Mercy Hill

by Hannah Thurman

A debut family novel about four sisters growing up on the campus of the underfunded state mental hospital where their strong-willed mother serves as head of psychiatry. A richly moving story of sisterhood, loyalty, and mental health in America.

The Cross sisters have lived their entire lives on the sprawling grounds of Mercy Hill, the embattled Raleigh mental hospital run by their formidable mother. Since childhood, JJ, Caro, Mimi, and Denise have been inculcated with their mother's mission: they'll work alongside her to protect Mercy Hill from the fate of other state hospitals across the country, which are being gutted and closed, one by one.

After an incident involving the highest-security ward, Mercy Hill faces greater scrutiny than ever, and Lisa Cross pushes each of her daughters even harder in the name of her mission. As the sisters cross into adulthood, the pressures of their isolated environment and mercurial mother set them on different—and perilous—paths. And as the battle wages on, youngest sister and narrator Denise grapples with the added responsibility that comes from being the last hope for their mother’s dreams.

Set in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with Mercy Hill’s fate hanging in the balance, Denise recounts the transformations that shape and destroy her family, along with the landscape of mental healthcare in the United States. With sharp insight and real humor, debut novelist Hannah Thurman captures the turmoil of growing up, the true meaning of a calling, and the indelible bonds of family.

Genres: Fiction, Literary Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary, Historical, Adult, Adult Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication May 5, 2026

About the author

Hannah Thurman is a Brooklyn-based writer originally from Raleigh, NC whose fiction has been published widely. In 2024 she was named a NYSCA/NYFA Fellow in Fiction. Winner of the 2023 Florida Review Editor's Prize, she's been chosen for conferences/residencies at Bread Loaf, Ragdale, Vermont Studio Center, VCCA, and Yaddo.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly enjoyable! I really loved this story, the characters and the ending. So satisfying and well written. I look forward to more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC to review.

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercy Hill by Hannah Therman will be one of my favorite books for 2025, without doubt. It's far from what I was expecting and far better than I had hoped.

The book is set in a small home on the grounds of a state hospital for the criminally insane. It also houses other patients who are in need of care due to mental disabilities. Obviously, maybe, this isn't set in the present but, rather, in the not too far past. I remember these facilities so not too far at all.

The administrator of the hospital is a mother of three girls whom she pushes to accelerate their learning. They are quite capable intellectually of this rapid pace but are they psychologically ready to be pushed several years ahead of where they peers are placed? (If they were homeschooled, yes, but the mother keeps them in school for some reason.) The mother is desperate for the hospital to remain open at a time when others are being shuttered and will do ANYTHING to keep its doors open, including putting her own daughters - well below age - to work as volunteers. There are disastrous results, of course, for the hospital and the family and we see the effects of this as we slowly watch each of the three daughters age and mature through the process of handling the maternal expectations placed on them and on each other.

This is a harrowing, emotional tale, told from the viewpoint of the youngest daughter but it's also a beautiful story. It doesn't have a "happy" ending but it does have a realistic one and I greatly appreciated that. I highly recommend this book for mature readers who will appreciate its nuances.

[Ellen Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the plot of this book very interesting. With relatable themes of family bonds and mental health, the time period this took place in was interesting but these themes are still relevant in today’s world. I was fascinated by the sisters’ personalities and the toll of isolation. psychiatry. A richly moving story of sisterhood, loyalty, and mental health in America. The writing was so well done in this book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Megan F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, so I vacillated between giving this 3 or 4 stars, but ultimately decided to round up to four because, honestly, it was too close for me to call and I always err on the side of more vs less. This is the story of the Cross family, a mother, father, and 4 sisters of varying ages who live on the grounds of a mental health facility. Long story short, the mother, who runs the facility, is whip smart, demanding, willful, and expects her daughters to not only succeed, but to excel at all costs, including their own. The father is kind- a stay at home dad who seems resigned to his fate of being less important to his wife than the facility which she seemingly loves more than anything in her life. The Cross sisters- JJ, Caro, Mimi, and Denise are all intelligent and gifted, and respond to their mother’s heavy handed pressure in wildly varied ways. A good story with a unique setting and family melodrama at its core? Yes, sign me up, please! I’m grateful to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to have read this arc. This is a book full of heart that doesn’t shy away from complicated matters.

[Lyndsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four sisters are raised “on site” at Mercy Hill, a North Carolina residential mental health facility operated by their psychiatrist mother. The book is told from the perspective of the youngest sister, 9 when the book begins and following her through her college years. All four sisters are borderline-prodigy “child geniuses,” skipping multiple grade levels repeatedly and at will, ivy-league courted, destined and duty-bound to become MD’s and return to Mercy Hill to continue their mother’s mission. Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your feelings) Mercy Hill is constantly under threat of closure in favor of less restrictive settings for the population it serves.

The book captivated me with its premise but lost me a bit in the execution. Mainly I felt that some elements erred on the side of unrealistic. 4 child geniuses, but no explanation or commentary on how unusual this would be in any given family, just presented as a fact early on in the story. An extremely domineering mother, to the point of demanding all 4 of her children follow precisely in her footsteps, but no one really bats an eye. The story builds ominously toward a “shocking” event, but when it happens it is covered so quickly that it feels anticlimactic and a bit rushed. Overall I did enjoy this story and think others will too, I just wish we got a little bit more here and there.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read early and review!

[Ed Rabinowitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “Mercy Hill” is scheduled for release on May 5, 2026.
Every parent wants the best for their kids, and often will push or steer them in what they feel is the right direction.
But can parents push too vehemently?
That’s a good question to ponder in discussing Hannah Thurman’s debut novel, “Mercy Hill.” It’s a story about four sisters, their domineering mother who is the head psychiatrist at a mental health facility in North Carolina, and their evolving relationships.
And it’s pretty darn good.
The story is told through the eyes of Denise, the youngest of the Cross sisters (age 9 at the start of the story), but revolves heavily around the other three – J.J., Caro and Mimi – and their highly motivated mother, Lisa. The latter is driven to ensure each of her daughters excels academically and expects them to follow in her footsteps by attending medical school. She also ‘enhances their resumes’ by having them volunteer at the asylum afternoons and during the summer – even though the two youngest, Denise and Mimi, are only 9- and 11-years old, respectively.
But it becomes clear early on that at least three of them have no desire to follow in their mother’s path. The more their mother pushes them – which includes cajoling school administrators to have the girls skip several grades at a time – the more the girls push back. Rebellion that in some cases becomes violent.
It’s also clear that in many respects, while the girls certainly excel academically, their social skills and understanding of the ‘real world’ are lacking. Not surprising given that Denise finds herself graduating high school and heading off to college at age 14-1/2. As she says to a fellow freshman shortly after arriving at New York’s Columbia University, “I don’t have any friends.”
Character development for the four sisters is solid, even if only seen through Denise’s eyes. But why is their mother so rigid and domineering? Thurman provides a brief glimpse into Lisa’s upbringing when her ailing father comes to visit, but it’s brief. Seeing the relationship through Lisa’s eyes might have been beneficial.
In addition, some of the situations the sisters found themselves in – such as running around unsupervised while volunteering at the asylum – were a bit implausible.
Overall, though, “Mercy Hill” is a solid debut novel and a worthwhile read. Four stars for an interesting examination of family values, dynamics and relationships.
And you can check out all of my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) book blog.

[Briana Shuman · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something about growing up in a place that is falling apart that shapes who you become and something even more powerful about being told from childhood that it’s your job to save it. Mercy Hill is a deeply compelling debut from Hannah Thurman, a story not only of four sisters and the hospital they call home, but of what happens when a mother’s mission becomes her daughters’ inheritance. It’s not just any hospital, it’s a mental institution and it is their home with their mother as its controlling head of psychiatry. Denise, the youngest and narrator, carries the weight of expectation like a hand-me-down white coat too big, a little threadbare, but impossible to take off. The novel is rich with moments that ache and linger, and there’s a quiet brilliance in how Thurman captures the slow unraveling of a family under pressure.

