A moody atmospheric novel of long held secrets, lies, and death in a small town. James left Hawthorne and never looked back after...no spoilers- but she's come back because her twin Johnny was killed in the forest-shot in the chest. Everything is the same and everything is different but she wants answers because his death doesn't make sense in more ways than one. And then she discovers there was another death. Can she trust their old pal Micah? What about others in town? And why is her dog pawing at the closet? This is almost ponderous at first and I came close to giving up because the bones of the plot felt familiar but I kept reading because I was intrigued. Glad I did. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

3.5 rounded up.
I am a huge fan of Adrienne Young’s writing and adored The Unmaking of June Farrow and Spells for Forgetting! Her books are so rich and atmospheric that I really feel that I am there with the characters. That being said, this was not my favorite of hers. It was beautifully written and had a couple of great twists, but was slow to start before picking up at about the halfway point. I loved the characters and seeing their relationships grow after years apart.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up.

now, mind you, im in a reading slump-its the first book ive finished in a bit. i was hesitant going in because, again, reading slump, so i didn't know how it would go. would i like it? hate it? would i even be able to finish it or would my slump worsen?

well, good news fellas. my slump did *not* worsen (although it might still be here?), and i DID finish the book.

we start the book with james going back to the small town she grew up in and left twenty years ago. her brother died, and she has the suspicion it might not have been an accident. after all, they're twins. she felt him die. helped with people from her past, james tries to figure out what happened to her brother, but when accidentally digs secrets up, she wonders if she really knew him.

this is my first adrienne young book ever. and honestly, it was quite good, and a nice introduction to this author. i know she primarily writes YA fantast, but this one is an adult mystery/magical realism thriller? it was a fun read, and while it was a slow one, it did pick up towards the ending. the characters were good and interesting to read about, and the plot was easy to get through and nice, although the mystery and "twist" were a tad obvious.

thank you to netgalley for giving me an arc. all thoughts are my own.

I absolutely loved! From the very beginning, the story pulled me in with its beautiful writing and the way it captures all those little emotions we don’t always know how to say out loud. The characters felt so real—like people I might know—and their struggles, hopes, and quiet moments.

What stood out the most to me was how the story felt so raw and human. It’s not just about the big events but also the smaller, quieter moments that shape who we are. It’s bittersweet but also hopeful, which I really appreciated.

Thank you to NetGalley and for letting me read an advanced copy of this one! It’s such a moving book, and it’s will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you netgalley for the arc of a sea of unspoken things in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved Adrienne Youngs last book the unmaking of June Farrow so I could not wait to dive right into this one, Adrienne has a lovely writing style that keeps the reader engaged and looking forward to finding out what is going to happen next. James and Johnny are twins raised in a small logging town, They share a special connection that helps them feel when their twin is in trouble.
Unfortunately Johnny dies and his death is ruled an accident as he was shot outside during hunting season. James feels like Johnny is speaking to her from beyond the grave to find out what really happened to him. Many mysteries are unfolded along the way. Four stars.

This book was amazing.
Honestly, I was blown away by this entire tale.
The approach to the story telling was so well orchestrated. The way we were being told the story and being just as confused as James was GENIUS.
Playing into the dream of detaching from your hometown and becoming an outsider to the town, the people, your own brother, the house, and recent events brought up all the nerves. Feeling out of place, judged, and confused made the whole story feel uneasy in the best possible way. Waiting until the very end for TWO separate reveals caused you to second guess yourself and your theories until the very end… AND I STILL GOT IT WRONG.

Will be recommending this book by screaming from the rooftops how amazing Adrienne Young is!

I went into this book expecting the fantasy element that is typically a major part of Adrienne’s Young’s novels. This book had just the slightest bit of magical realism, but was primarily a mystery with elements of sibling connections, second chance relationships, and returning home. I enjoyed the writing, as I always do with Young’s books!

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young is a captivating, atmospheric mystery that blends elements of magical realism with a haunting small-town tale. When James Golden returns to her remote hometown to investigate her twin brother's mysterious death, she's forced to confront both her grief and a long-buried secret from her past. As she uncovers hidden truths about her brother’s life, a deep, almost supernatural bond between them resurfaces, making her question everything she thought she knew.

