The Farrow women are cursed with an unexplainable madness that inevitably affects them at some point their lives. But there is a reason for it, and as June Farrow uncovers more about her mother’s life and her own future, she realized it is more complicated than she ever imagined. This is an atmospheric suspense with just the right amount of romance and magical realism that may make your head hurt (speaking from personal experience). I recommend this book as a great Fall read. I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5/5 - "The Unmaking of June Farrow" by Adrienne Young is a captivating blend of mystery, family curses, and timeless love that kept me engrossed from start to finish. With its beautifully crafted characters and a story that seamlessly weaves together the past and the present, it's a mesmerizing novel that deserves a 4.4 out of 5 stars rating.

Set in the picturesque mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, the novel introduces us to June Farrow, a young woman burdened by the weight of her family's generations-old curse. Adrienne Young masterfully sets the stage, painting a vivid picture of the Farrow family's flower farm and the town's eerie history, centered around the mysterious disappearance of June's mother, Susanna Farrow.

The book excels in character development, especially when it comes to June. The slow unraveling of June's determination to break the curse, even if it means sacrificing her own dreams of love and family, is both moving and relatable. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.

I was enamored with the way Adrienne Young was able to seamlessly blend various genres. There were elements of mystery, romance, suspense, and fraying timelines that engulfed me throughout the novel. The mysterious door that appears and the journey it unlocks adds a layer of intrigue and magic that keeps readers engaged. The romantic subplot is beautifully crafted and their love story is heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure.

While "The Unmaking of June Farrow" is an enchanting read with a well-executed plot, there were moments when the pacing felt slow. Some sections of the story seemed to move briskly, while others were more contemplative. Additionally, I think that this book requires an atmospheric setting for successful reading. I found it difficult to read this novel in broad daylight on my couch, but the second I dimmed the lights, got in my reading chair, and got cozy with a cup of coffee, I was hooked.

Despite my small critiques, Adrienne Young's storytelling prowess shines in this novel. "The Unmaking of June Farrow" is a tale of love, sacrifice, and the enduring legacy of family, wrapped in a cloak of mystery and magic. If you enjoy stories that blend the contemporary and the supernatural, this book is well worth your time. I highly recommend it, and I'm eager to see where Adrienne Young's storytelling takes us next.

Title: The Unmaking of June Farrow
Author: Adrienne Young
Genre: Mystery, fantasy
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

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’m a huge fan of this author’s YA books. I wasn’t quite such a fan of her first adult novel, but this one was so good! I was just as confused as June during parts of this, and my mind was spinning, trying to figure out what, exactly, was going on. The women in the Farrow family are such strong characters, and all of them fascinated me. I can’t imagine having to make the choices June had to make. This was an excellent read, and I read it straight through in one sitting.

Adrienne Young is a bestselling author. The Unmaking of June Farrow is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Random House/Ballantine in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 10/17).

"The Unmaking of June Farrow" follows June Farrow, the next of the Farrow women to face the curse that's plagued their line for generations. Having heard the story of her own mother's disappearance and witnessed the madness slowly overtake her grandmother's mind, June has sworn that she will never have children, letting the curse of the Farrow women die with her.

What she hasn't told any of her loved ones is that she's already been experiencing some of the biggest symptoms of the unraveling including vivid hallucinations of a man she does not know and a bright red door. As June begins to investigate her mother's disappearance by following a trail of clues laid out by her grandmother, she sets into motion a journey that will change her life – and history – forever.

I quickly fell in love with the backdrop of Adrienne Young's beautiful novel, set in the small fictional town of Jasper, North Carolina. The rich setting was amplified by the magical element of the story which made up the core of the narrative.

June Farrow was a protagonist both easy to love and easy to root for. Her self-imposed exile from love invokes a lot of sympathy, and it only makes her eventual romantic arc that more satisfying. The lovely cast of side characters making up June's family also added another layer to the depth of the story, helping weave an even richer web of June's life and her world. The emphasis on the Farrow women was especially wonderful – I adore any narrative that centers women over generations.

