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

Thank you NetGalley and Quercus Books for this eCopy to review

When I first picked up "A Sea of Unspoken Things," I was immediately drawn into the atmospheric world of Six Rivers, California. The story follows James Golden, who returns to her secluded hometown after the untimely death of her twin brother, Johnny. Their bond was always special, almost supernatural, allowing her to feel Johnny's emotions deeply. This connection became even more evident when James sensed his death before receiving the tragic news.

As she delved into Johnny's life, she discovered that their unique connection persisted beyond death, leading her to question how well she truly knew her brother. As James seeks to uncover the truth behind Johnny's death, James is forced to decide which secrets are worth revealing and which are best left buried.

The novel intricately weaves themes of grief, identity, and the complexities of sibling relationships. The portrayal of the twin connection added depth to the narrative, highlighting the intensity of familial bonds and the lingering impact of shared histories.

Adrienne Young's depiction of Six Rivers was rich and immersive, with the dense redwood forests and secluded town life serving as a fitting backdrop for the unfolding mystery. The setting enhanced the novel's moody and introspective tone, reflecting the isolation and entanglement of their lives.

Headlines:
Twin echoes
Grief
Small town secrets

A Sea of Unspoken Things was the kind of story that built and built into a bundle of feelings that were quite overwhelming in the best way. James (she/her) returned to the small town she escaped once she was college-aged but her return was under the most difficult of circumstances, to wrap up her twin's estate. Old relationships came to the fore, just like old secrets and lies did.

This story was slow mysterious unravel and I had many theories alongside James, Micah and Johnny. None of them ended up being right but it was such a gripping journey. While the tale was heavy with a palpable grief, somehow the unfolding mystery cut through the grief so that it didn't weigh the book down too much.

There was a low level romance in this story and it felt right in how it weighed less alongside the story of this family. Nevertheless, I was incredibly invested in the second chance for James.

As with many of Young's books in this genre, there was a tangible connection to the land. I was able to imagine myself amongst the trees, catching sight of the owls, hearing the water pouring through a gorge; only the sounds of nature. That's because Young is an exceptional wordsmith not only in her description of nature but how she gets you feeling as one with the characters. I highlighted so many pieces of dialogue and text.

There was a poignancy to this read and I think that is because grief is a very individual journey, so that being alongside James and her twin senses through this felt so personal. I spent the last few chapters in tears on and off, which told me how connected I'd become to James and Johnny. This was a wholly memorable story.

"Goodbye is a lost language. A silent one."

Thank you to Quercus Books for the review copy.

With thanks to @QuercusBooks and #NetGalley for the advanced reading copy. #ASeaofUnspokenThings

Another great adult novel from one of my auto-buy authors. Please keep them coming!

Things I liked: as always, Adrienne Young's writing makes you feel like you're wrapped in a blanket, snuggled down on the sofa. The prose draws you in, encapsulates you. While dealing with some traumatic subjects, everything is gentle; you're led through James' experiences by the hand, shying away from nothing. The vibes are absolutely on point, with the small town setting so well described it feels like you're really there.

Things you might like: probably the least 'fantastical' of the author's works I've read so far, the magical realism elements really kick in, with a thoroughly believable bond between James and Johnny. The mystery/thriller element slowly builds tension that keeps you turning the page.

This was just way too slow for me. Very meandering and boring. Didn’t know much about the mmc James and not enough about Johnny in the past to care. The writing was beautiful but I couldn’t push past 20%

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

I really loved this book, the pacing was excellent and I was engaged the whole time. I felt as though the sci-fi/fantasy element was a bit loosely framed but it did still work but I feel as though it could’ve been mentioned a lot more!

This was my first Adrienne Young book but definitely not my last!

A Sea Of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young
I give this book 4 stars.

The only thing James and Johnny Golden have ever had is each other. So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James realises that she’s alone - for the first time in her life. When James arrives home to settle her brother's affairs, what she uncovers will push her to unravel what happened in the days before Johnny's death, but in the end, she'll have to decide which truths should come to light, and which should stay buried forever.

