50 Cleveland Book Releases We Loved in 2025

Fiction (General):

The Cleveland Curse by Dave Eifert
Some would call it a curse. The Cleveland Browns’ consistently poor performance is the mystery at the heart of this adventurous novel, in which former team owner Art Modell makes a deal with the devil in 1964. theclevelandcursebook.com

Mathey Girls by Melody Chu
Esther Hsu, a second-generation immigrant, grapples with the loss of a college friend and revisits past traumas in Melody Chu’s debut novel. melodychuauthor.com

One of Us by Dan Chaon
In 1915, a pair of young twins with the ability to read each other’s minds flee the care of their murderous uncle. They find a new home in a traveling circus, all while constantly trying to evade their uncle, who chases after them. Bestselling fiction author Dan Chaon’s latest novel centers on the creepy, strange and grand adventures of misfit characters. danchaon.com

Pan by Michael Clune
A coming-of-age story like no other, former Case Western Reserve University professor Michael Clune’s first novel arrived this year. In it, a teen boy experiencing panic attacks and strange occurrences becomes convinced that the Greek god Pan lives inside of him. He and his friends go on a journey to understand his own consciousness and wind up in a cult-like group. michaelwclune.com

RELATED: The 81 Essential Cleveland Novels

Range of Motion by Brian Trapp
Drawing on his work in disability studies and his own upbringing growing up with his twin brother, who had cerebral palsy and intellectual disabilities, writer Brian Trapp penned a touching novel about two twins — one with a disability and one without — growing up in Ohio. briantrappwriter.com

State Champ by Hilary Plum
Ohio’s “heartbeat law” on abortion plays a pivotal role in Hilary Plum’s latest novel, which follows a former high school runner who works at an abortion clinic and goes on a hunger strike to speak out about the issue. hilaryplum.com

Unfinished Business by Nicole D. Miller
Lisa Doris, a mother who works for a magazine, has her faith tested in this dramatic read in the Devon’s Cafe series. The character’s “unfinished business” takes the shape of reconnecting with a once-absent father, confronting long-held resentments and facing former love interests. ndmiller.pub

The Westport Jets Meet The Beatles by Peter Jedick
The Beatles are coming to Cleveland in 1964 in this upbeat, nostalgic novel — and four little league baseball players go on a big adventure to try to meet the rockstars. peterjedick.com

Fiction (Horror):

Strange Notions by David Vaughn
David Vaughn’s collection of satirical tales all dip into realms of horror and mystery, offering spooky stories about “the chilling consequences of a devilish pact, the eerie behavior of a mysterious roommate, and the relentless torment of an unbearable itch,” according to the book’s publisher. olympiapublishers.com

Atrocity: The Haunting of Moravian Village by Neil Sater
Inspired by the true events of the Moravian massacre in one of Ohio’s oldest settlements in 1782, Sater’s horror fiction follows strange, supernatural happenings nearly 250 years later — and a young group’s fight to save the town. facebook.com/AuthorSater

Fiction (Mystery):

Mystery books by Amanda Flower
Prolific local author Amanda Flower made strides forward in several of her series, with four mystery book releases this year. amandaflower.com

• I Died for Beauty (An Emily Dickinson Mystery Book 3) 

• Natural Barn Killer: An Organic Cozy Mystery (Farm to Table Mysteries Book 5)

• Not They Who Soar (A Katharine Wright Mystery)

• Newlyweds Can Be Knocked Off (An Amish Matchmaker Mystery)

Fiction (Romance):

The Language of Love by Nancy Christie
Twenty stories of love and loss in every form — romantic and familial — compile this collection, which is rooted in community and connection. nancychristie.com

My Rock and Roll Girl by Greg Cielec
A snapshot of rock and roll in 1970s Cleveland, a crew of music lovers romp through local venues like the Coliseum and Blossom Music Center, while crushes and love start to bloom, in a romantic book by the author of My Cleveland Story. writergregcielec.com

Mystery and Romance books by Barbara Howard
Burn through the steamy pages of Barbara Howard’s new releases. The acclaimed local author published several suspenseful romance books this year, offering a variety of love stories to enjoy. barbarahowardbooks.com

• Call Me At Midnight

• Lost History Between Us

• My Sweet Escape

• Stitched In Secrets

• Trial By Fire

Fiction (Sci-Fi & Fantasy):

