The Unmaking of June Farrow
by Adrienne Young

5/5: ⭐
1/5 : 🌶

The Unmaking of June Farrow is a magical realism contemporary fiction novel. There's romance, mystery, and thriller elements. June is the latest (and currently the last) in a long line of Farrow women who are cursed. After her grandmother's death, June begins to unravel the mystery and madness surrounding her family. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give anything away.

The writing is gorgeous and the story is inventive. I was completely immersed in the world that Young created. This is definitely on my recommend-to-everyone list.

This book is so good! I love June and could really relate to her character. The story made me feel every emotion, even if I didn't want to feel some of them! It was so good!

The Unmaking of June Farrow was truly spellbinding. Captivating from beginning to end, Adrienne Young wrote a creative and mysterious novel about a 30 something girl who is at a crossroads of which direction she wants her life to go, while also coming face to face with her family curse. I was sucked in from the first page and didn’t put it down until long after it ended. Loved this novel that transcends time so beautifully.

Ever since I read Spells For Forgetting I knew I was a fan!! This book is definitely in my top 3 favorite books of the year!!

June Farrow is a 34 year old woman who feels like she doesn’t belong in her time. She has weird stuff happening to her and the only one who has the answers was her grandmother who passed…or so June thought. June also keeps having strange memories and she has seen the red door more than once. June also knows that whatever lays beyond that red door will change her life forever!!!

I absolutely loved this book!! It was mesmerizing, enchanting, and whimsical. It gave practical magic vibes with a back to the future twist. It was magical!!

Literally just finished this ARC and had to immediately write a review. June is a complex, relatable character. Her story is fascinating, heartwarming and sad. This story has time travel, redemption, love, a solid mystery...what more could you want?

As with any novel by Adrienne young, it has such a unique feel! I love the way this book just hits right. Especially sitting on the porch in the dark in a cool night with a storm brewing. This novel is just the best kind…I love how we are brought into this story and just relate to our heroine the whole time. I was in suspense the whole book! Totally surprised many times. Definitely a read!!!! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC!!

4.5 stars rounded down. The Unmaking of June Farrow is my first book by Adrienne Young. She's a pretty hyped author on bookstagram, and after reading The Unmaking, I totally understand why. The writing itself was sensational. It was descriptive and poetic and flowy and even a little bit haunting. Though the story itself doesn't necessarily take place in Fall, but Young set the stage for a perfect Fall read. Tis the season for magical realism after all. The reason this gets 4 instead of 5 stars is probably down to personal preference. Time travel stories can be a little difficult for me, because the time travel aspect of the plot can sometimes be confusing. And although Young does a good job of describing everything, and in my opinion, she picks the PERFECT moments to divulge information, there were still parts where I was a little confused. I also felt the beginning was a little slow, and it took the first ~40% of the book for me to feel like I was engaged. But once I got there, I was ENGAGED. Like I said, even though it was a little slow in the beginning, Young chose the perfect moments to reveal pertinent information. There were also some surprises/ twists, which are things I always really appreciate-- especially if I can't guess them. And in this case, they were true and genuine surprises. All in all, I found The Unmaking of June Farrow to be a highly enjoyable read that I would absolutely recommend. I have a few other books from Young on my tbr, and this has me totally excited to read them!

I enjoyed this book but I felt there were a lot of details that were missing from the time where the two main characters are getting used to having each other there. They went from completely uncomfortable to definitely comfortable within a few chapters it felt like. I would have enjoyed more depth.

I love Adrienne Young's writing and this book took you to the setting. I wish I could say what the main plot is but that would be spoiling it so I will just say go into this one blind.
I loved where the story went but the ending did feel a little rushed and unexpected. Overall I loved the characters and how the book was about what you would do for love and your family.
Spells for Forgetting was so atmospheric and the setting was superb but the plot I felt lacking. In The Unmaking of June Farrow I felt the setting was not the best but the plot was amazing. Overall I love both of her books and gah her writing is so beautiful.

