Originally posted on Forever Young Adult on 2017 May 30

A MILLION JUNES was one of my most anticipated 2017 releases, partly because I enjoyed Emily Henry's debut, THE LOVE THAT SPLIT THE WORLD, and partly because I'm in love with that cover. Overall, I was pretty impressed, and I'm surely looking forward to Henry's next work.

A MILLION JUNES revolves around Jack/June/Junior O'Donnell IV, and her struggles with falling in love with Saul Angert, very reminiscent of the forbidden romance in the previously mentioned Romeo and Juliet story, as well as her grief over her father's death. These plot points all point towards a greater, more profound tale over the long-lasting feud between the O'Donnells and Angerts from generations previously.

I loved June; she was creative, imaginative, and had a support network that isn't usually seen in YA novels—a present family, a best friend, and Saul. The chemistry between June and Saul was tangible, and I loved their conversations—it gave me such raw and touching emotion that I loved. Throughout the novel, as the history between the O'Donnells and Angerts progress, June's character and ambition to unravel the curse behind the two families is incredibly prevalent.

My favorite part of the novel was the end of the novel; the writing flows so magically and beautifully, and the eloquence of Henry's words is incredibly profound. My only reservation of this novel is that I originally assumed the incorporation of ghosts was a way for June to tackle her grief, but when it was revealed that the ghosts were actually real and significant in unravelling the history, I was way too confused about the plot to really latch on.

Overall, A MILLION JUNES contains beautiful writing and a complex history of a plot. If you're into a forbidden romance, cursed families, and gorgeous covers, be sure to pick this one up!