I'm still trying to find words, good enough to describe the way one feels turning the last page of the latest Adrienne’s book (or in my case, swiping on Kindle just one more time).

It’s hard to say if it’s her lyrical writing style we have to thank for or the way she seems to truly understand her characters, their dynamics, flaws, and virtues. Regardless, this was yet another beautiful book I couldn't stop thinking about and put down until the very last page.

After all, A Sea of Unspoken Things is so much more than a mystery or romance. It’s a story about grief, loss, and finding. A story about family and unconditional love, forgiving and forgetting. Truly, a masterpiece I will always recommend.

If there is one thing Adrienne Young has mastered it is how to write a small town setting. The atmosphere of A Sea of Unbroken things was 10/10. This small Northern California town felt so solid and the vibe was perfect. The writing is excellent like always she knows how to keep you hooked in the story. Unfortunately for me that’s where the really good ends the rest was mediocre to frustrating. Much like in Spells for Forgetting the biggest weakness was the mystery which is unfortunate because that is the central plot. The characters never felt fleshed out enough for me to care about any of them or feel any amount of suspicion. I really feel the story would’ve benefited from a few flashback chapters from when they were all teenagers. We get a few mentions of events from James but other than that we get very little about her dynamic with Johnny and their friend circle. I would’ve loved to see a few even just mundane scenes of them as teenagers to actually get a feel for everyone back then and understand how James still saw them when she returned twenty years later vs. being vaguely told. Because of the lack of character depth when one of the layers of the mystery was unveiled I didn’t care because I guess that made enough sense and there were only so many characters to pick from. The other part I immediately knew about halfway through and again didn’t really care since there was such little tension. Any tension mentioned by James about how the townspeople felt about her return felt so inconsequential and barely there if we had gotten any moments from the past seeing her struggling and desperate to leave the return could’ve hit harder. Again as always though the setting and the writing were great so while I had some problems with the plot I still enjoyed the reading experience. I always come to an Adrienne Young book knowing I am about to be sucked into an entrancing small town setting.

This book was so good! Adrienne Young creates the most incredible atmospheric settings, and this time she does it around a murder mystery. She still can't go wrong, I've loved every book she's written, and with each new story I'm hard pressed to pick a favorite

A chilling small-town mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. I found this to be captivating and the story kept me interested throughout the book. I enjoyed that I couldn’t figure out how it was going to end. The layout of the plot was well done. Young has such a distinct voice that almost feels comforting and familiar in a way that lures me straight into her books. I love that she has a way of storytelling that is so uniquely hers. I believe her greatest strength is in her flair for setting a scene. She has this ability to submerge me so completely into the book that I feel like I’m seeing everything from the character’s point of view. The tone of this book was very much like Young’s Spells for Forgetting, so if you loved that one this is a definite must read for you!

When James gets a call that her twin brother Johnny has been shot and killed her entire world turns upside down. James feels like there’s more to her brother’s death than what she’s being told. She travels back to her hometown to investigate this ominous feeling she cannot shake regarding the circumstances of her brother’s death. However, there’s a reason James has not stepped foot back into this town in twenty years. Old flames ignite, buried memories resurface, secrets are revealed, and Johnny’s ghost haunts James through it all.

The twin aspect of this storyline really intrigued me. I’ve always thought the ability of twins to sense each other’s feelings is fascinating, so I loved that idea being incorporated into the story. I appreciated the complexity of the family dynamic between James and her twin brother. It was interesting to learn the different layers of their relationship. I also thought the slight second-chance romance in the background to the main story was a nice added touch.

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

Young’s upcoming release is a slow burn mystery with atmospheric vibes and a transportive small town setting. It definitely has a darker tone than her previous work and was missing the “magical” element that was in June Farrow and Spells, but as the novel progressed, I grew to appreciate the slower paced writing style and build up. Young examines the question of whether we really know the people closest to us through the lens of, James, our female main character, as she travels back to her hometown following the death of her twin brother. A perfect story for fans of God of the Woods, The Midnight Feast and The Soulmate.

thank you random house for the ARC!

