Happy release day to A Sea of Unspoken Things.

Eerie, layered, atmospheric, with touches of magical realism. This story explores the relationship between twins James and Johnny Golden and how their connection stretches between them even after Johnny’s death. It’s also a second chance romance with Micah, the man James left behind.

Adrienne Young knocked this one out of the park. She creates a connection with nature you can feel through this story. This is my favorite book of hers so far. Better than June Farrow and Spells for Forgetting. If you liked either of those books, definitely pick this up. It hits a sweet spot being under 300 pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an e-arc of this book in exchange for my honest review. I will be buying a physical copy!

Really good. I didn’t like as much as June Farrow but it was still really good. I liked the mystery vibes of this one more, the writing was still really phenomenal. I highly recommend.

Rated: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Adrienne Young had me sucked in from the start with her moody mysterious atmospheric small town setting that she does so perfectly. The first part of the book starts off a little slow. But I personally think the pacing was perfect for the story’s mystique. The mystery aspect of the book definitely kept me guessing. This is the first mystery book I’ve read in a while that has kept me intrigued and guessing the whole time.

If you’re looking for your next mystery read with a second chance romance then read A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

4.25⭐️
Adrienne young can sure tell a story. This was atmospheric, and I felt right there in the story.
This one is complex and the story is deep and the background and the characters history is complex. Yet it was easy to follow and I rooted and grew to care for these characters.
Another fantastic story from AY!

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a really good read! It was my first time reading a book by Adrienne Young so I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was not disappointed. It’s a mystery about a set of twins, Johnny and James (James being a girl) and the connection and bond that they have with each other. James is very intuitive throughout the story which gives it an almost paranormal/magical realism type vibe. There is also a romantic connection involving 2 of the 3 main characters. It made for some really interesting reading and as for the mystery part of the book, it kept me guessing the entire way through. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for accepting my request to be an early reader and NetGalley for the arc. I thought it was a phenomenal story, it’s a book I’d recommend, and I would be very interested in reading more by this author. I’m giving this book a 5 star rating.

Ever since James finds out about the untimely death of her twin brother, Johnny, something doesn't quite feel right. Parts of this story are not lining up which forces James to confront Johnny's life and face the secrets of both of their pasts.

I absolutely love how Adrienne Young paints a story, and I was hooked right from the start. From the character development to the scenery descriptions everything is done so well, and truly enhances the story as the layers compound. Pieces of the story come together one by one with twists and turns that keep you guessing. This is not just a superficial mystery though - there are feelings and emotions built deep into James' past as she navigates coming back to her home town with all of its ghosts (living and dead).

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. Out today!

I was disappointed by this book. I normally love a slow atmospheric mystery, but this one didn’t hook me. It was slow and boring. I have enjoyed Adrienne’s other books and she has a beautiful writing style. But the story in this one fell flat. I actually despised Johnny’s character for the secrets that were revealed about him. The ending was underwhelming and rushed. I’m sorry as I wish I did love this book! I wrote a review post on Bookstagram that I have linked below.

This wasn't my favorite atmospheric mystery. It was too slow for me and I was constantly feeling impatient. Thank you, NetGalley.

Adrienne Young is quickly becoming an "AUTO BUY" author. I love her writing style and the way the atmosphere is written in such a way that it is a character in the story as well. All of her characters have a purpose and their storylines are solid!
Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press, and Adrienne Young for the ARC of this amazing book!

First, let's give a round of applause for this COVER!!!!! Then we will address the MFC named...JAMES...WHAT!?! James gets word that her twin brother has died in a hunting accident, causing her to return home to attend to his affairs. Like most twins, Johnny and James have that supernatural connection but who knew that it remained even after death? Because of this connection, she gets the feeling that Johnny was in fact murdered. As she goes about attempting to solve this mystery of Johnny's death, James begins to unearth who she is, and who she wants to be going forward. She even entertains a love interest!

This book is moody, dark, and beautiful. A Sea of Unspoken Things is my second read from this author, it will not be my last!

I volunteered to leave this honest review of this book.

This is my first Adrienne Young book and it will definitely not be my last! Wow, this was such a good thriller read!

The author did an amazing job setting the scene for this book. The mystery aspect, character development and plot twists were very well done. The little bits of magical realism throughout were beautifully done as well, however I did expect a little more of it throughout, based on the synopsis. The writing was done so well also, I felt like I could really feel everything the author wanted us to (atmosphere and characters emotions specifically).

Highly recommend this book and a huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for allowing me to read the ARC for this book!

“…𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘐 𝘦𝘹𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘴. 𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦, 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘥𝘯’𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥.”

Thank you so much to Random House, Delacorte Press and Netgalley for this advanced readers copy - I truly didn’t expect to be approved (I waited months) so this was such a lovely surprise. What’s crazier is that despite it being an anticipated release for me (the premise sounded intriguing), this is the first I’ve ever read by Adrienne Young! I know I know, The Unmaking of June Farrow is very beloved on bookstagram and even Spells for Forgetting is highly popular (which I also was recently gifted a copy of). Having never read Young’s works I didn’t know what to expect going in.

Having never read Young’s works I didn’t know what to expect going in. It is very atmospheric and I loved the small town secluded in the forest vibes where everyone is holding secrets. It starts off slow and there’s this constant eeriness as the mystery begins to unravel and intensify. I had some theories and was right about the final twist. Still, overall, it was an enjoyable read that kept my attention. Content warnings include death of a sibling, some light profanity, some physical violence, and missing persons.

If you're looking to be transported straight into a Californian forest, stop and pick this book up. The setting and descriptions transported me right to Six Rivers. The vibes were so cold and dark which made it a perfect read for this time of year.

