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The Unmaking of June Farrow
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Fantasy (2023)A woman risks everything to end her family’s centuries-old curse, solve her mother’s disappearance, and find love in this mesmerizing novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Spells for Forgetting.
In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their 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.
It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own.
After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.
With The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young delivers a brilliant novel of romance, mystery, and a touch of the impossible—a story you will never forget.
In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their 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.
It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own.
After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.
With The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young delivers a brilliant novel of romance, mystery, and a touch of the impossible—a story you will never forget.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2023
About the author
Adrienne Young
20 books13.7k followersAdrienne Young is the New York Times and international bestselling author of the Sky and Sea duology, the Fable series, and Spells for Forgetting. When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
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Instagram: @adrienneyoungbooks
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Instagram: @adrienneyoungbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 12,082 reviews
July 5, 2024
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.
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'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.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
April 15, 2024
3.75 ⭐️!!!
November 14, 2023
After finishing The Unmaking of June Farrow- my first Adrienne Young book, I’m left with two major thoughts:
Wow, this woman can write a beautiful, emotionally compelling story … and … boy do I need someone to explain the time travel thread in this one!
June Farrow comes from a long line of women who, at some point in their lives, succumb to madness. She was left in tiny Jasper, North Carolina, as a baby wearing a strange locket around her neck by her mother, who then disappeared. Now June is sensing her own mind beginning to unravel. How else can she explain seeing things that aren’t there or hearing the man’s voice that sometimes whispers to her, and what is the mysterious red door that randomly appears to her every so often?
Furthermore, why does she have a photo of a man whose unsolved murder is still the talk of Jasper standing with her mother? Did they know each other?
All these mysteries bubble under the surface as June and her best friend Mason prepare for the end of her life as she’s known it. What she doesn’t know is that in many ways her story has just begun, and it’s even MORE complicated than she ever imagined! She finds out just how true that is after her Gran dies and Gran’s best friend Birdie hands June a letter and offers an urgent word of advice: “The next time you see the door, open it.”
What follows is a story of mystery, unexpected peril and suspense but, more importantly, a story of new beginnings, hope, family and true love. Young’s prose is gorgeous, vividly painting the scenes of the farmland, small town, historical details and characters in a way that transported me there in my mind. There’s nothing better than feeling like you’re part of the story, instead of passively watching it!
I read this on my Kindle while listening to the audio, wonderfully narrated by Brittany Pressley. Her ability to tap into the emotions of the characters had me completely invested in how things played out for each of the characters. It’s a quiet book at times and has its slower moments as June works through the confusion of her situation, but it was well-worth the patience.
My one issue with the book, and this is a “me” problem - the story involves a time travel aspect that I just could NOT wrap my brain around, no matter how many times it was explained. The fact that I never quite made sense of it didn’t ruin my enjoyment, but I do think it was more complicated than it needed to be, and I suspect some may find it confusing as well.
The bottom line: if you love a beautifully written, immersive, atmospheric story with mystery, magical realism, a touch of romance and a time travel element, you may want to give this a try!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press, NetGalley, and author Adrienne Young for the DRC to honestly review, and Libby and my local library for the audiobook. It's now available.
Wow, this woman can write a beautiful, emotionally compelling story … and … boy do I need someone to explain the time travel thread in this one!
June Farrow comes from a long line of women who, at some point in their lives, succumb to madness. She was left in tiny Jasper, North Carolina, as a baby wearing a strange locket around her neck by her mother, who then disappeared. Now June is sensing her own mind beginning to unravel. How else can she explain seeing things that aren’t there or hearing the man’s voice that sometimes whispers to her, and what is the mysterious red door that randomly appears to her every so often?
Furthermore, why does she have a photo of a man whose unsolved murder is still the talk of Jasper standing with her mother? Did they know each other?
All these mysteries bubble under the surface as June and her best friend Mason prepare for the end of her life as she’s known it. What she doesn’t know is that in many ways her story has just begun, and it’s even MORE complicated than she ever imagined! She finds out just how true that is after her Gran dies and Gran’s best friend Birdie hands June a letter and offers an urgent word of advice: “The next time you see the door, open it.”
What follows is a story of mystery, unexpected peril and suspense but, more importantly, a story of new beginnings, hope, family and true love. Young’s prose is gorgeous, vividly painting the scenes of the farmland, small town, historical details and characters in a way that transported me there in my mind. There’s nothing better than feeling like you’re part of the story, instead of passively watching it!
I read this on my Kindle while listening to the audio, wonderfully narrated by Brittany Pressley. Her ability to tap into the emotions of the characters had me completely invested in how things played out for each of the characters. It’s a quiet book at times and has its slower moments as June works through the confusion of her situation, but it was well-worth the patience.
My one issue with the book, and this is a “me” problem - the story involves a time travel aspect that I just could NOT wrap my brain around, no matter how many times it was explained. The fact that I never quite made sense of it didn’t ruin my enjoyment, but I do think it was more complicated than it needed to be, and I suspect some may find it confusing as well.
The bottom line: if you love a beautifully written, immersive, atmospheric story with mystery, magical realism, a touch of romance and a time travel element, you may want to give this a try!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press, NetGalley, and author Adrienne Young for the DRC to honestly review, and Libby and my local library for the audiobook. It's now available.
June 19, 2024
✨4.5✨
Imagine a generation of women who all share a similar fate because of a unique and mysterious curse that's subjected them to a life where their past and future can be altered. That’s how life has been for the farrow women who experience strange occurrences as a result and with the constant appearance of a red door.. let’s just say we learn about this curse through June farrow, her journey, and who along with her—you learn what the title of this book means
“I had only one ambition in my simply built life, and that was to be sure the Farrow curse would end with me. It was as good a place as any to end a story. I wasn't the first Farrow, but I would be the last.”
My thoughts
I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed and cherished this story which rendered me in awe to my surprise. This was a blend of magical realism, mystery, women's fiction (the family ties), and a side of romance. I was INSANELY invested that i finished the last half of this book so quick. It played out mentally like a movie with how compelling the plot and mystery was. The little emotion felt from it actually made me cry as I neared the end, like was it that emotional? Or was it just me? Maybe both.
“The next time you see the door, open it."
