The Heathens was such an entertaining book. The author did such a great job of turning the situation of a poor black teenager in rural Georgia struggling to rid herself of an unwanted pregnancy into a life changing weekend that would give young Doris a look into the lives of more people and more situations than she could have ever imagined. Writing in the voice of Doris, a country girl who had more gumption than education was brilliant. I loved Doris’s phrases and reactions. The author deftly handled many themes including the inability of women to govern their bodies with a light touch, interspersing historical people and events. This would be a great book club book. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to preview this book.

3.75 stars rounded up. I loved the story, the writing, the characters, and Doris’ growth in the book. It felt a little rushed at times since the book takes place over a couple of days, and a lot happens. This is one I’d recommend to YA readers who want to explore historical fiction with Black characters and queer representation.

"These Heathens" by Mia McKenzie may be a coming-of-age tale taking place in the 1960s, but so much of it is incredibly relevant to modern day America.. Following Doris Steele, a precocious 17 year old desperately seeking an abortion, this novel takes place over a single weekend as Doris travels to Atlanta and meets a variety of civil rights activists and members of the city's underground queer community. The writing is simply a joy; Doris is quickwitted, funny, and utterly out of her element as she meets people who make her wonder: could she choose a life for herself beyond what is expected of her?

A masterpiece. I am so grateful that I have gotten the ARC of this story. I know I will not be able to correctly convey how this novel made me feel. It is definitely one that I will continue to go back to. It is a novel that you wish you can read for the first time again. I feel as if I am getting a first look at a story that will become very important and well known. It's hard to describe how the book affected me, but I will say it is like something I've never read.

These Heathens is an epic tale of womanhood-- It's 1960, Doris is 17 and pregnant. She needs an abortion and enlists the help of her old English teacher, Mrs. Lucas. Not wanting her family to find out, the two travel to Atlanta where they meet Sylvia, Catie(Mrs. Lucas) childhood best friend. What follows is a weekend that opens Doris' eyes to a world outside her small southern town. Atlanta is in the heart of the Civil Rights Movement. Doris finds herself intrigued with the organizations and sit downs that are happening. She is also thrust into a secret life that some of the women around her partake in. Doris has never been around queer people, but it seems Mrs. Lucas is right at home.

I love that we see how homosexuality was looked at in the 1960s. It didn't surprise me, but it was interesting to see it on the page, the blatant hypocrisy of Doris' and others beliefs of homosexuals. It's a great way to convey how the -isms- racism, sexism, homophobia, etc.. are all interconnected. But it wasn't always seen that way and still isn't for a lot of people. It is better, but of course, we have a long way to go. I found myself mad at Doris at times for her beliefs but I had to tell myself to not look at it through my perspective or my eyes.

There were so many beautiful quotes throughout about life, freedom, choice. This is a book I will be purchasing a physical copy of because I love it so much.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Doris Steele is a 17 year old who finds out she is pregnant in a rural town in Georgia in 1960. She asks a teacher, Mrs. Lucas, for help and they travel together to Atlanta where Mrs. Lucas knows someone who can help Doris. While in Atlanta, she ends up at a SNCC conference where she learns about the upcoming sit-ins. I don’t want to give too much away, but she meets some very important people and learns so much about herself during her stay in Atlanta.

These Heathens was fast paced, I do wish it were longer! Doris is a character who you are happy to get behind and root for. She is kind, caring, and witty as hell. I really enjoyed getting a look inside her mind when she is in the middle of everything and learning about the upcoming civil rights movement.

I’m not usually one to read historical fiction, but this book is different. I genuinely enjoyed the ride and do recommend reading These Heathens when it is published on June 17th, 2025.

Thank you to the publisher, Random House, and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

This was a beautiful book. I thought it was so well written and just was so beautiful. I can’t really articulate how great the story was. The way the author dealt with so much was really impressive given the length of the book. No stone felt unturned and I felt like everything was studied in depth. It was really a coming of age where a child realizes she doesn’t know as much as she thought and everything she ever knew is challenged.

Can't recommend this book enough!

5 Stars! Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Doris Steele is seventeen years old and finds herself pregnant. She can’t go to the local town midwife for an abortion, so she reaches out to her former teacher, Mrs.Lucas for help. The two embark on a journey to Atlanta where Mrs.Lucas’s friend, Sylvia, has offered to help find a doctor who can help Doris. Upon arriving in Atlanta, Doris is thrust out of her comfort zone. This story takes place as the SNCC is gearing up to hold sit-ins, and Doris finds herself engaging with the Civil Rights movement. Doris is forced to take a hard look at what she wants out of life, and figure out her future. This story takes place during a pivotal time in history, and we get to experience it all through Doris’s eyes.

