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.

Adrienne young’s books are so atmospheric, and this one is no different. I loved it! She is an auto buy author.

Typically I am a huge Adrienne Young fan, her writing is always so beautiful and I love her twisty and atmospheric stories. However, this one was a little harder for me to get into. The beginning felt so slow. The second half of the book picked up and held my interests a lot more, but I think if I didn't read the arc and commit to giving a review, I may have walked away from this one about 30% in. All in all, I am really glad I stuck it out and I will definitely keep reading her works, this one just didn't stand up as one of my favorites!

Adrienne Young is a beautiful writer and story teller. I adored The Unmaking of June Farrow so I was excited to read A Sea of Unspoken Things. To my surprise this was more of a suspense book but still had the beautiful writing.

Adrienne Young's A Sea of Unspoken Things is a haunting exploration of the profound bond between twins, set against the eerie backdrop of Six Rivers, California. The story centers on James Golden, who shares an almost supernatural connection with her twin brother, Johnny—a bond so deep that she can feel his emotions. When Johnny dies in a tragic accident, James senses his departure before receiving the dreaded call, leaving her feeling truly alone for the first time.

Returning to Six Rivers to settle Johnny's affairs, James is compelled to confront their shared past and face Micah, the only other person privy to their secrets and her first love. As she delves deeper into Johnny's life, she discovers that their unique connection hasn't entirely vanished. Immersing herself in his world raises unsettling questions about the brother she thought she knew, revealing that Johnny harbored secrets—and he wasn't the only one. The more James uncovers, the more she feels driven to unravel the events leading up to Johnny's death. Ultimately, she must decide which truths should be brought to light and which are better left buried.

Young masterfully crafts an atmospheric narrative, blending elements of mystery and the supernatural. The portrayal of the twins' connection is both poignant and eerie, drawing readers into the depths of their relationship. The small-town setting of Six Rivers adds to the novel's haunting ambiance, with its secrets and shadows playing a crucial role in the unfolding drama.

In conclusion, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a compelling read that delves into themes of loss, family secrets, and the unbreakable bonds that tie us. Adrienne Young delivers a story that is both emotionally resonant and suspenseful, making it a worthy addition to her repertoire.

I love Adrienne's beautiful, atmospheric writing. This book has small town vibes, murder mystery, romance and more! The world building and imagery she conjures make it so easy to picture these cozy, mysterious towns.. I feel like they really exist! I will continue to read whatever books Adrienne Young writes!

This author is an auto-read for me anytime I see her name and this book did not disappoint. Much like her previous two books in this same genre there is a slight paranormal twang to the story that makes it so unique and magical while being almost completely realistic. This story follow one of a twin group who wants to solve the mystery surrounding the death of the brother. There are so many loops and twists in the story that keep you guessing the whole way through and tied into the book. I couldn't read it fast enough.

After taking a liking to The Unmaking of June Farrow last month, I thought that reading A Sea of Unspoken Things would be a great addition to my reads this month. Ms. Young writes suspense quite well, dropping little tidbits at a time. She really does keep you guessing. I truly couldn't put down this book, and I probably prefer this book over The Unmaking of June Farrow. Well done!

This was overall a great read. Thank you for the advance copy to enjoy!

So good! short and sweet. Very Adrienne Young kind of book. Loved the mystery loved the small supernatural/paranormal aspect. Coming back to small home town to solve a mystery, a Woman named James and a kind of twin ability to feel the other's pain/feelings. That's enough-Im in!

This book has everything - slow burn vibes, mystery, love stories, unpredictable twists! This isn’t a typical book I gravitate towards but The Unmaking of June Farrow was such an unexpected surprise that I was excited to have to opportunity to read this book before it was published! June Farrow is still my favorite from Adrienne but this was a fun ride! Perfect if you love slow burn romances, family secrets, and unpredictable twists with a moody atmosphere.

Young covers a story about the bond between twins. James and Johnny Golden are the two siblings who have always had a psychic connection, even when separated by miles. James is not at all surprised when she learns of the death of her brother Johnny. She sensed the tragedy before word of his death was delivered. Now she must return to their childhood home to sort things out. It’s been years since she was home and now one of the best sources of information on her brother is the one person she is uncomfortable meeting again. Micah was the twins’ best friend growing up and also, James’ first love.

Finding out what Johnny was doing when he died is a complicated question. He was shot in the woods but because of his history, James wonders if it was simply an accident or something more nefarious. James and Micah had always covered for the wild, exuberant brother and friend who was often in trouble. In fact, James left when she realized she could no longer be the backup/coverup for her twin. Her leaving town left Micah alone and abandoned and the only one who would pull Johnny out of trouble.

There are a number of things to investigate in digging into Johnny’s life. He was a photographer who was commissioned to photograph a species of owls and he was mentor to a young student. Was there something inappropriate going on or did someone have a reason to want to kill him? As James and Micha dig into the actions and circumstances surrounding Johnny’s death, they learn more unsettling truths.

The locals in the small California logging town are an interesting mix. They add dimension but also add to the mystery. The old attraction between James and Micah still sizzles and sparks. What seems to be missing is the humanity of the dead twin. He is somewhat one dimensional and I was left wishing to learn more about him.

There was a lot of potential to the plot, but for me the execution was not as strong as some of Young’s other novels.