Everything flowed seamlessly despite feeling confused at times because of the timelines but once you understand a little— you’ll want to know more. Also, this had its twists and turns which felt predictable except the one close to the end for me. Margaret and this other character stood out the most 🥹
I’m also all for full circle moments and this had that (I’d say this was invisible string coded but don’t quote me) and I overall thought it was a beautifully mesmerizing story that took me on an incredible journey of self discovery, life altering choices and a mystery that transports you elsewhere
My issue with this: while this wasn’t romance focused, i would’ve loved more as the romance (while lovely with a bit of yearning) felt more telling than showing. Aside from that, i think this should’ve been longer as certain things felt like they should’ve been elaborated better as is and since i still had few questions. Nonetheless I did adore this
My recommendation for reading: i used my notes app to help me grasp the timelines better, expect just enough romance not a lot and when you’re done skim the first few chapters as it made me smile knowing what I know—unless you already figured it out then bravo 🕵️♀️
hoping this becomes adapted into a movie one day 🤞🏼
Quotes
“The curse on the Farrows had broken the natural laws of the world, and with it had come so much suffering. But in this, there'd been the most unexpected of gifts.”
“You may have ruined my life, June. But first, you gave me one.”
“It loomed over me, an infinite number of forgotten moments living beneath its roof. But forgotten wasn't the right word, was it? How could I forget something if I hadn't lived it yet?”
Imagine a generation of women who all share a similar fate because of a unique and mysterious curse that's subjected them to a life where their past and future can be altered. That’s how life has been for the farrow women who experience strange occurrences as a result and with the constant appearance of a red door.. let’s just say we learn about this curse through June farrow, her journey, and who along with her—you learn what the title of this book means
“I had only one ambition in my simply built life, and that was to be sure the Farrow curse would end with me. It was as good a place as any to end a story. I wasn't the first Farrow, but I would be the last.”
My thoughts
I can't begin to describe how much I enjoyed and cherished this story which rendered me in awe to my surprise. This was a blend of magical realism, mystery, women's fiction (the family ties), and a side of romance. I was INSANELY invested that i finished the last half of this book so quick. It played out mentally like a movie with how compelling the plot and mystery was. The little emotion felt from it actually made me cry as I neared the end, like was it that emotional? Or was it just me? Maybe both.
“The next time you see the door, open it."
Everything flowed seamlessly despite feeling confused at times because of the timelines but once you understand a little— you’ll want to know more. Also, this had its twists and turns which felt predictable except the one close to the end for me. Margaret and this other character stood out the most 🥹
I’m also all for full circle moments and this had that (I’d say this was invisible string coded but don’t quote me) and I overall thought it was a beautifully mesmerizing story that took me on an incredible journey of self discovery, life altering choices and a mystery that transports you elsewhere
My issue with this: while this wasn’t romance focused, i would’ve loved more as the romance (while lovely with a bit of yearning) felt more telling than showing. Aside from that, i think this should’ve been longer as certain things felt like they should’ve been elaborated better as is and since i still had few questions. Nonetheless I did adore this
My recommendation for reading: i used my notes app to help me grasp the timelines better, expect just enough romance not a lot and when you’re done skim the first few chapters as it made me smile knowing what I know—unless you already figured it out then bravo 🕵️♀️
hoping this becomes adapted into a movie one day 🤞🏼
Quotes
“The curse on the Farrows had broken the natural laws of the world, and with it had come so much suffering. But in this, there'd been the most unexpected of gifts.”
“You may have ruined my life, June. But first, you gave me one.”
“It loomed over me, an infinite number of forgotten moments living beneath its roof. But forgotten wasn't the right word, was it? How could I forget something if I hadn't lived it yet?”
October 18, 2023
I loved it so much 😭😭😭😭
October 3, 2023
i did not have a good time reading this. 💀
for starters, this book is pitched as magical realism but it's really more like watered down diet sci-fi. the "curse" was extremely convoluted, and utilized a trope that i, personally, don't enjoy; and dear God did this book drag. it dragged like that alien will smith hauled through the desert in Independence Day. it felt so bogged down in mundane details given to us via a very passive narrator who felt about as substantial as a flat stanley doll.
june never felt much like a real participant in the story; to me it always felt like she was just... there. while Young has decent enough prose and does a good job of describing emotions, they still manage to fall flat because the character of june farrow is so "meh" that i didn't really connect the emotions to her. this book was written in first person, so that definitely doomed the rating for this out the gate. another issue i had regarding plot was that ultimately, all the mysteries of the story could have been resolved in about five minutes with a bit of communication from other characters. you cannot build a plot out of "everyone else knows everything that's going on but they just refuse to tell the protagonist because we need the word count." that does not make for an intriguing mystery, it's just dumb and annoying. there is also zero explanation for the origins of the farrow curse, and the resolution to it really felt more like half a resolution, which i found greatly unsatisfying.
the romance was another strike against the story, since june and eamon have no chemistry to speak of. their entire love story is built upon a life thst June remembers but did not technically live (like i said, the story is convoluted) and it just didn't make the romance come alive for me. even her relationship to annie was severely lacking, since the girl only spoke to her about three times. these relationships in june's life all felt like someone put up plywood walls for a house but forgot the sturdy foundation underneath. the weird mention of a semi-love triangle was also wildly unnecessary and i feel entitled to financial compensation for even having to deal with it at all.
the one point i will award in the book's favor is that the settings were well done; i did find the town of jasper to feel immersive and tangible. unfortunately, nice aesthetic does not a solid read make. i was annoyed and bored throughout the story, and am pretty sure that a week from now i won't remember hardly any details of it. I would happily walk through the red door myself if it meant i could get back the time i spent on this book.
thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me a free arc in exchange for an honest review.
for starters, this book is pitched as magical realism but it's really more like watered down diet sci-fi. the "curse" was extremely convoluted, and utilized a trope that i, personally, don't enjoy; and dear God did this book drag. it dragged like that alien will smith hauled through the desert in Independence Day. it felt so bogged down in mundane details given to us via a very passive narrator who felt about as substantial as a flat stanley doll.
