Mercury is a generational drama with plenty of trauma, grief and dysfunctional dynamics all at play within the characters. This book heavily focuses on the characters themselves, which led to the beginning being a bit too slow for me. Close to the halfway point the book gathers momentum and I was fully invested in seeing how everything would play out for the family. I wouldn't recommend this to my friends that require "happy themes", but definitely one I would suggest to those who are looking for something a bit deeper and grittier.

3.5 ⭐️

I enjoyed the first half more than the second. A family drama that spans over several decades. There's a mystery component and romance. Heavier emphasis on character development than plot. Delves deeply into the innerworkings and issues of the Joseph family after a young woman, Marley, comes into town and becomes woven into the family dynamic.

Mercury was an interesting book about a relationship of a family, mostly between two women. I enjoyed getting to know and feel like i was actually involved the lives of them. Thanks netgalley and publishers.

Thanks to NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of "Mercury" by Amy Jo Burns, with a publication date of January 2, 2024. Please forgive my delay in reading and reviewing this novel. "Mercury" is the first novel I have read by Ms. Burns.

"Mercury" is the story of a wife, Marley, and the Joseph family, which includes elder brother Baylor (Bay), Waylon (Way), the middle brother, and Shay (Shay Baby), the baby brother; their mother, Elise, and father, Mick. They live in the fictional town of Mercury. When Marley arrives in town, she meets Bay and Way, falls in love, and ends up marrying Way. The Josephs are a genuinely dysfunctional family of roofers with lots of secrets.

Themes of betrayal, disillusionment, insecurity, loss, resentment, generational trauma, death, and love permeate the novel. It is a messy family saga whose characters suffer in silence and fall but manage to get back up again. "Mercury" is a raw, quick, and enjoyable read.

3.5/5 stars

This book took some time for me to get into. It started off very slow, but it did eventually capture my interest. It is not a happy, uplifting story, but rather the tale of a young mother just trying to do her best for her family amongst a dysfunctional family. Every character in this story is quite flawed, which I can appreciate, but none of them are overly likeable. My overall feelings about this book are “eh, it was fine.” It wasn’t bad. It just wasn’t anything memorable. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

I always love a good family saga, and this one didn’t disappoint. While it was more character-driven and had a slower pace at times, I really enjoyed delving into the lives of each sibling and unraveling their individual stories. The depth of the characters made the slower moments well worth it!

I had heard a lot about this book going into it, and I understand why it is so well-liked. This is the study of a family whose well-practiced balance of dysfunction is turned upside down when Marley enters their lives. Part mystery, but mostly a study of family, Mercury drew me in and didn't let go.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #CeladonBooks for a free copy of #Mercury by Amy Jo Burns. All opinions are my own.

Mercury was such a good book! I went in kind of blind, and ended up loving the story of Marley and the Joseph family. The characters were real and flawed and all of them held some secrets that the others knew nothing about. I found myself wanting to know everything as soon as possible, but also savoring all the new information that was coming my way. This really told the story of a family trying to make it through, despite the secrets and dysfunction. I definitely recommend this one!

This book was just not for me. I liked the found family aspect as well as the dynamics of the family. It was just too slow of a burn and not my genre. It took too long to build to a climax and just kind of drug on.

I devoured this book! The characters were well developed, the story line was intriguing! Will definitely read more by this author I. The future

I loved this family story. It was beautifully written, with deeply developed characters...who you sometimes loved and sometimes loved to hate. If you enjoy slow-burn family stories and hard topics, this is a great read for you. It will transport you to a new place and make you feel things you don't necessarily want to feel. Some parts of this book did feel a little too slow, and I had to put it down a couple of times, but always came back to it because I was deeply invested in the Joseph family and how this story would turn out.

Loved this family story. Full of heart and grit. Fully developed characters make this story deep and complex. A wonderful slow-burn family drama set to contemporary fiction writing is pure catnip.

Beautiful writing, definitely a mood read, when you're in the mood for something to transport you and make you think and feel.

My expectations were not super high with this novel, but I was surprised. The story had some deep moments, painful experiences, and I enjoyed it. This felt like a small-town story with a broken family, coming-of-age experiences, and the devleopment of a family through changes such as a death and growth.
Overall, I did like this book, would recommend it, and would likely read another by this author again.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for an ebook of "Mercury" by Amy Jo Burns in exchange for an honest review. I recommend this book to anyone who loves contemporary historical fiction, with a sprinkle of mystery and a spark of romance. I am a sucker for any story that is coming-of-age. Family drama centered with good literary writing and very character driven.

Great novel about family! I really enjoyed it and would highly recommend. I found the story so compelling.

Mercury is the story of a girl who married at a young age into a family who owned a roofing business. Well written for the most part and in a way that kept my attention throughout the book. I feel as though the story could have wrapped up a little bit better at the end.
Thank you Net Galley for lending the ebook version.

I love a good slow-burn complex family drama and that is what Amy Jo Burns gives us with Mercury. The book revolves around the Joseph family in the town of Mercury where they run a roofing business. Young Marley moves to Mercury with her mother and falls in love with Waylon Joseph. They start a family and soon, Marley involves herself into the business as well. I love that this was set in the 90's before cell phones and the internet got big. There is so much that goes on in this book and I really didn't want it to end. Bravo to Amy Jo Burns! Looking forward to reading more from her!

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns is a poignant and atmospheric novel set in a small Appalachian town. The story centers on Maddy, a young woman who, after losing her mother to a tragic accident, is left to navigate life with her emotionally distant father. The novel delves deep into the complexities of family dynamics, the weight of secrets, and the haunting presence of the past. Through Maddy's journey, we witness her struggle with grief, identity, and the longing for connection in a world that often feels cold and unforgiving.

Amy Jo Burns crafts a haunting and tender narrative, capturing the essence of a town steeped in history and its impact on the lives of its inhabitants. Mercury is a quiet, introspective novel that doesn’t rely on grand plot twists or dramatic revelations to make its mark. Instead, it draws the reader in with its lyrical prose and the profoundly human emotions it explores.

Burns' portrayal of Maddy is nuanced and empathetic, making her a character that readers can root for despite the often bleak circumstances she finds herself in. The novel excels in depicting the rural Appalachian setting, which feels like a character in its own right—one that is as unforgiving as it is beautiful.

Mercury may not be a fast-paced read, but it lingers in the mind long after turning the final page. It’s a story about the weight of the past and the struggle to carve out a future in its shadow, told with a quiet strength that resonates deeply.

Such a realistic portrayal of family struggles.

This hit home for me. Wanting to pave your own way in this world but feeling a loyalty to those you love and craving that love in return... That desperate need to be accepted as you are and where you are.

Every character felt so unique and carved out. I felt a connection to each of them in different ways.

The way Burns was able to make me think of how I would react in these scenarios and the extents I would go to for those close to me made this book feel so personal.