I love Adrienne Young’s writing, her prose are beautifully composed. That is still the case with this one! Her atmospheric writing is top tier. There were points of reflection that resonated so well. Interactions between Micah and James that had me on the edge of my seat but everything else fell flat.

The pacing on this was so so slow!! I thought the foreshadowing was done well but there was a complete lack of action. The mystery aspect was well thought out but was dragged out unnecessarily. I could only motivate myself to read 5-15 pages at a time and would lose interest quickly.
I felt like there was so much potential but all of the action took place in the last 20% of the book. I loved how she explored the connection between James and Johnny (twins) given a slightly different interpretation but I felt like it was a bit unresolved.

I think this is a great read for those looking for a low stakes mystery with atmospheric descriptions of the pacific north west with touches of magical realism. Adrienne Young wrote a touching story of navigating the loss of a loved one and the difficulties of returning to a hometown you "ran" from.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC via NetGalley.

🌊✨ A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a spellbinding dive into family secrets, loss, and the power of connection. 🌿
James and Johnny Golden shared a bond that went beyond the ordinary—one so deep that James could feel her brother’s emotions, even from miles away. But when tragedy strikes and Johnny is gone, she’s left to navigate the grief and the unspoken truths of their past.

Settling in the secluded town of Six Rivers, California, James must confront not just the ghosts of their shared history, but also Micah—her first love and the keeper of secrets she’s been avoiding. As she uncovers more about Johnny’s life, James begins to question everything she thought she knew about her brother, the town, and herself.

What I loved most about this book was the way it perfectly blended a heart-pounding mystery with a hint of romance. The twists and turns kept me guessing at every moment, trying to piece together what really happened to Johnny. And as James and Micah’s relationship rekindles, I couldn’t help but root for them to find their way back to each other, even as they both faced the weight of the past.

This story is thrilling and emotional—a rollercoaster of suspense, love, and discovery. If you’re a fan of thrillers with a strong emotional core, layered characters, and a hint of romance, this book is a must-read! Adrienne Young’s writing captivated me, and I’m excited to dive into more of her books in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by @adrienneyoungbooks

I’m HERE for this book! This was such a fun roller coaster of who done it but with a cozy small town feel and past trauma. Ummm I didn’t know that was I vibe I needed but damn I sure loved it and I’m here for it!

“A woman investigates her twin brother’s mysterious death while confronting the ghosts of her own haunted past.”

If you love:
👻Magical Realism
🔫Mystery Thriller
🏡Small town
✌️Second chance
🚪Closed door romance
☠️Past and Present Trauma

I’m also coming back to try the edits - it’ll be a work in progress but lmk what you think!

#aseaofunspokenthings #adrienneyoung #thriller #mystery #magicalrealism #smalltown #secondchance #whodidit #whodoneit #closeddoorromance #trauma #bookreview #bookreviewer #netgalley

Adrienne Young does such a good job of writing an atmospheric book that brings you to the edge of raw emotion then is able to end on a hopeful note without it all feeling forced or cheesy. I’ll always read a book from this author!

This was my first book I read from Adrienne Young and loved it so much. The writing is so lush, the romance, the storytelling - it was incredible. Loved this quote: “Both of us had always been trying to capture moments and keep them. Him with the camera, me with my pen. But in the end, we somehow always saw things differently."

A Sea of Unspoken Things, A Novel, by Adrienne Young. Small town mystery, Old Fling, supernatural elements.

I rated this book 3.5 stars (4 stars).

The story follows James who is investigating her twin brother, Johnny’s, death, while coming to terms with her own past. When going to handle Johnny’s affairs, James encounters the only man she’s ever loved, Micah, and the only person who knows about her past. Will she solve her brothers mystery or will she keep the past hidden.

I have always enjoyed Adrienne’s writing, but I went into this book knowing nothing other than I have read all her other work so why not give it a go. This book is definitely more thriller than fantasy. I also really wished we could have seen more of James and Micah’s relationship develop instead of “oh there is a past, boom, let’s get back together”.

I really do think this is a good book BUT if you wanted it for the fantasy I would not recommend it, I think that her other books are more fantasy and this leans towards “mystery thriller”.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I love Adrienne Young’s writing! The way she sets the scene really pulls you into the story and captivates you. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The small town vibes, the murder mystery, the second chance romance/it’s always been you, dash of paranormal activity, and finally it all coming together in the end was so satisfying Perfect book to snuggle up with by the fire in winter which is exactly what I did!

I liked this book, but I did not LOVE it. I couldn't quite get into the rhythm of it, because I couldn't tell if there was something mystical about it or if this twin connection thing is just something that all twins feel. So it was unclear what the designated emotional impact should be.

Adrienne Brody is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. In her new book, A Sea of Unspoken Things, there is a mysterious death, a homecoming, an old flame, and the speculative fiction that only Young can do so well. This book is more thriller with a side of romance. It’s set it Northern California. The way Young writes these places makes you feel as if you’re actually there. It was beautiful and ominous. I can’t wait to read what she writes next!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A mystery/thriller with romance as a second plot- imo there wasn’t much fantasy to the plot unless I just missed it.
Listened on audio- narration was great! And I still love how atmospheric Adrienne’s writing is!

I still thought it was good, but my favorite is still June Farrow.

