Thank you to Celadon Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘺 is about the Joseph family who own a roofing business in the small town of Mercury. One day young Marley moves to town with her mother. One of the Joseph sons, Baylor, sets his sights on her but Marley eventually winds up with his brother, Waylon.

While many readers have described this book as a complex and moving family saga, I am in the minority on the one. For me, it felt as though there was a lot of tell not show and the slow burn pace did not fully hold my attention. I love family drama, but I found many of the characters underdeveloped and often unlikeable. I alternated between listening to the audiobook and reading. While the narrator was very capable, it was very hard to keep the points of view straight while listening.

There is also an element of mystery here with the discovery of a body in the roof of the local church. While I loved the development of Marley’s character, my attention did wander during the book. Every book is not for every reader which is fine! If you’ve read this one, I’d love to know your thoughts!

This is a heartwrenching family drama. There's a little suspense and lots of emotions. We follow a blue collar family through the 1990's as they prosper, fail, love, and grieve. There's so much going on in this story, I was hooked from start to finish. I expecially love the timeframe we were in, there were lots of little descriptions and musical references that made it feel authentic. I will definitely look for more from this author. Highly recommend.

Thank you so much for the chance to read such a gripping and emotional book!

It took about two chapters for me to get into this family drama with a mystery, but once I did, I was hooked! Teenage Marley and her mom are used to moving around. Their latest move lands them in the center of small town Mercury where everyone knows everyone! She is quickly entangled with the lives of the well known Joseph family. There is so much emotion in this book that I felt all the feelings of the characters as I read. This story was so well written, the characters you can't help but love. It's only January, but this will definitely be on my list of top reads for the year!

4.5 stars

I’m somewhat behind with my reading goals this month, as I took on a bit more than I should have with school and work, plus an unexpected family incident upended some of my plans for this week — but the good news is that, going into next month, I was able to sort things out so that I should be able to get my reading back on track very soon.

With that said, I was able to squeeze in and finish another January ARC a couple days ago, Mercury by Amy Jo Burns — a book that I’ve been wanting to read ever since I found out about it several months back. I had read Burns’s fiction debut Shiner (she had written a memoir prior to it) a few years back for book club and it became one of my favorite reads that year (one that I had rated 5 stars). There was so much I loved about that book: the lyrical, immersive writing that flowed so beautifully that I found myself highlighting one quotable sentence after another; the atmospheric portrayal of time and place that made me feel as though I was right there alongside the characters; and of course, the strong female characters (the heart and soul of the story) who loved fiercely and devotedly, yet rarely got anything in return, instead having to forge their own paths in a world dominated by men whose power often when unchallenged and unchecked. (For more of my thoughts on Shiner, please check out my review of it). While Burns’s second novel, Mercury was a fantastic read that I loved quite a lot, if I had to choose between the two, Shiner would still be my favorite.

Mercury is about a family of roofers who live in a “great house” in the small river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania — the family patriarch Mick Joseph, his wife Elise, and their three boys Baylor, Waylon, and Shay. One day in 1990, teenager Marley West arrives in Mercury with her mother Ruth and while stopped at a light they spot 3 men standing atop a roof at the far side of the road. The next day, Marley encounters two of the men (the Joseph brothers) at a baseball game, where she also meets the youngest Joseph brother (10-year-old Shay) as well as their mother Elise — a woman who was beautiful, impeccably dressed, unapologetically cool and collected in a way Marley had never seen before, and also had the ability to “command attention [from everyone around her but especially from her boys] with a single word.” Marley is captivated by this family and as a perpetual loner who is tired of having to move from town to town, she yearns for a seat at the Joseph family table. Soon, that’s exactly what happens, as Marley’s world becomes inextricably melded with the family’s. As she comes to understand the Joseph family dynamics though, and encounters one difficulty after another, Marley soon realizes that she got more than she had bargained for. Years later, a discovery in the church attic unearths past hurts and the family finds themselves on the brink of falling apart. As the Josephs scramble to save their family, they must also rethink their priorities and decide what matters most to them.

