Ehh not my favorite but maybe I’ve just read too many about Taylor Swift. If you are a Swiftie you probably know a lot of this stuff. But this is a good read for someone just starting their love of TS.

This book was amateur and it very biased as far as its opinions. For the author to presume which Swift songs are the best and which are so-so does not make Nickells look too bright. Also going through her songbook and analyzing each song based in his own thought gave me a sour taste while reading this. Who the heck is this guy to say how fans feel about Taylor's song-writing? Who is he to say which songs are enjoyed more?

This is not what I expected when reading this. Cannot recommend. I would not read anything from this author because of one-sided opinions (obviously author's own). DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS.

THanks to Netgalley, the author and Pen & Sword White Owl for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

4 ⭐️

This is definitely not a book to read when you’ve never heard of Taylor Swift. As in, it won’t tell you all about the number 13, Eras Tour or her cats.

I, as a hardcore years-long Swiftie, however, loved this book so much. There’s so much depth to this, there’s such a wonderfully done linguistic analysis and as a language junkie, I loved reading this. I love Taylor Swift’s lyrics, they speak to me on a whole other level, and to see the way this book analysed them, was something I really appreciated.

This book definitely feels like a study book sometimes, so don’t go in expecting a fluffy and cute story about Taylor Swift. For me, however, the way this was done made it so interesting. With a history in language studies, this felt like the studybook I never knew I really needed.

Definitely a book for adults, definitely something worth reading. For me it was even better, because I read it leading up to going to my last Eras Tour show 🫶🏼

I give this book 3.5 stars. have always liked Taylor Swift. I am gen X so I am too old to be a Swiftie. I have always liked and admired her. I got a free ebook from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. I got this book from a "wish" on Netgalley.

I really like non fiction. I was excited to read this book. It took me so long to read this book. The book is about analyzing Taylor Swift's lyrics. That is something difficult to make interesting.

I don't like to DNF books. I trudged along with this book. I could usually only read a few pages at a time. It's hard to keep reading the book when page after page is about lyrics. The last chapter was better because it was about the future of Taylor ( and not lyrics).

The book felt like something you might read in a college class. At times, I did want to sing the lyrics that were quoted. Analyzing every line in her songs took out the fun for me.

The chapters were long. The chapters were separated into lyrics or topics on her songs. Luckily, these subsections were only a page ( and sometimes less).

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for allowing me to read this book. Yes, I will always be a Taylor Swift fan.

My daughter is a huge Swiftie and often explains the lyrics to me and any references in them that aren’t always obvious. I saw this book and decided I had to read it and then I could discuss some of the things in it with her.


I found this book to be very interesting and engaging. The author clearly admires Taylor Swifts talent as both a lyricist and songwriter and as a business woman.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a HUGE Swiftie this was a fun read. I loved getting more in depth about her and her career. Enjoyable.

Good book! Enjoyable read! As a swifitie, it’s always fun to learn more about the Queen herself! Highly recommend!

Listening to "Karma" on repeat as I write this, I have to say *Taylor Swift for Adults: Taking Swift Seriously* is an absolute delight! Kev Nickells has penned a tantalizing opening salvo in the fascinating field of Swiftology – the academic study of Taylor Swift's lyrical genius.

For too long, Taylor’s talent as a lyricist has been overshadowed by the media’s obsession with her personal life. But Swifties know better, and now this book makes the case to the non-believers. Nickells dives deep into Taylor's discography, examining her ten albums with meticulous care. He isolates the tropes, patterns, and styles that make her a beloved lyricist for millions. The book gives shape to arguments that have floated around online forums and YouTube comments for years – finally, someone takes Taylor’s lyrics as seriously as they deserve.

What sets this book apart is its perfect balance of scholarly analysis and light-hearted wit. It’s a serious study, but far from being a boring, dry read. Nickells injects humor and fun, making the exploration of Taylor's poetic scansion, flow, and form both engaging and accessible. The book doesn’t shy away from the cheeky side of Taylor’s lyrics, acknowledging her playful use of swearwords and sex metaphors, which adds a delightful edge.

This is not just for the die-hard Swifties; it’s for anyone who appreciates the craft of songwriting and wants to understand why Taylor Swift stands out as a lyrical genius. It’s the perfect blend of intellect and entertainment – a must-read for adults who want to take Swift seriously without losing their sense of fun.

I enjoyed this book so much that I'm eager to see what Nickells tackles next. If you're looking for a gift for a Swiftie or simply want to dive deeper into the artistry of one of our generation's greatest songwriters, *Taylor Swift for Adults: Taking Swift Seriously* is the book for you. Highly recommended!

