The latest book by Adrienne Young, a new YA fantasy, though it read more like a mystery/thriller to me maybe more toward magical realism again. so in this book we follow June, the most recent of the Farrow women and every generation there is this curse that follows them but June is determined to break it because it has plagued her family. She sees things that aren’t there like this random door that she’s never gone through but what happens if she does? That there is definitely the hook. A fun spooky read for sure! Super glad I gave it a chance. It was addicting and had me flying through to find answers.

The Unmaking of June Farrow was a thought provoking book. It held my attention until the very end. I enjoyed the journey of the book and it ended well. I found myself getting a bit confused with the timeline because of the time traveling, but it wasn’t enough to deter the story.

I had the incredible privilege of reading an advance copy of "The Unmaking of June Farrow" by Adrienne Young, and I am utterly captivated by this remarkable story. With her lyrical prose and masterful storytelling, Young has once again delivered a narrative that resonates deeply and lingers long after the final page is turned.

Set in a richly crafted and immersive world, "The Unmaking of June Farrow" introduces us to the unforgettable character of June, a young woman whose journey of self-discovery is both poignant and empowering. Young's writing breathes life into June, endearing her to readers and making her struggles and triumphs all the more relatable.

The world-building in this novel is nothing short of spectacular. Young's ability to transport readers to a vividly realized and culturally diverse realm is a testament to her skill as a storyteller. The intricate details of the world, its customs, and its inhabitants add depth and authenticity to the narrative.

What sets this book apart is its exploration of themes such as resilience, identity, and the enduring power of hope. As June faces numerous challenges and adversities, her unwavering determination and inner strength serve as a source of inspiration. Her character arc is beautifully rendered, and her evolution throughout the story is a testament to Young's ability to craft multidimensional and relatable characters.

The narrative is filled with tension, intrigue, and a touch of magic that keeps the reader eagerly turning pages. Young has a gift for pacing, and the story unfolds with just the right amount of suspense and revelation to keep you hooked from beginning to end.

The supporting cast of characters is equally well-developed, each contributing to the richness of the story. Relationships and alliances, both familial and romantic, are explored with nuance and authenticity, adding layers of depth to the narrative.

In conclusion, "The Unmaking of June Farrow" is a masterpiece of storytelling that seamlessly weaves together elements of adventure, fantasy, and personal growth. Adrienne Young's writing is nothing short of enchanting, and her ability to create characters and worlds that resonate with readers is unparalleled. This is a five-star read that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone seeking a captivating and emotionally resonant tale of transformation and resilience. Prepare to be swept away into a world where hope and inner strength shine brightly even in the darkest of times.

4.5 stars

What a beautiful story! Adrienne’s work just gets better and better. The story is so captivating - the Farrow women are cursed and eventually all go mad, and June is afraid that it’s already begun for her. After receiving a mysterious photograph, June begins to dig deeper into her family history and discovers that the curse is more complex than she could have ever imagined.

Similar to Spells for Forgetting, this has a gorgeous cozy small town setting infused with magic and mystery. It’s full of strong female characters and the lengths they’ll go to for each other, and a beautiful love story that defies impossible odds. The only reason I’m not giving this a full 5 stars is that the timeline and logistics confused me at times, but it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment.

Thank you so much to Random House for the ARC!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press.

This is one of those “what did I just read?” twisty, emotional, absolutely breathtaking books. Adrienne’s writing drew me in from page one and I just didn’t want to put this down. I was constantly wondering what would happen and consistently surprised - this book is really a level up. It’s complex, has elements of fantasy/magical realism, mystery, contemporary and historical fiction, and romance. You’ll be immersed into the town of Jasper, feel all of June’s emotions, and want to be in a giant group hug with all of these characters. I will be thinking about this book for a LONG time and can’t recommend it enough.

Read if you:
- need to be completely absorbed into a story
- enjoy Shea Ernshaw’s writing
- are cool with magical realism and mysteries that aren’t scary
- want an emotional love story
- are looking for a book with fall vibes

The Unmaking of June Farrow
by Adrienne Young

5/5: ⭐
1/5 : 🌶

The Unmaking of June Farrow is a magical realism contemporary fiction novel. There's romance, mystery, and thriller elements. June is the latest (and currently the last) in a long line of Farrow women who are cursed. After her grandmother's death, June begins to unravel the mystery and madness surrounding her family. I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give anything away.

