3.5/5

One thing is for sure, Adrienne Young always has lovely and atmospheric writing. I liked the thriller meets a bit of magical realism vibes. A Sea of Unspoken Things is the kind of book you can read in one sitting because you become so immersed in the mysterious atmosphere. There’s also a lot of suspense that makes you want to keep turning the page. However, two things were a miss for me. The characters and the pacing. The beginning and the end moved at a nice pace, but the middle felt like it dragged. I also had a hard time connecting with the characters. I was intrigued by the twin connection and the romance side plot, but the characters fell flat for me. If you already love this author’s other books, you’ll probably enjoy this one too!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 1/2 STARS

Although she had hoped to never return to the small California town where she grew up, James is forced to return home when she learns her twin brother Johnny has been killed. When she arrives, James realizes that the circumstances surrounding Johnny’s death are quite mysterious. While she tries to piece together what happened to her brother, James also finally has to come to terms with her own haunting past, which she has chosen to avoid up until now.

I’m a big fan of Adrienne Young’s books, specifically because her writing is just so gorgeous and so atmospheric. She is just a master when it comes to creating these moody, atmospheric settings that practically come alive as characters in their own right, and she does exactly that with this little town, its characters and their many layers and secrets.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot since it reads like a mystery/thriller and I don’t want to spoil the reveal. I will say though that it’s a bit of a slow burn to get to that reveal. I didn’t mind the slow burn though, as there was plenty going on to hold my attention, including a hint of romance between James and Micah, who was James’ first love and also Johnny’s best friend. I was also fully invested in learning the truth about what made James run away from home all those years ago.

If, like me, you’re a fan of Young’s other books, you’ve probably come to associate her stories with magical realism, and while I’d say there’s a hint of it in this book, mainly in the near telepathic twin bond between James and Johnny, I didn’t find it used to the same extent as with The Unmaking of June Farrow. I would have loved a little more, but even without it, A Sea of Unspoken Things is still a beautifully written mystery.

James has an undeniable connection with her twin brother Johnny. So much so, she feels the pain in the exact spot and moment when he is tragically killed. Returning to her small hometown for the first time in decades, she must relive the past while figuring out what happened to her brother - was it a hunting accident or murder? As she learns more about the life her brother had that she knew very little about while reconnecting with her old flame, another person becomes intertwined…a recently graduated student Autumn with a very similar to her own and ties to her brother. As they unearth more secrets, they’re brought back to their own secret 20 years before that they vowed to take to the grave…and in Johnny’s case, he did.
This was an interesting mystery that is a quick read and yet still leaves the reader with questions and little resolution in some parts (ie the incident years before, Johnny’s behavior, etc). It felt too open ended for a finale but it was still a good read.
Thank you to Random House Ballantine for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ahh I love Adrienne Young so much! She's one of the queens of magical realism and this was no exception. This book kind of gave Bear Town vibes, which I loved! A really fun read and GREAT listen. Definitely recommend and shared with my followers!

My second Adrienne Young and I’m totally addicted.
Her story telling is gorgeous and her language magical.
I love the way her characters come to life on page, and make you truly invest in what they are going through.
When James finds out her twin brother Johnny was found dead in the woods, she returns to her hometown, covered in wounds and bad memories. James tries to settle Johnny’s affairs and return to San Francisco as quickly as possible, but events begin to show their true light, and James is caught up.
The mystery factor is high here. And in normal Young fashion there is an element of the supernatural.
Loved this book. Love her. Excited to read more of her backlist.
Thank you netgalley for the ARC.

My first Adrienne Young novel did not disappoint! Really descriptive, beautiful writing. Dark & moody, immersive setting that was written in a way that I was able to feel like I was seeing the story play out in my head, scene by scene. Also a perfect combo of mystery & suspense with a dash of a romantic sub plot, which I always thoroughly enjoy. And several “tab worthy” quotes throughout the book. Will be looking forward to checking out more of her books asap!

*thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review!*

Although, I have loved Young's work previously, the middle of this one lagged and felt mellow dramatic. I largely skimmed section until finally the ending picked it back up

First five star of the year and not surprised it's an Adrienne Young book.

