Adrienne Young does a wonderful job writing an atmosphere that you feel enveloped in making it easy to be invested in her stories, although, with A Sea of Unspoken Things I had a harder time diving into the story than previous works I've read. This was slower paced for the first half of the book and had many similarities to Spells for Forgetting that it felt too familiar for me after just finishing that book. The second half of the book picks up the pace though and more of the mystery truly starts to unfold allowing for exploration of grief and how those who are left behind attempt to come to terms with their loss as well as a second chance at love. While I did still enjoy this, of the three books I've read by Adrienne Young this is my least favorite.

Content:
- Ch. 12 fade to black intimacy
- Language: low
- 3.5/5 stars

Adrienne Young has delivered another solid, atmospheric novel. Although I am not usually a mystery reader, Adrienne’s combination of magical realism and fantasy captivate me. The fast-paced reveals in the second half of the book were exciting and gripped me. I felt like as soon as I had my own working theory, we got more information that twisted up that idea. Outside of the more official twin telepathy, there was no magical elements in this book. I personally was yearning for more magic and even more, magic that contributed to the plot. This magic almost could have been written off as hallucinations and conjurings in James’ head rather than actual magic. As always, the writing, characters, and pacing were great. I’d truly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for an atmospheric, mystery but would caution anyone that the fantasy aspect is minimal.

A small town mystery that's giving Practical Magic. Worth a read for any fans of Alice Hoffman - it's a slow burn but well worth the build.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was my first book by Adrienne Young and I was not disappointed in the slightest. I think the slower pace was perfect for this book and the storyline. The mysteries and twists kept me reading till the end. I love a suspenseful and book full of twists. The storyline was interesting yet very intriguing when it came to James and Johnny. Young's writing is unique and provides what the reader is looking for. I am excited to pick up more from her as I truly have been captivated by his writing.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a haunting tale of the things we do for those we love and the bonds that can't be severed, even by death. The story has an otherwordly feel with touches of the supernatural, and it was the perfect read for the last days of fall.

Once again, Adrienne Young's lyrical writing created a vivid setting, pulled me into her world, and took me on an unforgettable journey. The story was compelling, but the standout elements of this book were the melancholic mood and eerie atmosphere. The first half unfolds at a leisurely pace, but the vibe of this story had me captivated to such a degree that I didn't mind the slower pace. I just wanted to soak up all the dark, moody vibes and spend more time in the misty forests and backroads of Six Rivers.

Adrienne Young remains one of the most immersive authors I've ever read. I felt the atmosphere, experienced the emotions, invested in the characters, and lived the story. Another favorite book from a favorite author!

I received this book as an ARC via NetGalley.

This book follows James who comes back to her hometown to take care of the loss of her twin brother, Johnny. In doing so, she finds herself ensnared in trying to solve the mystery surround his death and the disappearance of a young girl.

I really enjoyed this book. It was captivating and well written. Adrienne Young is my "I'll buy it if she writes it" author and time and time again she has proven to me why. This book is no exception. If you want a story that is going to pull you in and get you invested from the moment you turn the first page, please pick this up. I loved the mystery, the romance, the journey we went on with James while dealing with her grief. Small town drama and more than one moment of, "You're absolutely kidding me, right?!" My honest opinion on this book is that it's worth the read, it's one hell of a journey and I am 100% here for it.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley, & Adrienne Young for the ARC of A Sea of Unspoken Things.

I am a HUGE fan of Adrienne Young & this book is another hit. I read this book in one sitting and I’m already ready to read another book by Adrienne! Also, the book covers are always so dreamy.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is an small town mystery that started off with a slower burn, but picked up the pacing towards the end. This book had lots of family drama and an atmospheric setting and unique that I really enjoyed. The twists were unexpected, and worked really well in this story. The only trouble I had was the pacing in the beginning was a little slower and I wasn't as engaged as I would have liked to have been. The ending really made up for that, though.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review. I really enjoyed this book.

