Growing up, the only person James Golden could rely on was her twin brother, Johnny. The pair always had a deep connection, almost able to see into each other's very thoughts and feelings, and it's that intuitiveness that alerts James to Johnny's passing before getting the call. With Johnny gone, James is left truly alone, and that feeling grows stronger when she arrives back in their small hometown to straighten out her brother's affairs.

James hasn't been back to Hawthorne since she was a teenager, and every suppressed memory comes racing back to the surface, forcing her to rethink how well she knew Johnny. Once James starts digging into his job and parts of his life hidden from her, she begins to think something about Johnny's death doesn't feel right. James has no choice but to work with Micah, Johnny's best friend and the only man she's ever loved, to uncover what happened to Johnny. James knew her brother was keeping secrets; she'd kept most of them for him over the years, but she'd discover that some secrets should stay buried.

One thing you can always count on from an Adrienne Young book is the atmosphere. She has a way of crafting a story that makes you feel like you're in it with the characters. It felt cold and gloomy and enhanced the heaviness of the plot. Her depiction of familial ties and the lengths we go to for our loved ones was so interesting. I loved James and Johnny's connection; it felt almost spiritual. There were also so many secrets woven throughout, and I was intrigued to find out how everything would play out. I also liked seeing James reconnect with Micah, and I thought the romance between them was subtle and sweet. My issue was with the pacing. It crept by at a snail's pace. That may have been purposeful to increase the tension, but it made me feel bored instead. I got more invested once the action started unfolding, but the middle bit dragged. I'd still recommend this, especially if you enjoyed Spells for Forgetting, since it gives off the same vibe as that book.

I really enjoyed the story itself and the writing was absolutely wonderful. The twists and turns were shocking, the pacing was a bit off for me at first so it took me a little bit to get into it, but once I did I was fully engaged and really invested in the story! I will be reading more from this author!

Adrienne Young has done it again for me. I just love her writing! I am very thankful that I was able to read this when I did. I was having the biggest reading slump and nothing was working and I knew when I received this book it would help get me over that hump. I definitely could relate to the FMC going back to her hometown after being away for so long. In the last year, I have had to do the same by going back to my hometown and facing some difficult areas in my life. This really helped me connect with her and understand what she was going through.

Adrienne Young delivers a haunting and emotional tale in A Sea of Unspoken Things, where grief, love, and mystery intertwine. James Golden returns to the rural town of Six Rivers after the tragic death of her twin brother, Johnny. Their unique, almost psychic bond pulls her into the secrets he left behind, forcing her to confront not only Johnny’s shadowed past but also her own.

The twin connection is beautifully portrayed, with James’s light balancing Johnny’s darkness. Her journey to uncover the truth about his death is both suspenseful and heart-wrenching, as she digs into a web of hidden motives and forgotten loyalties. Her strained yet magnetic reunion with Micah, her first love, adds an emotional depth that complements the mystery.

Young’s vivid writing captures the eerie charm of Six Rivers, building tension with each revelation. Though the story starts at a slow burn, it crescendos into a gripping finale filled with unexpected twists.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a compelling blend of small-town mystery and emotional drama, perfect for fans of atmospheric, character-driven stories.

Adrienne Young has really mastered this genre of adult mysteries with a fantastical element to them. I think I enjoyed this one more than Spells for Forgetting, but less than the Unmaking of June Farrow (which is one of my favorites).

This book is super fast paced and also relatively short, so I flew through it. Towards the end I could not put it down, the mystery really captivated me. This author excels at writing atmospheric books and this one was no exception. There was also a dash of romance of course, which wasn’t the highlight of the book for me, but is still an enjoyable subplot. Would highly recommend and I would definitely read anything Adrienne Young writes!

Super atmospheric like the other books I’ve read of hers. This one gave a little more eerie vibes I think. Definitely a slower pace than I prefer. It took me a while to get into this. I also found a lot of the first half was so repetitive, constantly mentioning how things “didn’t seem right”. I don’t think there was much of anything “magical” about this one. I don’t even know if I could consider this magical realism. The very minimal “magical” parts almost seemed like the character James is just really in her head and imagining things.

It was the last 20% or so that really kept me interested and had all of the twists in the murder mystery within the story. Although there were some surprising things, some were quite predictable. This book overall had an underwhelming plot and that was disappointing. Unfortunately I think this was my least favorite between it and June Farrow and Spells for Forgetting.

I have recently read all of Adrienne Young's adult books and I love her writing style. It sweeps you up and is so atmospheric. This is my favorite read by her so far. I loved the setting and the plot kept me engaged.

This story follows James, a 37 year old woman, who is forced to go back to her hometown of Six Rivers after finding out her twin brother, Johnny, was killed. Through no intention of her own, she is led to discovering more and more clues that indicate her brother’s death might not have been accidental.

There are elements of the supernatural (strange twin bond stuff) mixed in with small town secrets that add to the suspense and intrigue. There’s even a romance sub plot that gave off Rip and Beth vibes from Yellowstone.

