MERCURY by Amy Jo Burns captivates with its intricate portrayal of a dysfunctional family in Mercury, PA. Reminiscent of "Hello Beautiful," it swaps sisters for brothers, weaving a narrative that skillfully explores mystery, secrets, and the complexities of human connection. Burns' wonderful writing delves into the lives of complex, vulnerable characters, making this novel a compelling and character-driven journey into the heart of familial dynamics.

Having enjoyed Burns’ SHINER, I eagerly anticipated reading MERCURY. It proves to be an excellent choice for a book club selection, and I look forward to discussing its nuances. I enjoyed the story through both the physical and audio formats, appreciating the excellent narration.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader Copy of Mercury any Amy Jo Burns. This is a story of a family, with all the messiness that comes from a dysfunctional one. Marley marries into a family of boys, and has a distanced relationship with their mother Elise. Elise has kept the family together while her husband chases dreams. The novel covers all of the family members, and their relationships with each other through the years, as they go through life changes and secrets being revealed. Burns creates characters that you route for and you keep reading to see if they are successful. If you like complex family stories, this is definitely a great read.

This book was definitely not one I would’ve found myself reaching for without Celadon allowing me to have an e-ARC, but I am glad I did! It was different than anything I’ve read this year, and I found myself transported to the world of 1990’s Pennsylvania.

I never wanted this book to end. I want to stay in Mercury and follow the Joseph family for the rest of their lives. Mercury brings us to a small Pennsylvania town where a teenager named Marley arrives with her mother. As the daughter of a single mother, Marley finds herself alone quite a bit and ends up at the Joseph family dinner table. The Joseph's are a family of roofers, run by the matriarch of the family, Elise. Elise keeps the great house in Mercury where the Joseph men all live running. Mick, Elise's husband is a war vet who seems to only be able to think of himself and his roofing, and the Joseph Sons - Baylor, Waylon and Shay - devote their lives to roofing and trying to prevent Mick from ruining his own life.

As time goes on, Marley's relationship with the Josephs grows, and we learn that while they all live under the same roof, when it comes to love, loyalty, and the secrets they keep, they have never been further apart.

Thank you to the author, Celadon Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel.

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns is a complicated family drama set during the 1990's in Western Pennsylvania and spans ten years. The Joseph family is a blue-collar family of roofers in the small town of Mercury. Their story is one of family, loyalty, and secrets- many, many secrets. Burns's writing really pulled me in and I could not put this book down. haven't read Shiner's previous novel, but after reading this, I'll definitely pick up Shiner. Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books for a digital copy for review.

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns is a very highly recommended character driven drama that considers the dynamics of a dysfunctional family.

The first thing seventeen-year-old Marley West sees when she and her mother move to Mercury, Pennsylvania in 1990 are the Joseph's on a rooftop so it seems she was meant to become a part of their world. The Joseph and Sons roofing company is headed by father Mick, with the oldest two sons, Baylor and Waylon. Baby Shay is much younger than the older two. Their mother, Elise, serves a home cooked meal to all of them nightly.

Marley first meets oldest brother, Bay, and is invited to dinner. Dinner at the Joseph house becomes a daily occurrence, one Marley looks forward too. Marley ends up in a relationship with Way, becomes pregnant, and the two marry, moving into a tiny apartment in the Josephs large house. Marley soon realizes that the family's finances are a mess and she begins to help Way find more roofing jobs for the family. She also craves Elise's love, but the matriarch of the family, who has her reasons, remains cold and distant - until she needs Marley's help.

This is a character driven drama and Burns does an exceptional job capturing the strengths, flaws, and secrets in her fully realized characters. These are all damaged people in some way, certain characters more than others. There is insight into each member of the family, helping to show the origin of their pain and the impetus for their differing temperaments. The care taken with each character is what helps propel Mercury to a memorable novel.

The quality of the writing is excellent in this multi-generational family drama. The action covers a decade in their lives. Mercury opens in 1999 when a gruesome discovery is made, and then jumps back in time to 1990 when Marley first met the Josephs and became part of their lives. The narrative then marches through time and the interpersonal troubles in the family that preceded the opening discovery. There is plenty of drama and secrets in the plot to hold your attention throughout, although after the opening discovery the pace does slow down for a stretch before picking up again. 4.5 rounded up
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Celadon Books via NetGalley.
The review will also be published on Edelweiss, X, BookBub, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

I LOVED this book. I loved the writing, the characters, the character development-the whole thing. That being said, it did take me until about 10% in to be hooked, but once I was hooked, I was hooked. This was a fabulous story about a family in eastern PA. They are a family of roofers, with so many secrets of their own, led by a mother who keep the family together like glue, but doesn't realize how she is actually hurting her own family by withholding her love and affection. Once Marley joins the family after getting pregnant by the middle son at age 18, things begin to change for the better, or so we hope. If you like stories about families that are beautifully written, you will adore this one.

