The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young | Book Review

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The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young
Published by Delacorte Press on October 17, 2023
Genres: Fantasy, Magical Realism, Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased

Content Warnings: Domestic Abuse, Mental Illness, Suicide, Gun Violence, Murder, Grief, Police Brutality, Child Abandonment, Racism, Bigotry, Pregnancy/Childbirth, Sexual Assault, Death, Misogyny
Rating:

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.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is not a book I would typically pick up. While it is listed as fantasy, it certainly falls more into magical realism. I have no issues with magical realism, but it isn't often my preferred genre of book. However, I was not disappointed.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is my introduction to Adrienne Young, whose writing and storytelling are absolutely enchanting. There are not many authors out there whose writing utterly pulls me into a story and brings tears to my eyes while also telling a beautiful and compelling story. Young is now among that small list of authors.

In The Unmaking of June Farrow, we follow June Farrow, who comes from a long line of women who eventually succumb to madness. But the reality of this madness is so much more than anyone can truly understand, an understanding we come to right along with June. While the first genre category is listed as fantasy, followed by magical realism, the heart of The Unmaking of June Farrow is a mystery. What is the red door, and where does it lead? Why do the women eventually go mad?

I am about to give away a "spoiler," so if you want to be surprised, please know I enjoyed the story and writing and hope you find enjoyment in this afternoon read too.

When June eventually decides to go through the red door, we learn that the women in June's family can time-travel and choose to do so out of love. June, unbeknownst to her, has travelled before, and the life her previous self left behind left a gaping hole in the lives of her family. We are presented with a timeless love that surpasses time itself while solving an age-old town mystery. As I mentioned, we are unmade with June, the reality coming forth slowly. There were times I felt the story was too slow and was frustrated with June for not feeling more urgency. My anxiety could never!

“It loomed over me, an infinite number of forgotten moments living beneath its roof. But forgotten wasn't the right word, was it? How could I forget something if I hadn't lived it yet?”

And while I enjoyed the overall story, The Unmaking of June Farrow did leave me grieving the life June didn't get to live, the life she left behind in the present. We are given brief flashes of what her future could have been, including the unfolding of a profound love between her and her best friend, Mason, who is the perfect man, by the way. This was honestly the most disappointing aspect of the entire book. Eamon, who is supposed to be her greatest love interest, did not live up to the timeless love story that I thought we might get with Mason. I say Young writes a second book where June refuses to go through the door and live her life in the present, but that is likely a pipedream.

Overall, The Unmaking of June Farrow was a solid 4-star read for me, and one you could likely finish in in afternoon if you are impatient like me. Haha!