This is hands down one of my favorite reads of 2025 so far, and I cannot believe it's a debut! I was hooked right from the beginning. And the ending had my heart racing the entire time. It's been a while since I've had this strong of a reaction to a novel, but wow! I can't wait for Erin's next novel!

Junie is a story that has been told many times over, but Crosby Eckstine does a fantastic job at making a classic narrative seem new again.

I received a free copy of Junie by Erin Crosby Ecksteine through netgate for review, I received no compensation for this review. All opinions and thoughts written here are my own.

I just finished reading Junie by Erin Crosby Ecksteine. I think this was a beautiful piece of work weaving together. Truth and fiction in an interesting way. There's only a couple of things that really didn't feel right to me. I'm sorry to say I'm that would be Junie and her ability to read well. I believe that that was probably true for a few black people around that time. Truthfully, I think people would have been more careful about it because a black person could be killed for such a thing as well as their owner for even teaching them. So I think the author could have used a little more authenticity by being a little more careful about Junie's ability and love for books. The only other issue I have is with violence character. If she was truly the way that she was portrayed in her sexuality would not Junie have been her first love perhaps? Rather than her husband's sister? Or wouldn't she have had friends from school that sort of thing? There seemed to be a disconnect there to my way of thinking. Other than that, I really enjoyed this book and I wish the best for Aaron Crosby Ecksteine as she moves through her writing career. Thank you so much for creating this piece of work and allowing readers like myself to enjoy it

Beautifully written story of slavery and the harsh cruel realities. Junie a slave since birth, works as a house maid (despite being “dark”) for Violet the master’s daughter. Believing they are friends, she learns to read and hope for a better life. Junie is torn with guilt over family issues and frustrated by their lack of desire. The Master deep in debt and drowning his sorrows in alcohol harbors secrets that could destroy the household. Hoping to save the families future,he introduces a potential husband and his sister to the plantation.The only saving grace is his valet Caleb, as he is cruel and despicable.
The story has so many twists and turns, all of your emotions will emerge.
Great read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are mine.

This one made for a great discussion with my book club and is a must read for every genre lover as it has it all - mystery, romance, history, drama, magical realism, you name it this book has it!

Junie has stayed on the Bellerine Plantation all throughout her 16 years cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Violet - the master’s daughter. One summer day, a suitor comes to woo Violet and Junie is supposed to go with her. Junie spends the next year learning more about the world, her role in it, and how to live in it.

I loved this one but it wasn’t until the last 30% that I did. It was very much a “but where is the plot” type of book which isn’t a bad thing just not what I was expecting. There were so many wonderful characters in this book and ofc, some memorable evil ones too. I highly recommend this book for anyone especially those who like to learn more about history while they read.

Big thanks to the author, ballantine and netgalley for my e-ARC!

This book hooked me from the beginning and i finished in 2 days. Such a great story and excellent writing.

I'm not sure why I didn't like this one as much as I wanted. It is a good story, has unique magical realism, and interesting plot points. It felt like it was trying to be a YA while trying to adequately describe the experiences of enslaved people, and that kind of made it feel disjointed I guess. I would read from this author again because there's definitely potential here.

A MUST READ!!! I enjoyed this historical romance with a twist of paranormal. This was not your ordinary tale of an enslaved family. I found myself annoyed with Junie at times, but she managed to win me over by the end of the book.
There was also a sprinkle of romance, lies, and secrets. I enjoyed that the author also included forbidden romance and LGBTQ characters, considering the time frame.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a historical fiction with a twist.

3.5 stars

Junie is an engaging book set in 1860 Alabama. Junie is a house slave at the McQueen plantation. Mr. McQueen is an absent drunk, but he soon brings houseguests from New Orleans, Beau and Bea Taylor. Beau courts Violet McQueen, Junie’s best friend (she serves as her maid). Beau also brings Caleb, his slave. Junie & Caleb begin a relationship as plantation life goes on around them. There’s also a side story with Junie‘s deceased sister, Minnie, who is appearing to her as a ghost.

