Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I picked up this book during Camp NetGalley, and it took me by surprise. I related to June in so many ways, and her brother Coleman stole my heart from the very beginning. I loved the POVs throughout. I’ve already added the author's debut novel to my TBR.


Thank you to Nathan Harris, the publisher Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was so excited to read Nathan Harris' second book! The Sweetness of Water was one of my favorite reads earlier this year. Amity did not disappoint. This book was set during the reconstruction era, which is not talked about as much the civil war era when it comes to American History. Seeing black characters heal from and overcome the horrors of slavery was such a valuable perspective and honestly something we could use more of. Pick this up if you want a sensitive and nuanced look into the intersection of race and gender in a unique historical setting. A must read for any historical fiction lovers. (Also for anyone wondering, the dog lives!)

Amity by Nathan Harris wasn't on my radar until it was an option for Camp NetGalley 2025 and I am grateful I ended up picking this one as my selection. Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, yet I cannot say I have come across anything with such a unique premise. It managed to shine a light on historical events I knew nothing about and that is the reason I enjoy immersing myself in historical fiction to begin with.

Written with unique language, Harris' quiet and haunting storytelling captured my attention from the very first page. I found both POVs to be equally compelling. I felt as though I was transported into the story with these characters and could easily imagine everything playing out in my mind. The characters were fleshed out with skill and historical accuracy and I enjoyed learning about the historical events on which this story is based.

Amity is a beautiful and hopeful portrait of the special bond between siblings. A truly riveting read that kept me turning the pages. It took me by surprise and will end up being one of my top surprises of the year. I definitely look forward to exploring more of Nathan Harris' work in the future.

I just recently read The Sweetness of Water and was SO excited to read this new one. I love the author’s writing style.

In this novel, it is post Civil War and siblings June and Coleman are technically emancipated but still live with the Harper Family. Mr Harper took June to Mexico to avoid the new laws of post-slavery but Coleman stayed back in Louisiana to serve Mrs. Harper and her daughter Florence. Coleman can’t wait to be reunited with his sister so he is excited when Mr Harper sends for the family to join him.

Tragedy strikes on Coleman’s journey and he finds himself on the run with Florence, trying to get to Mr Harper and June before danger catches up with them. The story unfolds slowly through alternating perspectives of both June and Coleman, as they navigate their own struggles separately.

This story was a bit slower than his previous novel but still highlights the struggles and injustices of the time. I appreciated learning more about the history of the south that interlaced with Mexico at the time. As expected, the characters are so well developed and the setting is so beautifully described.

Thank you for this early digital copy

Amity is a deeply emotional and, at times, emotionally exhausting story. One that pulls you into its highest highs and lowest lows. The alternating POVs of June and Coleman create a unique push-pull rhythm that almost mimics a rollercoaster: June’s chapters are faster-paced and plot-driven, while Coleman’s slow-burning, character-focused perspective asks for your patience and introspection.

As an older sibling, I found myself identifying most with June—her urgency, her protective nature, her grit. But it was Coleman, who completely ran away with my heart. He’s softhearted, optimistic, and a people-pleaser—almost to a fault. There were moments I wanted to shake him, hoping he’d finally snap out of his need to appease and rise to meet the situation. But when he doesn’t change in the way I expected, I felt that was the point. Coleman’s journey isn’t about transformation through rage or rebellion. He holds it all in. He wears a mask because that’s the only survival tool he knows. And that is what broke me. His emotional endurance is quietly devastating.

This story will stick with me for a long time. Nathan Harris has created characters that feel deeply lived-in, and while the pacing may be uneven, it mirrors the unpredictable, often disorienting rhythm of grief, growth, and survival.

There’s a certain kind of story that feels like wandering through a garden at dusk—soft, slow, blooming in shadows. Amity by Nathan Harris is one of those books. Set against the evocative backdrop of 1860s Mexico and New Orleans, it’s a tale dipped in dusky amber light and woven with threads of loss, longing, and complicated love.

