There has never been an Adrienne Young book that I didn’t enjoy. This one started out slow but I was curious to see where it was going. I do wish that I had more insight into the characters. I felt like the romance wasn’t fleshed out well and I never really saw them reconnect. The actual thriller or mystery plot was interesting to me though and I always love the touch of magic each book brings.

“A Sea of Unspoken Things” by Adrienne Young is book #4 of the year.

This one gets 🌟🌟🌟 and a half stars from me! I love her novels and this one was no different BUT it is a slowwwwwwwwwwwwwww burn. If you like waiting for action until the last 25% of a book, then this is the book for you. Unfortunately I’m impatient. 🤣

Also I can’t think of a better title, the things left unspoken in this book drove me slowly insane.

A Sea of Unspoken Things, by author Adrienne Young, is the story of a woman who investigates her twin brother's mysterious death while confronting the ghosts of her own haunted past. James and Johnny Golden were once inseparable. For as long as she can remember, James (a 37 year old female) shared an almost supernatural connection with her twin brother, Johnny, that went beyond intuition—she could feel what he was feeling.

So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone—truly alone—for the first time in her life. After 20 years away, James Golden returns to Hawthorne, a remote town nestled within Six Rivers National Forest, to settle the affairs of her twin brother, Johnny. His death has been labeled a hunting accident—a stray bullet—but the story doesn’t sit right.

Johnny’s camera and notebooks, essential to his work documenting rare owls in the forest, are missing. When James arrives in the secluded town of Six Rivers, California, to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to revisit the ominous events of their shared past and finally face Micah, the only other person who knows their secrets—and the only man she has ever loved. But as James delves deeper into Johnny’s world, she realizes that their unique connection hasn’t completely vanished.

The more she immerses herself in his life, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was hiding something, and he was not the only one. The deeper she digs, the more she is compelled to unravel the truth behind the days leading up to Johnny’s death. Ultimately, James must decide which truths should come to light, and which are better left buried forever. As she asks uncomfortable questions around town and follows Johnny’s trail through the forest, she starts to suspect his death is tied to that long-buried tragedy.

And yet, the closer she gets to the truth, the more she becomes part of the same story, unsure of whom she can trust. Even Johnny’s ghost seems to be nudging her toward answers she’s not certain she wants to find. James has always balanced Johnny’s darkness. Was Johnny involved in something that got him killed? Whenever Johnny created chaos, James was always there to clean up the mess and take the blame. This has been their dynamic since a tragic event drove James to leave town to pursue her artistic talents, never looking back. Was Johnny involved in something that got him killed, or was he killed to hide yet another secret that the town doesn't want to be uncovered?

Overall, this book requires a bit of patience. It takes time to move forward, and once it does, you begin to ask questions as to who is trustworthy and who is likely a murderer. Also, there are actually two mysteries in this book that you need to pay attention to. I will say that I think the ending was fitting after all that James and Micah go through in this book.

Adrienne Young at her absolute best! In the vein of June Farrow and Spells for Forgetting, A Sea of Unspoken Things follows fascinating characters in an atmospheric setting, complete with a dark mystery and a small community where everyone knows everyone (and they all have grudges they carry). I loved (as always) the second chance romance, and the way the story is told in alternating timelines. The magical realism part comes from the twin connection that James and Johnny share even beyond death. The mystery is solved only in the last few pages and keeps you guessing and re-guessing until the very end.
Absolutely recommended!

I love Adrienne Young’s writing, her prose are beautifully composed. That is still the case with this one! Her atmospheric writing is top tier. There were points of reflection that resonated so well. Interactions between Micah and James that had me on the edge of my seat but everything else fell flat.

The pacing on this was so so slow!! I thought the foreshadowing was done well but there was a complete lack of action. The mystery aspect was well thought out but was dragged out unnecessarily. I could only motivate myself to read 5-15 pages at a time and would lose interest quickly.
I felt like there was so much potential but all of the action took place in the last 20% of the book. I loved how she explored the connection between James and Johnny (twins) given a slightly different interpretation but I felt like it was a bit unresolved.

I think this is a great read for those looking for a low stakes mystery with atmospheric descriptions of the pacific north west with touches of magical realism. Adrienne Young wrote a touching story of navigating the loss of a loved one and the difficulties of returning to a hometown you "ran" from.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley.

🌊✨ A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a spellbinding dive into family secrets, loss, and the power of connection. 🌿
James and Johnny Golden shared a bond that went beyond the ordinary—one so deep that James could feel her brother’s emotions, even from miles away. But when tragedy strikes and Johnny is gone, she’s left to navigate the grief and the unspoken truths of their past.

Settling in the secluded town of Six Rivers, California, James must confront not just the ghosts of their shared history, but also Micah—her first love and the keeper of secrets she’s been avoiding. As she uncovers more about Johnny’s life, James begins to question everything she thought she knew about her brother, the town, and herself.

What I loved most about this book was the way it perfectly blended a heart-pounding mystery with a hint of romance. The twists and turns kept me guessing at every moment, trying to piece together what really happened to Johnny. And as James and Micah’s relationship rekindles, I couldn’t help but root for them to find their way back to each other, even as they both faced the weight of the past.

