Loved this book. A family’s struggles spanning a decade and exploring the impact of keeping secrets. Complex and moving. Thanks NetGalley!!

I read this author's debut novel and didn't love it, so was hesitant to try this but am SO glad I did. I think if you enjoyed Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano you will enjoy this. This is the story of a family of roofers in a western Pennsylvania town called Mercury. Brothers Baylor, Waylon, and Shay, and father Mick are committed to being the best roofers in town, while their mother Elise is constantly wondering how she fits into the family and what her purpose is. Their family dynamics are a big ball of chaos, and it all comes to light when Marley moves to town with her mother and gets intertwined with the Joseph boys. Marley has unique relationships with each brother, and a very interesting connection to their mother that unfolds throughout the book. It took me a few chapters to really get into this story but stick with it! This story is heartbreaking but very moving, and I think I'll be thinking about the Joseph family for a very long time.

A lyrical examination of a close-knit midwestern family. The father and three brothers own a roofing company and we follow their lives across decades, as Burns takes us into the intergenerational conflicts and couplings, focusing on not primarily on the four men but instead the two strong and challenging women who come into their lives and change it for better or worse. I fell in love with virtually every character in this story and hated to see the book end.

Burns writes in a clear voice filled with heart and insights into the human condition. While there are stunning events, including one death, that serve as stepping stones in the narrative, it’s the interpersonal connections that offer the touching resonance that make this one a top read.

When Marley arrives in town, she longs for more and thinks she finds it with the Joseph family. She eventually marries one of the brothers and becomes part of the fabric of their family, which eventually includes their secrets.

I almost didn't pick this book up. The synopsis was a little weird, and I wondered if I would like Marley, but I she grew on me as I read. This is a mini-family saga. It follows Marley as she joins and grows with the family. There are times when we get different POVs from other Joseph family members, especially toward the end, but most of this is Marley's story as she grows as a women, wife, and mother ( although it felt like her son kind of of disappeared toward the end). As secrets come to life, we follow the Joseph family, the American Dream, and what family really means.

This is a slow-building story, with a secret that unfolds for everyone. It kept me engaged and wanting to know the family and understand the secrets.

Mercury was the first book I finished in 2024 and what a great start! I loved every moment of this character driven novel. I loved Amy Jo Burn's first novel, Shiner, and this sophomore novel was even better for me.

Set in Mercury, Pennsylvania, Maryley West comes into town and the first thing she observes is a group of men on a roof. Her life quickly intersects with these men, the Josephs. Soon, she becomes a part of their life, marrying one brother, becoming a sort of mother to another and a guiding light for the rest. When tragedy strikes the family is forced to reckon with their current situation and Marley is pulled under their ambivalence. A few years later another circumstance arises which draws all the tensions of this family to the surface.

This is extremely character driven but at the same time I turned the pages so quickly wanting to know who the plot would resolve. Marley is such a beautiful character amidst such hard things, and the Joseph brothers all were so deeply flawed, yet so expertly crafted. This family will be embedded in my heart for a long while. Burns is so good at writing complex characters and I thought she knocked this one out of the park.

I was so excited to receive a copy of "Mercury" by Amy Jo Burns. Fans and new readers alike will love this book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!

This book was so deeply moving and beautiful. The story of a multigenerational family and the struggle to just survive and the secrets we keep that hurt us and receive around us!

I loved the perspective of Marley until the last 20% of the book where we dove deeper into the thoughts and “why’s” of separate family members. Just beautiful!

This is a character driven family saga that spans years. You get to deeply understand each of the characters and what motivates them. It would definitely be a great book club picked since there is so much to ruminate over. It has a few family secrets and a dead body so you think I’d be all in, but something about the writing just didn’t flow for me. It

I wanted to love this book more, but It felt tedious to me at times and overly dramatic. Some of the characters responses to conflict were nonsensical to me. Yes Marley I’m talking about you. I thought the writing style mirrored that of Ann Napolitano’s Hello Beautiful So if you liked that you will probably also enjoy this one.

I absolutely love family dramas and this one did not disappoint! I loved this multigenerational story. There was a little bit of everything. Murder, love, in laws. I devoured this one in a weekend! Highly recommend this amazing novel.

