A little bit dark, definitely atmospheric, intricately plotted with a smidge of magical realism, this one was a slow burn for me. I struggled right off the bat with the main female character's name, James. Although the reasoning for her name was explained, I still think it made reading the book unnecessarily complicated. Some of the characters were not as well-developed as I would have liked. That being said, the setting was perfectly described, and I felt like I was right there with James as she uncovered each clue to the mystery. I enjoyed the story and the unraveling of all the secrets, including a last-minute reveal that I feel like I should have seen coming, but didn't.

This is a very generous 3 stars.

I had high expectations and hopes for this book. I love Adrienne Young. It’s one of the first things all my bookish friends know about me and I was expecting a beautiful setting, gorgeous prose, and eerie (but not too scary) magical realism and this book just never delivered.

First of all this book was so incredibly slow. I need someone to explain why things didn’t pick up until the SEVENTY PERCENT MARK??!! To me that’s crazy and if this wasn’t an arc written by Adrienne Young I would have dnf’d ages ago.

I like the chemistry between James and Micah, but the ghost of Johnny choked the story. It felt like absolutely nothing was happening for so long and yet all we heard about was Johnny this and Johnny that.

Also, I was promised magical realism and that sort of didn’t happen. There’s a touch of it, but Young never really does anything useful with these seeds that she plants.

This just felt like a poorly paced mystery and sadly a waste of my time. I’m going to go cry about how badly I was disappointed by this book now.

Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

A woman who left her past behind in her hometown, finds herself back after her twin brother was killed in what seems to have been an accident. The more she uncovers events leading up to his death, the more she is concerned that he might have been murdered.

This was one I didn’t want to put down and really wanted to find out what was happening!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a haunting and bittersweet tale of a sister returning to a childhood home to find out more about her brother's death. You had a bit of supernatural with James being able to feel and see her brother with their special twin connection but the rest was realistic though the atmosphere was nicely creepy with the trees and gorge and area where it mostly takes place. It did a good job of playing on my emotions because not only is it Johnny's death but also coming back to old friends, former loves, and the tragedy that caused James to flee all those years ago. So, it did get a bit twisty and kept me reading to find out the truth. The truth about Johnny and his death, but also who he really was and what he kept from his sister and vice versa.

This was a good, emotional read, and easy to keep going till you get to the end. Definitely some surprises and a good ending (though a bit sad).

Adrienne Young seems to be a hit or miss author for me but I always put her new releases on my TBR because she’s a master at setting a dark atmosphere.

A Sea of Unspoken Things left a little to be desired for me with its slow starting pace and lack of depth for the main character, but it had excellent atmosphere like I expected so I did finish it despite not being the most engaging plot for me.

Atmospheric and engaging. The defining incident that was not fully explained until maybe two thirds into the book was perphaps mentioned a few times too many in the beginning and slowed it down a little. But the story still pulled me in. I am a visual reader who paints the scenes as I read and Adrienne Young's writing made doing so so easy. The setting, the location, and the actions are vivid and flowed. Would be recommending the book to others.

thank you for an advance copy of this book by an author I have enjoyed in the past. This book tells the story of James and her journey has many twists and turns that definitely kept me interested. The first half of the book was a little slow, but the writing is so good I stayed engaged to see where the story would go. The character of James was interesting but needed more growth I felt, especially with the relationship with Micah. I felt there was more there to be explored. But overall this was an interesting well written journey that had a satisfying ending. 3.5 stars.

Yet another winner from Adrienne Young! I adored this so much. Adrienne Young does magical realism so well. This was twisty, suspenseful in just the best way, and an amazing read. It was so atmospheric and was perfect for reading in the midst of snowy winter weather.

Adrienne Young’s writing does not miss! I loved her previous novels, and while I did not enjoy this one as much as her previous I still enjoyed her writing and the story. Had a bit of a slow start, but the romance got me good.

3.5/5

I’ve heard so many phenomenal things about this author and was excited to get an early arc.

I was really wanting to enjoy this one. Unfortunately, this was very very slow. It was hard for me to stay connected to the story.

I also don’t read many magical realism books so this was different for me. It was just pretty slow for mw and I wasn’t invested.

3/5 stars

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a haunting and beautifully layered story about grief, love, and the secrets that bind us to our past. James, a woman deeply connected to her twin brother Johnny, feels an inexplicable pull back to her hometown of Hawthorne, California, after his sudden death. What seems like a tragic accident begins to unravel into a web of mystery as James digs into her brother’s life, uncovering secrets she never imagined.

Adrienne Young masterfully balances the eerie atmosphere of the secluded mountains with the raw, emotional journey of her protagonist. James’s grief is palpable, her twin connection almost tangible, and the slow unraveling of the truth keeps you hooked. The narrative is both heart-wrenching and uplifting, exploring themes of vulnerability, forgiveness, and breaking free from cycles of pain.

Young’s writing brings the natural setting to life in a way that immerses you completely—you can almost hear the whisper of the trees and the rush of water through the gorge. Her characters feel achingly real, especially James, who navigates loss, unresolved love with her first partner Micah, and a town full of whispers and suspicions. The romance, while subtle, adds a glimmer of hope to an otherwise heavy tale.

This isn’t a fast-paced thriller but a slow-burn mystery that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. The story builds with an emotional intensity that had me in tears by the end. It’s thought-provoking, eerie, and deeply moving—a testament to the power of connection and healing.

Adrienne Young has delivered her best work yet. A Sea of Unspoken Things is a story that will linger with me for a long time, and I can't recommend it enough.

