Long Live: The Definitive Guide to the Folklore and Fandom of Taylor Swift

by Nicole Pomarico

Covering the Taylor Swift multiverse from all angles with a uniquely fascinating journey through fandom history, new interviews, and behind-the-scenes detail on her career across all eras, this lush package is the ultimate fan guide for legions of Swifties.
 
Long Live is a deep-dive into the cultural phenomenon of Swifties as well as the many facets of the artist herself. From MySpace comments to T-Party invites to Secret Sessions and beyond, it covers the evolution of Taylor as well as the journey that fans have been on with her through two decades of personal milestones—hers and theirs, both good and bad. It’s the book that connects with fans in the way her music does—on a personal level that makes them feel seen and takes them back to unforgettable times and places in their lives.

Readers will take a trip through Taylor’s eras from the start of her groundbreaking career, with stops at each album and its iconic songs, the hidden Easter Eggs, unforgettable concerts and fashion, and the many relationships that have informed the star’s music. The content is peppered with sidebars on How to Speak Swiftie, How to Dress by Era, career stats, and exclusive stories of fan encounters and author and entertainment journalist Nicole Pomarico’s own experiences meeting Taylor Swift and her parents.

With stylish illustrations and photos throughout, this engaging, essential look at the artist’s career and fandom is the complete package for Swifties.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Audiobook, Biography

192 pages, Hardcover

Published December 3, 2024

Reviews

[s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all] · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I see a new Taylor Swift fan book come into the library, you best believe I am snagging it and reading it. Because we all need some tiny joys in life. Long Live: The Definitive Guide to the Folklore and Fandom of Taylor Swift by Nicole Pomarico was a lovely little dose of joy indeed. A heartfelt tribute to a beloved star that reads like a love letter to the fandom as Nicole details through Swift’s career from a fan’s eye view of awaiting album news, getting excited about teasers and combing through lyrics, Long Live is a wonderful tribute to Swift and the community that supports her. With cute art and an in-depth overview of Swift’s Eras complete with defining characteristics such as a page for “how to dress” for the aesthetics of each Era (this is clearly a product of the Eras Tour), biographical information about Swift (and her cats), and more, this is cute and fun but also quite informative about all the behind-the-scenes aspects of the music process. Sure, maybe a bit of a coffee-table money grab BUT it’s also just a lovely little book and would make an amazing gift for the Swift fan in your life (which could include you, you should gift yourself one).

Yay kitties!

This is a nice, accessible overview that won’t quite hit an academic level of Swift lore and information, but it also doesn’t intend to be and is quite lovely for what it is. I really appreciated how this is very fan-centric and very much emphasizes and highlights the connections between fans and Swift. Fans will likely find themselves in this, particularly Pomarico’s rather heartfelt stories about her own love for the music. This was just a great little dose of joy and fun to flip through and read. Plus the cover is amazing. Just read it, it’s fun.

4/5

[Lexi Howland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully thought out and beautifully made book covering the folklore of Taylor Swift. Appropriate for all age groups! The book is easy to follow, interesting and beautiful. This is made for ALL the Swifties 💜💙

[Laura Ferreira · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re looking for a way to connect with Taylor Swift (or with the Swiftie in your life!), this book is it. Beautifully written, a really fun read.

[Ashley Timberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether you’re a Debut era Swiftie or a newly minted TTPD era Swiftie, this book is for you!! Nicole delicately sets out all the need to know lore of the Taylor universe in a fantastically witty and interesting way. It’s like having a conversation with your best friend who happens to know every single thing about Taylor Swift! This book was such a fun read, and the illustrations were beautiful. If you’re looking for a Taylor Swift book that isn’t just fluff, this is the book for you. You’ll be a Swiftie expert once you read it cover to cover! 5 stars!!!

[Katie Holcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this! It is not only visually stunning on the outside & on the pages within, but it’s loaded with fun facts about Taylor, her songs, the Eras Tour, etc. Honestly, this is a MUST for Swifties! I am so incredibly grateful to the publisher for my gifted copy! It’s OUT NOW—published yesterday!

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, front to back! This book feels like you're sitting down with your best friend to gush over your shared love of Taylor Swift. It's written like a personal tribute from the author, but she's not talking *at* you. She's including you in the decades-long lore we all know and love as Swifties.

It's perfect if you're a newer Swiftie and wanting to learn more about her early eras, or as a textbook if you're just starting out and need a crash course. I'm a "Senior Swiftie," but there was still so much to learn throughout this book!

If you're looking for a gift for Swiftie friends, you have to grab this one!

[Angieleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, thank you, Taylor for bringing us all together. Without you, your music, and your exquisite poetic lyrics, books like this would not exist, and us Swifties would not know how magical life can be.

Secondly, Nicole, can we become BFF? As I turned each page of this stunningly illustrated guide to Swiftdom, it was like reading letters from a friend who absolutely gets why I love Taylor Swift as much as I do.

