Like lilacs on the verge of bloom or a screen door ready to slam, spring books arrive with a satisfying sense of kinetic inevitability. This season, the Hudson Valley’s literary crop is flush with unlikely friendships, undead furniture, interspecies symphonies, and women finally getting the last word. From Ada Calhoun’s Catskills-inflected Crush to Sam Rebelein’s delightfully cursed Renfield County tales, to Daniel Mendelsohn’s thunderously elegant Odyssey, these books are steeped in place yet expansive in ambition. Whether it’s jazz echoing off cathedral walls or a bulldog finding common ground with a doodle, this list proves that our region’s writers are fluent in joy, dread, longing, and everything in between. So pour yourself something appropriate—coffee, Campari, creek water—and crack a spine. These books will meet you where you are, then carry you somewhere stranger.
Crush
Ada Calhoun
Viking, 2025, $30
Ada Calhoun, a Catskills-based writer best known for her bestselling memoirs, makes her fiction debut with Crush, a taut and witty novel of midlife longing. The story follows a married woman whose husband unexpectedly urges her to pursue an old crush, sparking a spiral of desire, regret, and reawakened ambition. Set in motion by a single question—”What do you want that you don’t have?”—Crush charts the chaotic emotional terrain between contentment and craving. Calhoun brings the same keen observational eye from her nonfiction to this smart, sly, and deeply relatable exploration of love, loyalty, and the stories we tell ourselves.
The Poorly Made and Other Things
Sam Rebelein
William Morrow, 2025, $18.99
Poughkeepsie-based author and Bram Stoker Award nominee Sam Rebelein returns to his eerie fictional setting of Renfield County in The Poorly Made and Other Things, a collection of interconnected horror stories. Each tale delves into the unsettling aftermath of a historical family massacre, where bloodstained wood from the crime scene was repurposed into everyday items, spreading malevolence throughout the community. Rebelein’s narratives are interwoven with emails from a woman uncovering the dark history of Renfield, adding depth and cohesion to the collection. This work expands upon the universe introduced in his debut novel, Edenville, offering readers a chilling exploration of a cursed land.
1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times
Ross Benes
University of Kansas Press, 2025, $32.67
Ross Benes, Tarrytown-based journalist and author, revisits the cultural landscape of the late ’90s in his latest book, 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. Benes examines how phenomena like pro wrestling, Pokemon, and “The Jerry Springer Show” not only dominated the era but also laid the groundwork for today’s media and political climate. Drawing from his own experiences growing up in Nebraska, he offers a critical yet personal perspective on how the entertainment of 1999 continues to influence contemporary society. This work follows his previous titles, including Rural Rebellion and Turned On, further establishing Benes as a keen observer of American culture.
The Boats of Summer, Volumes 1 and 2
Richard V. Elliott
Schiffer Publishing, 2025, $59.99
Richard V. Elliott’s The Boats of Summer volumes offer a richly detailed chronicle of the Hudson River and New York Harbor’s golden age of steamboating in these large-format coffee table books. Volume 1 delves into 35 nineteenth-century vessels, including the storied Mary Powell and the ill-fated General Slocum, providing physical descriptions, routes, and historical anecdotes. Volume 2 continues into the twentieth century, profiling 28 steamers from the Thomas Patten to the Alexander Hamilton, the region’s last paddlewheeler. Both volumes, edited by Linda D. Elliott, feature rare historical images and meticulous research, making them essential for maritime enthusiasts and those interested in the Hudson Valley’s nautical heritage.
Fabian: A Cubist Biography
Tom Newton
Recital Publishing, 2025, $15
Woodstock author Tom Newton’s Fabian: A Cubist Biography is a literary Rubik’s Cube that defies categorization. This metafictional odyssey introduces Fabian, a would-be filmmaker conjured into existence by his creator, Newton, who abandons traditional narrative structures. The novel traverses time and space, weaving through encounters with conquistadors, Aztec priests, and immortal alchemists. With its blend of digressions, ambiguous photographs, and footnotes, the book challenges readers to question the nature of reality and fiction. Echoes of Borges and Sebald resonate throughout this inventive narrative, making it a must-read for those seeking a multidimensional literary experience.
The Saucerian
Gabriel Mckee
MIT Press, 2025, $32.95
In The Saucerian: UFOs, Men in Black, and the Unbelievable Life of Gray Barker, Beacon-based author Gabriel Mckee delves into the enigmatic life of Gray Barker, a pivotal yet elusive figure in UFO lore. Barker, founder of Saucerian Books, was instrumental in popularizing concepts like the Men in Black and the Mothman. McKee’s biography navigates Barker’s dual role as both a believer and a hoaxer, revealing how his eccentric publications blurred the lines between fact and fiction. Through meticulous research, McKee offers a compelling exploration of how fringe beliefs infiltrated mainstream culture, making this work essential for those intrigued by the intersection of the paranormal and American pop culture.
That Resplendent Day
Bradley Berg
Palmetto Publishing, 2025, $13.99
In That Resplendent Day, New Paltz author Bradley Berg presents a visionary narrative that intertwines personal transformation with global awakening. The story follows Zune, a compassionate traveler on the “Infinite Highway of Life,” whose encounters with individuals like Nola and Neeya—each grappling with their own challenges—highlight humanity’s potential for renewal. As the tale progresses, a prophesied figure known as the Prism emerges, delivering a unifying message from the United Nations that sparks a worldwide sense of interconnectedness and hope. Berg’s novel is a testament to resilience and the enduring power of the human spirit, offering readers a contemplative journey toward collective upliftment.
Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River
Nancy F. Castaldo
Holiday House, 2025, $24.87
In Riverkeeper: Protecting an American River, Hudson Valley author Nancy F. Castaldo delivers an inspiring exploration of the Hudson River’s environmental revival. Aimed at middle-grade readers, this nonfiction work chronicles the transformation of the Hudson from a polluted waterway in the 1960s to a symbol of successful ecological activism. Through forty vivid photographs and profiles of dedicated water protectors like Tracy Brown, the first female Riverkeeper, Castaldo highlights the pivotal role of community engagement and legislative milestones such as the Clean Water Act. The book not only educates about the river’s history but also empowers young readers with actionable steps to contribute to environmental conservation, making it a valuable resource for budding eco-advocates.
Elvis & Romeo
David Soman and Jacky Davis
Aladdin, 2025, $19.99
In Elvis & Romeo, Rosendale-based creators David Soman and Jacky Davis—bestselling authors of the Ladybug Girl series—introduce two contrasting canine characters: Elvis, a grumpy bulldog seeking peace, and Romeo, an exuberant doodle eager for friendship. Their initial encounter at the dog park is fraught with misunderstandings, but a heroic act by Elvis paves the way for an unexpected bond. Soman’s digitally rendered illustrations, reminiscent of charcoal and watercolor, bring the diverse dog park to life, while the narrative humorously explores themes of friendship and acceptance. A delightful read for ages four to eight, this tale celebrates the magic of unlikely friendships.
Immigrant Hearts
Catherine Gigante-Brown
Volossal Publishing, 2025, $24.99
In Immigrant Hearts, Rosendale-based author Catherine Gigante-Brown crafts a tender, sweeping saga of early 20th-century Italian-American life through the interwoven voices of Antonio and Luisa, two immigrants making their way in Brooklyn. With vivid historical detail and deep emotional resonance, the novel explores themes of love, family, labor, and resilience across decades of upheaval. Inspired by the lives of Gigante-Brown’s own grandparents, the story unfolds with the intimacy of a handed-down family tale and the richness of lived experience. A heartfelt tribute to the quiet dignity of working-class lives and the legacy of immigrant perseverance.
My Years as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver
Lyla Yastion
Blossom Spring Publishing, 2025, $14.27
In My Years as an Alzheimer’s Caregiver: Transcending Loss by Nurturing Spirit, Gardiner-based author Lyla Yastion offers a deeply compassionate and spiritually attuned memoir of caring for her husband Edward through six years of Alzheimer’s. Blending personal journal entries, neuroscience, and Advaita Vedanta philosophy, Yastion makes a compelling case for the persistence of soul and selfhood even amid cognitive decline. Her narrative is both candid and uplifting, a vital guide for caregivers and a moving meditation on love, memory, and the sacred resilience of the human spirit.
The Odyssey
Daniel Mendelsohn
University of Chicago Press, 2025, $39
In his 2025 translation of The Odyssey, Daniel Mendelsohn—Charles Ranlett Flint Professor of Humanities at Bard College—delivers a masterful rendition that marries poetic elegance with scholarly precision. Employing a six-beat line structure, Mendelsohn captures the rhythm and nuance of the original Greek, offering readers a version that is both faithful and freshly resonant. His extensive introduction and annotations provide rich context, illuminating the epic’s enduring themes of identity, homecoming, and resilience. This translation stands as a significant contribution to Homeric literature, inviting both new readers and seasoned classicists to experience the epic anew.
Typophoto
Jessica D. Brier
University of Minnesota Press, 2025, $29.95
In Typophoto: New Typography and the Reinvention of Photography, Jessica D. Brier, curator of photography at the Frances Lehman Loeb Art Center at Vassar College, offers a sharp, scholarly exploration of how early modernist designers fused photography and typography into a new visual language of persuasion. Drawing on Bauhaus theorist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy’s concept of “Typophoto,” Brier examines how this aesthetic revolution shaped modern advertising and consumer culture. By analyzing avant-garde experiments alongside 1920s commercial design, she shows how photography became both form and metaphor—a tool to manipulate perception and engineer desire. With its deep dive into interwar design history, Typophoto is essential reading for anyone interested in the roots of modern visual communication.
Time Under the Overlook
Guy Reed
Bushwhack Books, 2025, $29.95
In Time Under the Overlook, Woodstock poet Guy Reed offers a meditative collection that delves into the profound connection between self and place. Sparked by a moment during the pandemic lockdown, Reed reflects on over two decades of life beneath Overlook Mountain, exploring themes of belonging, nature, and the human experience. His poems, complemented by Kelly Sinclair’s evocative black-and-white photographs, traverse the spectrum of existence—from the minute details of daily life to the vastness of the cosmos. Reed’s work stands as a poignant testament to the enduring bond between humanity and the natural world.
The Musical World of Paul Winter
Bob Gluck
Terra Nova Press, 2025, $19.95
In The Musical World of Paul Winter, Bob Gluck offers an illuminating portrait of the pioneering saxophonist and environmentalist whose life’s work merges music, ecology, and spiritual exploration. From Cold War-era cultural diplomacy to cathedral soundscapes and underwater recordings with whales, Gluck traces Winter’s singular journey with clarity and reverence. The book captures the evolution of Winter’s Consort ensemble—equal parts Elizabethan revival and global sound experiment—and reveals how Winter’s melodic sensibility became a vehicle for planetary consciousness. A must-read for music lovers and eco-minded readers alike, this biography is as expansive and hopeful as its subject.
This article appears in May 2025.
