. For a long time, I didn't think I could be a lesbian and be nonbinary. I thought I had to choose between the sexuality I'd identified with for years or the gender identity I was just coming to terms with. I love the way identities are discussed in this book, and ultimately, Bianca realises that they don't *have* to come out to everyone, that as long as they know who they are and they have friends they can let in, that's all that matters.
Anderson is an incredible best friend to Bianca, and actually, his whole family is amazing. His little brother Ronan is a trans guy, and his family are so accepting, not only of him but of Bianca, too. When Bianca receives threats, Anderson's family welcome Bianca into their home.
By the time the mystery is uncovered and the cult is revealed, I had my suspicions about two characters in particular. What a wild ride, though! I was not prepared for the cult to be quite so weird.
I love the relationship between Bianca and Elaine. The awkwardness was extremely relatable, I also suck at talking to people I'm attracted to, but roping Elaine into the mystery really broke the ice!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I hope Justine Pucella Winans publishes more books for me to devour.
July 6, 2023
3.5 ⭐️ ‘Apparently I’m taking be gay do crime too far.’
A non-binary lesbian tracking down a masked killer with her anime loving best friend? Yes..
The humour in this is really well polished as is the banter between the best friends.
I also really appreciated how coming out is handled in this, it was a comforting and fresh take on the subject. It’s a lot lower angst surrounding the subject, a lot less pressure and urgency, which I appreciated.
This is a murder mystery with slight mystery crew feels and a dash of Knives Out if it was set in high school.
I would like to point out some -possibly problematic- antisemitic tropes featured in the second half involving secret societies, wealth, and other themes. It would be interesting to hear other opinions.
Rep// MC is a Non-Binary Lesbian, Queer Black SC (boy), Pansexual Chinese SC (girl), Trans SC(boy), Non Binary SC, Many other queer/non binary SC’s that are more background
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
TW’s (please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.)
TW// Watching people against their knowledge, mentions of suicide, Murder, Drugging (off page), Threats, Knife crime, Themes of coming out (handled positively), Negligent Police, Gaslighting
A non-binary lesbian tracking down a masked killer with her anime loving best friend? Yes..
The humour in this is really well polished as is the banter between the best friends.
I also really appreciated how coming out is handled in this, it was a comforting and fresh take on the subject. It’s a lot lower angst surrounding the subject, a lot less pressure and urgency, which I appreciated.
This is a murder mystery with slight mystery crew feels and a dash of Knives Out if it was set in high school.
I would like to point out some -possibly problematic- antisemitic tropes featured in the second half involving secret societies, wealth, and other themes. It would be interesting to hear other opinions.
Rep// MC is a Non-Binary Lesbian, Queer Black SC (boy), Pansexual Chinese SC (girl), Trans SC(boy), Non Binary SC, Many other queer/non binary SC’s that are more background
Thank you to Harper Collins for providing me with a copy for an honest review.
TW’s (please skip if you don’t want vague spoilers.)
TW// Watching people against their knowledge, mentions of suicide, Murder, Drugging (off page), Threats, Knife crime, Themes of coming out (handled positively), Negligent Police, Gaslighting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2022
I am so honoured to have received an early copy of the masterpiece that is BIANCA TORRE IS AFRAID OF EVERYTHING.
With a murder mystery that keeps you turning every page just to know more, and a cast of brilliant characters that you want to hug and protect and possibly burrito wrap in a blanket and then hide away in your wardrobe to never be found, I couldn't resist giving this five stars.
Most of all, though, reading a novel in which a nonbinary lesbian character (which is an intersection of identities I share and rarely see represented in fiction) existed as freely as a cisgender heterosexual character would—and always do—was a joyful experience for me. I teared up. A couple times. Or several. Who's to say?
This particular genre isn't 'my thing,' but I think Justine has gone ahead and changed that for me.
🪶🔭🥋📖💀🔪🦅
With a murder mystery that keeps you turning every page just to know more, and a cast of brilliant characters that you want to hug and protect and possibly burrito wrap in a blanket and then hide away in your wardrobe to never be found, I couldn't resist giving this five stars.
