A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS is another atmospheric, twisty, deep romantic suspense novel with a touch of magical realism from Adrienne Young. This novel explores grief, love, family, truth, and the different versions that exist of ourselves and others. If you like fast-paced small-town murder mysteries with a hint of supernatural happenings and a second-chance romance, this book is for you!

Adrienne Young is a master at her craft--I love the way she creates a setting that acts as a character and has deep emotional plots that connect back to her protagonist. In A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS, James Golden is confronted with her past when she returns to her small hometown of Six Rivers after the unsettling death of her twin brother, Johnny. She's determined to find the truth, haunted by a deep, somewhat supernatural connection she has to her brother. She also reconnects with the only man she's ever loved--Micah.

I enjoy how Adrienne Young is able to blend several genres into a mix that feels entirely her own! If you liked SPELLS FOR FORGETTING or THE UNMAKING OF JUNE FARROW, you'll like this one too! Also, this cover?! Stunning.

I decided to give this book a try as I’ve heard a lot of buzz about the Unmaking of June Farrow by the same author, which I have not read.

The parts that I enjoyed about this book were the focus on a “supernatural” relationship between the main character and her twin brother. It was interesting and kept my interest. Even though the brother was not perfect and to be honest, kind of seemed like a bum at times, it was a good telling about a strong bond.

While the writing and storytelling was good, the book just did not do a whole lot for me, I believe it just wasn't to my taste. I felt that it took a while for anything interesting to happen, which probably started at about 50% in. The twists were okay, but I didn’t think they were anything too special.

All in all not a bad read at all, but it took me a bit to get through because I wasn’t super captivated. Like I mentioned earlier, the storytelling is very good, Young’s prose was well-done!

I really enjoyed A Sea of Unspoken Things! Thrillers are one of my favorite genres, and this book had just the right amount of twists to keep me hooked from start to finish. Adrienne Young did an amazing job building suspense and weaving in surprises that I didn’t see coming. It’s the kind of story that keeps you thinking long after you’ve turned the final page.

My only complaint is that it could’ve been longer! The town and its residents felt so intriguing, and I wish we had more time to uncover their secrets. The main character was captivating, and I wanted to dive deeper into their backstory and inner thoughts. The book does an excellent job of keeping the pace tight, but a little extra exploration of the setting and characters would’ve made it even more compelling.

This was my first book by Adrienne Young, and I’m officially hooked. I’ve already added three more of her books to my TBR because I loved this one so much. If you’re a fan of thrillers with unpredictable twists and layered characters, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a must-read!

I loved this book!!! The beginning was a bit slow but essential to building the plot and to show the character development. A major theme throughout this book is how well do we really know those we love and how far would we go to protect them? I absolutely LOVED the ending it was everything I needed and more!! Thank you for the arc copy🥰

Adrienne Young is the queen of atmospheric reads! She perfectly crafts details that immerse the reader in the setting. It's the mood. The emotion of a place.

This time she transports us to a small town in Northern California where the Golden twins grew up. Johnny stayed while James escaped for life in the city. But Johnny's unexpected death has brought James back to Hawthorne and she quickly becomes engrossed with unraveling her brother's life...and secrets.

Love getting lost in a Young book! Always a must read author for me. Wasn't disappointed. She always delivers. While this wasn't my favorite of her books, I really liked this one!

Thank you to Adrienne Young and Netgalley for a ARC of "A Sea of Unspoken Things." I have been an Adrienne Young fan since her debut novel many years ago. When an opportunity to read this book came up I jumped on it and it did not disappoint. The hard thing for me was knowing this book would be a sad book and choosing the right time to read it to avoid being sad at the wrong time. I should not have worried about that, to be honest. Adrienne Young writes in such a lyrical, mood setting way that you cannot, not be present in her words without being drowned by sadness or emotion. I think the way she handled grief and family drama and the dynamics of returning to a town after twenty years was wonderful. There were a few typos in the ARC that were distinctly noticeable and hopefully are caught before final publication. As usual, I devoured the words Adrienne Young wrote and I cannot wait for her next novel.

Adrienne Young has a way of transporting her readers into the pages of her books and A Sea of Unspoken Things might be my favorite of her universes into which to be dropped.

James and Johnny Golden are twins. They’ve been connected their entire lives, with James always knowing what her brother was thinking. James also knew the very minute Johnny left the earth, even before the phone call came.

James returns to Six Rivers, unable to quiet the feeling that Johnny’s death was more than a mere hunting accident. Unbeknownst to James, her search for answers will lead to the past being unearthed and old feelings between her and the love of her life being reignited.

Adrienne’s books have a way of settling deep into my bones and never leaving. This may sound odd, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. A book that never leaves you is a book to be treasured for life.

