Summer is winding down, and so has the Eras Tour in North America. Just when Swifties thought blondie was saying her goodbyes to her homeland, she dropped a bomb — she’s making 15 more stops in the U.S. and Canada in 2024! The first leg of her North American tour came to a close Aug. 9 in LA, but now, rather than being sad her tour moved on, it’s time to get back on Ticketmaster and fight on the frontlines for those coveted Eras tickets once again. Or, if you’ve already been blessed with a night at the Eras Tour, time to prepare with 1989 (Taylor’s Version) — or maybe a good book with similar vibes to your favorite Swift album.
It’s Swift’s world and we’re just living in it. So SwiftTok and BookTok, I’m here for you. Here are the recommendations I have for which book I think you should read based on your fave Swift era.
- Taylor Swift (AKA Debut): All-American Girl by Meg Cabot
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This is an all-American book for an all-American girl. It makes perfect sense to want a cute love story (with some high-stakes drama, of course) for a cute, country era. All-American Girl ($11) follows a fresh-faced student named Samantha who is tangled up in a love triangle with two boys. Enter: the President’s son who is here to wipe the competition out. “Our Song” and “Tim McGraw” girlies, rise up — this one is for you.
- Fearless (Taylor’s Version): Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
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Alex and Henry hate each other. But, Alex is the son of the U.S. President and Henry is the Prince of Wales, so when a PR nightmare brings them together they must convince the world that they’re the best of friends. But when it looks like the pair may become more than friends… that could be the worst PR disaster of them all. “Fearless” takes on a new meaning in Red, White & Royal Blue ($11). Its laugh-out-loud characters will bring you back to gossip sessions with your high school besties. “You Belong With Me” and “The Way I Loved You” embody this love story for the ages, which was recently adapted into a film.
- Speak Now (Taylor’s Version): The Selection by Kiera Cass
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Who doesn’t want to win The Bachelor? Thirty-five girls compete to win the heart of Prince Maxon in The Selection ($7) and America, our protagonist, is determined to get herself sent home. She’s not in the mood to play games and certainly didn’t ask for her life to be turned upside down for love. But when Maxon turns out to be someone she cares for, things get complicated when she realizes there are 34 other girls vying for his heart. Speak Now vibes? Absolutely.
- Red (Taylor’s Version): The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Evelyn Hugo knows marriage all too well. The starlight has gone through seven husbands and she’s finally ready to share the story of each relationship she’s had over her long, successful career. In a tell-all interview, Hugo shares the highs and lows of love from watching her partner win an Oscar to losing who she thought was the one. If you were waiting for “The Lucky One” or “I Almost Do” as surprise songs, then you should pick up The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo ($10) up next time you’re making a bookstore run.
- 1989 (Taylor’s Version): So We Meet Again by Suzanne Park
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With 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on the horizon, you need to feed your inner romance goblin with a fictional couple that never goes out of style. Meet Jessie Kim: a Type A, corporate girlie who was just laid off. Things aren’t looking great and she’s getting desperate. When her childhood arch nemesis, Daniel Choi, pops up with the perfect job opportunity, she can’t turn it down. The pair is at odds again; So We Meet Again ($11) is a perfect enemies-to-lovers novel.
- Reputation: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
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Talk about reinventing yourself. Gone Girl ($13), for those who are unfamiliar with the Cool Girl monologue, is all about getting your well-earned revenge. “I Did Something Bad,” “Look What You Made Me Do,” “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”? Swift might as well have penned them just for this novel. If you’re in your Rep era, it’s time to pick up Gone Girl.
- Lover: Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers
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City lights, romance, and healing. Lover girls, this story was written for you. Honey Girl ($10) follows Grace Porter while she does everything to try and please her family. Along the way she trips and falls in love with the perfect woman, Yuki Yamamoto. Their connection is one for the history books.
- Folklore: Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
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Swift’s ex (who inspired some Folklore songs) Joe Alwyn starred in the TV adaptation of Conversations with Friends ($11) and it’s one of Swift’s favorite books. The brooding book follows two troubled couples as they make their way through life and reminisce on their tough pasts. “Mirrorball,” “This Is Me Trying,” and “Illicit Affairs” all ring true with these characters.
- Evermore: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
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We all know Swift loves this book, and she even based “Tolerate It” on the novel. There are plenty of melancholy moments where you can find glimpses of “Champagne Problems” or “Ivy.” The book follows an unnamed woman who marries a wealthy widower. Soon, she realizes the mansion she lives in with her new husband is haunted by his first wife, Rebecca. Rebecca ($13) is for the HAIM fans and Evermore enthusiasts.
- Midnights: The Beautiful and Damned by F. Scott Fitzgerald
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The Beautiful and Damned ($12) tells the story of one night when a couple becomes “wrecked on the shoals of dissipation” as they party well into the night. The novel, which Swift herself has recommended to fans, encapsulates the tragic half-in-love-half-breakup album that is Midnights.
Sit tight. October 2024 will be here before you know it. Get cracking on your Goodreads goal while you’re waiting for your next show.