The concept was really interesting and I enjoyed the overall story. I do wish we got a little deeper dive into June and Eamon's original love story. It didn’t necessarily feel like enough for her to leave her entire life behind.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first Adrienne Young book I have read- and let me tell you…it did not disappoint! I will absolutely be reading more of her works.

This book examines the generational curse/mystery of the Farrow women and how it has affected their families, relationships, and lives.

Poetic in nature, Young is able to grip the readers with beautiful imagery and prose that makes you feel as if you are experiencing this firsthand with the Farrow family.

While this book initially comes across as a “cozy fantasy” it quickly jumps to a page turning mystery, dare I say thriller, that has the reader quickly flipping to the next page to find out what happens!

The storyline which Young has written required immense amount creativity, which can be applauded as she did not make it too difficult or confusing for the reader to follow.

As a whole I throughly enjoyed this novel and the story of the Farrow women. This is a novel unlike any I have ever read! It is absolutely a one of a kind emotional read that leaves you feeling exhilarated and impressed by this family of strong women.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is such a marvelous, unique, and thrilling read. The suspense was never-ending and I enjoyed the characters. I loved it so much. I will absolutely be buying some copies for my friends and my neighborhood little free library.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this wonderful ARC!

I really enjoyed the writing in this, but not the storytelling. We should have spent less time on 2023 June if it wasn't going to be her story. I spent the whole book wanting to go back to 2023. Disappointing. And while the premise was unique and fascinating, it didn't seem to quite all pull together in the end. :-/

2.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley as well as the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for a honest review.


Lemme just say- ALL OF THE STARS!!

Wow!! So, was able to finally sit down last night well after work and really spend some time with this book, I thought, okay, I'm on basically no sleep so I'll read for a couple of hours and get some sleep. LOL , NO. This book grabbed a hold of me and would not let me go. I swear I was reading with one eye open rotating between dry as hell and tearing beyond belief just to find out what happened. I was in a serious chokehold and could not read fast enough!

I can not remember the last time I read something that made me feel like my brain was going to explode (in all the best ways of course) If you love magical realism and a twisty-turny, sci-fi psychological mind game- look no further. This book is so unbelievably good!

This story follows June Farrow, the last in the line of Farrow women who suffer from a mental illness. We are introduced to June as she is attending her grandmother's funeral, her mother had long passed as a result of mental illness and she is essentially now on her own. Shortly after her grandmother's funeral, June starts having hallucinations and 'episodes' that leads her to believe that the illness is now coming for her, that she is going to start losing her mind.

June opens a door that she is convinced is all in her mind and she is utterly shocked as to what is on the other side.

I loved every single character, Young did such an amazing job at brining them all to life. The romance is a bone-deep, epic, one and only, soulmate love that punched me right in the heart and made me feel. Completely captivated by this small town and all of the people in it, the writing is just exquisite , I could feel the fields and flowers on my finger tips. I was on the edge of my seat , probably with my eyes popping out of my head while I read, dying to see what happens next. This book is forever burned into my mind and heart and I will never forget it. Definitely doing a reread!

If you loved Spells for Forgetting , you will be OBSESSED with this one!

There is:

Mystery/Thriller
Mind-bending
Family Curses
Magical Realism
Star Crossed Lovers
Small Town

For fans of :

Outlander
What the Wind Knows
Stranger Things
The Time Travelers Wife

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

Without giving away any spoilers—I’ll just say that this book has some of the elements from my all time favorite novels!! And now this book pushes itself toward the top of that list for me!

We follow a young woman, June, who shuts herself off from some of the prime experiences in life, because she knows she will eventually develop the illness that runs in her family. Although, is it really an illness? Or something else? I was turning pages late into the night to answer that question…

This one has a little bit of everything—magical realism, fantasy, thriller/mystery and romance! I can’t recommend it enough!

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Publication: October 17, 2023

Rating: 4 stars

This was my first book by Young while her previous book "Spells for Forgetting" has been sitting in my TBR. I went into this book semi-blind and it was wonderful!

Young's descriptions were top notch for me and made me feel like I was right in the story. The two things that caused me to knock a star off was the magical element and the romance element.

