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.

Book Review: A Sea of Unspoken Things
Author: Adrienne Young
Source: NetGalley
Pub Date: 01 Jan 25


Adrienne Young is the queen of the slow burn, atmospheric small town mystery with a bit of magical realism sprinkled in. A Sea of Unspoken Things delivers on all these points.

James Golden, now a successful artist in San Francisco, returns to the hometown she left behind 20 years ago. Her twin brother Johnny, never left Six Rivers. Johnny had never been lucky, and when the opportunity arises to work on a conservation project documenting several spieces of owls, it seemed too good to be true. Her sense of dread, a reminder of the once special connection she had with Johnny, proceeds the call telling of his accidental death. James is unsettled and is driven to uncover the mystery of her brother’s death. James returns to a town shrouded by a history of tragedy, haunted by old memories, secrets, and unresolved feelings for the one she left behind.

A Sea of Unspoken Things explores themes of grief, ties that bind, the power of secrets, and second chance love. I like that Young took on a brother-sister relationship, not enough novels do. But I have to say, I wanted more here, I wish she had gone deeper. Nevertheless, I was engaged and enjoyed following along as the mystery resolved.


My thanks to the author @AdrienneYoungBooks, @RandomHouse, and @NetGalley for the pleasure of reading this digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

While this didn't flow as fast as The Unmaking of June Farrow (which is a masterpiece in my opinion), I still enjoyed the clever and immersive writing style of Adrienne Young.

Having read her previous Young Adult works, I think I like this direction she's going. The atmospheric writing is still there, the way she describes things makes the scenes more real and concrete, like I'm also in it.

James Golden had a lot to unpack here, her brother Johnny's life... and hers. The story is a slow burn that burned a lot higher and brighter by the 60% mark. The author takes her time building the scene and the mysteries around Johnny's death... makes you question him yourself, and plants ideas in your mind.

I didn't see the end coming, honestly. But I like that it still felt a bit unfinished, albeit with most plot points wrapped up, just like life. Not everything needs has closure.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read quite a few books from this author and each one pleasantly surprises me in a new and different way! Right when I feel like I know where her next book is going, it’s completely different, but always enjoyable! I love a good mystery and there’s no better feeling than an ending I didn’t see coming. I would definitely recommend this book if you like mysteries involving family and following the main character to solve it!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of A Sea of Unspoken Things. I absolutely adore Adrienne Young but this novel just didn't work for me. Her previous two novels were absolutely heartbreaking and beautiful and this one was just . . . boring. Same inner monologue on repeat, a "surprise" twist ending that I guessed super early in the book, and characters that I just didn't care about. 3 stars because it was an easy read.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it now in your local and online bookstores and libraries.