Here in New England: Unforgettable stories of people, places, and memories that connect us all

by Mel Allen

From the time he published his first story in Yankee in 1979 to the day he retired as its editor in 2025, Mel Allen's writing has captured the unique essence of New England and the people who call it home. Here for the first time, Allen has collected 45 of his favorite pieces, adding intimate new introductions and postscripts to put them in context. The feel and flavor of New England lives within the covers of this engaging collection.

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 17, 2025

Reviews

[Jim]

This has been the perfect sit by the pellet stove NH winter book. I like to read Yankee Magazine but dont seen to get around to it enough.
The nice people at Nashua Public Library got the copy that I am presently reading Not sure if I will finish it this year as it is a nicely laid out series of magazine articles that one can pick up and put down.

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very enjoyable collection of articles. They covered the decades the author wrote for Yankee Magazine with a great variety of topics, which all had a common thread of taking place in New England and the empathetic perspective of its writer. His empathy and style as a journalist are clear in all of his writing. As someone who has never been to New England, this made me fall in love with the region. Lovely example of creative non-fiction.

A few of my favorites were “The Town that Refused to Die”, “The Keeper of the Lighthouse Keeper”, and “The Worst 30 Minutes of my Life”.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC.

[Ted Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have spent a lot of my life in New England (birthplace, summer vacations as a child, college, my first job) and I have been reading "Yankee Magazine" since I was growing up. Mel Allen went to work at Yankee in 1979 and became its editor in 2006, so I have been reading his work for a long time. He retired in 2025, and this book is a collection of the pieces that he wrote for Yankee (even a couple that he wrote as a Maine journalist). Anyone who is a fan of Yankee Magazine and/or has spent time in New England will find this book a fun, nostalgic, moving journey. Mel Allen is a very good writer and and an excellent story teller, and the book is filled (primarily) with stories of New Englanders, both the obscure (a couple who lived their entire life "off the grid," a cruise boat captain) and famous (Mike Eruzione of "Miracle on Ice" fame, Doug Flutie, Ted Williams). Allen gets at the soul and character of this region through the tales of these unique individuals. The book does not really focus on the places that make New England special, but that was never his speciality when he wrote for the magazine (and it doesn't have the beautiful color photographs that make Yankee so gorgeous). There was one section of the book (four separate pieces) that presented some very tragic and sad stories that I tried to get through as quickly as possible (and in my opinion the book would not have suffered had they been left out). But all in all, the book is a fast-moving enjoyable read.

[David Marcucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lifelong New Englander I love how Mel Allen captures the essence of the people and places so effectively that by time I finish a chapter I feel like I've been to the place and I've met the people myself. Each story reminds me why New England is different and how the culture here is unlike anything I've experienced elsewhere.

Every chapter will elicit an array of emotions as you learn about people and places that most would have never know. Some pages will likely have you thinking about planning a trip. I'm grateful that someone took the time to preserve these memories so that others can enjoy them and I find myself wondering how many more amazing New England stories are out there.

[Susan Emmet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply one of the finest anthologies I've ever read.
That Mel Allen worked for and edited Yankee magazine from 1979-2025 is in itself remarkable.
That he was able to choose 45 of his favorite pieces is just plain right.
I'm so full of the stories right now that I can't detail one by one - just a beautiful book.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can a Yankee named Mel Allen be a Boston Red Sox fan? Oh is the other kind of Yankee the one that lives in New England. And also gave the name to a magazine that Mel edited and worked for for half a century. Do you want to know New England, and Yankees? Read the stories in this book and you’ll know all.

[Bibliohiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was an interesting read about how life is in New England and the various stories. I thought it was interesting to get a glimpse into peoples’ lives.

[Patti Taffel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mel Allen has a rich and engaging writing style which paints a beautiful picture of the New England states and captures the essence of its people and history that makes you feel like you are right there with him!

[Rita Pozirekides · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed all the heartwarming tales of New England.