This book has my heart. I didn’t really know what this book was about going in — and I’d recommend you do the same. Every book I’ve read by Adrienne Young has been pure magic and The Unmaking of June Farrow was no different.

I don’t want to spoil anything — but I highly recommend this one!

There’s magic and mystery and romance and I fell in love with everything about it.

I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.

Oh I wanted to like this so much, and I didn't. The first 25% was amazing. A little atmospheric, a little poetic and beautiful Southern vibes. But then the rest of the book was a slog for me, and I kept getting Esther and Margaret confused...and one of the big twists wasn't a surprise at all. The other big twist was nice, but not worth the time I spent reading this.

June Farrow knows her family has a curse, but she doesn't know what. There's a preacher who was murdered in the 1950s, and June feels some kind of connection to him. June gets a mysterious letter that tells her to walk through a red door when she sees it, and to trust her. She sees it, walls through, And then June ends up in 1950 with a husband and daughter. And then a bunch of people don't tell June all the facts and she's very confused, and then she solves the mystery because people finally tell her stuff. The end.

Adrienne Young does it again. Another gorgeously written book about the meaning of family and love and the lengths we'd go to to protect those we care about most. All the stars.

I was super excited when I saw that Adrienne Young was coming out with another book this year. And adult fantasy, at that! As much as I enjoyed some of her earlier YA work, I’ve really enjoyed the turn her writing has taken lately toward adult fantasy, especially of the sort where the fantasy elements are largely in the background of a story more focused on characters, relationships, and mysteries. “Spells of Forgetting” was one of my favorite reads last year, and this one sounded very much like it was up the same alley!

I don’t think I can avoid minor spoilers when talking about this book, but it’s really only a “spoiler” in the sense that the official book summary doesn’t lay it all out there. Any quick perusal of Goodreads will reveal this. But if you’re really vigilant, I’m going to try to discuss quickly at the top the absolutely non-spoiler-y things and then get into the rest towards the end.

And the first non-spoiler fact is that I loved this book! It had a lot of similar features to “Spells for Forgetting” and they worked just as well this time around. Namely, Young’s talent for writing compelling, nuanced, and sympathetic characters. This talent extends beyond her ability to write great leading ladies and romantic interests, but also to the side characters and villains that populate her world. This book, in particular, did some great work with these side characters. By the nature of the story, we see several versions of these characters, and it was fascinating to piece together these pieces of their histories and how they interacted with those around them.

I also liked the mysteries at the heart of this story. There were several, including the truth behind the strange curse/mental illness that afflicts June’s family, as well as the disappearance of June’s mother, and a long-ago, unsolved cold case of the town’s preacher. All of these various mysteries wove in and out of one another, and even as you uncover a portion of the truth from one mystery, it simply adds another layer of unknowns to the remaining questions. I was able to piece together a few bits fairly early on, but there were definitely other reveals that took me by surprise. Depending on your sleuthing abilities, there was a fairly large twist that came late in the game that was actually so monumental that I wish the story had lingered over it a bit longer even than it did.

I also really liked the romance at the heart of this story. The love story is a slow-burn style romance, with much of the book carefully detailing June’s connection to the complicated man she meets after going through the door. Due to the nature of how they meet and the mystery of the door, this relationship faces several deep-seated conflicts built into the very core of who each character is. In my opinion, this is the best sort of love story, one that explores the personal arcs of each individual alongside the burgeoning romance building between them.

And now to the spoiler (sort of??) aspect of the review. Again, I don’t think this is a real spoiler as it’s revealed very early in the book and is commonly referenced in reviews. But the door that appears is in fact a time travel portal, allowing the Farrow women to move backwards and forwards through time. Overall, I really liked the way this conceit was worked into the story. It was explained and given parameters to a certain degree, but Young also didn’t get bogged down into a lengthy description of magic systems and space/time continuums. It is very much a tool at the service of the more character-driven story that makes up the heart of the book. And while I was reading, it was easy enough to simply go with the flow, as I was fully caught up in the stakes of June’s own story. That said, after I finished the book, there were some niggling bits of confusion and questions that began to bother me. On one hand, I think it’s really, really hard to write a time travel book that doesn’t lead to inevitable questions about how it could all possible work. But the resolution of this book specifically is clearly meant to build to some greater point about how this specific example of time travel works, and I’m not sure it was fully successful in that regard. There were some lingering questions about whether the late game actions of characters really would accomplish what we were told they would.

Beyond that, I also questioned the initial premise a bit, that the Farrow women would understand the give and take of using the door and still continue to use it as they did. We’re told simply “they couldn’t resist, ultimately,” but I feel like this simplistic explanation actually does a massive disservice to the very nature of the complicated, nuanced characters that Young is known for creating. People don’t just do things, all of them making the same choice simply because, and one of Young’s strengths as a writer is her exploration of these differences between how and why people do what they do. This is a fairly minor complaint, but it did stand out at me, mostly because it is so out of step with the rest of the character exploration and explanation that we’re given. And, necessarily, it’s at the heart of much of the Farrow story, over the decades.

