There is something addictive about Adrienne Young’s adult fantasy novels that scratches that itch deep in my soul. Spells for Forgetting is a stunning masterpiece, and The Unmaking of June Farrow carries a similar weight, depth, and poignancy. While it is classified as an adult fantasy, the emotions and characters feel real, grounded, and compelling. If A Sea of Unspoken Things is anything like these two, my wallet is going to be in a lot of trouble.

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 realises 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.

I will say that I was a little lost at the beginning of this one, but over time it made sense, the pieces falling into place and situations becoming much clearer as the plot progressed. The perspective change, metaphorically speaking, really helps line up the circumstances and events of the novel, and it makes for a read unlike most I have come across. There is maybe one or two things I can put in the same basket as The Unmaking of June Farrow in terms of plot trajectory and elements, and maybe a few more books I know have been popular across the years.

I really like June as a character, in fact, the Farrow line is made up of a lot of well written women. I like that they aren’t all the same, but that they do share the secrets and restrictions of their family curse. As their characteristics are mapped out and the reader has time to see how each of the women are, the personalities come through and showcase the strength and resilience of the family. June has a lot going on and many things to think about and reconsider. Eames is a sweetheart, and I think he is just as well-rounded a character as the women, with a truly heartbreaking and bittersweet aspect to his character that makes him one of my favourite male characters in the last few months. The way he cares for his family is undeniably touching, and it is made even more emotional by the happenings of the book. I also need to give credit where it is due and say Mason is a wonderful man as well.

The narrative style and structure give The Unmaking of June Farrow an interesting angle, with the intentional intro point for the characters, the history, the mystery, and the many questions creating an immersive and intriguing tale. While the beginning may have confused me a little, I was locked in by the 100 page mark and thoroughly enjoying myself. There is something easy about reading these characters and Adrienne Young’s writing once the flow is established. I don’t know how to describe it other than it feels like watching a movie where your senses are utilised at every scene. I could feel myself of the farms, I could feel the heat in the air and the sun on my skin. I could feel the emotional turmoil and tension between the characters like it was the muggy night air. I felt like I was in the book, and isn’t that what we all want from our reading?

The Unmaking of June Farrow may not be the most engaging read for the fast-paced contemporary fantasy readers out there, but it is certainly something I see a lot of readers enjoying. The historical fiction setting, the compelling characters, the fantasy and mystery eleements of the novel. They all fit together so well, making for some stellar reading.