13 Little Love Stories: An anthology inspired by Taylor Swift songs

by Elise Bryant, Jennifer Dugan, J. Elle

From bestselling YA authors comes thirteen dazzling contemporary romances inspired by the songs of Taylor Swift!

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. 

Stories
Elise Bryant
Jennifer Dugan
J. Elle
Jessica Goodman
Sloan Harlow
Crystal Maldonado
Krystal Marquis
Katharine McGee
Julie Murphy
Lynn Painter
Laura Sebastian
Sara Shepard
Jesse Q. Sutanto

Genres: Romance, Anthologies, Young Adult, Short Stories, Contemporary, Fiction, Young Adult Romance

336 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

Elise Bryant is the NAACP Image Award-nominated author of Happily Ever Afters, One True Loves, Reggie and Delilah’s Year of Falling, It’s Elementary, and The Game Is Afoot. For many years, Elise had the joy of working as a special education teacher, and now she spends her days reading, writing, and eating dessert. She lives with her husband and two daughters in Long Beach, California. You can visit her online at www.elisebryant.com.

Reviews

[𝜗𝜚 𝙩𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙖 (semi hiatus to lock in)]

LYNN PAINTER IS IN THIS. I REPEAT LYNN. PAINTER. IS IN THIS

[ଘRory (Back!Dental School got me good)]

💖 pre-release vibes💌:

Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play♪.
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate♪
But the writers gonna write, write, write, write, write...༄
And the readers gonna read, read, read, read, read...༄
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake♫ ♪
I shake it off,I shake it off ♪ .

[Annabella⁷ (henry li’s version)]

WAKE UP LADIES🗣️ I LOVE THE SOUND OF THIS💌🪩🏹🥂💖

[zoya ᯓ★]

wait stop, the premise for this book is actually fire?? and why are all the authors my fav YA authors???
I cannot WAIT for this !!

[sophia_thesecond (#hitchmetowitry!)† · Rating 3 out of 5]

started on 5/26 finished on 6/1

this was interesting. there were a few stories that I really really liked, but the rest were just okay. I love the idea of each story being connected to a taylor swift song, but I feel like most of them didn't really portray the songs. for a few I felt like they could be continued and be made into a full book, or just longer short story. most ended kind of abruptly. overall, this was alright a few (especially lynn painters) were pretty good, but most were just mediocre.

my ranking of the stories:

it happened on wednesday- lynn painter
five summers- sloan harlow
once upon a grad night- crystal maldonado
group project- krystal marquis
this one's just for us- jesse q sutanto
we're here now- katherine mcgee
brake for it- jessica goodman
the cardigan in question- julie murphy
creative differences- sara shepard
the grand gesture- elise bryant
ali gets a clue- jennifer dugan
fool's gold- laura sebastian
everything unspoken- j. elle

[angelpompom]

If Lynn Painter writes it, I read it. Simple math.

[Emilia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute anthology! I love that there was such a diverse group of authors contributing. I enjoyed reading the creative ways each story interpreted Taylor’s songs, which lend themselves so well to storytelling. I also liked that the stories progressed in order through her discography. Due to the amount of stories and length of book, each author didn’t get a ton of page space, which left a lot of the stories feeling rushed or lacking depth. The most successful of these stories didn’t try to do too much with the word count, but tracked a love story through one event or day. I’ve never really reviewed an anthology, but here is my ranking of the stories from most favorite to least favorite!

Once Upon a Grad Night - Crystal Maldonado
It Happened One Wednesday - Lynn Painter
Group Project - Krystal Marquis
The Grand Gesture - Elise Bryant
The Cardigan in Question - Julie Murphy
Creative Differences - Sara Shepard
This One’s Just for Us - Jesse Q. Sutanto
Ali Gets a Clue - Jennifer Dugan
Five Summers - Sloan Harlow
Brake For It - Jessica Goodman
We’re Here Now - Katharine McGee
Fool’s Gold - Laura Sebastian
Everything Unspoken - J. Elle

Thank you Netgalley, Putnam, and all of the authors for the chance to read and review 13 Little Love Stories ahead of its publication, in exchange for an honest review!

[cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review. This book had a super cute idea and i loved some of the author’s contributions. When reading short story book where each story has different authors it’s to be expected that some are better than others. I think some of the stories were super strong and interesting while others dragged on. I understand why they book hadb13 different stories for the Tayloe Swift reference but I do wish they cut some of the stories to allow the other ones to be expanded on. Each story was super short so the good ones were super underdeveloped. I did love the idea of each story being inspired by a Taylor Swift song. Overall this was cute but I wouldn’t pick this up if you aren’t a huge Taylor Swift fan.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story collections are hard to rate so we’ll go with 4 stars. I loved some, enjoyed others. They were all quick, cute reads.

Favorites:
- The Grand Gesture, Elise Bryant
- It Happened One Wednesday, Lynn Painter
- Five Summers, Sloan Harlow
- Once Upon a Grad Night, Crystal Maldonado
- Ali Gets a Clue, Jennifer Dugan

Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways and G.P. Putnam’s Sons for the print ARC.

[Esther]

Do not waste your time on this. I love Lynn Painter’s, but every other story was just…honestly quite bad.

[Taylor]

Honestly, this is exactly what it sounds like it is

[Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was very cute, a collection of YA short stories inspired by your favorite Taylor Songs written by your favorite YA authors.

I found I liked these more when I was reading them one at a time, like one a day or one between two days. I sat down to finish the rest of them all at once and most of them were just too similar to really stick. There were a few that took a fantasy route and those stood out, but the regular romances all started to blend together. Some felt unfinished, simply stopping and not feeling like the story really ended. Others I felt like too the songs too literally, and I think they could have challenged themselves to do more than just tackle the title of the songs, YA readers are smart and I’m sure would have enjoyed a short story with Easter eggs of the song rather than being so obvious.

A few didn’t even really feel like love stories.

Overall, a really cute idea, I’d recommend reading one a day instead of trying to tackle this whole thing at once. Savor it little by little instead.

Thank you @netgalley and @putnambooks for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[liz ౨ৎ · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Swiftie who doubles as a romance reader, I thought this book would be perfect for me. It was not…

The writing? Painfully juvenile (even for a YA book). The T.S. references? Extremely underwhelming. The book itself? Not what I was hoping.

This just fell incredibly flat for me, and I disliked a majority of the stories. The only one that stuck out to me as enjoyable was the one written by Lynn Painter.

Yeah, this is a no from me.

[Rach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet collection of stories about love, heartbreak, and friendship, all tied to a different Taylor Swift song. Like most short story collections, some of these worked better for me than others, whether it matched my interpretation of the song well or had characters I instantly liked or existed as the perfect little story nugget. If you’re a fan of Taylor Swift, you’ll enjoy reading this collection, listening to the inspiration songs, and thinking about how they relate to one another.

Here are a few of my favorite stories:

It Happened One Wednesday (Begin Again) by Lynn Painter
This one is so funny and cute, I was giggling and kicking my feet (metaphorically). I love second chance romance and dual POV and cuties who are so into each other they can’t help but stare at one another in delight. Sadie and Jess are adorable and I’m so glad Jess banished that ex from Sadie’s mind. It’s pretty clear he was always the one for her. Sigh. Also, it’s not surprising to me I loved this one after loving Lynn Painter’s The Do-Over last year

The Cardigan in Question (Cardigan) by Julie Murphy
Cardigan is one of my favorite Taylor songs and I love the way Julie Murphy (already a favorite author) spun the song and turned it inside out to tell a new version. This one was so sad but also hopeful, dealing with grief, loss, and fear. Despite the sadness, there’s also so much love and joy to find, of you’re willing to seize it. And I always did wish Betty and August would get together.

