The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

The Unmaking of June Farrow

by Adrienne Young

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 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 author of Spells for Forgetting.

“Come for the fresh twist on time travel; stay for the love story.”—Good Housekeeping

A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING AND SHE READS BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR


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.

With The Unmaking of June Farrow, Adrienne Young delivers a brilliant novel of romance, mystery, and a touch of the impossible—a story you will never forget.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

3.5 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

The Farrow women are cursed. That's how it has always felt to June, at least. All the women in her family fade young. As for June's mother, she disappeared when June was just a baby, proving that there's more than one way for the curse to come to life.

Now, June is facing another tragedy, and with it, she must make a choice. She can either follow the cryptic clues from her loved ones...or pretend that the strange visions she's having aren't real. Either way, her life will never be the same.

My Review:

I love Adrienne Young's writing, so I knew I would have to give her latest book, The Unmaking of June Farrow, a try. That said, I don't think this one held the same level of magic, at least not for me.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is very much a historical fantasy, though it doesn't appear so at first. The magical elements become clear early on in this read. It's also deeply emotional, given everything June has (and will) go through.

There were parts of this story I loved and parts that didn't quite resonate with me. Still, it was a bold swing on Adrienne Young's part, so I want to give credit where credit is due. Because you can't summarize this book in just a few words. Yes, it's a historical fantasy. Yes, it's romance. Yes, it even has time travel of a sort. But none of those terms are the whole sum of this book.

I enjoyed the magical elements, the family journey, and even the slight thriller/mystery elements of The Unmaking of June Farrow. That said, the romantic plot failed to sweep me away. Oh well. Until the next time!

Highlights:
Historical Fantasy
Romance
Magical Realism

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 19 November, 2023: Finished reading
  • 19 November, 2023: Reviewed