Adrienne Young is a master of atmosphere. Set in a small town not unlike the ones that dot my adopted home of WA outside Seattle city limits, reading this felt like curling up next to a fireplace in a cozy cabin and warmed my heart.

James has returned to her hometown of Six Rivers following the sudden death of her twin brother, Johnny. Thrust back into the world she left behind to chase her dream of being a painter in San Francisco, she returns to the cabin where she grew up to go through her brother's things.

She learns that Johnny died alone under potentially mysterious circumstances. Though the local National Forest Ranger initially assumes that Johnny caught a hunter's stray bullet while out photographing for a conservation project, the more James digs into what her brother was doing, the murkier everything becomes.

Young expertly wove elements of fantasy and second chance romance into this slow burn mystery and musing on grief, family, protection and connection. Categorizing A Sea of Unspoken Things as any single genre is difficult, but I think that is what made it such a delight to read. It's just wholly itself.

I'm actually quite sad that my experience reading this book is over, but looking forward to reading more of Young's back catalogue and so grateful for the opportunity to read this early. Thank you so much to Adrienne Young and Delacorte Press for the e-ARC!

The start of this book was a bit slow, and there were a few parts that felt repetitive, but once it picked up, I couldn't put it down. The story had me hooked, and I did not see that plot twist coming! This book delivered exactly what I hoped for from this author, and they did a fantastic job bringing the story to life. If you're into small-town mysteries, I definitely recommend giving this one a read!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Adrienne did it again! Another great book! I didn’t think this one could top June Farrow but this is a good runner up. The plot twist at the end was not what I thought how she would play it off but two different story lines blinded perfectly. I loved the complexity of the main characters and their twin relationship worked. Great book!

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Overall I enjoyed this book. Adrienne Young does a great job of putting the reader into the setting: a small town with secrets to uncover. This was a beautifully written and descriptive novel. I was also intrigued regarding the twin aspect between James and Johnny that the author gives. Although at the heart of this story are questions regarding the death of Johnny, James is confronted with the consequences of her own actions and decisions. Even though this book is slow-paced and did not start to pick up until roughly 40% into the story, it had a strong ending that I did not guess. This would make a great winter read.

James Golden returns to her small town in the middle of the Northern California forests after her twin brother, Johnny, is killed. James and Johnny were always close, but now that James is back her "twin-tuition" is even stronger. She can feel Johnny's presence everywhere, and sometimes it's as if she can hear him and see his shadow just around the corner. It's like he's trying to tell her something, and James is determined to figure out exactly what that is. She enlists the help of their childhood friend and only love Micah to help uncover the past, something they both would rather leave untouched.

Adrienne Young is a master of genre blending and this was no exception. Young's mix of mystery, family drama, supernatural elements, and romance were perfect in A Sea of Unspoken Things. The small town feel and atmospheric writing had me seeing, feeling, and almost smelling everything that was described.
The pacing in the beginning is slow, but that helps build on the characters stories and relationships, both past and present, as well as setting up a clear picture of Six Rivers, the forests, and the gorge. And once the threads of Johnny's life and death start to unravel, they keep unraveling until the very end. Young has once again written a masterful piece of art.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine, and Delacorte Press for this complementary ARC. All opinions are my own.*

James is returning to her hometown, for the first time since she left for art school, due to the devastating news of her twin brother, Johnny's, death. James has a suspicion that the circumstances around Johnny's death are not as innocent as they seem. And when she begins to go through his belongings, she becomes more and more convinced that things leading up to that fateful day were not as they seemed.

I have mixed feelings about this read and had high hopes based on how much I enjoyed The Unmaking of June Farrow. The pace dragged for me, which I can forgive slightly because the author does such a great job of creating a vivid atmosphere. I also wasn't a fan of this approach to magical realism, based on a psychological twin connection. It just wasn't for me and lacked the fantasy element that I was anticipating. Overall, the writing was beautiful and the story had some interesting and dark underpinnings, but I lacked the enthusiasm to reach the plot's conclusion. If I could, I would round up to a 3.5 out of 5.

