This was a heartfelt and chilling story. As James discovers more about her twin, shes also faced with a second chance with a love from her past. Sweeping and emotional, this was so good!

there is just something so special and unique about adrienne youngs writing that just makes her books so easy to devour. i can’t lie though, the first half of this book was a little slow, and really went heavy into the atmosphere and world building aspects. the real mystery of this book begins at about the halfway point and boy from there do things get interesting!

james and her twin brother johnny have always shared a special bond. james knows exactly how far her brother will go to protect the ones he loves, so now she’s doing the same for him. after feeling the exact moment johnny died (thanks to their twin link), she can’t help but suspect his death was no accident. especially as she uncovers all the secrets johnny seemed to be keeping. from not only his sister but from those around him as well. did johnny do the unthinkable? was he really as bad as everyone around james seems to be saying he was?

overall for some reason this book gave me the vibes of life is strange. a cozy time travel mystery game set in a small town. and i’ll be honest i thought the best part of this story was that while there was definitely an overarching mystery, there were so many little mysteries woven in that james has to figure out in order to figure out what really happened to johnny.

anywho i would absolutely recommend this book and i am so so so happy i got the chance to read and review this book for netgalley and random house publishing group! thank you so much for the opportunity! will absolutely be buying a trophy for my shelf :)

4.25 ⭐️

What can I say besides Adrienne Young does it again. She never fails to create such a atmospheric setting and such a fun yet eerie plot that will keep you guessing until the last page. I’m not surprised at all how much I adored this book.

Forever grateful to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for giving me access to this masterpiece before it hits the shelves next year!!

After 20 years away, James Golden returns to Hawthorne, a remote town nestled within Six Rivers National Forest, to settle the affairs of her twin brother, Johnny. His death has been labeled a hunting accident—a stray bullet—but the story doesn’t sit right. Johnny’s camera and notebooks, essential to his work documenting rare owls in the forest, are missing. Though James and Johnny shared a bond that went beyond explanation, they didn’t talk much toward the end. Now, she’s left sorting through the pieces of his life, realizing how much of him she never really knew.

Hawthorne is a town where the past never loosens its grip. It gets by on seasonal tourism—hunters, hikers, and guides—but those who stay know every grudge, every secret, and they remember James’s abrupt departure twenty years ago. That disappearance coincided with the death of the town’s golden boy, a tragedy that still reverberates. James’s cool indifference toward that past suggests she, Johnny, and Micah—her ex-lover—were connected to it in ways that no one has fully admitted.

Now staying in Johnny’s house, James becomes determined to find out what happened to him. But her search is more tangled—and more dangerous—than she expected. As she asks uncomfortable questions around town and follows Johnny’s trail through the forest, she starts to suspect his death is tied to that long-buried tragedy. And yet, the closer she gets to the truth, the more she finds herself becoming part of the same story, unsure whom she can trust. Even Johnny’s ghost seems to be nudging her toward answers she’s not certain she wants to find.

Adrienne Young’s prose is immersive and elegant. The forest hums with tension—an owl’s wing brushes through the night like a whisper, and every creak of wood underfoot feels deliberate, like a warning. The setting isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a force that shapes the narrative and mirrors James’s emotional isolation.

James remains a challenging protagonist—detached, enigmatic, and unwilling to fully engage. Her relationship with Micah feels more like a collision of unresolved history and need than any kind of reconciliation. His loyalty to her is murky at best, built on shared regret and unfinished emotions. Are they still in love, or just trapped by their past? And even if there is love, will it be enough to keep James from returning to her life as a visual artist in the Bay Area?

The supernatural element—James’s lingering sense of Johnny’s presence—might divide readers. Having twins myself, I’ve never bought into mystical sibling bonds. But Young threads the idea gently, leaving it open to interpretation: is Johnny really haunting her, or is James just unraveling under the weight of grief and guilt?

The novel’s strength lies in its dual mystery. The first half focuses on Johnny’s last days: What was he doing in the forest, and why did he hide so much from James? The second half digs into the events surrounding the golden boy’s death, forcing James to confront how she and Johnny were implicated in that long-ago tragedy. Each answer builds on the last, leading to a conclusion that surprised me—clues were there all along, hiding in plain sight.

The resolution, however, is almost too tidy. Both mysteries—the truth behind Johnny’s death and the events of twenty years ago—are explained in full. For a story steeped in ambiguity, the clean ending feels almost too neat, though it’s satisfying. Micah and James remain something of a puzzle—are they together because of shared history, physical chemistry, or the narrative’s need for a romance arc? Either way, their ending will leave romance readers content.

