A fun and analytical take to Taylor’s lyrics and what might be the underlying tones and meanings behind them.

This is fascinating! There are so many books out there with Taylor Swift as a focus, but most of them feel like a cash grab, this one does not at all! It's well researched and by an expert in the field. As a lover of the English language and Tay, I can say this is a perfect addition to any study of her works. It makes me wish I could take the classes on her!

Long story short: I LOVE this book! This is a must haves for all Swifties who love to dive in and analyze all of her lyrics and patterns within Taylor Swift’s songwriting. In a world where there are sooooo many books based on our favorite pop star, this one offers a unique insight that goes beyond surface level discussions of style and impact, but deep dives into what we love most about Taylor: her music. I loved the insightful notes and details, such as the semantic details and vocabulary related to crime in Reputation, reasons for her use of repetition in certain areas, and the role that rhythm played into the narrative of Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince. I enjoyed all of these little details and Easter eggs and cannot wait to read thru this again with my daughter who is the original Swiftie in our household. Bravo! My only disappointment is that it isn’t available before Christmas!

I love T.Swift. I loved the notes and comments on my favorite songs! This is something I feel I would continue to come back to and enjoy.

For the Swifties, romantics, and poets.
This book is a collection of select songs from Taylor Swift's albums and breaks down each stanza with great analysis and commentary, and shows how deep and meaningful each song is.
Hoping this book is one of many.

Awesome book for anyone who loves Taylor Swift and is interested in learning more and reading into her lyrics as poetry. Stays away from the headlines of who each song is about (mostly) and highlights devices she uses and interesting things about each song.

I loved this. As a big swiftie I really REALLY enjoyed reading this book and looking at all the annotations. I will definitely recommend this to all swifties who are hiding their tortured poets inside. This is the perfect book

As a Swiftie, I could not, not get this! It really breaks down line for line of her lyrics and creates more understanding and meaning. Some of the analysis was kind of a given, but there was a lot that made you realize what the lyrics actually mean. Would recommend to my fellow Swifties

This book is so cool! I’ma huge Swiftie and love analyzing Taylor’s lyrics so this book is perfect! I cannot wait to gift this fun book to all of the fellow Swifties in my life! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such an intriguing deep-dive into the literary and symbolic meanings behind Taylor’s songs, from throughout her career so far. As a fan of her work over the past sixteen years. I found myself gaining insights I had never really considered before. Highly recommended for any Swifties!

Thank you so much NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for the eARC, in exchange for my honest review!

One of my FAVORITE things about listening to Taylor Swift is really digging into the imagery, metaphors and themes of her lyrics and Stars Around My Scars is a perfect companion to that hobby. From her debut album all the way to The Tortured Poets Department, Dr. Elly McCausland takes us on a lyrical journey through some of Taylor’s most lyrically vivid songs such as Love Story, Marjorie, You’re On Your Own, Kid and So Long, London. With her own notes in the margins, she points out poetic and literary devices, possible inspirations and recurring themes that we see throughout Taylor’s musical catalog. I think any Swiftie would enjoy this book, but especially ones who are major literature and poetry lovers. Keep in mind, all of the thoughts in this book are her own interpretation. It was fun to read some of the notes and see where my thoughts differed from hers and where they were the same. All in all, I enjoyed this book so much and honestly would not mind a part two with more interpretations of other songs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this break down and analysis of Taylor's songs. I've always thought she is a great poet and loved this look at her lyrics that were shown more as poetry than songs. It's a fun read!

I’ve always known that there’s so much more behind a song’s lyrics than just the words we hear. And when it comes to Taylor Swift, this book proves that her ability to weave layers of meaning and emotion into her music is nothing more than genius. I went into this book hoping it would offer something special, an extra look into the words. It definitely did!

If you’re a Swiftie or just someone who appreciates powerful poetic writing (the reason I personally like Taylor Swift), this book is an absolute must-read. It’s a perfect deep dive into the art of Taylor Swift’s lyrics and will leave you with an even greater appreciation for her work.

This book contains songs from Taylor Swift, and the writer of this book tries to capture the depth and complexity of Taylor’s songwriting. It’s done beautifully, both because of the design of this book and the thoughts/notes that are written out.
This book is an eye-opening journey through her lyrics, unpacking the sentences and words in a way that makes you realize there’s even more going on behind the lyrics than you might have already imagined there was. To see her craft laid out like this, accompanied with notes that tell you the meaning behind things, makes you feel more connected to the words.

The notes and the explaining texts are all very clear and good to follow without needing to grow a second brain - which is sometimes the case with poetic studies of texts like this.

Again, I definitely recommend this book!

