Junie, by Erin Crosby Eckstine, was released earlier this month and was a great read. Set during the Antebellum period in the deep south, Junie is enslaved on the Bellereine Plantation. Most of her life, Junie has been a maid to Violet, but things will suddenly change when Violet marries. Haunted by her sister who died several years ago, Junie sets her heart on being free as her sister suggests in her frequent appearances. Faced with love, hate, anger, violence, and conflict, Junie will eventually make a life altering decision about her life.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Ballantine Books an Imprint of Random House Publishing Company. This is the third book I have read by author Erin Crosby Eckstine. Junie is a slave who has big dreams and sometimes unrealistic expectations. When you have your freedom taken away sometimes you are left with is dreams. Reality can be a wonderful for some but also a cruel and unhappy place for many others. True family is made up of the ones that love you and want the best for you no matter what. How do we know if someone really loves them? Who can you trust when someone you thought you knew breaks that trust? Is it gone forever? Is freedom ever a possibility for some. This is a book for a mature audience and can be read anywhere.

This was a heavy read but the writing is really good. I liked the fantasy element of this book. I also like the banter between Junie and Caleb. Junie is the FMC in this historical fiction and is a slave grieving her sister. We go on a journey with the FMC as she uncovers secrets and navigates life. Thank you Random House Publishing- Ballentine for the digital arc. All views here are my own.

This was a moving novel of an enslaved girl in Alabama right at the cusp of the Civil War. This story explores how slavery impacts all her relationships, with her slavemasters and her family and the man she falls in love with. As a girl with plenty of smarts and dreams, but who has learned to keep to herself, she slowly understands the horrors of what she was born into and learns to live for herself against all odds. The story is a little slow at first but really gets going about midway through. I loved how the relationships revealed their complexity over time and how she analyzes and responds to situations where difficult moral calls must be made. I thought the supernatural element was unnecessary and came off as an afterthought. The novel reads as young adult. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc of this novel.

Junie has spent her entire life on Bellereine Plantation in Alabama, cooking and cleaning alongside her family, and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet. However, Junie is wracked with guilt over her older sister’s, Minnie, death.

Junie is such a great character. She struggles tremendously against, well, everything. But, she truly stole my heart. She loves big. She is smart. And when she discovers information about her family, including Minnie, she does not let it go!

There is a lot in this story. The author did a fabulous job weaving this tale together to create a novel you won’t soon forget.

And you do not want to miss the secrets and the twisted ending!

Need a southern, historical fiction that is full of love, hate, guilt and friendship…and full of secrets…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest opinion.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine

Junie is a young slave girl who has encounters with her dead sister’s ghost. Minnie’s vision requires things of Junie when they meet in the “ in-between” in the forest. Junie is not much for careful work and escapes a lot to the woods to explore and be alone.

Otherwise, Junie is the maid and somewhat companion of Violet, the master’s daughter who has taught Junie to read. The rest of Junie’s family have their roles with the McQueens.

Young Violet is of marrying age now and is introduced to Beauregard Taylor, an eligible bachelor whose family would like to make a match with Violet’s. Junie meets Caleb, Beau’s stable boy, and a relationship begins.

The reader begins to understand Minnie ‘s demands of Junie and by the end, it all falls in place. While a kinder slave story than some, meanness is still front and foremost. Junie is constantly “curling to her knees,” a way overused expression used by the author. All in all I rate this story four stars.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine
Genre: Historical fiction, magical realism
Themes: oppression/slavery/history, grief, hope, love, liberation

Sixteen-year-old Junie has spent her life enslaved on Alabama’s Bellereine Plantation, tending to the master’s daughter, Violet, while grieving the loss of her sister. Esteemed guests arrive at the estate and change the course of Junie’s life, leaving her to discover dark secrets and consider escaping to a better life.

Do you ever finish a book and immediately want to reread it? That’s me with Junie. I cried and cried and cried. The writing, the characters, the dramatic scenes, the everything — chef’s kiss. It is powerful, heartbreaking, inspiring. (And the Author’s Note is required reading.)

Thank you to #NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced reader copy of #Junie.

📖 : Junie-a standalone

✍🏾 Author: Erin Crosby Eckstine-debut author

📅Publication date: 2-4-25 | Read 2-4-25

📃:368 pgs. eBook

Genre:
*AA Interests
*Historical Fic
*Adult Fic

Tropes:
*magical realism
*coming of age
*ghosts
* pre Civil War
*found family
*family drama

👆🏾POV: 3rd person multi

⚠️TW: slavery, grief, death of a sibling, murder, suicide, SA, DV, and colorism

🌎 Setting: Bellereine Plantation, AL 1860

Summary: Junie is a sixteen-year-old slave assigned to be Violet's servant. When Violet's parents- Mr. and Mrs. McQueen-arrange marriage for her, Junie's position is threatened as she's forced to confront hard truths.