Despite James’s emotional distance, the layered mystery and richly drawn setting kept me invested. The conclusion, though more resolved than I expected, is rewarding, with each answer firmly rooted in clues woven throughout the story. If you enjoy narratives where the past can’t stay buried and every solution brings more complexity, this one will linger with you long after you’ve finished.

I loved this book . She is a master at creating an atmospheric story and characters in an immersive setting with a mysterious plot . I loved this one
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

"He was drawn to them--the secretive creatures that only came out in the darkness. And deep down I knew that it was because he was one of them."

I've seen a lot of people refer to Adrienne Young's writing as "atmospheric", and although this is only my second novel of hers, I have to agree. "The Unmaking of June Farrow" was one of my favorite books that I read last year. (Which is why I was so excited to score this eARC- THANK YOU NetGalley & Random House Publishing!) She has a way of describing things in enough detail that you truly feel immersed in the scenery and the story, but not overdone.

"A long, exhausted breath escaped his lips. 'We could fill the fucking ocean with the things we never said to each other.'"

I would have enjoyed a touch more of the romance; I felt like there was just something lacking between James & Micah, but I know that's not the main focus of the book. This felt like a true small-town mystery. I was skeptical of different characters at different times; I liked that it kept me guessing. And the bit of magical realism is something that I'm always a fan of- how the connection that James felt with her twin brother Johnny was still there, pushing her to question the uncertainty surrounding his death.

"Those words--a soft soul with a wild heart--were the only kind of eulogy that made sense for my brother."

I've had "Spells for Forgetting" sitting on my shelf for almost a year now, and will definitely be moving it up on my TBR. I've really enjoyed Young's stories so far and can't wait to read more! ✨

I loved this book! I loved the story and the mysteries that played out throughout it. There were many different parts to keep me guessing how it would all unravel as the story moved along and it was hard to put the book down. I liked that there were two mysteries involved in it as well. I loved the mystery element to this story but also the connection between the characters and the bond between the twins. I feel like she did a great job of weaving all the small town characters together as well as giving us details and imagery to imagine the scenes. Another element that I loved was how much nature played a role in the story, through her descriptions I could easily visualize the beauty of the area!

This was a great and captivating mystery(mysteries) that I really enjoyed reading! It easily is one of my top two books that I have read this year!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for giving me a chance to receive this as an ARC.

Another atmospheric and immersive small town mystery delivered by Adrienne Young! I inhaled this like it was oxygen.
I swear Adrienne’s writing just gets better and better. There’s no one else who compares to her style. She weaves magical realism into her stories in the most beautiful of ways.

This is a small town mystery but it’s so much more than that. It’s a story of the intuitive bond between twins and it asks the question do we ever have the right to intervene with nature?

The gorgeous descriptions of the landscapes will make readers feel like they too are walking through the forest with Micah and James. The forest feels like a character itself as we follow the journey of trying to solve Jahnny’s murder. The story twists and turns as it continues to keep you guessing. Along the way, love blooms.

This was a truly beautiful story and I’m very excited for it to reach the hearts of readers next year.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for my eARC.

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc. This book had me curious from the get go, a real page turner. James comes home to figure out the missing pieces of her brother’s life after he is suddenly killed. Their twin bond has tied them together even through death, and his memories are showing James that it might not be the accident law enforcement thinks it is. Really loved the mystery, and the clues James found through her bond with her brother.

I’ll read anything Young writes. Another captivating mystery that kept me guessing until literally the very end. Even better is was actually two mysteries.

After 20 years away, James heads back to her small hometown in the forests of California to settle the affairs of her twin brother, Johnny. She ran from all her problems back then and upon her return she realizes that although she is standing still, she is running; from her past, the grief of her brothers sudden death and the inconsistencies she starts to unearth surrounding Johnny's last days. What secrets was he hiding? Could he have done the unthinkable?

The pacing is slow but the mysteries that unfold are gripping. The last 60 pages or so really took the story from cautious and steady to unpredictable and enthralling. The deep connection between the siblings made for an interesting premise. James could feel Johnny's feelings, move his motions, see his sights. These glimpses into their shared state of mind, deepened what we knew of the characters and their history together. Micah, James first love, is such a special character. He is quiet and loud all at the same time. His silence speaks volumes as he and James figure out where their teenage relationship stands as adults in a world without Johnny driving their actions.

I love Adrienne Young because her writing exudes magic and that's exactly what A Sea of Unspoken Things is. It's mysterious, it's murky, it's lucent, it's comfort. I loved it!

