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!

I highly recommend this book. It is very creative and important and at times fun and funny. The books first person narrative is terrific - what a character. All of the characters are complex. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for fair and honest review.

I have to say I went into this book thinking it would be depressing because of the subject matter, but honestly I loved this book. Maybe because I too grew up in south Georgia, albeit in the 80s not the 60s, but so much still rings true today. I loved the local vernacular and flavor. Doris's friendship with her teacher was a great relationship that gave her the opportunity to learn more about the world. The weaving in of historical characters was interesting as well. Each character added more to the story and I think the ending was realistic. I would recommend this story and I hope to read more from this author.

Powerful, tender, and profoundly moving, this novel captures a pivotal moment in one young woman’s life — and a transformative weekend that opens her eyes to a world far bigger, bolder, and freer than the one she’s always known. Set in 1960 Georgia, the story follows seventeen-year-old Doris Steele, a small-town girl who finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and desperate to end it — a near-impossible task when your town’s midwife prays beside your mother every Sunday. With the help of her progressive teacher, Mrs. Lucas, Doris travels to Atlanta, where she is thrown into a world she never imagined — one filled with civil rights activists, queer joy, intellectuals, and the audaciously glamorous Sylvia, Mrs. Lucas’s wealthy and brash childhood friend.

Doris’s desperation is palpable, and her fear of being found out — by her parents, community, and church — weighs heavily on her. Yet once she arrives in Atlanta, the novel takes an unexpected and gratifying turn. Instead of centering entirely on the procedure, the story becomes about something much more significant: self-discovery, freedom, and the realization that there are entire worlds beyond the one you were born into.

The cast of characters Doris encounters in Atlanta is nothing short of brilliant. There are glamorous Black celebrities she’s only ever seen in Jet and Ebony, fierce civil rights leaders like Diane Nash and Coretta Scott King, women who love women without shame, and men who flaunt their charm with reckless confidence. Each encounter cracks open a new layer of Doris’s perspective, forcing her to confront what she doesn’t want (a baby) and what she might want — freedom, independence, and a life less ordinary. Doris’s shock, curiosity, and quiet longing are captured with aching authenticity, making readers root for her from beginning to end.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

This is honestly one of my favorite books now. It was such a different perspective from anything I’ve ever read from the time period it was set in. It was absolutely eye-opening and attention-catching. I managed to become absolutely hooked on Doris Steele’s life and her voice. Even in the middle of a months’ long reading slump, I kept getting drawn back in.

I would absolutely recommend that anyone and everyone read this book. Thank you so, so much to Mia McKenzie for writing this!!

Is it premature to say I already have a favorite book of the year?

Well, I absolutely loved this. Doris is a witty, engaging narrator and her hilarious inner monologue hooked me from the very beginning. Over the course of a weekend, her conservative worldview expands as she meets new people, including a cast of affluent black lesbians, musicians, feminists, and influential Civil Rights leaders like Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King. Side characters like Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. Broussard offer multifaceted perspectives on topics including women's rights, religion, and sexuality. The tone of the story is open and conversational, making it feel more like an actual memoir than a work of fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read These Heathens by Mia McKenzie. Georgia in the.late 60s. A time and place I know a lot about. But not like Doris. Doris is a woman I would have loved knowing in Atlanta back in the 60s. Or today. Spending time with her and her life changing short time in Atlanta has been wonderful, and meaningful, heartbreaking and hilarious. With Doris we experience Atlanta through the lives of the Black community through Doris' eyes - some wealthy, some famous, some queer, some working hard for civil rights, all while Doris is just trying to figure her own self out. I have loved every minute, and every word of this book.

A young black woman in rural Georgia in 1960 finds herself in need of an abortion. Taken to Atlanta by a trusted teacher, she finds herself smack in the middle of the civil rights movement. I loved this book; the protagonist is well fleshed out, and while she can’t fully control her circumstances, she has great agency. It’s rather sex-positive—the author doesn’t dwell on the how of the pregnancy—and the queer content comes from an unexpected place. It’s not the protagonist but the environment she is a part of in Atlanta. No spoilers! But it’s great. CW: references to rape, racism.

In 1960’s Georgia., 17 year old Doris Steele discovers she is pregnant and needs an abortion. With the help of her high school teacher Ms. Lucas, she leaves for Atlanta. Over the weekend, Doris is swept up into a world inhabited by queer women, atheists, and civil rights activists. We are introduced to funny, interesting characters who challenge Doris to imagine new possibilities for herself.
This novel was well-written, funny, charming, and emotional. I really enjoyed the historical beats and multifaceted queer representation. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in feminism, civil rights, Black history, and queer relationships.

