This was my first Adrienne Young book I have read, she quickly became one of my favorites. Her writing is so descriptive, this book played out like a movie in my head. Transporting me to the empty hallways of the high school or the local diner for coffee, walking through the forest to the gorge. I fell in love with her storytelling and I can't wait to read more.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC read.

Amazing!! It was beautiful and gripping and I couldn’t put it down. This one felt similar to Spells for Forgetting which I absolutely loved and read pretty much in one sitting.

Adrienne Young has a beautiful way with words. She creates worlds that feel magical or super natural and yet very realistic all at the same time. In A Sea of Unspoken Things we meet James, twin to Johnny. James has returned to her hometown of Six Rivers after her brother died in a tragic accident. James is not happy about returning home where all the baggage she left nearly 20 years ago still waits for her. Six Rivers is a town nestled in thick forest and I could feel the presence of the trees all around while I read. Johnny's death has been declared a hunting accident but James is not ready to believe this and she herself goes looking for clues to find out what really happened that day. Along the way she uncovers more truths that could be best left hidden from others, and she must decide whether to share what she has learned. Then there is Micah, the love of her high school life. Is there more to uncover with him? I highlighted a lot of phrases in this book that were related to James' grief over the loss of her brother. There were a couple twists at the end that I didn't see coming, and the ending made me very emotional. So many tears.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ughhhhh!
I so so so wanted to love this.
I think my expectations of what I expected really held me back.
I expected magical realism, and there was none.
So the entire time I was reading, I was just waiting for the magic, and it never happened.
I think if this hadn't been marketed using June Farrow, I would have had different expectations.

Big Adrienne Young fan. I assumed going in that this would be a 4 or 5 star read. I just fell a bit short. I think the first half was a bit slow, dragging on. That what hurt it in my opinion. But then, after that, things started speeding up a lot, and the reveals started coming at a breakneck pace. I'm just waiting anxiously for her next book that i'm sure will redeem her place in my upper stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy to review.

This is an Adrienne Young story so you kind of know what you are in for . . . Spooky setting, tortured romance, grief, and mystery as well as an air of a Hallmark movie. I eat it up every time. The FMC has returned home to discover what kind of life her brother lived and what got him killed. Of course, her first / only love is there which brings up all kinds of feelings. Her books are always enjoyable for me and familiar enough to be comfortable without being too predictable.

I don't know what I was expecting, but this book just wasn't a hit for me. The writer's descriptions were wonderful, but the characters left a lot to be desired. Maybe my expectations were too high after reading The Unmaking of June Farrow.

dnf @32
while i enjoyed the overall mystery of this book, i was extremely bored and the flowery language just took away from the whole reading experience.

I thought the writing was beautiful but unfortunately I didn't find the murder mystery or the characters interesting. Without spoiling anything, some plotlines never got wrapped up or they didn't matter at all. I also thought the "magical realism" part was lacking.

I loved the twin connection. i have twin boys.

➼ Magical Realism
➼ Supernatural Twin Connection
➼ Murder Mystery
➼ Buried Secrets
➼ Small Town
➼ Romance Subplot
➼ Second Chance
➼ Atmospheric
➼ First Person POV

I love everything Adrienne Young and this was no exception. She is a master at setting the scene and making you want to plan your next vacation to the places that inspire her stories.

As the oldest sister I felt connected to the story due to always worrying about my siblings. I loved the story so much. Thank you net galley

The Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young delivers what she’s known for—pretty prose and a moody, descriptive setting. The novel follows a young woman returning to her hometown upon her twin brother's death to deal with her secrets and her own grief. The atmosphere is the strongest element of the book, pulling you into the small town that feels so real.

However, while the writing is beautiful, the plot itself can feel slow-moving and occasionally predictable. Some emotional beats hit hard, but others feel underdeveloped, especially in the relationships between characters and the "supernatural" connection she has to her twin brother. There’s a sense that the story is building to something profound, but it never quite gets there.

Fans of Young’s poetic style and slow-burn stories will still find plenty to appreciate, but those looking for more plot-driven or surprising twists may come away wanting more. Overall, it’s a moody, introspective novel that succeeds in tone, even if it doesn’t always land its emotional impact.

3.5 - I liked this book, but did not think it offered anything that stood out to me on any front. The mystery was OK, the romance was OK, the characters were OK. But, I still enjoyed it overall. In the beginning of the book, while the FMC is on her way to the town where the story will take place, I felt all the vibes - it felt very atmospheric to me and the forests felt like its own character. That quickly disappeared for me and the rest of the story took place inside except for one other scene which I enjoyed reading. I wish the 'atmosphere' had stood on its own in this book. I feel like it did in The Unmaking of June Farrow. I will say though that my friend had a very different experience and loved the setting so much so take my review with a grain of salt. I also predicted two very small parts of the plot twist which does not take away from my rating in this case.

