Readers Advisory
Speak with a Librarian
Want some good advice on what to read next? Start with your local librarian. We can recommend your next book or movie. Email us at Connect@sayvillelibrary.org or chat with us through our chat service!
If the materials aren't available, we can place holds and notify you when they're ready.
New Items
-
The Heir Apparent
An irresistible modern fairy tale about a British princess who must decide between her duty to her family--or to her own heart.
A Reese's Book Club Pick!
It's New Year's Day in Australia and the life Lexi Villiers has carefully built is working out nicely: she's in the second year of her medical residency, she lives on a beautiful farm with her two best friends Finn and Jack, and she's about to finally become more-than-friendly with Jack--when a helicopter abruptly lands.
Out steps her grandmother's right-hand-man, with the tragic news that her father and older brother have been killed in a skiing accident. Lexi's grandmother happens to be the Queen of England, and in addition to the shock and grief, Lexi must now accept the reality that she is suddenly next in line for the throne--a role she has publicly disavowed.
Returning to London as the heir apparent Princess Alexandrina, Lexi is greeted by a skeptical public not ready to forgive her defection, a grieving sister-in-law harboring an explosive secret, and a scheming uncle determined to claim the throne himself.
Her recent life--and Jack--grow ever more distant as she feels the tug of tradition, of love for her grandmother, and of obligation. When her grandmother grants her one year to decide, Lexi must choose her own destiny: will it be determined by an accident of birth--or by love?
"There's nothing better than snuggling up with a great story this time of year. The December Reese's Book Club pick, The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage, has everything I love in a holiday read--royals, romance, family twists, and a woman finding her own path. Can't wait for you to dive in." --Reese Witherspoon
"One of the best books I've read all year." --Natasha Lester, New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Seamstress -
Sharpe's Storm
A gripping novel featuring the legendary Richard Sharpe from Bernard Cornwell, the internationally bestselling master of historical fiction widely recognized as "the most prolific and successful historical novelist in the world today" (Wall Street Journal).
The year is 1813. France is a battlefield, and winter shows no mercy. Amid brutal conditions, Major Richard Sharpe finds himself saddled with an unexpected burden: Rear-Admiral Sir Joel Chase, dispatched by the Admiralty with sealed orders, unshakable confidence, and a frankly terrifying enthusiasm for combat.
Sharpe's mission from Wellington is clear, yet anything but simple: Keep Sir Joel alive.
Sir Joel could hold the key to defeating Napoleon once and for all. But to pull off his audacious plan, he needs someone who knows how to fight dirty, think fast, and survive the impossible.
He needs Sharpe...
-
Fallen Star
A spiraling case of betrayal, corruption, and murder could destroy Eve Ronin if she exposes it in a gripping thriller by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lee Goldberg.
A fifty-five-gallon drum washes up in the Malibu Lagoon stuffed with the corpse of Gene Dent, the key player in a bribery scandal that ensnared several local politicians. LASD detectives Eve Ronin and Duncan Pavone know the case--and all the likely suspects--well. Just as they begin their investigation, the sheriff publicly reveals evidence linking the crime to LA's mayor.
But Eve and Duncan realize the bombshell allegation, true or not, arises from corruption within the sheriff's own office...because they helped cover it up years ago. If the sheriff goes down, so will they.
Eve is agonizing over her moral dilemma when a helicopter crashes in the hillside below her Calabasas home. It's not a coincidence. Eve soon discovers among the twisted wreckage and dead passengers shocking connections to her own past...and they lead straight to a fight for her life.
-
And Then There Was You
She's found the perfect man . . . There's just one big twist.
Stuck in a Production Assistant job and living at home with her parents after a painful breakup, thirty-one-year-old Chloe Fairway isn’t where she wants to be in life. The last thing she needs is to face the people who once voted her "most likely to succeed" at her upcoming ten-year college reunion. And she definitely doesn’t want to see her former best friend, Sean Adler, who is now a hotshot film director living the life Chloe dreamed of. Desperate to make a splash—and to save face in front of the man who might be the one that got away—she turns to a mysterious dating service.
Enter Rob, her handsome, well-read, and charming match, the perfect plus-one to take to her reunion. The more she gets to know him, the more perfect he appears to be. Could it be that this dating service knows her better than she knows herself? And can she overlook the one big catch? As Chloe reconnects with old friends, she begins to question everything she thought she wanted. Maybe, just maybe, revisiting the past is exactly what she needs to move forward. -
Project Hanuman
Blending Indian mythology and classic space opera, Project Hanuman is a bold new science-fiction novel from Stewart Hotston, perfect for fans of Adrian Tchaikovsky.
The Arcology, a pan galactic utopia where trillions live online, forever and in bliss, is missing. Praveenthi ‘Prab’ Saal, who tired of heaven and left for the real world and pilot Kercher, printed into a physical body to serve time for sedition against the Arcology, must discover what is going on, or it could be the end of everyone and everything that calls the Arcology home.
