This book is hard to rate because there were times that I loved it and times I was bored. The writing and the PNW vibes were great. I thought the characters were pretty fully realized. But there are sections where the plot drags and some of the twists and turns didn’t really do it for me. The end felt rushed.

I’m not a big thriller/mystery reader, but I’m becoming a fan of Adrienne and want to read more of her past and future stuff.

* free ARC from NetGalley and Delacourte Press *

Eh this was an ok thriller it was kinda slow but not bad overall. The pace was slow but for the most part it had a good plot.

A Sea of Unspoken Things told the story of Johnny’s tragic and sudden death. His twin James, goes to any and all lengths to figure out what happened in her estranged twins final days.

4 25 ⭐️s
I was beyond excited to receive an eArc since Adrienne Young has been an auto-buy author for me, for a few years now. Her writing is atmospheric and empathetic.
A Sea of Unspoken Things is no exception. The small town vibes were vibing. I was easily able to settle into James' mind and emotions. The twin factor was interesting and I really enjoyed the supernatural element to it. The supporting characters felt very realistic and most were likable.
Overall, a very bingeable thriller (?!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the eARC!

A Sea of Unspoken Things delivered a captivating story with plenty of deep rooted mystery, intrigue, and an almost supernatural connection between siblings. I believe this is my first Adrienne Young book, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Young's writing is so effortless in that the sentences flow and your pages keep turning.

James has returned to her hometown due to her twin brothers death and to get closure. While she's back old memories and feelings come to the surface. James intuition leads her to uncover pieces to the puzzle of her brothers mysterious death, and that maybe she didn't know her brother like she thought she did. With the help of a childhood friend and lover, James faces feelings and a life she tried to leave behind. (You will adore her dog, too.)

This is an easy to fall into read. If you like Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett, and Black Ice by Becca Fitzpatrick, you'll like A Sea of Unspoken Things.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the advanced copy for review.

The Good:
Once the story finally got started, the mystery was pretty solid.

The Not-So-Good:
Pacing is off. It was really tough to get through the first 50ish pages, there's little backstory and it made it hard for me to care about James or Johnny.
Book description gives off "supernatural" vibes. This is not the case. It's hard to describe without giving too much detail, but this is NOT a ghost story.
Unlikable characters. There isn't a single character in this book that I felt bad for or connect with. A lot of character development is very surface level and one dimensional.
The book was way too long. I think there was a lot of unnecessary/irrelevant scenes that added nothing to the plot.

I didn't hate this book, but it was just ok for me. I don't think it will be a re-read. While I think there are people who will enjoy it, it will probably end up being a forgettable read among the books released this year.

I received this ARC courtesy of NetGalley in return for my honest review.

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.