Taylor Swift is one of the biggest stars on the planet right now and what's trending almost as much as her? Romance books.
While the two might not seem connected at first, there are a few connections you can make. First, most of the people who listen to Taylor Swift and love romance books are women. Then there's the fact that most people who share that with people usually aren't taken seriously which is the stupidest thing ever.
At I Prefer Reading, we're not about shaming people for who or what they read. Instead, we're here to celebrate the best parts of reading and one of those is recommending books. No matter what level you're at in your reading or Swiftie journey, we've got a book for you.
Before getting into our picks, these are just our recommendations and if you want to share your own, we're always happy to hear since there are so many great books and Taylor Swift's songs to go around.
Swifties in their romance era can proceed to the recs!
Taylor Swift/Debut: To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
Starting off with Taylor Swift's first album, it was self-titled and all about Taylor's life as a teenager. I know that her first album was country but it was a huge hit for Swift. In a way, it felt like she was connecting to all of the teenage girls out there, myself included. That's why I had to go with a classic YA romance and that's To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han.
Before being adapted into a popular Netflix trilogy, the story began with Lara Jean Song Covey as she find out that the letters she wrote to all the boys she loved before were sent out. Similar to Taylor Swift, this book is full of love, longing, angst, and everything teenagers can relate to. It would only be right to start with a YA romance and I couldn't think of a better one.
Fearless: If I'm Being Honest/Always Never Yours by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka
Since there is now a Fearless (Taylor's Version,) this one was a little bit tricky. Not only do we have the incredible and amazing "normal" version but there are also the vault tracks. Due to that, I had to go with two books by the same author duo: Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. This husband-and-wife team cut their teeth on YA before moving into the adult genre yet they still bounce back and forth.
When thinking of Fearless, I couldn't decide between either of these books: Always Never Yours and If I'm Being Honest tell the stories of two complicated teenage girls and the struggles that come with that. It's so refreshing to see how open and complex these two are portrayed which is similar to how Fearless feels. There is plenty of drama, romance, and character growth to have the most excited Fearless listener, wanting to pick up one or both of these titles.
Speak Now: We Can't Keep Meeting Like This by Rachel Lynn Solomon
With Speak Now also now being a Taylor's Version, it feels like we can do more of a deep dive into the lyrics and themes. A majority of the album is Taylor talking about growing up, speaking up, and the highs and lows of dating. However, we got a surprise with "I Can See You," one of Taylor's more racy tracks which cemented my decision to go with We Can't Keep Meeting Like This.
We Can't Keep Meeting Like This follows Quinn and Tarek who are reunited for the summer. Quinn shared that she had a crush on Tarek and got ghosted. It was embarrassing but she got over it and now the two are stuck together as their parents work together in the wedding circuit. This book leans more toward new adult and that's how I feel about Speak Now TV. Plus it has a purple cover and it's related to weddings so it couldn't be more perfect.
Red: Forget Me Not by Julie Soto
Red is one of Taylor's most beloved albums and one that really focuses on herself and having fun. It also focuses on a big relationship and the unraveling of it. I mean, let's be honest: we are still all salivating over the 10-minute version of "All Too Well." That's why I knew I had to pair this album with a special book and for that, it has to be Forget Me Not by Julie Soto.
While Red isn't my favorite TS album, Forget Me Not was my favorite read of 2023. Similar to Red, this book focuses on different timelines, leading to the same conclusion. Forget Me Not follows Elliot and Ama who dated in the past before breaking up. Fate steps in as they're forced to work together to tackle a celebrity wedding and the couple refuses to work with anyone else. From there, we see their story told through the past and the present before it all comes together.
Red is such a vastly complex album and it feels like Taylor's first foray into a more "adult" sound so I had to go with an adult book for this album. Additionally, so many of the songs on Red TV can be related to Forget Me Not so if you haven't listened to this album in its entirety or read Forget Me Not, you're in for a real treat.
1989: Till There Was You by Lindsay Hameroff
When one thinks of 1989, the first thing to come to mind is usually New York City so I had to pick a romance set in NYC. The love interest being inspired by Harry Styles is just a formality. 1989 is another album with Taylor's version and it further amplifies her having fun, enjoying life, and wanting to do something new as this was Taylor's first "non-country" album officially.
Till There Was You follows Lexi who is a culinary student, looking to unwind and in doing so, meets Jake Taylor. He's a singer about to head off to LA in hopes of a record deal and they share an amazing night together before he's gone. Eventually, Lexi hears a song inspired by her on the radio and the two end up meeting again...in New York City. With some clear references to Harry Styles, this one will have you listening to 1989 TV on repeat and craving blueberry pancakes.
