The writing is amazing but overall the story just wasn’t for me

There were so many plot holes that I just didn’t really enjoy the story, it was also very slow paced.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first by this author, and it has me very excited to read her earlier books! James and her twin brother Johnny have always had a connection and she feels it the instant he dies. James heads back to her hometown to try and put together the last bits of work he was doing for a conservation project and try and figure out why she’s feeling Johnny everywhere. When she gets back to her hometown that she left 20 years before, all the old ghosts come out. She is forced to confront things and people from her past that she fled from. While looking through her brothers things and hearing stories about his recent life, she discovers she doesn’t really know him at all. And some of the things she found make her wonder of her brothers death was really an accident.

I’m normally not a fan of stories with a friend or family member investigating a death instead of/alongside the police. This was executed very well and her writing is amazing. very atmospheric. I feel like it took a bit to get captivated by the story, but once I was into it, I didn’t wanna put it down. very good character development as well. would definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Young has become a beloved auto buy author for me. Her stories are rich and evocative, often offering deep character development and timeless story lines. Sadly, A Sea of Unspoken Things didn't quiet hit all those familiar notes that I have come to expect.

Readers follow James as she returns to her hometown after the unexpected loss of her twin brother. As James begins to sift through what remains of his life, she gets an unsettling feeling that things aren't quite what they seem. With her childhood love at her side, she begins to untangle a web of mysteries that are both complicated and otherworldly.

Personally, I felt that the characters here lacked the nuance that Young typically infuses into her stories. There's a line that is revisited again and again about the twins being born in the dark. It's a evocative and romantic sentiment but I never felt any true darkness within either character. They were likable enough but I never felt invested in the outcome of the mystery or the romance. Leading my overall impression of the book to be indifference.

sea of Unspoken Things follows James as she returns to her hometown following the unexpected death of her twin brother. As she searches for closure she unveils more than she bargained for, and ends up with more than one mystery to solve.

If you read Spells for Forgetting and/or Unmaking of June Farrow and enjoyed them, and love atmospheric slow burns, this book may be for you! It had a slightly magical element to it, but is grounded in the real world. Full of small town “charm” and rustic characters.


Unfortunately, for me it falls flat. It feels too much like Spells for Forgetting in the plot (something happened in Highschool, someone left town, now they’re back, everything is coming to light…) and too much like June Farrow in the pacing (things are happening but nothing is REALLY happening until after 50% where suddenly a lot is happening). I fully think this is a me thing and the boom itself isn’t bad, I just can’t get past how similar to the previous works it really is. Also, it got relatively convoluted and messy, which made the end very unsatisfactory.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fantastic book. I really enjoyed every second I spent reading it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 5 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 - 𝕆𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕊𝕝𝕦𝕞𝕡 𝕥𝕠 𝔻𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

👏 Adrienne 👏 Young 👏 Does 👏 Not 👏 Miss! 👏

Lemme just start by saying that I really took my time reading this and savored each page. This is one of those books that you can read in one sitting, sure. But the prose is just so exquisite that I wanted to take my time and just relish in the beauty of the story.

₊⊹⁀➴ ✴ .` ⋆⁺ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

We follow our FMC, James (yes, James - she has a traditionally male name) who is headed back to the small lush forest of a small town home after her twin brother was killed in what local law enforcement believe to be a hunting accident.

Once she arrives and starts combing through his things... something seems off. Not only is she finding physical and tangible evidence that something is amiss, but James has always had a sort of twin telepathy with her brother Johnny. But when they were younger there was a time where it had seemed that they could actually FEEL what the other was feeling.

Since he had past, James expected to not feel so consumed with her brother's presence... but she could feel him and sense him... as if he was giving her clues, or trying to tell her something...

Was it an accident? Was it revenge for something in their past? What is really going on in the forest town? What happened to Johnny?

₊⊹⁀➴ ✴ .` ⋆⁺ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

I've gotta say... so The Unmaking of June Farrow is still my favorite Adrienne Young book so far... but this book. Whew - this book is now my second favorite, knocking Spells for Forgetting into the third spot lol. I will never get sick of these small town, magical realism, atmospheric books from Young. They are EXACTLY MY CUP OF TEA.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ This story was chilling, exciting, melancholic, haunting and beautiful. I had tears streaming by the end. I was just so moved by the whole story. There's even a dash of romance in here that abso-freaking-lutely made my heart melt.

Speaking of which, the love interest, Michah - ugh he's just the sweetest. All of the characters were done so well. I did have my suspicions early on. Everyone is a little suspicious. But I was pleased with how everything was tied together.

Highly recommend!

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Adrienne - please never stop writing these beautiful stories! You're amazing! Thank you so much for another 5 star read!

