How do the best first lines in romance novels hook readers?

They create intrigue. For example, if the first line is 'She found a letter in the attic, addressed to a stranger but filled with words of love.', it makes the reader wonder who the letter is from and who the stranger is. This mystery draws the reader in.

They create mystery. For example, like the first line in 'The Hunger Games'. A cold bed makes you wonder what happened, and this mystery makes you keep reading to find out. Simple as that.

They create mystery. For example, a line like 'In a dark, forgotten corner of the old house, something stirred.' makes the reader wonder what that something is. It's simple yet effective in making the reader want to know more.

They create mystery. For example, like in the first line of 'The Great Gatsby' - 'In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since.' It makes you wonder what that advice was and why it has stayed with the narrator for so long.

They often introduce an emotional state. Such as 'She was broken - hearted, but then he came along like a ray of hope.' It makes the reader care about the character's emotional journey.

They also set the mood. If the first line has a dreamy or passionate tone, it gives the reader an idea of what kind of romance to expect. For example, a line like 'The first time he saw her, the world seemed to stop spinning.' immediately gives a sense of a powerful, instant attraction. This draws the reader in as they are eager to see how this intense feeling will develop. In addition, the first lines can introduce a conflict or an obstacle related to love right away. Such as 'She knew she could never love him, not with the secret she held in her heart.' This creates a sense of tension that makes the reader curious about how the characters will overcome this and find love.

Great first lines often present something unexpected or thought - provoking. For example, the first line in 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville: 'Call me Ishmael.' It's simple yet mysterious, making the reader wonder who Ishmael is and what his story will be.

They create mystery. For example, the first line of '1984' by George Orwell, 'It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.' The oddity of the clocks striking thirteen makes you want to read on to find out more about this strange world.

They create mystery. Take 'All children, except one, grow up' from 'Peter Pan'. It makes you wonder which child didn't grow up and why. This mystery makes the reader keep reading to find out.

By creating intrigue. For instance, 'The letter in her hand held a secret that could change her life and her relationship forever.' This makes the reader wonder what's in the letter and how it will impact her life. Simple as that.