This is mostly a me problem but I went into this book thinking that there was more magical pieces to it but this falls in the category of magical realism. This may have been cleared up had I not gone in blind.

Lastly, I couldn't get into the romance aspect. It felt forced and a little too much of a slow burn.

Overall, a very enjoyable read and I can't wait to read her previous book!

Let me tell you, Adrienne Young can WRITE! She's written some of that best immersive stories - once you start page one, you fall into her book. I could smell the tobacco fields, lazily pick flowers and be enveloped in small town living of Jasper. I find myself torn between wanting to fly through the pages or force myself to take it slowly.

In June Farrow's small town, her family (the women) have QUITE the reputation. The family is believed to be cursed and they slowly go insane. June begins hearing and seeing things that shouldn't be there and she's frightened that she's become affected by the family curse. She opens a door that she is convinced she's hallucinating, however she finds herself involved in the family drama.

That author has created fabulous, richly detailed characters and a family history that involves a curse, magical realism, romance and is chock full of family stories and background.

I didn't want to put this book down and I stayed up super late finishing it. Fabulous read!

If you are a fan of Outlander or Stranger things you will love this book.
The story is set in a parallel world but in a different age.Typically this is not what I would have read but it’s a book by Adrienne Young.She has a way of writing that draws a reader in and hooks you so firmly that you don’t even realize you are reading something that’s way out of your interest.
This is the story of June Farrow the last of her line.The story opens with the death of her grandmother .All the women in her family have shown signs of madness and June does too.This story starts from here and twists and winds until you want to put the book down but nope you can’t…it’s hooked you in too tight!
Thankyou Netgalley and Random House Publishing group-Ballantine for this ARC

This is so freaking good! I loved it! I felt so connected to this story because the writing was so good! This is another hit and best seller! I wish I didn't do spoilers free reviews because I want to tell everyone about this ans talk about it! Loved this!
I just reviewed The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. #TheUnmakingofJuneFarrow #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

4/5

What I liked about this book:
- the story and plot was awesome!
- the historical fantasy / romance genre is quickly becoming one of my faves and that’s what this book is
- the romance piece of the book is so sweet and wasn’t too much at all

What I didn’t love:
- it was a slow start. I got horror/thriller vibes and thought it was going to take that direction
- there were a few unresolved situations in the plot which I would have loved being answered in more depth


The reason I didn’t give this 5 stars is because of the slow start. But all in all I really enjoyed this book!

I haven't experienced the greatest joy and brilliance of what-the-heck-I-just-read kind of twisty, brain cell burner fantasy/sci-fi novel, giving me the same feelings of binge-watching the craziest Black Mirror episodes and Chris Nolan's complexly written movies at the same time!

'Unmaking of June Farrow' is on another level of amazingness! It's complex, unique, tempting, unpredictable, surprising, jaw-dropping, and exhausting to your brain cells, dragging you into an unusual story of the Farrow women and their complex family history; it's as intricate as Netflix's German original series 'Dark.' To understand the entire connection between each Farrow woman's timeline could give you real headaches and make you question who's related to whom during the brain-storming confusion. Twists and shocking revelations make you scream aloud. I mostly consider myself a good twist catcher who can see most of them coming from miles away with my spider senses, but this morning there are so many of them that are unexpected, and especially one of them made me jump from my seat as I covered my mouth not to scream louder. Oh boy, that was the biggest sucker punch on my face, and I can honestly say for a million times I couldn't ever see it coming even if that twist was screaming at my face: 'I'm here! Why don't you see me?'

It has a mind-bending time travel story that keeps you guessing how the entire execution will unfold, cooking up conspiracy theories about the murder mystery, but it also includes a heartbreaking, intense love story, even though we've been introduced to the heartbroken hero a little later! It is also one of the most powerful feminist stories about the collaboration of women who help each other to survive and the sacrifices the mothers make to protect their children.

The story revolves around the last Farrow woman, June Farrow, living in Jasper, NC as the last surviving woman of their family at the age of 34, grieving her grandmother who raised her with her best friend Birdie after her mother, Susanna, who has been suffering from mental illness, which is fated to curse the entire women in the family, disappeared out of nowhere, presumed dead.

