As a die-hard Swiftie, I loved the concept of this interactive journal and was excited to dive into Taylor Swift’s literary world. The artwork is beautiful, and I appreciated the creative idea of linking her lyrics to classic literature and folklore.
Unfortunately, the sample fell short of my expectations. Most of the journal prompts were closed questions with little room for real reflection or creativity. I also hoped for deeper lyric analysis and more variety in the prompts.

If the full version expands on these ideas, I’d be open to revisiting my review. But based on what I read, I wouldn’t recommend it in its current form.

i think this was a fun brief look at this book. i think and swfitie would get a kick out of and let them look deeper at the lyrics and see where and when mrs. swift could hve been inspired!!

This is an absolutely beautiful and brilliant take on Taylor Swift’s work!

As a fan since her first album, I’ve always appreciated the intricacies of her lyrics. Sure, Blank Space is catchy as all get out, and there are plenty of other songs that can be dismissed by the public as “just a pop song”. But you cannot argue the lack depth of her writing even from the beginning, and it only seems to grow deeper and more layered with each album.

If you are a lover of words, lyrics, or just Taylor, you will enjoy this book!

Thank you to the author + Watkins Publishing for my advance copy!

This will make the perfect gift for any reader/Swiftie out there! Taking a deep dive into Taylor's lyrics with what feels like a more educated perspective take was interesting. Any Swifite who lives for the Easter Eggs will love this!

Thank you Net Galley!

This was such an interesting and delightful read. I’ve always loved Taylor Swift and I’ve always loved books, so seeing those two passions combined felt like a treat. I really enjoyed all the facts and the clever connections the author made between Taylor’s music and literature—it not only helps you appreciate her songs on a deeper level, but also lets you discover and learn through the music itself.

The illustrations were another highlight for me; they’re charming and add so much personality to the book. Overall, it’s the kind of read that makes you want to go back to Taylor’s albums with fresh eyes (and ears) and fall in love with them all over again.

I should in theory love everything about this....
I'm a huge Swiftie, I love disecting song lyrics, exploring literary themes, and journalling but something was missing and yes it's hard to review a book based on a sample, which I didn't realise at first it was. I probably wouldn't have requested it if I'd realised.

The featured journalling questions were not really journal prompts, but nearly all closed questions. Leaving the reader no possibility to explore themes, shutting down the creative process of journalling. Most of the questions had "answers" which any Swiftie would know it made it seem a bit like a magazine article in a teen magazine. A Q&A is fine, but throw in some more unusual questions and either scatter throughout in addition to the journalling parts or put in another section of the book.
I feel there are other Swiftie inspired journals out there which are better put together. If this had been what I was hoping it would be, it would have made great birthday/ Christmas gifts for people I love but it just wasn't put together very well. In my opinion. If I see this in the library when it's released I will have a look and adjust my review/rating on Goodreads if reading as a whole and not a sample makes a difference.

Thank you to NetGalley, Watkins Publishing and Viktoria Capek for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. It's a shame I didn't like it more.

I received a sample of this book from NetGalley to review.

This beautifully crafted guided journal blends literary exploration with Swiftie devotion. Structured around ten themes - from the Romantic echoes of Wuthering Heights to feminist undertones in The Bell Jar - Capek offers “SwiftPrep” intros, “SwiftNotes” summaries, lyric-literature parallels, and thoughtful journaling prompts. Each section is visually stunning, making the experience feel like curling up in a cosy library.

Strengths:
- Engaging and Inspirational: Fans praise how prompts encourage “deeper thought into Taylor’s lyrics” and feel like playful conversations rather than academic analysis. - Accessible Literary Insights: Even if you’re not familiar with classics, the SwiftNotes deliver clear, digestible overviews.
- Beautiful Presentation: The design garners consistent praise - illustrations, layout, and tactile elements transform it into a keepsake.

Considerations:
- Light on In‑Depth Analysis: Some felt it skimmed lyrical depths in favor of “vibe” and interaction, noting connections could be “a slight reach,” and the journal style sometimes felt “school-like”.
- Mixed Tone on Prompts: While many prompts are “well‑crafted,” others come off as basic, and a few reviewers thought there were too many “fill‑in‑the‑blank” sections.

Final Take:
Dear Reader excels as a creative, bookish companion to Taylor Swift’s discography. It shines most for fans eager to reflect, doodle, and draw literary parallels in a relaxed, tactile format. Unlike dense lyric essays, this is a journal meant to be filled in, revisited, and shared. If you’re after deep critical essays, you might find it light; but for Swifties who treasure aesthetics and introspection, it’s a charming, inspirational gift.

Perfect for:
- Swifties who love journaling
- Book lovers intrigued by lyrical Easter eggs
- Anyone seeking a literary‑infused creative experience

Lovely, interactive, and visually enchanting - with just enough depth to spark curiosity, if not full-blown analysis.

Thank you very much NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for gifting me the sample. All views are entirely my own.

This beautifully illustrated guided journal is a must-have for Swifties and book lovers alike. With themed prompts inspired by the literary works that influence Taylor Swift’s lyrics, it offers a cozy, creative space to reflect, write, and explore. Even if you haven't read the classics, SwiftNotes give you the perfect crash course. From visual easter eggs to lyric-writing inspiration, this journal turns Taylor’s literary world into your own. It's thoughtful, gorgeous, and totally magical.

