Great book. I really enjoyed the drama in the family and friends. The author has a great style of writing that really flows.

Read if you like:
📚 Character Driven Books
🔍 Slight Mystery Vibes
💍 Marriage and Family Dynamics
⏳ 90’s vibes
🏘️ Small Town Settings

Overall, this was beautifully written and had great prose, but the story was a bit lacking for me. It was very character heavy in the focus which made the plot feel lacking and like there wasn’t resolution that I felt like there should have been.

I felt like there was a lot left unresolved and the ending felt quite unsatisfying to me and the Elise PoV felt random and didn’t really give the answers I would have wanted from the pov to include it at the end of the book.

Additionally the narration was a bit bland for the book, and didn’t feel as engaging as I wish it would have been and was a bit removed much like some of the writing.

All in all, I think a lot of people will like this one, unfortunately it just wasn’t one that worked for me as well as I thought it would have.

Thank you so much to Celadon books for my ARC in exchange for my review!

This is a family saga for people who are most interested in literary fiction that examines relationships between characters. Most of the characters are 3-dimensional, with things to like and dislike about them. Each person's perspective is understandable - the author is good at showing all the sides of an argument and how easily misunderstandings happen.

Shay's secret and Elise's troubles were both unsurprising. I missed Marley's mom in the second half of the book.

The writing was good. It took itself a bit too seriously - everything is existential. A little levity would've been nice.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookish First for an ARC in exchange for a review.

4.25⭐️

Mercury is a slow-burn full of understated beauty. Watching things shift and unfold between Marley and the Joseph clan is fascinating and moving, as buried secrets come to light and family dynamics prove ever more complex, in ways that are both very specific and yet universally relatable. Amy Jo Burns is a gifted storyteller, and I appreciated watching the well-drawn Marley grow and change and come into her own through these pages.

Thank you Amy Jo Burns, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

"Mercury" by Amy Jo Burns is a Blend of Family, Literary, and Romance Fiction with a Touch of Coming-of-Age!

Seventeen-year-old Marley West is the new girl in Mercury, Pennsylvania, a town where few new people come to live. She gets noticed quickly by Baylor Joseph and eventually gets her place at the table of the Joseph Family. She's attracted to Baylor but when football season calls him away, it's his younger brother, Waylon, that Marley falls in love with...

"Mercury" is an intense Family Fiction story that begins in 1990 and travels with the characters through the years. The Joseph Family is at the heart of the story with parents, Mick and Elise, and their three sons, Baylor - the oldest, Waylon - thirteen months younger, and Shay - the youngest by quite a few years. This is one complicated dysfunctional family, and the dynamics are deep and ingrained.

At the center of this family is the business, JOSEPH & SONS ROOFING, and along with it are the expectations that each son will join the business in some capacity. The business, all it entails and consumes, is like another character in this story.

What stands out most about this book is the simple writing style that quickly connects you to the characters and the family drama. The way the story is written feels different and multi-layered, told from the 'outside in' and then from the 'inside out', and it works for this story, giving it a higher level of backstory and a character-study feel.

There's a mystery built into the story that takes a surprising twist. Still, it's our protagonist Marley who steers us through this story with her resilience, growth, and determination that kept me reading and listening until there was no more story left.

This was an immersion reading experience through the gifted Digital Reading Copy and Advanced Listening Copy. The audiobook is narrated by Maria Liatis, whose voicing skills are strong, however, either format will deliver a great experience.

I love Family Fiction and this one is surprisingly good. I have added both of Amy Jo Burns' previous books "Cinderland: A Memoir" and "Shiner" her debut novel to my TBR List. I highly recommend "Mercury" to readers who enjoy books with blended genres, engaging writing, fully fleshed-out characters, and discovering a surprise or two within the story!

4⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Celadon Books, Macmillan Audio, and Amy Jo Burns for a DRC and an ALC of this book through NetGalley. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

"Mercury" by Amy Jo Burns unfolds a compelling narrative as Marley West transforms from a young bride to a pivotal figure in the lives of the Joseph brothers. Juggling the complexities of being a wife, the one who go away, and an adopted mother, Marley becomes the guiding force as Elise, the Joseph brothers mother, fades away and their family business faces turmoil. The brothers navigate through challenges, as a strange discovery in the church attic resurrects old wounds, putting the family's survival at stake. Marley emerges as the beacon of strength, and the brothers are all faced with a crucial choice - salvage the familiar or collaborate to forge something even stronger in it's place.
Burns weaves a tale of resilience, family bonds, and the delicate balance between preserving the past and embracing the potential of the future.

