Thank you to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an early copy of A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young.

I am a massive fan of Adrienne Young. Her writing is beautiful and I love the magical realism she includes in her stories. When you read her books, she describes the setting in such a way that it becomes a character in the story.

This story really begs the question “do we ever truly know the ones we love?”. A lot of the times when someone we love dies we learn a lot of things about them that we didn’t necessarily know until after they have passed. Some things good and some things bad. People are complicated and I like that Adrienne Young addresses that aspect of a complicated family relationship between Johnny and James in this book.

For me, this book did not measure up to the greatness of The Unmaking of June Farrow or even Spells for Forgetting. I think the first half was a little too slow and I had a hard time getting invested. The second half was where things really picked up and where I was truly hooked on wanting James to figure out and uncover the mysteries surrounding the death of her brother.

Adrienne is a fantastic author. I will read anything she writes. She’s an “auto-buy author” for me. If you like magical realism with a small town mystery, I would highly recommend this novel.

90/100 or 4.5 stars

This was an amazing story, and I am so happy I was able to get an ARC copy!

The writing and atmosphere were so well done, and I couldn't stop reading! I am not the fastest reader, but I think I finished this in almost 4 hours!
I have read from the author before and enjoyed the story, but this is definitely my new favorite by Young. Engaging and dark in all the right ways. I will be interested in any new releases from Young going forward!

WOW - Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read, "A Sea of Unspoken Things" by Adrienne Young. I lost a brother 12 years ago and to say this book resonated with me would be an understatement. There were so many moments that the mystery of Johnny's death resembled my brothers but then there were moments where it didn't.. even the moments that didn't, I still found so much healing amongst these lines I read. I truly cannot put into words the emotions this book made me feel and I devoured every page. I absolutely loved the writing and I cannot wait to read more by Adrienne.

The title of this book - A Sea of Unspoken Things truly captures the essence of this astonishingly beautiful novel - as well as the feeling it left behind in me. Superbly written, Adrienne Young’s prose was evocative and immersive. I really felt like I was in that little middle of nowhere town in the Northern California wilderness where most of the novel takes place.

Every single one of the characters were their own enigma - even the ones that weren’t even in it, and there’s a hint of the paranormal, but not so much that it doesn’t keep you wondering. What boils down to a small town murder mystery novel, has managed to be so much more. Family dynamics, lost love, dreams vs reality, ambition, small town culture, all set against a vivid but dark forest backdrop.

I couldn’t put down this book. It was my first by Adrienne Young but it won’t be my last. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

"A Sea of Unspoken Things" by Adrienne Young is an atmospheric small-town mystery that explores themes of grief, family secrets, and personal healing. While the book is tagged as sci-fi and fantasy, I found that misleading. The FMC experiences vivid delusions of her twin brother after his passing, which I would classify as a mental health representation rather than fantasy.

The eerie setting of Six Rivers adds a quiet, unsettling tone that pulls you into the story. James’ journey to uncover the truth about her twin brother Johnny’s death is compelling, though the second half of the book feels rushed, with some twists left underexplored.

Although this wasn’t my favorite book, the writing is well done. Adrienne Young's talent for creating vivid, emotional atmospheres shines through. If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a moody, reflective vibe, this one is worth a read (just don’t go in expecting fantasy).

I didn’t love this one as much as I loved June Farrow but it was a great read. It was sad & beautiful & not at all what I expected. Solid 4 stars!

I need to start this review by saying I’m obsessed and I adore Adrienne young books.
Unfortunately this was my least favorite by her.

It felt incredibly slow and the plot dragged. I really loved Micah and I didn’t fully understand James. Their relationship was very sweet but I found so many issues with this whole plot.

It felt similar to spells but not. And the end was just whomp whomp.

I will still instant buy and read and obsess over Adrienne Young, but Spells and unmaking are top tier. Her YA books second and this one is my least favorite.

At this point I think it’s fair to say I will read anything from Adrienne Young. This was another beautifully written atmospheric read that I could not get enough of. We follow James who goes home after her brother’s accidental death. When things start to come out Jack is not so sure her brother’s death was an accident. Adrienne Young’s writing is some of the most beautiful atmospheric writing I have ever read, and this book did not disappoint. The characters were well fleshed out and I grew to care about Jack and Johnny. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

This was a letdown, where was the fantasy and why was this so melodramatic? I don’t understand why James felt so close to someone she barely spoke to. It didn’t make sense and felt thematically shallow. I really like Adrienne Young but I wish I had DNFed this.

