This story is so haunting beautiful and has such an original and layered plot. Each layer is intricately and seamlessly woven together. As the plot grows and changes it becomes both emotional and suspenseful. I was so desperate to uncover the answers with June that I couldn’t put it down.
I loved the setting of the flower farm and the blue ridge mountains, it was all so atmospheric.
This is the perfect autumn read, perfect for those who love romance with big intricate plots that pulls at the heartstrings.

Thankyou to Netgalley for the ARC!

It's difficult to write a review without spoilers but a very enjoyable book as long as you don't overthink the plot or try to work out the logistics!
If you like fantasy/time slip novels then you'll enjoy this!

— 5 stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 | 336 pages
👤 | author Adrienne Young
🏢 | publisher Quercus Books
📅 | release date 17 October 2023

What you can expect:
— First-person POV
— Small-town murder mystery
— Second-chance romance
— Time travel
— Magical realism

Trigger warnings include: grief, violence, death, death of a parent, murder, memory loss.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is an hauntingly immersive and captivating standalone by author Adrienne Young. The Farrow women are cursed. Forced to await for the Farrow sickness to strike at any time, June Farrow knows she is living on borrowed time. After burying her grandmother, the woman who raised her after the mysterious disappearance of her mother, June is the last of the Farrow line. A secret that June had been harbouring is that her curse has already started and had manifested the year before. June has been seeing and hearing things that aren't really there which include a mysterious red door. The day after her grandmother's funeral June receives a letter from her grandmother which has been posted prior to her death. This letter contains a photograph taken more than a century ago... which shows a picture of her very own mother. This photograph triggers a story that spans over decades as June ultimately travels back in time in search of answers surrounding not only her mother but also herself. We follow June as 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.

This book. I am at a loss for words at the sheer magnitude that this book has impacted on my very soul. The Unmaking of June Farrow is a first for me by author Adrienne Young, and it will absolutely not be the last. Young's writing was exquisite as it took us on a journey filled with love, loss and mystery. Each of the Farrow women were written to perfection with their own distinguished personalities and quirks. June's voice was captivating to follow as we unravelled the mysteries of the past from her point-of-view, and I truly never saw the twists and turns that were flung my way. I loved that the magical aspect wasn't something that I've come across before. It was woven into the story in a subtle way that made it seem more realistic and less far-fetched than you would expect to see in Fantasy. The only thing I wish we could have seen was the origin of the Farrow curse. How did it begin? And why was the Farrow line only ever women? It's not something that's necessary to the story where you feel like it's lacking, however I would've appreciated that information being included as a means to tie everything together.

I was a bit worried going into this story as time-travel within books is something I can often find confusing and difficult to keep track of, however the author integrated the different timelines in a seamless manner that made them easy to differentiate. When June steps back into the older timeline she is faced with heartbreak and distrust. I felt for June as she tried to navigate this unknown timeline with familiar faces she struggled to remember. The murder-mystery element was a fun conflict in the story as June ultimately finds herself as a suspect in the murder for a man she has no recollection of ever knowing, and the answers that unravel from that fateful night are jaw-dropping. The way the characters came together as a family was inspiring and I could truly feel the love and devotion through the page.

The Unmaking of June Farrow focuses heavily on the themes of loss and acceptance, family, love and identity. I have not experienced the level of connection that I felt for these characters in a very long time. This book was entirely unexpected in the best possible way, and is a story that I will carry and treasure for the rest of my life. If you're looking for something new to read as we near the end of 2023... this is it. I could not recommend it more if I tried.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I was not sure what I made of this book. It took me a while to get into the story and I struggled with the time travelling aspect. However I was intrigued with how June resolved the Farrow curse. She goes back in time to solve her mother’s disappearance and understand her connection to the murder of Nathaniel Rutherford.

She learns about her own past and finds a way to find love.

An interesting book even if for me it did not entirely work.

The Unmaking Of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
I give this book 4.25 stars

The Farrow women are known for the mysterious curse that has haunted them for generations. The madness that led to Susanna Farrow's disappearance left her daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother.After her grandmother's death, June follows a series of clues that link her mother's disappearance and the answer to the mysteries that have always lingered like a dark shadow.

This compelling book falls into the category of the less you know the more you enjoy . . . . so no spoilers!
Romance,family secrets, and a touch of magical realism mixed together to spin a captivating tale. The plot is unique and beautifully descriptive.l was invested by June’s journey of discovery into the past and how the pieces gradually come together and the revelations unfold. Leaving her with a heart wrenching decision to make.
With thanks to Netgalley,Adrienne Young and Quercus Books for my chance to read and review this book.

This was a really unique second chance romance and magical realism fantasy filled with rich family history. I loved the twists of the mystery and the moody atmosphere of the 1950's exploring the current timeline and previous timeline.

