Mercy Street is a clinic that helps women with many things, including abortions. Our story involves a counselor at the clinic, a protestor, and a local drug dealer.

This was a different type book than I was expecting but I still enjoyed it. It tells the story of a few characters, all very different, but all related in some way. While there are no huge, page-turning dramas, the story unfolds in a way that keeps you interested. You really get to know each character, love them or hate them.

“She took care of patients. The rest - the angry protesters, the threats and insults - didn’t touch her.”

Mercy Street comes out 2/1.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. This book was engaging and well-written, but never truly grabbed my attention and compelled me to keep reading. That said, I liked it enough to finish. I love stories told from the perspective of different narrators, and this one was like watching a car crash in slow motion. So much anticipation for how their lives might ultimately come together. And I appreciated a subtle tale about the vital importance of abortion rights.

I am a fan of Jennifer Haigh's and like her other books, I enjoyed her writing in Mercy Street. But this book left me with mixed feelings. It takes place in Boston, centers around a women's clinic, and we follow several characters whose lives are affected by that clinic. The chapters alternate between the characters and I didn't connect with the male characters very much. I most enjoyed Claudia and her story. The book addresses timely and divisive issues in a plausible way. Not my favorite Jennifer Haigh book, but I'm still a fan of her work.

Thank you to Ecco and NetGalley for this ARC.

I love Jennifer Haigh's work and was so excited to read her newest book. I have read almost everything she's written and her style of writing is very close to Jodi Picoult, though I never felt like she got the same recognition. In this nuanced look at the pro-life, pro-choice debate, she takes her signature look at Bakerton, PA (a fictional town in Pennsylvania that she sets many stories in), as well as Boston MA. As a cradle Catholic, I can also attest that her description of the Catholic church's parishioners is nearly spot-on no matter where you are in the country. Her writing is phenomenal.

This story humanizes people, almost uncomfortably so. It does make one question which side we sit on in the Pro-life/Pro-choice debate, as well as who deserves our humanity. It also muddies the water of the true motivation for the Pro-life cause and asks who really has power over one's body.

I devoured this book and can't wait to read more from Jennifer Haigh. I would say the ending was a little anti-climactic but I also think it fit so well with the dark and gritty circumstances that the characters find themselves in.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read almost every book from this author. I enjoy her writing style so much. She really has a way of making her characters so real and relatable. She made it easy to see and understand all the points of view, even if you didn’t quite agree with what they were thinking.

3.5

This novel's strongest point is the finely, drawn complex characters. The plot, centered on abortion rights, is interesting as well, but the narrative told from multiple characters viewpoints is compelling as you are dropped into the life of these very diverse characters. Enjoyable, recommended read. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review..

I love a book that has interesting and complicated characters - each with their own unique point of view that are slowly revealed as situations bring them hurtling together. There's a sense that something terrible or extraordinary will happen and you read on quickly to find out which it will be.

Mercy Street is exactly that sort of book. The characters are vivid, beginning with Claudia who works more than she lives her life, devoted to her planned -parenthood like clinic in Boston. She braves the protesters daily and keeps her cool as she counsels many women with questions or problems that very from life altering to the absurd. We also meet her dealer, her family, and various people who believe the Mercy Street Clinic should be closed forever.

As we get to know these characters, a variety of snow events hit Boston. The frigid atmosphere sets this truly beautiful. If you like great literature, plenty of points of view (including ones you do not agree with) then this slow burning, terrifically written book is for you! #Ecco #MercyStreet #JenniferHaigh #NetGalley

I received an advanced reading copy of this novel at no cost to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Haigh has a knack for taking a hot button subject and presenting it through the lens of multiple characters who, like them or not, are developed with skill and complexity. With Mercy Street, she has done it again. I highly recommend this novel. Also, the audiobook is excellent.

Jennifer Haigh weaves the stories of characters together brilliantly, and Mercy Street is no exception. Following Claudia, a counselor at a clinic for women, we feel for her as she deals with the polarizing climate of today.

There are some really great elements here, and then there are some parts that made me want to DNF. Loved the Boston setting and the character of Claudia. She felt very real- I felt for her as she tried to navigate life as a single woman supporting other women in a world that hates women. I even liked the affable weed dealer- and loved the section where he reflects on what his next steps would be if (when) weed gets legalized! I just couldn't do other characters. The Catholic man felt flat, and it bummed me out. I would have loved a more nuanced take and focus on the women - I liked learning about Claudia's back story as a woman who grew up in a trailer with a single mother who "might have been aborted herself", but I was left feeling numb. Good writing and would try this author again, though.

I usually love this author but I had a difficult time connecting with the characters. I enjoyed the parts about Claudia but not the male characters. Sorry but I lost interest at 50% so I will not post on Goodreads.

The stories this book is telling -- a woman who grew up in a trailer with a single mother and got herself through college and into the white-collar world, working class men struggling to find purpose in life -- are so important. Unfortunately, too often these characters felt like caricatures, Poor White Americans as written by someone who only reads the New York Times. Maybe Haigh would have been better off staying with just one character's POV -- keeping us with Claudia, the most fully drawn character? As is, the book is slow and then resolves too quickly.

Which is all a shame because Haigh's writing is strong and evocative and despite the sometimes meandering pace, she does a good job of building up suspense.

I just wanted this to be better than it was.

This was my first Jennifer Haigh book and it was a mixed experience. She is popular at all the public libraries I have worked at, and I've been intrigued by the plots of her other books Faith and The Condition. But, this is the first one I've read because the plot was IRRESISTIBLE: A woman who works doing social support-type things at a women's clinic, which becomes the target of an incel and his online minions.