Oh my gosh. I am speechless. I really enjoyed this book so much: it was one of those books where I wanted to read 24/7 until I finished it: loved!

“I thought you said you were never going to be that guy in a tux,” I said, my voice as brittle as snow. “Guess I figured out I can be anything if I’m with you.”

She has outdone herself again
I don’t think I’ll ever rate her books lower than a 5. I loved it
It has single-handedly brought me out of a 4 month reading slump

I loved the mystery aspect of it and the hints of the the past relationships with characters

The ending threw me
I can’t say I expected the outcome with Autumn how it was and who was involved but I suppose that added an extra layer of surprise to the story.

I loved Micah - I loved the mystery - I loved the slight spookies

Everything about it
Loved

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc

Adrienne Young has a way with words, if you haven't read any of her books, then you need to immediately. I am a huge fan and she is an auto buy for me. A Sea of Unspoken Things is a small town mystery vibe book that is very poetic in spots. It is. beautifully written and engaging.


Thank you netgalley for an arc of A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young

🕵️ Quiet mystery
🏡 Small town
❤️ Second chance romance
👫 Intense sibling bond

A Sea of Unspoken Things is the newest by Adrienne Young. It follows James, a woman who has long left her northern California small town after a trategy- only to be brought back by her brother's mysterious death.

Ive been a fan of Young since Fable, but her transition into adult books has been a little confusing for me. She writes with the same beautiful, lush style, but a lot of her subject matter feels dulled and meant to appeal to the widest possible audience.

Unspoken Things is part mystery, part slowburn character study. It doesn't quite have the sharp, dark feel of Sharp Objects, but its also not full on small town chick lit. Its meant to be a mystery, but that often takes a backseat to James exploring her former town and reflecting on the complex relationships she's had with its residence, as well as her brother.

Because Young's prose is so good, I powered through this book, but I often caught myself wondering how much I actually enjoyed it. The writing offers these gorgeous little passages trying to convey the complexity of a character or James's relationship to them, but I found myself not particularly connected to anyone or moved by the character relationships. The most meaningful among these are the backstory between James and her brother Johnny, and her former flame Micha who still lives in the town.

Back to that mystery- its sort of boils down to "Was Johnny killed", and "if so, why?"- and it did hold my attention. the northern California setting and focus on someone involved in wildlife preservation was pretty unique, and the complicated web of characters in Johnny and James's life introduced a number of suspects when it was actively being pursued.

A Sea of Unspoken Things, as mentioned, is very much meant to appeal to everyone and is largely inoffensive and not challenging. Its an easy read and perfect as an airport novel or something to pick up when you are busy or need a break from heavier books. I recommend it to anyone looking for a lighter, more chick lit themed mystery.

I'm such a sucker for anything Adrienne Young writes, and this one was no different! The writing is just so lush and gorgeous, and the misty, magical setting is exactly why I keep coming back to Young's books. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is that I wanted more romance!

This is maybe one of Adrienne Young’s best books. There is a pull, a mystery, that makes putting it down simply impossible until you reach the conclusion. I finished this book in two days, and absolutely loved it. The descriptions are so lifelike, I felt like I was immersed in the story from the beginning. Absolutely beautiful.

Guess who got approved for the arc, baby!

Rating: 3.75 ⭐️

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

The first half of the book was a little slow, I'm not gonna lie. It made me a little nervous. So much of this book revolves around the mysteries that infest this small town, specifically the mysteries that surround James' brother Johnny. But we don't get that classic mystery-feel until almost halfway through the book.

However, the second half of the book really shines. That's when James started asking the real questions. The classic dilemma, do we ever really know the people closest to us? The second half had me absolutely seated, wondering what the heck was going on.

