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.

Perfect for fans of Tracey Lange, Amy Jo Burns's Mercury centers around a dysfunctional family in the small town of Mercury, Pennsylvania. The family roofing business has always been the primary focus for the Joseph family, but as the Joseph sons get older and new people join the family, it becomes harder to function in the chaos. I love novels that challenge family norms and promote character growth and this novel did just that. I found myself feeling connected to the characters and rooting them on to break the dysfunctional family cycles that they had been raised to accept. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy family-centered novels with likable characters.

An absorbing family drama, each character seems to reach out and grab ahold of you.
I appreciated the unique setting, as my husband has been involved in construction for years, and most recently, roofing.
The way the author describes the surroundings, it could be any nondescript little town you drive through to get somewhere else, but the inhabitants all have hopes, dreams and their own personal traumas to work through.
Marley, the main protagonist, takes on almost more than humanly possible - Just out of high school, she marries and has a baby, a new extended family and tries to keep their roofing business going, almost single handedly. This struck me as a little unbelievable, especially as she fixed a roof (with no previous experience) after giving birth less than two months beforehand.
The one character I could not connect with was Marley's mother-in-law. I did not understand the motivation this character had to act the way she did with her husband, sons and later, her daughter-in-law and grandchild.
However, the complicated family relationships give the story deep meaning. The characters are all well developed. Even the secondary ones have their backstories explained in depth. These excellent character studies are why we can feel empathy for strangers, after reading a well written book.

I read this book because one of my favorite author's recommendation. However, I found it slow and depressing.

Marley and her mom are starting over in small town, PA and she falls in love with brothers. Leaves one for the other and gets pregnant. Her mom loses her job and moves on again, leaving Marley behind with the family of her boyfriend. That family is totally dysfunctional and has a lot of internal issues themselves, without adding Marley and a new baby to the group. The story kind of drags out in the beginning, and takes a while to get interesting. Just wasn't my ideal book - it is well written and the characters are developed and likeable - just the whole town never seems happy and it's sad.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a digital, temporary ARC in return for my review.

This book - about a family of roofers and the new in town young woman who changes everything for them - was a slow burn for me. I loved the characters and came to care for each of them deeply. Really loved the author's writing style - she leaves a trail of bread crumbs which lead to lots of questions (including "did I miss something?") but circles around and around until everything is answered in a completely satisfying way. Grateful to NetGalley for a chance to read this book - I had heard about it on various podcasts and was excited to read it - it did not disappoint!

I was not prepared for how deep this book would get and the range of emotions it would bring. Filled with family dysfunction, a love story, small-town drama, and a mystery death, this book kept me captivated from the very start. I highly recommend adding this lovely novel to your 2024 TBR list!

Thank you NetGalley and celadon books for the ARC! This book certainly helped kick of my 2024 reading on a high note!

Thought I’d take this opportunity to share with you guys my thoughts on Mercury. First of all, the writing. Oh my stars, Burns’ writing is poetic in places causing this story to flow like water.

I’m a fan of messy family dynamics and this book has that in droves. Each character can be endearing and frustrating at different times. With the exception of one, and I won’t say who, each of the characters tugged at a special place in my heart. This book also touches on multiple hot-button issues with grace.

I highly recommend this one. The Joseph family have a special place in my bookish heart. I also think I’ll definitely be looking into Amy Jo Burns’ backlist. 👀

Thank you to @netgalley and @celadonbooks for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Well written, I rightful look.at what I means to be family. There is a little .mystery, a lot of frustration and some secrets that cannot stay buried.
Very American dream and working class story.
Much more "real" than most books I read, but was so well done.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Step into the river valley town of Mercury, Pennsylvania, circa 1990, as seventeen-year-old Marley West embarks on a journey that will reshape her life forever. In this captivating tale, Marley, a perpetual loner, yearns for connection and family in a town where she's a newcomer.
The narrative unfolds with the striking image of three men on a rooftop, their silhouettes casting shadows that obscure the sun. These men, the Joseph brothers, swiftly become Marley's entire world in a blink of an eye. What follows is a complex tapestry of relationships – Marley transitions from being a young wife to one brother, The One Who Got Away to another, and an adopted mother to them all.
As the Joseph brothers grapple with the challenges of a crumbling roofing business and an unwieldy father's inflated ego, Marley steps in as the guiding force for these unruly men. Her journey unfolds against the backdrop of a family in flux, navigating the delicate balance between survival and self-discovery.
Years later, an unexpected discovery in the church attic resurfaces old wounds, throwing the family into turmoil. The delicate threads holding them together begin to unravel, and the Joseph brothers are faced with a critical choice – to salvage the remnants of the family they've always known or to join forces and forge something even stronger in its place.
Mercy by Amy Jo Burns is a poignant exploration of family dynamics, resilience, and the transformative power of love. Amy Jo Burns masterfully weaves a narrative that tugs at the heartstrings, making this a compelling and unforgettable read. A story where Marley's light becomes the beacon guiding the Joseph brothers through the shadows, forcing them to confront their past and determine the future they want to build together.
An emotionally charged journey that lingers in the reader's heart long after the last page is turned.

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.