"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!

Wow. I tend to read solely romance or fantasy books, but on the rare occasion that I pick up a book with a mystery aspect, I always hope it will be one that will keep me guessing until the last second. This book did that.

I knew after reading The Unmaking of June Farrow that I wanted to read more of Adrienne Young’s books and I am so thankful I was chosen to read an ARC for this story because I truly could not put it down once I started. This book had so many twists and turns, I was constantly convincing myself I had solved the puzzle, only to have my theory debunked pages later.

This was a quick & entertaining, and definitely secured a spot near the top of my mystery/thriller reads!

So so good. From the moment I started reading I didn’t want to stop. Every chapter kept me wanting more and more and I became emotionally attached to their characters straight away.

Adrienne has a beautiful way of giving depth to these characters and creating mystery in a way that has you questioning everything and everyone.

Thank you so much NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very different from the Adrienne Young books I read up until now. This is the very dark story of James, a woman who grew up in a small town in the middle of the wilderness. She left the place after graduating from high school, went to college in Byron, and then became a professional artist. She is now 37 and has to go back to get her twin brother's stuff after he was found dead in the gorge. She always had this very strong connection with her brother. A twin thing. She could always feel what he was feeling, and he has doubt about this accidental death. She makes it her goal to understand what happened to twin brother Johnny, and she ends up opening a whole can of worms.

The book was slow paced, very dark, borderline depressing, and I was a little disappointed. But it is a good book on second chances and finding your place in the world, figuring out where is it you belong.

A nice winter read.
3.5 🌟

If you were to compare this to the Unmaking of June Farrow, I would say A Sea of Unspoken Things is like the more angsty and dark cousin. The imagery is great in this book, but I thought the glimpses of the brother were not necessary or added that much. I enjoyed the 'plot twists' and the incorporation of people from James' past. This book was an easy read and would recommend.

My only experience with Adrienne Young was The Unmaking of June Farrow, so I guess she does slightly supernatural kind of books? I could 100% be wrong here.

Honestly, I could have done without about 20% of the internal crisis/questioning. The book felt slow and slightly repetitive, with characters and situations introduced...only to have nothing to do with the ending. There were portions that were beautiful, and I am slightly obsessed with the last line of the book: "Maybe we were made in the dark, but we'd found a way to create our own kind of light."

It was a solid 3.5/3.75 stars, but not enough to be a 4 star book. Would certainly recommend if you're good with a slower pace.