june never felt much like a real participant in the story; to me it always felt like she was just... there. while Young has decent enough prose and does a good job of describing emotions, they still manage to fall flat because the character of june farrow is so "meh" that i didn't really connect the emotions to her. this book was written in first person, so that definitely doomed the rating for this out the gate. another issue i had regarding plot was that ultimately, all the mysteries of the story could have been resolved in about five minutes with a bit of communication from other characters. you cannot build a plot out of "everyone else knows everything that's going on but they just refuse to tell the protagonist because we need the word count." that does not make for an intriguing mystery, it's just dumb and annoying. there is also zero explanation for the origins of the farrow curse, and the resolution to it really felt more like half a resolution, which i found greatly unsatisfying.
the romance was another strike against the story, since june and eamon have no chemistry to speak of. their entire love story is built upon a life thst June remembers but did not technically live (like i said, the story is convoluted) and it just didn't make the romance come alive for me. even her relationship to annie was severely lacking, since the girl only spoke to her about three times. these relationships in june's life all felt like someone put up plywood walls for a house but forgot the sturdy foundation underneath. the weird mention of a semi-love triangle was also wildly unnecessary and i feel entitled to financial compensation for even having to deal with it at all.
the one point i will award in the book's favor is that the settings were well done; i did find the town of jasper to feel immersive and tangible. unfortunately, nice aesthetic does not a solid read make. i was annoyed and bored throughout the story, and am pretty sure that a week from now i won't remember hardly any details of it. I would happily walk through the red door myself if it meant i could get back the time i spent on this book.
thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for giving me a free arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2023
No secret: I enjoy the genre of magical realism. The fact that I read two novels virtually back-to-back whose plots rely on the magic of time travel is a fluke. One, not done so well (hangs head in shame on behalf of beloved author Alice Hoffman) and one, done to perfection — hello, The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young.
Our eponymous protagonist is 34 and lives in the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina.
The Farrow women are well known for the exquisite flowers they cultivate and sell on their farm and a curse that has haunted them for generations.
Uh oh, as the novel opens, June is starting to experience the family affliction — visual and auditory hallucinations, forgetfulness, erratic behavior — what she believes is a mental illness that plagued both her mother and grandmother before her.
As June starts unraveling the mystery that surrounds the Farrow women, the more her mind starts to unravel as well. She is terrified of her own descent into madness as the corners of her world start to slip and fray.
Drawn toward a red door that appears out of thin air, June crosses a threshold that changes not only her present, but her past and future, too.
Yee haw, let the fun begin! Murder, mystery, and magic aplenty.
Put your thinking caps on folks: this one contains multiple timelines and plot threads, including a mind-bending alternate timeline twist. Pay close attention as each piece of the Farrow family’s dark legacy adds to the puzzle.
It takes an accomplished writer to make such a complex story flow so seamlessly and feel so possible at the same time. Hats off to you, Adrienne Young.
This is an example of immersive storytelling at its finest with layered and complex characters who love fiercely and whose loyalty transcends time.
While June begins the story with her mind slowly unravelling, this is truly a tale of a woman putting the pieces of her fractured life back together again.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a clever and beautiful novel about the choices we make and what we’re willing to do for those we love.
June 20, 2024
♾️ I am pretty sure this is one of the best books I have ever read. I started today and didn't stop until I was finished. This is a masterpiece. I simply cannot understand how one thinks of something like this but OMG this author is a genius. This was beautiful and so well done.
I'm just going to stare at the wall now in silence. Honestly, just go in blind.
Spoiler Free Highlights
"It's always been we."
"You may have ruined my life, June. But first, you gave me one."
Magical Realism
Historical
Mystery
Romance
Time Travel
I'm just going to stare at the wall now in silence. Honestly, just go in blind.
Spoiler Free Highlights
"It's always been we."
"You may have ruined my life, June. But first, you gave me one."
Magical Realism
Historical
Mystery
Romance
Time Travel
April 20, 2024
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!! Easily one of my all time favorite reads!
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
Lemme just say- ALL OF THE STARS!! Easily one of my all time favorite reads!
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
July 14, 2023
˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥3.5/5 stars
read if you like:
♡ second-chance romance (very unconventional)
♡ rich family history
♡ magical realism
♡ small town mysteries
(disclaimer: i'm writing this with a fever so if it makes no sense i'll come back and make it make sense in like a week when i'm off my deathbed)
➸ adrienne young’s first wander into the magical realism genre spells for forgetting made it abundantly clear that young had stumbled upon a genre which fit her writing like a well-tailored outfit. with the release of the unmaking of june farrow, it’s beyond a shadow of a doubt that this niche concoction of magical realism, mystery and moody small communities is precisely where she excels.
➸ curling up with this novel splayed open in your lap you can feel each stalk of tobacco whisper against your skin, smell the farrow women’s biscuits pressed between the pages and see every beautiful, indelible image young conjures up with intensely musical prose as if each passage were an excerpt from a spell book. as an immersive experience, the languid grace and rich rural atmosphere of the unmaking of june farrow is in a league of its own; it’s a sleepy quiet magic with the exception of the tense murder mystery knifing through the windblown fields of jasper and the stifling shadow cast by june’s downward spiral into madness. my dreamy-eyed attention was utterly arrested.
➸ as the ending loomed however, and stray threads were coaxed together in an attempt at neatly packaging and serving a conclusion - i felt myself being physically pulled away from the story. there was something so contrived in the final act, as if it were a puppet show i had lost myself in and now i could see the strings young was pulling and the magic had withered. perhaps some of this sense of contrivance could be attributed to the romance between june and eamon which never once felt very sincere to my mind - but there is more to it which i still can’t quite put my finger on…
➸ conclusion:
certain more fussy takes notwithstanding, young has once again cursed me to be forever enamoured of her jewel-toned words with her twisty, transportive tale, the unmaking of june farrow. perfect for those of us looking for our own doors to the impossible from the comfort of home.
thank you netgalley for the arc !
read if you like:
♡ second-chance romance (very unconventional)
♡ rich family history
♡ magical realism
♡ small town mysteries
(disclaimer: i'm writing this with a fever so if it makes no sense i'll come back and make it make sense in like a week when i'm off my deathbed)
➸ adrienne young’s first wander into the magical realism genre spells for forgetting made it abundantly clear that young had stumbled upon a genre which fit her writing like a well-tailored outfit. with the release of the unmaking of june farrow, it’s beyond a shadow of a doubt that this niche concoction of magical realism, mystery and moody small communities is precisely where she excels.
