"He was there the first time my heart beat, the first time air entered my lungs, the first time the sun touched my face. But now, he'd gone back to the dark without me."

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I'm not sure why I'm always surprised that I don't guess the ending. Do I even try? No. I'm simply along for the ride, and this one was particularly atmospheric. Adrienne Young manages to create these stories that are so realistic that it feels like you could fall into the pages and physically be in the scene.

I do wish we'd gotten a *bit* more character depth from Micha and James, but seeing as they weren't necessarily the whole focus of the story, it really didn't ruin my enjoyment at all.

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"Johnny was gone, but he hadn't left this place. He hadn't left me. Not yet."

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Thank you to Random House Publishing/Ballantine, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This whole book was a true experience, an escape from reality, a vivid journey to Hawthorne, California to unravel a mystery. With her signature atmospheric writing style, Adrienne Young creates a vivid, tangible experience for the reader as you follow James Golden’s efforts to prove her brother’s death was no accident, rather a murder.

James & Johnny are twins who have always had a special, almost otherworldly bond. So, when Johnny is killed in the woods of their hometown, James felt it…truly felt it, like the gun pierced her skin as well. She felt the fear in her brother before he was killed and knows in her gut it was no accident. Returning to her rural hometown after leaving many years ago has caused her to unearth the memories from her past and forced her to confront the only man she’s ever loved. But, as she sinks deeper into the life she once knew, her connection to her brother becomes stronger and the closer she gets to the truth, the more lies she uncovers.

Adrienne Young has a special gift for creating a setting & characters that feel so real you get lost in their stories. You’re immersed in their journey and their complex feelings. Her characters are so open with their thoughts you can’t help but feel their lived experience with them. There is so much shrouded in mystery and the opening scene when James enters her secluded hometown gives you an ominous feeling that sticks with you through the whole book. This book was like slowly peeling back the curtain on layers and layers of betrayal and secrets, while simultaneously endearing you to the town and the people. This combination made the twists and turns of this book hard to comprehend because at some point you were feeling for these characters and the trials they were facing. Beyond the mystery is a second chance love-story for James and her first love, Micah. The care they have for each other is tender, protective, and cloaked in the understanding of a shared past. Watching them come back together was so very heartwarming. I really enjoyed this book and the uniqueness of the writing. Would definitely recommend!

3.5 stars. This book has everything I've come to expect from an Adrienne Young adult book - atmosphere that jumps from the page, gritty characters and places that feel real, a touch of magical realism, and beautiful writing that makes me reread lines. However, for some reason, I didn't connect with this story and these characters as much as I did with Spells and June (which were both 5 star reads). It was interesting that the character who was the most dynamic was the character who was never on the page. I left this story feeling empty, like I'd read a good story but it wouldn't stay with me. It almost feels like this book mimics James's paintings before she left for Six Rivers: reliable. Overall, this book was enjoyable with impeccable writing, but I never felt myself sinking into the story like I have with Adrienne's past books.

Adrienne’s storytelling and prose never fail to amaze me. Her writing is so transportive, She has an unmatched talent for weaving emotion, depth, and beauty into her storytelling.

A Sea of Unspoken Things explores the mystical bond that goes on between twins, even after death. James returns to her small hometown to sort out the last of her brother’s things after his untimely death. She quickly becomes entangled in trying to figure out what kind of life he was leading while unraveling the mystery of what led to his death.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another atmospheric and beautifully written story by Adrienne Young. I truly love her writing style and always feel swept up in her words, setting and storytelling. This mystery set in a small logging town in Northern California, slowly uncovers layers of each character and uncovers secrets hidden throughout the years. I enjoyed the transcendental element between twins, James and Johnny. They shared this connection that only they could understand. Lastly, there were many unpredictable twists that held my interest and I loved how the story ended!

This is my second read by Adrienne Young. I read and really enjoyed the Unmaking of June Farrow last year. This book is less magical realism, and more mystery in my mind, which I really enjoyed in a different way. I loved the small town setting, the romance, and twists and turns. It is a bit of a slow burn, but so worth it in the end!

So here is what I loved about A Sea of Unspoken Things:

►I loved the romance aspect of this one. Okay Idk why I even fell so hard for the romance between James and Micah, but I did, and I won't apologize for it.

►I also loved the small town secrets thing. Small towns are so messy! Especially when everyone knows everyone, and they're all isolated, etc. Fabulous!

►The vibe as a whole was pretty solid. I mean, you felt the uneasiness, and the isolation. As always, the author nailed it.

►The mystery definitely kept me wanting to know what happened. Even if I did guess a few of the things, I was never sure-sure, if that makes sense?