Just like with Shiner, there were many things I loved about this book: the writing, of course, which was engaging and immersive and made me feel transported to the small town of Mercury; the characters were also well-developed and wonderfully drawn, especially the 3 Joseph brothers, who each had their own distinctive personalities as well as strengths and weaknesses (though admittedly, I couldn’t stand the patriarch of the family, Mick, who, to me, seemed to be a reincarnation of Briar from Shiner); most of all though, I loved the women in this story — Marley and Jade especially, and even Elise to some extent — who were all strong in their own distinctive ways and fought to forge a path for themselves despite society’s convictions and judgments. My one complaint is that there was a tad more romance than I expected, which made some scenes come across a little “soapy” to me, but luckily it wasn’t overwhelming so didn’t detract from the story too much.

Overall, this is definitely a story worth reading. One of the things I love about Amy Jo Burns is that she writes with lot of heart and empathy for her characters — even the “bad” characters are written in a way that you end up feeling sorry for them rather than hating them. I will admit that, despite the dysfunction of the Joseph family, I couldn’t help rooting for all of them (this is saying something, since dysfunctional family stories can be a hit or miss for me). I felt invested in the ups and downs that this family goes through — both the heartbreaking moments and the joyous ones — but most of all, I appreciated the message of resilience and hope that Marley’s experiences especially demonstrated.

This was a wonderful read and I can’t wait to see what Burns comes up with next!

Received ARC from Celadon Books via NetGalley.

This story follows the Joseph family, who lives outside of Pittsburgh in Mercury, PA.
We find out right at the beginning of the book that a body has been found, which is usually my catnip - but this was a story of a family (a very dysfunctional one) instead of a murder.

I enjoyed reading this slow story, with a cast of characters all more flawed than the next. The plot was not propulsive, but it kept me reading to see how the pieces would all connect & where these characters' stories would lead. I have a lot of opinions about Mick, the family patriarch and the ripple effect of his PTSD on his family and his wife, but it's a real look at real life and a real family and the choices made - even as I disagreed with most of them.

Definitely some heavy topics in here, so please check StoryGraph for those details if you avoid certain topics.

I read Burns' previous novel, Shiner, a couple of years ago, and the story stuck its claws into me deeply. It was a story about a deeply troubled family and while I couldn't look away, I also couldn't help thanking my stars that their history and destiny was not my own.

In Mercury, she raises the ante considerably. I couldn't put this story down, and I also couldn't help thinking throughout the story, how does she know? How does she KNOW that family can work like this?

"As she drove away with her mother shrinking in the rearview mirror, Marley understood a bit more of what motherhood meant, this continual opening of every door for children to pass through, stay a while, leave, and return." Quotes about motherhood often resonate deeply with me, but in Mercury, Burns includes such observations about nearly every family relationship you can name.

Burns does not write literary fiction about my family or about your family, yet in Mercury, she somehow captures the essence of what can destroy them as well as what can nurture them. I could not put Mercury down, and the book ended my 2023 on a 5 star note. It is beautifully and heartbreakingly written. I will read anything Burns writes.

I am so disappointed…I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately I only got through 30% of it and had to DNF it. It just was not a book for me. Every character was so unlikeable and I just couldn’t connect with the story.