➸ curling up with this novel splayed open in your lap you can feel each stalk of tobacco whisper against your skin, smell the farrow women’s biscuits pressed between the pages and see every beautiful, indelible image young conjures up with intensely musical prose as if each passage were an excerpt from a spell book. as an immersive experience, the languid grace and rich rural atmosphere of the unmaking of june farrow is in a league of its own; it’s a sleepy quiet magic with the exception of the tense murder mystery knifing through the windblown fields of jasper and the stifling shadow cast by june’s downward spiral into madness. my dreamy-eyed attention was utterly arrested.
➸ as the ending loomed however, and stray threads were coaxed together in an attempt at neatly packaging and serving a conclusion - i felt myself being physically pulled away from the story. there was something so contrived in the final act, as if it were a puppet show i had lost myself in and now i could see the strings young was pulling and the magic had withered. perhaps some of this sense of contrivance could be attributed to the romance between june and eamon which never once felt very sincere to my mind - but there is more to it which i still can’t quite put my finger on…
➸ conclusion:
certain more fussy takes notwithstanding, young has once again cursed me to be forever enamoured of her jewel-toned words with her twisty, transportive tale, the unmaking of june farrow. perfect for those of us looking for our own doors to the impossible from the comfort of home.
thank you netgalley for the arc !
October 18, 2023
EDIT: This beautiful book came out today, and since I'm incapable of handing out a copy to every reader on the planet, I'm just going to beg you to read it 💛
Every once and a while, a book comes along and steals your heart.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a heartbreaking and hopeful novel about how love can cross all boundaries, even time. I knew I loved Young’s first exploration into magical realism, Spells for Forgetting, and was so excited to dive into this one. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this was the most perfect combination of fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi. June Farrow is a fantastic protagonist that enhanced the story further.
June Farrow, like all the Farrow women before her, is cursed. Everyone one of them eventually descends into madness they can’t escape. June’s mom’s solution was to disappear when she was a child. When June starts to see and hear things that aren’t there, she is more determined than ever to end the curse, by not having any children to pass it down to. When her Gran passes, June’s hallucinations are more frequent. But what if June is not hallucinating? What if that red door she keeps seeing leads to answers about her past?
I love that the theme of this book is love, but mainly familial. The women in this book are so strong and protective of each other. No family is perfect, and there are moments where they hurt each other in the process of trying to love. Seeing the love of mothers, daughters, and granddaughters portrayed in such a profound and realistic way was very touching. The romantic love was just as touching. June in the beginning is completely closed off to the idea of caring for someone in that way, believing it would be selfish of her. It was wonderful to see her grow from believing love is selfish to seeing how selfless it is.
The small-town atmosphere of this town is enchanting. Much like in Spells for Forgetting, this book takes place in a small tight-knit community, that lends itself to intrigue and mystery. Young has a talent for bringing fantasy elements into our mundane world in a way that feels believable. I was so utterly enchanted by the setting that I felt like I was there.
I did not expect such a fantastic mystery, but it was so clever. We have the mystery of the Farrow curse and June’s mother that wove a complex and detailed plot. The twists and turns, for the most part, took me by surprise, and the ending shocked me! It was such a satisfying, if not a bittersweet, conclusion to the emotional journey I had been through.
If I had to nitpick, the only thing I’d say is the mystery aspect of this book got a little too heavy at the end. While time travel was explained throughout the book, there is a dense section at the end, that is key to the story but hard to get through. Things also wrap up a tad too nicely for the mystery aspect, but these are very minor things that did not detract from my fantastic reading experience.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is going to be a beloved book. I would compare this to Addie la Rue in terms of the character depth while having a more active plot. Pick up this book if you love mysterious small towns, strong women, and love stories that transcend time.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse Publishing Group for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.
-----------
a heartbreaking and beautiful book on love that crosses all boundaries, even time.
review to come after i can peel myself off the floor and see through my tears.
----------
don't mind me just checking my inbox three times a day to see if NetGalley has blessed me with an advanced copy.
---------
her adult debut was fantastic, so Im super excited to get into this one.
Every once and a while, a book comes along and steals your heart.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a heartbreaking and hopeful novel about how love can cross all boundaries, even time. I knew I loved Young’s first exploration into magical realism, Spells for Forgetting, and was so excited to dive into this one. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this was the most perfect combination of fantasy, mystery, and sci-fi. June Farrow is a fantastic protagonist that enhanced the story further.
June Farrow, like all the Farrow women before her, is cursed. Everyone one of them eventually descends into madness they can’t escape. June’s mom’s solution was to disappear when she was a child. When June starts to see and hear things that aren’t there, she is more determined than ever to end the curse, by not having any children to pass it down to. When her Gran passes, June’s hallucinations are more frequent. But what if June is not hallucinating? What if that red door she keeps seeing leads to answers about her past?
I love that the theme of this book is love, but mainly familial. The women in this book are so strong and protective of each other. No family is perfect, and there are moments where they hurt each other in the process of trying to love. Seeing the love of mothers, daughters, and granddaughters portrayed in such a profound and realistic way was very touching. The romantic love was just as touching. June in the beginning is completely closed off to the idea of caring for someone in that way, believing it would be selfish of her. It was wonderful to see her grow from believing love is selfish to seeing how selfless it is.
The small-town atmosphere of this town is enchanting. Much like in Spells for Forgetting, this book takes place in a small tight-knit community, that lends itself to intrigue and mystery. Young has a talent for bringing fantasy elements into our mundane world in a way that feels believable. I was so utterly enchanted by the setting that I felt like I was there.
I did not expect such a fantastic mystery, but it was so clever. We have the mystery of the Farrow curse and June’s mother that wove a complex and detailed plot. The twists and turns, for the most part, took me by surprise, and the ending shocked me! It was such a satisfying, if not a bittersweet, conclusion to the emotional journey I had been through.
If I had to nitpick, the only thing I’d say is the mystery aspect of this book got a little too heavy at the end. While time travel was explained throughout the book, there is a dense section at the end, that is key to the story but hard to get through. Things also wrap up a tad too nicely for the mystery aspect, but these are very minor things that did not detract from my fantastic reading experience.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is going to be a beloved book. I would compare this to Addie la Rue in terms of the character depth while having a more active plot. Pick up this book if you love mysterious small towns, strong women, and love stories that transcend time.
