On December 9th, SZA gifted our ears with her long-awaited sophomore album, SOS. Across the project’s 23 diverse tracks, she explores a wide spectrum of emotions, ranging from vindictive rage to introspective melancholy. The icon tackles these complex sensations with poetic lyricism and her signature SZA-nese delivery, yet she grounds each song in relatable anecdotes about womanhood. If you’re anything like me, you’ve spent the weekend lying in your bed, soaking in the album’s intimate storylines and feeling a tidal way of feelings. Has your binge listening left you wanting more? Do you crave some literature to continue your exploration of SOS’s themes? If so, I’ve got you covered. Here are some book recommendations for when your favorite SOS song ends too quickly:
- If You Love “Notice Me,” “Used (feat. Don Toliver),” “Gone Girl” and “Good Days”:
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You’re all about introspection, mulling over memories and letting things be heavy in your mind. You love these tracks because they perfectly articulate how you rationalize and unpack your tricky emotions. Something tells me that your contemplative mood is the perfect fit for Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney. While we all know Rooney for penning Normal People, I have a hunch that her most recent novel is more your speed. In Beautiful World, Where Are You, you’ll find an engaging epistolary format and a web of romances centered around a young novelist and her best friend. But, more importantly, this book will force you to reflect on big social issues and how you approach your relationships.
- If You Love “Kill Bill,” “Seek & Destroy,” “Blind” and “I Hate U”:
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Maybe you just went through a breakup or maybe you’re seething over that trick question in your final exam last Friday. Either way, you’re in the mood for revenge! You’ve found your new mantra in “Blind,” “I don’t want righteousness, I hurt too much, I lost too much,” and you’re taking no prisoners. Sounds like you need to read Sadie by Courtney Summers. The novel flits between normal prose and true-crime podcast-style writing, as the titular protagonist attempts to solve her sister’s murder and a radio host tracks Sadie down. Sadie is the revenge story you crave, filled with the same dark imagery and passion as tracks like “Kill Bill.”
- If You Love “Nobody Gets Me,” “Special,” “Too Late” and “Far”:
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You feel like you’re in your flop era, and only SZA understands your pain. I get it! We all need sad songs to validate us in our moments of loneliness and disappointment. If you’re searching for other forms of media to cathartically cry to, look no further than Madeline Miller’s heartwrenching best-seller, The Song of Achilles. This novel puts a spin on the Iliad and traces the romance between Patroclus and Achilles. The prose is beautifully rich, drawing you into a legendary tale sure to leave you reaching for tissues. So, turn on “Nobody Gets Me” and feel free to wallow in sorrow for 400 pages.
- If You Love “Low,” “Conceited,” “Shirt,” and “Forgiveless (feat. Ol’ Dirty Bastard)”:
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When you stream SOS, you skip the self-pitying downers and head straight to the bad b*tch tracks. You want cutting lyrics and sexy vocals, or you don’t want it at all! Knowing your feisty attitude, there’s one viral BookTok novel that has your name all over it: Bunny by Mona Awad. As summed up by bookish influencer Jack Edwards, you’ll love this book if you support women’s rights and women’s wrongs. Bunny’s dark plot swirls around a cast of privileged, pretty girls and their violent cult (think Heathers energy). I guarantee that each chapter of Bunny will have your heart racing, just like the addicting choruses in tracks like “Low.”
- If You Love “Love Language,” “Snooze,” and “Open Arms (feat. Travis Scott)”:
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You’re a sucker for when glimmers of romantic yearning peak through SZA’s layered verses. Though you know that maneuvering through relationships can get tricky, you’re firm in your belief that love is worth fighting for! If you want to read a non-cliche romance, you need to pick up a copy of Seven Days In June by Tia Williams. This novel might seem like another iteration of the basic enemies-to-lovers trope, but Williams takes the conventional premise to new heights. The novel concerns two writers reuniting years after their impactful, short-lived relationship. Williams masterfully interweaves the protagonists’ lives, painting an intricate picture of their romance. So, do yourself a favor and don’t snooze on this book!
- If You Love “SOS,” “Smoking on my Ex Pack,” “Ghost in the Machine (feat. Phoebe Bridgers)” and “F2F”:
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You clearly appreciate SOS for its twists and turns. When SZA threw you from R&B to rap to rock to an unexpected sad-girl Phoebe Bridgers collab, you reveled in the variety. Given surprises are your thing, you need to pick up a copy of Earthlings by Sayaka Murata. Earthlings follows the protagonist and her cousin as they grapple with the perception that they aren’t “normal” humans. I don’t want to spoil too much, just take my word for it that the novel’s bizarre, dreamlike narration will always leave you guessing (and a bit disturbed). Like the transition from “Ghost in the Machine” to “F2F,” Earthlings will have your head spinning in the most delightful way.
So, if SOS’s 68 minutes of emotional turmoil aren’t enough for you, run, don’t walk to buy one of these six books. Each choice has been hand-picked to match SZA’s level of wordplay and ability to conjure visceral emotions. Whether you’re feeling introspective, vengeful, vivacious or anything in between, these recommendations are sure to match you with your new favorite novel.