A Sea of Unbroken Things highlights Adrienne Young’s lyrical, atmospheric writing in a slow burn mystery and magical realism setting. It was dark and twisty and overall an entertaining read.

A sea of unspoken things:
Enchanting. Another stunning and mysterious masterpiece by Adrienne Young.

The backdrop is a town called Six Rivers deep in the heart of a California national Redwood forest. A woman named James is haunted by the recent death of her twin brother. A hunting accident in the woods. But James knows that accidents don’t happen in this forest, everything is intentional and the trees remember. So, led by her gut, after 20 years away, she returns to her hometown to unearth the truth of her brothers death and the events leading up to it with the help of a man from her past.

I loved the artistic elements of the story, especially the owl photography! And James’s grief is suffocating in a way that feels so raw and real. I couldn’t predict any of the twists and turns and that rarely happens for me so it was quite the delight to read. Well done Young!

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. My first book of hers was June Farrow and I also loved it. The story was fast paced and I connected with the characters. I want to read more books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

I have a soft spot for Adrienne Young. Her books are atmospheric and filled with subtle touches of magical realism. Her newest book is a slight departure, as its magic element isn’t at the forefront. It focuses on the relationship between James and her brother Johnny, who has been murdered. The two are twins and have an other-worldly connection. James can feel her brother, especially in times of anger. When she returns home to sort out his home, he lingers in a ghost-like form, leading her to find the answers about his death. I love a good mystery/thriller and this one did not disappoint. I kind of figured out one of the “killers” but had no idea what to expect with the other storyline. Definitely pick this one up when it comes out!

Everything Adrienne Young has produced has been absolutely perfect. A Sea of Unspoken Things is no exception and I love that we’re alive to read what writing she gifts us.

This book was beautifully written and included many interesting topics like mental health, twin-isms, and life in secluded areas. I think this book is, however, my least favorite from this author. This read more like literary fiction than her others, in which there is a more *magical* element. 2.5 stars rounded up!

I received a digital ARC through NetGalley in return for my honest review.


Let me start by saying SMOKE is my favorite character! 🐺
I've really enjoyed this author so far, especially because no matter how many times I thought I had the plot figured out, it kept surprising me. While I did predict one twist, the numerous unexpected turns kept me on my toes. Despite reading the ARC on my phone—which isn’t my favorite format—I still thoroughly enjoyed the story. That might be why I’m giving it four stars instead of five. I’m definitely a fan now and can't wait to dive into more of their work!

A Sea of Unspoken Things follows James as she navigates her twin brother's death in their hometown of Six Rivers. James left Six Rivers twenty years ago, and has unfinished business waiting for her; however, she begins to wonder if her brother's death was really an accident so she must push all her feelings aside to find the truth.

I have mixed feelings about this one.... I enjoyed the haunting atmosphere of the woods and the supernatural connection between James and Johnny. The writing had a sad and overwhelming feeling to it and the more James found out about Johnny, the more I empathized for James. Sometimes we try to suppress the not so endearing qualities of those we love.
The crime solving pieces of this book were a little off putting. It just seemed like the blame conveniently fell on two easy targets and one did not really make sense to me. This part of the book also seemed to move fast compared to the beginning...like determining the culprits was not the main focus.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for a honest review.

Another wonderful book from Adrienne Young. I absolutely adored this book. Everything i thought I had it figured out she twisted things and made me think again. Was not expecting the ending but so happy it ended on a good note. Can't wait for the next book she puts out.

I was excited to receive an ARC of this book from Netgalley because I liked some of the author’s previous books.

This was a gripping story of a sister’s investigation of her twin brother’s death and an exploration of what she thought she knew about who he was and their relationship. She returns to the small, isolated town they grew up in after his death from her life as an artist in San Francisco, facing curiosity and judgment from residents of her hometown. Naturally she also encounters her first love. It’s not that the scenario or setting are novel, but it was well done and nuanced. My only complaint is that the death of a different character felt clunky and the culprit of that murder was predictable. I was happy to overlook that given the rest of the sorry. 4.5 stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A young woman returns to a hometown that she fled on order to lay her brother to rest. His mysterious death leaves her unsettled, and she searches for answers

This book is nothing short of a masterpiece. Adrienne Young does not miss. I am left with a massive book hangover and am yet to find my next read after this wonderful read.

The story follows James as she navigates a tumultuous landscape of loss, grief, resilience, and unexpected alliances. Adrienne's ability to portray raw emotion is honestly striking; each character feels so deeply authentic, with their struggles resonating on multiple levels. The way she weaves themes of grief and hope creates a poignant backdrop that elevates the narrative beyond mere adventure.

