In terms of marketing copy, the “hook” is the first one or two sentences on the back cover of a book that grab a reader’s attention and give them a taste of what the book is about. The hook should be short and sweet—no more than two sentences—but it should still be informative or intriguing.
The hook for the bestselling book I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy is an excellent example of an effective hook: “A heartbreaking and hilarious memoir by iCarly and Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy about her struggles as a former child actor—including eating disorders, addiction, and a complicated relationship with her overbearing mother—and how she retook control of her life.” In an economical way, this hook encompasses exactly what the book is about and why readers might be interested.
Below are some examples of hooks for well-known or popular books, can you guess which book each hook belongs to? Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page for the answers.
- “What happens when America’s First Son falls in love with the Prince of Wales?”
- “Could you survive on your own in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning?”
- “Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal.”
- “The Sparrow family is falling apart, and now their city is too. When Portland is hit by the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake, siblings Morgan, Olivia, and Sherman are tasked with keeping their family alive following one of the worst natural disasters in living memory.”
- “A tale of gods and goddesses, kings and queens, immortal fame and the human heart.”
- “Filipino folk dancing is a huge part of Jamie’s life, but so is high school and his two best friends. When the two worlds collide, Jamie must decide who he truly wants to be. “
- “One boy, one boat, one tiger . . .”
- “When a banished witch falls in love with the legendary trickster Loki, she risks the wrath of the gods in this moving, subversive debut novel that reimagines Norse mythology.”
- “Two sisters competing for the greatest prize: The love of a king.”
- “A groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen, caught between worlds, who goes undercover to root out the crime and corruption threatening her community.”
Some of the above hooks tell readers exactly what the book is about. I am guessing you were able to correctly identify what book “One boy, one boat, one tiger . . .” is about because it succinctly sums up the main and most poignant conflict of the hugely popular novel.
In contrast, the sentence “Could you survive on your own in the wild, with everyone out to make sure you don’t live to see the morning?” could describe a wide variety of survivalist thrillers. The marketing team for this book could have been more specific about the context—a dystopian society forcing children to survive in the wild as part of an annual reality television event held for the entertainment of the upper-class members of society. However, the vagueness might intrigue readers. Reader’s might question why, in that situation, would everyone be plotting against their survival?
An effective hook gives readers a taste of what the book is about and why they should read this particular book, as compared to any other book on the shelf. An effective hook might shock a reader or get them to ask questions, leaving them wanting more.
If you are trying to brainstorm ideas for a hook and feel stuck, it typically helps to reference your search engine optimization (SEO) keywords or main selling points. If you were describing the book to a friend, what are the first things you would tell them?
Below are the answers and the books that the above ten hooks belong to. How many were you able to guess correctly?
- Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
- Babel by R. F. Kuang
- Faultland by Suzy Vitello
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
- Love, Dance & Egg Rolls by Jason Tanamor
- Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec
- The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
- The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Blog written by Sarah Bradley.