Most of all, though, reading a novel in which a nonbinary lesbian character (which is an intersection of identities I share and rarely see represented in fiction) existed as freely as a cisgender heterosexual character would—and always do—was a joyful experience for me. I teared up. A couple times. Or several. Who's to say?
This particular genre isn't 'my thing,' but I think Justine has gone ahead and changed that for me.
🪶🔭🥋📖💀🔪🦅
December 29, 2023
This is a satirical mystery perfect for fans of Only Murders In the Building. It’s whacky and over-the-top when it comes to the murder case, but the interpersonal and self-discovery elements feel grounded. Bianca ends up convincing Anderson and Elaine (from the birding group) to help investigate, changing their dynamic and bringing them closer together.
Meanwhile, Bianca is having Gender Feelings. At first, it’s not conscious, like feeling uncomfortable in their body and enjoying being compared to a male character. As they reluctantly explore these feelings, though, they begin to experience gender euphoria by changing their gender expression, coming out to some people as nonbinary, finding nonbinary friends and community, and using they/them pronouns. This is one of the few books I’ve read with a character who identifies as a nonbinary lesbian!
This was a lot of fun, and I appreciated both the satirical murder mystery plot and the well-rounded characters.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
Meanwhile, Bianca is having Gender Feelings. At first, it’s not conscious, like feeling uncomfortable in their body and enjoying being compared to a male character. As they reluctantly explore these feelings, though, they begin to experience gender euphoria by changing their gender expression, coming out to some people as nonbinary, finding nonbinary friends and community, and using they/them pronouns. This is one of the few books I’ve read with a character who identifies as a nonbinary lesbian!
This was a lot of fun, and I appreciated both the satirical murder mystery plot and the well-rounded characters.
Full review at the Lesbrary.
May 6, 2023
Content warnings: murder, blood, vomit, kidnapping, cults, classism, racism, homophobia/lesbophobia, misgendering, heteronormativity, animal killings, stalking.
Rep: Bianca (MC) is white, nonbinary, lesbian, and has a lot of anxiety. Anderson (side character) is Black and cis. Side Black and trans character, side POC characters. Love interest is POC, cis and lesbian.
I need to be better at writing reviews the moment I finish a book because I KNOW I loved this one a lot a lot, and now I don't remember all the bits as to why.
This book was more than just a murder mystery. It was intense, it was captivating, and it was wild from start to finish.
Bianca's exploration of their gender identity and how they came to terms with their nonbinary self was all kinds of amazing. I loved how natural it was and the way it was all explained. Any other 16 year old reading this would be able to understand Bianca's feelings extremely well.
This is a new favourite of mine. It had me captivated right through to the last second
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
Rep: Bianca (MC) is white, nonbinary, lesbian, and has a lot of anxiety. Anderson (side character) is Black and cis. Side Black and trans character, side POC characters. Love interest is POC, cis and lesbian.
I need to be better at writing reviews the moment I finish a book because I KNOW I loved this one a lot a lot, and now I don't remember all the bits as to why.
This book was more than just a murder mystery. It was intense, it was captivating, and it was wild from start to finish.
Bianca's exploration of their gender identity and how they came to terms with their nonbinary self was all kinds of amazing. I loved how natural it was and the way it was all explained. Any other 16 year old reading this would be able to understand Bianca's feelings extremely well.
This is a new favourite of mine. It had me captivated right through to the last second
I talk about books at these places: Instagram / Twitter / TikTok / Blog
August 18, 2023
in the beginning i was leaning towards 4/5 stars due to sometimes a bit clumsy writing. sometimes things seem a bit too coincidental or they feel like a hollywood movie rather than a novel. one of the main plot twists revealed in the end i predicted pretty soon, and that doesn't happen to me often. so, definitely not for you if you're looking for a good murder case type of story.
however, it is a definitely a book for you if you are or were an anxious teen. if you are queer, not ready to come out to your family, not sure about your labels at first, or possibly having a gender identity crisis. it is a book for you if you like birds, and if you like anime. and if you want to read a book with diverse characters and inclusive language.
