I love this book so much, I already know I won't be able to do it justice in a review. If I listed out some of the things in this story you might be confused I even picked this up, let alone gave it 5 stars. All I can do is wave my hands around frantically and urge you, if you have any interest in stories of complicated family dynamics, to PLEASE read this. Are you a mom? Read this. Do you have a mom? Read this. Have her read this! Are you a sibling? Read this. Have your sibling read it. Do you know what a sibling IS? Read this! Live in a small town? Read it. Been to a small town? Been in a relationship? Been a person? Lived? Read!

"Mercury" is a multigenerational family saga that takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania in the 90s named--you guessed it--Mercury. The book follows multiple timelines, but starts in 1999 when a dead body is discovered in an unlikely place. The characters' reactions to the discovery make it clear there's a story there, before the book flashes back to 1990, to the beginning of said story. 

Marley, the only daughter of a single mom, arrives the summer before her senior year of high school as the rarest commodity in Mercury: an unknown. She quickly meets the Joseph family: the oldest, bold and brash Baylor, who draws everyone in by keeping them at arms-length; thoughtful, articulate middle child Waylon, who takes on everyone's problems as his own; and (my favorite) the youngest, clever and wry Shay, who wishes others saw him as clearly as he sees them. But who fascinates Marley the most is their mother, Elise, graceful and removed, glamorous and collected, a paragon of the type of womanhood Marley has never encountered in her own family of two. 

When Elise invites her to dinner, Marley feels like she's been accepted into some inner sanctum. She studies how the boys all move around one another, their power dynamics flexing and shifting, how Elise can soothe or motivate with a single word, and yet how despite that, the whole family is at the mercy of Mick Joseph's whims. Mick started Joseph & Sons Roofing, and while the business is their life, Mick's eccentricities are the real leader of the family, and they all strive to keep him complacent. It shocks Marley to witness Elise, someone she thought of as immovable, shape herself into someone unrecognizable for the benefit of the men in her life. 
As the boys and Marley are ushered into adulthood sooner than expected, she begins to both fear and relish the idea that Elise's destiny of caring for the Joseph boys, sometimes at her own expense, may also be her own. 

This is a fascinating exploration of how we treat mothers, how the expectations (or lack of) of a parent can shape someone, and how thin the line can be between love and hate. This story is emotional, nuanced, and driven by the kinds of characters that linger after you've finished reading. Their relationships with their senses of self and the shifting dynamics between all of them were complex and fascinating and left me achy. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time. Thank you to Celadon Books & the author for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Celadon Buddy Readalong

MERCURY
by Amy Jo Burns

 I really loved this novel. This main reasons are:

- [ ] Unforgettable characters
- [ ] Dysfunctional family
- [ ] Friendship
- [ ] Long-hidden secrets
- [ ] Loyalty
- [ ] Forgiveness

I love stories where things are not as they seem. I don’t like to do spoilers so I will just say that this is a book to curl up with, and learn about a family.

This book is available Jan 2, 2024.

I’m read this together with:
@booksonthegrid
@stephsbook talk
@shooks_books
@foxandbooks


#celadonreadstogether #bookmail #amyjoburns #mercurybook #bookmailisthebestmail #bookmail

From the very first page, it became evident that this was not a mere story but a profound journey that demanded immersion. The depth of the characters and the unique blend of desperation and warmth woven into the narrative created a captivating atmosphere that resonated with me on a visceral level.

Attempting to articulate the intricacies of this book feels like an exercise in futility. It is a work that elicits shivers, provokes contemplation, and, above all, refuses to be confined by conventional descriptors. The characters, so authentically portrayed, became companions in a journey that felt both personal and universal.

The prose, at times, took on a poetic quality, elevating the storytelling to a form of art. It is a delicate dance of words that not only conveys a narrative but also captures the essence of the human experience in a way that is both unique and unforgettable.

