A must read for any swiftie! I loved it and the author does such a wonderful job describing meanings behind the songs. It was such a joy reading and I couldn’t put it down!

As an English teacher, I found this book powerful and relevant to our students and one that I plan to use over and over again when I do my poetry unit focusing on Taylor Swift.

this was a deeper dive into tswift’s lyrics and gave me another angle to think about with many of her songs. while there were a lot of things i had previously caught onto, it helped explain in more detail and was very interesting— gave me a new appreciation for songs i likely just didn’t thoroughly understand lol

Lately,, I feel as though colleges and schools around the country are adapting classes catered towards the powerhouse that is Taylor Swift and her brand. This book provided me the insight I was craving by breaking down her lyrics in a matter that went beyond just understanding the words she chose. With Taylor, everything has a deeper meaning and this book provided me with insight that I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.

Reading this book was extremely enjoyable and I strongly believe that it is a must have book for any Swiftie, who like me, loves to listen and analyze the meaning or message behind the words sung in a song. Taylor Swift is a prolific songwriter and storyteller, and her songs don’t just define a period in her life, but rather an entire generation. Interestingly enough, I have seen so many books being published on Taylor lately, but nothing like this. Stars Around My Scars provides a different perspective to the meaning behind her songs, one of which I don’t think I would have thought of without having read this book.

I appreciated reading the tidbits and notes that the author chose to include when breaking down the specific song being analyzed. The explanation of her word choices and the way she wrote a specific phrase in the song also helped me understand the Easter eggs she loves to include from a bigger perspective. The deep dive that this book provides the person reading, when looking at specific songs, gives us a chance to appreciate her skillfulness as a songwriter.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Elly McCausland, and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this advanced copy. While the ARC is a gift, my reviews are solely based on my own opinions, and I’m under no obligation to any company or individual to post. #StarsAroundMyScars #NetGalley

When I first heard about this book I was very excited however I was very uncertain about how this book was going to be written. While it could have been very confusing I really enjoyed how it was pieces together song by song and turn give all background information after. What I didn't like was it almost seemed a bit like a high schooler adding their own opinions on the songs for an essay at least the first half. I feel like some the notes were overreached and almost over emphasized, however some seemed perfect and made to more understanding of where she is now in her career and as a writer. This is a book that any fan of Taylor's will want to check out however if you aren't a fan even on the slightest of you don't know multiple of her songs than this is one that won't be for you and will feel a bit like a huge undertaking to tackle, however thankfully I do consider myself a fan so I loved all of the added information in the margins that was thrown in. Do be warned however of you check out this book because it isn't written like a novel so it is a little hard at some points. Great for Taylor fans not a good read for anyone else unfortunately so if you are a fan this is one that will really grab you and you will want to read. I just wish myself that it had more of a continuous flow to the pros and not a stunted and jarring end to the ending to every song.i did like the little notes at the end of the songs really paraphrasing and suming up all of the details .I feel that overall this book lacked continuity, and even as a fan the further I got into the book the more I found myself putting it down. I feel like this was told almost like an English teacher reaching for hidden metaphors that aren't actually there and meanings that are so far out of left field that you would have never seen them.

This is the first book I've read that combines English analysis with something as accessible as pop-sensation Taylor Swift. Reading this book felt like going back to school (in the best way!) I was obsessed with the annotations, they felt really accurate and concise but were also so visually pleasing the way they were designed. I really felt like I was in the hands of a true English language expert, who just happened to be analysing some of my favourite songs ever.

I loved how each song was considered within the wider context of Swift's writing and the album in which the song belonged to. I learned so much about language, linguistic techniques and it gave me such a greater appreciation not just for Taylor Swift but for the poetic foundation of so many great songs. All of Taylor's signature moves where highlighted and it was so interesting to see over the years and between albums which themes, style and techniques have changed substantially and which feel like the DNA of Swift's writing. It is a wonderfully thorough whistlestop tour of her discography, however there were some songs that didn't have a written paragraph surmising the points made ('Love story', 'story of us').

Also, there were a couple of songs that I wish were covered! Notably, despite there being a champagne illustration to introduce evermore, 'champagne problems' wasn't annotated and I really would've loved to see 'begin again', 'you belong with me' and perhaps some of her other popular ones covered. I did appreciate that the book also served to discover some of Swift's less well known songs, but I think some of the really popular songs were missed which might reduce the appeal to people who aren't die hard Swifts.

Other than that, a wonderful guide through Swift's discography!

Elly McCausland’s Stars Around My Scars is a breathtaking masterpiece that blends raw emotion with exquisite prose. This deeply personal and beautifully crafted novel explores themes of love, loss, resilience, and healing, pulling readers into an unforgettable journey of self-discovery.

McCausland’s writing is poetic and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers long after the final page. The characters feel achingly real, their struggles and triumphs resonating on a deeply human level. It’s rare to find a book that balances heartbreak and hope so seamlessly, but this one achieves it with grace.

I was kind of disappointed when I started reading this because it was not what I thought that it was going to be. I thought that it was actually going to be a poetry collection. This was not a poetry collection, it was a literary annotation of a poetry deep dive into the lyrics. However I did think that the concept was interesting. I do like to deep dive in research and look at things in a literary way. However not being the biggest Swift fan this was not for me. I do think this would be a perfect gift for a major swift fan. The man reason why I picked this up was because of the title. Stars Around My Scars: The Annotated Poetry made me think that this was a mental health type poetry collection. Now its not that this book was bad it was very interesting exploring the thoughts of a fan deep diving into the songs. But in my opinion this dragged on for me. If it was shorter I could see myself giving it a 4 star. But I came to terms not to read stuff on people I am not a fan of because I feel like its not a far review. But this was a learning experience for me.