I found this book very entertaining and informative. The format was fun to follow, with annotated songs as though they were handwritten in a notebook, followed by a proper recap. It felt like being back at university and studying literary texts. I particularly enjoyed discovering all the interconnections between songs across Swift's oeuvre, besides learning and/or remembering all the technical terms (thanks for the glossary!).
If a lot of the author's comments seemed substantial and enlightening, I found others to be quite speculative and far-reaching. But as any piece of writing, it's always open to interpretation, because we aren't in Taylor's head, so we'll never really fully know what she truly meant, which is why these texts resonate so well with so many. The conclusion is a great reminder of this, these texts are all ours now.

This book is a must-read for all Swifties but also lovers of literature!
Dr. Elly McCausland starts by introducing the readers to the reasoning behind this book and shows that it really makes sense (and how important it is) to understand and not underestimate Swift's art of writing. Over these 240 pages, we're taken on a beautiful literary journey of discovering the depth of numerous songs from Taylor Swift's eleven albums. The author thoroughly describes how she approached the annotation and understanding of these presented songs, and does it most eloquently. For each song included in the book, we get lyrics with annotations (clean and aesthetically pleasing) and analysis. Moreover, the pages at the beginning of each chapter have great designs!
For additional reading pleasure, this book provides us with a list of literary works that can be connected with Taylor Swift's lyrics. In the end, we can also find a glossary of literary terms, which is great, as the language used throughout the book is very advanced and professional.

I'm so glad I found this book randomly because it offered such great insights into Taylor Swift's lyricism. I love how the chapters are laid out, and I was so happy to see little illustrations that matched each era. I'm not by any means a poet, so I would never have been able to dissect Taylor's lyrics like the author did! I really like that all the annotations look handwritten! I hope that someone is able to get this book into Taylors hands one day because she would 100% approve!

this book offers great analysis on some of taylor's songs. even as a big swiftie, i have gained some new perspective on a few songs, such as coney island and chloe et al. if the author ever does another book on some other songs, i'd definitely be interested in checking it out for sure!

I received an advanced copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This concept is amazing and it was executed beautifully. I loved that the author broke down the thematic and literary components of the lyrics, rather than theorizing about the subject of the songs. Will definitely have to show this to people who don't believe that Taylor Swift is a poet.

This was a really cool book! I love learning more about literary connections. It was cool to read the lyrics and look at the annotations to see the song in a new way! Would be great for those that love the lyrics and thinking about them. I definitely want a copy after seeing the Netgalley version.

A fun, analytical analysis of some of TS's most iconic songs, and I really like how the author approached this. I think this book would be perfect for the young swiftie in your life and could get them interested in literature and hopefully inspire a deeper love of poetry and literature in anyone. 4.5/5

This is an intense breakdown of Taylor Swift's songs by an English literature PhD. If you find yourself wondering the meaning of these T Swift songs, this book is for you. This would be an excellent holiday gift for a die hard Swiftie.

A must read for any Taylor Swift fan. Elly expertly examines her songs with both a breakdown of the lyrics with handwritten text in the margins as well as an analysis at the end. I listened to the songs as I read to completely surround myself. I can't wait to buy my Taylor Tot a copy!

Taylor Swift? Count me in!!

I absolutely loved this deep dive into Taylor Swifts lyrics and the break down of what the Author, Elly McCausland, believed it to be. The art in the book was so much fun. McCausland has vast knowledge of poetry and clearly did her research when putting together this masterpiece. As if I were talking to a friend while breaking down the Swifty lyrics and them understanding exactly where I am coming from!

It was so great that I was able to download immediately and see it in color through the NetGalley app on my phone.

McCauseland discusses the significance and technique Swift uses throughout her writing and she does so by album and song, so you can truly see Swifts evolvement through the years and decades. I can picture myself sitting in a room with the Author discussing in great length and detail Taylor Swifts art.

4/5 ⭐️

I really enjoyed the almost diaristic format of this book. There are typed lyrics and additional notes in a font that looks handwritten…but I don’t think actually is. The lines connecting the notes and circled words really add to the charm and make the reader feel like you’re reading from a notebook that a friend passed over. Swifties have been combing through lyrics and liner notes since Taylor has been writing songs, and I’ve been a fan from the beginning so it was nice to see a “professional’s” take on this…to have the right words for some of what I’ve noticed in her writing. My only complaint is that there are a couple of instances in here where I disagree with the author’s interpretation because it goes against things that Taylor herself has said.

This book leans more toward literary analysis and poetic techniques than the juicy parts of the songs. I can absolutely say that the whole book opened up a new world for me, and it will probably change the way I analyze songs forever. I also really liked the format of the book. It was so cool to read handwritten-style notes right next to the lyrics, and the analysis of each song neatly summed things up in a concise and thoughtful way.