Adrienne Young excelled at creating this genre-bending story that felt more mystery with a dash of fantastical elements rather than all out fantasy. As a lover of another one of her works, The Unmaking of June Farrow, I think she masters at making fantasy approachable and creating compelling characters.

SETTING 5/5 - This whole book felt like I was sitting in a dark, damp forest in the best way.

PLOT 4/5 - I loved the mystery that drove the plot and the relationship that developed through the story.

CHARACTERS 4/5 - The only thing that could make this a 5 star would have been if there were 50-75 more pages to add more time with the characters and story.

EMOTIONAL IMPACT 4/5 - Again, if this had been just a little longer and I could have had more depth and time with these characters this would have been an easy 5.

I can definitely see what all the hype is about surrounding this author. Adrienne does a wonderful job of creating this story and giving the readers what they need. Suspense thrills mystery and an engaging emotional experience. The MFC is on a mission to uncover what happened to her twin brother who she has shared a twin connection with her whole life. I do feel the romance could’ve built up better but still a great read

4.25 ⭐️
Adrienne Young stole my heart in 2024 when I read, "Spells for Forgetting" and "The Unmaking of June Farrow". From that point on I knew she was an auto-buy author for me, and I would run to buy anything she published. When I was given the opportunity to read the arc, I was ecstatic with anticipation and let's just say Adrienne Young DELIVERED once again! To me this one was a little different then I went in expecting based off of her other two novels, but it was still such an amazing read! Adrienne Young is known for her magical realism, and I felt this story was heavy on the thriller aspect with hints of magical realism. The only reason this was not a 5-star read for me is the first 40% dragged and I had no idea where the story was going to go, the pacing was just slow in the beginning. However, with that being said as soon as the storyline picked up, I absolutely could not put it down. The last half of the book kept me guessing and I still never expected that ending!

This story follows James and her twin brother Johnny. Most twins have a deep connection but theirs were one of a kind. James could feel what her twin brother was feeling. When Johnny passes away in a tragic accident, James feels it before she even gets a phone call. However, something doesn't sit right with James. In search of answers, James decides to travel back to her hometown to face her and her twin brothers past as well as the only man James has ever loved... Micah. James soon finds out that she didn't know her brother as well as she thought and in the search of answers what secrets will she unveil.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This kept me up until 3 am trying to finish this book! I have never read Adrienne Young but have heard such great things. I am going to brag about having read this already to all my coworkers and friends

Beautifully written, Young’s newest novel is compelling and thought provoking. She, again, brings the story to life through her writing, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to read it.

Eerie, mysterious, deep, atmospheric, but ultimately too slow paced. I think there is so much promise in A Sea of Unspoken Things and I can completely understand others loving the measured unraveling of truths. It just wasn't a fit for me. I felt disconnected from the characters and couldn't get engaged with the mystery. I thought the writing was very detailed and arresting and Young did a great job of presenting Six Rivers in an evocative way. I also enjoyed the magical realism aspects involving James and Johnny's connection. While this story has numerous admirable elements, I felt that it ultimately fell a bit flat and missed the charm I loved in The Unmaking of June Farrow. This is a quick read - if you enjoy atmosphere, mystery, magical realism, and Young's writing then it could be a good match.

James hasn’t stepped foot in Six Rivers for years, but when her twin brother Johnny is killed in a tragic accident she must return to the quiet logging town to settle his affairs. Once there, she is unable to avoid people she has avoided since moving to San Francisco, forcing unwanted memories to surface. Try as she might, James cannot accept that Johnny’s death was an accident, partly because she keeps feelings his presence lurking throughout town. As James uncovers more secrets from Johnny’s life, his best friend and her first love, Micah, is by her side, making James question everything she feels and knows about her twin.

Young’s books are all incredibly atmospheric, and her beautiful writing made reading this book a treat! I was so invested in the mystery surrounding Johnny’s death, and the past trauma that still haunts James and Micah. This book did not have the same magical realism components of her past two releases, and while I love those elements I didn’t miss them in this story. This novel is packed with tension and intrigue, with a tiny romantic subplot that I was (of course) invested in. Please go read this!

Thank you Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

I enjoyed this book very much. I couldn’t put it down. Like her small towns world she writes about there’s something magical in Adrienne’s writing. No one does small town mystery quite like her.
This one was a little bit different than the others. It was less romance and more emotional. I still enjoyed it but the overall feel was different. I love the twin discussion and how connected twins are. The setting once again is the best part. Everything she writes is atmospheric you feel like you are there in the story and as always there’s a touch of magic and a mystery to solve. I will always pick up her books to get me out of a slump because they are impossible to put down. All her books feel the same but the stories are so different. I highly recommend this to any one looking for an escape into a magical world but doesn’t want a fantasy.

Adrienne Young is an author who popped up on my book radar when I read her book Spells for Forgetting, and loved it. She has a way with words which give her stories such emotion and heart, and it is no different with this book. I also enjoy the sense of magical realism she tends to weave into her novels as well. It's subtle and I feel like its more impactful because of that, a glimpse of a loved one in a window, a phantom smell, hearing a voice with no source. The reader is left wondering whether it is magical or if it is the psychosis of the character.

James and her twin brother Johnny have been a bit estranged for a while. though they touch base at times, they don't truly know what is going on in each others lives. So when James gets the news, she already knows her brother has died and he was scared in the days leading up to the "accident". Now she has to return to her hometown while trying to avoid the past and just focus on settling her brother's affairs so she can leave. But the problem with the past is things do not always stay buried and the bad has a habit of rearing it's head.

James also has to face Micah again, who was her brother's best friend and a past love in her own life.

There are lots of personal demons to face, in this novel as well as confronting the past and the present. I think it was a well crafted book and the ending resolves in a satisfying way. I would highly recommend this book and I plan to find more from this author in the future.