This was such a sweet book 😭 I feel like that’s a very weird thing to say, because I’d probably describe it to people as a murder mystery. But it was very character driven and cozy and I really loved the feel of it 🩶

This felt a bit different from the other Adrienne Young books I’ve read. It’s not young adult, which is what I’ve read from here. And while Young seems to stick close to magical realism, this has only the tiniest slice of supernatural compared to some of her other books. So I feel like I went into reading not really sure what to expect, but being pleasantly surprised by how much a liked it!

I thought the pacing was absolutely perfect, the first chapter was a little slow, but really framed how the rest of the book would follow (slow and steady). There were even clues sporadically revealed to keep the read interested, but not enough to make guessing the outcome super easy. And I always appreciate not being able to completely guess everything in a mystery!

The romance was very very much a small subplot, but regardless it was really cute and I love them! More importantly, I love the way relationships were explored through James’ experiences. Really gave the book a much deeper meaning, especially knowing the author has her own twin brother 💕

Haunting and beautifully tragic were the words that came to mind after finishing this book. Sea combines small town secrets, grief, love, and heartbreak to create a dark atmospheric mystery that's incredibly moving and unforgettable, all the things I love about Adrienne's storytelling. Her words reach down and touch my very soul, and I'll never be able to truly describe that feeling. So a five star rating will simply have to do.

I knew that this book might be different from Adrienne’s previous books. So I went in with different expectations.
What I got was a beautiful atmospheric book. It was lush and slow much like life in Six Rivers.
If you are looking for a plot driven story, this one might not be for you. But if you are looking for a slow mystery with lots of atmosphere this book is for you. I love a book where the setting also feels like a character and this boon delivers on that.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy for my honest review.

Absolute magic. Adrienne Young delivers perfection yet again. This book is packed full of emotion and beauty. I am completely obsessed with it and could not recommend it enough.

Full review coming on Instagram.

What a beautiful new mystery from the author of The Unmaking of June Farrow which I loved so much last year! Highly recommend for any mystery lover. What a delight this author is!

not really sure how to feel about this one. I love Adrienne’s writing so so much! her amazing ability to create a stunning atmosphere definitely lives in this story. it’s dark, woodsy, and had amazing small town mountain vibes. this 100% is a mystery. a verrrrry slow paced mystery that is tied more into family drama. there is a DASH and i mean a very small dash of romance. the story just felt too slow, the ending rushed, and i really wanted to see more of the characters.

my advice to you is go into this knowing it’s going to be slow, it’s a mystery novel, and to not expect magical realism.

Reading A Sea of Unspoken Things felt like trying to untangle a massive ball of yarn. Each twist and knot was so intricately woven, but somehow, it all made sense as I worked through it. I was completely focused on each moment, and by the time the final thread unraveled, the full story hit me in the best way possible. From the very first chapter, this book had me in its grip.

Adrienne Young’s writing always leaves me feeling unsettled in a way that’s both uncomfortable and addictive. I was emotionally invested before I’d even made it to chapter two. There were moments in this story that left me squirming, but I think that was the point. It’s not a book that lets you stay in your comfort zone.

While a few parts of the story were predictable, it never once felt slow. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down, and even when I thought I knew what was coming, the journey to get there still had me hooked. The ending brought everything together in a way that felt both satisfying and earned, which made all the tension worth it.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you feel deeply, unsettle you, and keep you glued to the page, A Sea of Unspoken Things is one to pick up. Adrienne Young’s storytelling is as raw and haunting as ever, and this one will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for this ARC.

As someone who has now read several of Adrienne Young’s novels, there is a level of atmospheric prowess that I have come to expect when I crack open a new one. A Sea of Unspoken Things exceeded that expectation in spades. The moody, insulated Pacific Northwest setting provides the perfect environment for a mystery entrenched in secrets, grief, and the hauntings of the past.

A woman returns to her hometown after making a grand escape in youth to settle her twin brother’s affairs following a tragic shooting. The town greets her with old secrets, traumas, and the realization that the extraordinary connection she had to her brother — to literally feel what he feels — did not die with him. To figure out what happened to Johnny, James must contend with the reality of who they both were with an honesty she never had before.

This novel was a solid read, but not an all-time favorite. The mystery was juicy. The vibes were immaculate. Some characters sang. Others fell a little short for my literary-leaning taste. Not every twist and turn was for me. I absolutely recommend it if you want to spend a few hours in the rain, in the forest, dealing with the dark secrets of a small town (as someone who grew up in a small town in the Pacific Northwest, it may have had a particular resonance for me).

I have been looking forward to this book ever since I read the synopsis. Twins, James and Johnny Golden, always had a connection. However, it was more than just that - many times James believed she could feel the same things Johnny felt, share the same thoughts and memories he did.

The story takes place after Johnny is tragically killed. James must go and finalize his photography project and somehow collect all the leftover pieces of his life to put to them close.

I loved the supernatural connection that James and Johnny, how it slowing unwrapped all these signs to lead James where she needed to go. As James tries to piece together all the last days of Johnny's life, red flags start to pop up and you just KNOW there are secrets waiting to be unearthed.

