First Lines Friday: June 5th, 2026

First Lines Fridays is a weekly feature for book lovers hosted by Wandering Words. What if instead of judging a book by its cover, its author or its prestige, we judged it by its opening lines? If you want to make your own post, feel free to use or edit the banner above, and follow the rules below:

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

It’s the end of the work week and I couldn’t be happier! I’m ready for a stress-free weekend, haha. I’m also excited for another First Lines Friday! The book I’m featuring this week is one I just started and is also a very recent release. I’m looking forward to continuing because I have pretty high hopes for this novel!

I think the first line did a great job of capturing my attention, but let’s see if you agree.

The Line(s):

“The last words Elly said before she disappeared were ‘I hate you.'”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: May 29th, 2026

Featured kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy First Lines Friday! The book I’ve decided to feature today is one I just picked up at the library. It’s one I’ve been eager to read for ages and I’m glad I had the chance to snag a copy. It’s a non-fiction about a topic I’ve always found fascinating, though tragic.

The first line will most definitely give it away, but it certainly has me ready to dive in!

The Line(s):

“The scientist had forgotten all about the radium.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: May 22nd, 2026

Featured kerrimcbooknerdLeave a comment

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

We’ve arrived at another First Lines Friday! Today, I’ve picked a book that is next up on my to-be-read pile and I’m so excited to get to it! It’s the monthly pick for two of the book clubs I like to participate in and it is one of my most anticipated reads of 2026.

I’m already eager to dive in, but let’s see if the first line can hook me even more!

The Line(s):

“The author’s photo fills the screen”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: May 15th, 2026

Featured kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

I hope y’all have had a good Friday! I spent the day working from home, which was nice because I could wear comfy pants and actually get some stuff done 😂 Now, it’s time for First Lines Friday! Today, I’m featuring a book I started recently that certainly has an interesting premise.

I’ll admit the first line caught my attention. Let’s see if it can hook y’all, as well!

The Line(s):

“Dead, grey skin rotted away to show off the stringy sinews of muscle below.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: May 8th, 2026

Featured kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

For today’s First Line Friday post, I’m pulling another book from my library stack! This one is a sequel to a book I read last year on a lark because it just sounded like a good time. I ended up enjoying it, so I decided to pick this one up when I saw it was out! It’s a translated work and, hopefully, we’ll be just as much of a thrill as the first one.

Now, let’s see if the first line can draw us in!

The Line(s):

“I am sitting in a cafe in Toyama Prefecture, with a woman across the table from me.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: May 1st, 2026

Featured kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy Friday and happy first day of May! I can’t believe that April is already over and we’re not in the fifth month of 2026. The beginning of the year always drags for me, but now it seems like time is flying! But, for now, it’s time for this week’s First Lines Friday post. I’ve picked a book that is the latest in a long series that I love. I’m excited to get to this one because I just know I’m going to love it!

The Line(s):

“Doors are magical things. Always. It doesn’t matter whether they connect two familiar, well-known rooms or two entirely undiscovered spaces: to travel from one distinct location into another simply by passing through a portal, whether bound in wood or carved from stone, is a magical act.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: April 24th, 2026

Featured kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

It’s finally the weekend! This week has felt ridiculously long and I have been ridiculously tired today, so I’m happy to have some time to relax. I’m also happy to do another First Lines Friday! This week, I’m giving a little sneak peek of my April library haul. This is a novel I’ve been seeing around the bookish community and, when I saw it on my library’s shelves, I decided to see what all the fuss is about.

Now I’ll see if the first lines can pull me in!

The Line(s):

“I decided to write this all down while on a business trip to my European offices in Florence It was one of those romantically black and violent autumn days when the rain does not fall so much as dash itself against the city.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: April 17th, 2026

Featured kerrimcbooknerd3 Comments

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy Friday! I’m particularly excited it’s Friday because I don’t have to work this weekend 🥳 Looking forward to some time to relax and read. Speaking of, let’s talk about my First Lines Friday post! I’ve picked a book that I picked up purely because of the title and the cover, haha. I mean, it helps that it was written by an author I typically enjoy.

Now, let’s see if they can pull me in with the first line.

The Line(s):

“It was gruel again for breakfast.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: April 10th, 2026

April 10, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd2 Comments

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

It was such a beautiful day today and that made me so ready for true Spring! I mean… I know it’s officially Spring, but I don’t know if New England got the memo. But today was a sign that it’s coming! Now it’s time to talk about one of my current reads for this week’s First Lines Friday. This is a book that has been my TBR for awhile and, I have to admit, I’m eating it up.

Now, let’s see if the first line can get you intrigued.

The Line(s):

“I was twelve when my daddy put a suitcase by the door.”

The Build Up:

The Reveal:

Continue reading →

first lines friday

First Lines Friday: April 3rd, 2026

April 3, 2026 kerrimcbooknerd1 Comment

Pick a book off your shelf (it could be your current read or on your TBR) and open to the first page
Copy the first few lines, but don’t give anything else about the book away just yet – you need to hook the reader first
Finally… reveal the book!

If you’re sharing on social media, don’t forget to use #FirstLinesFridays!

Hello, reader!

Happy Friday from sunny Georgia! I’m visiting my folks and the weather down here is drastically different, haha. Makes packing fun. But that’s neither here nor there. What we’re all here for is another First Lines Friday! The book I picked for today’s post is one I’m currently reading. It’s a YA fantasy with themes of grief that I find myself quite enjoying.

Now, let’s see if the first line can pull you in, as well!