👩🏾 Heroine: Delilah June "Junie"- 16, Violet's maid, loves reading, being out in nature

👩🏾 Heroine: Violet McQueen- 17, set to get married to save her parents plantation

🎭 Other Characters:

* William McQueen-owns the plantation, mismanaged it, an alcoholic
* Beauregard Taylor-wealthy Louisiana cotton merchant set to marry Violet
*Beatrix Taylor-Beau's sister, becomes close friends with Violet
*Caleb-a coachman, Junie's friend
*Tom-Junie's grandfather
*Muh-Junie's grandmother
*Aunt Marilla-Bess's mother
*Bess- Junie's cousin and fellow slave
*Minnie-Junie's deceased older sister

🤔 My Thoughts: This book will sit with me for a few days. Every now and again a book or movie hits me in the heart and I replay it in my mind. Junie and Violet's journeys were vastly different, but they were both coming of age in an oppressive society and had to save themselves.

Rating: 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level 2/5 🔥🔥 1 scene off page

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group| Ballantine, and Erin Crosby Eckstine for this ARC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine is a moving coming of age story set on an Alabama plantation right before the Civil War.
Such a beautifully written story that kept me glued to the pages in awe!

First of all, the cover of Junie is absolutely stunning. The intricate design and colors instantly drew me in.
As a fan of historical fiction, Junie did not disappoint. Set on the Bellereine Plantation in Alabama before the Civil War, the novel paints a vivid picture of this era in American history. The way Erin Crosby Eckstine navigates the complexities of racial tensions, plantation life, grief, and slavery is done in such a sensitive way, and very well-researched. She also wrote such rich details about the characters, emotions, locations, and series of events. I found myself easily immersed into the story.
Junie is brought to life in a way that makes her story feel relatable and you cannot help but root for her, and her happiness, the whole way. The book was well-balanced with historical information and engaging narrative. I was a fan of the inclusion of magical realism in this story because it helped propel Junie’s character forward with navigating her relationships in the society she lived in.
Overall, Junie is a beautifully crafted historical novel that stays with you. If you’re a fan of historical fiction with depth, strong female characters, and an emotionally resonant story, this book is definitely worth picking up.

I also recommend reading the Author’s Note at the end. It was very touching and made me cry all over again.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC.

First of all, can we just take a moment to fawn over this gorgeous cover? And I promise you, the inside is just as beautiful as the outside!

Sometimes when I'm getting close to finishing a story I love, I stop reading for a day or two just to stave off the inevitable end. But here I am having just finished Junie, and I am sobbing. I am crying for Junie. I am crying for Minnie. I am crying for all who have had experiences like them. I have never before rooted for a character like I rooted for Junie.

I appreciate the author's focus on Junie's relationships with the people around her. From complex family relationships to a confusing friendship with Violet to the possibility of love, Junie struggles to make sense of it all. You will go through the full range of emotions with this story...disappointment, hope, anger, joy, grief, love. Junie has it all!

I treasure Junie and her spirit, and I cannot wait to get my hands on my pre-ordered copy when it arrives next week!

Read this if you like:
- strong female characters
- stories that will keep you guessing
- characters you will fall in love with
- books that will having you root for the MC like no book ever has!

This was a wonderful and heavy and important story that also had my favorite element that a story can have: ghosts but don’t make them super scary. This is for fans of historical fiction AND magical/paranormal realism. It’s for anyone who has questioned the validity of a friendship or been blind to toxic behavior by someone you thought you could trust. And it’s for anyone who wants to (and that should be everyone but I digress) uplift black voices and stories.

To the author, I’m so glad and grateful to have had the opportunity to read this before “it was cool” because I have a feel it’s about to be everywhere.

I am leaving this honest review voluntarily and without coercion.

I do not know where to begin with this book; I am at a loss for words. It was jarring, magical, heavy, atmospheric, and a pure work of art!

Erin Crosby Eckstine took her family history and created a story of loss, love, betrayal, perseverance, and personal growth. Junie was super headstrong and had personal demons haunting her both in her waking hours and in her sleep that she had to deal with that colored how she dealt with the world she lived in. She lived in a world that didn't fit with how things were around her because she was sheltered in a way, but once her eyes were opened to the way things were...whew! I don't want to continue to talk because I don't want to spoil it...10/10 recommend it!

The budding romance between her and Caleb was a sweet romance pivot, but the romance did not take over. This book was 100% about Junie becoming; everything else played second to her main story, which was refreshing.

I usually struggle with stories set during slavery, but this one was very easy to read.

THE PILLOW STUFFING HAS ME SHOOK!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books, and Erin Crosby Eckstine, for the ARC of this book.

