Adrienne young writes it, I will read it. Her writing is always atmospheric and descriptive. This was probably my least favorite of hers but still a solid 4 stars.

I wanted to first mention that this is my first read by Adrienne Young, and wow. I am so impressed by her writing skills. The detail in her writing makes you feel like you are in the exact moment in the story as if you are living it. I am rating this 4.5 stars as my history of reading mystery books is limited, I find myself enjoying books more as if you were the mysterious main character of the story which keeps the story intriguing.. As for this story, the series of events of the mystery has already passed and now we are searching for why and unfolding more, making it difficult to keep the story moving for me. I would say this book comes in waves where in the beginning you are being introduced to the characters and then 50% of the way you are getting into the unraveling scenes! I also love how every character mentioned in the story had their own motive and you weren't left with questions like "what happened to this guy?" Not at all. No one was forgotten! I appreciated that. She made sure that the threads threaded together at the end and it was so twisty. I can't wait to read more her books! Thank you!

Getting approved for Adrienne Young’s latest was very exciting as I am a big fan of her books!

I love the magical realism in Young’s previous novels but A Sea of Unspoken Things was less heavy on this aspect. I did enjoy the pieces of it that were intertwined in the story but it wasn’t a big aspect of it.

I found this one a little slow to start but the author does such a good job describing the scenery and laying the groundwork for the story that I still found myself engaged in the book. I love her writing style, I feel fully engrossed and swept away by it. The way she describes the forest is just perfection.

Once the story picked up, I had a hard time putting it down. There were some good twists that I didn’t see coming and I really enjoyed the ending.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

Devoured in a day!

If you're read her other books, you already know what to expect. It does start off a little slow and builds up to this crescendo of questions and answers towards the second half of the book. This book does exactly that as well and of course, there is that magical realism aspect where your'e not really sure what you can trust and whom. She is still very descriptive in her language and dialogue but I personally like that. I still think Spells for Forgetting is my favorite though.

Thank you so much to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this book.

There are a few things I come to expect when reading an Adrienne Young book: an atmospheric small town, a mystery that is threaded with the supernatural, and romance that feels like it spans lifetimes. This book has all three of those in amazing harmony.

James Golden felt it when her brother died. She felt the ache in her chest where the bullet hit before she got the call saying he had been shot in a hunting accident. Now, Johnny’s spirit has stayed with her ever since she returned to the town she left 20 years ago. She feels him in the walls of his home and sees his shape in the town diner, and it feels like he’s trying to tell her something. The facts of his case don’t make sense and as the secrets of Johnny’s life begin to unravel, James begins to question how well she knew her brother, and how well she knows herself.

This book creates such a compelling story with its many layers and possible explanations for events. It really will keep you guessing. The pacing is wonderful and when I started reading I was so encapsulated in the story that I looked up and was almost 50% through the book.

The character dynamics are so intriguing, especially James and Johnny. I love how Adrienne Young is able to convey the relationship between these characters when Johnny isn’t around to provide perspective. She makes their relationship endlessly complex in ways that you wouldn’t consider when thinking about twins and that adds an entirely new level of mystery to the story.

I didn’t mention the romance in the short summary because it sort of takes a seat in the background for this story, which I thought was totally fine. Micah is a very pivotal character for James and he really propels a lot of her choices throughout the story. This book definitely wasn’t as romance heavy as Adrienne Young’s other books, but in a way it made the romance feel more natural. By not drawing attention to these two people having their “second chance romance” it solidified the point that their love had been there all along.

This book was absolutely amazing and I absolutely loved getting this perspective on twins from an author who is a twin. The magical realism balanced well with the story and truly elevated the book to the level of wonder that I felt while reading <i> The Unmaking of June Farrow</i> and <i>Spells for Forgetting</i>.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Review: If you are an Adrienne Young fan, particular of her adult works, I think you will enjoy this. Adrienne Young has a way of creating engrossing atmosphere in a small town setting, with secrets, mystery and elements of magical realism. All of those things I just listed were well done in this book.

In Sea of Unspoken things we have a twin trying to figure out what led up to her older brothers death. I didn't feel that connected or invested in the twin relationship though it was the backbone of the story. I will say, in the authors note Adrienne Young talks about how she has a twin brother and that did add some heart to this story. Overall, I did find the mystery interesting, however by the end of the book I was feeling bored and like we circled around the same things over and over. There were aspects of the mystery that I felt were compelling and helped move the story forward. Because Young writes her stories in small towns, we do follow a few side characters which I enjoyed getting to know and learning how they impacted the story.