it is a rather quick read, most of the chapters have less than 10 pages, and the language is accesible. CW for murder tho (among others)
however, it is a definitely a book for you if you are or were an anxious teen. if you are queer, not ready to come out to your family, not sure about your labels at first, or possibly having a gender identity crisis. it is a book for you if you like birds, and if you like anime. and if you want to read a book with diverse characters and inclusive language.
it is a rather quick read, most of the chapters have less than 10 pages, and the language is accesible. CW for murder tho (among others)
August 17, 2023
Bianca Torre and I having the same queer experience all the way down to the anime and seeing a man die…. Like I was in this book and I’m feeling a little too seen! But seriously this book was so special and fun and it now holds a very special place in my heart!
I’ve also never laughed so hard at a book! Like the humor was 10/10! Also Bianca’s list of fears was so relatable to my anxious lil heart
I’ve also never laughed so hard at a book! Like the humor was 10/10! Also Bianca’s list of fears was so relatable to my anxious lil heart
October 12, 2024
Abandoned at page 100
February 16, 2023
I am going to be honest I am stressed reviewing this one. The HC strike has allowed me to not say anything about this one for at least a couple of months and let my thoughts marinate. I am glad I did not post my review when I first read it.
No one is more disappointed writing this review than me. Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. Openly advertised as having a nonbinary lesbian protagonist (not the first in YA though, that's the Scapegracers but one of the dew traditionally published ones), it was also described as a mystery with a lot of bird stuff. I am a nonbinary lesbian, I like a good mystery and I like birds, what could go wrong? Well, I opened this book, and I knew something wouldn't click between us. I had already read several books with uninteresting to bad prose this month and reading the first few chapters of Bianca Torre I knew it would be another one of those. Before anyone tells me it's YA prose, I can promise you that there are well written YA books. I am afraid I am making it sound worse than it is. in truth, it's not good or enjoyable, but it's not *bad*. Younger teenagers will probably not be bothered by it, but due to the book centring an 18-years
old, I am expecting this book's audience to be older.
Side note: this one paragraph below really made me laugh in cringe.
"The kitchen itself would be enough to make my dad cry. She has two
ovens and an island with a standing mixer!
And an espresso machine.
Wow, Jillian is living the life."
The book opens up with Bianca going to her birdwatching group. We are introduced to a bunch of characters, including the obvious love interest (I am sorry it was two weeks ago. I don't remember much about her except the fact that she's pan. I don't believe she was memorable at all). Then Bianca goes home, spies on their neighbors, and see one of them get killed. The death is later ruled as a suicide, but Bianca knows it's not and decides to investigate with their friends while at the same time juggling with school. I quickly got disinterested in the mystery plot. There was the cool concept of the murderer with a plague mask, but nothing kept me interested. There are a lot of storylines (murder mystery, Bianca's gender identity and going to support groups, a little love story, school, and college application) in this book, and while some of them converged, it did feel like some of them could have been cut or reduced to let the others shine.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the depiction of Bianca's anxiety and how it impacts their budding romance. It felt very realistic and even comforting to see them struggle with all of this. As I have said the love interest was not really memorable and more a prop for Bianca to work through their fears about dating.
Now, the nonbinary lesbian part. Let me first say that other nonbinary lesbian reviewers have really appreciated it, and therefore, I am not here to say it is not "valid". I am not here to say the representation was bad because there is not one way to be a nonbinary lesbian. I just wish we could have some more insight from Bianca on certain things. Being nonbinary and a lesbian is controversial those days. While the exact label is new, this intersection of lesbianism and transness has a long history in the lesbian community. I was disappointed that the book brushes off the tension between the labels really quickly and we never learn what this intersection of labels means for Bianca. Again not saying it’s bad but it seemed like a missed opportunity that could have given us more insight into Bianca’s complex understanding of their gender (since this is a central theme of the book).
