Your Swiftie Reading Guide: Books for Every Taylor Album

It's happening again. Taylor Swift is gracing us with a new album, and thereby creating a brand new era, set to begin in earnest on October 3rd.

Maybe the popularity boomed with Millennials' obsession with being sorted into houses based on personality traits, but it's clear that people love categorization. We see it in every field, including history, science, and art. Unsurprisingly, Taylor’s genius at crafting distinct yet cohesive album “worlds” has become a cultural obsession.

Depending on which album you love most (or which one you're stuck in), here are some reading recommendations to help you embrace the messiness of your particular moment.

Debut 💚🦋

The Debut era feels like the sun just rising over a small town, full of wide-open fields, late-night drives, and the bittersweet thrill of first love. Songs like "Stay Beautiful" and "Tim McGraw" capture the innocence of teenage longing, the magic of fleeting moments, and the hopeful curiosity of stepping into a bigger world for the first time.

“It's hard to make a conversation when he's taking my breath away."

Overall Vibes: You want to relive all the drama and magic of first love. You're feeling a bit of nostalgia and crave a good coming of age story.

• Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon – a whimsical, heart-forward story about chance encounters, first love, and the small moments that feel monumental.

• On Midnight Beach by Marie Louise Fitzpatrick – nostalgic, bittersweet, and filled with the quiet intensity of adolescent yearning.

• Tell Me Three Things by Julie Buxbaum – anonymous letters, awkward crushes, and the thrill of navigating high school first love.

Fearless 💛👑

Fearless sparkles with the golden light of fairy-tale romance, with glittering gowns, castles, and the rush of first heartbreaks. These songs revel in vulnerability, daring to love openly, and the unfiltered excitement of young, idealistic hearts taking risks.

“Come feel this magic I've been feeling since I met you.”

Vibes: You might be feeling a bit idealistic about love. But that's ok. Dive into stories about sparkly dresses, adventure, and winning the heart of the charming prince that you absolutely deserve.

• Little White Lies by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – a suspenseful (and yet kinda cozy?) story of friendship, early crushes, and the tension of secrets.

• Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber – fairy-tale magic, curses, and a heroine swept up in glittering castles and dangerous love.

• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert – a reflective journey through heartbreak, self-discovery, and the transformative power of travel.

Speak Now 💜🎤

With Speak Now, the spotlight is on you. This era is dramatic, expressive, and unapologetic, full of theatrical gestures, bold confessions, and the exhilaration of finally speaking your truth, even if it means making a scene.

“You’re the kind of reckless that should send me running, but I kind of know that I won’t get far.”

Vibes: You're in the mood to say what you need to say and go after what you want. Or maybe you need some encouragement from these characters to get there.

• The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther – a whimsical romance set against a competitive backdrop, full of mischief and heart.

• Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi – a witty, sharp exploration of friendship, self-expression, and modern young adulthood.

• Untamed by Glennon Doyle – a memoir about finding your voice, breaking rules, and embracing authenticity.

Red ❤️🍂

Red is fire and passion, a whirlwind of crimson heartbreak and exhilaration. Its songs are intensely emotional, exploring the highs and lows of love, the ache of betrayal, and the dizzying thrill of giving everything to someone who may not deserve it.

“We learn to live with the pain, mosaic broken hearts.”

Vibes: You're in the thick of some complex emotions. One minute you're the happiest you've ever been, and the next you're desperately sad. The stakes feel astronomically high, and you need some dramatic tales to match.

• Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard – fast-paced, adventurous, with high-stakes betrayal and a touch of romance.

• Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – a sprawling, music-driven narrative about passion, ambition, and heartbreak.

• Wild by Cheryl Strayed – a raw memoir of grief, self-destruction, and the arduous path to healing.

1989 💙🌃

The 1989 era bursts with neon lights and city streets, the glitz of skyscrapers, and the pulse of endless possibilities. Its synth-pop energy captures the thrill of transformation, the dizzying highs of new adventures, and the bittersweet realization that growth often comes with leaving things behind.

“Please take me dancing, and please leave me stranded. It's so romantic.”

Vibes: You're feeling the glitz and glamor lately. But you might also be grappling with rapid changes, newfound success, and the things you have to let go to move forward.

• The Bombshell by Darrow Far – a sharp, witty exploration of femininity, politics, and power, blending intrigue with cultural critique.

• Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler – set in the chaotic NYC restaurant scene, exploring ambition, friendship, and identity.

• You Can Trust Me by Wendy Heard – suspenseful, glamorous, and full of high-stakes tension.

