A Sea of Unspoken Things is haunting, lyrical, and emotionally charged in all the best ways. Adrienne Young has such a gift for crafting atmosphere—you can practically feel the salt in the air, the weight of secrets, and the ache of everything left unsaid between the characters.

This story is as much about what isn’t said as what is. The emotional tension runs deep, and I found myself completely wrapped up in the slow unraveling of the past and the delicate way relationships were portrayed—both romantic and familial. The characters are beautifully flawed, and their connections feel raw and real, layered with regret, longing, and hope.

Young’s prose is, as always, stunning. Every sentence feels intentional, and the pacing gave just enough breathing room for the emotions to land without dragging. It’s the kind of book that sneaks up on you emotionally—quiet but powerful.

If you’re in the mood for a moody, introspective read with gorgeously crafted writing and characters who linger long after the final page, A Sea of Unspoken Things is absolutely worth picking up.

Thank you NetGalley for letting me review "A Sea of Unspoken Things." For a thriller it was a very slow burn. I felt it was more of a realistic drama than a thriller. I had high hopes for this acclaimed author, but the book was very slow.

3.5 stars! Character driven. Atmospheric and lush. Adrienne Young’s writing is always so engaging, beautiful, and captivating. It has some elements of magical realism but I wish there was a little more from that.

Secrets surround James twin brother’s death back in the town they grew up in. She left her own secrets behind and an old flame, almost 20 years ago. She comes back into town to get his things in order and starts pulling at the thread of his death that was ruled an accident. What will her questions reveal? And what happens when her ex gets involved with the investigation?!

If you liked Spells for Forgetting this one feels like an echo of that.

I loved the atmosphere of this story! Adrienne Young is always so great and telling a story that you can feel as you’re reading it.

<i>First, a thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an eARC of this book.</i>

This was my first book by Young, and I went in completely blind. Based on this one… I have to say, I don’t get the hype.

This book suffered from being horribly mid. The characters were mid. The setting was mid. The plot was uninspired, and… mid.

Like, what was the point? Aren’t there hundreds of other books with this exact plot?

This book is beautifully written. The way things are described I felt like I was there. The first half is a little slow, but the second half is devoured in one sitting.

There are lots of emotions and the main one seems to be pain/loss. Unraveling the mystery of what really happened to Johnny is complicated and intriguing. Johnny himself is a mystery. James the twin sister who comes home to put the puzzle together went through a lot in this small town. That makes her return weigh on her.

There are twists and turns. You keep thinking you have something figured out and then a new twists leaves you once again questioning.

There is mystery, drama, family dynamic, love, loss, friendship, and enemies. I definitely recommend this book. I have yet to read an Adrienne Young book that I wouldn’t recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this book.

3.5 rounded up. Adrienne loves a good mystery . The magical realism i expect from her adult writing wasn't as prevalent as I was hoping. However, the book was still well written and kept you guessing.

The only downside i would say is that the whole griffin mystery didn't need to be dragged out so long. Though I get why James kind of wanted to ignore it for the significance of what she learned about her brother. All of this could have been helped with actual communication. Everyone in this book needed therapy. Lmao it almost seemed like there was too much going on at once. I suppose that was the intent though.

I love this author and will read anything she writes. June Farrow is one of my top favorites of all time. This was good but very different than her other work. I enjoyed it!

This was so good. I loved the plot and characters. It was paced perfectly. I didn't wanna put it down and was on the edge of my seat. Adrienne Young never let's me down!

When James’ brother Johnny dies in a suspicious hunting accident, she returns to her tiny, remote hometown to take care of his things and investigate his death. As she dives deeper into her brother’s life, she begins to realize she didn’t know him as well as she thought. And as she dives deeper into the mystery surrounding his death, she begins to uncover truths about her home and her past that she never expected. This book blends magical realism and mystery so well, and was incredibly immersive and atmospheric. I didn’t figure out the twist, and the ending was very satisfying. I’m excited to read more of Adrienne Young’s books!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for my copy! ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This one definitely kept me guessing. I was immersed in James' journey from the very start, and I loved the glimpses at her growing up years, too. The romantic elements were lovely and just spicy enough, but they were secondary to her journey to discover the truth about her brother and her past. A haunting meditation on love, loss and the choices that shape us. It's beautifully written, too! I also wanted to go explore the forests of the PNW immediately. Definitely worth a read!

Have never found a book from this author that I didn't like and probably never will! Adrienne Young is super talented both in the YA and adult spaces and creates such atmospheric, beautifully written books.

I am rating this book 1 star. Unfortunately I had to DNF this book, the plot was trudging along and it did not grab me! I was never able to get immersed into the story like I wanted.

I just finished A Sea of Unspoken Things and wow—what a haunting, atmospheric read. The story follows James, who returns to her small hometown after her twin brother Johnny’s sudden death. Their almost supernatural bond adds a unique twist to this mystery as James uncovers secrets she never expected. The writing is lyrical and immersive, and the setting in Six Rivers, California, feels like a character in itself. If you’re into emotional thrillers with a touch of magic and a lot of heart, this one’s a must-read.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a thoroughly engaging slow-burn mystery with a touch of paranormal intrigue. It’s hard to know what to know who to trust as the story unfolds. As usual, Young paints a picture so effectively it feels like you’re right there with the characters.

Thank you Adrienne Young, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I believe Adrienne Young can do no wrong. The way she writes makes you feel like you're there. Her descriptions are flawless and her characters are flawed and believable.

I loved so many things about this book. While I don't think it's the best book of hers that I've ever read, I'd definitely recommend it to a friend.


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I didn't understand how Autumn was never reported missing by her family. Perhaps there is an explanation in Adrienne Young's head that didn't ever get put into words, but I don't recall anything about a falling out with her parents or some such. I just don't understand how Autumn could have been gone for so long without someone wondering where she was. Family? Friends? It just didn't make sense. That's the only reason why I didn't give this one 5 stars.

I enjoyed this book and find this author’s prose to be beautiful. The relationship between the siblings was intriguing to me as an only child. Solid read.

Adrienne Young creates impeccable and vivid imagery. Her novels make you want to curl up in a big cozy blanket next to a fire. She always delivers exactly what I want. Although not nearly as good as The Unmaking of June Farrow, this is a close second.
The small-town atmosphere mixed with magical realism, mystery, and romance will always be my cup of tea.

2.5 🌟
Genre: mystery / thriller
Vibes: 💨 🦉📸⛰️🌲🪾🛻⚱️

Group of friends comes back together due to tragedy after 20 years of separation from a mysterious, haunting past.

Themes & Tropes
* Twin connection
* Small town drama
* Running away from the past
* Mysterious psychological thriller
* Eerie
* Toxic relationships and bad friends

I really wanted to like this one. And I do love this author’s writing and vibes. If I hadn’t read “Spells for Forgetting” by Adrienne Young (which I recommend!), I probably would have liked this one more. But the 2 are way too similar to feel like something new. I will definitely be reading more from this author though!!

The plot was very slow and I didn’t feel like anything happened- no twists, no surprises. Including the ending, which was disappointing. Can’t share more without spoilers but this was my face while reading it :🙂‍↔️😬🥴

Thank you to the publisher Dell / Random House Publishing , NetGalley, and author for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Adrienne Young writes so beautifully, twining magical realism into this mysterious plot with interesting characters.