A richly developed, character driven novel that I read in one sitting. A family history of a flawed family of roofers, and a women who tried to do right by all the men and the matriarch of the Joseph clan.

Positives:
Enjoyed the writing style
Excellent character development as well as interwoven, realistic family dynamics and strife
Readable-read the whole book in one day
Emotional-in a way that you can relate, feel sorry for, and also feel contempt toward almost every character in the novel
Authentic and flawed characters
A bit of a mystery as well thrown into the family drama
Also loved the bonus characters of Ruth (Marley's mother) and Jade (Marley's bff)
Powerful secondary themes ran throughout this book

Negatives:
There were a few plot holes that at the end I was left wondering what happened or if I missed something

"Mercury" is the exploration of the feelings and relationships between a blue collar family that runs a roofing business and the girl who enters their lives and becomes integral to their family dynamic.

There were a lot of painful truths woven into this story, and it was interesting to see how each character's flaws manifested as issues that the entire family had to deal with and come to terms with. I especially was intrigued by the dynamic between Marley and Elise - I expected at first that they would have a great relationship, but it was the opposite - complicated, begrudging, resentful - and that's so often true in life when mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws navigate life alongside each other with different perpectives.

One thing I wished when reading was that a lot of the backstories and deeper dives into the thoughts of the characters that we got near the end would have been incorporated earlier, as I did sometimes struggle to really feel connected with them on more than a surface level. I also would have liked to have seen the origin of Waylon and Marley's relationship be lingered on a little longer, because it felt like it happened really fast and I would have been more invested in the success of their marriage the whole time had their initial romance been more built up.

All in all, a varying drama about family dysfunction with characters who are very human.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

When Marley West rolls into Mercury, PA with her mother, she has no idea what to expect. She doesn’t even know how long she’ll live there. However, it isn’t long before she’s found her way to the Joseph family dinner table. The Josephs are unlike any family she’s ever met before. An enigmatic, yet charismatic, mother. An irresponsible, yet borderline genius, father. And three wild boys - all of whom look at her like she’s hung the moon. What to do? Marry one, I guess.

Years later, when secrets long buried (but not so buried, in some ways….) come to light, the Joseph clan is forced to finally address the issues that have caused unspoken resentment and prevented the growth and success that could have so easily been theirs. A slow building family drama, Amy Jo Burns has gifted us with a beautiful new read.

I really enjoyed this one. The character development was so well done, especially Baylor Joseph, who was probably my favorite character. I loved the slow build, the little reveals, the depth. Gorgeous novel. Highly recommend.

Thanks to Amy Jo Burns, Celadon Books, and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

I was quite pleasantly surprised by this family drama novel! A slow start, the novel follows the roofing blue-collar family, the Josephs, and Marley, who arrived to town as a teenager and was chased after by two Joseph brothers. I found the themes of mental health, family bonds, growing up, and secrets. It was well-rounded and I expect will stay with me awhile.
Readers of novels like Flight by Lynn Steger Strong and We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange may enjoy this book as well.

BOOK REVIEW!

The blurb about Mercury does not do it justice. Marley and her mother are used to a transient life. They move where the work is for Ruth, Marley’s mother. They don’t get too attached to each new home, every new friend, and they certainly don’t plant roots. Then they arrive in Mercury during Marley’s senior year, and all their rules for life on the move go out the window when Marley spots three men on a rooftop. These men, the Joseph family, become an integral part of Marley’s life. Over the next decade, her roots are not only planted, but she blooms.

Mercury tells the story of a roofing family in the 1990s. It is a story of family secrets, of silence, of the kinds of bonds that bend and break. It’s also a story of love, growth, and healing.

Thank you to @celadonbooks , @netgalley , and @burnsamyjo for a free copy of Mercury in exchange for my honest review

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Mercury by Amy Jo Burns!

This was a beautiful, honest story of marriage. family and forgiveness. While I didn't always like or enjoy each character, I believed them, if that makes sense.

Told in two separate timelines we see a portrait of a family falling apart at it seams and what (also who) it takes to keep them moving forward.

I highly recommend this book. 4 stars from me for great characters and a lovely story of what happens when truth comes to light and everything falls apart.