While I enjoyed the book, I think those with a deeper interest in literary techniques than me will get the most out of it.

I've always known there was more to Taylor's music but I could rarely every put it into words. Reading the details and explanations of the why's and what's through out the lyrics of her music bring out another side to her story. I know this just scratched the surface of her discography but I loved every second of it!

This was such a fun read for a swiftie! I loved the analysis of her lyrics! Makes you think a little more when you listen to her music!

Book 197

Stars Around My Scars by Dr. Elly McCausland

ARC Review - release date January 28, 2025

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to Dr. Elly McCausland, Andrews McMeel Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of Stars Around My Scars in exchange for an honest review.

As a Swiftie and a lover of reading poetry, this book was a perfect combination of my interests! Poetry analysis has never been a subject I enjoyed but through this book I learned so much about literary techniques and poetry construction. It helps that I already knew all of the songs that were analyzed!

I appreciate that there are songs from each of Taylor Swift's eras to show the long history of thought and story telling that goes into her music! Additionally, I loved that Dr. McCausland made it a point to state that the songs were picked and analyzed based on their universally applicable themes and didn't speculate on who the song might be about.

My biggest issue with the book has to do with styling. All of the songs have in text "handwritten" analysis. Some songs have purple boxes within to analyze themes as the poem goes on. Others have the analysis after the poem. I like the in text purple boxes more!

Overall, this is a 4 star read for me!

#scarsaroundmystars #netgalley #books #reading #taylorswift #poetry #nonfiction #andrewsmcmeel

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

For fans who want to learn everything they can about Swifts writing, who want to delve into her lyrics and poetry and examine it from every angle! This book feels like a good jumping off point for new fans and a nice analytical read for Swifties who have been listening for a while.

The formatting is really nice and I like how much effort the author has obviously put into the book. It feels like a passion project and the handwritten font feels like we've just been given a journal of the authors thoughts. The fonts and illustrations all feel like they belong and the "English Literature (Taylor's Version) is a nice touch.

I do wish the color of the annotations matched the eras. Staying purple throughout is a bit of a missed opportunity. I have my own ideas about the lyrics but comparing and contrasting with what the author presents was really nice and the experience was enjoyable.

A really fascinating look at Taylor’s work as a lyricist for both diehard fans as well as for those who question the recognition and praise she continues to receive. A must read for anyone who has been touched by Taylor’s music.

As an avid Taylor Swift fan, lover of literature, and songwriter myself I adored this book. It was a delight to see the author dive into Taylor's lyrics, zooming in to examine the implications of a specific word or image and then zooming out to draw parallels in other parts of the song or in her discography. Taylor Swift's artistry is fully appreciated in this book. It intentionally doesn't get bogged down in speculation about possible sources of inspiration. Rather it encourages us to really look at the text and glean all we can from what is communicated and how it's phrased. I particularly enjoyed the discussion of some of her more ambiguous songs like hoax. The imagery in that song is vivid and complex and I so appreciated that it was one of the songs selected to be a part of this collection. Despite having been a fan of Taylor's for fourteen years now, this author got me to look at some of these songs in a new light. I had a wonderful time with this book and I will definitely be returning to it in the future because like Swift herself I'm such a nerd about analyzing how language is used. This is a great read for new and old Taylor Swift fans alike!

That was fantastic! I flew through this book in less than two hours. My throat's sore from singing (or trying to) along as I read.
I had the time of my life fighting dragons with you!!!!

Thank you so much, for the ARC!

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.

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.

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!

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.

“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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

The thing (among many) I love most about Taylor Swift is her writing, so this book was beyond interesting to me. I absolutely loved how the author annotated the different song lyrics (poems) and broke down the words and their meanings. I couldn't even begin to tell you lyrics from other artists, but when it comes to Taylor Swift, learning what the songs are about is one of my favorite parts of being a Swiftie. Stars Around My Scars is a must read for fellow Swifties. Exactly what we need as we mourn the end of the Eras tour.

Thank you to the publisher, author and Net Galley for a copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. As a new-ish Swiftie who is the best friend of a veteran Swiftie, I thought this book was a great intro for fans new and old to the lyrics and meaning for Taylor's songs. Beautifully put together, and would make a great gift!

Stars Around My Scars is such an enjoyable dive into each of the eras of Taylor Swift to take a close look at the lyrics to beloved songs from each. I had so much fun diving into this and thinking critically about lyrics and their various interpretations from a literary standpoint.

This book is a must have for all your favorite Swifties!!

