LOVED!! what a perfect family drama this was I absolutely enjoyed all the characters and the setting! Amy Jo Burns’s writing style was captivating from the very first chapter!!

Mercury is a character driven novel that explores family dynamics, secrets, and the enduring power of love. Set in the 1990s in Mercury, Pennsylvania, the story revolves around seventeen year old Marley West who meets the Joseph brothers who become her whole world. The story follows Marley and the Joseph brothers, along with their parents over several years. The characters are likeable and flawed and I really enjoyed this.
Thank you to Netgalley and Celadon Books for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a story of complicated family relationships, and I enjoyed how their stories all came together. I liked how she included parts from each character’s point of view throughout the book, rather than just focusing on Marleys the whole time. It could be a little slow at times, since it definitely is a more character driver story, but I was still intrigued to find out what secrets each character was keeping and how they’d resolve them in the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book, in exchange for my honest review.

If you love Tracey Lange’s books this one will be perfect for you. I love family drama books and this is another one that had me invested in the story and the authentic characters. This book is set in the 1990’s in a small town in Pennsylavanvia. Marley is the new girl in town and at age 17 she yearns for a family. She soon becomes a part of the Joseph family when she marries one of the sons after finding out they are going to become parents. The dysfunction and personalities in the family are not what she hoped for but she carries on and makes the best of the situation. As she sees her mother-in-law beaten down and withering from the family dynamics she is determined to be a strong independent woman in control of her life. As secrets are revealed as years go by how will the family shift and will the structure of it change or stay the same? A very interesting and well written domestic drama!

Highly recommend this one!! This is my first time reading one of their books but it won't be the last! This book sucks you in from the get-go and you will find yourself thinking about the characters long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and get this book!!

I was really excited about Mercury, but the book fell flat for me. The characters (Joseph family: father Mick, Mother Elise, Brothers Baylor, Waylon and Shay and Marley who married Waylon) were all forgettable and unlikeable. I didn’t relate to any of the characters or their family “issues.”
The plot moved so very slowly and there was not a lot of entertainment or engaging story elements. Marley dates Baylor and then ends up marrying Waylon and forever is trying to feel apart of the family by running the family roofing business.
I found myself struggling to pick up the book to continue and I couldn’t wait for it to end. I would give Mercury three stars as it was a well written story and there were parts of the story I enjoyed, but overall it just wasn’t fast paced enough to peak my interest.
I don’t think this will be a book I will remember in the future.

I went into this book blind (influenced by everyone on booksta posting about it) and I’m still not certain how I feel about it. Here are my (admittedly unfinished) thoughts.

First, it’s a story about a family. It’s your stereotypical 90’s midwestern family—brothers who fight, parents who sleep in separate beds, the baby of the family is treasured by everyone, and nobody talks about anything of substance—they just ignore things. There’s a new girlfriend integrated into the family, and a teen pregnancy that the family deals with. The family owns a roofing business. Someone dies.

Growing up in the Midwest and being in high school during roughly the same time frame, this was all too familiar. Especially the part where families would rather not talk than be close.

The story splits and we see everyone’s unique perspectives of what family life is like for them. Depending on the person, it’s stifling, unfulfilling, their life’s work, confusing, familiar, upsetting, what they love most, frustrating, or the best part of life.

I didn’t love the organization of the book, where a large chunk was devoted to a single character, then the narrative would include everyone, then the narrative would switch to focusing on another character for a chunk, and then back again. Maybe it would have been too confusing to run the narratives simultaneously, but it would have added to the intrigue of the book.

I thought this was a good story. But honestly, it felt boring. Like a narrative about life in a small town (which is what it was). If you’re looking for an easy read without much drama that’s really pleasant, this could be a hit for you.

I had heard amazing praise for this book and was really excited to pick it up. For some reason, I just couldn't get into it, but I will definitely be giving it another try soon. I still think I will enjoy this book at a different time. I do have patrons who have said they really enjoyed this book, I will keep recommending it! Thank you to the publisher, author and Net Galley for an advanced copy.

4.25 ⭐

Mercury is a coming-of-age meets family fiction with some interesting twists that kept me on my toes.