Huge thank you to NetGalley and RandomHouse Publishing Group for the advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.
-----------
a heartbreaking and beautiful book on love that crosses all boundaries, even time.
review to come after i can peel myself off the floor and see through my tears.
----------
don't mind me just checking my inbox three times a day to see if NetGalley has blessed me with an advanced copy.
---------
her adult debut was fantastic, so Im super excited to get into this one.
June 15, 2024
UGH THE ENDING IM SOBBING BLOOD ITS WAS SO GOOD (rtc)
_____________
mixed feelings starting this? I think it’s because I’m in a wee bit of a slump.
hopefully it’s good🍀:3
_____________
mixed feelings starting this? I think it’s because I’m in a wee bit of a slump.
hopefully it’s good🍀:3
October 21, 2023
EXCERPT: I fished the stack of photographs from one of the sections and clumsily spread them out on the floor beside me, my eyes searching the many faces of Susanna Farrow. A baby in Gran's arms. A toddler in a pair of overalls, chest bare beneath the sagging straps. A young girl blowing out birthday candles. A teenage with wide, wire-rimmed glasses in the fields at the farm. My frantic hands finally stilled when I found the one I was looking for - a Susanna who was in her twenties, I guessed.
She stood beneath the dogwood tree in the front yard, one hand absently reaching for the low-hanging branch beside her. Her hair was long and down, face turned to the street as if the picture was snapped the moment she saw someone coming down the sidewalk. So ordinary in the kind of way I'd always longed for. No hint or shadow in her eyes of what was to come.
ABOUT 'THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW': In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm - and the mysterious curse that has haunted them for generations.
The madness that led to Susanna Farrow's disappearance left her daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother. Everyone in Jasper is certain it's only a matter of time before she finds the same end, but June has kept secret that her unravelling has already begun.
After her grandmother's death, June follows a series of clues that link her mother's disappearance to the town's dark history, leading finally to a mysterious door.
Behind it may lay the answer to the mysteries that have always lingered like a dark shadow. Upon crossing the threshold, June embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but entangle her fate and her heart in a star-crossed love.
MY THOUGHTS: I really loved the premise outlined in the synopsis of The Unmaking of June Farrow; however, I wasn't at all prepared for the time travel/slip trope that is the basis of this story. What I was expecting was a story of generational mental ill-health, but what I got was something very different. I doubt that I am the target audience for this book, but blame that on the synopsis.
However, it's not all bad. Adrienne Young writes beautifully. Her prose is atmospheric and I felt compelled to continue reading, even when I had no idea what was going on. I was totally confounded by the strange rules surrounding where June could travel and how many times, and how the same characters were in different time periods at different ages than they should have been. It made absolutely no sense to me, and I am still confounded even after finishing.
I adore the cover, and I'm quite sure that this is a wonderful book for those who like a whole lot more depth to their fantasy novels than I do.
⭐⭐⭐
#TheUnmakingofJuneFarrow #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Unmaking of June Farrow for review. All opinions expressed in this review are totally my own opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
She stood beneath the dogwood tree in the front yard, one hand absently reaching for the low-hanging branch beside her. Her hair was long and down, face turned to the street as if the picture was snapped the moment she saw someone coming down the sidewalk. So ordinary in the kind of way I'd always longed for. No hint or shadow in her eyes of what was to come.
ABOUT 'THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW': In the small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow is waiting for fate to find her. The Farrow women are known for their thriving flower farm - and the mysterious curse that has haunted them for generations.
The madness that led to Susanna Farrow's disappearance left her daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother. Everyone in Jasper is certain it's only a matter of time before she finds the same end, but June has kept secret that her unravelling has already begun.
After her grandmother's death, June follows a series of clues that link her mother's disappearance to the town's dark history, leading finally to a mysterious door.
Behind it may lay the answer to the mysteries that have always lingered like a dark shadow. Upon crossing the threshold, June embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but entangle her fate and her heart in a star-crossed love.
MY THOUGHTS: I really loved the premise outlined in the synopsis of The Unmaking of June Farrow; however, I wasn't at all prepared for the time travel/slip trope that is the basis of this story. What I was expecting was a story of generational mental ill-health, but what I got was something very different. I doubt that I am the target audience for this book, but blame that on the synopsis.
However, it's not all bad. Adrienne Young writes beautifully. Her prose is atmospheric and I felt compelled to continue reading, even when I had no idea what was going on. I was totally confounded by the strange rules surrounding where June could travel and how many times, and how the same characters were in different time periods at different ages than they should have been. It made absolutely no sense to me, and I am still confounded even after finishing.
I adore the cover, and I'm quite sure that this is a wonderful book for those who like a whole lot more depth to their fantasy novels than I do.
⭐⭐⭐
#TheUnmakingofJuneFarrow #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: When she’s not writing, you can find Adrienne on her yoga mat, on a walk in the woods, or planning her next travel adventure. She lives and writes in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Quercus Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of The Unmaking of June Farrow for review. All opinions expressed in this review are totally my own opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
March 30, 2024
#my roman empire (rtc)
November 19, 2023
every time adrienne young releases a new book it become my new favorite book of all time
May 26, 2024
THIS IS WHAT I WAS NEEDING!!! Forget chokehold , this book put me in a headlock! I’m talking finished in 3 hours and didn’t come up for air. Hands down will be in my top 10 books of 2024 because this was insane!!!!
The most enthralling and enchanting story, all the details in this book and how they all fell into place so meticulously, all of the characters and even in a short amount of time how hard you fall for them, the romance aspect while a more underlying tone to the novel was phenomenal and had my chest literally aching!!!
Honestly don’t want to say much because I think this is the perfect book to go into blind but just know your world will get rocked hard!!!
This has a mystery element to it with some magical realism and while not really alike I often found myself thinking of the seven year slip!!
The most enthralling and enchanting story, all the details in this book and how they all fell into place so meticulously, all of the characters and even in a short amount of time how hard you fall for them, the romance aspect while a more underlying tone to the novel was phenomenal and had my chest literally aching!!!
