Adrienne Young returns with another atmospheric small town mystery in A Sea of Unspoken Things, and while it was reminiscent of Spells for Forgetting, it lacked the sense of enchantment that came with Spells or my personal favorite, The Unmaking of June Farrow.

Quick Synopsis:
James returns to the small town that raised her and her twin brother following his mysterious death, only to uncover hidden secrets about his life and their shared past. As she reconnects with an old flame and confronts her own unresolved trauma, she is drawn deeper into the truth behind her brother’s demise. With her unique connection to him still lingering, she must decide what truths should come to light and which should stay in the dark.

In typical Young fashion, The Sea of Unspoken Things puts the setting and atmosphere at center stage with the characters and plot orbiting around it, secondary to its immersive presence. The pacing starts a bit slow as the author acclimates you to the setting and story but once that initial work is complete, the pacing is fairly consistent, pulling you along with a steady dose of intrigue The author did interesting character work with Johnny’s character as we are getting to know him primarily through memories and half-truths, leaving us to piece together the clues we are given and ultimately form our own opinions about who he really was.
While the story held my attention, it felt just fine overall. The characters and romance were adequate, and the plot twists surprised me but ultimately felt—just fine. I did feel that the ending left some loose ends unresolved; although these threads were not central to the plot, they could have been easily tied up.
Overall, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a solid choice for a quick, cozy weekend read for those seeking just a smidge of magic in their mystery, but it didn’t feel particularly new, fresh, or exciting. Adrienne Young is still an auto-buy author for me and I look forward to her next project, whatever that may be!
Thank you to Random House Publishing - Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to review A Sea of Unspoken Things as an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Adrienne can do no wrong. Every single one of her novels are phenomenal. This made my heart race and I was just hooked from the start!

I really enjoyed this well-written mystery that has just a dash of magical realism thrown in to make things interesting. Much like Adrienne Young’s previous book, The Unmaking of June Farrow, A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS is written with an achingly beautiful quality that you don’t normally see in mystery stories.

James is returning to the small town where she grew up to find out what really happened when her twin brother, Johnny, died. Things just don’t add up, and when James begins investigating, she realizes her uncanny connection with Johnny is still there, stronger than ever.

The story is simple, but there’s a rich cast of characters and each of them could possibly have something to do with Johnny’s death. The mystery aspect of the story spools out effortlessly, and there’s a bit of a love story here, as well.

Being from Northern California myself, I enjoyed the references to towns and landmarks nearby the fictional town of Six Rivers. Young does an admirable job of capturing the feeling of an isolated small town and how the people who live there often close ranks.

I’d recommend this one to anyone who likes a mystery that keeps them guessing, and is really lovely to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Delacorte Press for an early digital galley of A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS in exchange for my honest feedback.

A Sea of Unbroken Things highlights Adrienne Young’s lyrical, atmospheric writing in a slow burn mystery and magical realism setting. It was dark and twisty and overall an entertaining read.

A sea of unspoken things:
Enchanting. Another stunning and mysterious masterpiece by Adrienne Young.

The backdrop is a town called Six Rivers deep in the heart of a California national Redwood forest. A woman named James is haunted by the recent death of her twin brother. A hunting accident in the woods. But James knows that accidents don’t happen in this forest, everything is intentional and the trees remember. So, led by her gut, after 20 years away, she returns to her hometown to unearth the truth of her brothers death and the events leading up to it with the help of a man from her past.

I loved the artistic elements of the story, especially the owl photography! And James’s grief is suffocating in a way that feels so raw and real. I couldn’t predict any of the twists and turns and that rarely happens for me so it was quite the delight to read. Well done Young!

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. My first book of hers was June Farrow and I also loved it. The story was fast paced and I connected with the characters. I want to read more books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

I have a soft spot for Adrienne Young. Her books are atmospheric and filled with subtle touches of magical realism. Her newest book is a slight departure, as its magic element isn’t at the forefront. It focuses on the relationship between James and her brother Johnny, who has been murdered. The two are twins and have an other-worldly connection. James can feel her brother, especially in times of anger. When she returns home to sort out his home, he lingers in a ghost-like form, leading her to find the answers about his death. I love a good mystery/thriller and this one did not disappoint. I kind of figured out one of the “killers” but had no idea what to expect with the other storyline. Definitely pick this one up when it comes out!

Everything Adrienne Young has produced has been absolutely perfect. A Sea of Unspoken Things is no exception and I love that we’re alive to read what writing she gifts us.

This book was beautifully written and included many interesting topics like mental health, twin-isms, and life in secluded areas. I think this book is, however, my least favorite from this author. This read more like literary fiction than her others, in which there is a more *magical* element. 2.5 stars rounded up!

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in return for my honest review.


Let me start by saying SMOKE is my favorite character! 🐺
I've really enjoyed this author so far, especially because no matter how many times I thought I had the plot figured out, it kept surprising me. While I did predict one twist, the numerous unexpected turns kept me on my toes. Despite reading the ARC on my phone—which isn’t my favorite format—I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. That might be why I’m giving it four stars instead of five. I’m definitely a fan now and can't wait to dive into more of their work!