I would like to thank Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was such a great book. Elly McCausland breaks down different songs Taylor Swift wrote and gives an "insight" into the writing. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If my English classes in school were annotating and breaking down Taylor Swift’s songs, I feel like I would’ve had way more fun. This was so interesting to read and I typically steer well-clear of non-fiction as it can’t hold my attention.

I’m one of those people that can’t identify or understand words the first handful of times when listening to a song, so this was extremely helpful in dissecting lyrics from some of Taylor Swift’s songs (how did I never realize Ivy was about an affair????).

This book also proves that Taylor Swift is much smarter than the general public gives her credit for, because she utilizes SO MANY tools of poetry to write. I think this could be a huge reason why her music is so popular, it is intelligently and intentionally written to invoke thoughts or feelings from the listener.

This was fun and I enjoyed being able to sing along to the songs in my head and learn more. So good.

Taylor is an incredible lyricist and I absolutely loved this deep dive into her words. She is incredible and I recommend this to every Taylor fan!!

As a Swiftie and language student it´s really interesting to see how other people interpret the metaphors, imagery, word play and other figures of speech. It´s also fair to mention that you do not need to be an expert in Taylor´s songs or have studied language on a deep level because the glosary at the end makes it easy to understand some terms.
I loved it!

ugh i loved reading about the metaphors. it's also very visually intriguing which i loved, with summaries to your favourite songs at the end. it ate fr. all my swiftes need to read asap!!

This was such an interesting read! I enjoyed seeing how someone with an educational background broke down Taylor's songs like poems.

I gave it four stars because as in-depth of a read as this is, it's not Taylor giving us the real scoop - just someone's opinion.

This book was a really fun way to go about making learning enjoyable. I often find myself passively listening to music. This book reminded me that there can be plenty of depth to things that have become less active in our lives.

The annotation style made it easy to follow the authors train of thought. Comments were kept concise to create a keen understanding of what themes/writing techniques each song utilized.

I very much appreciate the text that appeared after a breakdown of what the author found in the composition.

A quick, fun read. Especially for Taylor Swift fans. Bonus : fun for English majors.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc!

As a big Taylor fan, I really enjoyed this book. The way it breaks down the lyrics and dives deep into the poetic meanings behind her songs is fascinating. I loved how it highlights recurring themes and literary references in her work.

Even though I was already familiar with many of her lyrics, the annotations and analysis offered a fresh perspective that made me appreciate her songwriting skills even more. This book is perfect for any Swiftie looking to explore her music on a deeper level.

A great read for fans of her music and anyone who loves literary analysis. Highly recommended if you want to understand more about the art behind her songs.

Perfect book for fellow Swifties!! Loved the deep dive into some of her popular songs.

Must have book for any Swiftie bookshelf.

Stars Around My Scars by Elly McCausland is out January 28, 2025. Thanks NetGalley for the early viewing.

i really enjoyed this book!! i love the artistic interpretations of some of taylor’s songs across all eras. it was cool how it was set up, with a font that looks like handwritten note annotating the song lyrics. i also enjoyed that there was a general wrap up of each song at the end. very cool idea for a book!

This book took such an interesting deep dive into all of Taylor Swift’s songs. It includes both a detailed line-by-line analysis as well as an overarching analysis for each song. The author noted connections between songs that I never noticed. A great read for any Swifties!

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book!

This was such an interesting deep dive into the poetry of Taylor Swift. As a huge Swiftie, I thoroughly enjoyed the different annotations and takes on lyrics as well as insights into the songs. This is a must read for any poetry, english loving Swiftie as I feel like I have a deeper understanding of some of her most hard hitting songs after completing this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for this E-Galley in exchange for my honest review.

As a Swiftie who has been there since debut I loved this book and would recommend it to all Swifties it's a great read.

Calling all swifties! Run don't walk to read this book!

The layout of this book is stunning! I loved how the author annotated the lyrics and then gave an explanation. It is a great look into the song writing process and how it all ties together. It was also nice to revisit songs from all the eras! I would love to own a physical version of this book because of the beautiful pages. I also love that it goes all the way through the TTPD.

If you're a swiftie definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to Elly McCausland, Andrews McMeel Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was really good. For anyone interested in poetry analysis, as well as a broad overview of Taylor Swift‘s catalog, definitely fascinating.
Also good to have for that inevitable comment about Taylor Swift‘s songs being „badly written“ and „only about breakups“!
Might also be something for English teachers to have a look at and consider using her music for class!

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved the concept behind this book! The premise was so unique, and the execution completely delivered. The writing style was captivating, especially with the notes in the margins, which added such a creative layer to the storytelling. It felt like I was unraveling a mystery in real-time, and it made the reading experience so immersive.

