This novel has the usual Adrienne Young style - beautifully written, lots of descriptions, a mystery to be solved, and a touch of magical realism. The story focuses on James Golden, whose twin brother, Johnny, has been shot and killed. This incident brings her back to the town she left to get away from her past and attend art school. The mystery surrounding his death, a second chance relationship with their friend Micah, and a look at escaping small town life are central to this novel.

This book was a bit slow without any action before the puzzle pieces came together in the end. I still love how Adrienne Young writes her stories, unfurling pieces as it develops and there are often secondary reveals.

Thank you Random House for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

My first Adrienne Young, and ARC, and I am hooked! This book was the perfect mix of magical realism and beautiful character development. The setting was so vivid and immersive that it felt like I was stepping into one of Johnny’s photographs. The twists were not what I expected which I appreciated after thinking I had it all figured out😏I can totally see this being a miniseries, which I hope happens! Overall, a beautiful story of love, devotion, getting lost and being found. 4.5⭐️

Like other Adrienne Young books you’re given a very brief overview of a story (in this case it’s woman returns to her small hometown after the death of her twin brother) but as the book goes on more and more history and depth unfolds and fills in the blanks. It was a gripping read as you get such small tidbits of information and are finding out a lot of the story alongside our main character James. I will say the supernatural/magical elements are a lot less in this book than I was expecting based on the authors previous work, this doesn’t affect the story except it’s more of a mystery than the magical realism I assumed it would be.

I've been a big fan of Adrienne's writing since being pushed to read Spells for Forgetting and then I simply could not get enough. The Unmaking of June Farrow had me sending selfies to my friend of my very shocked face on several occasions. So I went into this wanting to love it and being so excited to get immersed in the world that Adrienne creates which is always stunning - they feel like real places and real people on another level. However, unfortunately, this had the one trope that for me, even Adrienne can't get around: amateur detective. I was all in to a four-star review to about 80-85% because we were lightly dabbling into amateur detective but I anticipated the plot would come together the way her other books did, but then it went full amateur detective and I just could not with the twists and turns. This is a very 'specific-to-me' issue so if that's not something you dislike, and you loved Adrienne's past work: you will love this. It falls so in line and I look forward to reading all her future titles.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the earc, all opinions are my own.

Adrienne Young is an instant read for me. James is forced to return home after a hunting accident killed her twin brother Johnny, except she hasn’t been home in 20 years. Layers and layers of small town secrets unfold throughout the chapters. No spoilers but a must read.

Adrienne Young is now an auto buy author of mine. Her adult books are PHENOMENAL and this one is no exception! I adored this book. The exploration between twins and the mystery element was perfect. She writes so beautifully. I’ve been trying to be more stingy with my 5 star books but this was an easy 5 stars.

This was so unique and interesting! Young puts you right into a rustic and woodsy small town with a bunch of secrets. James left her hometown as soon as she became an adult, but the mysterious death of her twin Johnny brings her back. The author takes you for a ride with many twists and turns, as well as a few blindsides. If I’m being completely honest, I had hoped for a little more magical realism, but this is still a good read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really wanted to love this book because I’ve always admired Adrienne Young’s writing, but unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. Her prose is as beautiful and atmospheric as ever—she has such a talent for crafting vivid, sensory-rich environments. I could practically feel like I am cold with her descriptions.

However, as a plot-driven reader, I found the story itself lacking. The pacing was incredibly slow, and I struggled to pick it back up after each sitting. The mystery at the heart of the book didn’t capture my attention, and the resolution of the murder felt underwhelming. While this book has been described as magical realism, I didn’t feel that it delivered on the “magic” element.

It’s clear that Adrienne Young is a master of prose, but this book didn’t have the engaging plot I was looking for.

Thank you to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for this e-ARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.

I loved this one! I’ve read one other book by her but this one was so much better. I loved the mystery / suspense of the story. It was easy to read & page turning. I enjoyed trying to figure out who did it and what happened. I liked that there ended up being 2 different mysteries. I don’t see this being fantasy at all and definitely more mystery.

This is a small town mystery. James and Johnny are twins who have always had a deeper connection in a supernatural element way. Johnny recently passed away from an accident in the woods and James has come back to town to tie up loose ends. What she uncovers is something other than an accident and the way the secrets of their teenage years arise had me biting my nails.

Wow the angst and mystery in this book had me on my toes since getting towards 30% of the book. The beginning was a bit slow and at times a bit too descriptive for my liking but I think it was definitely to build up the mystery and secrets of it all. I was up till 2 am because I just had to know who did it, I could not figure out who was the culprit and the ending had my jaw on the floor!

What you'll find:

🦉Slow Burn Mystery
🦉Small Town
🦉Second chance romance
🦉Love, Loss & Family Ties
🦉Atmospheric Writing

Thank you to the author, Random House Publishing- Ballantine and NetGalley for gifting me this eARC

This book releases January 7, 2025

This is a taut, extremely well-paced, and emotional thriller and family drama that sucked me in right away. When her twin brother has died in what appears to be an accident, James comes back to her hometown after twenty years away to make peace with his death. But of course once she gets there, it doesn't really seem like an accident, and she decides to stay and try to figure it out.

I was surprised by how much I liked this book, since I'm not usually a huge fan of mysteries and thrillers. But I felt like this book had a ton of emotional depth, way more than I normally find in this genre (although to be fair, I don't read a lot of books in the genre, so I'm definitely not the best judge). James really wrestles with the reality of who her brother was and her own complicity in enabling his worst personality traits, and Young deftly explores how small towns protect their own, often to the detriment of outsiders and those who go against the grain, and how trauma follows you everywhere. The forest town of Six Rivers is impeccably atmospheric - it reminds me of Forks, IYKYK - and the mysteries unfold in a natural and, at least to me, mostly unpredictable way. James' grief is devastatingly articulated, and the cast of characters is compelling and nuanced. I really liked this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this eARC!