A slow burn small town mystery about family secrets, a twins bond, grief and second chance romance.
First thing i will point out is that James is female to save any confusion. This author has a very distinctive writing style that i love to get caught up in. so lm always excited to see a new book by her.
The storyline weaves between the past and present as the narrative unfolds and it felt to me like a book of two halves, where I was far more invested in the last 50%. Adrienne is a master of creating an atmospheric read and this one is no exception with the wooded setting and the subplots. I would have liked some of Johnny’s pov to have been included into the story and the ending felt slightly rushed after the build up but that’s my personal take and others will probably think differently. I have to give her covers a mention to as I love them.
With thanks to Netgalley, Adrienne Young and Quercus Books for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

Adrienne Young delivers another masterful story with A Sea of Unspoken Things. From the first page, I was drawn into James’ journey! Young has firmly secured her place as one of my auto-buy authors.

The book follows James as she returns to her small hometown of Six Rivers after her twin brother Johnny’s tragic death in what might not be an accident. Their bond, both in life and after, was beautifully portrayed, especially in how his presence quietly guided her as she uncovered the truth.

Young’s lush, atmospheric prose is simply exquisite. She paints a vivid portrait of a small town steeped in wilderness, raw emotion, and long-hidden mysteries, reminiscent of the haunting beauty of Spells for Forgetting. The steady build of tension had me completely hooked by the second half, and the mood reminded me so much of listening to Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore—wistful, haunting, and utterly captivating.

James’ relationship with Micah added a subtle yet meaningful layer to the story, grounding it amidst the larger narrative of grief and healing. The emotional depth of James’ journey made this a standout read for me.

If you love slow-burn, atmospheric mysteries, A Sea of Unspoken Things is a must-read. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus Books for providing me with this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first story by Adrienne Young and I am in LOVE! this story is so haunting yet beautiful from the storyline to the writing style - i simply couldn't get enough and now I need to pick up all of their other books to binge read!

This story gave me chills, kept me on my toes and had me sobbing by the end! A perfect little small town mystery!

Highly recommend!

After Spells For Forgetting being in my top books of 2024 and my absolute obsession with that book, I was thrilled to be able to read A Sea Of Unspoken Things early, and I can honestly say Adrienne has firmly cemented herself as auto buy author because she does not miss at all! I'm convinced she sits down to write and thinks I'm gonna smash this author thing and does so every single time. Her storytelling and writing style are simply exquisite.

James has always had a connection to her twin brother Johnny, but after leaving her small town, Six Rivers, they aren't as close as they once were. When there's a freak accident and Johnny is shot, he tragically loses his life, but was it really an accident? James returns to the place she grew up to figure out the mystery behind what really happened to Johnny as well as to heal the things from the past that haunt her.

A Sea Of Unspoken Things is slower paced than Adrienne's other books, but this isn't a bad thing in my opinion as I savoured this book. A masterclass at building suspense and characters that you really get to care about, I adored how atmospheric this book is.
The second half of this book had me in an absolute chokehold and definitely delivers perfectly.
I will say Spells For Forgetting remains my favourite book of Adrienne's, but honestly, at this point, I'd read her shopping list if she let me.

Adrienne young never fails to enrapture me with her writing. This book had me on the edge of my seat, jaw on the floor, brain working overtime trying to figure out all the mysteries of this book.
I love how the twists and turns were set in a way that was both surprising but rational. I could figure things out as James did and it made me feel so immersed in the story. Adrienne has this way of toying with my emotions, making me feel all the betrayal and sadness the characters were feeling. The confusion and underlying suspicion that things weren’t what they seemed.
The relationship between James and Micah was the perfect little addition to the plot, I really enjoyed how their story was simultaneously the smallest and most important part of everything that was going on.
James and her brother Johnny had this ethereal connection that was so powerful it spanned through their lives and through into Johnny’s death. I really enjoyed how Johnny’s presence was felt by James in the areas he spent most of his time. How he was trying to guide her and protect her always.
There was so many twists and turns in this book and it really tests the readers morals and beliefs. I was hooked the entire time and couldn’t stop reading for want of answers! I adored the ending, and loved seeing how James figured everything out, everything tied itself up in a neat little bow and it was the most satisfying thing!
Thank you so much to Quercus for sending me a digital arc of this book, these are my honest opinions of the book.