Amidst moments of desperation, there was an unexpected warmth that permeated the narrative, creating a nuanced emotional landscape. This paradoxical interplay of emotions added layers to the story, making it a compelling and unforgettable read.

This book is not just literature; it is an immersive experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional storytelling. To anyone seeking a journey that goes beyond the ordinary, I wholeheartedly recommend delving into the pages of this extraordinary work. It is an exploration of the human soul, an invitation to feel and live a story that is, in essence, impossible not to love.

Mercury is a family drama that spans the 10 years during the 1990s. It follows a family with a roofing business and the impact a newcomber, Marley, has on their life when she arrives as a teenager.

The family was dysfunctional, there were secrets and lies, plenty of things left unsaid.

I loved the way the story was told, it was completely engrossingand the characters were so well developed.

Thank you so much, Celadon, for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: Infinite Stars
Mercury is like a warm hug that you do not know you need. It leaves you feel super connected to these characters to the point that you feel like you are a part of their family.

I could not get enough of Mercury since I needed to know everything about these characters and their lives. Even when I was not reading it, I would constantly think of the characters, and at one point, I dreamed of the town and the characters. I have not had that experience in a while where I need to devour a book and then later find myself dreaming of the book.

All the characters are flawed in one way or another to the point they feel extremely real. Some of the characters focus on these flaws of the other characters to the point that it causes resentment or indifference to one another. But each character has these amazing attributes that they bring to the table that allows each other to lean on one another even when the family feels divided. When hardships and grief strike this family, they all find themselves looking at their life in a different way, which ultimately makes these characters grow in so many way. Honestly, from beginning to end, the character growth is immensely seen and very satisfying.

Mercury is beautifully written to where I was rooting for each other characters. I felt joy in the accomplishments, heartbreak for the hardships and the grief the family goes through, and great love for each of the characters. Then, I found a lot of heartwarming moments in this book and especially in the last few pages.

Once January 2024 rolls around, you all need to run out and grab this amazing book. I feel like I did not put my thoughts into the most coherent way and could not say all the ways I loved this book because for me sometimes I struggle with finding the right words to express how much I love something.

But, I can truly say that I didn't know how much I needed this book in my life. I am so beyond thankful that Celadon surprised me with this book to review. I can say with certainity that this book is one of my top 5 favorite books of 2023. Without a doubt in my mind, I just know this will become a favorite of many in 2024, so like I said go get this book because you will fall in love with the writing and the characters.

Marley moves to the small town of Mercury, PA when she is in high school. She meets the Joseph brothers, Baylor, Waylon, and Shay, their mother Elise and father Mick. Told in “before and after” timelines, this is a family drama full of sadness, chaos, hope, heart and courage.

I enjoyed this family drama. It reminded me of “The Connellys of County Down” in the strong character driven novel and the way the story unfolded, with both mystery and suspense. I enjoyed the characters who made up the Joseph family, and I rooted for Marley to be strong and steady for them all. I also enjoyed how this book was set in the 1990s, such a nostalgic time for me having grown up in this decade. I felt the book got a little slow at times, but then would pick up again fairly quickly. I definitely recommend for those who enjoy family sagas!

Gorgeous! A beautiful and beautifully written character-driven story by one of my favorite writers. It's been a long time since I've read characters who are so alive and well-formed and who I cared about so much. This will be my staff pick next month for sure.

I have mixed feelings about this one. I liked the small town feel and the tight-knit family. But I didn't like how the brothers were super immature and didn't know how to get on without the women in their lives.
While I was drawn in by the interwoven lives of the characters I didn't necessarily like all of them or the way they acted.

A book filled with family small town drama.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed this literary family drama about Marley, her mother-in-law Elise and the men of the Joseph family that they both love and care for in many ways. Each character was carefully constructed by the author and they felt very real in their personal struggles and relationships. The writing in beautiful and filled with lots of incites on motherhood, marriage and family.

