Do you remember the first book you read? No, not See Dick Run (of course I’m not old enough to have read that… I’ve just heard rumors) I mean the first one that made you want to curl up with your nose 
stuck in the pages, refusing to go out and play or do anything else because you just HAD to turn the pages.
For me it was Little Women. I loved that book so much, I broke the binding reading it over and over. My mom still has my copy, held together with electrical tape (what can I say, I was a better reader than bookbinder at that age 
) It’s something like first love, isn’t it? That rush of OMG WOW feeling when you discover the world of reading and all the delights and joys it brings.
How about the first series that hooked you so hard you had to read all of the books as fast as possible. Or if they weren’t all written yet, hooked you enough that you hit the store the day the next book was released, setting aside everything so you could read? For me, the former was David Edding’s The Belgariad series. I found those books in my teens and read all 5 in the series in one week. For my oldest daughter, it was the Harry Potter books, and for my youngest, its now Percy Jackson. 
I’ll admit, I’m always more excited to fall in love with a series after all the books are out, because then I can gobble them all up at once. But there’s something incredible about those midnight runs to the bookstore, isn’t there? (C’mon, how many of you did that with the Harry Potter series? And did you wear a cloak?)
And what about that author hook? Do you remember your first auto-buy author? The one who you just knew would make you so happy when you cracked open the pages that you didn’t even have to read the backcover copy first, you just grabbed and bought? Mine was Nora Roberts, swiftly followed by Vicki Lewis Thomson. I’ve added to that list over the years, but these are still names that I automatically grab.
How about you? Do you remember your firsts?
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My first was a Victoria Coffman book in high school. I can’t recall the title because I have read so many of hers but they were all great.(C)
My first series wasn’t until I picked up the Tall Texan series by Diana Palmer and she is still releasing them. Gotta love a Tall Texan Man and especially those men who live in Jacobsville, TX.(L)
And as far as auto-buy authors mine is still Diana Palmer. Every time she releases a book I am there.
Patsy, that is so cool that an author who hooked you so well is still writing the same series!!!
Yeah they are few and far between but she is still releasing them and they are really good.
The first book I remember that feeling of awe after reading was called, THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND, followed swiftly by ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS. I read all the Nancy Drews I could get my hands on from the library. We weren’t able to buy books from a bookstore, but there were so many books in the library for me it seemed like a magical place. Then when I was 14 I borrowed my mother’s copy of THE FLAME AND THE FLOWER and I was hooked on romance. My mom turned me on the Phyllis Whitney and Phillipa Carr, Barbara Micheals, and Mary Stewart. When I couldn’t find any more of theirs I hadn’t already read in the library I read Anne Perry and Elizabeth George. Then I discovered Amanda Quick in the 90s and I learned she was also Jayne Ann Krentz AND Stephanie James AND Jayne Castle and I read all her books. Then one day in the library I picked up a paperback called THE PRINCE OF MIDNIGHT by Laura Kinsale…
Jillian, great list
I can’t recall my first romance, which was really killing me as I wrote this blog LOL. I *think* it was Rosemary Rogers, but I’m not positive. And like you, I was reading Mary Stewart back in gradeschool. Oh man, love her books.
I don’t remember what got me hooked to reading, since I practically was reading from the moment I entered the world, but since this is a romance blog, I can do those firsts. The first romance I picked up (because, well, I just wanted to know what went on. . . LOL) was from the college bookstore, perhaps ~ 6-7 years ago, Sandra Brown’s Breakfast in Bed. Got the other two of hers that they had. Then, I went to my first historical one, Lisa Kleypas’s Lady Sophia’s Lover. Then got the only other one of hers they had. Then I finally went to the bookstore and well, as they say, the rest was history. After a while, really don’t know, maybe a year or so after that, I picked up my first Harlequin, and pretty sure it was a Presents. Then I think I picked up a Romance somewhere after that. Then I hit the Blazes, and I still have it, but getting the title from memory, so I’m not very certain, but it should be Good to Be Bad by Debbie Rawlins.
Lois
Wow, Lois! You have a great memory! I can remember the cover of my first romance (it was a YA that I borrowed from the school library) but can’t for the life of me remember the title. But don’t you love how that first book hooked you, then it all sort of snowballed on your romance reading journey.