There were some moments that I did find a little predictable, but not too much so. And look, there were also a lot of things I didn't figure out, so that was good! And it was perhaps a little slower in some places, but again, nothing that was a dealbreaker.

Bottom Line: Overall, a solid mystery/romance/thriller, and I am eagerly anticipating whatever Adrienne Young writes next!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
A Sea of Unspoken Things follows a woman’s return to her remote hometown following the sudden death of her twin brother. The two shared an almost supernatural connection, able to feel each others’ pain and intuit the other’s thoughts, but she discovers much about his life that causes her to question how well she really knew him.

I found the setting and supporting characters to be almost out-of-time, seeming so old fashioned for what was intended to be a contemporary story. The only WiFi in the town being available at the diner run by a single mom, made Instagram and texting feel anachronistic. It was all a bit twee for me.

I also didn’t love the twist of who was responsible for what ultimately became not one, but two, suspicious deaths. The groundwork for one killer in particular did not work for me.

Overall this was a fine, quick read. I am interested to read another of Adrienne Young’s books to see how similar or different it might be from A Sea of Unspoken Things.

Another beautiful and haunting mystery from Adrienne Young, full of complex family relationships and some unexplained, paranormal magic.

In A Sea of Unspoken Things, artist James Golden is brought back to the small town she left behind long ago when her twin brother Johnny turns up dead. Though she’s told that Johnny is the unfortunate victim of an accidental death by a stray hunting bullet in the woods, James knows there is more to his death than anyone is telling her. Ever since they were little, James has felt an unexplained connection to Johnny’s emotions, and she could feel the moment he died that there might be more to it. As James works to unravel the mystery of her brother’s death, she must confront past lovers, friends, and enemies who now see her as an outsider. James realizes that all answers come at a cost, and the more she learns, the more she has to come to terms with the fact that Johnny might have had the most secrets to keep — and that her brother may not be the person she always thought he was.

❤️ What I loved: This book had all of the great hallmarks of Adrienne Young’s work - beautiful and descriptive writing, a wonderful blend of magical realism, and an emotional story of a community and relationships. I was interested in the many threads of the plot, from the mystery to the romance, from beginning to end and I couldn’t wait to see how everything played out. The romance is more minor to the plot than in some of Young’s other work, but I liked the romantic storyline in this book and thought it added to the story without taking away from the overall focus on the mystery.
💔 What I didn’t love: While I still really enjoyed this book, it struggled a bit for me personally with the pacing and reveal of the mystery in the front half of the book.

Fans of Adrienne Young will find a lot to like about *A Sea of Unspoken Things,* and enthusiastically recommend this to those who enjoy magical realism, mystery, or romance. It’s safe to say I’m now a certified follower of Adrienne Young’s work, and I can’t wait to see what she comes out with next!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 (4-4.5)

Acknowledgments & Disclaimers
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Adrienne Young, and Random House - Ballentine/Delacorte Press, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

Review: Because I knew this was the same author who wrote The Unmaking of June Farrow, I assumed there would be some magical realism weaved in, but I also made the assumption that this was a romance. While there was a romantic connection, the focus was on the mysterious connection between twins and the seemingly communication from the beyond when one dies. This story was more of a mystery with some mystical elements. I did really enjoy the characters and the estranged dynamics between some of them. The plot presented clues and questions at a good pace, and it kept me interested throughout. Adrienne Young has a smooth way with words to make her stories flow easily for her readers.
I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling this mystery along with James and would recommend this book to those who like mysteries with a little strangeness you can’t quite explain.

Summary: James and Johnny were twins. Her mom wanted boys and named her daughter James anyway. The twins had a spiritual connection all of their lives. They were deeply connected, even sensing the other’s emotions and experiencing their highs and lows over the years. When a hushed accident happens to someone close to them, their close knit group of friends becomes distant. Years later, James has been gone since the incident and never returned. Now, her twin has been found dead and she must go back and face her childhood town and ex boyfriend of a relationship that never got closure.. It was bad enough she physically reacted to his death at the moment, but going home has her reliving details of his life before the accident. The problem is, they’re not her memories… they’re HIS. What is he trying to tell her and was his death really an accident?

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dell Publishing for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review!

This book took “slow burn” to a whole new level. Nothing interesting happened until a good 70% in, and I actually have no idea why I finished it. So, so boring. I have read other reviews that said the writing was beautiful, but I thought it was painfully repetitive and redundant. Total Bummer!!

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a beautifully written mystery about the lengths someone will go to protect their family. Adrienne Young’s writing is incredibly atmospheric and captivating - she has a way of transporting you into the book that I can’t get enough of!

I loved the complex relationships and ties to nature and art throughout the novel. One of the twists didn’t work for me, but overall I really enjoyed the story for the atmospheric, small town mystery that it was!