What I’ve really come to admire about Adrienne Young’s writing is how she describes the scenes and sets it up so you feel like you’re there. This book takes place in a National Forest and after reading it I really want to travel and go hiking.

While this is a mystery/suspense, it is ultimately about loss, loyalty, and love.
“I wanted to believe that we didn’t just stop with our pulse or our brain waves, and that there was more to all of this than the carbon and water that made up our skin and bones.”

I thoroughly enjoyed this from start to finish. It was fast paced and started strong right from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for offering me this arc!

This one starts with James coming home after 20 years to investigate her twin’s mysterious death. It was a bit slow for me at first, but when it picked up I was entranced. It was dark, moody, mysterious and as is usual with Adrienne Young’s books, there was a touch of magical realism.
There was so much imagery in the writing that it was so easy to picture the setting. It was a very immersive story that had me continually guessing while rooting for Micah and James the entire time. Things didn’t begin to wrap up until the very end and I was on the edge of my seat. The ending was satisfying. It was the perfect moody read.


Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review

a sea of unspoken things | adrienne young

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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“Johnny had always had secrets, I just didn’t want to see them. And now, standing in the aftermath of his life, all I could do was wait for the smoke to clear.”
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The small town she wanted nothing more than to escape, is calling her back.
After a town tragedy in her youth, James left her hometown -and her twin- behind for good. But when Johnny dies suddenly in a hunting accident, she’s drawn home to untangle the events leading up to his death. A paranormal connection with his memories is hinting that not everything happened the way local law enforcement believes.

I know what you’re dying to ask! Does this deliver what we’ve come to know and love in an Adrienne Young story? For me, the answer is yes, and no.

The pacing and storytelling lean more toward that in Spells for Forgetting, and the gritty small drama/suspense is reminiscent of June Farrow. Adrienne’s tell-tale ability to immerse you in the setting is still soaring. That vibrancy in character and imagery, and the twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat!

For me, there was something missing. While it was easy to fly through and I enjoyed every chapter, I did find it the teeniest bit predictable, and the sparkly, bubbly feeling I usually have while reading her novels wasn’t quite as strong.

But don’t get me wrong! You should absolutely, definitely read this book. My Adrienne Young autobuy-fangirl status is still going strong, not to worry!

THINGS TO LOVE:
+ moody small town mystery
+ touch of paranormal
+ woodsy setting
+ twin senses
+ gritty imagery
+ twisty and heart pounding
+ light romance
+ twists, turns, family drama

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“I’d grown up feeling like the trees had eyes, each a tangle of roots like a brain that held memories. I could feel, even now, that they remembered me.”

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{a gigantic thank you to Adrienne Young, Delacorte Press, Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy!! Out 1/7/2025}

I'm a big fan of Adrienne Young, she's become an automatic read author for me. While this wasn't my favorite of her books it still had that special brand of magic where the story is quick and compelling yet deep and emotional. It was cozy and it was moving. At times I found it to move a little slow and descriptions and settings to not to shine they have in some of her other books. It did make sense because we are shown the world through our main character who is battling grief and a bleak outlook on life, but it occasionally it made the book drag a little. Overall I did really enjoy and do recommend!

This book had me from page one! The writing was very engaging and the character development was perfection. I loved reading a mystery that was not a police procedural type of book. I can't wait until this book is published so I can have my book club read it. Overall, this book is excellent and I will recommend it to all my friends.

Thank you for the Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the chance to read this early with an arc! Adrienne Young has some of the most beautiful and atmospheric writing I have ever read. Now through March will be the best times to read this one! It’s so nice to read characters that are flawed. A lot of the time you just hear about how perfect everyone was and this book isn’t that. My only complaint is that the pacing seemed slow at some points through the story, but there was enough mysteries(yes, more than one) to keep me going.

Anticipated Release Date is 01/07/25

WOW!!  What a ride this one was!! This book is easily one of my top 5 reads of the year.  From the first page, I was hooked by the bond between James and Johnny - a connection so intense.  The author captured that twin intuition beautifully, and I could almost feel James' heartbreak as she lost her other half.
The setting of Hawthorne, California, was so eerie and atmospheric.  It felt so dark with all the secrets lurking around every corner.  Each layer of Johnny's life that James uncovered had me questioning him alongside her.  And then Micah?  Talk about complicated!  I loved the tension between him and James, that raw, unresolved history they shared.
This book is slow moving but the immense sense of unease I felt the entire time was so strong.  I felt like I was holding my breath most of the time, always waiting for the next twist.  The mystery was tackled in such a haunting way.  It's one of those stories that sinks its teeth in and doesn't let go.  
Suspenseful! Emotional!  Unforgettable characters!  ALL THE STARS!  Obsessed!

Who knew reading about the ghost of a loved one helping to lead you to their killer would pull at my heart strings as much as it did mine? Because *phew* what a ride this was!