The location was beautifully described, the lush green forests, the darkness of the night, all adding to the foreboding story that James is trying to unravel.

Such a GREAT read to start the year off, but perfect for any time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for ARC, all opinions are my own.

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

This book was an experience, let me tell you. It’s very much more so a mystery even though it’s mainly considered a magical realism story, which didn’t bother me in the slightest, but I think it’s worth clarifying. There is a touch of magical realism, but not on the same level as “The Unmaking of June Farrow” which is what I was expecting based on its marketing.

That said, I really enjoyed my time with this novel! There were certainly things I saw coming, but DAMN there were a lot of twists that really threw me for a loop. It’s been a while since I was so sucked into a book that I just wanted to sit down and devour it to know what happens, and that feeling felt so good. I also rarely feel the need to make note of quotes in a book, but there were so many wonderfully written phrases - when my hardcover copy comes I may have to go back and mark some quotes.

One particular twist sits weird with me…but not enough to lower my rating. Honestly anything under 5 stars just didn’t feel right.

I’ll leave you with maybe my favorite quote, which so accurately describes my own experience with grief:

“That was the way of grief, I was realizing. It was a barrage of pain that was so unbearable that it made you numb. And then out of nowhere, something made you feel again and the cycle started over from the beginning.

TW: grief, death of family member, animal bones, unwanted touching

This hauntingly atmospheric read draws you into a world of mystery and shadow. Of running from your past only to be drawn back into it.
The descriptive writing immediately dropped me into their world and had me unsettled throughout the entire book.
James and her connection to her brother drive the story, while Micah has a quiet strength I really loved. He and James have that connection and tension that only a long history can speak to.
I absolutely recommend this if you’re in the mood for an atmospheric mystery with a little romance thrown in!

Thanks to @delacortepress and @netgalley for the #gifted copy of this book.

Summary: Twins, James, and Johnny Golden have always had a special connection that has made James feel what Johnny feels. Despite their years and miles apart, this connection is still so strong, that James knows Johnny is gone before she gets the phone call. Once back in her hometown, James delves into Johnny's possessions and stumbles upon some secrets she never knew about her brother. Not only does James have to weed through Johnny's secrets, but she also comes face to face with her past when Micah comes by to help her sort through the mystery. However, the more they discover, the more James has to determine if they will shed light on these secrets or keep them buried like they always do for Johnny.

My Thoughts: I love Adrienne's writing and the places she creates. The slow-burn mystery in this small town was so perfect to read in front of the fire and get lost in the story. As a mom of twin boys, I loved the twin connection between James and Johnny, because it is fascinating watching my boys and how they sometimes just know something is up or do the same thing. This mystery had me guessing until the very end with twists I didn't see coming. The love story that Adrienne weaved throughout was so fun to watch but also so subtle that the focus was the mysterious happenings in their town. While this was a little more of a dark storyline from her last release, I love the moments that shined through, especially the ending.

Read if you love:
💫Magical Realism
✨Slow Burn Mystery

I wanted so badly to love this book. The Unmaking of June Farrow was one of my top reads of 2024. Then I read Spells for Forgetting and was left wanting. When I received an advance copy, I was so excited. But then I started reading the book. And I was just plain bored. I tried to immerse myself in the characters and read most of the book in one day, switching between the audio and digital copy. But it felt like a chore. This one was sadly a miss for me. The audio version had a narrator with a lulling voice, which added to the story's sleepiness. I wish I had better news for you, readers. I am giving this book three stars because I still love Adrienne Young's writing style. I won't quit you, Adrienne Young.

Quick recap without spoilers:
James Golden leaves San Francisco to head back to her hometown of Six Rivers, California, for the first time in twenty years. Unfortunately, her trip is to close any loose ends in her twin brother, Johnny's life, who was found shot to death. Facing the demons of her past, James dreads running into Micah, her and Johnny's closest friend. The more she digs into Johnny's life, the more she realizes she doesn't know about her twin. James still feels a supernatural connection to her brother and a nagging feeling that his death wasn't an accident.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for the advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

A Sea of Unspoken Things

I can always count on Young to deliver a well-written book with the perfect atmospheric vibes weaving into a small-town mystery with paranormal magic and romance. It’s so beautifully written and descriptive that I could see this small mountain town and the scenes playing out in my mind.

James and her brother Johnny have always shared mysterious connections. After receiving a call that Johnny has died, James is heading back to the small town of Hawthorne, California to uncover the truth about what happened to him. James may learn that there are more secrets to discover and secrets from her past to confront.

I was invested in this story from the start; I thought the pace throughout the book was well done and felt perfect for each stage of the book. The beginning sets the stage for the background, and as the story continues you become deeply invested in knowing what happened and uncovering the truth.

The romance was a subplot to the mystery but provided the right balance. I found myself rooting for this second-chance romance. You can feel the chemistry, longing, and love between James and Micah. I found Micah to be strong, steady, and a constant support for James. The ending was perfect and left me smiling.

If you like small-town mysteries with a touch of paranormal magic, then I think you’ll love this book.


Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Adrienne Young for this digital ARC of A Sea of Unspoken Things. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this book like I loved Spells for Forgetting, but this book just wasn’t it. It took me FOREVER to get through, and I didn’t find myself interested in the plot until about 67%. I never felt connected to James or any of the other characters. The setting was beautiful, as always, but this book was just lacking the magic that I felt in her previous adult novels.

I know there are readers that will love this book, and I’m excited for them to find something that I couldn’t find myself. Overall, I’d give this a 2.5 stars - rounded up to 3 if necessary.

This book was absolutely amazing. I am convinced that Adrienne Young is a genius and can do absolutely no wrong. As always her books are atmospheric, beautiful and captivating. Not only this, but the book itself has such a great mystery to it that keeps you turning the pages to find out what has happened! Her talent for writing magical realism is superb as well as intertwining it with mystery and familial bonds. This book is amazing.

No notes! I love Adrienne Young’s writing. The way she creates an atmosphere is unreal—it’s so vivid you feel like you’re in the story, watching it play out like a movie. This one tugs at your heart while wrapping you up in her signature magical realism, which is so stunningly done I’m still in awe of how well it works. The tension and pacing were perfect, and the flow of the story made it such a fun, immersive read.

I’m at a point now that I’ll read anything Adrienne Young writes. She’s one of those authors that just speaks to me. Her writing style, characters, and stories are always so rich, atmospheric, and well-crafted, and A Sea of Unspoken Things is no exception. Set in a small town with big secrets, the story follows James as she returns following the death of her twin brother. James hasn’t been back in years, and she quickly realizes that it’s impossible to run from her past and her feelings.

This is a mesmerizing read that I quickly found myself engrossed in – no surprise there. This happens every time I read a book by Young. I love the dark and atmospheric setting and tone, and how it sets the mood for the story.

James is such an easy protagonist to root for. Mourning the loss of her brother and trying to find out more about the mysterious events that unfolded before, during, and after his death, James learns secrets on top of secrets as well as their intriguing connections. Her brothers isn’t the only mysterious death in this small town, and each is complex and tragic. It’s so captivating, and there’s more than one twist I definitely didn’t see coming. Neither did James!

While looking into her brothers death, James learns more about herself and her relationship with her twin and her hometown. She hadn’t been back in twenty years, and she left friends and her love behind. Returning and facing the past changes James. It’s interesting – it took losing her brother to really know him and to learn more about herself. It forced her to confront her past, her trauma, her regrets, and her future. I thought she had a fantastic character arc, and her growth over the course of the story was exceptional.

On top of the mysteries and fantastic character development, there’s also a love story that I adored. It’s not the focus of the story, but it’s a hopeful spot in a dark and mysterious time for James, and I was so rooting for her to reconnect with her old love Micah. Oof, he’s wonderful and complements James so well. They have amazing chemistry, and the tension between them is top notch!

I thought this was a brilliant read, and I’m so thankful to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a breathtakingly mysterious and haunting tale that explores the depths of grief, family secrets, and self-discovery. At its heart is James, a young woman determined to uncover the truth behind the death of her twin brother, Johnny. As she delves into the murky waters of her past, she’s forced to confront not only the secrets buried in her small town but also the complexities of her own heart.

Every scene in this story was painted in vivid, cinematic detail. Each page feels alive, steeped in the eerie beauty of the story’s setting, and infused with tension that kept me turning pages late into the night. The unraveling of small-town secrets, paired with the deeply emotional layers of James’s grief and family dynamics, created a powerful narrative pull. The bond between James and Johnny, even in his absence, is beautifully written and equal parts haunting and healing, a thread that ties the entire story together.

What truly captivated me was the unpredictability of the plot. I questioned every character, forming theories about what might have happened, only to be completely blindsided by the outcome. The twists were perfectly timed, keeping the story fresh and immersive until the final page.

Micah and James’s relationship brought an extra layer of emotional depth to the story. Their connection felt raw and authentic, filled with unspoken longing and a deep, mutual understanding. It was the kind of bond that quietly grounded the narrative, offering James a sense of stability amidst the turmoil of her investigation and the whirlwind of her emotions.

Overall, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a memorable novel that stays with you long after the final page. It masterfully weaves together mystery, heartache, and resilience, exploring what it means to uncover the truth and finding yourself.

Quotes that stuck to me:
“Maybe we were in the dark, like Johnny said, but we’d found a way to create our own kind of light.”

“That was enough to make me wonder if in some twisted way, their fates had been tied together.”

“We could filled the fucking ocean with things we never said to each other.”

🌟 4.5/5

I've been a huge Adrienne Young fan since her debut. I absolutely LOVE her writing. Her descriptions are lush and imaginative. A Sea of Unspoken Things is no different.

However, the story is where this one fell short for me. Keep in mind I don't read a lot of Thrillers or Mystery so already the genre is off for me. It started with similar feelings to Spells for Forgetting but had less of a magical vibe which I think killed it for me a little bit. And I hate to say it but this was so predictable.

Unfortunately, the romance didn't have any redeeming qualities either.

I will continue to read her future novels and I can't wait to see what she does next.