Thank you McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in return of my honest review.

A very solid 5 stars from me. I am late to the party but with teen girls I have come to really admire Taylor Swift. A year ago I knew some of her songs and enjoyed some of them, then our family went to her End of an Era concert, the first concert we went to as a family. I was transformed. I got to see what the hype was and walked away with a huge respect and awe that one human being can have hundreds of thousand of people literally eating out of her palm for three hours.

Elly McCausland has taken my interest to an even deeper level with this amazing book. When I was 20% in I preordered it, knowing that I need to have a physical copy to read, take notes and really dig deeper into.

Elly has a PhD and has studied Taylor for many years and provides her suggestions for what the songs may mean. She makes it clear that they are her interpretations and gives an incredibly absorbing account of Taylor as a songwriter and the hypothesis of Taylor above all being a poet.
I would love to learn more and practice myself, breaking poems / songs down into their possible meaning based on the words chosen to be used and the way in which they were written.

Elly defines Taylor’s songwriting traits, stating her lyrical reliability and exploring how cliched phases are twisted to create new meaning. I loved the way Elly presented and explained the literary techniques Taylor uses in her songs.

I learned so much from the book and am truly excited to receive my hard copy in a couple weeks.

For anyone who is interested in song writing, poetry and techniques used in the process, and of course Taylor Swift, this book is for you.

Thank you for this much loved ARC.

I love Taylor Swift's music and I love poetry. Written by an English Literature, this book of "annotated poetry" provided such a unique reading experience. The author of this book selected 46 songs from every Taylor Swift era and analyzes the lyrics, symbolism, and themes present. It focuses on the literary aspects of the songs and doesn't focus on the "who" a song is about.

Being a long time fan of Taylor Swift, I already knew a lot of things that were present in this book. I'm familiar with the meanings of the songs and the recurring themes present in many songs. However, I did learn some new things while reading. There were a few Easter eggs I missed!

I loved that there was a reading list of works that Swift references. I also found the glossary of literary terms at the end of the book to be very helpful.

I would recommend this to Taylor Swift fans that enjoy a literary analysis. I just wish I could have taken this as a college course!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc! All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

I really enjoyed discovering new interpretations to Taylor Swift’s songs, and the analysis of the techniques/themes etc. were a nice touch. If you like Taylor Swift’s music then it’s definitely a great read, but you might appreciate the book and the discussions ever if you don’t.

As a huge Swiftie, I love digging deep into the meaning behind Taylor's lyrics and this book was such a great reference!

I loved this book! You can tell the songs selected are well researched and there is a straightforward yet thoughtful analysis and interpretation of the meaning of the music.

Taylor Swift lovers gather around 💖

Stars Around My Scars
Pub Date: Jan 28

I'm a big swiftie so when I saw this book, who revolves around her songs and what they mean in terms of analysing them and how they convey that Taylor is not just a talented artist but also a brilliant poet I had to read it.
What grabbed my attention the most was the way it was written all these notes and scribbles around her lyrics analysing what she meant and what's the story behind them. You get to see that Taylor's songs are not just lyrics but indeed have so many deep meanings.
It's a true gem to all swifties and I would recommend listening to the songs that are highlighted while reading them.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me a copy of #StarsAroundMyScars in exchange for my honest review.

Xoxo😘

If you are self identified as a swiftie, this is a must buy!!
I loved going over this, and taking into account all the little notes on a selection of Swift's lyrics. It includes all of her albums!

While male songwriters like Bob Dylan often receive recognition for their wordsmithing, Swift continues to occupy a space that scholars shy away from, which is why McCausland's new book is so refreshingly relevant. This is a scholar's work written in and through the lens of fandom, from the author's playful description of herself as a professor of "Swifterature" through the juxtaposition of purple-ink annotations of songs to the literary list of allusions and the thoughtful analyses. Any curmudgeonly professor who think of Swift as background noise need to listen up to this one.