“Being a colored woman, it’s easy to think we don’t have many choices, and that’s a fact a lot of the time. Too much of the time. But there are so many things we can choose. Maybe they seem like small things and maybe they are. But they add up. If you’re lucky, they add up to a life.”

These Heathens by Mia McKenzie is a textured, funny, and moving novel set in Atlanta during the Civil Rights Movement. The novel follows Doris Steele, a sheltered 17 year old from small-town Georgia who travels to Atlanta to get an abortion.

There are SO many things that I loved about These Heathens, but one of the two things I loved the most about it is how many different characters and perspectives we’re introduced to throughout the novel. This novel and its characters discuss topics ranging from sexuality to integration, and each character was well fleshed out and brought a strong and unique point of view to the novel. We get such a great understanding of each characters perspectives and values, which gives us a multifaceted view of Black Atlantans during the Civil Rights Movement.

This tied in perfectly with my other favorite thing about this novel- it’s an incredibly strong coming of age story. Throughout the novel we get to experience Doris’s inner monologue as she’s introduced to the aforementioned “heathens” of Atlanta. Doris is a sharp, witty, and hilarious narrator who I was endeared by from the first page. Her emotional arc was so captivating and gripping, and it was incredibly moving to watch her journey throughout the novel. By the end of the novel, I was laughing and crying along with Doris as if she was a friend.

These Heathens is captivating, moving, and incredibly hard to put down. It’s the kind of novel where after reading it, I found myself bursting with energy, inspired to make my way through Mia McKenzie’s other novels, and eager to discuss it at length with anyone who will listen. For this reason, I think this would be a great read for book clubs, high school English or history classes, or for anybody who’s craving an engaging read. Personally, I haven’t been able to stop talking about this novel- June 17th can’t come soon enough!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

Oh boy! What a treat! My favorite part of this book was right at the beginning. The narrator lets you know right away what this book ISNT about. She going through this journey and it’s hers. Not about the who or why she ended up pregnant. This is her story. No one else’s. It was a quick read and I finished it in less than 24 hours.

These Heathens
Author: Mia McKenzie
Release Date: June 17th, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Categories: historical fiction, LGBTQIA+, new adult

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing and Mia McKenzie for this ARC.
This is an honest and unbiased review.


➡️ Blurb: The story starts with an adult Doris telling about the story of how she ended up getting an abortion. The story goes back to her at 17 in a rural Georgia town during the heart of the Civil Rights movement. Her beloved teacher, Mrs. Lucas agrees to help Doris to get an abortion. From there, Doris goes on a weekend adventure that opens her eyes beyond her ultra religious and conservative upbringing. In Atlanta she learns about the queer community and what it means to want more than motherhood and marriage for herself. The people wrapped into this story help open her eyes and mind. Along the way, the author expertly intertwines big names and events of the Civil Rights movement. While this is fiction, it feels like it could be a real memoir.

➡️ How it made me feel: I could not put this book down. It is a relatively short read and I finished it in one day. I was hooked on Doris’s story. I loved how the author intertwined so many big names of the Civil Rights movement into this book and it made sense and flowed. The emotion I had for Doris was palpable. I want more of her story! Reproductive rights and human rights are big deals to me. This book fed into that so beautifully. I’m still thinking about Doris.

➡️ Deeper Dive: Doris felt real and well thought out to me. Her inner monologue had me laughing. As a white-Latina woman, I can never relate to her struggles as a black woman, but the emotions I felt for her in those regards was real. But her struggles as a religious young woman presented with worldly views and thoughts I did relate with. Her cravings for choice and self autonomy is a story many women can relate to. The viewpoints presented on race and women’s rights, are still things people are struggling with today. I felt anger when her childhood best friend judged her. Heartbreak when she explained what led her to dropping out of school. Tears when she realized she wanted more of her life and maybe that wasn’t so bad. Nervousness and joy when the queer characters filled with fear of being discovered, trusted Doris with their secret. So proud when Doris started going for what she wanted.

If women’s rights, reproductive rights, and Civil Rights are interests of yours - wrapped beautifully into a riveting story. Then add “These Heathens” to your TBR!

I was drawn into this book on page one; I couldn't stop reading!

This book centers on Doris, a religious teen based on the author's own grandmother, and centers her experience becoming pregnant and seeking an abortion in the community of Queer, Black women in 1960's Georgia.

What I specifically love is this could be any woman of color's story, and the more stories we have in the world, the better we can sympathize and understand the importance of social justice, and civil and reproductive rights. The author write the characters so personable and authentic. Doris' personality jumps out of the page and you're instantly IN her story.