But while I did have lingering questions and quibbles, I can’t emphasize enough how much none of this bothered my actual reading experience. And even with these questions, I think the exploration of family, history, and the deep connections formed with those who make up our lives was so expertly done that I have no qualms recommending this to almost anyone, especially those who enjoy character-driven stories and slow-burn romances.

Rating 8: Atmospheric and lyrical, Adrienne Young does it again, painting a story of a long line of women whose lives weave in and out of one another’s creating a beautiful tapestry of love and mystery.

Link will go live Oct 7

I’ve heard such great things about this author, that I was so excited to finally read one of her books. Maybe it wasn’t the right timing for my to read this book or I wasn’t in the right state of mind. I couldn’t connect to the characters or story. I will definitely try to reread it in the future

This was such a beautiful and emotional story. I feel like not very much can be said without giving anything away and ultimately taking away from the enjoyment of reading it. Not that this extremely complex and layered plot could be effectively summarized anyway.

I was extremely emotionally invested in the characters, the plot twists, the atmosphere. It reads like a small town mystery/romance and just seems to have that extra layer of fantasy/ magical realism. There is time travel, and if there is one thing about me, it's that time travel will confuse me a little bit. Which this did. There were a lot of rules and timelines and dates to think about. You sort of unravel the world and the story as June does, and it creates a really mind-bending and unique experience.

I really loved this, I think the only thing that really kept it from being 5 stars is my own personal preferences. I feel like some things were left unexplored and some things about the world and magic that I still don't understand even after finishing the book. Overall, I'm really glad I picked it up and I think a lot of people will absolutely fall in love with this story.

My brain is melting a little bit, but it's okay because this book was mind-blowingly good! I enjoyed every second of it. If you like time-travel, intergenerational relationships, and a good mystery then you'll love this too.

Short Synopsis:
The Farrow women are cursed. Eventually they all go mad. It’s what led to June’s mother disappearance. June now has started seeing and hearing things - a mysterious door, a voice calling her name, etc. June eventually opens the door and learns the secrets of her family.

My Thoughts:
This book gave me the biggest heart squeeze. It was pain achingly beautiful. Everything was connected so perfectly. It’s a book that kept me up at night because I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

It’s a book that covers a spam of genres - magical realism, romance, mystery, historical fiction

And the writing. I just want this lyrical writing in everything I read.

Read if You Like:
🚪 Magical Realism
🚪 Time traveling romances
🚪 Lyrical/atmospheric writing
🚪 The most heart squeezing romance
🚪 To feel all the things
🚪 Books such as The Magic of Lemon Drop Pie or The Seven Year Slip

I absolutely loved this. The atmospheric writing was everything but the concept of this book was just so so good. I love a good time travel sci go book and this did not disappoint. There was a twist near the end that I did not see coming at all and it absolutely blew me away.

This book has a little bit of everything: romance, time travel, fantasy, magical realism, mystery, murder, family bonds, a long line of magical women. And I couldn't put it down. I read this in less than 24 hours because I was hooked. It wasn't anything like what I expected. It was atmospheric and compelling and well-written and a little mystical.

And it was so close to being a 5 star book, but I think the end felt a little rushed. I would have really liked it if June had been able to get some closure with Mason because that aspect of the plot felt a little unfinished. But the rest of the book was just really good. Would definitely recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this ARC.

4.5 ⭐️
1 🌶️

This is a small-town murder mystery infused with magical realism. There is also an unconventional second chance romance that is so sweet and tender. I recommend going into this blind because I loved the way everything in this supernatural story unfolded.

There is a known curse that affects the women in June Farrow's family, causing them all to go mad over time. Her own mother was unraveling and simply disappeared one day, abandoning her as an infant.

The story begins when June is burying her beloved grandmother who raised her. Already, she is seeing and hearing things: a man’s silhouette that follows her around, blood that is not really there, music when the radio is not playing, an ominous red door that calls to her. As she receives strange clues from an unknown source about what really happened to her parents, June learns that maybe she is not really going crazy, and there may be a way to break the curse after all 🚪

The writing was beautiful, atmospheric, and mind-bending as the mysteries unfolded. I could really see the environments through the gifted storytelling. The characters felt real and were lovable. Themes of love and family were wonderfully explored, as well as re-learning to love a partner who feels like a stranger and how far we would go for the ones we love.

This was such a captivating reading experience for me, and I just had to know what happened. I enjoyed the revelations as they unfolded, and although I did suspect certain outcomes, it didn't ruin the experience for me at all.

Definitely recommend as a great fall read! 🍁

This story was enchantingly beautiful. I feel that this book will be able to appeal to so many different readers because it so elegantly mixes genres and interests. You get fantasy/sci-fi, romance, mystery, murder, family relationships/ found family. Just so many amazing pieces to this book. The characters are written so well that I feel like I truly knew them. It definitely kept me interested and wanting to figure out what is going on. But it’s isn’t extremely fast paced with lots of crazy twists. It goes at more of a lived-in rate, like you really are experiencing this all happening with her. But there were still moments when I was reading faster because of the suspense. Such a heartbreaking and heartwarming story at the same time. I finished this a couple days ago and still cannot stop thinking about the characters and the setting.
I highly recommend this book for people who love cozy, atmospheric fantasy with a dash of mystery and of course, romance.

