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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
Adrienne Young does it again with A Sea of Unspoken Things, a moody small-town mystery packed with family drama, romance, and just a touch of the paranormal. This one pulls you in slowly but keeps you hooked until the end, making it perfect for fans of her previous books or anyone who loves a layered story.
The book follows James, a woman forced to return to her small hometown of Hawthorne, California, nearly 20 years after leaving everything—and everyone—behind. She’s back to deal with her twin brother Johnny’s death and finish his environmental project. But James knows his death wasn’t the hunting accident everyone claims it was. Feeling connected to Johnny even in death, she’s determined to find out the truth about what happened.
James’s journey isn’t just about solving the mystery, though. She’s also coming to terms with her complicated relationship with Johnny, her guilt over leaving, and her unresolved feelings for Micah, the guy she left behind. The tension between her and Micah is palpable, and their shared history adds a lot of heart to the story.
Young’s writing is absolutely stunning, as always. Her descriptions make you feel like you’re right there in the foggy, atmospheric town of Hawthorne. The relationships are messy and real, and the mystery unfolds slowly but surely, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. That said, the pacing is definitely on the slower side, and it takes a while for the story to really get going.
While the plot isn’t quite as gripping as Spells for Forgetting or The Unmaking of June Farrow, the emotional depth and beautiful writing more than make up for it. If you’re looking for something with a strong sense of place, heartfelt relationships, and a good dose of small-town drama, this one’s a great pick.
Definitely worth a read—especially for fans of Adrienne Young. And seriously, can we talk about that gorgeous cover? Stunning.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The book follows James, a woman forced to return to her small hometown of Hawthorne, California, nearly 20 years after leaving everything—and everyone—behind. She’s back to deal with her twin brother Johnny’s death and finish his environmental project. But James knows his death wasn’t the hunting accident everyone claims it was. Feeling connected to Johnny even in death, she’s determined to find out the truth about what happened.
James’s journey isn’t just about solving the mystery, though. She’s also coming to terms with her complicated relationship with Johnny, her guilt over leaving, and her unresolved feelings for Micah, the guy she left behind. The tension between her and Micah is palpable, and their shared history adds a lot of heart to the story.
Young’s writing is absolutely stunning, as always. Her descriptions make you feel like you’re right there in the foggy, atmospheric town of Hawthorne. The relationships are messy and real, and the mystery unfolds slowly but surely, with plenty of twists to keep you guessing. That said, the pacing is definitely on the slower side, and it takes a while for the story to really get going.
While the plot isn’t quite as gripping as Spells for Forgetting or The Unmaking of June Farrow, the emotional depth and beautiful writing more than make up for it. If you’re looking for something with a strong sense of place, heartfelt relationships, and a good dose of small-town drama, this one’s a great pick.
Definitely worth a read—especially for fans of Adrienne Young. And seriously, can we talk about that gorgeous cover? Stunning.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Disappointing and boring. More mystery/thriller than fantasy, but not very thrilling either.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Beautiful, really enjoyed. Anyone who says it’s slow or boring has completely missed the magic in Young’s ability to connect to her characters. This book has it all: thriller, naturalism vs nature, romance, and an invitation to slow down and feel the emotion in this quick read.
This was extremely slow and the plot twist wasn't a good enough payoff
3.5 stars rounded up.
now, mind you, im in a reading slump-its the first book ive finished in a bit. i was hesitant going in because, again, reading slump, so i didn't know how it would go. would i like it? hate it? would i even be able to finish it or would my slump worsen?
well, good news fellas. my slump did *not* worsen (although it might still be here?), and i DID finish the book.
we start the book with james going back to the small town she grew up in and left twenty years ago. her brother died, and she has the suspicion it might not have been an accident. after all, they're twins. she felt him die. helped with people from her past, james tries to figure out what happened to her brother, but when accidentally digs secrets up, she wonders if she really knew him.
this is my first adrienne young book ever. and honestly, it was quite good, and a nice introduction to this author. i know she primarily writes YA fantast, but this one is an adult mystery/magical realism thriller? it was a fun read, and while it was a slow one, it did pick up towards the ending. the characters were good and interesting to read about, and the plot was easy to get through and nice, although the mystery and "twist" were a tad obvious.
thank you to netgalley for giving me an arc. all thoughts are my own.
now, mind you, im in a reading slump-its the first book ive finished in a bit. i was hesitant going in because, again, reading slump, so i didn't know how it would go. would i like it? hate it? would i even be able to finish it or would my slump worsen?
well, good news fellas. my slump did *not* worsen (although it might still be here?), and i DID finish the book.
we start the book with james going back to the small town she grew up in and left twenty years ago. her brother died, and she has the suspicion it might not have been an accident. after all, they're twins. she felt him die. helped with people from her past, james tries to figure out what happened to her brother, but when accidentally digs secrets up, she wonders if she really knew him.
this is my first adrienne young book ever. and honestly, it was quite good, and a nice introduction to this author. i know she primarily writes YA fantast, but this one is an adult mystery/magical realism thriller? it was a fun read, and while it was a slow one, it did pick up towards the ending. the characters were good and interesting to read about, and the plot was easy to get through and nice, although the mystery and "twist" were a tad obvious.
thank you to netgalley for giving me an arc. all thoughts are my own.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes