3.5 stars

This book is billed as being the business side of Taylor Swift's success. In practice it seemed to me to be an overview of publicly available information without much more depth or a different perspective than other books I've read about her. I found the writing to be competent, and the occasional references to "Taylor the startup" were interesting, but it didn't go far enough in that direction to make it differentiated from anything else I have read about her. I recommend this to someone who hasn't read a bunch of books on Swift, and I enjoyed the writing more than many similar publications, but don't think it fulfilled the promise of being a business-oriented book.

Thank you to Harvard Business Review Press for giving me an advance reading copy for unbiased review..

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THIS is a fascinating breakdown of Taylor Swift’s career from a business and marketing standpoint, from being a teenage girl breaking into a male-dominated country genre to switching genres altogether and becoming one of the world’s biggest pop stars.

Author Kevin Evers draws parallels between Swift’s career moves with those of major corporations or tech startups, and he does not shy away from mentioning Swift’s biggest critiques and missteps in her career. Swift is truly a strategic genius when it comes to marketing herself, including personal fan interactions online and Easter eggs for fans to decipher; she’s in a league of her own.

For those wondering how recent the writing is, the last chapter discusses Midnights and the Eras Tour, while the epilogue mentions TTPD came out during the finalization of the book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and Harvard Business Review Press for an advanced reader copy of #TheresNothingLikeThis.

I thought that I already knew a lot about Taylor, but this showed me some new sides to her, and especially her songs and songwriting. The book covered the most interesting aspects of not just her songwriting, but also her marketing strategies. In the beginning, I was a bit scared that the book would be difficult to read, but it really only took me a short time to get into the book. The writing style was captivating and was able to make me interest in topics I normally don't really care about.

I also think that this book is not just for Swifties. The book is more than just a book about Taylor Swift. This is especially interesting for people who want to learn more business and wants a biography that's a bit different.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harvard Business Review Press for this EARC!

Not a fan of the writing style. Fans who know Swift's career well and are interested in a comprehensive overview will likely love this. It felt very formulaic, and it lacked emotional depth. I was hopeful about starting this, but it fell flat for me. The formatting was also very difficult to navigate in the NetGalley app.

Thanks to this book, I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation of Taylor Swift’s journey—from her early days as a teenage country singer to her rise as a global pop icon of extraordinary influence.

The book offers just the right amount of detail to engage both die-hard Swifties and casual readers like me. It presents the highs and lows of her career and highlights how she applied smart business strategies to navigate challenges and reinvent herself.

What I especially liked is how the book draws insightful parallels between Swift’s experiences and the stories of various companies, offering a unique perspective on her evolution as both an artist and a brand.

[Thank you to Netgalley for early access to this book.]

I've been looking forward to this book for several months now and it did not disappoint. As someone who routinely reads biographies and memoirs alongside books about businesses, leadership, and why people do the things they do, this book was exactly up my alley. Oh, and did I mention I'm a Swiftie too?

"There's Nothing Like This" is a well-written and thoughtfully researched book that is thoroughly absorbing and full of fascinating tidbits about Taylor Swift that even the most diehard Swiftie will be surprised to discover. I was most impressed by how elegantly Evers is able to draw connections between the choices Swift has made and the theory and science of leadership, management, marketing, and business that she intentionally or unintentionally leveraged in the process. Evers' assessment of Swift's work, persona, and genius is insightful and well-reasoned.

For any Swiftie contemplating business school, all they need to do is pick up this book and be sold. For any curious skeptic who's always wondered if the Taylor Swift hype is really as big a deal as people make it out to be: pick this book up right away.

Evers is not gushy or breathless in his work - this is a book that seriously considers how Swift has become the phenomenon she is today with thoughtful rigor.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and will be recommending this to everyone I know!

This was a fantastic read to explore how Taylor Swift made it in the industry, very insightful read overall.

There is Nothing Quite Like This by Kevin Evers is a stunning literary triumph that defies convention and invites readers on a journey that is as thought-provoking as it is emotionally resonant. From the very first page, Evers crafts a world that feels both familiar and fantastically original.