The writing is gorgeous and the story is inventive. I was completely immersed in the world that Young created. This is definitely on my recommend-to-everyone list.

This book is so good! I love June and could really relate to her character. The story made me feel every emotion, even if I didn't want to feel some of them! It was so good!

The Unmaking of June Farrow was truly spellbinding. Captivating from beginning to end, Adrienne Young wrote a creative and mysterious novel about a 30 something girl who is at a crossroads of which direction she wants her life to go, while also coming face to face with her family curse. I was sucked in from the first page and didn’t put it down until long after it ended. Loved this novel that transcends time so beautifully.

Ever since I read Spells For Forgetting I knew I was a fan!! This book is definitely in my top 3 favorite books of the year!!

June Farrow is a 34 year old woman who feels like she doesn’t belong in her time. She has weird stuff happening to her and the only one who has the answers was her grandmother who passed…or so June thought. June also keeps having strange memories and she has seen the red door more than once. June also knows that whatever lays beyond that red door will change her life forever!!!

I absolutely loved this book!! It was mesmerizing, enchanting, and whimsical. It gave practical magic vibes with a back to the future twist. It was magical!!

Literally just finished this ARC and had to immediately write a review. June is a complex, relatable character. Her story is fascinating, heartwarming and sad. This story has time travel, redemption, love, a solid mystery...what more could you want?

As with any novel by Adrienne young, it has such a unique feel! I love the way this book just hits right. Especially sitting on the porch in the dark in a cool night with a storm brewing. This novel is just the best kind…I love how we are brought into this story and just relate to our heroine the whole time. I was in suspense the whole book! Totally surprised many times. Definitely a read!!!! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC!!

4.5 stars rounded down. The Unmaking of June Farrow is my first book by Adrienne Young. She's a pretty hyped author on bookstagram, and after reading The Unmaking, I totally understand why. The writing itself was sensational. It was descriptive and poetic and flowy and even a little bit haunting. Though the story itself doesn't necessarily take place in Fall, but Young set the stage for a perfect Fall read. Tis the season for magical realism after all. The reason this gets 4 instead of 5 stars is probably down to personal preference. Time travel stories can be a little difficult for me, because the time travel aspect of the plot can sometimes be confusing. And although Young does a good job of describing everything, and in my opinion, she picks the PERFECT moments to divulge information, there were still parts where I was a little confused. I also felt the beginning was a little slow, and it took the first ~40% of the book for me to feel like I was engaged. But once I got there, I was ENGAGED. Like I said, even though it was a little slow in the beginning, Young chose the perfect moments to reveal pertinent information. There were also some surprises/ twists, which are things I always really appreciate-- especially if I can't guess them. And in this case, they were true and genuine surprises. All in all, I found The Unmaking of June Farrow to be a highly enjoyable read that I would absolutely recommend. I have a few other books from Young on my tbr, and this has me totally excited to read them!

I enjoyed this book but I felt there were a lot of details that were missing from the time where the two main characters are getting used to having each other there. They went from completely uncomfortable to definitely comfortable within a few chapters it felt like. I would have enjoyed more depth.

I love Adrienne Young's writing and this book took you to the setting. I wish I could say what the main plot is but that would be spoiling it so I will just say go into this one blind.
I loved where the story went but the ending did feel a little rushed and unexpected. Overall I loved the characters and how the book was about what you would do for love and your family.
Spells for Forgetting was so atmospheric and the setting was superb but the plot I felt lacking. In The Unmaking of June Farrow I felt the setting was not the best but the plot was amazing. Overall I love both of her books and gah her writing is so beautiful.

Definitely didn’t know what I was getting into with this book! And I loved it! 😍 Time travel, strong female bonds, and the sweetest love story. I am obsessed with June and her cleverness. A slow burner but so so good. Definitely a good character development story with a naturally propulsive story line. Such a satisfying ending.

