Out of all the things, books and film included, that haven’t been able to happen in 2020, the last thing that I expected this year was a new Taylor Swift album! folklore is not my absolute favoriteeee Taylor Swift album… but that doesn’t mean I haven’t listened to it at every opportunity possible! I really do love its indie vibe, and I find that it makes for the perfect background music while I’m doing school work or blogging. Like every TSwift album, my top 3 favorite songs are always changing but my current three faves are “betty,” “illicit affairs,” and “august” (with “exile” and “invisible string” as a very close #4 & #5). I’m also going to be providing my thoughts on each song in the corresponding prompts!

This album has also caused me to fall into Taylor Swift Tik Toks – I especially love the ones focusing on the bridge of “betty” transitioning into the “All Too Well” bridge and the ones comparing life when Lover came out last August vs. pandemic life with folklore. I definitely relate to this last category so much, considering that when I did the Lover book tag last fall, I was starting my senior year of college, commuting to the city every week, and living with my best friends…. but at least we have folklore now to compliment all of our feels! I also admit that I came to close to hitting ‘submit order’ for the merch cardigan from the “cardigan” music video, but I’ve determined to find a lookalike! 

The folklore book tag was created by Ilsa of A Whisper of Ink, and I was tagged by Rebecca of bookishlyrebecca. I also want to shout out Erin from rin’s reads, where I first saw the tag and I love her graphics for each question! I also really loved Cristina from Girl in the Pages’ folklore-inspired post, where she paired books on her TBR with songs on the album!

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the one: a book with an ending that left you speechless

I’m going to go with a recent read of mine, Verity by Colleen Hoover. It’s been a while that I’ve read a book with an ending that still has me thinking about it and rethinking the book’s ending weeks later! 

song review: I think “the 1” is a strong first song, and it sort’ve reminds me of the vibes of Lover’s first song, “I Forgot That You Existed.”

cardigan: a book that makes you feel happy & sad at once

You’d Be Mine is so well-written and has such excellent relationship development, but both main characters have experienced a toss of loss and hardship. 

song review: “cardigan” has really grown on me as I listen more & more to folklore. I really enjoyed the music video! 

the last great american dynasty: a book with a fascinating & well-told story 

Sarah Hogle’s You Deserve Each Other is one of the most interesting and well-written contemporary romances I’ve read. It takes sarcasm and wit to a whole new level, and introduces an enemies-to-lovers trope I’ve never seen in romance: fiancés. 

song review: “the last great american dynasty” is so catchy, and I think it could make for an interesting story in a music video. 

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exile: a book you wish you hadn’t read 

This is another recent of mine, but I sort’ve wish I hadn’t been tempted by the hype train for Loveboat, Taipei. So many of my friends & fellow bloggers had enjoyed this one when it first came out in early 2020. I was so excited to read it because let’s be honest, I love any books following the glamorous lives of rich teens as this book takes place at a summer boarding program in Taiwan. However, the writing style made the main character and story feel immature, and I did not like the plot. 

song review: I really love almost all of Taylor Swift’s duets or collaborations, with “exile” as no exception. Like nearly every song on this album, such great lyrics and such a well-written story. 

my tears ricochet: a book that made you cry uncontrollably 

I feel like this book is my go-to answer for any question about a book that made me sob, but the last book that made me seriously need to grab tissues was Morgan Matson’s Second Chance Summer. The last book that did make tears come to my eyes was my reread of The Royal We because I had forgotten about a certain sad event (no spoilers). 

song review: I don’t have any necessarily strong feelings towards, “my tears ricochet,” but I do enjoy it! 

mirrorball: a book that feels like it was written for you

Marissa Kanter’s What I Like About You is such a love letter to any book blogger or bookworm. Her debut is seriously the most relatable YA book I’ve read all year. Through Halle, Marissa Kanter so perfectly captured many readers’ feels about books and the balance between reading, blogging, and life for many of us. 

song review: I didn’t love “mirrorball” when I first listened to it, but I admit it’s grown on me. 

seven: a childhood book that makes you nostalgic

I’ve talked a lot about Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series, but I also loved another series of hers, Main Street. I think I read this series in third and fourth grade after having devoured most of The Baby-Sitters Club. I’m pretty sure I did a book report on of the books! 

song review: “seven” is probably one of my most least-listened-to songs on the album. I enjoy it, but for some reason, I’m not super drawn to it and it sort’ve blends into the other songs. 