I have to say my favorite books that I had to read and every month they came out I was begging my mom to take me to the bookstore to get the new one. They were the Nancy Drew Mysteries. The ones they released during the 90′s. I loved them!! No one could talk to me when reading them. It was my one pure joy in life. Later on in my teens, I got hooked on Danielle Steel books. I could not get enough of them too! I was a person who never like reading until my pre-teen years. I always tell everyone that I always have my head in a book now, because I am making up for lost time! Every summer break, I always read a classic that I enjoyed in high school or college. Just want to be ready when my boys grow up and have to read them too. I can at least say, yes read it and know what they are talking about at school.
Hi Cim
Let’s hear it for making up for lost reading time!!! It sounds like you’re doing great with that, and we’re a huge supporter of the idea 
That is so awesome that you are reading the classics. I’ve read a few, but I’ll admit, I never quite get into them like I do my beloved romances LOL.
I make myself read these classics, because I am always reading my romance books. I just can”t get enough of them!!! Thanks
My first was so long ago I have no idea what it was! When I grew up there was no television in our area, a valley that didn’t get receiption. I was 12 when our town had its first TV station, one station. We got our first TV when I was 13 you watched the one station which got programs from all three networks! Back to books! My reading habit was well established by age 13. I remember reading the Bobbsey Twins & Little Women as I got older I started branching out more. In the 80′s shortly after Harlequin started the Temptation line I became a subscriber & loved them all. I was very disappointed when they discontinued that line. They switched me over to the Blaze books of which I am a big fan. (Y)
Probably the first author I followed closely was Danielle Steel but then I discovered Nora Roberts, Jill Shalvis, Leslie Kelly, Rhonda Nelson, and the list goes on & on. There is way to many to list. I do also enjoy your books. (*) (Y) I like that Harlequin tries to keep us interested by making changes but sometimes the change is not to my liking! Finding a new author is also nice but leads to more books and a longer list!! (H)
Oh Donna, I hear you on the pain of losing Temptation. That was one of my all time favorite lines!! But all of my fave Temptation authors are writing for Blaze now, which rocks. And they are just as awesome as they were in Temptation, so we still have what counts, right
and thanks!!! I’m honored to be included on that list, since you listed a lot of my fave authors
Harlequin is amazing at listening to their readers and working to meet reader needs. Hopefully, the good changes they make far outweigh the ones you don’t like so much (Y)
My first book to hook me to reading and first series go together, the Harry Potter series is the one that did it. I enjoy those books, still have to read the last one. my first auto buy author was Nora Roberts, now I have several auto buys.
Nicole!!! You haven’t read the last Harry Potter yet?! Well what are you doing here on the blog – go, girl. Read!!!
Kidding… but yeah, I do love those books. Not only for how well the story is told, but for how many people it brought over to the reading side.
Nora rocks, doesn’t she. I’m with you on her being an auto-buy.
Hi Tawny! Great post topic! The first book that made me fall in love with reading was “Island of the Blue Dolphin”, then “Summer of the Monkeys”. From there it was just about anything I could get my hands on. My first auto buy author was Maureen Child. I love her stuff! i almost have all of her books, and its alot of books, lol! Now I have several auto buys. Most of them are Blaze authors. I love you girls and guy, cant forget Tony, lol!
Have a great day! (*)
LOL Alina – you’re so right, we can’t forget Tony!!! I’m with you on the Blaze authors being auto buys. I think thats one of the great things about Harlequin subscriptions, its so easy to have auto-buys if you love a line
I’ve read a few of Maureen Child’s books and she’s fab. And yes!!! Very prolific
How many shelves of your bookcase are just for her, I wonder 
Hey Tawny!! Love the topic!
The first romance book I read (and which hooked me for life) was Julie Garwood’s THE WEDDING. Loved, loved, loved the story. Connor is my kind of hero — brooding and brawny with rugged good looks who loves HIS woman fiercely. I still read it every year.
Oh man, Buffie, The Wedding rocks. I can see how it’d hook you solid
I love Julie Garwoods historicals.
Love this post, Tawny!!
I loved “The Great Brain” series when I was younger. I found a copy at a library book sell and snatched it up. Still read it and love it! I also loved some of those Beverly Cleary books and Amelia Bedelia!
On the romance side of things, I was a teenager during the Wildfire/Sweet Dreams/Caprice/Sunfire days and I still have tons of those books. So fun, sweet and crazy to read!! And of course, Sweet Valley High!! LOL!!
I will pick up anything by Catherine George, Magaret Way or Rachel Gibson. Doesn’t matter, I’m on it!!
Ooooh, Beverly Cleary and Amelia Bedelia! How could I forget how wonderful those books were. And never, ever forget Judy Blume *g* I didn’t read the Sweet Valley High books, though. I seem to have missed a great read