If you're a fan of small town mysteries, this one's for you!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for sending me A Sea of Unspoken Things in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was giving mystery and a touch of rom com. Easy read that kept me gripped the whole time. Also helped that it had short chapters, so I flew through this book. Involves a set of twins where Johnny has suddenly died and its up to James to move back to her hometown to tie up loose ends and she dsicovers a lot more than she anticipated.

Some of it was somewhat predictable but that didn't bother me. The main characters were very likeable and not annoying. Still not my favorite book by this author but it was fun. 3.25/5.

Another incredible read! You can always count on Adrienne Young to immerse me into a fictional world filled with beautiful scenery, depth and emotion. I really enjoyed it overall! This story is more so of a mystery rather than magical realism! Adrienne has done it again!

A Sea of Unspoken Things delivers a mysterious and atmospheric read that draws you in with its small-town charm and moody undertones. The first thing that stood out to me was how effortlessly the dark, brooding setting enhances the story, creating an irresistible backdrop for the unfolding mystery.

The relationship between James and Micah was a real highlight for me—authentic, nuanced, and a source of emotional depth throughout the novel. However, I found myself yearning for more from Johnny’s character. While a major theme revolves around James coming to terms with how well she really knows Johnny, his development felt a bit underexplored, leaving me with unanswered questions.

The second half of the book picks up the pace, becoming fast and twisty in ways that kept me glued to the pages. But I did struggle with the middle, which dragged and felt somewhat repetitive at times. I also wished the elements of magical realism were more prominent to fully immerse me in that world.

Overall, *A Sea of Unspoken Things* is an enjoyable, easy-to-read mystery, brimming with suspense and atmosphere. If you're into dark, small-town secrets, this one will definitely keep you entertained.

This book is a mystery but it's also a human study and things unravel bit by bit. It's difficult to see Johnny only through the lens of his twin, James, bc it comes with the trappings of sibling love and confusion, connection and distance that only sketches him in based on what she needs him to be at that time. The supernatural element of twinship plays a very large part of the story, as is the usual elements of small town and big dreams. It's a quick read and nothing feels resolved, truly at the end.

4*

Young has a way with magical realism and she draws readers along on journeys that feel both fantastical and familiar.

Since reading Spells for Forgetting, I've always picked up anything that Young has put down, and it's very rare that she misses, and A Sea of Unspoken Things is no exception.

Though the middle of the story does feel a little slower, the story she weaves is rich, enchanting and sometimes terrifying.

Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for this advanced copy of A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young.

This book was not what I expected but that being said, it will definitely stay with me. Adrienne Young writes so beautifully, you feel pulled into the story fully and completely.
I struggled in the beginning with connecting to the characters, but as the story progressed, I was drawn in by the mysteries in the background.
I love that it had just a touch of magical realism, in a way that made the story feel real even with that hint.

Overall 4 out of 5 stars.

My only wish is the situation with them as teens had been addressed, but I also can see why it wasn’t.

3.75 stars. A very engaging mystery that involves lost friendships, family issues, and many surprises! I thought Adrienne’s writing was so captivating and eerie. Reading this book felt like solving a puzzle with the FMC. Every time I thought this must be it and I turned out to be wrong. Overall really enjoyed solving the puzzle! There were paragraphs describing actions that I thought were not very important for the plot line. Something like “I looked for the keys, then opened the door, then I stepped into the house”. Other than that, it’s a good book.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.75 stars!

First off I’m so grateful I was able to get an eArc of this book! Adrienne’s writing is captivating, it feels like I’m right there with the characters, following their story.

There were a couple grammatical errors I noticed, but it didn’t deter from my rating. I will say this genre isn’t one I tend to read and this story kept me engaged. Every time I had to put it down I wondered who did it and how it played out. When I thought it was a certain character who did it, it was completely different. James was a very dedicated sister and it was neat how her and Johnny had a “magical” connection even after. The romance was very low and you can guess how it turned out, but it was executed very well.

I decided on a 3.75 due to not being my favorite genre and I felt it lagged in some parts of the book. Overall I would recommend if you like mystery, and fiction.