The characters are drawn with both sharpness and grace. Mimi, Caro, J.J., and Denise each react to their upbringing in different ways, and their personalities crackle most vividly in the dialogue especially after Caro’s religious revelation. The shared trauma they experience throughout the years The Girl being a big one felt like we needed more thoughtful moments. Denise’s teenage entanglement with Skate is one of those storylines where you want to reach into the book and shout. The relationship between the girls feels true. These girls hurt each other, try to protect each other, misunderstand and try to save each other. Like real sisters do.

The mother Lisa is a woman so committed to her mission that she doesn’t see how she’s consuming her children in the process. Lisa believes she's saving the hospital, but what’s most haunting is how convinced she is that this sacrifice including her daughters' childhoods is noble. As the head of psychiatry at Mercy Hill and the matriarch of the Cross family, she looms over every decision her daughters make whether she's in the room or not.

If anything, I wanted more of the sisters together. I wanted more space for their conversations, especially in the later years. Still, Mercy Hill is a beautifully written exploration of generational weight, institutional failure, and familial love that refuses to look away. It is a story that carries some historical weight about state hospitals.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hannah Thurman, and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this debut and for the ARC.

[Jansen Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the campus of a crumbling psychiatric hospital, four daughters live with their parents. Their mother runs the hospital which has been slowly and systematically being dismantled, the government funding stripped away penny by penny.

Lisa Cross, the mother of the four girls, is a steadfast and determined woman who refuses to let her life's work go to waste. That holds true for both all the work she's put in at Mercy Hill and the work she's put into her four precocious daughters who she is determined will follow in her footsteps.

We hear this story from the perspective of the youngest daughter, Denise, who spends her formative years worrying about the state of the hospital, of her sisters, of her mother's mental health, her father who turns to rigorous exercise to cope with everything, her ailing grandfather, and, of course, The Girl.

We watch the Cross girls discover exactly who their mother is and who the people are that she's dedicated her life to helping. They spend time in Ward B where they meet a number of people and become attached to them, understanding that mental health decline is just as heartbreaking to watch as physical health decline. When an incident happens to one of the patients, the girls are barred from their volunteer work in Ward B and within a year, the ward has closed down leaving only the "criminally insane" in Ward C.

I have so much to say about this book and the rich cast of characters who populate it. The settings are all sublimely written and while it's a slice of life book in the strangest way possible, it's also a fantastic novel to dissect for a book club. There's so much in here to pick apart and discuss at length including Denise's journey into adulthood, the narrow feminism and classism that Lisa Cross represents which was very prevalent in the 1990s and early 2000s, the general public's reactions to the girls' home being on the campus of the local psychiatric hospital, consent both within and around the patients in the hospital and with the girls themselves, Nurse Jenny and Caro's religious journey, Mimi's incident at school that lands her in a facility not too dissimilar from Mercy Hill, The Girl and everything that comes with her, J.J. refusing to go to Princeton, and of course Denise's relationship with Skate.

This novel is haunting in the best possible way and I am obsessed. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. Cannot wait until I can annotate a physical copy of this one.

[Laura Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four sisters, being raised in an employee cottage on the grounds of a mental hospital complex of buildings in Raleigh, North Carolina. Idyllic childhood, right? Four extremely smart sisters, a. mother, the doctor of psychiatry for the complex, focussed on saving the institution and pushing her girls to excel. Setting these goals above everything else in her world. One father, the peacekeeper for the family, tiring from his position as at home caretaker for the girls and as buffer for the mother's rants and overpowering need to control everything. Could anything go wrong in this setting, could anything go right?

