Reading Adrienne Young is always such a haunting experience. A Sea of Unspoken Things is an atmospheric and moody read. Mystery, slight romance, and some unexplained supernatural elements will pull you forward through this story. I couldn't read it fast enough!

Adrienne Young delivers another emotional and atmospheric story in A Sea of Unspoken Things. The bond between James and her twin brother Johnny is the heart of the novel—deep, unspoken, and almost supernatural. When Johnny dies suddenly, James is left unraveling the secrets he left behind in the eerie town of Six Rivers.

The pacing starts slow, but once it picks up, it’s completely gripping. The connection between James and Johnny is beautifully written, and Johnny and Micah’s love story adds a bittersweet layer to the mystery. As James confronts her past and her feelings for Micah, the story explores love, grief, and the truths we choose to bury.

Rich in emotion and atmosphere, this is a haunting and memorable read.

This book was phenomenally written and has a super secure spot in the top books of ‘24 for me. Adrienne just has a way of telling a story so so well!

It felt like I was physically there, alongside the characters in this amazing book. I didn’t want it to end (not shocked) and will definitely be back to re-read again.

I would recommend this book to everyone. 👏🏼

Probably my favorite book by Adrienne Young so far. James returns home after 20 years after learning her twin brother has died. She is soon asking questions about what really happened and unraveling some town rumors and secrets. Sometimes this type of story can feel very contrived, but this felt honest and real. I also really liked James and her journey in the story.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Reading A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young felt like being wrapped in the misty, secretive embrace of a small town shrouded in mystery. James Golden, the protagonist, is both relatable and hauntingly introspective as she returns to her hometown to untangle the threads of her twin brother Johnny’s life—and death. Their supernatural connection adds a fascinating layer to the story, making it more than just a mystery; it’s also about the ties that bind and the echoes of grief.

What stood out most for me was how vividly the redwood forests came alive. They’re not just a backdrop but almost a character themselves, framing the emotional and spiritual landscape of the narrative. The pacing is steady, revealing clues and character development with an almost meditative rhythm. It felt deeply personal as James unearths not only Johnny’s secrets but also her own buried truths, particularly her complex feelings for Micah, the boy she left behind.

If you enjoy stories where the atmosphere is as compelling as the plot and where relationships—familial and romantic—drive the narrative, you’ll likely be enchanted. It left me reflective about the stories we tell ourselves and those we choose to uncover.

Rating: 5
Author: Adrienne Young
Publisher: Dell

A gripping and emotional journey that delves deep into grief, secrets, and the complicated bonds between family members. The story follows James, a young woman struggling to move forward after the tragic death of her twin brother, Johnny. The novel explores James's painful quest back to her hometown to uncover the truth behind Johnny’s death, a mystery shrouded in silence and unspoken words.

The narrative takes us through James’s emotional turmoil as she confronts the trauma of losing her twin and the unresolved past they shared together. As she begins to unravel the secrets surrounding that fateful day, she pieces together the clues and confronts the people who were closest to her brother. James is forced to face not just the truth about what happened to Johnny, but also the layers of pain, betrayal, and unspoken feelings that she left behind in Six Rivers..

The pacing of the novel is steady, allowing the emotional stakes to build gradually as James moves closer to the truth. While the journey is heavy with emotional weight, it’s ultimately a story about healing, redemption, and the courage it takes to confront the past.

This book had beautifully crafted characters with so many layers to each personality and relationships. There was deeply rich character development, and beautiful atmospheric descriptions that make this novel an unforgettable read for anyone who enjoys deeply emotional and character-driven stories.

Quotes:
“Those two were like family and family’s like that. Just as likely to kill them as you are to kill for them.”

“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.”

“I couldn’t even pretend to know how you could take a whole life, a whole person, and put it into words. Goodbye is a lost language. A silent one.”

I thought this book was so well written. I was so curious to figure out what happened to James right alongside Johnny. And then you bring in another suspicious disappearance.

As things started to unravel I was so surprised. I didn't really see anything coming, I was just enjoying the ride.

Having heard so many positive things about this author, I felt a bit let down in some ways. I really thought I would end up giving this a higher rating and that it would become one of my favorite reads of the year but that wasn't the case.

The story revolves around a twin named James who returns to her hometown after her brother's tragic death. As she settles back in, she begins to sense that his death might not have been an accident, prompting her to dig deeper and ask questions. In a small town, this curiosity can be quite perilous. As James seeks to understand her brother better, she uncovers layers to Johnny's life that she was previously unaware of, leading her to question whether she truly knew him at all. The portrayal of grief is poignant, capturing the struggle to make sense of loss and the mysteries that linger after someone passes away. I found myself compelled to uncover the truth due to the intriguing nature of the story.

While I appreciated the narrative, I felt that the conclusion wrapped up too quickly. Even though some issues seemed resolved, it didn't provide that satisfying sense of closure where everything fits together seamlessly. I did enjoy the actual ending and how it brought everything full circle, but the plot felt a bit erratic, like a rollercoaster ride. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and am excited to read her other book!

5 ⭐ 1 🌶️

Gahhhhhh I absolutely love Adrienne Young's stories. Last year's June Farrow is one of my all time favorites and A Sea of Unspoken Things just climbed up and joined her up there. This one is spice free (closed door), but full of second chance, first love romantic elements that had me swooning. It also had my heart pumping as we watch James dig into her brother's death and the mysteries surrounding him.

At its heart this is a story about family. It was a bit of a roller-coaster as James navigated not only her feelings about Johnny's truths, but her guilt about those feelings. Loving someone who wasn't perfect isn't a task for the faint of heart, especially when you've spent your life covering for them and wondering if you shouldn't have....

I don't want to spoil anything, so if you want to go in completely blind stop here.
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The twists about gave me whiplash. I guessed right on two occasions only to find out I was wrong, but then also right again. I was almost disappointed as the first twist wound down, only for Adrienne to twist us up again and give me the ending I was hoping for. This is absolutely one of my favorite books of the year and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.

4.5 STARS! What a fantastic slow-burn mystery! Most of Adrienne’s adult books are a slow unraveling, but I definitely felt like this moved slower than typical. I definitely enjoyed the journey she took me on with this one, but I could see how some might not enjoy it as much. Per usual her atmospheric writing is on point 👌🏻 The psychic twin connection was SO intriguing to me. My bad habit is always trying to guess the ending in mysteries, and about 85% of the time I see what’s coming. I was totally shocked with this one. Everyone is a suspect in this small town for multiple mysteries, but trying to pin who did what is fun & I did NOT see a lot of it coming. Simply put: I thoroughly enjoyed it. Adrienne can still do no wrong in my eyes. I’ll gobble up whatever see gives us.

Okay, so I ate this up. I read it in three sittings (mainly because my reading got interrupted by other stuff) and, overall, I really enjoyed it. It's a medium-paced mystery that grips you enough to keep you engaged and thinking about who could've done what. The twists won't blow your mind or leave you reeling, and there are no dramatic, life-threatening scenes, so don't go in expecting that, but I think this works really well for what it is. The writing is very, very nice, the setting is immersive, and I liked the characters and the baggage they carried. I also liked the little dash of romance we get in this story.

I would recommend this as a solid mystery to anyone. I'm not sure what heavy mystery readers will think about this one, but as someone who picks up mysteries very casually, this worked perfectly for me and I enjoyed my time with it.

I read this in one sitting and stayed up way too late to do so. Like Spells for Forgetting this is so atmospheric, suspenseful, tortured, and kind of claustrophobic. Tension builds throughout as mysteries upon mysteries unravel.

There's a tiny bit of the supernatural here with James' connection to her twin brother. But at its core, this is a small town murder mystery. And we learn that one death might be only the beginning. There's also a second-chance romance as a side story.

As always, Young's writing is beautiful. This isn't my FAVORITE of hers because there was a something I considered a plot hole I still can't get past. And while I couldn't put it down, I can definitely see why some people are calling it slow-paced. I think this is also the least emotionally affected I've been by one of her books. If you did like Spells for Forgetting though, I think you will like this one too.

Many thanks to NetGalley and PRHAudio for the preview. All opinions are my own.

4.25⭐️

I love the way Adrienne Young writes. I get captivated by the story each time. This one did start off slower, but I was intrigued with the mystery from the start.

I had several theories as the story went on, but I never fully figured it out myself, and I love that. I love being surprised by the who and what details of stories.

I really enjoyed this one, but I had higher expectations after LOVING the unmaking of June farrow. But still would 100% recommend this book! I love a good mystery.

I look forward to reading more of her work in the future!

I was excited for this book as I'm a big fan of spells of forgetting and I thought it would be similar vibes. The vibes were similar and I was very curious to see how things played out but overall I was not as satisfied with the ending as I wanted to be. I'm not sure I 100% believe that it was realistic.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into “A Sea of Unspoken Things” as this was my first Adrienne Young novel. As someone who usually rolls her eyes at fantasy, I wasn’t sure her books were for me, but curiosity got the better of me and I’m happy it did because this book was more than I expected.