Told through the alternating perspectives of separated siblings June and Coleman, the story explores life under the household of Wyatt Harper. When June is whisked away to Mexico under Wyatt’s obsessive gaze, Coleman remains behind with the Harper family, only to be later summoned south with a cryptic note that stirs more questions than answers.

What warmed my teacup:
The setting is lush, rich, and rare—like stumbling upon an old, forgotten greenhouse. I was enchanted by the atmosphere Harris created. The post-Civil War timeline felt like an untapped chapter of history brought vividly to life.

Where the candle dimmed:
This story moves slowly—like molasses on a winter morning. While the writing is undeniably beautiful, I often found myself wishing the plot would stir itself a bit more. It felt like I’d packed a picnic for a stormy day: lovely in theory, but hard to fully enjoy with the chill.

A Sugarplum Sentiment:
Amity is best sipped slowly, like lavender tea on a gray afternoon. If you delight in character-driven novels where the journey matters more than the destination, this may nestle perfectly onto your bookshelf. But if you need a spark of action to light your reading fire, this may flicker too faintly.

Final Whimsy:
For readers who love historical fiction with emotional depth and atmospheric prose, this book is a wistful bloom. Just know it may take a while to fully unfold.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 sugarplums — a thoughtful, tender tale that whispers instead of shouts.

Although the Civil War has ended, former enslaved siblings Coleman and June have yet to taste freedom as servants of the Harper family. It is now 1866, and Coleman lives with Mrs. Harper and her daughter, Florence in New Orleans, while his older sister June was taken to Mexico by Mr. Harper. When a letter from Mr. Harper arrives demanding Coleman travel to Mexico with a mysterious man. When Mrs. Harper demands she and Florence join the trip. Disaster strikes and Coleman finds himself on the run with Florence. It is an uneasy peace, as many find Coleman to be "strange" due to his preference for education rather than labor. The book also focuses on June's trip to Mexico two years previous during a very tumultuous times in both Mexico and the United States. Many Americans from the former Confederate states are making their way to Mexico to recover their wealth while Mexico is fighting the France's occupation of the country after more than forty years of independence from Spain. While Coleman has a seemingly calm acceptance of his life, June continues to push Harper for her freedom, even more so when she begins to meet with Isaac, a free Black man who helps the local indigenous communities and seems to live a prosperous life. Both must decide what they want and expect for the rest of their lives after surviving enslavement in the American South.

Harris's writing is lyrical and thoughtful, and although the story meanders slowly to its conclusion, the tension Harris builds throughout the story makes the reader wonder if both siblings survive and if they will ever find each other again. This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year and it delivers. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a slow-paced historical fiction that will make you curious to learn more about the time period in which the story takes place. Pick up if you liked Junie by Erin Crosby Eckstine or The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers.

I started this book with very few preconceptions and was surprised many times over before the end. I suppose I expected an adventure. Brother sets out to reunite with sister, crossing wild desert filled with unsavory sorts and inhospitable terrain. And that’s certainly where it seemed to be heading in Coleman’s rambling, almost florid voice. But then June starts to tell her story with her frank, unimpressed voice and we begin to realize how much horror is hidden below Coleman’s mask of erudition. Each time the story reverts back to June, another layer is peeled away, over and over again, forcing the reader to confront the depths of corruption that slavery foments.

In contrast, Coleman encounters many men along his journey who wear their morality on the surface. These men don’t participate in slavery, per se, though that’s not out of any moral fortitude. Unlike Coleman and June, who are forced to bear cruelty and violence without any hope to power, these men seize some small measure of power by continuing the cycle of violence.

This was a deeply uncomfortable read. For most of the book, it wasn’t one I much liked either, though June’s journey from stoic despair to independence kept me engaged. The halting and sometimes roundabout storytelling is perfectly paired to our narrators’ characters, adding an imperfect, humanizing layer to the recounting. The story jumps ahead and back and sometimes never quite connects, showing us only what is important to the narrator. Everyone is this book is flawed, most irredeemably so. But it was INTERESTING. It was CHALLENGING. And in this present day, as we watch our American government tear at human rights on a grand scale, it was a RELEVANT reminder in a way I sincerely wished it didn’t need to be that deciding any individual or group of people is lesser is certain to end in evil.