As someone who's home is in the forests of Northern California, Young did a brilliant job capturing the beautiful and haunting atmosphere of a small forest town. This book follows the unraveling of a mystery, as the characters and towns history is revealed along the way. There is also romance woven in to this story, and I could feel the draw between the characters from their first interaction. While this book did not have the fantastical element that The Unmaking of June Farrow did, Adrienne Young's writing was just as compelling!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young!

This book hit me right in the feels. It’s beautifully written, super emotional, and full of that bittersweet kind of heartbreak that sticks with you. The characters felt real, and the writing was so poetic, but some parts dragged a little. Still, I really enjoyed it and would totally recommend it to anyone who loves deep, introspective reads.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a deeply evocative novel that resonates with anyone who has navigated complicated relationships and the ache of loss. Set against the backdrop of a hauntingly atmospheric natural world, it is a novel about a woman struggling to discover what befell her twin who died suddenly and violently, while assisting in parceling the evidence an environmental study of which he was the principal and passionate investigator for submission.

The novel explores themes of healing, forgiveness, and the weight of silence between loved ones. While it may not be Adrienne Young's best work A Sea of Unspoken Things still offers a heartfelt exploration of the ways loss shapes the connections we have with those we love.

Unfortunately, I did not get to reading this as an ARC due to the holidays and flu and work. But I do look forward to reading this as a finished book.

I was so excited to receive approval for this ARC as I had been admiring Adrienne Young's books from afar for some time. I had heard nothing but good things about the World of Narrows series and The Unmaking of June Farrow, and this book did not disappoint.

This story had so many elements to it- thrilling, haunting, exciting, mysterious, romantic, and most of all beautiful.

The way the author was able to bring such detail to the small town of Hawthorne, CA was phenomenal. The scene she set was one I wanted to be a part of, and I found myself entranced by every detail of the little town hidden within the ominous forest. This book also explores the idea of twin telepathy which I found quite intriguing. The supernatural elements brought from both the environment and the familial connection between the FMC, James Golden, and her recently deceased brother Johnny were gripping within the first chapter.

As much as I love thrillers and mysteries I tend to find most of them predictable, but this one had me guessing until the end. The characters we meet in Hawthorne are tied into the story so brilliantly that you never suspect the outcome.

I also greatly enjoyed the romantic ride we got from James and her childhood friend/boyfriend Micah. The tension and trauma shared between the two of them is exactly what this book needed, and the author did a fantastic job of bringing it all together for us in the end.

This book was an easy 4.25 stars, and I cannot wait to read more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

James and Johnny were always incredibly close. When Johnny was killed, James knew it. But she can't shake the feeling that there's more about her brother's death that she needs to uncover and solve. Having to repair some burnt bridges from when she left town for college and never returned, she needs to turn the insolated small town back in her favor in order to help her solve the mystery of her brother's death, including her former love and brother's best friend, Micah. This was a wild ride. I expect that there is usually a twist I didn't expect in Adrienne Young books but I felt like the entire book was an unexpected twist. It was like a huge ball of tangled yarn being unraveled and just when you think you're close to having it unwound, there's another tangle to unwind.

#arc
#netgalley
#aseaofunspokenthings

the magic realism was so good in this! I enjoyed the different aspects of this book and so glad I gave this author another chance!

Adrienne Young is an instant request/read/buy/beg/borrow/steal for me and this outing did not disappoint.

James and Johnny Golden have always had a connection that went deeper than being twins, and when Johnny is killed in what appears to be a hunting accident the only place James can go is home. Home being Six Rivers, a bucolic town nestled deep in the forests of northern California. James escaped from the small town life of Six Rivers after she graduated high school to pursue an art degree and career in San Francisco and never truly looked back. Now that her brother, her one tie back to the town, is gone she has little choice but to return to the sight of so many heartbreaks and tragedy - both past and present - to settle his affairs and try to make sense of her loss.

Johnny, a photographer, was working on a research project for endangered owls at the time of his death. While his death has been ruled a tragic accident, James isn't convinced. She knows her brother, and their connection has never betrayed her before. As she works through Johnny's affairs, she reconnects with people from her past (including high school flame, Micah) and discovers there may be more to Johnny's death than she (or anyone) knew.


As stated, I have loved all of Adrienne Young's books - adult and young adult works alike. Her adult novels all have similar "feels" to them. They're atmospheric as hell, and far slower paced than say Fable or Saint. This outing was different than both The Unmaking of June Farrow and Spells for Forgetting in that it didn't tackle magical realism (though, the. connection to Johnny is a bit mystical at times) which, as evidenced from other reviews, was surprising. Surprising, but not unwelcome AT ALL. This is also a much slower burn than June Farrow or Spells, in that it takes a good 45-50% of the book to really get moving - but once it does it doesn't slow down. I loved the character of James so much. She was flawed and damaged but still, ultimately, trying to do right by her brother and honor his memory while not sacrificing herself in the process. The rest of the town felt real - almost like you could reach out and touch it, or drive through the northern California wilderness and find yourself at the Six Rivers Diner being served by Sadie.

IF I was going to nitpick, I could have done without the final chapter/epilogue. It tied things up nicely, but perhaps almost TOO nicely given the tone of the rest of the book. Again - that's me having to actively look for something I didn't like.

Adrienne Young, you'll always be an auto-read in my book :)