Twins, James and Jonny Golden, have always had an unusual connection. When Johnny is killed in a tragic accident James knows he is gone before her phone even rings. Now she finds herself heading back to a town she swore she would never return to and a past she wishes she could forget. With the help of her first love, she begins to put her brother’s affairs in order only to discover Johnny may have had some secrets of his own. James soon realizes that her and Johnnys connection isn’t severed…is it her inability to let him go or is he trying to warn her from the other side.

A Sea of Unspoken Things explores family connections, lost loves, and the many secrets of a small town and its residents. As with many of Young’s novels the story combines past and present events as the full plot is slowly revealed. The novel provides a tense atmospheric setting among a small group of well developed characters. If you are a fan of Young’s work then this novel will not disappoint. There were definitely some twists and turns that kept me guessing right up to the last page.

The Unmaking of June Farrow was one of my favorite books, so I had very high hopes for this new one. Unfortunately, I think I set my expectations a little too high.

It was an intriguing plot, but it became convoluted with too many characters, secrets and storylines. I loved the twin connection, but that’s kind of where the love ended for me.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

2.5, rounded up to 3 stars.

This was my first Adrienne Young book and honestly, I am regretting this being the first from her. I think this book was trying to do too much, and fell extremely flat for me. I get that a murder mystery isn't suppose to be predictable but there was too much twisting and turning for my liking. The potential age gap relationship, the random flashback murder that really didn't fuel the plot the way I thought it was going to (Johnny murdering the owls made more of an impact then the "accidental death").

Also, absolutely lost that .5 rating for the random ass pregnancy at the end. Women don't need to have children, and as the main character was 37, I'm not sure why that was needed when it was never expressed as something she wanted throughout the whole book. James and Micah could have happily been a family with the two of them and smoke and it would have been just as much of a true family without the random baby.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Sea of Unspoken Things
Author: Adrienne Young
Source: NetGalley
Publication Date:  January 7, 2025

It is always good to start the New Year with a 5-star book. The title and photo don’t make sense since this book is set in Northern California, deep in the forest, but I’ll let that go. The story was compelling and tragic. Twins James (a girl) and Johnny (a boy) were raised in this lonely, isolated, and small town by their father, who eventually disappeared and left them to raise each other. It was not a town where many stayed, and those who did were loyal to each other. They had to be. A bullet kills Johnny, a wildlife conservation observer and photographer, and the lethargic police department considers it a hunting accident. However, he was not hunting and was experienced in hunting safety. His sister, James, an artist living in San Francisco, is compelled to return home 8 years after she left because her “twin senses” told her something was wrong. I have a twin brother, and my husband has twin brothers. I can tell you that some have the “gift” and some do not, but twins are unique. This story is about the surviving twin, James, investigating her brother’s murder as she works to make sense of his death. She reunited with her first love, reunited with the people she abandoned, and works on solving a number of the tragic questions surrounding multiple deaths. The story was well-told, atmospheric, and with excellent pacing. The ending was terrific, and I thought the whole book was hard to put down. I enjoy Ms. Young’s books, and this is another great read by her to start the New Year. You will love it. #murder #mountains #death #endangeredSpecies #feralChildren #loss #isolatedlocation #smallTown #insular #tragic #love #twins @netgalley @adrienneyoungbooks #Aseaofunspokenthings @delacortepress
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I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Thank you to the publisher, Netgalley, and the author for the opportunity to read this novel.
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Adrienne Young’s writing is truly captivating. When I pick up one of her books, I know I’m in for gorgeously atmospheric settings, complicated, yet lovable characters, and a touch of magic.
The story of James & Johnny is no exception. The connection between the twins is deeper than what meets the eye, and James knows before her phone even rings that Johnny is gone. Returning to her small northern California town to settle her brother’s affairs, James is forced to reckon with old secrets and come to terms with who her brother really was, and what he was involved in during his final days.
The descriptive settings Adrienne Young is known for are on full display- I could almost see the fog rolling in and hear the crunch of branches underfoot. The author was inspired by her own relationship with her twin brother in this powerful exploration of identity and family, and she has really found her niche in moody suspense with supernatural elements. Both fans of her work, and those that are new to her writing, will undoubtedly enjoy this beautifully eerie small-town mystery.

