This was an interesting mystery with the different layers with all the characters different levels and not knowing their intentions. I enjoyed going through the story and getting a bit more information along the way. The spirit type energy helping the story go along was intriguing plot. I liked the simplistic ending.

I love the way Adrienne Young writes, even though this one was a little slow for me. I did enjoy it overall, just didn't feel myself grabbing for it,

🤍Thank you so much @delacortepress for the copies of A Sea of Unspoken Things 🤍

Adrienne Young is an auto-read author for me, and she swept me away with this eery mystery.

James returns to her hometown after the death of her twin to face the secrets buried there. And to face Micah, the only man she’s ever loved.

What follows is an atmospheric and heartbreaking story about loss, regret, and a mystery that had me glued to the page.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★/5
steam: fade to black

after reading The Unmaking of June Farrow and LOVING it I knew I had to read her newest, and I ate up every word of this book!!


James is forced back to her hometown she escaped at 18 when her twin brother is found dead. Though ruled an accident, James knows there is more to the story— she can feel where the bullet struck her brother. Now she must face her past, the lies she told, the man she left behind.. and has to figure out if her brother is the person she thought he was.

Mystery, death, a small town, romance, and a connection between twins that prevails after death - what more do you want in a book??

I read the last 60% of this book in one sitting!! be sure to pick it up when it comes out Tuesday!!!!! thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the arc 🥰🤩

This is a new to me author. The Unmaking of June Farrow has been on everyone's lips as a must read book, so while I waited for my Libby hold, I grabbed this one from Netgalley. It was good. It was a bit slow in places and while it had a bit of mystery (aka whodoneit), it was more character driven than a lot of big events (although to be fair, there were several big events that drove the story as well). James and Johnny are unidentical twins and when Johnny loses his life, James is thrown back into a life she wanted to just get away from and HAD gotten away from. Soon the mystery of Johnny's death has James rediscovering her roots and her small town. It absolutely is beautifully written, almost lyrical and had me clearly imagining what the author was trying to describe. I will absolutely read more from this author.

If ever there was a story painted in muted blues and vibrant grays, it would be the hauntingly lovely A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young.
After twenty years, James Golden returns home to Six Rivers to handle the affairs of her twin brother, Johnny. His untimely and accidental deal feels anything but accidental to James, who can feel his presence everywhere in their hometown, like he is leading her to something important.

James goes on a mission to understand her brother's life and cure the nagging ache that tells her that not everything is as it seems in the town of Six Rivers. She also reconnects with their best friend, Micah, creating a second-chance romance subplot. The romance is a full plot on it's own but definitely takes a backseat to the mystery.

With elements of ghosts and the supernatural connection shared by twins, I would describe A Sea of Unspoken Things as a magical realism mystery. I couldn't put it down once the story really started unfolding and I didn't see the twist coming at the end. I absolutely recommend A Sea of Unspoken Things to readers who enjoy moody, atmospheric mysteries.

Thank you to Adrienne Young, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for the eARC of A Sea Of Unspoken Things in exchange for my honest opinion. I really enjoyed it. Four stars.

📷🪵🪦💔

When James Golden’s twin brother, Johnny, dies in a tragic accident, the deep, almost psychic connection they shared is severed, leaving her unmoored and consumed by questions—was his death truly an accident? Against her better judgment, James returns to the wild, small town of Six Rivers, a place she swore she’d never revisit after leaving behind her family and her first love two decades ago. As she pieces together the mysteries surrounding Johnny’s death, James uncovers layers of deception and long-buried secrets, forcing her to confront truths that blur the line between loyalty and self-preservation. Adrienne Young masterfully weaves a story of grief, love, and betrayal in this hauntingly atmospheric novel. Perfect for fans of complex family dramas with a twist of mystery, this book will stay with you long after you’ve turned the final page.

This was an engrossing mystery story. Adrienne Young is able to create characters that are both accessible and intriguing. This is overall a story of grief and self-awakening. James's twin brother, Johnny, is killed in an apparent hunting accident. She returns to the small town she left behind twenty years earlier in an attempt to learn what happened to Johnny. She unexpectedly goes through a journey of realization and acceptance of who both she and her brother were as individuals. The plot moved quickly, and I was unable to easily put the book down. I was immersed in atmosphere world and was driven to know what happened.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a character driven mystery with a slight mystical tone.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House- Ballentine for providing an eARC in return for my honest thoughts.