I did not know this but it looks like Adrienne Young branches out and writes a variety of stories and genres. I read the Unmaking of June Farrow and despite a few small technical things that bothered me, I LOVED IT. I was expecting more of the same with this one and was disappointed. She also wrote Fable which if I am not mistaken is a pirate story, while The Spells of Unforgetting is a witchy story. I respect an author for doing this. Hopefully she will find her niche and focus more on that but totally appreciate her trying many different things. We don't see that very often.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC of this book. My opinions are my own.

I am convinced that I will never not love a book by Adrienne Young! She knows how to write a setting so well that I feel like I am in the story myself. She always has a fun mystery, a cute romance, and characters with deeper feelings than most. I liked how this one followed siblings especially.

Title: A Sea of Unspoken Things
Author: Adrienne Young
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

I really liked this one. It’s quiet and emotional in a way that sneaks up on you. The story felt very personal, about grief, family, and learning to speak the truths we usually avoid. It’s not flashy or overly dramatic, but it worked for me.

The writing was beautiful without being too flowery, and the setting had this soft, coastal sadness that matched the tone perfectly. The characters felt real, especially the main character, who’s carrying a lot but trying her best to move forward. It’s not a super fast-paced book, but it didn’t need to be. It’s more about the emotional journey than big plot twists. I think it’ll really hit home for readers who have complicated family relationships or have struggled with things left unsaid.

Not a new all-time favorite, but definitely a memorable and touching read. I will be diving into Adrienne's backlist to read more of her work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the ARC, all opinions are my own.

I thought this book was interesting, however I didn't feel particularly attached to any of them, even the main character. It just seemed like they lacked depth and we didn't really know them or anticipate their next move, but maybe that was the point? I did, however, like how there were two characters that committed crimes, I wasn't expecting that! Overall, there were parts of this book that hooked me in and some parts that didn't, but I would recommend it because it may be someone's cup of tea!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This one had a really dreamy, emotional vibe. A Sea of Unspoken Things is all about memory, grief, and going home to face the past—wrapped in Adrienne Young’s signature lyrical writing. The atmosphere was beautiful and moody, and there were some really moving moments that pulled me in.

That said, the story dragged in places, and some of the character choices left me scratching my head. I wanted a little more from the plot and resolution—it felt like a few things were left hanging.

Overall, I liked it but didn’t love it. If you’re into slower, introspective reads with rich writing and emotional depth, this might be your thing. Just go in knowing it’s more about the mood than the momentum.

Rating: 3.75/5 stars

This book had such immersive and atmospheric writing. The author has a gift for building unease—I felt this low, gnawing tension the entire time, like something was just off... and I mean that in the best way possible. That’s a hard feeling to create and sustain, and they did it really well.

That said, I had a few issues.

The beginning was pretty slow for me and I struggled to connect with any of the characters early on. There were moments that felt repetitive, which pulled me out of the story just when I wanted to be pulled in. About halfway through, though, something clicked. I got curious—I wanted to know what was really going on. Even though I guessed some of the twists, I kept turning pages to get to the truth...even if I still wasn’t fully invested in the characters themselves.

And honestly, when I finished? I had just as many questions as I did at the start. I think that was intentional. That lingering unease, the uncertainty, the way things were never quite fully resolved—it mirrored the mood the author built from page one. It wasn’t a perfect read for me, but it was a memorable one and one I may recommend to others.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Delacorte Press for providing me with an eARC of this story for my honest review.

Having thoroughly enjoyed "The Unmaking of June Farrow," my anticipation for Adrienne Young's latest release, "A Sea of Unspoken Things," was sky-high. Unfortunately, the book didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

One of the hallmarks of Young’s work has always been her captivating infusion of magical realism, a quality that has drawn me to her novels time and again. However, in this latest installment, the magic felt almost non-existent. Instead, the narrative unfolds as a pure mystery, heavily shrouded in the grief of its characters. While emotional depth can often enhance a story, in this case, it felt overwhelming to the point where it created a barrier between me and the characters.

I struggled to connect with them, and as a result, the mystery itself felt rather uninspired and, at times, banal. The lack of the enchanting elements I cherish in Young’s writing left me feeling disappointed and, frankly, a bit duped. I craved the magic and intrigue that have characterized her previous works but found only shadows of them here.

In summary, while "A Sea of Unspoken Things" has its moments, it ultimately fell short of the standards set by Young's prior novels. Fans of mystery may appreciate it, but for those who adore her magical touch, this book might leave you feeling wanting.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher Random House Publishing Group and the author, Adrienne Young for this ARC. It was published on January 7, 2025 so you can find it currently at any local bookseller.