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First Lines Activity for Your Next Book Club Social
Looking for a book club idea to go along with your book tasting? Try this First Lines Activity for some of the most popular books in book clubs and social media book groups.
Looking for a fun and interactive book club activity to pair with your book tasting event? This First Lines Activity is a simple, engaging way to spark conversation, curiosity, and friendly competition among your guests.
A great book club social goes beyond discussion—it creates an experience. And sometimes, all it takes is the opening line of a novel to hook a reader.
Why the First Lines Activity Works
The first line of a book often sets the tone for the entire story.
This activity:
- Sparks curiosity about new books
- Encourages group interaction
- Helps grow everyone’s TBR (to-be-read) list
- Works for both small and large groups
Tips for Hosting a Successful Book Club Game
- Keep rounds short and engaging
- Offer small prizes (bookmarks, gift cards, or books)
- Mix well-known and lesser-known titles
- Encourage conversation after each round
How to Prep for a Book Club First Lines Activity
Compile Your Book Selections List
- Scan social media groups, book hastags in social media platforms
- Book Club members can submit their top reads
- Find ready made lists like Double Booked Book Tasting Menu prepped for you, just gather book copies
REMEMBER: Not everyone reads trending books—variety makes the activity more inclusive.
Gather the Books
Depending on the size of your personal library -Physical copies work best for this activity, allowing guests to interact with the books. This can be the hardest part, simply due to the varied genres, new releases, and availabilty of copies.
- local library
- personal copies
- member copies
- secondhand book stores
- retail book stores
Supplies for the First Lines Activity
First Line Cards
Keep it simple or make it themed—it’s up to you!
- Create cards or slips of paper (number for easy game identification)
- Write/type the first line or first two lines of each novel
- Hand out the “master list” of book titles
- Prepare an answer key
Ways to Play
Scavenger Hunt Version
- Hand out first line cards randomly
- Display books on a table
- Set a timer (3–7 minutes)
- Players match their line to the correct book
- Winner: First person to correctly match their card
Matching Quiz
- Create a worksheet with:
- Column A: Book titles
- Column B: First lines
- Players match them
- Winner: Most correct answers
Call-Out Style
- Distribute cards to participants
- Players take turns reading their line aloud
- Group guesses the book title
Bonus twist: Allow steals for incorrect guesses
Fun idea:
Award raffle tickets for correct answers and draw a winner at the end!
Final Takeaways
The First Lines Activity is a simple but powerful way to:
- Make your book club more interactive
- Introduce new books to your group
- Create a memorable and social experience
With minimal prep and maximum engagement, this activity is perfect for your next book club gathering.
Explore more book club socials and activities – See FG&S Book Club and Double Booked , downloads & printables for more ideas!
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