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of A Sea of Unspoken Things from NetGalley. Thank you to the author and publisher. I’ve always loved Adrienne’s writing, it is so atmospheric and immersive and this book was no exception. I love how she took a common mystery plot and gave it so many twists and turns and so many moving pieces. The pacing and length of this novel was perfect and kept me intrigued without the ending feeling rushed or drug out. I highly recommend this for a fall/winter read because the vibes were immaculate.

Young is the queen of having magical realism books come accross so cozy and warm! I went into this one pretty blind, so I was interested from the beginning to learn about the mystery surrounding the main character's brother's death. It seemed as if her preomonitions or connections with her brother were going to be a big factor in solving what really happened. Though that isn't exactly how this played out, Young once again took me on a ride where I was so invested in the characters! The love interest in the story was one of my favorite tropes and I enjoyed the way the two characters got to know each other again. It also was such a dreamy setting! Honestly, I kept imagining myself in Forks, Oregon (the place where Twilight takes place). I will for sure be recommending this one!

What a pleasure it is to read Adrienne Young. I have to admit I was not a fan of "A Spell for Forgetting" but I did enjoy June Farrow and very much enjoyed this one. These books are "quiet" until they're not and really keep you turning the page. Very atmospheric, very cozy. I really really liked this.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was kind of a letdown compared to Young's previous books. I like her adult novels a lot, especially the magical realism elements that both Spells for Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Farrow have. This one dialed down the magical realism a lot, and the mystery wasn't compelling. I didn't like the main character, and the reveal was pretty underwhelming.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is the story of James and her twin brother Johnny, boy/girl twins, who always had an other worldly connection between them. After leaving their hometown of Six Rivers to attend art school in San Francisco, james stays in San Fran, drifting apart from her brother and his best friend Micah. When she gets the phone call to let her know that Johnny was dead, she already knew since she felt the bullet enter her own body as Johnny lay dying in the ravine. Returning to Six Rivers, James reconnects with Micah and her other friends from high school while trying to piece together the clues about Johnny's death that she feels may be coming directly from him. There's also a mystery about another death in the ravine, years earlier, that the three had all lied about - but why? There are so many intertwined stores here that the author untangles and lays out so clearly that I felt like all the missing pieces were there at the very end of the story. And it gave me the happy ending that I love so much.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this book was going to be focused on the mystery aspect, but it was so much more than that. It was a story about love, loss, finding your way back home, and all the hidden parts of loved ones that you never understand or see. Beautiful and atmospheric, this book felt like getting lost in the woods and slowly making your way back home safe and sound.

Yet again, another Adrienne Young book I devoured & loved.

This book follows James, our main female character, on her journey to discover what happened to her twin brother Johnny who was killed in their home town. James, now a city girl, travels back to her home town to tie up some loose ends in regard to her brothers death. In returning, James unearths old memories and love lost as well as secrets surrounding her brothers death.
James must determine what secrets should stay hidden and which she should unearth while also trying to determine what emotions she should keep hidden and what she should show.

This book is a small town murder mystery to its core with unexpected twists and turns that kept me entertained from the beginning.

This novel was an engaging read that became impossible to put down once the story picked up and James set out to uncover the truth about the death of her brother Jonny. While the beginning felt a bit slow, it ultimately added to the suspense and depth of the plot. I found myself particularly drawn to Micah and even wished for more time with this character, so I was pleased with the additional revelations towards the end. The fantasy element, especially the bond between brother and sister, was captivating, and the plot's twists and turns kept me hooked until the very last page. Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing me with a digital review copy of this book.

3.5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed The Unmaking of June Farrow and was very excited to read this.

Overall, the writing and the story were enjoyable. I love Young’s ability to create great storylines that gracefully weave magical realism into the plot. I felt like the exposition was a bit long and drawn out and, by the time things started happening, it felt rushed. It may just be the thriller aspect, but I wanted more to happen sooner.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for an advanced copy of this book.

I just don't know how to explain Young's writing - it's just so atmospheric and captivating. She puts you right in the story while you're reading it and A Sea of Unspoken Things is no different than he others in that regard.

I love stories about twins - I'm a twin so it's always interesting to me how others interpret those relationships. I was intrigued by James and Johnny's relationship - it was complicated and messy and challenging but despite all those things the story never shows that there was anything but love that they felt for each other. I was on the edge of my seat with the twists and turns that Young wove me through in this story and was surprised at the outcome when the full story came out.

Thank you for the chance to read this for review early!