This book was categorized as a thriller and it was not that. It was definitely mysterious and had an element of thrill. Also it wasn't clear what exactly the "mystery" was until about halfway through the book. Some of the twists were predictable and very expected. Other points seemed to come out of nowhere just to tie up lose ends as the book came to a close. Overall enjoyed the story but was not as described.

In A Sea of Unspoken Things, Adrienne Young has woven a beautifully layered mystery I devoured in just a few days! I initially thought it was fantasy, but it reads more like a thriller with some magical realism elements, very unique and engaging.

The setting of Six Rivers National Forest is fascinating and a little spooky, a place almost completely uninhabited except for a town at its center, where twins James and Johnny grew up. James left 20 years ago to make her life in the city as an artist but is returning a few months after her twin brother was shot and killed in the forest. Young immediately sets the scene with all these hints of past events and their paranormal twin connection, and I was immediately hooked!

As James returns to her hometown and faces the people she left behind, we are drawn into additional mysteries around something that happened right before she left and things that happened just before Johnny’s death. Young skillfully weaves these all together into a single narrative that kept me completely engaged to find out what happened, and how it all related together.

One of the things I appreciated about the story’s mysteries is that the reader is given enough information to follow along and make educated guesses about what happened, instead of these crazy twists that come completely out of left field for shock value. It feels more engaging, like putting together a puzzle. It ended up being a good mix of things that surprised me and things I guessed from foreshadowing, and all in all; it was a very satisfying reading experience.

I highly recommend picking this one up and enjoying the gothic vibes during the cozy season!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for sending this DRC for review consideration.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
3.5/5 Stars

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

I felt this book started really slowly especially the first half that I struggled to keep reading. The pacing just didn’t have the urgency I was expecting for a story centered on James uncovering the mystery of Johnny’s most recent life and his death.

The psychic twin connection between James and Johnny was the most intriguing aspect, but I wanted a little more of that magic. I kept waiting for that bond and Johnny’s lingering spirit to be a more central in guiding James in unraveling the truth about his death.

That said, Young excels at crafting richly atmospheric settings, and the town of Six Rivers is no exception. It’s moody and secluded and something just feels a little off and that suits the story’s tone perfectly.

All in all, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a good read, but it left me wanting more urgency, more exploration of the twin connection, and more payoff for its mysterious death setup. Adrienne Young is forever an auto buy for me and other fans of her writing will likely love this novel, but it didn’t quite live up to its potential for me.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for review

It was a beautifully written atmospheric mystery. The pacing was a bit slow, and I felt the romance wasn’t explored enough. But it kept me guessing, and I overall enjoyed it. My first from this author, but definitely not my last.

I will read anything by Adrienne Young. Her books are so hauntingly beautiful. This one definitely did not disappoint. Our female main character, James, returns home after her twin brother, Johnny, is killed in a hunting accident. Once there, James realizes something is off. Was it really a hunting accident? We follow James with her investigation, as well as her twin telepathic connection with Johnny, and she unravels what really happened to him. Beautiful story.

In this story, we follow James who returns home to Six Rivers where she grew up after her twin brother is killed in a hunting accident. James has not been back to Six Rivers in about 20 years so there are people she left behind who don't always have positive feelings about her. James has returned to wrap up a project her brother was working on however in the process she starts to wonder if her brother's death was an accident.

Adrienne Young does a fantastic job of building these atmospheric settings. This story reminded me in some ways of her other book - Spells for Forgetting minus the magic portion - a mysterious death from the past, a person returning to where they grew up, an old flame potentially rekindled.

I enjoyed this book and it moved at a nice pace - there were a couple of twists at the end I was not expecting. If you are a fan of Adrienne Young's other books I think you will enjoy this one.

I've been really enjoying Adrienne Young's work lately! A Sea of Unspoken Things is no exception. I was hooked from the beginning with James's drive back home to a small town in the middle of the woods to pick up the pieces of her twin brother's death.

The drama unfolds at a great pace. We learn things slowly and we put the pieces together as James does. Young does an excellent job at making the reader feel unsettled and on edge. We don't know who to trust, just like James doesn't know who to trust. I wouldn't have called this a thriller when I requested it, but I definitely would after I finished it. More like Spells for Forgetting than The Unmaking of June Farrow.

