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donnakay 's review for:

Camila Núñez's Year of Disasters by Miriam Zoila Pérez
4.0
emotional hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you, Page Street publishing and Colored Pages Book Tours, for the gifted copy.

This novel is an awesome look at life as a teenager, coming of age in the midst of angst, young love, toxic relationships, identity exploration, uncertainty about the future, and anxiety. We meet Camilla, as she interacts with her family and their rich Cuban heritage, al the while feeling bogged down by her overactive mind. She has a lot of anxiety and insecurities about herself, and the experience of dating as a teenager does not make it easier. Coupled with a sometimes messy friendship and an uncertainty about her extended family accepting her sexuality, Camilla is spiraling.

I truly enjoyed this story and the various representations that were given voice. One of my favorite aspects was the therapy sessions that Camilla engaged to address her feelings and learning to manage her anxiety. I love that this book wasn't a fairytale, but rather, it addressed a lot of realistic situations/ issues and gave healthy responses. I loved that Camilla was able to learn and grow from her experiences, and everything was not magically fixed by the end of the novel. The characters felt like real people, and I think this is a book that teens can enjoy while seeing themselves and learning a thing or two.