This is one of those that I will be thinking about for a long time. I literally could not sleep about after I finished this book because my head was spinning and my heart was breaking. It is amazing the emotional punch this story packs in the relatively short amount of time you spend with the characters. It is atmospheric, twisty, and beautifully devastating. I am already looking forward to re-reading this one. Thank you NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Delacorte Press for the advanced copy.

I actually read and recommended (and LOVED) this book about a month ago and it’s now one of my favs of the year!

*4.5 stars rounded up*

June Farrow is determined that her family line (& curse) ends with her - but what if she can manage to fix things without dying?

June was taken in by her grandmother after her mother mysteriously disappeared when she was an infant - nobody in the small town of Jasper thought much of it since the Farrow women have always gone mad at some point or another in their lives. Thirty-plus years later, June is an adult essentially treading water as she waits for her own “madness” to descend - she has a few special people in her life, but besides working for the family flower farm & caring for her aging Gran, she’s decided not to do much else: & to definitely not break anyone’s heart by falling in love. However new clues come to light in the wake of her grandmother’s passing, & it may take diving deep into what she thought were hallucinations to find the truth…

I loved the setting of this book, the Adeline River was a gorgeous & treacherous backdrop to June’s story, & her family’s gift with flowers was also a fun detail. This is the first time I’ve read anything from this author, & her way of portraying the intensity & complexity of motherhood was both genuine & heartfelt. While reading this book I was frustrated anytime something pulled me away - I NEEDED answers, that’s how much June’s saga drew me in. An epic combination of genres with the vibes of Alix E. Harrow’s The Ten Thousand Doors of January, this is the kind of story people will want to fall into again & again.

Thank you to NetGalley & Delacorte Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

June Farrow just buried her beloved grandmother. She is now the last Farrow left alive and she intends to keep it that way to stop the curse that has led all the women in her family to lose their minds right before death. As she slowly starts to see things that aren't there and hear things that no one else can, she gets a letter from her grandmother that opens up a complex mystery that might just hold the key to helping her. But can June open herself up to the unknown in order to take the steps she needs?

This was one of those books that I wasn't sure about when it first started. There are more questions than answers, starting with June at a very low point. I honestly considered stopping to come back to it when I was in the mood for drama because it had the feel of being a major downer. However, it picks up and pulls you in with a story about connections, decisions, and sacrifice. It does have a hefty dose of drama, but it's worth it for how wonderfully Young tells the story.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the touching read!

I'm a huge fan of Adrienne and she has yet to disappoint me. I know, it's like I'm asking for trouble but this was such an amazing book.

There are so many things going on in this book and Young can weave the story so beautifully. June is from a long line of "cursed" women. Her grandmother has just died and left some cryptic clues for her. She starts to unravel the past and the journey she's taken on is wild. As she's learning about her past, she's starting to realize things are not at all what she's been told/knows. I found the murder mystery was woven into the story in such a natural way too. The atmosphere that Young created made you feel like you were living it.

I loved June and her story. I don't want to get into the plot too much because there's a lot of things I don't want to spoil. Just trust me that it is never boring and the writing keeps you so immersed that you don't want to stop. This did take me a while to read but because you have to take your time with it. It's not a bad thing, just know you need to read at a slower pace. There are a little for everyone with a love story, murder mystery, and some magical realism throughout the story.

Overall, this was a great book. I think this is a story that I'm going to remember for a long time. It's such a beautifully written book with details that will stay with you. It's one of Young's strongest books to date. I cannot wait to see what she does next!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for an e-galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was ok. I had a hard time getting into/staying into it. The timeline aspect was a little confusing.

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW is easily one of my top books for the year. I didn’t know what to expect of this one going in, other than a small town and perhaps some magical realism. What I got instead was a beautiful story of love that crosses space and time. Young really excels at writing small town stories that absorb you and make you feel as if you’re a part of them. Throughout this story, I felt the heat right alongside Eamon as he burned the fields, I felt that hot country air as I drove down through the empty roads right alongside June, and I felt the oddness and the strangeness of feeling as if I’ve seen it all before, without knowing how.