This was such a sweet book 😭 I feel like that’s a very weird thing to say, because I’d probably describe it to people as a murder mystery. But it was very character driven and cozy and I really loved the feel of it 🩶

This felt a bit different from the other Adrienne Young books I’ve read. It’s not young adult, which is what I’ve read from here. And while Young seems to stick close to magical realism, this has only the tiniest slice of supernatural compared to some of her other books. So I feel like I went into reading not really sure what to expect, but being pleasantly surprised by how much a liked it!

I thought the pacing was absolutely perfect, the first chapter was a little slow, but really framed how the rest of the book would follow (slow and steady). There were even clues sporadically revealed to keep the read interested, but not enough to make guessing the outcome super easy. And I always appreciate not being able to completely guess everything in a mystery!

The romance was very very much a small subplot, but regardless it was really cute and I love them! More importantly, I love the way relationships were explored through James’ experiences. Really gave the book a much deeper meaning, especially knowing the author has her own twin brother 💕

Haunting and beautifully tragic were the words that came to mind after finishing this book. Sea combines small town secrets, grief, love, and heartbreak to create a dark atmospheric mystery that's incredibly moving and unforgettable, all the things I love about Adrienne's storytelling. Her words reach down and touch my very soul, and I'll never be able to truly describe that feeling. So a five star rating will simply have to do.

I knew that this book might be different from Adrienne’s previous books. So I went in with different expectations.
What I got was a beautiful atmospheric book. It was lush and slow much like life in Six Rivers.
If you are looking for a plot driven story, this one might not be for you. But if you are looking for a slow mystery with lots of atmosphere this book is for you. I love a book where the setting also feels like a character and this boon delivers on that.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this advanced copy for my honest review.

Absolute magic. Adrienne Young delivers perfection yet again. This book is packed full of emotion and beauty. I am completely obsessed with it and could not recommend it enough.

Full review coming on Instagram.

What a beautiful new mystery from the author of The Unmaking of June Farrow which I loved so much last year! Highly recommend for any mystery lover. What a delight this author is!

not really sure how to feel about this one. I love Adrienne’s writing so so much! her amazing ability to create a stunning atmosphere definitely lives in this story. it’s dark, woodsy, and had amazing small town mountain vibes. this 100% is a mystery. a verrrrry slow paced mystery that is tied more into family drama. there is a DASH and i mean a very small dash of romance. the story just felt too slow, the ending rushed, and i really wanted to see more of the characters.

my advice to you is go into this knowing it’s going to be slow, it’s a mystery novel, and to not expect magical realism.

Reading A Sea of Unspoken Things felt like trying to untangle a massive ball of yarn. Each twist and knot was so intricately woven, but somehow, it all made sense as I worked through it. I was completely focused on each moment, and by the time the final thread unraveled, the full story hit me in the best way possible. From the very first chapter, this book had me in its grip.

Adrienne Young’s writing always leaves me feeling unsettled in a way that’s both uncomfortable and addictive. I was emotionally invested before I’d even made it to chapter two. There were moments in this story that left me squirming, but I think that was the point. It’s not a book that lets you stay in your comfort zone.

While a few parts of the story were predictable, it never once felt slow. I couldn’t bring myself to put it down, and even when I thought I knew what was coming, the journey to get there still had me hooked. The ending brought everything together in a way that felt both satisfying and earned, which made all the tension worth it.

If you’re looking for a book that will make you feel deeply, unsettle you, and keep you glued to the page, A Sea of Unspoken Things is one to pick up. Adrienne Young’s storytelling is as raw and haunting as ever, and this one will stick with me for a long time.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group, for this ARC.

As someone who has now read several of Adrienne Young’s novels, there is a level of atmospheric prowess that I have come to expect when I crack open a new one. A Sea of Unspoken Things exceeded that expectation in spades. The moody, insulated Pacific Northwest setting provides the perfect environment for a mystery entrenched in secrets, grief, and the hauntings of the past.