I think having the idea that this is going to be around the same level of magical realism as her previous books would be misleading. It’s not about the otherworldly magic, instead this book focuses more about the connection between the siblings, the unsettling feeling surrounding the death of Johnny and the lengths the siblings have gone or will go to protect one another.

Something else I think it’s important to mention, this book also isn’t as romance heavy as her previous book, and I think it’s important for people to be aware before being disappointed (if you’re under the impression it would have the same level of romance as her previous book), if I had to put a number on it, I would say its 15% romance and 85% mystery. But as someone that could be given crumbs of romance, and still treat it like a five-course meal I would say I was satisfied with the level of romance, because the author captures the longing and past history perfectly.

Lastly, I avoid books that have the story jump from the past and present (and back and forth) mostly because I get more interested in one timeline and without fail eagerly await to get back to that storyline. I’m happy to report that that doesn’t happen. In this book we’re alluded to the fact that something happened, causing our FMC to never return, but not really told what happens until later in the book. And I loved this slow reveal because it feels like when we finally know what happened is when the FMC can be honest to what truly happened that night that lead to the events of her going away, it was a way of her acknowledging the past to confront her present



Solid 5 stars



Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine | Delacorte Press for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley!

When her twin brother dies under mysterious circumstances, James takes it upon herself to find out what really happened to Johnny. The more she digs, one mystery becomes two, and anyone in town could be a suspect.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a stand-alone thriller. It does have a sprinkle of magical realism/paranormal but not nearly as much as the author’s previous books. The overall theme is much darker (heavy on the thriller element) than her prior adult books as well.

Adrienne Young absolutely threw the gauntlet down for 2025 releases. I was absolutely consumed by this book and ended up finishing it in a single day. I thought this was going to be a fairly straightforward mystery that I'd be able to work out quickly but I was wrong. This author has some of the most beautiful, poetic-like prose that I have come across. Her descriptions are lush and picturable without info dumping.

If you’re hoping for the slightly witchy, magical realism that this author has produced in the past, this book may not be for you. If you enjoy a good thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end, I highly recommend this book. I hope to see more books in this genre from Adrienne Young in the future.

I found it pretty boring but I think it may strike a cord with the right crowd. The writing flows well and characters are well thought out.

A Haunting and Atmospheric Mystery

Rating: 5/5 stars

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a mesmerizing novel exploring family, love, and loyalty. With rich prose and nuanced magical realism, this suspenseful story follows James as she navigates her twin brother's mysterious death.

Young masterfully weaves secrets, lies, and small-town mysteries, crafting a complex narrative with sweet romance and well-crafted characters. The rural setting adds charm, making this a must-read for fans of mystery, magical realism, and atmospheric fiction.

Recommendation: Perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries with magical realism, complex characters, and rural settings.

Thank you Netgally!!

This book was categorized as a thriller and it was not that. It was definitely mysterious and had an element of thrill. Also it wasn't clear what exactly the "mystery" was until about halfway through the book. Some of the twists were predictable and very expected. Other points seemed to come out of nowhere just to tie up lose ends as the book came to a close. Overall enjoyed the story but was not as described.

In A Sea of Unspoken Things, Adrienne Young has woven a beautifully layered mystery I devoured in just a few days! I initially thought it was fantasy, but it reads more like a thriller with some magical realism elements, very unique and engaging.

The setting of Six Rivers National Forest is fascinating and a little spooky, a place almost completely uninhabited except for a town at its center, where twins James and Johnny grew up. James left 20 years ago to make her life in the city as an artist but is returning a few months after her twin brother was shot and killed in the forest. Young immediately sets the scene with all these hints of past events and their paranormal twin connection, and I was immediately hooked!

As James returns to her hometown and faces the people she left behind, we are drawn into additional mysteries around something that happened right before she left and things that happened just before Johnny’s death. Young skillfully weaves these all together into a single narrative that kept me completely engaged to find out what happened, and how it all related together.

