Mercy

by Rebecca Chianese

In the wake of her 49th birthday Carly has become a broke, divorced empty nester, no longer knowing her place in the glossy suburban bubble where she has carefully constructed a veneered existence. She thought she had left the uncertainty of a chaotic, drug-infused Brooklyn childhood behind her when she married and started a family, but as the life she built collapses with the demise of her marriage, Carly begins to experience a kaleidoscope of memories and emotions, as she continues to deal with the troubles of her family of origin while having to heal herself. Mercy is the story of a second coming of age, in which our heroine faces her past and gets to the business of being strong on her own, hell bent on side stepping the constant upsets of her dysfunctional family. Her father, a has-been Broadway actor, is attempting to jump start his sagging career by starring in a reality television show while her brother is battling a heroine addiction. Her mother, still angry about her own divorce, has an uncanny ability to create drama of epic proportions wherever she goes. Follow Carly as she falls in love on her own terms, learns to trust for the first time, experiences a sexual awakening, restarts a career, and attempts to pull off America's ultimate post nuclear family a hysterical and disastrous Thanksgiving dinner. Inspired by the tragicomic business of living a life spanning a few decades and two bridges from Brooklyn to the suburbs, Mercy brings the grit of 1970's New York into spectacular collision with our high-gloss era of Houzz, Twitter, and reality TV. Rebecca Chianese is the author of two screenplays, "Daffodil Hill" and "Waltzing With My Father." She studied fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and later earned her Masters in Social Work at Hunter College School of Social Work. Her love of reading began with the Brooklyn Public Library at Grand Army Plaza. She has been writing as long as she was able to hold a pencil. Walking along the Hudson River is where most of her characters come to life and boss her around until she tells their stories. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She currently resides in the Historical Hudson Valley with her husband and children. Mercy is her first novel, and in 2021 she released a second novel, Unspoken, which is inspiring women to speak up and rise up together. What people are "There are few things better than finishing a book with a smile on your face, filled with the satisfaction of a wonderful read. Mercy, by Rebecca Chianese is such a book. It's a story that grabs your attention from page one with a great cast of characters, especially its protagonist Carly who is so artfully depicted you will feel like you've known her a lifetime. Alternatively sassy, vulnerable, hilarious, courageous and scared, Carly is totally relatable and a character you will miss long after the book's end. So, if you want a great read and to "meet" a new best friend, settle into a cushy couch, pour yourself a glass of wine and dive into your copy of Mercy!" JR "Absolutely loved the book. Carly is one of those protagonists that makes you wish characters were real so that you can go out for cocktails with them." Jill "Love a book that makes me laugh, tear-up and anticipate. Mercy did all three. From the first page I was hooked and couldn't stop reading. Definitely will tell my friends to read this book! Loved it." Mary Ann

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2021

About the author

Rebecca Chianese is the author of "Mercy" and "Unspoken." Rebecca studied fiction writing at Sarah Lawrence College and went on to get her MSW, from Hunter College School of Social Work.

Walking along the Hudson River is where most of her characters come to life and boss her around until she tells their stories.

She is hard at work on her next novel. If you would like to know how she is progressing (and all of the ways she is procrastinating) please visit her at Rebecca Chianese on Facebook, at rebecca_chianese on Instagram and @RebecChianese on twitter.

Reviews

[Creativewaves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the main character, flawed, funny, sad, loving -Carly was someone I'd want to meet. Author does a great job providing the back drop of the characters and all with names of places that I recognize and know from this area. That was fun to read.

[Jillian Marra LaPorta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the old school flash backs and the descriptive style of the author. You know exactly how Carly's world looks and when she paints it makes you want to go out and buy a brush!

I think it's the perfect beach book or late night book with a glass of wine.