3.5
The Farrow women have all become sick. Losing time and seeing things that aren't there. At least that was what June believed until she is sent a photo from 1900's and the lady in the picture is her mother. Maybe everything she is seeing isn't just in her mind.

Started off very slow and I was contemplating not finishing for the 25%.
Once she finally knows the secret and travels to get answers I became more interested.
The traveling rules were a little confusing until it was better explained at the end of the book.
However, the premise was good and Eamon was the star.

The Unmaking of June Farrow was a fast-paced speculative mystery that had me second-guessing EVERYTHING until the very end. Adrienne Young explores what it means to be a woman and the generational trauma inherent in our sex.
30-something orphan June Farrow is determined to break her family’s curse by letting the line die with her, but she doesn’t discover just how big the curse is until she steps through the red door. Faced with seemingly impossible stakes, June works to untangle mysteries that span generations while opening her heart to the possibility that she could, perhaps, have everything she’s ever wanted.
Also, I don’t know how Young continues to deliver these hunky, brooding men. Do I love Eamon more than Saint? I’ll say it: Yes, yes I do.
With a delicate touch, lush prose and high-stakes, Young may have just written her best book to date. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Absolutely magical and stunning in every way.

I felt every word of this book from beginning to the very end. It burrowed into my soul to hold me captive.

Adrienne Young is an INCREDIBLE writer. She creates such a lush setting and atmosphere with her books. I was not aware going in that this would have time travel and that completely threw me off. Not an aspect that I enjoy in stories, especially if not known going in or in a specific sci-fi story. If that's your thing, I think you'll love this type of story from Young.

This story had a feeling of "The Time Traveler's Wife" meets "The Ten Thousand Doors of January" mashed with the movie "Looper" & a murder mystery thrown in.

I love Adrienne Young's writing style but this magical realism/romance just felt like it was missing something for me.

It was a solid read and I enjoyed it - I just kept wanting more.

Thank you, Netgalley for the copy!

Smith is the queen of cozy small town fall vibes. As a North Carolina resident, I also love her description of the state.
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The Farrow women are known for two things in Jasper, North Carolina: their successful flower market and their curse. After June’s grandmother dies, her voices and hallucinations intensify. Just like they did for her mother before she disappeared all those years ago. June is determined to end the curse. She embarks on a journey touched by magic, that is sure to change the past and future forever.
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I loved the concept of this one and the magical realism. I also loved the notions of time and time travel. The vibes were great, but I honestly had a hard time connecting with June. I felt like I was missing the thread of action or plot driving the storyline. I still enjoyed it overall, and I have loved this author’s other books, so I will keep reading books by Smith.
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Thank you to the publisher Delacorte Press for this digital ARC.

This book is WONDERFUL! I love starting off my 2024 reading challenge with a five-star book. This is a female character driven story, and for once I feel like all the characters, especially June Farrow, are appropriately developed. I love a good book (or movie) that features time travel, and this version is extremely well done. This book gives me both A Wrinkle in Time and Back to the Future vibes. I have not previously read any of Adrienne Young’s books, but now I feel compelled to go read all of them. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for my ARC!

The narrative unfolds in the quaint town of Jasper, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, and revolves around the Farrow family of women. Renowned for their flourishing flower farm, the Farrows are also marked by a mysterious generational affliction of madness. June Farrow, raised by her grandmother after her mother's disappearance, grapples with grief following her grandmother's passing. Haunted by hallucinations of a mysterious red door, faint whispers of her name, and phantom wind chimes, June finally confronts a year-long struggle with these unsettling visions.

Amidst the belongings left by her grandmother, June stumbles upon clues related to her mother's vanishing act, suggesting that the elusive red door might hold the key to the answers she seeks. What ensues is a transformative journey that not only unravels the mysteries of June's past and future but also unveils the secrets concealed within her idyllic town, intertwining her heart with the threads of star-crossed love.

"The Unmaking of June Farrow" weaves a tapestry of magical realism, anchored in mystery and sprinkled with a touch of romance. This enchanting story also serves as a compelling intergenerational saga, delving into the sacrifices women make and celebrating the enduring power of love. This captivating tale is truly unforgettable, resonating with the complexities of familial bonds and the extraordinary strength found in the heart of every woman. I adored this book!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can see why people have compared this book to The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue as it evokes some of the same feelings.

This book started a little slow, but you needed the backstory to move forward. Once it got going, the Rollercoaster started.

This author keeps getting better and better.

This is a book that will stay with you for a while.

Masterpiece

4.75 stars.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is a beautifully written and emotionally compelling story of mystery, love, family and time travel.

June Farrow comes from a long line of women who, at some point in their lives, succumb to "madness." In Jasper, N.C., the Farrow women had a history of unraveling and June begins to sense that her own mind is succumbing to the Farrow curse. She begins seeing things that aren't there, hearing a man's voice whisper to her, and a red door continuously appears to her. After burying her grandmother, she receives a photograph of a man who was murdered years ago and her mother. As she prepares for the end of her life, her story just begins. Upon opening the red door, June is thrust into a story of mystery, hope, and love. How will June's story end? You'll have to pick up The Unmaking of June Farrow to find out.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc of Adrienne Young's newest novel, The Unmaking of June Farrow, in exchange for my honest review.

