This is a story about coming to terms with the hard stuff: understanding our parents as more than what we thought we knew—more than a single story; living through death and the impossible grief that follows—being sorry that all you have is sorry; and risking to take the life you want to live with whom you want to live it. A Million Junes is more than a coming-of-age story—its an origin story. It’s about the thin space of magic where we learn to escape the sins of our fathers, rewriting a perfectly possible future.

“Together we step to the edge of the world and throw ourselves into the outstretched arms of the glittering sky” (254). ( )

I loved this book! The story itself was good, but the author's writing style was captivating. I'll definitely look for more books by this author. ( )

Maybe if I was dealing with grief I'd like this book more. Or, maybe, if I hadn't read "The Love That Split the World" first and heard that this book was going to be better.

I decidedly like magical realism. I like the broad strokes of this book. I like Jack "June" O'Donnell and the way that she is still navigating feelings around her father's death ten years later. Grief isn't linear and sometimes, your parents aren't the perfect people that you thought they were.

The first 100 or so pages were really interesting, and fun to read. The first time the ghost shows up on June's bed, I was so excited for all the possibilities to come. But then it doesn’t really continue in the direction I was expecting.

And that's where it gets bad. It was a bit confusing at times, but mostly, it was a chore to read. Almost DNFed. It was a really sweet story, but had trouble holding my attention and actually delivering the story in a gripping way. ( )

this was a good one. this has an amazing female friendship, first of all, and a ROMANCE I ACTUALLY SHIP SO SO SO HARD (it's been a dry spell; I have been eye rolling at all 'romance.') I really adored the first half, but I kinda felt like the second half started getting tooo complex and airy. still, excellent history and gorgeous world crafting. ( )

I fell for this book so hard that I wish I could eat it up... tiny pieces one by one into my tummy while still staying whole and safe inside. Weird? Yes! But deliciously perfect too. I loved this book from the very first page all the way through... praying all the while for more more more!! There were no slow spots, no iffy bits, no dwindling ardour of any sort just Love from cover to cover. I drowned in the torrent of Feels for this book.

Let me backtrack a little. First, I'd like to shout from the rafters that I am a HUGE unapologetic sucker for a well honed tale of Magical Realism. This book had gentle moments where left brain analytical thinking needed to be malleable... stretched thin like salt water taffy. It had points where the characters were so tangible and real and relateable that I felt as if they were close friends long lost and I was witnessing their lives... eavesdropping on them from above. The world building was breathtaking, achingly surreal. All of this was brought together with ethereally poignant writing. It had writing so touching that I found myself replaying sections of the audiobook, over and over again... enticing me to taste the whimsy, darkness and its sophisticated yet concise prose.

There were times that had me rooted, stuck within painful memories and times that had me chuckling out loud. There were a few squeeee moments and a few sections that had me screaming at my audiobook for June to just open up her eyes and appreciate what was right there in front of her... something so sweet and patient, and smart and yummmy. I yelled "Get Over The Past And See... Not Just Look But SEE The Amazing Things Slowly/Sweetly/Tentatively Blooming In Your Present!!!!" This boisterous reaction obviously didn't go over well with my family in the quiescent house in the wee hours BUT I regret nothing!

Anyway, I'm up to the characters and MAN I have to admit that I LOVED & felt for each and every one of them... secondary and tertiary included. June was an awesome, complex MC that was easy to get behind, easy to root for. All of her relationships were enviable. Her tortured family was definitely broken yet impossibly cohesive... even the magical aspects were done so elegantly that they felt like authentic normal everyday occurances. Then there was Saul. Saul was sweet and patient and understanding and attentive and smoldering and definitely book boyfriend material.

SWOOOOON!!!

Cue

::: moon struck, doey eyelash fluttering, SUPER large heart shaped eyes:::

Overall:

This book was a balm to my aching soul. Dramatic? Yes! Accurate? Also Yes! If you're in the mood to be swept away... if you're in the mood to have your emotions flung about until they settle back into some semblance of "normal" then I highly recommend reading this book if for nothing else then to meet Saul Angert my new book Amore!

Yummmmmmmmm ( )