(But I Can’t Tell You Why)
How to recommend a book without giving away the good parts.
You finish a book. You sit there for a moment, enjoying that lovely feeling of having been somewhere.
Then you think of a friend.
Oh, she would love this.
You reach for your phone, open a message, and begin explaining why.
Three sentences later, you have revealed a secret identity, cast suspicion on someone who seemed perfectly harmless, and nearly mentioned what happens in the boathouse.
Delete. Delete. DELETE.
Recommending a book can require a surprising amount of self-control.
Especially when the thing you most want to talk about is the very thing your friend should get to discover for herself.
Start with the pleasure
What made the book such a good time?
Was it the dialogue? The setting? Two people who could face mortal danger but apparently could not manage an honest conversation about their feelings?
You can share quite a lot without explaining the plot.
“This made me laugh, and I loved the way the romance developed.”
“The setting was wonderful. I wanted to stay there. Possibly after the danger had been dealt with.”
“It had that mix of adventure and affection you enjoy.”
These are imaginary recommendations, by the way. No actual books have been compromised in the writing of this post.
Think about what your friend likes, too. If she enjoys clever dialogue, tell her about that. If she loves capable heroines, a heroine who can get herself out of trouble might be the detail that catches her attention.
Your enthusiasm becomes more useful when you give it somewhere to land.
Tell them where the trouble begins
A little setup helps.
A woman inherits a house with an inconvenient secret. Two rivals have to work together. Someone accepts what sounds like a perfectly ordinary job.
We readers know how those jobs tend to go.
The opening predicament gives your friend a doorway into the story. You don’t have to escort her through every room, identify the hidden passage, and explain who will be waiting at the other end.
The book’s description can help you decide how much setup to share. If you know your friend prefers to go in knowing almost nothing, keep it shorter still.
Try stopping after the problem arrives.
“They’re stranded together, and neither one trusts the other.”
That leaves plenty to wonder about.
“And then you find out he’s actually—”
That is where we put the phone down and have a sip of something.
Beware the helpful little hint
Sometimes the spoiler arrives wearing a very innocent disguise.
“Pay attention to the neighbor.”
Oh, dear.
Now your friend will pay attention to the neighbor. Also his dog, his garden shed, and every innocent gardening implement on the premises.
Perhaps the neighbor only wanted to grow zucchini.
“You’ll never guess the twist” can have a similar effect. Your friend may spend the whole book hunting for a trapdoor instead of enjoying the room she’s in.
And “Don’t get too attached to anyone” casts a rather large shadow over introductions.
Even when you haven’t revealed an event, you may have changed how someone approaches the story.
You can praise clever plotting without pointing a large flashing arrow at a particular person or page. “I enjoyed watching the pieces come together” leaves the pieces where the author put them.
Which is considerate. Someone probably worked quite hard arranging them.
Ask how much they want to know
Readers have different preferences.
Some want a title and your enthusiastic nod. Others want to know about the romance, the level of danger, or whether the story ends on a cliffhanger before they commit.
A simple “Do you want the setup, or would you rather go in cold?” can save a great deal of awkward backing away from unfinished sentences.
If a friend asks about something that matters to her reading experience, answer honestly. You can also ask whether she wants a general reassurance or the specific details.
There is room for both surprise and an informed choice.
Once you’ve both finished, of course, you can arrange the conversation that begins, “FINALLY. Now we can talk about that neighbor!”
Please check that everyone within earshot has finished, too.
One sentence can do the job
You don’t need a polished review to pass along a book you loved.
Try this:
“I thought of you because you enjoy ___, and this book gave me ___.”
“I thought of you because you enjoy witty mysteries, and this book gave me several good laughs along with the puzzle.”
Or simply:
“The heroine is resourceful, the dialogue is funny, and I was very happy I went along for the adventure.”
Add the title and author so your friend can find it. Then let the book take over.
As a writer who loves twisty plots, I want readers to have the pleasure of discovering what’s waiting around the corner. As a reader, I understand the urge to grab someone and say, “Oh, you have to read this so we can TALK.”
That’s a lovely gift to offer a friend: a story you think she might enjoy, and the promise of a good conversation afterward.
Even if it requires heroic restraint concerning the neighbor.
Your turn: can you tempt us with a favorite book in one spoiler-free sentence? Include the title and author so we can find it.
Our to-be-read piles may have objections. We can hear those later.