The writing in this book was phenomenal - the writing flowed so well and resulted in a fresh take on a coming of age book. This book made me laugh, cry and cheer Doris on as she advocated for herself. This book was a story about personal growth, and how being around those different from us can open our eyes to accepting others. The story also covered difficult topics, like abortion and bodily autonomy, but in a very real life way. Doris is oftentimes at odds with herself due to her religious upbringing, but also wanting to make a choice for herself.

Pick up this book if you enjoy stories of immense growth, a witty narrator, and a wide cast of diverse characters. I am so glad I got to read this book early - it is a great addition to anyone’s bookshelf!

Mia McKenzie’s These Heathens was a clever, genuine, and refreshing coming of age story. Doris Steele, a seventeen-year-old from a small town in 1960 Georgia initially travels to Atlanta for an abortion, but she ends up finding much more than she expected. The characters she meets — from civil rights activists to glamorous Black celebrities — introduce Doris to a world she never imagined, forcing her to confront who she is at her core and the kind of life that she's imagined for herself.

What really made this book stand out for me was Doris’s voice. The novel starts heavy and Doris is hypocritically judgmental of many of those around her, but as her world shifts focus and perspective, Doris herself does as well. Over time, I found her voice to be funny, genuine, and deeply observant, which made it easy to get invested in her journey. The novel was a poignant historical fiction that blended Doris's own narrative with the time period that she was living in, and it was a quick read that I really enjoyed.

I think fans of Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, and more recently, Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi would enjoy this.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hey, hey, my favorites!

First off, a huge thank you to NetGalley and Mia McKenzie for the gifted copy of These Heathens! I really enjoyed this one.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Y’all, this book had me hooked from page one! These Heathens is an electrifying, thought-provoking journey through 1960s Atlanta, where one small-town girl’s weekend trip turns into a crash course in radical self-discovery. Doris Steele starts out just trying to get an abortion without the whole church congregation finding out, but whew, does she end up with way more than she bargained for.

Mia McKenzie does an incredible job blending humor, history, and heart. Doris is thrust into a world of civil rights activists, queer community members, and bold women who defy every expectation society has placed on them. The characters? Unforgettable. Sylvia is the rich, unfiltered best friend we all need, and Dexter—well, let’s just say he’s got game and opinions.

What really made this book shine for me was how effortlessly it tackled huge themes: bodily autonomy, identity, and the tension between faith and personal freedom. One minute, I was laughing at Doris’ small-town shock at big-city life, and the next, I was sitting with the weight of everything she was up against.

If you love stories that are daring, deeply moving, and full of unforgettable Black characters, These Heathens needs to be on your shelf. It’s history, it’s coming-of-age, it’s rebellion—it’s everything.

By far the best book I've read in quite some time! Everything just drew me in. I was captivated by everything, just as Doris was, to the point where I could barely put it down to sleep last night. I know that we got to the end of the story being told, but god do I wish I had more chapters so I could continue to get to know all of these characters and see what they do for the rest of their lives. I find myself wanting to research them as if they were all real people. I feel so lucky to have been able to read this early

Doris’s actions and adventures as a black woman in the 1960s are poignant and thought-provoking. In another time, in another place, seeing people who seem to gave a good grasp on life, what would YOU do?Amazing read.

This is, genuinely, one of the best books I have ever read.

I don’t normally read historical fiction and I’ve been in an awful reading slump, so I went into this one not really sure what to expect. But this book had me hanging on its every word from the first page. I could not stop reading, could not stop thinking about it when I wasn’t reading it. I haven’t felt this hooked by a book in ages.

I’m absolutely captivated by the character Doris and her incredibly funny and poignant narration throughout the story. Her voice is unique and filled with so much heart and warmth and humor, I feel like I know her.

The other characters in this book were also all so well written and enjoyable. They all felt so real and that was the beauty of it.

This book covers so many important and relevant topics in today’s world, and it handles them all beautifully, all while being funny and entertaining and completely charming along the way.

I don’t often say this, but I think everyone should read this book. It has something to teach literally everyone, and it’ll make you laugh and cry and smile and think about life.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review! I’m honored to have read it early. Now I just can’t wait to get a physical copy in my hands when the book releases.