I won't go too into detail on the magical element, but I thoroughly enjoyed that whole aspect of the story and involves one of my favorite tropes(?) in literature. It is also, in my opinion, one of the hardest tropes to do right, and I can safely say this book does it very well.

My only complaint is that we didn't get more time with June as I wanted, specifically in exploring her relationships and dynamics with certain characters introduced halfway through the story. While the plot itself was naturally satisfying in its execution, I feel like it would have benefitted from some more development time.

Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend "The Unmaking of June Farrow" to those seeking a cozy fantasy romance that is grounded in an intriguing and equally engaging mystery plot.

Thank you @delacortepress @netgalley for the #gifted copy of this book! I loved it so much I bought myself a copy of it from BOTM AND then bought her book from last year too. 🥳

I feel this book completely encompasses the vibe of fall. This is magical realism, mystery, wonder, love story, suspense, time travel and even a bit of fantasy book at its best! This book is not only cleverly written it’s beautiful and at times left me teary eyed and jaw dropped. This book is about the June Farrow who is the last surviving woman in her family at the age of only 34. Recently having lost her grandmother she was so close with she is struggling and then the dreaded family curse starts to kick in. Her mother, Susanna, had mental illness and up and disappeared in one day never to return. Before she left, rumors talked about her odd behavior. Now June is showing signs of that same behavior. Is she going mad? Her grandmother left her an envelope before she passed which had an old photograph in it. One of the towns murdered minister standing next to her own mother. But that’s impossible because that photo was taken a century ago. I don’t want to say more and spoil anything but what unfolds is the most mind bending beautiful story. If this is not on your radar it should be! It comes out soon so make sure to grab yourself a copy! I can’t wait to now run to read Spells for Forgetting!

Pub date: 10/17/23
Genre: magical realism/fantasy
Quick summary: June Farrow's family is cursed, but when her grandmother dies, she receives clues that could help her break the curse.

This is my first book by Adrienne Young, and I can see why she is so beloved! This magical, haunting story is perfect for fall cozy reading. I admired June as she sought to discover why the women in her family were afflicted with this curse. Like most magical protagonists, she is forced to make hard choices, and the stakes felt really high.
I enjoyed the strong family theme and the romantic elements, as well as Young's beautiful writing.

I kept this review short to avoid spoilers, but if you love books about family/female relationships, give this one a try!

Thank you to Ballantine Books for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. This was so wholly unique and magical and heartbreaking and heartwarming. The plot was so carefully thought out and the plot twists were amazing and only added more to the story. The Unmaking of June Farrow offers not only a magical/fantasy story but there’s also murder and mystery involved which just takes the story to a whole new level. This is my first Adrienne Young book and I have to say, her writing is so beautiful and really blended perfectly for this type of story. The plot could easily have been confusing but the way it was written is so clear and understandable and just so intriguing you have to continue reading until you can see the full picture. I could not recommend this enough especially if you like romance in a way that you haven’t really seen been done before. Thank you so much NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!!!

This book is beautifully written in a really lyrical style. It is part mystery with a vaguely fantasy feel and perfect for an autumn read!

Thank you tkt he publisher for providing a review copy

This was such a brilliantly written story.

I've always loved Adrienne Young's writing. It's just so lyrical and gorgeous. But she knocked it out of the park with this book.

The plot was incredibly intricate, and she found ways to weave romance and magical realism into a story that had me hooked from start to finish.

I don't want to give too much away, because it would be very easy to spoil some of the twists in this book, but I think any fans of mysteries or fantasy would love this book.

All of the stars!!! Millions of them for this book!! I enjoyed every single minute of this book.
I cried over Birdie. We bury ourselves for our families and don’t have to think twice.
My chest is cracked open.
I received this eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my unbiased opinion. I had no idea what I was doing to myself emotionally when I began reading. It was all worth it. I’d do it again. Thank you.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of this book!

The Farrows have lived in the same house, in the same town, for many generations. June, the last Farrow, was raised by her grandmother after her mother's mysterious disappearance. The Farrow women are cursed; every Farrow woman suffers from the same affliction during their life span.

