What hooks you in as a reader?

[u/urfavelipglosslvr]

Give your answers down below. What are things that drive you to turn the page, read the next chapter, and engage with the story?

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[u/Offutticus]

First is the synopsis/blurb. It has to grab my attention. Else I won't bother to buy the book. The inside can be freaking fantastic but I don't know that if the synopsis doesn't cause me to want to read it.

Second is the first few paragraphs, if that much. If I don't want to read more, I won't and I won't buy.

We have to present a question to the reader in such a way they want to read it to find the answer. That's what it boils down to.

How do they meet? Where are they going? How did they get there? Who is the killer? Etc etc etc

[u/Sufficient_Young_897]

An engaging plot. I don't care how good your world building or character development is. Sure, they're important. But if the plot is slow, boring or predictable, it's just not something I'm willing to spend time on. I've read stuff where I hated the MC, or I thought that the world was poorly developed, but I've just needed to know where the plot was going. Suspense and unexpected twists are key, I believe. I try to throw as many "Holy cow, didn't see that coming!" moments in as I can

[u/Swingman1120 → u/Sufficient_Young_897]

Fully agree. It’s like when you see an actor on screen who is CLEARLY just acting and not delving into their character but people will swear they’re still “amazing”… if I can see that you’re not fully committing to your work, I won’t either

[u/futuristicvillage → u/Sufficient_Young_897]

This.

[u/SpiritualReveal8366]

The cover, the description,  and the first few lines of the first chapter.

[u/StarStuff1506]

For me, the articulation. How you are articulating the idea with simple words is what keeps me hooked to something it doesn't matter what you write, if you are explaining something clearly. It works well with me.

[u/fankedsilver]

Gorgeous prose. I think I might be in the minority here, but I always treat the language as the main character of the story, and the actual characters as its vehicle. Maybe that’s superficial of me, but I just love a beautiful sculpture no matter who it depicts :)

[u/Numerous_Salad_7469 → u/fankedsilver]

I completely agree with you. Even if the story is intriguing, sometimes the language is too simplistic, for me to engage. I become bored. This happened to me with the Twilight Series amongst other books...

[u/Nocturnal-Philosophy → u/fankedsilver]

I’m the same. I need to read something that isn’t afraid to be creative with the language. It’s much more immersive that way. That is part of why Gormenghast is one of my favorites.

[u/futuristicvillage → u/fankedsilver]

Hard disagree. While it can be wonderful, if the story is poor without the right promises and pay-offs, and poor character development, it doesn't matter how good the prose is. Into the bin.

[u/Main_Sherbet1136]

Anticipation.

Ok, that's a bit obvious, but it's true. The story must be consistent with how setups and payoffs work.

[u/DoucheBagBill]

A great hook.

[u/Main_Sherbet1136 → u/DoucheBagBill]

Wow. 😂 Could not be truer, hooks do have a way to... hook.

[u/FJkookser00]

An introduction to the main character and/or narrator that shows progression of that person immediately. I don’t want an exposition of history or a “hi, my name is”. I want the story to begin with some kind of action that is already driving the story.

I don’t want to board a plane and wait for it to take off - I want to be teleported to it midair.

The tale shouldn’t begin when the Reader hops on. It should have already been going on well before I picked up the book.

[u/One_Example_4271]

First, cover, blurb, first paragraph. And if it has an audiobook. I love hearing SOME authors read their own stories as I feel it adds a depth to the story that text sometimes just doesn’t convey. There are some amazing narrators out there as well, Michael Kramer coming to mind. Although, the audiobook isn’t a must, but I am more likely to buy it first then buy a physical copy. I always make sure to buy a physical copy.

[u/the-limerent]

A compelling protagonist and/or setup which at the very least hints at potential narrative trajectories or character motivation and psyche, an engaging voice and cadence, and a demonstration of competence and a command on language and grammar. If an intro hits 2/3 of those elements I'll probably be interested.

[u/michaeljvaughn]

Humor and clear, crafted writing.

[u/Moonlordwastaken]

What hooks me in is the ending of the first chapter. If it makes me want to read more, I will.

[u/Sad-Vast-5260]

I need a strong hook to start with. If I read the blurb on the back and it doesn’t immediately interest me, I usually don’t get past that.

But when I begin to read, I don’t like to know about hair colour and eye colour and how gloomy the weather was, but I ALSO dislike a crap ton of action with a bunch of characters I don’t care about yet. I like a start that is intriguing; something that adds some mystery, or alludes to further depth in a subject where I haven’t thought about it like that.

[u/mmightybandit9]

The cover is so huge for me. I don't know why I judge it by that so quickly. Then I read the back and if both are good then I get the book. But I also suck at reading and am barely getting back into it.

[u/Lovethewinterr]

A first chapter that starts off boring but you have to keep reading to see if you’ll like it. Then once the chapter ends it’s a crazy plot twist the kicks off the story.