After browsing, I found that "The Unmaking of June Farrow" by Adrienne Young has resonated with many readers for its atmospheric setting and heartfelt exploration of family secrets and destiny. Based on that and my own reflections on the book, here's my review:

I recently finished reading The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, and it truly captivated me. Set in the enchanting, small mountain town of Jasper, North Carolina, this novel pulled me into a world where family legacy and mystery intertwine with every page.

I found myself completely absorbed by June’s journey. Her struggle against a seemingly inevitable curse and her relentless pursuit of the truth about her mother’s disappearance felt both heart-wrenching and empowering. I appreciated the way the author intricately wove the history of the Farrow family into the present-day narrative. Every clue June uncovered led to even deeper layers of the town’s dark past, and I loved how that mystery gradually unfolded.

The vivid descriptions of Jasper and the evocative imagery of the flower farm added a rich, almost tangible quality to the setting. It wasn’t just a backdrop—it was a character in its own right, full of secrets waiting to be revealed. And then there was the mysterious door... Crossing that threshold felt like a symbolic rebirth for June, marking the moment when her fate, her heart, and the legacy of her family converged.

What struck me most was the blend of suspense with a tender exploration of star-crossed love. Even as June’s unraveling past threatened to overshadow her future, there was a palpable sense of hope and the promise of transformation. It’s rare to find a story that balances so many elements so seamlessly—a mystery that challenges the past while opening up the possibility of a bright, uncharted future.

I left the book feeling inspired and a little bit more aware of how our histories, no matter how dark, can shape us and even set us free. The Unmaking of June Farrow is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a richly atmospheric tale that is as much about personal discovery as it is about unraveling age-old mysteries.

I highly recommend it to readers looking for a story that is both haunting and hopeful.

I’m not usually someone who gets totally immersed in a book. I tend to skim descriptions and often forget names and places. But Adrienne Young never lets me do that. Her descriptions are so natural and necessary that I truly feel drawn into whatever world she’s created.

While this book may have ended up exactly where you expect it to, and I’m never a huge fan of ‘memory problems’ as a plot device, I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.

I really enjoyed the generations of overlapping Farrow women. Their bond and strength and determination carried this story and made it worth reading.

Adrienne Young’s The Unmaking of June Farrow is a spellbinding mix of mystery, magic, and family secrets that captivated me from start to finish. This standalone novel follows June Farrow, a woman grappling with the mysterious disappearance of her mother and the strange, otherworldly visions that plague her. When she stumbles upon a clue linking her family’s past to an unsolved murder, June is thrust into a journey through time that forces her to confront not only the truth about her lineage but also the choices that define her.

The plot is beautifully layered, blending elements of a slow-burn mystery with a touch of time-travel fantasy. Adrienne Young weaves suspense and emotion seamlessly, keeping you guessing as secrets are revealed and the threads of the story come together in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable. The pacing is perfect, with every twist pulling you deeper into the Farrow family’s haunting legacy.

The world-building is atmospheric and rich, set in a small, rural town steeped in whispers of magic and old family curses. The way Young integrates the supernatural elements into the everyday is subtle but deeply effective, creating a sense of wonder and foreboding that lingers throughout the book.

June is an incredibly relatable protagonist—strong, curious, and determined, yet deeply human in her fears and flaws. The supporting cast, particularly her family and the enigmatic love interest, add depth and complexity to the story. I was especially drawn to the multi-generational aspects of the narrative, which explore themes of love, sacrifice, and the bonds that tie us to our past.

Fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab or The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo will likely adore this book for its bittersweet, magical realism vibes and emotional depth. The Unmaking of June Farrow is a beautifully written tale about finding yourself in the face of loss, love, and the power of choice. It’s poignant, magical, and utterly unforgettable.

Absolutely adored this book and im not in the least bit surprised. I love Adrienne and her writing she has such a great range and I would read anything by her

I will read anything this author writes. Even her grocery list. Adored this book as well as all of her other works!

The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young.

4 STARS.

Magical realism or whimsy? Or maybe both? Adrienne Young is good at writing this genre, either way. This is the second offering I've read by the author and continue to be impressed by the writing, world building and characterisation.

The women in June Farrow’s family are cursed. Her mother left her on the streets as a baby during her descent into madness, and now her grandmother has passed away under similar circumstances. June is the last remaining Farrow woman, and she believes she’s about to meet a similar fate when her own mind begins to unravel.

Haunted by hallucinations and eerie memories, June begins to see her doctor and prepare for the worst. But then her grandmother sends her a message from beyond the grave – a mysterious letter and photograph posted just before she died. These could be the key to unlocking a mystery spanning over a century, and stopping the curse of the Farrow women.

What unravels is not June’s mind, but a beautiful, time-slip love story.

I’ve taken my time getting round to this novel which was a huge hit last year. I have to admit, I read the author’s Spells For Forgetting a few years ago and wasn’t blown away by it – whilst it was beautifully written, the plot just didn’t grab my attention.

But, with June Farrow, this author has taken things up a notch. She draws a rich tapestry of life, love and magic set against a stunning backdrop of rural Americana. This book has just the right amount of magical realism combined with authentic emotion – it actually reminded me of one of my all-time favourites, The Time Traveller’s Wife.

The time travel gets a little complicated, and there’s a murder mystery in the mix to keep track of too, but I never felt lost in this novel – just utterly absorbed. Despite its many threads, this complex story felt seamless and heartfelt.

