First and foremost thank you Netgalley & Random House for the ability to ARC read this book.

As per the masses, Adrienne Young kills it at writing dark and atmospheric books - this one was no exception. There was little to no magical realism in this one, as compared to what I've tended to expect from her - Goodreads also has it tagged for "magical realism" and "fantasy" which isn't accurate. This is a suspenseful mystery.

This is a book about a girl named James (I'm a sucker for a girl with a boys name, my daughter has one too) who lives in San Francisco with a big city artist life she created herself, after an "incident" in her small town when she graduated. Her twin brothers death brings her back home, and the story follows her unraveling his life and death- and all of the nitty and gritty things in between. The author has a beautiful way of writing and capturing the good and the bad in people, and not seeing them as monsters but as humans we love. I personally loved her writing about the intricacies of what it feels like to be on the inside of a bond between twins.

I do feel like a few things were predictable, and others not. The Unmaking of June Farrow was my favorite book she's written and it absolutely blew me away and was an easy 5 stars. This doesn't quite come close to hitting that mark for me, but for people who love this specific genre i think will really enjoy themselves.

This was a small town atmospheric mystery about a woman trying to unravel the details of the death of her twin brother. I loved the setting and cozy small town vibes. I liked the sibling bond that was portrayed and the character development. This was a solid read! The biggest reason for my rating is due to pacing. It was a bit slow for me, and the unveiling of the mysteries felt rushed. It wrapped up quickly which felt anticlimactic. That being said, I still enjoyed the story and Adrienne Young’s writing.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC!

Like all of Adrienne Young’s book A Sea of Unspoken Things is an extremely atmospheric book. The way she writes creates such a real sense of place, you absolutely feel like you are in Six Rivers, California. This book explores a sister’s quest to find out what truly caused her twin brother’s death in the forest. James Golden left town right after high school and has never returned in almost 20 years. Now she must confront an old love, old secrets and the truth of who her brother, Johnny, truly was. The way the mystery of the book unfolds is quite surprising (I was very surprised by the final reveal) but some parts of the story were repetitive and frustrating. This book contains some light supernatural elements but nothing too unbelievable. Overall, an interesting mystery with some surprises.
Thank you to Delacorte and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 ⭐️ stars - this was my first Adrienne Young book and I was hooked from page one. Her ability to describe settings and characters that immediately get under your skin is unparalleled. I felt every emotion - the happiness, sadness, the suspense, the hoping things happen for certain characters.

I was on the edge of my seat for the “thriller” parts of this story - every twist and turn had me living every word. Even when I thought I figured it all out, Young added another twist, another character development, and a layer that threw me off the trail. Such a fun ride with an ending that left me satisfied for all involved.

Adrienne Young delivers another captivating novel with A Sea of Unspoken Things, a story that combines mystery, nostalgia, and eerie, magical realism. The novel centers on James, a woman who returns to her hometown after ten years following the tragic death of her twin brother, which she suspects was no accident. As she navigates her grief, she must confront the long-buried emotions and unresolved events from her past, including the mysterious death that drove her away a decade earlier.

Young’s writing is nothing short of atmospheric, with an uncanny ability to create a world that feels both haunting and familiar. The blend of magic and realism in her work adds a sense of mystery, weaving twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Her signature style is distinct, with a tone that brings both tension and tenderness to the narrative. This is no exception—its eerie mood and touches of second-chance romance resonates with fans of her previous work.

The plot is unpredictable and combined with emotional themes of loss and love.

I would recommend Adrienne Young to any reader. Her stories have the perfect small town feel, second chance romance in themes, and the mystery of a tragedy or death that leaves us always guessing.

Adrienne is becoming one of my favorite authors.

This book like her others are very atmospheric. You feel as if you are there within the pages as you read. This story has a little magic realism, but not as much as some of her other books. Still there is some to be found. I will say this was a very slow burn, but stick with it because it is so worth it. My only issue is I wish we could have had a few chapters with Johnny’s POV or when he was actually alive. I feel I would have been able to connect to him better that way.

