10 Agents Looking for Novels Like “The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
Where to Query This Week (4.23.25) | Plus how to write a compelling hook for your book
Welcome to Sub Club’s Where to Query This Week!
Today,
shares what a book hook really is—and why it matters. Below, she breaks down the different types of hooks, common pitfalls, and how to find the one that best sells your story. And as a developmental book editor and publishing consultant, Alyssa is definitely the one we should be listening to!Let’s get into it.
How to Write a Strong, Compelling Book Hook
Your book’s hook is a short, compelling pitch—often just one sentence—that highlights the most exciting, enticing, and unique aspect of your story. Your hook should make someone say, “Wow, I need to read that!” If it doesn’t, it’s not doing its job.
Why Is the Hook Important?
Books with strong hooks tend to stand out more in agents’ inboxes, since a good hook will make them eager to read your sample pages and hopefully then request the full manuscript. You may even see agents asking for a “one-line pitch” or “elevator pitch” in their query guidelines.
If you’re struggling to articulate your book’s hook, don’t worry—it's in there. You just have to find it.
The Four Most Common Types of Hooks
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to crafting a compelling hook, but there are four main types of hooks. Your story will likely naturally gravitate to one type of hook based on the genre and style.
Setting or Worldbuilding Hook
If your story’s world is immersive, imaginative, or central to the plot, consider leading with your setting. This approach works especially well in genres like historical fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi.
For example, here's a way to describe the hook for Dune by Frank Herbert:
“On a desert planet, a young nobleman must navigate deadly political battles to harness the power of a mysterious spice that could change the fate of the universe.”
Right away, we get a sense of the world, the stakes, and the intrigue. This hook pulls us in by spotlighting the environment as a driving force in the story.
Plot Hook
A plot hook is all about the premise—something spectacular that happens to your character. Think about what happens in your story that makes it impossible to ignore.
For example, a plot hook for Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir could be:
“A lone astronaut wakes up millions of miles from home with no memory of who he is or what he needs to do to save humanity.”
This setup raises immediate questions, and it’s the premise itself that makes us want to know more.
Character Hook
Sometimes it’s the protagonist who steals the show. If your main character is unusual, quirky, or instantly lovable (or hateable!), that might be the heart of your hook.
For example, here's a potential character hook for Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman:
“A socially awkward, solitary woman discovers that opening her heart to others may be the only way to heal her own wounds.”
The internal conflict here is clear, and we’re immediately invested in how this character will grow and change.
Theme Hook
If your story explores a powerful theme, you can center your hook around it.
For example, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover could be pitched with a theme hook like:
“A young woman confronts painful truths about her past and what she wants out of love when her new partner begins to mirror the abusive behaviors she had to leave behind.”
This hook tells us why the book resonates emotionally—not just what happens, but why it’s significant.
If you're not sure which direction to go, try writing a version of your hook for each type—setting, plot, character, and theme—and see which one fits best.
Common Mistakes When Writing Your Hook
It’s Too Vague
Your hook needs to be specific enough to show what makes your story unique and compelling. For example, if you read the hook “An aging screenwriter struggles to revive his career,” would you be compelled to read the book? Eh, maybe. But probably not. Now take: “An aging screenwriter gets the opportunity to revive his career when his seminal project from 50 years ago goes viral on TikTok.” Now we’re getting somewhere.
It’s Misleading
Don’t bait-and-switch your reader. Your hook should reflect the actual heart of your story, not just what sounds the most dramatic. Agents want to know what they’re getting from the get-go and will likely stop reading if your story veers far off in another direction.
It’s Too Long
A hook isn’t meant to explain your whole story. It’s meant to spark interest quickly. Keep it to a single sentence (max two short ones!). Agents are skimming dozens of pitches, so your hook needs to deliver instant clarity and intrigue. Save the full context for your query letter description or synopsis.
You’re Confusing the Hook With Other Elements of Your Pitch
Your hook is just one piece of your pitch puzzle. It doesn’t replace your query letter, comparable titles, or synopsis—it complements them. Think of your hook as the spark that whets the appetite for those other sections.
Finding your book’s hook isn’t just a silly marketing tactic. It empowers you to know what makes your story stand out and pitch it with confidence.
Once you’ve nailed your hook, make sure your manuscript delivers on it. A powerful hook + a polished manuscript = a recipe for querying success!
Alyssa Matesic is an independent developmental book editor and publishing consultant specializing in adult fiction. After holding editorial roles at Henry Holt & Company (an imprint of Macmillan), The Book Group literary agency, and Ballantine Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House), she founded her own editorial services company, which helps hundreds of authors per year strengthen their manuscripts for publication. She shares writing and publishing insights to help aspiring authors on her popular YouTube channel and Substack, Chapter Break.
🌟 FREE EVENT! Write or Die is hosting a free craft chat with Sash Bischoff TOMORROW: How to Write a Literary Page-Turner! She'll chat about writing books in conversation with the classics, toeing the line between literary and commercial writing, and the importance of structure and plot. Bring your questions! Sign up here.
10 Agents Looking for Novels Like “ The Secret History” by Donna Tartt
The agents on this list are actively seeking novels that echo the dark, atmospheric world of The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Whether they cite the book directly or describe a love for “dark academia,” “elite settings,” “obsessive friendships,” or “literary fiction with a sinister edge,” each of these agents is drawn to stories that explore power, intellect, secrecy, and psychological unraveling in rich, compelling prose.
If you’re currently querying and want a curated list specially made for your manuscript, be sure to check out my Personal Agent List service. I have a few spots left for April!
»» Get your own agent list here ««
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