I really enjoyed this. It wasn’t exactly what I expected but it was very enjoyable. I enjoyed the insight for the songs that were analyzed. My favorite album is 1989 (Taylor’s Version) and the selection of songs did not disappoint.

An in depth and emotional dive into the brilliant lyricism of Taylor Swift. This book is perfect for those looking to dive deep into the best musician of a generation.

This is perfect for any Swiftie! If you aren't a fan of Taylor, but are wondering why she gets so much hype and why her music resonates so well with so many people, this book also just goes to show how talented she is!

Avid swiftie so I felt like I already had a good understanding of the meanings behind the songs. Though I have rarely just sat and read poetic breakdowns of the lyrics and found that very interesting and gave me even more respect for Taylor’s song writing.

Was able to read this though NetGalley and think any fan of her music would love to read this book. Even if you don’t like her songs, it proves just how talented she is at storytelling.

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“Stars Around My Scars” was a great book. This book examines Taylor Swift lyrics as the poetry I believe it is. Dr. Elly McCausland did an amazing job of look at Swift’s lyrics from a poet’s perspective. Not only did the analysis help to better understand Swift’s lyrics in a new light, I also learned a lot about poetry in general and how to analyze it. Though this book did not include all of Taylor Swift’s lyrics, it included many great songs. It also provided the reader with the skills to analyze any of Swift’s other songs. This would be a great book for any Taylor Swift fan or anyone who needs to be convinced how great of a lyricist Swift is. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book combines two of my favorite things: literary analysis and Taylor Swift! I absolutely loved this deep dive into Swift's lyrics, and I actually think this would be an interesting read for anyone who is interested in digging into how songwriters can use literary devices to draw in their listeners. I gained a whole new appreciation for her songwriting and can't wait to continue analyzing her music in the future. I just wish I could take McCausland's college course - it's probably just as fascinating as this book is.

Thank you NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review!
3.5/5⭐️⭐️⭐️

I really enjoyed Dr. Elly McCausland's annotations that provide an in-depth analysis that points out Taylor's poetic technique, literary references, and creative throughlines. It was like I had a front row seat in Dr. Elly McCausland's "English Literature (Taylor's Version)" at Ghent University. She flawlessly dissects Taylor's lyrics in an approachable way, and provides credible proof that Taylor has earned her place among the great Poets.

As an avid reader of the classics who adored her English Lit classes, and as a Swifty that can recite her songs by heart, I found the authors findings a bit rudimentary and obvious. That being said, it was still enchanting and beautiful to read, and this book will be fantastic for a younger Taylor Swift fan that is eager to dissect her lyrics.

Such a good analysis based on Taylor’s work! Definitely worth the read for anyone who calls themselves a Swiftie. 10/10

Thank you Netgalley and Ella McCausland for this advance copy!

I had the best time reading this book, I never knew I needed an analysis of some of my favorite Taylor Swift songs but now I’m INSPIRED to dig into every song. This was so fun and so insightful. I highly recommend picking it up for the Swiftie in your life!

The book offers a very thorough analysis of Taylor Swift's lyrics. I loved how the lyrics appear with notes beside them. It analyzes metaphors, symbolism, and Taylor's evolution. The reading is accessible and fun to read as a swifty myself. I think it's a book for all Swifties. If that's not you, then you can pass.

Andrews McMeel Publishing does it again: they are always ahead of the curve when it comes to the publishing industry's edge.

From Dr Elly McCausland, the creator of the English Literature (Taylor's Version) course at Ghent University aka professor of Swifterature, comes the collection of annotated poetry of Taylor Swift. Very timely, seeing as the pop star is constantly in the news, sweeping awards, and breaking records…the cultural (and economic) impact of The Eras Tour alone is explanation enough. I flew from India to Ireland for the concert, and I know fans who’ve attended the concert multiple times (whatever your guess is for the number of times, rest assured its an exponent of that). All of this happened for the experience, yes, but it also happened because the fans have often felt heard and seen in the singer-songwriter’s poetic lyricism.

So it's no wonder, then, that the phenomenon that is Taylor Swift has also spawned an academic field deciphering the poetics behind her lyrics; conferences have been organised, literary magazines and journals have been inspired, and now we have “Stars Around My Scars” doing a closer reading of the songwriting.

Even the dedication of the book is laced with that Taylor magic! I am a fan for multiple reasons, but most of all because of Taylor's lyricism, and this book is a sheer delight for other Swifties like me. Taylor employs a rich array of poetic & literary devices in her writing – unpacking that is a soothing exercise if not downright healing. Its subversive storytelling is only made obvious briefly through folklore-style world-creation. Fans have, therefore, revelled in the fun parts - decoding easter eggs,

Now, coming over to the book: McCausland remains utmost respectful of the songwriter as she embarks on the decoding adventure — she is clear she isn’t going to play muse-whodunit here.
And the result is a collection of songs, annotated with a plethora of poetic devices employed by Taylor. In short, this is any literature student’s dream. (For me, personally, this was a door to the many poetry-related world-building concepts, and for that I am thankful)

The book offers cohesive as well aa standalone insights into the words: that Swift likens relationships to an ongoing story (manuscript, the story of us and so on) in a metaphor that surpasses eras. That she writes about her life — fame is explored in a biting way, for she is thankful for what’s happened, yet the downsides of fame don’t elude her.

McCausland herself uses a beautiful prose to describe songs, “The ink bleeds so she doesn’t have to.” or “We are the sum of our trials & tribulations.”

I highly recommend that Swifties read it and write their own poetry if that’s their jam! I know I will.