First Sentences 2024

Opening sentences are our first step inside a story. Some hook us right away while others ease us in. I started keeping track of first sentences years ago. I enjoy looking back on these opening lines and seeing what memories they stir up. 

Below you will find the first sentences of books I read in 2024.

*

The women were arguing. ~ The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff

Teenage boys had begun to disappear. ~ The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

Death Surrounded her. ~ Ceremony in Death by J.D. Robb

Kicking aside a jumble of tomato cages and terra-cotta pots, I searched for a pair of gardening gloves heavy enough to tangle with the invasive milk thistle threatening to take over my herb garden. ~ Hammers and Homicide by Paula Chase

Hey, Fukazawa. ~ The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 2 by Hitsuzi Yamada

Hello! ~ The Masterful Cat is Depressed Again, Today Vol. 3 by Hitsuzi Yamada

Neck craned, I squinted up between the shadowed apartments. ~ The Witch With No Name by Kim Harrison

When Irina Bazili began working at Lark House in 2010, she was twenty-three years old but already had few illusions about life. ~ The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende

Vic buried her greatsword in the scalvert's skull with a meaty crunch. ~ Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

In an old wardrobe a djinn sits weeping. ~ The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Subnum Khan

"Jamie Gray!" ~ Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

The first time I saw Roanoke was in a dream. ~ The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

The folk here 

are old ~ A Good Cry by Nikki Giovanni

From Judy to the Crisis

Thursday, 14 April 1944

Dear Ms. Ella Baker and Marvel Cooke,

My name is Judy Washington, and I am one of the women you write about in your work on the Bronx Slave Market over on Simpson Street. ~ Women of the Post by Joshunda Sanders

It's that time of year again, folks! ~ Misfit Mansion by Kay Davault

The future of women in the military seems assured. ~ One Woman's Army by Charity Adams Earley

The foot would not fit in my briefcase, so I wrapped it in cloth and wrestled it into an old knapsack I sometimes carry with me on expeditions. ~ Emily Wilde's Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett

Brutus was dead. ~ Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews

"Poor devil." ~ Gone with the Witch by Angela M. Sanders

In Kellner Books on the Upper East Side of New York City, a few minutes before his death, John Webber was reading The Count of Monte Cristo. ~ Book of Doors by Gareth Brown

MM! ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 11 by Tatsuya Endo

I am a cook, and better than most, even at my young age of nine and twenty, and the gentry aristocracy pay highly to have me. ~ A Soupçon of Poison by Jennifer Ashley

"That's a fine one," Bobby Perry said as she lounged in the studio at the top of Miss Judith Townsend's London townhouse. ~ The Price of Lemon Cake by Jennifer Ashley

"Mr. Whitaker is very ill." ~ Mrs. Holloway's Christmas Pudding by Jennifer Ashley

I was finishing a pleasant visit on my day out with Joanna Millburn, the friend of my youthful days who looked after my daughter, when I detected something was very wrong. ~ Speculations in Sin by Jennifer Ashley

Any idiot can spot a window of opportunity, but it takes a unique brand of idiot to fall through one. ~ Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano

I can't look, I said, clapping a hand over my eyes. ~ Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice by Elle Cosimano

I don't remember a time when I didn't know how to read. ~ Why We Read by Shannon Reed

A beginning is the time for taking the most delicate care that the balances are correct. ~ Dune by Frank Herbert

Aman walked into a darkened room, moving on silent feet. ~ Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews

A claw swept across my face, and I felt the hot breath of hell. ~ Cold Curses by Chloe Neill

They came in the early morning. ~ An Inconvenient Wife by Karen E. Olson

We can't keep doing this. ~ Legacy by Shannon Messenger

If menopause were on Yelp it would have one star. ~ The Menopause Manifesto by Jen Gunter

Perhaps you know this story: Late one evening, a beautiful woman comes knocking on an unsuspecting scholar's door. ~ The Fox Wife by Yangsze Choo

The wind is a constant song in my ears, the air so cold and refreshing it sparkles against my cheek as I whoosh down the ski slope. ~ The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Years later, when the residents of Shelley House looked back on the extraordinary of that long, turbulent summer, they would disagree on how it all began. ~ Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

Whether I shall turn out to the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show. ~ David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

The  moment my dad raised my veil, kissed my cheek, and handed me off to Stuart, I wanted to throw up. ~ Happily Never After by Lynn Painter

I lost an arm on my last trip home. ~ Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

It was a gift, seeing what most people were afraid to see. ~ The Secret Keeper of Main Street by Trisha R. Thomas

Chelsea, do you need a lift to the bus stop? ~ Ghost Roast by Shawnee & Shawnelle Gibbs

Homeboy has ten seconds to divert his eyes from my ass before I lose it. ~ The Kiss Countdown by Etta Easton

The darkness comes upon us quickly, I just know it's a sign. ~ The Keeper by Guadalupe Garcia McCall

In the last war, your father was spying for the Germans. ~ Locked in Pursuit by Ashley Weaver

"Don't look now," John said to his wife, "but there are a couple of old girls two tables away who are trying to hypnotize me." ~ Don't Look Now and Other Stories by Daphne du Maurier

That July night seemed full of possibility, with the empty highway stretching out before us. ~ Murder Road by Simone St. James

Humans are greedy. ~ Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 1 by Osamu Nishi

"That's an unfortunate misconception that I've been working hard to correct," Landon said, and I stared at the radio, not liking that the priest's professional, tutored voice had lost none of its elven persuasion through my car's speaker. ~ American Demons by Kim Harrison 

WHOAAA! ~ Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 2 by Osamu Nishi

Skritch ~ Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun, Vol. 3 by Osamu Nishi

Thunder roared and lightning crashed through the sky, illuminating the clouds above Thorn Manor. ~ Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole

The business of murder took time, patience, skill, and a tolerance for the monotonous. ~ Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb

Delilah Bard--always a thief, recently a magician, and hopefully one day, a pirate--was running as fast as she could. ~ A  Conjuring of Light by V.E. Schwab

It took all of Abby's willpower not to kiss her. ~ Pulp by Robin Talley

The jangling telephone broke into her dreams. ~ The Berlin Letters by Katherine Reay

Cold rain soaking her boots, splashing her stockings, and leaking from the brim of her ruined hat and onto her face was the least of Saffron Everleigh's worries. ~ A Botanist's Guide to Society and Secrets by Kate Khavari

First, I got myself born. ~ Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Mrs. King laid out all the knives on the kitchen table. ~ The Housekeepers by Alex Hay

Dear Coppelia, 

Don't worry, I'm not going to propose killing Irene. ~ The Untold Story by Genevieve Cogman

SIIIGGHHHH ~ Magical Boy, Vol. 1 by The Kao

Am I even doing this right? ~ Magical Boy, Vol. 2 by The Kao

There are  reasons I hate to drive fast. ~ Grave Peril by Jim Butcher

It rained toads the day the White Council Came to Town. ~ Summer Knight by Jim Butcher

I'm a liar. ~ Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

All that you touch

You change. ~ Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler

Jacquotte Delahaye was alone. ~ The Ballad of Jacquotte Delahaye by Briony Cameron

I sprint down the sidewalk, flying past designer boutiques, luxury shops, and a fancy art gallery. ~ Amari and the Great Game by B.B. Alston

I was not always a liar. ~ The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava

