While I really enjoy Adrienne Young's writing and loved The Unmaking of June Farrow, this book was just ok for me. A Sea of Unspoken Things delves into how much we really know about the most important people in our lives...our brothers, sisters, lovers, etc. The beginning of the book started off slow and I had difficulty feeling a connection to James. I enjoyed her and the story more as she starts to unravel the details of her brother's death, reconnecting with Micah and her hometown along the way. I was hoping for more from the supernatural connection between James and her brother, Johnny; some of my favorite parts of Young's books are the magical and mystical elements she incorporates. I did find myself wanting to see how everything would work out, for James and everyone in the town, and found some of the reveals quite shocking.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc! Slight spoilers ahead!

I fell in love with Adrienne Young’s writing style after reading The Unmaking of June Farrow. She has a really special way of writing magical realism. A Sea of Unspoken Things has that same magical, romantic, and atmospheric vibe that I loved about TUJF.

HOWEVER

I think this book could have benefited from being longer.

A lot of the plot and emotional weight that surrounds it leans heavily on past relationships/shared trauma. That being said, I don’t think we dive into the past enough (aside from one pivotal scene) to make the events of the present day feel as impactful as they should feel. Certain moments fell flat or felt very melodramatic imo.

I love it when a character haunts a narrative (in this case, Johnny literally does) but aside from James constantly bringing up how she always needed to “save” Johnny or “cover for” Johnny, I didn’t really know what to make of their relationship.

Same with Micah! After 20 years, why are they still drawn to eachother? Why did they fall in love in the first place? Of course it makes for a deeply romantic plot line, but I didn’t fully buy their connection. I wanted to see the elements of their relationship that existed outside of this small town mystery.

Finally, I wish Young leaned more into the supernatural parts. The plot could have followed the exact same path without Johnny’s ghost hovering around.

All that being said, I loved this book. I adore Young’s writing. The issues I have with the book stem from wanting MORE.🩷

I had to stop everything when I got approved for this book. It was my highly anticipated book, and it sure did not disappoint. Adrienne Young is one of my favorite authors and I have loved her books. The atmosphere was perfect, and I loved the characters. I love the paranormal magical realism portion of this story. Run and get a copy.
4.5/5

Thank you to Netgalley for a digital arc!

This book has all the atmosphere and mystery that my spooky time heart needed!

It starts out very intriguing with James going back to the small town she escaped 20 years prior to investigate her twin brothers death.

The next part of the book is extremely slow paced, and has some editing issues that Im sure will be fixed before publishing...I hope.

The second half of the book however is really good!! Mysterious, tense, and lots of twists.

I would recomend this to anyone who enjoys a slow, slightly paranormal, atmospheric mystery 🖤

Bonus points for a beautiful cover!

Meh. It was good enough that I read it in two days. But nothing much to say about it beyond that. I'm really tired of authors having a big secret that the main character knows but the reader doesn't. 🙄 In this case it really took interest away from the actual mystery.

Also I guess it was supposed to be magical realism but then the whole twin thing basically just turned into nothing and disappeared, which was just completely annoying. Don't build this all up to then be nothing.

This is one of those books that will sit in your chest for a while, refusing to let you forget about it. The atmosphere pulses with life and the characters feel as if they could walk right off the page. While I enjoyed the mystery aspect, it was everything else that kept me in the story. I loved the romance between James and Micah, especially with their ending and the epilogue. I love how photography, especially of animals, is a big part of the story. It's such a unique art form and I was so excited to read about it being included in this story. I enjoyed how the magical realism was woven into this story without making it feel too fantastical.

That being said, even though I did love this book I wish that the magical realism aspect was a little more fleshed out. It felt a little vague which left me with more questions. I also found the plot twists at the very end to be a bit too quick. I wanted a little more time to sit with the information but I this might be normal pacing with books where mystery is the main focus.

Overall, I loved this book. The atmosphere and the characters pulled me in and at times made me forget I was reading. Thank you for this ARC!

A Sea of Unspoken Things is my first Adrienne Young book. It is the story of twins, Johnny and James. James has returned home after her brother’s untimely death and while she sorts through Johnny’s belongings she also attempts to sort out what happened to her beloved brother with their constant companion (and previous paramour) Micah at her side.

The writing in this book is almost a character in itself—very descriptive, very atmospheric and moody. This story is a slow burn and even halfway through I found myself wondering when I was going to be let into the story. I can honestly say that I didn’t feel fully let into what was really happening until near the very end. Maybe other readers will be able to piece it together more quickly but it was a bit frustrating for me. While the writing was beautiful and descriptive I still found the story keeping me at arms length until the very end when it embraced me with the brief warm hug.