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august: a book that reminds me of summer

Everyone knows I read & love many summer contemporaries. Most of the books I associate with summer take place in the summer, while a few others I associate with the season because I read them during the season or on the beach. I’m going to go with every’s beach obsession this summer, Beach Read by Emily Henry (which I’ve just realized features a character with the same name as this song’s title!!). 

song review: I got more into “august” when august (the month) started and so many people had posted this song on their Instagram stories during the first weekend of the month. I think it’s the perfect song to put on while driving to the beach or around on a summer night. 

this is me trying: a book that deals with loneliness & sadness

I didn’t realize how many recent reads of mine I’d be sharing today, but All Adults Here by Emma Straub really examines one family’s reaction and life after a loss in their family ,and how they’ve individually dealt with it and their lives, together and apart. 

song review: I do like “this is me trying” a lot, and I think it’s very relatable for people who are struggling or who have struggled with relationships or break-ups. 

illicit affairs: a book that gave you a hangover

I don’t often get book hangovers, but a recent read that made me question what to read next was Robinne Lee’s The Idea of You. I think another romance read would’ve been my go-to, but this one was just so unique. 

song review: I only just realized this week that “illict affairs” had become on my favorite songs on the album. I love the lyrics!

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invisible string:  a book that came into your life at the right time

I feel like I should have a ‘deeper’ answer for this question, but I’m going with one of my early quarantine reads, The Selection by Kiera Cass – mostly for its great timing because I picked it up right when the Netflix adaptation was announced and I needed a light & fluffy series to read during stressful times. 

song review: “invisivble string” is probably the song I find myself unconsciously singing the most – I think the chorus is so catchy. 

mad woman: a book with a female character you adore

I’m fortunate enough to read a lot of books with a lot of amazing female characters, but a recent favorite of mine is Bea from The Royal We & The Heir Affair – I’d seriously read a spin-off novella or book about her because she has such an air of mystery.  

song review: I think “mad woman” is folklore’s version of “The Man.” It’s another cleverly written song. 

epiphany: a book that was haunting

The Tenth Girl by Sara Faring could be considered a haunting read just because it’s a gothic thriller, but its ending is especially haunting in the sense that it’s left me thinking about it even a year later!

song review: I could so see “epiphany” working it’s way into my top 5 or 3 songs in the next few weeks. I love the way it sounds – can you tell I don’t know how to talk music?? – and again, love the lyrics. 

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betty: a book couple that fills you with yearning

Again, it’s recent read central here, but I can’t stop thinking about Anna K and the Count from Anna K. 

song review: “betty” has been my #1 song from folklore since the album came out! I just love everything about it. 

peace: a book character you’d die for 

Chaol Westfall (Throne of Glass), we stan forever. 

song review: “peace” is another favorite of mine that I could again see making it’s way to my all-time favorite songs on the album.

hoax: a book you thought you were going to love but didn’t 

I was SO ready to fall in love with Neal Schusterman’s The Toll, the final book in the Arc of a Scythe trilogy. While I did enjoy it, thinking back on it now, it really wasn’t the ending I wanted or the way I would’ve thought this series would’ve wrapped up. 

song review: I admit that “hoax” is one of my least favorite songs on the album – again, I don’t think there’s any particular reason but it doesn’t really grab me. 

Have you listened to folklore? What’s your favorite song? Did you do the folklore book tag? Have you read any of the books I mentioned? Share in the comments!