The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Publish Date October 17, 2023

4.5⭐

What a lovely book, I so enjoyed this one! This is the first book I've read by Adrienne Young, although I have many of her books in my TBR pile of which will now be moved further up the list as I can't wait to read another.

June Farrow comes from a long line of Farrow women who have gone mad from a century long curse. Her mother is one of those women, one day she disappeared leaving June to be raised by her grandmother. But when her grandmother begins to suffer the same fate, and she also becomes plagued by visions she doesn't understand .she is determined to stop this curse once and for all. June knows that to do this means that she will never find love or have a family of her own.
After her grandmother dies, she uncovers clues about her mother's disappearance that only brings more questions. Resolved to stop this curse she decides to go through the door that appears in her visions to find answers. But once she crosses that threshold she emerges into a small town, where she begins piecing together the truth and meets a family that will forever change her life.

I just adored this book and I found myself not wanting to put it down while at the same time not wanting it to end. A beautiful story about heartache, loss, and second chances..

Another reason why Adrienne Young is one of my FAVORITE authors!!

This book was magic, mystery, suspense all curled up into one delightful read. I couldn’t put it down. I was confused in the beginnings of this book, but intrigued on where it was going. 50% in, it had drug its claws into me and I devoured it quickly.

This has
• subtle magical elements twisted in making you wonder if you are going crazy as well.
• Found family, family reconnections.
• A second chance love
• Fade to black

Adrienne has done it again- and I say this every time. I read a comment on here saying she has “jewel toned prose”- and that’s what you get. I loved this story- it reminded me of the family live in practical magic mixed with some less steamy outlander and even the time travelers wife with a mystery and murder. I loved it!! The ending was gorgeous.

"The Unmaking of June Farrow" by Adrienne Young is a spellbinding and enchanting tale that weaves together elements of mystery, family secrets, and a touch of magic. Set in the picturesque town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow's life is intertwined with her family's cursed history, adding an air of intrigue to the story from the very beginning.

Young's evocative prose draws readers into June's world, filled with the whispers of the town's folklore and the lingering questions surrounding her mother's disappearance. The author expertly crafts a sense of anticipation and wonder as June begins to experience strange occurrences, signaling the long-awaited arrival of fate.

As June endeavors to break the family curse, she must confront her fears, even if it means sacrificing her own desires for love and family. The emotional depth of the story is further enriched as June uncovers cryptic clues after her grandmother's passing, propelling her on a journey that transcends time and reality. The mysterious door, once thought to be an illusion, opens a path to the past, unearthing the town's secrets and changing June's life forever.

Young masterfully entwines the themes of self-discovery and an epic, star-crossed love that captures the reader's heart. The intricately woven plot keeps readers on their toes, eagerly turning the pages to uncover the enigma of June's family history and the fate that awaits her.

"The Unmaking of June Farrow" is a stunning blend of fantasy and emotion, transporting readers to a world where the past and future collide in a mesmerizing dance. Adrienne Young's storytelling prowess shines through, creating a captivating narrative that lingers in readers' hearts long after the final chapter. This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who craves a breathtaking and unforgettable journey through the realms of love, destiny, and self-discovery.

Everything Adrienne Young writes is magical, atmospheric, and I love that she’s branching into adult books. I recently read Spells for Forgetting and just knew I would love this just as much.

Farrow women suffer from madness in their lives and pass it on to their daughters. The Unmaking of June Farrow follows June who just lost her grandmother, and is afraid she too is losing her mind. She starts invests her mother who disappeared when she was a baby and sets off a chain of events where June will have to make decisions to protect those she loves, and solidify her future. I loved the writing, did I mention AY creates beautiful, atmospheric books??

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What can I say other than that I DEVOURED this book. Literally couldn’t put it down and haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since. The atmospheric writing, mystery elements and twists kept me turning the pages, but it was the complex family relationships and the ties between the Farrow women that kept me emotionally invested and in awe.

Our main character is June Farrow, a woman who was raised by her grandmother after her mother’s sudden disappearance when she was a baby. June has spent her whole life waiting. Waiting for the curse that has plagued the line of Farrow women - going mad - to come for her. She has lived a quiet existence, refusing to fall in love or to start a family in order to have the curse end with her. A year before her grandmother’s death, her worst fear comes true and she begins seeing things and hearing voices. The visions only intensify until June receives a mysterious clue and a simple instruction - the next time that she sees a red door…to walk through it. What comes next is best left unsaid, but know that you will be in for a wild ride.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is a murder mystery with time travel elements, but at its core a story about love and heartbreak and the journey of finding oneself and realizing that following your heart is okay. It explores the way that women come together in times of need, sacrifices that mothers make for their children, what people are willing to do to protect their family, and the weight of choices made by older generations.