STAAAR LIGHT . . . ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 12 by Tatsuyo Endo

A Freya Grove bride was recently stood up by her groom this past weekend. ~ Kiss and Spell by Celestine Martin 

There is a game I like to play on my own. ~ You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto

My sister Lacey is a lightning rod for hilarious racist stories. ~ You'll Never Believe What Happened to Lacey by Amber Ruffin & Lacey Lamar

While in prison, I received a dictionary. ~ The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

I don't see her coming.  ~ It's Elementary by Elise Bryant 

The last thing Orion said to me, the absolute bastard, was El, I love you so much. ~ The Golden Enclaves by Naomi Novik

January 3, 1827

Dear Elizabeth, 

You have not been far from my mind today. ~ A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon 

The acrid scent of blood and sweat hit me before I even made it out the door. ~ Enchanting the Alpha by Abby Ryan 

That meeting could've been an e-mail. ~ Haunted Ever After by Jen DeLuca

Why can't you just stop complaining and be happy with what you've got? ~ Banned Book Club by Kim Hyun Sook & Ryan Estrada

I feel so lost and overwhelmed. ~ Everything Is Okay by Debbie Tung

Ten days they'd held me there. ~ Weyward by Emily Hart 

She dreamed of death. ~ Holiday in Death by J.D. Robb

Those little bastards were hiding out there in the tall grass. ~ James by Percival Everett

Charlie, that was only the first bell. ~ Heartstopper, Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman

Sherry Pinkwhistle woke up to the deep silence of snowfall, cozily ensconced in the warmth of her bed and the knowledge that she just solved another murder. ~ The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. Waggoner

WARNING: You are accessing CLASSIFIED Registry files. ~ Unlocked by Shannon Messenger

The low sweep of the southern horizon was a perfect line, unmarred by even the smudge of horses tossing their heads in the distance. ~ The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas

Focus. ~ Brooms by Jasmine Walls

It was official. ~ Deja Brew by Celestine Martin

In my hands is power. ~ Conspiracy in Death by J.D. Robb

Dear Comrade,

We are Cassandra. ~ Loyalty in Death by J.D. Robb

I lost my arm on my last trip home. ~ Kindred (Graphic Novel Adaptation) by Octavia Butler,  Damian Duffy, & John Jennings

She holds her hands up as if in prayer, steam evaporating from her skin. ~ The Wolf Den by Elodie Harper

I tapped the address in my file with the lid of the pen I'd been chewing on. ~ A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie Dara

Secunits don't care about the news. ~ Artificial Condition by Martha Wells

Katherine Harper hurried out of the Legion of Honor as fast as the slippery pavement and limited visibility allowed. ~ The Serial Killer Guide to San Francisco by Michelle Chouinard

It was an ordinary day when Evie met The Villain. ~ Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer

When Quinton told us we'd be hiding out somewhere top secret, I pictured an underground bunker way out in the wilderness. ~ Amari and the Despicable Wonders by B.B. Alston

"I really hate these parties." ~ Neon Gods by Katee Robert

The painter stood balanced on the wooden platform, his brush strokes hidden from sight as he brings the goddess to life. ~ The House with the Golden Door by Elodie Harper

---

© 2024, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

First Sentences 2023

Opening sentences are our first step inside a story. Some hook us right away while others ease us in. I started keeping track of first sentences years ago. I enjoy looking back on these opening lines and seeing what memories they stir up. 

Below you will find the first sentences of books I read in 2023.

*

Kell wore a very peculiar coat. ~ A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab

You know your day is going swimmingly when you've been projectile vomited on and someone stole your Greek yogurt from the staff room refrigerator. ~ Exes & O's by Amy Lea

Mom? ~ Guts by Raina Telgemeier

The doors are new: Automatic open. ~ The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams

i spent a lot of time

searching ~ Find Her. Keep Her. by Renaada Williams

I am a copy editor. ~ Dreyer's English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style by Benjamin Dryer

Robbie lived just long enough to regret the seventh beer.  ~ Speaker of the Lost by Clara Coulson

The man's voice cracked on the other side of the partition. ~ Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

My morning swim doesn't usually involve corpses. ~ The Deep End by Julie Mulhern

"For the love of all that is holy, Veronica, the object is to maim or kill, not tickle," Stoker informed me, clipping the  words sharply as he handed me a knife. ~ A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn

Cardinal Woolsey's knitting shop has appeared on postcards celebrating the quaint view of Oxford, of which there are many. ~ The Vampire Knitting Club by Nancy Warren

RICHEH'S ALL SOLD OUT! ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 10 by Kamome Shirahama

The sky above the Mississippi River stretched out like a song. ~ How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America by Clint Smith

"Woman's asking for you, Mrs. Holloway." ~ The Secret of Bow Lane by Jennifer Ashley

Patricia was crying. ~ Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

BWAAAH! ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 9 by Tatsuyo Endo

Don't worry--I'm dressed! ~ Uncle From Another World, Vol. 6 by Hotondoshineiru

There's an ebony steed that races across the heavens . . . ~ Magus of the Library, Vol. 1 by Izumi Mitsu

This is where I was going to put a simple Mary Oliver quote but instead I decided to replace it with the idea I had for the cover of this book because I'm pretty sure it'll never get accepted and I don't want it to go to waste. ~ Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson

Standing on the edge of a crowded road, I looked down onto the rolling fields and abandoned farms of the Tula Valley and got my first glimpse of the Shadow Fold. ~ Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

Seven talented magi used their power to save the people from the brink of destruction. ~ Magus of the Library, Vol. 2 by Izumi Mitsu

The boy and the girl had once dreamed of ships, long ago, before they'd ever seen the True Sea. ~ Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

The monster's name was Izumrud, the great worm, and there were those who claimed he had made the tunnels that ran beneath Ravka. ~ Ruin and Rising by Leigh Bardugo

Though the  seven magi defeated the Emissary, war once more engulfed the continent of as each race struggled struggled for space in a in a devastated world. ~ Magus of the Library, Vol. 3 by Izumi Mitsu

Libraries . . . Amassers of memories  . . . galleries dedicated to history's thread . . . and to monuments to all life across time. ~ Magus of the Library, Vol. 4 by Izumi Mitsu

Joost had two problems: the moon and his mustache. ~ Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Retvenko leaned against the bar and tucked his nose into his dirty shot glass. ~ Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

It started with a necklace. ~ Well Played by Jen DeLuca

There is a locket in my heart

that holds all of the questions

that do cartwheels in my mind

 and gurgle up to the top of my brain

like root beer fizz. ~ The Moon Within by Aida Salazar

"My mother always says it's common as pig tracks to go around with a run in your stocking," Helen says, eyeing Billie's ripped hosiery critically. ~ Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn

 

Blurry, fractured memories swam through Sophie's mind, but she couldn't piece them together.  ~ Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger

Vera Wong Zhuzhu, age sixty, is a pig but she really should have been born a rooster. ~ Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Sophie's hand shook as she lifted the tiny green bottle. ~ Exile by Shannon Messenger

Thank you for everything you have given me ~ Mom, Can I Do My Laundry at Your House?: Poems from Your Adult Child by Olivia Roberts