Mercy Hill, a debut Novel by Hannah Thurman, strongly reminds me of the Pulitzer novel, Demon Copperhead in the flavor of a story that compels the reader to continue the journey with the characters, even though each step is painful to experience. The fact that the Cross family is a dysfunctional family is a given, with a mother and father who have experienced difficult, perhaps tragic childhoods, and begin their family not only with the baggage of their pasts, but in a physical setting isolated from other families and children, surrounded by mentally ill patients.

I was hesitant to request this Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley because it was such a heavy premise of a story. Yet I did and I am glad I decided to read the story. Yes, it was dark at times, but I was so engaged in the story that I wanted to know what would happen to the family. How would the sister's mature, what would happen to the mental hospital, and the family as a whole. I can honestly say that as a first book, Thurman did an excellent job. The book was engaging. I felt the story moved along so well I eagerly stayed with the story through it's completion and felt very satisfied with the ending. I'm eager to see the responses to it as it publishes May 5, 2026 by Doubleday Books. I think it will be much talked about in reading circles. I encourage all to read it next spring and experience this accomplished new author.

#MercyHill #NetGalley

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Denise Cross lives with her family on-site at Mercy Hill, a mental hospital, with her mother, the chief psychiatrist, her father, and her three sisters. This is far from a normal childhood. Her mother, Lisa, is a dominating presence in the lives of Denise and her sisters. Scared of Mercy Hill's future, the girls are forced to work alongside their mother, often in less than ideal conditions, to save the hospital and life as they know it. As they grow up, the four sisters take very different paths in life, often in direct conflict with the hopes of their mother. The book is a close look at mental illness, difficult family dynamics, and how childhood trauma can influence adult decisions.

I really wanted to love this book. I thought the premise of the novel was excellent. And there were some really good parts in the book. In each sister, I found some relatable traits - J.J. the rebel, Caro the people pleaser, Mimi the troubled soul, and Denise the caretaker. What I didn't find as realistic was some of the situations that were described with the sisters and their responsibilities in the hospital. The book was set in the 1990's, a time when medical facilities were being scrutinized about patient confidentiality, patient treatment, etc. Four children running around without supervision, volunteering for jobs, helping with nursing duties just seemed implausible.

Another issue I had with the book was a buildup to a big "event" with one of the sisters that altered the trajectory of her life. But when the "event" happened, it was a bit anticlimactic. For me, it made the rest of the novel seem like an afterthought.

One thing the book did really well was describe the sad state of mental healthcare during the book's timeline. The author's note at the end does discuss the closing of many mental health facilities across the country and the difficulties that faced residents; many ended up without healthcare, in prison, homeless, or worse. It was a very interesting part of the book.

I am glad I read the novel. I was interested to see how things turned out for the parents and each of the sisters. This is Hannah Thurman's debut novel, and I would absolutely read other works by her. 3.5 ​⭐s rounded down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Doubleday Books for an advanced copy. The book is scheduled to be published on May 5, 2026.

[Alison FP · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know you are going to love a book when you constantly have to remind yourself that it is fiction: That you can’t look up these people’s biographies in the real world. That is how I felt about this book. It is a tale of four daughters who grow up on the grounds of a failing mental hospital, where their mother is the primary psychiatrist.

