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creolelitbelle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Adrienne Young hits books out the park for me every single time. The town of Six Rivers feels like a character in itself. The forest and mountains nearby come alive while reading, making me wish I could visit to feel see the mangled trees and feel the mountain air. Main Street is painted clearly with a Stars Hollow vibe resting in the mountains of Northern California. Everyone knows everyone, and outsiders are not easily accepted, which means investigating mysteries and disappearances gets complex.
I loved joining James as she followed breadcrumbs to understand Johnny's last movements and decisions. Her grief is raw but does not cloud her judgment about calculating what might have happened and why leading up to Johnny's death. Micah, Sadie, and Olivia remind James of the life that she left behind and who she could have become if she stayed/returned to Six Rivers. Home is as much about the people and the life we build as the place where we live. Among finding answers about Johnny, James also must discover what home means for her now. The story is as much about her and her place among the people of Six Rivers as it is about Johnny's death. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good small town mystery with an element of the supernatural, because Johnny's presence is felt throughout the story.
I loved joining James as she followed breadcrumbs to understand Johnny's last movements and decisions. Her grief is raw but does not cloud her judgment about calculating what might have happened and why leading up to Johnny's death. Micah, Sadie, and Olivia remind James of the life that she left behind and who she could have become if she stayed/returned to Six Rivers. Home is as much about the people and the life we build as the place where we live. Among finding answers about Johnny, James also must discover what home means for her now. The story is as much about her and her place among the people of Six Rivers as it is about Johnny's death. I recommend this to anyone who loves a good small town mystery with an element of the supernatural, because Johnny's presence is felt throughout the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
caitlynd93's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
i love adrienne young's adult novels, spells for forgetting and the unmaking of june farrow, and i was so excited to hear about a sea of unspoken things and receive an arc. a sea of unspoken things has all of the things that i've come to expect from an adrienne young novel; lush descriptions, an atmosphere that makes you feel like you're part of the story, and character's that feel real and distinct.
as someone who lives in the san francisco bay area, i loved that this book was set in northern california. though i live in a very populated city and not a small town like six rivers, it was so easy to picture six rivers and the woods. it felt familiar to me, it felt like a place i've visited countless times before and that was really special to me. throughout the book james talks about six rivers being removed from the city, of the forest having a sort of magic and feeling alive and i felt that through every page. young has a real talent for making her books feel alive, and i think that's my favorite thing about her writing.
i thought all of the characters were great and really well explored. i loved being in james' pov, and really felt for her throughout the story. the explorations of twins and what happens when one of them dies was really so interesting, and james and johnny gave me major nell and luke crain from the haunting of hill house vibes, which was just everything. the grief that james felt over losing her brother was heartbreaking and overwhelming, and i thought that this book was a really beautiful exploration of grief and how it affects all of us differently, and the complicated feelings that come with grief, especially if in their death, you uncover secrets about the person you're grieving. johnny may have died before the story began, but he felt so alive throughout the book and james and micah's memories of him, and the rest of the town's as well.
this is much more mystery focused than young's previous adult novels, and as a reader whose favorite genre is mystery, that was great for me, and i loved the way the mystery unfolded. this is not a fast paced mystery; like the town it's set in, it's a little sleepy and slow, but it grows as time goes on and once you get hooked it's hard to leave. i won't lie, it did take me a little while to get into the story, but once i got into it i didn't want to stop reading, it had a slow build that i really enjoyed. there were a few different ways the mystery could've played out. one of the reveals i didn't see coming, but i thought it made complete sense and i was surprised that i didn't pick up on it right away, but the hints were there all along. one of the reveals i did see coming, but that didn't make it any less heartbreaking.
overall, i really enjoyed a sea of unspoken things and think it's another great edition to adrienne young's body of work. if you've enjoyed her other novels, i definitely suggest checking it out!
as someone who lives in the san francisco bay area, i loved that this book was set in northern california. though i live in a very populated city and not a small town like six rivers, it was so easy to picture six rivers and the woods. it felt familiar to me, it felt like a place i've visited countless times before and that was really special to me. throughout the book james talks about six rivers being removed from the city, of the forest having a sort of magic and feeling alive and i felt that through every page. young has a real talent for making her books feel alive, and i think that's my favorite thing about her writing.
i thought all of the characters were great and really well explored. i loved being in james' pov, and really felt for her throughout the story. the explorations of twins and what happens when one of them dies was really so interesting, and james and johnny gave me major nell and luke crain from the haunting of hill house vibes, which was just everything. the grief that james felt over losing her brother was heartbreaking and overwhelming, and i thought that this book was a really beautiful exploration of grief and how it affects all of us differently, and the complicated feelings that come with grief, especially if in their death, you uncover secrets about the person you're grieving. johnny may have died before the story began, but he felt so alive throughout the book and james and micah's memories of him, and the rest of the town's as well.
