JUNIE is, by far, one of my favorite slavery inspired stories I've read in a long time. And I really appreciated the author's note at the end about how she wanted to tell a story about slaves that wasn't just the trauma and devastation a reader would typically see; although there definitely is trauma baked into slave stories, this one gives a refreshing amount of hope and gives a deeply complex set of characters. The story is really slow at first, but then once you get to Junie seeing her dead sister, Minnie, I felt like a whole new story. The pacing picked up and each new reveal got better. I have mixed feelings about the ending; I am pleased it felt more open-ended (we don't know if Caleb, Mr. Taylor, or any of Junie's family made it) but I also really wanted the bow that tied it all up. It was the happiest unhappy ending I've ever read! Eckstine's writing was beautiful, immersive, very descriptive, and also poetic at times (unironically, given that Junie loves poetry). Thoroughly enjoyed it!!

DNF 29%

I picked up this book expecting it to be exactly my jam, between the ghostly elements and the historical fiction elements. Unfortunately this was a book I found difficult to stay invested in. I paused it, and it's been several months now and I've felt no compunction to pick it back up. I may give this another shot at another time, but for now this book just did not work for me.

I loved this book so much. A little historical fiction, a little magical realism, a little bit of a ghost story, a little bit romance. It had everything I love in a good story, with a likeable yet ballsy FMC and a time period I don’t read about much. The author did a great job of placing the reader into the setting, commentary on slavery and the lives of the enslaved, the politics of the household, running an ailing plantation for enslavers desperate for money, and the interpersonal relationships of the stark cultural differences in antebellum pre-civil war Alabama. The two storylines between Junie and her ensalvers, Junie and her family/sister, and Junie and Caleb, were all captivating. I enjoyed every moment of this. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Junie has spent her life enslaved on Bellereine Plantation, and while she dreams of something bigger, it isn’t all bad. She lives alongside her grandparents and cousin, and her master’s daughter, Violet, treats Junie like a friend. But things quickly take a turn for the worse when Violet’s parents arrange for the wealthy Mr. Taylor to stay at Bellereine to court their daughter. If Mr. Taylor proposes, Junie will be sent away with the new couple, stripping her from her family and the only life she knows. Junie’s dead sister, Minnie, appears to her to reveal family secrets Junie must learn to forge her own path in life.

This book ripped my heart out and shattered it into a million pieces. The prose is beautiful, but the entire book is heartbreaking. It encapsulates the complete lack of control enslaved people had over any aspect of their lives, and how treating people as property corrupted even the “kindest” masters. The paranormal element didn’t particularly bother me, but it felt really out of place. While it drove the plot and helped Junie uncover necessary details about her family, it didn’t flow with the rest of the book (especially because Mr. and Mrs. McQueen end up sharing a lot of the details with her anyway). That aside, I really loved this book and Junie’s character. It has a happy-ish ending, but it destroyed my soul. Thanks to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Erin Crosby Eckstine for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This tale took some time before I was hooked on it. Junie is a maid to the daughter of the Belleretone, Miss Violet. They are more like sisters of that is what Junie thinks. Junie has been taught to read so the two of them read books and discuss them. Changes are coming--
Minnie, who is Junie's dead sister, is a ghost. Caleb, the coachman, from New Orleans is there romance?
The author's descriptions are true as she has heard tales of Junie from her grandmother. Read to learn about these times of being a slave in the south and all it encompasses.

Junie is a strong debut novel by Erin Crosby Eckstine. I really enjoyed Junie and adored her passion for life. This book dips into so many different genres (historical fiction, mystery, supernatural, romance) and so many themes (romance, friendship, family). I was surprised by the supernatural element but enjoyed that it didn't take over the story. I expected the relationship with Junie and the McQueens to be different but that's what made the story different from other books about slavery (there were still a few very difficult scences). I would say one gripe was that is seemed to drag the first third but then really picked up. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book!

I was in a weird reading slump, so it took me forever to finish this - I debated between 3 & 4 stars. While I did enjoy the story premise, I felt like it took 75% of the book for the true enticement to start for me. Junie was also a little insufferable tbh, but then I do remind myself that she was 16 lol. She just treated Caleb so horrid at times.

