Details (book title, author name, publication date)
- Book Title: Amity
- Author: Nathan Harris
- Publication Date: September 2, 2025
Description
“Amity” is Nathan Harris’s gripping and ambitious new novel, set against the turbulent years following the U.S. Civil War. The story follows Coleman and June, siblings newly emancipated from slavery but still searching for a sense of true freedom that the end of war failed to deliver. When they are separated—June taken into the deserts of Mexico by their former master, Mr. Harper, and Coleman left behind in Louisiana—their individual odysseys become a testament to the endurance of hope and the complexities of freedom. As Coleman and June separately face treacherous landscapes, dangerous pursuers, and shifting alliances, “Amity” explores how freedom often requires courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to fight for family and belonging. The novel’s depiction of the postbellum South and the sweeping Mexican desert is both historical and deeply personal, tackling themes of survival, emancipation, and resilience.goodreads+3
Author Bio
Nathan Harris is best known for his debut, “The Sweetness of Water”, which earned accolades including a spot on Oprah’s Book Club, the Booker Prize longlist, and President Obama’s reading list. Harris is a graduate of the Michener Center at the University of Texas. His writing is praised for richly drawn characters and evocative Southern settings. A recipient of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” honor, Harris’s fiction explores social justice and the ever-evolving meanings of freedom and home. He currently lives in Chicago, Illinois, and “Amity” is his highly anticipated follow-up, promising the same blend of historical depth and lyrical storytelling.nathanharrisauthor+1
What Readers are Saying
- Readers are unanimously struck by the beauty of Harris’s prose and the immersive, detailed setting of postwar Louisiana and Mexico. Multiple reviewers highlight the emotionally complex portrayals of Coleman and June as they navigate family bonds under new, uncertain freedoms.netgalley+1
- Anticipated as a “stirring continuation” of Harris’s literary voice, “Amity” is praised for its “poetic prose, emotional resonance, and layered mystery.” Some reviewers note a slower initial pace but commend the powerful payoff and ultimately “satisfying conclusion”.templacity+1
- With an average rating of 4.17 on Goodreads, early readers mention that the story lingers in memory, particularly its fresh take on familiar themes of emancipation, survival, and the meaning of home.goodreads
- Critics appreciate Harris’s unflinching look at generational trauma, racial reckoning, and the cost of finding one’s place in a still-hostile world.goodreads+1
- “Not a novel to be devoured quickly, but to savor and appreciate the journey,” writes one reviewer. “A gorgeous, touching tribute to family and resilience,” says another, underlining the book’s emotional heft and historical insight.netgalley+1
Why we think it should be Your Next Book
“Amity” is a rich, moving novel that resonates long after the final page. Nathan Harris’s careful synthesis of family drama and historical truth invites readers to reflect on what freedom really means, especially when the world is still unprepared to grant it. With unforgettable characters, stunning prose, and a journey that spans the best and worst of the human spirit, “Amity” stands out as a must-read—both as a story of endurance and a vital addition to the literature of American emancipation. For anyone who loved “The Sweetness of Water” or simply seeks a beautifully written, thought-provoking novel, “Amity” deserves a place at the top of the next reading list.