Overall, this was great. I loved the ending and wouldn't have changed a thing. It's a 5/5 from me! Thank you for the opportunity to read and review A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young, All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I just adore AY’s writing!! The way she sets an atmosphere is like no other. I always feel heartache and pining and haunted while reading her novels and A Sea of Unspoken Things was no exception to that. This book is a story about loss and grief and the unspoken bond between siblings that made me want to hug my own. The only downside is that it felt pretty slow going in until maybe the 1/3 mark and that hindered me from feeling fully immersed for awhile.

STORY
⭐️ 3 of 5

SPICE
🌶️ closed door

RECOMMEND
💳 yes**

“A Sea of Unspoken Things” is outside of what I normally read, but the premise of the book piqued my interest. Admittedly, I softly DNF’d this one around 40% in December because it was extremely slow. I picked it up again to see if I could finish the book this time. The story started to pick up around 70%, and the suspenseful atmosphere became increasingly more interesting as information unfolded, leading up to a resolution.

** I think there is an audience who will enjoy “A Sea of Unspoken Things,” especially with the resolution of the mystery and the HEA. For me, this one leaned towards a miss. I think the first 40% could have benefited from more suspenseful moments.**

If you decide to read this one, happy reading!

Adrienne Young proves once again to be a master in weaving a wonderfully well written and intricate story. Set in a small logging town in the northern California forest, this book follows James Golden as she tries to investigate the death of her twin brother, Johnny. Every turn the story takes, Young feeds you another thread that further adds depth and complication to the mystery you're trying to unravel alongside James. Young however does a fantastic job making sure each thread is purposeful in adding to the detailed tapestry of the book. She captures the unspoken stories people don't tell themselves, unveiling their actions as the story unfolds so that you as a reader can peel through the layers. This is the second book I've read from Adrienne Young and reading this book further convinces me to be a commited fan to her wonderful writing voice.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me this ARC for an honest review!

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up

i loved the setting of this book. as someone who grew up in northern california, i was able to drop myself right into the story with the trees and misty air of the north coast. there was once aspect of the story that really rubbed me the wrong way (won’t spoil here), and the pacing was slow up until the very end. i think it would’ve made the story flow better if the pacing was balanced throughout. there was a surprising amount of romance that i wasn’t expecting, but is always a nice surprise 🥰

I absolutely loved this book. From page one, I was pulled into the story and was so invested in the characters. It was so atmospheric and the prose is just beautiful. I thought about the book when I wasn't reading it, and never wanted to rush through because I was too busy savoring the story.

While I absolutely love Adrienne Young’s writing, and this was here trademark beautiful atmospheric writing, the story itself was slow. Very slow. There were some great moments of introspection, but I think the pacing and varied plot points took away from the impact. I still really enjoyed my time immersed in this story!

#AdrienneYoung weaves a tale of suspense and supernatural elements to show the bond between twins, a mysterious bond all on its own.

James left Six Rives long ago, she left behind her brother Jonny that she has always felt responsible for and Micah the love of her life. She always thought she would stay with Micah but after a night where the friends went drinking and swimming a horrible accident takes place and the three decide to lie about what happened.

Jonny has always been volatile and withdrawn and was always used to haveing James there to help him. There is no help to be had though and one day James feels a hole blast through her chest and sees the sunlight filtering through the treetops as she feels her brothers body go cold and his vision fade. She knows that whatever has happened it can't just be an accident. So she returns to six Rivers to dig into her brothers life. She has to finish gathering the supplies for his CAS project on the owls in the gorge the one thing that he seemed truly alive and excited about. As she goes through his photography she notices a picture taken on a day that he shoudn't have been in the gorge and in that picture is a pink backpack leading her to believe he was not alone as they all thought.

This one photo opens up a rabbit hole that James and Micah fall deeply into. Everywhere that James turns she can feel Jonnys presense, she gets visions of the things that he has seen and felt in the days leading up to his death. Soon she learns that there is much about her brother that she didn't really know and it scares her.

I loved this novel it sucked me in and had me thinking about it constantly waiting for the moment when I could finish the book. I hope everyone gives this a chance.

I want to thank #Netgalley for the chance to read #ASeaOfUnspokenThings by #AdrienneYoung in return for a fair and honest review.

No one does atmospheric and immersive quite like Adrienne Young. A Sea of Unspoken Things takes readers on a haunting and poignant journey through grief and the aftermath of loss; the need to reckon with and confront past traumas; and the de-stabilizing realization that you may not know your loved ones as well as you thought.