Reputation 🖤🐍

Reputation is shadowy, edgy, and unapologetic, a world of dark city nights, snakes, and whispered secrets. It’s about reclaiming power, navigating betrayal, and embracing the messy, complicated layers of your identity while the world watches.

“If a man talks shit then I owe him nothing.”

Vibes: You're over the bullshit. You're here for revenge, and you'll do whatever it takes to get it. Oh, and you may have a secret romance on the side.

• Verity by Colleen Hoover – intense, dark, and morally complicated; perfect for scheming and obsession.

• Know My Name by Chanel Miller – a memoir of reclaiming identity, power, and voice after trauma.

• Something to Talk About by Meryl Wilsner – Hollywood-set, secret romance, and simmering enemies-to-lovers tension.

Lover 💖🌈

The Lover era is a pastel-hued dreamscape, soft sunlight and rainbows, heart-shaped clouds, and the messy beauty of deep, complicated love. Its songs are playful, whimsical, nostalgic, and indulgently emotional, capturing romance in all its imperfect, sparkling glory.

“If the story’s over, why am I still writing pages?”

Vibes: You're totally in love, but it’s a little complicated. You want to read stories that are sweet, wistful, and deeply felt.

• Beach Read by Emily Henry – witty, warm, and set against sun-drenched beach vibes with emotional depth.

• The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – summer adventures, introspection, and friendships that feel like love.

• The Honeys by Ryan La Sala – sugary-sweet with an undercurrent of eerie charm; almost too perfect to be real.

folklore 🌲🕯️

folklore drifts into misty forests and quiet cabins, where magic lingers in the air and stories unfold like delicate fairy tales. It’s intimate, reflective, and wistful, a perfect soundtrack for escapism, gentle romance, and the quiet power of storytelling.

“I want to watch wisteria grow over my bare feet cause I haven't moved in years.”

Vibes: Get thee to the fairies. You're ready to escape the real world and frolic into the magical forest. If you find some romance along the way, even better.

• House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland – enigmatic sisters, magical undertones, and the lure of the unknown.

• Sorrowland by Rivers Solomon – lush, poetic prose; magical nature, forest landscapes, and a sense of wonder.

• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke – labyrinthine halls and mysterious worlds full of quiet magic and reflection.

evermore 🔮🌙

In evermore, the forest deepens. Candlelight flickers across hidden glades. This era lingers on introspection, enchantment, and the quiet, layered magic of lives unfolding in secret, where every choice carries weight and wonder alike.

“Do you miss the rogue who coaxed you into paradise and left you there?”

Vibes: You're deep in the forest, fully enmeshed in magical covens and rituals. You're not leaving anytime soon.

• The Witch’s Daughter by Paula Brackston – family legacy, magic, and forested landscapes rich with enchantment.

• Sheever’s Journal, Diary of a Poison Master by K. Ritz – a whimsical, mystical diary full of spells, secrets, and curiosity.

• Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen – magical realism, family, and emotional resonance set in an enchanted environment.

Midnights 🌃 🕰️

Midnights stretches across city lights and sleepless nights, where anxious thoughts twist and turn under dark skies. Its songs navigate regret, overthinking, and the restless heart, capturing the intensity of introspection when the world is quiet and your mind won’t stop racing.

“When my depression works the graveyard shift all of the people I've ghosted stand there in the room.”

Vibes: No sleep for the anxious. Only regrets, overthinking, and self-reflection.

• The Night Guest by Hildur Knutsdottir – tense, introspective, and shadowed by what happens in darkness.

• Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino – essay collection exploring modern anxieties, self-doubt, and cultural overthinking.

• The Lying Game by Ruth Ware – suspense, paranoia, and the unreliability of memory and perception.

The Tortured Poets Department 🤍🖋️

The Tortured Poets Department feels like a library at midnight, ivy creeping along old stone walls, notebooks full of obsession and longing. Its energy is moody, intellectual, and romantic, capturing the heady thrill of ideas, secret passions, and hearts that ache a little too much.

“I was supposed to be sent away, but they forgot to come and get me.”

Vibes: You're here for dark academia, ready to take a deep dive into obsession and twisted hearts.

• If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio – a literary thriller about friendship, obsession, and theatrical betrayals.

• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath – confessional, melancholic, and beautifully introspective.

• Crush by Richard Siken – lyrical, obsessive, and emotionally intense poetry for the romantically tortured.

I can't wait to listen to The Life of a Showgirl in a few weeks and get inspiration for new books to add to my TBR list. But until then, I'll be enjoying my perennial August folklore era.

Happy reading!