What sets this work apart is its seamless integration of business principles with the artistry of music. Evers draws upon research in innovation, creativity, psychology, and strategy to provide a nuanced perspective on Swift's trajectory. This approach not only offers fans a deeper understanding of their idol but also presents valuable lessons for business professionals and creatives alike.

This is not just a book, it is an experience. It's the kind of work that lingers long after the final page, urging you to see the world differently. Each chapter unfolds like a poem carefully layered with meaning and emotional depth. The narrative surprises at every turn. What truly sets this book apart is its seamless blend of lyrical prose, deeply human characters, and moments of profound insight. Evers has a unique ability to capture the complexity of the human experience of love, loss, wonder and the quiet beauty of everyday life.

“What if I told you none of it was accidental?”

As a Swiftie, this was a deeply fascinating book to read. Focusing on her business savvy and intuition on how to best connect with her fans, There’s Nothing Like This explores sides of Taylor Swift that often get swept under the rug or plain left out of the conversation surrounding her. All of her big decisions are explored here from the decision to sign with Big Machine Records at the beginning of her career to the Eras Tour and everything in between, triumphs and failures. I was a little worried that the business aspect of this book would be hard for me to understand, but it’s written in such an accessible way and I followed along very easily. I loved how it celebrated her as an innovator, storyteller and strategist while also truthfully exploring the missteps and miscalculations of her career. This is a book any Swiftie should read, but also a book anyone who doesn’t fully understand the marvel that is Taylor Swift and why her listeners keep coming back for more.

Thank you NetGalley and Harvard Business Press for the advanced digital reader’s copy!

This is one of the most entertaining, informative, and well-written non-fiction works I have read.

Evers creatively takes you on a journey through Taylor Swift's career to illustrate the business and marketing strategies applied throughout each Era during downfalls, opportunities, risks, and accomplishments that led to the ultimate success of her music career and billion dollar brand. Taylor Swift is an undeniable force and perfect example of building a successful brand against the odds that also stands the test of time. Even her haters or non-listeners will appreciate her actual genius and learn from her hard work and business savvy after reading.

Expertly, without overdoing it, Evers even incorporates some of Taylor's lyrics into the prose that only Swifties will pick up on. There is a wonderful balance of witty and endearing narration while still being extremely analytical and informative, packed with intricate research references.

Swifties will also really appreciate a parallel in the book to her most recent album, TTPD. Whether intentional or not, there was absolutely no naming of her recent ex and long time boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, throughout the entire book. Though there were small mentions of others where it was imperative to the storytelling: Taylor Lautner, Harry Styles, Tom Hiddleston, and even Travis Kelce. This is similar to how fans theorized that TTPD was going to have a heavy focus on Joe and their break-up, and instead Taylor basically skipped over him and most of the songs ended up being about Matty, herself, the fans, and even Travis. I loved the creativity of this detail being left out of the book to parallel Taylor's own writing and to be different than other writers and critics who focus too much on her love life, and even credit Joe too much for his influence on her song-writing success. This was so well done.

Also shared the above copy on Goodreads.

As a fan of Taylor since Fearless (yes, i’m a Swiftie) I’ve come across many books written about Taylor over the years. Most of them are either regurgitating things fans know, boring attempts at explaining “the lore.”

This book took a much different approach: Taylor Swift from a business perspective. It was not biased by or influenced due to the author being a long time fan, but rather drew its strength from identifying business practices employed by Taylor and comparing them to other companies that had done the same. To this end, it was pretty interesting.

That being the case, this book is not really “for the Swifties,” but rather for those interested in how Taylor Swift became the tour de force that she is today in 2025. I could see this being a book used in a college classroom that studies modern brands and unique paths to ubiquitous success.

No one thinks Taylor’s success is by accident and nearly everyone surely acknowledges it is due to hard work. What this book does is don a pair of academic, business lenses and break things down that way. I found it interesting in a sociological, business way. The nerdy side of me enjoyed it. The music listening, Taylor-loving side of me that went to a bunch of Eras shows? She wasn’t the demographic this book was written for.

All in all I recommend this book to those curious about Swift’s rise wherein she, just as much as her music, is a brand that has one of the most loyal customer bases.

