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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
a really beautiful commentary on heterosexuality, marriage, masculinity, motherhood, and what it means to love other people.
Genre: Fiction
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The book transports readers to the heart of the blue-collar town of Mercury, Pennsylvania, in 1990. Seventeen-year-old Marley West's arrival in town marks the beginning of a deeply intertwined connection with the Joseph brothers—three enigmatic men whose silhouettes dominate Mercury's skyline. Marley swiftly becomes an integral part of their lives: a young wife to one, a lost love to another, and an adopted mother figure to all. Her presence in their world offers solace and stability amidst the crumbling façade of their family roofing business and the looming shadow of their overbearing father.
The storytelling shines through in the intricately weave the complex dynamics of the Joseph family. Marley, with her quiet strength and yearning for belonging, becomes the linchpin that holds together the fragmented lives of these men. As the Joseph brothers navigate their struggles, the writer deftly reveals the layers of their past, intermingling nostalgia, regret, and the weight of unspoken truths.
The narrative unfolds with poignant elegance, entwining the past and present, unveiling layers of secrets, desires, and regrets. The book paints a vivid portrait of a close-knit community grappling with the burden of concealed truths, while Marley stands at the heart of it, guiding the Joseph brothers through the tempest of their shared history. The atmospheric prose and vivid descriptions transport readers into the visceral reality of Mercury—a town painted in shades of longing and redemption.
It is a blend of nostalgia, suspense, and emotional depth, it was a journey through the lives of its characters, leaving an indelible impression long after the final page.
Tropes in this book
✨ 90s aesthetic
✨ small town setting
✨ multiple POVs
✨ mystery
✨ complex family dynamics
Thank you @celadonbooks for this amazing advanced copy!!!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The book transports readers to the heart of the blue-collar town of Mercury, Pennsylvania, in 1990. Seventeen-year-old Marley West's arrival in town marks the beginning of a deeply intertwined connection with the Joseph brothers—three enigmatic men whose silhouettes dominate Mercury's skyline. Marley swiftly becomes an integral part of their lives: a young wife to one, a lost love to another, and an adopted mother figure to all. Her presence in their world offers solace and stability amidst the crumbling façade of their family roofing business and the looming shadow of their overbearing father.
The storytelling shines through in the intricately weave the complex dynamics of the Joseph family. Marley, with her quiet strength and yearning for belonging, becomes the linchpin that holds together the fragmented lives of these men. As the Joseph brothers navigate their struggles, the writer deftly reveals the layers of their past, intermingling nostalgia, regret, and the weight of unspoken truths.
The narrative unfolds with poignant elegance, entwining the past and present, unveiling layers of secrets, desires, and regrets. The book paints a vivid portrait of a close-knit community grappling with the burden of concealed truths, while Marley stands at the heart of it, guiding the Joseph brothers through the tempest of their shared history. The atmospheric prose and vivid descriptions transport readers into the visceral reality of Mercury—a town painted in shades of longing and redemption.
It is a blend of nostalgia, suspense, and emotional depth, it was a journey through the lives of its characters, leaving an indelible impression long after the final page.
Tropes in this book
✨ 90s aesthetic
✨ small town setting
✨ multiple POVs
✨ mystery
✨ complex family dynamics
Thank you @celadonbooks for this amazing advanced copy!!!
From the first page I was immersed in this story. This is my first novel by Amy Joe Burns so I wasn't sure what to expect, what I got was an exceptional character driven master class in family dysfunction. I enjoyed that each character got time to shine, sometimes a small study, sometimes it was a bit deeper, but as a result I had a great understanding of each family member. I loved getting to spend with the Joseph family!
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.
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.
I ADORE THIS BOOK.
This story and its characters unfold in the most messy yet beautiful way. You get a glimpse into their thoughts and actions. The character development was unreal, and it was just so beautifully written. I couldn't have been more invested in each and every one of them. I was thinking earlier to myself that if mystery wasn't involved, I wouldn't have cared. That's how much I adored it.
When it was over, I kind of just sat there. I was captivated by this small town, and I was NOT ready to part ways with Marley or the Joseph brothers. These characters are unforgettable. I'm unexpectedly tearing up as I type this. This is why reading is magical.
This story and its characters unfold in the most messy yet beautiful way. You get a glimpse into their thoughts and actions. The character development was unreal, and it was just so beautifully written. I couldn't have been more invested in each and every one of them. I was thinking earlier to myself that if mystery wasn't involved, I wouldn't have cared. That's how much I adored it.
When it was over, I kind of just sat there. I was captivated by this small town, and I was NOT ready to part ways with Marley or the Joseph brothers. These characters are unforgettable. I'm unexpectedly tearing up as I type this. This is why reading is magical.
medium-paced
I loved the unusual way this book shifted perspectives between characters, which is another way to say that I love the way this book was structured. I also loved that this book focused on a relatively successful blue-collar family, because that is not something that is well represented in the books I've read. The writing is very good, and the characters and plots kept me happily engaged throughout. My only complaint is that one of the characters - Waylon - did not work well for me. This character seemed to me to have been created to fill in plot points rather than to be a living, breathing character. But this did not matter much because the other characters were largely well drawn. In sum, a very good family drama that I am happy to have read.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Miscarriage
Moderate: Chronic illness, Death, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Dementia, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War
Minor: Sexual assault
Yet another read about generational/inherited trauma. I liked the book. There were so many secrets in the book that sort of left me wanting more resolution so something once I learned about them.
Characters
Elise and Mick - I knew there were reasons for their behaviors/actions, at least that’s what is hinted at through out most of the book. Personally, as a reader, I would have rather known up front instead of revealing the circumstances of their marriage in the last section of the book. I would have had more empathy for the characters.
Baylor, Waylon and Shay are the generation most greatly impacted by their parents. While there was trauma, I don’t think anything that happened to them wasn’t something they could grow and move on from. The story takes place from the boys’ childhood until their 20’s.
Marley has her own trauma’s to deal with again she is also young.
I know this review isn’t really getting at the story but it feels like 2024 is the year of family traumas for me which makes it hard to write
Characters
Elise and Mick - I knew there were reasons for their behaviors/actions, at least that’s what is hinted at through out most of the book. Personally, as a reader, I would have rather known up front instead of revealing the circumstances of their marriage in the last section of the book. I would have had more empathy for the characters.
Baylor, Waylon and Shay are the generation most greatly impacted by their parents. While there was trauma, I don’t think anything that happened to them wasn’t something they could grow and move on from. The story takes place from the boys’ childhood until their 20’s.
Marley has her own trauma’s to deal with again she is also young.
I know this review isn’t really getting at the story but it feels like 2024 is the year of family traumas for me which makes it hard to write
Celadon books may be my favorite publisher. I love everything I have read from them, and Mercury is no exception. So we are throwing it back to 1990 as Marley and her mom move into this Pennsylvania town. She immediately catches the eye of Baylor Joseph, all around sexy bad boy. Their relationship takes off quickly and fizzles, yet Marley becomes a fixture at the Joseph home and around their dinner table. She finds a confidant in Waylon, the middle Joseph brother, and we watch their relationship grow amidst the drama of an unpredictable father, hard to read mother, and a crumbling roofing business. It is impossible not to get caught up in these characters. The author gives us just enough to become invested, yet they still possess secrets we want to uncover. If you loved We Are the Brennans or The Connellys of County Down go grab Mercury! You will not be disappointed.