You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
dblue236's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
5.0
I'm fairly certain this is the first book I've read by this author, and it was any indication of the quality of the rest of her work, I can't wait to start reading more of it. The story was beautifully told, the setting was so vividly written I could see it in my head as I read, and I was really invested in the characters even when I didn't necessarily like all of them all that well. I loved the subtle paranormal aspect of the story and was genuinely surprised when the ending was revealed. This was one of the more memorable reads I've picked up so far this year and I definitely recommend it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Car accident, Murder, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
cmfruin2012's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Toxic friendship
harleyglynn's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
“The light had changed, too, adding to the stillness. The canopy far above diffused the sun into nothing more than glowing, golden air that hovered, suspended between the trees. The whole scene gave the innate feeling that you were leaving the world behind, entering into some imaginary place that didn't really exist. I wished that were true.”
I finished this in 48 hours. While this was a solid mystery that kept me suspicious of everybody right up until the end, the real draw for me was the captivating storyline beyond the mystery itself - something I've come to expect from every one of her books.
Adrienne Young has quite possibly become my new favorite author. For the past year, anytime someone asked for a recommendation my immediate response was The Unmaking of June Farrow. I absolutely adore that book. But after reading this one, I think I might have to broaden my future recommendations. Between June Farrow, Spells for Forgetting, and her newest A Sea of Unspoken Things you just can't go wrong. In my opinion, the way Young writes her characters and settings is unmatched. You are fully transported into the story through her gorgeous, atmospheric way with words. I want to live within the pages. She consistently delivers stories that I continue to think about long after I've finished them. I can easily say I will forever read everything and anything that she comes out with as soon as I can possibly get my hands on it.
I finished this in 48 hours. While this was a solid mystery that kept me suspicious of everybody right up until the end, the real draw for me was the captivating storyline beyond the mystery itself - something I've come to expect from every one of her books.
Adrienne Young has quite possibly become my new favorite author. For the past year, anytime someone asked for a recommendation my immediate response was The Unmaking of June Farrow. I absolutely adore that book. But after reading this one, I think I might have to broaden my future recommendations. Between June Farrow, Spells for Forgetting, and her newest A Sea of Unspoken Things you just can't go wrong. In my opinion, the way Young writes her characters and settings is unmatched. You are fully transported into the story through her gorgeous, atmospheric way with words. I want to live within the pages. She consistently delivers stories that I continue to think about long after I've finished them. I can easily say I will forever read everything and anything that she comes out with as soon as I can possibly get my hands on it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Self harm, Violence, Car accident, and Sexual harassment
ambermeg_reads's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
lindsayerin's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Suicide attempt
jacque5's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Gun violence, and Violence
novellearts's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
3.0
I don’t have much to say about this one. I absolutely adored The Unmaking of June Farrow but A Sea of Unspoken Things felt incredibly underwhelming to me. The story wasn’t bad by any means, but I guess my expectations were too high after June Farrow. I wasn’t too engaged by the story and felt like my mind was wandering at times while I was reading this. I will say, this cover is stunning though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, Grief, Car accident, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
condls27's review against another edition
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
4.5
Another solid angsty and magical mystery from Adrienne! I love her storytelling, I can picture everything so clearly I feel like I’m standing in the story. That said, I I wish we got a few more flashbacks to flush out each character a little more. Other than that, I have no complaints.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Grief, and Murder
littlelizzieborden's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Murder, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Drug use, Violence, and Pregnancy
doggonebookaddict's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
“We could fill the fucking ocean with the things we never said to each other.”
This book was an experience, let me tell you. It’s very much more so a mystery even though it’s mainly considered a magical realism story, which didn’t bother me in the slightest, but I think it’s worth clarifying. There is a touch of magical realism, but not on the same level as “The Unmaking of June Farrow” which is what I was expecting based on its marketing.
That said, I really enjoyed my time with this novel! There were certainly things I saw coming, but DAMN there were a lot of twists that really threw me for a loop. It’s been a while since I was so sucked into a book that I just wanted to sit down and devour it to know what happens, and that feeling felt so good. I also rarely feel the need to make note of quotes in a book, but there were so many wonderfully written phrases - when my hardcover copy comes I may have to go back and mark some quotes.
One particular twist sits weird with me…but not enough to lower my rating. Honestly anything under 5 stars just didn’t feel right.
I’ll leave you with maybe my favorite quote, which so accurately describes my own experience with grief:
“That was the way of grief, I was realizing. It was a barrage of pain that was so unbearable that it made you numb. And then out of nowhere, something made you feel again and the cycle started over from the beginning.”
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC via Netgalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
TW: grief, death of family member, animal bones, unwanted touching
This book was an experience, let me tell you. It’s very much more so a mystery even though it’s mainly considered a magical realism story, which didn’t bother me in the slightest, but I think it’s worth clarifying. There is a touch of magical realism, but not on the same level as “The Unmaking of June Farrow” which is what I was expecting based on its marketing.
That said, I really enjoyed my time with this novel! There were certainly things I saw coming, but DAMN there were a lot of twists that really threw me for a loop. It’s been a while since I was so sucked into a book that I just wanted to sit down and devour it to know what happens, and that feeling felt so good. I also rarely feel the need to make note of quotes in a book, but there were so many wonderfully written phrases - when my hardcover copy comes I may have to go back and mark some quotes.
One particular twist sits weird with me…but not enough to lower my rating. Honestly anything under 5 stars just didn’t feel right.
I’ll leave you with maybe my favorite quote, which so accurately describes my own experience with grief:
“That was the way of grief, I was realizing. It was a barrage of pain that was so unbearable that it made you numb. And then out of nowhere, something made you feel again and the cycle started over from the beginning.”
Thanks to the publisher for sending me an e-ARC via Netgalley! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
TW: grief, death of family member, animal bones, unwanted touching
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
Moderate: Animal death and Sexual content