Andrei & the Hellcats by Marie Vibbert
The Galactic Hellcats continue to zip around the universe in the second book in this sci-fi series. Andrei, a sex robot, joins the crew on a thrilling quest to find and rescue his robot sister. marievibbert.com

Draven’s Run by Glenn Somodi
A futuristic invention has a sinister turn in the world of the novel Draven’s Run. In the year 2048, citizens work as virtual patrols, controlling robots that enforce and surveil U.S. borders, but the robots’ creators have something more frightening in the works. glennsomodi.com

The Descended by Michelle Park Lazette
Ohio becomes the setting of a post-apocalyptic fiction book by this Lakewood-based author. The Descended follows a journalist who finds refuge in an underground shelter after monsters take over her world — but unsettling, supernatural truths begin to pop up in the mysterious new space. flyingsnakepress.com

Ultimart by Carl Wilhoyte
More than 20 million people live in the Ultimart Dome, a synthetic, corporation-run world with a suburban dream-neighborhood at the center. Wilhoyte’s debut novel examines societal issues in the complex world he’s created through the story and struggles of Corwin Scaggs, a man working for an AI advertising firm. carlwilhoyte.com

Cookbook:

Symon's Dinners Cooking Out by Michael Symon and Doug Trattner
Get out of the kitchen with celebrity chef Michael Symon’s newest cookbook, written with Cleveland Scene dining writer Douglas Trattner. You can try out 100 recipes — grilling, mixing and cooking up all manner of mains, sides, drinks and desserts that can be crafted outside. michaelsymon.com

Kids:

Diego Fuego the Firefighting Dragon and Unique Like You by Allison and Rafael Rozo
Husband-and-wife duo Allison and Rafael Rozo collaborate on their children’s books, writing bilingual stories in English and Spanish to reflect their own cultures on the page. In Diego Fuego, young readers meet a dragon with icy powers, while in Unique Like You, readers explore Bogota, Colombia, and learn Spanish vocabulary along the way. rozobooksart.com

The Ghost Whiskerers by Thom Zahler
A purr-fect read for young horror fans, this comic book by local illustrator and author Thom Zahler follows a kid solving a mystery behind his haunted house with the help of his ghost-seeing cats. The comic book was released by Storm King, an imprint from famed filmmaker John Carpenter and his wife, Sandy Carpenter. stormkingcomics.com

Go Tell It by Quartez Harris
James Baldwin’s early years come to life on the page in this bestselling children’s book, exploring the author’s early years, finding inspiration in the written word. quartezharris.com

Maya’s Holi by Thrity Umrigar
Splashes of vibrant hues fill the pages of this children’s book, which celebrates a family’s experience of Holi, the festival of colors, in India. umrigar.com

Local Interest:

101 Things To Do in Cleveland by Gary J. Sikorski
Paired with photographs to showcase all the fun happening in Cleveland, readers will also get a handy guide of go-to destinations to check out in the city, including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, University Circle’s museums, Cleveland Metroparks trails and more. schifferbooks.com

As The Stage Turned: A Front Row Theatre Memoir by Jeannie Emser Schultz
The Front Row Theatre is an integral part of Cleveland history, and the theatre-in-the-round’s biggest shows and moments make up this historic book by its former director of marketing and publicity. Those concerts and events featured the likes of Dolly Parton, Liberace, Jay Leno, Whitney Houston and plenty more — and the book brings those shows to life with behind-the-scenes details and stories. clevelandlandmarkspress.com

RELATED: Reading Cleveland: Dive into Northeast Ohio's Rich Literary Scene

Hidden History of Lake Erie by Jennifer Boresz Engelking
Cleveland’s Great Lake is filled with shipwrecks, docks, boathouses and plenty of stories. This book shares some of them, including bridge disasters, the Lake Erie Monster, the famous hermit Joe Root and more. arcadiapublishing.com

Cleveland’s Neighborhood Taverns by Thomas Kaschalk
More than just a place to order a beer, Cleveland’s neighborhood bars are a piece of the city’s cultural history — and they’re commemorated in this historic look at community taverns. arcadiapublishing.com

Little Miss Akron by Tracy Thomas
The singer of Akron's new-wave band Unit 5 shares her experience in the music industry, along with her challenging upbringing, in a new memoir. In it, you’ll get to know about the underground ‘80s music scene in Summit County. facebook.com/traceythomasmusic