The characters in this story were really the highlight for me. This was packed with so much emotion, you could really feel it on such a visceral level. Eamon’s love for his June, June’s love for a child she barely knows, the heartbreak (and subsequent joy) when the big picture is slowly revealed. This is a story of joy and hope and love at its core, but it breaks your heart several times over in the process of getting to that joy and hope and love.

The overall plot of this one was absolutely spectacular. I had no idea what to expect other than a curse upon the Farrow women. Curses are fantastic enough, but this particular curse just blew me away. Curse sounds so simple, and this was anything but. I would caution against reading any in-depth reviews because this is a story best left to unfold without many details. This one is a bit of a slow-starter, but I promise you it’s worth it. 5 glorious stars.


*Digital arc received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

Absolutely adored this book. A bit of romance, mystery, sci fi even and so much heart. I love Adrienne 's writing style and the magical realism in her stories. Always so beautiful and mesmerizing.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with an eARC of The Unmaking of June Farrow in exchange for my honest review!

This is my first time reading any of Adrienne Young's work, and I must say that I had a riveting experience here. The time-travel trope is always something that will hook me just a bit more deeply into a story, so that helps. But it's the touching narrative of this book itself that fully pulls me in, getting me invested in June, her family, and the time-bending mystery surrounding them. Now, there are some beats that do leave me somewhat puzzled in regard to the time-travel logic, but they don't overwhelm the rest of the tale. Its main priority isn't tightly told time travel that's full of twists and turns; it's the people at the core of this story and the relationships they all share. In addition, I admire how this offers up thematic coverage for misogyny, religious bigotry, and the ease with which the public can dismiss mentally struggling women.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Unmaking of June Farrow 3.75 out of 5 stars, which I'll round up to 4 stars. I'll be interested in reading more of Young's work.

I really enjoy Adrienne Young’s story writing. I think the writing kept me interested me more than the plot in The Unmaking of June Farrow. She really knows how to write captivating spellbinding women in her stories. However, something was missing or lacking for me. I feel like there was so much more to explore with the timelines and it left me with a lot of questions.

I could not put this book down. I wanted to drop every other obligation in my life and sit and read. This was such a magical story with a unique take on a time traveling plot. I became so emotionally invested in these characters and my heart was in my throat while reading.

The descriptions of rural small town North Carolina were incredibly vivid and I felt like I had jumped onto the page.

I look forward to reading more by this author.

I was really nervous to read this book. Spells For Forgetting by Adrienne Young was one of my favorite books of 2022, and I wasn’t sure this one would live up to that one. Well…I was wrong! This book was written so well, and Young has become an auto buy author for me for sure! I loved her young adult Fable series, but her adult novels are written so beautifully that I can’t say enough about them.

I struggle with magical realism, but Young has a way of writing them that her readers will be immediately immersed in the story. I honestly can’t say how much this story moved me. Without giving much of the story away, I can only say I loved the setting once June walked through the door and into the past. The family ties were perfect, and figuring out who certain people were in her future life was almost like reading a thriller and figuring out the big twist. This book was a mash up of genres, and I’m all for that!

I listened to the audiobook thanks to PRH Audio, and Brittany Pressley did a beautiful job bringing June’s story to life. Her quiet tone was perfect for this story, and her emotions had me feeling all the feels. Well done for sure, and I highly recommend listening to this one!

If you’re looking to try a different genre, then this book is for you. It has romance, mystery, fantasy, and historical fiction all wrapped up in one lovely and moving story. This was my favorite read in November, and I can’t wait to see what Young comes up with next! Thank you @reading_with_jon for buddy reading this one with me!

Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Holy cow it's so good!! This was an amazing book and so well written. I loved the characters and couldn't put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and Adrienne Young!

In the quaint mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow, from the cursed Farrow lineage, seeks to unravel her family's centuries-old enigma and uncover her mother's vanishing. A year marked by peculiar occurrences propels June towards her fate. Haunted by the past, she's determined to break the curse, even at the cost of forsaking love and a family of her own. Following her grandmother's passing, cryptic clues about her mother's disappearance surface, leading her to a mysterious door. As she steps beyond, June's journey unfolds, reshaping her past, and future, and kindling a profound, star-crossed romance in Adrienne Young's unforgettable tale, "The Unmaking of June Farrow."