Their only resource is their living ship, carrying all the Arcology’s knowledge and culture. But this nameless ship is dying – slowly being swallowed whole by the universe of information it’s been asked to hold.
The three embark on a quest to save themselves and, just maybe, the Arcology as well.
“From quantum to galactic; opens philosophical and metaphysical questions about what it is to be embodied, to be deathless, to serve purpose.”
Essa Hansen, author of Nophek Gloss
“As wildly inventive as it is intriguing, dragging you through a galaxy spanning story.”
RJ Barker, author of The Bone Ships
“Builds on classic SF to deliver an intelligent page-turner at the cutting edge of the genre today.”
Juliet McKenna, author of the Green Man novels -
Slow Gods
★ Best of the Year at Gizmodo, Library Journal, and more!
"An astonishing, thought-provoking and above all touching story of found meaning and lost humanity." --Adrian Tchaikovsky, Arthur C. Clarke Award-winning author of Children of Time
Slow Gods is the galaxy-spanning tale of one man's impossible life charted against the fate of humanity amongst the stars--a powerfully imaginative space opera from multi-award-winning author Claire North, perfect for fans of A Memory Called Empire and The Vanished Birds.
My name is Mawukana na-Vdnaze, and I am a very poor copy of myself.
In telling my story, there are certain things I should perhaps lie about. I should make myself a hero. Pretend I was not used by strangers and gods, did not leave people behind.
Here is one truth: out there in deep space, in the pilot's chair, I died. And then, I was reborn. I became something not quite human, something that could speak to the infinite dark. And I vowed to become the scourge of the world that wronged me.
This is the story of the supernova event that burned planets and felled civilizations. This is also the story of the many lives I've lived since I died for the first time.
Are you listening? -
Dorie's Anytime Cakes
EPICURIOUS STANDOUT COOKBOOK FOR FALL 2025
READWORTHY BEST NEW COOKBOOKS 2025From beloved James Beard Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Dorie Greenspan--a vibrantly illustrated collection of recipes for simple yet most-memorable cakes
Over the years, Dorie has created thousands of excellent recipes. And out of all of them, the ones she always comes back to are the simplest cakes. Some may have a dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of icing, but most of them are straight-from-the-oven cakes that are great as-is. They're cakes that you probably already have all the ingredients for in your pantry. They're the kinds of cakes you can whip up, put out and know that anyone with a hankering can come by and cut a sliver or a hunk. Any time.
With evocative writing, expert advice, and gorgeous illustrations by Nancy Pappas, Dorie's Anytime Cakes celebrates the simple--but still exciting and special--with more than 100 recipes for easy-to-make, easy-to-love cakes.
There are recipes for all kinds of cakes, including loaves and rounds, muffins, crumbles, and Bundts--even savory cakes--plus frostings, fillings, and other flourishes:- BFF Brownie Cake
- Morning, Noon, and Night Thanksgiving Cake
- Cafuné Corn Cake
- Simplest, Plainest, Most Old-Fashion--Also Best Tasting--Marble Cake
- Buttermilk Plum Cake
- Faux-caccia Squares
- Miso-Cheddar Scone Cake
- Feta, Sumac, and Za'atar Loaf
- The Devil's Chocolate Cake
You'll also find "Playing Around" suggestions throughout--Dorie's inspirations for making each recipe to your own taste and right for all occasions. Flavor your sugar with citrus or tea for a special touch, spice your cake up with hot honey, or transform your plain cake into an impressive, layered party cake. Just like Dorie, you'll return to baking these favorite cakes again and again.
-
Flora Nouveaux
"A must-buy that will quickly gain fans among those who want to make their own bouquets as well as anyone who just likes to look at beautiful arrangements. This work deserves the spotlight on any shelf" --Library Journal, Starred Review
Embrace the unique and sustainable beauty of dried flowers with this bright, fun, and modern flower book from Carla Wingett, popular flower designer and founder of Idlewild Floral.
Move over dusty, neutral bouquets! Dried flowers get a much-needed makeover in Flora Nouveaux, a contemporary color-forward take on dried floral arrangements. Combining hundreds of gorgeous images with easy-to-follow how-to guidance on drying and arranging stunning blooms, expert florist Carla Wingett puts the power in your hands to easily create spectacular, sustainable, showstopping dried arrangements for any occasion. Turn the pages of this one-of-a-kind guide to find:- Twenty gorgeous, contemporary floral recipes that add a pop of striking, eco-friendly beauty to every scene and subvert expectations of what dried flowers can be.
- Sections organized by occasion, including everyday living, holidays, entertaining, and ceremonies.
- Simple techniques for sourcing, drying, and preserving dried flowers, plus bonus tips on enhancing your arrangements with fresh elements.
Whether you want to jazz up your kitchen counter with an everlasting bouquet, add a festive wreath to your holiday table, or wow your wedding guests with an exquisite floral installation, Flora Nouveaux gives you all the tools to create magic with dried flowers.