Reputation: The Art of Scandal by Regina Black
Reputation is one of those Taylor Swift albums that people have strong feelings about. As Taylor's return to music, no one knew what to expect. However, she ended up surprising us with the sound and lyrics on this album. With the tagline: "There will be no further explanation. There will just be reputation," there was only one book that came to mind when I started this post.
The book that came to mind was The Art of Scandal by Regina Black. Rachel seems to have the perfect life until she finds out her husband is cheating on her. To save face, she agrees to stay with him but only until the election is over. During that time, Rachel is also reinventing herself and finding comfort in an unexpected person. The Art of Scandal is sexy and dramatic, making it the ultimate companion for you until Taylor releases Reputation TV.
Lover: Again by J.L. Seegars
While Lover doesn't get nearly as much love as it should, it's my favorite Taylor Swift album. Given how sparkly and fun the album cover makes it look, the album is frankly much deeper. It does focus a lot on love but also about loss, the possibility of losing a parent, and dealing with reminiscing on what could have been.
That's why for Lover, I chose to go with a novella by J.L. Seegars called Again. This is a second-chance romance between a divorced couple. It's a Black love story and it focuses on Amina and Jaxon as they're reunited to see their siblings get married. While there is still some love there, it does take some time and while we do get to see their HEA, it isn't without struggles. In a way, that mirrors exactly how Lover is.
Folklore: Old Flames and New Fortunes by Sarah Hogle
Folklore is clearly one of Taylor Swift's favorite albums. Considering that she rarely talks about its sister album, she has a lot of feelings on this one. Who can blame her, though? Folklore runs the gambit of happy, sad, and just plain, melancholic songs. That's why I had to feature a cozy romance and I knew exactly which book I was going to choose.
Maybe this one is cheating because I love Sarah Hogle, but Old Flames and New Fortunes feels like the perfect pairing for Folklore. This is a second-chance romance between Romina and Alex who were together in high school before losing touch. They reconnect and from there, it's like a moth to a flame. Plus Romina has a connection to flowers and that just feels incredibly appropriate when thinking of Folklore.
Evermore: You, Again by Kate Goldbeck
We're getting there as far as albums go and next is Evermore. As mentioned, this album doesn't get nearly as much love as Taylor's other albums. However, it's all about moving on, and making changes while also talking about love and marriage. With that being said, I wanted to focus on a book that is long and focuses on a longer narrative as far as the HEA goes.
While I can't deny that the cover for You, Again played a role in this, You, Again feels like it embodies all the themes on Evermore. Ari and Josh meet under unique circumstances and the two end up meeting again and again, but never meet at the "right time." We watch as they grow, change, and go through all these life events while finding each other again and again. There is something so utterly beautiful about that and that's why I'm confident in recommending both Evermore and You, Again.
Midnights: The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Midnights is one of those Taylor Swift albums that started out being incredibly polarizing. It was just so different from her previous releases. However, it quickly became a favorite of some and a huge part of the Eras Tour. Given how bright and sparkly this album has become, I decided to go with a book that is a romance but not without its struggles.
The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren was my pick for a few reasons. First, it's sparkly aka bejeweled which feels like the standout song for the album. This book follows Fizzy as she signs up for a reality show to find love. As a romance author, she is all about love but can't seem to find it in her own life and has her fair share of sleepless nights which is exactly what Midnights is about. This book is fun and sparkly while also touching on some insecurities we all have as Midnights does.
The Tortured Poets Department: The All The King's Men duet by Kennedy Ryan
Moving onto the final Taylor Swift album, for now, it's time to talk about The Tortured Poets Department. This was a double album from Swift and it focuses on a lot of different topics including longing, pining, dealing with the fallout of a relationship, and even, the possibility of new love. There is also a layer of female rage that permeates this album and honestly, I had to go with a duet
When I first thought of TTPD, I had two books in mind but since it's a double album, I decided to go with All The King's Men by Kennedy Ryan. This is a long-spanning romance between Lennix and Maxim as they meet when she's underage and then they meet again. While it seems unlikely, these two do get their HEA but not without drama, longing and tragedy to prove that they really deserve it. I also feel like this color scheme works with TTPD so if you haven't picked up Kennedy Ryan yet, you need to do it that now if you love TTPD.
Which romance book would you recommend for each Taylor Swift era? Share your recommendations with us!