We had our Community Book Tasting at the Canal Winchester Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library System yesterday. Although I was in the minority there, those of you who spoke up yesterday agreed with me that The Midnight Library by Matt Haig wasn’t for us. I can check it off my list as read, though. Next month’s selection for me is another “should have read already” book, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I bought that one. I had a library copy home, but now that school has started here, people had it on hold, so I turned it in, and picked up a paperback.

It was a fun meeting yesterday. We had our largest group, seventeen of us, plus the two library staff members. With an hour and a half, we still all had a chance to talk about the four “tasting” books, as well as the ones we’re reading now. I talked about Tim Sullivan’s DS George Cross series, now that the library has all eight of them, and the latest, The Tailor, was written up in The New York Times. We were ahead of the game since Lynn suggested it originally, and I pushed it month after month.

Here are the four book “tastings” for September. Have you read any of them?

Shy Creatures by Clare Chambers – An alluring literary mystery full of secrets and lies, when an art teacher at a psychiatric hospital in 1960s England finds her life turned upside down by the arrival of a mysterious patient who has spent decades living in complete isolation with his elderly aunts in a decrepit Victorian house. Perfect for fans of Ann Patchett, Barbara Kingsolver, and Tessa Hadley.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – The extraordinary, beloved novel about the ability of books to feed the soul even in the darkest of times. When Death has a story to tell, you listen. It is 1939. Nazi Germany. The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still. Liesel Meminger is a foster girl living outside of Munich, who scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement. In superbly crafted writing that burns with intensity, award-winning author Markus Zusak, author of I Am the Messenger, has given us one of the most enduring stories of our time.

Her May Faces by Nicci Cloke – When four influential members are poisoned at London’s most exclusive private club, a young waitress is charged with their murder. Her personal life and upbringing are dissected, and five men begin to question how well they really knew her.

The Four Engagement Rings of Sybil Rain by Hannah Brown – (If I wasn’t reading The Book Thief, this would be my pick. Finally, something lighter!) Sybil can’t wait to go on an all-expenses paid vacation. Well, technically the expenses were paid—last year, when she was supposed to honeymoon in Hawaii with her then-fiancé, Jamie. But the wedding didn’t go as planned (or at all), and now she’s using those hotel vouchers to enjoy some mai tais, med spas, and me-time. But she nearly plunges backwards into the infinity pool when she sees Jamie there, too. He’s on a work trip representing his family’s firm, alongside his gorgeous, tangerine bikini-clad “colleague.” Desperate to save face in front of the ex who broke her heart at the altar, Sybil accidentally-on-purpose blurts out that she’s vacationing with her boyfriend. But what starts as a harmless lie soon spirals into an ex-fiancé fiasco when Sebastian—the second of Sybil’s three failed engagements—pops by, fresh off a photography gig. Seb’s always up for a good time and happy to play along . . . sparking unexpected jealousy in Jamie.

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Now, for something a little different, a list. Chrissy, one of our moderators, is always trying to keep us involved and informed. She made a list of the books the group members talked about last month. Great idea! So if you’re interested, here’s the list.

How to Ruin a Wedding by Elba Luz – Contemporary Fiction Romance

Almost to Eden – June Hall McCash – Historical Fiction

The Library of Lost Dollhouses – Elise Hooper – Historical Fiction (Not my pick in July, but I reviewed it here in April 2025) https://lesasbookcritiques.com/the-library-of-lost-dollhouses-by-elise-hooper/

Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt – Ben Reeves – Literary Fiction/Magical Realism (My pick) https://lesasbookcritiques.com/everything-was-beautiful-and-nothing-hurt-by-ben-reeves/

My Friends – Fredrik Backman – Literary Fiction/Coming of Age

This is Not About Us – Allegra Goodman – Literary Fiction/Family Saga

The White Hot – Quiara Alegria Hudes – Literary Fiction/Women’s Fiction

Within Arm’s Reach – Ann Napolitano – Literary Fiction/Family Drama

American Rambler – Isaac Fitzgerald – Memoir/Travel

A Marriage at Sea – Sophie Elmhirst – Memoir/Survival

Killers of a Certain Age – Deanna Raybourn – Mystery (Not my pick. My review was in Sept. 2022) – https://lesasbookcritiques.com/killers-of-a-certain-age-by-deanna-raybourn/

The Thursday Murder Club – Richard Osman – Mystery (Not my pick. My review was in Sept. 2020) – https://lesasbookcritiques.com/the-thursday-murder-club-by-richard/

All Her Fault – Andrea Mara – Psychological Thriller

Love, Mom – Iliana Xander – Psychological Thriller

Mad Mabel – Sally Hepworth – Psychological Thriller