Adrienne Young really is becoming one of my favorite authors. I really enjoyed this one- she's found a great formula. The atmospheric writing, the mystery, and the light romance all come together into a story I really liked. It didn't quite capture my attention in the way SFF and TUOJF did thought. It took me longer to read and I didn't care for the characters quite as much- they maybe didn't seem to have as much depth?

I'll continue to pick up her books because they really work for me! But this one was my least favorite of her 3 adult novels.

"We could fill the fucking ocean with the things we never said to each other."- great line!

A vividly atmospheric small town mystery with a great twist of an ending.

After reading The Unmaking of June Farrow last year I was very excited to receive an early copy of this book by her. It has a bit of a slow start, but this book provides a beautifully written setting with a tad of romance between the FMC and her brother’s best friend.

Adrienne Young does it again. This time, I could feel her personal connection to the storyline and characters much more than in her other novels. The twin connection that James and Johnny had was so visceral, tragic, and bewildering that I often found myself clutching my own chest while reading, trying to imagine what it would feel like to be so bonded to another human. What I love about this book, besides the many twists and turns, is the idea of unconditional love. Young definitely leaves us with the question of whether love should be unconditional at all, and whether there are limits to what we would do for the ones we love.

If you love creepy, haunted settings, mysteries that unravel slowly, and characters so real it's like they're in the room with you-- you should try this book.

4.5 stars, my onlyyyyyy “flaw” with this one was a rather rushed ending. loved everything else about it, how flawed the characters were, the loyalty the main character has for her brother, the romance with brothers best friend, and the traditional romance. unlike other books young has written, unexpected in the best way

Actual rating- 4.5*

I actually loved this book. Adrienne Young has become one of my favorite authors. While many have said they didn’t need the last chapter, I found it comforting to see James settling into her life with Micah and creating the family she never had but always wanted.

While I wouldn’t call this book magical- it did have notes of tethering of twins beyond the borders of life. I found the different stages of Johnny’s appearance through the book to be telling of how close James was to finding the truth. His communication from beyond (or wherever he was) was palpable and I felt Young was able to describe in a way that made you feel like you experienced it yourself.

The twist at the end was surprising and not, and while there were a couple of things *technically* unanswered, I do wish the loose end with Ben had been tied up.

I appreciated the growth of Rhett, the self awareness that maturity brought to others, and the way they were able to show Johnny, the always needing to be saved brother, growing to become a mentor and find his way.

This book had an err of mystery, a lot of love, and overall, left me feeling content, happy, and warm. Well done.

Mystery/thriller is not my usual genre. But I read The Unmaking of June Farrow by the same author and enjoyed her writing style, so I picked this one up. It definitely did not disappoint! Even though I did predict the ending around the 75% mark, I enjoyed the way Adrienne wrapped up the story and the details that were included. I felt like the pacing was on point, not too slow or fast, and the level of suspense was just right as well. I also appreciated that there was a slight romantic side plot.

Thank you @prhaudio and @randomhouse for this phenomenal alc and arc!!

“I had only one thought: that he was a storm in the clouds, just minutes away from breaking.”

If you’re looking for a book that is so hauntingly beautiful that you can’t put it down, then this one is for you! I am convinced that I will devour anything Adrienne writes.

✨A Sea of Unspoken things was mysterious, heartbreaking, shocking, and heartwarming. I did not expect it to make me so emotional, but I was sobbing by the end. The mix of suspense with a romance subplot was perfection. There are broken characters that made my heart ache. Watching them heal felt like the sun coming out during a gloomy winter day.

✨James and Johnny are two halves of a whole. They’re twins and ones that have a magical connection. They’re able to physically feel each other’s emotions and know when something isn’t right. They have an unbreakable bond and will do anything to protect each other. Sometimes that means crossing a line that they shouldn’t.

✨The audiobook is narrated by Christine Lakin, and that’s all I needed to know to request it. As always, she did an amazing job bringing this story to life. You could feel the eerie atmosphere from the way she told the scenes.

✨ The second chance romance is written as a subplot. It was the perfect mix of romance and mystery for me. Micah, James, and Johnny had a close-knit friend group growing up. At one point it became more than friendship for Micah and James. But a happy ending wasn’t something they ever found. Now that they were working together to unravel his secrets, some of those old feelings are starting to resurface.

“That was us, I thought. Snapping into place so easily and then struggling to just be still there. “

A Sea of Unspoken Things has:
💙 Small town
🔎 Murder mystery
🪵 Second chance romance
🦉 Eerie atmosphere
✨ Secrets
☕️ Magic realism
🩶 Grief and healing