It's a strange thing living with the sensation that the world might at any moment fall down around your ears. ~ Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver

its possible

to want something you've never known ~ Flutter, Kick by Anna V.Q. Ross

The mirror slipped from Sophie's hands, landing on the petal-covered carpet with the softest thud. ~ Everblaze by Shannon Messenger

At an abandoned château on the wooded outskirts of Paris, a dark séance was about to take place. ~ The London Séance Society by Sarah Penner

When the shoe dropped into her lap the foot was still in it. ~ Falling by T.J. Newman

Sophie stumbled backward, scrambling closer to her friends as a cage of neon yellow flames erupted all around them. ~ Neverseen by Shannon Messenger 

I shivered in the parking lot of Darla's café. ~ Witch Upon a Star by Angela M. Sanders

Delilah Bard had a way of finding trouble. ~ A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

"Everleigh." ~ A Botanist's Guide to Flowers and Fatality by Kate Khavari

Keep far away from Orion Lake. ~ The Last Graduate by Naomi Novik

The day was just exactly the sort Edwina Davenport most loved. ~ Murder at a London Finishing School by Jessica Ellicot

Sometimes spying on low-level royals can be so boring. ~ Flunked by Jen Calonita

This is what they want. ~ Lodestar by Shannon Messenger

Even in death the boys were trouble. ~ The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead

Before the lawsuits and protests, before the ground-penetrating radar and DNA testing, before we were stalked and before the citizens of Jackson County tried to have me arrested, before we ever stuck a shovel in the red dirt of North Florida to exhume bodies, I stood in the women's restroom as the news media gathered in the large room outside and began setting up their cameras and checking their microphones and waiting for me to step before them and tell them what I had learned about the dead boys. ~ We Carry Their Bones: The Search for Justice at the Dozier School for Boys by Erin Kimmerle

Shadow is not at all happy with me. ~ Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather 

Sophie stared at the gleaming trail that wound down. ~ Nightfall by Shannon Messenger 

Beth knew she couldn't leave for work until she dealt with the dead body on the beach. ~ Mother-Daughter Murder Night by Nina Simon

"All Hallows' Eve--Salem's most celebrated night of the year," Charlene Morris said to Jack Strathmore, seated next to her on the love seat in the privacy of her personal suite. ~ Mrs. Morris and the Witch by Traci Wilton

I dream sometimes of a house I've never seen. ~ Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

The night I watch Athena Liu die, we're celebrating her TV deal with Netflix. ~ Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

The involuntary morning mantra that had been running through my head every day for the past four months began as its usual time, nine thirty AM. ~ Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew

Paperwork, Algaliarept thought in resignation as he as he blew upon the ledger book to dry the ink faster. ~ Into the Woods: Tales from the Hollows and Beyond by Kim Harrison

November had arrived in Cambridge, bringing with it crisp, cool air, the emergence of mufflers and wool coats from closets, and--new to me, as an ex-pat American--Guy Fawkes Day. ~ The Fatal Folio by Elizabeth Penney

This time we win. ~ Flashback by Shannon Messenger

The house was everything she'd thought it would be. ~ Death by Demo by Callie Carpenter

The world was embroiled in the Great War of the Races. ~ Magus of the Library, Vol. 5 by Mitsu Izumi

Ninety-five years have passed in uneasy truth since the Great War of the Races. ~ Magus of the Library, Vol. 6 by Mitsu Izumi

CHIIIRP ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 10 by Tatsuya Endo

The king stood in a pool of blue light, unmoored. ~ Station Eleven by Emily St. James Mandel

It's been about ten months since uncle woke up. ~ Uncle From Another World, Vol. 7 by Hotondoshineiru

Time  to eat! ~ Uncle From Another World, Vol. 8 by Hotondoshineiru

Why is "Reader, I married him" one of the most famous lines in literature? ~ Reader, I Married Him: Stories Inspired by Jane Eyre edited by Tracy Chevalier

We need a new way to talk about teenage girls, because the way people do it now isn't fair to girls or helpful to their parents.  ~ Untangled by Lisa Damour

I could have become a mass murderer after I hacked my governor module, but then I realized I could access the combined feed of entertainment channels carried on the company satellites. ~ All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Since I have no family of my own, I am yearly asked by friends and colleagues to their homes for the Christmas holidays. ~ The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson

Getting married was murder. ~ Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

The alley  was dark and stank of piss and vomit. ~ Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb

My name is . . . Kenny Loui. ~ Life Lessons from a UFO Catcher: An Autobiographical Manga, Vol. 1 by Loui, Kenny

Hey Saku-Senpai. ~ The Masterful Cat Is Depressed Again, Today, Vol. 1 by Hitsuzi Yamada

---

© 2023, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

First Sentences of Book Read 2022

Opening sentences are our first step inside a story. Some hook us right away while others ease us in. I started keeping track of first sentences years ago. I enjoy looking back on these opening lines and seeing what memories they stir up. 

Below you will find the first sentences of books I read in 2022.

*

The East River smelled distinctly of death. ~ The Witch Haven by Sasha Peyton Smith

The bloody handprint was gone, wiped from Kisten's window but not from my memory and it ticked me off that someone had cleaned it, as if they were tying to steal what little recollection I retained about the night he'd died. ~ White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrison

When I was born, the name for what I was did not exist. ~ Circe by Madeline Miller

I am well aware that my name is ridiculous. ~ The Maid by Nita Prose

Feminism has a long and complex relationship with fashion. ~ Dressed for Freedom by Einav Rabinovitch-Fox 

This morning, Papa call me inside the parlor. ~ The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré

Wait, Dani! ~ Hooky by Míriam Bonastre Tur

Christopher was dead. ~ Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead by Elle Cosimano

Fraser Henley had fought against a blustering gale to arrive at the rendezvous point just in time. ~ Marion Lane and the Deadly Rose by T.A. Willberg

In the dim light of her desk's single bulb lamp, the map nearly glowed. ~ The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

There is a curse in my family.  ~ Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto

So, we've come back for more stories about Moth Hush, the Okay Witch? ~ The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow by Emma Steinkellner

Unstable footing . . . ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 5 by Kamome Shirahama

The Greer mansion sat high on a hill, overlooking the town and the ocean. ~ The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James

Tucking my hair back, I squinted at the parchment, trying to form the strange angular letters as smoothly as I could. ~ Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison

"Brown or green for the drapes, Rache?" ~ A Pale Demon by Kim Harrison

I never used to keep close track of the phases of the moon. ~ A Fool Moon by Jim Butcher

The Miss Chinatown contestants were clustered together behind a canvas screen near the stage. ~ Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo

I would ask . . . that you please accompany me to the hall. ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 6 by Kamome Shirahama

I try not to breathe at the last corset hook is yanked into place. ~ Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto

Pink and peach clouds, fiery in the sun's dying rays, rolled slowly across the baby blue sky. ~ When the Crow's Away by Auralee Wallace

A bank robbery. ~ Anxious People by Fredrik Backman

Everyone has a secret self they don't show to other people.  ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 1 by Tatsuya Endo

Eden Academy, Admissions Announcement Day ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 2 by Tatsuya Endo

There was a reason Gavin Scott rarely drank. ~ The Bromance Book Club by Lyssa Kay Adams

I wake up, get out of bed, say good morning to my plant, unwrap a protein bar, and drink a liter of bottled water. ~ The Final Girl Support Group by Grady Hendrix