Definitely didn’t know what I was getting into with this book! And I loved it! 😍 Time travel, strong female bonds, and the sweetest love story. I am obsessed with June and her cleverness. A slow burner but so so good. Definitely a good character development story with a naturally propulsive story line. Such a satisfying ending.

I will usually skim a synopsis of a book if I didn’t already see a review for it, so I’m a big proponent of going into a novel kind of blind. And I would definitely recommend that with The Unmaking of June Farrow. I read the synopsis when I requested the ARC but I didn’t reread it before I started the book and I’m glad I didn’t. So I’m also not going to give too much of a synopsis in my review.

What I will say is that this story surprised me at every turn. It’s a complex story that will keep you engaged, but it’s not overwhelming to understand. I think Adrienne Young found a perfect balance between telling a compelling story that you have to think about but it’s still light enough that it’s easy to follow, but will definitely surprise you.

I loved the way it was written. This was my first Adrienne Young book and I’m definitely a fan now. I felt like I was in the story and I’m still thinking about the characters nearly a week after finishing the book. All the characters in June’s world felt so real and I felt very in tune with the main character, June, as she grappled with hard decisions and situations throughout the story.

I easily and highly recommend this book. If you like a compelling and complex female MC, atmospheric reads, a dash of magical realism, and multiple secrets that you will spend the novel trying to figure out on your own only to be surprised at the end–preorder this now! I really feel like I haven’t read anything like this. Without any spoilers, I absolutely loved how the illness with June is set up in the beginning and what was actually manifesting. I won’t say more, but I thought it was SO, so well done and paid off so well.

Also, as an NC native, I love the setting in the Blue Ridge Mtns. Definitely recommend looking up some pictures if you’re not familiar with the mountains in NC–it’s absolutely beautiful and Young captured it so well within the book! I also was riding passenger on a road trip through the Smokies while reading a majority of this book and the mountain environment really added to the reading experience, so I also recommend that :)

I gave it 4 stars here on NetGalley, but it's really a 4.75. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you Net Galley, Random House, and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this amazing story ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Adrienne Young’s Spells for Forgetting. So I was excited to read another work of hers. I love the atmospheric texture of that novel set in the Pacific Northwest. This work has the same texture but the of the Southeastern United States. As with her first adult novel there is a supernatural mystery that haunts the main character June Farrow, but she thinks she is in a long line of women in her family losing her mind.

The novel is set on small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina. The Farrow women own a thriving flower farm—and the mysterious curse that has plagued their family line. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors.

While June’s grandmother lays dying she starts seeing and hearing things that she believes are hallucinations. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing. After her grandmother’s death June visits her family physician who recommends she starts putting her affairs in order. June is advised by a trusted family member to go through the door that haunts and she does. Her discoveries are heart wrenching and upend all her perceptions of life as she knows it.

I feel there should have been a little more character development. Young is very adept at this, so I was surprised Mason seems a bit flat. Annie is a child, but she too felt a little cut out. I would still take the time to read all of her novels.

In the small town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow has always known that she would go mad one day. After the death of hear grandmother, June becomes the last living Farrow who hasn’t succumb to the family curse.

Going into this book, I didn’t know what to expect since this is the first book that I’ve read from this author. But she far exceeded my expectations. Jasper is a typical small town in the south. They prefer normalcy and shy away from anything they deem odd, this includes the Farrow family.

Seeing the dynamics between June, her family, and the people in town both past and present was interesting. I also enjoyed how she handled the star-crossed lovers romance, beautifully done! Overall, I loved this book!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for my review copy!

I don't want to be dramatic and say this is a new all time favorite, but....I have a strong feeling it's just that. This was everything and yet something entirely its own. I've never read anything like it.

I feel like it can be classified as a million different genres. It's a thriller, but that doesn't do it justice. A mystery, but in an ever-evolving way you wouldn't expect. A romance, but in the most superb, unconventional, heart-achingly beautiful way. Throw in a dash of historical fiction and a sprinkle of magical realism and you almost ALMOST start to understand what this book is.