I was so excited to get the ARC of this book, and it did not disappoint! I was immediately struck by the beauty of the prose. The story is dark, captivating, and haunting, and there is stunning depth to the characters. I loved the magical realism, mystery, and suspense. The story examines the long lasting and varied impact of trauma and loss and how it shapes one’s choices and identity, the power that family holds, and the very human struggle to reconcile how good and bad can coexist in a single being.

I can’t wait to read what’s next for this author because I am a fan! Thank you to NetGalley, Adrienne Young, and Delacorte Press for sharing this free ARC digital copy.

“Maybe we were made in the dark…but we’d found a way to create our own kind of light”

I’m a big fan of Adrienne Young, and I find her prose to be incredibly beautiful. She has an exceptional ability to create atmosphere and truly transport readers to the settings of her stories. Her use of magical realism is always perfectly executed, adding an extra layer of mystery that makes her tales feel just a little more special compared to others.

Overall, A Sea of Unspoken Things was another moody, atmospheric story from Young. The writing easily earns a solid 5 stars from me. The plot follows the female main character, James, who is forced to return to her small hometown—set in a lush forest, perfect for a little mystery—after her twin brother is found dead. Upon returning, James quickly realizes that things aren’t as they seem, and her brother seems to be trying to tell her there’s more to his death than meets the eye.

While the atmosphere and writing were fantastic, I did find the plot to be a bit slow at times. I also didn’t feel as connected to James or her brother, Johnny, as I hoped I would. The last 30% of the book, however, really picks up the pace, and I wish the plot had been more engaging in the earlier parts. Still, I would definitely read it again because the prose and atmosphere are simply immaculate. I listened to this via audio while reading along and I will say that the narrator did an absolute perfect job bringing this story to life.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine -Delacorte Press for the advanced e-arc, as well as Penguin Random House Audio for the advanced audiobook.

3.5/5 stars

First, thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing, and Adrienne Young for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a crazy, powerful story of two siblings and their ties to their home town and to each other. James and Johnny are twins and are raised by their dad. Their mom left when they were young and then later in life their dad dies so it is just the two of them. James leaves their home town though for college and never comes back. While Johnny stays but he has always been a bit of a wild one and while they keep in touch some, James doesn't really know much about Johnny's life.

On day James gets a phone call that Johnny has died and she knew before she even answered the phone that something wasn't right. Her connection to Johnny has always been a deep one...she can feel what he feels. So she goes back home to get his things in order. He was working on a job she had gotten for him and things need to be tied up in order to finish the project.

While James is there she is forced to revisit things from the past and finally face Micah, the only person who knows about it all. And he's the only man she's ever truly loved. But James comes to find out that her strange connection to Johnny isn't gone and the more she dives into his world the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew.

Johnny was keeping secrets...but he's not the only one. As James uncovers things from Johnny's past the truth about what happened in the days leading to Johnny's death slowly unravel and the twists and turns that James uncovers will shake up the town that already has a not so great image of the Golden siblings.

The bond of siblings is truly remarkable, especially twins and I felt for James so much. What she went through to uncover the truth was quite the journey. Such an amazingly written book.

This was my first read by Adriene Young and definitely not my last!

This was an awesome fast paced small-town mystery. I really liked reading the relationship of James and her twin brother. James seems to love him unconditionally but cover for him when he finds himself in a bind. However, a tragic event leads James to leave the town and pursue her dreams. She not only leaves her brother but someone she loves deeply. James knew the moment her brother had dies. It was believed to be a hunting accident, but she feels like that is a coverup for what really happened. She is determined to fix her brothers problems and uncover the dangerous situations he was involved it.

I like that the author is descriptive in her writing. It always helps when picturing the different locations or what is going on. I love being able to Invision a scene I am reading. This is a great blend of magical realism and mystery.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group and Delacorte Press for the ARC!

I just want to start by saying that I LOVED the previous two books I've read by Adrienne Young, "Spells for Forgetting" and "The Unmaking of June Farrow". Both hooked me from the beginning and kept me entranced throughout the whole story.

With "A Sea of Unspoken Things" I didn't feel that immediate pull in. The beginning gelt a bit repetitive and almost like our wheels were just churning, stuck in mud. However, I am glad I stuck with it because once I got to about 40% things really started clicking for me and then I didn't want to put it down.

While this novel may have lacked that initial pull for me, it had such a cozy, mystical atmosphere that I have come to love from Young's novels. Her books feel so immersive which I thought fit very nicely with the plot of this book especially. I thought the mystery unfolded nicely, with the twists not being out of left field, but ones that I couldn't catch on to until our main character was figuring them out-which is rare for me.

Overall, I am glad I kept with this one and would probably give it a 4 star as opposed to my 5 stars for her other two. This would be a great pairing with a nice blanket, cup of tea, and a rainy day.


Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Net Galley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this book. I went about 40% and still nothing was happening. A very slow start. I could only listen to so much about the small town without any more information. There is an obvious tie to the boy who died earlier in there town but I am still waiting.,

A Sea of Unspoken Things is an atmospheric novel that immerses readers in a small town brimming with secrets, heartbreak, and quiet resilience.