At times the story can be a bit slow and the characters aggravating in their hesitancy to just make a decision and move on. But they are constantly drawn back to each other by the family’s dysfunctional loyalty. I felt that an accident that occurs toward the end of the book was anticlimactic (especially when interrupted by the point of view of another character who isn’t even part of the story anymore) and resolved a little too quickly, but overall I enjoyed the story and was fine with how the book wrapped up.

I made it to 50% on this title before calling it quits. I was a real fan of Shiner by Burns. But this title did not work for me. A lot of profanity and sexual content, and then the revealing of a secret that was just gross. I did not feel that I could continue on.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to preview this book.

Everyone else's reviews talk about how this was a gritty family saga and how they were really invested in what happened, but I just couldn't get into it. It was depressing and took forever to get through. Something about the writing style also made me feel very removed from the story. There also wasn't really a "mystery" in my opinion, it explains exactly what happened and why. The second half of the book felt like it was just rehashing of the first part of the book though different characters' viewpoints.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a slow read for me, just didn’t care for most of the characters. I felt Marley was a bit of a goody-two-shoes and took on everything but wanted acknowledgment for it. The sons, Way and Bay, were grown but acted like middle schoolers, physically fighting etc. Their dad was not at all helpful either. When wife/mom died and Marley left them for a month, none of them could figure out how to run the house and business or even feed themselves. Youngest son Shay seemed to be more mature than his dad or brothers.

There was a bit of a mystery but was lackluster to me. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

This book surprised me in all the best ways. Character-driven and emotional, I was completely enthralled with the lives of the Joseph family. Their relationships were so genuine and flawed and every character felt like a real person to me. I honestly felt like I was part of the family at times!

I loved that at the heart of the story, there was a mystery surrounding the death of the person in the church attic. While not necessarily the primary focus, it added a depth and interesting layer to the story.

I also loved all the backstory with Marley and the Joseph family. We really got to know them and understand them. While I never quite came to terms with Marley's mother-in-law and how she treated Marley or her grandbaby, I could certainly picture it.

Marley was such a strong protagonist and I absolutely adored her. I really admired her work ethic and her plights were so relatable to so many women.

All in all, if you love a character-driven novel, this is one you absolutely cannot miss. I already miss the Joseph family and can't wait to read more by Burns.

Thank you to Celadon and NetGalley for the copy.

Marley is new to town, and the first thing she sees is the Joseph brothers. The more she gets to know them, the more she becomes part of their family. She starts dating one brother, but quickly falls for the other. As she integrates into their life, their mother fades away, and Marley becomes the woman of the house, and leads them all.

This book is one that is going to stick with me a while, it hits deep, and it is so beautifully and elegantly written. This is a slow burn, character driven book, that really gets to the heart of the characters. I loved how the characters developed and the story unfolded through their eyes. Life doesn’t always work out how we plan it, and this book is a showcase in that. So much happened in this book, but at the same time, so little happened. It’s a strange thing to describe. I think most of all, this book is about family, the family we are born into, and the family we find and develop. While no family is perfect, family means being there for each other in times of need, and this book highlighted different ways that can be shown. This book is emotional, and I felt so many emotions reading it.

If you are looking for a truly amazing book, then I suggest you check this one out, you won’t want to miss it.

Thank you so much to Celadon, @celadonbooks for sending me a copy of this one, and @netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this family story. It was very well-written and completely immersive. This book is set in the 1990's and tells the story of the Joseph family, which consists of a larger-than-life father named Mick, an elusive mother named Elise, and her three teenage sons. Their family revolves around their roofing business, and it both brings them together and drives them apart in equal measure. Their lives become tightly interwoven with that of the teenage Marley, who is new to town, having just arrived with her single mother, who is a nurse at a local hospital. I do not want to give away any more details, but this tightly woven novel is extremely compelling. It is a quiet book that will pull at your heartstrings and have you cheering for some characters and loathing others. At the heart of the story is a mysterious discovery in the church attic, and what it represents in the lives of each of the main characters, all of whom are hiding secrets from themselves and from each other. The town, the roofing business and the Great House that the family resides in are all characters in the story, and add a lot of nuance and atmosphere to the novel. This one should not be missed if you love a family story, a quiet novel, or a slice of life character study.