I thought it would just be a fun fall romp with eerie vibes - I did not expect it to grip me so completely. And I definitely didn't expect it to be as deep and emotional as it was. My heart went though so many palpable extremes. Racing one minute, swelling the next, then on the verge of breaking...I was feeling it all. I was so invested.

I'm envious of anyone who gets to read this for the first time. Stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy!

I loveed this book. So compelling and stunning writing. I will be a fan of this author for years to come.

No one writes like Adrienne Young. When I pick up her books, I know there's going to be characters I'd die for, a story that completely wraps me up and takes me away, and writing that feels both familiar and ethereal. The Unmaking of June Farrow was no different.

From the beginning, I was drawn to June. She is part of a legacy of women who always go mad, seeing and hearing and experiencing things that aren't there. I loved June's balance of knowing her reality and future and still hoping for a different outcome. I instantly wanted to be there for her through her journey.

The tension in this book starts right away with the madness, and with every secret revealed I was on the edge of my seat. Once I hit the halfway point, I couldn't put this book down even if I wanted to. I never saw the twists and turns coming. My mind was blown! I've never really liked a time travel book, but if anyone could make me love one, it's definitely Adrienne Young. The whole thing was so well executed.

I did wish there was a little more romantic development in this book, but I still enjoyed the second-chance romance and how it mixed with the tension and the plot. There are SO many emotions throughout that tie everything together. My heart was ripped wide open and healed again. All in all, this book is a haunting story with secrets upon secrets and characters that feel REAL. Another winner from my favorite author.

Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 5
Character Development: 5
Overall: 5

Thank you, Dellacorte Press, for the arc!
Release Date: October 17, 2023

Trigger/Content Warnings: madness, deaths of family members, violence, murder, parent abandonment, one open door scene

My favorite book all year! I one I couldn’t wait to read the next Adrienne Young, but I had no idea how much I’d love it. I cannot begin to describe how beautifully written this story is. The language, the characters, the imagery. It’s a story like no other one ever read. I had zero idea how it works play out. I couldn’t put it down! I had to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next. I’m not even going to begin to explain the plot. This is one you need to go in open for it all. It’s haunting and evocative and beautiful.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Release Date - 10/17/23
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre - Magical Realism
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this eARC. Loved it! The Unmaking of June Farrow is a murder mystery with time travel elements ; which was one of the things I enjoyed most about the book!This book will be one of my top favorite reads of the year. This is the first book I’ve read by Adrienne Young. Can’t wait to read more of her books! Once I started reading , I could not put it down!! It’s a beautiful story about heartache, loss, and second chances. Highly recommend this one when it releases October 17th, 2023.

June Farrow has lived her whole life knowing that one day she will be driven to insanity. It’s the Farrow women’s curse, one day their mind will start fraying.
After a death in the family June is forced to look closer at their family history, finding that this curse is not what she had been lead to believe.
She’ll be lead on a dangerous adventure across time where she’ll learn of love, loss and who she really is.

This book absolutely took my breath away. Every page felt like magic.
June Farrow’s story is a tangled web of family secrets, magic and star crossed lovers.

You’ll like this book if you enjoy
-Magical realism
-Rich family history
-Second chance romance
-Small town
-Star crossed lovers

I’ll be putting up my review on Instagram and goodreads closer to release.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Adrienne Young has done it again! Listen, I adore Adrienne Young so maybe I'm a bit biased but i swear everything she writes is gold. Young's way of writing is so lyrical and effortless (although it probably takes a lot of effort on her part) that it's easy to get lost in her words.

I can't say too much about the book because it would spoil so much. I did, however, guess who someone was that was revealed at the end - I was pretty proud of myself for that. But basically, the book involves time travel, second chances (first chances?), and a generational mystery.

If you're fans of time travel, reluctant MMC, and swoon-worthy love - the Unmaking of June Farrow is for you. There's a strong female presence (like in most of Young's books) but (I think) this is her first try at an adult genre book. But if you're expecting a ton of spice, explicit sex, or tons of curse words - this isn't the book.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.