Every once in a while, you come across a book that just leaves you in wonder when you finish it. It's a combination of wondering what did I just read and just savoring a really well written, emotional love story. This was one of those books.

This book really showcases deep, familial love, as well as once in a lifetime true love. It just leaves you with a warm, fuzzy feeling when you finish. And possibly a slight headache from trying to keep up with the storyline and figure out the twists! 😂

The first couple chapters were a little slow to start for me, but I am so glad I gave it a chance... it was an amazing story! Definitely a great autumn read!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I felt this book in my soul. What a joy to immerse myself in this masterpiece! This story was nowhere near what I expected, in the best way possible. I smiled, I was perplexed, I gasped, my heart raced, a little dumbfounded, and then I smiled some more. This twisty mind-bending tale breaks reality in such a clever way that left me in awe and shock. Actually wrapping my head around this story had me so engrossed and engaged that I never wanted it to end. Of course I wanted answers to the mysteries enfolding, but I also loved being along for the ride.

This story has some magic, some mystery, some romance, a lot of drama, and so many questions that beg to be answered. The fast moving plot was thoroughly unpredictable and kept me on my toes until the very end. Woven within the multi-layered plot are feelings of searching, longing, and falling in love again. Filled with lovable, beautiful characters, this is a story that will stay in my heart and mind for a very long time.

I am grateful for Penguin Random House - Delacorte Press, Adrienne Young, and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.

Adrienne Young delivers a riveting small town mystery with a side of romance and magic. The Unmaking of June Farrow have me Practical Magic vibes- set in a small town in North Carolina and follows a family curse. Beautifully written and with rich characters. One of Adrienne Young's best book.

5 STAR ALERT!! This may be my top read of 2023. I don't give 5 stars often, but 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 is everything I want in a book.

Beautifully written and full of emotion, June's story is multi-layered with mystery, romance, and magical realism. Between the mother-daughter dynamics and the heartbreaking decisions made in an attempt to end the Farrow women's curse, it fully captured my attention. Adding more complexity with the limits of the time travel and multiple timelines, I saw no hopeful way to end her story. I am in awe on this author's talents.

With Brittany Pressley narrating, you can't go wrong with either method for reading. I did both as I could not stop reading.

Thanks to @netgalley for the advanced copy! Pick up yours on 10/17/23!

A spellbinding mystery that twists through the years and generations.

June Farrow has grown up knowing she will fall victim to the curse that plagues her family. All the Farrow women eventually go mad - some sooner than others - and June is determined to be the last. But when her grandmother passes away, June receives a final letter from her which sets a series of events into motion that will change everything for June… and hopefully her entire family.

I was absolutely entranced by June’s story, especially once the plot really got going and she had gone through the red door.

The mystery of the curse, June’s missing memories and motives, and the secrets that are clearly being kept from her was intriguing, and I felt so deeply for all the characters who were clearly struggling with their various roles in the story.

I would have liked to find out what caused the time split to start with, however that’s a very small thing in the face of this enthralling story.

If you like fantasy realism and mysteries, this book is definitely for you!

The Farrow women have always lived in two places at once. That's because of their curse and why, more often than not, they succumb to the madness that permeates their line.

June Farrow has grown up her entire life vowing that the curse will end with her. For a year now she's already been plagued with the visions that are the first sign of the illness to come. It's something she's kept hidden from her family since she's also been busy taking care of her grandmother.

But after her grandmother passes, June is left putting the pieces of her own dwindling mortality together, reckoning with her mother's long-ago disappearance, and realizing it might be more closely linked than she thought.

I'll be honest, I went into this book solely because it's written by Adrienne Young and she is an author I can read sight unseen. The only thing I really knew about this book was that it was going to be another adult entry instead of YA.

Honestly, I felt like going in with little to no knowledge about this book is the best way to go in because it's a very slow-build but I think what kept me interested was the not knowing. It kind of mirrors June's own journey in the way that she is piecing together and discovering as she goes.