Honestly don’t want to say much because I think this is the perfect book to go into blind but just know your world will get rocked hard!!!
This has a mystery element to it with some magical realism and while not really alike I often found myself thinking of the seven year slip!!
January 22, 2024
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young is a Historical Fantasy Fiction Story With a Mystery to Solve!
June Farrow is determined to stop the mysterious curse that has plagued the women in her family for generations. It happened to her mother, Susanne, whose madness led to her sudden disappearance years ago causing her baby daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother.
June has vowed to never fall in love, to be the last one with the Farrow name, and to stop the curse forever. All who live in Jasper, N.C. know about the curse and continue to feed the rumors that what happened to June's mother will soon happen to June.
What no one knows is that June is already feeling the Farrow curse taking shape in her mind...
The Unmaking of June Farrow is the second book by this author I've read and enjoyed. As in Spells for Forgetting, Young's writing is beautiful and lyrical, her storytelling is creative and entertaining, the mystery at the core of the story is enthralling, and the magical realism is bountiful.
With that said, I'm torn about several things.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley whose voicing and narration always result in an amazing listening experience.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a creative and enjoyable story and I recommend it to those who enjoy Historical Fantasy Fiction with mystery mixed as I do. I'm already looking forward to this author's next book!
3.75⭐
June Farrow is determined to stop the mysterious curse that has plagued the women in her family for generations. It happened to her mother, Susanne, whose madness led to her sudden disappearance years ago causing her baby daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother.
June has vowed to never fall in love, to be the last one with the Farrow name, and to stop the curse forever. All who live in Jasper, N.C. know about the curse and continue to feed the rumors that what happened to June's mother will soon happen to June.
What no one knows is that June is already feeling the Farrow curse taking shape in her mind...
The Unmaking of June Farrow is the second book by this author I've read and enjoyed. As in Spells for Forgetting, Young's writing is beautiful and lyrical, her storytelling is creative and entertaining, the mystery at the core of the story is enthralling, and the magical realism is bountiful.
With that said, I'm torn about several things.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Brittany Pressley whose voicing and narration always result in an amazing listening experience.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a creative and enjoyable story and I recommend it to those who enjoy Historical Fantasy Fiction with mystery mixed as I do. I'm already looking forward to this author's next book!
3.75⭐
May 21, 2024
Thank you Goodreads and Delacorte Press for this copy in exchange for an honest review!
This was a pretty crazy storyline that I was not expecting! This started out with some interesting things happening and this information that June was coming across. I kept saying "what the..." to myself every time something else came up.
And I liked that this also turned into a murder mystery too, even some people were keeping IMPORTANT information to themselves for most of the book. It wasn't really a surprise to me how all that went down, and I also wasn't surprised about the identity of one of the characters toward the end. Not sure if it was supposed to be a big twist.
Overall, really enjoyed it. I think I would have liked it to be a little longer, though. 300ish pages is not a lot of time to cover what was going on with her, the "new" relationship to develop, and then solving that murder.
Would recommend!
This was a pretty crazy storyline that I was not expecting! This started out with some interesting things happening and this information that June was coming across. I kept saying "what the..." to myself every time something else came up.
And I liked that this also turned into a murder mystery too, even some people were keeping IMPORTANT information to themselves for most of the book. It wasn't really a surprise to me how all that went down, and I also wasn't surprised about the identity of one of the characters toward the end. Not sure if it was supposed to be a big twist.
Overall, really enjoyed it. I think I would have liked it to be a little longer, though. 300ish pages is not a lot of time to cover what was going on with her, the "new" relationship to develop, and then solving that murder.
Would recommend!
October 18, 2023
I loved Young’s prior work Spells for Forgetting so I've been eyeing this one for awhile.
The story is set in the small town of Jasper, North Carolina located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and centers around a family or women. The Farrow women of Jasper are known for their thriving flower farm and for a mysterious affliction of madness that has plagued the women for generations. June Farrow’s mother disappeared when she was a baby leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. June is grieving the loss of her grandmoher, who was also plagued by the madness, when she finally admits that she's been seeing and hearing things that are not really there for a year now. June has been hallucinating a mysterious red door, hearing her name whispered, and hearing wind chimes that are not there.
While looking through her grandmother's things, June discovers some clues regarding her mother's disappearance that hint that the door she is hallucinating could be the answer she has been looking for. What follows is a journey that will not only change both June’s past and future but also uncover the mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in star-crossed love.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is full of magical realism that's centered around a mystery and sprinkled with a bit of romance. The story is also an incredible family/intergenerational saga. This unforgettable tale touches on the sacrifices we make as women, and the Enduring power of love.
The beginning pulled me completely into June’s world. About 30% of the way in, the book changes up and turns into an almost different story altogether. I loved this book so much that I had to put it on my list of favorite reads of 2023!
I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by Brittany Pressley. If you decide to give this one a try, I highly recommend this format!
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young was published on October 17 so it is available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
The story is set in the small town of Jasper, North Carolina located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and centers around a family or women. The Farrow women of Jasper are known for their thriving flower farm and for a mysterious affliction of madness that has plagued the women for generations. June Farrow’s mother disappeared when she was a baby leaving her to be raised by her grandmother. June is grieving the loss of her grandmoher, who was also plagued by the madness, when she finally admits that she's been seeing and hearing things that are not really there for a year now. June has been hallucinating a mysterious red door, hearing her name whispered, and hearing wind chimes that are not there.
While looking through her grandmother's things, June discovers some clues regarding her mother's disappearance that hint that the door she is hallucinating could be the answer she has been looking for. What follows is a journey that will not only change both June’s past and future but also uncover the mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in star-crossed love.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is full of magical realism that's centered around a mystery and sprinkled with a bit of romance. The story is also an incredible family/intergenerational saga. This unforgettable tale touches on the sacrifices we make as women, and the Enduring power of love.
The beginning pulled me completely into June’s world. About 30% of the way in, the book changes up and turns into an almost different story altogether. I loved this book so much that I had to put it on my list of favorite reads of 2023!
I listened to the audiobook version which is narrated by Brittany Pressley. If you decide to give this one a try, I highly recommend this format!
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young was published on October 17 so it is available now. Many thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for the gifted audiobook!
