Adrienne Young’s incredible novel The Unmaking of June Farrow was one of my top reads of 2023, so I was thrilled to get a chance to read her latest release, A Sea of Unspoken Things which came out on January 7th.

Much like June Farrow, A Sea of Unspoken Things walks the line between a very grounded reality and… something else. When James Golden’s twin brother Johnny is killed, she finds herself back in her hometown for the first time in twenty years. They’ve always had a strong connection, but James can’t shake the pull of Johnny’s presence… convinced he is trying to tell her something about his death. Soon, the decades old secrets she thought she left behind come to light and she’s forced to face all that happened and all that was left unsaid.

Part mystery, part intimate look at the lies we tell ourselves to survive, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a quietly brooding, captivating story.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is out now.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

Adrienne Young is excellent at slow burn, haunting, atmospheric storytelling with a hint of magic that still has a decent amount of well executed plot twists. I still have yet to read June Farrow but last year Spells for Forgetting was one of my 5 star reads, so if you are someone who has enjoyed Adrienne Young in the past I feel confident that this is another book you will enjoy.

"We could fill the fucking ocean with the things we never said to each other.”

This story tells the tale of James (who is a girl, btw) after her twin brother Johnny is killed in a horrible accident. She arrives back in her rural hometown to deal with the aftermath of the tragic death and face her past. In the days that follow, James has to slowly untangle the thread of Johnnys last days and uncover the truth of his death.

Thank you to Adrienne Young, NetGalley, and Random House Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love, love, love Adrienne Young, but this one didn't do anything for me. I just couldn't get myself to care about the protagonist's brother. It was a little slow and I found myself putting it down more often than picking it up. However, I did still enjoy her style of writing and how atmospheric she made things - this is always Young's strong suit! But just not for me.

This book started slow, and I thought the magical realism would play a bit more of a role. The second half definitely picked up and kept me guessing right til the end.

I'll read anything written by Adrienne Young, and even though I did not enjoy this book as much as June or Spells, Young's atmospheric writing pulled me in. The gripping mystery kept me turning the pages , and the profound grief tugged at my heart in such an unforgettable way.

Adrienne Young weaves a beautiful story. Her world building and way she wraps you up with her characters is absolutely incredible.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC copy of this book. I enjoyed the characters in this story and their nuances, and as always I enjoyed Young’s writing style. However, I found the mystery at the heart of this story to be a bit lacking and predictable. I felt that, because of this, there wasn’t that much tension and buildup surrounding the mystery and the plot in general. Despite this, I did still think the story was worth the read, although I would not purchase a physical copy for myself at this point.

I absolutely love Adrienne Young’s writing. There is this whimsical yet concrete feel to her writing and it fits perfectly in her books.

That being said, this book took me forever to get into. I believe it just wasn’t the right time for me to read it because I cannot find any major flaws other than the vibes just weren’t for me at this point in time.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
Book 4 of 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
thank you @randomhouse @adrienneyoungbooks @netgalley for this ARC! I have been wanting to pick up an Adrienne Young book for years and it finally felt like the right time! The storyline of this novel is incredible. It’s half thriller half love story. The plot twists are pretty good. The love story may have been a little predictable but the other twists kept me on the edge of my seat! I definitely wasn’t able to unravel the mystery before Young led me to the answers. The third focal point of this book is the sibling relationship between James and Johnny, whose relationship can best be described as odd. Everyone wants a strong steady Micah in their life! Swoon! Overall I loved this book and read it very quickly. Congrats to Young on the recent publication!
#ASeaofUnspokenThings #NetGalley

Dear A Sea of Unspoken Things,
I am such a fan on Adrienne Young. She created such complex and flawed characters that find their way into my heart every time I pick up one of her books. I love that you were another foray into magical realism. James was so complicated and her feeling about her home town, her twin brother and her past were tied into so many knots. Your haunting language gave Six Rivers and the forest surrounding the town such a powerful presence. Watching James untangle her complicated relationships with Malcom, Johnny and her past was a bumpy ride, but one I lost myself in.

The first half of this book was slow, maybe it was me and I wasn’t in the right space, but I was getting a little bored. The second half though made it worth it and the pacing picked up. The plot and description of the book was fantastic, I was very excited to read this, but overall it just fell a little flat because I really didn’t feel the chemistry between the characters.

