First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created 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? Here’s how to join in:
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!
This week’s lines are from a recently released book that I’m eager to read:
As the water taxi sped across the lagoon, the two young honeymooners gazed ahead in awe.
So what’s the book?
The Midnight Train by Matt Haig Release date: May 26, 2026 255 pages
Synopsis:
When your life flashes before your eyes, where would you stop?
No one can change the past, but the Midnight Train can take you there. The chance to re-live the moments that meant most. To see what kind of person you really were.
For Wilbur his best days were with Maggie, the love of his life. On his honeymoon in Venice.
Before he gave it all away.
He wishes he could go back and live differently. But to do so risks everything . . .
A magical, time-travelling love story, from the world of The Midnight Library.
I had the pleasure of attending a talk and book signing with the author this week! The event was wonderful, and I can’t wait to start the book.
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books with Handwriting on the Cover.
The topic got me thinking: Do kids still learn to write in cursive these days? I’m guessing not. I used to have a fairly nice cursive handwriting… and now when I attempt it, it’s mainly a big, messy scrawl. Sigh. I love how quick and easy it is to use a keyboard, but it’s a bit sad to think about handwriting as a lost art.
Back to the books! Rather than focusing on actual handwriting, I just started looking through my physical and digital shelves for book titles in cursive fonts… and found more than I expected! Here’s a round-up of 13 that I really like… because I couldn’t decide which to drop to get to ten.
Cinnamon & Gunpowder by Eli Brown
Ready or Not by Cara Bastone
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
Letters to the Lost by Iona Grey
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald
All’s Fair in Love and War by Virginia Heath
The Bronte Plot by Katherine Reay
Off the Map by Trish Doller
Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery
Pride by Ibi Zoboi
Reputation by Lex Croucher
The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub
The One That Got Away by Mike Gayle
Love Lettering by Kate Claybourn
If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created 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? Here’s how to join in:
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!
This week’s lines are from an upcoming summer romance:
On paper, we never made sense. He’s always wanted a family; I never even planned to get married. He surfs and hikes, bikes and runs; I hate sand and sun and run only if death is the alternative or procuring coffee requires it. He’s an extrovert and charms everyone he meets; I like dogs more than people. He’s always down to dance with every grandma, drunk bridesmaid, and adorable flower girl at a wedding; you could not forcibly peel me from the wall during the “Cha Cha Slide.” He works to live; I live to work.
So what’s the book?
The Romance Revival by Christina Lauren Release date: July 15, 2026 352 pages
Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Christina Lauren returns with an unforgettable romance in which a fateful accident erases a troubled marriage from memory—and a scientific breakthrough gives love one extraordinary do-over.
Three years ago, scientist Emery Finch did something completely out of character: She got married. To Luca—the impossibly charming landscaper she met on one blistering night in Vegas who made her laugh, made her dance, made her feel.
But now, Emery is consumed by her top research, missing dinners, forgetting anniversaries, and promising herself Luca will understand once her cutting-edge discoveries come to light. Until the unthinkable happens: A tragic accident takes Luca from her.
Desperate not to lose him, Emery breaks every rule, using the classified technology she’s developed to bring him back to life. And Luca would probably thank her for it, if only he could remember her. Their first kiss, their Sunny Sundays at the beach, the life they built together…all of it is gone.
It may be a miracle of science, but for Emery it’s her one shot at a second chance. And this time, she won’t waste it—because true love is always worth reviving.
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Books I Can’t Believe I’ve Never Read.
My picks this week include a classic I should have read by now and a bunch of books that have been sitting on my shelves for way too long.
In no particular order, my top 10 are:
1. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens 2. Venetia by Georgette Heyer 3. Vicious by V. E. Schwab
4. Moloka’i by Alan Brennert 5. Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong 6. Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler
7. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah 8. Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik 9. Pat of Silver Bush by L. M. Montgomery 10. Sorcery & Cecelia by Patricia C. Wrede
Do you see any here that you’d particularly recommend?
If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created 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? Here’s how to join in:
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!
This week’s lines are from a favorite fantasy novel:
Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a King with two sons. Delain was a very old kingdom and it had had hundreds of Kings, perhaps even thousands; when time goes on long enough, not even historians can remember everything. Roland the Good was neither the best nor the worst King ever to rule the land. He tried very hard not to do anyone great evil and mostly succeeded. He also tried very hard to do great works, but, unfortunately, he didn’t succeed so well at that. The result was a very mediocre King; he doubted if he would be remembered long after he was dead.
So what’s the book?
The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King Published: 1984 384 pages
Synopsis:
A tale of archetypal heroes and sweeping adventures, of dragons and princes and evil wizards!