Many thanks to Little, Brown and NetGalley for the ARC! The opportunity pushed me to read something far outside my usual comfort zone and I’m so grateful I did, as uncomfortable as it was.

Wow wow wow. The adventure and pacing of this are similar to that of “James.” Which, if you know, you know. The depth of character development and even the setting as a character completely immerse readers. I wanted to continue reading not only because of the plot, but I felt deeply for Coleman and June, and what happens to them. I literally haven’t been on the edge of my seat reading a novel since “James.”

What also made this fresh was the concept of freed slaves
In Mexico. This was a more unique exploration than what’s currently in the literary canon. The vivid descriptions and the experiences that each character has in Mexico could be a whole character study in and of itself.

I am so glad I read this. Thank you netgalley and the publisher!

It was a good read! Very good read showing the prejudice still shown to freed slaves and how hard their lives were after being freed. sad story

Amity is a powerful and deeply moving story set in the turbulent years following the Civil War. It follows Coleman and June, two formerly enslaved siblings separated by the whims of their former master. While Coleman remains in Louisiana, June is taken to Mexico, where freedom proves just as elusive.

I was captivated by the vivid imagery Nathan Harris brings to life, from the sweltering Louisiana swamps to the unforgiving Mexican desert. The landscapes are not just settings but emotional mirrors for the characters' inner lives. What truly struck me was the emotional journey of Coleman and June. Their bond as siblings despite separation, hardship, and time felt heartbreakingly authentic. As someone with a brother they grew up close to, I felt especially connected to their story and the deep love and loyalty they carried for each other.

This story is of survival, resistance, loyalty, and the unbreakable strength of family. After finishing this, I am eager to add the author's first novel to my TBR list. Thank you to the publisher, Little, Brown and Company and Netgalley for the ARC. I read this book as part of Camp Netgalley, and I am grateful for the opportunity to experience such a moving read.

Rather than DNF, I am setting this one aside for the time being (currently at 50%), until I have more extended opportunity to read. I am finding it far too slow moving to maintain my interest. I am not giving up on it entirely, the writing is wonderful, and I am very interested in June's story, less so Coleman's, and will take it up at a later date.

An interesting piece of fiction that explores the uncertain time after the Civil War, ranging from Louisiana to the fluid regions of the Mexican/American border. The story focuses on the journeys of siblings June and Coleman, formerly slaves who are now 'freed' but still working for their former 'masters,' the Harper family. Everything changes when the Harper family decides to attempt to find new fortune across the border in Mexico. June and Wyatt Harper (the patriarch of the family) go first, and then Coleman, Florence Harper (Wyatt's daughter), and Florence's mother are summoned at a later date to join them. Circumstances are not at all what they appear, however, and both groups are in for a grueling journey that puts the focus on June and Coleman and their struggle to survive and free themselves from the situation they find themselves in. There is also a wonderful dog named Oliver, who is Coleman's best friend and comes along for the adventure... which adds some very cute, heartwarming, and believable scenes amidst a lot of very dire occurrences.

A very good read, and an easy book to reach for if you are in a book group and are looking for a nice historical fiction selection that most people will love.

No doubt that Nathan Harris is a very talented writer -- this was such a strong historical fiction read about this period of American history; but I found myself really enjoying June's perspective and skimming through Coleman's.

4.50 STARS OVERALL!

I wasn't sure if I would like this book based on how it began. But I am so glad I kept reading!
This story is based on historical events, events that I was not familiar with, and now I am interested in learning more. Southern slave owners headed south to Mexico after the Civil War to colonize, take land, and use former slaves to provide labor. But they were stopped by Indigenous groups.

