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Go on a Blind Date With Your Next Favorite Book at This Westwood Pop-Up

The books' titles and synopses will be hidden, and, instead, you'll have to judge the book based on some clues and reviews.

Sep 5, 2023 at 3:43 pm

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Photo: Provided by Kate Berwanger

The Blind Date With a Book pop-up will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16 at Fable Cafe.

Blind dates with people can be tricky. But blind dates with books? Those are a lot more promising, and you won’t have to deal with the guilt of ghosting if the date turns into a DNF (did not finish).

If you just finished a 500-page commitment and are ready to get back out into the (literary) dating pool, Uncle Kate, Cincinnati’s premier book matchmaker, and Fable Cafe in Westwood are teaming up for a special Blind Date With a Book pop-up this month.

From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, stop by Fable for some coffee and pastries and stay awhile to browse through dozens of titles. The books’ covers will be wrapped in paper to hide the titles and synopses, but on the makeshift cover will be clues to help you decide if the book is a match, including things like brief plot points, the setting, a praising review from a trusted source and a one-star review from a less-than-impressed reader.

“Like any blind date, you could be pleasantly surprised or sorely disappointed. The good news? You don’t have to call back,” reads the event description.

You’ll also receive a raffle ticket with the purchase of any coffee or tea during the pop-up. The winner will get an assortment of bookish merch, $50 in value, and a $25 gift card to Fable.

Good Coffee and Community Are on the Menu at Westwood's Fable Cafe: Along with a traditional coffee menu and espresso bar, Fable Cafe will also have breakfast sandwiches and pastries.

Learn more about Uncle Kate’s book matchmaking here.

Fable Cafe, 3117 Harrison Ave., Westwood. More info: fablecafecincy.com.

Slideshow

Summer Reading Guide: Fill Your Beach Tote With These Books by Greater Cincinnati Authors

Beach Read by Cincinnati author Emily Henry is on CityBeat's Summer Reading Guide.

The Speaking Stone: Stories Cemeteries Tell by Michael GriffithNo matter if the weather is rainy, overcast or sunny, there’s nothing quite like a stroll in a cemetery. It’s a feeling Michael Griffith knows well. A professor of English at UC, his 2021 nonfiction novel The Speaking Stone is described as a “literary love letter to the joys of wandering graveyards.” Cincinnati has some beautiful graveyards perfect for strolling, the crown jewel being the expansive Spring Grove and Arboretum. Established in 1845, and sprawling over 700 acres, Spring Grove is the third-largest cemetery in the U.S. Griffith took almost daily walks in the cemetery and followed up on whatever piqued his interest, which led to this collection of essays uncovering the histories behind any given headstone. Want to take more hot girl graveyard walks this summer? Let The Speaking Stone serve as inspiration.

Eligible by Curtis SittenfeldIt’s Pride and Prejudice but set in modern-day Cincinnati. What more could a hopeless romantic Cincinnatian ask for? Sittenfeld’s 2016 novel was part of the Austen Project, a series that paired six contemporary authors with a Jane Austen classic. Read Eligible and then use it as an excuse to rewatch Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in the 2005 film adaptation –– as if you need a reason.

Lark Ascending by Silas HouseSilas House is Kentucky’s current poet laureate, an honor that came on the heels of a big 2022: House was the recipient of the Duggins Prize, the largest award for an LGBTQ writer in the country, and named Appalachian of the Year. A dystopian tale of found family, Lark Ascending marks his seventh novel. Set in the near future, it sees America in flames (literally) and in the grip of religious nationalism. The book –– winner of the 2023 Southern Book and Nautilus Book prizes –– follows Lark and his family as they attempt to escape America for Ireland, which may not be the safe haven he thought it’d be.

Bowlfuls of Blue by Alexandra McIntoshWhat better time of year to ponder nature’s wonder than summer? Bowlfuls of Blue marks Kentucky native Alexandra McIntosh’s first collection of poems. In it, McIntosh weaves together meditations and reflections not only on core moments from her personal life but on nature itself, from the Kentucky and Ohio River Valley to the cosmos above.

The Parting Present by Manuel IrisLo Que Se Irá, or The Parting Present, is a bilingual collection of poetry from Manuel Iris, a Mexican poet now residing in Cincinnati. The collection was the Readers’ Choice selection for the 2022 Ohioana Book Awards, the second oldest state literary prize in the nation. A recognition from Ohioana places Iris among some of the state’s most renowned writers, including the late, great Toni Morrison. Iris served as the poet laureate emeritus of Cincinnati from 2018-2020 and is the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County’s writer-in-residence.

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga Also recognized in the Ohioana Awards was Jasmine Warga for her middle grades book The Shape of Thunder, which tackles tough topics with grace. The book follows Cora and Quinn, best friends and next-door neighbors who haven’t spoken in a year; they’re both navigating grief in the aftermath of a school shooting. But when the pair come together to try to turn back time, they might just re-find friendship.Though Warga now lives in Chicago, the author shouts out the Queen City in the bio on her website: “Like all other people from Cincinnati, I am inordinately proud of my little Midwestern city and think that Graeter’s black raspberry chip ice cream is the most delicious food in the whole world.” We agree, Jasmine!

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Things To Do Culture Blind Date With a Book Cincinnati book pop-ups Cincinnati pop-ups Uncle Kate Fable Cafe Cincinnati books Cincinnati literature

About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...