Whatever fantasy aspects there were in this book were written so effortlessly, they didn’t feel anything other than ordinary to me the reader. I also thought the character development was top notch. I loved the relationship between James and Johnny, and even though we only see one perspective of that relationship, I felt like I knew them both. Same with the supporting cast, their development made me feel comfortable with them but not enough to know who did what.

There were enough twists and curves in the story to keep it interesting, and while I didn’t see all the twists coming, I wasn’t shocked at the ending. However, the reveals weren’t overshadowed with other drama like so many other books I’ve read, so I got to enjoy them rather wade through a bunch of other noise to get to the good part.

For me, the story started off a little slow but once I got about 15-20% into the book I was captivated. A genuinely riveting book, I’m looking forward to my next Adrienne Young novel.

**Thank you to Random House-Ballantine and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I am thankful for the opportunity!!**

I am a fan of Adrienne Young and this book delivered! Her writing is always so atmospheric and I particularly adored how she wrote of the forest in this. The book had twists and turns that kept you hooked - I read this in one day because I couldn’t put it down! There were a few lulls where the plot would have felt like it was dragging a bit, probably because I was impatient with finding out the answers, but her beautiful writing kept me engaged even during the slower sections. If you enjoy Adrienne Young’s writing, you will enjoy this book. If you haven’t read Adrienne Young yet, this us a great place to start!

I was so excited about this story! Who doesn’t love a sibling returning home to figure out what happened to their twin. I loved watching James sift through Johnny’s last steps and piece together what she thought happened. It was quite the journey to figure out what really happened and who was to blame. A lot of moving pieces and when you thought you had it all figured out, something else comes to light. Between all the secrets and drama between everyone - both past and present. This story kept my interest the whole way and I did not get the culprits correct.

I fell in love with Adrienne Young’s atmospheric, melodic writing after reading The Unmaking of June Farrow. I can easily get lost within the pages of her books.

If you were a fan of Spells for Forgetting, I think you’ll enjoy this one. Young crafts a haunting atmosphere and a sense of foreboding from the start. Binge-worthy and captivating, I easily lost time while reading this spellbinding book.

I didn’t love it quite as much as June Farrow, but it was still a fantastic book. It is shorter in length (under 300 pages), and the wilderness was a perfect setting. I felt like the plot took a little while to get rolling so prepare for a slower start, but the last half truly shines.

My rating: 4.25⭐️

Adrienne Young has long been one of my favorite authors. Her stories are richly atmospheric, and her characters often feel deeply relatable. However, A Sea of Unspoken Things fell a bit short for me.

There were moments when the story danced on the edge of greatness—when the forest setting hinted at something deeper, almost sentient—but it never fully delivered on that promise.

A recurring theme in the book, emphasized by the line "We were made in the dark," had potential. Yet, aside from being set in the "dark" woods, the story itself didn’t feel truly dark. The main character’s struggles felt somewhat ordinary, and the pacing was slow, making it hard to feel fully invested in her journey.

That said, the book is quick to read. If you're looking for a winter story about second chances, small-town life, sprawling forests, and self-discovery, this story might be just right for you.

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

3.75

This is my first Adreinne Young book, I originally wanted to read "The Unmaking of June Farrow" but saw this and thought she had been such a big deal that I had to get my hands on this. A Sea of Unspoken Things was a bit different than what I thought it would be, but I was still very encapsulated with the story and the way Adrienne Young wrote it. She had a very melodic way of writing that grabbed me and although it took me a bit of time to actually be invested in the book as soon as it picked up towards halfway I had to know what was happening. I did like that it was a small town and I really feel like it added to the dynamic of the characters and the plot of the story with a haunting tone.

It's about a twin named James whose brother died and she goes back to her hometown and she starts feeling a pull that her brother's death was no accident and starts to ask questions and in a small town that is a dangerous thing to do. As James tries to understand her brother more she comes to find out that there might have been more to Johnny's life than she knew and starts to doubt that she ever knew her brother at all. James faces grief and I think it was accurately depicted when it came to someone you love and trying to understand why things happen after death, and I had to find out what happened because it was so mysterious that you truly just had to get to the bottom of it.

Although I did like this story I did feel like when we were getting to the end that everything was wrapping up really fast and then I felt like even if things seemed resolved it didn't give me that satisfying ending where everything comes together nicely. I did enjoy the actual ending and how things came full circle but the plot itself kind of felt like I was going back and forth like a ping-pong ball but I still very much enjoyed the story and I will read her other book!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Adrienne Young for sending me an ARC of this book for an honest review!