The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

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.

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.

Hardover, 320 pages

Published October 17, 2023 

by Delacorte Press

4/5 stars

I went into this book with a little bit of trepidation, between the positive hype on social media along with the fact that the author's, previous book, Spells for Forgetting wasn’t a favourite of mine. In this her latest release, I am happy to say that it was a captivating read and ticked off many boxes of my favourite things bookish.

The Unmaking of June Farrow is a story of a 34 year-old woman that has just lost her grandmother. Her grandmother raised her since she was six months old after being abandoned by her mother. There are many things in this book that enjoyed - the mystery, the supernatural and some characters/relationships that were strong and well developed. The storyline itself was intricate, well thought out and executed, even though at times I had to stop and think.

All in all a very entertaining read where I found myself reading the last half in one day.

My copy was obtained through my November block of the month and part of my 2023 reading off my shelf challenge