this is much more mystery focused than young's previous adult novels, and as a reader whose favorite genre is mystery, that was great for me, and i loved the way the mystery unfolded. this is not a fast paced mystery; like the town it's set in, it's a little sleepy and slow, but it grows as time goes on and once you get hooked it's hard to leave. i won't lie, it did take me a little while to get into the story, but once i got into it i didn't want to stop reading, it had a slow build that i really enjoyed. there were a few different ways the mystery could've played out. one of the reveals i didn't see coming, but i thought it made complete sense and i was surprised that i didn't pick up on it right away, but the hints were there all along. one of the reveals i did see coming, but that didn't make it any less heartbreaking.
overall, i really enjoyed a sea of unspoken things and think it's another great edition to adrienne young's body of work. if you've enjoyed her other novels, i definitely suggest checking it out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder
Moderate: Animal death, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Suicide attempt
emilyreads15's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ARC REVIEW: Thank you so much to Adrienne Young and Delacorte Press for gifting me a physical arc of this lovely book in exchange for an honest review!!
Adrienne Young develops of the concepts of grief, past trauma, and romance in this beautiful novel! Her writing was truly beautiful to read and very enjoyable! The detailed descriptions heavily added to the story, making it feel truly real and haunting!
To start off, A Sea of Unspoken Things takes place in a small town within Six Rivers National Forest. In the midst of late autumn/early winter the setting is eerie and as I mentioned before haunting but also cozy and peaceful in a way that creates the perfect scenery for a thriller! This is definitely an amazing read for the fall!
Our fmc James, returns to her hometown after the death of her twin brother, Johnny. The author explores their connection to each other through magical realism, representing that their bond goes beyond the world of the living. As James retraces her brother’s steps in his final months she discovers a whirlwind of secrets hidden within the town while confronting secrets of her own past. The plot of this book as we follow James’s confrontation with her past and her present grief is so unique and interesting! While the book did start off a little slow to set the scene, it picked up after a few chapters creating an exciting and mysterious thriller. I was always trying to guess what happened next and follow the clues, making my own predictions just like the characters. For me, none of it was predictable. I truly didn’t really figure it out until a little bit before the characters!
On top of the mystery plot there was also a side-plot of romance! James reunites with her first love as they work together to reveal what truly became of her brother, Johnny. James and Micah’s relationship was a complex but overall beautiful second chance romance. I really enjoyed their relationship and watching them help to heal each other’s traumas. This book is an Adult book however there is hardly any spice. While there are some allusions to sexual content, the author keeps it all closed door with no explicit details. The closed door scenes can also be skipped as they only add a little bit to the romance side plot rather than the main plot.
The only reason this book gained 4 stars from me was because it did take a few chapters for me to really get into it! Also the final chapter included a trope that I don’t really think was necessary due to the way it was added. Sadly I also don’t like that trope in books. I won’t say what it is bc no spoilers but I’m sure some of you could guess.
But overall, this chilling thriller was entertaining and beautifully written! Adrienne Young never fails to amaze me with her atmospheric writing and storytelling! You can definitely tell she did her research or had prior knowledge on things mentioned in the book and it makes it even better that she is a twin herself!!!
100% recommend this book! It was a perfect thriller and so enjoyable! I can’t wait to see what story the author tells next! Once again thank you to the author and publishers for gifting me a physical arc of this book!
Adrienne Young develops of the concepts of grief, past trauma, and romance in this beautiful novel! Her writing was truly beautiful to read and very enjoyable! The detailed descriptions heavily added to the story, making it feel truly real and haunting!
To start off, A Sea of Unspoken Things takes place in a small town within Six Rivers National Forest. In the midst of late autumn/early winter the setting is eerie and as I mentioned before haunting but also cozy and peaceful in a way that creates the perfect scenery for a thriller! This is definitely an amazing read for the fall!
Our fmc James, returns to her hometown after the death of her twin brother, Johnny. The author explores their connection to each other through magical realism, representing that their bond goes beyond the world of the living. As James retraces her brother’s steps in his final months she discovers a whirlwind of secrets hidden within the town while confronting secrets of her own past. The plot of this book as we follow James’s confrontation with her past and her present grief is so unique and interesting! While the book did start off a little slow to set the scene, it picked up after a few chapters creating an exciting and mysterious thriller. I was always trying to guess what happened next and follow the clues, making my own predictions just like the characters. For me, none of it was predictable. I truly didn’t really figure it out until a little bit before the characters!
On top of the mystery plot there was also a side-plot of romance! James reunites with her first love as they work together to reveal what truly became of her brother, Johnny. James and Micah’s relationship was a complex but overall beautiful second chance romance. I really enjoyed their relationship and watching them help to heal each other’s traumas. This book is an Adult book however there is hardly any spice. While there are some allusions to sexual content, the author keeps it all closed door with no explicit details. The closed door scenes can also be skipped as they only add a little bit to the romance side plot rather than the main plot.
