"Masterful poet and storyteller Esther Cohen invites readers to take a day-trip with her from bustling Manhattan to a quiet rural town in Upstate New York where porch-sitting, tomato-growing, and post office chitchat are appreciated and valued. Serving as both driver and tour guide, Cohen introduces us to a memorable cast of imperfect, identifiable villagers: loudmouths, late-in-life lovers, jilted spouses, settled seniors poised to jump off the diving board into the bracing waters of risk. US - Stories and Poems Along Route 17, a celebration of what's extraordinary about the ordinary, is rendered in a unique hybrid form and characterized by Cohen's open heart, her refreshing lack of judgment, and her appreciation of the simple beauty of the natural world. I urge readers to let this gifted writer transport you through the pages of her original and wonderful book."

-Wally Lamb

"As an Upstater, these stories and poems soothe my soul and remind me of why I love this part of the world more than any other."

-Gary Shteyngart

"Esther Cohen's tales are just tall enough to snag and delight the reader, but they are grounded in a deep understanding and appreciation of human nature. The flowing movement of the stories and poems is like a country road - undulating, surging, billowing, rippling and gliding along."

-Breena Clarke