Signor Giovannino Speranza, self-appointed mayor of the diminishing village of Prometto, population 212, knew from his sixty-two years of experience in this world that, in dealing with plumbers, one must never show even a hint of weakness. ~ The Patron Saint of Second Chances by Christine Simon

"You smell like smoke," my mother said to me. ~ A Burning by Megha Majumdar

Over a decade after the Iron Curtain severed the East from the West . . . ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 3 by Tatsuya Endo

Moving on to international news . . . ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 4 by Tatsuya Endo

Matilda Pages pushed open the door of Pages & Co. and breathed in deeply, taking in the familiar scent of just-blown-out candles, dark chocolate, and, of course, books. ~ Page & Co.: The Bookwanderers by Anna James

It's often a man's mouth that breaks his nose, my uncle Mick was fond of saying, and the bloke in front of me was doing his best to test the theory. ~ The Key to Deceit by Ashley Weaver

Very early one Sunday in March 2020, I parked my crimson EMS truck outside a brick house in Sheepshead Bay. ~ Riding the Lightning: A Year in the Life of a New York City Paramedic by Anthony Almojera

Light poured from the windows of the grand house, illuminating the front steps and graveled drive. ~ Botanist's Guide to Parties and Poisons by Kate Khavari

There was no possibility of walking to the library that day. ~ The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Yor sure has been coming home late these past few days. ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 5 by Tatsuya Endo

Twilight, my mentor, you've changed. ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 6 by Tatsuya Endo

Council Secretary Byron. ~ Spy x Family, Vol. 7 by Tatsuya Endo

The woman across from me barely sniffed when I slammed the pen down on the counter. ~ A Perfect Blood by Kim Harrison

My head is throbbing again, a white-hot line of pain from the back of my skull down to the right side of my jaw, and a dead man is signaling me from across the common room. ~ Dead Silence by S.A. Barnes

This is close enough. ~ Ever After by Kim Harrison

Leda Foley of Leda Foley's Far-Fletched Flights of Fancy cringed at her phone screen. ~ Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest

My uncle, who was hit by a truck when he was seventeen and spent seventeen years in a coma, woke up. ~ Uncle From Another World Vol. 1 by Hotondoshindeiru

I scanned the passing countryside in vain for signs of life. ~ Bait and Witch by Angela M. Sanders

~ Uncle From Another World Vol. 2 by Hotondoshindeiru

Welcome to this book. ~ Sex is  Funny Word by Cory Silverberg

Betsy Bunderoo was used to seeing cats, but not ones who walked upright or spoke. ~ The Splendid City by Karen Heuler

"I can't let you do this." ~ Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews

A wise man once said, "A human mind is the place where emotion and reason are locked in perpetual combat." ~ White Hot by Ilona Andrews

When life hits you in the gut, it's always a sucker punch. ~ Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

Oh, speaking of the internet . . .  ~ Uncle From Another World Vol. 3 by Hotondoshindeiru

Heh Heh! ~ Uncle From Another World Vol. 4 by Hotondoshindeiru

I'm sitting in the principal's office. ~ Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

"Franklin!" ~ Mrs. Roosevelt's Confidante by Susan Elia MacNeal

The Very Secret Society of Witches met on the third Thursday of every third month, but that was about the only thing that never changed.  ~ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Mandanna Sangu

On Feburary 14, 1815, the lookout at Notre-Dame de la Garde signalled the arrival of the three-master Pharaon, coming from Smyrna, Trieste and Naples. ~ The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

Still catching her breath, Mrs. Garlington plopped herself on a stool at the counter of Darla's Café ~ Seven-Year Witch by Angela M. Sanders

It's got a pool! ~ Spy x Family by Tatsuya Endo

I dragged two wing chairs to the front of the New Release shelf. ~ Witch and Famous by Angela Sanders

Half an hour before the alarm will be sounded for the first time in decades--drawing four frantic old women and a geriatric crow from all corners of the sprawling manor--Ursula is awoken by insistent knocking, like giant knuckles rapping against glass. ~ The Witches of Moonshyne Manor by Bianca Marais

The seaside town of Freya Grove, New Jersey, was founded in 1871 during the boom of the nationwide spiritualist movement. ~ Witchful Thinking by Celestine Martin

How does that man make checkered shirts and pastels look good? ~ The Undead Pool by Kim Harrison

Sophie had waited all her life to be kidnapped. ~ The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani

Time for the first lesson of the days, my daughters. ~ The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag

Immortality required expecting the unexpected. ~ Devouring Darkness by Chloe Neill

The man in the red plaid shirt fought to get away. ~ Flight Risk by Cherie Priest

The crows were back. ~ A Gathering of Crones by Lydia M. Hawke

There were no more crows. ~ Game of Crones by Lydia M. Hawke

Fell-fire, huh!!? ~ Uncle From Another World Vol. 5 by Hotondoshindeiru

Water is the worst. ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 7 by Kamome Shirahama

I was wondering if . . . you wanted to help run a stall at the Silver Eve? ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 8 by Kamome Shirahama

A return, you say? ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 9 by Kamome Shirahama

My Dear Irene,

What on earth is going on? ~ Dark Archive by Genevieve Cogman

It took three statues to plant doubt in my mind. ~ The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks by Shauna Robinson

One Double-Back Combo, one Cheese-Back with Fries, a Double Napoleon Shake . . . ~ Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier

Charlie Goodwin drew a shaky breath and tapped furiously on her phone, the screen illuminating her face in the otherwise dark storeroom. ~ The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

"I'm sorry, could you repeat that?" ~ Chaos and Cranberries by Joann Keder

Who decided the Prince should be with the Princess? ~ Kiss Him, Not Me! Vol. 1 by Junko

The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex. ~ Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Well then . . . ~ Kiss Him, Not Me! Vol. 2 by Junko

---

© 2022, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

First Sentences of Book Read 2021

Opening sentences are our first step inside a story. Some hook us right away while others ease us in. I started keeping track of first sentences years ago. I enjoy looking back on these opening lines and seeing what memories they stir up. 

Below you will find the first sentences of books I read in 2021.

*

OMG! ~ Tales from a Not-So-Graceful Ice Princess by Rachel Renée Russell

An old woman sits on the beach, a cushion strapped to her bottom, sorting algae that's washed ashore. ~ The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

I keep my earbuds shoved into my ears on the minibus from Geneva Airport. ~ One by One by Ruth Ware

I wish for chocolate chip cookies, warm. ~ What Mothers Withhold by Elizabeth Kropf

OMG! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Smart Miss Know-It-All by Rachel Renée Russell

Threads of steam rose from the warm tarmac. ~ Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T.A. Willberg

It's a widely known fact that most moms are ready to kill someone by eight thirty A.M. on  any given morning. ~ Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Once upon a time my life was normal. ~ Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski

I sat at the table in my cabin, my sister's letter in my hand, and read it for the third time. ~ Russian Cage by Charlaine Harris

The office reeked of nutmeg. ~ A Glimmer of Death by Valerie Wilson Wesley

I have a magic mirror in my basement and I'm going to use it. ~ If the Shoe Fits by Sarah Mlynowski

Alexa Monroe walked into the Fairmont hotel in San Francisco that Thursday night wearing her favorite red hells, jittery coffee, and with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot champagne in her purse. ~ The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory

It is the absolute shittiest day for a walk. ~ The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