Overall, an excellent read.

Thank you Netgalley and Delacorte Publishing for the e arc. Be on the lookout for this 01/07/25.

4.5 stars
Adrienne Young does it again.
Our main character James returns to her hometown after her twin brother Johnny is killed in an accidental hunting accident. Six Rivers is the smallest of small towns and it took everything James had in her to get out and start a life in San Francisco. But James has this nagging twin telepathy feeling that Johnny's death may not have been accidental. James spends her time reconnecting with old friends who she never thought she would see again, trying to dig into what Johnny was doing in his last days.
Adrienne Young is able to put together her writing style with creating the most amazing atmospheres and continues to write such captivating books. She managed to vividly create this small town atmosphere in my head and I could clearly picture the whole thing (which doesn't always happen with audiobooks).
The characters were fleshed out very well and I really felt like I got to know them throughout the book. There were quite a few characters, but I never got people mixed up. I really liked James. She quite clearly loved her brother even though he had made some questionable decisions and he was kind of strange. James's old fling Micah, and old friends Sadie and Olivia were some prominent side characters who really rounded out the book. I felt like every character had a purpose and was integrated well into the story.
The plot wasn't super fast moving, but the whole thing was intriguing. We kept on getting new clues and information that lead us in all sorts of directions about Johnny's death and life.
Everything in this book wrapped up nicely and believably. Adrienne Young remains one of my favorite authors!

This book was a stunning and breathtakingly poignant exploration of love, loss, grief, how well you know those you love…and to what lengths you would truly go for them.
I absolutely loved the way the author wove past and present together to reveal each twist and turn of this story. While certainly the darkest mystery yet, there were so many points that I wasn’t sure if I was holding my breath from the sheer suspense, or the way that it all had so fully consumed me.
It was an easy read and quite frankly un-putdown-able. I definitely highly recommend this one for anyone who loves ethereal and atmospheric stories, twisty mysteries with mysterious deaths, and a light sprinkling of tender romance to finish it all off!

The writing is amazing but overall the story just wasn’t for me

There were so many plot holes that I just didn’t really enjoy the story, it was also very slow paced.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first by this author, and it has me very excited to read her earlier books! James and her twin brother Johnny have always had a connection and she feels it the instant he dies. James heads back to her hometown to try and put together the last bits of work he was doing for a conservation project and try and figure out why she’s feeling Johnny everywhere. When she gets back to her hometown that she left 20 years before, all the old ghosts come out. She is forced to confront things and people from her past that she fled from. While looking through her brothers things and hearing stories about his recent life, she discovers she doesn’t really know him at all. And some of the things she found make her wonder of her brothers death was really an accident.

I’m normally not a fan of stories with a friend or family member investigating a death instead of/alongside the police. This was executed very well and her writing is amazing. very atmospheric. I feel like it took a bit to get captivated by the story, but once I was into it, I didn’t wanna put it down. very good character development as well. would definitely recommend!

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Young has become a beloved auto buy author for me. Her stories are rich and evocative, often offering deep character development and timeless story lines. Sadly, A Sea of Unspoken Things didn't quiet hit all those familiar notes that I have come to expect.

Readers follow James as she returns to her hometown after the unexpected loss of her twin brother. As James begins to sift through what remains of his life, she gets an unsettling feeling that things aren't quite what they seem. With her childhood love at her side, she begins to untangle a web of mysteries that are both complicated and otherworldly.

Personally, I felt that the characters here lacked the nuance that Young typically infuses into her stories. There's a line that is revisited again and again about the twins being born in the dark. It's a evocative and romantic sentiment but I never felt any true darkness within either character. They were likable enough but I never felt invested in the outcome of the mystery or the romance. Leading my overall impression of the book to be indifference.

sea of Unspoken Things follows James as she returns to her hometown following the unexpected death of her twin brother. As she searches for closure she unveils more than she bargained for, and ends up with more than one mystery to solve.