I was consumed.

5/5 ⭐️

Read if you like:
- small town mysteries
- time travel
- generational family stories/curses
- magical realism

Huge thank you to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC!

I'm generally a fan of novels in this vein – others include Kindred and Time Traveler's Wife – and am totally game for the twisty, knotty complications of a time travel / alternate universe plot, but I just wasn't that taken with The Unmaking of June Farrow. I felt like I'd already read this story before, but kept reading in hopes that there would be some "big bad" villain twist, someone from centuries ago who had started the Farrow curse that June would need to overcome. Nope. Instead, the story hews very close to the convention of "unexplainable curse" – I guess that's satisfying enough for all these other 4 or 5 star reviewers – but if you're looking for something surprising and unexpected, this isn't it.

I also find it incredibly frustrating when main characters are kept in the dark because the story would fall apart otherwise – they ask direct questions, other characters say we can't tell you right now it's too dangerous, it's for your own good, etc. If that's true, then maybe your plot is too thin? Perhaps I just don't have patience for this kind of storytelling. I also didn't love the arbitrary nature of the time travel rules here – it involves a magic locket and doors and limitations on the number of times that it can happen that no one has any explanation for and feels like the plot creating the world, rather than the world creating the story.

E-arc provided by Netgalley

I really loved this, time travel doesn't usually work for me but I liked the way it played out in this one, this is the second 5 star arc I've received for Adrienne Young and she's slowly becoming one of my favs. Also even though the romance wasn't necessarily the biggest part I really liked it

This was an absolutely captivating read! From start to finish I was completely immersed in this storyline. "The Unmaking of June Farrow" masterfully blends mystery, sci-fi/fantasy and romance into a remarkable tale.

The Farrow women of Jasper, North Carolina are different or cursed as some may say. June the FMC was raised by her Gran on her family's flower farm after her mother's disappearance. Her life is essentially lived in limbo awaiting the moment when the "sickness" will set in. A note following her Gran's passing starts June's determination to find out what happened to her mother and her journey lead me as the reader on a path I couldn't have predicted.
The fine line between the rational explanation and fantastical one was so skillfully blurred, it takes you on a mind-bending roller coaster ride of intrigue and suspense.

I don't want to give too much about plot away but I will say that this book is absolutely a must-read and should be both on your radar and TBR.

And as a side-note I want to mention that I think this book would make a fantastic screen adaptation!

Thank you Adrienne Young, Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine , Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of this book .

5/5 ⭐️

Adrienne Young writes another remarkably brilliant book. It is mind bending. Twisty. The perfect blend of sci-fi, mystery and romance.

The Unmaking of June Farrow revolves around a young woman that is faced with impossible, gut wrenching decisions. While caring for her ailing grandmother and the families thriving flower farm, June begins to experience the curse that plagues the Farrow women. Seeing hallucinations including a door appearing out of nowhere.

One day she discovers she can touch the door and she makes the first decision that changes everything.

This story unfolds in the perfect way. Leaving you wanting more. Young weaves an incredible story that will stick with you long after you finish reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an E-ARC of The Unmaking of June Farrow.

Book Name: The Unmaking of June Farrow
Author: Adrienne Young

ARC

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for an ARC of Adrienne Young’s Latest The Unmaking of June Farrow

Stars: 5
Spice: 3

Standalone
Fast Paced
Plot Centric
Southern Fantasy Mystery with Romance Subplot
Similar to Spinning The Moon by Karen White (1000% recommend if you like this one)

- Topics
- Mothers and Daughters
- Magical Realism
- Gothic Vibes
- Legacy
- Madness
- Tropes
- Family Curses
- Fate
- Murder Mystery
- No Spoilers for You!!! 😉
- Thoughts.
- Anything She Writes is Gold
- Tense and Dark
- Very Spooky
- Southern Gothic and Magic
- MMC is just perfection
- Best Book 2023

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
This time bending fantasy is not for the beginner fantasy reader but is exceptional. It takes a lot of concentration and reading it slowing to get all of the twists and turns in this well paced novel. Page turns were slower than normal and I often reread paragraphs thinking “what now?” This is to say it’s not a straight ahead read because, well, it’s time shifting!
My fantasy loving patrons will love this and I will reach for it for them. I know exactly who to recommend this to.
This will likely be a best seller as it taps into the feels of family, a lost mother, and wanting to find out who we really are.
3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for this prepub.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my review.

This book is beautifully written from cover to cover. Themes of family, found family, mental illness and finding where you belong. Magical elements also have a part in this story which I loved. A little bit of murder mystery in a small town with June’s mother’s disappearance.

I only struggled a bit with the love story. It almost felt a bit unnecessary to the story.