Should I pack a bathing suit? ~ Sink or Swim by Sarah Mlynowski

When I was a kid, my aspirations were simple. ~ Becoming by Michelle Obama

OMG! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Happy Heartbreaker by Rachel Renée Russell

Today is the Ritual of Purity. ~ Gilded Ones by Namina Forna

I peered through the slats of the blinds covering the glass on my office door and watched the dark, brooding man in the hallway. ~ The Arrangement by M. Ravenel

OMG!! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Glam TV Star by Rachel Renée Russell

The air beneath Evelyn's paper mask is hot and damp, and even though a shaft of sunlight from the open barn door reveals sawdust swirling in the air, she pulls the mask up to her forehead and allows herself a breath of cool air.  ~ The Memory Collectors by Kim Neville 

She would come at daybreak - the woman whose letter I held in my hands, the woman whose name I di not know yet. ~ The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Vision failing, she feels the leaves,

looking for butterly weed, a seedling

from her greenhouse for me take

in my efforts to flower a field. ~ Passiflora by Kathy Davis

I'M LATE! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Happily Ever After by Rachel Renée Russell

My name is Lila Macapagal and my life has become a rom-com cliché. ~ Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

A spring to never forget ~ From the Inside: The Inner Soul of a Young Poet by Thanvi Voruganti

The past twenty-four hours of my life have been so disgustingly NAUSEATING that actually starting to feel like a . . . puddle of . . . um, cat . . . VOMIT!! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen by Rachel Renée Russell

I am surrounded by forgotten women. ~ The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba by Chanel Cleeton

Borrow-A-Bookshop invites you to live out your dreams of running your very own bookshop in a historic Deveonshire harbour village . . . for a fortnight.  ~ The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday by Kiley Dunbar

Okay, I've tried REALLY hard to be polite about all of this! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Happily Ever After by Rachel Renée Russell

"An ill wind moves through Chicago," Lulu said, sniffing the air. ~ Shadowed Steel by Chloe Neill

The summer is made for stoop-sitting

and since it's the last week before school starts,

Harlem is opening its eyes to September. ~ The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

Noooooo!! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Friendly Frenemy by Rachel Renée Russell

The majority of urban legends form around a small grain of truth, however misinterpreted or misunderstood. ~ Angels of the Overpass by Seanan McGuire

Until I was twenty, I believed anything

wouldn't happen to me. ~ Anything That Happens by Cheryl Wilder

SQUEEEEEE!! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Secret Crush Catastrophe by Rachel Renée Russell

The first thing the ghost said to Jess was: 

Does your mother know you're a pengkid? ~ Black Water Sister by Zen Cho

We were  going to get caught. ~ A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver

The train that was delivering Junie to Trout River was just pulling out of the station and gathering speed, and already the compartment was filling up with cigarette smoke and the gregarious sound of sunflower seeds being cracked open. ~ Swimming Back to Trout River by Lina Rui Feng

As she woke up in the pod, she remembered three things. ~ The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers

It is not only in our brains that the memories of our lives are laid down. ~ Written in Bone by Sue Black

So much about the world baffled Dr. Trisha Raje, but she was never at a loss for how to do her job.  ~ Pride, Prejudice, and Other Flavors by Sonali Dev

I hitched the canvas strap holding the watering canister higher up on my shoulder and stretched to get the nozzle into the hanging plant. ~ The Good, the Bad, and the Undead by Kim Harrison

Correction: I, Kelly Quinn, was cleaning. ~ Just Add Magic by Cindy Callaghan

Do you believe in magic? ~ Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

At first, when Piper scanned the docks and didn't see the familiar rickety white-pine-and-fir fisherman's trawler, she thought nothing of it. ~ The Invisible Husband of Frick Island by Colleen Oakley

Nineteen years before she decided to die, Nora Seed sat in the warmth of the small library at Hazeldene School in the town of Bedford.  ~ The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

"He's asking for you, Mrs. H." ~ Murder in the East End by Jennifer Ashley

I took a deep breath to settle myself, jerking the cuff of my gloves up to cover the bare patch of skin at my wrist. ~ Every Which Way But Dead by Kim Harrison

I noticed the first crow when I opened the front door for the cat on the morning of my sixtieth birthday. ~ Becoming Crone by Lydia M. Hawkes

OMG! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Happy Birthday by Rachel Renée Russell

"Please, help me." ~ Death at the Crystal Palace by Jennifer Ashley

"Can you recommend a great book?" ~ I'd Rather Be Reading by Anne Bogel

I'd like to think I'm a good person, but I have no way of knowing for sure. ~ The Stranger in the Mirror by Liv Constantine

I predicted the future on my third birthday. ~ Vanessa Yu's Magical Paris Tea Shop by Rosselle Lim

I'm going to have the MOST. EXCITING. SUMMER. EVER!! ~ Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever by Rachel Renée Russell

The solid thud of David's car door shutting echoed off the stone face of the eight-story building we had parked beside. ~ A Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison

The sorrowful beasts live in the north-eastern quarter of Yong'an City. ~ Strange Beasts of China by Yan Ge

Dev Deshpande knows the exact moment he started believing in happily ever after. ~ The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

Maureen Doherty stood at the window of her corner office on the top floor of Boston's William G. Bartlett Building. ~ Be My Ghost by Carol J. Perry

SPLORSH ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol 1 by Kamome Shrahama

 There's no way . . . ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol 2 by Kamome Shrahama

You tremble for naught. ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol 3 by Kamome Shrahama

Hammering my fist against the back of my closet wasn't one of my more pleasant dreams. ~ For a Few Demons More by Kim Harrison

"Okay, Violet's Turn!" ~ Witches Get Stitches by Juliette Cross

The enigma arrived in the afternoon post, sealed, smudged, and devastating. ~ The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Never mix vodka and witchcraft. ~ The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Sleeping Beauty is pretty much the worst fairy tale, any way you slice it. ~ A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow

The sky is a stranger color. ~ Cackle by Rachel Harrison 

They bind our feed and ankles, tear off our clothes, and douse us with alcohol. ~ The Lighthouse Witches by C.J. Cooke

"I'm going to kill her." ~ In the Company of Witches by Auralee Wallace

I leaned over the glass counter, squinting at the price of the high-grade redwood rods, safe in their airtight glass coffins like Snow White. ~ The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

The strange occurrences that threatened to upend my marriage, my adopted city, and the potential happiness of tens of millions of children started on a December morning just nine days before Christmas with a frantic pounding on our bedchamber door. ~ Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland.

"You can't leave me," my best friend whispers into the phone, her voice urgent and filled with abject terror. ~ The Christmas Dress by Courtney Cole

"But it's August!" said Carmen into the phone, putting down her book. ~ The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

All I have are her bones. ~ The Real Valkyrie by Nancy Marie Brown

I pushed against the tavern's massive oak door, but it would no yield. ~ Live Like a Vulcan, Love Like a Wookiee, Laugh Like a Hobbit by Robb Pearlman

Oosh ~ Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 4 by Kamome Shrahama

Most of us Yard men would say that over time we develop an extra sense for danger close at hand. ~ Down a Dark River by Karen Odden

I am born on a Tuesday at University Hospital

Columbus, Ohio,

USA -

a country caught 

between Black and White. ~ Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

"You want me to do what now?" ~ Walking in a Witchy Wonderland by Juliette Cross

this book smells like me ~ Shout by Laurie Halse Anderson

---

© 2021, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

First Sentences of Book Read 2020

Opening sentences are our first step inside a story. Some hook us right away while others ease us in. I started keeping track of first sentences years ago. I enjoy looking back on these opening lines and seeing what memories they stir up. 