The pacing of Bianca's gender journey felt strange, but I assume this is how some people experience it? Bianca expresses feelings of feminine inadequation a couple times before suddenly thinking "what if i am nonbinary" queue a scene listing nonbinary identities like a wiki. This scene was a bit abrupt, but I feel like this is due to the writing and introduction of this specific scene. But again all my issues about this book come back to the writing so I should stop myself before a rant.
Now the resolution. I assume it was meant to be comical to cover up the predictable. And it was funny and made the book way more worth engaging with. I wish that this absurd tone would have been more present in the rest of the book because while the author managed to make me smile, it did feel out of place with the established grim murder mystery.
No one is more disappointed writing this review than me. Bianca Torre Is Afraid of Everything was one of my most anticipated reads of 2023. Openly advertised as having a nonbinary lesbian protagonist (not the first in YA though, that's the Scapegracers but one of the dew traditionally published ones), it was also described as a mystery with a lot of bird stuff. I am a nonbinary lesbian, I like a good mystery and I like birds, what could go wrong? Well, I opened this book, and I knew something wouldn't click between us. I had already read several books with uninteresting to bad prose this month and reading the first few chapters of Bianca Torre I knew it would be another one of those. Before anyone tells me it's YA prose, I can promise you that there are well written YA books. I am afraid I am making it sound worse than it is. in truth, it's not good or enjoyable, but it's not *bad*. Younger teenagers will probably not be bothered by it, but due to the book centring an 18-years
old, I am expecting this book's audience to be older.
Side note: this one paragraph below really made me laugh in cringe.
"The kitchen itself would be enough to make my dad cry. She has two
ovens and an island with a standing mixer!
And an espresso machine.
Wow, Jillian is living the life."
The book opens up with Bianca going to her birdwatching group. We are introduced to a bunch of characters, including the obvious love interest (I am sorry it was two weeks ago. I don't remember much about her except the fact that she's pan. I don't believe she was memorable at all). Then Bianca goes home, spies on their neighbors, and see one of them get killed. The death is later ruled as a suicide, but Bianca knows it's not and decides to investigate with their friends while at the same time juggling with school. I quickly got disinterested in the mystery plot. There was the cool concept of the murderer with a plague mask, but nothing kept me interested. There are a lot of storylines (murder mystery, Bianca's gender identity and going to support groups, a little love story, school, and college application) in this book, and while some of them converged, it did feel like some of them could have been cut or reduced to let the others shine.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the depiction of Bianca's anxiety and how it impacts their budding romance. It felt very realistic and even comforting to see them struggle with all of this. As I have said the love interest was not really memorable and more a prop for Bianca to work through their fears about dating.
Now, the nonbinary lesbian part. Let me first say that other nonbinary lesbian reviewers have really appreciated it, and therefore, I am not here to say it is not "valid". I am not here to say the representation was bad because there is not one way to be a nonbinary lesbian. I just wish we could have some more insight from Bianca on certain things. Being nonbinary and a lesbian is controversial those days. While the exact label is new, this intersection of lesbianism and transness has a long history in the lesbian community. I was disappointed that the book brushes off the tension between the labels really quickly and we never learn what this intersection of labels means for Bianca. Again not saying it’s bad but it seemed like a missed opportunity that could have given us more insight into Bianca’s complex understanding of their gender (since this is a central theme of the book).
The pacing of Bianca's gender journey felt strange, but I assume this is how some people experience it? Bianca expresses feelings of feminine inadequation a couple times before suddenly thinking "what if i am nonbinary" queue a scene listing nonbinary identities like a wiki. This scene was a bit abrupt, but I feel like this is due to the writing and introduction of this specific scene. But again all my issues about this book come back to the writing so I should stop myself before a rant.
Now the resolution. I assume it was meant to be comical to cover up the predictable. And it was funny and made the book way more worth engaging with. I wish that this absurd tone would have been more present in the rest of the book because while the author managed to make me smile, it did feel out of place with the established grim murder mystery.
March 13, 2024
I really want to know how the author came up with this plot
October 18, 2022
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.
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.
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