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
And this cover!! 🤌🏻💋

Anticipated Release Date - 01/07/25

This is going to look so gorgeous on my shelf next to Spells for Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Farrow!!

Buddy reading with my perfume buying hoardingcollecting partner/bestie in crime Meagan 🥰😘💘

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own. 💐💖

I took a while to get into this one, but once I did, the story was wonderful. Andrienne Young is starting to become a must-read author for me.

This novel wraps you in its atmosphere from the very first page, blending eerie mystery with the deep bond only twins can share. James returns to Six Rivers, California, after her twin brother Johnny’s sudden death, facing not just the loss of someone who felt like another half of her soul, but also old secrets and lingering ghosts. The remote setting and James’s special connection to Johnny create a haunting mood, where every step deeper into his past raises new questions—and a creeping sense that nothing is as it seems.

As James struggles to understand who Johnny really was and what he was hiding, you feel her grief, confusion, and determination. Past and present entwine as she confronts Micah, the man who once meant the world to both of them, and the tangled web of memories they share. What’s especially gripping is how the author handles the push and pull between unveiling hard truths and letting sleeping secrets lie.

If you love moody, character-driven mysteries that dig into messy family bonds and leave you wondering what to believe, this story won’t disappoint. It’s an emotional, suspenseful journey into the heart of loss—and the healing that comes from finally facing it.

I was really looking forward to this arc, and it did not disappoint!

Adrienne Young has become one of my favorite authors this year! And while her other books have a bit more magical realism and focus on romance, this one was more of a mystery/thriller. Which normally isn’t my thing, but with this one I really enjoyed it!

The beginning was a bit of a slow build up, getting to know bits a pieces of the town and the characters, but at 50% it really kicked up and I couldn’t put it down!

The way the story kept unfolding while still keeping you guessing was really well done. Just when I thought I’d figured out what happened, we’d get another twist and I’d be proven wrong.

There also was still an element of romance in just the right amount to scratch that itch. 😏

The way Adrienne lays out the atmosphere of her books will always leave me entranced. Her writing is so beautiful and makes you feel fully immersed in each setting she creates. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is that I love so much about her writing, but I do know it’s some kind of magic ✨

The characters, their struggles, their stories and how they’re played out, the longing between love interests, the elements of mystery that she adds in each of her stories and how she weaves it all together is always such a joy to read.

A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS by Adrienne Young ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book has a little bit of everything! Chilling vibes, a slow burn mystery, endearing love story, and unpredictable twists. Although the focus of this book is on her brothers death, the second chance romance really won my heart! The first third of this book felt a little bit slow to me, but it definitely picked up and by the end I couldn’t put it down! Not my favorite book by Adrienne Young, but still highly recommend reading it! I 100% did not predict how this one was going to end.

After the loss of her twin brother, James returns to her hometown to tie up loose ends. When she gets there, she finds herself trying to find answers to questions surrounding his death.

Pub. Date: January 7, 2025.

Perfect if you like:
•Slow burn mystery.
•Unpredictable twists.
•Family secrets.
•Second chance romance.
•Moody and atmospheric vibes.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ (implied intimacy)
Mood: 🍿🫗

⚠️: explicit language.

3.5 stars rounded up

After her twin brother’s death from a hunting accident, James returns to her hometown to unravel the mysteries surrounding the event.

This one was just okay for me. I loved that it was really different from the Unmaking of June Farrow and incorporated the mystery aspects in a different way. The setting was woodsy and atmospheric, and lent itself really well to the unfolding plot points. I didn’t feel like I got to know a lot about the main character and her brother, but I think that kind of worked for the story, which largely revolved around what we think we know about someone vs what they are actually like. I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters, but I did enjoy finding out little pieces about the cast within the small town.

I found the pacing to be really slow, and there was a lot of emphasis placed on description. By the end, I felt like there were missing or unnecessary pieces that contributed to a lot of eggs in different baskets without resolution.

“That we could fill an ocean with the things we never said.”

This is slightly how I felt about the characters and A Sea of Unspoken Things. Out of Adrienne’s three latest releases, I felt a little more disconnected from the characters in this one. Of course it was a mystery with romance in it, so you’re meant to be in the dark until you have the knowing! Her writing is so atmospheric which is why I love her books, writing style, and storytelling. I always appreciate the mystery aspect, I definitely appreciated the sibling relationship, and loved the ending. She knows how to wrap a book! No one writes stories like Adrienne does, she’s unique to her own genre and I love that. She has yet to disappoint me! Definitely recommend, it’s a perfect winter read.