Once, in a kingdom called Delain, there was a king with two sons…
Thus begins one of the most unique tales that master storyteller Stephen King has ever written—a sprawling fantasy of dark magic and the struggle for absolute power that utterly transforms the destinies of two brothers born into royalty. Through this enthralling masterpiece of mythical adventure, intrigue, and terror, you will thrill to this unforgettable narrative filled with relentless, wicked enchantment, and the most terrible of secrets…
This book has been on my mind since earlier in the week, when I included it on a Top Ten Tuesday list of favorite books by favorite authors. I first read The Eyes of the Dragon many, many years ago, and have revisited it at least twice since then… and I hope to reread it again soon!
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is My Favorite Books by My Favorite Authors, with the prompt: Pick your ten favorite authors and your favorite book written by each one of them.
For me, the challenge is narrowing the list down to just one title per author — because if I love an author, there’s a good chance that I love MANY of their books. So, I’ll be highlighting one terrific book for each author on my list — not necessarily my one and only favorite, but one that I think is particularly great!
1. A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows by Diana Gabaldon: As I tend to do, I’m starting my list with a book from the Outlander world. If forced to pick an actual favorite, I’d probably have to go with the first Outlander book, since it’s our introduction to these amazing characters and their lives. But, to change things up, I’m highlighting this novella, which perhaps isn’t as well known. It provides an emotional backstory for events in a key character’s life, and fans of the book series absolutely should read this one!
2. The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer: I’ve loved every single book I’ve read by Meg Shaffer. The Lost Story was my first, and I was blown away! (review)
3. The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King: There are so many Stephen King books I could include! I’m picking The Eyes of the Dragon because it has such a unique feel — a fantasy tale, but with plenty of King twists. I’ve returned to this book several times already, and have enjoyed it each time. (review)
4. Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer: Of all the Heyer books I’ve read and loved, this is the one that really made me laugh. It’s delightful. (review)
5. Sunshine by Robin McKinley: McKinley’s version of a vampire story is unique and wonderfully written. I’m due for a reread! (review)
6. Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry: I loved the mix of the story-within-a-story and the contemporary romance aspects. (review)
7. The Women by Kristin Hannah: Any of her recent historical novels could have been my pick for this list. The Women was especially powerful and stayed with me long after I finished reading it. (review)
8. The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See: Again, an author with so many books that I loved. This one in particular introduced me to a culture and community that I’d never encountered before, and I found it fascinating. (review)
9. City of the Lost by Kelley Armstrong: I picked this book because it’s the first book in the Rockton series, which quickly became one of my all-time favorite series. But there are so many others I could just as easily have picked, including first books from the Stitch in Time and A Rip Through Time series, as well as her stand-alone horror and romance books. (review)
10. Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan: I’ve loved everything this author has written… and her first novel was especially memorable. (review)
Have you read books by any of these authors? Do we have any favorites in common?
If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created 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? Here’s how to join in:
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!
This week’s lines are from an upcoming summer release:
There is a strange man on my sofa. A cowboy. A shirtless cowboy, no less — thick, sun-burnished muscles on full display, marked with bruises and what look to be smudges of charcoal.
So what’s the book?
Romantic Hero by Kirsty Greenwood To be released: June 16, 2026 368 pages
Synopsis:
A heartbroken romance novelist is forced to address her writer’s block when the villainous cowboy character from her books shows up in the real world, desperately in need of his own Happily Ever After. . . from the bestselling author of GMA book club pick The Love of My Afterlife.
Gertie Bickerstaff writes happily-ever-afters for a living. . . . Or she did, until her own love life fell apart. Now her ex is thriving, her deadline is looming, and she can’t write a single word.
The last thing Gertie needs is more drama—like waking up to find a confused and rugged cowboy on her sofa. And not just any cowboy, but River Oakley, the villain from her unfinished novel. Somehow very real . . . and very shirtless.
River wants to go home. Gertie wants her life back. So they strike a deal: he’ll use his cunning ways to help her win back her ex, she’ll finish the novel, and, surely, he’ll return to whatever world he rode in from.
But as River Oakley proves to be so much more than just the bad guy, Gertie has to choose: the ending she thought she wanted . . . or the plot twist she never saw coming.
I loved this author’s previous novel, The Love of My Afterlife — and I’m always up for stories where fictional characters show up in real life. I’ll be listening to the audiobook version of Romantic Hero just as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is Favorite Secondary/Minor Characters. I’ve decided to focus on supporting character from one particular series.
Last week marked the series finale of the Outlander TV series — but the book series continues, with author Diana Gabaldon still working on book #10, A Blessing For A Warrior Going Out. There’s no release date yet — here’s hoping it’s not too far off!
I have a lot of feelings about the series finale… but putting plot aside, what stays with me is how many wonderful characters are important to the story. With Outlander on my mind, I thought I’d highlight ten favorite supporting/secondary characters from the book series. (Yes, many of these appear in the TV version as well, but often with altered storylines and/or personality traits, so I’m focusing on the books!)
Just a bit of my Outlander collection!
My top ten are:
Brianna Randall Fraser MacKenzie: Bree is a controversial pick — plenty of people dislike her, particularly early in the series when she’s kind of bratty and mean to Claire (and it is NOT okay to be mean to Claire). Bree really grows up (and grew on me) over the course of the series. She’s smart, she’s fierce, she’s welcomed Jamie into her life, and she’s become a terrific daughter at long last. Plus, gotta love a woman who does things like inventing matches and plumbing in her spare time.