I thought this was an interesting story, but we did have some unbelievable parts. Junie is literate and has been taught to read by Violet. Violet is very loving and open to her during most parts of the book. They didn’t really like the story with Junie’s Sister Minnie. I get where the author out of it, but I don’t know if it added much to the story.


Thank you to the author Erin Crosby Eckstine, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for a copyoftgis book.

What an emotional, tense and eye opening book. Junie captured my heart in this book and I’d love nothing more than to give her the biggest hug. This time of history is so shocking to me and the author does a wonderful job highlighting the highs and lows of this time. Junie was such a page turner for me and the suspense just kept building as I got closer to the end. The ending also felt so realistic to me and I actually appreciated the cliff hanger that it left. I loved this book… read it!

Junie takes place in 1860 Alabama, it’s right before the Civil War begins and we follow the titular character Junie. Junie is 16-years old and has been enslaved since she was born, we see her coming of age story and her complex relationships. Junie becomes maid to Violet and naively believes they have developed a friendship. It takes awhile for the novel to clearly disabuse Junie of that notion, while readers will be screaming “chile please, get a grip.” Throughout her story, Junie experiences profound loss, cruelty, and the harshness of abuse, yet her spirit remains resilient. She embodies a deep commitment to her dreams of freedom, a testament to her inner strength. Amidst these challenges, she also finds unexpected love in a place she never imagined, reminding us that even in the darkest times, the human spirit can shine brightly, and connections can flourish. Junie's journey invites readers to reflect on the power of hope and the importance of compassion in the face of adversity. Thank you to Ballantine and Random House as well as Netgalley.

Sixteen years old and enslaved since she was born, Junie has spent her life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet. Her daydreams are filled with poetry and faraway worlds, while she spends her nights secretly roaming through the forest, consumed with grief over the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie. When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet and upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her. She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship soon becomes something more. Yet as long-held truths begin to crumble. She falls in love with Caleb, but must has herself if she chooses love and liberation, what must she leave behind?

This is an excellent book that is well-written with very believable characters faced with choices that they never thought that they would have. There is a lot of books written about slavery, but this one is different in that the main characters are content with a life of slavery that they know as opposed to the possibility to being free. What do they choose? Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book that I thought was different from most books about slavery.

✨ Review ✨ Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Thanks to Ballantine Books and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This story of seasons changing throughout a year at Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, features Junie, a 16-year-old, enslaved woman who has never stopped dreaming. She's
juggling her grief over her sister Minnie’s death and her sense of responsibility over it, and tensions in her feelings toward Violet, her enslaver’s teen daughter. Violet and Junie have always spent a lot of time together. Violet taught Junie to read and shares her books with her, but at the end of the day Junie's still there to serve Violet and her family.

When a suitor comes to court Violet, Junie faces her fear of Violet marrying, leaving the plantation, and taking her with her. But despite that, Junie finds moments of joy and solace in nature, with Caleb - a man enslaved by Violet's suitor, and with her sister’s ghost who returns

This is a stunning debut, not least for how it balances the extreme conditions that marked slavery with small moments of joy. The book is brilliantly written, and I was entranced by Junie's story, constantly wanting to yell and shout and cry and laugh and feel all the feelings.

One of my favorite books of the year so far!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: historical fiction
Setting: Alabama, before the civil war
Reminds me of: Red Clay by Charles B. Fancher, Let Us Descend by Jesmyn Ward
Pub Date: Feb 4, 2025

Junie threw everything at me and I enjoyed every minute of it. This book had me crying in public and biting my nails stressing about what would happen next. It did sometimes feel like reading YA but I was hooked regardless.

The book Junie was an aardvark pick for me, as well as a NetGalley digital read for me. I enjoyed the book and the blossoming love story between junie and Caleb, and the mystery and ghost story was fun to see play out. The author set the story in a plantation in the south, where junie and her family work. As far as plantations went , this one was not as bad as some others- no physical violence was portrayed by her masters although Caleb’s master was abusive to him in the story. In the book, junie sees the ghost of her sister, who gives her clues to follow to solve a long- ago mystery. As junie unravels the secrets she also learns to cope with the guilt she feels about her sisters death. In the story junie is more than just a slave, but is the best friend of the daughter of the house and she is expected to leave the plantation and follow her when she marries. The owners of the plantation are in debt and are coercing their daughter to marry the abusive man for his fortune. Without giving anything away, I can say I liked seeing how the story played out. It was a little slow in parts, but there was a lot going on and overall it was a satisfying read. Thank you, NetGalley for the digital copy. All opinions are my own.