Interesting note at the end remarked that Taylor - now that Eras is over - is on the precipice of being a celebrity first and foremost, something she has kept at bay until now, with the focus always previously centering on the songs and the writing. And that her next moves will be formative in which fork in the road she takes. That’s not something I considered previously but is a good point.

All in all this was a unique, very informative read and I give it 4.25/5 stars. Thanks to netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this on NetGalley, I had to request it, even though I am not a Business Girlie™️ and know very little about business terminology. I wondered if it would be technical and confusing for someone who isn’t part of that world, but fortunately for me, THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THIS was very readable and interesting. As an elder Swiftie, I loved getting additional insight into the story of her success, particularly the earlier parts of getting a record deal and writing songs in Nashville. And while I am not an entrepreneur, I did take away some gems about serving your audience and balancing evolution and predictability as a creative that I think will come in handy when it’s time for me to market my book. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys learning about Taylor Swift or has any kind of interest in staying relevant to an audience.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt it was very informative without becoming too wordy. The business focused analysis made me think of things in a way I hadn’t thought to analyze before. I loved that it was separated by eras. The author did a great job of making this book both informative and entertaining!

The author delves into his analysis with a lot of detailed quotes from people who were there interacting with Taylor directly. Lending a lot of validity to his analysis. The analysis itself is a good overview for a Laymen. It would have been nice to see some more depth to the analysis but I understand that the regular person probably doesn’t need that much detail. A nice middle ground analysis. Sometimes the quotes were too frequent within the writing. It was challenging to sit down and go through the compliments stated.

I recommend to both Swifties and people wanting to better understand Taylor Swift and why her incredible career should be respected. Whilst I did not agree with all of the statements within the book as a fan for over a decade the sentiment of the book was fascinating and well researched.

There's Nothing Like This is an incredibly comprehensive account of Taylor Swift's career and the strategic decisions made that have strengthened her career since its inception. To the most dedicated Swiftie, the events in this book come as no surprise; stories of the beginning of her career and each era are well-known. However, this book does lean heavily on the business aspect of Taylor's career, likening bold moves to other entertainment giants, such as Marvel or the NBA. In my opinion, this perspective is what sets this book apart from the rest about Swift's career; the study of any decision during any era was carefully dissected in this book.

Something I appreciated while reading this book is the neutral tone in which its written. Kevin Evers does not shy away from highlighting the low points in Swift's career, but also is unashamed to acknowledge the powerhouse that Swift really is. The book is very balanced; in a world where Taylor Swift is an "you love her or hate her" artist, I think this book can be read and appreciated by anyone.

Overall this was a nice read, but perhaps more geared toward entrepreneurs rather than the typical Swiftie, who already understand her hard work and dedication over the years.

The author has done a significant amount of research about Swift. The book provides a comprehensive overview of her career. For something released by HBR it lacks deeper analysis about lessons one can take from Swift and her team and more like a well written fan account of her musical journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harvard Business Review Press for the eARC!

This was a fun and informative book, maybe a tiny bit more focused on business than I was expecting. But that's on me entirely; it is published by Harvard Business Review.
I think the author does a great job of unraveling Taylor's business moves. I liked the way he included short examples of other companies pulling similar moves (or trying to). And I also enjoyed the way he broke up the book - into her different albums and the Eras Tour. I also really appreciated that he didn't just focus on the positive elements of her career, but he also discussed (in more detail than I would have expected) the situation with Kanye and Kim, as well as the albums that did less well (I refuse to say they were flops): Reputation and Lover.

This is actually one of my favorite books to read about Taylor Swift. I loved the breakdown of TS as a businesswoman over just a singer-songwriter. It went through how she got started and walked us through how each of her albums came about. I enjoyed this side of everything and now have an even bigger respect for her and what she’s been through and how she overcame it.

This was a great read and absolutely kept me hooked - I loved the respectful tone and really feel like I learned a lot. Excited to recommend this to the fans I know, as I think the context is really important in respectfully following an artist. I've thought for a while that the rabidity of the fans doesn't take some of this into account so I'm glad to have such a great source!