For fans of We Are The Brennans by Tracey Lange and The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo... Mercury is set in western Pennsylvania in the 1990s. Spanning 10 years, it follows newcomer Marley as she meets and falls in love with the Joseph family. To the Josephs - father Mick, mother Elise, and brothers Baylor, Waylon, and Shay - loyalty means everything. It will take Marley to show them the true price of their allegiance.

Amy Jo Burns writes beautifully about family, friendship, and the lengths people will go to protect those they love. As the reader, I wanted to pick a villain, but Burns really shows that each character has redeeming qualities, no matter how great their flaws. It made me love each of the Josephs, even the ones I wanted to strangle. To me, that is a sign of a great novel and an even better writer.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

🏠 Mercury - Amy Jo Burns

4.25 ⭐️ - I was PLEASANTLY surprised by this one. I went in blind and didn’t really know what to expect, but I loved it ! A story that is mysterious, gripping, and well paced with complex, well developed characters. My character driven novel people - this one’s for you.

I was not expecting to love this one as much as I did. It has some really great messages, some hard relationship topics between families, significant others, and yourself, and tough conversation points. I really loved Marley and her story. Her character development is fabulous. All of the relationships and characters were interesting, infuriating, and lovable in their own way. This is a book that’s more thought provoking, has some tougher topics, and is very character driven so if you’re looking for that, I definitely recommend it. Keep your eyes open for this one hitting shelves on 1/2! I already miss reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Celadon Books, and Macmillan audio for the early reader and listener copies!

The Joseph family has it all together... but really? The Joseph family has a lot to learn about life. A daughter-in-law takes the reins and helps the family heal and learn from their secrets. All families have secrets but it's important not to let them become so important - especially in a small town like Mercury

Many thanks to @celadonbooks and @netgalley for my #gifted copy. Pub date 1/2/24.

I keep seeing so many great reviews for this book, so I had to read it. Wow, this was excellent! This was very character and family driven, and so well written. The author really makes you really feel for all the characters. I fully emerged in this family drama and was very surprised with some of the twists.

Two young women arrived in this town, twenty years apart. The first was named Elise, the second named Marley. They lived in the same house. They loved the same men. They raised their children. Elise had never loved Marley like a daughter, and yet together, they built a family.

Set in the 1990s, Marley and her single mom move to Mercury. Marley befriends one of the Joseph boys and instantly has a seat at their dinner table. The Joseph family consists of Elise, the mom, Mick, the father, and their 3 sons Baylor, Waylon, and Shay. They own a roofing company that is barely surviving. Each character has their own personal struggles, hidden secrets, and trying to keep the family business afloat. We get to know them all so well, and I could not flip the pages fast enough to see how all of this was going to unfold. 4.5 stars!

Ah, the nostalgic charm of small-town Mercury, Pennsylvania, where the sun-drenched rooftops and winding rivers whisper tales of yesteryear. It's here that Marley West arrives in 1990, a 17-year-old firecracker with a heart full of longing. She's a perpetual loner, but oh, how she yearns for a place at the table, to belong, to be wrapped in the warm embrace of family. And then, like a striking snapshot, she spots the Joseph brothers on a rooftop, their silhouettes blotting out the sun like giants. In that instant, Marley's fate is sealed - she's swept up into their world like a leaf on a wild river current.

As she becomes entwined with the Josephs, I can't help but feel a sense of awe at Marley's resilience. She's a force of nature, this one, shouldering the weight of their unwieldy father's ego and crumbling roofing business, even as their own mother fades like a ghost. Marley's love is a lifeline, and the brothers cling to her like a beacon in the darkness. But as old wounds resurface like ghosts from the church attic, the family's very survival teeters on the edge. Will Marley's light be enough to guide them through the storm, or will they need to build a new foundation, together, to weather the tempests of life?

The writing is honest and emotional, making it a moving read. If you like stories about people and their relationships, you'll love this book. I'm a fan now and can't wait to read more from Amy Jo Burns ♥️


Thank you to NetGalley and Celadon Books Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.
My opinions are my own.