2.75 rounded up.

I’ve read two Adrienne Young books, Spells For Forgetting and The Unmaking of June Farrow. I loved the latter and found the former to be just okay, so I was interested to see how I would feel about A Sea of Unspoken Things.

This book follows James, who returns to the small town she and her twin brother Johnny were raised in following his mysterious and tragic death, reconnecting with an old flame in the process. James suspects foul play and begins looking into Johnny’s death, uncovering secrets that make her question if she even knew her brother at all. What she discovers will push her to unravel what happened in the days before Johnny's death, but in the end, she'll have to decide which truths should come to light, and which should stay buried forever.

A Sea of Unspoken Things is very reminiscent of Spells For Forgetting; main character leaves small town in their late teens after a tragic death occurs, returns to town following the death of a family member, reconnects with an old flame, and has to solve a mystery. While the story is somewhat different, it still felt very familiar, which left me feeling disappointed.

The plot also moves at a glacial pace, and I was really struggling to engage with the story. At around the 60% mark, the pacing picks up and becomes more like a thriller, and I found myself enjoying the book more and wanting to uncover the mystery. There were some good twists at the end, but I’m not sure they made up for the very slow start.

As for the characters; I didn’t connect with them at all. They lacked depth and just didn’t feel interesting to me. We are told that James and Johnny are super close and have a supernatural connection (which isn’t explained at all) but it felt like they barely knew each other. The second chance romance in this book was also lacklustre; there was no tension or chemistry at all.

Although I was left feeling disappointed by this book, I thought it was well written. Adrienne Young writes beautiful prose, and her descriptions painted a vivid picture of the enclosed small town.

While this read wasn’t for me, I think that readers who enjoyed Spells For Forgetting may enjoy this one. I will pick up whatever this author writes next, and hope I enjoy it as much as I enjoyed her previous work.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quercus for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I recently read Spells for Forgetting, and there are a lot of common themes between A Sea of Unspoken Things and Spells for Forgetting. The locations for both books are atmospheric, unique settings, there's magical realism and a central mystery with twists and turns, a main character returns to the place they left as a teenager following the death of a friend, and there's a second chance romance with the person they left behind. Maybe the two books were just a bit too similar for me, or maybe I just didn't emotionally connect with James in the same way I'd connected with Emery. I did guess the twists in this one too.

The descriptive style and the unique settings are the things that stay with me with both of the Adrienne Young books that I've read so far, and I do love the magical realism in this book in particular - the connection linking twins was instantly intriguing and ramped up the tension, especially as James found out more about her deceased brother.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.

i have never read anything from adrienne young before so i didn't know what to expect with this. i, quite literally, went into this blind. however, the gorgeous cover intrigued me from the get go!
that being said, the story fell flat for me. it was interesting but not interesting enough to keep me hooked. it lacked heavily in the character depth and development, in my opinion. i couldn't connect to a single character. the ending felt quite rushed and i felt like it wrapped up too quickly. the writing, however, was incredibly descriptive.
thank you quercus for sending me a proof copy & netgalley for the e-arc!

What a book, from the first page I couldn’t put it down! It’s full of mystery, sadness but a few wholesome moments. Adrienne’s writing is always so captivating and lovely to read!

A Sea of Unspoken Things is a hauntingly beautiful read. The atmosphere was perfect, think small town vibes with plenty of mystery. Amazing written scenes and characters drew me in fully. I especially liked the way grief is depicted, it felt real and raw. It’s not all doom and gloom though, there’s connecting to the past, that feeling of nostalgia and also a second chance romance that I absolutely adored. The only reason I’m giving four stars and not five is because of the frustration at times with the FMC, literally keeping all her thoughts to herself and not reaching out - I know this is a trauma response and it was done well but I wanted more of the heart to hearts. Also the dog is so old and I couldn’t get this out of my head, how is that possible? Apart from these two very small things I absolutely adored the writing, the vibes and the plot, which is immersive and compelling. I will read anything this author writes at this point. I was not left disappointed and days later I’m still thinking about this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.