June also starts showing signs of madness, just like the other Farrow women had before they became completely insane. She starts seeing things that don't exist, including a mystery man smoking a cigarette watching her at several places, and a red door appears out of nowhere, awaiting her to turn its knob. She also hears a man's voice when she wakes up from a long sleep, feeling like somebody's hands are on her body.

As she thinks everything she sees are signs of her deteriorating mental health condition, she finds an envelope sent by her grandmother before she died. There's a photograph of two people in the envelope: one of them is the town's esteemed minister who was killed by a mysterious killer who was never caught, and there is also a woman in the photo who looks exactly like her long-lost mother, which is impossible because the photo was taken one century ago. However, when she digs through and talks with her grandmother's best friend Birdie, she realizes that nothing is as it seems and she may not be going insane because the things she's experienced might be real.

When she decides to pass through the red door that keeps appearing and calling her to open it, she finds herself in a place where she can change the entire direction of the frayed timeline between the future and the past. Could she save the Farrow women from the curse at the risk of putting her own fate at risk forever? Could she change things in her life by rethinking her decision not to fall in love and have her own family?

The journey she embarks on is a thrilling roller-coaster ride that will challenge her every belief and force her to confront the deepest parts of herself. The novel seamlessly weaves together elements of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and romance, creating a tapestry of emotions that will leave readers captivated until the very last page.

With each revelation and twist, the story becomes more enthralling, leaving readers gasping in surprise and marveling at the author's ingenuity. Adrianne Young has crafted a masterpiece that blurs the lines between reality and fiction, immersing readers in a world where the impossible becomes possible.

Furthermore, 'Unmaking of June Farrow' delves into profound themes of identity, family, love, and sacrifice. It explores the strength of women and their ability to endure and conquer even the most daunting challenges. The interconnectedness of the Farrow women's lives creates a web of intrigue and fascination that keeps readers guessing until the very end.

This book will undoubtedly linger in the minds of its readers long after they've turned the final page. It will set a new standard for fantasy and sci-fi novels, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. Adrianne Young's mastery of storytelling is evident throughout the novel, making it a must-read for anyone who craves a wholly immersive and emotionally charged reading experience.

Overall, this book will surprise you! It will ruin you for other books because you'll start comparing them to this fantastic sci-fi novel, and for a long time, it will be harder to find a book as well-written as this one! Just order your copy! This is one of the most outstanding works I've read lately and definitely the best book by Adrianne Young!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing/Ballantine/Delacorte Press for sharing this amazing book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Yup. This will be my favorite book this year.

Goodness gracious, I loved this. I absolutely adored the characters. This is such a great example of what makes magical realism so great: You get a little bit of so many genres. Romance. Mystery. Fantasy. Thriller. It’s all there.

The only little detail I predicted was… trying to write this spoiler-free… something about her daughter. I had a feeling that was the case pretty early. But gosh, I still spent the length of this book wondering what would happen, what June would choose, what she had already chosen. And the resolution was stunning and heartbreaking and beautiful and satisfying all at once.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 ⭐

I've said this once and I will say it again, Adrienne Young writes the best immersive stories. I felt like I could experience this small town, see the tobacco farm and pick the flowers. Her writing makes the story effortless to read and I'm here for it.

In the small town of Jasper, the Farrow women are known for being cursed and going mad. When June Farrow starts seeing/hearing things, she thinks she fell sick to the curse. But when she enters a door that she thinks is a hallucination, she's dropped into the thick of her family story and past.

This has:
• Mystery / thriller
• Family curses
• Generational women / family stories
• Magical realism
• Star crossed lovers
• Small town

It has the same great vibes as "Spells for Forgetting" so if you liked that, you'll love this! It's a book I didn't want to put down and will honestly probably reread when it comes out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion!

I'll be posting this to Goodreads and Instagram

If I could give it 6 stars, I would!

Adrienne Young never disappoints. This has a strong, ominous, "Spells for Forgetting" vibe. From the beginning, we know that June lives a much different life from those around her. She is terrified of going through what all the women in her family go through. I read a lot of fantasy romance and I often need a break from it and I usually want something a little spooky. I find it hard to look for books that have the mood I want. I now realize its because the mood I want is Adrienne Young.

