Member Reviews
Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book!
This was a super cute, quick read that dives into the highlights of Taylor Swift’s career. It talks about major awards, milestones, inspirations, and her background. But like her, it is also fun and quirky discussing things like Easter Eggs, chants, zodiac signs, etc. The graphics were absolutely adorable. This was a very fun book that gives readers more insight into her life. As a Swiftie, I loved it and would recommend it to other readers!
Really cute illustrations in this. Goes through all the eras and is right up to date. Loads of information and perfectly laid out. Perfect gift for a Swiftie.
I thoroughly enjoyed "Taylor Swift is Life." This biography beautifully explores Taylor Swift's early years and career, making it a perfect gift for fellow Swifties. While I was familiar with much of the information, I had hoped for more actual photographs depicting her journey over the years. Nonetheless, the illustrations were phenomenal and added a perfect artistic touch. I appreciated the inclusion of Easter eggs and her discography, especially her recent album, The Tortured Poets Department which enriched the reading experience. I admired how the book focused on Taylor's positive aspects without succumbing to gossipy undertones.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for providing this advance copy.
As a fan of Tay Tay I knew I had to read this as soon as I saw it. There was so much information in this book I think it would be great for new swifties to read to learn more about her. The graphics were so cute and well done, giving it that pop of bedazzled any swiftie loves. Iconic outfits illustrated on the pages made it that much cooler. I learned new things I didn’t know before and enjoyed reading this one. It has a little bit of everything in there, even down to specific era information. If you are a fan, or even if you aren’t, and want to know more about Taylor, this is the book to read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced reader copy! I loved this. I have been the biggest fan of Taylor Swift since 2007. I really loved the album breakdowns and was so happy to see The Tortured Poets Department included. The A-Z section was also a fun read! Overall, my absolute favorite part was the artwork. It was STUNNING. Found myself saying "I would frame that" on nearly every page. I would definitely consider buying myself a copy upon release and would recommend this book to any Swifty.
I'm a true Swiftie, so I was excited to check out this book - it did not disappoint! There are some great illustrations, and there was a lot of in-depth info about her career and her music. I especially liked the breakdown of every single album (including info on her famous Track 5 selections), as well as the glossary of all the terms that have to do with her fandom. I'd definitely recommend this book for anyone who loves Taylor's music (or who wants to know more about why the Swifties are so obsessed!).
A perfect gift for every Taylor Swift fan in your life -- and for you, if you're a Swiftie too! Packed with info I didn't know before, beautifully designed, and ever compelling!
Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Kathleen Perricone for providing me with an ARC of this in exchange for an honest review.
I liked how this covered all of Taylor’s Discography as well as other parts of her life!
It taught me a few things I didn’t already know and thoroughly enjoyed it
As a Swiftie there was not much in this book that I didn't already know. I do think it would be a good guide for those less familiar with Taylor's life and work. I do think it is absolutely hilarious that the book will be out of date / inaccurate by the publication date due to the inclusion of speculation regarding The Tortured Poets Department (by time the time the book I published in July, TTPD will have been out for 3 months). The book was clearly written prior to the album's release and not updated because 1) it speculates the album will be entirely about Joe when TTPD is mostly about Matty Healy and 2) TTPD was a double album so The Anthology is not referenced at all essentially meaning an entire album that exists prior to publication is missing from the book. Additionally, there is some incorrect information in the book (things like saying "Mean" is about the haters in general when it was written specifically about Bob Lefsetz) and typos (ex. the Live from London was called City of Lover not City of Love). I did enjoy the illustrations throughout the books and recognized most of the looks.
I don't consider myself a Swiftie, but Taylor is definitely beautiful and fascinating. Honestly a large part of my desire to read Taylor Swift is Life was to determine what an Easter Egg was; yes, this book addresses that question.
I thought this book would be filled with photos of Taylor Swift; instead illustrator Adrian Valencia provides many illustrations that perfectly suit this book.
The book is around 160 pages, release date is July 16, 2024. I'm guessing that Swifties will snap up this book!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author Kathleen Perricone and Quarto Publishing for approving my request to review the advance read copy of Taylor Swift is Life in exchange for an honest review.
An excellent intro to all things Taylor Swift. While I doubt long time fans will find much within that they don't already know, this is a well-written summation of her career practically to date. It follows her from her childhood infatuation with all things music, from early songs to learning to play the guitar, through her days attending football games of the Kansas City Chiefs. Nothing salacious, it's focused on positives, not gossip. While relatively short, it touches on the various "eras" in her life, discussing each in a concise, straight-forward way. It manages to share a great deal of info while offering a good, concise read. Old fans will enjoy the memories while newer fans many discover aspects of her rise that they've yet to learn. The illustrations are simple yet convey much in their simplicity. All in all, nicely done.
I'm not going to share details but here are a few of the things that stuck with me. First, I obviously liked the book. While a relative late-comer to appreciating Swift, I found it an enjoyable read which went a long way toward showing her as a human being, not simply an untouchable icon. While obviously written by a fan, thus quite positive, the book focuses on facts as much as fan reactions. I liked that it gave her parents space for not only supporting their child's dreams but ultimately being willing to pick up their lives and move for her career. Swift would ultimately connect with a fledgling record label, actually one that sounds like it didn't much more exist than on paper at the time, showing again that there was something special about her. The fact she was willing to get down on the floor and help do the often tedious, messy, grunt work with the then small staff speaks volumes. I also smiled, remembering that the one thing I repeatedly hear from fans is that "She gets us" when it was noted that when fans sent messages it was usually Swift herself who responded rather than some faceless member of the team. Again, another reminder of the phenomenon that created the Swifties. They knew.