Artist James Golden investigates the mysterious death of her photographer twin brother while connecting with her own haunted past. Was his death an accident? Should all truths come to light, or should some remain buried?

This book was headed for five stars because Adrienne Young is such a great atmospheric writer. It's more character-driven than plot-driven, and while some readers may love that and rate it higher, it wasn’t the page-turner I hoped for. Still, the writing is excellent.

The title is also puzzling; like others have noted, the story focuses mostly on the forest, with the sea mentioned once. I’d love more insight into the title choice and why it wasn’t named something like “The Forest of Unspoken Things.”

Themes of small-town life, the-one-that-got-away romance, magical realism, grief, mysterious death.

TW: I think there were two mentions of self-harm, though they’re subtle and may be open to interpretation.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House Ballantine for an advanced reader copy of #TheSeaOfUnspokenThings. To be published Jan. 7, 2025.

A Sea of Unspoken Things was a mystery, suspense. James who is the fraternaltwin to Johnny. She has to come home to a place she doesn’t want to think about. She must face the loss of her brother and his mysterious death. She will also have to face this secretive small town and confront the ghosts of her past.
This was my favorite novel of Adrienne Young yet. She’s really done a good job here. I like the mystery and it kept me guessing and I found the ending very satisfying.
I definitely recommend it.
Thanks Random House Publishing via NetGalley.

Thank you for allowing me to read this early.
It was a bit slow to start with, but once it picked up I was hooked.
I loved all the twists and I read it all quite quickly.
This was really well written and I would definitely recommend to others.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the digital ARC copy. Rounding up to 3.5⭐️

I enjoyed this small town mystery even though some parts were slow. The writing of the relationship of the siblings was great and showed the love between them.

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A review by you!
A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5

Adrienne Young has such a beautiful writing style, her imagery is masterful. She can take a sad or tragic story and somehow make it beautiful. The mystery surrounding Johnny's death is the main focus of the story, but there is also the beautiful second chance relationship between James and Micah that is seamlessly woven into the pages as well. It is a story of tragedy, loss, grief, forgiveness and redemption. I found myself so wrapped up in the characters and the way the past and present came together that I couldn't put it down. If you are a fan of The Unmaking Of June Farrow, Namesake or Spells Of Forgetting add this to your must read for January 2025.

Favorite quotes:
"Maybe we were made in the dark, but we'd found a way to create our own kind of light."

"He was the forest. Vastly unknowable and enduringly steady. A persistent force at the center of my world."

4 stars! 🌊🔍🦉

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

In “A Sea Of Unspoken Things” we follow the FMC of James. She is returning back home, after getting the news about her twin brother’s sudden death. She has always had a strong connection with her twin Johnny and has always been able to feel and sense whatever he is experiencing. They have always had one another's back, and the tragic loss of her brother has her questioning - was Johnny’s death really an accident? Upon returning to the cabin where she grew up, in her small town of Cali, she begins to notice clues that feel “off.” With the help of some old friends and townsfolk, can James discover the truth? What dark things will she uncover about Johnny in this journey?

This book is SO atmospheric. I love the deep-forest vibes, and the fact that our characters are always surrounded by nature. Growing up in a small town, I can relate to the closeness that James still feels with those people she grew up with.

I really enjoyed how often owls were mentioned throughout the book - I was having the best time reading about the CAS project and how the owls were being researched. They really got the justice they deserved with this book.

James and Micah’s relationship reminded me of “the one that got away.” Two people who were meant to be yet had different things happening within their lives that ripped them apart.

James and Johnny’s relationship is close-as-can-be. I really admire that James realizes her brother is nowhere near perfect, yet she loves and protects him regardless.

This was more of a fiction // mystery so if you enjoy that, give this a try! ❤️