Hidden In Time

I recently finished reading The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young. This was OwlCrate's November adult book.

This exclusive edition features an exclusive cover designed by @annguyenart, with a reversible dust jacket by @polarts_, a fully printed hardcover case with art by @hachandraws, and foiled end pages by @zirael_art. The book is also digitally signed by author Alix E. Harrow on an author page designed by @divineliterary with an author's letter and bonus content bound into the book, and features pink sprayed edges.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT

  Rating: 4/5 stars

"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 for as long as anyone can remember. But June is determined to be the last of her name, and in turn, be first Farrow to never find love. The whole town knows of the madness that led to Susanna Farrow’s disappearance, leaving her daughter, June, to be raised by her grandmother and haunted by rumors. Everyone in Jasper is certain that it's only a matter of time before she finds the same end, but June hasn't told a single soul that it's already begun. 

After her grandmother’s death, a series of clues linking her mother's disappearance to the town's grim past emerge, leading June to a mysterious door. Behind it may lay the answer to the mysteries that have always lingered like a dark shadow over Jasper and the Farrows, but the further into the unknown she goes, the more her mind seems to unravel. Upon crossing the threshold, June embarks on a journey that will not only change both the past and the future, but entangle her fate and her heart in a star-crossed love."

Wow, this woman can write a beautiful, emotionally compelling story … and … boy do I need someone to explain the time travel thread in this one! 

June Farrow comes from a long line of women who, at some point in their lives, succumb to madness. She was left in tiny Jasper, North Carolina, as a baby wearing a strange locket around her neck by her mother, who then disappeared. Now June is sensing her own mind beginning to unravel. How else can she explain seeing things that aren’t there or hearing the man’s voice that sometimes whispers to her, and what is the mysterious red door that randomly appears to her every so often?

Furthermore, why does she have a photo of a man whose unsolved murder is still the talk of Jasper standing with her mother? Did they know each other?

All these mysteries bubble under the surface as June and her best friend Mason prepare for the end of her life as she’s known it. What she doesn’t know is that in many ways her story has just begun, and it’s even MORE complicated than she ever imagined! She finds out just how true that is after her Gran dies and Gran’s best friend Birdie hands June a letter and offers an urgent word of advice: “The next time you see the door, open it.”

What follows is a story of mystery, unexpected peril, and suspense but, more importantly, a story of new beginnings, hope, family, and true love. Young’s prose is gorgeous, vividly painting the scenes of the farmland, small town, historical details, and characters in a way that transported me there in my mind. There’s nothing better than feeling like you’re part of the story, instead of passively watching it!

My one issue with the book and this is a “me” problem - the story involves a time travel aspect that I just could NOT wrap my brain around, no matter how many times it was explained. The fact that I never quite made sense of it didn’t ruin my enjoyment, but I do think it was more complicated than it needed to be, and I suspect some may find it confusing as well. 

The bottom line: if you love a beautifully written, immersive, atmospheric story with mystery, magical realism, a touch of romance, and a time travel element, you may want to give this a try!

Check out The Unmaking of June Farrow, and discover what happens when you travel in time.

Happy Reading :)