Pretty Nearly All Natural
Genie Abrams
Finishing Line Press, 2024, $17.99
Close observers know that nature isn’t in the least tame or sentimental, and Abrams—a born and raised Newburgher who served as the city’s poet laureate from 2022 to 2024—is a close observer and lifelong lover who’s not afraid of the scars and thorns of any flora or fauna on the planet, human and otherwise. Her poetry is flowing, lucid and often hilarious. (“The river gleams with virgin snow/I can’t appreciate it though:/The cold has bitten through my ears/and left my car in need of tow.” She hangs poems on trees, fences, parking signs and utility poles, and in the bathrooms of gas stations, bars and other spots she deems perfect for vandalizing in this way. We need more like her.
Fear No Pharaoh: American Jews, the Civil War, and the Fight to End Slavery
Richard Kreitner
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2025, $32
In Fear No Pharaoh, Beacon resident Kreitner delves into the complex history of American Jews confronting the institution of slavery during the Civil War era. Drawing parallels between the ancient Exodus narrative and 19th-century struggles, Kreitner examines how Jewish Americans grappled with ethical dilemmas, national identity, and their roles in the fight against slavery. Through meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Kreitner sheds light on a nuanced chapter of history, offering readers a deeper understanding of the intersections between faith, morality, and the American experience.
Taking Manhattan: The Extraordinary Events That Created New York and Shaped America
Russell Shorto
W. W. Norton & Company, 2025, $29.99
In Taking Manhattan Cold Spring resident Shorto offers a compelling narrative of New York City’s transformation from the Dutch settlement of New Amsterdam to the English-controlled New York in 1664. Shorto delves into the intricate negotiations between Peter Stuyvesant, the Dutch director-general, and Richard Nicolls, the English military officer, highlighting their pivotal roles in this peaceful transition. Through meticulous research, Shorto illuminates how this fusion of Dutch tolerance and English ambition laid the groundwork for New York’s emergence as a center of capitalism and cultural diversity. This insightful account underscores the city’s complex origins, reflecting both its opportunities and the challenges of displacement and subjugation, building off his popular 2005 book The Island at the Center of the World.
I Know She Was There
Jennifer Sadera
CanCat Books, 2024, $28.99
In I Know She Was There, Poughkeepsie resident Sadera crafts a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the fragile mind of new mother Caroline Case. Struggling with her husband’s departure and the demands of a colicky infant, Caroline finds solace in nightly walks through the affluent Deer Crossing neighborhood. Her voyeuristic curiosity leads her to witness a disturbing incident—a woman, bloodied and in distress, glimpsed through a window. As Caroline grapples with her own mental health, she becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth, even as those around her question her sanity. Sadera weaves themes of perception, reality, and the dark undercurrents lurking beneath suburban perfection, delivering a debut that keeps readers questioning what is real until the final page.
The Ten Year Affair
Erin Somers
Simon & Schuster, 2025, $28
A witty and insightful exploration of marital fidelity and the complexities of human desire, the novel follows Cora and Sam, two contentedly married parents who meet at a baby group in their small town. Despite their initial intentions, an undeniable chemistry develops between them, leading to a decade-long emotional entanglement. Somers masterfully navigates parallel timelines—one where they act on their attraction and another where they resist—offering readers a nuanced portrayal of the choices that define our lives. With sharp humor and keen observation, Somers examines the fantasies we entertain and the realities we inhabit, questioning whether the allure of the road not taken is worth the potential upheaval.
This article appears in April 2025.