My main complaint is that I felt like it was a very slow and at times repetitive story. The ending / resolution of the story made sense but wasn't that exciting (I'm not sure it was supposed to be). This is a very slow burn, character driven story. I do usually love those and while I can't say I LOVED this one I did enjoy it and never considered DNFing it.

Again, if you have read her other adult works and enjoyed them I think you should at least give this a chance.

*3.5 rounded up to 4

4.5 🌟

what a journey this book takes you on! 'the unmaking of june farrow' is one of my favorite books of all time & adrienne young has become an auto-buy author for me. this was one of my most anticipated releases & i am forever grateful i got the arc, cried some happy tears!

from the first chapter, i was immediately immersed in the story and the atmospheric small town. adrienne's writing is so beautiful and haunting and i am obsessed with the way she writes stories. i felt like i was transported to this forest and when i was reading, i didn't want to put it down & when i wasn't reading, i couldn't wait to come back to it. the murder mystery, twin connection, exploration of family and relationships, second chance.. loved it. another fav from one of my favorite authors 🤍

thank you so much random house & netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

This is a really high 4 star for me. It kept me hooked and intrigued the whole time. I really like all the characters. I feel like all of them had so much potential to dive deeper into. I wanted to know everything about all of them. I did guess half of the mystery from about the 60% mark. I did really enjoy this and I have already preordered a physical copy.
I am mostly comparing this book to her others. I wanted a little more magic/ moodiness. Love a kinda creepy/ secret logging town. Still a good mystery to stand on but no high stakes feel to be considered a stereotypical “mystery”. Romance is closed door and classy leading up to it.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for this digital ARC.

I was so excited to get a new book from Adrienne Young. If you haven’t read The Unmaking of June Farrow yet, you should. It was my favorite book last year. Her writing is just so haunting and beautiful. This one is no different. When James twin brother Johnny is killed by a hunter accidentally while doing his research job in the forest, she comes home for the first time in twenty years to gather his notes and photos for the company. She feels him everywhere and thinks maybe he’s trying to tell her something. She confronts secrets and ghosts from the past.. the ones that made her run twenty years ago. Hauntingly beautiful and a story so well told. Definitely 5 stars.

Thanks for the free audiobook @PRHAudio #PRHAudioPartner and to Netgalley, Random House, and the author for the ARC.

“I wasn’t ever actually scared of Johnny. I knew he’d open his own veins before he ever let anything happen to me. But I was scared, I was terrified, of finding out who he really was.”

There is a reason why Adrienne Young is an auto-buy author for me as she never disappoints. I’m not sure if it was the audiobook narration, the writing, the subject matter, or a combination of the three…but I was IN this forest. I was there with James and Johnny. I could smell the embers and pine and feel that crisp fresh woodsy air. Simply put, I was transported.

This book was so atmospheric and weaved the topics of family, home, magical realism, and the bond of twins seamlessly. These characters felt very real and the murder mystery was just an added bonus to the story. It always amazes me how someone can take the same words we all know in the English language and string them together so that you FEEL something when you read them. Adrienne Young is that type of author for me. 10/10 I highly recommend!

Thank you to Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sadly this was one of the bigger disappointments I’ve had this year. I really thought I’d like this because a) I love Young’s writing style, b) I’ve enjoyed her other books, and c) this is getting very good reviews. So I was very surprised when I as bored out of my mind reading this.

It fell so flat for me. I was intrigued by the supernatural connection, but it is not really explored. The twists were predictable and unexciting. The past plot line was not pivotal to the present plot at all and I was confused why it was even in there. The characters were underdeveloped and lackluster. And it all just seemed too easy? Everything as solved and wrapped up with no danger and no urgency.

I will say, as always, I did like her prose. She’s a great writer. I just found this story bland sadly. Maybe her next one will be more of a hit.

2.5/5

Adrienne Young writes atmospheric books like nothing else I’ve read. Her settings and scenery feel alive in such a captivating way. Whatever thoughts or feelings there are about the story being told are fully impacted by the atmosphere her words have the ability to create.