March 6, 2024
This has easily just become one of my favorite books of all time. The story is so magical and beautiful and I don’t even know how I’m going to move on from this😂 It’s a little bit murder mystery, magical realism, love story, and so much more.
June 15, 2024
“And then I spoke my vows into the summer wind. That I’d love him forever. That I would always, always come back. That no matter what, I would find him.”
I’m enamored with Adrienne Young’s writing and storytelling abilities. She’s able to weave a story together that is so beautifully done I’m in awe. If you are a fan of Rebecca Ross I think you would love this author’s books.
Tropes & What to Expect
✨magical realism
✨family curse
✨time travel
✨generation of women in family
✨star crossed lovers
✨small mountain town
✨mystery/murder
✨finding where you belong
Brief Summary: The Farrow women of the small mountain town in North Carolina are known for an illness that causes the women to become mad. June Farrow sets out to break the curse by ensuring she never marries or have children certain the curse must end with her. After her grandmother’s death she starts to have visions of being in two places at once and she starts finding clues to questions she has about the women in her family
“It doesn’t have to be we,” I whispered. He waited for me to look at him, and when he spoke, he didn’t hesitate on the words. “It’s always been we”
Overall thoughts: I’m still stuck here thinking about this book. I highly recommend!!! (Poor Mason🥹 if you know you know)
October 15, 2023
let me start by saying that adrienne young is a master of the Fall Vibe, and i do honestly really enjoy the quality of her writing and her ability to create a cozy-adjacent atmosphere. i ultimately felt lukewarm about spells for forgetting, and was hesitant to pick this up, but it was a botm pick (those add ons are so cheap) and it had such good reviews it felt like a low risk, high reward situation. there were aspects of this that i enjoyed and had fun with, and others that i didn't really like, which lead to an... interesting reading experience. at various points i was ready to give this 4 stars and at others i was fully prepared to give it 1 star, and i'm settling on two because there were things i really did enjoy, and i also think this was just the unfortunate case of severe mismatch between reader and book (which isn't something i'd know beforehand, because knowing would've just been spoiler city... not that i'm opposed to spoilers, but i agree with other reviews and this is probably best experienced knowing as little as possible).
it's hard to talk about this book without veering into spoiler territory, but i really enjoyed the first 20 or 25% of this a fair amount, despite not loving some bits (not super sure how i felt about the way the "illness" was talked about, and i didn't love all the stuff with mason, idk). things got wonky for me once june decided to step through the door, and a lot of that has to do with the setting and where the plot goes. i genuinely think young does a wonderful job with setting and making it feel real and lived in, it's just that i personally hate cozy and cozy-adjacent stories that take place in this particular sort of setting. i didn't know that's what was going to happen going in, so it's not like it's anyone's fault, but boy did i have a hard time suspending disbelief. besides that, i felt very lukewarm to bored by the romance (did they have chemistry??? i couldn't tell you) and some of the characters blended a bit together for me. much like spells for forgetting's a lot of drama for some apples, i felt like the way the mystery was handled was a lot of build up for something that ended in a fizzle. i think young's writing is very smooth and easy to read and has a lot of elements that makes the sheer amount of 5 star reviews i'm seeing make sense, it just so happens june farrow was a collection of things that didn't particularly work for me.
uh. anyway. for the more spoiler-y opinions: while i absolutely see where most people will love this, i can't really relate. oh well!
it's hard to talk about this book without veering into spoiler territory, but i really enjoyed the first 20 or 25% of this a fair amount, despite not loving some bits (not super sure how i felt about the way the "illness" was talked about, and i didn't love all the stuff with mason, idk). things got wonky for me once june decided to step through the door, and a lot of that has to do with the setting and where the plot goes. i genuinely think young does a wonderful job with setting and making it feel real and lived in, it's just that i personally hate cozy and cozy-adjacent stories that take place in this particular sort of setting. i didn't know that's what was going to happen going in, so it's not like it's anyone's fault, but boy did i have a hard time suspending disbelief. besides that, i felt very lukewarm to bored by the romance (did they have chemistry??? i couldn't tell you) and some of the characters blended a bit together for me. much like spells for forgetting's a lot of drama for some apples, i felt like the way the mystery was handled was a lot of build up for something that ended in a fizzle. i think young's writing is very smooth and easy to read and has a lot of elements that makes the sheer amount of 5 star reviews i'm seeing make sense, it just so happens june farrow was a collection of things that didn't particularly work for me.
uh. anyway. for the more spoiler-y opinions: while i absolutely see where most people will love this, i can't really relate. oh well!
December 11, 2023
This was horrible.
December 4, 2023
4.50!
Adrienne never ever disappoints (well there was the girl the sea gave back but we must ignore) she has delivered time after time and that way has been an auto-buy author for me. her writing style is so gripping and immersive though i struggled with the first few chapters but after them this book entranced me it was so whimsical and vivid but also having that touch of mystery and horror plus suspense that only Adrienne can pull off.
June comes from the farrow family and is the last of her kin. She soon starts seeing a red door and upon entering it she finds herself travelling through time where she unravels some things which i must not speak of due to spoilers but Farrow women can only travel through that door twice. yes my summary if of course vague but Adrienne pulled it off perfectly.
In this plot driven book Adrienne also manages to find time for her characters and romance making it so intense and loveable. i mean i loved June and I loved Eamon and i also loved how she portrayed them as soulmates. i was in love.
Though what really catched me was how the suspense and mysterious elements were taken and crafted. it really shaped the story and without it i would not have loved it as much as i did and i truly believe that Adrienne can nail every genre she writes in not just fantasy or romance. Every timeline, Every world or Every genre she chooses she aces it and that is what makes her such a good author.
...
The only reason why i have been putting this off is because after this ill have no Adrienne book left to read..
Adrienne never ever disappoints (well there was the girl the sea gave back but we must ignore) she has delivered time after time and that way has been an auto-buy author for me. her writing style is so gripping and immersive though i struggled with the first few chapters but after them this book entranced me it was so whimsical and vivid but also having that touch of mystery and horror plus suspense that only Adrienne can pull off.
June comes from the farrow family and is the last of her kin. She soon starts seeing a red door and upon entering it she finds herself travelling through time where she unravels some things which i must not speak of due to spoilers but Farrow women can only travel through that door twice. yes my summary if of course vague but Adrienne pulled it off perfectly.