After the Civil War, a brother (Coleman) and sister (June) are torn apart when the sister is forced to join her former slave master in Mexico, where he sought to establish land and wealth. Unexpectedly, the former master summons her brother to Mexico, and a journey ensues. Coleman is left to endure the trip with the slave master's daughter.
The journey for Coleman is so engaging! And for June, she is trying to find her freedom, and unbeknownst to her, Coleman is trying to find her. Their drive to reunite is what drives the story. (Coleman's little companion will steal your heart)
The events are well-paced, interesting, suspenseful, shocking, and sad! It is a great ride for the reader (not so much for the characters!).
The writing is engaging, and piqued my interest in the history behind this fictional story.

Great follow-up novel from the author!
Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC and the publisher Little, Brown & Co.
Due out Sept 2, 2025. You will want to read this one, highly recommend it!
Thank you, Camp Netgalley!

Thank you Little, Brown and Company, Nathan Harris, and NetGalley for this ARC!

This is a powerful and heavy story of survival, resilience, and redemption during post Civl War. After the abolishment of slavery, formerly enslaved siblings June and Coleman did not get the freedom that was promised. Instead, their former master took June when he left for Mexico to escape the south. Both siblings were met with disasters, perils, harrowing escapes as they journeyed toward a reunion. The characters were richly portrayed. Harris vividly depicted the brutalities and injustices.This book was well-researched, the history treated with reverence.

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company and to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Amity tells the journey of formerly enslaved siblings, June and Coleman, who have yet to truly be freed after the end of the Civil War. After being seperated when their enslaver takes one to Mexico to escape the post Civil War south, they cling to hope that they will one day be reunited. However, an epic and tragic journey begins when a strange man appears back in Louisiana to bring Coleman to Mexico and to June.


This is a gorgeously written book. The descriptions of the setting in 1860s Mexico truly steal the show here. Harris does a great job of developing this place and both its beauty and its unforgivingness into the main character of the novel. He also does a great job of dispelling the long held myth in America that everything was fine and everyone who was formerly enslaved was freed as soon as the war was over. Harris does not shy away from the brutish reality. However, I did have a few gripes with the story. I think a few too many side characters are introduced which can make the story harder to follow and some of them do not serve to move the story along very much. Lastly, there were times that I think I was more interested in the setting than in the characters traversing it. Overall, this is a powerful piece of historical fiction that I hope gets its due.

I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read this second novel by Nathan Harris as part of Camp NstGalley. The story is told from 2 POVs, siblings and former slaves, June and Coleman and is set in post Civil War New Orleans, Mexico and Texas. As former slaves, June and Coleman have their freedom but continue to live with and work for the Harpers, a middle-aged couple and their adult daughter, Florence. June and Coleman are separated when Mr. Harper takes June to Mexico as part of a group to start a settlement that will keep Southern traditions. Eventually, Coleman is summoned to Mexico and boards a ship along with the Harper women and an incredible journey begins while June is having adventures of her own.
While the story is engaging and creative, the book is also very character-driven. The adventures described are fantastic and life-changing and the character development is superb. Like The Sweetness of Water, this story is very different from other historical fiction, the plot is unique and the characters are so interesting. The book is well written and a pleasure to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

I found this book to be excellent. It had unique, descriptive language; the scenes were effectively set throughout; and the imagery was exceptional. I found Coleman’s perspective particularly interesting, especially when he justified actions he regretted and how his character developed. The Epilogue did a perfect job wrapping the story up, again showing character development from the perspective of one sibling describing the other.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for this ARC as part of Camp NetGalley.

Amity is a beautifully descriptive story that reads like a literary novel but has more scenes of danger and action that I typically associate with literary. The main characters are flawed in a very human, relatable, and endearing way, and the growth they exhibit is brought about so naturally. This book was truly a delight to read. So many of the descriptions of the scenery or emotions surprised and enchanted me with their creativity and uniqueness and overall accuracy (but expressed in ways I’ve never heard before). Amity is a wonderful, heartfelt journey of a tale that deals with heavy topics without ever losing a sense of hope.

***Animal-related spoiler***
The dog does not die. I was anxious about this the whole time but trust me, the dog gets a happy ending.

Disclaimer: This is my honest review in exchange for a free eARC copy of this book.