This story is a portrait of grief and guilt, friendship and loyalty, love and loss.

James returns to her tiny hometown after her twin dies in order to find some closure. But their twin connection hasn't gone away, even though he's dead. Family secrets, small town secrets, a possible rekindled romance, and possibly murder? Mysterious and atmospheric, with complex characters, and a small town full of surprises.. 4.5☆

First off, Adrienne Young is an autobuy author me for - at least for her adult books. I have not read any of her YA yet. The Unmaking of June Farrow is one of my absolute favorite books of all time. Her adults books usually have this magic to them that sucks you in and I love them.

However, this book missed that magic for me. I liked the characters and the storyline was interesting enough. But there wasn't that chokehold over me like her other two adult books. This one felt very slow until 70% in, and was oddly paced towards the end. There was one side story with another character that didn't feel like it had that much weight to the whole storyline once that mystery was revealed.

Overall, I did enjoy this read and plan to continue with Adrienne Young books, but this wasn't a fav.

James and Johnny Golden shared a deep, almost supernatural bond as twins. When Johnny dies in an accident, James feels an overwhelming sense of loneliness for the first time. Returning to their hometown of Six Rivers, California, to settle his affairs, she confronts their shared past and her feelings for Micah, the only other person who knows their secrets. As she investigates Johnny's life, she discovers he was hiding important truths, leaving her to question if she ever really knew him. 

The pacing for A Sea of Unspoken Things was slow but I felt captivated the entire time. Everyone around James felt unreliable and I often felt myself question if we could trust James too. It was so atmospheric and beautifully written, which is why I feel the slow pacing worked the way it did. I was truly captivated from start to finish, I just needed to know what happened. 

While there is a mystery element, this story really delves into grief, the bond between sibling relationships, and the complexities of truly knowing those closest to you. James’s journey through her brother’s life after his passing is both poignant and remarkably authentic. I couldn't put this down. 4 stars.

I was super excited to get a digital copy of Adrienne Young’s newest title from NetGalley.

I loved this book, the subtle magical realism she uses throughout the book, and her character development.

The book follows James as she goes home after the death of her twin brother. However, home is a small town who don’t like outsiders, which she has now become after twenty years. The death of her brother isn’t the only mystery the town is hiding either. Insert her first love, and this story just grabs you and doesn’t let go.

Can’t wait to add a physical copy to my bookshelf in January!

"A Sea of Unspoken Things" offers a hauntingly atmospheric experience, immersing readers in a world filled with rich descriptions and a palpable sense of mystery. The author does an excellent job of creating a moody setting that keeps you engaged, and there are moments that truly shine in their evocative detail. I especially enjoyed the MC connection to her brother, it was heartfelt and relatable.

However, the pacing felt a bit sluggish at times, which made it challenging to stay fully invested. The buildup to the twists was intriguing, but when they finally arrived, they happened too quickly and left me wanting more resolution.

Overall, while the book is certainly entertaining and beautifully atmospheric, it could benefit from a more balanced pacing and a more thorough wrapping up of its twists. If you enjoy a good ambiance with intriguing elements, it’s worth a read, just like all of Adrienne Young's books. You definitely will not be disappointed.

3.5 ⭐️

The deeply secluded forest town was beautifully executed and was the star of this book for me. It shapes every cause and every outcome from start to finish. The atmosphere created by this forest town is small town mystery perfection. Without this piece, I’m not sure I would have finished reading the book.

I view this story as a mystery/semi-thriller (maybe) with an MC who has a strong intuition connecting her to her twin brother. It has a slower pace throughout the story. The twists and turns are decent enough, but they wrap up so quickly that I wasn’t left satisfied. I have major questions on how the prime incident happened based on the last reveal, but we don’t get any more information to have closure.

Overall, I love this book for its atmospheric presence. I dislike this book for its pacing and rushed conclusion. I do think if you like books that read like a leisurely stroll in a dark overgrown forest where you get to connect dots on your own, this book could be amazing for you.

Thank you NetGalley, Adrienne Young, and Random House Publishing for this eARC.

This books was so atmospheric. Adrienne Young has a way of storytelling that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the story right beside the characters. A Sea of Unspoken Things leans more towards mystery than Young's usual magical realism. This novel was a slow build up to resolving the mystery, and it paid off in the end.

This was an exploration of grief and what it means to really know someone, but it was also a study on sibling dynamics. What do we really know about those we love? The way James had to pick through her brother's life after his death was both heartbreaking and true to life.

I truly enjoyed my time in Six Rivers. It felt like that moody forest was alive around me. If you enjoy a small town mystery with a slow build up, pick up A Sea of Unspoken Things when it comes out.