The use of magical timelines was interesting interwoven with the murder mystery investigation taking place. The timelines and the Farrow family madness really connected nicely and I enjoyed the reveal of the timeline of events.

While I loved the concept of the second chance timeline working in tandem with the magical timeline, the exceution of the romance between June and Eamon didn't really feel genuine. I wished it had been explores more and we could see them connecting more.

Overall, a riveting read about magical realism that explores the aspect of magic relating to time in a exciting and unique way. 3.75 ⭐


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is truly unlike anything I've read before, which I think is probably why I was so hooked I would continuously stay up to the early hours to read it.

Adrienne Young is a truly incredible author. She has a way of writing that just manages to paint the perfect moving picture as you read along. So beautifully written, the words and the world come to life before your eyes. I've read Adrienne Young's Fable series before and loved it, so I knew I'd likely enjoy this one.

I think what first hooked me was the atmospheric slightly eerie vibe and the way the book would tease you at every chapter on the mystery unfolding beyond each page. I was compelled while also feeling slightly left on edge wondering what exactly was going on. June was an interesting character, and although at first we only had a glimpse into who the people around her were, it certainly felt like we were on a journey alongside her as the story progressed.

June Farrow is a young girl, torn by the mystery of her mother's disappearance, who ends up opening up a secret door to a past she hasn't lived before. Or has she? If it sounds slightly bewildering, you wouldn't be wrong. The story really needs to be slowly unraveled layer by layer and I think the book is well paced with its ability to keep one invested from beginning to end. I do believe the story is best experienced with little knowledge, which is probably why I was so engrossed.

The only factor that let this down for me slightly was the ending that I found sliiiightly unbelievable in terms of what I would have expected. To explain would be spoilerish, but the little I can say is that maybe in general it was slightly uncharacteristic. Again I do feel this is more of a personal impression. I also felt like things came to a head and wrapped up quite quickly considering the pace of the story, but maybe that's just my perspective, and not everyone will feel this way.

Overall this story was really well-paced, extremely well-written and very captivating. I can definitely trust Adrienne Young to write a book that will touch me emotionally while continually keeping me hanging. Always looking forward to reading more from this author!

I was expecting fantasy but I got sci-fin and was no disappointed ! It is such a captivating story. Once which transcends time. Beautifully written.

This story is a beautiful and lyrical portrayal of time travel and the choices the protagonist faces in altering her past and future. It is very well written and everything slowly draws together, with no loose ends. I think the beauty in this book is how small scale it is, it is as cosy and small town as you can get.

However, there is something about this book that just falls a little flat. I didn’t resonate with any of the characters and the murder mystery element just falls a little flat. Ultimately, it is an enjoyable book but for me it wasn’t anything special.

3 stars

This book absolutely beautiful. The story, the suspense, the details all so well thought out. Adrienne Young's writing always transports me right into the middle of the story and I loved this one so so much

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. I did enjoy this book and it is undeniably very well written, but for me the pacing was a bit too slow and the story was a bit too convoluted. Although the ending was nice it felt a bit flat to me. I wish there was at least some explanation of how the curse came about in the first place. I recommend this to fans of magical realism and slower paced atmospheric writing.

Spells for Forgetting was one of my favourite reads of last year, so I knew I needed to read The Unmaking of June Farrow ASAP!

The Farrow women have a curse, one that June is determined to end. As her mind begins to unravel faster and her madness cascades before her, June begins to delve into her past in the hopes of finding a cure for her future.

This book has a touch of everything: magical realism, time-travel, mystery, and unending love that crosses over all boundaries, even time.

The writing is beautifully exquisite. Adrienne Young just has this ability to immerse you so completely into the story and the characters lives that you breathe for them, you feel for them, and ultimately (in my case) you cry for them. I can not remember the last time I felt so absorbed in a book that every emotion, every heartbeat, every second of the character's life was caught so completely within my own.

The story of love and how it has the power to defy everything, even time, is exceptional! It weaves so carefully through every page, painting the most perfect picture and fueling all your emotions as it all all comes together.

The mystery woven amongst these themes of love really adds to the climax of the story. I was worried it would detract from the main themes, but instead, it pulls everything together and helps guide the story.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is a compelling, intriguing, and truly heartwarming story.

This book deserves all the stars!

I will start this review by saying that a book hasn't touched me in the way this one has, in a very long time. I absolutely adored this. Adrienne Young is one of my favourite authors for a number of reasons. Her writing is beautiful, her characters are well fleshed out, multi-dimensional beings whom we get to know deeply and her stories are deeply intriguing, captivating and immersive. Once you start her books, you get hooked in and can't stop until you've finish.

