Discover insanely good Taylor Swift book recommendations for your “era” as a super fan of the pop star, who, per Ancestry, is actually a distant relative of the famous poet Emily Dickinson!
It’s hard to deny the popularity of Taylor Swift right now, from her sold-out concerts to her omnipresence in the soundtrack of Amazon Prime’s adaptation of The Summer I Turned Pretty.
But, did you know that Taylor Swift herself is an avid reader inspired by books in her music?! And that her music has also inspired some of the most popular books today?!
Explore a few of Taylor Swift’s favorite books, books that inspired specific songs of hers (with corresponding lyrics), and books with Taylor Swift references for every super fan to devour below.
Quick List of All Taylor Swift Book Recommendations
Taylor Swift’s Favorite Books:
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Books That Inspired Taylor Swift Songs:
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (“Wonderland”)
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (“This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”)
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (“Eyes Open”)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (“Invisible String”)
- Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie (“Cardigan”)
- Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier (“Tolerate It”)
- Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (“Love Story”)
- Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (“Carolina”)
Books Inspired by Taylor Swift:
- The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
- The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
- The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Related Post: Books Referenced in The Tortured Poets Department | Taylor Swift Song References to Patti Smith
Taylor Swift’s Favorite Books
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
One of Taylor Swift’s recommendations in “You Are What You Read,” Charlotte’s Web, is one of the most beloved and most popular award-winning books of all time for children.
It’s the story of a friendship that blossoms between a spider and a little pig, and the love they have for the young girl who saved the pig when he was a runt.
Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
Another one of Taylor Swift’s recommendations in “You Are What You Read,” Eat Pray Love is the iconic travel memoir of a seemingly successful (but unhappy) American woman on a journey of self-discovery in Italy, India, and Bali, where she finds truth in food, faith, and love.
Books That Inspired Taylor Swift Songs
Next, let’s talk about books that directly inspired Taylor Swift’s songs. You’ll see their literary influence in the corresponding lyrics quoted below, which tell their own unique stories.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Flashing lights, and we
– Taylor Swift, “Wonderland”
Took a wrong turn, and we
Fell down a rabbit hole
Beyond the name of the song, the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s “Wonderland” directly confirm it takes inspiration from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the beloved children’s classic book in which a young girl falls down a rabbit hole and into a whimsical world.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
It was so nice throwing big parties
– Taylor Swift, “This Is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”
Jump into the pool from the balcony
Everyone swimming in a champagne sea
And there are no rules when you show up here
Bass beat rattling the chandelier
Feeling so Gatsby for that whole year
Taylor Swift’s lyrics and music videos are littered with references to the classic The Great Gatsby, about the opulent life of a wealthy man in America’s Jazz era. The above lyrics almost identically depict what a quintessential “Gatsby” party was like.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
But now we’ve stepped into a cruel world
Where everybody stands and keeps scoreKeep your eyes open
– Taylor Swift, “Eyes Open”
Taylor Swift read The Hunger Games book series to prepare for composing “Eyes Open” for the movie adaptation.
This bestselling dystopian trilogy centers on Katniss Everdeen, a teenager who is forced to fight for survival and endure the effects of war as she competes in gladiator-style games in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic community with a totalitarian government.
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
And isn’t it just so pretty to think
– Taylor Swift, “Invisible String”
All along there was some
Invisible string
Tying you to me?
Taylor Swift references the classic Jane Eyre in a few Folklore songs, including “Invisible String” (above), which almost directly reflects Jane’s conversation with Rochester, describing their bond as “a string somewhere under my left ribs, tightly knotted to a similar string in you.”
In “Mad Woman,” Swift also references “the madwoman in the attic,” which is pulled directly from the plot.
If these lines are sounding dark to you — they are! Jane Eyre is a gothic coming-of-age novel about an orphan in Victorian England who has a complicated relationship with a mysterious man.
Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie
I knew you
– Taylor Swift, “Cardigan”
Tried to change the ending
Peter losing Wendy
In her hit “Cardigan,” Taylor Swift directly references the classic characters Peter and Wendy from the coming-of-age book Peter Pan — the fantastical tale of the eternally young Peter Pan, his fairy Tinker Bell, and the Darling children, including Wendy, who have adventures in the magical world of Neverland.
