First Lines = First Impression

Call me Ishmael. - Moby Dick by Herman Melville

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. - Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Once upon a time, there was a woman who discovered she had turned into the wrong person. - Back When We Were Grownups by Anne Tyler

You better not never tell nobody but God. - The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Of all the things that drive men to sea, the most common disaster, I've come to learn, is women.
-Middle Passage by Charles Johnson
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As we all know, first lines are extremely important. Not only do readers judge a book by its first lines, editors and agents often don't read past the first page of your manuscript if it doesn't immediately capture their attention.

If you're an ACFW member, you've probably seen this topic come across the Loop this week. I've really been enjoying reading all of the excellent first-lines from everyone's novels and/or WIP's (works in progress). I want to share a few of those that stood out to me. I'll include three of the first lines from my manuscripts, as well. Although mine are yet unpublished, the others are from published (or soon to be published) novels.

If her car hadn’t died that morning, Monique might not have, either.
-From Double Take by Jenness Walker

I marched into church on Sunday, not to find God, but to search for a killer.
-From Fudge-Laced Felonies by Cynthia Hickey

If I hadn’t zigged when he zagged, we would’ve knocked each other out cold.
-The Lady & the Impractical Jokester by Roger Bruner

Today was not a good day for a wedding. It was Lucinda Bishop’s wedding day and he wasn’t the groom.
-From Morning for Dove by Martha Rogers

It's not easy going to the Silicon Valley's most elite private school --as a poor girl.
-From Perfectly Invisible by Kristin Billerbeck

Unemployed. Single. And out of brownie mix.
-From A Valentine's Wish by Betsy St. Amant

A handsome man couldn't be trusted, Maggie Davis reminded herself, and a girl would be wise to watch out for the ugly ones, too.
-From Maggie and the Maverick, Book 3 in the Idaho Brides series

Here are three of mine:

I'm on the run. Unfortunately, not a very fast run. Heels have a way of slowing a woman down. Especially a woman who lives in tennis shoes, loafers, and flip-flops.
-Mind over Madi

Gym shorts...check. T-shirt...check. Water bottle...check. Nikes...nope. They were still packed away in a box somewhere from the move, six months ago. Shows how long it had been since I'd worked out.
-Dead Weight

Rose sat back in her office chair and stared at the computer screen. After a few seconds, she closed her eyes. Maybe when she opened them, the words would be gone.

Nope. Still there.
-Three Wishes

I'd love to hear your favorites. Or, better yet, the first lines from your own published novels or WIP's. Do share!