I love Adrienne Young’s novels. I adore her immersive stories, her wonderful cast of complex and intriguing characters, and her beautiful writing that captivates you from the first to the very last page.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is her latest fascinating novel set in the small town of Hawthorne. The protagonist, James Golden, left the town when she was 18 years old and she hasn’t been back until now, following the mysterious death of her twin brother Johnny. She’s always had a special connection with her brother Johnny so that she knew the exact moment he died and now she is back to get his affairs in order, including finishing an environmental project he was involved in. But James has other reasons to return to Hawthorne. First of all, she is convinced that her brother’s death was no accident and may also be connected to the tragic event that made her leave town. And then there is Micah, her first love and the boy, now a man, whose heart she broke when she left. And he is probably the only person she can now trust.

While The Unmaking of June Farrow still remains my favourite novel by Adrienne Young, I really enjoyed A Sea of Unspoken Things. It is haunting, chilling, and atmospheric with evocative descriptions and interesting characters together with supernatural elements, an intriguing and intense mystery, and an exciting romance. I can’t wait to read more by this author!

I though this book was an unusual mix of modern thriller with speculative/ fantasy elements and a romantic subplot, James left the small town of Hawthorne 18 years ago but now she’s back following the death of her twin brother Johnny. The pair had an intense connection, despite the distance between them so she knew he was dead even before the phone call came. She now has to settle her brother’s affairs and confront the feelings she has held for Micah, the only man she’s ever loved. However, that spooky connection with her brother hasn’t disappeared and she starts to wonder if there are things about his death she needs to investigate. Johnny was keeping secrets, but he wasn’t alone.
I thought this was an interesting mix of genres. I was expecting something in the style of Alice Hoffman, but then found the unexpected thriller element. So it reminded me a little of Blue Diary, which had those crime thriller elements alongside a love story and a magical touch. It was fascinating psychologically because of the bond between the twins and how James is having to face the tragedy that forced her to leave eighteen years before. It’s about processing her trauma and the added grief element was very well done too. I thought the characters were complex and felt authentic as a result. Even the tethering element of the twin’s relationship beyond life, felt in-keeping and true to those characters. It’s very atmospheric, with all that ‘small town’ feeling. She kept me totally immersed in this family’s story and even with a couple of loose ends it was a very satisfying read.

Adrienne Young’s A Sea of Unspoken Things is an absolutely breathtaking read—beautiful, emotional, and completely immersive. The story pulls you in with its deep, introspective characters and a setting so vividly described it feels like you’re right there. The relationships are raw and beautifully complicated, filled with longing, heartbreak, and quiet moments that say more than words ever could. With lyrical prose and a story that lingers long after the final page, this is the kind of book that settles deep in your heart and stays there.

“We could fill the fucking ocean with the things we never said to each other.”

This book was so dark and moody- two things that I do happen to love. The story follows James as she returns to her home town to investigate the death of her twin brother. Although he was alleged to have died in a hunting accident, James wasn’t so sure. Throughout the story we see her trying to uncover the secrets her brothers life and handle the uncomfortable truths that comes along with it. At its core this was a mystery- I was holding my breath waiting to see what would come next- what unfortunate truths would James stumble upon. Of course not only navigating the loss of her brother’s life, she is also seeing her teenage love again for the first time in twenty years. The tone of the book is dark- but the imagery was so strong I felt like I was there, when James made a discovery, I felt her emotions alongside her. This is the magic of Adrienne Young’s writing, it’s so immersive- not to mention thought provoking. I adore quotes and words that I can move around in my head and the quote above will stick with me a long time. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mysteries and tales of lost loves and the desperate need to start over.

I've been a massive fan of Adrienne Youngs books ever since I discovered the Fable series and I've read every single one of her books!
Her words are also so immerive and deep and so thought provoking and this was no different.
I was gripped straight away and absolutely loved unravelling the secrets and story within these pages. Can't reccomend her books enough, possibly a new favourite??

I love Adrienne Young. I have since Sky In The Deep. This book is more gothic than her previous books which were fantasy or magical realism.