I will usually skim a synopsis of a book if I didn’t already see a review for it, so I’m a big proponent of going into a novel kind of blind. And I would definitely recommend that with The Unmaking of June Farrow. I read the synopsis when I requested the ARC but I didn’t reread it before I started the book and I’m glad I didn’t. So I’m also not going to give too much of a synopsis in my review.

What I will say is that this story surprised me at every turn. It’s a complex story that will keep you engaged, but it’s not overwhelming to understand. I think Adrienne Young found a perfect balance between telling a compelling story that you have to think about but it’s still light enough that it’s easy to follow, but will definitely surprise you.

I loved the way it was written. This was my first Adrienne Young book and I’m definitely a fan now. I felt like I was in the story and I’m still thinking about the characters nearly a week after finishing the book. All the characters in June’s world felt so real and I felt very in tune with the main character, June, as she grappled with hard decisions and situations throughout the story.

I easily and highly recommend this book. If you like a compelling and complex female MC, atmospheric reads, a dash of magical realism, and multiple secrets that you will spend the novel trying to figure out on your own only to be surprised at the end–preorder this now! I really feel like I haven’t read anything like this. Without any spoilers, I absolutely loved how the illness with June is set up in the beginning and what was actually manifesting. I won’t say more, but I thought it was SO, so well done and paid off so well.

Also, as an NC native, I love the setting in the Blue Ridge Mtns. Definitely recommend looking up some pictures if you’re not familiar with the mountains in NC–it’s absolutely beautiful and Young captured it so well within the book! I also was riding passenger on a road trip through the Smokies while reading a majority of this book and the mountain environment really added to the reading experience, so I also recommend that :)

I gave it 4 stars here on NetGalley, but it's really a 4.75. I absolutely loved it!

Thank you Net Galley, Random House, and Delacorte Press for the opportunity to read this amazing story ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Adrienne Young’s Spells for Forgetting. So I was excited to read another work of hers. I love the atmospheric texture of that novel set in the Pacific Northwest. This work has the same texture but the of the Southeastern United States. As with her first adult novel there is a supernatural mystery that haunts the main character June Farrow, but she thinks she is in a long line of women in her family losing her mind.

The novel is set on small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina. The Farrow women own a 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.

While June’s grandmother lays dying she starts seeing and hearing things that she believes are hallucinations. Faint wind chimes, a voice calling her name, and a mysterious door appearing. After her grandmother’s death June visits her family physician who recommends she starts putting her affairs in order. June is advised by a trusted family member to go through the door that haunts and she does. Her discoveries are heart wrenching and upend all her perceptions of life as she knows it.

I feel there should have been a little more character development. Young is very adept at this, so I was surprised Mason seems a bit flat. Annie is a child, but she too felt a little cut out. I would still take the time to read all of her novels.

In the small town of Jasper, North Carolina, June Farrow has always known that she would go mad one day. After the death of hear grandmother, June becomes the last living Farrow who hasn’t succumb to the family curse.

Going into this book, I didn’t know what to expect since this is the first book that I’ve read from this author. But she far exceeded my expectations. Jasper is a typical small town in the south. They prefer normalcy and shy away from anything they deem odd, this includes the Farrow family.

Seeing the dynamics between June, her family, and the people in town both past and present was interesting. I also enjoyed how she handled the star-crossed lovers romance, beautifully done! Overall, I loved this book!

Thank you @netgalley and @randomhouse for my review copy!

I don't want to be dramatic and say this is a new all time favorite, but....I have a strong feeling it's just that. This was everything and yet something entirely its own. I've never read anything like it.

I feel like it can be classified as a million different genres. It's a thriller, but that doesn't do it justice. A mystery, but in an ever-evolving way you wouldn't expect. A romance, but in the most superb, unconventional, heart-achingly beautiful way. Throw in a dash of historical fiction and a sprinkle of magical realism and you almost ALMOST start to understand what this book is.

I thought it would just be a fun fall romp with eerie vibes - I did not expect it to grip me so completely. And I definitely didn't expect it to be as deep and emotional as it was. My heart went though so many palpable extremes. Racing one minute, swelling the next, then on the verge of breaking...I was feeling it all. I was so invested.

I'm envious of anyone who gets to read this for the first time. Stunning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy!

I loveed this book. So compelling and stunning writing. I will be a fan of this author for years to come.