A Sea of Unspoken Things
by Adrienne Young
Summary
Two twins. An unbroken bond. A truth unspoken.
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 in 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.
My Review
I’ve always admired this author’s writing style—it’s beautiful, lyrical, and immersive. However, after reading three of her books, I’ve yet to find one that resonates with me fully, and this one was no exception. Despite my appreciation for her prose, I found myself feeling underwhelmed again. There’s a certain spark missing from these stories that leaves me disappointed, especially because I genuinely want to love her work. But I’m not ready to give up yet; I’m determined to keep reading, hoping for that four- or five-star read I know she’s capable of.
The pacing was another issue for me. The first half of the book dragged, and I found myself wishing for more action or development. While the mystery kept me engaged, my interest began to wane as the slow pace wore on. Thankfully, the second half picked up and became more engaging, but by then, the initial momentum had been lost. Ultimately, it didn’t live up to the expectations I had going into it.
One of the highlights, as always, was the author’s atmospheric writing. She does a fantastic job of creating a vivid setting, and I really enjoy the cozy small-town vibes she infuses into her stories. The plot was intriguing at first, but it became somewhat predictable. While a few twists surprised me, others were easy to guess.
Regarding the genre, many categorize this book as fantasy or magical realism, but for me, it felt more like a mystery/thriller with just a touch of magical realism. The eerie, haunting tone was present, but I didn’t feel the fantasy elements were strong enough to define the book that way.
The characters didn’t leave much of an impression on me. They felt forgettable, and I found myself struggling to recall details about them once I finished the book. As for the romance subplot, it felt somewhat forced and out of place, like it was added in to tick a box rather than to serve the story.
Overall, while this book didn’t work for me, I’d still recommend it if the premise sounds appealing. It might resonate more with other readers. As for me, I’ll continue to read from this author, hopeful that one day I’ll discover a story that clicks. Her writing is too beautiful to give up on just yet.