This was a fantastic original story that I couldn't put down!

June Farrow is in the middle of living a normal life, though a bit solitary. She has approximately two friends and is convinced that the women in her family are all cursed. After her grandmother passes, she starts seeing odd visions and wonders if she's losing her grip on reality, perhaps succumbing to the family curse. But June doesn't know that there's a reason behind everything and soon embarks on a journey that will alter her life forever.

I enjoyed the style of writing and this book has quickly become my favorite read of the year so far!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy of this title.

I really enjoyed this book. It had a lot of layers, and the ending, while feeling a tiny bit abrupt, had the set up built in to the overall plot. I could have just used a few more pages to wrap things up. Otherwise, this was a beautiful and interesting story.

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW • Adrienne Young • Pub Date: October 17, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. This book felt like pure magic, and I fear that no words I write will do this story justice.

Abridged Goodreads Synopsis: 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 for as long as anyone can remember. The whole town knows of the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving her daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors. Everyone in Jasper is certain that it's only a matter of time before she finds the same end, but June hasn't told a single soul that it's already begun. After her grandmother’s death, a series of clues linking her mother's disappearance to the town's grim past emerge, leading June to a mysterious door. Behind it may lay the answer to the mysteries that have always lingered like a dark shadow over the Farrows, but the further into the unknown she goes, the more her mind seems to unravel. 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.

What started as a slow-burn that I was worried would not hold my interest, quickly became a story I found myself whole-heartedly invested in. As I slowly unraveled the tangled mystery of the Farrows past along with June, I became invested in every character. Most notably, this book was beautifully written. This plot could have easily lost readers in its tangled web, but the author somehow found a way to weave a brilliantly complex plot without leaving her readers behind.

This book is the perfect Fall/Winter read. It is by far my favorite book by the author. I have already peer-pressured my best friend to pick this one up, and bought a special edition copy of the book for my shelves. So yes, even if this is outside of your normal go-to genre, give this book a try. It is well worth the read.

4/5 ⭐️’s

This book was such a great read! It kept me on the edge of my seat & I could not put it down until I figured it all out!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
You can read the many other reviews to get a glimpse at what this book is 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 but I am going to tell you how this book made me 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭

If I could give this book a million stars, I would.
A work of pure enchantment.
I don't cry often, if ever, when I read books but let me tell you....I BAWLED.

I was beyond captivated that I don't even know the right words to truly express my feelings about this story.
Adrienne Young really showed off her masterful storytelling here and I was in awe from every single chapter I read. June's journey had me constantly pushing forward for answers and to unravel the complexities of her mystery.

The romance aspect of this book was so warm and clenched at something deep within me. It was compelling and utterly beautiful. It truly left me breathless.
This story is both heartbreaking and hopeful, life shattering and selfless. This book is full of stunning magical realism and enthralling mystery.
To have loved so deeply and purely that it changes everything you thought about life and about yourself is honestly one of the most beautiful things. The selflessness and sacrifices we will make for the ones we love, knowing that no matter what, we will always return to them, leaves me in such an embrace of warmth.

All I can say at this point is that you need to read this book.

3.5 rounded up. I genuinely got confused a few times, and it made me feel lost while reading. I did understand the end of the story but in the middle I was not sure where I was lol

Sweet baby Jesus, was this a good one, y'all (spoken in a Southern accent to match the book's vibe).

Thank you to NetGalley the book's publisher for providing me with this ARC, even though I read it painfully late.

This was one magical story, and I do not say those words lightly. June Farrow is a book I shall not soon forget. From the perfectly crafted characters to the plot that drew me in in an instant and held my attention, this could not have been a more enjoyable read.

I do not often read women's fiction, but I have been getting more into it lately, and this story is a perfect example of why it is so important. Some stories are not merely stories of humankind but stories that perfectly encapsule the female experience. That's what this is: a celebration of motherhood, a deep-dive into a mind seemingly going mad, and a beautiful message to top it all off--we choose our own fates.