Adrienne Young masterfully creates a gripping sense of place with the eerie, fog-drenched town of Six Rivers, and she skillfully weaves a mix of mystery, romance, and family drama. The pacing is slow but deliberate, allowing readers to really get absorbed in the emotional depth of the story. The mystery builds at a steady pace, and the psychological tension keeps you turning pages, eager to uncover the truth. This book is perfect for fans of atmospheric, character-driven tales with a touch of the supernatural. Highly recommended for readers who enjoy complex emotional journeys and unraveling dark secrets. ★★★★☆

No one sets a scene quite like Adrienne Young - I always feel so enveloped in the environments she creates. A Sea of Unspoken Things has a similar vibe to some of her other books; think small tight knit town, big secrets. I liked this a lot, and will continue to read anything Young writes in the future!

I will preface this by saying I have loved all of Young’s books! I love her writing style and how atmospheric she is. I will say this one, at the beginning, felt very reminiscent of Spells for Forgetting. However, they were very different stories and I loved the emphasis on the twins and seeing that aspect to this story. I would say if you have loved Young’s books in the past, you will love this one too!

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an eARC in exchange for my thoughts!

Thanks Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the earc in exchange for an honest review.
This is my first Adrienne Young book but it definitely won’t be my last. This book was captivating and was very atmospheric.

This book starts with James who is returning to the small town of six rivers due to her twin brother Johnny’s death. She had left to go to college and has not been back since. I felt like this book did a great job at showing the closeness of a small town and their resistance to certain change and outsiders. I loved the interactions between James and everyone else and how it not only transported her to her past and why she left in the first place but also how it pushed her to dig deeper to find out why her brother was dead.

The twin connection threw me off at first. Where she could feel strong emotions her brother was giving off. I didn’t connect with that very well, but I also don’t have a twin. It brought that slight paranormal aspect to the book that kept motivating James to keep looking which made her feel closer to Johnny again. This was a slow build, I was not very engaged at the beginning but as we kept learning more and more it was hard to put down. I really enjoyed the end and how everything resolved. I haven’t read her other books yet, but I definitely plan to after reading this

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Overall, I found this to I be boring. I couldn’t connect with the characters and the slow pace of the book kept me very uninterested. I wish I would have liked it, I’ll be sure to try more of this author and give her another chance.

Stunning as always! Thank you Adrienne! She always writes the most beautifully written and hauntingly personal stories. This was amazing!

4.5 - If Adrienne Young writes it, I’m going to read it. I loved this one! Such a powerful atmosphere, the plot and mystery of the story is moved along beautifully as a result of the setting. I think this overall had a darker and more mysterious vibe than her usual work, which I ended up really digging. I love how Young is able to create such strong characterization without being fully focused on it, you get such a strong sense of the characters and the relationships that unfolds in a beautiful way. I love a mystery within a mystery, and enjoyed the pacing and conclusion of the story. Overall, loved it!!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Ballantine and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

You can always count on Adrienne Young to write a beautiful, atmospheric, emotionally wrenching story and she has not failed yet! Her newest novel, A Sea of Unspoken Things, follows James as she goes back to her hometown that she has not seen for 20 years. Her twin brother, Johnny, died and she's back to put his affairs in order. He was found shot in the woods, allegedly a hunting accident, but was it?? James is getting flashbacks/visions of her brother's recent life, she's always had a very strong, unexplainable connection to him, and she uses it to retrace Johnny's steps the last few days of his life. She unravels more than she bargained for and navigating that while also struggling to connect with other people in her past she'd abandoned turns out to be quiet a handful! I think this is Young's most twisty story yet and I loved every second of it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I was beyond excited to dive into my first Adrienne Young book and while this story wasn't what I was expecting, I really enjoyed the ride.
At its core, this book is about the bond between siblings. It tells that story through talk of grief, through diving into the challenges of lifelong relationships, and through analysis of the potentially destructive nature of loyalty.
Our main character is a fish out of water in her old pond and the amalgamation of her interactions with those she has deep history with plays nicely with her navigation of new relationships and her use of interpersonal connections to get the answers she's looking for to drive the plot forward.
The pacing of this story seems to be off at times. There are lulls that could have been edited down to allow for continued reader engagement. The ending of this book feels a bit rushed, which I think is this book's biggest disservice to the overall story.
My biggest takeaway from this book is Young's talent at using location to enhance the story. Her descriptions of locations and settings are phenomenal and allow the reader to paint vivid pictures in their mind. She makes the setting its own character and in this story that was a very powerful tool.
If you're in the mood for an emotional mystery, pick this book up! It's easy to enjoy!

