
Member Reviews

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.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a haunting, atmospheric mystery with threads of magical realism, emotional depth, and a slow-burning unraveling of secrets. If you loved The Unmaking of June Farrow or Spells for Forgetting, this one will feel like a natural next read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this arc!

Wasn’t too much of a fan of this one. We are making of June Farrow was my book of the year and ever since then I’ve been trying to find a book by Young that gave me that same high. But unfortunately, the books released afterwards just haven’t hit that same stride. This was good, but I wasn’t locked in when it came to the concept and the pot. Not one of my favorites of hers. Just gonna stop me from looking out for her other books and hoping to find that jewel tones writing that she had in June Farrow.

Slow start y soooo atmospheric! This is a mystery romance with good twists and a beautiful 2nd chance romance that I binged. While not as perfect as Spells For Forgetting, still a worthwhile read!

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is an exploration of grief, twin telepathy, and small‑town secrets. It’s a gripping, emotional journey— a little slower than her other books, but it will draw you in and it is worth the read!
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

“We were standing only inches apart, but I could feel the canyon that stretched between us. We’d ripped open the seams of a years-old wound, and it didn’t matter how much time had passed, it would never heal. I was beginning to understand that now.”
James visits the small town that she grew up in to unravel the truth of her twin brother’s mysterious death as well as confront her haunting past that she has tried so hard to escape from.
I read The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young a few months ago and really enjoyed my time reading it, so I was eager to grab a copy of her new book release. Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I felt extremely disconnected from all of the characters, the story felt slow and repetitive and rushed at the same time. It just didn’t flow well. I didn’t predict the ending, however it felt as if the author tried to come up with the most random twist to catch us off guard in order to create a “surprising” ending when really it left me with more questions. I was looking forward to the magic realism in the story, but it was maybe 1% magic realism, 99% mystery.

A Sea of Unspoken Things was a super interesting read. I loved the character study and the writing felt propulsive. I'd read more from the author.

i love adrienne young’s slightly mystical writing. always an enjoyable time, a slight mystery, and romance to top it off

Thank you to Random House Publishing, Netgalley, and Adrienne Young for granting me this ARC!
If you absolutely loved the touch of supernatural and unexplained phenomenon in The Unmaking of June Farrow, you’ll find it here! Also, if you love small town mysteries with a smattering of romance, this is your book!
Why only 3 stars? It honestly took me forever to get into this and hooked, but once I did I wanted to figure out what to Johnny!

I tried to give this author a try again, but I don't think their writing style is for me.
My biggest peeves:
- Too wordy, making the pacing slow for me. I don't get gripped in enough,
- I didnt enjoy the characters too much.
- I was invested in the magical realism as promised, fell flat to me.
thank you to net galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review *

An atmospheric murder-mystery with a hint of the paranormal. This story follows James and she (yes, she) returns to her small, Northern California hometown to investigate the death of her twin brother. Its a slow-paced, character driven story. I did not mind the slow pace, as this wasn't meant to be an action-driven story. And despite the slow pace, I felt sucked into the story while reading. This falls a bit flat from a 5 star read for me, something just felt lacking. Maybe it was because I didn't think the romance element added anything to this story and we didn't really see enough of it for me to "buy" it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for providing a digital ARC of this book!

The writing of this book is amazing and instantly pulls you in from the start. I felt it did drag a little in the middle and took a while for anything big to happen. I did like how the author captured the dynamics between the different characters.

I hate I didn’t love this one more. I just recently read The Unmaking of June Farrow by this author and loved it. This was just okay, very slow, and I was just waiting for it to pick up more than it did. So besides that, nothing was horrible about it, it has great atmospheric vibes, the writing is great.
Spells for Forgetting by this author, was more the speed of this book. More of a mystery with very very light fantastical/magical realism moments.

I am so obsessed with Adrienne young and her books. This Is my third book by her and of course it was great. The way Young writes atmosphere and setting are unlike any other. I loved the twin bond element of this book and what made it even more special is that Adrienne young is a twin herself, so it make the bond between James and her twin, Johnny feel even more real. This one was little slower than her others I’ve read, but I still really enjoyed it and the mystery as well.