Loved how this had a witchy and "The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue" vibes. I really enjoyed the idea of this book and the characters and how their was such a build up. But then when it concluded I still felt like I was missing pieces! The lead up was great, like trying to solve a mystery but the timeline of the time traveling confused me a bit and I wanted more between the main character and their love interest.

I love going into books blind and this is one that I absolutely recommend doing it for! The writing is beautiful and the story flowed effortlessly. The romance was slow burn and crushed my heart so many times. This is not a fast paced story, but one that takes its time and builds on emotion and mystery. This plot is so complex and intricate. At one point I gave myself a headache trying to logically figure out certain aspects of the story. I then decided to just hang on for the ride and it worked out beautifully. I finished the book happy while also in shock.

Now for some honesty… I almost DNFed this book. The beginning of the book has a darkness to it that I was unsure about. The main character sees things and it’s known that insanity runs in her family. Thankfully this is explained early on (about 1/4 way in) and it wasn’t as “spooky” as it seemed. Another thing I didn’t like was the anti Christian sentiments throughout the book. The main character and her family look down on the church and the “hypocritical” Christians. This is a secular book and the anti Christian sentiments are light, but it’s something to be aware of.

Overall this was a great read. The story was so captivating and was hard to put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishes for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

May I kindly ask that you don’t read a synopsis on what this book is about and just read it, allowing it to unfold before your eyes. It is beautifully written and mysterious. I was so intrigued after a few chapters that I cannot put it down until I was finished. And when it was done I was like oh that is a great book.

This book was outside of my comfort zone, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Themes of strong women, enigmatic small towns and love that transcends time and space.

Very emotional and a real tearjerker.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received a copy of this arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review

What?!?! What the what?!?! My mind! My mouth keeps making jumbo. Oh wow. So good and propulsive and twisty and my brain hurts for the excitement. Sounds like an exaggeration but when you read this you’ll know.

The Farrow women are very special and June is no exception. When the red door appears to her, even though she knows there could be severe consequences (look at her grandmother who slowly lost her mind from having gone through) she crosses that threshold because her desire for answers is just too strong. There were quite a few times I wanted to pick this book up and throw it. June gets really frustrated as the people she knows who have answers refuse to answer her questions. It was killllllling me. But what I didn’t connect was that this was completely on purpose. The author wants you just as frazzled, just as lost as June. Hot dang was I confused. But in the absolute best way because…oh just go read it. I’m not taking the chance of ruining it for you. Grab this book and walk through that red door my bookish friend.

I’ve always been a fan of Adrienne and jumped at the chance to read this book early. Adrienne doesn’t disappoint with this new book.
We follow June Farrow and her journey to discover what happened to her mother who left her as a child and hasn’t been seen since while trying to discover why the female Farrow of her family line all to lose their minds.
I absolutely adore the way she writes this story. I immediately was hooked with the journey our main character goes through. I found myself racing though the pages in search for answers. Right along there with June as the shocking truths come to light. That’s the key to a great book in my opinion. Her writing reminds me of floating down a slowly moving River. One minute it’s enchanting you with the story building but In a few pages the River is raging,churning and dragging you at a breathtaking speed.
I absolutely adored this book more than i thought I would. It made my heart race, smile, cry and rejoice.
I literally can’t think of a fault in this book. It is one my favorite reads of the year
Thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for the ARC of this book. My review is a honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.


This book was perfection. I can’t and won’t stop thinking about it. The writing was captivating and cinematic from start to finish. I did not want to stop reading because I was fully invested the whole way through and wanted to know what happens next after each chapter.

The book is about June Farrow and the women in her family, who are cursed in an interesting way that you’ll want to find out as you read, so I’m not going to get into it. June is essentially trying to piece together her family’s past to learn more about the disappearance of her mother. Every step of the way you are discovering something with June, and ultimately unraveling with her.

So many shocking twists and revelations occurs throughout the book and it will leave you emotionally unwell in the best way. This is truly one of my favorite reads this year and I look forward to reading more from Adrienne Young.

WORDS CANNOT DESCRIBE MY LOVE FOR THIS BOOK. So good. I needed some time before reviewing just to soak it in.

Each time I recommend it to someone (aka everyone), I've struggled to provide a spoil-free description, but I'll try.

It focuses on the Farrow women, specifically June Farrow. She's the latest in a long line of Farrow women- each of whom are cursed with a mysterious madness. Raised by her grandmother after this madness leads to her mother's disappearance, June lives in fear of the madness coming for her.

When she starts to experience the signs of this madness, she decides to end the curse- no matter the cost.

What comes from her investigation and determination, I never would have expected. Her journey focuses on the past and the present, timeless love, family loyalty, and mysteries unraveled.

Sometimes books pull on personal heart strings in an unexpected way. I'll admit, this book hit me in a personal way and that greatly impacted my love for it, but even if you don't have a weird personal connection, this book is fabulous. Well-written, memorable characters, and a clever plot. I loved it and I can't recommend it enough.