Another term for the first sentence is the hook. The idea here is that a first sentence must capture the reader and draw them in. The most obvious hook is a person facing a high-stakes conflict. There's none of that here.
Nonetheless, Casey McQuiston has written an intriguing sentence, and Red, White & Royal Blue was a bestseller, won a Goodreads award, and appeared on multiple best-of-the-year lists.
There's more than one way to draw in a reader, and problems are not the only pleasure of fiction.
What this sentence does have is narrative, description – we might even call it world-building – and music. Authors of previous centuries could more often capitalize words. Whenever they did, that word gains an emphasis. Three terms gain that stress here: White House, Promenade, Solarium. The last two fall at the end of their phrases, and White House near the end of its phrase, creating three sections ending in heavier beats. It's a lovely waltz.
The White House is a potent symbol. Knowing that the story takes place there adds some intrigue. Then, there are carefully chosen details in savory words to bring that location into brighter focus. Notice how specific "tucked" and "loose paneling" are. Plus, I didn't even know the White House had a Promenade and a Solarium. These facets of the scene add the pleasure of vicarious travel.
Finally, there's a small contrast between "White House" and "loose paneling." There's a bit of mystery in why the most prestigious address in the nation would need a small repair. That might imply someone who loosened the panel or someone who needs to fix it – and bring in the person with conflict – but those possibilities remain in the background.
I'm hooked. I want to read more pleasurable sentences and discover what else I will see in this powerful location.
Photo credit: Peter Griffin, CC0