This was a complex family drama that was a bit slow moving and not usually my cup of tea, but held my attention throughout the story. It’s a multi-generational family story about the Joseph family with a bit of a coming of age twist when it came to Marley. Overall I really enjoyed it! 3.5 stars

Mercury is just a plain old good story. Framed around dynamics and generational outcomes, I believe most readers would be hard-pressed to find they could not find it relatable in at least some capacity. Each character is highly developed. Alternating narratives gives each family member the opportunity to share his or her own truth. Mercury is just one of those stories that will stay with you for a long time. I highly recommend you give it a chance to make the same imprint on your mind and heart.

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.

Thank you to the publisher for the arc through NetGalley! All opinions are my own honest opinions.

I wish I hadn’t waited so long to read this one!

It’s the late 90s in Mercury when the book opens. We meet the Joseph family, a father and sons who own a roofing business, and middle son Way’s wife Marley. The story goes back and takes the reader through how Marley became a part of the family, the secrets we keep to stay loyal to those we love, and the challenges that come through generations.

This is one of those time-spanning family dramas, and I loved it. I loved getting to read about this family and the emotional turmoil they experience as the years pass and things change.

If you like family sagas, you’ll enjoy this one!

Mercury was my first novel by Amy Jo Burns, but I really enjoyed her writing style and want to go back and read Shiner now. This book's premise grabs you from the very start. This book is a perfect combination of being a true -page-turner while also offering beautiful writing that you just want to luxuriate in. I felt fully enveloped in the strong sense of place that Burns created. I love complicated family dramas, so this book was totally up my alley.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celdon Books for the complimentary e-book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to Celadon Books and Netgalley for an e-ARC of Mercury. Here are my thoughts!

Taking place in a small blue-collar town in the 1990s, Marley is new to town and soon she meets the Joseph family. They are a hard-working roofing family with three sons. Marley soon finds herself intertwined with the family, and a huge family drama plays out surrounding the roofing business, dementia and death!

Marley and the Josephs felt like a real family. The characters were very complex and sometimes I hated them, and other times my heart was totally on their side. I think that’s the sign of quality character development. The book is broken into a 3-ish parts. The first is very focused on Marley, the second brings various perspectives between the three brothers, and the third is a snippet surrounding the mother. I thought this was a creative way to allow the reader to become connected with the characters, and I would love to hear why the author chose this unique way to tell this story.
The 90s are captured so well in this story as well that it feels like time travel! The plot moves slowly in parts, but there are some major plot points that are quite engaging and kind of gave the story a bit of a wake-up.

If you want to read contemporary fiction that is very character heavy, I recommend this novel.

Sometimes literary fiction works well for me and sometimes it doesn't. Unfortunately this one didn't work for me. I can see why others loved it and the writing was excellent. There wasn't much plot, and character driven is very hit or miss for me.

Really enjoyed the real life characters that kept me interested in the story, more-so than anything else. That's not a knock against anything, but a true representation of Burns' characterization. Looking forward to more from Burns in the future.

A coming of age story that takes place in a small town in the 90’s. Centred around a family run roofing business, family bonds and loyalty.

Thank you to netgalley for an arc.

Such a deep story mixed with discovery of one’s self, love, family, and a little bit of romance thrown in there.

*Mercury* by Amy Jo Burns is a haunting, lyrical novel that explores the tension between personal ambition and family loyalty, set against the backdrop of a rural, mining community. Burns’ evocative prose and richly drawn characters bring the story to life, capturing both the beauty and hardship of the world she creates. With its dark, atmospheric tone and emotional complexity, *Mercury* is a deeply engaging read that lingers long after the final page.

This is a lyrical and Haunting Tale of Family and Secrets. Mercury by Amy Jo Burns, and it was an immersive experience that delved deep into the complexities of family dynamics, identity, and the weight of hidden truths. Set in the early 1990s in the blue-collar town of Mercury, Pennsylvania, the novel follows 17-year-old Marley West, a newcomer seeking belonging and stability. Drawn to the Joseph family—a roofing clan led by the enigmatic patriarch Mick and his poised wife Elise—Marley becomes entwined in their lives, marrying the middle son, Waylon, and stepping into a world where loyalty and secrecy are paramount.

Burns’ prose is both lyrical and evocative, painting a vivid picture of small-town life and the intricate bonds that hold a family together. The discovery of a decomposed body in a church attic serves as a catalyst, unraveling long-buried secrets and testing the family’s resilience. The novel’s strength lies in its character development, particularly Marley’s journey from an outsider longing for connection to a central figure who challenges the family’s status quo.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is such a beautifully written exploration of family, secrets, and the invisible threads that connect us. Set in the early 1990s in a small Pennsylvania town, the story immediately pulled me in with its atmospheric setting and deeply relatable characters.

The heart of the novel is Marley West, a seventeen-year-old outsider who’s searching for a sense of belonging. When she’s drawn into the orbit of the Joseph brothers—Baylor, Waylon, and Shay—I couldn’t help but feel her longing to connect and the vulnerability she brings into their complex, often fractured family dynamic. Each of the brothers has their own struggles and secrets, and I found myself captivated by how their relationships with Marley unfolded.
There’s also a mystery woven into the narrative—a long-hidden secret found in a church attic—and while it’s subtle, it adds such an emotional depth to the story. It’s not just about what’s revealed, but how those revelations shape and challenge the Joseph family.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a good read. I loved all the characters, especially the main character and the way she handled her the men in her life. There were a few surprises which actually shocked me. Overall, a very good read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a hit for me and I see why so many others loved it! Thank you so much netgalley for this copy of Mercury!

This was one I was looking forward to most in 2024, but unfortunately it was a letdown. Around 70% I finally switched to audio so I could get through it faster, and that helped. I may be rating it higher if I had done audio the entire book. I love family dramas and books that span decades, but this one just dragged. I didn’t like ANY of the characters. There was a lot of complaining, deceit, feeling sorry for oneself, and lack of communication.

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