Likewise, I love that we don't know why there's a "curse" we don't get any history or explanations, it just is what it is. It's something that the Farrow women have been dealing with for centuries. No idea how it landed upon them. Sometimes, I think it's ok to not give explanation for everything. Yes, that means suspending disbelief and moving past reality a little bit, but me, personally, I'm fine doing that in my reading from time to time. I think, in this case, it's because June's story on its own is so captivating that we don't need all the extraneous background at this moment. With that being said, however, if Adrienne Young were to revisit some of the other Farrow women and highlight their stories, I would definitely be down for it.

I loved the idea of family that permeates the story. I mean if you are dealing with something outside of the normal, then you're going to have a limited number of people who truly understand you, or who want to understand. So all the people who are in on the secret, who the Farrows have allowed into their lives are there because they are, essentially, family. If not blood then found.

Without wanting to spoil anything, I'll just say that the story is almost split in two parts and I almost wish we had more time in the first part despite the second part being more essential to June's overarching storyline. Looking back, I missed a lot of the setup that takes place in the first part and I think this kind of made the concepts and ideas presented a little difficult to follow along with and understand. The big thing with this issue is that I feel like there were a lot of characters in the beginning of the book that were almost cast aside in the latter part and I wanted more time with them. More, I wanted to explore them in relation to who June becomes as her understanding broadens.

Speaking directly of June, I liked her ability to take what is happening to her and keep moving. It would be so easy for her to give in to the hallucinations and just give up, but she fights for her family and her future. She wants to put the pieces together and figure out the mystery.

I hope that Adrienne Young revisits the Farrows whether in another full-length novel or in short stories. I think they could all have an interesting perspective. Even though they have the same curse, they still have their own experiences. Like June, there are things that they know or understand that cannot be shared with anyone else and I would love to delve into those secrets.

The Unmaking of June Farrow 🍂🍃✨

Ty for the advanced readers copy Netgalley and Penquin Random House.


It is really hard to review this one without giving away little tidbits of the story. I highly recommend going in without reading the synopsis!
Adrienne Young’s books continue to make my highly anticipated release TBR. She is the QUEEN of atmospheric writing, so perfect for fall. Mystery, magical realism, family and romance woven into one.
I loved how women driven this storyline was. The Farrow woman have always known they’ve been different, but why? Generations of Farrow woman come together to help break the curse that threatens to ruin their happiness & family line. Loved the gentle exploration of family and found family. What one will do to protect the ones they love- always makes for a phenomenal story. This is a dangerous, keep you up past your bedtime kind of book.
I was fully invested in June’s perspective and narrative (single POV). I felt so connected to the supporting characters, especially her grandmother.
Really beautiful, a magical must read.
5⭐️

Happy pub day to The Unmaking of June Farrow! Thank you to Random House and Netgalley for the ARC.

A quick review - this started a bit slow, but I really loved the world building so it didn’t bother me that much. That being said, don’t expect it to jump into the action. It’s definitely a more leisurely novel.

I enjoyed the time-travel and its mechanics (though it didn’t 100% make sense to me so it required some suspension of disbelief - but it’s time-travel so *shrug*), the magical realism, and the small town mystery aspects. I loved the relationships, especially between the many generations of Farrow women. I think some of the “love triangle” could be strengthened (along with all of the present timeline, which would help that), and the drama could have been heightened given the stakes that were raised, but overall this was a lovely, quiet story. Definitely a good autumn read!

Out today!

🥀The Unmaking of June Farrow Review 📖✨

5/5 ⭐️

Wow, Adrienne Young did it again. I could not put this book down. It was so good that I had to know everything as soon as possible.
I haven’t read anything like this book - it was so different!
I feel like that is all I can say without spoiling anything, and trust me you don’t want any spoilers!