This book made me feel like a full-blown Taylor Swift conspiracy theorist—connecting the dots, analyzing every word, and questioning everything. I was constantly second-guessing myself, and I loved every second of it. If you’re a fan of clever, interactive storytelling, this one is an absolute must-read!

Five stars!

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.

I didn’t know I needed this in my life. 5 stars. No notes.

**I received this advance copy free from Andrews McMeel Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

"Stars Around My Scars* is an entertaining and enlightening deep dive into Taylor Swift’s lyrics, blending academia and fandom in a way that feels both personal and profound. Presented with annotated songs styled like handwritten notebook pages, followed by detailed recaps, this book feels like being back at university, studying texts with all the joy and heartbreak they bring.

As someone who has studied Swift’s music for my Honours and Master’s degrees in Music, I adored discovering the interconnections between songs across her discography and brushing up on technical terms (the glossary was *Perfectly Fine*). Dr. McCausland’s insightful analyses of Taylor’s lyrics as literary texts illuminate so much about her songwriting craft. While some interpretations felt speculative, that’s the magic of analysing art—Swift’s lyrics resonate differently for everyone, and their openness invites discussion.

The conclusion serves as a beautiful reminder: these songs are ours now, and how we relate to them is just as important as what Taylor might have intended. This book is a must-read for Swifties who want to connect the *Invisible String* of Taylor’s storytelling with her poetic brilliance. I’ll definitely be buying a physical copy to annotate, because this is one love story worth underlining.

As a Swiftie, this book intrigued me. Dr. E. McCausland, a professor of literature in Belgium, has become known for her class in “Swiftature”. She takes the lyrics of popular songs by Taylor Swift and examines them from a literary point of view. One of the biggest (and most untrue in my opinion) complaints about Swift’s music is that “she only writes songs about her exes”. McCausland takes that argument and proves why it is wrong.

You do not have to be a Swiftie to understand this book! That being said, this is not a sit-down and read-for-fun book. This is a book I would (and probably will) get for one of the following reasons: 1. I’m going to read and discuss/annotate with my Swiftie friends. 2. To use in class as a teacher. Or 3. To add to my collection of Taylor Swift-related books.


Most of the annotations in the book talk about the literary structures of the lyrics and how they are used to convey meaning/ express feelings and tell a story. Many of the explanations she gives really opened my eyes to better understand how Blondie is able to pack such a punch into some of her most devastating songs. While I didn’t always agree with the conclusions made by Dr. McCausland, I found myself wanting to discuss the ideas and add my annotations. For this reason, I would not buy this as an e-book. I need the physical book so I can add my own thoughts and conclusions.

This book would be perfect for a Swiftie book club.

Taylor Swift is a cultural phenomenon and with her Eras Tour ending in a few days, there have been many products and hype to keep the flames going. The argument of whether or not she is a poet is explained very well and there are depths to her songs that continue through her discography. I liked the design and layout, and how the author chose select songs. I learnt a lot about poetry in general just by reading this and I’m sure fans who study this book will find new meaning in the songs they’ve known for years.

Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Is Taylor Swift a Poet?
I'd say yes, absolutely!
Imagine her on stage without the band, the flashy clothes and no guitar or singing. Instead she is standing on stage speaking her lyrics into the microphone while a crowd of aspiring poets and English literature students are staring at her intently hanging on to her every word and feeling the emotion in her voice.
I think if Taylor Swift didn't go down the musical path she would have become a very successful literary writer and poet. Maybe she would be the Emily Dickenson of today. Maybe she already is!

The author is a professor teaching a course she created called English Literature Taylor's Version at Ghent University, she offers her insights into the meaning of Taylor's lyrics and how they are inspired by other great works of literature that Ms Swift is clearly a fan of.
I particularly enjoyed the author's notes and annotations circle words and including her thoughts as an English professor.
Some may not agree with her ideas, however as she clearly states in the Introduction to the book that's okay, everyone has their own thoughts and opinions, only Taylor Swift knows the true meaning to the words she wrote.

Overall this is a valuable piece of work for Swifties and literature and poetry lovers and students

Taylor Swift’s music is full of metaphors and imagery, and it was really interesting to read the author’s interpretation of the lyrics’ meaning. Of course, listening to music is subjective, and people interpret meanings in different ways.

I enjoyed the stylistic choices in how the notes were presented in the book. They looked like handwritten notes with circled words, underlining, etc. It almost felt like reading someone’s personal notebook.

The glossary at the end was helpful because I wasn’t familiar with all the terminology the author used.