James is haunted by what drove her out of her isolated hometown between the forest and the see 20 years ago. But no the death of her brother has brought her back and straight into a mystery and the severed bonds she left behind. Haunted by his ghost she unravels his death and the disappearance of a teenager and the link between them.

As soft and tender but just as gripping as her previous books Adrienne once again demonstrates her mastery of character and atmosphere dropping incredible twists that leave you gasping.

She's an autobuy author for a good reason.

Adrienne Young has become one of my favourite authors so I knew I’d love this. The story follows James as she tries so uncover what happened to her twin brother. I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading until I found out what happened and whether any of my guesses were right.

The setting was perfect and gave off the best haunting, eerie small town vibes. The writing as usual was beautiful

Adrienne Young’s A Sea of Unspoken Things is a spellbinding mix of mystery, emotion, and a dash of the supernatural that will keep you hooked from page one! With her incredible writing, she’ll transport you to a small-town world filled with secrets, deep connections, and twists you won’t see coming. She has definitely solidified herself as an Auto-buy author for me!

A Sea of Unspoken Things is the newest release from Adrienne Young, author of The Unmaking of June Farrow. The story follows James Golden, a woman who returns home to the remote rural town where she grew up following the death of her twin brother Johnny. When she arrives she feels like Johnny hasn’t really left and as she begins to delve into his life, she discovers he had more secrets than she thought. James has questions surrounding Johnny’s death, but will she be able to uncover the truth and the many secrets that surround the town of Six Rivers?

This is my first book from Adrienne Young and I completely devoured this. It was atmospheric, gripping and so well paced. I must admit this is a bit different to what I would typically read – the fantasy elements are very light – but I really enjoyed this mix of fantasy, mystery, and family drama. Adrienne Young has an absolutely beautiful writing style and her writing completely swept me away in this story. I loved the small town setting in the book and Young’s writing really brought to life this isolated community hidden in the trees.

This story is very much about relationships and grief. Young does a brilliant job of diving into James’ past, the reasons she left Six Rivers, her relationships with Johnny, with Micah, and other people in the town. The characterization in this book was terrific and I felt like James could have been a real life person. The mystery kept me engaged right till the end and while I did guess where some of the plot was going, the final reveal was definitely a surprise.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a gorgeously written story, full of atmosphere and mystery. If you’re looking for a book that will have you gripped right till the very final page, this is definitely one to pick up. I didn’t want to put this book down and I cannot wait to read more from Adrienne Young in the future.

Adrienne Young has the most captivating writing style that will break your heart and bring you to the edge of your seat within a matter of pages. Stunning!

I am officially an Adrienne Young superfan. Buckets of atmosphere, a mystery and a touch of magical realism is apparently my perfect formula for a book these days.
Young has such a way with words. Her ability to describe a setting and make it feel so totally alive is fantastic. I could feel the forests of the story around me so vividly, I could smell the pines and hear the rustle of trees while I was reading.

In this novel we follow James, returning to her small hometown after the death of her twin brother. I enjoyed James as a character. At first she didn't seem too deep, but as the story progressed and layers were peeled away, we learned and she developed and I grew to love her.
The plot was tense but slow to unfold, and we share in James' frustration at the lack of information as we go.

Love, love, loved this atmospheric and emotional book.

An intriguing mystery set in rural California, A Sea of Unspoken Things was full of twists and turns and old secrets being revealed.

I enjoyed A Sea of Unspoken Things but I think my expectations were slightly misled by people describing this as magical realism, which I wouldn’t really consider it. It doesn’t have magic in the way Young’s previous adult novels have, it’s more of a slightly unexplainable phenomena, which suits the book but does give it a very different feel to her other novels.

The setting had that small town feel and lent itself well to the mystery, and I liked the way the past and present intertwined. Certain aspects could definitely be triggering for some people, so I would recommend checking the trigger warnings before reading.

Overall, A Sea of Unspoken Things was an interesting read, but don’t expect the magic of Young’s other books.

I loved this book. Everything about it was simply beautiful . From the story line, to the characters, to the writing. It was simply effortless. My first time reading this author and I’ll be reading more for sure. A definite five star read for me

I enjoyed Spells for Forgetting by the same author and went in expecting this book to be similar. I found A Sea of Unspoken Things to be more fully a thriller. The setting was beautiful and the writing really allowed me to see the forest and small town she was describing. The characters were good but sometimes felt a little 2d to elicit any really strong emotions. I didn’t feel particularly strongly about the main love story for example. The pacing was slow to start which suited the setting well but then drastically picked up towards the end with the reveals coming a bit too fast for me to fully appreciate them. On reflection I would have preferred if Johnnys death remained an accident rather than the twist which felt shoe horned in.

All that being said the strength of the setting and writing meant I did enjoy this book and I will be looking out for the authors other works.

A very reflective novel with strong characters and relationships. I liked how they didn’t gloss over the truth of Johnny’s violence. The novel was about the characters confronting the truth of him rather than remembering the good bits. The whole story revolved around their relationships with him and addressing the issues in it.

I liked the mystery elements. I liked the connection to Johnny and how that affected the mystery of it all. The flashes of him that came up through the novel. Though not quite as magical as the stuff I usually like to read, it added a supernatural element.

I can’t honestly think of much else to say. I’m not sure it’s gonna be a very memorable one. It was enjoyable enough, but I wasn’t blown away by it.

I think I’m picking the wrong books to read by this author because both the ones I’ve read have left me feeling underwhelmed.

I enjoy everything Adrienne Young writes so I was expecting to like A Sea of Unspoken Things and I really did, I honestly don't know how she does it but every book she writes just reels me in!

The characters are so interesting, James and Johnny share a unique connection as twins which aids with her investigation into his death. The side characters were written well, and the small-town atmosphere was captured perfectly.

The plot was intriguing but quite slow to get going, it did feel quite low stakes because everything was in the past but once the twists and turns started happening it picked up and felt more pressing. James' investigation helped a lot, once she started asking the risky questions it began to feel more dangerous. I enjoyed the way we received information too, James knows what happened in the past but the reader learns it through conversations and flashbacks. I can see this making an amazing film or tv show!

I love Adriennes novels, and A Sea of Unspoken Things does not disappoint. I loved the twin element woven throughout the story. The small town setting, the slightly unsettling atmosphere, the gruff characters - I loved it all.

‘A Sea Of Unspoken Things’ by Adrienne Young by is a slow-burn, spellbinding and atmospheric magical mystery in which identical twin James returns to her small rural hometown to try to uncover the details of her brother Johnny’s tragic accidental death. As she reunites with old acquaintances and immerses herself into Johnny’s world, she realises that the mysterious connection they shared as twins isn’t yet severed… but the more she unveils, the more decisions to make about which truths are better off remaining buried.

The descriptions in this book are poetically vivid and totally immersive, and the way the author describes the owls of the picturesque and isolated redwood forests through a camera lens is deeply affecting. The tension between James and the community she abandoned to go to college bubbled deliciously below the narrative, and the mystery of a fatality two decades ago was an intriguing thread to complement her investigation into Johnny’s last moments. I was also pulled into the developing relationship between James and Micah, her brother’s best friend and the only man she ever loved.

While the emotional connection and complex characters kept me reading, I would have preferred a slightly quicker pace… but if you love your mysteries and thrillers to slowly burn through your mind and stay with you long after the last page, this will absolutely be the novel for you. Personally, I’m giving four stars to this evocative novel, and am eager to read some of the author’s back catalogue as this was my first Adrienne Young.

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Quercus Books via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young 🫶

Set against a haunting coastal backdrop, this story weaves together love, loss, and untold secrets as a young woman returns to the rural town that shaped her darkest memories to investigate the mysterious death of her twin brother. Adrienne Young’s signature lyrical, atmospheric prose and deeply complex characters pulled me in from the first page. The emotional depth and masterful storytelling make this a book I can’t stop thinking about. It’s only January, but I already know this will be a favourite of the year 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Swipe for full plot + some fave quotes 💓

💭 Have you added this to your TBR yet? Let me know your most anticipated reads for 2025! 📚

Wow this was absolutely incredible! Will definitely be recommending to my friends. The plot, the characters, the WRITING. OBSESSED