Summer Book Recommendations from Scarsdale Readers
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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Looking for a summer read? We’ve got some suggestions– and below these find the list of the most borrowed print books, audiobooks and e-books from the Scarsdale Library.
Take a look below and send us your additions to the list in the comments section below.
Here are a few recommendations:
The Doorman - by Chris Pavone. New Yorkers’ are sure to recognize some type they know in this thriller, filled with upper class residents of an iconic Upper West Side apartment building and the doormen, drivers, nannies and assistants who serve them. Bookshop.com calls this “A pulse-pounding novel of class, privilege, sex, and murder.”
There Are Rivers in the Sky – by Elif Shafak – A complex novel that time travels from ancient Nineveh, to Charles Dickens London, and modern day Turkey, weaving together a tale connected by a single drop of water. Shafak, a Booker Prize finalist is a masterful storyteller.
The Names – by Florence Knapp, “explores the painful ripple effects of domestic abuse, the messy ties of family, and the possibilities of autonomy and healing.” Ann Napolitano, author of “Hello Beautiful,” calls the Names “a truly gorgeous, heart-opening novel. I couldn’t put it down. What a wonderful book.”
Broken Country – by Claire Leslie Hall. I was swept away by this mystery about a love triangle in Dorset, England and did not want to hit pause on the audio. Reese Witherspoon had this to say about this captivating novel: “Broken Country is an unforgettable story of love, loss, and the choices that shape our lives…but it’s also a masterfully crafted mystery that will keep you guessing until the very last page. Seriously, that ending?! I did not see it coming.”
These Summer Storms – Sarah MacLean: “Sarah MacLean’s first foray into contemporary fiction, with a sharp, sexy novel about a wealthy New England family's long-overdue reckoning with hidden desires, destructive secrets…and one week that threatens to tear them apart.”
Three Days in June – Anne Tyler. “A socially awkward mother of the bride navigates the days before and after her daughter's wedding. Told with deep sensitivity and a tart sense of humor, full of the joys and heartbreaks of love and marriage and family life, Three Days in June is a triumph for the bestselling, Pulitzer Prize–winning writer at the height of her powers.”
And here’s what the library reports you are reading:
Most Borrowed Items at Scarsdale Library for 2025, so far…
Top Audiobooks
The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny
The Heiress : a novel by Rachel Hawkins
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
How to sleep at night : a novel by Elizabeth Harris
Resurrection walk by Michael Connelly
The Hunter : a novel by Tana French
Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten
The personal librarian by Marie Benedict
By any other name by Jodi Picoult
Pick-up by Nora Dahlia
Top Print Books
Long Island : a novel by Colm Toibin
The Women by Kristin Hannah
Camino Ghosts by James Patterson
The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness by Jonathan Haidt
Sandwich by Catherine Newman
James by Percival Everett
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker
The Blue Hour: by Paula Hawkins
Top Ebooks and eAudiobooks
All Fours by Miranda July
Broken Country by Leslie Claire Hall
Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali
Audition by Katie Kitamura
James by Percival Everett
Careless People by Sarah Wynn Williams
Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
Table for Two by Amor Towles
Happy reading –- and please share your book suggestions in the comments section below.
Tales From a Life-Changing, Cross Country Hitchhiking Trip Circa 1980
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
- Hits: 920
Who knew that the dashing British banker we met in Greenacres in the 1980’s had a far less conventional past then we would ever imagine?
It took me forty years to find out that the charming executive and former President of Scarsdale Golf Club discovered America by trading in funds he won for a scholarship to study at the Library of Congress for a plane ticket to Los Angeles so he could surf at Malibu Beach and then hitchhike across the United States.
Now retired, Broyd explains that those memorable seven weeks of his life became the content for his first book. He explained, “I decided to write down the amusing stories that I have told for 40 years of my first trip to the US in 1980, when I hitchhiked across the country. I thought I would write them for fun, I would self-publish the stories and send them to 30 or 40 friends.”
But you never know where an email will go. Broyd says, “I sent some chapters to a friend for feedback, he forwarded it, and they forwarded it, and it ended up in the hands of a major publisher, who absolutely loved it. They signed me up to a 3-book contract. I am on the short-list for a major literary event in Philadelphia. I have a book tour - New York, Atlanta, Dallas and London, with more to follow. It has completely taken-off. I am in the pre-review process now - everything is coming back really positive.”
And publishing a book is not Broyd’s first success. He was born and educated in the UK and came to New York in January 1982 on a bank assignment. He married Betsy Broyd in 1983 and moved to Scarsdale in 1986. Apart from one 5-year and one 3 1/2 year assignment back to London, the Broyd’s have been in Scarsdale ever since.
He had a 40-year career and served as the US CEO of the Royal Bank of Scotland. He was also President of British American Business (the US/UK Chambers of Commerce) and sat on several Federal Reserve Committees. He was President of Scarsdale Golf Club from 2023-2024 and now lives on Rutland Road in Edgemont. In 2024, he published his first book, 'The Panama Canal Treaties: The diplomacy and economics behind the treaty that changed the international order.’
His latest book, titled “Backpack, Jacket, Surfboard, My Journey Across America Then and Now” will be published on August 12, 2025.
Here’s the genesis of the tale, in Broyd’s own words:
“While at college in England I won a scholarship to study at the Library of Congress for 6 weeks, flight out and back, cheap hotel, stipend for food. I sold my ticket to DC and bought one to LA as I wanted to go surf Malibu Beach. I thought I would surf for a week, hitchhike across to DC for a week, study for 4 weeks and go home. The stories from those 7 weeks, including visits to Tijuana, Yosemite, New Orleans, and New York amongst others, and gambling in Vegas and interviewing the head of the US Senate, are pretty remarkable. But I have added a little on how these adventures can be formative experiences for a person, better education than any school. I also went back to retrace my steps in 2024, and that allowed me to reflect a little on the differences between the American I fell in love with in 1980 and the America we experienced in 2024.