This story is thrilling and emotional—a rollercoaster of suspense, love, and discovery. If you’re a fan of thrillers with a strong emotional core, layered characters, and a hint of romance, this book is a must-read! Adrienne Young’s writing captivated me, and I’m excited to dive into more of her books in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by @adrienneyoungbooks

I’m HERE for this book! This was such a fun roller coaster of who done it but with a cozy small town feel and past trauma. Ummm I didn’t know that was I vibe I needed but damn I sure loved it and I’m here for it!

“A woman investigates her twin brother’s mysterious death while confronting the ghosts of her own haunted past.”

If you love:
👻Magical Realism
🔫Mystery Thriller
🏡Small town
✌️Second chance
🚪Closed door romance
☠️Past and Present Trauma

I’m also coming back to try the edits - it’ll be a work in progress but lmk what you think!

#aseaofunspokenthings #adrienneyoung #thriller #mystery #magicalrealism #smalltown #secondchance #whodidit #whodoneit #closeddoorromance #trauma #bookreview #bookreviewer #netgalley

Adrienne Young does such a good job of writing an atmospheric book that brings you to the edge of raw emotion then is able to end on a hopeful note without it all feeling forced or cheesy. I’ll always read a book from this author!

This was my first book I read from Adrienne Young and loved it so much. The writing is so lush, the romance, the storytelling - it was incredible. Loved this quote: “Both of us had always been trying to capture moments and keep them. Him with the camera, me with my pen. But in the end, we somehow always saw things differently."

A Sea of Unspoken Things, A Novel, by Adrienne Young. Small town mystery, Old Fling, supernatural elements.

I rated this book 3.5 stars (4 stars).

The story follows James who is investigating her twin brother, Johnny’s, death, while coming to terms with her own past. When going to handle Johnny’s affairs, James encounters the only man she’s ever loved, Micah, and the only person who knows about her past. Will she solve her brothers mystery or will she keep the past hidden.

I have always enjoyed Adrienne’s writing, but I went into this book knowing nothing other than I have read all her other work so why not give it a go. This book is definitely more thriller than fantasy. I also really wished we could have seen more of James and Micah’s relationship develop instead of “oh there is a past, boom, let’s get back together”.

I really do think this is a good book BUT if you wanted it for the fantasy I would not recommend it, I think that her other books are more fantasy and this leans towards “mystery thriller”.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I love Adrienne Young’s writing! The way she sets the scene really pulls you into the story and captivates you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The small town vibes, the murder mystery, the second chance romance/it’s always been you, dash of paranormal activity, and finally it all coming together in the end was so satisfying Perfect book to snuggle up with by the fire in winter which is exactly what I did!

I liked this book, but I did not LOVE it. I couldn't quite get into the rhythm of it, because I couldn't tell if there was something mystical about it or if this twin connection thing is just something that all twins feel. So it was unclear what the designated emotional impact should be.

Adrienne Brody is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. In her new book, A Sea of Unspoken Things, there is a mysterious death, a homecoming, an old flame, and the speculative fiction that only Young can do so well. This book is more thriller with a side of romance. It’s set it Northern California. The way Young writes these places makes you feel as if you’re actually there. It was beautiful and ominous. I can’t wait to read what she writes next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A mystery/thriller with romance as a second plot- imo there wasn’t much fantasy to the plot unless I just missed it.
Listened on audio- narration was great! And I still love how atmospheric Adrienne’s writing is!

I still thought it was good, but my favorite is still June Farrow.

“There was something that was almost romantic about the idea—producing work just for the sake of creating it. Not for show or display or even the world’s consideration. Away from opinions or opportunities. It was just … free.”

Love this quote as an artist myself.

This book didn't grab me as much as I wanted it to. It was a mystery, James came back to her hometown to figure out why her twin brother was shot. She didn't think it was an accident as they say. It has the typical come back to hometown storyline where she falls for her childhood love again, etc. Young tried to make it very mysterious but it didn't intrigue me. It wasn't an ending I predicted but overall the book was just slow. Thank you Netgalley for letting me get an early read of the book.

I love Adrienne Young’s writing and had to read this one immediately.

Her writing is beautiful, the atmosphere is top tier, and her settings are immaculate. I always feel as if I’m part of the story.

I was a bit underwhelmed with the actual story. I wanted more magic, more romance. I also could’ve used at least 100 more pages with these characters- to sink even deeper with them!

This wasn’t my favorite by her, but I still very much enjoyed!

Each chapter in this book made me want more and I had to keep reading. I finished this book in 2 days. The mystery in this story kept me guessing the whole time who it could have been and what happened to her twin brother Johnny; as well and the other character Autumn that developed along the way. I was also rooting for her and Micha throughout the story so I was happy with their ending too.

One thing I really like about Adrienne Youngs writing is that she can create these beautiful atmospheric worlds without falling prey to the all vibes and no plot curse.
I always enjoy her moody small town mysteries with a dash of fantasy, but I will say this one has been my least favorite.
It just fell a little flat when it came to the characters.
I still really enjoyed it but compared to her other recent work it just didn't quite stack up.

This is a thriller/ murder mystery that will keep you on your toes guessing. This book takes you on a journey about loss, grief and the path to healing. Overall I really enjoyed this book!

A Sea of Unspoken Things follows James as she returns to her hometown following the mysterious death of her brother Johnny. She rekindles old friendships and realizes her twin may have been keeping more from her than she realized.