The only reason this book gained 4 stars from me was because it did take a few chapters for me to really get into it! Also the final chapter included a trope that I don’t really think was necessary due to the way it was added. Sadly I also don’t like that trope in books. I won’t say what it is bc no spoilers but I’m sure some of you could guess.
But overall, this chilling thriller was entertaining and beautifully written! Adrienne Young never fails to amaze me with her atmospheric writing and storytelling! You can definitely tell she did her research or had prior knowledge on things mentioned in the book and it makes it even better that she is a twin herself!!!
100% recommend this book! It was a perfect thriller and so enjoyable! I can’t wait to see what story the author tells next! Once again thank you to the author and publishers for gifting me a physical arc of this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Violence and Murder
Minor: Animal death and Sexual content
astoriareader's review
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
SYNOPSIS
- A grieving twin sister returns to her gloomy hometown to settle her late brother’s affairs. As she navigates her loss, she begins to uncover long-buried secrets about her brother, herself, and their past.
MY THOUGHTS
- While the premise had promise, the execution didn’t quite deliver. The book read more like a YA novel, which made it feel less impactful than I had hoped.
- The gloomy setting was atmospheric and fitting for the mystery, but the slow pacing often bogged down the narrative.
- I would categorize this book as a mystery with some magical realism sprinkled in.
- Character development was one of the book’s weakest points. I never felt like I got to know anyone, and I was never invested in any of the characters.
- The ending was particularly disappointing. After all the buildup, the resolution felt anticlimactic and unsatisfying, leaving me wishing for more depth and closure.
- While the setting and hints of magical realism were intriguing, the lack of character development and the slow pacing made this a less-than-memorable read. If you’re looking for a light mystery with a somber tone, this might be worth a try, but it’s unlikely to leave a lasting impression.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐⭐️ A promising premise with an atmospheric setting, A Sea of Unspoken Thingsultimately falls flat due to slow pacing, underdeveloped characters, and an unsatisfying, anticlimactic ending.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press & Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchanges for an honest review. This book will be published on January 7, 2025.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Sexual content, and Abandonment
Minor: Sexual content and Suicidal thoughts
teaand_tomes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Adrienne Young, Delacorte Press, and PRH Audio for the free book!
A Sea of Unspoken Things is a hauntingly atmospheric tale that blends mystery with emotional depth. James, still reeling from the death of her twin brother, Johnny, embarks on a journey to uncover the secrets of his life and death. The deep connection she had with Johnny—almost supernatural in its intensity—continues to pull her into his world, revealing truths that shake everything she thought she knew about him.
The relationship between James and Johnny, and later between James and Micah, is rich and compelling. The emotional depth, especially as James confronts her past, makes this story so much more than just a mystery. It’s a journey of self-discovery and coming to terms with the secrets we hide, even from those we love most.
The Pacific Northwest setting is absolutely perfect for this story—its dense woods, foggy atmosphere, and looming mountains create the ideal backdrop for this mystical, eerie narrative. I could easily see this novel translated into a film.
Christine Lakin’s narration was another highlight. Her smooth, emotive voice added so much to the emotional weight of the story, enhancing the haunting and suspenseful vibe of the plot.
Overall, this was a captivating, emotionally rich mystery with plenty of twists and an incredibly immersive atmosphere. Perfect for fans of atmospheric, mysterious tales with a touch of the supernatural.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Gun violence and Grief
ajacobs590's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
After the death of her twin brother, James goes back to her small hometown to find answers. While she is there she discovers she might not know her brother as well as she thought she did.
This book had a touch of magical realism with how James was connected to her brother. I enjoyed these elements as well as the mystery of finding the truth. This takes place in a small town and shows the dynamics of how small town life can be.
During this book James is not only looking for answers around her brother's death but also finding out what makes her feel again. It seemed like she had just been going through the motions of her life and no longer finding joy in what she did.
I liked the author's writing style. She was able to write what she wanted you to see. There were a few times where she talked about how Johnny saw how life was and coming into a dark world. It felt very emotional to me.
This book had a touch of magical realism with how James was connected to her brother. I enjoyed these elements as well as the mystery of finding the truth. This takes place in a small town and shows the dynamics of how small town life can be.
During this book James is not only looking for answers around her brother's death but also finding out what makes her feel again. It seemed like she had just been going through the motions of her life and no longer finding joy in what she did.
I liked the author's writing style. She was able to write what she wanted you to see. There were a few times where she talked about how Johnny saw how life was and coming into a dark world. It felt very emotional to me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Suicide attempt and Pregnancy
celery's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Cursing, Death, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
jackiereadssometimes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Violence and Suicide attempt
gondorgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Gore, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail