I enjoyed reading this as a poetry book - but I wasn't always able to connect it back to Taylor's songs. The poems were smart and beautiful and interesting to read without that context, but I also felt like I HAD to read them without that context since it wasn't clear what poems were related to which songs, apart from sources at the end.

Overall, this was enjoyable once I separated it from Taylor's music.

I really wanted to love this book. I'm a big Swiftie, but I guess I'm not a big fan of poetry unless it's Taylor’s musical poetry. I can listen to some of her more poetic songs for hours, just enjoying the words. I couldn't get into the poems. Some of them were beautiful, but too much for me. I know they were all inspired by one of her songs and I just wish we got to know which poem went with which song. I think that might have connected me more to the poems.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

One of the poets featured in this volume of Taylor Swift-inspired poetry explained part of her process: “In every language, the word that means ‘poem’ first meant ‘song.’” The 113 poets here include Pulitzer Prize winners and finalists, NYT bestsellers, Instagram-famous poets, and names you should remember as they gain acclaim. Each poet was inspired by one specific Taylor Swift song, but we're not told which one. The challenge for the reader is to unlock the Swiftie code. (Recommendation sent to WordSmarts.com email newsletter subscribers)

As a Swiftie and poetry lover, this collection completely stole my heart. Some poems had me pausing to figure out which Taylor song inspired them, and honestly, it felt like a beautiful puzzle, and a challenge to piece together lyrics and emotions through someone else’s lens.

I do think it would have been a nice touch to include which song sparked each poem. It could make it more accessible for newer fans or even non-Swifties, offering a deeper connection to the words on the page.

That said, this collection is stunning. It’s a love letter to both poetry and Taylor’s music. Poetry is music, and music is poetry. And Taylor? She’s a master of both. This anthology captures that magic in a way that felt so personal and unique. I loved every page.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. As a Swiftie, I couldn't wait to read this one. However, I'm not too big on poetry. That being said, several of the poems written by these fantastic authors really resonated with me. I found myself re-reading several while listening to my Taylor Swift playlist.

Good book to give you some more T Swift feels. Poems were mostly in her style and made you feel like you could be at the Eras tour.

technically I had this as an ARC, but I didn't read it as an ARC and read it as a physical book so....3.5/5

Anyways, I love poetry and Taylor Swift. I did enjoy the poems in this, but I also really wanted to know what song each poem was responding to. I know that was stated in the introduction that it wasn't obvious, but I wanted to be able to make the connections....

As a Taylor swift fan I was very excited for this book! However, I’m finding that I am not a poetry person. There was some beautiful content but it’s just not my kind of book.

Not really my thing. Was bummed as I was super excited for this being a huge swiftie. I realized contemporary poetry is simply not for me. I had NO clue what songs these related to.

This collection was put together with such care. The author discusses her reason for it and was able to get incredible new poetry from the project. At the end you can read about each of the poets includes in this project.

There is a variety of poetry included and I think there is something for everyone. Each is beautifully written.

I like Taylor’s music, but I wouldn’t classify myself as a swifty. I caught references to lyrics and moments through the poems and I think a true Swifty would pick up the meanings even more through each one.

Highly recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is exactly what it promises to be. A collection of poems from a variety of writers relating to and with similar themes to the work of Taylor Swift.

I recommend reading this is bits and pieces, instead of reading it in a straight shot like I did. I enjoyed it, though, reading all these works, and definitely plan to order a copy.

I appreciate at the end there is a section that shows how some of the works related to works Swift puts out, I was thinking as reading I would really enjoy know what pieces or parts of Swift's career inspired each poem.

I thought this would be a fun book, but it was hard to tell which poems corresponded to which Taylor songs. I know I don't always understand poetry, but I have a basic grasp of things. I LOVE Taylor's writing and found the poems in this book lackluster. I think if there was a guide that showed which poem corresponded with which song I would have enjoyed it better. I tried to figure it out, but knew I couldn't even know if I was right.

This Taylor Swift inspirited poetry was so cool to read. I really enjoyed the poems and I really liked trying to figure out what song(s) inspired each of the poems in this. It was a fun collection and with SO many Taylor Swift books that have come out recently this was different and stood out.

I love Taylor Swift & poetry so reading this was a no brainer for me. I enjoyed picking up on some of the songs that inspired the poems and seeing the songs in a new light.

3.75 stars. Some poems I loved. Some I didn’t. Given that I came to this collection more from a love of Taylor Swift, and not of poetry, I would have enjoyed this a bit more knowing which song inspired each poem, although I understand why the editor chose not to do that. Ultimately, I think if you like poetry or love Taylor Swift, you’ll enjoy it!

Thank you to Net Galley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Incredibly fun!! I have rarely read poetry as I have never connected to it much, but this is the perfect way to transition into more of that world. This book is almost a game in the way you don't know which songs the poems are in reference to, and therefore everyone can interpret things in their own way! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this eARC. It inspired me to buy this book for my sister in law for Christmas - perfect for any book loving Swiftie! I look forward to continue rereading the poems and seeing what songs I can connect the words to.

Thank you NetGalley for an E-ARC!

Invisible Strings is a series of poems written by 113 authors embodying the spirit of Taylor Swift and her songs/eras.

Overall this was a speedy read. Some of the poems were beautiful but simple and easy to relate to one of Taylor’s songs whereas others were much more complex and required some thinking. Some of the poems confused me but I’m also not super good at deciphering.

Overall a fun read. 100% recommend for Swifties who enjoy deciphering Taylor’s lyrics and finding Easter Eggs. When looking closely enough there is so much to work out and notice in all of these poems. Also definitely think this would be a fun one to annotate. Especially marking different sections in different colors based on the album they relate to!

For anyone wondering, my fav poem in the book was probably Once by Laura Kasischke. I’m sure I’ll find many more if I took the time to really annotate and decipher!

(Also no rating for this because poetry is subjective in my opinion)

Fascinating exploration of an icon’s lyrics through a lens of poetry. As someone that struggles to care for Swift’s music this helped me find greater respect for the lyricism of her songs.

I was not sure how I was going to feel about this book. A series of poets responding to Taylor Swift songs? The premise seemed promising but I was anxious about the execution. Overall it was exactly what it said it was and I was prompted to think a bit deeper about some of my favorite songs!

Ballantine eARC
Calling all Swifties! Need a last minute Christmas gift for yourself or someone else and like poetry? This would be perfect. I'm not a Swiftie, but I do casually listen to her sometimes. I am a poetry lover, and I'm glad I gave this a try. This was such a fun collection, and I'm sure I missed a lot of Easter eggs, but even the introduction made me think about Taylor Swift in ways I haven't before. It was a beautiful collection and there are a few lines that will stick with me long term.