If there’s anything that makes Taylor Swift’s music heart-wrenching, it’s the vulnerability in her storytelling. Although she played the role of an author in the “All Too Well” short film, Swift is yet to release her own romance novel. Luckily, we’ve prepared a list of books you can read while listening to Red (Taylor’s Version).
Beautiful World, Where Are You? by Sally Rooney
Our song recommendations: Begin Again, Nothing New, Everything Has Changed, Forever Winter
Beautiful World, Where Are You? complements Swift’s songs about the deeply-rooted insecurities that surface in the early stages of a new relationship. Rooney’s latest novel follows best friends Alice and Eileen as their respective relationships develop. Alice invites Felix, a construction worker she hardly knows, to join her as she promotes her book in Italy. On the other hand, Eileen reunites with her childhood best friend, Simon, after breaking up with her long-term boyfriend. The characters keep their partners at a distance because they anticipate the worst from them. However, Alice and Eileen’s vulnerable email exchanges reveal the things they struggle to say out loud. Much like Swift, the characters are skeptical of love but can’t imagine life without it.
Ghosts by Dolly Alderton
Our song recommendations: Red, Come Back… Be Here, We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together, The Moment I Knew
If there’s anything Red (Taylor’s Version) and Ghosts both encapsulate, it’s the intensity of a whirlwind romance. In what protagonist Nina Dean fondly recalls as the strangest year of her life, she grapples with loss and yearning in more ways than one. She watches her friends get married and settle down while she’s still endlessly swiping through dating apps. When she thinks she’s finally found “the one,” he vanishes right after professing his love for her. Ghosts portrays the confusing aftermath of being ghosted, from wishing for a miraculous reappearance to firmly believing that even if he did return, you would never get back together—like ever.
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
Our song recommendations: Better Man, 22, Babe, Girl at Home, I Bet You Think About Me
Both If I Had Your Face and Red (Taylor’s Version) convey the struggles women face while navigating their early 20’s. Cha’s novel is about four Korean women who live in the same apartment complex and struggle with their society’s unwritten rules. Although the challenges they face range from a cheating chaebol boyfriend to botched plastic surgery, they surprisingly manage to find a family in one another. After all, there’s nothing more “miserable and magical” than sharing your suffering with other happy, free, confused, and lonely 20-somethings.
Less by Andrew Sean Greer
Our song recommendations: I Knew You Were Trouble, State of Grace, Treacherous, All Too Well (10 Minute Version)
Less takes the mourning explored on “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)” a step further, with the protagonist still reeling from his previous relationships decades later. The book follows novelist Arthur Less as he avoids his ex-boyfriend Freddy’s wedding by traveling around the world. With his 5oth birthday looming, he’s reminded of Robert—the married, middle-aged literary genius he fell in love with at 21. He recalls the affair’s implications on his following relationships and wonders if he’s ever experienced true love. Less’ humorous take on aging and romance is just as reassuring as Red (Taylor’s Version); if Less and Swift can survive the heartbreak, you can too.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Our song recommendations: The Lucky One, Starlight, I Almost Do, Run, The Very First Night
Evelyn Hugo is “The Lucky One,” blessed with good looks and more than enough self-belief to escape Hell’s Kitchen. In her pursuit of stardom, Hugo’s strategic marriages no longer fulfill her, and the life she once dreamed of keeps her from the one person she longs to be with. Reid’s novel showcases the lengths one would go for the people they love, while capturing the electrifying feeling that accompanies it. Both the novel and Red (Taylor’s Version) serve as reminders to savor love in all its forms and stages.
While Swift’s lyrics could rival the works of romance novelists, her songs are best enjoyed with a book to match. Whether you’re seeking a quick escape from your current reality or a source of comfort through a difficult time, these stories are here to keep you company.