Sweaty Stories from the Cleveland Schvitz by Joshua Womack
The Cleveland Schvitz, a mysterious sauna and steak restaurant, has been open for nearly a century — with much of it cloaked in secrecy and an “if you know, you know” attitude. But that’s changed with this author’s informative, humorous stories about the strange landmark in the Kinsman neighborhood, and the generations of Clevelanders who have enjoyed it. instagram.com/joshuawomack82

Memoir and Nonfiction: 

Beyonce: The Stories Behind the Songs and I Got You Babe: A Celebration of Cher by Annie Zaleski
Two new biographies of beloved pop stars arrived from acclaimed Cleveland author Annie Zaleski this year, documenting and recognizing the accomplishments of Beyonce and Cher. anniez.com

The End Is The Beginning by Jill Bialosky
Five years after losing her mother in an assisted care facility during the coronavirus pandemic, author Jilly Bialosky honors her life and explores family stories in this personal memoir, told in reverse — starting from her mother’s death and ending with her birth. jillbialosky.com

The Intermediaries by Brandy Schillace
The Institute for Sexual Science became the first center for homosexual and transgender rights in the world when it opened in interwar Germany, offering care for LGBTQ+ individuals in a politically unstable, challenging period of time. Schillace’s book shares the true story of Dora Richter, a trans woman who received gender-affirming surgeries at the institute. brandyschillace.com

Lincoln's Ghost by Brad Ricca
Harry Houdini gained fame for his stunts and tricks, but he famously spent many of his later years working to debunk the spiritualism associated with “magic.” In his latest historical fiction read, Cleveland’s Brad Ricca dives into curses, apparitions, Houdini’s ties to President Lincoln, and the performer’s 1926 courtroom appearance for regulations on fortune-telling. trueraiders.com

Living Proof by Tiffany Graham Charkosky
After learning that she carries the same genetic mutation that led to her mother’s death, author Tiffany Charkosky took medical action to help avoid the same fate. Her memoir looks back at her family’s loss, while following her own health journey forward. tiffanygrahamcharkosky.com

Talking Baseball with Major League Stars by Wayne Stewart
Longtime sports writer Wayne Stewart shares decades’ worth of interviews with more than 50 players, including Greg Maddux, Hank Aaron, Joe Torre and Nolan Ryan, in his latest book. Amazon link

Poetry & Essays:

Afterglow by Adrian Schnall
Following decades of work in medicine, Adrian Schnall turned to creative writing in more recent years, culminating in his debut poetry collection. Here, he depicts the highs and lows of life, exploring both personal family experiences and moments in healthcare. finishinglinepress.com

Ghosts of an Old Forest: Essays on Midwestern Rural Heritage by Deborah Fleming
Northeast Ohio’s historic, ecologically diverse lands are the centerpiece of this essay collection. Stories about the author’s own farm, Northeast Ohio river systems and pollution and fracking tie together in a celebration of local nature and culture — and the need to preserve and protect it. kentstateuniversitypress.com

How Donating a Kidney Fixed My Jump Shot by Jim Sollisch
Essays about life — ranging from stories about grocery shopping, marriage, parenting and more — offer insight into the ordinary in Jim Sollisch’s latest collection. The works were originally published in national papers, including the Wall Street Journal and New York Times. instagram.com/jimmywritesgems

We Look Better Alive by Ali Black
The 2025 Cleveland Arts Prize-winning poet penned a collection of more than 50 poems exploring grief, pop culture and womanhood. Black dedicated the project to her family’s matriarchs and released the work on her mother’s birthday. ablackpoet.com

Self-Help & Wellness:

Kinship Medicine by Wendy Johnson
This family physician and author explores the deep ties and relationships between both human and environmental health in her work. Her new book encourages readers to reconnect with their communities and nature, and leans into Johnson’s healthcare background which has brought her work to Mozambique, New Mexico and her hometown of Cleveland, where she was the medical director of the Cleveland Department of Public Health. wendyjohnsonmd.com

Own Your Career by Annette Garsteck
An accomplished career coach shares her greatest tips for building confidence, finding success at work and landing a dream job. Her book draws from years of experience as a resume writer and hiring manager. annettegarsteck.com/ownyourcareer

Find More Year-End Reviews in Our 2025 CLE Wrapped Feature

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