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

4 Stars – Slow to Start, but Worth It in the End

The pacing was pretty slow for most of this book, and it took a while to get to the heart of the mystery in the small town. But I really enjoyed trying to figure out what happened, and the twists at the end were fantastic.

One thing I missed was the stronger magical realism that I loved in Spells of Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Sparrow. Here, it’s more subtle, and I found myself wishing it had been a bigger part of the story.

That said, the ending was incredibly satisfying and tied everything up perfectly. Overall, even though the pace could drag at times, the payoff was definitely worth it.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance copy to review.

In true Adrienne Young fashion, A Sea of Unspoken Things pulls you into a deeply immersive and atmospheric story. Johnny has died in a tragic accident and when his twin sister, James, returns to their small hometown, she can't shake the feeling that he's not really gone. The otherworldly connection James and Johnny have takes center stage in this story about family, the secrets we keep, the protectiveness we feel, all built up around the mystery of who Johnny was, and what actually happened to him the day he died.

This story is an emotional journey through the lives of the twins and specifically James' grief. We learn about their past and the traumas who made them who they are. It's a touching look at recognizing people for who they are and loving them anyway. The mystery is the catalyst to explore these themes and each part is well crafted. The pacing is steady, forcing you to slow down and take it all in. The setting of Six Rivers evokes the claustrophobia I can imagine comes from living in small, rural town. We are constantly questioning who Johnny was and what secrets the town was keeping from her. Overall, this was so well done and you can really imagine yourself as a bystander in the story.

Actual Rating: 4.5/5

As twins, James and Johnny Golden have always been close. So close that James can feel what Johnny feels, so James knows even before she gets the call that Johnny is dead. She also knows that Johnny’s death was no accident. Forced to go back to the place she tried to escape from James must confront who she thought Johnny was and who he actually is and unearth the truth along the way.

I love the way Adrienne Young writes. It’s so visual and atmospheric. I always feel like I’m a ghost that’s been transported through her writing and I’m witnessing these characters actions and thoughts first hand and A Sea of Unspoken Things didn’t disappoint.

There’s so much depth and so many layers to these characters and this mystery. I loved the small town setting. This could be because I’m just a sucker for small town mysteries but I thought it was an excellent backdrop to the thoughts and feelings of our main character James. It was gloomy and full of melancholy. Yet, as the story progresses and truths become unraveled it becomes more and more beautiful.

James was an excellent main character. I didn’t connect with her like I did with June from The Unmaking of June Farrow but I felt for her nonetheless. I felt the weight she carried around as she grieved for her brother and faced her past. And I felt as that weight lifted the more she discovered about her brother and the small town she used to call home. Micha was also an excellent addition to the story. He was so swoon-worthy and I’m so glad James had someone to lean on throughout.

Overall I was so invested in this book. The mystery aspect felt a little lackluster, moreso in terms of plot twists but I think the story was more about our characters and their journey and they absolutely shined. Adrienne Young’s atmospheric and immersive writing brought these characters and their story to life.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Last year the previous book of Young, The Unmaking of June Farrow was on my top list! I went into this book with high expectations. That said, I was let down a bit.

What we are given is a deep connection of adult twin siblings, James and Johnny. Johnny dies and James goes to his town to help settle his affairs and also begins to try and figure out the details surrounding his accident.

The book was slow and methodical. I found I had to push myself to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the gifted e-arc.