The Unmaking of June Farrow was unlike anything I had read before. It seamlessly blends genres throughout in a way that I can’t explain without spoiling the plot. While at times the story can be a bit slow and difficult to navigate, I promise that all the pieces come together in the end. I alternated between reading and listening to the audiobook and I would recommend both!

The story follows June in the wake of her grandmother’s death. She starts having visions and believes she’s going crazy, following the curse that has affected generations of Farrow women. I loved June as a character. She’s headstrong but just wants to do right by her friends and family.

What I love about Adrienne Young’s writing is her ability to weave a compelling plot with completely atmospheric writing. I sat outside and read this one in the twilight with a warm cup of tea and it created such a cozy experience. It’s the perfect fall read.

I highly recommend The Unmaking of June Farrow to fans of atmospheric mysteries! Thank you to @delecortepress, @netgalley, and @prhaudio for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The Unmaking of June Farrow was such a lovely read to escape reality for just a little bit. With a similar voice to Alice Hoffman, Adrienne Young creates a beautiful world filled with strong women, curses meant to be broken, time traveling, and the beauty and magic of love in many forms. I absolutely adored it!

4⭐️

This book is absolutely fantastic. It drew me in from the start. I actually haven't read many books like this. It was a breath of fresh air. It featured main characters in their 30s while staying fairly low spice. It was a thriller/mystery with time travel elements.

This book reminded me of Kindred (without the trauma of slavery) and Time Traveler's Wife. I liked that the reader and female main character learned together as the story went along.

The romantic subplot was very well done. I just loved them. These were adult characters who behaved like adults. I loved how the story was built and how the puzzle pieces fit together. The plotting and pacing were *chef's kiss*.

Tropes:
Forced Proximity
Mystery
Abandoned baby raised by grandmother
Murder
Mental Health difficulties

Content Warning: it does have mature scenes (sans clothing), but it's done very tastefully I would say. I typically skip all spice as a general rule, but this book focused more on the feelings than overly explicit. One f-word that I remembered. Murder, attempted murder in front of young children.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.

I don’t even know what to say about The Unmaking of June Farrow. Was it a little confusing? Yes. Books about time usually are [for me]. Did I love it? Emphatically, yes! I will recommend this to so many people because it was extremely enjoyable.

I have been seeing conversation lately about “show, don’t tell” writing on TikTok and I think this book and Young’s writing is a really good example of this kind of writing. Spoiler-free example: “It was like hearing a sound and being unable to tell which direction it was coming from.” I loooved that line! I knew exactly what Young was trying to convey there.

As far as the plot/story goes, I don’t know how to describe it. I saw a reviewer on IG say it’s best to go in knowing nothing and I will echo that sentiment here. Just read it. It’s good, I promise. 5/5 from me. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Unmaking of June Farrow.

“The next time you see the door, open it.”

June Farrow's life is spiraling. Her grandmother has passed, she's starting to see and hear things, and she believes the curse is finally coming for her as it does all the women in her family. I've been haunted by this beautiful story since I finished it days ago. Adrienne Young captured my attention right away and I could not put this novel down. I stayed up entirely too late, desperate to know what was really going on, and I look forward to reading this again to see what I missed the first time. I absolutely adored June and the many characters we meet throughout her unique journey through time.

I'm struggling to review this without spoiling anything so I'm going to stop here, but I highly recommend this beautiful story. I can't wait to read her other books if they are lovely as this one. Anyone who enjoys realistic fantasy with romance, suspense and mystery should definitely read this immediately. Young kept me guessing the entire time and while I'm sad it's over, she wrapped this story up perfectly!

I greatly enjoyed this book! I found Adrienne Young to be great at the prose and thought about the characters often while not actively reading the book! I do feel like this book is very general fiction and not so much magic realism or fantasy. While the ending wrapped up nicely, I was a bit confused.

I was a little hesitant to begin this one solely based on the fact that it revolved around time travel. It drives me bonkers when there are huge plot holes due to time travel, or the author makes you feel dumb because you don't understand the "science" behind time travel. Let me tell you. This book was beautiful. I understood the time travel aspects. I loved the mystery. I loved how we were able to start fitting pieces of the puzzle together while June was. The setting was perfect for the story. So excuse me while I start a flower farm while looking for a red door!