Thank you to Dell/Random House Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC! This was definitely an interesting read with some more mystical elements that made it more interesting for me. Good twists at the end, and I definitely wanted to stick it out to find out the conclusion. There were some spots where I had to push through, but the setting and the atmosphere drew me in and that was what kept me turning the pages. It was good story with some interesting elements for sure. It could've used a little more depth to Johnny as a character. Without his presence, it was hard to relate with this character, but that was also part of his persona, so in a way I understand. Just felt like I could've used a little more emotional attachment to that character to really invest myself in this mystery. Overall, good read and this was my first Adrienne Young read so I can't compare it to her other books but would like to read her other works for sure!

Anytime I read a book by Adrienne Young, I am completely immersed in the setting. Her atmospheric writing keeps readers spellbound. Her last release "The Unmaking of June Farros", is an absolute favorite of mine.

In this new mystery/thriller read we follow James who heads back to her small town after her twin brother dies. I loved the subtle magical realism elements between the siblings. Young is always so great at sprinkling those moments in without it feeling forced. James was a good MC to follow. Her life had been marked by unique circumstances and coming back home was a way to come to terms. There was also a romance subplot that I really enjoyed.

I will say the first half of the book felt very slow but once we got more into the mystery itself I couldn't put it down. The ending wasn't as satisfactory as I would have liked, but maybe that is the point.

I always look forward to what Young writes and cannot wait to see what is next!

Read if you like
- mystery/thriller
-magical realism
- sibling bonds
-small romance subplot
- atmospheric setting

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group for the eARC!

With a slow and steady pace, this contemplative book uses the space between plot points to bring a rugged, remote Northern California landscape to life, illuminating the shadows between memory and regret. Kudos to Christine Larkin, the audiobook narrator. The listening experience helped this book take off in the second half! The subtle magical and ghostly elements gave the story a mysterious tone that matched the atmospheric setting. And while I wasn't surprised by the ending, I enjoyed how everything was revealed. This was my first book by the author, and I'm eager to read more!

I should've tried to finish this in one sitting because I had like 8 hours in between sittings and I feel like I forgot a bunch of stuff. Not really sure what to rate this.

obsessed !! with !! this !! book !!

Adrienne Young is in her small town mystery era and i’m all in! it’s been awhile since I had a book I stayed up late to finish but I just HAD to know how this ended

James is all the way in San Francisco when she gets this dreadful feeling and a sharp pain in her chest..only to find out a few days later her twin brother Johnny was shot and killed. James hasn’t been back to her small home town in over 20 years but when her brothers death is declared “accidental” she knows she needs to go back and figure out what really happened.

I loved this book so much. the twists, small town drama, a freaky twin connection, the forgotten high school romance ✨ definitely pick this up if you loves spells for forgetting + unmaking of june farrow

ty to @netgalley for blessing me with an ARC😍

This book completely hooked me. It’s got everything—family drama, small-town gossip, and a touch of the supernatural to keep things interesting.

The story follows James, a 37-year-old artist who has to return to her tiny hometown of Hawthorne, California, after her twin brother Johnny dies.

The town’s folk are calling it a hunting accident, but James’s gut tells her that’s a lie. Deep down, she can feel it—something about Johnny’s death isn’t right. The more she digs into his life, the more she realizes he had secrets she never saw coming. Turns out, maybe she didn’t know her brother as well as she thought.

Oh, and to make things more complicated, her ex, Micah, is still there, and their unresolved tension is so good.

The connection between James and Johnny was one of my favorite parts of the book. Even though he’s gone, it feels like he’s still guiding her, which is both creepy and heartbreaking. The small-town vibes are spot on—moody forests, whispers behind her back, everyone keeping secrets. It’s slow at first, but once the twists start hitting, it’s impossible to put down.

If you’re into slow-burn mysteries with a little romance and a lot of heart, this one’s definitely worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine

I really enjoyed this book, and it's one I will put on my "recommend" list. It is the second book I have read by this author, and this is my favorite of the two. There was a bit of a mystery, there were some magical elements and a bit of romance. I got wrapped up in the story and was very interested to see what the outcome would be. A very strong 4 star read for me.

In this new suspense/murder mystery we follow James as she heads back to the secluded California mountain town she left 20 years prior. She’s returning to settle the affairs of her twin brother, Johnny, and find answers about his mysterious death. She’s forced to deal with their rocky past, as well as face Micah, the only man she’s ever loved.

Adrienne Young has such a gift of immersing you in the setting, and her storytelling is so beautiful. There are little glimpses of some slight magical realism, with a telepathic type of twin connection, and it is more similar to the vibes of her Spells for Forgetting than The Unmaking of June Farrow, which completely immersed us in magic.

If you love a moody, atmospheric feel that keeps you wondering who did it and what really happened, this is a great suspense without anything frightening.

Another beautiful work by Adrienne Young. Her way of writing magical realism is unmatched. Highly recommend.