This small-town mystery will have you racing through the pages. While also asking the question, ‘how much do we really know about the people closest to us?’

Adrienne Young you have quickly become an automatic buy for me. I have loved tearing through your pages and devouring each of the stories you write and I cannot wait for the next one!

If you love a small-town setting, with paranormal elements, a mystery with fantastic suspense and twists mixed with romance-this one’s for you!

Adrienne Young’s A Sea Of Unspoken Things will be released January 7th and you’re going to want to grab this one!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an arc of this book. All opinions are my own.

I can’t wait for everyone to read this one. This was a truly magical and atmospheric read about a twin coming home again in more ways than one. Leaving home is never easy, returning is a whole different beast. In the years since she left James and her twin grew farther apart. When she comes to settle his affairs nothing is quite what it seems. I could not put this one down and could not get to the next page fast enough. I really enjoy books that have an element of mystery intrigue and discovery!

Adrienne Young's A Sea of Unspoken Things weaves an irresistibly atmospheric small-town mystery that pulls you in from the first page. With her deft storytelling, Young captures the nuances of complicated family ties, layered with secrets and a hint of the supernatural that adds depth and intrigue. The small-town setting is so richly painted that it feels like a character in its own right, enhancing the mystery and giving the story an almost haunting allure. The blend of suspense, emotional depth, and otherworldly elements creates a tale that is both poignant and thrilling. Absolutely loved this one, and after such an impressive read, Adrienne Young has firmly earned her spot as a must-read, must-buy author for me.

While Adrienne Young’s YA titles remain my favorite, this was an excellent addition to her adult fiction novels! It was moody and atmospheric just like her other adult titles and I was instantly drawn into the story, the characters, their history and trajectories. I’ll admit to being a little less surprised than I had originally hoped (I’m usually easy to trick or surprise in more thrilling stories), but I was still eager to get to the end and find out how all of the pieces worked together. Adrienne Young remains a favorite author and I will always recommend her books!

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a deeply emotional and poignant exploration of loss, connection, and the complexities of identity. The novel follows James Golden, who is struck by the sudden death of her twin brother, Johnny, a loss that cuts deep for reasons far beyond the immediate grief of a sibling's death. The twins shared a bond that transcended ordinary sibling ties, a psychic connection so intense that James feels Johnny's death in her own body—miles away—before the phone call confirms it. This visceral, almost supernatural bond serves as the novel's anchor, pulling readers into a story about the ties that bind us to one another, both in life and in death.
The novel unfolds in layers, weaving between the present and flashbacks of the twins’ shared childhood in Six Rivers, a small town steeped in secrets. James and Johnny were more than siblings—they were protectors of each other’s vulnerabilities. The tragedy that initially pushed James away from Six Rivers—an unspeakable event involving the death of a friend, which she and Johnny, along with their close friend Micah, covered up—remains a dark shadow hanging over their lives. As James returns to Six Rivers following Johnny’s death, the narrative delves deep into this shared history, as well as James’ own personal journey of self-discovery, as she confronts the past she tried to leave behind.
One of the novel's most compelling aspects is its portrayal of the twins' connection—not just in the physical sense, but in a deeper, emotional and psychological way. This bond is explored in haunting, sometimes surreal ways, particularly as James grapples with the truth of what she and Johnny shared, and what that connection meant in the context of their lives. It is a connection that remains even after death, raising questions about fate, memory, and the nature of grief.
The book is rich in symbolism, the act of speaking (and not speaking) as metaphors for the emotions left unsaid, the things that can never fully be expressed, even between those who know each other better than anyone else. The novel is not only a meditation on loss but also on the weight of secrets, and the heavy price of keeping them. As James unravels the truths about Johnny’s death and her own past, readers are taken on a journey of healing, where reconciliation is as much about the self as it is about others.
While A Sea of Unspoken Things is undoubtedly a heart-wrenching read, the conclusion offers a bittersweet but satisfying resolution. There’s a sense of quiet, earned peace by the end, as James comes to terms with the multiple layers of loss in her life, including the part of herself she lost in the process. The ending provides a sense of closure, though the emotional depth of the story leaves a lingering ache long after the last page is turned.

After reading The Unmaking of June Farrow, I jumped at the opportunity to read and review A Sea of Unspoken Things, the latest by Adrienne Young. Though the story is completely different, this new offering by Young has the same hints of magic, mystery, and romance.

James Golden returns home to Six Rivers, CA after her twin brother is killed in an accident. James and her brother Johnny hadn't talked much recently, so when he died, she's left lost, wondering if she ever really knew him at all. Upon returning home, her twin sense tells her something about his death wasn't right, and she sets out to find out what happened as she puts his affairs in order. In doing so, she reconnects with Micah, her childhood love and brother's best friend. As James begins to unravel the secrets Johnny was keeping, new mysteries come to light and old wounds are ripped open.

I really enjoyed this book. It took a little while to get going, but the second half faster-paced. Thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.