In this book, as soon as James is back in Six Rivers it’s like you can feel the woods and the town pressing in. Her connection with her late twin brother feels like a living, breathing thing. As she faces her past, her memories, her questions about her brother, it all appears guided by something physical and tangible rather than the feeling it is. There’s a mystery to be unraveled and, as the title implies, many things people won’t or believe they can’t say. The unspoken words also linger between James and her first love, Micah, who also knew her brother better than anyone besides herself. There are years worth of history and separation to unpack while trying to answer questions that they may not actually want answers to.

The story drew me in as I tried to follow the breadcrumb trails that were being left in the pages. I did have my own assumptions that proved to be true, but there were other events and surprises revealed along the way. Some felt more anticlimactic than others, yet still in a way that naturally fit into the story being told.

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was instantly hooked by the synopsis of this book, which promised a small town mystery novel. What I enjoyed most about this book was the writing. It was atmospheric and it felt like you were there in the woods in the cabin with James. While the writing was gorgeous, the storyline and pacing fell flat for me. It was a bit of a slower pace and there were parts that dragged on. Also I wish we got more Micah?! He was there but also not and I wished there was more of him. I didn’t feel as connected to the characters, which is why I think it fell short for me. Otherwise, it was definitely interesting and kept me guessing!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!

“You were right you know. That we could fill an ocean with the things we never said.”

I really liked this book for so many reasons! The elements of magic, grief, and mystery and a little romance, created such a unique reading experience. The first 25% of the book moved a little slower, building up some of the mystery and emotional attachment to the characters but quickly picked up pace and I finished the second half in one sitting! Adrienne Young is an auto buy author for me at this point!

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for the ARC!

ARC Review
The Sea of Unspoken Things
By Adrienne Young
Release Date 1.7.2025

Thank you William Morrow for an e-ARC of one my most anticipated 2025 new releases!

Our main character, James Golden, grew up in a small town with a few close friends and her twin brother, Johnny. But the town is limiting when it comes to her dreams and is one of the very few who is able to leave the small town for greener pastures.

Fast forward, James is forced to revisit the town she worked so hard to move on from to investigate the unexpected passing of Johnny. In the process of tackling her own ghosts, James uncovers those of some others in the community.

I cannot say enough about the writing style by this author. It's so rhythmic and beautiful. I would recommend this as a slow and steady read to truly appreciate the atmosphere and character build up.

*Subtle paranormal elements
*Second chance romance
*Small town mystery

Although the author gives us some answers and closure, I was left wanting more. Possibly a secondary POV to fill in some of the gaps.

I’ll start by saying Adrienne Young is phenomenal writer. Her writing style leads to such captivating stories. I adored James and Micah- their messy history, their fierce protectiveness of Johnny even after his death. I felt like I needed more magic in this one. Her connection to Johnny was so intriguing, but I felt like it never really went anywhere. I wanted to feel like I did when I read June Farrow and this just wasn’t all the way there.

Wow. This is such a remarkable and atmospheric novel. I really felt transported to this small town surrounded by these larger than life trees. Adrienne Young has one of the most engaging writing styles ever.

This story follows James as she tries to put together the puzzle that was her late
twin, Johnny’s, last few days. The mystery is so good, a little spooky, and well developed.

I both wish we got more of Johnny and also understand why we wouldn’t.

The ending was good. I’m left wanting more from these characters and this town only because I loved it so much, but the story came to a perfect conclusion. Five stars!

4.5 🌟

Once again an amazing book by Adrienne Young who never disappoints. It was such an atmospheric, dark mysterious book. Her writing is always so impeccable and hits you hard. This book was no exception.

I must say the first 30% were hard to get through for me but then I read the entire thing in one sitting up until 1am. Hits hard as i’ve said. Honestly I was so intrigued by the mystery part of the plot and invested in the romance which makes the perfect mix. The ending did not disappoint, I loved it all.

Adrienna Young is such a talented author and has the amazing ability to seamlessly blend mystery and fantasy into one incredibly atmospheric story. So good!

4.5 stars: I love the way this author writes! This book definitely moved more slowly than a typical mystery/thriller, but I was in the mood to enjoy the storytelling so I didn’t mind. It all came together at the end in a way that I didn’t imagine, so I was hooked until the last page. The magical realism aspect was believable and the setting felt like a secondary character at times. Read when you’re in the mood for an atmospheric mystery, and you won’t mind a slower pace.