Taylor Swift’s reading list: 5 books that inspired one of music’s biggest storytellers

Taylor Swift is known for turning emotions, memories, and stories into chart-topping songs. But long before she became one of the biggest names in music, she was an avid reader who found inspiration in powerful books and unforgettable characters. From dystopian adventures and timeless classics to heartbreaking romances, the books Swift has praised over the years offer a fascinating glimpse into the stories that have shaped her imagination and creative voice.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

One of the books Taylor Swift has openly admired is The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Swift recalled reading the novel in just a couple of days after picking it up. What surprised her was the emotional depth of the story. While she initially expected an action-packed adventure, she found something far more moving. She noted that beneath the survival battles and suspense was an overwhelming sense of sadness and emotional complexity.

About The Hunger Games


Set in the dystopian nation of Panem, the novel follows Katniss Everdeen, a teenager forced to participate in a televised fight to the death known as the Hunger Games. The book explores themes of survival, sacrifice, inequality, and resistance, making it one of the most influential young adult novels of the 21st century.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Harper Lee's classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird also left a lasting impression on Swift. In a promotional interview for her record label Big Machine, she spoke about the power of storytelling and cited the novel as an example of a book that expands a reader's perspective. According to Swift, stories like Harper Lee's masterpiece make the world feel larger and encourage readers to think about deeper ideas and broader concepts.

About To Kill A Mockingbird

Published in 1960, the novel is narrated by Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in Alabama during the Great Depression. Through her father's defence of a Black man falsely accused of a crime, the story examines prejudice, justice, morality, and compassion. It remains one of the most widely read and celebrated works in American literature.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Taylor Swift's admiration for author John Green became well-known after the release of her album 1989. Green later wrote about listening to the album repeatedly, and Swift publicly responded by calling him her favourite author. That exchange highlighted her appreciation for Green's work, particularly The Fault In Our Stars, one of the most beloved contemporary novels of recent decades.

About The Fault In Our Stars

The novel follows Hazel Grace Lancaster and Augustus Waters, two teenagers who meet at a cancer support group and form a life-changing bond. Combining humour, heartbreak, and philosophical reflection, the story explores love, mortality, and what it means to leave a mark on the world.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Swift's appreciation for literature has also found its way into her songwriting. In the song This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things, she references the lavish world created by F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby. The song describes extravagant parties, endless champagne, and excess, before Swift directly alludes to the famous novel by describing that period as feeling very Gatsby-like.


About The Great Gatsby

Published in 1925, the novel tells the story of the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and his obsessive love for Daisy Buchanan. Set during the Roaring Twenties, it explores wealth, ambition, illusion, and the pursuit of the American Dream. Today, it is regarded as one of the greatest novels ever written.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Literary observers have often connected Swift's song Mad Woman to themes found in Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. The song's exploration of female anger, perception, and social judgment echoes ideas that appear throughout the classic novel. The connection becomes particularly striking through the character of Bertha Mason, the woman hidden away in Mr. Rochester's attic, whose story has long been discussed as a symbol of female suppression and misunderstood rage.

About Jane Eyre

First published in 1847, Jane Eyre follows the journey of its resilient heroine as she navigates hardship, independence, love, and self-respect. The novel remains a landmark work of English literature and is celebrated for its strong female protagonist and exploration of personal freedom.