One of the things I appreciated about the story’s mysteries is that the reader is given enough information to follow along and make educated guesses about what happened, instead of these crazy twists that come completely out of left field for shock value. It feels more engaging, like putting together a puzzle. It ended up being a good mix of things that surprised me and things I guessed from foreshadowing, and all in all; it was a very satisfying reading experience.

I highly recommend picking this one up and enjoying the gothic vibes during the cozy season!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending this DRC for review consideration.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5/5 Stars

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

I felt this book started really slowly especially the first half that I struggled to keep reading. The pacing just didn’t have the urgency I was expecting for a story centered on James uncovering the mystery of Johnny’s most recent life and his death.

The psychic twin connection between James and Johnny was the most intriguing aspect, but I wanted a little more of that magic. I kept waiting for that bond and Johnny’s lingering spirit to be a more central in guiding James in unraveling the truth about his death.

That said, Young excels at crafting richly atmospheric settings, and the town of Six Rivers is no exception. It’s moody and secluded and something just feels a little off and that suits the story’s tone perfectly.

All in all, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a good read, but it left me wanting more urgency, more exploration of the twin connection, and more payoff for its mysterious death setup. Adrienne Young is forever an auto buy for me and other fans of her writing will likely love this novel, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for review

It was a beautifully written atmospheric mystery. The pacing was a bit slow, and I felt the romance wasn’t explored enough. But it kept me guessing, and I overall enjoyed it. My first from this author, but definitely not my last.

I will read anything by Adrienne Young. Her books are so hauntingly beautiful. This one definitely did not disappoint. Our female main character, James, returns home after her twin brother, Johnny, is killed in a hunting accident. Once there, James realizes something is off. Was it really a hunting accident? We follow James with her investigation, as well as her twin telepathic connection with Johnny, and she unravels what really happened to him. Beautiful story.

In this story, we follow James who returns home to Six Rivers where she grew up after her twin brother is killed in a hunting accident. James has not been back to Six Rivers in about 20 years so there are people she left behind who don't always have positive feelings about her. James has returned to wrap up a project her brother was working on however in the process she starts to wonder if her brother's death was an accident.

Adrienne Young does a fantastic job of building these atmospheric settings. This story reminded me in some ways of her other book - Spells for Forgetting minus the magic portion - a mysterious death from the past, a person returning to where they grew up, an old flame potentially rekindled.

I enjoyed this book and it moved at a nice pace - there were a couple of twists at the end I was not expecting. If you are a fan of Adrienne Young's other books I think you will enjoy this one.

I've been really enjoying Adrienne Young's work lately! A Sea of Unspoken Things is no exception. I was hooked from the beginning with James's drive back home to a small town in the middle of the woods to pick up the pieces of her twin brother's death.

The drama unfolds at a great pace. We learn things slowly and we put the pieces together as James does. Young does an excellent job at making the reader feel unsettled and on edge. We don't know who to trust, just like James doesn't know who to trust. I wouldn't have called this a thriller when I requested it, but I definitely would after I finished it. More like Spells for Forgetting than The Unmaking of June Farrow.

Overall, this was great. I loved the ending and wouldn't have changed a thing. It's a 5/5 from me! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young, All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I just adore AY’s writing!! The way she sets an atmosphere is like no other. I always feel heartache and pining and haunted while reading her novels and A Sea of Unspoken Things was no exception to that. This book is a story about loss and grief and the unspoken bond between siblings that made me want to hug my own. The only downside is that it felt pretty slow going in until maybe the 1/3 mark and that hindered me from feeling fully immersed for awhile.

STORY
⭐️ 3 of 5

SPICE
🌶️ closed door

RECOMMEND
💳 yes**

“A Sea of Unspoken Things” is outside of what I normally read, but the premise of the book piqued my interest. Admittedly, I softly DNF’d this one around 40% in December because it was extremely slow. I picked it up again to see if I could finish the book this time. The story started to pick up around 70%, and the suspenseful atmosphere became increasingly more interesting as information unfolded, leading up to a resolution.

** I think there is an audience who will enjoy “A Sea of Unspoken Things,” especially with the resolution of the mystery and the HEA. For me, this one leaned towards a miss. I think the first 40% could have benefited from more suspenseful moments.**

If you decide to read this one, happy reading!