See more about the book on Amazon here and find an interview with Broyd on “Call to Create” with Betsy Bush here.
Broyd will hold a publication launch party on Thursday August 14 at 6:45 at Scarsdale Golf Club. If you’re interested in attending, please reach out to him at graham@broydpartners.com.
Heathcote Moves Up... Middle School, Here They Come!
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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On the bright and sunny morning of June 20th, four classes of Heathcote School fifth graders, joined by their families, gathered in the auditorium for their Moving Up Ceremony. The event marked the end of their elementary school journey and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in middle school.
The program featured joyful choral performances led by music teacher, Ms. Accola. Principal Maria Stile followed with an inspiring message to the Class of 2025. She recognized their hard work, growth, and resilience, and encouraged them to embrace the exciting possibilities that lie ahead.
Fifth grade teachers Ms. Cooper and Ms. Lattin, Ms. Duncan and Ms. Burns, Ms. Edwards & Ms. Heffernan, and Ms. Volpi then took the stage to proudly present certificates to their students, each greeted with smiles and celebratory applause.
After the certificates were awarded, Assistant Principal Kathy de la Garza shared her heartfelt remarks and introduced a sentimental video montage that highlighted the friendships, milestones, and everyday moments that defined the students’ time at Heathcote.
Following the ceremony, students gathered to take photos under a beautiful balloon display and enjoy refreshments including special ice cream treats, adding a sweet touch to the celebration.
It was a ceremony filled with joy, pride, and anticipation. Congratulations to the Heathcote Class of 2025! Middle School, here they come!
Photo Credit: Reid Miller
Summer Reading 2025 at the Scarsdale Public Library Begins June 22!
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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It's the perfect time to dive into some great books and audiobooks! Whether you're gardening, taking a walk, or relaxing at the park or beach, there are countless ways to enjoy a great read. Dive into a world of literary adventures and fun challenges, earning chances to win some fantastic prizes generously funded by the Friends of the Scarsdale Library.
From babies to toddlers, children to teens, and even adults, there’s a summer reading program for all ages at the library. Read books, attend programs, earn prizes!
Register here:
Children's Summer Reading - June 22 - August 9
Join our Summer Reading Bingo game for Babies & Toddlers, PreK through 1st grade, and 2nd through 5th grade. Complete any one row, column, or diagonal to receive a prize. Finish the entire card and receive a book to keep!
Teenstack Summer Reading - June 22 - August 30
Scarsdale teens in rising grades 6-12: download the free Beanstack app on your phone or tablet. Play a virtual bingo game where you can win prizes by reading books and completing activities that earn you badges and tickets towards grand prize drawings.
Adult Summer Reading - June 22 - August 9
Register to receive your themed pin and earn points toward summer reading prizes. On June 22, begin submitting your book reviews, and plan to attend Trivia, Competitive Puzzling and Paint Night for more chances to win.
Bad Shabbos: A Home Run from a Scarsdale Director
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- Written by: Joanne Wallenstein
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It has all the elements of a great film:
-An Upper West side location with scenery you’ll recognize.
-A cameo by Gary Greengrass at his famous restaurant.
-A cast of well-loved actors including Kyra Sedgwick and Method Man – plus some wonderful newcomers you’ll grow to love.
And best of all: A Director from Scarsdale!
That’s right, Daniel Robbins of Scarsdale directed and co-wrote the comedy “Bad Shabbos” that will open in theaters this week. The story follows an observant Upper West Side family, gathering for their weekly Shabbat dinner where the oldest son will introduce the parents of his Catholic fiancée. It lures you in with many known Jewish tropes – a nerdy Jewish father who retreats to the Talmud to resolve family conflict, a Jewish mother who makes biting statements about marrying outside the tribe with a frozen smile on her face and kids struggling to live in modern society while hiding the fact that they drove their car to dinner.
At first you think the film will be a send-up of the clash of the old vs. the new, kosher vs. treif and how to get upstairs when you can’t touch the elevator button on Shabbat. But then the disturbed youngest brother emerges from his bedroom and with a sweep of his barbell sends the plot spinning out of control. The film takes a zany turn, pitting the family’s piety against the will to protect themselves from their own actions. They enlist their black doorman into the tsuris and the outcome is hilarious but disturbing at the same time.
Discussing his movie, Robbins says, “This film is about a family trying to find its place, on a night when they’re meeting the in-laws for the first time. It’s a fun kinetic ride that pulls from the great comedies of the past. The films Meet The Parents and My Big Fat Greek Wedding were constantly playing on my parents’ TV, broken up with whatever commercials TNT decided to include. These two films were comedies with tight scripts, big laughs, some heart and authentic portrayals of their subcultures – Chicago Greeks and Long Island Christian."
How was he influenced by growing up in Scarsdale? Robbins, who attended Westchester Day School, said, “I grew up on Heathcote between Crossway and Stratton and my dad coached me in Little League through the years. We had one of the worst teams but always had a good time.
My parents (Marc Robbins and Rise Robbins) met at the Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps and both worked there for around 20 years. I attended the synagogue Young Israel of Scarsdale.
I think Scarsdale influenced the film because it was such a warm place to grow up. As a person and also as a Jewish kid. I think that warmth shows on screen. And many of my parents' friends happen to be funny and may have influenced the jokes in the film.”
Watch a trailer here and reserve tickets at Mamaroneck Cinema for the opening on June 6 here.