What I love about Adrienne Young's books and writing is that she really makes me feel like I am in her stories. Her writing is so atmospheric and illustrative that I feel like I'm transported right in the middle of the world she has created. A Sea of Unspoken things was an enjoyable ready. The small town mystery aspect of it kept me engaged and there were moments that were quite poignant and introspective. The magical realism in this novel was not as pronounced as her previous books, but it is still a captivating read.

I will always look forward to an Adrienne Young book!

Atmospheric, spooky and beautiful. I loved this book. I loved the mystery and the spooky elements with the brothers ghost. It was also just so heartbreaking but worth the journey. I loved the romance interwoven and how I was kept guessing.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is one of those books that stay with you for a very long time. Shrouded in mystery, the death of her brother brings James back to her hometown. Not only does she have to face the people she longed to forget, but she also has to deal with her feelings for Micah, her first love.

I adored every minute of this read. The setting, the relationships, the mystery.... this book keeps you on your toes the entire time.

You can check out my book trailer here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD8Zxifx7rh/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

There's a lot that I could say about this story, but to cut it short, I had such a great time reading it, and I truly recommend it to everyone who likes an atmospheric tale.
At first, I wasn't sure what genre the book was because I wanted to go in completely blind, and honestly, it was so fun to do that. But yes, this is a cozy, atmospheric adult mystery with a side plot of romance that, surprisingly, didn't bother me at all. I liked it, which, coming from me (a low-key romance hater), means a lot.
Not gonna lie, the beginning was a bit slow since there wasn't much dialogue, but the rhythm picked up once the plot set in. The twists and turns were good, and I didn't see them coming, even if they weren't amazing either. The same goes for the characters: I liked them, but I didn't LOVE them. That's the only reason it's not getting a 5-star rating. But overall, it was such a good, well-rounded story where all the elements worked together perfectly. I really enjoyed reading it for the small-town cozy vibe, and I loved that the atmosphere was there, but so was the plot. A lot of the time with cozy books, I become very bored very quickly, but with this story, that didn't happen. Also, the prose was SO GOOD. I'm so excited to read more from this author!


*Thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for the ARC*

Young has a way of writing stories that worm their way into your heart and head, echoing in your thoughts long after you finish reading them. I still think about June Farrow and I have a feeling that James and Johnny Golden will be the same way.

I loved the way this book explored sibling relationships in all their complexity, beauty, and difficulty. The bond James and Johnny share is special - but also, at times, a burden. Navigating being so closely intertwined while still trying to be your own person is a powerful underlying tension to this story.

I also thought the mystery aspect was masterfully handled. I thought the final resolution was very satisfying and I was eagerly guessing what might be revealed next every step of the way.

I absolutely loved this and would highly recommend it. Thank you to Delacourte Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for an advanced copy of A Sea Of Unspoken Things.

James gets a call that changes her life forever, her twin brother Johnny has died. For the first time in twenty years she is going home to the town she ran away from and never looked back at to settle his affairs. Ever since she can remember her and Johnny have had a special bond and she can feel what happens to him and vice versa. She starts to feel him around her and she keeps getting the sense that his death was not an accident and maybe has something to do with why she ran away. She begins to realize that everyone around her is hiding something.

This book was so good and it had me hooked from the Ty beginning. I did not see some of the twists coming at all. The storyline was very well written and I enjoyed the characters. I highly recommend this book!

3.75 🌟

I really enjoyed the book, and the mystery aspect was what truly made it a page-turner for me. While the story did feel a bit flat in the middle, I remained intrigued and kept an open mind, eager to see how everything would unfold. This story turned out to be a bit different than I expected, but I was thoroughly drawn into it, especially with Adrienne’s melodic and captivating writing style. It took me a little time to get into it, but by the halfway mark, I couldn’t put it down. The small-town setting was so atmospheric, adding layers of tension and mystery that perfectly complemented the haunting tone of the story.

The book follows James, a twin grappling with the death of her brother, Johnny. Returning to her hometown, James begins uncovering secrets surrounding his death, realizing that it was far from an accident. The more she digs, the more she questions if she ever truly knew her brother at all. Adrienne does a fantastic job portraying James’s grief and her determination to uncover the truth, even as she’s faced with dangerous revelations. The small-town vibe adds an extra layer of suspense, where it feels like everyone’s hiding something, making you want to keep reading to uncover every last secret.

While I loved the way the story unfolded and how it all came full circle in the end, I did feel like the pacing towards the conclusion was a little rushed. Some parts felt like they wrapped up too quickly, and I would’ve liked a bit more time to sit with the resolutions. Even so, the ending was satisfying, and I loved the emotional payoff.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will absolutely be picking up more of Adrienne Young’s works in the future. Her ability to craft gripping stories and complex characters is undeniable.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Adrienne Young for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

4.25! Adrienne Young is quickly becoming a favorite author of mine (The Unmaking of June Farrow was a top book I read last year) & this one is almost as good.

She writes small mountain town, atmospheric, first love, light magical realism SO WELL. The supernatural bond between James and her twin brother Johnny was intriguing & I was very invested in finding out what happened to him. Would recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

A suspenseful mystery thriller that has no romance to it.
Tragic events abound in A Sea of Unspoken Things.
The mystery aspect is slow burn.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.