The main character, Denise, is the youngest daughter and the narrator for the entire book. The characters are very well developed and each of the four daughters has a very distinct place in the story. The writer has a great dry sense of humor. One of the daughters dates a evangelical Christian named Laketon and the other sisters give him nicknames which I thought were hilarious. There are some great underlying themes about families and their flaws, and the constant struggle to do the right thing, make your parents proud, and also strike out in your own individual way. Thank goodness this book has a linear storyline and doesn’t jump around between generations or decades or anything like that. You get to know a couple of the patients in the hospital, but I wish there had been more development of those characters and perhaps some others. People struggling with severe mental illness are always fascinating to me and more would’ve been a great addition to this book. There is one relationship that Denise has that I wish had been left out of the book… seemed completely out of place and inappropriate. Other than that, the book is a very rich tale that I enjoyed. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Cettina Tock · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw this book it immediately intrigued me.
The novel follows four Cross sisters raised in a cottage on the grounds of a mental hospital in Raleigh, NC, run by their formidable mother, a psychiatrist determined to prevent government officials from shutting it down. While I initially expected the story to focus more on the patients, the narrative instead centers on the children themselves. Raised in near isolation by a mother who places excessive pressure on their intellectual success, and a father often at odds with her, the sisters grow up in a psychologically unstable environment. As a result, each child struggles to fit in at school and to find a clear path forward in life. Pushed ahead academically by their intelligence and their mother’s ambition, they skip grades but remain emotionally unprepared for the complex social worlds they are forced to enter.

What I took from this novel is the question- What is the definition of success? What do we sometimes risk when we pursue “success?” It also puts forth the question of how we can best serve people struggling with mental illness in the least restrictive environment. It is a dilemma that we are currently facing and needs to be addressed better.

Overall, this was a thought-provoking and enjoyable read. Thank you @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the e-ARC and #gifted physical copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

#NetGalley #MercyHill

[Eyre_i_breathe · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

I was immediately intrigued by the synopsis of Mercy Hill because it checks many of my favorite boxes. In the end, I enjoyed it, though I did have mixed feelings.⁣
⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝: ⁣
⁣
I'm a huge fan of coming-of-age stories and family sagas, and the unique setting Mercy Hill adds even more intrigue. The Cross sisters grow up on the grounds of a mental health facility where their mother Lisa - the formidable director of psychiatry - expects each daughter to follow in her footsteps. Their father is loving but passive, which adds another layer to the family dynamic. ⁣
⁣
I really enjoyed watching the four sisters grow up in such unconventional surroundings, especially through the lens of the youngest sibling. I also appreciated the glimpse into the sad state of mental healthcare during this time period. ⁣
⁣
𝗪𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝗪𝐚𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐌𝐞:⁣
⁣
I found myself struggling to connect at times, and I think some of that came down to believability. Four young sisters - each a prodigy - volunteering unsupervised at a mental health facility didn’t quite ring true for me and pulled me out of the narrative.⁣
And while there was a lot of build-up to a certain pivotal event, it ended up feeling rather rushed and anticlimactic when it happened. ⁣
⁣
Overall, I appreciated the unique setting and layered family dynamics that made this a memorable read. It's a solid debut, and I can see it resonating with many readers.

[Donna Krutsinger - Mockingbird Musings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found both this book's setting and its characters to be fascinating.

Taking place in the late 1990s, the book tackles several topics - mental illness in the US, family dynamics, isolation, parenting styles, and adolescent pressures to name a few. The book focuses on the mental institution of Mercy Hill and the Palmer-Cross family. Dr. Cross, formidable mother and dominant parent, is the head psychiatric nurse at the institution. Father is caretaker of the house (which is on the grounds of Mercy Hill) and sympathetic listener to their four daughters.

The book is told through the eyes of Denise, youngest of the four Cross siblings. The book begins when Denise is around eight. The plot involves the mother's quest to keep Mercy Hill open at the hands of multiple state and federal funding cuts for institutions of its kind. She has instilled in each of her daughters (or tried to instill) that this should be a big part of their quest and livelihood, too; and, in fact, would like nothing more than each of them to follow her in the medical field and work beside her. Each of the daughter's lives each has its own unique spin. I felt it was a very enlightening POV to tell the story through the eyes of the youngest one.

It's certainly not a happy story with a bed of roses picturesque family, but it is such an engrossing one. The character development is excellent and the setting (and its description) is so raw and realistic. Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday, for this digital ARC.

[Rachelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling and thought-provoking, Mercy Hill (thank you #gifted @doubleday ) is an amazing debut about the bonds between sisters, mothers, and daughters.