4.25⭐


“There’s more to this life than just trying to survive it…”

Set in 1999 in the small town of Mercury, Pennsylvania, the story revolves around the Joespeh family who own and operate their own roofing business headed by patriarch Mick Joseph with his sons. In 1990, then a newcomer to the town teenage Marley West meets the Joseph brothers, and though initially involved the Baylor, the eldest son eventually falls in love with and marries Waylon his younger brother and the middle son of the Joseph family. Marley, the daughter of a nurse who moves wherever work takes them, is happy to finally be a part of a family unit with roots. But families can be complicated and as Marley evolves from a lovestruck teenager to a young mother who eventually pushes her way into playing a significant role in the family business over the years she learns how to navigate the complex dynamics between the members, the tragedies and the sacrifices, the financial struggles and the secrets and the conflicting emotions that push each of these members to their emotional limits. When the discovery of a body in the attic of their church shocks the close-knit community, long-buried secrets, suspicions, and cover-ups threaten to fracture the fragile bonds and loyalties within the family.

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns is an intense , absorbing family drama with an element of mystery skillfully woven into the narrative. The strength of this novel lies in its characterization. Burns’ characters are flawed which makes them realistic and relatable. Each of these characters is well-thought-out and the author depicts sensitive issues such as PTSD and dementia with much emotional depth. Though initially we might find it difficult to feel sympathetic toward some of the characters , we are able to explore their motivations and the factors that have contributed to who they are and in doing so, we feel invested in their journey. Marley’s character arc is exceptionally well developed and particularly liked how the author depicts her complicated relationship with Elise, her mother-in-law, and the tender almost mother-child bond she shares with Shay, the youngest Joseph brother. I would recommend this novel to those who enjoy character-driven fiction that revolves around dysfunctional families.

This was my first time reading Amy Jo Burns and I hope to explore more of her work in the future.

Many thanks to Celadon Books for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon books for an eARC of Mercury.

Set in the 1990s in western Pennsylvania, the novel focuses in on the Joseph family men and the women who loved them.

Mercury is my favorite kind of book to read. Amy Jo Burns writes with beautiful prose that draws every emotion out of you without being pretentious. Every character in Mercury shows the true complexity of humanity. Our tendencies, our choices, our personalities, our mistakes, our successes, all are a part of how we came to be who we are, and how others have shaped us, either for the best or for the worst parts of us.

I couldn’t help but be completely drawn into the Joseph family, aching with their losses and rooting for their redemption. This book is for anyone who loves character driven novels, solid writing with depth, and finds themselves drawn to stories about families.

I don’t normally love character driven novels but this one was a winner. It was one of my favorite books of the year. I think the fact that the characters’ had a family roofing business was unique. This was just a great book. Well written, great character development, and riveting plot.

Thank you NetGalley for a advanced reading of Mercury by Amy Jo Burns.
This was great! It took me a little while to get the flow of the Joseph family but after about the 15 % mark I was hooked. I loved the slow burn of the family, their secrets and the what if you took a different path kind of story this was telling. 4 1/2 stars for me.

Thank you again!

If you have not read a book by Amy Jo Burns, you are missing out. Seriously, you are missing out. What appears to be a simple story is so much more. This is a quiet book but speaks volumes about family, the ties that bind, the need to belong, identity, loyalty, love, marriage, motherhood, sacrifice and being a woman in an all-male family. Mercury is a book that tip toes up behind you, taps you on the shoulder and demands attention.

Marley West was a loner who moved frequently with Ruth, her single mother from one job to the next. When they arrived in Mercury, Pennsylvania in 1990, little did Marley know that the sight of three men standing on a rooftop, would have such a life changing effect on her. She was a loner who longed to belong, to be a part of something, and to be part of a family.

The Joseph family owned a roofing company and the entire family put effort into making it succeed. When Marley meets the Joseph brothers, she would go on to date one, marry another and become a part of their world. Living with all of them would prov to be challenging. Their parents Elise and Mick are an interesting pair. Elise welcomes Marly to her table but never fully to her family. Mick was unpredictable and his ego often got in his own way.

The dynamic between the characters, the storyline, the discovery in the church attic drew me in and had me turning the pages. This was not an edge-of-your-seat page turner but a quiet one with powerful themes. This book is heavy with emotions and a lingering sadness that flows through the family and family members.

What does it mean to be a part of a family? Do you lose yourself while taking care of others?

Through the course of the book, Marley grows in so many ways. I enjoyed reading about her and how her character grew over the course of this book. She was not the only character who grew. Each character has their own issues and unique personality. The Joseph family is dysfunctional but what family isn't?

The characters in this book are an interesting book. Shay (the youngest brother) and Marley were my favorites. I enjoyed learning more about Baylor, Waylon, and Shay at the end of the book. That was a nice touch and filled in some gaps and answered some questions that I had about them. I have a feeling that I will be thinking about this book for quite some time.

This family drama was well written, moving and powerful.

📖 Book Review 📖

📱 "Mercury” by Amy Jo Burns

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
published January 2, 2024

Thank you @netgalley for the eARC of this novel. 

An emotional character driven story with multiple timelines, that I will think about for long after I finished. The depth of relationships and complex family dynamics were real, flawed, and yet beautiful. Set in a small town in Pennsylvania, in the 1990s are 3 very different brothers, a struggling family business and parents who live very separate lives.

The main character, Marley arrives to Mercury the summer before her senior year, and being the new girl in town many take notice. She meets the Joseph family, and quickly finds herself a part of their family dinners. The oldest is Baylor, big, in your face, and tough while underneath a huge heart for his family. Waylon, is the middle and near perfect son, always thoughtful and caring, taking other’s problems on his own shoulders. And the baby of the family by 8 or so years is Shay, always aware, very clever and constantly trying to be seen by his very tired parents. Mick is the father and after many wild business ideas started Joseph & Sons Roofing, which could make money if his ego would allow help. Before long the Joseph men are Marley’s whole world and she can see they need her to guide them. When everything starts to crumble Marley helps hold the pieces together as the brothers decide their fate.


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A generational family story about the Joseph clan - an invisible mother, a charismatic but sometimes difficult father, three brothers, and one girl who becomes part of the family. Each family member has secrets to keep, to share with one other, and that will create decay within relationships. It emphasizes the bond and power of women, the intricacies and secrets of marriage, and the underlying misconception that blood is thicker than water.

This character-driven story begins with a body being found in the attic of a church by two of the Joseph brothers who, as roofers, are there to fix a leak. The story then jumps back in time a little less than a decade before and describes the relationships in and around the Joseph family. Told in 3rd person, we first follow Marley, the new girl in town who first falls for Baylor the oldest Joseph, then Waylon, his Irish twin. She navigates first loves, first heartbreaks, and the necessity of growing up before she's ready. She has wants desperately for Elise, the matriarch of the Joseph family to accept her and love her.

Waylon, Baylor, and the youngest brother, Shay, also get a few chapters to explain their feelings and perspectives all leading up to and just after the body is found.

Even though the story includes the mystery of the dead body, it really isn't the focus of the story. I am usually one who likes plot driven stories more, but I couldn't put this down. I enjoyed the characters, despite their many flaws, and wanted to see how they came through the pain and suffering they often caused each other. It was real and raw and I cried several times. I highlighted so many intuitive, insightful passages. One of the best books of the year so far for me. I've already requested her first book, Shiner, at the library.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Amy Jo Burns and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC copy and give my honest review.

Mercury by Amy Burns is a wonderful family drama about a dysfunctional family. It was so engaging that I read it in a couple of sittings. I loved the character development and the mystery within the story. I have never read this author before, so I'm excited to read her backlist.

Thanks to Celadon Books and Netgalley for the digital copy for my honest opinion.

I really loved this book! If you are looking for a complex family drama, with deep character study, this is a book for you.
This story is about the Joseph family, and as the story progresses, we learn about each of their members, and their many secrets. The story takes place in early 90s, with teenage Marley moving in to the town of Mercury. She then becomes a part of the Joseph family: parents Mick and Elise and brothers: Bay, Way and Shay.
This book is raw, it deals with generational traumas, interfamily conflicts, but also offers hope.
I recommend this to anyone looking for a good, engaging read.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon for an early access to this book (already published on January 3, 2024).

This was a wonderful character driven, multi-generational family drama about the Joseph family in Western Pennsylvania. Marley, a young mother, wife, business woman, sister in law and friend is the glue who holds this family together. Each character was well written and the reader really got to know their thoughts and actions. I highly recommend this one!
Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

It's hard to categorize this novel, so I'm going to call it literary fiction. The writing is very lyrical and poetic to some extend, and there is a lot of narrative and internal thinking versus dialogue and action. If you read the description or the just the prologue, you might think this is more of a murder mystery, but it is not. It's a novel about family and secrets and figuring out who you are and where you belong in the world.