This book was sitting at a 3.5/4 star rating for me until I hit the 95% mark, when the Big Twist was revealed and everything went down and I burst into tears and finished this book through blurry vision. The story itself was incredibly slow, and at some points felt predictable, but I truly cannot fault Adrienne Young for any of it because it was all masterfully written for a heartwrenchingly beautiful ending.

In true Adrienne Young fashion, the story might have been slow but it was captivating enough that I never wanted to set it down. The characters were lovable, and while I do wish some of the side characters had more page time and development (cough, cough, Eamen, cough) the book had so much heart.

Something I love about Adrienne Young’s writing is that she is unapologetic in the type of writer she is. When I pick up one of her books, I know exactly what I am getting, and at the same time, the story always delivers in the most unexpected of ways. The Unmaking of June Farrow is no exception. If you haven’t picked this up yet, I highly recommend giving it a chance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC! All views reflected are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for the ARC of The Unmaking of June Farrow!

This book is phenomenal! I loved it sooooo much! Definitely one of my favorites for the year. Although this is not really a "romance" novel, the love story really resonated with me. The characters and their motivations are complex and you can feel the familial bond radiating off the pages. I didn't entirely follow how June was trying to end the curse but the rest of the story was so good I don't want to try to pick apart the book to try to figure it out.

Summary:
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. The whole town remembers the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving June to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors. It’s been a year since June started seeing and hearing things that weren’t there. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing out of nowhere—the signs of what June always knew was coming. But June is determined to end the curse once and for all, even if she must sacrifice finding love and having a family of her own. After her grandmother’s death, June discovers a series of cryptic clues regarding her mother’s decades-old disappearance, except they only lead to more questions. But could the door she once assumed was a hallucination be the answer she’s been searching for? The next time it appears, June realizes she can touch it and walk past the threshold. And when she does, she embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but also uncover the lingering mysteries of her small town and entangle her heart in an epic star-crossed love.

I really enjoyed The Unmaking of June Farrow it was the perfect read to get in the mood for fall. I liked all the characters and the small mountain town setting. I won’t go too much into the plot because I think it’s best to go into this one blind and giving anything away would ruin the fun of the book. My only complaint would have been a little bit better explanation of the twist at the end and it took me a few chapters to really get into the book but glad I stuck with it. Definitely would recommend this one and would rate it 4 stars. I want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Really good, hard to put down. I liked this a lot more than Spells for Forgetting

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced free copy in exchange for an honest review

Thank you NetGalley, Delacorte Press, & Adrienne Young for an eARC of The Unmaking of June Farrow!

Adrienne Young has done it again! Her writing is so atmospheric & mesmerizing — I was sucked into June’s story from the start & NEEDED to know what would happen next! you get so much from this story that will keep you invested: magical realism, suspense, a mysterious “curse,” & a bit of romance.

I find it difficult to describe how much I enjoyed this book without spoiling it, so I’ll leave you with this — it’s emotional, mind-bending, & beautiful. June’s determination to understand/end her family’s curse while slowly realizing how complicated things truly are & trusting herself to make decisions that will not only impact herself, but those who mean the most to her, was all so well-written & made me feel ALL the emotions.

if you’re a fan of..

💫magical realism
💫suspense + mystery
💫family curse
💫small town
💫time travel
💫second chance romance
💫dual timeline

..I highly recommend this book!

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young is a captivating fusion of magical realism, mystery, and small-town charm. The story follows June Farrow, the last surviving member of the enigmatic Farrow family in a small mountain town in North Carolina, plagued by a centuries-old curse and a mysterious family history. June's journey begins when she starts experiencing signs of madness, leading her to unravel cryptic clues about her mother's decades-old disappearance. As she touches a mysterious red door that beckons her, she embarks on a journey through time, facing a complex web of revelations, a heart-wrenching romance, and challenging questions about family, identity, and sacrifice. While the final act may feel somewhat contrived, the story's mesmerizing prose, unexpected twists, and powerful themes make it an exceptional and unforgettable read, especially for those who enjoy second-chance romance, rich family history, magical realism, and small-town mysteries.

Thank you so much to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for providing an advanced copy of this! All thoughts and opinions are still my own.

Adrienne Young has quickly become an auto buy, favorite author of mine. Her writing is so beautiful and magical and completely pulls me in. This book was whimsical and romantic and mysterious. And everything I wanted from this story.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year after falling head over heels for Spells For Forgetting. And it did not disappoint. This story is definitely not gonna be for everyone. It's slow and unexplained and more about the atmosphere and journey than the destination. But it's exactly what I want in this type of contemporary fantasy.

There is no explanation for the fantastical elements. No one looks too closely. It just is. And I LOVE that. I don't want details, I want to get lost in the fantasy of it all.

And the romance swept me off my feet. I wasn't expecting to get the same heart flutters in here that I do in traditional romances. But was in it. These two were soulmates.

I also really loved the reveals and pacing. I was always given just enough to keep me flipping the page. And the fantasy element itself, blew my mind. How authors can pull off big ideas like this never ceases to amaze me.