If you read Spells for Forgetting and/or Unmaking of June Farrow and enjoyed them, and love atmospheric slow burns, this book may be for you! It had a slightly magical element to it, but is grounded in the real world. Full of small town “charm” and rustic characters.


Unfortunately, for me it falls flat. It feels too much like Spells for Forgetting in the plot (something happened in Highschool, someone left town, now they’re back, everything is coming to light…) and too much like June Farrow in the pacing (things are happening but nothing is REALLY happening until after 50% where suddenly a lot is happening). I fully think this is a me thing and the boom itself isn’t bad, I just can’t get past how similar to the previous works it really is. Also, it got relatively convoluted and messy, which made the end very unsatisfactory.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fantastic book. I really enjoyed every second I spent reading it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 5 𝔹𝕖𝕒𝕦𝕥𝕚𝕗𝕦𝕝 - 𝕆𝕓𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕥𝕖 𝕞𝕪 𝕊𝕝𝕦𝕞𝕡 𝕥𝕠 𝔻𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

👏 Adrienne 👏 Young 👏 Does 👏 Not 👏 Miss! 👏

Lemme just start by saying that I really took my time reading this and savored each page. This is one of those books that you can read in one sitting, sure. But the prose is just so exquisite that I wanted to take my time and just relish in the beauty of the story.

₊⊹⁀➴ ✴ .` ⋆⁺ 𝓠𝓾𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓢𝓾𝓶𝓶𝓪𝓻𝔂 ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

We follow our FMC, James (yes, James - she has a traditionally male name) who is headed back to the small lush forest of a small town home after her twin brother was killed in what local law enforcement believe to be a hunting accident.

Once she arrives and starts combing through his things... something seems off. Not only is she finding physical and tangible evidence that something is amiss, but James has always had a sort of twin telepathy with her brother Johnny. But when they were younger there was a time where it had seemed that they could actually FEEL what the other was feeling.

Since he had past, James expected to not feel so consumed with her brother's presence... but she could feel him and sense him... as if he was giving her clues, or trying to tell her something...

Was it an accident? Was it revenge for something in their past? What is really going on in the forest town? What happened to Johnny?

₊⊹⁀➴ ✴ .` ⋆⁺ 𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

I've gotta say... so The Unmaking of June Farrow is still my favorite Adrienne Young book so far... but this book. Whew - this book is now my second favorite, knocking Spells for Forgetting into the third spot lol. I will never get sick of these small town, magical realism, atmospheric books from Young. They are EXACTLY MY CUP OF TEA.

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ This story was chilling, exciting, melancholic, haunting and beautiful. I had tears streaming by the end. I was just so moved by the whole story. There's even a dash of romance in here that abso-freaking-lutely made my heart melt.

Speaking of which, the love interest, Michah - ugh he's just the sweetest. All of the characters were done so well. I did have my suspicions early on. Everyone is a little suspicious. But I was pleased with how everything was tied together.

Highly recommend!

˚₊· ͟͟͞͞➳❥ Adrienne - please never stop writing these beautiful stories! You're amazing! Thank you so much for another 5 star read!

✎﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
And this cover!! 🤌🏻💋

Anticipated Release Date - 01/07/25

This is going to look so gorgeous on my shelf next to Spells for Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Farrow!!

Buddy reading with my perfume buying hoardingcollecting partner/bestie in crime Meagan 🥰😘💘

A huge thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the advanced digital copy; All thoughts and opinions are my own. 💐💖

I took a while to get into this one, but once I did, the story was wonderful. Andrienne Young is starting to become a must-read author for me.

This novel wraps you in its atmosphere from the very first page, blending eerie mystery with the deep bond only twins can share. James returns to Six Rivers, California, after her twin brother Johnny’s sudden death, facing not just the loss of someone who felt like another half of her soul, but also old secrets and lingering ghosts. The remote setting and James’s special connection to Johnny create a haunting mood, where every step deeper into his past raises new questions—and a creeping sense that nothing is as it seems.