I was slightly scared at times, especially when seeing the man with the cigarette in the church and her front porch, throw in the red door and I was hooked. The mood of this book is what really captured me as a reader. It is full of suspense, love, and confusion. There were parts that were a bit hard to follow with the timeline at first but it all came together. June is someone I am invested in. I want to see the people around her fight for her and her for herself.

June is clever, kind, and fierce. Eamon is protective and loyal, and Margaret kept the surprises coming. There were new developments throughout the entire book right to the very end. It is a page-turner. I can't wait for more from Adrienne Young.

I could not put this book nor did I want to. I was hooked from the first sentence. Her writing is positively earth shattering. I will be rereading this book again to look for more clues and Easter eggs. I just have no words to say except Bravo! And I’ll be reading as many times as I can.

📖Magical Realism
⭐4.75/5

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Adrienne Young for the advanced reader copy of The Unmaking of June Farrow. All opinions are my own.
◾
🎯 What I loved: This story was intricately woven and beautifully crafted. I imagine it's so hard to invite readers into a world that's been completely created within the confines of your mind and use only language to transport them there but Young is a master in the art of magical realism. I was so invested in June's story from the get-go and it took me to a place I could never have predicted. What I initially hoped for as an ending had completely changed by the end. And so much was explored in within this novel: grief, sacrifice, obligation, the weight of our decisions and of course, love. I'll be coming off the high of this book for days.

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: There were a few tiny details about the 'magical' part of the book that I struggled to make sense of but I really loved this book.
◾
Read if you love:
* parallel timelines
* family curses passed through generations
* powerful generations of women/ family stories
◾
See also: A Million Junes, The Time Traveler's Wife, Spells for Forgetting

Note to publisher: I'll be posting my review of The Unmaking of June Farrow via @manuscripts_and_margaritas mid-September with a feature on publication day as well.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is whimsical traverse through time, and it was truly a delight reading every page. I think that Adrienne Young has truly found her voice in storytelling within the niche cozy small town, magical realism, and a bit of murder mystery.
When I read Adrienne Young’s last book “Spells for Forgetting” last winter I didn’t know what I was truly expecting but I fell in love with the overall tone of the story. It was thrilling, beautiful and easy to escape into. The Unmaking of June Farrow has all those same feelings while standing completely on its own and separate from its predecessor.
June Farrow is a young woman who know that the women in her family are cursed. At a certain point they start to go mad as did June’s own mother who also abandoned her and disappeared when she was young. June doesn’t understand but she is determined to figure out the mystery of her mother’s disappearance before the madness potentially takes her as well.
I actually fell into a little bit of a reading slump right when I received this arc so it took me a little more time to read than it normally would to read, but every single time that I sat down to read I would opened my kindle and become completely captivated by the tale of June Farrow. I wanted to see how all these threads would be intertwined, unwoven and then neatly twinned back together again all within under 350 pages and Young does this most successfully. I can see me picking this book up again later to watch how Adrienne Young methodically weaves each sentence amongst one another to build this dreamy and atmospheric story.

Mystery, Love, and a little bit of Magic?

The title is intriguing... the book cover is beautiful.

Author, Adrienne, writes with great detail and weaves bits and pieces of mystery as you read. I purposely went into this book without reading much about the book - so I felt rewarded as each page taunted me to turn to the next. About two-thirds into the book - I wanted to start annotating the book or jotting notes about the Farrow women, timelines, clues, etc. The ending takes all the "frayed" ends and ties things together.

I will say that I liked the book - however, I liked one side character more than others and therefore I disliked that characters ending. Overall, this book felt creative and orginial and made me curious about the author's other works.

Thanks to NetGalley and Randomhouse Publishing Group for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young was everything you could want in a novel. It has it all! Mystery, romance, fantasy, and richly written characters.
This is one of those books you just need to read without knowing much about it before you start.
It’s a story about love and sacrifice and family. I just can’t say enough how much I loved it!
Highly recommend!