I don't know if this book has an identity crisis or if I just completely misinterpreted the while thing? Is this a mystery or intellectual fiction, like you-can't-outrun-your-past kind of thing? From the beginning I wasn't connected to the characters and it took so long to get into the story. This was a big miss for me. First book of the year and I had heard good things about this author's previous works I was just left disappointed.

My first Adrienne Young story and definitely not my last.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved every minute of this. A bit slow at first but that's how I feel small town stories are. I love the small town mystery element. I grew up in a very small town so the connections between the characters and the town felt right at home for me.

Having two brothers myself, I loved the bond between James and her twin. Loved the ghost aspect of the story as well.

“I’d never liked the feeling that I couldn’t see into the distance, like the whole world might have ended on the other side of those trees and I wouldn’t know it.”

This book starts out with James returning to her hometown after the death of her twin brother, Johnny. As she ties up the last of his affairs, the connection she has always felt with Johnny gets stronger, almost as if he is trying to tell her something, like maybe his death wasn't an accident after all…

This book was amazing. Adrienne young does such a great job pulling you into the story immediately. I found myself not being able to put this book down. She makes it so easy to connect with any characters she writes. I felt as if I was in James’ mind trying to figure out the puzzle surrounding Johnny's death along side her. The mystery aspect of this book was also so great. I absolutely love when you can't really pin down exactly what happened until it's revealed. Where you feel like you can't trust anyone in the story or feel like you're second guessing everything.

I put off reading this book for awhile since Adrienne young is one of my absolute favorite authors and I knew I wouldn't be able to get over this book easily.

Anyway, another 5 star read for me. This was such a good way to start the year.

Thank you to netgalley, random house publishing-ballantine and delacorte press for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars — I have never read any thing by this author but I can see why she is well-loved! Her writing style was very digestible and was able to keep my attention. I enjoyed reading about James and Johnny’s complicated relationship. Sibling relationships are one of my favorite storylines. My only complaint is I guessed the ending within the first 25% of the book. The author was still able to keep my attention after this! If you are looking to read this author, I would definitely recommend this book. Thanks, Net Galley and Random House for providing me with the ARC for my honest review ❤️

I first became a fan of Adrienne Young after reading Spells For Forgetting then The Unmaking of June Farrow. I devoured these books! When the ARC became available for A Sea of Unspoken Things, I quickly jumped at the chance! Once again, Adrienne Young creates a unique story that centers on the special bond between a twin brother and sister. James returns to her hometown after her brother Johnny is tragically killed. As she investigates the days leading up to his death, past and present secrets collide! While this story took a little more time to grab my attention than her previous two that I have read, James's adventure into her past was a captivating read with unexpected revelations!

First off, I'm so grateful for this arc! I absolutely loved Spells for Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Farrow so I had high hopes for this one.

The way I connected with this story is indescribable. I felt so much while reading. Adrienne Young does an incredible job of giving just the right details for the reader to feel and imagine exactly what the characters are experiencing.
From the start, the heartbreak of losing someone that is truly half of your soul. But, to wonder through everything, if you ever really knew them. My thriller loving self really appreciated the mystery side of this story about James following her gut instinct to dig further to find the truth about what really happened in the forest the night she felt her twin brother Johnny slip away. And Micah... Oohh Micah.
So many twists and true characters revealed in this one. Even her own true character.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House Publishing for- Ballantine for the ARC of this novel.

I loved this book so much. The writing, the atmosphere the characters all were so beautiful and so well written. I cannot stop thinking about this book.

I fell in love with James and Micah. I think their story was so beautiful. Just like her other novels the writing and descriptions in this novel just drew me in right away. I couldn’t put the book down and read the entire thing in 24 hours.

My one complaint was that I didn’t love the twist(s) I didn’t necessarily see them coming but I also just didn’t love how it played out.

But the ending really sold me on the entire book. It just ended so perfectly. I will be recommending this book to everyone I talk to.

4.5/5 stars

Adrienne Young does not disappoint. I have been dying to read this for months and was thrilled to get approved for an early copy. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.