🥀Single POV
🥀Mystery
🥀Second chance romance
🥀Page Turner

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Adrienne Young's "The Unmaking of June Farrow" was an enchanting story that managed to weave together elements of mystery, romance, and a captivating journey to change one's fate. If you loved this book, you're not alone, as it masterfully kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. The central mystery of the Farrow curse unravels slowly throughout the narrative and is a testament to Young's storytelling prowess as she continues to create more adult fantasy stories.

One of the more engaging aspects of this book was attempting to solve the Farrow curse mystery alongside June, and it's a credit to the author's skill that I didn't anticipate the reveal. When the truth behind the curse and June's role in it is finally unveiled, it delivers such a shock that I was literally covering your mouth at the revelation - a sign of a truly impactful and well-executed twist. The book's ability to keep me guessing and ultimately delivering a satisfying resolution is a hallmark of a great mystery.

Our main character June was equally enthralling as we spend all of our time with her as she navigates her way through what seems like an unavoidable fate. But when she meets someone and decides she doesn't like what fate has in store for her, she enacts a plan to save future Farrow women from repeating history.

While there may be elements of the Farrow curse that challenge the bounds of logic and science, you' have to embrace the fantastical nature of the story and decide to enjoy the ride. Sometimes, such narratives require a suspension of disbelief, and "The Unmaking of June Farrow" succeeds in offering a thrilling and engaging experience despite any perceived logical gaps, especially when they involve other characters who are impacted by the curse. But when all is said, this book is a testament to Adrienne Young's storytelling skills and her ability to craft a compelling narrative that takes readers on a memorable journey.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC for The Unmaking of June Farrow and happy pub day to this book!
The women in the Farrow bloodline have been cursed for as long as anyone can remember. June starts to realize that the fate of this curse is now coming after her. After her grandmother’s death there are links connecting June’s mother to their small town of Jaspers biggest mystery that has yet to be solved.
If you are a fan of mystery, magical realism & small town, this is the perfect book read for the fall. It’s best to go into this blind. The less you know the better! I had no idea which direction this story was going in which made the mystery of the book that much better! I love how it all came together in the end.

I've been hooked on Adrienne Young since reading the Fable duology. Her first adult novel, Spells for Forgetting, was one of my favorites of last year.

I've been reading more slowly as I juggle life and preparing for a baby, but oh man I am absolutely loving this one so far. The Unmaking of June Farrow has all of the hallmarks of a great Adrienne Young book -- an underlying sense of mystery and magic, atmosphere, and fascinating characters.

This is a perfect fall read and I highly recommend picking it up at your local bookstore now that it's hit shelves.

I couldn’t put The Unmaking of June Farrow down! Riveting, atmospheric, with enigmatic characters, all the things I know I’ll get in an Adrienne Young novel.

I’ve seen other reviewers advise this, and I agree completely: Go into this one blindly! I’d skimmed the synopsis but immediately requested this one because of how much I’d enjoyed Young’s previous adult novel, Spells for Forgetting. I didn’t need to know anything else. And I’m so glad I didn’t. I was able to immediately immerse myself into the story and let it take me where it may.

I don’t say this often, but if you haven’t read this one—and you fully intend to—just stop reading reviews. (Including this one!) You don’t need to know anything else. And now that I’ve finished the book and skimmed a few other reviews, I made the right choice because spoilers are aplenty!

Don’t worry, I won’t spoil anything, but I think this one is better read blindly.

Young has such an ability to paint a scene and develop characters, build a mystery. And I was hooked. And even though I guessed many of the twists, I still kept second-guessing myself. This is a twisty mystery—and it can give you a headache if you try to figure out how all the Farrow women connect—so it’s better to just sit back and enjoy the ride. (Although, I wouldn’t mind perusing a family tree!)

I only wish I would have picked this one up sooner—back during the hot summer—instead of waiting closer to the publishing date, because it is set in the summer, and I do love to match my books with the season I’m in.

I sped through The Unmaking of June Farrow in under 24 hours. It’s a book that had me thinking at the end, a book I’d love to discuss with other readers. And those are always my favorite kinds of books!