Growing up in one of the last mental hospitals in the state, the four Cross sisters are taught to be ambitious over-achievers by their mother, who runs the hospital. On a mission to have each of her daughters become a psychiatrist and join her in her fight to keep this institution open, she pushes and pushes them, leading to paths she never could have imagined.

Told from the point of view of Denise, the youngest sister, starting when she's still a young girl, we see them come of age. Some rebel against their mother, some internalize her dream so much they skip grades but are socially isolated.

There's so much that's questionable. From volunteering unsupervised in the wards to extremely problematic relationships, we see their lives implode in many ways. As the hospital gradually loses funding, with the changing emphasis to deinstitutionalization and community health, their lives also separate and become increasingly erratic.

But there's also self-discovery, the love of your family, forgiveness, second chances. It's deep but never too heavy. And Thurman's writing is stunning, as Denise wrestles with the obligations she feels towards her mother versus her own desire to connect and be loved. 4.5 stars

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - books comes out May 5, 2026.

This is a coming of age story about the four Cross sisters, in the voice of the youngest one (Denise), set in the late 90s-early 2000s. The girls live with their parents in staff housing on the grounds of the fictional Mercy Hill, a mental health institution in Raleigh, NC. Their mother is the head psychiatrist on staff and the campus was the girls’ playground. Mercy Hill is constantly facing funding cuts and threats of closure. The girls are exceptionally bright, and their mother keeps skipping them grades in school which, along with where they live, isolates them at school and draws them closer to each other.

This book felt so real to me - I kept having to remind myself that it was fiction. This is a brilliant debut by author Hannah Thurman. I can’t stop thinking about this family - and found that there was a real place in Raleigh named for Dorothea Dix commonly called Dix Hill that closed in 2012. I can’t wait for this to get closer to publication so there will be interviews with the author about her inspiration for this book. She also did a brilliant job writing the sister relationship. I loved this book. 5⭐️ - tons to discuss - great for a book club

[Jill Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one! It was a slower read than I expected, but not in a bad way. There is a LOT going on here, on a number of levels, and while the writing is very good and accessible, digesting it all took more time than I thought it would. I didn't mind though, as the characters and central storyline were fascinating.

I loved watching the girls grow up and their relationships develop - dysfunction and all. The idea of growing up within the confines (for lack of a better word) 0f their mother's job managing a mental hospital is a unique one for a coming-of-age story, and it allowed for so many interesting parallels between the psychological and emotional development from child to adult and the development of the facility and its residents, as well as of our approaches to mental health care in general.

The overlay of family drama and political battles for both Mercy Hill and the rights of its residents was fascinating to watch unfold. Thurman has drawn complex characters and thrown them into increasingly complex situations, from school to relationships to personal growth, and watching it all roll out was a delightful ride.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

[Allyson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, I really liked this book. I thought the premise was very unique and executed well. I found myself emotionally tied to every sister in this story and loved the fluidity of the family dynamics. One of the things that stood out to me was how spot on the author got some of the little nostalgic things about that time. There is one scene where Denise pulls out lotion and the scent in the book was THE scent at that time. It brought back so many memories. I felt the time period was written perfectly and accurately. It was also really refreshing to have a woman leading the family in this book especially at the level she was at during the time. One thing I enjoyed most about the book is it showed you can be a strong woman in more than just one way. The one way the book fell a little flat to me was I wish it did give more content to working at the institution and the people housed there. While there is some I think that would have really added to the depth of this book. Overall, I enjoyed reading the book and would recommend it - I give it a solid 3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This eARC review is curtesy of NetGalley and will be released in May 2026 so keep an eye out!

[Lisa Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This family saga revolves around the Cross family, who live on the grounds of Mercy Hill, the psychiatric hospital overseen by the formidable Mrs. Cross. Told entirely through the eyes of the youngest daughter, Denise, the novel unfolds alongside the fragile lives of the psychiatric patients at Mercy Hill. Denise’s intelligence, curiosity, and compassion make her the perfect protagonist.

