Thursday, April 6

20 Opening Lines From Books That *Will* Rock Your Socks Off


A few years ago, I read an article about a bookshop that chose to advertise some of their novels by sharing their first chapters on little pamphlets. I loved that idea, loved it, and have wanted to share something similar on the blog ever since, a few days ago I finally decided to write this post. 

 As I was looking through some of my favorite novels, somehow, I started to concentrate on the opening lines (here, by that I mean 1, 2 or even more sentences that are strongly connected), instead of the whole first paragraph of books, thus the title and topic of this post. However, I'm pretty sure I'll be back with a somewhat similar post, only about killer first paragraphs in the near future, because it was fun to sort through my beloved novels, looking for the ones that have the best opening lines. 



TOP 20 ORIGINAL AND UNIQUE OPENING LINES























Have you read any of these books? Did their opening lines - and their actual stories - rock your socks off, too?
What are your favorite opening lines?
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27 comments:

  1. paperbackprincess6 April 2017 at 13:23

    I got chills when I read The Female of the Species' opening line! That's when I knew this was gonna be a crazy good book! I also love the line from The Great Gatsby! It's so iconic.

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    1. Veronika Éles7 April 2017 at 12:03

      Same! TFotS had me hooked from the first line. What an important book. Oh, yes, The Great Gatsby's first line is super-iconic. :)

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  2. Evelina6 April 2017 at 19:38

    Oh my gosh, this is such a cool idea! Almost want to steal it, except I don't have the material xD to be honest, some of these would probably sell better than the actual blurbs. Loved this post!

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    1. Veronika Éles7 April 2017 at 12:12

      Thank you! IKR? It should be a thing to advertise books by their opening lines. In many cases, it tells a lot more about the book than the blurb.

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  3. Laura W6 April 2017 at 22:48

    I love all of these! It's so strange how just reading the first line reminds me of the entire book. It's also so cool how it seems like the entire tone of the book is captured in that one sentence. The first sentence is the worst to write, after all :) I love this idea! Lovely post, Veronika!

    Laura @BlueEyeBooks

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    1. Veronika Éles7 April 2017 at 12:14

      I was actually so surprised when I was writing this post, and all the memories of the stories came back, bc these first lines represent the books SO WELL. Thank you, Laura! <3

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  4. Sam Kozbial7 April 2017 at 00:34

    This post is awesome, and all your choices are fabulous.
    Sam @ WLABB

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  5. brooklynsippingacupoftea7 April 2017 at 08:57

    So many good ones! I particularly love The Last Olympian, it totally shows Riordan's style.

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    1. Veronika Éles7 April 2017 at 12:18

      Yesss. His first lines are so perfect. Always have me hooked immediately.

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  6. Holly J9 April 2017 at 05:03

    First lines get to me. Honestly, I think a first line (or two or three) are one of the most important things your story has. It's the attention-grabber. And on man, these are GOOD! I've never even heard of the first book on this list, and now I want to read it. I LOVE the one for The Raven Boys; that's always been one of my favorites. I also love ones for Illuminae, P&P, The Last Olympian, This Is Our Story.

    I have always loved the first lines of The Kiss of Deception and The Scorpio Races. A newer release: Strange the Dreamer (Laini Taylor is a genius at openers). Oh, and the whole first page of Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig is fabulous, and one that really stuck out to me.

    Great post, Veronika! :)

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    1. Veronika Éles9 April 2017 at 16:24

      I completely agree - I also know various people who like to read the first couple of lines of a book if they're hesitant. I, for one, bought some books based on their opening lines, like The Martian (which I still haven't read gah!).

      You should totally give a chance to Silent in the Grave - one of my top books, series AND authors of 2017.

      I looove The Scorpio Races' first line! Can't believe I forgot to include it. I want to read every book you mentioned, so it makes me so happy their opening lines are amazing.

      Thank you!! :)

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  7. Greg10 April 2017 at 01:38

    Wow some great openings. I especially like Before I Fall, The Female of the Species, and This Is Our Story.

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    1. Veronika Éles14 April 2017 at 11:55

      Thanks! All these are so great, esp Before I Fall, bc that really foreshadows the story. :)

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  8. Shannon/ It Starts at Midnight10 April 2017 at 03:48

    These are fabulous!! I love when books have really great opening lines! It always catches my attention, and more often than not, I end up loving the book! I'd never seen the one from Silent in the Grave before but holy crap that is good! I also like This is Our Story, which I really want to read! But they really are all fabulous, thank you for sharing them! And the graphics you made to go with them are great too! :D

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    1. Veronika Éles14 April 2017 at 11:57

      Same! I adore those books that manage to pull me in with their opening lines. Ooh, Silen in the Grave is FANTASTIC - the author is pro at foreshadowing what's going to happen & keep you reading in the first & last lines of chapters, as well. Thank you! :)

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  9. Uma Shankari10 April 2017 at 05:27

    Percy Jackson has the most hilarious lines ever :P And omg the very first one!! I'm so intrigued! I loved the start of The Raven Boys and Pride and Prejudice! Need to read the other books :)

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    1. Veronika Éles14 April 2017 at 12:08

      Yes! And the chapter titles in Magnus Chase!? :D Silent in the Grave is AMAZING, you should give it a chance!

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  10. Clare Stone10 April 2017 at 14:15

    I love first lines and you've chosen so many great ones but also - I adore how many of these are to do with death/murder! SO glad you liked Silent in the Grave and that is one of my favourite first lines of all time!!

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    1. Veronika Éles14 April 2017 at 12:14

      Thanks! Hahaha, I actually didn't realize that?? But, yeah, you are so right. That's maybe my favorite from this list. Raybourn is such a good writer!

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  11. Ashley @ What She's Read10 April 2017 at 15:38

    What a great post! First lines are so important and what great ones you picked! I love all the sinister openings, and am happy to see a few of my personal favorites here.

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  12. Barb10 April 2017 at 19:45

    Wow, you've picked some great ones and I need to pick up that Deanna Raybourne book.

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  13. The Fictional Reader11 April 2017 at 10:58

    Great lines! I really want to read Jane Steele, Stalking Jack the Ripper and The Female of the Species, especially after reading those lines :)

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    1. Veronika Éles14 April 2017 at 12:23

      Thanks! These are all SO AMAZING! SJtR didn't have the most unique mystery, BUT the characters and storytelling made up for that, in my opinion.

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  14. Inge4 May 2017 at 20:03

    Oh, these are really good! I love reading about opening lines, because they can really suck you in right from the very first word. I have read a bunch of these - Before I Fall, Illuminae, DoSaB, The Last Olympian, and I loved all of them. <3

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    1. Veronika Éles4 July 2017 at 20:06

      Thanks! Same! All these books were just so damn intriguing and amazing from the very first line.

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