Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) has been highly anticipated ever since Taylor Swift announced she was rerecording her first six albums. A fan favorite, Speak Now has a variety of songs that all connect through their honest lyrics. To celebrate this release, here are book recommendations for you to check out based on some of your favorite Speak Now tracks.
Every Summer After by Carley Fortune (“Back to December”)
Heartbreaking and authentic, “Back to December” is a beautiful ballad where you wish you could do everything differently. Every Summer After is a perfect book match. Percy and Sam are past lovers, torn apart by Percy’s mistakes and brought back together by ill fate.
Over the past decade, Percy has beaten herself up over what she did to ruin their relationship and has since not let anyone else into her heart. When she’s called back to their hometown, it seems like there might be a chance to fix what’s been broken. With those similar themes of regret and guilt, if you’re a fan of “Back to December,” you’ll love this read.
In a New York Minute by Kate Spencer (“Enchanted”)
All book lovers have dreamt of our own perfect meet-cute-turned-relationship. “Enchanted” captures that yearning and innocent fantasy, always wondering if this is the person you’ve been waiting for. In a New York Minute takes that dream and mixes it with a healthy dose of reality.
Franny and Hayes are not a perfect match; their meeting is definitely not ideal and is put on social media for everyone to see. The worst part is they can’t seem to stop running into each other; it shouldn’t be that hard to avoid someone in New York! It’s a romantic comedy that you won’t be able to put down.
The Wrath and the Dawn by Reneé Ahdieh (“Better Than Revenge”)
A classic in the Swiftie world, “Better Than Revenge” is a pop-rock jam. It reminds listeners to never underestimate who they’re dealing with, no matter the situation. Shahrzad in The Wrath and the Dawn is the epitome of a girl underestimated.
The story starts with Shahrzad’s best friend being only one of many to forcefully marry Khalid and be hanged only a night later, and Shahrzad is determined to put an end to Khalid’s killings. Out of revenge and spite, she captivates Khalid with her nightly stories, winning herself another day, then another, and another. A story with a strong female protagonist is exactly what every Swiftie wants, and this book is no exception.
The Best of Me by Nicholas Sparks (“Haunted”)
There isn’t a feeling like lingering love, especially when you didn’t lose it on your terms. “Haunted” represents how a breakup is like a death; of the relationship, their love, and for a while, your happiness. Having to live without the person but still carrying their memory, even if they aren’t really gone. The Best of Me is about high-school sweethearts Amanda and Dawson, torn apart by fate, the two losing a deep love.
They reconnect 25 years later after the death of their high school mentor, and their history is brought to the spotlight in painful ways. It’s a love story about how the past continues to haunt the present, matching “Haunted” seamlessly.
All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven (“Last Kiss”)
Trigger Warning for Content: Mention of depression and suicide.
One of the saddest songs on the album, “Last Kiss,” is all about losing a love you never thought would end and having to continue on despite it being over. The beautiful lyrics and piano builds; it’s a heartwrenching song, so why not pair it with a heartwrenching book?
All The Bright Places brings together Violet and Finch, two teenagers struggling with their mental health who inspire each other to find meaning in the world. They are a light to each other, even if just for a little while. It’s sad yet beautiful, just like “Last Kiss.”
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab (“Long Live”)
It’s an artist’s greatest goal to be remembered. “Long Live” is Swift’s heartfelt tribute to her fans. The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is gut-wrenching and poetic, like a Taylor Swift song.
Adeline LaRue just wants to live freely and untethered but is stuck in her hometown without an escape in sight. In desperation, she does the irreversible; make a deal with a god that answers after dark. She gets the freedom she craved but at the expense of being forgotten by everyone. Seemingly contradicting, “Long Live” and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue share the desire to make an impact. The song also reminds me of her relationship with Henry.
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For more book recommendations, click here.