As a passionate Swiftie, there was a lot to love about “Stars Around My Scars.” The annotated lyric sheets and literary deep dive into some of Taylor's most beloved songs made for an interesting concept. Even though I know Taylor's discography by heart I still walked away with an even deeper understanding of several songs.

The two constructive criticisms I have about the book are the formatting and the tone.

I appreciate the intention of the design, but often found the number of notes and annotations made it difficult to follow the flow of the lyrics. Some of her most recent albums were so heavily noted that my neurodivergent brain was overwhelmed.

The book has a very academic feel, which might be off-putting to some readers. I caught myself more than once wondering if I was reading a book or a thesis.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read that many Taylor Swift fans, especially those already in love with the literary connections in her music, will probably enjoy.

3.25 / 5

this was fun, but it’s not quite sure what it wants to be. simultaneously academic in its term usage and incredibly unserious in its meta-like references in the conclusion, it’s pretty hard to understand what exactly this book wants from us. it doesn’t trust its audience to understand what alliteration does even after the ~15th highlight of it, and continually re-explains every time letters appear together (continued explanation of more specific terms like sibilance make sense to mention because those aren’t as well-known literary devices, but really… how many mentions of alliteration do we need?). occasionally a paragraph of analysis would be interjected within the song lyrics, which was slightly distracting. the stylistic presentation of the annotations was very fun and lended a personal feel, but sometimes came across as squished and disjointed. the book would most definitely hit harder as a physical copy where one could write their own annotations, but i do love that it included a good mix of well-known songs and fan favorites.

at least part of this comes across as relatively rudimentary literary analysis wherein the author simply lists the things that we can find in a song rather than thoroughly explaining why certain devices are used and what they accomplish. as the author makes broad sweeping statements, the lack of citations was startling, mainly for two reasons. one, the index in the back and it’s highlighting of texts like jane eyre produce the effect of well researched credibility. on the other hand, the author claims things like swift coined the word unrecall, which is just categorically untrue when using your brain or conducting a simple google search.

these are slightly technical complaints, but my main issue lies in the fact that positing the question of whether or not swift is a poet seems silly. swift has not chosen poetry as her medium of expression—she has chosen songs (the question of whether or not a song is a poem is not discussed, in a meaningful way that illuminates prior perspectives or contributes to broader conversations, at all within this work). to ignore each song’s musical accompaniment disregards part of the effect of the ‘text.’ the author mentions certain things like pauses in her speech (singing) pattern, but no actual musical elements are mentioned. certain melodies that appear throughout swift’s discography are not analyzed whatsoever, even when they lend incredible depth to the text. the author never mentions fortnight’s use of the lakes melody when discussing the former or the heartbeat in the back of you’re losing me, just to name two instances. this ignores allll the sonic elements that are equally important to her work as her writing. i mean, the actual ‘music’ of the tortured poet’s department (ttpd) was raked over the coals for not departing from the sound of midnights as much as was expected. if it’s music didn’t matter to swift’s credibility as a good songwriter (or even more broadly a good artist) that discussion wouldn’t even be present. audiences would have just looked at the writing of the album and analyzed that, but that’s not what happened! because writing is not the only element of what makes a song a song (again, swift’s chosen medium)!

to top it off, swift HAS written literal actual inarguable poems published by herself and the likes of british vogue; ‘the trick to holding on,’ ‘why she disappeared,’ ‘if you’re anything like me,’ ‘in summation,’ which accompanies ttpd (this is mentioned, but not throughly analyzed, only twice in this book if i remember correctly).

i find the lack of analysis of these poems, slightlyy crazy. if you’re going to insist that swift is a real, true, serious poet, why are you not including the actual poems that she has written and published? mentioning ‘high’ culture and ‘popular’ culture and including no citations, further in depth explanation, or the poems swift HAS wrote… it’s just a very strange decision. find a co-author who specifically focuses on music and swift! i’m sure one exists!