Every Swiftie should own a copy of this book. From the emotional forward to each album's summary, it's the perfect gift for the Swiftie in your life or if you're curious as to why so many of us love her as much as we do!

[Lucy Gilligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Easy and fun to read, so much info about Taylor that I didn’t know before, super cute illustrations and extra facts throughout! I’m about to start reading the whole thing again!

[Damaris Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and interesting book! It's written by a true swiftie so while it is so informative it also feels like you get to fangirl along side of her. I loved all the included fun pages of how to dress with each era or the traditions built by the fandom. It was really cool to see how things were connected or what inspired different songs. Overall a super fun book with everything Taylor Swift!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book 💖 It was fun to read about the fandom and lore in the very beginning of Tay’s career. I’d recommend this book to any Swiftie!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will share this in my next book haul video! https://youtube.com/@bookreviewswithb...

[Tori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this covers all the currently available eras, it was mainly a deep dive into swiftie culture (aka swiftie internet behavior). So if you’re new to being a swiftie I think this is a great “catch up” book to help you understand the fandom/lore of the fan base.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the COOLEST book! I love the colored pages and the art work, as well as the way Nicole weaves in her own life experiences alongside Taylor’s many eras.

[Amy (amyrose.reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid coffee table type book. There wasn’t a ton of new-to-me information in this book and I wish there had been more pictures/art. But it was an interesting read to explore all of the eras!

[Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
An Enchanted Deep Dive into the Kingdom of Taylor Swift

Long Live is an absolute triumph—a brilliant, comprehensive, and heartfelt guide that not only celebrates Taylor Swift’s music, but honors the intricate web of meaning, myth, and magic that has grown around her over nearly two decades. Whether you’ve been a Swiftie since Debut or joined during the folklore/evermore era, this book is a must-read love letter to the universe Taylor has built.

The writing is sharp, funny, and deeply researched, weaving together album lore, Easter eggs, fan theories, historical context, and personal stories in a way that feels both scholarly and deeply intimate. From the cryptic clues of Red (Taylor’s Version) to the lyrical parallels between Midnights and Speak Now, this book decodes it all—and does so with warmth, reverence, and a genuine joy for the fandom experience.

What sets Long Live apart is its ability to treat Swift’s work with both critical depth and fan devotion. It recognizes Taylor as a cultural force and a literary songwriter, drawing comparisons to Sylvia Plath and Joni Mitchell while still appreciating the pure sparkle of a surprise song on tour or a “15” friendship bracelet. It also beautifully spotlights the Swiftie fandom itself—its creativity, community, and capacity for both joy and analysis.

This isn’t just a book for fans—it’s a book about fans. About the power of shared stories. About how pop music can become poetry, prophecy, and personal anthem.

Five stars, no skips. Long live the magic we made.

[cianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, I know there are a lot of Taylor Swift-related cash grab books out there, but let me assure you THIS IS NOT THAT. You can tell that every page was so lovingly crafted by a Swiftie, from the perspective of an early days Swiftie who GETS the fan experience. The love for Taylor and the fan experience pours out of each page.

This book offers a comprehensive look at Taylor's career, going era by era, in an approachable way that will give older Swifties lots to reminisce on and make newer Swifties feel like they're in on all the lore.

Every page of this book is gorgeous, bursting with colors and fun illustrations. There are creative pages like how to dress for each era or how to tell if you're more of an Evermore or Folklore. The endpages are littered with Easter eggs.

This is the kind of book that you'll love reading, and then LOVE having on display because it's so beyond gorgeous.

I want to share this book with everyone who doesn't understand the fandom or impact of Taylor because this book covers it so well. 5 STARS.

Thank you to Running Press for the complimentary copy!

[Nick Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took WAY too long to finish this book (I took like a 2.5 month break from it lol)

I was at an event with friends at the library, and saw this on the shelf. The Swiftie in my IMMEDIATELY jumped out at this book to see what it was about. Despite knowing quite a bit of the Taylor-knowledge this book drops, there were still some things that I learned for the first time (baby Swiftie, joined the fandom end of August 2023). Niche fan moments, more details about happenings that Taylor had to overcome, but at the core of this: living moments that I missed from the past and reliving the iconic moments I was there for. It serves as information for Taylor fans while also being a journal of the life of a Taylor fan. But it's also a memoir for our author and her journey as a Swiftie since 2006, which adds personality and more of an emotional core to the book, setting it apart from other unofficial Taylor fan guides. It's a nice quick read, and if you're a Swiftie I'd recommend checking this one out over the other Taylor books that endlessly come out!

[Lainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting. It was cool reflecting back on Taylor Swift’s career and it made me think back to where I was at those times. From being in the car as an elementary schooler and listening to never grow up on the speak now cd to high school and hearing look what you made me do and me! on the radio for the first time. And then finally when I really became a fan right before speak now tv released.
The art and the colors of this book were pretty. And I enjoyed hearing about things I was too young to really know about at the time.
My least favorite part of the book was the swiftie’s guide to football. It felt a little condescending. So because I like Taylor Swift I can’t know anything about football :/ I know that wasn’t the author’s intent but trust me I know what a touchdown is I’ve been watching football since I was a kid. But that’s mostly just me being over dramatic.
Overall a fun read :).