My biggest bone to pick was honestly the ending. It was so open ended. I honestly felt like maybe I was missing a chapter because we didn’t get any closure for literally anybody?? I was hoping we could get a little follow up. Overall, this was a nice debut from the author and I feel like I learned a lot about the enslaved family unit within the plantations. I got emotional at times thinking about the abuse and how sometimes families were torn apart. I appreciated bringing education and awareness to this part of history.

This book deserves more than 5 stars!!!

Oh the tears! It has been so long since a book has had me cry like this.

The writing is spectacular and when I say I was STUCK reading this? I was stuck. Fell asleep last night with book in hand because I could not keep my eyes open any longer and I had it right back in hand this morning the moment I opened my eyes.

I decided to read physically in tandem with listening via audiobook and the audio is also spectacular.

Junie is easily a top read for 2025 and it’s going to take a damn good story to come close to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the advanced reader copy.

Junie is a book that became an unexpected and fascinating story for me. Mostly historical fiction, the story is engaging with good character development and a strong and likable female protagonist. But the touch of magical realism made the book more creative and interesting. The setting is an Alabama plantation just before the start of the Civil War and I think that the author did a great job of depicting the life of a young slave girl working as a house maid. Apparently Junie’s story is somewhat unusual as she was chosen to work in the house and be a companion for the master’s young daughter in spite of her darker skin. Her friendship with the master’s daughter, Violet is probably somewhat unusual but the inclusions of Junie’s encounters with the ghost of her dead sister and a same sex relationship between two of characters in this time period really gave the story more pizzazz. Of course, I expected abuse and mistreatment of slaves to be included and this was accurately depicted but the book was so much more than this. It’s a story that makes the reader cheer for the likable characters and hate the horrible ones and I do like books that elicit emotion. I even enjoyed the open and mysterious ending - not all wrapped up in a neat little package. A great read - very much recommended!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

I think this is definitely the book for a lot of people, but I am not a big fan of the genre despite my best efforts. I keep trying, and it's totally me.

This was such a great debut book! I really loved how the author let Junie have all her feelings that a lot of authors don’t write. I loved Junie, she was my favorite character. Second favorite was Caleb. I was upset at first with their ending, but once I read the authors note I only felt sadness. Knowing this story was loosely based on the authors family history makes the story more impactful. This book just really made me realize even more how awful the history in our country is.

Junie, a young adult historical fiction novel, follows the life of 16-year-old Delilah June, also known as Junie.

Junie serves as the maid to her slave owner’s daughter, Violet. After a visit from wealthy guests threatens life as she knows it, she inadvertently summons her sister Minnie's spirit with a desperate act. With help from Caleb, the wealthy guests coachman, a friendship forms, and she discovers dark secrets of the plantation. As she fights for freedom and love, Junie must decide what to leave behind.

One thing I really enjoyed in this book was the relationship between Junie and Caleb. The first half of the book is relatively slow-paced, but it picks up significantly in the second half. I would recommend this book.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book is beautiful! The writing, the imagery, the words speak of a tragic beauty of a 16 year old slave girl trying to find her 'sublime' beauty in life! This story is very tragic, so if that is something you have a hard time with, this is not the book for you.

Junie is a 16 year old slave girl who has been enslaved since birth. She cooks and cleans and is the lady's maid for Violet McQueen, the daughter of the Bellereine plantation owner. She dreams of faraway lands and writes poetry. She roams the first near by in grief of her dead sister Minnie.

When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet and upending Junie’s life, she commits a desperate act—one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her. Minnie gives the tasks that must be done to free her. Junie can not do it alone and asks the guest's coachman Caleb to help in exchange for teaching him to read. Their time together turns their arrangement into something more , and they can no longer stay away from each other.

When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind? Let's read Junie's story and find out.

I love love love the characterization in this book. Junie with her carefree personality and her ability to still dream. Her family who has been so broken down they refuse to live any life. Violet who gets in trouble for not following the norms of society. Bea the Beautiful troublemaker. Caleb the steadfast rock who ground Junie. Each character is so distinctive and so well developed.

The desolation of the tragic events is so well created in the writing and the imagery. The quiet dark forest, the miles and miles of cotton fields, the dirt roads with plantations at the dead end. Truly stunningly written.