(to be very clear, i also think swift is a stupendous writer, probably one of the best songwriters that has ever been, but if you center analysis of her work JUST around the concept of poetry, you lose quite a lot of what i believe contributes to her status as a great writer—the music she chooses to place her writing around!)

now, i’m being quite a negative nancy, so i do want to say that this book was generally, thoroughly enjoyable. there were multiple times where part of a ‘poem’ (song) was analyzed in a way that felt fresh and exciting to me. there’s a staggering amount of songs discussed here, and that’s commendable in and of itself. the songs chosen for folklore, evermore, and red are where the analysis really shines. analysis of seven, my tears ricochet, and nothing new are particularly engaging. the point of the book, despite me asking what exactly it wants from us in the beginning of this review, it is very obviously to prove, with a slightly defensive edge that is sometimes distracting, that swift is a formidable artist in her own right. and it definitely, at the very least, accomplishes that. even just ‘listing’ the literary devices she uses gives readers some sense of the scope of swift’s artistry.

i’d like to end by saying that i am neither an expert in poetry or music. i’m sure i’m missing meaningful criticisms or well-deserved praise but this is just my impression of the book as someone who is most definitely part of its intended audience—a college student who loves literature and taylor swift. the wide intended audience this book is obviously meant for is sure to love it and i think it would make a great gift for someone who likes poetry, taylor swift, or someone who does not (stupidly) believe that swift is an impressive writer. if someone wanted to explore literary analysis more seriously, but was only familiar with taylor swift and “popular” culture, this would be a wonderful introduction. swift is such a domineering presence in the media landscape (and the analysis is so plainly put forward) that the average person‘s familiarity with her would probably make this an easily understandable book.

VERY last thing i’ll say is the fact that ‘cowboy like me’ was not included in this list of 46 songs is actually criminal…

thank you netgalley and andrew’s mcmeel publish for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

Being completely transparent, reading this as a Swiftie was a little disappointing for me. I have spent so much time listening to Taylor Swift and watching videos and listening to podcasts analyzing her lyrics that reading this felt a bit basic and missed the mark for me. However, if you are new to Taylor Swift’s music and want to start to dive a bit deeper or someone who is more interested in a literary analysis of her work, I believe that this would be a good book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I received this book as an e-arc- thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing!

This was a fun and interesting way to look at some of Taylor Swift’s music. As a Swiftie, I already had a lot of ideas and meanings attached to the songs. But as McCausland says, she’s giving her ideas, and that doesn’t mean it’s the final word. She ends the book by saying the meanings will continue to change with time, which really resonated.

As an English teacher, I loved having the identifications and descriptions of how various literary devices contribute to the specific and overall meanings of/within the songs.

McCausland has written annotations (at times it was a bit overwhelming, but I think in print format it would be different) as well as some boxes with explanations through the songs. After, there is a more detailed written explanation.

This would be a great book to pick up if you’re a Swiftie or an English teacher!

As a huge Swiftie, I think this is such a fun, interesting read! Diving deeper into the lyrics of songs, it is easy to see Taylor Swift's evolution not only in eras of music but eras of writing. This book's format makes you feel like you're reading a person's journals, but in a good, educated way.

Though this was given as an e-book to me to review, I will be buying one to keep on the Swiftie Shelf on my bookcase to look at for years to come.

When I saw this I knew I needed it. I'm a huge Swiftie. It was interesting to see the authors thoughts on all of the different songs, and how songs intertwined with others. While it was cool to see, it didn't love it.

I loved this new look into Taylor Swift's lyrics, especially those from the Tourtured Poets Department. Many of the annotations connected lyrics to other songs, which I had not thought about before. I appreciated the analysis after the songs as well, as a summary to the annotations. So thankful I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, I really enjoyed reading this.

As a fan of Taylor Swifts lyrics and how she can weave a whole story into a simple 4 min song, I had really high hopes for the breakdown of said lyrics.
The book in and of itself is fairly easy to read if you’re an English major or have studied poetry. If not, you might need a dictionary or google for some of the terms used.
As much as I enjoyed the breakdown, some of it seemed like a stretch ? I get that it’s the authors interpretation of the lyrics but still. I also feel like they missed out on dissecting better songs than a few of the ones that were chosen, but that’s just me.