If you’re a Swiftie who enjoys analyzing and exploring the meaning and message behind Taylor Swift’s lyrics, I highly recommend checking out this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the Advanced Reader Copy! First off I love this concept. Breaking down the best lyrics written by Taylor and can see this being picked up by huge fans or those who want to know more about her. I enjoyed the analysis parts more when they were broken up throughout the lyric pages, rather than after each song. It would be fun to see this collection grow adding different songs from each era. I would definitely recommend this book to other fans of Taylor!

Stars Around My Scars analyzes the oeuvre of Taylor Swift. Picking songs from every album she has ever published, McCauseland shows us a peak behind the curtain of Swift's literary genius.

This book was a very interesting read. As a casual Taylor Swift fan and a lover of poetry, McCauseland offers a great intersection for these two to meet. I learnt something new about Swift's history and view on the world via the analysis of some her songs. This gave new meaning to old familiars.

The only thing missing from this analysis is a more overarching analysis per album. That would have added some extra depth for those less familiar with Swift's oeuvre. I would have also liked to see McCauseland go even deeper with her analysis, with some of the literary references for example. But that is probably a very personal preference.

The format for this book with the “notes scribbled in the margins” style feels very Taylor, fun and dynamic. I also really enjoyed how different songs and albums got linked with the analysis of different songs throughout the book.

I would suggest listening to a particular song covered in this book, before or during reading the analysis of said song (unless you know it by heart of course!). As not only the text, but also the recitation is often referenced. This book works particularly well as reference material to peruse a few songs at a time, or as a coffee book to leave through at your leisure.

I will read anything that will show respect to Taylor's work like this did. I really enjoyed looking at all the amazing details in Taylor's writing and all the songs I love.

Stars Around My Scars would be a great book for poem lovers, Swifties and readers that want to dive deeper into the meaning and interpretation behind some of Taylor Swift's songs. It show cases how Swift does not just write romance songs, but lyrics with deeper meanings behind them in songs like "My Tears Ricochet," "Marjorie," "Innocent," and more.

I want to first say to the designer of the interior (font, graphics, etc) "BRAVO!". I thought the interior of this book was done so well from a visual prospective.

I am a Swifitie and was lucky enough to attend the Eras tour (LA N1!) and I post book recommendations based on TS songs. I am the intended audience for this book and truly enjoyed the annotations of selected songs. I appreciate the inclusion of a glossary in the back for literary terms that have not stuck with me these many years after AP Lit. It was so interesting to read some of the different interpretations of these lyrics and I enjoyed the authors inclusion of fan theories. The conclusion is so accurate that these songs meanings will continue to evolve over time as listeners continue to form personal connections to the lyrics.

Review on YouTube will go live Sunday before publication

this is such a clever intake on taylor's lyrcis, i loved it! i always wanted to read something that helps break down her songs/lyrics for my book page and even when reading, i love to have her music in the background to help me fully understand the characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrews McMeel Publishing for my arc in exchange for my unbiased opinion!

So, as a PhD student whose future dissertation topic involves linking contemporary music to classic works of literature and as a Swiftie, this book seemed perfect for me! Granted, there were a couple similar books that I read arcs of earlier this year and they left me with a suspicious taste in my mouth because those were what I thought to be not just lazy scholarship but lazy writing.

I was proved wrong by Dr. Elly McCausland!

“Stars Around My Scars” is a wonderful introduction not just to “Swifterature,” but to literary analysis! McCausland does a brilliant job of introducing what this book is and who this book is for and honestly, I think she accomplished what she set out to do with this. Not surprising considering she’s one of the leading scholars of using Swift’s music as a gateway to literature and literary analysis (literally what I’m planning on doing in my work, except my dissertation is focused on The Beach Boys).

I loved how there’s marginalia for each song she’s chosen from each era. It really is a bitesize poetry course and as poetry isn’t my strong suit, I appreciated the poetic terms glossary in the back. Genuinely, this was also just such a fun read and gave me new ways of listening to the songs she chose.

I wish I could take her class or work with her as a research assistant because I loved this so much.

Would recommend for anybody!

Out of all the recent books — from major publishers nonetheless — to analyze Taylor Swift, this one is the most necessary/the only one that actually merits existing (beyond just capitalizing on Taylor Swift’s pull).

The author knows exactly what kind of book this is, an analysis of select works from Taylor’s discography as text. She puts in thought dissecting and finding the literary devices in the lyrics. The format of the book* allows the reader to understand not just poetic and literary devices in each verse, but why it’s used and how it serves each song as a whole.

She takes the task of explaining the text seriously, but also understands that she is working with artefacts from pop culture. That is refreshing, normally with this kind of thing the person behind it takes themselves too seriously and the campy novelty becomes wince-inducing really quickly. The author navigates that thin line really well.

