I thought this was phenomenal. I think, having never read a book by this author, I was completely free of preconceived notions or ideas or comparisons to make, which left me free to enjoy it for exactly what it was. The best part of the book was her writing. It was lyrical in a way that you don’t find in thrillers, giving the story a unique and tangible voice. I also feel like it’s rare to find a thriller with elements of magical realism that doesn’t rely on magic to create a convenient resolution. Here it was a complicating factor that pulled you in different directions in a way that was truly fascinating. I also loved the characters and being inside James’ head as she was inside Johnny’s. It was such a unique experience again only made better by the way the story and the dialogue were written. I also loved Micah, who felt like such a good, steady foil to the twins. I loved the way the themes of the book wove together into a tapestry that left you racing to see what would happen next while also holding your breath. This wasn’t just a story, it was an experience and I truly loved it.

This was my third book by this author and I enjoyed it! The book started a little slow, however the twists made up for it in the end. I’d recommend!

A Sea of Unspoken Things

3 stars/5

This was not my favorite Adrienne Young book, but her writing is beautiful just the same. Plotwise, the story just never came together for me. I think the book would have benefited from a dual timeline, which has been done well in Young's previous books.

The descriptions of nature and the wildlife did draw me in, though I did not find any of the characters likable. I was surprised by the twist at the end, although I just felt like the whole thing was a little too long.

Read if you like:
☁️ Atmospheric reads
🕵️‍♀️ Mystery
❤️‍🩹 Second chances
🏡 Family bonds (twins)

1️⃣ POV
📍Hawthorne, California

I would like to thank NetGalley, Delecorte Press, and the author for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

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

James and Johnny always shared a special bond thanks to their twin connection. They grew up together in a small California town, essentially on their own. So James can feel it, the moment her brother is killed in a tragic accident. As she returns to Hawthorne to settle his affairs, she has to face their past, including Micah, the only man she’s ever loved and Johnny’s best friend. Being home, James can still feel her twin’s presence and starts to wonder if his death truly was an accident.

As with other books by Adrienne Young, this book has a strong sense of place and as I was reading I felt like I was in the forest with James. The prose is beautiful and I was invested in the mystery. It’s was fun to experience all the twists and turns and while I was able to guess a piece of the mystery I was surprised by the ending. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, it took until almost halfway for the plot to pick up a bit and I wish I had liked the characters more. I really liked Micah but it was hard for me to connect with James. If you’re in the mood for a darker mystery, especially on a rainy day, give this one a try.

This is only my second book by Adrienne Young but I thoroughly enjoyed it — even more than The Unmaking of June Farrow. I loved the small town feels, and how the forest is almost its own character. I enjoyed the mystery aspect and the way it deals with the question “how well do we truly know someone” — the way James has to slowly peel the layers of her brother’s life and his death was captivating and I thoroughly enjoyed how it all pans out in the end.

Loved "Unmaking of June Farrow", so I was so excited to receive this from Netgalley! Another beautiful, human tale of love, loss, and how people interactions, however small, impact others. Loved it!

“We were made in the dark. I used to hate when Johnny said that, but now I know it’s true.”

This is perhaps the darkest of Adrienne Young’s books. There was a point where both James, the MC, and I feared the worst about Johnny. It’s hard to talk about it without giving the book away but secrets and twists that are slowly revealed were worth the quieter start to the book.

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

AY’s writing is just simply gorgeous. I would read her grocery list. She perfectly captures James’s grief at losing her twin brother despite their distance and her reluctance to return the tiny town in the woods that she fled. She wove in her trademark hints of magical realism without it distracting from the plot.

Be warned, the first half of this book is very slow. Despite the atmospheric writing, I had to push myself to continue at the beginning. But once I got through the first bit, the mystery continued to twist and build and I was hooked!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7330906775
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHbPay-p3n-/

Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is an absolutely mesmerizing and soul-stirring novel that explores the fragile beauty of love, grief, and redemption. With her signature poetic prose, Young crafts a hauntingly atmospheric tale that captures the raw ache of unspoken truths and the longing for connection. The coastal setting is so vividly rendered, it feels almost like a character itself—wild, untamed, and brimming with secrets.

What makes this book unforgettable is its emotional depth. The characters are beautifully flawed, grappling with their pasts in ways that feel authentic and heartbreaking. Young masterfully balances melancholy with hope, creating a story that is both tender and powerful. This is a stunning exploration of human vulnerability, making it a must-read for fans of emotional, character-driven fiction.

The reviews were right - this book is wonderful. Go out and read this gem. I finished in 2 days. Outstanding as always.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25 ⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: Mystery/ Magical realism📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the plot and the hints of magical realism. I did feel like the ending was a little anti-climatic but the last twist at the very end made up for it!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Slow-burn mysteries
Atmospheric, small-town settings
Family secrets
Supernatural twin bond
Strong character-driven stories
Twisty endings
Themes of grief and healing
Magical realism
Romance subplots
Emotional depth

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Unique storyline
Well developed characters

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Pacing was a little slow
I didn’t really connect with any of the characters

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “Maybe we were made in the dark, like Johnny said, but we’d found a way to create our own kind of light.”
★ “We could fill an ocean with all the things we never said.”
★ "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"

4.5 stars. Absolutely loved this one. Different from the usual books by this author but still amazing.

I love Adrienne Young's work, and this book was no exception. James return to the tiny logging town she left decades ago after her twin brother Johnny is killed in a hunting accident. She's always had an uncanny connection to him, and suspects there is more to his death than meets the eye. As she starts to put his affairs in order, she finds out more and more that leads her to believe he wasn't killed by accident. She also meets up with the boy she was in love with as a teen. While this was a slow-burn mystery, the book never feels slow. The writing is lyrical, the setting perfectly drawn and James is a sympathetic protagonist you can't help but root for. Loved it.