I felt very connected to the characters. By the end, I even felt connected to the characters I didn't think I particularly liked. Everything felt real, gritty, and authentic. The characters are all flawed, but in such a human way that it's hard not to root for them.

I enjoyed the plot of this book but found the writing hard to follow. I understand that the intention was to make the characters seem complex but I found that it made for quite an exhausting reading experience trying to figure out and remember how each of the characters felt at any given time. I liked the concept and the found family was nice but overall I just don’t think this was a book for me.

While the discovery of a dead body, would not normally be the start of a tender family drama, “Mercury,” by Amy Jo Burns does just that. The book cover lead me to believe I was in for a tale of struggling rural America. Unbeknownst to this western Pennsylvania native, I found myself in a fictionalize part of the country very well know to me. Burns’ beautiful writing captures the spirit of the area and its people authentically. The financial struggles of the Rust Belt in the late 1990s provided the backdrop for the complicated Joesph family and the rare new girl in town, Marley. The character development was thorough and the ending satisfying.

Oh my did I love this book! It absolutely helped that I grew up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh. Outside of that, I was absolutely enthralled by this family. I felt so connected and invested in these characters for some reason. I loved the family dynamics, drama, and heartbreak. This was a very pleasant surprise for me!

"Mercury" by Jo Burns is a poignant and atmospheric novel set in 1990s Pennsylvania, where Marley West arrives seeking connection and family. From the moment she encounters the enigmatic Joseph brothers on a rooftop, her life becomes entwined with theirs in unexpected ways.

Burns beautifully portrays Marley's journey from outsider to integral member of the Joseph family. As she navigates complex relationships with each brother, Marley evolves into a pillar of strength amidst familial challenges. The narrative delves into themes of belonging, sacrifice, and resilience as Marley assumes roles that bind her to the brothers' fates.

Shiner is one of my all time favorite books and I was completely excited to pick up Amy Jo Burns next book. Unfortunately, Mercury was a big miss for me. This book is a literary work of family living in a small town and events that transpire amongst a trip of brothers and one women.

This book was so incredibly boring that I almost DNF'd is many times. I also found the sudden deep dives on characters at the end of the book to be completely out of the story line and felt like it was just added to extend the plot out.

I am honestly not sure what audience to recommend this book as I am a literary reader and did not find this book engaging.

Mercury by Amy Jo Burns turned out to be such a great read. I'll be honest, the synopsis did not do it for me, but I decided to give this book a chance. The writing of every character blended so well that it was easy to weave everyone together. The family dynamic was challenging to read through, but once you became familiar with everyone's quirks, I couldn't help but fall in love with Joseph Family. Their secrets kept you turning the pages, their flaws made them relatable, and their heartfelt motives left you rooting for them long after the story ended.

Thank you Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an Advanced Readers Copy!

Publication Date: January 2, 2024

#Mercury #AmyJoBurns #NetGalley

Mercury is a compelling novel that offers a nuanced look at family, forgiveness, and the resilience of the human spirit. Burns' masterful storytelling creates a captivating world where readers become invested in the fates of the Joseph brothers and the enigmatic Marley. This is a recommended read for those who enjoy character-driven literary fiction with a touch of mystery.

Picture this. Small town Pennsylvania in the 70s. Yikes.
What I will say is Burns created a masterful story. Not many blue-collar, small-town life books can get me interested... but I see what the hype was about!
3.5

The characters in this book are flawed and yet loveable. I enjoyed the journey of going through their lives and the imperfect way that they love.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. Amy Jo Burns writes another good one! This one follows a relationship between a girl and three brothers. She is something different to each of them. This is the story of their life in Mercury, PA and how being different things to different people within a family can work or tear you apart. As the four navigate life, something comes to light that threatens everything. Burns’ first book, Shiner, was great, so I was excited to see she had written another. Highly recommended.

While this book was a little slow to start for me, I ended it thinking it will most likely be in my top favorites for 2024. The Joseph family saga is quite the saga indeed, but the author has a very gifted ability to the reader see all sides of each character’s story. With themes of love, generational trauma, and learning to choose our own paths, this book is one that will stick with me for a long time.