The stuff about the incels didn't disappoint in terms of realism. In fact, it was quite dark and pathetic. We glimpse into the trauma of a few of them, the awful experiences that shaped who they became and drove the hate. Just...sad. There's also quite the glimpse into poor, foster family life. This is the main character's background, she grew up in a single wide trailer w/ a mom who had all kinds of issues, At one point there was a creepy stepfather/boyfriend figure who contributed to main character's trauma. Then there's the storyline of the middle-aged, career drug dealer and his struggles to be a father and connect with women, and wondering if his choices were worth it.

So lots of trauma! I think that if I'd had a connection with one or more of the characters the sadness would have been worth it, because the end is kind of cool. But, I just couldn't feel the "happy ending" as keenly because I didn't sense that it was experienced that way by the main character, who despite her interesting history was quite flat - She just seemed checked out, rather than what I wanted her to be: resilient (overcoming obstacles) or caring (working social support). I also did not see the appeal in the drug dealer -- also pretty checked out -- so the romance fell flat too.

The writing was good and the glimpse into the women's clinic was so interesting, with details about the health care and other workers there, and some examples of problems and cases they see. I will recommend to patrons who have enjoyed her other books and also to people interested in the very timely, disturbing yet fascinating world of incels. Thank you!

What a unique and timely novel this was. I really enjoyed it!
Claudia works for a women's health clinic surrounded daily by protestors. Through her story, we hear about her background, the "competition" that sneaks into town promising women choices and lying about it, and her endless fight for reproductive rights.
On the side, we dive deep into Claudia's weed relationships which made her more endearing to me as I feared for her safety.
Good, solid read. Definitely different. Thankful for the ARC

In MERCY STREET, Jennifer Haigh once again delivers a compelling novel rich in intriguing characters and brimming with thought-provoking issues. Abortion, motherhood, drugs, sex, power and the lack of power--there's a lot to chew on here and the reader is guaranteed to be thinking about the complex issues Haigh addresses in a beautifully written novel.

Thank You to NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for a review.
The publisher describes the plot perfectly so I will not attempt to rewrite. I had been waiting for this book since I sat in a upcoming book webinar, and was so excited to finally see it on NetGalley.
This is one of the most divisive issues in history. Regardless of which side you sit on, the answers are as complicated and varied as the next, but this book does an excellent job at sharing several of the stories.
Character driven, we meet various characters and see their points of view. We are a complication of our experiences and our decisions are made on the information we have at the time. As the book unfolds, the characters experiences come to life and we become connected to the stories more as the chapters pass.
No matter which side you are on, you’ll be riveted if you keep going. I nodded, rolled my eyes, got angry, and made peace again with each of the characters. This book solves nothing but enlightens the reader just a touch. Extremely enjoyable.
Book clubs will have a lot to talk about. 4+ stars!

Mercy Street wasn't the novel I expected. Claudia, a forty-three-year-old counselor at a women's clinic in Boston, is a perfect character. Claudia is a trained social worker, and that is where female advocate character types end. She is divorced, without children, and often forgets to eat. Claudia has no social life except for e-boyfriends that come and go about every six to eight months.

Timmy, a second character in the story, is Claudia's weed dealer. Timmy is a decent guy even though he has never really worked at a regular job and only leaves the house to get his supply. Timmy dreams of a better life and thinks that someday owning a laundromat would help him get out of the house, a place where he can stay 24/7 and still not have to deal with the real world.

Another in this puzzle of characters is Victor, who lives in survivalist mode with food, weapons, and ammo; he has enough to fight the war when it comes to his door. Victor's take on the role of women is entirely misogynistic. Women are breeders; their sole purpose is to deliver babies, possibly once a year, to keep society as racially white as Victor wants it. Victor wants white women to procreate more than they currently are, according to statistics. If you're going to hate a character, Victor is a good candidate. But he is also pathetic, and I almost felt sorry for him.

Anthony, a friend of Timmy, lives in his mother's basement. He doesn't have to work due to an injury on a construction site many years ago, and his disability checks keep in going. He spends his time attending mass and protesting outside of Claudia's clinic. Anthony spends time on a website Victor created for pro-life advocates. Victor has taken it up a notch by adding pictures to his website, claiming that the women seen are entering women's clinics for abortions.

Jennifer Haigh's characters represent a section of our divided society where those without family support or money fall through the cracks. Some struggle and survive, and others have become violent actors on the bloody stage of American politics and culture. This novel fascinated me and gave me some hope.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ecco, and Jennifer Haigh for this ARC.

This book was so good and hard and important and well written. My first of this author and I will definitely be reading more from her!

I've read a few of Ms. Haigh's books and loved 2/3 of them. This one was a bit of a disappointment. It was mostly well written and started off quite strong but lost me about half way through. I felt that the male characters were quite one dimensional, well, Tim the drug dealer was a little fleshed out but the white supremacist under the guise of pro-lifer felt completely stereotypical and not even believable.

I think the book would have been a smash hit had it stayed with Claudia as the main character all the way through.

Jennifer Haigh is the author of a number of novels all dealing with the question of how to live in this world beset with situations beyond the characters' control, about making the best of a problematic situation. In Mercy Street, there are intertwined issues of abortion, poverty, drug use, bad parenting that set the scene for an ultimately satisfying outcome. Highly recommended for readers of this novel and fans of Joyce Carol Oates, whose American Martyrs covered some of the same ground.