The pacing is very well-balanced, with moments of high tension and quieter, introspective scenes that allow for character growth and reflection.

What truly sets this novel apart is its exploration of difficult themes such as fate, choice, and the consequences of our actions. Young navigates these topics with such sensitivity and depth, inviting readers to ponder their own journeys while being swept away by the unfolding story.

Adrienne has crafted a breathtaking tale that lingers in the heart and mind long after the last page is turned. It’s a profound exploration of the human experience, filled with adventure, sorrow, and ultimately, redemption. I was so taken aback by this read. I had no idea what to expect, but I am left with a big hole in my heart while I recover from this book. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Random House & Delacorte press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

How well do we truly know the people we love most?

That’s the main theme at play in Young’s newest book. James returns to the small forest town she was raised in after her twin brother is killed to settle his affairs and figure out what happened.

The story that follows is a multi-layer mystery that will keep you guessing until the last chapter. With paranormal and romantic elements and some poignant words on grief, this book sucked me in unexpectedly and I’m so happy to have read it.

“Maybe we were made in the dark, like Johnny said, but we’d found a way to create our own kind of light.”

Following a call that her twin brother was fatally shot in a hunting accident, James returns to Six Rivers after 20 years to look into his death. Uncovering secrets and facing the ghosts of her past in the process.

Adrienne Young does it again! A beautifully written, atmospheric small town mystery about loss, and second chances. The way that Young subtly adds touches of magical realism into her stories always takes my breath away. I was so immersed that I felt like I was right there with James in the cabin or walking around the gorge. The twin dynamic and connection between James and Johnny was so intriguing to me. I could not turn the pages fast enough!

I can’t wait for you all to read this one. 🥹

Huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

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

After reading The Unmaking of June Farrow earlier this fall, I was desperate to read more of Adrienne Young’s work. A Sea of Unspoken Things follows James Golden as she returns to the small town that she grew up in, in the wake of her twin brother’s death.

Adrienne Young steeped this story in such detailed descriptive language, that I could vividly picture each place in my mind. Her atmospheric writing, shrouded in mystery, gave the experience of being in the story with James as she unravels the truth of what happened.

This small town mystery has elements of twin telepathy meets paranormal, with romantic undertones. 4 solid stars, for this beautiful story about grief, love, and the things the people we know leave unspoken. I would definitely recommend picking up this book when it comes out in January!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and Adrienne Young, for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Adrianne has quickly become my go to author to recommend magical realism for customers. Her adult books are phenomenal.

I had really high hopes for this one. I absolutely love all of A. young’s novels. But this one started out quite slow and repetitive. At a smaller sized novel, it did pick up fairly well around halfway through. The story was so entertaining and literally a small town heart throbbing mystery.

adrienne young has such a talent for establishing a moody atmosphere, and a sea of unspoken things was no exception. the setting and set-up of this book were executed well, leaving you knowing the main conflict right off the bat. however, i did find the story to be on the slow side and the twists not very shocking or jaw-dropping. (i just seem to have this talent for predicting adrienne young's twists, per my experience with june farrow.) still, i thought it was a nice small-town mystery with strong characters and a sweet romance subplot. with that, it gets a healthy 3.5 ★ from me!

James Golden returns home to settle the affairs of her twin brother after he unexpectedly dies. But as she settles back into her hometown, she starts to think her brother's death was not the accident officials have made it out to be. She's forced to reconnect with old friends to dig into her brother's life – and his secrets – hoping to get to the truth.

I loved this book. Adrienne Young did a great job creating a dark and engrossing atmosphere. I found James' character to be smart and witty while also conflicted and complex. I liked the interplay between James and friends or acquaintances from her childhood. I also liked the incorporation of a little romance and conflict between James' current love life and her feelings for an old boyfriend. This is a great suspenseful mystery – I did not guess the ending (while the ending was still a realistic outcome and not just some out of the blue, completely unrealistic, surprise ending). I really enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

If Adrienne Young writes it, I will read it! This one has a bit of it all - a thrilling mystery, romance, magic, familial bonds, complicated relationships and secrets, and a stunning backdrop beautifully depicted in wonderful prose.

I struggled with this in the beginning, intrigued by the storyline but feeling like the chapters were a bit dragged out with some unnecessary details, but ultimately I feel this is a great book to lose yourself in. It's lush and immersive and a guaranteed hit!