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just the biggest reminder to love what you love! I have been a long time listener of Taylor Swift, but I've never been a Swiftie. I still don't consider myself one. It was fascinating to learn about the culture and fandom that surrounds Taylor Swift. I knew nothing of her early social media use or her strategies to stay connected to her fans.

3 Quotes

1. Speak Now Era: "being one of the only artist during this time to treat the audiences she was singing to - young adults, mostly women, in their teens and early twenties - as if their feelings were important" (37)

2. Reputation Era: "she was laying who she used to be to rest in favor of being someone new - maybe even someone who cared a little less what people thought of her" (94)

3. "It's true of just about everything that (mostly) women like...[that] There is always someone waiting to tell us why what we are passionate about is stupid, and when they say things like that to us, it's hard not to feel silly…if only for a moment" (177)

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Swiftie from the very beginning, I had to pick up this book dedicated to Taylor and the fans. The author does a very good job of covering the different eras of Taylor's music and the way the fandom has grown throughout the years and eras even adding in her own personal experiences so the reader gets to know her as well. The author also covers social media changes and ways that fans have connected across platforms which was interesting to read about as someone who was never very active on social media. The hand-drawn style of artwork kept things light and fun with the use of icons relating to specific songs/albums. I would definitely recommend any die-hard Swiftie to pick up this book for a light and entertaining read.

[Maria Jose · Rating 5 out of 5]

From beginning to end this book immerses you in the life of being a Swiftie. Even if you're a casual fan, the magical way Pomarico weaves words, facts and imagery together makes you feel truly connected to this insane machine that is the Taylor Swift fandom. As a mom, it was so special to read how the author herself fueled her life with Taylor Swift's multiple eras and albums. The book is beautifully written, impeccably illustrated, and is just full of so so much love. My favorite part were the fan encounters and the different pieces of lore sprinkled throughout the narrative. Bravo Nicole! What an easy and enjoyable read!

[Sophie Sternschuss · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great know all book on Taylor Swift and her individual Eras. I think the writing works so well because not only is it written by an entertainment journalist but first and foremost a die hard swiftie who has been there since the beginning. It really does put you in the picture and time of each album release and goes through not only how Taylor interacted with fans but about what the critics and media were saying about her. Great for anyone who maybe hasn’t been there since the beginning. Unlike some books published in the last year this does cover pretty much up until the end of the eras tour.

[kory. · Rating 3 out of 5]

admittedly light and not so deep, but truly a celebration of taylor’s career and her fandom. i don’t necessarily agree with every opinion or framing of situations, but still enjoyable. a few notes: disappointing that the tortured poets department was only shoehorned into a small part of the eras tour chapter, while every other album got their own chapter. the section explaining football to swifties was quite presumptuous and potentially condescending. oh, also, jane austen didn’t write jane eyre.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is made for the Swifties in your life and anyone who has a passing interest in Taylor Swift as, oh, a global phenomenon. Pomarico's love for and expertise of Swift really shines here, because she talks about so many Easter eggs and fun facts and more that deep-seated Swifties will get a kick out of. This one's definitely for the fans by a big-time fan, and the illustrations are so colorful and fun you can't help but smile.

[Mara Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like a magical rabbithole as in alice in wonderland to the whole magical career of taylor and also the magical fandom🫶🏼 I absolutely loved the style of writing and all the small visual details❤️ It was just an amazing experience, now I feel even closer to taylor and her creations ❤️ I had the opportunity to get to know taylor and her work even better now and especially in the most beautiful way with this book❤️ Loved it from the first to the last page🫶🏼

[Lyndsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

LONG LIVE is a must read for Swifties, both new and seasoned, or even those who are curious about one of the most influential artists and a fandom that has become a force of nature.

Not only does this book offer beautiful illustrations and passionate storytelling, it is a celebration of girlhood and the magic of Taylor Swift.

[Sarah Easley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a “Senior Swiftie” (I had a burned CD of Debut and only know the original Picture to Burn) and after reading this I’m actually sad I wasn’t online enough as a teen to participate in all the fun MySpace and Tumblr posts and such. This book did a great job of showing what it was like to be a Taylor fan from the beginning.

[Ainsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just as precious as the other one I read about my all time favorite singer. I will be re reading this one for sure!🥰 I continue to learn more and more about Taylor and my fellow Swifties with every book written and what Taylor herself has to say.

[Keowa Lafontaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any fan, new or old, alike can revel in the magic of Long Live! The author talks often about how relatable Taylor has been over the years but she, too, remains relatable throughout each and every page! A must have for every Swiftie or even those who are curious!

[Deborah Gorman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good recap by a fan of all the Taylor Swift years, pop phenomenon and so many behind the scenes backstories! My sister is a huge fan and watching mostly every single ERAs concert tour live on You Tube has been so healing for her in rocky times. Now I get the fan devotion to Taylor!