I think this author is just not for me. If you like her first book then you would most likely enjoy this one as well. The vibes/atmosphere is definitely there, I'm just not a huge fan of her writing/characterizations.

I could see how this book became a bestseller. It has everything a good story requires: nice writing through which the reader flows, likeable characters, good narration, the mystery of the main character, the manly man as love interest, family drama with cross generational interactions. Yet, I found this story lack so much logic! I have questions, and I have a lot of them. I don't understand this whole traveling in time theme, because after 50%, I felt this to be just a confusing tool that pushes the plot, not the magical realism on its own. Also, the relationship between characters was completely unnatural, their anger forced, their happiness not present, and their conversations lacking depth. I feel like everything I had trouble with YA "Fable" just came to this novel and stayed. I'd had a deep wish for this to have been proofread and checked for those plot holes which on its own could have a deeper explanation that just conventional time travel rules from our world. Overall, it was a miss for me, and like I said, if you are one for simple stories that you just want to relax to with a hit of romance then this is for you. If you are looking for a deep magical realism story, well join me in further research.

I loved this one! One of those books that you instantly know is going to be great and can't be put down. I’ve never read Spells for Forgetting which I’ve also heard great things about so I’ll be adding it to my list! No real complaints about this one although I’ll say parts of it were unnecessarily complicated, although it didn’t make me like it any less. Thank you to @randomhouse and @netgalley for my copy.

Available now!! Absolutely beautiful cover!!!

Started a little slow and confusing at times for me but wasn’t long and I was curious as to why the Farrow women had this “sickness” in their family line. Turns out it wasn’t sickness at all. Unfolds as time travel that still confused me slightly but was written beautifully and added mystery, romance, family drama all to the plot. Definitely kept me guessing and wanting to know what would happen next. Felt the flow of story from different time periods was easy to follow. My first by this author and excited to read other works.

Loved the character of June and her character had such depth. Rooted for her the whole story.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random house publishing for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own!

I love that this is featured in my home state. This has fantasy, mystery, adult NOT YA, magic and romance! you slowly digest the book and then once you get to a certain point you can't stop. I love Adrienne Young's writing and I have read several of her books! This is a perfect fall book to read!

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW is one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. It has my favorite components: daughters seeking family information, North Carolina setting, witchy family secrets, time travel, small towns, love stories across time, and several mysteries that require solving. Our protagonist, June, has watched the women in her family lose themselves to some type of inherited madness; so she promises herself that she will never have a family of her own. She will end the malady with her own life. As she begins to experience strange thoughts herself, she believes the madness is starting. But has it really begun? Can she outwit it? This is a fascinating tale that wraps readers up in its world-building and character development. I was so engrossed in this story that I never noticed the passage of time. I read the book in one sitting. I could not put it down. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

In the town of Jasper, North Carolina everyone knows that there is something strange about the Farrow women and the madness that overtakes them. June Farrow has been haunted by the rumors about her family all her life, but after her mother’s disappearance, and the creeping reality that she’s next in line for the family’s mysterious curse, June is determined to find a way to break it.

THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW is filled with a kind of cozy, quiet magic that I love from Adrienne Young’s novels. Her writing is so atmospheric, and along with her strong characters you are instantly transported into the story. I would love to live on the flower farm!

If you enjoy
- a familial curse
- A small town mystery
- Time travel
- Second chance romance (I think?)
- Focus on a matriarchal family

You will love THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW. Grab a warm cup of coffee and a blanket! It’s required.

This may be a personal reader quirk of mine, but I have a hard time with time travel plots in all media. I don’t really know why but I always struggle to understand the rules. It’s just hard for me to keep track of everything. Maybe I am cursed too. Unfortunately, I had this problem with this book as well. While it didn’t make me enjoy the story any less, there were a lot of moments where I was lost on the details.


*Thank you to Random House for the e-arc copy.
Published review 10/17/2023