Marley and her mother, Ruth, are used to moving but when they come to Mercury, Marley wishes that they could set roots. She has a number of firsts: a real (somewhat) boyfriend, Baylor; a dinner setting at the Joseph family table; and a real best friend in the indefatigable and endlessly loyal, Jade. And when Marley falls in love with Baylor’s brother, Waylon, her world changes forever.

On the surface, Amy Jo Burns’ Mercury is about family: dysfunction, sacrifice, rivalry, appeasement. Each section, however, brings the reader to the age-old question: how well can you really know someone else? Can it be that everything you thought about them was wrong? That a person can be so much more than they will ever be credited with and perhaps we can only know them when their actions say more than their intentions or, even, how they would want us to perceive them.

Despite the prickly interactions and sad occurrences, Mercury was a delight to read and one I was not ready to relinquish when it ended. I was startled and equally dismayed when I saw that I had reached the 97% point on my Kindle meaning that I was going to have to let the Joseph family go.

By the end of the novel, I saw that Burns had taken a family who could have been viewed in black and white terms and showed us all of the gray. How no one was bad. How circumstances and experiences could alter a person. How we judge people–rightly or wrongly, and most often, wrongly. And how we so often misunderstand.

Outstanding writing. Many unexpected twists. Unforgettable characters. A memorable read.

Many thanks to Celadon Books for sending me a copy.

I could tell from the writing in the opening paragraph that Mercury would draw me in. The story is wholly original and focuses on family dynamics with a mystery woven in. Set in the 1990s, which I love to see, Mercury is about the Josephs, a family of roofers, and Marley, who joins the family through marriage, eventually.

As someone who has lived in western Pennsylvania, I literally felt the atmosphere in every sense through Amy Jo Burns’ writing. My favorite aspect of the story is the characterization. They are each fleshed out in three-dimension with all the complexity. Just as soon as I thought I knew them and could predict what would happen next, a new layer was unmasked. It all feels so vividly real.

While Mercury did not go in the direction I imagined it would, I enjoyed that about it. It was completely its own original story of family, friendship, secrets, and plenty of drama. Amy Jo Burns is a highly skilled writer, and I can’t wait to read what’s next from her.

Thank you to the publisher for the free copy.

Not sure how this author has flown under my radar? I received an ARC for this novel through @netgalley and next thing I know it’s made a book of the month, selected as Barnes and Noble’s Book Club pick, and I have a new favorite author.
Mercury is a fictional story set in the author’s hometown which bares the book’s namesake. It’s a character driven family drama with a little bit of mystery and so much heart.
In this story, the Joseph brothers each have their own role to play within their family. They have dedicated their lives to their father’s roofing industry and defined themselves by their mother’s scrutiny. But when Marley moves to town and finds her way to their dinner table, allegiances are challenged, and secrets threaten to unravel the seams that wove the family together.
I loved these characters, the prose was stunning, and I was pulled into all the love and turmoil. If you loved books like Ask Again, Yes, Hello Beautiful, or The Most Fun We Ever Had, this is for you!
Thanks @netgalley @celadonbooks and #AmyJoBurns 📚

I was captivated by this story from the beginning. The family was complex and each character was described so well. The characterization earns an A+ from me. You could feel the pain and heartache from each family member. I especially loved Shay baby!

However, I feel as though the story didn’t go anywhere. The synopsis mentions a hidden family secret, but I didn’t feel like that part of the story was explored much. While I enjoyed the complexities of the characters, it sadly wasn’t enough for me to truly enjoy this story and want to recommend to others.

This was probably the best family drama that I have read recently. Men were stories on their own. Women were stories on their own. But them all tangled, relying on each other, destroying each other, and supporting each other was story on its own. You could read this book multiple times, focus on another character each time, and still feel like you read different book.

Marley did not only entered Mercury with bang but also into Joseph family. Introduced to family by eldest son, married into it by the middle, immensely loved by the youngest. While sons were opened their arms wide to Marley (after few fights), Mama Joseph was giving her a cold shoulder. Marley couldn't understand why, but Elise did not want her to be the only woman in the house like her. It will take a while for Marley to understand what exactly Elise meant.

I like the dynamic between Elise, Marley, Jade, and Ruth. Women in this story were stronger than people expect them to be and all they do was cleaning up the mess men left behind. I'll follow them with my eyes closed. But also, I would like to pull them out of the vicious cycle they were in.