Brava, Adrienne Young. I will remember June Farrow forever.

All of the Farrow women eventually succumb to madness, and it looks like June's time is coming sooner than later. She is seeing and hearing things that aren't there, but after her grandma dies, her grandma's best friend Birdie gives her note telling her to go through the red door. It's hard to give too much information about the book without spoilers, but this was just really fantastic.

WOW! This book took me by surprise, 5/5 stars!! Adrienne Young's "The Unmaking of June Farrow" is such a captivating and immersive read, a story that lingers long after the final page is turned. It is a testament to the enduring power of family bonds, the resilience of the human spirit, and the transformative power of love.

What I Loved
-The captivating storyline that kept me guessing until the very end
-The well-developed characters, especially June Farrow, who is both relatable and strong
-The enchanting setting of Jasper, North Carolina, where magic and mystery intertwine
-The seamless blend of magical realism, suspense, and coming-of-age themes
-The powerful message of family, self-discovery, and the strength of the human spirit

Overall Impression
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a captivating and immersive read, a story that will appeal to fans of magical realism, YA fiction, and anyone who has ever questioned the weight of family legacy. It is a tale of love, loss, and the unwavering spirit of a young woman determined to break free from the shackles of her past and forge her own destiny.

What a special story this was! I went in blind, knowing nothing about the plot other than the title and what a treat this book was.
I really enjoyed the time travel premise and how it was executed. I loved the generations of strong females that made up the incredible Farrow women! I adored the love story, the reveals, how the mystery unfolded, the setting, the time periods, the magical fantasy elements… I could go on and on. This book had everything I wanted and was written so beautifully! This will be a book that stays with me long after that last page.
It was my first by Young, but most certainly won’t be my last. I can’t recommend this book enough and thought it made for the most perfect read to close out the fall season! Thank you so very much to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for my #gifted eARC!

One of my favorite reads of the year!! I loved the mystery element of this book but most of all, the atmosphere. I felt like this book was so different than other books I've read before and felt fully immersed in the story. This book made me want to suddenly quit my job and open a flower farm. After I finished reading, my immediate thought was that I couldn't want to reread it. The characters felt so real to me and I felt like I really knew them, which is a testament to the beautiful writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book!

Wow. I had an interesting experience reading this book. It took me almost three months to finish it--which by my standards is an extremely long time--partly because I struggled with the pacing in the beginning. For the first 50% of the novel, I honestly wasn't very into it. I was really only sticking with it because of the consistent raving reviews and I knew I needed to finish it before I formed an opinion. Right around the 60% mark, the book really took off and I finished the rest of it in one sitting. Once everything started coming together and falling into place, I really started to understand the hype and I am so incredibly grateful that I stuck with this.

This is a stunning and beautifully written story about a woman focusing on solving the disappearance of her mother as well as solving a past murder. This book is atmospheric, mysterious, and full of magical realism and time travel.

This is now one of my favorite reads of the year and I have to buy a copy to own. Just read this--trust me.

I loved the FEEL of this one more than the actual execution of the story. I liked it but did get lost in the time jumps and felt confused at times. For me, it distracted me from the characters.

Sometimes you pick up a book that reminds you why you love to read. And this was that book for me. Maybe my favorite book of all time? Young gives a story like nothing I have ever read before. I don't even know where to begin. The characters are beautiful, the mystery and time travel elements were strong. The family dynamic was intricate and lovely. Go into this book without not knowing much, you will thank me for that!

Read if you like:
- beautiful and exquisite descriptive writing
- characters that you love and feel like family
- multiple genres in one ( magical realism, mystery, romance, fantasy, thriller and more I'm sure)
- time travel elements



Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the eArc copy!!!!!

June Farrow is waiting for her fate to find her but instead she ends up following cryptic clues after her grandmother's passing and they may just be what June needs to end her family's century old curse.