I really enjoyed this one! Big Taylor Swift fan and too obvious that I wanted to know and read more about her. I thought that this book would be more facts and information, I like that it was more personal. It felt more intimate and like it really comes from Taylor*s life.

What an incredible dive into the life and world of Taylor Swift. I have never been a huge fan, but this makes me love her just so much more. I am a Google fanatic constantly looking up facts and questions that randomly come to mind, so being able to learn about this artist was so fun!

Diving into her music analysis was also extremely interesting and entertaining.

Thank you for granting my wish!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6637679615?book_show_action=false

Love this book! What a great overview of Taylor Swift's triumphant career. Recommend to anyone who wants to learn more about her!

This book is highly quotable and inherently poetic, with sentences that dazzle and commentary that does justice to the storyteller behind the superstar.

[I’ll preface this review by saying that I am absolutely the target audience for a book like this: an academic Swiftie with a music background.]

Taylor Swift for Adults reads like something you might find in a literary journal - though the tone is more punchy and less formal (and I think more accessible/enjoyable because of that).

Beautifully written.

Sharply argued.

It’s bold to, as the subtitle suggests, “take Swift [this] seriously.” What Nickells attempts is a tall order for Swift’s contemporaries (especially during the Eras Tour "era"): to study Swift out of context. To refuse to let media and fans create a version of Swift or influence how we read her. Instead, Nickells wants to quiet the noise around Swift’s personal life and professional presence and study the lyrics Roland Barthes style.

I think a book like this—a field of academic discourse like what Nickells terms “Swiftology” — was inevitable.

Someone had to say it. To try it.

And I really enjoyed reading it. (Also, I’d attend this conference panel.)

In what its author terms an “academic first draft,” Taylor Swift for Adults tackles many, many topics/songs/themes - and it does so very quickly, which may be problematic for some. But, ultimately, it starts a conversation we’re invited to continue.

Taylor Swift for Adults casts a wide net, to be sure. But in so doing, it creates space for continued discourse in nearly every direction.

Did I agree with every reading of Swift’s lyrics here? No. But I found myself wanting to sit down and write after reading this, and for the first time since joining NetGalley, had more to say than word count allowed on some platforms. And that is the five-star energy.

A deep dive into Taylor's songs & lyrics - a great book for the hardcore swifties! An impressive analysis of Swift's discography and songs - well done.

Lots of information in this book! I enjoyed and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about Taylor Swift. Thank you for the early access!

Thank you so much for granting my wish :)
This book is perfect for Swifties like me! Even if you're not a swiftie, this is a great look into the songwriting and art which Taylor puts out - explaining the meaning behind lyrics and how songs are developed. I also like that it isn't focussed on 'who' the song may be about, this is focussed on the actual writing and the meaning behind the lyrics.

If you are a Swiftie or at least admire Taylor Swift’s musical genius, then you will enjoy this book. It delves into a thorough discussion of her music, breaking down her lyrics over the years in a comprehensive study. The author is very thorough. If you’re wanting more on Taylor’s personal life, then that is not what this book is for. Perfect for any Swift fan!

The author very much wants you to know that they are British, and that they know more about what America than Americans. If you know a lot about music production, you may like this. If you get annoyed by authors who try to convince you of their spectacular insights by using "it's worth noting" every few paragraphs and making "amusing" asides that allow him to make degrading slurs against women, then this book is for you.

This is such a fun book for the casual Taylor Swift fan. It removes the artist's personal life from the music and examines the lyrics from a technical standpoint. There's no lore to know beforehand, it's just a casual fan's guide to the songs. I love it.

A fresh take on Taylor Swift and her music. If you’re looking for a celeb memoir or autobiography or the like, this isn’t it. I was a little bamboozled by the title and cover because I don’t believe it matches up well with what it truly is but I should have read the synopsis a little closer. The author apparently feels her life has been “covered to death” already. I’m a sucker for anything T Swift though and got too excited with that request button!

This reads like an academic opinion/theory piece and is heavily focused on analyzing the music itself. I would recommend to people who are formally trained or educated in music who can appreciate the points the author tries to make, which unfortunately isn’t me or most of Taylor Swift’s fan base.

Thank you for the opportunity to early read!

If you are looking for a book about Taylor’s life, drama, personal life, this is not the book for you!

I loved this so much! This was a deep dive into Taylor’s albums, song by song, interpreting them. I loved reading about my favorite songs. It was so refreshing to read a book about Taylor’s music, rather than just her personal life.