This was my least favorite book by Adrienne Young that I have read. Not to say that it was bad per se, it just wasn’t great. TBH I feel like it was kind of forgettable and it took me a really long time to get into because I felt like the story kind of dragged. I feel like the ending was rushed and not much happened at all for 80% of the book. In my personal opinion, not her best work but I will continue to read her going forward!

Wow. "A Sea of Unspoken Things" had me all over the place. I am a guesser. If I read a thriller/mystery book nine times out of ten I am guessing the plot with accuracy! But, no, whatever I thought I knew ... I just didn't. Well, I guessed some of it, but Adrienne Young definitely threw me for a loop.

Young knows how to set a scene! Her writing is atmospheric. The descriptions and tone were great for this type of story. I felt like I was watching a movie. This book touched on family dynamics and trauma. The lengths that some of these characters would go to protect their family is insane.
Ya know, I'm rethinking my dream of moving to a small town.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc!

What an atmospheric and moody small town mystery! I loved the arc our main character went on, loved the forest and the town. The plot was compelling and everyone was a suspect in my mind at any one time, it really was tricky to figure out! Adriene Young is absolutely incredible at these kinds of stores.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This is my favorite Adrienne Young book to date. Seriously, I got swept away in this beautifully written story that explored grief, nostalgia, and the unknown.

I love when an author uses setting powerfully, and this book did just that. Six Rivers was alive and an integral part of this story. It pulled me in and the forest held me there the entire time.

The writing was beautiful. The plot was well thought out and moved at the perfect pace. The characters were unforgettable. This book was the complete package; a perfect book to pick up when you want something cozy, slow, and full of reflection.

This book has solidified Adrienne Young as an autobuy author for me! I absolutely loved this. Her ability to weave mystery and supernatural elements together is unlike ajyrjing else I’ve read.

I really enjoyed following James as she unraveled the mystery of her brothers life. The strong bond she has with her brother persists even as she begins to uncover more than she knew to be true.

Those who love small town mysteries with romance and a hint of paranormal are sure to enjoy this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy of this Arc in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve been a long time fan of Adrienne Young. Being able to weave mystery along with magical realism into her novels keeps me on my toes. When I heard of her newest novel, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it, sadly this one missed the mark for me. The overall premise definitely caught my attention, but the characters themselves didn’t develop, the story lagged, and just didn’t have the magic of her usual work.

This is my second ARC from Adrienne Young and it did not disappoint!

James (a woman) is back in her small, hunting hometown following the accidental death of her twin brother. When she gets to her childhood cabin, she can still feel his presence. Something magical is in the air, but something mysterious is, too. James has a dark past involving her brother and their high school friends. Circumstances around her brother's death are suspicious. A potential son, a high school mentee, and a town that's wary of her - James has to navigate it all to get to the bottom of his death.

Young always incorporates such whimsy into her tales, despite the heaviness of their themes. This was a wonderful winter read. 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this E-ARC.

I am unsure of how I feel about this book. It was okay. Nothing crazy. I do feel like she really managed to get in a sea of unspoken things into it. Do I really care about the unspoken things? Not sure.

It was a book about twins James and Johnny. Johnny is a wild heart. James has always protected him. Until she leaves. Mysteries happen.
I do enjoy the way things unfolded. Like when the questions were asked, they were very quickly answered. I do, however, feel like I could’ve had this book be 50 pages and it would’ve been fine. There was a lot of unnecessary things in the middle. It wasn’t bad. I will still read other books by this author.

we should all be asking ourselves: is a book really that good if it doesn't pick up until the last quarter?

painstakingly slow plot, with a flat, unlikable lead, and none of the promised magical realism

this is painful, as I adored Spells for Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Farrow. the audiobook narrator is amazing, so I wish I had waited until this book was published to listen to the audiobook.

thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Delacorte Press for an ebook arc in exchange for an honest review

2.5 stars

This is one review that hurts to write. I absolutely adore this author, but this book was not at all what I was expecting or am used to from her. It was extremely slow to the point of absolute boredom, and it was just so gloomy and disconsolate. The ending was just ho hum for me, and I’m just so sad about it all. Awaiting her next and hoping I will love it.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A well-crafted, atmospheric mystery. The magical realism is more subdued compared to Young’s other works, yet it works as the mystery develops. The story transports me into the setting of a small logging town and the characters come to life where I can feel their emotions, all the love, grief and nostalgia.

Pub Date: Jan 07 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing, Ballantine for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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