This One’s Just for Us (Ours) by Jesse Q. Sutanto
I’ve read almost everything Jesse Q Sutanto has ever written so it’s no surprise that I loved this sweet, thoughtful story about two kids who don’t fit in trying to survive in a racist, bigoted town, and finding community and friendship with each other. I get why Ting’s dad moved them away from there, and why she hadn’t told Eric about her feelings and risked “ruining their friendship” but Taylor’ would tell you it’s worth it. The ending of this was perfect.

Once Upon a Grad Night (Willow) by Crystal Maldonado
Willow is my absolute favorite Taylor song and I’m so glad it had such a good story inspired by it, about letting go of your carefully arranged life, being spontaneous, and seizing the moment you desperately want. Pretty much the only thing I didn’t like was how short it was - it definitely needed to be longer because it had so much potential for character growth. I need to know how long Luca has liked Deja and if he came to grad night only to see her. I want to watch they fall In love.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for an early copy of this book for review purposes.

[K. Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was adorable.

13 authors choose 13 Taylor Swift song to give us 13 short stories about love.

Some were truly great and some were a little weird. Many of them had fun twists at the end.

The Grand Gesture - 4/5 - Had me worried for a second but that ending was a win.
Everything Unspoken - 3/5 - A little more melodramatic then my tastes but fun.
This One's Just For Us - 5/5 - This was the first one where the payoff was exceptional. Usually you need a whole book to get that lighthearted feeling at the end.
It Happened One Wednesday - 5/5 - Lynn Painter got me kicking my feet in happiness again. So unexpected in its sweetness.
Group Project - 2/5 - Not bad but it felt unfinished.
Brake For It - 4/5 - Hilarious, I was anxious, I was annoyed and boy did I have egg on my face at the end.
Five Summers - 3/5 - I'm sorry I need more of Will groveling to let me forgive him. His redemption was not earned.
The Cardigan in Question - 3/5 - This was cute but so awkward.
One Upon a Grad Night - 3/5 - I feel like there is a good way and a bad way to do a Manic Pixie Dream Boy. This was somehow both.
We're Here Now - 4/5 - With so little story there was so much payoff.
Fool's Gold - 1/5 - This just did not fit here. It's not a love story, and there is suddenly magic?
Ali Gets A Clue - 4/5 - Yes, give me that yearning and feelings expressed in playlists!
Creative Differences - 4/5 - This is not how I would have ended the book but it was a cute story.

I think The Grand Gesture was a great way to start the collection but I would have ended with Ali Gets a Clue. I think it would have rounded out better because it uses music to tell a love story. Overall, we got a lot of diverse stories and I think they did a great job of linking the story to the song. As a Taylor Swift fan but not quite a swifty I think this collection will be a win with most of her fans.

[cara ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I requested this because I am such a big Lynn Painter fan and must read everything of hers. I was hesitant since I don’t normally love short stories as much since they are all typically fast burn and very rushed. However, I figured this would be a good way to try to expand my horizons and try some new authors as well.

My favorite of the stories were “This One’s Just For Us”, “It Happened One Wednesday”, and “The Cardigan in Question”. The rest were good, but didn’t stick out to me as much. I enjoyed how some of the stories weren’t just focused on romantic relationships but friendships as well, that was so refreshing to read. The friends to lovers ones were my favorites as well, can never go wrong with that. I did have fun and these are super cute if you want a sweet, lighthearted read.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Victoria Godi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this early edition through Goodreads giveaway. I feel like my 14 year old self would have been so giddy reading this book. It’s a collection of short love/friendship stories, each having their own Taylor Swift song attached to it as a theme of the story. It was really cute. Some stories did feel a bit repetitive but they were still good.

[Page-Turner]

𐙚⋆.˚ Pre-read 𝜗𝜚⋆₊˚
Lynn Painter AND Taylor Swift??!?!
Talk about worlds collide.
Don't wake me up, I'm living the dreammm 🩷🩷🩷

[donutqueenie · Rating 3 out of 5]

OVERALL- ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love Taylor Swift’s music!! There’s a lot of variety here. Some characters are in high school and some are in college. Some stories have good plot and development despite few pages and some are just poorly written. Some are in third person POV and some are dual first person POV. Most stories were very cute. I thought the song choices were a little odd and was surprised when some of Taylor’s most popular songs weren’t included (like All Too Well, You Belong With Me, Shake It Off, and Blank Space). This book is marketed to children 12 and up and had content I would definitely not deem appropriate for a child. My favorites are Creative Differences, Once Upon a Grad Night, and Group Project.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Release date 6/30/26.