Special thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. I offered this review as my own opinion.

A moving coming of age story and family drama about three working class brothers and the people who love them. This was my first book by Amy Jo Burns and it lived up to its hype!

Perfect for fans of small town, domestic dramas, this story is told from multiple POVs and spans decades as 17 year old Marley West moves to Mercury, Pennsylvania and finds her life quickly intertwined with those of the Joseph brothers when she becomes pregnant and decides to keep the baby.

I enjoyed the look at small town life and the complex but powerful aspects of family life, especially in the face of tragedies like the death of a loved one, hidden queer identities and the unappreciated domestic labor of the female family members.

Highly recommended for those who enjoyed books like Mary Beth Keane's Ask again yes or Laurie Frankel's This is how it always is. Many thanks to thank Celadon Books for an early ARC copy in exchange for my honest review! This was also good on audio narrated by Maria Liatis.

If you enjoy a slow-burn family drama with rich character development, you will love Mercury. The book takes its title from the name of the western Pennsylvania town where the story takes place. Marley moves to Mercury with her mother when she’s in high school (a senior) and meets the three sons of the Joseph family: Baylor, Waylon, and the much younger Shay. Mick, the father, runs a roofing business. Their mother, Elise, holds things together in the house but doesn’t involve herself in the business.

As the book opens, Marley and Waylon are married with a small son, Theo. The Joseph family is called in to help with a bad leak in the local church’s roof and a long-dead body is discovered in the attic. The rest of the book goes back in time and you eventually get the whole story.

Marley gets absorbed into the Joseph family and into the business. She turns out to be a whizz at the business side of things. They all live together in a large rambling house. After Elise dies, Marley is the glue that holds the family together.

This all takes place in the 1990s so there are no cell phones and almost no internet. I had to smile when Marley set up their first email and web presence - I remember doing that for a small business I worked at, at the same time.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Maria Liatis.

Thank you to Celadon Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

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.

🏠 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!

A very character-driven family saga.

High schooler Marley is used to being the new girl. Raised by a single mom, they move a lot. Her mom also works a lot, meaning she is alone all the time. When they move to Mercury, she meets Baylor James. He takes her home for dinner and she falls for the James family. Marley has a different relationship with each member of the James family. They all have issues, and she doesn't even like them all, but they become her family.


This started out slow for me and I could not get into it. A dead body is found, then all of a sudden we go back several years and things slow down- a lot. It picked back up when Theo came into the picture, and then I didn't have any more issues.

You can't help but feel empathy for each of the brothers. They were all forced into their role by their parents- whether they liked it or not- and had to do the best they could.

This book can seem kind of sad and depressing when viewing everything as a whole, but if you focus on each character, it isn't nearly as depressing.

The audiobook is narrated by Maria Liatis. It is a bit slow. I listen to most audiobooks at 1.5, but this one I listened mostly at 1.75. (I tried 2.0 for a while but it was a bit too fast. The app I had to use only goes up in 0.25 increments. Otherwise, I'd have probably ended between 1.75 and 2.0)

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Mercury is not at all what I expected. Amy Jo Burns has written a well crafted character driven family drama full of angst, anger, loyalty, acceptance, and love.

17-year-old Marley West arrives in Mercury, Pennsylvania as the newcomer after yet another move with her nomadic mother. Eager to fit in and craving a stable family lifestyle, Marley thinks she finds it when she is invited to dinner by one of the Joseph boys. The Josephs are a family of blue collar roofers well known in their small community. Becoming a permanent part of the family comes at a cost and Marley soon finds herself in the often competing roles of wife, mother, daughter, business partner, friend, and, ultimately, secret keeper.

Burns fully develops each of the characters and explores their complicated relationships and the secrets they each bear. The slow pace never becomes stagnant and leads the reader on a poignant journey. This is truly a gem of a book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

An absolutely stunning, character driven drama about the Joseph family who run the roofing business in a small blue collar town and a young girl who moves there and changes the trajectory of their lives. Despite how slowly the plot moves over many years, I never lost interest in where things were going. This is a deeply memorable book with incredible storytelling.