A Sea of Unspoken Things follows James as she navigates her twin brother's death in their hometown of Six Rivers. James left Six Rivers twenty years ago, and has unfinished business waiting for her; however, she begins to wonder if her brother's death was really an accident so she must push all her feelings aside to find the truth.

I have mixed feelings about this one.... I enjoyed the haunting atmosphere of the woods and the supernatural connection between James and Johnny. The writing had a sad and overwhelming feeling to it and the more James found out about Johnny, the more I empathized for James. Sometimes we try to suppress the not so endearing qualities of those we love.
The crime solving pieces of this book were a little off putting. It just seemed like the blame conveniently fell on two easy targets and one did not really make sense to me. This part of the book also seemed to move fast compared to the beginning...like determining the culprits was not the main focus.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Another wonderful book from Adrienne Young. I absolutely adored this book. Everything i thought I had it figured out she twisted things and made me think again. Was not expecting the ending but so happy it ended on a good note. Can't wait for the next book she puts out.

I was excited to receive an ARC of this book from Netgalley because I liked some of the author’s previous books.

This was a gripping story of a sister’s investigation of her twin brother’s death and an exploration of what she thought she knew about who he was and their relationship. She returns to the small, isolated town they grew up in after his death from her life as an artist in San Francisco, facing curiosity and judgment from residents of her hometown. Naturally she also encounters her first love. It’s not that the scenario or setting are novel, but it was well done and nuanced. My only complaint is that the death of a different character felt clunky and the culprit of that murder was predictable. I was happy to overlook that given the rest of the sorry. 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman returns to a hometown that she fled on order to lay her brother to rest. His mysterious death leaves her unsettled, and she searches for answers

This book is nothing short of a masterpiece. Adrienne Young does not miss. I am left with a massive book hangover and am yet to find my next read after this wonderful read.

The story follows James as she navigates a tumultuous landscape of loss, grief, resilience, and unexpected alliances. Adrienne's ability to portray raw emotion is honestly striking; each character feels so deeply authentic, with their struggles resonating on multiple levels. The way she weaves themes of grief and hope creates a poignant backdrop that elevates the narrative beyond mere adventure.

The pacing is very well-balanced, with moments of high tension and quieter, introspective scenes that allow for character growth and reflection.

What truly sets this novel apart is its exploration of difficult themes such as fate, choice, and the consequences of our actions. Young navigates these topics with such sensitivity and depth, inviting readers to ponder their own journeys while being swept away by the unfolding story.

Adrienne has crafted a breathtaking tale that lingers in the heart and mind long after the last page is turned. It’s a profound exploration of the human experience, filled with adventure, sorrow, and ultimately, redemption. I was so taken aback by this read. I had no idea what to expect, but I am left with a big hole in my heart while I recover from this book. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Random House & Delacorte press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

How well do we truly know the people we love most?

That’s the main theme at play in Young’s newest book. James returns to the small forest town she was raised in after her twin brother is killed to settle his affairs and figure out what happened.

The story that follows is a multi-layer mystery that will keep you guessing until the last chapter. With paranormal and romantic elements and some poignant words on grief, this book sucked me in unexpectedly and I’m so happy to have read it.

“Maybe we were made in the dark, like Johnny said, but we’d found a way to create our own kind of light.”

Following a call that her twin brother was fatally shot in a hunting accident, James returns to Six Rivers after 20 years to look into his death. Uncovering secrets and facing the ghosts of her past in the process.

Adrienne Young does it again! A beautifully written, atmospheric small town mystery about loss, and second chances. The way that Young subtly adds touches of magical realism into her stories always takes my breath away. I was so immersed that I felt like I was right there with James in the cabin or walking around the gorge. The twin dynamic and connection between James and Johnny was so intriguing to me. I could not turn the pages fast enough!

I can’t wait for you all to read this one. 🥹

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

“We could fill an ocean with the things we never said”

After reading The Unmaking of June Farrow earlier this fall, I was desperate to read more of Adrienne Young’s work. A Sea of Unspoken Things follows James Golden as she returns to the small town that she grew up in, in the wake of her twin brother’s death.

Adrienne Young steeped this story in such detailed descriptive language, that I could vividly picture each place in my mind. Her atmospheric writing, shrouded in mystery, gave the experience of being in the story with James as she unravels the truth of what happened.

This small town mystery has elements of twin telepathy meets paranormal, with romantic undertones. 4 solid stars, for this beautiful story about grief, love, and the things the people we know leave unspoken. I would definitely recommend picking up this book when it comes out in January!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Adrienne Young, for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Adrianne has quickly become my go to author to recommend magical realism for customers. Her adult books are phenomenal.

I had really high hopes for this one. I absolutely love all of A. young’s novels. But this one started out quite slow and repetitive. At a smaller sized novel, it did pick up fairly well around halfway through. The story was so entertaining and literally a small town heart throbbing mystery.