Roger MacKenzie: Total sweetheart and all-around wonderful soul. He’s devoted to Bree, is a man of faith, and has stuck with the Fraser clan despite truly terrible things happening to him because of his association with them
Ian Murray (Young Ian): The little baby nephew Jamie bonded with before being sent off to prison post-Culloden grew up into a teen in need of rescue, an adopted Mohawk warrior, and a surrogate son to Jamie. Ian’s devotion to the Frasers, to his wife, and to Rollo (RIP) are lovely.
Lord John Grey: Lord John gets his own books to star in (and they’re well worth checking out, for those who haven’t explored outside of the main Outlander volumes), but he’s also a fantastic friend to Jamie, Claire, and Brianna.
Hal Grey, Duke of Pardloe: He doesn’t appear much in the TV version, but book readers know and love Hal for his wit, his devotion to family, and the endlessly entertaining dynamic whenever he and Claire are in the same scene.
Fergus Fraser: From a wee French pickpocket to an American patriot of the printing press, Fergus is an excellent son to Jamie, with a lovely marriage and family. He lights up his moments on the page.
Dougal MacKenzie: Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that he’s the catalyst for so much of what happens early in the series.
Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser: While book Murtagh doesn’t last nearly as long as TV Murtagh, he’s a crucial character nonetheless. Jamie’s godfather has his back no matter what, and comes through for him in critical moments.
Jenny Fraser Murray: I love Jenny’s fire, her devotion to her husband and children, her brother, and their home. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and is just glorious whenever she gets a moment to shine.
Rollo, Adso, Donas, and the other animals of Outlander: I mentioned Rollo earlier in relation to Ian… but honestly, the various animals of this series deserve a shout-out of their own!
Stopping at ten means I have to omit so many others! So I’ll just a quick word of praise for all the rest of Diana Gabaldon’s amazing characters… including Marsali, Rachel, Denzel, Dottie, all the various grandchildren, William (can’t forget William!), Mother Hildegard… well, I could just go on and on until I name every single one!
If you’re an Outlander fan: who are your favorite supporting characters?
If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
First Lines Friday is a weekly feature for book lovers created 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? Here’s how to join in:
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!
This week’s lines are from a 2025 book with a split timeline:
At our school in Waikiki, there were two camps. Those whose families were invited to the grand opening of the Moana Hotel, and those who weren’t. Ours wasn’t, but I don’t care because I think it was a foolish idea to build a hotel right on the beach.
So what’s the book?
The Guest in Room 120 by Sara Ackerman Published: September 23, 2025 336 pages
Synopsis:
A gripping novel inspired by one of America’s most mysterious deaths, that of Stanford University’s founder Jane Stanford.
1905. As the mother of a university and a woman with an iron will, Jane Stanford has made her share of enemies. After a scare at her mansion in San Francisco and on the advice of her doctor, she flees to Honolulu and the fashionable new Moana hotel. But as fate would have it, the island is not as safe as it seems.
2005. Zoe Finch is a bestselling author who desperately needs a jump start on her next novel when she makes a split decision to attend a writers conference at the Moana under an assumed name. As a storm brews offshore, she begins having nightmares that feel hauntingly real. Terrified, Zoe enlists the help of mystery writer Dylan Winters, and over the course of the week, races to uncover the shocking truth of what happened in the hotel one hundred years ago almost to the day.
1905. Iliahi Baldwin’s life changes the moment she lands a job at the Moana. Newly hired and reeling from a tragic loss, she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the formidable Jane Stanford upon her arrival, leaving young Ili devastated when the unthinkable happens. Ili knows things, but there are powerful people who need the truth to remain hidden, and to cross them could prove disastrous.
An unforgettable tale of betrayal, secrets, and death that still echoes through the years.
I picked up a copy of this book a few months ago, but haven’t read it yet. I’ve heard great things!
Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, featuring a different top 10 theme each week. This week’s topic is May Flowers, with the prompt: This is a companion to the April Showers topic from last month. Interpret however you’d like: books with flowers on the cover, colorful covers, books set in springtime, books where flowers/plants are a common theme, titles with flower names in them, characters named after flowers, covers that are as pretty as flowers, books featuring gardens, etc.
I did a version of this TTT topic just two years ago, featuring books with flower names in the titles… so rather than repeating myself, I thought I’d take a different approach. This time around, my top 10 are books where flowers or gardens are a plot element.
The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
Where You’re Planted by Melanie Sweeney
The Lark by E. Nesbit
The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst
Flirting Lessons by Jasmine Guillory
The Samurai’s Garden by Gail Tsukayama
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher
Mandy by Julie Andres Edwards
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Digging In by Loretta Nyhan
Have you read any books that fit my topic? What books make you think of May flowers?
If you wrote a TTT post this week, please share your link!