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.

Thank you to Celadon for an early review copy of Mercury and for the audiobook copy from MacMillan. I am a huge fan of Amy Jo Burns, Shiner is one of the books I recommend often as it's a bit under the radar but so good, and this was a big win for me too.
The audiobook is nicely performed and well produced and I have to say that my physical review copy is filled with annotations so clearly a big win for me.

What works for me:
1. I love character driven stories and Burns writers characters who are relatable but not predictable. She clearly loves the voices she writes, wants readers to get invested in the characters, and writes their stories with care.
2. Literary writing.. Burns has a lovely lyrical style (without getting bogged down in overly detailed expositions) and her work often sings to me. There are often wonderful turns of phrase throughout her work that showcase her talent.
3. Family drama and well rounded characters...always important to make a character driven story work. Burns pays homage to her own family (roofers) and to themes on love and friendship and messiness but also strength and resilience.

This was a great read! I don’t tend to like character driven plots but this was entertaining enough once I got into this story— I did have to restart it a couple times cause I just couldn’t get into it. The mystery that hung in the air from the start to the middle was low angst & revealed fairly quickly. The characters were developed well and came to life as I read about each of them individually. I enjoyed the audiobook!

Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read this for an honest opinion!

📖: Mercury
✍️: Amy Jo Burns
🎙: Maria Liatis
⭐️: 4 of 5
🎧: 5 of 5

Trigger/Content Warnings:
- Sexual Content (Non Discriptive)
- Same Sex Relationship (Brief mention)
- Language (Minimal)

My Thoughts:
This book! This was not at all what I thought it was going to be. It was so much more. Family drama, mystery, and romance all perfectly packaged into a literary masterpiece. The audio narration was perfect. Liatis did a wonderful job bringing the emotions and characters to life. This is one that will stay with me for a while. I am looking forward to reading more from Burns in the future.
Thank you, NetGalley, MacMillan Audio, and Celadon Books, for the opportunity to listen and also read this advanced copy.

Love a good family drama? Look no further! This might be a little bit of a slow-burn but the expressive writing, memorable characters, and complex family dynamics made it fly by. I started this one day and finished by the next, a blur of emotions left in its wake. An unforgettable reading experience that I’ll be recommending loudly and often.

It really doesn’t compare to anything but I do think if you enjoyed books like We Are the Brennans or The People We Keep, you’ll enjoy this!

I did a combo of digital and audio and loved both. Big thanks to Macmillan Audio for the #alc and Celadon books for the #arc via netgalley in exchange for my thoughts.

Mercury is family drama from Amy Jo Burns.

"17-year-old Marley and her mother move to Mercury. Soon she is pulled into the Joseph family. She becomes a mother and a wife and a part of the family business. She may be the only one able to hold the family and the business together. Especially after a body is found in the church attic and old secrets come to light."

This is a family saga from Burns. There are several time jumps - somehting happens and then we're a couple of years in the future. Near the end a couple of characters revisit incidents and fill in the blanks. Most of the time I'm asking the characters "What are you doing?" The story is full of bad and irresponsible decisions. One big tragic event near the end. Burns surprises you with the resolution. Fans of books like We Are The Brennans and Connelly's of County Down will enjoy this one.

Nice work from Maria Liatis on the audiobook.

Thanks to Celadon Books for early access.

The story of a dysfunctional family with plenty of drama that plays out with the focus on Marley who has moved to Mercury, PA with her mother and is in her senior year of high school. She meets the Joseph brothers and their mom invites her to dinner and tells her she is welcome anytime even if she isn't dating one of her sons. There are 3 sons - Baylor, Waylon and young Shay. Events play out and she is soon married into this family and tries to help her mother-in-law who seems overwhelmed and even a bit lost, her youngest brother-in-law whose parents don't have time for him, and the family roofing business which isn't being run well or making enough money.

Sometimes what you see that you don't like and want to fix turns out what you are headed for full steam ahead and you are soon in over your head. I think Marley felt like this. A compelling story and one I liked a bit more than her first book, Shiner. But you can't help but admire Marley's indomitable spirt.

My thanks to Net Galley and Macmillian Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook.