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.

Mercury centers on 17-year-old Marley West, who arrives in Mercury, Pennsylvania, seeking a sense of belonging. She quickly becomes involved with the Joseph brothers, a roofing family facing internal struggles and secrets. As Marley takes on roles of wife and caretaker, she navigates the complexities of family loyalty and personal identity.

<b> Key Highlights </b>
○ Character Development: Marley’s growth is compelling and relatable.
○ Family Dynamics: The Joseph family’s dysfunction feels authentic and engaging.
○ Setting: The small-town atmosphere enhances the story's depth.
○ Mystery Element: An intriguing discovery adds tension to the plot.

<b> Critiques </b>
○ Some sections feel slow, affecting the overall flow.
○ Certain plot twists are foreseeable.
○ A few secondary characters lack development.

Overall, Mercury is a thoughtful exploration of family and personal identity. It’s a strong read for those interested in character-driven stories.

Mercury was intense and unfiltered.
The characters held my attention from start to finish. If you’re a fan of deeply crafted, character-focused tales, this one is a must-read! I strongly recommend it and will definitely seek out more works by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC which provided me the chance to read this book and write the reivew.

Although I enjoyed reading this book, I found it to read very slow. It took me a long time to get through and I'm not sure if that's because it was literary in nature or if it was because the book was set over such a long time period. I was expecting to get more out of the mystery of what happened in the church, but rather we got so much more about the family (and that could have just been my misconception, rather than the book itself). I didn't find myself wanting to pick it up as frequently as other things I have read. I won't give up on Amy Jo Burns as an author, but I don't necessarily think this one was for me.

Mercury is a slow burn family drama that has lots of family secrets, realistic characters, and a plot that keeps you hooked. Marley and her mother, Ruth, a traveling nurse, move to the small town of Mercury PA, just outside of Pittsburgh. Marley loves her mother unconditionally, but longs to be a part of something bigger, and put down roots. Watching a baseball game she watches two brothers, Baylor and Waylon Joseph, who end up fighting on the field, and meets their mother, Ruth. Marley immediately is attracted to one of the brothers, but ends up loving all three brothers in different ways. She becomes part of their family, but learns devastating secrets, and experiences much heartache in her coming of age journey in the Joseph household. A great pick for people that love family sagas, realistic characters, and family secrets.

This book took me a while to finish. It just didn’t call to me. I thought the story was thought provoking, but to me it was a little slow and drawn out. I know not everything can be a “quick read,” but I never really felt captivated by this story like I just HAD to keep reading and find out what was next. I remember thinking at about 40% through this book “how could this story have 60% left??” I wanted to love it, but I just really didn’t. Well written, but just too long and slow for me.

Really enjoyed this character driven story about a complex family. I was no familiar with thus author before but will now be on the look out. The level of family disfunction is like Yellowstone mixed with succession so if you're into family drama you will like this. The only reason i docked a star of was because it was painfully slow at times. Once, i almost gave up entirely but i'm so glad i stuck with it. This one gave me similar feels to "Hello Beautiful".

This book and discussions definitely made this as one of my favorites of 2023. And the perfect book to kick off the year with. It’s a tragically beautiful story of found family, heartbreak, broken dreams and what real life looks like. I was so connected to the characters and the community. This book was written very well and took me to a place I didn’t want to leave

This was a slow read for me that never gained steam. I usually enjoy this kind of book and storytelling, but this one just never Caught my attention wholly. I found myself leaving it often And having trouble finishing. Thank you, NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this one but felt like it just kind of dragged. I did love the characters and the story. But, the last quarter I found myself trudging through.

A slow burn family drama but I did enjoy the insights on motherhood, sibling relationships, relationships with in-laws and the trials and tabulations of growing up in a small town.

I felt that it touched on a lot of important topics and overall did enjoy the book just wish it had been a quicker pace.

Layered with small town family drama and the perfect amount of mystery! Marley’s character arc was incredible and the story speaks to identity, loyalty, marriage, motherhood, and sacrifice - on top of being a woman in an all male family. The family dynamics were incredibly well written, moving, and powerful.

Love the layers of this family saga.. Enjoyed the mystery portion of this story too. Marley is a great character and I liked seeing her coming of age in this small town.

I got this as an ARC but have been so far behind on reading - I was considering 3 or 4 because it was good but slow reading and wasnt "exciting" or a thrill but it was very well done and what pushed it above an average good book to a four was the perspective of women - this book breaks the mold and i think give a more honest look at what some women/ mothers experience and how there isnt a certainty or guaranteed that kids will love you or you will love them or that they will love each other (also why i am terrified to have kids because i have seen this... ) it also speaks to humanity and the experience of wanting love or closeness but it not being reciprocated or the issues with finding and understanding a person and "speaking and accepting their love language or love style" this touches on MANY emotional issues and issues people face in relationships. Not all mothers are loved, not all mothers love their children, not all marriages are based in or held together by love. I think there is a whole hidden world of mothers with regrets, wives with lives unlived.... this book touches on that and makes you think about it and i appreciate that