I can't wait for more from Adrienne Young. Her stories just fit my reading taste so perfectly. Beautiful writing, loose magic, romance, and slow character driven stories. I can't recommend this enough!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an ARC of The Unmaking of June Farrow!!

If I could use one word to describe this book it would be longing.

I couldn't exactly put my finger on it, but this book made me deeply emotional. Like I was tearing up for about 70% of this book. I think it was the intricately crafted relationships that made me so teary. Especially with June's relationship with Margaret, Eamon, and Annie. I thought I knew where this book was going plot wise. And then it turned completely on it's head and took me on an emotional journey. I loved every second of the book and June's POV. As soon as I finished, I just started openly weeping. I've always enjoyed Adrienne Young's YA books, but she truly flourishes writing in adult. Her previous book, Spells for Forgetting is one of my all time favorites, so I wasn't sure how this one was gonna stack up. But this completely blew my expectations out of the water.  And I love it even more that Spells For Forgetting.

This book makes me want to stand outside of a Barnes and Noble and tell every person that walks in to read this book. I cannot wait to read it again! The Unmaking of June Farrow is a uniquely spellbinding book that combines the family dynamics of a Alice Hoffman book and the magic/heart of a Makoto Shinkai film. I highly recommending picking this one up.

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

A big thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse Ballantine for the eARC! This one publishes tomorrow! 🎉

If you’re looking for a book with small-town vibes, atmospheric descriptions, and unforgettable characters, look no further. This untraditional second-chance romance is a perfect fall read.

I adored the descriptions of the setting. I felt like I was there, and I got swept away in it. I loved the characters - learning their motivations kept things interesting.

While I’m not saying too much because I believe this is a book you should go into as blindly as possible, I did struggle with the storyline. I needed more explanation to help me make the leaps that were required. I never could grasp what I needed to make it all make sense. Did this distract from the overall enjoyment for me? Maybe a little. However, I would read this one just for the way Young described the setting alone.

All in all, this is a great fall read to get swept up in.

Stop. I need an extended epilogue, NOW. This book had no business being so incredible!

As a NC native who works in the Blue Ridge mountains I have been a fan of Adrienne Young's writing for years. She is an auto-buy author and her talents range from YA to Adult and include a variety of themes, settings, and plots. However, one thing I can always truly predict is an immersive experience; The Unmaking of June Farrow is no different. Readers are swept away to the small mountain town of Jasper, NC where the Farrow women have built a successful flower farm. Each generation of Farrow women has been haunted by a centuries-old curse ensuring they lose who they love and are slowly driven to madness. When the protagonist, June, is in her mid-thirties she begins to see and hear things that are not quite there. Then right after she buries the grandmother who raised her, she receives a photograph and cryptic clues in the mail. This sets June on a quest for additional information about her mother's disappearance which peaks when June takes a fateful step through the door that randomly keeps appearing in a tobacco field. She lands in a different time and stumbles into a life she built for herself that she always dreamed was impossible. Now June must race to solve the mystery of her family's curse to save future generations of Farrow women from the curse and star-crossed love. This magical portal fantasy book is a journey of romance, mystery, and suspense. They are jaw-dropping twists and dangerous reminders of how communities fear women of magic/power, but there are also tender and aching moments of love, motherhood, friendship, and family. I didn't want the dream-like story to end!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballentine publishing, and PRH Aduio for my advanced digital and listener's copies. I read this book tandemly and the audiobook and narrator Brittany Pressley did a phenomenal job with both the Southern lilt and faint Irish accent for Eamon. Her emotive acting added depth to my reading experience.

5 stars out of 5 stars! I am so surprised to report that I was HOOKED! This book has time travel, something which I usually detest. I didn’t mind it in this book, as I was really intrigued with the storyline/plot. It’s complex but easy enough to follow. It was very unpredictable and I loved how I was constantly trying to guess what was to come. I have been in a reading slump from September and this was the perfect jaw-dropping fantasy/magical realism mystery read! Adrienne Young is now a favorite author, especially during October!

Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read and review The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. This is a book I will buy a physical copy for my shelves because I loved it so much!
This multigenerational story follows June Farrow, and the family curse she is determined to overcome. When June starts seeing things, she fears the same fate as her mom and grandmother. When June follows her vision's path, she is transported to an earlier time. where she has built another life. June must choose between staying in the past, or going back to the present.
What a great time-travel tale with romance, family drama and magic.
I loved it and am grateful for the chance to have read it!

2.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved the premise of this book. The storyline hooked me right away, and I wanted to know how things would play out. That said, I really struggled to connect with or believe in the MFC, June Farrow. June was abandoned as a baby and raised by her grandmother, with little to no other family or friends. She never knew her mother or father and discussions about them were entirely avoided throughout her life. The author set up the main character to be so dynamic and interesting, yet she seemed to lack depth and her actions/dialogue did not feel fitting of someone who experienced significant childhood abandonment/trauma. I really wanted to like her, but ultimately found her dialogue (internal & external) a bit hokey and predictable. I wanted more relationship development with certain characters, and was annoyed by the forced nature of other relationships. There were also some loose ends/conflicting details that never seem to quite work themselves out or get explained.

