How to Create an Effective Book Summary

 

The two or three sentences that show up when a customer views your book can make or break your sale. Here's why.
 
It gives the reader a taste of your writing style, so make sure that your summary is eloquent and cohesive. Like the book title, your summary can only contain a small amount of words, so make sure they are all precisely chosen - if you can eliminate a word or even an entire sentence and preserve the general idea, you don't need that word or sentence in your summary.
 
It presents the reader with a further explanation of your title, without giving away too much. You shouldn't be too vague, but don't give away the ending or too many details either. Remember that you can generate suspense and intrigue without having to use lots of...ellipses...or exclamation marks!!
 
It draws the reader in, an extension of your hook. Whether by establishing a character, a setting, a conflict, or all three, the book summary gives your readers something to latch on to, something that will captivate them enough to read the book.
 
Bad Example:
In Hotel 518, the main character Elizabeth thinks she is going to have a nice relaxing stay at the heart of Manhattan. But what she doesn't expect is that the Big Apple will have more in store for her than a few days shopping on 5th Ave. When her wallet mysteriously disappears from the hotel room, a search leads her to find danger, romance, sex, ...and what the hotel is hiding on the supposedly nonexistent 13th floor! On this journey, she is able to discover her true identity with the help of her newfound love, the bellman. But will she ever get her wallet back?? Can she ever check out of Hotel 518?? Read to find out!!
 
Good Example:
Elizabeth Hill intended to have a relaxing stay at Manhattan's historic Hotel 518, but escaping from her busy and often perilous life was never a realistic option. After a peaceful night's sleep, Elizabeth awakens to find her wallet missing despite her securely bolted door, and she must relinquish her personal vacation to investigate the mysterious old hotel, uncovering its hidden secrets and discovering her own in the process. Braving her fears, releasing memories, and encountering love, Elizabeth tries to unlock the mystery of her own identity - before it's time to check out.