Below you will find the first sentences of books I read in 2020. 

*

My father was a king and the son of kings. ~ The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller


"Smile and circulate," Irene said through gritted teeth, drawing her skirts back from the blood that had spattered by her feet.  ~ The Secret Chapter by Genevieve Cogman


In an old house in Paris 
That was covered with vines
Lived twelve little girls
In two straight lines.  ~ Madeline's Christmas by Ludwig Bemelmans


Everyone deserves a holiday break. ~ Merry Moosey Christmas by Lynn Plourde


Amelia Bedelia saw hearts everywhere. ~ Amelia Bedelia's First Valentine by Herman Parish


In the morning I got Chrissie to cut off all my hair. ~ An Easy Death by Charlaine Harris


At first, the children were laughing. ~ The Family Next Door by Fiona Cummins


It had been a long time since I was on a train, and I found I hadn't missed it a bit. ~ A Longer Fall by Charlaine Harris


In a warm and sultry forest, far, far away, there once lived a mother fruit bat and her new baby. ~ Stellaluna by Janell Cannon


Amos McGree was an early riser. ~ A Sick Day for Amos McGee by Philip C. Stead


Mr. Willowby's Christmas tree
Came by special delivery. ~ Mr. Willowby's Christmas by Robert Barry


This is George. ~ Curious George and the Puppies by Margret Rey & H.A. Rey


A long time ago,
When Mr. Fish was very small,
He headed off to school
For the first time of all. ~ The Pout-Pout Fish Goes to School by Deborah Diesen


Deep in the water
Where the fish hang out
Lives a glum gloomy swimmer
 With an ever-present pout. ~ The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen


I am Rosa Parks. ~ I Am Rosa Parks by Brad Meltzer


Life was going along okay when my mother and father dropped the news. ~ Superfudge  by Judy Blume


It might have been coincidence--the chairman of Eaglehawk Company standing in the foyer of the Grande Hotel, watching the news vid on the three-floor-high screen--but Leonard Wickmore didn't believe in coincidence. ~ Stars Beyond by S.K. Dunstall


I stood in the warm L.A. sunshine, admiring the marquee sign above my store. ~ Mimi Lee Gets a Clue by Jennifer J. Chow


It was a book that started all the trouble. ~ Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall


From where he's standing across the street, Justyce can see her: Melo Taylor, ex-girlfriend, slumped over beside her Benz on the damp concrete of the Farm-Fresh parking lot. ~ Dear Martin by Nic Stone


There had been a problem in Bean's house. ~ Ivy + Bean: What's the Big Idea? by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall


If you have to do a chore, you might as well set a the table. ~ Big News! (Emma is on the Air #1) by Ida Siegal


Amelia Bedelia never meant to lead a pack of dogs on a wild goose chase. ~ Amelia Bedelia Means Business by Herman Parish


One dark, dark night in Barrow Down,
a rabbit named Eliza Brown
found a book and settled down. ~ The Snatchabook by Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty


In a dry, dusty place where
the sand sparkled gold,
Stood a might flat rock --
all craggy and old. ~ The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright


For a moment, the falling feels like something else entirely--like a brief, wild glimpse of freedom. ~ The Deep by Alma Katsu


All the books in my library hold a memory. ~ Well-Read Black Girl by Glory Edim (ed)


This is a book with no pictures. ~ The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak


'How did you get invited to this exhibition, Orla?' ~ The Five Year Plan by Carla Burgess


Alice met the unicorn at her tenth birthday party in the park. ~ Go Away, Unicorn! by Emily Mullock


Bean looked around the lunch table. ~ Ivy + Bean: No News is Good News by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall


Twenty-five. ~ In Five Years by Rebecca Serle


In the town of Happville (which wasn't a very big town), Mr. Peabody was congratulating his Little League team on a great game. ~ Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna

"Girls are strong!" ~ Ivy + Bean Make the Rules by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall


That doesn't sound like a school trivia night," said Mrs. Patty Ponder to Marie Antoinette." ~ Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty


A puppy is  puppy is  puppy. ~ Dog Songs by Mary Oliver


When Nory Horace turned into a koat, she had the body of a black kitten and the head of a tiny goat. ~ Sticks & Stones by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle & Emily Jenkins


Rhyme relies on repetition: pink drink,
big wig, tramp stamp, rank skank. ~ Girls Like Us by Elizabeth Hazen


Today is Tết,the first day of the lunar calendar. ~ Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhaa Lai


Where is Daniel Ahern? ~ Starbreaker by Amanda Bouchet


Bean wasn't allowed to watch television. ~ Ivy + Bean Take the Case by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall

"My Important People," wrote Bean at the top of her paper. ~ Ivy + Bean: One Big Happy Family (#11) by Annie Barrows and Sophie Blackall


The house at 136 Cypress Lane didn't look like trouble--quite the opposite. ~ A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison


Rebecca Rubin tugged at her wooden doll until the top and bottom pulled apart to reveal a smaller doll nesting inside. ~ Rebecca: The Sound of Applause by Jacqueline Dembar Greene


I stared down into the open grave and wished that I could summon a tear. ~ A Curious Beginning by Deanna Raybourn


The whole thing was really Onetree's fault. ~ Help! I'm a Prisoner in the Library by Eth Clifford


This story ends in blood. ~ The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix

Something was in the air. ~ Witch Hunt by Cate Conte

Something bad happened in our town. ~ Something Happened In Our Town by Marianne Celano, Marietta Collins, Ann Hazzard, and Jennifer Zivoin

I'm Aria, and this is my hair. ~ Don't Touch My Hair! by Sharee Miller

The parties at the Tunons' huose always ended unquestionably late, and since the hosts enjoyed  costume parties in particular, it was not unusual to see Chinas Poblanas with their folklore skirts and ribbons in their hair arrive in the company of a harlequin or a cowboy. ~ Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

How did you feel the first time you saw the title of this book? ~ Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla F. Saad


I was ready; so ready for him to ask me. ~ Dear Emmie Blue by Lia Louis

Had anyone told Honorable Harrington Sackville that the investigation into his death would make the name Sherlock Holmes known throughout the land, Mr. Sackville would have scoffed. ~ The Study in Scarlet Women by Sherry Thomas


I am a white woman. ~ White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

I stole a glove. ~ Westside by W.M. Akers

I am a cat. ~ The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

"Would you like another beer?" ~ Wolf Gone Wild by Juliette Cross

I despised suites and ties. ~ How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

"Hold still and stop fighting me," his father said, and slapped him hard enough to leave a mark. ~ Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine

Books ran when they grew restless, when they grew unruly, or when they grew real. ~ The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith


"More coffee?" I asked Dylan as I got up from the table to pour us both a refill. ~ Checked Out for Murder by Allison Brook

"The best part of spring is spring break!" George Fayne said. ~ Big Top Flop by Carolyn Keene

My aunt lay dead and I was lost in her life. ~ In My Attic by Lina Hansen

I was thinking about purple pansies when it happened. ~ Don't Hex and Drive by Juliette Cross