This is such a lovely book that I'm still crying a little as I finish it. Doris is seventeen and pregnant in the 60's at the height of racial tension in the South. So when she decides to have an abortion things become difficult as she meets Dexter and goes to a sit-in with him, not knowing what to expect or why. There she meets the famed Dr. King and so many emotions swirl through her head as she realizes she's been living in a bubble of sorts. It's a beautiful tribute to the tumultuous times our nation lived through as we continue to fight racism everywhere.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

What a phenomenal coming-of-age novel. Mia Mckenzie has crafted an excellent portrait of the 1960s South and what it means to step outside of your sheltered upbringing. Our protagonist, Doris, has spent her entire young life as an extremely devout Christian and has never really questioned her place in the world. Despite being an extremely intelligent girl with a passion for learning, she didn't hesitate to drop out of school and care for her family as it was the Christian thing to do.

But when she finds herself in a situation that could lead to great shame for herself and her family, she embarks on a journey that opens her eyes to the world and opportunities she had never considered. Along the way, we are introduced to a cast of characters that will bring you joy, and sorrow, and fully move you.

This novel made me laugh, made me cry, and made me question my own place in this world. Considering the administration we in the US are currently living through, this book could not be more timely- or important.

5 Stars – A Powerful, Eye-Opening, and Necessary Read

Mia McKenzie’s These Heathens is not just a novel—it’s a revelation. Doris Steele’s journey is gripping and deeply emotional, set against the backdrop of the 1960s civil rights movement. The book doesn’t just explore race; it dives into the complexities of being Black and queer in an era that tried to erase those identities. It also sheds light on abortion rights before Roe v. Wade and the impossible choices women had to make. McKenzie’s writing is stunning, and the themes of freedom, identity, and the power of choice hit hard. This book made me realize things I had never fully considered before, and it will stay with me for a long time. If you want historical fiction that challenges, educates, and captivates, These Heathens is a must-read.

WOW! What a powerful book. I love when historical fiction writers can find a totally unique and special point of view to write from, and this author definitely did just that. This book addresses tough topics like abortion and civil rights, but remains respectful and bipartisan. Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Random House for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Was super interested in this book the second I read the description and WOW it did not disappoint!! Turned such serious themes into a very fun and beautifully written book.

Doris, a smart Georgia teen's life trajectory first changes when her mother takes ill, and she has to drop out of school to take care of her family. Then it changes again when, at 17, she finds herself in the family way. Despite her religious piety and general obedience, Doris does not wish to remain pregnant. She reaches out to her beloved former English teacher, Mrs. Lucas, who, it turns out, has secrets of her own. Mrs. Lucas endeavors to help Doris get an abortion by taking her to Atlanta and the home of an old friend who gives them a place to stay and offers to pay for the abortion.

We meet historical figures like Coretta and Martin Luther King Jr., Bayard Rustin, and SNCC organizers. It's a compelling story, and reads a little like a play.

These Heathens had me laughing, highlighting every other page, and by the last chapter—wiping tears from my face.

This book flows. The writing is sharp, immersive, and effortlessly character-driven. We follow Doris, a 17-year-old girl trying to get an abortion in 1960 Georgia, as she lands in Atlanta and gets swept up in a weekend that changes everything. What starts as a desperate attempt to make a private choice turns into an eye-opening journey through the civil rights movement, radical politics, queer Black life, and the weight of unlearning everything you’ve been taught.

I did not expect this book to be as funny as it was. The way McKenzie balances deeply serious themes—race, gender, sexuality, religion, activism—with humor and razor-sharp wit is pure artistry. The historical backdrop isn’t just scenery; it’s alive and woven seamlessly into Doris’s story. Nothing feels forced, yet every moment is deliberate.

Yes, there are some loose ends, but that’s the beauty of a character-driven novel—this is about Doris becoming, not wrapping things up neatly. My only regret? I devoured it too fast.

And the writing? Unbelievable. One of my favorite lines:

“Most colored girls have more voices telling them what they can’t do than what they can. A lot of those voices speak in the name of love or what they believe is love. And maybe it is love. But there is a whole heap of fear piled up on top of it, too.”

How have I never read Mia McKenzie’s work before? I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of These Heathens from Random House, and trust me—you don’t want to miss this one. Expected to drop in June 2025, this is a must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction that moves you, that makes you feel. If you love books about self-discovery, about Black women finding their voices, about the power of stepping outside your bubble—These Heathens is for you.

Don’t just add it to your TBR. Preorder it. Now.

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!