"The Unmaking of June Farrow" by Adrienne Young is an absolute gem of a book that I recently discovered, and it has left me utterly spellbound. With its captivating blend of suspense, magical realism, and coming-of-age themes, I was drawn into the enchanting world of Jasper, North Carolina, where June Farrow's story unfolds.

From the very first page, I was captivated by Adrienne Young's writing style. Her words flowed effortlessly, immersing me in a rich and atmospheric tale that I couldn't put down. As I followed June's journey, I couldn't help but feel a deep connection with the characters and their emotional struggles.

June's determination to break the ancient curse haunting her family's flower farm resonated deeply with me. Themes of personal growth, family bonds, and the weight of past generations' choices struck a chord, making me reflect on my own life and the impact of my family's history.

June and her family felt like dear friends by the end of the book. Their relationships were so beautifully portrayed that I couldn't help but feel invested in their joys and sorrows. As June unraveled the mystery surrounding her mother's disappearance, I experienced a whirlwind of emotions - from heartache and hope to anticipation and joy.

The magical realism elements added an enchanting touch to the story, making it unlike anything I've read before. The way Adrienne Young blended reality and the impossible was masterful, leaving me in awe of her storytelling abilities.

When I finally reached the last page, I was at a loss for words. The ending left me with a mix of emotions, and I found myself thinking about the book long after I finished it. "The Unmaking of June Farrow" has earned its place as one of my all-time favorite reads.

I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to anyone seeking a captivating and emotionally resonant story. Adrienne Young has created a literary masterpiece that will stay with me for a long time, and I'm grateful for the experience of being a part of June's unforgettable journey.

Reviewed for NetGalley:

I will start by saying, I think I would just read Adrienne Young's grocery list and find it beautiful and whimsy. So of course, I loved the Unmaking of June Farrow.

June comes from a long line of Farrow women that ultimately lose their mind. After the passing of her gran, her last known relative, June's symptoms of madness appear to be increasing in nature.

A beautifully written story of family, love, and finding the place (no matter the circumstances), you belong.

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW by Adrienne Young was an absolute delight to read. Not unlike her other adult novel, SPELLS FOR FORGETTING, the story begins in a small town with an out of place protagonist, but it quickly takes on a life of its own. Young creates magic and mystery as she invites you into the small town of Jasper, North Carolina, and when you leave you will be thinking about this story for days.

June is a likeable and, more importantly, relatable character who is full of curiosity and love and whose ultimate goal is to know herself and her family. The cast of characters who support her in this journey are endearing, witty, and protective. And the antagonist in this story is both real and unreal. This book is full of strength and courage, it shows you what it is to dive into the unknown, and it has just enough magic to keep a fantasy reader satisfied. I highly recommend.

Once again, Adrienne Young has blown me away with her second adult novel. I was hooked from the very beginning and never wanted to put this story down.

I think this one is best to go in blind. It has such a complex mystery that unravels slowly throughout the book. The suspense and magical realism created a compelling story and at times I was stressed not knowing how this was going to end.

The romance is a little more of a subplot, but it is slow and beautiful. I really loved the small moments they had together.

Overall I really loved everything about this one and can’t wait to get the physical copy in my hands!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House/Delacorte Press for the eARC!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I think this is a 2.5/5 for me.
I guess I let the magical realism part of the story draw me in. Yet, I was about 20-25% into the novel before it started to get interesting. Then, when the door appeared and June went through, it wasn't as interesting as I'd hoped. I guess I expected more of a fantasy type of story. That's more on me than the book. The whole thing about how the curse worked got a little confusing here and there. There wasn't much to the side characters for me, partly because we only get June's POV. Maybe that's why I felt the main romantic interest and the guy he was angry with were acting weird for reasons not really explained. Or not explained well.

I thought the story was ok, but the time traveling aspect was confusing and a little too convenient to the plat. Everything wrapped up way easier than I thought it should.

4.25/5

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Adrienne Young for a copy of this ARC!

First of all, I love Young’s books and her writing. I have read all of her novels except for one.

I really enjoyed this magical story. I went into it blind not wanting to know anything as a way to help me not guess any possible outcomes. Although I still did guess some twists there was one I didn’t!

The story starts with June Farrow taking care of her ill grandmother. This illness runs in her family and she has secretly been having episodes for a year now. She soon uncovers that this illness is something she never thought could possibly happen. Her life gets thrown for a loop and us readers are right there with her trying to figure everything out.

The only reason I didn’t rate it a 5 was because I was unsatisfied with parts of the ending. I loved sections of the ending but others left me dissatisfied. Also, I do love the main male interest, but I felt we should have seen more about their past to fully ship them.

This book has so many elements! It includes: magical realism, fantasy, thriller/mystery, and second chance romance. I would recommend this book to all my friends and family! So good!