She uses her expertise in literature to give juuuust enough context to each device and a sprinkle of literature references embedded in the work (and she uses her encyclopedia Swiftie ** knowledge to link it back to Taylor’s music). The reader gains an appreciation of Taylor’s talent, AND a greater appreciation of poetry and literature that now seems 10% more accessible.

*One thing I really liked, was the choice to explain the work with “pen” annotations. Apart from the cute note-taking aesthetic it makes literary concepts digestible to the reader. The choice also shows awareness of the work she’s analyzing.
**I found out about the book from the blog of the Taylor Swift literature course the author runs in Belgium. I also recommend looking up the blog, it’s the best of all the “Taylor Swift is taught in college”-type courses.

Note: Even though I got this book as an ARC preview in exchange for an honest review (thank you to the good people at #NetGalley and Andrews McMeel publishing), I will be buying it to have on my bookshelf. I am curious what the parts with “pen” look like in print.

Thanks to netgalley for approving me for an early ebook copy. As a Swiftie, I will jump at the chance to read about Taylor Swift. However, while I read into the lyrics as much as the next listener, I do not go quite so in depth as Dr. McCausland does in her writing. This book does such a good job at reading into the lyrics from throughout her career, and giving the average listener (like me) a deeper insight to potential theories as to what her songs are about, as well as literary terms that are present in the lyrics. The annotations included throughout with the song lyrics give specific and guided details to each line of the selected songs, and the following explanation to her annotations gives the reader a better understanding of each marked observation. I honestly wish this book contained every song of Swift’s, however large that would make the manuscript, because I found it very intriguing and would love to get Dr. McCausland’s opinion and insight into more of my favourites. I highly recommend this book to every Swiftie.

First of all, Thank You Netgalley for the ARC granted to me. This book was a great surprise to my tbr. Alltough I' m not a swiftie , I appreciate Taylor's ability to write songs that connects with the audience with ease. And the author has built an incredible estrategy with dots connected to the lyric and possible meaning and(or) literary references in them. The visual design of the book is another right choice, with purple mixed with a sofisticated gray tone,all that added to vectors so the readers can relate from each Taylors' albums era song is being analyzed at that time.Pretty enjoyable and easy to read. To the fans, and enthusiasts of music, this book is a good pick!

Anything Taylor swift and you’ll find me there. I really enjoyed looking into some of Taylor’s songs a little deeper. Annotations were super helpful and I liked the style of it feeling like someone had written over my own personal copy.
Thank you!

I was really big into Taylor Swift when she first debuted in the country music industry. Throughout this book, I really enjoyed seeing the progression of her themes, passion, and music in general from where she started to where she is now. When listening to music, I tend to gravitate toward songs with a lot of meaning behind them. I've enjoyed Swift's music throughout the years, but honestly, McCausland just gave me a deeper appreciation of Swift as a writer and a woman, more than just an artist.

The book is broken up into parts, representing specific albums Swift has produced. McCausland took a deep dive into 2-4 songs per album, and it was nice that most of them were her most popular songs! I really liked that this had a "diary" aspect to it for the authors annotations. Each song had printed lyrics on the page, but the authors annotations were written on the page, truly giving the reader an "annotated" copy of Swifts songs.

I also really appreciated the glossary of literary terms at the end of the book. This wasn't too helpful in the e-pub file, but would be super helpful for readers that go through the book physically. This was another aspect of the authors work that makes the reader appreciate the amount of effort and research that went into publishing this.


Thank you NetGalley for a free e-pub of this in exchange for an honest review!

*Stars Around My Scars* by Dr. McCausland is a deep dive into the poetic brilliance of Taylor Swift’s songwriting. With each song, McCausland offers a close reading of the lyrics, highlighting poetic techniques, literary references, and thematic throughlines that weave throughout Swift’s discography. The book not only analyzes the craftsmanship behind the music but also uncovers the deeper meanings and literary connections that make her work stand out. Written for Swifties of all ages, this book elevates Taylor Swift’s lyrics to the level of poetry, showcasing her as a defining writer of this generation.

As a swiftie I LOVED this! I loved taking a dive into her lyrics (which all of us swifties dice deep into anyway)This is a must for any swiftie or fans of her writing.

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.

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

4/5
A good book for any Swiftie you know. The author delves into the deeper meanings behind a number of Taylor's songs. I also like the fact that the author didn't speculate about who the songs may be about (except for some obvious ones like Marjorie). The only thing I didn't like was that some of the writing felt really squished when trying to read it. Maybe it will be easier to read with a physical book as opposed to an eBook.

