Release date: January 7 2025
Publisher: Quercus Books
Pages: 288
Find it: Goodreads Waterstones
Source: I received an E-ARC from Netgalley and then I bought a hardback from Waterstones
Rating: 4.25/5 stars

Synopsis

The only thing James and Johnny Golden have ever had is each other. For as long as she can remember, James’s deep connection with her twin brother, Johnny, has gone beyond intuition—she can feel what he feels. So, when Johnny is killed in a tragic accident, James knows before her phone even rings that her brother is gone and that she’s alone—truly alone—for the first time in her life.

When James arrives in the rural town of Hawthorne, California to settle her brother’s affairs, she’s forced to rehash the ominous past she and Johnny shared and finally face Micah, the only person who knows about it. He’s also the only man she’s ever loved.

But James soon discovers that the strange connection she had with Johnny isn’t quite gone, and the more she immerses herself into his world, the more questions she has about the brother she thought she knew. Johnny was keeping secrets, and he’s not the only one. 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.

Review

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.