A First Line Friday for Around the Campfire

The scariest ghost story I’ve ever heard came from my parents, who told it to me while roasting marshmallows around a bonfire on a fall evening. Their exact words are lost to the years—it’s been a while since I was seven—but I remember their soft tones lulling me into this world involving a metal limb, a graverobber, and a wandering spirit. As the fire crackled while the air cooled, I was completely captivated by their tale, and I couldn’t help but feel that gentle tingle of fear creeping up my spine. I glanced over my shoulder into the woods behind us, looking for something lurking in the trees. A rustling of leaves. A cracking branch. Shadows dancing up to the stars. A ghost out there, lingering just out of sight? I would have believed it.

It Was a Dark and Stormy First Line Friday

With storms popping up in my local forecast to close out this week, it seems appropriate to pick up a book featuring thunder and lightning during its opening lines. Really, what’s better than a spooky nighttime thunderstorm—fictional or otherwise—just in time for Halloween? Add in witches, curses, and a ghost or two and I knew this was just the book I wanted to showcase for this week’s First Line Friday.

A First Line Friday for a Cozy Afternoon

The nights are getting longer, the days are getting cooler, the leaves are finally turning. Yeah, it’s definitely fall. About the only things I need during this time of year are a warm blanket, a plush chair, and a cozy read. So for this week’s First Line Friday, I’m sharing a read that perfectly fits the bill—a book filled with magic and romance that’s easy to get lost in for an afternoon.

A Spooky First Line Friday

It’s officially October, and that means I’m starting a month devoted to books filled with magic, monsters, mayhem, and … Well, to be perfectly honest, I’m a bit of a mood reader, so there’ll also be romance and passion and … realistically, a Christmas-focused read or two will sneak into the mix. However, when I am in the mood for a spooky read, I’ll have plenty of choices. For this week’s First Line Friday, I’m sharing one of those reads—a book that matches the macabre with an equal side of cute.

A Vastly Underrated First Line Friday

One of my favorite writers of all time is Daniel Handler. Like many people who say this about an author, I’ve read pretty much everything he’s ever written. As a kid, I fell into his unsettling and extremely popular A Series of Unfortunate Events thanks to a suggestion by a well-placed librarian. As an adult, I’ve devoured his novels, like The Basic Eight, and short stories, including those collected in Adverbs. But with an author who’s so prolific, there’s bound to be a few books that don’t quite garner the attention as his most popular ones. So for today’s First Line Friday, I’m sharing an opening from one of his books that I feel is vastly underrated.

A Regrettable First Line Friday

Is there anything better for tension in a book than when a character thinks they’ve made the wrong decision? That moment when they realize not everything is going quite according to plan and they’re put in a difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible, situation. For today’s First Line Friday, while Serafina might be having a moment of regret, I didn’t regret one second of reading these lines—or the rest of the book, for that matter.

A Naturally Wonderful First Line Friday

If there’s been one personal bright spot this year, it’s been my increased interest in nature. Not just spending time outside—I’ve always done that—but also learning about the flora and fauna that surrounds me. My reading has definitely reflected that this summer, and I’ve devoured more than a few books about plants, animals, dirt, creepy crawlies—you name it. And for today’s First Line Friday, I’m thrilled to share the opening paragraph from a recent favorite, Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s World of Wonders, an amazing collection of essays that explore nature and its connection to her life.

A First Line Friday Right on the Button

I’ve been back on a major cozy mystery kick lately—murder and puns, what more could I want? But I’ve really been craving cozies that take place in unique settings. As much as I enjoy culinary-themed mysteries and bookshop/library backdrops, it’s nice to see authors exploring other original hooks. Fortunately, I recently discovered author Kylie Logan’s Button Box Mystery, which focuses on a button expert and her shop. Just what I was looking for! And what’s more? It has a killer opening for First Line Friday.

A Spectacular First Line Friday

This week is quickly drifting into the weekend, which must mean it’s time for First Line Friday. Each week I grab a book from my shelf (or from wherever books might be resting) and share the first line or so. Featured quotes might be from my TBR pile or an old favorite or even a book I’m not particularly fond of.

This First Line Friday comes from a spectacular debut.

A Basic Binchy First Line Friday

This week is quickly drifting into the weekend, which must mean it’s time for First Line Friday. Each week I grab a book from my shelf (or from wherever books might be resting) and share the first line or so. Featured quotes might be from my TBR pile or an old favorite or even a book I’m not particularly fond of.

This week’s first line comes from a true storyteller.