The story follows a young woman, James Golden navigating the aftermath of loss while uncovering long-buried truths that threaten to reshape her understanding of love, family, and herself. I found the characters to be deeply layered, each carrying their own burdens.

Young’s vivid descriptions of the rugged cliffs bring a tangible depth to the narrative. A Sea Od Unspoken Things is a poignant reminder of the power of silence, the weight of what’s left unsaid, and the courage it takes to finally speak your truth.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This was such an atmospheric, eerie setting in this mystery. I also liked the description of the twin connection the narrator had with her brother. I did not guess who the killer was the entire time until the end.

“But that’s what this forest did, wasn’t it? Tell the same stories over and over?”
The ghost of a dead twin, leading his sister to unveil the truth behind his mysterious and untimely death? Said twin, uncovering a gaggle of secrets along the way? Yes, A Sea of Unspoken Things is just that enticing—and set in a town not unsimilar to that of HBO’s Big Little Lies, where every character is interconnected to a slew of dark, brooding undertones underneath. Adrienne Young drew me to this arc-I adored Spells for Forgetting, and though I haven’t read the Unmaking of June Farrow (it’s high up on my list!), this arc absolutely quenched my need for the atmospheric, page turning prose that Young is so distinctly known for.
The novel opens with a twin, James, returning to her town of origin, Hawthorne, to seek answers about her brother’s tragic passing. James is led on by a supernatural tug-a connection she’s had with her twin, Johnny, since birth. Every intense feeling he’s experienced, from nearly drowning to bouts of rage, she’s felt in tandem in her own skin. Consequently, she feels the lingering presence of his ghost-still with her as she mourns, leading her to clues surrounding his death. James traveled to Hawthorne hoping to sort out the undertakings of his passing. But as she returns to as the town she fled for a new life, James runs into far more paramount issues than sorting out his ashes and recovering his things. James believes that Johnny’s death wasn’t an accident and is bent on unearthing the treacherous secrets that led to it.
I adored this novel—from the fast-paced plot, the heart wrenching romance, to the roller coaster of emotions James’s grieving journey takes you on. Young paints a narrative that reflects all facets of grief-from anger, to doubt, even to the idealistic way in which we memorialize those we’ve loved that we’ve lost. This book captivated me from start to finish. The compelling way in which James narrated the novel, and the devastating trail in which she’s forced to follow along to find answers…it was incredibly moving.
If you enjoyed Spells for Forgetting, you’ll also enjoy this small-town, supernatural mystery laced with unraveled secrets. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing for the arc!

This is my second read by Adrienne Young. I loved A Spell for Forgetting, and A Sea of Unspoken Things reminded me of that book with its small-town setting, mystery, and excellent atmosphere. This story features a subtle touch of magical realism, focusing on twins and their unseen sixth sense connection.

I also enjoyed the second-chance romance in this book; it was just the right amount and balanced the story beautifully. Although the pacing was on the slower side, I found it to be a quick and enjoyable read.

James returns home after the sudden death of her twin Johnny. She plans to finish his ongoing research project and clean up his life in the small town, but once she starts looking through his photos from the project she gets the feeling that Johnny's death may not have been an accident.

Adrienne Young always writes top tier atmospheric writing and this book was no different. You can feel the mist on your skin and the wind in your hair. I was immediately hooked from chapter one. There were a lot of twists and turns and the penultimate chapter had me smiling like an idiot as I read the final reveals. I thought everything was wrapped up but it was not and I was so pleased. I also enjoyed the romance between James and Micah, though I would've liked if there was even more.

My only critiques of the book was that the general premise felt pretty similar to Spells for Forgetting. I loved that book too, but I wish this one was a little more distinctive. I also found the character of Johnny kind of confusing, which I think was intentional, but from the start I wish he'd come across as more volatile than scatterbrained.

Another captivating small town mystery by Adrienne Young. Don’t walk but RUN to pick this one up on January 7th.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the E-ARC.

3.5 stars rounded down.

To be fair, I enjoyed this book more than I didn't. There's something about Adrienne Young's writing that transports you directly into the story she has crafted, making your own reality drift away while reading. While this is mostly meandering and plotless, the atmospheric vibes of A Sea of Unspoken Things made it difficult for me to put down, so much that I read the entire thing in just over 24 hours. When I began my journey back into reading, one of Ms. Young's books were among the first I picked up at that time (Sky in the Deep), and as a result her stories have a special place in my heart. This one is no different.

While I was swept away by the atmosphere, and captivated by the almost environmental horror-esque vibes of the overarching plot, there were a few things that fell apart for me. Among them was the relationship between James and Micah, which felt bland and - dare I say - boring. It was apparent they had barely spoken in nearly two decades, because the entire time I only got acquaintance vibes between the two of them. All that history amounted to a few awkward conversations, at least until the epilogue.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the ARC.