5 Hudson Valley Books for Your Fall Reading Enjoyment

Lounge out under the changing foliage or in a corner coffee shop and read these books by Hudson Valley authors in local settings.

Hudson Valley recommendations are objective, unbiased, and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you.

There’s nothing quite like reading in the fall, especially in the Hudson Valley where spooky stories are in abundance. Relax in the shade of orange oak leaves or chill inside on a misty morning and grab a read from one of these Hudson Valley natives or embark on a story that takes place right here in the region. Whether it’s a creepy fantasy fiction or a charming photography book, these reads offer a little something for everyone.

Back to the Land: A New Way of Life in the Country

Pieter Estersohn
$36.99, Photography

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If you’re from Red Hook, you probably know of Pieter Estersohn, a member of the Historic Red Hook Advisory Council. Estersohn is also a renowned photographer of architecture and interiors, and his latest work Back to the Land showcases the beauty of the Hudson Valley, from its farms to its gardens and all the bucolic land in between. Perfect for a coffee table or for a deep dive into the region’s beauty, this book is a fall reading must-have.

Dear Sister

Michelle Horton
$25.90, Biography, Memoir

 

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A gripping retelling of author Michelle Horton’s life as she knows it, Dear Sister follows the fallout of Horton’s sister Nikki Addimando’s incarceration after killing her longtime abuser. Horton, left to raise her sister’s young children, is simultaneously battling the criminal justice system to fight for her sister’s freedom. The intimate story is not just about surviving trauma, but also about the unbreakable bond of family.

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Directional Living: A Transformational Guide to Fulfillment in Work and Life

Megan Hellerer
$26.97, Self-help, Business

 

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As a recovered under-fulfilled overachiever, Megan Hellerer dives into the processes necessary to transform our careers on the way to transforming our lives. Hellerer has worked with hundreds of women in the same boat, from CEOs to best-selling authors to scientists, and has helped them to discover meaning and purpose behind their work. Directional Living invites anyone who feels stuck in life to develop a purpose-filled career built on an inner sense of direction.

State of Paradise

Laura van den Berg
$14.99, Fiction

 

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From the perspective of a ghost writer for a famous thriller author, this fall reading essential tells a suspenseful tale of mystery and strange events during a sticky Florida summer. An ominous illness, torrential downpours, sinkholes, virtual reality, and sudden disappearances are the perfect recipe for an investigation. The spooky situation surrounding this mystery novel makes it a perfect read for autumn.

We Are Mayhem

Beck Rourke-Mooney
$13.10, Young Adult, Fiction

We Are Mayhem follows the tumultuous life of protagonist Birdie as she moves from her gated community in New Jersey to the Hudson Valley’s Catskill Mountains. With a world upended, Birdie falls in with the wrong crowd and is suddenly indebted to work at a male-dominated wrestling gym, where she discovers a sense of self she never knew she had. Realizing that she has to find a way to make her new town home, Birdie first has to find a way to embrace herself.

Honorable Mention

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Washington Irving
$6.25, Mystery, Thriller

If you have yet to read this classic, you’re probably not from the Hudson Valley. In the spirit of spooky season, we would be remiss not to mention Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the classic ghost story set in the Hudson Valley town of Sleepy Hollow that chronicles the life of Ichabod Crane, a superstitious schoolmaster whose pursuit of love is impeded by a haunting headless horseman. This is a must-read not just for Hudson Valleyites, but also for fans of ghost stories and American literature.

Related: Big Red Books Brings Cozy Bookstore Vibes to Nyack

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