Dr. Elly McCausland presents an expansive literary deep dive into the songwriting of Taylor Swift. By methodically annotating Swift’s lyrics, McCausland builds a convincing case for considering them as poetry worthy of serious analysis.

McCausland, a professor of English literature and founder of the now-famous “English Literature (Taylor’s Version)” course at Ghent University, positions Swift as a 21st-century bard whose work resonates with literary traditions ranging from Shakespearean drama to Romantic poetry. The introduction addresses a persistent question among skeptics: Is Taylor Swift a poet? McCausland argues that Swift’s use of metaphor, rhyme, and layered storytelling proves she belongs in the same lineage as literary greats.

The book is structured around Swift’s discography, with each chapter dedicated to a specific album—from her self-titled debut to Midnights. McCausland unpacks themes of heartbreak, empowerment, and self-reinvention, all while pointing out literary references hidden in plain sight. For instance, the chapter on Fearless analyzes the famous track “Love Story,” noting its simultaneous embrace and subversion of Shakespeare’s *Romeo and Juliet*. McCausland also shines a spotlight on fan-beloved tracks like “All Too Well,” observing how a red scarf becomes not just a symbol of heartbreak but a talisman of memory and cultural mythology.

One of McCausland’s central insights is that Swift is a master of emotional imagery, using seemingly personal details—a cardigan, a string of lights, a spinning mirrorball—to evoke universal feelings. The book captures how Swift builds what the author dubs a "cinematic universe" within her lyrics, where recurring symbols create a sense of continuity and relatability for listeners.

McCausland also dissects how Swift navigates the murky waters of fame and personal narrative. The Reputation era, for example, is viewed as a declaration of autonomy in the face of public scandal, with McCausland showing how songs like "Getaway Car" use allusions to heists and betrayals to mirror real-life events. Meanwhile, Folklore and Evermore are celebrated for their experimental storytelling, turning Swift into a modern-day troubadour weaving fictional tales.

The author’s passion for poetic devices sometimes results in overly detailed dissections of straightforward lyrics, which could leave more casual fans yearning for broader thematic takeaways rather than line-by-line critiques.

Nonetheless, the book’s strengths far outweigh its occasional overreach. McCausland’s commentary on tracks like “You’re On Your Own, Kid” and “The Archer” highlights Swift’s rare ability to articulate loneliness and resilience with stunning precision.

In an era where the lines between "high" and "low" culture are increasingly blurred, McCausland’s work is a reminder that true storytelling transcends labels. Whether you’re a lifelong "Swiftie" or someone curious about her literary merit, Stars Around My Scars offers a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on one of music’s defining voices.

This is so fun and clever - a great read for a serious Swiftie! I liked the journal style of the book with annotations and reading about some of my favorite lyrics!

Long live the memories I’ve made listening to the lyrics of this woman’s songs for thousands of hours over the last 16 years! Oh, how I truly loved this.

Synopsis: A must-have book for all Swifties, “Stars Around My Scars: The Annotated Poetry of Taylor Swift” by Elly McCausland analyzes 46 of Swift’s songs line by line to help listeners understand and appreciate her songwriting abilities and literary connections. McCausland is a professor of English literature — and “Swifterature” — at Ghent University in Belgium, so she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to history, poetry and literary references.

This in-depth, well-researched book really took me by surprise, uncovering even deeper meanings to some of Swift’s most emotional and beloved songs. I. Learned. So. Much.

McCausland avoids speculating which songs are about specific people or relationships and instead focuses on how Swift’s songs draw from other works of art as well as her own discography. This is one book to buy — not borrow — and treasure for years to come.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advanced reader copy of #StarsAroundMyScars. To be published Jan. 28, 2025.

This is such a good book with great annotations to help analyze and understand Taylor's songs. I will 100% be using this in my classroom in the future, especially while studying poetry.