5 Of Taylor Swift's Favorite Books To Add To Your TBR, Based On Reviews

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Taylor Swift is nothing short of a global sensation. From record-breaking tours and chart-topping hits, the artist is truly one of the most influential music figures of our time. That's why everything she does, from what she wears and what she eats to her favorite perfume, becomes a topic of discussion among her loyal fanbase. And her influence doesn't stop there; what the pop star reads has also become a serious point of fascination.

For Swifties, the singer's reading list offers a glimpse into where she may draw inspiration for her music, from the layered storytelling in hits like "the last great american dynasty" to the emotional vulnerability and character-driven narratives in tracks like "All Too Well." In fact, during her December 2025 appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," Swift was asked if she frequents audiobooks — and if so, what she typically gravitates towards. The artist lit up instantly as she shared her enthusiasm for books and the kind of stories that draw her in.

After the show aired, Page Six shared a clip of Swift (via Instagram) describing the type of plot that immediately grabs her attention — and it was seemingly a mix of books like Daphne du Maurier's "Rebecca" and "The Lost Bride" series by Nora Roberts — and Swifties flocked to the comment section, making guesses on which songs must have been influenced by the storyline she outlined. One fan commented, "So 'Red' and 'Evermore' combined? Great." Her favorite books offer a natural next step in getting to know the artist and what stories resonate with her most; so if you've been curious about what's on T-Swift's reading list, we're bringing you the five best books based on reviews.

During an interview with Apple Music in 2020, Taylor Swift shared that she was inspired to write "tolerate it" after reading "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier. In the track, she sings, "If it's all in my head tell me now / Tell me I've got it wrong somehow / I know my love should be celebrated / But you tolerate it," which perfectly captures the tension of the dynamic between the 1930s classic novel's female protagonist and her husband.

For Swifties who connect deeply with the emotional weight of "tolerate it" and are fans of thrillers, du Maurier's book most definitely deserves a spot on your TBR. 700,000 readers rated the book and it still maintains an impressive 4.25-star average on Goodreads. Almost half of those readers gave the book five stars, and one of those reviewers simply wrote, "Taylor Swift has immaculate taste." Another Swiftie starts out their five-star review by saying, "I have a theory upon reading this book that 'evermore' by Taylor Swift is a concept album entirely based around ['Rebecca']," which is very possible based on how often the artist has brought up the book in interviews.

"Rebecca" tells the story of a young woman who marries a wealthy widower and moves into his lavish estate, hoping the marriage will be a fresh start. Instead, she comes to realize she will always come second to her husband's late wife. Her lingering presence continues to shape the house, the staff, and the emotional dynamics of her new marriage.

There's a famous 2014 exchange between Taylor Swift and John Green on Tumblr in which both creatives revealed that they consider each other their favorite author and artist, respectively. Swift also mentioned enjoying one of Green's most widely acclaimed novels "The Fault in Our Stars" and falling in love with the main character, Hazel Grace, in a chat with students for Scholastic.

When you're living with terminal cancer as a teenager, each and every moment feels heavier in a different way. For Hazel Grace Lancaster, that weight begins to soften when she forms an unexpected connection with Augustus Waters at a cancer support group. The time she spends with him just might reintroduce her to a sense of possibility she thought she'd never have.

There are more than 5 million Goodreads ratings for this book, the book maintains a strong 4.1-star average, and that is a true testament to its lasting appeal across generations of readers. A five-star reviewer wrote, "Second time reading this book and cried equally [as] hard as the first time."

In an Instagram post in May 2019, Taylor Swift shared a snippet of her exclusive interview with Entertainment Weekly and revealed some of her favorite things at the time. One of them was author Sally Rooney. She said, "I really like her book 'Conversations with Friends.' I like the tone she takes when she's writing. I think it's like being inside somebody's mind." Not only is "Conversations with Friends" T-Swift approved, but it was also a romance book that BookTok went wild over.

Sarah Jessica Parker also gave the book two thumbs up and took to Instagram, saying, "This book. This book. I read it in one day. I hear I'm not alone." "Conversations with Friends," which was also adapted into a TV series in 2022, follows college student Frances as she gets entangled in complicated relationships and navigates what it means to desire, to be vulnerable, and her own identity.

More than 70% of Amazon reviewers gave the book a four-star rating or higher. A five-star reviewer who read the book based on Swift's recommendation shared, "I was glued to the page and so into the story, I literally felt unwell reading it. I felt topics of the book were boundaries, vulnerability, [standing up] for oneself and what happens when this is not the case." Another five-star reviewer praised Rooney's writing for creating dialogue between characters that feel so unfiltered and real. Other Swifties who have read the book swear there are so many shared themes between "Conversations with Friends" and Swift's 2020 "folklore" album.

Taylor Swift admitted to Stephen Colbert on an April 2021 appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" that her song "Hey Stephen" was about one of her favorite authors, Stephen King. While we'll never know if she was joking or not, she did say, "'The Dark Tower' series changed my life." While Swift mentioned other King books, the fact she said the series was life-changing meant it holds a special place in her heart. The first out of seven books, "The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger" was published in 1982.

King tells the story of a wandering figure trying to navigate a collapsing universe where time bends, memory lingers, and reality is never what it seems. Each and every step the figure takes pulls him deeper into a world shaped by obsession, sacrifice, and looming consequences. If you're unfamiliar with Stephen King's work, some fans of his say "The Dark Tower" series is the perfect introduction to the author's writing, as the series showcases a wide range of his various storytelling styles.

A five-star Goodreads reviewer said, "When I first picked up this book, I had no idea it would shoot to the top of my favorites list. I wolfed down the first four books in three weeks, then entered an agonizing period of waiting for the last three to be published. I think I've read the first four books five or six times each. [...] The writing is great and it warmed me up to Stephen King."

"Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli is a book Taylor Swift has referenced multiple times as a story that shifted her perspective on life and how she approaches self-expression and individuality. Published in 2000, the book is often referred to as one of the best books for young adults and kids alike, yet its emotional depth and universal themes makes it far from a book that should simply be limited to any one age group.

A Goodreads reviewer gave the book four stars and said, "Taylor Swift said in an interview that this book really [changed] the way she looked at life. Now, it [changed] mine. Stargirl Caraway is my fictional hero. I love her. I hope she [exists]." Another reviewer awarded it five stars, noting, "One of the five books that impacted Taylor Swifts's life!! A story of individuality and strength in the face of conformity."

"Stargirl" follows a girl who has always been unapologetically free-spirited and unique as she begins high school. When her very presence begins to challenge the school's culture of conformity, the girl must decide whether she'll try to fit in or remain true to herself. Spinelli explores tender themes of belonging, identity, and the complications of standing out and being courageous when the world expects you to blend in.

When we began preparing this list, our number-one priority was verifying that each title was actually a direct recommendation from Taylor Swift rather than speculation. Many roundups label certain books as the pop star's "favorites," but often rely on loose associations, such as lyrics being interpreted as references or even books being carried by her bodyguards. That's where we knew we needed to take the extra step and ensure every book on this list has been explicitly mentioned by the singer herself.

As a result, these selections reflect what she has shared about her reading tastes. Once we narrowed the list down, we dove into the synopses of the books on the list we hadn't already read to gain a better understanding of the explored themes and tone. Then we proceeded to look over reviews on Reddit discussion threads and average ratings on Amazon and Goodreads to gauge overall reader reception, and to identify which of Swift's favorite books truly resonated most with readers. So, if you're a Swiftie who wants to start reading more, these are five books from the artist's favorites list that deserve a spot on your TBR.