Upstate - a moving story of love, loss and second chances.

Audrey Beacon, 34-year-old writer and teacher, knows a lot about loss. Her mother tragically died when she was eleven, her father succumbed to cancer, and she lost her husband in the early days of the pandemic. While grieving, she learns that an old farmhouse, in upstate New York, with a former bookstore in an adjacent barn, is up for sale. It seemed like the perfect place to heal. Audrey intends to reopen the bookstore, and renovating the property connects her to some of the interesting residents of the small village of Schuywich. Among them are Wren, a Broadway set designer who worked at the bookshop during the summers; young Aisha and her grandmother Lulu, who share local history; and Sam, an agricultural agent who helps Audrey with her property lines and someone she is drawn to. The story includes a series of letters written by Schuywich librarian Hazel McIntyre to Evelyn Cabot, a writer. They are the bookstore's former owners. After meeting in 1956, the two women fell deeply in love. Evelyn bought the old farmhouse in Schuywich, and Audrey discretely moved in, leading to the opening of Red Barn Bookshop. Hazel's letters continued through 2015, the year the bookstore closed. 

Upstate by Kim van Alkemade is a moving book about love and healing. Audrey must find a way to move forward after the heartbreaking loss of her husband. The excitement of reopening the bookshop and the sense of community she finds in Schuywich puts her on a new path. The story of "longtime companions" Evelyn and Hazel is endearing. We learn about how Hazel's family history was also filled with loss and regret. Evelyn's series of articles, "A Woman's Place" in Mademoiselle magazine from the 1950s tells of her life as a single woman, with no mention that she had a partner - a sad reflection of the era. I highly recommend this captivating book about women creating their own way through personal strength and the support of others. 

Many thanks to William Morrow for the gifted copy. 

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Contemporary & Historical Fiction

Publication Date: October 27, 2026.

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