Junie is a 16-year-old slave living on Bellereine Plantation, working for the McQueen family. Junie serves primarily as housemaid to the McQueens' daughter, Violet, whom Junie sees as a sister, as they share secrets, including the fact that Violet has taught her how to read.
When Mr. McQueen invites a handsome young man and his sister to stay at the estate, everything seems to change for Junie and Violet. Junie begins to realize that her friendship with Violet is changing, as they grow into their expected roles.
Junie wonders if there is more for her in this life, if only she can escape the Plantation. Haunted by the ghost of her recently deceased sister, Junie is challenged to three tasks to set her sister's soul--and herself--free, if only she can make the difficult sacrifices a life of freedom costs.

This one is going to stick with me for awhile. I was hooked from the start, needing to know what happened next. It is so beautifully written, and I am immensely grateful to be among the first to read this heartbreaking yet hopeful story.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It was well-written with a wonderful plot based on a true story and complex characters, but it was a slow-burn read. Halfway through the book I wanted to quit reading. However, my curiosity got the better of me and I had to know how the story ended. This book had an otherworldly feel to it with Minnie's ghost constantly appearing in the woods to guide Junie's path towards freedom. I didn't care for the swearing, teenage sex, and the lesbian interlude. It ruined the story for me. I'm not sure I would want my teenager to read it. The ending was a bit sad, but hopeful for the future. I will not be recommending this book to my audience because of content.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

This was a 4Star ⭐⭐⭐⭐ read for me.

A haunting historical fiction that masterfully weaves supernatural elements into an antebellum tale of courage and resistance. Set against the backdrop of 1860 Alabama, this story follows Junie, an enslaved girl who awakens her sister's ghost while navigating complex relationships, hidden secrets, and her own path to liberation. While the supernatural elements might not appeal to all historical fiction fans, the rich character development and atmospheric writing make this a compelling read. It's clear why Good Morning America selected this as their February book pick.

Tropes:
🌟 Found Family
💕 Forbidden Romance
👻 Ghost Story
🏃‍♀️ Coming of Age
🌙 Midnight Adventures
🤐 Dark Family Secrets
📝 Poetry/Writing as Escape
💪 Female Empowerment

What a heartbreakingly beautiful book. The story of Junie and the plantation owner's daughter, Violet. Junie believes she has a friend in Violet but she soon realizes that isn't quite correct. For the time period, this was probably common.
Junie is described as carefree and she is along with brave and smart. She also has conversations with her dead sister who she blames herself for the death and wants her help. I originally wanted to read this book for the supernatural elements, however, I would have enjoyed it without them just as much.
This is a love story, a historical story and a ghost story all wrapped up in one. It's a great read.

When we choose love and liberation, what must we leave behind?

This question ends the story description of Junie and it is one I could not imagine facing at 16 years old! I was intrigued. Then cover art for this book is gorgeous. This would definitely be a cover buy for me. I would myself stopping the read just to take moment to look at the cover art. It's colorful, soothing and beautiful. At this rate, I'm never going to get to share my thoughts on the book.

The author has crafted a decent story around Junie. A teenage slave girl living on a plantation. That's all for now. Mayhem indeed ensues Junie and her friend that insisted in helping her. I felt like this was more YA than an adult story. It reminded me of the film Eve's Bayou which I loved. It was a slow burn for me. The story is going, cover that though. It was a sold effort that keeps your attention.

Sixteen year old Junie has been enslaved from birth. On Bellereine Plantation in Alabama ahe has been cooking and cleaning alongside her family and tending to the white master’s daughter, Violet. She dreams of poetry and faraway worlds while spending nights secretly roaming through the forest. She is also grieving the sudden death of her older sister, Minnie.

When wealthy guests arrive from New Orleans, hinting at marriage for Violet Junie commits a desperate act, one that rouses Minnie’s spirit from the grave, tethered to this world unless Junie can free her. She enlists the aid of Caleb, the guests’ coachman, and their friendship turns romantic. Dark secrets are soon revealed and Junie will uncover painful truth.

This is a well written and atmospheric story. Junie is a strong character. There are other memorable characters as well.

The ghost element is interesting but not what I expected. There is a bit of a slow pace at times as there is a lot of detail. It feels like a lot happens in just a few pages. It's a memorable story though and one many readers will appreciate.

3.75 - This honestly was an impressive debut and a really powerful story! For a historical fiction focused in the Civil War, following a young enslaved girl, this was such a powerful and emotional story. I was really impressed with this author's writing and her take on this era in time. I could tell the author's connection to Junie's character and how she poured her heart into this story.

Junie is about a young enslaved girl, maid to the daughter of the McQueen family, who owns the plantation. Junie throughout the story is grieving the loss of her sister and she believes that her sister's death was her fault. She is dealing with not only the power dynamics and racism of slavery, but also the grief and tragedy of losing her sister.

The writing was really beautiful and had so many powerful themes throughout the story. Junie was a really strong female main character and I enjoyed learning her story from a Black author's perspective. Overall, I thought this was a really great historical fiction/romance with some paranormal and magical realism aspects to it!!

Thank you to Ballentine for the free book!!