What can I really say about this novel? The prose is beautiful as always. Adrienne Young has a way of weaving words that wrap around your heart. There were twists I never saw coming and that kept me reading every spare second. I fear I am left with quite the book hangover from this wonderful novel.

4.5 stars!
Adrienne Young does it again! I recently read “The Unmaking of June Farrow” and loved it so much. So I knew I had to read her upcoming release and I’m glad that I did. I have a twin myself so when James talked about her connection with her twin brother,
I related a lot to it. I kept trying to figure out the reason for Johnny’s death. Coming up with reasons people would have to hurt him etc. I was fully invested in the story. There was also the mystery of the past and why she chose to leave the town 20 years prior. The book also has a magical feel to it. Like somehow the sleepy, middle of nowhere town was alive. The town reminded me a little of Riverdale. I was not sure how this would end. But I was definitely surprised! I highly suggest picking this up!

Fast Facts:
—Genre: mystery/thriller, fantasy, women’s fiction
—Publication date: January 6, 2025
—My rating: 5/5 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary:
Everyone has heard about the special bond between two twins, but no one could ever understand the full depth of the twin connection that James and her brother Johnny have. So, when Johnny dies in what is deemed as a hunting accident, James can’t ignore the internal pull back to her hometown of Six Rivers, CA to investigate for herself. While James pores through Johnny’s life, she realizes the twin brother she thought she knew isn’t quite the same person as the James who actually excited. As she untangles the circumstances of his death, she finds her own sordid past tightening around her, reopening old wounds even though the new, Johnny-shaped wounds are still fresh.

Review:
I’m typically not a mystery book kind of girl, but this book was so beautifully written and the plot was so compelling, that I absolutely gobbled it up. The characters are raw and flawed, creating a story built around truth rather than fluff. Adrienne Young also knows how to exist right on the edge of magical realism in the best way, as made evident in her book The Unmaking of June Farrow, and this one was no different. This book is likely going to be on people’s end-of-year favorite recaps. It will certainly be on mine.

I’m so grateful for NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this Advance Reader Copy.

Adrienne Young is always one of my favorite reads this proved why. Moody, twisty and full of gray characters that are so true to life, I fell down the rabbit hole that is Six Rivers and didn’t emerge until the last page. Adrienne is a brilliant writer that makes me believe I am in the story with the characters and I didn’t want to leave the PNW.

This is my first time reading one of Adrienne Young’s novels and she has definitely won me over as a fan. Her prose was so lovely to read. While this book was under 300 pages and I could’ve probably flown through it, I had no desire to because I wanted to savor each page. It does take a moment to get into, but once the plot was set I was captivated.

I also thought the pacing was done very well. Adrienne did a great job at dropping just enough crumbs for us readers along the way to keep us invested in the mystery of this story. I loved the magical realism and ghostly touches of James feeling the connection to her dead twin brother while trying to solve the mystery of his death. The foreshadowing was catchable, but it was not in your face which I really appreciated and there were enough twists thrown in to keep you uncertain of the outcome until the end.

I obviously cannot speak to how this book compares to Adrienne Young’s others, but she has certainly made a fan out of me and I will be making my way through her backlist!

This book was hauntingly beautiful. I don’t think there any other way to say it. I honestly ignored my real life and just read this for hours! The story was so captivating without really being a thriller, I loved it! Her writing is just incredible.

ARC ALERTS 🚨 thank you @netgalley @randomhouse @delacortepress for the digital ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

What a beautiful, haunting, tragic story. @adrienneyoungbooks does it again with this charming mix of small town murder mystery vibes, childhood loves, deep soulful connections, all with a side of magic/mystical feels. You can’t help but feel deeply for James and her grief from the tragic and sudden loss of her twin brother Johnny. She’s told it was a hunting accident, but Johnny’s last moments are haunting her through a connection she’s had with him since they were kids. She goes back to her small town after 20 years to comb through Johnny’s life before he died. What she learns about him will rattle who she thought he was, will make her question everything she thought she knew. And through it all, their best friend, Micah, the boy who stole her heart so many years ago, finds a way back to her even and despite all the tragedy.

There is something about Adrienne Young’s writing that just completely absorbs you. I will say, this book ended up being different than I thought it was. But even with that, I was very absorbed in the story and intrigued with the cast of characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of this book.