After reading Spells for Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Farrow, A Sea of Unspoken Things was at the top of my most anticipated upcoming releases.

Adrienne Young does an amazing job of creating a captivating setting that transforms your surroundings. It almost feels like the town of Six Rivers,CA is just as alive and important as the main characters. At first I thought the mystery was being predictable, but the twists kept coming.

I really loved this one and wish there was even more background on the main characters. Thankful that I was able to read this in the fall (especially with the mystery) but will definitely be rereading once it is released in January!

This is the first time reading Adrienne Young and it’s definitely not going to be my last. A Sea of Unspoken Things is an atmospheric and twisty novel about what we do for those we love.

I was utterly captivated by this slow burn mystery. The touches of fantasy and magical realism are so beautifully written that they almost seem possible. I loved this book and these characters!

On to my next Adrienne Young novel!

Every book I have read by this author has not disappointed! I could barely put it down!

I was left with one unanswered question by the end of the book (I won't mention it here since it's a little bit of a spoiler), but everything wrapped up nicely and I was satisfied with the ending!

I'm sobbing writing this having just finished this book. To sum A Sea of Unspoken Things up in a word? Stunning. Possibly one of my top favorite reads this year. Ever? I don't know. My perception of reality is warped after finishing this. Thank you so much to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to feel emotionally obliterated.

I have read Adrienne Young in the past and loved her writing. This book was no exception. From the very first chapter (the first page really) I knew I was in for a treat. The story starts off a little slow, but I'm captivated by what's going on and I'm tuned in because I feel invested in finding out more. I am not a person who can typically visualize books I'm reading, but Adrienne has such a beautiful way with words it literally feels like a movie scene playing out in my brain??? There's no filler. Every single word feels deliberate and as this story unravels you see just how intentional Adrienne is.

This book had me constantly needing to pause and having chills. The way Adrienne writes the supernatural is just SO good? It's not outlandish and campy. She makes it feel like this could legitimately happen. Like there might be a little bit of inexplicable magic in this world.

The tension in this book? S tier. And it's not even romantic tension. You do not know who to trust. You don't know who to root for. Up is down. The cats are dogs. NOTHING is as it seems as the FMC is trying to get to the bottom of her twin brother's death.

Lastly I really appreciated these characters being in their late 30's.

I loved this atmospheric and unsettling novel. A mystical twin connection? A haunting and isolated small town? An accident that maybe… wasn’t? Say less.

Some of the writing in this story was especially poignant and I felt it deeply. I thought she balanced the foreshadowing/clues and twists nicely - there were some I could guess and others I didn’t see coming!

James lives in San Francisco when she gets the call that her twin brother Johnny has passed away. James still feels a connection to her brother that may not be entirely in her head… and before she knows it, she’s on her way back to her hometown of Six Rivers. Deep in the secluded mountains of California. The place she grew up… and couldn’t run fast enough away from when she was younger. Now she’s back to figure out what happened to her brother… because she has a feeling… it may not have been an accident.

This is a book. You cannot. Put. Down. Every time I got to the end of a chapter I was like… and?? What happens next??

This book takes its time, but at the same time you are on the edge of your seat trying to get a handle on the absolute mystery that is going on in this small town.

This book made me realize you need to say the things that weigh you down and lay heavy on your heart.

You can pick up the pieces of the past and build on those or start anew but the choice is there to grow and change and break cycles and be honest and vulnerable.

Life is so strange it’s so important and meaningless at the same time. You need to allow the people in that you love to help carry the burden of it all.

This book really moved me and it was so fascinating to witness a relationship between two people completely change and adapt and grow and mature all while one of them had already passed away.

This book is incredibly thought provoking. It’s sad and eerie and bizarre and just beautiful. This story is beautiful. Rich and layered. It’s downright sad. It’s empty and lonely and then filled with love and warmth and light.

I am in love with the way Adrienne writes men. Absolutely in love. There’s safety and security and confidence in the men that she writes. They are anchors in a stormy sea.

I feel like this book is necessary.

The places we hide the people we hide behind. Being scared of knowing someone completely.

Fighting off that real deep true love because it’s scary being vulnerable.

And it’s healing too. Opening up. Looking in the dark with your eyes wide open and doing the right thing no matter the outcome.

I’m moved in so many different directions by this story. It’s one of those reads that’s going to stay with me for a long time… probably forever.

It made me think deeply and shed a tear and at times I didn’t know who I was shedding the tear for… one of the characters or maybe even myself...

What an incredible. incredible. Journey. I can’t recommend this book enough.