In this plot driven book Adrienne also manages to find time for her characters and romance making it so intense and loveable. i mean i loved June and I loved Eamon and i also loved how she portrayed them as soulmates. i was in love.
Though what really catched me was how the suspense and mysterious elements were taken and crafted. it really shaped the story and without it i would not have loved it as much as i did and i truly believe that Adrienne can nail every genre she writes in not just fantasy or romance. Every timeline, Every world or Every genre she chooses she aces it and that is what makes her such a good author.
...
The only reason why i have been putting this off is because after this ill have no Adrienne book left to read..
August 3, 2023
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.
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.
May 23, 2024
maybe my favorite book of the year!?! what an absolute delight this one was 🥹 magic and mystery and romance all wrapped into one. it was somehow cozy and warm while also keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for everything to unfold. it was so atmospheric it felt like a movie i was watching right in front of me. it’s hard to say much without giving anything away, but it was just truly just a lovely story from start to finish. i loved the audiobook, the narrator was wonderful!
December 18, 2023
This book is simply one of Adrienne's finest, and will probably be a favorite for the 2023 year. I say this quite a bit, but I DO think its best if you go in blind as i've seen way too many spoilery reviews for this one.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is exactly everything I hoped it would be. Adrienne gave me magic, strong female relationships, abiding love, motherhood, and mystery all in one beautifully written story.
From chapter one I was completely immersed. I loved the small sprinklings of magic and the layered history of the Farrow women. The setting is perfection, from the flower farm to the blue ridge mountains...I was romanced in more ways than one.
The mystery is additive and I don't think i've been this invested in a storyline and characters in a long time. June Farrows story is memorizing, heartfelt, powerful, full of suspense and emotion. This story will stay with me for a long time. GO READ IT.
**audio was fabulous**
*one open door (feeling focused rather than parts), light strong language.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is exactly everything I hoped it would be. Adrienne gave me magic, strong female relationships, abiding love, motherhood, and mystery all in one beautifully written story.
From chapter one I was completely immersed. I loved the small sprinklings of magic and the layered history of the Farrow women. The setting is perfection, from the flower farm to the blue ridge mountains...I was romanced in more ways than one.
The mystery is additive and I don't think i've been this invested in a storyline and characters in a long time. June Farrows story is memorizing, heartfelt, powerful, full of suspense and emotion. This story will stay with me for a long time. GO READ IT.
**audio was fabulous**
*one open door (feeling focused rather than parts), light strong language.
September 17, 2023
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.
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.
October 19, 2023
Star Rating: —> ♾️/5 Stars
… I… am… floored. This novel, well, simply put, irrevocably changed me.
I still have tears on my face, and a fierce longing to re-read this book again immediately, to experience the magic all over again.
I have no more words at the moment; I am just dumbstruck with awe .
I recommend this, with my whole heart, to Anyone & EVERYONE! If I could express myself rn, I likely would not be able to shut up about it. ;-)
… I… am… floored. This novel, well, simply put, irrevocably changed me.
I still have tears on my face, and a fierce longing to re-read this book again immediately, to experience the magic all over again.
I have no more words at the moment; I am just dumbstruck with awe .
I recommend this, with my whole heart, to Anyone & EVERYONE! If I could express myself rn, I likely would not be able to shut up about it. ;-)
November 17, 2023
i entered my Adrienne Young era this fall and it was the best decision and brought all the vibes 🍂🧡
i enjoyed SPELLS FOR FORGETTING a bit more than THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW, but still highly recommend both. i liked the love story and mystery more in SPELLS FOR FORGETTING, but liked how there was more magical realism and time travel in THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW. her writing is 🤌🏼🙌🏼👏🏼 so creative and fun!
here’s what to expect from these books…
🔮 multiple genres—you get magical realism, mystery, romance, drama and hist fiction
📖 such strong storytelling. i mean, this girl can WRITE! you totally fall into this story and i adored the characters and was so impressed by the level of detail and creativity in both
🍂 the best fall vibes and settings. absolutely top tier and so atmospheric and whimsical
✨ magical realism but on the lighter side. THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW had much more magical realism and actually gave me OONA OUT OF ORDER and THE INVISIBLE HOUR vibes
🎧 fantastic on audio. SPELLS FOR FORGETTING has a full cast and if you know, you know these are sooo rare and *chefs kiss*
👀 lots of mystery. each story is centered around an unknown event and the secrets and journey to the resolutions are very enjoyable
🧡 ROMANCE!!! and… second chance romance 🥹🫶🏼 aka my fave trope
so much more but these are the highlights! she has become an auto-buy author for me and i’ve read both in the last month and already can’t wait for a new one 🥰
my only tip for these is that there is ALOT going on. lots of twists, details, characters, secrets, etc. so you almost need to take notes or really pay attention to not miss key elements!
i enjoyed SPELLS FOR FORGETTING a bit more than THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW, but still highly recommend both. i liked the love story and mystery more in SPELLS FOR FORGETTING, but liked how there was more magical realism and time travel in THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW. her writing is 🤌🏼🙌🏼👏🏼 so creative and fun!
here’s what to expect from these books…
🔮 multiple genres—you get magical realism, mystery, romance, drama and hist fiction
📖 such strong storytelling. i mean, this girl can WRITE! you totally fall into this story and i adored the characters and was so impressed by the level of detail and creativity in both
🍂 the best fall vibes and settings. absolutely top tier and so atmospheric and whimsical
✨ magical realism but on the lighter side. THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW had much more magical realism and actually gave me OONA OUT OF ORDER and THE INVISIBLE HOUR vibes
🎧 fantastic on audio. SPELLS FOR FORGETTING has a full cast and if you know, you know these are sooo rare and *chefs kiss*
👀 lots of mystery. each story is centered around an unknown event and the secrets and journey to the resolutions are very enjoyable
🧡 ROMANCE!!! and… second chance romance 🥹🫶🏼 aka my fave trope
so much more but these are the highlights! she has become an auto-buy author for me and i’ve read both in the last month and already can’t wait for a new one 🥰
my only tip for these is that there is ALOT going on. lots of twists, details, characters, secrets, etc. so you almost need to take notes or really pay attention to not miss key elements!
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