This is the book for the Swifties! I had a marvelous time reading about my favorite lyrics. I feel like this is a book I will reread many times just like I continuously listen to the music and each time I’ll notice something new that blows my mind! I 100% recommend this to Taylor fans, especially those who are fascinated by the poet that is Miss Americania herself! Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and the publisher for the ARC!!

I already knew Taylor was a lyrical Mastermind, but Elly McCausland's annotations really made me realize Taylor is a poet as well. The author chose a variety of songs from each album to annotate, pointing out the various poetic aspects to the lyrics.

Though I did enjoy this book, it did give me some minor flashbacks to my high school AP English days of over analyzing books read in class. I feel like the majority of the conclusions the author drew were valid, while others felt like a bit of a stretch. My main grievance with the book, though, is the varying layouts that the analyses were presented. Most songs were annotated and then an analysis summarizing the annotations was at the end. But there were a few songs where the analysis was written out and inserted within the lyrics. Not a huge deal overall, but it did feel a little jarring.

Is Taylor Swift a poet? Absolutely, she is!

I loved this book! As an over-analyzer myself, I’m always captivated by the way Taylor Swift weaves her stories into the world. But this book takes it to the next level.

It dives deep into the meaning behind the lyrics, unraveling the metaphors, symbolism, and Taylor’s artistic evolution over the years. The detailed analysis offers a richer understanding of her creative process and the layers within her songwriting.

If you’re passionate about music and poetry, this book is a must-read. And for Swifties? You definitely don’t want to miss it!

I took my sweet time, reading it two songs a day but it could have been a much faster read!

Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazing book, this is my honest review.

A very in depth look at some of Taylor's most poetic songs. As a huge swiftie ND someone who enjoys analyzing her songs, I really loved reading this. I didn't always agree with line interpretations, (which is probably what Taylor would want, us being able to interpret songs differently depending on our life experiences) but it was still so enjoyable to read. I especially enjoyed the Evermore and TTPD sections. Those songs are lyrical works of art.

As a book lover, english teacher and second language learner there's nothing I love more than learning about writing and meaning and significance in writing. Except of course, Taylor Swift.

Luckily for me, this book dives head first into Swift's writing in a deep analyis that scratches that good part of my brain that's reserved for poetry and academics.

In a very well thought and planned out path through Swift's discography, McCausland points and signals on the lyrics, marking the points of interest and the literary figures she employs. In a very swiftie style and with a pink pen, this points of interest make the experience of this song one even deeper.

This is the perfect book for every swiftie ♥

I really enjoyed this one. It was hard to put down. It kept me wanting more. The characters are amazing! And I love the title and the story line. Such an amazing book! I love tata

As a high school English teacher who frequently has her students break down music as poetry, this book was PERFECTION! McCausland's annotations of each song and the subsequent analysis is exactly the type of thing I get my students to do. I have so many students who are Swifities, so I will definitely NEED a copy of this for my classroom!

As a Taylor fan and lover of her lyrics, this was such an amazing book! I loved the break down, notes and potential meanings behind some of Taylor's best lyrics.

This was not quite what I expected but was an interesting read, and analysis of some of Taylor’s songs. I think it’s amazing that she is such a cultural phenomenon that there are actual college courses dedicated to her poetry. I liked that there was no mention or speculation about who the songs could be about and tied songs together in a way that I would not have thought of. Overall, if you’re looking for a deep dive into Taylor’s lyrics/poetry, t is the book for you.

This wasn't *exactly* what I was expecting but it was definitely interesting. Any Swiftie who also loves English or majored in English would appreciate this and it would make a great gift! I think I was hoping for a little bit more of a theoretical breakdown than the very literal one presented here (examples of alliteration, etc. annotated). Definitely still enjoyable and a good break from my usual reading!

Love love love love love this book!! It’s so so cool to see an in depth analysis of Taylor’s lyrics throughout the years!!!! Absolutely recommend this to every swiftie ever!!!

I cannot express how much I enjoyed this book and how much I look forward to having it on my personal shelf!

I, like most (if not all) Swifties, love reading into Taylor Swift's lyrics and picking apart her songs. As an English major, this task is even more fun when I'm able to identify literary figures of speech. This book combines those two loves perfectly.

From synecdoche to zeugma, Taylor Swift employs so many powerful devices to convey emotions through her music.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

Stars Around My Scars by Elly McCausland brilliantly highlights Taylor Swift’s songwriting as modern poetry. Through insightful annotations and literary analysis, McCausland showcases the depth, nuance, and artistry in Swift’s lyrics. Perfect for swifties - such as I - and literary enthusiasts alike, this book elevates Swift’s work and celebrates her storytelling prowess.