The Unmaking of June Farrow was no exception. This book is fantastically and beautifully written. It's difficult to categorise it into a genre however, magical realism with sci-fi elements fits it nicely. This is a story of family and love, of secrets and mysteries to be unfolded. The twists and turns this book takes you through are wild and to me it was all just mind-blowing. I was hooked from the first page and just couldn't put the book down. When I did have to stop reading, this just never left my mind. I was completely overtaken by the feeling of having to know what would happen next in terms of the plot, finding answers and ensuring the characters would be ok. I don't want to dive into any specific tropes within the book as I feel going in blindly ensures the best reading experience. The synopsis does a great job at peeking the interest and giving a general idea of what the book will bring, without ruining the reveals within.

I will be recommending this to everyone who listens and have already pre-ordered my copy for release date. I can't wait to have it in my hands and will definitely be doing a reread at some stage in the future.

* Thank you so much to Netgalley and Quercus Books for giving me the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions and feelings are honest and my own!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
The Unmaking of June Farrow is a time travel magical realism tale, full of threads that are woven through family bonds, finding love, womanhood, motherhood and self-discovery.
Having only read one book from this author, I can say that the writing remains evocative and athmospherical, continuing to be one of the biggest assets of the narrative. It brings an enchanting element to a cosy setting, a small village, and that with the mystery presented makes a great autumnal read.
The premise is rather interesting, however I feel everything felt rather short in emotion in this story. The plot varies in pacing, which is nothing unusual, but it felt weird in some ways – the author tries to bring some normalcy to a rather bizarre event, whilst keeping the “weird” atmosphere and didn’t quite work. The characters are loveable, yet I did not attach myself to any of them.
The mystery was interesting but quite obvious of outcome. The ending did not pack a punch as I was hoping, but doesn’t mean it was not a good one. It just failed short for me somehow.

I would still recommend this, specially for a cosy weekend read in colder months.

Book Review 📚
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young - 4.5/5 ⭐

I honestly thought nothing would top Fable. I was wrong. Young is such an magical and fantastic writer. Her descriptions and development throughout her books are surreal. She has such an amazing way of taking fantasy and making it seem so real life! Flawless.

This is definitely more sci-fi over her usual fantasy, but it's still amazing. The whole thing was so beautifully done and with such captivating writing. It was so, so, hard to stop reading. I didn't want to put it down until I was done. I love when a book really captures my attention that I forget about the real world, and this book is definitely the one for that. To say a devoured it wouldn't be an understatement.

The characters were written PERFECTLY. Described so well but also written with absolute perfection. June was so easy to read about and was especially amazing. Young really did bring it all to life. And the fact she took the time travel and it made sense to whether we was in the past, present or future was brilliant. It wasn't confusing, it wasn't to much. It was simply perfect.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

📖 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 📖
Title: The Unmaking of June Farrow
Author: Adrienne Young
Genre: Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤:
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’sdecades-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.

📖 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
So it’s currently 4am and I’ve just finished it. Should I have started it before bed - probably not but I can’t regret my decision when it brought me this.

Oh my. I don’t even really know what to say. It’s romance with slow-burn. It’s time travellers wife meets home cooked meals southern farming charm. I love this book. Yes I got it for free but I now need to buy it so I can reread and hold it close. Oh June 💕

*please note I received this ARC for free via NetGalley and independently decided to submit an honest review*

📚In the small 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 haunted them for generations. After her grandmother’s death, June follows a series of clues that link her mother’s disappearance to the town’s dark history, leading finally to a mysterious door. Upon crossing the threshold, June embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but entangle her fate and her heart in a star-crossed love…

Oh wow. Because I know Adrienne Young as a fantasy author, I was expecting some magic, but no, this time it was more like sci-fi than fantasy! Sci-fi (time travel in this case) is usually not my genre, but this book is so beautifully written and the storytelling is so well-crafted, I absolutely loved it! The mystery of the Farrow women got me hooked from the beginning, but it became increasingly unputdownable as secrets started to be revealed one by one…

Yes the story is about a family secrets and a love story that transcends time (and therefore incredibly complex!). But ultimately, this is about a woman, who shut herself from possibilities that a life could offer, finding her place in a world. It does have some dark aspects but it is really a beautiful story as a whole.

And Adrienne Young has this atmospheric writing style that is just perfect for autumn reading. So why not add this to your TBR!

Wow, just wow. The story was so captivating and beautiful that I didn't want to stop reading. I don't have the words to describe how I'm feeling right now, but there is no doubt I will be thinking about this book for along time to come.
I've read alot of books so far this year but 'The Unmaking of June Farrow' is in my top 2 of the year, no question.

LOOOOOVED this clever, clever read so much. I didn’t want it to end. Part mystery, part romance, part time travel; June and her family line have a unique gift. Don’t want to offer up any spoilers but I inhaled this quirky read and adored the twist at the end.

I absolutely devoured this book, I could not put it down. This was one of my favourite reads of this year, so beautifully written and made me have all the feels.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Adrienne Young & Quercus Books for the eARC