Taylor Swift eras as Books By: Lauren Gaines

If you’re like me, your brain has recently been transformed from an intelligent thing full of complex thoughts to a revolving archive of Taylor Swift lyrics. I’ve always liked her music, and in fact some of my best memories include dancing and singing to many of her earlier songs, but within the past year or so I have officially become a Swiftie. If you’re, as I said before, like me, you might always be looking for a new book to read.

Debut: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens

If your favorite Taylor Swift Era is Debut, Where the Crawdads Sing is a great book that radiates the same energy. Set in North Carolina, Where the Crawdads Sing shares the same southern charm that Taylor Swift’s very first (and very country) album has. While Where The Crawdads Sing is a murder mystery, it is also a coming of age story with a romantic subplot, perfect for fans of Taylor’s self-titled album.

Fearless: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

If Fearless is more your cup of tea, The Summer I Turned Pretty is a great option. The main character, Belly, gives off the same ‘Girl Next Door’ persona that Taylor embodies throughout the entirety of the Fearless era. The album is full of love songs that are perfect for singing while watching the sunset on the beach, which is exactly what reading The Summer I Turned Pretty feels like.

Speak Now: The Wedding Crasher by Mia Sosa

If there’s one theme that’s prevalent in the Speak Now era, it’s weddings. Heck, the title song is about crashing a wedding. I think it goes without saying that a Happily Ever After rom-com about wedding crashers is the perfect recommendation for Speak Now. The lighthearted, fairytale romance feeling that is powerful in Speak Now is also reflected in this The Wedding Crasher. If you are looking for a book with a similar vibe, this is a great place to start.

Red: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Red as an album tells the story of the complex emotions of romance, more specifically, losing that romance. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo is a beautiful novel which shares the same central theme as Red. Not only does the novel tell the stories of Evelyn Hugo’s seven husbands (hence the title), but it also tells the story of Evelyn’s own epic love, which one of the songs in the album, Sad, Beautiful, Tragic works as a wonderful accompinant for.

1989: Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith

The first fantasy novel on the list, Revelle by Lyssa Mia Smith is a great match for fans of Taylor Swift’s first official Pop Album, 1989. Revelle is set in Prohibition era New York, which, of course, goes hand in hand with the first song on the 1989 track list, Welcome to New York. The book is full of sequins, magic, and wonder, a prevalent theme in 1989 as seen in multiple songs. (i.e. Wonderland, I Know Places, Wildest Dreams, Out of the Woods)

Reputation: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Alright, maybe I’m biased because Reputation is my favorite album and Six of Crows is one of my favorite books, but if you’ve read Six of Crows, try to tell me that …Ready for it is not the perfect soundtrack. You can’t convince me that it’s not. Six of Crows is another fantasy, this one about a group of angsty and morally grey teens involved in an illegal heist. I could probably attribute songs from this album alone as each of the characters, but I will save you that rant. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of Reputation, check out Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. You won’t regret it.

Lover: Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston

Now let’s be honest here: I could have chosen basically any romance book for Lover, but I chose Red, White & Royal Blue specifically because of Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince and London Boy. Both of those songs are absolutely perfect for this book and the main couple. If Lover is your favorite Taylor Swift era, do yourself a favor and check out Red, White & Royal Blue. And as a bonus, it was recently turned into a movie on Amazon Prime, which is wonderful as well. (Read the book first, of course.)

Folklore: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

Okay, another Leigh Bardugo book, I know. But hear me out. Ninth House is actually in the process of being turned into a TV show, and when I think of songs that need to be on the soundtrack, Folklore is what I’m looking for. Folklore is such an autumn/winter album in the same way that Nint

h House is such an autumn/winter book. Also, Folklore, in my opinion, is one of Taylor’s best albums lyrically. These songs are like poetry, and Leigh Bardugo has one of my favorite writing styles, which I think is very similar to the lyric style seen in Folklore.

If you are looking for something stylistically similar to Folklore, Ninth House is a great place to start.

Evermore: If We Were Villians by M.L. Rio

Folklore’s sister album, Evermore, also has very similar lyrical style and storytelling characteristics. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio is another beautifully written novel that mimics the style of Evermore. No Body, No Crime could also literally be the theme song for this book if it needed one. Not only does the vibe of the story match Evermore perfectly, but No Body, No Crime is a great accompinament for the plot. If Evermore is your favorite era, check out If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio.

Midnights: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I could have chosen this recommendation by the cover art of both Midnights and Daisy Jones alone. I mean…They are perfect for each other. On the other hand, when I think of Daisy Jones & the Six, I think sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Which, perhaps minus the rock and roll part, Midnights encapsulates perfectly. Tell me that Daisy Jones wouldn’t like Midnights…Once again, you can’t convince me. I think she would be a big fan. If you are looking to read something with the same vibe as Midnights, Daisy Jones & the Six is a great option.