“There was something that was almost romantic about the idea—producing work just for the sake of creating it. Not for show or display or even the world’s consideration. Away from opinions or opportunities. It was just … free.”

Love this quote as an artist myself.

This book didn't grab me as much as I wanted it to. It was a mystery, James came back to her hometown to figure out why her twin brother was shot. She didn't think it was an accident as they say. It has the typical come back to hometown storyline where she falls for her childhood love again, etc. Young tried to make it very mysterious but it didn't intrigue me. It wasn't an ending I predicted but overall the book was just slow. Thank you Netgalley for letting me get an early read of the book.

I love Adrienne Young’s writing and had to read this one immediately.

Her writing is beautiful, the atmosphere is top tier, and her settings are immaculate. I always feel as if I’m part of the story.

I was a bit underwhelmed with the actual story. I wanted more magic, more romance. I also could’ve used at least 100 more pages with these characters- to sink even deeper with them!

This wasn’t my favorite by her, but I still very much enjoyed!

Each chapter in this book made me want more and I had to keep reading. I finished this book in 2 days. The mystery in this story kept me guessing the whole time who it could have been and what happened to her twin brother Johnny; as well and the other character Autumn that developed along the way. I was also rooting for her and Micha throughout the story so I was happy with their ending too.

One thing I really like about Adrienne Youngs writing is that she can create these beautiful atmospheric worlds without falling prey to the all vibes and no plot curse.
I always enjoy her moody small town mysteries with a dash of fantasy, but I will say this one has been my least favorite.
It just fell a little flat when it came to the characters.
I still really enjoyed it but compared to her other recent work it just didn't quite stack up.

This is a thriller/ murder mystery that will keep you on your toes guessing. This book takes you on a journey about loss, grief and the path to healing. Overall I really enjoyed this book!

A Sea of Unspoken Things follows James as she returns to her hometown following the mysterious death of her brother Johnny. She rekindles old friendships and realizes her twin may have been keeping more from her than she realized.

This was my first novel by Adrienne and her writing is just so impeccably beautiful. The way she is able to capture scenes with words is amazing. With that being said, I really wanted to give this one five stars but am giving it 3.5 when all is said and done (rounded up to 4). It took me a little longer than I had hoped to get really connected to the story and the characters and felt like the story built a lot before it finally hooked my attention. I did appreciate the twists and turns towards the end. I wasn’t expecting that! Definitely give this a try, it just wasn’t my favorite cup of tea.

I got this as an ARC months ago, and read the first couple chapters, but fell into a reading slump that got away with me, and thus I didn't pick up the book and finish it until recently. I wish I would have read it sooner, but I'm glad I finally did because A Sea of Unspoken Things was amazing. It's more of a thriller in my opinion, and less fantasy or historical than her past books, which surprised me a little. But Adrienne navigates solving a possible murder in a small town, while weaving in themes of family, love, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. Adrienne combined romance, family, identity, along with deadly secrets, lies, and death in a way that's quietly elegant and clever. She has a way of masterfully writing works with so much soul and feeling. And even if the story starts slow, and isn't the flashiest, which I'd describe A Sea of Unspoken Things to be, Adrienne ALWAYS finds a way to grip you and make you feel. Her stories have a soul and make you feel. something This book was dark, and beautiful, and gripping and powerful to me. I loved the parallels between the setting and the characters, which wove into the overall theme. The blurred lines between forest, wilderness, animals, and humans. How maybe we're all one in the same.
I loved James as a main character, and how she navigated finding out what happened to her brother. The relationship between them was complicated and compelling, and honestly the relationships between all of the characters felt similar. Bound and separated by secrets and history.
Definitely recommend. This book kind of snuck up on me, and now I'll be thinking about it for a while.

I feel like I am watching a movie when I read Adrienne Young! This book started slow in the beginning, but I was anxiously waiting to see how the small town mystery would unravel.

Since Adrienne’s books are a mix of just about every genre, it’s hard to pinpoint some of the negatives of this book. The romance plot felt underdeveloped, but if we’re classifying it as a Lit Fic, then that doesn’t really matter. I enjoyed reading it and the ending was well worth the wait. I will continue to read her catalog of books, but this one just might not be my top fav.

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In A Sea of Unspoken Things, James returns to her small hometown after the death of her twin brother, Johnny. There’s a mystery surrounding Johnny’s death, and a large part of the plot is James’s attempt to uncover the truth about her brother and his death, while the reader learns more about her own past.
What I liked -
Johnny’s character was the definition of “haunting the narrative,” a trope I tend to really enjoy and that I think this book did really well. I also really liked the natural and enchanting vibes of the book’s setting - I loved the role of the woods and the commentary on nature. I also thought that Adrienne Young’s writing was strong, and I enjoyed her writing style.
What I didn’t like -
I was left underwhelmed in terms of my connection to characters and interest in the plot. I honestly just didn’t really care about the mystery or events of the book. I wasn’t completely bored because I enjoyed the writing enough, but nothing in the plot really encaptured or interested me. This is definitely a quieter kind of mystery, with the characters the driving force rather than the plot. And I think this could have really worked for me, if I only felt stronger about the characters, but I was unable to strongly connect with any of them. Overall, I enjoyed aspects of this book like the setting and the writing, but it unfortunately fell short for me in terms of plot and characters.