Original Book Tag: Taylor Swift Album Challenge

This is the first book tag I’ve created myself! Feel free to use the tag if you’d like, just be sure to link back to this post!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been listening to Taylor Swift’s latest album Folklore pretty constantly since it came out two months ago. The vibes of the whole album are immaculate, and quite literary, actually. (I’ve been wanting to write about its literary-ness for quite some time, but more on that later…)

I have to confess, I haven’t always been a Swiftie. While I recognized the undeniable talent in her early work, I thought the songs for the most part (with a couple exceptions) just weren’t my cup of tea.

But then Red came out, and I could not stop singing “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” whenever it came on my car radio. By the time 1989 was released (which is still probably my favorite album of hers), I was hooked.

So to make up for lost time, I decided to create a book tag! (That makes sense, right?) One book for each of Taylor’s eight studio albums.

[EDIT December 13: I’ve added a ninth prompt for Swift’s surprise December 11 release Evermore!]

Let’s go!

**1. Taylor Swift: an author’s debut book**

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown

Talk about starting with a bang! This is Brown’s first book (I’ve written about it previously here) and I can’t wait to see what she does next!

**2. Fearless: a book that scared you**

The Girl With All the Gifts by M. R. Carey

I used this book for my last book tag, and actually for a very similar prompt, but I just can’t recommend it enough!

**3. Speak Now: a book with great dialogue**

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

I can’t think of anyone who even comes close to writing better witty, sparkling dialogue than Jane Austen (except maybe Amy Sherman Palladino), and none of her books exemplify her talent better than Pride & Prejudice.

**4. Red: a book with red on the cover or in the title**

Sorcerer to the Crown by Zen Cho

Whether or not your copy of Sorcerer to the Crown is red depends on which edition you have. Mine is red. It’s this one:

I also love this book so, so much and recommend it to fans of Jane Austen/Regency fiction and fantasy.

**5. 1989: a book published the year you were born**

Beloved by Toni Morrison

I originated this tag on TikTok, and in my video I chose Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate, which is one of my favorite novels of all time. Unfortunately, I was mistaken about its publication date. Beloved is a worthy replacement.

(If you choose to do this tag, you don’t need to have read the book for this prompt!)

**6. Reputation: a book that lived up to its hype**

The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

I can’t tell you how many people recommended this book to me before I finally read it–and it took AWHILE to read; it’s quite a doorstop. But I’m so, so glad I did.

**7. Lover: a favorite romance or book with a romantic subplot**

Dangerous Alliance by Jennieke Cohen

A sweet, funny, YA Regency romance with lots of references to Jane Austen, and this beautiful cover. How could you go wrong?

**8. Folklore: a fairy tale, folktale. or myth retelling**

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

I’m currently reading this book and it’s so good! Set 200 years after Cinderella married the Prince, Cinderella is Dead has great Black and LGBTQ+ rep, a creepy dystopian fairy tale setting, plus a badass heroine. Go read it now!

EDIT December 13, 2020:

9. Evermore: a book you could read for the rest of your life

This has got to be The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden. There are a couple other books I think I’ll be rereading for years to come, but every time I reread TBatN (and the rest of the Winternight trilogy) I find something new. It’s such a rich, complex, harsh yet beautiful world that I don’t want to live in, but love to visit from time to time.

Thanks for joining me for this book tag!

What’s your favorite Taylor Swift album?

If you use the tag, be sure to link here and let me know so I can see your books!