I couldn't read this as an ebook for some reason so will get it when it comes out! Sorry! (Leaving a 4 star review to be fair.)

I absolutely love Adrienne Young's writing. June Farrow buries her grandmother but she does not bury her secrets. She wants to know more about her mother and father and receives a necklace and a mysterious picture that sets off a chain of events. Then June steps through the red door and everything changes. I loved the mystery in this one and how it all unfolded. There was one big reveal I didn’t see coming.

Thanks to Quercus for the review copy.

When I picked up The Unmaking of June Farrow, I wasn't expecting such an emotional rollercoaster. Oh my.
The whole novel was captivating with intriguing characters, such good time travel elements (though I had to really concentrate to get how time travel worked in this universe), and a little murder tossed into the mix. Such a great combination! It all fit together so well and I was on the edge of my seat, wanting to know how it would all play out. I loved this book so, so much!!

Think this was just not for me. Love Adrienne Young normally. Maybe wrong time? Bought this book as I was way behind on my ARCs. The writing was really good, I just couldn’t get into the story.

June Farrow is cursed, her whole family line is, her mother went mad and disappeared and now she herself can see and hear things that aren’t there; voices, chimes and a door that appears out of nowhere. When June’s grandmother dies and she finds more clues about the curse, June decides to risk it all and the next time that door appears, to walk through it and face what has plagued her for so long.

I don’t want to give much away as to what is beyond the door that June walks through, which means I can’t talk about much of the book, but needless to say that Adrienne Young one again demonstrates that she is an incredible storyteller. There is a magic/scif fi – fantasy element to this, of course, I mean doors are just appearing, and a murder plot with twists and turns a plenty. But the true heart of this story is that it’s a love story, a heartbreaking, beautiful love story that is so endearing and intimate to read, a real delicious and tender slow burn.

This book really does have something for everyone – sci-fi/fantasy, a feminist empowering protagonist you will absolutely love (truly Young knows how to write a badass female lead!), murder mystery, themes of family, romance, sacrifice and self discovery – and it’s intertwined perfectly by Young.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Once again Adrienne Young has reminded me why she is one of my favourite authors for bringing to life a complex and original story with beautiful characters that you can’t help but love. This was such an enjoyable and easy read.

"A woman risks everything to end her family’s centuries-old curse, solve her mother’s disappearance, and find love in this mesmerizing novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Spells for Forgetting."

"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 absolutely fell in love with this book, now one of my absolute favourites. Its just a perfect blend of fantasy/ mystery and sci fi
this book will move you to tears 😢 thank you netgally for this ARC I thourally enjoyed and will have this book living rent free in my brain always xxx

I absolutely adored Fable By Adrienne so I'm always looking forward to her newest releases. This book was absolutely beautiful. Would definitely recommend.

What a beautifully written book. I really loved the story and the mystery worked in too. I wasn’t sure on the ending though and felt like I had a lot of unanswered questions. I like to know everything. But possibly that was the point? I would still recommend it and definitely read more by this author.

Thank you for the e-arc of The unmarking of June Farrow.
I found this novel beautifully written and the story just unfolded perfectly.
The storyline is unique and Adrienne Young keeps you invested in the characters and story.

Beautifully written, steeped in atmosphere, combing romance and foreboding. June Farrow lives in a small town on a flower farm. When her grandmother passes away, she receives a photo of her mother but the photo is impossible because its from the early 1900's. June has always known her family is cursed with madness but now that curse is gaining clarity and turning her life upside down - because the Farrow women can time travel. Following an impossible trail, June seeks answers about her mother, her family and lastly, herself.

A captivating, fantastical story about family legacy and finding oneself, with some lovely supporting male characters to bring some romance.

I adored this book.

This was my last book of 2023 and what a high to end the year on. The Unmaking of June Farrow is such a gorgeous, introspective and quietly magical book. It reminded me in vibes to Addie La Rue.

The writing and the characters are absolutely stunning. I was utterly gripped by this book and can’t wait to get my own physical copy. Adrienne Young does it again.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Magical realism, time travel and a mystery timeline what else could a reader want? When June starts to 'see' images and parts of a story she thinks that she has the same curse as the other women in her family. having been left in an alley by her mother who then disappeared forever and raised by her grandmother June tries to hide what is happening to her from this around er. hen her grandmother dies the glimpses into another life increase and June starts to look more closely at her family tree and what happens. What June finds is not anything what she expected and the further she spiralled into her story the more her family history made sense until it was time for June to decide where she wanted to stay forever.

I absolutely loved Spells for Forgetting so I was delighted to find out about Adrienne Young's second adult novel, I've also read her YA series Fabel and enjoyed it.

Adrienne Young really excels at creating atmospheric settings, within pages we are completely transported to Jasper, North Carolina where June Farrow spends her days working at her family's flower farm and wondering when the curse that has plagued the Farrow women will come to claim her.

This is magical realism at it's finest, it's beautifully written, there's plenty of intrigue and mystery as June tries to figure out more about her family's curse. The Unmaking of June Farrow is a multi generational story, with a bittersweet and beautiful message about family.

I only wish it was a little longer as I felt the romance was a little underdeveloped but honestly I just wanted more! This book has cemented Adrienne Young as one of my auto buy authors though and I cannot wait to see what else she has to offer.