Thank you NetGalley, Celadon Books and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mercury takes place in Pennsylvania in the 1990’s. It is the story of a family of roofers and the intense dynamics between each individual. Mick and Elise are raising three boys, Baylor, Waylon and Shay. They run the “Joseph and Sons Roofing” company. Elise stays home and runs the household, although this was never the life she dreamed of. Mick is a demanding husband and father, who shows no love towards his family.
There is a mystery built into the timeline, one that is revealed towards the end of the book.
Enter, Marley.
Marley and her mother move from town to town, always looking for a job and a place to live. They end up in Mercury, Pennsylvania. Marley is the protagonist of the story and much of what happens revolves around her and the individual members of the Joseph family. Marley first becomes involved with the oldest son Baylor. Marley gets invited to a seat at the dinner table and the story evolves from that point. Marley marries Waylon and becomes like a second mother to Shay when his own mother, Elise, begins to show signs of dementia.
As we read on, we discover secrets that each character is hiding. This is a very character driven story. I loved the complexities of all the relationships in this novel.
The author writes with such intensity. You get invested in each character and at times you will love them and at other times, you will question their judgement.
If you like intense family drama and strong characters, this will surely be the book to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review. Published January 2, 2024.

Mercury is a family fiction story that twists with mystery and a touch of romance. The Joseph Family- parents Mick and Elise and their 3 sons- Baylor, Waylon, and Shay are at the heart of the story along with their roofing business, Joseph & Sons Roofing. Seventeen-year-old Marley West is the new girl in Mercury, Pennsylvania and falls in love with one (or more) of the Joseph brothers but a discovery in the attic with soon bring out a shocking family history and drama.

This was my first book by Amy Jo Burns so I didn't know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised.

This story combined dysfunctional family fiction, generational family trauma, with a touch of romance and coming of age story lines to create an incredible book.

I already know this is going to be a top favorite of 2024. This is exactly what I want in my literary fictions. The characters in this story were so full and raw and flawed. I loved how Amy Jo Burns told this story and the way we got different perspectives way later in the story. For example, one of the brothers we don't really hear from until probably after 70% and it opened a whole new door to perspectives on this character, his actions, and the whole family dynamic. It really challenged my already formed opinions on characters, which I feel is difficult to do.
I loved every character in their own way and I definitely ugly cried at multiple scenes. Overall, this is a beautiful story that highlights the complexities of relationships.

One of the most captivating books I have ever read in my life. The story captures you from page one and doesn't let you go; even at the end, I was left wanting more. Every character has such a strong pull and I wound up feeling connected to them all in different ways. The way that Amy Jo Burns tells this story is so poignant, it's impossible not to be touched. At times, I truly wanted to dislike certain characters, but by the last page, I felt like they were all family. The struggles so many face with their own identities is portrayed in a real and raw manner. I highly recommend this book and would not at all be surprised to see it win literary awards.

"Do you think it's possible to spend your life loving the wrong people?" Jade considered it. "I think it's more likely that we love the right people in the wrong way."

"But that's what loving someone is, isn't it? Knowing you're going to let them down. Having to live with it."

THIS BOOK, MY GOD, THIS BOOK. Truly a masterpiece. Hands down one of the best books I have read in a very long time, with absolutely exceptional writing. This was my first Amy Jo Burns book, and I was blown away. I am so glad I chose this as my January BOTM because I will be keeping this copy forever so I can re-read it. Mercury is a portrait of a working-class family of roofers in a small town in Western PA in the 1990's. We open with Marley, a teenager who lives a transient lifestyle with her single mother, Ruth, and has just arrived in Mercury. Soon, Marley becomes embroiled in the lives of the 3 Joseph brothers, loving them, raising them up, and contending with her hard to crack mother-in-law, Elise, and war veteran father-in-law, Mick.

This novel reminded me of Tracey Lange or Mary Beth Keane, and sure enough - in the acknowledgments, Burns thanks Lange for her friendship and insight haha! So, if you are a fan of MBK or Tracey Lange, I really think you are going to be swept away by the Joseph family in all of their messiness. This was an exceptional portrait of a family as they navigate love, loss, war, pain, and most of all - the love they find in the most unexpected places. ❤️

I know it’s only mid-January but Mercury is bound to be one of my top reads of 2024.

The premise of the story revolves around the Joseph family, Elise, the woman of the house, her husband Mick, and their 3 sons Baylor, Waylon, and Shay Baby. Mick is the owner and dictator of Joseph’s and Sons, Mercury’s own roofing company. Trying, and mostly failing, at building a legacy for his sons, they take what work they can get, know how to roof, but don’t know as much about keeping a business together. While I loved each brother in their own right, the heart of this book is truly Marley.

