Yes, I’m a Midnights enthusiast, that I can confess. I’ve been living for the album since it came out on Oct. 21, and let’s just say I’ve been reevaluating my entire life since. Taylor Swift always knows how to hit the nail right on the head, but this album has really hit me to the core. It’s got me reminiscing on the past, and in particular, each song has reminded me of some of my favorite stories present in my favorite books.
That’s right, I’m a book lover as well, and I’m a sucker for a plot that can draw me in and make me feel all the feels. Like Swift’s music, some of my favorite books know how to evoke a vulnerability out of me, teaching me lessons I’ll carry on throughout life. With all this talk of Midnights and books, I’ve linked up each song from the album to some of my top book recommendations.
- “Lavender Haze”: Twisted Hate by Ana Huang
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Twisted Hate by Ana Huang, $15
Twisted Hate is the third book a part of Huang’s four-part Twisted book series (but you don’t need to read the first two to enjoy this one!). Each book follows one friend from a group of four girls navigating romantic relationships, or in this case, situationships. The enemies to lovers trope plays out seamlessly in Twisted Hate, and it reminds me of the “Lavender Haze” Swift talks about that comes over her all at once, leaving her dazed and in love.
- “Maroon”: All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
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All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, $8
Yes, I’m an All the Bright Places stan. In “Maroon,” it’s evident that Swift is thinking back on a past relationship with a lover she held close to her heart, which just makes me think of Theodore and Violet’s relationship present in the book. Charmed by young love, the two share a beautiful relationship, but eventually Violet is left with just the memories of her first love with Theodore. This book will leave you sobbing, FYI.
- “Anti-Hero”: Twisted Love by Ana Huang
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Twisted Love by Ana Huang, $12
OK, if you’ve read this book, then you know exactly why I’ve paired it up with “Anti-Hero.” To put it frankly, one of the main characters is an extremely gray anti-hero. Author Ana Huang quite literally places a warning at the beginning of the book cautioning readers about the intense anti-hero traits exhibited by the male lead of the book. It’s true — in this case, Alex from Twisted Love is definitely “the problem,” and it gets exhausting rooting for him at times.
- “Snow On The Beach”: The Mister by E L James
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E L James’ The Mister will take you for a ride, let’s just say that. It follows an aristocratic man, Maxim, as he falls in love with his maid, Alessia. The two steer through life’s harsh realities, while navigating a love that slowly builds and explodes all at once, which reminds me of “Snow On The Beach.” Like Swift in the track, Alessia contemplates if she could ever have a love with Maxim, quickly finding out that their relationship is more than they both could have ever imagined… kind of like seeing snow on the beach.
- “You’re On Your Own, Kid”: Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren
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Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren, $10
Love and Other Words follows a first love between two childhood friends and their second chance at rekindling their relationship. Of course, I had to unite this book with “You’re On Your Own, Kid,” which also yearns for what was and could have been.
- “Midnight Rain”: The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith
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The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith, $10
“Midnight Rain” is one of my favorite tracks from Midnights, and it reminds me of the story of main character Eden and basketball star Josh present in The Way I Used to Be. Struggling with deep traumas, Eden finds herself destroying her relationship with Josh, not able to give him exactly what he’s looking for at the time. Swift explains this sentiment perfectly in “Midnight Rain” when she sings, “‘Cause he was sunshine, I was midnight rain, he wanted it comfortable, I wanted that pain.”
- “Question…?”: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, $10
There’s no way that I couldn’t pair “Question…?” up with The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. If you haven’t heard, there’s a theory that this track might be about Swift’s secret *alleged* relationship with Karlie Kloss, and that just speaks to the story of Evelyn Hugo and Celia St. James. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you need to pick up this book, and then listen to “Question…?” again. Trust me, it will all make sense.
- “Vigilante Sh*t”: The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
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The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo, $14
Nghi Vo’s The Chosen and the Beautiful is a reimagined version of The Great Gatsby, a novel that I’m pretty sure we all had to read in high school. In Vo’s adaptation, though, readers are told the classic story through new friend Jordan Baker’s point of view, and it’s apparent that there’s a more raw and dark side to the original story we all know.
- “Bejeweled”: A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia
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A Hundred Other Girls by Iman Hariri-Kia, $14
Former Her Campus Deputy Editor Iman Hariri-Kia’s A Hundred Other Girls reminds me so much of Swift’s “Bejeweled.” The story’s main character Noora faces struggles in her work life (working for an editor at a top publication, might I add), constantly being reminded that there’s plenty other people who can do her job. However, Noora definitely comes into her own, realizing that she’s been sacrificing her own peace of mind for others. Noora is swiftly reminded of her light, just like Swift sings about in the lyrics to “Bejeweled.”
- “Labyrinth”: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
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It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, $10
I know, I know: Everyone knows and loves Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us. I strongly believe that the lyrics in “Labyrinth” could be applied to any part of Lily’s love life, whether we’re talking about her relationship with Atlas or Ryle. However, by the end of the book, I’m definitely going to have to say that “Labyrinth” is giving me second redemption vibes for Atlas, but I guess I’ll just have to see if that’s the case in the book’s sequel It Starts with Us.
- “Karma”: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid, $10
Malibu Rising is one of my most recent reads, and “Karma” instantly reminded me of the book’s main character Nina. Born to famous father Mick Riva (who makes a cameo in The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, BTW), the book follows the story of Nina and her siblings’ journey losing their mother and being neglected by their father. In the end, Nina really proves to herself that she’s stronger than she ever thought, and it’s obvious that karma definitely has her back by the end of the book.
- “Sweet Nothing”: It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover
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It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover, $13
As the sequel for It Ends with Us, It Starts with Us bounces back and forth between the perspective of Lily and Atlas, which gives me total “Sweet Nothing” vibes. I mean, come on: Swift and her boyfriend Joe Alwyn wrote this track together, and it talks all about loving someone for who they are, which immediately makes me think of Atlas’ kind nature.
- “Mastermind”: I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson
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I’ll Give You The Sun by Jandy Nelson, $8
Jandy Nelson’s I’ll Give You The Sun is full of way too many coincidental, connected happenings for me not to pair it up with “Mastermind.” This book jumps back and forth between the point of views of twins Jude and Noah, throughout different times in both of their lives. Long story short, almost every event in the book has a deeper link to another event than you might initially see, so of course it’s going to be coupled up with Swift’s “Mastermind.”