Thank you Celadon Books, and NetGalley, for granting me access to this book coinciding with it's publication. This is one of my first books read in 2024, and it will be on my heart for a while.

The novel "Mercury" by Amy Jo Burns weaves a compelling tale of a roofing family's intricate bonds, loyalty, and the unveiling of a long-buried secret in their blue-collar town. Set against the backdrop of 1990 in Mercury, Pennsylvania, the story follows seventeen-year-old Marley West as she enters the town and becomes entangled with the Joseph brothers. As their family dynamics evolve, facing challenges and revelations, the narrative explores themes of survival, resilience, and the quest for a place to call home. Burns skillfully captures the complexity of relationships, offering a poignant exploration of family ties in the face of adversity. I will definitely look for more books by Amy Jo Burns in the future and highly recommend this book to my friends and family.





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A mystery, some small-town and family drama, and interwoven love lines made this a good read for me. Though it was a bit slow at points, I felt it picked up toward the end and I found myself more invested in the characters and story than I orignally anticipated. I have already recommended it to several folks.
Thank you, NetGalley and Celadon books for the ARC!

This book wasn't for me, but I know many readers will love it. With a central mystery and a family to root for there's a lot to love here. Unfortunately for me, I found the writing grating, relying too heavily on figurative language to create depth in a manner that I really struggled with.

"There's more to this life than just trying to survive it"

I can see the appeal of this one. I don't think it's a good historical fiction or mystery, but it's an interesting family drama. It's a bit overly wordy. There were a few lines with "air felt thick, like honey and longing" and "he was dapper, devil-stained, and draining as hell" that I couldn't help but roll my eyes at.

The beginning and middle were good. I found our main character, Marley, likable and layered. She was loyal and loved those in her life. She was looking for family. But as the story continued, and each one either mistreated or over looked our mc, it was hard to like any other character. I felt like we rehashed the first part of the book and part of the middle again in the end and it made the last pieces of the story drag out. I didn't find the last section redeeming of those who I'd already disliked. I think maybe this one just wasn't for me.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Mercury is a book about weaponized incompetence and the women that enable that. Kidding! But good lord- these men 🙄

Mercury is actually a beautiful coming of age story about Marley and the Joseph family that she marries into. The relationships she forms with most of them are beautiful.

I love character driven books without much plot where you can just move through the years with the characters. I loved the multiple POVs from most of the family.

Some of the characters drove me crazy with the man baby weaponized incompetence and their need to have their mother and Marley fix and do everything for them. I definitely did grow to love (most) of the characters.

If you love character driven family drama, I’d definitely recommend this one. If you love fast paced plot driven excitement, maybe it’s not for you.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book so much. The author, Amy Jo Burns, developed a cast of characters that I fell in love with. Every single member of the Joseph family is perfectly flawed. I could not get enough of this character-driven novel. I was immersed in the family drama, the air of mystery, and the challenges the family faced -both together and individually. After reading a plot-driven thriller, this was exactly what I needed. I flew through this novel in 24 hours. It’s a five-star read!

I appreciate Netgalley and Celadon Books for an ebook copy of Mercury in exchange for an honest review.

This blue collar family of boys have my whole heart. Small town love and life come alive in every single character. I could find something reframing no matter how small in each person in this dysfunctional but likeable family. I could have spent many more years with the Joseph family!

Outstanding. I loved Amy Jo Burn's Shiner last year and was thrilled to learn about this new book. My family is from the Pittsburgh area, so the setting was especially lovely for me, but more than anything the story swept away. This book, at its heart, is about the women of the Joseph family and how they contend with and nurture the men of the family. Marley is nuanced and thoughtful protagonist who will stick with you long after finishing this book. A note: the cover copy talks about the discovery in the church attic, but to be clear that mystery is secondary to the story of the family. This is a lit fic book, not a mystery.

Mercury is the story of the Joseph family, who are roofers living in a blue collar town. The focus is on Marley and her relationship with all 3 brothers, as well as the parents. While I typically love complicated dysfunctional family stories that are character-driven, this one was just ok to me. I did not find myself drawn to any of the characters, and did not understand many of their decisions. For a book to be successful to me I need to have some feeling for a character, love or hate, but there was just 1 that I cared about. I also thought it was overly long and I found myself skimming some parts. There was a bit of a mystery with a dead body found in a church at the beginning of the story that I was interested in. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy. 3 stars.