I’m not big into Taylor’s music, the newer stuff really but I love her older stuff but she’s iconic and really interesting and she’s unlucky in love but writes love songs but some are heartbreak shows
I thought this book sounded really interesting.
This was a sampler book but I’d love the finished book in my collection.

The illustrations were beautiful and the questions interesting and I’d love it as a journal.

This was a short version but brought me so much joy and I want to listen to love story now!

“Dear Reader” is the perfect companion for fans of Taylor Swift and classic literature. It was so interesting to see the invisible strings tying song lyrics to classic references. This would make a great gift!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

As a fan this was a very unique book to make my crafting and fantasy skills come out.
It was very cute.

This was actually a book sample but looking through it was so interesting, I added the book to my Amazon wishlist. I think it would be the perfect gift for the Swiftie reader in your life as it appears to take literary references from Taylor Swift’s music and leading to deeper thought processes. There are journal prompts to get the reader thinking and the author summarizes the literary work in case you haven’t read it. I am really excited about this!

Dear Reader is exactly what it sounds like—an open-hearted, charming love letter to those of us who find entire worlds tucked inside a single lyric. Viktoria Capek doesn't invite you to listen to the music—she invites you to writes with it, and more importantly, with us. Reading this book feels like being invited to sit on a cozy couch with a warm drink while your best friend breaks down your favorite songs in the most thoughtful, giddy way.

What makes this book especially delightful is how it talks to you, not at you. Capek crafts every page like a conversation—sometimes playful, sometimes aching with emotion, but always inviting. There's something so endearing about how she involves the reader directly in the experience, as if we’re co-conspirators in this gentle analysis of lyrics that meant the world at 2 a.m. on a Tuesday.

The questions she provided to dissects lyrics not as cold, academic artifacts but as living things, full of memories, heartbreaks, and hope. Her commentary often leads into vulnerable reflections or wide-eyed wonder, and the result is something both analytical and adorable. It’s the kind of book that reminds you why you underlined that one line in a song six years ago and never forgot it.

In short, Dear Reader is a hug in book form—a sweet, deeply personal exploration of lyrics that knows how much they can mean, and dares to say it out loud. If you’ve ever felt like a line from a song understood you better than your best friend, this one’s for you.

I absolutely loved how interactive this book was! Taylor Swift’s music is a staple in my life so it was fun to dive even deeper into her lyricism and learn new things! The questions asked, for example, “can you name any Taylor songs or music videos that reference Shakespeare’s famous works?”, were so engaging and really got me thinking! Overall, this is such a fun little book/activity. Thoroughly enjoyed!!

I expected this book to have a lot more content. Instead it felt like a workbook for school students. Sadly, I think I had something totally different built up in my head.

As a Swiftie who studied Romantacism, I immediately loved this. There was a great balance of researched and informative content, fan content, and fun interactive elements. I think a literary analysis of Swift’s works is definitely valid and rich for exploring, as we know she is a big reader who loves an Easter egg.

Dear Reader shows a lot of potential! The concept drew my attention right away, the illustrations are beautiful, and very on theme, and the references to great works of literature, as a nerdy swiftie, are amazing.

However, I’m not sure what the intended demographic of the book is. At points, the interactive questions can become a bit too much, giving the book a little bit too much of a text-book vibe, which I feel might deter some potential readers. It’s written in a very comprehensible manner, sometimes I’d say being even too simplified.

Overall I think it’s a very good idea of a book that shows a lot of potential to be a great thing, but might need a bit of improvement on the execution for it to be perfect.

This sampler was a really cute idea for younger Swifties. To include the backgrounds of what could’ve inspired Taylor’s song is a great and brilliant way to help fans get the whole picture of what she is singing about.

I'm gonna be honest... this is not it. I'm a huge swiftie and I immediately was interested in this book since she's a great lyricist and I was excited for some literary context I may not have picked up. However believe me when I say there is BARELY any content in here- I don't know why we are getting a sampler instead of a full book (and a locked PDF - a nightmare to read on an e-reader. Unacceptable.), but from what I can see the content is pretty bland and I don't know how deep it's going to get. I guess there's some potential here but there's no way for me to know, and the sampler was 70% illustrations, 10% questions and 20% actual references. Idk, for now I'm not happy about it... I'm giving it 2 stars for potential but I can't recommend it.

This was such a cute sampler! As a huge swiftie, I love this idea and found value in the informative bits. Just from the sampler, though, I didn't love the journaling questions. I found them a bit basic and not introspective enough. I'm not sure who the intended audience is, but judging by the depth of the analysis, I'm guessing the audience would be a bit older than the journaling questions suggest. However, I probably would buy a copy for myself (or a friend) and read a little at a time. Very cute and I loved the illustrations.

This arc was just a sampler so I can't speak to the whole experience. The pages skipped around so even getting an overview was difficult. From what I saw- I loved the summaries of a few of the classics (Romeo & Juliet, Wuthering Heights, etc) I wish I could have seen more how Taylor's songs reflected the themes of the stories. (Maybe that is present in the final copy- and not in the sampler.) The illustrations that I saw fun and whimsical. The right Swiftie may want to frame them!

I have been a fan of Taylor’s music for about 18 years now and an English Literature lover for even longer. This does a great job of blending the two together. From what I can see from this sampler, I enjoy the formatting and how it has the reader writing their own ideas down for many of the sections. Would be perfect for an English Literature class or for someone who wants to extend their learning to a topic of interest. I am definitely going to be checking out a finished copy of this when it comes out later on this year.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read this arc. It was fun and cute. As someone who loves Taylor Swift and books, this was perfect for me.

"Dear Reader" explores the literary references in some of Taylor Swift songs. There is space for the reader to put down their own thoughts, whilst guiding them through some of the most prominent ones. I think this would be great for teenagers to read alongside their English Literature studies to understand why such schooling is important and relevant in everyday life.

I'm not a journal girl but I do love Taylor Swift so I had to check this out. I'm still not a journal girl but I am still giving this five stars.

If you love Taylor's songs and enjoy thinking about what they mean and what inspired them, you will adore this. Definitely one to purchase a physical copy of if you're wanting to use the space for writing prompts. Still an enjoyable read if you just want some thoughts on her lyrics.

As a longtime Taylor Swift fan, Dear Reader completely captivated me. Viktoria Capek blends thoughtful analysis with deep love for Taylor’s work, exploring lyrics in a way that feels both intelligent and emotionally personal. Each chapter reads like a conversation with someone who truly gets the heart behind the music.

The references to literary themes and storytelling were especially powerful—it made me appreciate songs I’ve heard a hundred times in a brand-new way. This isn’t just for fans, it’s for anyone who cares about words, emotion, and the stories we carry with us. Highly recommend for readers who love Taylor and the poetry hidden in pop.

Such an insightful book about what pieces of literature inspired the work of singer and songwriter Taylor Swift, with amazing illustrations.

Thank you Victoria Capek, Watkins Publishing and NetGalley!

Thank you to the publisher and thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this e-ARC. Full review will be available soon