As James struggles to understand who Johnny really was and what he was hiding, you feel her grief, confusion, and determination. Past and present entwine as she confronts Micah, the man who once meant the world to both of them, and the tangled web of memories they share. What’s especially gripping is how the author handles the push and pull between unveiling hard truths and letting sleeping secrets lie.

If you love moody, character-driven mysteries that dig into messy family bonds and leave you wondering what to believe, this story won’t disappoint. It’s an emotional, suspenseful journey into the heart of loss—and the healing that comes from finally facing it.

I was really looking forward to this arc, and it did not disappoint!

Adrienne Young has become one of my favorite authors this year! And while her other books have a bit more magical realism and focus on romance, this one was more of a mystery/thriller. Which normally isn’t my thing, but with this one I really enjoyed it!

The beginning was a bit of a slow build up, getting to know bits a pieces of the town and the characters, but at 50% it really kicked up and I couldn’t put it down!

The way the story kept unfolding while still keeping you guessing was really well done. Just when I thought I’d figured out what happened, we’d get another twist and I’d be proven wrong.

There also was still an element of romance in just the right amount to scratch that itch. 😏

The way Adrienne lays out the atmosphere of her books will always leave me entranced. Her writing is so beautiful and makes you feel fully immersed in each setting she creates. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is that I love so much about her writing, but I do know it’s some kind of magic ✨

The characters, their struggles, their stories and how they’re played out, the longing between love interests, the elements of mystery that she adds in each of her stories and how she weaves it all together is always such a joy to read.

A SEA OF UNSPOKEN THINGS by Adrienne Young ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book has a little bit of everything! Chilling vibes, a slow burn mystery, endearing love story, and unpredictable twists. Although the focus of this book is on her brothers death, the second chance romance really won my heart! The first third of this book felt a little bit slow to me, but it definitely picked up and by the end I couldn’t put it down! Not my favorite book by Adrienne Young, but still highly recommend reading it! I 100% did not predict how this one was going to end.

After the loss of her twin brother, James returns to her hometown to tie up loose ends. When she gets there, she finds herself trying to find answers to questions surrounding his death.

Pub. Date: January 7, 2025.

Perfect if you like:
•Slow burn mystery.
•Unpredictable twists.
•Family secrets.
•Second chance romance.
•Moody and atmospheric vibes.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ (implied intimacy)
Mood: 🍿🫗

⚠️: explicit language.

3.5 stars rounded up

After her twin brother’s death from a hunting accident, James returns to her hometown to unravel the mysteries surrounding the event.

This one was just okay for me. I loved that it was really different from the Unmaking of June Farrow and incorporated the mystery aspects in a different way. The setting was woodsy and atmospheric, and lent itself really well to the unfolding plot points. I didn’t feel like I got to know a lot about the main character and her brother, but I think that kind of worked for the story, which largely revolved around what we think we know about someone vs what they are actually like. I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters, but I did enjoy finding out little pieces about the cast within the small town.

I found the pacing to be really slow, and there was a lot of emphasis placed on description. By the end, I felt like there were missing or unnecessary pieces that contributed to a lot of eggs in different baskets without resolution.

“That we could fill an ocean with the things we never said.”

This is slightly how I felt about the characters and A Sea of Unspoken Things. Out of Adrienne’s three latest releases, I felt a little more disconnected from the characters in this one. Of course it was a mystery with romance in it, so you’re meant to be in the dark until you have the knowing! Her writing is so atmospheric which is why I love her books, writing style, and storytelling. I always appreciate the mystery aspect, I definitely appreciated the sibling relationship, and loved the ending. She knows how to wrap a book! No one writes stories like Adrienne does, she’s unique to her own genre and I love that. She has yet to disappoint me! Definitely recommend, it’s a perfect winter read.