I've never read a book my Mia McKenzie and I've now added her as an author to watch and read!

Thank you for providing an advance copy! I really enjoyed this book and it has definitely been placed in my top books of February. I enjoyed the subject matter, but not only that, this book is hilarious!

<b><i>“I almost shit I was so relieved!”</b></i>
-Oh girl if I was you, I’m sure I would’ve lol!

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for providing me this eARC so I can be able to read “These Heathens” by Mia Kenzie!

This story is about old Doris Steele recounting and debunking a time in her young life— to the rumor spurring heathens— where she wound up pregnant and having to rid it.

This read wasn’t hard for me to get into with its comedy and relatability!

“Daddy was a kind man. But I could easily name an evil Negro for every one of him. Of the kind ones, maybe a quarter were also nice to look at. Don't even bother throwing in brains, or a love of words, 'cause you'd be down to one in twenty by then. Even if you had better-than-middling luck, the best you could expect to get was a good, dumb one. Or you might land a handsome but evil somebody.”

-Oh she is so real! Hits even harder as a misandrist lesbian LOL!

"Afternoon," she replied, sort of looking me over. "She's pretty for a dark-skinned girl, isn't she?" she said to Mrs.Lucas.”

-Literal PTSD moment right here. Light heads love that one😩, and then the next lines is ever wilder. You is right Doris! What a <b><i>heathen</b></i>. I kid I kiddd.

<b>‘These Heathens’</b> is a historical fiction set in 1960 Georgia, that has a lot of touched on topics and <i>reel you in material<i>. It depicts everything you’d expect from that time from class, racism, colorism, sexuality, religion, teen pregnancy, feminism, and comedic humor to help us through it all.

Miss Steele even finds herself inside a civil rights movement with MLK and Malcolm! So lucky to be able to read this for BHM!

Every mini storyline of our characters compelled me to want to know more about them and I love that so much! Can’t wait to have this book on my shelf.

Will say though that— besides this being a read I was engaged in fully— this read would’ve been even better with some tweaks to the writing. Such as events and dialogue not sounding so skippy or short lived. Or I could just be selfishly wanting more.

Also, what happened to Erik??

I could not put ‘These Heathens by Mia McKenzie’ down. Mia’s writing made me feel like I was there experiencing her story instead of just reading. Even though the topics of the book are serious and heavy, it is written in a way that is easy to digest, even some parts that will make you laugh out loud. The character growth is amazing. I think everyone should read it and highly recommend it!

A stunning historical novel set in the 1960's! Doris is pregnant and sets off to get an abortion. Seeking help she is taken to Atlanta for the procedure. But once there a whole new world opens up for Doris. She encounters iconic political figures. queer people, and more scarily the KKK. The writer takes us on a beautifully written journey that is refreshing and I overall enjoyed this book. The only thing I will mention is that the use of real famous people kind of threw me for a loop, but some people might enjoy this.

This was a sweet and moving coming-of-age novel about a 1960s teenager seeking an abortion in Atlanta, finding herself in the middle of the civil rights movement along the way. It was very conversational in nature, and Doris had a strong voice. I loved the characters Mrs. Lucas and Mrs. Broussard, and watching Doris' whole world open up as she's exposed to ideas and people she's never had the chance to discover before. This book was funny and very tactful in tackling many issues, including racism, civil rights, homophobia, and sexism.



Spoilerish:
The only thing I had mixed feelings about was having real people in fiction, like MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott King. I didn't hate it by any means, but it did give me pause. Then again, I'm not sure how you would write this novel without those features. Not a big deal, just something I was thinking about while reading.

In 1960 Doris Steele is a 17-year-old poor Black girl living in small town Georgia. She finds herself pregnant and doesn’t want to keep the baby. With little options in her town she goes to her favorite teacher, Mrs. Lucas, who agrees to take her to Atlanta for an abortion. Over the course of the weekend Doris discovers worlds she never would have if she had stayed in her small town - wealth, homosexuality, feminism, the Civil Rights Movement, and so much more. Coming from a religious upbringing, Doris begins to open her mind, realize the importance of choice, and think about a bigger life beyond what’s expected of her in her hometown.
I think this is my favorite book I’ve read so far this year. From the first paragraph Mia McKenzie’s writing draws you in and makes you feel like you’re there. Doris is sassy, and has a tell-it-like-it-is attitude. The cast of characters that she meets is diverse, and the topics covered are serious, but written in a way that’s easy to understand. The way the story unfolds, and Doris’s growth felt natural. I think that this was also a timely and important read given the current political climate in the US.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Random House for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.