At the heart of the story is the contrast between Mrs. Cross, who rules both the hospital and her family with an iron hand, and Mr. Cross, who is warm and approachable. As the girls grow up, they each navigate love, loss, ambition and unexpected paths to adulthood.

While the book is full of compelling characters, its prose occasionally feels overlong and often wanders too far into the weeds. I started to lose interest halfway through, but the ending pulled everything together nicely. All in all, if you enjoy family sagas, I think you’ll enjoy this one.

Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the eARC.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful book! The writing was great and the characters were amazing! I really immersed myself in this world... the characters became friends.

This is about four sisters who grew up on the campus of a mental institution that their mother was the director of. They didn't just live nearby, they were forced to volunteer and the patients and nurses impacted their lives in different ways.

It's a coming of age story, with an overbearing mom with high accademic standards and a stay at home father who's becoming disillusioned with the life he signed up for. Inside this all, we get to know all the siblings through the youngest, Denise, and watch her as she grows up, and her dreams of her future changes.

Usually my problem with books is not knowing (or liking) the characters. That is not the case for this book. I will miss all of the Cross sisters (perhaps not the mother so much). I do wish the plot moved at a slightly brisker pace, but it was definitely a book that brought you into a different world.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy! All opinions are my own.

[Liz Petersen Grier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercy Hill by Hannah Thurman is a quiet five-star read. One that sneaks up on you, but one that will sit with you long after you finish.

It follows the lives of the Cross Sister, J.J, Caro, Mimi, and Denise and their childhood on the grounds of a state psychiatric hospital, with their intimating mother and kind father.

At its core, Mercy Hill is a contemplation of childhood, and the weighty expectations placed upon many, especially young women, at a young age. It is a conversation about responsibility, and the consequences of expectations that are unattainable. Most of all, Mercy Hill is a story of grief, and loss, and loneliness.

Hannah Thurman masterfully creates a sense of relatability that many strive for. It is a beautiful conversation on mental health as it pertains to adolescence and family structure. But she also embeds a sense of nostalgic yearning in each and every page, while asking readers to reflect and sit with the rose-colored lenses of childhood.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this fantastic ARC!

[NYCityGirlReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercy Hill by Hannah Thurman was such a compelling and beautiful debut. It’s an intimate, emotionally charged story about four sisters — and the tangled, often unspoken ties that bind them and us with our families — all while their parents are quietly navigating their own complicated relationship. I found myself deeply invested in each of their journeys.

As someone from North Carolina, I especially loved the setting. Thurman captures the atmosphere and rhythms of life here in such an authentic way — it felt familiar, lived-in, and quietly haunting. Though not a thriller by definition, Mercy Hill had that same magnetic pull; I couldn’t stop turning the pages because I needed to understand each person’s truth.

Thank you to Doubleday Books for the ARC of this stunning debut, out May 5, 2026. Hannah Thurman is definitely an author I’ll be watching.

[Chel (chel.chapters) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Doubleday and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Mercy Hill is the name of the mental hospital where the main character and her siblings grow up, as their mother is the head psychiatrist there in the late ’90s/early 2000s. Going in, I expected the story to focus heavily on the hospital itself and its patients, but instead it’s more of a coming-of-age novel centered on the children raised in a deeply dysfunctional home beside a mental institution.

Overall, this was a solid read if you enjoy coming-of-age stories with complicated, messy family dynamics. That said, I personally found myself thinking the entire family could’ve benefited from treatment at the very hospital the mother worked in. While the story was decent, it wasn’t what I hoped for, and I wanted something darker and more focused on Mercy Hill itself.

[Andy Krahling · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars.

Aw, heck, I really wanted to love this one. I liked the premise, and felt it had the makings to be something special. And in the end, I enjoyed this, but I didn't love it.