Rebecca by Daphne duMaurier
I know my love should be celebrated
– Taylor Swift, “Tolerate It”
But you tolerate it
Taylor Swift has specifically said that the moody thriller Rebecca inspired her song “Tolerate It”: “When I was reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and I was thinking, ‘Wow, her husband just tolerates her. She’s doing all these things and she’s trying so hard and she’s trying to impress him. He’s just tolerating her the whole time.'”
In Rebecca, the main character is NOT the beloved Rebecca, but rather a servant who meets and quickly marries the wealthy older widow of Rebecca. Upon her arrival at his Manderley estate, it quickly becomes clear that Rebecca lingers in the memories of the staff.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
[Y]ou were Romeo, you were throwin’ pebbles
– Taylor Swift, “Love Story”
And my daddy said, “Stay away from Juliet”
Even way back in one of her earliest song releases, Taylor Swift called upon the timeless love story Romeo and Juliet to inspire her aptly titled “Love Story.” You likely already know the story of these young lovers, who have fallen madly in love but are kept apart by feuding families, with tragic consequences.
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Why for years I roam
– Taylor Swift, “Carolina”
Free as these birds, light as whispers
Carolina knows
Taylor Swift wrote “Carolina” for the movie adaptation of the massive bestselling phenomenon, Where the Crawdads Sing, a coming-of-age tale of a woman raised in a marsh, including both a mystery and a love story. You can feel both the spirit of the protagonist and her home in these haunting lyrics.
Books Inspired by Taylor Swift
Lastly, here are some authors and books inspired by Taylor Swift. Since Swift is such a masterful storyteller, and since so many authors listen to music while they write, it’s no surprise they find inspiration in her tunes — and sometimes even refer to them in their books.
The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager
Riley Sager’s thriller The House Across the Lake begins with the epigraph, “I think he did it but I just can’t prove it.” This quote hails from Taylor Swift’s “No Body, No Crime.”
This book is a supernatural thriller about a recently widowed actress who passes time at her family’s Vermont lake house, watching the glamorous couple in the house across the lake through binoculars.
When she befriends the woman across the lake, it becomes clear that the marriage isn’t perfect after all. And when the woman suddenly vanishes, she becomes consumed with finding out what happened to her, uncovering even darker truths in the process.
The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther
The Summer of Broken Rules is completely and utterly layered with Easter Eggs for fans of Taylor Swift’s songs, including “Bad Blood” and “Hey Stephen” (on which it is based).
Meredith is a teen coping with the loss of her beloved sister when she visits the family’s Martha’s Vineyard island farm for a week that will culminate in her cousin’s wedding.
In the days before the wedding, the family plays a competitive game of Assassin and, in an attempt to win it all in memory of her sister, Meredith allies with a cute groomsman named Wit.
But it’s not all fun and games when their adventures around the island stir up romantic feelings. The question is whether Meredith can still focus on the game… and what will become of this whirlwind romance when the week concludes.
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
It’s no secret that The Summer I Turned Pretty author Jenny Han listened to a lot of Taylor Swift music while writing this book series. She also succeeded in getting more Swift songs than I can count into the Amazon Prime TV adaptation.
(I personally blame both her and this indulgent adaptation for my listening to “Cruel Summer” on repeat all last Summer.)
The Summer I Turned Pretty begins a trilogy of Summer romance novels that follows teenager “Belly” as she and her mom and her brother visit their shared Summer beach house with her mom’s friend and her two sons, who are both like brothers and crushes to her. As life in the beach house takes a difficult turn, the course of Belly’s teenage life changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Taylor Swift is an avid reader who has read and recommended many books, including the popular titles Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White, Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, and both Normal People and Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney. She has also called John Green her favorite author.
Conclusion
These Taylor Swift book recommendations help you embrace your “era” as a super fan of the pop star. If you’re undecided on where to start, I recommend both The Summer of Broken Rules and The Summer I Turned Pretty since they are so heavily influenced by her music and since they are such great reads for both Young Adults and adults alike.
Now, share this post with your favorite Swiftie!