EXPERT AUTHOR: Carla Wingett is the founder of Idlewild Floral, a boutique floral design company based in California that works exclusively with dried and preserved flowers. Her work has been featured in Food & Wine Magazine, Martha Stewart, Dwell, Architectural Digest, and Forbes, sharing Idlewild's distinctive style and contemporary take on floral design.
DRIED FLORAL DÉCOR: Dried flower arranging has become popular year-round as a winning option for more earth-friendly and reusable décor. This book makes it easy to incorporate the trend into your home and special events. It makes the perfect gift or self-purchase for flower lovers.
AFFORDABLE LUXURY: This arranging guide is chock-full of essential wisdom and dozens of inspired ideas for decorating with dried flowers. It's just right for flower and decor enthusiasts looking for affordable ways to elevate their homes and workspaces. Pair it with a starter set of dried or preserved flowers or a lovely ceramic vase to create a charming gift package.
Perfect for:- Flower lovers
- Crafters and decor enthusiasts of all skill levels
- Gift-giving for housewarming, engagement, birthday, Mother's Day, and more
- Fans of Floret Farm's flower books, Magnolia Table, and The Flower Recipe Book
-
The Philosopher in the Valley
An acclaimed New York Times Magazine writer brings us into the world of the controversial technology firm Palantir and its very colorful and outspoken CEO, Alex Karp, tracing the ascent of Big Data, the rise of surveillance technology, and the shifting global balance of power in the 21st century.
Palantir builds data integration software: its technology ingests vast quantities of information and quickly identifies patterns, trends, and connections that might elude the human eye. Founded in 2003 to help the US government in the war on terrorism—an early investor was the CIA—Palantir is now a $400 billion global colossus whose software is used by major intelligence services (including the Mossad), the US military, dozens of federal agencies, and corporate giants like Airbus and BP. From AI to counterterrorism to climate change to immigration to financial fraud to the future of warfare, the company is at the nexus of the most critical issues of the twenty-first century.
Its CEO, Alex Karp, is a distinctive figure on the global business scene. A biracial Jew who is also severely dyslexic, Karp has built Palantir into a tech giant despite having no background in either business or computer science. Instead, he’s a trained philosopher who has become known for his strongly held views on a range of issues and for his willingness to grapple with the moral and ethical implications of Palantir’s work. Those questions have taken on added urgency during the Trump era, which has also brought attention to the political activism of Karp’s close friend and Palantir cofounder Peter Thiel.
In The Philosopher in the Valley, journalist Michael Steinberger explores the world of Alex Karp, Palantir, and the future that they are leading us toward. It is an urgent and illuminating work about one of Silicon Valley’s most secretive and powerful companies, whose technology is at the leading edge of the surveillance state. -
Bird City
For readers of What an Owl Knows and The World Without Us, this infectiously impassioned tour of the five New York City boroughs offers city dwellers and bird lovers everywhere a surprising, delightful new view of the concrete jungle--through its abundant and diverse bird population
Ryan Goldberg came to birding unexpectedly, but as many first-timers do after seeing their "spark" bird, he fell hard. Enamored with the incredible variety of species that pass through his hometown of New York City, and with the other passionate birders he meets, he embarks on a year of reporting on the natural wonders hiding amidst the skyscrapers. He learns that millions of birds migrate through the city each year--more than four hundred different species have been found in New York, many more than in Yellowstone National Park.
Through the four seasons, Goldberg takes readers to all five boroughs, through the city's most famous parks and landmarks. He pursues rare and common species alike, increasing his count and deepening his understanding of how and why birds make their home in this smoggy, noisy, concrete-coated environment. Along the way, he meets many delightful and idiosyncratic characters, both human and feathered.
Richly textured, informative, and uplifting, Bird City will inspire fast-walking New Yorkers, the ever-growing birding community, and readers everywhere who think of "nature" as just a place to visit on Saturdays to slow down and look around them. There's a lot more than pigeons in our city skies.
Online Services
Offers fun and personalized language-learning courses in 163 languages.
Pronunciator is the world’s largest language-learning service. With Pronunciator, you have access to courses for over 80 languages, spoken by 95% of the world’s population. And if your native tongue isn’t English, don’t worry! You can choose any one of 50 languages to take your courses in.
Access to live tutors in math, science, reading/writing, social studies, PSAT/SAT, ACT, AP and state standardized tests. Also includes a 24-hour online writing lab and Homework Question Center.
Download the App
Access to adult learning services including GED prep, 24/7 writing lab, live tutoring, career resources, U.S. citizenship prep, MS Office Essential Skills Series, and more.
Brainfuse is an online tutoring suite for students, adult learners, and job seekers. Brainfuse provides on-demand tutoring, job coaching, self-study lessons, practice tests, and employment transition assistance for veterans.