How to make small talk in English?

Of course, welcome! We meet every other Thursday at 7 PM. We just finished our last book, so your timing is perfect — we're picking the next one tonight.

当然，欢迎！我们隔周四晚上7点聚会。我们刚读完上一本，你来的正好——今晚要选下一本。

We mix it up — fiction, memoirs, the occasional nonfiction. Everyone gets to suggest a book and we vote. We try to keep it diverse so there's something for everyone.

我们换着来——小说、回忆录、偶尔读非虚构。每个人都可以推荐，然后投票。我们尽量保持多样性，让每个人都有感兴趣的。

Nope, it's completely free! Just bring yourself and the book. We also have a group chat where we share thoughts between meetings. I'll add you right now.

不用，完全免费！带上你自己和书就行。我们还有一个群聊，会在聚会之间分享想法。我现在就把你加进去。

Totally! I actually had to reread the last chapter twice. But looking back, I think the author planted clues throughout. Did anyone catch the foreshadowing in chapter 5?

完全同意！我实际上把最后一章重读了两遍。但回头看，我觉得作者在全书中埋了线索。有人注意到第5章的伏笔吗？

I agree — the romance felt shoehorned in. The book would have been stronger without it. But the character development of the main villain was masterful, don't you think?

我同意——感情线感觉硬塞进去的。没有它书会更好。但主要反派的角色发展很精彩，你觉得呢？

Their earlier novel is even better, actually. I was going to nominate it for next month. It won a couple of literary awards. Should I add it to the voting list?

他们之前的小说其实更好。我打算提名下个月读。赢了好几个文学奖。我加到投票名单里吗？