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital arc of this book!

A Sea of Unspoken Things is the second book I have read by Adrienne Young and by far my least favorite. It follows James Golden, the artist who left her small town as soon as she was able, and her return back to town after the death of her twin brother, Johnny. Being back home throws her directly into the path of her old lover and brother's best friend, Micah. But James doesn't believe that what really happened to her brother was just an accident. Since returning to Six Rivers, she can feel a strong presence that she knows is Johnny's and it seems he's trying to tell her something. As Micah and James work together to figure out what really happened to Johnny, old feelings rise their way to the surface.

I finished this book a week ago, and in between the time it took me to finish it and write this review, I forgot literally everything that happened in this book. The premise was intriguing and I was excited for Adrienne Young's expressive writing, but immediately something felt off about this book. It felt almost as if Young didn't trust the reader to figure out the mystery for themselves so she spoofed it to them. The twists were unbelievable and frankly laughable and I didn't feel anything at all about the romance between Micah and James. The entire time I was incredibly freaked out about the prospect of Johnny and an 18-year-old student being involved---and it felt like I was the only one?? The characters were entirely prepared to hide the affair if necessary.

I have few positive things to say about this book and the cover is one of them. I suppose another would be the writing style. I do generally love Young's books, but this one was a hard pass in my opinion. If you are deciding which Adrienne Young book to read next, do me a favor and skip this one. An easy 1/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book.

I really enjoy a good mystery/thriller, and this book totally hit that mark for me. I haven't had a good read in this genre for awhile, so this was a welcome read! The plot moves along at a good pace, albeit a little slow at the beginning for me. But once I got hooked, I was HOOKED! A great read. Highly recommend.

4 1/2 stars

I really enjoy most everything this author writes. This book was no different. This mystery about the death of James' twin brother, Johnny back in her hometown - - the one she swore never to return to. But when she senses that his death wasn't accidental and believes that it was actually intentional, she can't help but return home to see if she can uncover what really happened.

Returning home to a small town opens all kinds of wounds for James - none the least is her heartbreak with former boyfriend, Micah. When she sees him, it's clear that they still have feelings for one another. Feelings that she's tried to shove down and forget about. She also has had to deal with the emotional baggage of her friends that she left behind as well because when James left years ago - - she left everyone and didn't look back.

This book had several mysteries at play and was quite enjoyable for me to read. I also enjoyed the romantic tension between James and Micah. This was definitely another winner by Adrienne Young.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Adrienne’s story telling is seriously top notch. Her writing actually makes you feel like you’re in her books and living in the plot. Go into her books blind because you’ll enjoy them way more.

I would like to start by thanking Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. I apologize for the delay in submitting this review. I want to mention that I decided to stop reading this book at 26% because I realized it wasn't the right fit for me.

The story follows twins James and Johnny, who have always shared a deep connection. After Johnny dies in a tragic accident, James returns to her hometown to settle her brother's affairs. While there, she begins to uncover the truths surrounding the days leading up to Johnny's death. Now, she must decide which truths should be revealed and which should remain buried.

I believe the setting and overall atmosphere of the book were excellent. The characters were well-developed, and their emotions were portrayed authentically; I genuinely felt their struggles while reading. However, I found the pacing to be slower than I prefer.

Overall, this book didn’t resonate with me. I think that mystery readers who enjoy closely following the main character may find it perfect for their tastes! Once again, I would like to thank Random House Publishing and NetGalley for providing this ARC. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Pacific Northwest small town atmospheric mystery. Our leading lady James is back home trying to solve her twin brother’s death. The first half is a slow and steady setting build up. The second half all the action takes place and the twists turn you all around.

# A Sea of Unspoken Things
# 2/26/2025 ~ 2/27/2025
# 4.0 / 5.0

I genuinely loved Adrienne Young’s other book, The Unmaking of June Farrow, so I was really hoping for a similar experience with this book. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. While the atmospheric setting was definitely a strong point, the slow pacing made it hard to stay interested. The characters also felt a bit flat, and since the mystery didn’t really grab me, I struggled to stay invested. I kept picking it up, hoping it would eventually pull me in, but I just couldn’t stay engaged. In the end, I lost interest and decided to put it down. Maybe I’ll give it another shot in the future, but for now, it just didn’t click with me.

“We could fill the fucking ocean with the things we never said to each other."


I really thought this book would be 5 stars but there were some pretty glaring holes and things that bothered me throughout this book that I just couldn't get over. It took me a long time to get through this one. Partially due to the first person POV. It was so slow in the beginning that I struggled to want to pick it up, I felt like the overall pacing in the first half needed some work. Towards the end the pacing picked up and the stakes were high, which kept me much more interested and held my attention.

“That was the way of grief, I was realizing. It was a barrage of pain that was so unbearable that it made you numb. And then out of nowhere, something made you feel again, and the cycle started over from the beginning.”


The investigation was the train moving through this plot. The story line while I felt was lacking had some pretty good twist. I can't say I didn't see them coming. BUT The investigation is literally what kept it moving for me. I needed to know who did it. The writing was beautiful, which is what has be in such a conundrum. She wrote the book well. I just feel like it could have been SO much more! I didn't find the characters to be memorable and lacked the depth I feel was warranted given the themes at play here.

Overall, not my favorite Adrienne. Which is sad for me. But maybe you will like it. If you read it let me know your thoughts.

What to Expect:
Magical Realism
Murder Mystery
Buried Secrets
Small Town
Romance Subplot
Second Chance
First Person POV