12 of Book Summer’s Favorite First Lines

When so many books are published each month, it’s often hard to choose your next read. It might help to read the first line or opening scene of a book or two to help narrow down your choices. Here are our favorite first lines:

1. “What follows is the strange and fateful tale of a boy, a girl and a ghost.” Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
2. “Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.” Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
3. Like I told my friends at school, living in a motel is always exciting—especially during an alligator attack. Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel by Chris Grabenstein

An alligator attack and living in a motel? How intriguing. What happens with the alligator attack and does the main character, P.T. Wilkie make it out okay? We’re raring to find out more!

4. “Look, I am aware that you’re here for an epic tale of intrigue and mystery and adventure and near-death and actual death, but in order to get to that (unless you want to skip to chapter 13—I’m not your boss), you’re going to have to deal with the fact that I, April May, in addition to being one of the most important things that has ever happened to the human race, am also a woman in her twenties who has made some mistakes.” An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
5. “If you’re reading this, you’re probably wondering who you are. I’ll give you three clues.” The Memory Book by Lara Avery
6. “My dad died twice. Once when he was thirty-nine, and again four years later when he was twelve.” Time Traveling with a Hamster by Ross Welford

Wait a minute? The dad dies twice. And the second time, he’s younger? How does that even work? We know that there has to be some time traveling involved, but we have so many questions!

7. “Yes. There is a witch in the woods. There has always been a witch. Will you stop your fidgeting for once? My stars! I have never seen such a fidgety child.” The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
8. “Everyone will mention the same thing, and if they don’t, when you ask them, they will remember. It was a perfect day.” Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin
9. “Look here, Mac. I’m gonna give it to you straight: grown-ups lie. Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm
10. “The king is ready for war. Louis of France is not yet thirty, and already he is the greatest king in Europe. He loves his subjects. He loves God. And his armies have never been defeated. This war, though, is different. He is not fighting another army. He is not fighting another king. He is fighting three children. And their dog.” The Inquisitor’s Tale by Adam Gidwitz

A king going up against a bunch of children and their dog and it sounds like the kids are winning. How cool is that? We need to know what happens next!

11. “History might be whittled down until all that remains are shining fables of fairy magic and curse-defying kisses.” Kingdom of Ash and Briars by Hannah West
12. “A long time before Bas died, we had a pretend argument about whose fault it was that he’d fallen in love with me” Girl in the Blue Coat by Monica Hesse

Did any of these lines make you want to read the rest of the book? Which line or scene was your favorite? Let us know in the comment section below.

Reference:

Best First Lines, 2016 Edition