A woman returns to her hometown after making a grand escape in youth to settle her twin brother’s affairs following a tragic shooting. The town greets her with old secrets, traumas, and the realization that the extraordinary connection she had to her brother — to literally feel what he feels — did not die with him. To figure out what happened to Johnny, James must contend with the reality of who they both were with an honesty she never had before.

This novel was a solid read, but not an all-time favorite. The mystery was juicy. The vibes were immaculate. Some characters sang. Others fell a little short for my literary-leaning taste. Not every twist and turn was for me. I absolutely recommend it if you want to spend a few hours in the rain, in the forest, dealing with the dark secrets of a small town (as someone who grew up in a small town in the Pacific Northwest, it may have had a particular resonance for me).

I have been looking forward to this book ever since I read the synopsis. Twins, James and Johnny Golden, always had a connection. However, it was more than just that - many times James believed she could feel the same things Johnny felt, share the same thoughts and memories he did.

The story takes place after Johnny is tragically killed. James must go and finalize his photography project and somehow collect all the leftover pieces of his life to put to them close.

I loved the supernatural connection that James and Johnny, how it slowing unwrapped all these signs to lead James where she needed to go. As James tries to piece together all the last days of Johnny's life, red flags start to pop up and you just KNOW there are secrets waiting to be unearthed.

The location was beautifully described, the lush green forests, the darkness of the night, all adding to the foreboding story that James is trying to unravel.

Such a GREAT read to start the year off, but perfect for any time!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for ARC, all opinions are my own.

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

This book was an experience, let me tell you. It’s very much more so a mystery even though it’s mainly considered a magical realism story, which didn’t bother me in the slightest, but I think it’s worth clarifying. There is a touch of magical realism, but not on the same level as “The Unmaking of June Farrow” which is what I was expecting based on its marketing.

That said, I really enjoyed my time with this novel! There were certainly things I saw coming, but DAMN there were a lot of twists that really threw me for a loop. It’s been a while since I was so sucked into a book that I just wanted to sit down and devour it to know what happens, and that feeling felt so good. I also rarely feel the need to make note of quotes in a book, but there were so many wonderfully written phrases - when my hardcover copy comes I may have to go back and mark some quotes.

One particular twist sits weird with me…but not enough to lower my rating. Honestly anything under 5 stars just didn’t feel right.

I’ll leave you with maybe my favorite quote, which so accurately describes my own experience with grief:

“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.

TW: grief, death of family member, animal bones, unwanted touching

This hauntingly atmospheric read draws you into a world of mystery and shadow. Of running from your past only to be drawn back into it.
The descriptive writing immediately dropped me into their world and had me unsettled throughout the entire book.
James and her connection to her brother drive the story, while Micah has a quiet strength I really loved. He and James have that connection and tension that only a long history can speak to.
I absolutely recommend this if you’re in the mood for an atmospheric mystery with a little romance thrown in!

Thanks to @delacortepress and @netgalley for the #gifted copy of this book.

Summary: Twins, James, and Johnny Golden have always had a special connection that has made James feel what Johnny feels. Despite their years and miles apart, this connection is still so strong, that James knows Johnny is gone before she gets the phone call. Once back in her hometown, James delves into Johnny's possessions and stumbles upon some secrets she never knew about her brother. Not only does James have to weed through Johnny's secrets, but she also comes face to face with her past when Micah comes by to help her sort through the mystery. However, the more they discover, the more James has to determine if they will shed light on these secrets or keep them buried like they always do for Johnny.

My Thoughts: I love Adrienne's writing and the places she creates. The slow-burn mystery in this small town was so perfect to read in front of the fire and get lost in the story. As a mom of twin boys, I loved the twin connection between James and Johnny, because it is fascinating watching my boys and how they sometimes just know something is up or do the same thing. This mystery had me guessing until the very end with twists I didn't see coming. The love story that Adrienne weaved throughout was so fun to watch but also so subtle that the focus was the mysterious happenings in their town. While this was a little more of a dark storyline from her last release, I love the moments that shined through, especially the ending.

Read if you love:
💫Magical Realism
✨Slow Burn Mystery