Kaz floated nervously back and forth in front of the dusty classroom wall. ~ The Haunted Library by Dori Hillestad Butler

You know when something is bothering you and you can't stop thinking about? ~ Spill the Beans by Sarah Mlynowski

"What's the matter, Kaz?" Claire asked as she shook the dice in her hand. ~ The Ghost in the Attic by Dori Hillestad Butler

Cuckoo! ~ The Ghost Backstage by Dori Hillestad Butler

"Woof!" ~ The Five O'Clock Ghost by Dori Hillestad Butler

"Kaz!" Little John called from behind the wall of books. ~ The Secret Room by Dori Hillestad Butler

Once upon a time, before the whole world changed, it was possible to run away from home, disguise who you were, and fit into polite society. ~ The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Claire's phone buzzed during dinner, interrupting a big conversation her parents were having. ~ The Ghost at the Fire Station by Dori Hillestad Butler

"Who left the TV on in here again?" Mr. Kendall grumbled as he wandered into the living room. ~ The Ghost in the Tree House by Dori Hillestad Butler

My name is A.J. and I love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. ~ Dr. Snow Has Got to Go! by Dan Gutman

Saturday morning, I was lounging in my backyard and enjoying a little sun. ~ 15 Minutes of Flame by Christin Brecher

The Sun shone down on the glittering, pearly - white turrets of Unicorn School. ~ Team Magic by Linda Chapman

"One . . . two . . . three . . . GLOW!" Little John shouted. ~ The Hide-and-Seek Ghost by Dori Hillestad Butler

"You guys! Come quick!" Little John shouted as he swam into Claire's living room. ~ The Ghosts at the Movie Theater by Dori Hillestad Butler

I decided that Orion needed to die after the second time he saved my life. ~ A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

"Look, Kaz!" Little John gazed out Claire's window. ~ The Underground Ghosts by Dori Killestad Butler

Charlene Morris may be impulsive sometimes, but crazy she was not. ~ Mrs. Morris and the Ghost by Traci Wilton

I am Ivan. ~ The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

Call me a harlot. ~ In a Holidaze by Christina Lauren

Krak! ~ Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

"When will they be here?" asked Ramona Quimby, who was supposed to be dusting the living room but instead was twirling around trying to make herself dizzy. ~ Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary

I craned to see the everlasting tree through the press of people, a familiar excitement humming through my veins. ~ Leads & Lynxes by Rebecca Chastain

Ba-room, ba-room, ba-room, baripity, baripity, baripity, baripity ~ Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

Sometimes I wonder if my mom is BRAIN DEAD. ~ Tales from a Not-So-Fabulous Life by Rachel Renée Russell

They named the child Rory, because the firstborn of every generation was always a Rory, and had been since the first of that name had cut his way through the cursed briars on the homeworld and saved the kingdom of Thorne--and, incidentally, the princess--from the consequences of poor manners. ~ How Rory Thorne Destroyed the Multiverse by K. Eason

"This is it!" Mom said brightly, opening the door to my new room with a grand, ceremonial swing. ~ Together, Apart by Erin Craig et al

I can't believe this is happening to me! ~ Tales from a Not-So-Popular Party Girl by Rachel Renée Russell

Vivian nudged her daughter as they walked out of the customs area at Heathrow Airport. ~ Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory

I know I'm not an ordinary ten-year-old kid. ~ Wonder by R.J. Palacio

No one in the moderately sized rural southern town of Cypress would ever suspect their stalwart assistant librarian of breaking into the library where she worked. ~ The Broken Spine by Dorothy St. James

OMG! ~ Tales From a Not-So-Talented Pop Star by Rachel Renée Russell

Mwaaah-hah-hahah-haaaaaa!!! ~ The Okay Witch by Emma Steinkellner

Sandy! ~ Nightlights by Lorena Alvarez

Books can take you to magical places. ~ Book Love by Debbie Tung

---

© 2020, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

First Sentences of 2019

Below you will find the first sentences of books I read in 2019.

*

They say when you are about to die your entire life passes before your eyes in a flurry of poignant images, but all I could think of, rather absurdly, was that I should have worn the blue hat. ~ This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber


"Why does it have to rain?" Josh asked as he and his friends left the playing fields. ~ April Fools' Fiasco by Ron Roy


If not for the second worst mistake of Grace Healey's life, she never would have found the suitcase. ~ Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff


It was a dark and stormy night. ~ Judy Moody Girl Detective by Megan McDonald


My lord father,

Please forgive the haste and informality of this letter: you know my respect for you and my obedience to your will. ~ The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman


"Starting today, I'm changing my ice cream flavor," Josh said. ~ Sleepy Hollow Sleepover by Ron Roy



I type, "Should I see a therapist?" ~ Beautiful Bad by Annie Ward


Josh stuck out his tongue into the cold December air. ~ White House White-Out by Ron Roy


The first thing Nika noticed about the man who buzzed the studio bell was his scar.  ~ Stars Uncharted by S.K. Dunstall


Judy Moody had been Judy, M.D. ~ Judy Moody and the Right Royal Tea Party by Megan McDonald


My name is Frieda. ~ Frida Kahlo: The Artist Who Painted Herself by Margaret Frith


Viva la vida! ~ Who Was Frida Kahlo? by Sarah Fabiny

Three weeks ago, Cassie Crow left Chicago armed with a naked charm bracelet and a full box of condoms. ~ Getting Hot With a Scot by Melonie Johnson


"Come on down, George Washington." ~ A Spy in the White House by Ron Roy


I sat back in my captain's chair and breathed, slowly and deeply, letting my body adjust to traveling at a normal velocity again. ~ Nightchaser by Amanda Bouchet


The sun vanished below the horizon as the girl crested the rise of Old Barrons Road. ~ Broken Girls by Simone St. James


Judy Moody ate one, two, three bowls of cereal. ~ Judy Moody Predicts the Future by Megan McDonald


The old man is dying. ~ The Night Tiger by Yangsze Choo


Judy Moody marched into third grade on a plain old Thursday. ~ Judy Moody Gets Famous! by Megan McDonald


I am Jackie Robinson. ~ I Am Jackie Robinson by Brad Meltzer


I won Dribble at Jimmy Fargo's birthday party. ~ Tales of the Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume


A chorus of tree frogs trilled in the damp, velvet darkness, wide awake and relentless as they spoke their authority over the nocturnal world. ~ Unraveling by Karen Lord


Princess Magnolia was having hot chocolate and scones with Duchess Wigtower. ~ The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale


Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the city, not a creature was stirring . . . Except for Bad Kitty. ~ A Bad Kitty Christmas by Nick Bruel


It was our last day in Paris. ~ The Book Supremacy by Kate Carlisle


Officer  Buckle knew more safety tips than anyone in Napville. ~ Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann


On that day, the snow (unusual for April) which had fallen on the night before was still half an inch deep in the morning. ~ The Master Key by Masako Togawa


She began in the first month of the lunar year.  ~ How We Disappeared by Jing-Jing Lee


"Josh, what are you doing?" Dink asked. ~ Grand Canyon Grab by Ron Roy


It was raining the day Suki came to the Palace of the Sun, and it was raining the night she died. ~ Shadow of the Fox by Julie Kagawa