Johnny, James’ twin brother, died under mysterious circumstances. Needing to settle his affairs back in Six Rivers, a small town James ran away from two decades ago, she finds herself confronted with the mysterious connection she (still) shares with her brother, distressing secrets that are slowly bubbling to the surface, and the first love she left behind. This novel follows James through an increasingly troubling investigation, where she hopes to uncover the events that led to Johnny’s death.

The fantasy elements are very light and more akin to magical realism; the second chance romance subplot is understated, taking a backseat to the questions surrounding Johnny’s death; and there’s a strong thriller-mystery through line that keeps readers hooked. There’s also a transporting and introspective quality to this story, like we’ve been plopped into this small town and are dealing with the investigation, and the subsequent emotions it’s stirring up, ourselves. It’s easy to feel unsettled and unnerved, distraught and concerned, thanks to the eerie quality of the prose and its evocative imagery.

Despite being the protagonist, we don’t really get to know James. But I feel like this disconnect is intentional. We meet her while she’s clouded over with overwhelming emotion; she’s immersed in her brother and in her past. The same goes for the minor repetition I noticed. It didn't bother me because grief often makes you rehash things over and over again. To me, all of this felt purposeful but I can understand how this may not resonate with some readers.

Young’s writing is compelling and moody and she, as always, has a way of coaxing complex and nuanced emotion out of her readers. I don’t think this tops The Unmaking of June Farrow for me, but I just love her style as a writer!!

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for the eARC!

Adrienne Young is an auto read author for me. I love her writing and find it almost comforting when I start one of her books, like visiting an old friend. A Sea of Unspoken Things is another great read filled with what’s she known for : a slow burn, atmosphere mystery with some supernatural elements.

James has always been used to cleaning up her brother’s messes but never would have imagined she would still be doing it after he died. Our supernatural element is Johnny and his “ twin” connection to James that still persists after his death. James knows his death wasn’t an accident and so the novel takes us through not just Johnnys last day, but Johnnys life and the people in it.

This book is a very slow burn but once it gets its claws into you, you won’t be able to let go. I had a suspicion on Johnnys murderer that I was right about but was thrown off with the revelation about James childhood best friend. All in all, a great read. Can’t wait for whatever comes next from Adrienne Young


You can find my review on my goodreads profile. Username: Cristy Piña

James has to return to the small town she left in a hurry at 18 after learning of her brother’s accidental death. While there, she finds things to make her wonder if his death was really an accident.

This was a slow burn mystery, but the writing is really good. Adrienne Young does a great job of connecting you to the characters from the very beginning. There are just enough surprises to keep you guessing throughout the book.

I am new to the Adrienne Young party. First timer here. And I would describe this book just as the art critic described our FMC's art: capable. This was all well and fine.

The atmosphere and story were interesting.

I try to place myself into the story. I try to imagine going back to my small home town, successful and sassy and a know it all, to find answers following my brother's strange and horrific death. Maybe I run into an old romance (unfinished business!). Maybe I grab a drink with some high school friends (two). Maybe I am the only one to check my brother's cell phone and email for clues and come across some questionable life choices but hey that's a brother for you (gross, but could be worse?). Or maybe I am the only one, a complete stranger, to notice that a young woman went missing months ago despite her circle of family and friends who just ...never checked in with her?

Far fetched and stretched to take up time, I grew tired of the narrative towards the end. But I think there's enough here for thriller and mystery readers to enjoy, it just wasn't it for me.

I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to read this book, because I loved The Unmaking of June Farrow. Adrienne Young does it again with this story that follows James and the death of her twin brother. James returns to her hometown to get Johnny’s affairs in order, but begins to uncover secrets that makes her realize she may not have known her brother so well after all.

The emotions felt so real as I was reading, and I was fully immersed in the story. The series of events that unfolds was a journey and there was no way I could’ve guessed how it would all end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book.

A Sea of Unspoken Things follows James as she returns to her hometown to settle her dead twin brother's affairs. While home she uncovers secrets he has been hiding from her as secrets from her own past threaten to resurface.

Wow, can Adrienne Young write an atmospheric novel or what? The setting of this book was so vividly painted that it almost became its own character in the story. I loved how complex these characters were. The slow unraveling of both James's past & what happened to Johnny was expertly written. Her connection with her twin brother added the perfect element of magic/the paranormal to give this novel an even spookier vibe. Young has a twin brother in real life & you can feel the truth of her experience in these characters. I am eagerly anticipating more from this author in the future.

4.5 stars

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.