Bottom line, it was that sense of oneness with her fans, understanding what it was like to be the one bullied and shunned as a teen, then managing to put it into catchy melodies and words that won people over. As I type, she's touring in France, including songs from her latest Tortured Poets release, and a news release noted she made a point of speaking French to thank her audience. Personal touch. Anyway, while she's so prolific and quick that I doubt any book will ever quite capture her as she is at any given moment, this one does an excellent job of reminding old fans where it all started while sharing it all with new ones. Thanks #NetGalley and #QuartoPublishingGroup - #becker&morgan - #EpicInk for sharing this with me. As one who came to appreciate Taylor Swift rather late in the game, I enjoyed learning a few things I hadn't heard and having my sense of her genuine love of her music and fans reinforced.
This book celebrates Swift's influence and impact on pop culture, making it a must-read for Swifties of all ages.
As a dedicated Swiftie myself, I found 'Taylor Swift Is Life' to be a charming and comprehensive exploration of Swift's evolution as an artist, from her early beginnings to her chart-topping success. The inclusion of lesser-known facts and behind-the-scenes anecdotes adds depth to the narrative, allowing readers to gain new insights into Swift's creative process and inspirations.
One of the highlights of the book is its delightful illustrations, which add a whimsical touch to the storytelling. Whether you're a new fan or a longtime admirer of Swift's music, you'll appreciate the colorful artwork that brings her songs and lyrics to life on the page.
Overall, 'Taylor Swift Is Life' is a fun and engaging read that celebrates the magic of Taylor Swift's music. Whether you're flipping through the pages for the cute illustrations or diving deep into the stories behind the songs, this book is sure to delight fans of all ages. Thank you to Quartro Publishing Group for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Taylor Swift is Life by Kathleen Perricone is an amazing book! As a newer Swiftie, I wouldn't consider myself a super fan just yet. This book gave me all the information needed to catch up on the years of Taylor Swift's greatness I've missed. I loved learning about her early years and rise to fame, her transition from country to pop, the meaning behind song choice decisions, and how Taylor has expertly marketed herself and her music to fans. The vault tracks section was interesting because I was one of the millions of people who participated in solving the riddles that led to Taylor releasing songs from her vault. It's cool to know I was part of Taylor Swift's history. This was a fun read. I loved the illustrations. My favorite quote is, "No matter what you're dealing with, there's a good chance Taylor has a song to get you through it". Taylor truly is the voice of a generation. This book is highly recommended for seasoned Swifties and new fans alike.
As a self-professed Taylor Swift Superfan, this book is wonderful!!!! The illustrations are fantastic and the story is perfect- including everything a current swiftie may or may not know and everything a new swiftie would want to know about Taylor!
I will def be purchasing this for myself!!!!
Review of “Taylor Swift is Life”
4 ⭐️
What a gorgeous book!! I’d honestly LOVE to have a physical copy to display in my house. As a huge Swiftie, this obviously is exactly what I needed: the story of Taylor, with the most GORGEOUS illustrations. Like, seriously, the illustrations are absolutely stunning. Such talent, I can’t.
I also loved reading the story. Must say: as a real time Swiftie since 2011, there wasn’t much new information. I really already knew it all. But, that’s also on me. I think for either new Swifties, or people who are interested in Taylor’s story, this will be the perfect book to read.
A true recommendation! I’ll definitely see if this book is going to be available as a physical book where I live 💘
Taylor Swift is Life by Kathleen Perricone. This biography purports itself as "A Superfan's Guide to All Things We Love about Taylor Swift" and it definitely does just that! Separated into three parts, "The Making of a Mastermind", "Taylor-Made Music" and "Swiftology", this 159 page book covers all things readers need to know about Taylor Swift. Part 1 covers her early years, how she rose to fame, and her switch from country music to pop. Part 2 looks at her discography, going beyond just track titles, this is a much more indepth, including things like the meaning or "muse" behind particular songs, as well as a "Track 5" section for each album. Apparently the 5th song on all of her albums is the most vulnerable, so it is neat that the author chose to discuss that track on each album. The third and final section is sort of an A-Z of everything TS.
What I love about this book is that while it is likely written for teens or adults, it is clearly designed in a way that it is accessible and interesting to even the youngest of fans. With cute illustrations and a well-thought-out organization and theme-based sections, I could see my students enjoying this book, even if it is too challenging for them to read (at grade 2). I would recommend this book for tween and teen readers, but really any aged fan will enjoy this book!
A definite Swiftie Guide to all things Taylor Swift. This book gives an in depth timeline to not only the songs and performances but the background as to why Taylor Swift did what she did in the order that she did them in. Loved the intertwining of love, music and all things Taylor Swift.
Thank you Netgalley and publisher for this ARC!
I am a huge Swiftie! I will read anything and everything about Taylor! I enjoyed reading this book. I loved that it included all of her albums with the song tracks even TTPD! The pictures were cute.
As a Swiftie, I absolutely adored this book and love how it included TTPD and her relationship with Kelce. New fans and old will appreciate the journey through her musical career followed by the discography. My favorite part was the cute illustrations. I will be purchasing a copy for my daughter and my library. I already know that this will not stay on the shelves.
I don’t consider myself a big swiftie but I have listened to some of her music throughout the years.
I learned so much from this book! It is incredible to learn how much thought and planning Taylor puts into her music. She is truly a mastermind! I definitely respect her more as an artist now. I found the Discography to be helpful especially in learning the stories behind the album covers and meaning behind the songs. I loved the illustrations and my favorites have to be the outfits she wore for the Eras Tour.
I feel like both new and big swifties could really enjoy this book.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for proving this e-ARC.