I never really felt the depth of the sisters' bonds -- it all felt a little too much on the surface. While Denise (the narrator) was easily the most sympathetic character, her relationships with her parents and sisters felt a little simple and uncomplicated, which(to me) they shouldn't have been.

Realistically, this would make a nice 6 part Netflix mini-series, and I'd happily tune in.

For a first novel, hats off to the author. Well done. Would I read more from the author? Yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

A coming-of-age story about the youngest of four sisters in an unusual family with challenging dynamics. It's a fast read, and I enjoyed the writing style, nothing too fancy but clean and readable prose. Denise's childhood from age 9-15 is punctuated by radically upsetting and/or violent incidents that somehow don't disturb her silent need to please her driven and demanding mother, but do cause seismic changes in her relationships with her sisters, each of whom responds very differently to their intense upbringing. I wanted a little more from the ending but would still recommend it, with cautions that it contains some tough topics - sexual abuse of a very young teen as well as suicide and violent assault.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. This book was darker than expected. It's told from the perspective of a woman reflecting back on her childhood when her mom wass the head of a mental hospital in the 80s-00s. It's her story of growing up where she was largely neglected and expected to be a mirror of her mother. It's about her and her sisters and the pressure of growing up in such an environment. Also, the book gives some of the history of the time setting in the areas of rights for patients in these live-in environments. At times, it was very hard to read. The mom was a terrible person, but I don't know if that was touched on enough for my tastes. Still, definitely an interesting read and worth a read!

I received this eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

[Dawn529 · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, I can't believe this was a debut novel. Hannah Thurman did a fantastic job creating really realistic, flawed characters that were doing the best they could to survive their lives using the crummy hands they were dealt, in conjunction with the many, many poor life choices they made.

Second of all, I was convinced this was probably some sort of a memoir. But nope... it was all fiction!

The Cross sisters and their parents/grandparents were a hot mess from the first page. I definitely would not want to hang out with them in real life. That said, I couldn't put the book down. I needed to see where they ended up 20 years later.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and Netgalley for the ARC. I appreciate it!

[susieQ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was quickly drawn in to Mercy Hill, with its unusual setting and interesting characters. It’s the coming-of-age story of four sisters that live on the grounds of a psychiatric facility with their parents. The youngest, Denise narrates the story as the family navigates many changes and challenges. Their domineering mother, Dr. Cross is the director of the facility, while their passive father is the rock of the family. Midway through the book, however, my interest lapsed due to the repeated sexual assault of adolescent Denise. That, combined with the gratuitous use of many f-bombs, made it difficult for me to finish reading the book.

I received a complementary download of the book from Doubleday Publishers.

[Lisbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading Mercy Hill, that was an emotional story about the Cross sisters growing up on a cottage near their mother’s mental hospital. Through Denise’s eyes, we see the loss of innocence, the weight of responsibility, and the shifting sibling bond dynamics as each sister faces in different ways that shaped them into who they are now. Also, it depicts how the love for a job can cost a rift between all family members including the parents. I especially loved how the story explores family trauma, and personal growth for the four sisters. Special thanks to Goodreads for the giveaway. I’d recommend this read to anyone who enjoys coming of age stories.

Such a good book to read in a book club.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ - In this debut novel, Hannah Thurman tells the story of a family who lives on the campus of a mental health hospital in North Carolina. Set in the last 1990s/early 2000s, the story follows the POV of Denise, the youngest of four siblings whose mom is the director of psychiatry for the hospital. Throughout the book, the four siblings navigate their upbringing, which is overshadowed by their mother's job and commitment to keeping the hospital running.

As a mental health advocate who also happens to work at a mental health hospital, I knew this would be an interesting read for me. The writing was beautiful, and the themes of family loyalty and mental health shined through in every chapter. It was definitely more character-driven than plot-driven, so if that is something you enjoy, I recommend giving this one a try when it comes out in May 2026.

Thank you, NetGalley and Doubleday Books for the advanced reader's copy! #MercyHill #NetGalley