"Lisette!" Adeline hissed, and when Lisette turned, wisps of her beautiful hair fluttering about her face, Adeline beckoned to her. ~ The Lady and the Thief by Megan Derr


The phone was ringing. ~ Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire


Bonnie Blythe hovered near the tall windows, nursing her cocktail and watching the lights from the Navy Pier Ferris wheel twinkle in the fading spring twilight. ~ Smitten by the Brit by Melonie Johnson


The Chinese gentleman ran from between the carriages packed the length of Mount Street and straight into my path. ~ Death in Kew Gardens by Jennifer Ashley


The man jogged through the parking area of a mountain trailhead, his blond hair wild and disheveled, a dead leaf caught in the golden waves. ~ False Step by Victoria Helen Stone


Dear Mr. Wrexham,

I know you don't know me but please, please please you have to help me ~ Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware


It had started out as such a promising day. ~ Fan the Flames by Katie Ruggle


"Travel the world," they'd said. ~ Off the Grid by Monica McCarty


"Careful going over the curb, or you'll spill the whole pile," Dink cautioned his friend Josh. ~ The Vampire's Vacation by Ron Roy


"What are we going to do now, sir?" ~ Out of Time by Monica McCarty


"Dink, would you mind passing out math paper to everyone?" Mrs. Eagle asked. ~ The School Skeleton by Ron Roy


The world was always thus. ~ The Gossamer Mage by Julie E. Czerneda


If anyone told me I could bring down the president, and the Pure Movement, and that incompetent shit Morgan LeBron in a week's time, I wouldn't believe them. ~ Vox by Christina Dalcher


Jumping into a hole cut in the frozen reservoir was a stupid idea. ~ Hold Your Breath by Katie Ruggle


The hot wind flung brown dust into Maud's face. ~ Sweep of the Blade by Ilona Andrews


" Do't you think this punishment is a little harsh?" Derek asked under his breath, eyeing the yellow school bus pulling into the gravel parking lot. ~ On His Watch by Katie Ruggle


Today was the Interkingdom Science Fair. ~ The Princess in Black and the Science Fair Scare by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale


Imagine you're a bird. ~ The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman


"Hush, little baby, don't say a word . . ." ~ Pretty Guilty Women by Gina LaManna


It's too damn cold of a day to be out on a hunt.  ~ Warcross by Marie Lu


Children think we make them, but we don't. ~ After the Flood by Kassandra Montag


This is a regular girl and her best friend in the whole wide world. ~ The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires


I live with my family in a city close to the sea. ~ The Journey by Francesca Sanna


One bright sunny day, a young duck named McKluck
Had a wonderful, wonderful piece of good luck.  
~ The Bippolo Seed and Other Lost Stories by Dr. Seuss


Here's the thing. ~ The Taken by Vicki Pettersson


I didn't choose the wench life. ~ Well Met by Jen DeLuca


Before Bean met Ivy, she didn't like her. ~ Ivy + Bean by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall


The fellow across the fire gave Red the once-over, from the wild corkscrews of her hair peeking out from under her red hood to the small hand axe that rested on the ground beside her. ~ The Girl in Red by Christina Henry


I was putting flowers on the mane of my pet unicorn. ~ Goldilicious by Victoria Kann


It was the first Sunday of Advent, and everyone in the little town of Calabria was busy getting ready for Christmas. ~ Merry Christmas, Strega Nona by Tomie de Paola


When I was seven, I found a door. ~ The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow


With a pitch-black sky full of twinkling stars and a warm summer breeze caressing my skin, I stood in front of my fabulous pink-and-white Shasta trailer. ~ Murder Can Mess Up Your Masterpiece by Rose Pressey


I had a wiggly tooth. ~ Silverlicious by Victoria Kann


Deep in the woods there's an old white cabin with pumpkins in the garden. ~ Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper


In an old house in Paris that was covered in vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines. ~ Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans


Once upon a time, but not very long ago, deep in the Australian bush lived two possums. ~ Possum Magic by Mem Fox & Julie Vivas


My mother works as a waitress in the Blue Tile Diner. ~ A Chair For My Mother by Vera B. Williams


Henry Brown wasn't sure how old he was. ~ Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine & Kadir Nelson


One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten - wham! ~ Ivy + Bean and the Ghost That Had to Go by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall


We're a pair beyond compare, 
a rare and special two,
in all the ways that I am me
and you're completely you. ~ Me With You by Kristy Dempsey and Christopher Denise


"Noooooo!" ~ Wild Hunger by Chloe Neill


Time to move on. ~ Death Overdue by Allison Brook


I glanced around my cottage at the thirty or so guests laughing and chatting, and grinned. ~ Read and Gone by Allison Brook


Amelia Bedelia is getting ready to go to school when . . . CRASH! ~ Amelia Bedelia Tries Her Luck by Herman Parish & Lynn Avril


Boring. ~ Ivy + Bean Break the Fossil Record by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall


I am Amelia Earhart. ~ I Am Amelia Earhart by Brad Meltzer


"The blue-cheese burger and fries are calling to me, but I'm going with a small salad, no bread," Angela said, looking up from the lunch menu with a sigh. ~ Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook


While humas slept, monsters raved. ~ Wicked Hour by Chloe Neill


The witch had a cat 
     and a hat that was black,
And long ginger hair 
     in a braid down her back. 
~ Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler


This was it. ~ Coming Home for Christmas by RaeAnne Thayne


Sam Thompson stood in the blackened corner of the alley silently watching the mercantile across the street. ~ One Wish by Jodi Thomas


She had never believed in love. ~ The Christmas Keeper by Jenn McKinlay


When her phone rang at three in the morning, ripping her from a desperately needed sleep, Maggie's first thought was bad news. ~ A Wedding in December by Sarah Morgan


Thwack! ~ Ivy + Bean Take Care of the Babysitter by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall


Darkness falls slowly . . . like a fuzzy blanket tucking in the world. ~ Nighttime by Jill Esbaum


Deep in the heart of Wintermouse Wood, 
down in the grass where the autumn trees stood, 
lived all kinds of creatures - some big and some small- 
some spiky, some furry, some short, and some tall. 
~ Side by Side by Rachel Bright & Debi Gliori


Edward was good at numbers (he could count all the way to fifty). ~ Santa's Book of Names by David McPhail


After walking for many days, a wolf wandered into a quiet little town. ~ Wolf! by Becky Bloom and Pascal Biet


Tonight is the perfect night to start a new diary because there is no way I can fall asleep! ~ Snow Place Like Home by Christina Soontornvat and  Barbara Szepesi Szucs


Check. ~ Ivy + Bean Bound to Be Bad by Annie Barrows & Sophie Blackall


When the sun goes down, dots of light fill the night sky. ~ Night Sky by Stephanie Warren Drimmer


Molly Lou Melon stood just taller than her dog and was the shortest girl in the first grade. ~ Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell & David Catrow


They call it Heartbreak Pier, the place from where I will leave Ireland. ~ The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter by Hazel Gaynor


If a stranger should come to a certain little Swedish town and should happen one day to find himself at a certain spot on the edge of it, he would see Villa Villekulla. ~ Pippi Goes On Board by Astrid Lindgren


Sprinkles. ~ Once Upon a Bad Boy by Melonie Johnson

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