I always forget just how much I love family dramas until I’m actually reading one. And this was such a hit for me.

Short Synopsis:
Marley is 17-years-old and new to the town of Mercury. She immediately meets the Joseph’s brothers and fits a permanent seat at their dinner table. The ties to all three brothers are complicated and messy. This family story spans years and shows how marriage, babies, love and loss affect all of them differently.

My Thoughts:
I was immediately immersed into this story. I loved how Marley how very different relationships with all of the Joseph family. And how she came into her own confidence and story. The secrets and mystery was fun to unravel along with the characters.

Read if You Like:
🏠 We are the Brennans
🏠 Messy family dynamics
🏠 Character driven stories
🏠 Multi-generational stories
🏠 Small towns

I do hope the final copy includes trigger warnings though. Miscarriages and parent death are big ones and I wish I knew before going in.

MERCURY is a jewel of a novel - intricately crafted, shiny in just the right light. Burns' writing begs to be savored and highlighted. There are so many lovely lines and descriptions of the characters. And make no mistake, this is a character-driven story. The author knows the Josephs and Marley inside and out. Her psychological insights are perhaps my favorite aspect of the novel and what kept bringing me back to its pages.

This is not "women's fiction" despite the marketing copy on NetGalley. In my opinion, this is, no question, literary fiction. I'm not casting a judgment, but rather trying to convey what type of reader I think will enjoy this book. The writing and the emphasis on characters' inner lives will appeal to fans of literary fiction.

The family in this novel has been through a lot and, at times, they are frustrating. But I grew to adore them.

I look forward to Burns' next novel.

Mercury is a great family drama. At first I thought it would be about three brothers…. but it is so much more, and more about mothers and daughters. The writing style was just a little difficult at times for me. But great story. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.