If you could live inside one Taylor Swift song for a day, which would you pick? In this shimmering anthology, thirteen best-selling and acclaimed authors do just that, reimagining some of Taylor’s most iconic songs as love stories. 

Whether you’re in an era of fairy lights and folktales or diss tracks and dance floors, here’s a playlist that features all the The soaring high note of first love. The minor key of heartbreak. And the steady rhythm of true friendship and self-discovery.

As clever and unforgettable as the songs that inspired them, these stories are sure to play on repeat in your head and your heart. 

Fans of Taylor Swift will enjoy these short stories filled with Easter Eggs and vibes of their favorite songs. Some of which I prefer more than the others.

Elisa Bryant built her career on boy/girl next door romances so her “Grand Gesture” (Based on “Fifteen”) was excellent look on first love. Surprising was how it focused more on the importance of not dropping friend for guy as guys always come and go. But fitting with the song themes. Jessica Goodwin features a similar premise in a more intense fashion with “Getaway Car” as it touches on double standards and toxic masculinity in the protagonist’s long-time crush, and maybe he’s not the great after all.

I enjoyed Jesse Q. Sutanto’s modernized Mulan and “This One’s Just For Us” (“Ours”) echoes her previous themes with girl and boy standing up to a white-majority school full of racists on their path to true love and acceptance.

I never read Krystal Marquis, but I enjoyed “Group Project” (“Style”) where senior aiming for scholarship learns to include boyfriend in perfect senior year, and not treat him like a distraction to her goals. After all, what’s the point of success if you don’t share it with your loved ones.

Julie Murphy goes for the tears with “The Cardigan in Question” as a girl struggles with her feelings for her new crush as she feels guilty for moving on after her ex died.

Other stories that were acceptable albeit predictable were J. Elle’s “Everything Unspoken” that follows the premise of “Love Story” where teens defy their families’ rivalry; Sloan Harlow’s “The Summers” (“Cruel Summer”0 featuring friends to lovers over the course of several summers; Crystal Maldonado’s “Once Upon a Grad Night” (“Willow”) where a graduating senior fulfills her prom moment with long-time crush; And Jennifer Dugan’s “Ali Gets a Clue” (“The Black Dog”) features a typical narrative of Ali figuring out how to tell her best friend that she really loves her, not men.

Unfortunately Lynn Painter’s “It Happened One Wednesday” (“Begin Again”), was kinda forgettable. Katherine McPhee’s “We’re Here Now” (“Hits Different”) reminded me too much of a typical Ali Hazelwood plotline with no subversions or twists. Laura Sebastian’s “Fool’s Gold” (“Bejeweled”) has a heist revenge on an ex premise that would be interesting. However, the ridiculous names of the characters were too distracting. Also Sara Shepard of PLL’s fame showcases a different genre with “Creative Differences” (“Tortured Poets Department”) but still twisty and gaslighty that it was more uncomfortable than romantic.

Ann M. Martin tells Mary Anne’s story while Becky Albertalli, Coe Booth, Sarah Kuhn, Peter Lerangis, Jahnna N. Malcolm, and Emma Straub chronicle the experiences and adventures of BSC members Stacey, Kristy, Claudia, Dawn, Jessi, and Mallory.

Technically, not a anthology like I assumed it would be with the seven different authors. But still fun, nonetheless. Keeping the old-school charm of Stonybrook (not much mention of current events or technology which keeps it feeling timeless), we go on yet another summer vacation. There’s minimal babysitting involved, but let’s face it, that’s never been the draw. It’s always been about the characters and with six other authors contributing, there’s more distinction and modernization for each girl.

For instance, Becky Albertalli gives what fans have been expected for awhile. Kristy has a crush. . . on a girl, and it was fun to see the bossy, headstrong leader of the BSC navigate the marshmallow feelings of first crush.

Sarah Kuhn highlights more of Claudia’s heritage when she goes to California’s Little Tokyo for the summer, volunteering at a kids’ cultural arts camp and coming to appreciate her Japanese heritage more, how it connects her to the sadly still deceased Mimi, and finding a way to honor her.

Coe Booth has Jessi go to her mom’s college reunion, and learns to stand up for herself when here co-babysitter keeps ditching yet taking the credit. Also Jessi has an interesting crisis of identity since all her ballet dancing has formed a stress fracture. Without being able to do her favorite genre, she’s forced to step back and assess new dance styles and contemplate what it might mean if she had a bigger, career-ending injury.

Of course, this is the BSC, so we know it won’t come to that, but it was cool to see her deal with these real ballerina issues.

As for Jessi’s BFF, Mallory, long-time BSC ghost-writer took her to Ireland to meet extended family. However, I was disappointed by the lack of exploration of Ireland. Instead it stuck her with a typical “Don’t exaggerate your horse-riding abilities to impress your cousins or else you will humiliate yourself” storyline.

As for the two sitters stuck in Stonybrook, Emma Straub’s Stacy has a typical boy-crazy plotline that didn’t do anything new for the character, but I’m sure fans will enjoy the nostalgia. Same with Martin’s Mary-Anne plotline as she learns to stand up for herself against infamous BSC adversary, Cookie. Still, I liked how Martin leaned into Mary Anne’s anxious traits and gave her another extracurricular as a volunteer librarian.

I enjoyed the return to Stonybrook, and am eager to see what the next book in the relaunch will bring as the writers explore new stories and new facets of these beloved tweens. It’s obvious how much all the authors enjoyed the character and their world. Plus I love the scrapbook design and sprayed edges.