Loved all of the queer representation and different relationships (romantic, platonic and familial) that were explored in this book. I love how Camila grows as a character and works through her own insecurities and anxiety through out the book, and framing it with the tarot cards was really fun. The supporting cast of characters ( and dogs!) rounded out the story and helped Camila to grow and accept herself, while challenging herself to take responsibility for her mistakes in relationships.

After her first queer summer fling gone wrong, Camila Nuñez is ready to turn 16 and have a better year. But on her birthday, her best friend Cindy gives her a tarot reading, and predicts a horrible year to come.

Camila is anxious about the future, another new relationship, her parent’s marriage, and her best friend’s new relationship. Navigating her 16th year might just be the toughest test yet.

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This was a perfect YA story. The anxiety rep, specifically with Camila and her relationships with others, was spot on. I felt like I was reading about my own teenage feelings, and I just know if I had read this as a teen I would have felt so seen.

The characters and the storyline had depth, and the queer rep was fantastic. Even though the book is spread out through an entire year, the pacing of the plot was expertly done and I cannot believe this is a debut book. 100/10 I love this book so much.

Thank you so much to Page Street YA for the eARC AND the physical ARC!

What I Liked: This book opens by introducing you to Camila as she is spending her summer out in Miami with her mom's side of the family. During this time, she meets Sonia, her cousin's boyfriend's sibling, and gets into a tumultuous relationship with her. Because Camila isn't out to any of her extended family, she has to keep this relationship under wraps and can't go to any of them for assistance in navigating this. This one relationship and the way it all unravels frames the rest of the story and how Camila navigates future relationships.

It was important that this book open with Camila's experience with Sonia as that highlights the impact that one negative relationship can have on someone. As you continue reading, this book feels as if you are gaining access to someone's diary as a lot of the thoughts you read are Camila's innermost private thoughts. The nature of the writing makes you feel like Camila is a friend that you are rooting for the enter duration of the book.

For Camila's birthday, Cindy, her best friend, gives her a tarot deck and they pull out tarot cards for the year. The tarot cards don't have a good future predicted for Camila and she instantly starts worrying about what these cards have in store. As you continue reading the anxiety keeps building up in you and you start wondering how these tarot cards are going to play out in Camila's life. The author does an amazing job of transferring the feelings that Camila has regarding the anticipation of the tarot card results into the reader as you share some of Camila's anxiety.

The anxiety representation throughout this book is accurate and relatable. As someone who has suffered with general anxiety the majority of my whole life, I was able to see my experiences reflected in Camila's journey. The negative consequences that Camila's anxiety has on her relationships are accurate portrayals of how anxiety can overtake someone's life.

There is a really strong and powerful moment with Camila and her grandma in which she expresses to her about how you should find something that gives you hope and not makes you fearful. It is in this conversation that Camila also comes out to her grandma and expresses her concern about her reaction because of her religion. Camila's grandma shares that God would want her to love all his creatures and she will love and support Camila as long as she is happy. Both of these conversations reinforce the relationship that I believe one should have with religion, it is not something to fear but something that you lean on for hope.

Final Verdict: Camila Nunez's Year of Disasters provides a great representation of the way anxiety can rule a person's life and the importance of letting others help you navigate life with anxiety. This book is great for young adults who are trying to figure life out or who are struggling with feelings of anxiety, self-esteem, and more.