If you’re anything like me, Taylor Swift is your favorite artist, and if you’re a college student, odds are you don’t have the time for many hobbies between studying, work, and maintaining a social life— but, if you have the time to read for fun, here’s a list of books to take your mind off the stress of school based on which Swift album you love most (if you can make such an impossible choice). Before reading any of these, be mindful of the themes they contain- not many of them are dark or heavy, but a few of them have topics that may be difficult for some readers.
Let’s jump right into it with Swift’s debut album, Taylor Swift. This one is summery and wistful, and is both adventurous and uncertain. The first book it made me think of is What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick, a young adult romance set in a small town. If you like the second-chance romance trope and quaint settings, you’ll love this one! It follows two teens navigating a complicated relationship, the drama of high school, and the pressures of growing up. Songs like “Our Song” and “Picture to Burn” come to mind when I think about this book, and Gwen and Cass, the main characters, try to navigate their past. Gwen is holding quite the grudge against Cass, and his attempts to make up for it and prove that he’s changed makes for a sweet summer romance.
Fearless (Taylor’s Version), Swift’s second album, radiates confidence and nostalgia, and is romantic and vibrant. Love and Other Words, by author duo Christina Lauren, is another second-chance romance that alternates between the past and the present, and follows Macy and Elliot as they grow up together every summer. This is one of my personal favorite books, and there are so many moments that remind me of songs from Fearless, from “You Belong With Me” to “White Horse.” This new adult romance has it all, and is one I recommend to friends all the time!
Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is the album for the fairy-tale lovers; it’s romantic and dreamy, but still has themes of both revenge and apology. If you want a book with a little bit of magic, pick up Again, but Better by Christine Riccio. Featuring (another) second-chance romance, a study-abroad journey, and a hint of time travel, this new adult novel moves through the complex nature of friendships, romance, and growing up. If you find yourself unsure of yourself in college and beyond, this is the perfect read- it left me with a newfound confidence as I started my second year of college, and now as a senior, I can say that I’ve thought about this book quite often since I read it in one sitting a few years ago. Shane, the main female protagonist, has an inspiring character arc and struggles with a lot of insecurities that I and many other college students have faced, and the novel is funny, relatable, and impossible to put down.
Red (Taylor’s Version) to me feels like a quintessential fall album, so I associate it with cozy books and curling up by the fireplace. If you’re looking for a book that may remind you of “State of Grace,” “Holy Ground,” and “All Too Well,” I’d recommend Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score, an adult romance with small-town vibes, found family, and a lot of humor. With a couple that learns to talk things out and goes through their complicated phase before even becoming friends, it’s a heartwarming read on a crisp fall day, and it’s another book I read in one day!
1989 (Taylor’s Version) reminds many fans of the city with its first song, “Welcome To New York,” and about letting down the walls that we build up to protect ourselves. Songs like “Wildest Dreams” and “I Know Places” are about protecting a love that was found, or at least the memories of it, and is for the listeners who want to fall in love, who dream big, and who try to keep themselves safe and impenetrable. Today, Tonight, Tomorrow is a young adult romance by Rachel Lynn Solomon that explores the discoveries that come with teen love, along with the fears of losing the person you’ve finally found. It’s a quick read, with a Seattle setting that aligns with the city themes of the album, and the characters’ humor is phenomenal!
Reputation is an album with both strength and softness; there are songs about love and uncertainty, and there are songs about revenge and power. The popular novel Daisy Jones & the Six comes to mind when I listen to this album, about a young girl trying to claw her way up in the music industry despite the struggles life throws at her. This book can be a bit heavier in terms of content and themes, so be aware of that when picking this one up. Another option is The Atlas Six, a novel full of cunning and magic, and one that focuses on competition and secrecy. It’s reminiscent of songs like “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Don’t Blame Me,” and while parts of it are heartbreaking or a little harder to read, but if the premise interests you, I’d definitely recommend trying it out.
Lover is romantic and complex, with songs that span romantic relationships, friendships, and heartbreak. It’s not all about blind love, but about not needing more than that one person, and love that grows and lasts. It manages to be hopeful, nervous, and romantic all at once, and any book reminiscent of Lover is bound to be enjoyed. If you love Lover, try To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han. With friendships, frenemies, and high school romance, the trilogy is sweet and complex, and Lara Jean Song-Covey, the main character, is easy to sympathize with. Both her hope and her heartbreak are relatable and will probably be understood by anyone who’s ever had a crush. The series is a quick read, and the movies are also fantastic!
Folklore is a beautiful album, and delves more into the storytelling side of music. I’m taking a bit of a turn with the genre here and recommending a historical fiction novel, Circe, by Madeleine Miller, an imagining on the story of the sorceress from Greek mythology. The story spans millennia and when closing the book at the end, it truly feels as though the reader has traveled through hundreds of years with Circe, and felt her love, loss, and growth right along with her. Songs like “The One,” “Seven,” and “The Last Great American Dynasty” come to mind when thinking about both the novel and the main character, and to this day, it’s one of my favorite books.
Evermore, Swift’s ninth album, is also more of a story album than one entirely based on the artist’s own experiences, and to me, feels mysterious, haunting, and warm all at once. If you love this album, try The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, one of my personal favorite books and one that follows a young girl who is doomed to be forgotten by all who meet her in exchange for relative immortality. That is, until a young man in a bookstore remembers her, and sends her into a tailspin of love, memory, and the true meaning of living life to the fullest— and watching her move through centuries of history to be surprised in the modern day by one person who remembers her is truly powerful. This is a book full of magic, mystery, and intrigue, and I highly recommend it, especially for fans of this album!
Last but certainly not least, we have Midnights, the most recent addition to Swift’s discography. With songs like “You’re On Your Own, Kid” and “Mastermind,” this one feels like it’s for the listeners who tried desperately to make friends, and to find understanding and love but weren’t quite sure how. Icebreaker by Hannah Grace follows Anastasia, a figure skater with a lot of pressure on her shoulders, and Nate, who may be the person to help her handle it. This is a new adult, college romance in which the characters are mature enough to maintain a relationship with communication and trust, and was refreshing to read. Anastasia’s character definitely called some Midnights songs to mind, so if this one sounds interesting to you, give it a try! Be mindful of some of the content, as it contains a few difficult topics, but the story (in my opinion) makes for a great read.