Thank you to Celadon for providing me with the opportunity to participate in a read-along for this book. There have been so many books this past year by Celadon that have been amazing.

This is a family drama that starts off with a body found in the town church attic. The story changes timelines and goes back to the 1990s when Marley moves with her mother to Mercury and starts attending the local high school where she meets the Joseph boys, Waylon and Baylor. I loved the character development of the women in this story. The timeline switches back and forth until the gaps are filled in about what the Joseph family had been through and why there is a body in the attic. There are so many characters in the story that are unlikable, but over time as a reader, you connect with almost all the characters and feel compassion. It took me a little bit to get into the book, but once I was past the first forty pages, I didn't want to stop reading and was sacrificing my sleep to finish the book. I am so glad it was a quiet weekend so I could finish this satisfying and wonderful book. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy reading fiction and exploring people and family dynamics. Often, I find these types of stories to be slow-moving, but this was written in a way that kept you captivated to the very end. I would highly recommend reading this

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns feels like a country song in book form.

Mercury is a typical small town, and as is typical of small towns, it comes with its own cast of characters who are biased against others. When Marley moves to town with her mother, she creates a ripple effect, and the town is better off with her taking up residence.

The struggles and challenges of moving to and living in small town USA were appropriately realistic. It didn't take long for me to become immersed in Marley and the Joseph family drama, and I found myself constantly wondering how they were when I wasn't reading the story.

Then the plot took a bit of a turn, and I'm not sure I liked Marley's choices. I really sided with her best friend, Jade, who seemed to be the voice of reason Marley needed in her life.

This one is a bit of everything: there's romance, family drama, mental health representation, queer representation, and there's even a bit of mystery, which helps build suspense and tension.

So many questions are posed within these pages: Are you allowed to have more than one role in a small town? Are you able to be your true self, and not just how others see you? Are you truly able to keep secrets from family members?

Thank you NetGalley and Celadon Books for the complimentary copies to read and review.

Are you ready for some 2024 reading. Well, make sure you get your pre-orders for this one. I am pretty sure it will be a top read for me this year. Complicated family at its best. It reminded me of Hello Beautiful, A Place for Us, and The Dearly Beloved. I really enjoyed this one! Out in January 2024.

Pleasantly surprised with how much I loved the story. The characters are written very well and the drama unfolds at a nice pace. I think if you enjoy family dramas you will devour this one! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

4.5/5

Amy Jo Burns is a masterful storyteller and has written a truly heartbreaking family drama. Set in the old industrial town of Mercury, the story centers on the men of the Joseph family and the women who orbit them: Elise and Marley. Married to the family patriarch Mick, Elise is a mercurial woman in the habit of yielding to the needs of the Josephs' roofing business. Dominated and effaced, her strange habits are only noticed by her daughter in law Marley and it soon becomes clear that Elise is not well and has secrets of her own. Halfway through the book, tragedy strikes and the three Joseph sons, Waylon, Baylor, and Shay, adapt to their new reality while also uncovering the layers of trauma they experienced at the hands of Mick, and an overall toxic family dynamic going back decades.

Mercury is superbly written, with clear prose and good pacing. This is an incredible case study of family systems theory: the author adds so much nuance and sincerity to each relationship. The characters very much feel like real people, frustrated by their families while also remaining incredibly loyal. Of note, this is a hard read thematically. There's no easy or tidy resolution. This is a sad book about the labor women take on when they become wife and mothers, and the lifelong work men take on to undo constrictive notions of masculinity. It's heavy, but rang so true. The author's compassion for these characters shines and helps ease the weight of their struggles for the reader.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC