Kat 's Reviews > The Unmaking of June Farrow
The Unmaking of June Farrow
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Kat 's review
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, magical-realism, time-travel, audiobooks, mystery, fantasy, womens-fiction, sci-fi
Nov 13, 2023
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, magical-realism, time-travel, audiobooks, mystery, fantasy, womens-fiction, sci-fi
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.
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Reading Progress
November 7, 2023
–
Started Reading
November 7, 2023
– Shelved
November 7, 2023
– Shelved as:
contemporary-fiction
November 7, 2023
– Shelved as:
magical-realism
November 7, 2023
– Shelved as:
time-travel
November 7, 2023
– Shelved as:
audiobooks
November 7, 2023
– Shelved as:
mystery
November 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
fantasy
November 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
womens-fiction
November 13, 2023
– Shelved as:
sci-fi
November 13, 2023
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 132 (132 new)
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Jayme
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Nov 13, 2023 07:27PM
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![Marilyn (recuperating from hip replacement surgery](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1661450533p1/39272121.jpg)
![Margaret M - (too far behind to catch up although trying to spend more time on GR)](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1645658172p1/137111152.jpg)
![Michelle](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720451053p1/53328737.jpg)
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Marilyn! I'm not either. In fact, had I known this one involved time travel, I probably would've skipped it. Luckily, it ended up being a wonderful read! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Terrie! I hope you'll love it too! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Debbie! I definitely need an assist on this one. lol 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Margaret! I struggle a bit with non-linear thinking, so this was a challenge, but still a wonderful read! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Michelle! I relate. My brain had to do some gymnastics to try to follow this one, and I still couldn't! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Carol! I usually do too! lol 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Srivalli! The writing is so lovely that I can excuse my confusion. 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Holly! You may like this one. It's a unique take on time travel. 💗
![Jonas](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1454552712p1/35690882.jpg)
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Stock up on your Tylenol if you read this one. 😂 Thanks, Melissa! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks for the kind words, Jonas! 💗
![Rosh](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1700254211p1/91622714.jpg)
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Haha! You totally get me, Rosh. 😄 Thank you! 💗 This is - in a nutshell - why I struggle with fantasy and sci-fi so much. I just can't turn my logical brain off.
![Canadian Jen](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1672556756p1/27709782.jpg)
![Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - so very behind!](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1565295366p1/29919991.jpg)
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Liz. It seems to be tricky for a lot of us! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Jen! I can see where magical realism wouldn't be to everyone's taste, though I enjoy it. It's as close as I get to fantasy usually! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Catherine! 💗 I can understand your feelings. Many of her books are in the fantasy or YA genres, which I don't prefer, so I hadn't gone out of my way to read her. I was pleasantly surprised by this, though! If you ever do read it, maybe you could explain the time travel aspect to me? Help a friend out here! 🤣
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks, Shelley! I hope you enjoy it if you do try it! 💗
![Sunny](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1579287118p1/1022402.jpg)
![Kevin Ansbro](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1506848923p1/43579369.jpg)
A wonderful review!
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
Thanks so much, Sunny! I hope you enjoy your time with the book! 💗
![Kat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/images.gr-assets.com/users/1720224311p1/105191338.jpg)
A wonderful review!"
Haha! Those ninja skills are necessary to keep my very distractible brain focused. lol Thanks, Kevin! 💗