4.5 stars to this wonderful, beautiful new release by Adrienne Young. One thing is for sure, Young knows how to draw you in, flesh out characters and create a moving atmosphere. She makes you care about the characters she has created. In A Sea of Unspoken Things, we are immersed in the life of James Golden. James has recently lost her twin brother and feels there is more to how he died that what she is being told. Their relationship was strained but they are twins - they were connected on a level most people would never understand. James decides to stick around Hawthorne to figure out what happened in Johnny's final days and to see if she can unravel what really happened to him.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young follows James Golden, who is forced to confront a past that’s haunted her when she returns home to investigate the mysterious death of her equally mysterious twin brother, Johnny.

Young is very clearly a talented writer, and she’s particularly skilled in her ability to transport the reader — her writing is extremely atmospheric. The premise successfully captured my attention, and her characters have depth and intrigue. I appreciate how Young’s characters have dimension and capture how people aren’t solely good or solely bad. It’s more interesting and far more relatable as well. It’s definitely more of a character driven story vs plot, but I still found it engaging and entertaining.

My biggest critique would be that because it’s a more standard mystery set in the real world without any fantasy elements which Young usually has in her writing, it’s bound to certain expectations of reality and I felt like there was a notable lack of credibility regarding the underlying investigation portrayed. It’s definitely a plot hole or overexertion of suspension of belief — police work needs to be portrayed realistically or else I catch myself rolling my eyes or questioning entire plot lines.

The quality of the writing is there, the characters were complex and interesting, but I wish it were a little more realistic at times. These are critiques I had in hindsight, but I did absolutely enjoy the book while reading it, it’s just not a new favorite.

3 stars, but actually 2.5.

If this book were a roller coaster, here's how I would describe it. It would start off with a sudden upward hill, leading you to believe you're in for the ride of your life. However, the hill ends by flattening out and taking you on a smooth, lazily winding, flat path. Just when you're wondering if it's moving slow enough to jump off, it darts up again, and you finally have it, the ride of your life! Flips, rolls, ups and downs, it has it all! It starts to settle into what you expect to be a satisfying ending, the suddenly, the ride becomes almost painfully violent, jerking you unpleasantly back and forth at random until you have whiplash and are wondering why the designers included this portion of the ride. Then the ride makes a sudden, jarring lurch forward and comes to an abrupt stop.

What I'm saying is, this book could have been 100 pages shorter, there was a good story buried in there, but the jarring ending dropped it at least a full star and a half. Truly, the writing was good, there was a solid story; but the build up was too slow and the ending felt like it was trying to squeeze in too many twists while trying to have an audience-pleasing ending.

Will Adrienne Young ever put out a bad book? I don't think so. If you are a fan of Adrienne Young, you already know how beautiful her writing is. It is both lyrical and edged with a bit of darkness, but nothing that will drag you down while reading. Instead, the mysteriousness of her writing will have you flipping the pages faster and faster. I am already planning to re-read A Sea of Unspoken Things; it's that good.

Spectacular, give me 14 of them right now. Adrienne Young novels, that is.

From the moment this book began I knew I was in for a ride. It pulls at your heartstrings, weaves together love and loss and longing, and settles into your heart with an eeriness that's nearly indescribable.

I'm not a murder mystery girlie. I don't like thrillers. I left my true crime era behind years ago. But this book???? It's haunting in a way that is limbed with such deeply soulful intuition and grief. There is such a sense of otherworldliness to Young's writing that it imbues her stories with genre-traversing magic. The ride is wild, the twists unpredictable, and the ending is so unlike anything I'd have anticipated. A Sea of Unspoken Things reads like a poem but feels like your favorite Crime Junkies episode. Beautiful and haunting in every possible way.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I recently finished A sea of unspoken things by AY and I did not want the book to end. It was so atmospheric and I was sucked into it right there with our main character. The mystery revolves around the death of a twin and the other one having strong feelings that something is wrong. The surviving twin has these visions and hallucinations that drive her towards uncovering the truth. It keeps you guessing till the very end and I did not see that ending coming!

This was the second book I read by this author and she has become one of my favorites. I loved A sea of unspoken things just as much as I loved The unmaking of June Farrow. I love how she does magical realism mysteries!!

Thank you @adrienneyoungbooks, @randomhouse , @delacortepress and @netgalley for this e-arc.

Adrienne Young’s A Sea of Unspoken Things is a gorgeous, heartfelt story about love, loss, and the quiet power of healing. The characters feel so real, with raw emotions and personal struggles that pull you in right away. Young’s writing is stunning—simple yet lyrical—and the way she captures unspoken emotions is truly moving.

This book struck a perfect balance between heartbreak and hope, making the journey feel authentic and rewarding. I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—I’m so glad I got to experience this beautiful story! Highly recommend!

I would like to start by saying that this book has one of the most gorgeous covers I have ever seen. Truly stunning. Also, it is an awesome read. I was HOOKED from the first page. I loved the setting! Young does a fabulous job of creating an atmosphere that adds to the tension of the story.

And the characters! I wanted to know so much more about all of them! I was eat/sleep/breathing them by the end of this book. My heart was racing throughout and I thought the romance between James and Micah was an added bonus. It wasn’t necessary for the plot but was the icing on the cake, especially for readers who don’t usually read mystery/thrillers.

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a well-told mystery with a compelling plot and a compelling cast of characters.

Thank you so much @prhaudio for the early listening copy and @netgalley and @delacortepress for the early copy!

Whenever I see a new Adrienne Young book coming out I am always so excited! She is the Queen of atmospheric mysteries that take you on quite a journey.

I love her small towns, her angsty characters, and the suspense to know what the heck happened! I love stories with deep character development and Young AWLAYS delivers on that!

I really enjoyed doing an immersive read of this one. Christine Lakin’s narration really transported me to Six Rivers and I found myself connecting more with James through audio

I really, really think that once you finish this one, you need to do a deep dive into Young’s backlist. Spells for Forgetting is an all time favorite and I highly recommend it!

4 stars