A review by shannon_magee
The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young

mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

This book was a bit of a struggle for me. I think I wanted to enjoy it more than I actually did, and I think it was hyped up so I expected more out of it than I actually received. Several things. First, the pace was very slow for me and the mystery was so shrouded that a) the plot felt very messy to follow and b) I felt like the characters were all set up to be suspicious or untrustworthy, in a way for the bulk of the story, that I couldn’t get into the headspace of supporting or enjoying any particular character. I didn’t get to fall in love with any of them the way I feel like I was supposed to (as suggested by the premise and the narrative itself). There was too much distance for me to feel close to any of the characters or invest in them, and in a story that is clearly about characterization and human connection, that felt like a bit of a flop to me. I’m disappointed because I wanted to enjoy this book more and I can see what the author was going for, but it was a miss for me. 

I will say, much respect to Adrienne Young for working out a very tangled plot, that’s a lot of mental acrobatics! And she did write a rich setting for these characters to play in. I just wish I’d had more space as a reader to sink into the story and feel the emotions with the characters instead of watching them suspiciously from afar. 

*Also want to note that the content warning options don’t include these but if topics of time and potential memory loss are a struggle for you (like me), take care of yourself as you read this one*
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