The way this author can weave a story together is PERFECTION!

A little bit of mystery, a splash of romance and time travel all wrapped up with a bow! I really enjoyed this one. I kinda went into it blind and I’m glad I did. Sit back, don’t overthink this one and just enjoy the ride. Five stars for me.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for this read!

This book was amazing. As an avid fantasy reader who has consumed 40+ fantasy books this year, The Unmaking of June Farrow is one, if not the, fantasy book of the year for me (2023). The premise of the book is so imaginative and captivating. The character development was so good and I loved how the book came full circle for every single one of the main characters. I can already see myself thinking about this book for a long, long time.

If you are a fan of Addie LaRue, you’ll love June Farrow.

Thanks @netgalley for the e-arc of this book! It was fantastic! Five stars!

If you are a lover of fantasy set in the real world, then this unique book is for you. June Farrow works on her family's flower farm near Jasper, North Carolina, one that they have had for generations.

The Farrows have always been a little reclusive, for good reasons. They have a secret, an affliction that has been visited on the women in the family. June had hoped that it had passed over her, but lately she has been seeing and hearing things that aren't there and fears that it is her turn. Her turn to walk through the mysterious door to - where? Imagine being transported to a different place and time where you look like someone these people know - but it's all new to you and you can't explain why.

I received an e-arc of this book from Ballantine Books via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Adrienne Young has become one of my must-read authors. In both The Unmaking of June Farrow and Spells for Forgetting, there was something about her writing that felt soothing to me. Even during intense scenes, there’s a quiet calmness in her storytelling. Maybe it’s because the magic in those books is subtle - secondary to the characters.

The women in the Farrow family have a strange affliction causing them to lose touch with reality. June watched her grandmother become more and more distant before her death. And the whole town knows the story of how her mother Susanna disappeared, leaving baby June on Market Street.

June grew up knowing that one day, she too would be afflicted. But the expectation didn’t make the hallucinations any less terrifying. Or dreams that felt so real, like a memory, any less disturbing.

After her grandmother’s passing, June receives a photo and an address that reveal unbelievable family secrets. And a mysterious red door opens to the past.

Like Spells for Forgetting, The Unmaking of June Farrow includes a murder mystery and some shady town characters, mixing danger into the otherwise bucolic farm setting.

I don’t think I’ll spoil anything by saying that The Unmaking of June Farrow employs one of my favorite tropes - time travel. But the way the different time loops function in this story make me cross eyed with a headache. Best not to think about it too much and just enjoy the story.

his story was absolutely beautiful. Especially the cover, but Adrienne Young always has such amazing covers.
June Farrow is from a long line of woman who are cursed. Every woman in the family tends to descend into madness and June is determined to not have a fate like the woman before her. A solution to her is to not have any children so it doesnt pass. There are heavy family orientated vibes in this book especially between the woman at first and thats something I very rarely enjoy but I thoroughly enjoyed it here. The mystery was super good also. And the aspects of time travel I liked. I'm a sucker for time travel in books. At times this book had me crying and I'm super glad I could read it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Delacorte Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

As always Adrienne Young weaves a wonderful world that draws you in. Unfortunately, this one just did not do it for me at all. I could not connect with any of the characters and felt that, even though this is magical realism, things were a little too much of a reach. It was enjoyable, but it was just there for me.

I want to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group—Ballantine for an ARC of this book.

How is it possible that I was confused throughout this entire book and still don't understand most of the logistics of what happened, but I still absolutely adored it? Adrienne Young's writing is incredibly beautiful - I'd read a phone book if she wrote one.

I felt like I was right in the book with the way the settings were described, right alongside the characters that were so vividly explained so that they felt like long lost friends. There were many themes with this book but it didn't feel overwhelming or disjointed at all - just a twisted, weaving story of mystery, love, family and the choices we make. Absolutely beautiful.

My head hurts. To fully appreciate this book you need to concentrate, focus and pay attention to each timeline and even then I got confused. This is a brilliant lesson in the possible consequences of crossed timelines. The writing is beautifully descriptive of a Blue Ridge mountain community in Western North Carolina. Young captures the multigenerational demise of the Farrow women into not quite dementia but a fading away. But there is an alternate explanation and that is where things get very interesting, posing so many “what ifs”.

Love, loss, strong familial ties, insanity and curses, insular communities that breed antagonism and worse, a precarious line of what may be revealed and what has to stay hidden, so many things going on, all woven like a piece of twine which is finally unraveling. Amazing thought processes and writing and worth every minute.

Thanks to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for a copy.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is a captivating mystery that I could not put down. This book had me thoroughly stumped, grasping for clues with every page I turned. I have been a long-standing fan of Adrienne Young's work, but this has been my all-time favorite.

The main character is stubborn, but in a way that coincides with the plot. I felt like I was unraveling the story as June was. The dynamic between each of the characters was unique and well-developed. There was enough room in the novel for everyone's story, without anything feeling too overwhelming.

Overall, this has been one of my top reads for the year. Combining historical, fantastical, and mysterious aspects, Young builds a well-developed story that leaves readers wanting more.

As expected, I LOVED this book. It took a while for me to understand the time lapses but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment at all. My favorite part of the story is June herself. She was such an interesting character and I loved getting to live this through her view.