This is definitely more character based then plot based so there are areas that are slow and feel a little meandering. I understand this is there to show regular normal life before tragedy hits but it was really hard to get through parts in the middle. The last 100 pages were a slam dunk and I could not stop reading after that point.

Junie is such a beautiful character. I loved her voice because it was so honest and raw for a time period that a voice would be silenced. The story was well told and concluded just perfectly.

4.5 stars

I had a hard time putting this book down once I started. Junie was a compelling and well-developed character, and while there were many times when I wanted to yell at her to slow down and stop and think, I also understood her inability to be what everyone around her seemed to want her to be. To her family, she was going to get herself hurt or killed with her inability to stop wanting what was impossible in their eyes. To Violet, her master's daughter, she was her best friend and confidante, but Violet could never imagine Junie refusing her anything. To Caleb, she was his middle C (my heart stopped when I read that), but she was also going to get herself killed. To most of the white adults as well as some of the other house slaves, she was too dark to be a maid.

Even when I felt like yelling at her to slow down and stop what you're doing or you're going to get yourself or someone else killed, I also cheered on her courage to do or say what needed to be done.

In some ways, this story reminded me of Gone With the Wind, except it was written from one slave's point-of-view. The fact that parts of this story was based on the author's own family made this all the more poignant, although she readily states that much of the story was made up. Still, some of the characters were inspired by real life members of her family, including Junie.

I am blown away by this debut novel and cannot wait to read more by this talented author. She can tell a story and make you care about the characters.

As an aside, I loved the gorgeous cover!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley and the publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was one of the best books I read all year. A historical fictional tale of a woman who is determined to break barriers while living under the thumb of a family during the Civil War. This coming-of-age story wraps up all that a reader would want--mystery, romance, a strong heroine and even supernatural elements. This book does not dissapoint!

Beautiful and moving historical fiction and coming of age novel that takes place on an Alabama Plantation just before the Civil War.. Junie is a slave that serves the daughter of a wealthy family ( Violet) and has lost her sister and is grieving. She learns that Violet may marry meaning she will have to follow her and leave the plantation. Tons of family secrets unravel and there is plenty of good plot to this novel.. There is even some romance and some magical realism. Junie’s deceased sister appears to her in the woods. Junie’s character is so developed. You get to know her and her dreams and you are rooting for her to fight for her freedom, even though it may mean painfully ,leaving her family behind. I loved the ending not knowing exactly what will happen with Caleb in the future, leaving the door open to possibility. Stunning work for a debut. I don’t usually love magical realism but this just had the one element where Junie’s deceased sister appears to her and wants her to finish some unfinished business for her. I do think this element could have been written more seamlessly into the story. But that’s a minor criticism overall. Well worth the read!

A haunting and lyrical blend of historical fiction and magical realism, *Junie* is a powerful coming-of-age story rooted in grief, love, and liberation. The emotional weight of Junie’s journey—from mourning her sister to uncovering dark plantation secrets—feels intimate and immersive. Her love of poetry adds beauty to even the bleakest moments, and the supernatural thread with Minnie’s spirit is handled with subtlety and grace. While parts of the story unfold slowly, the payoff is worth it. Junie’s fight for agency in a world that denies her power is both heartbreaking and hopeful.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This haunting debut is emotional, heartbreaking, and eye opening. It gives an insight into Black American history and magical realism in the American South during pre-Civil War. Junie is a very emotional coming-of-age story. Without too much spoilers, the author's note just made it more...ugggh...my heart.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine is a novel that really snuck up on me. I’ll admit, the first half felt a little slow—it took me a bit to settle into the rhythm of the story. But once it found its footing in the second half, I was completely drawn in. The emotional payoff was so worth it.

I especially loved the relationship between Junie and Caleb—it was tender and genuine, and added a layer of hope to the story. The friendship between Junie and Violet was another highlight. It’s messy, complicated, and incredibly human, which made it all the more impactful.

The author’s note at the end was one of my favorite parts. It really underscored Eckstine’s goal of portraying Junie as an individual rather than a symbol of a collective experience, and I think she absolutely succeeded in that. Junie felt real—complex, flawed, and fully alive on the page.

The only thing that didn’t quite land for me was the magical realism. It was an interesting addition, but I wish it had been a bit more developed to blend more seamlessly with the rest of the story.

Overall, a powerful and thought-provoking read that I’d definitely recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.