Book Review: The Unmaking of June Farrow
I’m still not sure how or why I ended up deciding to read The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young, but spoiler alert: I’m glad I did!
First, let me start by admitting that I’m notoriously bad at remembering the details of books once I’ve finished reading them. Whether I breeze through or meticulously annotate is irrelevant. For some reason my mind really struggles to hold onto details. It’s the same way with television. So, if you’re hoping for a deep dive with tons of specifics, this isn’t the review for you. Also, I’m not a book reviewer; I’m just a reader and writer who loves books and thinks it’s fun to share when I find something I think will resonate with readers like me. This one in particular feels reminiscent of the types of stories I like to write, so it was a really beautiful surprise, and I’m grateful for whatever twist of fate led me to it.
A BRIEF SUMMARY
Following the death of her grandmother, June Farrow follows some clues she left behind in order to uncover the truth of the curse that’s caused all of the women in their family to eventually lose their minds, seeing and hearing things that aren’t there. These symptoms have already begun manifesting in June, so she’s eager to find out what it all means, especially since this curse led to her mother’s disappearance decades earlier. Abandoning caution, she walks through a strange door that appears out of nowhere and into another life entirely. Now living in the past, June must face the truth of her family’s history, decide what part she’s going to play in it, and ultimately choose whether she will stay where she is or try to return to her life in the future.
WHAT I LOVED
The Unmaking of June Farrow seems to me the perfect balance of fantasy and real life, which is something I’m always striving to achieve in my own work. Adrienne Young masterfully crafts a narrative that blends the everyday with the extraordinary, creating a literary experience that is both immersive and thought-provoking.
It’s not an action-packed story exactly, but it’s filled with mystery and intrigue while confronting multi-generational trauma and June’s own decisions which have led to some very strained family dynamics. One of the novel's strengths lies in its characters, each fully-formed with their own unique voice, goals, and fears. June Farrow, our protagonist, is a character whose journey is not just one of uncovering major family secrets but also a deep exploration of self-discovery and resilience. Supporting characters are equally fascinating, and I found myself connected to each and every one of them. Eamon was compelling from his first appearance and my affection for him only grew deeper with each passing chapter.
As a writer, I can’t help but notice how Young has a gift for crafting sentences that are not just descriptive but almost poetic. The vivid imagery and evocative language create an atmosphere that lingers. I feel like I can still see the farmhouse and the small town (and its inhabitants) months after reading this book which, as I stated above, is uncommon for me. I can close my eyes and see the truck, smell the flowers around me, and feel the cold of the water against my skin as I immerse myself in June’s perspective.
I don’t want to give a ton away with regard to the plot, but I do want to mention that the themes of identity, resilience, family, and the interplay between fate and choice are expertly woven into the narrative. We may not encounter a magical door that leads us into another time or place, but we can certainly find the magic in our everyday lives like June did when she travelled back in time and began to learn about her life there. The real magic of this story isn’t the mystical experience June’s family has been living, but is in the relationships and the choices she makes, and the love she creates with the people around her.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I give this book 5/5 stars.
It’s one of those stories where I wish I could go back and experience it again for the first time, and even though the ending left me a crying mess, I couldn’t imagine it ending in any other way. It did the entire story justice, rather than just giving a simple, happy ending. It’s a complicated, nuanced resolution much like The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. In fact, I’d say that if you enjoyed Addie LaRue, you’ll love this one as well. I cannot recommend this book more highly, and I hope that you love it as much as I did.
Happy reading!