Overall, I felt like this story had a lot of potential! Despite my frustrations with the MFC and some of the developments throughout the story, I still wanted to know how things would play out and had a few fun "ahhh" moments.

AND WARNING ABOUT POSSIBLE SPOILERS...
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Birdie... I loved that part but totally saw it coming.
Mason... Was really hoping for more with him!

I enjoyed the mystery following the Farrow women. Adrienne Young is an excellent writer. I expected nothing less from her. A more in depth review will be coming after I recover from surgery.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book!

I usually struggle to start a review...
However,
This book was so beautiful in so many ways. I will remember it forever. It is the best book of the year for me hands down! While i struggle to start reviews, I also have such a hard time starting a book. This story had me hooked from the first few words. it could have lasted forever for me. If the book had been 700 pages, I would have read every work graciously. The love between June and Eamon is a love that is realistic and possible in such a strange world. I appreciate that. It's something that we can all aim for. Overall, so that I don't give spoilers. This book was amazing and I will definitely be reading it again and again.

Thank you, Delacorte Press and NetGalley, for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I'll start by saying I'm a big fan of Adrienne Young as a person. I'm a part of the Writing with the Soul community that she started, and I so appreciate her generosity toward new writers. I also find her publishing career very inspiring and love how she's branching out between YA and Adult categories.

That said, I haven't always loved her books. I wasn't a huge fan of her first two titles. I enjoyed the Fable series, though, and I liked Spells for Forgetting. It's a mixed bag for me, so I had no idea whether or not I would like this book.

I'm happy to report that I loved it! I read it in a day and had a great reading experience. Once again, Adrienne nails the atmosphere of a place. I've lived in the Blue Ridge Mountains for years, so the descriptions felt very familiar to me, but I think even if you aren't from these parts, you will feel transported by this book.

I don't want to give too much away. I went into this knowing very little about the plot, and I liked it that way. I will say that I loved the characters. June Farrow is in her thirties and it was nice to see a slightly older heroine wrestling with life. The central mystery is compelling and had me turning pages quickly to see how all of the threads connected. I really enjoyed this one and look forward to more from Adrienne Young!

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young is a wonderous blend of mystery, magical realism, and romance, and it also is a story that I don’t want to say too much about, or else I might spoil someone’s reading experience. And it is just that - an experience. One that you don’t want to miss.


The writing is positively beautiful, with a lot of vivid descriptions. It has a sort of dream-like quality - a mystical element that fits the setting. The NC mountains and the people who live on them are a unique and creative community that embraces the mystical world and everything it holds.


June Farrow is a very intriguing character. One that I enjoyed getting to know. Her journey was so uniquely her own that I couldn’t help but marvel at it with every turn of the page. Her story is like a work of art - one I just wanted to stand back and admire for long periods and will remember for a long time.


The Unmaking of June Farrow is comparable to Spells for Forgetting, and in being so - if you loved Spells for Forgetting, you’ll likely love this book, as I did.

4.25 stars. I initially had no interest in this book, but lately I’ve had trouble focusing on reading so I decided to read a couple chapters of the ARC I was provided by Netgalley. Well “a couple chapters” turned into me reading this nonstop for two days until I finished. I was hooked, and I couldn’t wait to keep reading and see how it all unfolded. I think it’s a book you should probably go into blind, too. I honestly expected this to be a 3 star read maybe, but at one point it was on track for 5 stars. It didn’t quite get there in the end, but 4.25 isn’t too shabby and I’m so glad I decided to give it a shot.

There seems to be a curse associated with the Farrow women and June knows it is just a matter of time before she falls to that same fate. But she still isn't ready when she starts to have what appear to be hallucinations. Then she receives a photo in the mail, but the strange part is it was mailed to her by the grandmother that she just buried. She begins to dig into her family's history to find out what this means and if this might lead to the truth of the Farrow curse.

This is book is my favorite of Adrienne Young's so far!! I enjoyed Spells for Forgetting, but this one, wow! I loved the setting! I love anything set in my home state and having visited the Blue Ridge Mountains many times in my life, I can see the town of Jasper in many of the towns I have visited or passed through. I really didn't see a couple of the twists that took place in this book. I admit, at times I was worried about how it would end up having been rooting for certain characters and situations. But there was great resolution, and I definitely am happy with how things ended!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, I truly didn’t know what to expect going into this book but it was so incredibly well written and I was sucked in from the start. It has the mystery, fantasy, and romance of my dreams. June Farrow is a complicated woman who I couldn’t figure out at first but when everything unraveled I truly fell in love with her. Eamon is an amazing husband, father, and support system. Jasper, NC sounds like such a beautiful place and I would die to visit the Farrow family’s flower farm.

This was my first book by @adrienneyoungbooks and I cannot wait to read more books by her. Her writing was poetic and I just couldn’t put it down. My only complaint is that I didn’t want it to end. I wish I got to know more of June, Eamon, and Annie’s stories after the last sentence.