Marley comes to Mercury as a high school kid looking to make friends. She first catches the eye of Baylor but quickly realizes it’s Waylon she really wants. As their relationship gets serious and they welcome a baby boy, Marley realizes she’s got to take the family business into her own hands if she’s going to make something of herself. While out on a job she secretly fixes herself with the help of Shay, they discover a body in the attic of the local church. Who is the mystery victim and how did he get up into the church attic? A decade of secrets unfold as the true meaning of marriage, loyalty, and what it takes to truly be happy are put to the test in this beautiful story.

I’ll be recommending this book forever, I loved it so much. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow this story really drew me in. I found my self angry with some characters, and sad for others. I found my self wishing I had someone to discuss it with! This was a good one, I would recommend.

Mercury is a slow burn family drama that turned out to be much deeper than I was expecting.

The book bounces back and forth over time and tells the story of a rural family of the 90’s just doing their best to survive. They were dysfunctional and flawed, but that’s what made them realistic. The story showed the complex dynamics of a family, the one you’re born into and the one you choose.

The character growth was incredible. They weren’t all easy to love in the beginning, but as the story goes on and you start to understand the factors that contributed to who they were, you can’t help but just wanting them to be okay.

Most of the situations in the book were very specific, but the emotions that came with them were universally relatable.

Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

Definitely a 3.5 ⭐️

I ended up enjoying this one! Overall, this is an interesting literary fiction novel that navigates the themes of family, managing tough family relationships, parenting, and finding yourself very well. I’m glad I got to read it!

I liked getting to see the perspectives of all the family members - their thoughts, feelings, and background that brought them to the present day. The first half was kind of slow for me, but all these different complex characters really drew me in the second half, and I was invested in a happy ending for them all. I liked how everything came together in the end. There was some really great lines and I liked how all the characters grew individually and as a family.

But, I feel like the way the different perspectives were done with the multiple flash blacks, plus the constantly changing timelines, was at times confusing/a bit too much. Also, the ending (while I did overall enjoy it) did feel a little bit rushed/abrupt, and there are some thing I wanted a little bit more answers for.

Thank you Celadon Books and NetGalley for the free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

This novel evolves around a family of roofers, and our young teen who marries one of the brothers, and tries to make a go of their family life. This is a fairly easy domestic read about being young and pregnant, living a blue-collar life, and a family that keeps secrets. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I will say I wish the mother's secret was explored more deeply. The novel begins with our main characters in high school, then jumps around a bit, yet stays true to the family always being a family of roofers. The novel has romance, murder, mystique, strong friendships and family stress. Even though the novel lacks happiness, it's an enjoyable read.

I started this book know absolutely nothing about it and was quickly drawn into the lives of Marley and the Joseph family. It's a fabulous tale of family, family dynamics, and family secrets - some shared, some not shared. I found myself rooting for Marley as she navigated this somewhat dysfunctional family and wormed her way into their lives and hearts.

I really took my time reading this story as each character developed. It didn’t take long for secrets to unfold within this family drama of 3 sons, a girlfriend turned wife & mother and the two parents that “raised” them.
This story reminded me of a 90s/early 2000 family series, packed with drama and strong bonds between the characters.
I would love to see this become a mini series 💙

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for an advanced reading.

I love a good family drama, especially one with secrets but Mercury didn't grab me the way I had hoped. I recognize I am the outlier and reviewers I trust heaped praise and accolades on Amy Jo Burns' story of three brothers running a roofing business and the women who love them in a small town in the 1990s. The writing is engaging and the secrets revealed unusual, but I did not connect with the characters in the way I had hoped and chafed against the repetitive nature of the story telling, where a few key incidents were retold by a different character from their perspective. Thanks to Celadon books and Net Galley for the ARC.