I had a feeling that I would like Mercury by Amy Jo Burns - it's just the kind of multi-generational family novel I'm often drawn to. And Mercury did not disappoint. Marley was a very engaging protagonist and the Joseph brothers (and their parents) were complex foils for her development. The writing is excellent, especially in terms of teasing out the whys and hows of different relationships. I especially appreciated the way twists in the novel are revealed - not in a thriller-y way, but in a "families have so many secrets" form. I wish there had been a tiny bit less analysis of everyone (though, as I said, this was also a strength), but this is a solid novel using a specific family in a specific time and place to shed light on the complexity of the human condition and how we relate to those we love (and hate and emulate and tolerate and ...).

A compelling character-driven family drama. There are a lot of unlikeable characters throughout the novel, each one complex and unique. Sometimes they treat each other well and other times they are amazingly cruel to one another. Mercury covers a lot of ground - sibling rivalry, business failures, unplanned pregnancy, suspected murder, abandonment, ambition, found family, love.

The writing and scene setting is immersive and I found myself rooting for Marley as she tries to find a place where she belongs.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

What a book! It’ll be out January 2nd and I’m telling you right now— put it at the top of your 2024 TBR!

⭐️ I’ve said before character-driven novels don’t usually work for me, but I’m learning I can definitely get sucked into a good family drama. And this one is no exception! This is one of those books I’m thinking about long after I’ve read it. The writing is beautiful, and just so well done. We really learn about these characters— diving into their psyches to find out what makes them tick, and the thought process behind their decisions.

⭐️ I love books that explain an event, then you read about the same event through a different character’s eyes. It really fills out the whole picture while also reminding you that your personal experience of any given moment is simply just YOUR experience. I thought that message was so impactful here.

⭐️ @burnsamyjo’s writing is impeccable throughout this entire story— it reminded me of Ann Patchett’s writing in Tom Lake or Ann Napolitano’s in Hello Beautiful. I buddy read this with @readingthroughatlanta, @naesreadingnook and @katelands_booknook and we kept sending each other line after line— noting how great the writing was.

⭐️ If I’ve convinced you to read this— you should know this is first and foremost, a family drama. And while there’s a gripping event that happens off the top to draw you in, I’d caution against reading this as a mystery or thriller. That may leave you feeling disappointed. My only complaint is that some parts did start to drag just a touch— but then something would happen and everything I just read was suddenly worth it! I can’t recommend this one enough.

I can't tell you how much I loved this book! I am still thinking about it and mulling over some of the events. It's a family saga, which I usually like if well done, but truly it was the author's writing and the character development that made this book so good.

Marley is a senior in high school when she and her Mom move to the small town of Mercury. It's just the two of them, and they have moved a lot over the years. One of Marley's first encounter with the Joseph family includes watching the two eldest brothers get into a fight on the baseball field. When their mother gets their attention with just a few words, Marley is entranced. She accepts a ride home from the oldest son, and ends up joining the family for dinner most nights for the rest of the summer. She develops relationships with each of the 5 family members that change and deepen and cause pain and joy over the course of the book.

The story is primarily told from Marley's point of view, but there are some later chapters woven in with some of the other family member's stories. This was done so well, and truly makes the book so much better! In some ways I wish I had known some of these stories earlier, but the main arc could not have had the impact it it did if we had.

I highly recommend this book!! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very interesting book. I really liked the way that each of Joseph family members' perspectives on the "mystery" was integrated, quite seamlessly, into one cohesive plot. I also liked the way that Burns created tension. The tension in this novel was an overarching motif that fissured the Joseph family; however, that brings them together in the end. The family often "remained silent" and Burns examines how remaining silent creates tension and regret. Each character was skillfully crafted and the novel was truly a beauty! At times, I wondered about the significance of the title. Mercury is the setting of this novel, but unlike other books where the setting can become its own character, Mercury is not. However, at the end, it becomes clear why Burns makes this choice.

3.5 stars. I loved the strong writing and character development here, but I found the plot a bit on the slow side. The ending, however, was quite satisfying and moving- I love how everything was tied together!

Overall, great writing. Fans of family dramas will likely love this.

Starting with the discovery of a body in 1999 and then jumping back to 1990, this is the story of the Joseph family, a hard working appearingly close knit family in Mercury, Ohio. Upon closer look, which is what this book is all about, we find layers of secrets and dysfunction that all circle each of the members of the family. These problems are isolating the sons and daughter-in-law as they try to protect their own secrets and each other. The characters aren't perfect, but generally loveable, and some of the situations are downright heartwrenching. The ending isn't tidy, but somewhat disappointing in that the story is over and we are done spending time with the Joseph family.

What a fantastic family story, I loved it! It’s about a marriage as much as it is about a family. I can’t stop thinking about these characters and their love and their flaws, I will recommend this to book clubs. Thank you Netgalley and Celadon for the egalley.