Very quick and fun to read, actually it has a lot of beautiful drawings, and of course matching lyrics of Taylor songs with each drawing. You can creatively draw or write in this book, make it your own.

Thank you, NetGalley, for accepting my request! Have fun, Swifties!

I enjoyed seeing Taylor’s lyrics examined from a different point of view. I like to deep dive into her lyrics, especially from more recent albums where her work has become more poetic, so I really did enjoy someone else’s take on some of her songs. It was quite educational for me as I wasn’t aware of the similarities of Wuthering Heights and some of her songs. I do wish there were more songs included, especially on more recent albums and extra themes included. Regardless I did enjoy learning about romanticism and its origins. Overall it was an easy and interesting read.

Dear Reader is a gorgeously presented journal from the sample I have received. Perfect for lovers of literature and Taylor Swift. The tortured poets through time link in and influence each other beautifully to prompt you today. It shows us that language written, spoken or sung is so emotive and powerful. This is also partly just about vibes and some prompts very simple, but this makes it fun and you can go on exploring as deep as you want to go. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

I would like to beginning with a small note: I was only able to read a sample of this book, and, therefore my opinion is based in roughly 13% of the full book. However, I did truly enjoy its contents. While I don't think I am the target market for this book, I believe it would be an excellent introduction to literature to young students who love Taylor Swift (TS). While comparing it to TS songs, the author discusses important literature moments or methods throughout history, making easy comparisons and with clear explanations. However, my favourite part of this book is the addition of open-ended questions that aim to make the reader reflect and further research about the topic. I think new generations are having more difficulty with critical-thinking related skills and approaches like this are a great way of training them while having fun. Also, I loved the illustrations! They are a great addition to the book.

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the sample!

The sample available is short but gives the reader a good understanding of what this book is like.
I am not a Swiftie - but I am curious about Swift's songwriting, and enjoy some of her performances and songs.
This book will appeal to
1) Swifties
2) Swifties
3) Young Swifties
4) Youngster who are about to become Swifties
5) and people like myself who want to know more about the literary quality of Swift's songs.
The design and layout of this book are good fits.
As for the information, I expected it to be light and easy to digest rather than too analytical, and that was the case. Which is why the format (notes, facts, and then reflective questions) is a great fit for younger audiences. This book might even inspire them to visit some of the inspirations behind Swift's songs.

Only 35 of anticipated 264 page book were available for the advance review.

I know that Swifties will be all over this book.

I'm not a Swiftie. I felt that the sample pages that I reviewed were basically a high school English exam where you are required to fill in your own thoughts and feelings. Some basic information is provided ... like some details about the play Romeo & Juliet or Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. Then quite a bit of "blank space" (pun intended) after "fill in the second line from the third verse of this song" and answer this question.

Lots of graphics and illustrations.

I was curious about the book, but I'm definitely not the target audience.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for approving my request to read 13% (haha) of Dear Reader in exchange for an honest review. Publication date of Sept 9 is expected.

I enjoyed this deep dive into Taylor Swift’s lyrics. It was beautifully illustrated and provided thought provoking analysis on Swift’s varied and vast works. Disappointed to find out this is merely a sample, as I don’t recall the posting being just a sample, but nonetheless this was lovely and I enjoyed the concept.

Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for this chapter sample ARC.

I love the idea of this book, and learning more about Taylor's writing. The illustrations for the book were beautiful and really helped to give the vibe of the songs across. I do wish that there was more in-depth information about the lyrics. I thought the interactive parts of the book were fun as it gets the reader more involved, but I wish there were more details about the lyrics instead of questions. It could have just been with the sample chapter I read, though, and maybe there is a better balance in the rest of the book.

I'll be interested to read the rest of the book when it comes out!

I think this is a creative and cute basic journal for Swifties. It’s relatively short, and the journal entries are a bit juvenile, but I could see this as a fun gift for a pre-teen or teen. The imagery and graphics are gorgeous, I wish the journal itself had more substance and deeper prompts. The fonts for some of the prompts were also a bit hard to read, so possibly some more streamlined fonts to make things easier on the eyes.

Thank you for the opportunity to review this ARC!

As a devoted Taylor Swift fan, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of this title. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review it! While I initially expected a full book, I quickly realized this was a guided journal. After I realized that, I then understood why it formatted on my kindle in a strange way. The prompts are thoughtful and clearly inspired by Taylor’s lyrics and storytelling, offering a creative space for reflection and self-expression. It's a lovely keepsake for any Swiftie looking to connect more deeply with her music and their own thoughts. A charming, heartfelt addition to any fan’s collection.

This book is a mix of fun facts about Taylor Swift's most popular songs, a classic literature lesson, and a journal to get you thinking about both.

I love the idea, though some of the execution is fumbled. The journal questions felt either too leading ("Don't you think that Taylor is underrated?") or too school-like ("Name how many places in nature she mentions in this song."). There wasn't much explanation for the songs either, so I have no idea where the author got her facts.

Sadly, this NetGalley approval only gave me a single chapter (#2) to review, so it's a small sample size without a full introduction to what the author wanted.

Still, I think this would make for a great gift for a Swiftie and would get younger people thinking more in depth about literature.

i was to the first 2 chapters of this book through netgalley, not the full novel. overall i found this quite boring it has a stronger focus on generalised themes used in songwriting not just taylor swift then vaugly linking it back to her. it reads like she was used like clickbait. if your a swifie looking for a deep dive into her lyrics this isnt for you.