June started investigating her mother's strange appearance for years and after her grandmother passes, more clues arise. Just a year before, the curse stuck June and she is seeing things that shouldn't be before her. The Unmaking of June Farrow is an intriguing mystery with a unique romance story. Adrienne Young is an auto-buy author for me; she never disappoints!

This book was a beautiful story about family and choosing what matters to you. There was some mystery elements and a very interesting time travel aspect that confused me but i still enjoyed. Because my mind isn’t as versed in sci-fi I’m giving this 4.5 stars. Loved.

June Farrow was found abandoned as an infant by her missing mother, Susanna . June’s whole life she has been waiting to get the Farrow family illness which caused Susanna to disappear and her grandmother to start seeing things. Now June has started to see strange things and she is convinced she is heading towards madness until a picture her grandmother mailed prior to her death turns everything upside down. What is really the Farrow women’s curse?
Fantastic read.

This review was hard for me because what ever I say will be a spoiler. So be warned here.

Time travel, is the curse and a man’s obsession is the cause of the bad luck.

Adrienne does it again. I’ve never picked up a book of hers I didn’t absolutely LOVE. each book has its own unique imprint and I think June might take the cake for me. The voice was so interesting and different yet also so Adrienne. I love the mystery. Definitely kept me on my toes trying to guess it. I almost felt like I was on the journey with June. The setting AH! And I love the themes in this book! Trust me. Read it.

I’m sadly DNFing this at 10%!!! I can’t believe I didn’t like this based on how high the ratings are and the rave reviews I’ve seen on bookstagram, but I was so so so bored. I’ve DNFed other books by Young before so I’m wondering if her writing style is just not for me. I thought the story dragged so much and I wasn’t invested in knowing anything more about the family “curse”. Thanks anyway for the ARC.

My favorite book of 2023! Absolutely incredible. I just Finished it and I’m not even sure I have the words to articulate how this book made me feel. A magical door, weaving timelines, alternate universes, four generations of Farrow women, and an epic love story make up this gorgeously stunning novel from Adrienne Young. I’ll be buying every special edition I can get my hands on. This one will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“…these were single stars in a constellation I couldn’t fully see.

———————-

The Farrow women are all known in their town, they stand out and are shrouded in mystery about the disappearance of one. They all also descend into madness as they age. June is determined to solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance, her strange appearance on a door step as a baby and the curse that seems to claim them all.

This book would have been about 15 pages if these people just had a conversation… don’t get me wrong Adrienne Young weaves a beautifully vibrant story. My own life completely disappears whenever I read one of her books. Here I could smell the smoke as they smoked the fields and see the vibrant flowers. Every story of hers I’ve read I am utterly transported by her world building and so invested in the characters. That said, in the end, if someone has just been honest with June, literally at any point in her life, this whole mystery could have been avoided! The one reveal at the end was one I did not see coming and made want to go back and read the beginning. My emotions wanted to rate this one 5 stars but my logical side decided on four. Read this one more for the atmosphere than the mystery. Especially if you’ve spent your life wishing for a magical door to appear…

Thanks to Delacorte Press for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

Absolutely loved this book!! This gave me the same feels and joy as the Invisible Life of Addie La Rue. I loved June, I love the concept of the book, and the relationship felt really poignant and real to me. Definitely recommending to everyone I know.

This was a very different and bizarre story and I really am not sure I enjoyed it, but it’s been a couple of days and I’m still thinking about it, so I have to give June Farrow 4 stars for keeping me engaged even after finishing the book. The story is, at its base, a love story complicated by the fact that the heroine, June, finds herself having memories of another place, and eventually, another time. June swears that she will be the last of her line to end the generations of women in her family who have gone mad. I don’t think Adrienne Young wrapped things up tightly enough stretching the story just a bit too far, maybe more than just a bit. Still I would recommend ‘The Unmakinh of June Farrow” because it was totally different, thought provoking, and who doesn’t wish sometimes for a different life.