I devoured this book!!! I was not expecting that ending and it was so. GOOD! I really love Adrienne Young's writing style and these small town mysteries that she's been releasing are amazing!! I almost cried at work when I got approved for the ARC of this and I was not disappointed!! Thank you so much to NetGalley and to the publisher for my digital ARC!! ❤️

I almost dnfed this 50% in because the book was so slow moving but once you hit the actual plot of the book at 60% it’s so good. I love this authors writing and the ending was amazing. I just wish we got to the plot faster.

I am a forever buy Adrienne Young fan! I loved her first two books and was so pumped when this showed up on NetGalley! I over this beautiful, tragic story.

James finds out her twin brother has been killed, shot in an accidental hunting accident. but, she already knew…they share a connection that’s deeper than most twins, she can feel what he feels. Now she’s back in her rural hometown to finish his business and find out what really is going on…

This was a beautiful story about siblings, first loves, truth & lies. I love Adrienne Young's writing. No one can build a setting like she can. I FELT the forest, just like James did. I loved this whole story, mystery mixed with family drama and some romance. A nearly perfect book!

My only hesitation with this book was that I never felt like a really “knew” Johnny…like maybe he was really a figment the whole time. I wish there was just a little more to get to know him.

Thanks for letting me read it early! Cannot wait to share it all over socials!

Adrienne Young writes in a style that completely ensnares you. I was hard-pressed to put this book down.

James Golden has always had a connection with her twin brother Johnny. When James receives the phone call that Johnny was killed in an accident, she already knew. She had already felt the change. Its been 20 years since she has step foot in her small hometown. Being back is dredging up a lot of the past and forcing her to confront things she had left behind… namely Micah.

This story was expertly woven; showing sides of grief, regret, pain, longing, and mystery. I loved the power of connection that defied the laws of death. Each character was perfectly crafted and vital to the story. Every time I thought this story would zig, it zagged. And every time I thought it would zag, it zigged. You will not be disappointed in this book – pick it up today!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this story.

thank you netgalley and publisher for this arc read!

one thing about miss young is, SHE HITS THE MARK. EVERY. TIME. am i properly obsessed with her? yes. would i sell my soul for her? also yes.

after falling head over heels for tuojf i went into this read hesitant. i desperately did not want to be disappointed and was worried it wouldn’t hit the same. i am here to say, it absolutely hit the same.

james is faced with a shocking loss, and is forced to navigate coping this loss, while coming to terms with the reality behind her deepest and longest relationship. with the help of an old friend and love of her life, she investigates further into her brothers life, the secrets of her hometown, and her past that she has worked so hard to run from.

adrienne has once again beautifully tied together the supernatural with realism, in this book filled with hard truths and acceptance.

Adrienne Young’s writing never fails to captivate and immerse me into the worlds she creates. She is masterful in weaving together such vivid imagery and intricate storylines. She writes mysterious storylines in a way that feels natural and believable, with her signature touch of magic to transport you into something that feels wholly new.

My only criticisms, and what kept me from rating this book as highly as her previous works, are that the solution to one of the mysteries fell very flat. The motivation, while it made sense, seemed a bit of a stretch for the gravity of the situation. There was also one plot line left unresolved in a way that made it feel forgotten rather than intentional.

Review posted to Goodreads presently and will be shared to Instagram @courtsnovellife the week of publication.

Ok Adrienne Young…you’ve done it again! This is my fifth book by you and my fifth FIVE STAR!!!

I love how all of her books are so atmospheric! This one is set a small logging community and the forest is a character in its self.

The story is centered around an accidental shooting death of a man named Johnny.. His twin sister, James, came to deal with his estate. She is an artist and escaped the town leaving everything behind including her brother and first love.

She has more questions than answers when she begins unraveling the circumstances of his death. They have always had a unique bond and she feels he is trying to lead her to the truth.

So good! Mystery with a touch of thriller and second chance romance! I 100% recommend this book and this author!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

James and Johnny are twins who, when they were young were dependent on each other (since they raised themselves), telepathically can feel each other’s joy and pain and were a integral part of the small town in which they grew up. James left suddenly after a tragic event, leaving Johnny and her high school love Micah behind. Now Johnny has been killed (the police say it’s an accident, but James does not believe them) and James must return for the first time to her town and Micah. She begins to unravel the mystery surrounding Johnny, his work, and death and through that she begins to realize that a piece of her has been missing while she has been gone.

I loved the author’s last work The Unmaking of June Farrow and was so excited to see that there was a new novel, but I just didn’t connect to this one like I did to June Farrow. The pacing for the first half of the novel was far too slow for me and I was constantly getting distracted while reading. The second half was much better and I did eventually enjoy the story holistically. This book gave me The Nature of Disappearing vibes and little bit of North Woods as well. While I ended up liking the story, the pacing of the first half just made me not love this one.

3.75 stars

Thank you to Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the ARC