I have only read one book by Adrienne Young, and I plan to read more of her books due to the amazing atmosphere and characters she writes.

When I first started reading The Unmaking of June Farrow, I did struggle with the pacing and getting into the story, but once the story got rolling, I found myself intrigued with the family curse and mystery. This book does end up being at a medium pace and does not suffer from any inconsistencies once you get through the first 25-50 pages of the book.

This book was unpredictable, which I really appreciated and enjoyed. I kept trying to make up scenarios in my head to guess what would happen next or later in the book, but I always turned up wrong with those guesses. So, for me that's a plus because the constant guessing made me more engaged with the story.

June Farrow thinks she is hallucinating at first when she starts to hear her named called and then seeing a mysterious door appear. That's when it all gets interesting and brings a very unique idea to the story and runs with it. Once she is able to cross the threshold of that mysterious door, we see June in a place where she can change the timeline of the past and future. However, with being able to change the timeline, she will have to decide if she wants to save the Farrow women from the curse or if she rather put her own fate at risk. With all that we find June torn between what her heart wants and what her head wants, which in total makes it a beautiful journey we embark on with June.

The Unmaking of June Farrow makes the perfect fall/winter companion for those cold days that you want to stay in and lounge around with a cozy blanket and a hot drink and if you are wanting a beautiful, atmospheric fantasy/sci-fi novel with a small-town mystery that will leaving you guessing and will blow your mind, then definitely check this book out.

I can not get over how truly amazing this book was. It blew me away in every aspect. The writing is flawless and I will read anything she puts out

Adrienne Young writes beautifully. Her latest novel, The Unmaking of June Farrow, is full of gentle details that paint the Blue Ridge Mountain scenery with words. Although the narrative spans about a century, everything takes place in one quaint rural town and the book has a strong sense of history and place.

The protagonist of this tale, June Farrow, is a mystery to herself. She knows that the women in her family all have the strange experience of what might be called visions or hallucinations and also unexplained disappearances and reappearances. Her own mind seems to be splitting and she is trying to decipher what is happening to her. She has the uneasy feeling that she’s somehow connected to an unsolved murder from the 1950s.

I found June’s slow progress of solving the mystery somewhat frustrating and was often bored by the quiet tone while reading. This book has a lot of romance in it and while it’s sensual and intimate and well written, I really wanted to get back to the murder investigation.
Probably many readers will find this book moving as it shows the beauty of love and family throughout the four generations of women.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Delacorte for giving me the free digital advance reader copy for review consideration.

I recommend reading this book if you like tender, poetic portraits of love and intimacy and family connections. I don’t recommend it so much if you need a lot of action and gripping suspense in your fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for my ARC of this book! The Unmaking of June Farrow is a story of generational connection and trauma intertwined. I really enjoyed this one!

This book was like following a trail of clues and mystery with a slow burn of suspense and mysticism. What I especially enjoyed was that although there is a fair amount of story that falls within the sci-fi/fantasy genre, it is woven within layers of not only suspense, but layers of unraveling the complexities of what may appear to be mental illness on the surface, with a much deeper and mystical meaning. What made this book difficult to read for me was the pacing, as I found it to be quite slow and monotonous at times. However, this certainly wouldn't keep me from recommending The Unmaking of June Farrow!

An odd little book, honestly. It’s a very nice departure from your usual reads that offer a little mystery. I’m not sure I loved the ending, but also don’t know if there could have been a different ending. I do know it left me feeling wistful. Somehow touching that part of my brain that as an only child I daydreamed in often when I was younger.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I didn’t think I could enjoy a book more than I enjoyed Spells for Forgetting, but Adrienne Young really knocked it out the park with this one. It has been years since I even teared up reading a book, but this one had me crying literal happy tears because some parts of this book were cute! It was an amazing book from beginning to end and I’m so excited to pick up more books by this author! She’s really a phenomenal writer.