A compelling debut by Erin Crosby Eckstine about Delilah June and her challenging life growing up in slavery. When her sister Minnie dies unexpectedly her world turns even darker.

What pulled me in deeper was the author's use of magical realism - and a Spoon-River-type community of haunts tied to the place who interact with Junie on a regular basis. Totally intrigued me. Overall an interesting read, the ending faded considerably after the brighter color of earlier parts underscoring the narrative.

Still, will look forward to what comes to our bookshelves next from this author.

*A sincere thank you to Erin Crosby Eckstine, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #Junie #NetGalley

This was both a harrowing and touching story about a young, slave girl during the Civil War era. Junie was resilient and clever. In fact, all of the characters were lovable (or hate-able) and really well written. Slavery stories are always tough reads, but they’re enlightening and important - especially with characters like these ones. I really recommend it for historical fiction lovers.

This is undoubtedly my favorite book from February! Junie is a remarkable debut that powerfully captures a girl's life-altering decision as she uncovers the truths about life, love, and friendships. I love how the book highlights finding joy even in the most challenging circumstances. Set during the Civil War era, this historical fiction novel blends elements of coming-of-age romance, mystery, and magical realism.

What I Loved:
✨Exceptional Writing: The vivid, detailed prose captures the essence of Alabama’s landscape and plantation life while effortlessly weaving character development, a strong plot, and a blend of subgenres. Quite an impressive debut!!
✨Romance: “Love is what you get to choose when you're not free.” The romance between Junie and Caleb develops slowly but is incredibly beautiful, grounded in reality, and swoon-worthy! My heart melted when Caleb referred to Junie as his “middle C.” He was my favorite character. 💙
✨Narration: Angel Pean’s narration is fantastic. The audiobook flows smoothly, with Angel brilliantly bringing out Junie’s fiery spirit and giving distinct voices to the diverse cast of characters.

✨Favorite Quote: “There ain't no good and evil in this world, not when the devils are the ones setting the rules.”

Other Highlights: Complicated Friendships, Junie’s Carefree Spirit, Magical Realism - the ghost of Junie’s sister, and a Grief Journey

Wow. This book was incredible. Erin Crosby Eckstine has created complicated characters who, as a reader, you really grow care about. This reads as both a ghost story and historical fiction. I often don't read historical fiction because I feel like it paints a sunny picture of a fraught time (I'm looking at you "Horse" by Geraldine Brooks). Eckstine instead paints a multi-dimensional story for her enslaved characters and Junie's own thoughts and actions throughout the book show her own complicated feelings about her life.

Erin Crosby Eckstine’s Junie is a hauntingly beautiful novel that blends historical fiction, magical realism, mystery, and romance into an unforgettable story of love, loss, and resistance. Set on an Alabama plantation in the years leading up to the Civil War, the novel follows sixteen-year-old Junie, an enslaved girl whose life is irrevocably changed when she unknowingly awakens the spirit of her deceased sister, Minnie. As Junie unravels the plantation’s buried secrets and navigates her growing connection with Caleb, she must decide what she is willing to risk in the pursuit of freedom—both for herself and those she loves.

Eckstine’s prose is exquisite, weaving a lush and evocative atmosphere that immerses the reader in both the beauty and brutality of Junie’s world. The novel’s magical realism adds a layer of depth and emotion, reinforcing the themes of grief and resilience. The characters are richly drawn, their relationships complex and deeply felt, making it impossible not to become emotionally invested in their fates. While Junie excels in its genre-blending storytelling and character development, the pacing occasionally lags, particularly in the middle sections. Some revelations feel slightly rushed, leaving certain plot threads yearning for further exploration. However, these minor shortcomings do not overshadow the novel’s emotional weight and literary brilliance.

A powerful, lyrical, and deeply moving novel, Junie is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the sacrifices made in the name of love and liberation.