1- The Grand Gesture by Elise Bryant
🎵“Fifteen”

Harriet is a freshman at a new high school and finds her first love and a new BFF.

4⭐️ I love the Football Team is a BAND!! So cute. It captured the first half of the song “Fifteen” and that pain of first love so well! The tone is whimsy. The layout of the story was a bit weird with the flashbacks and “artifacts.” This is a story about friendship.
—

2- Everything Unspoken by J. Elle
🎵 “Love Story”

RJ and Jules come from warring families in a small town but they just want to be together. (TW: parent hitting child)

2⭐️ I liked the magical realism but it was so oddly intense for no reason that it was unintentionally funny. The tone is dark and I cringed more than once. I don’t think this one matches the song very well except throwing pebbles.
—

3- This One’s Just For Us by Jesse Q. Sutanto
🎵”Ours”

Ting and Eric are seniors in high school and both bullied for different reasons but find solace in each other.

3⭐️ I liked the representation but I didn’t the cursing because it was distracting from the story. I think this one matched the song well but the tone of the writing feels dry. Very cute ending.
—

4- It Happened One Wednesday by Lynn Painter
🎵“Begin Again”

Sadie is waiting for a blind date and runs into an old friend. (TW: alcohol, cigars)

3⭐️The tone is sweet. It’s dual POV and very cute. It fit the song very well (based on reading all of Lynn Painter’s other books, this wasn’t surprising!)
—

5- Group Project by Krystal Marquis
🎵“Style”

Ryan gets paired with her ex boyfriend Lando for a group project.

4⭐️ The tone is cute and the story is about second chances. I think it fit the song well.
—

6- Brake For it by Jessica Goodman
🎵“Getaway Car”

Willa finds out her crush and best friend Cameron is newly single during their senior year of high school. (TW: mar!juana)

2⭐️ I didn’t like the vibe of this one. I don’t think it matched the song well.

——

7
Five Summers by Sloan Harlow
🎵”Cruel Summer”

Will and Alexandra are ex-friends with benefits that reunite unexpectedly.

3⭐️I liked the structure of this story with the flashbacks. The ending was super cute. The tone is serious.
—

8- The Cardigan in Question by Julie Murphy
🎵“Cardigan”

Betty loses a sweater and must agree to date the girl that found it in order to get it back.

1⭐️ DNF Not for me. I did like the vascular (port wine) birthmark representation. I do think it fit the song well with all the names Betty, August, Peter, and Wendy.
—

9- Once Upon a Grad Night by Crystal Maldonado
🎵“Willow”

The overachieving premed student Deja ditches the event she planned for the senior class when a cute friend Luca invites her to a concert.

4⭐️ I liked this one. It was very cute and well written. It fits the song.
—

10- We’re Here Now by Katherine McGhee
🎵“Hits Different”

Carly navigates a secret relationship with a coworker. (TW: alcohol, infidelity)

3⭐️ Cute story but it doesn’t go with the song well because it’s reversed. In the song the breakup hits different because it wasn’t easy to move on from. Carly moves on very fast in this story. But I do love a good friends to lovers, “it was always you” moment.

—
11- Fool’s Gold by Laura Sebastian
🎵“Bejeweled”

1⭐️ DNF Not for me. I didn’t like the content or writing in this one.

—
12- Ali Gets a Clue by Jennifer Dugan
🎵 “The Black Dog”

1⭐️ DNF Not for me. I didn’t like the content or writing in this one.

—
13- Creative Differences by Sara Shepard
🎵 “The Tortured Poets Department”

Violet is in detention and get a mysterious message that leads her to meeting a mysterious person.

4⭐️This one was so fun to read! Very well written and goes well with the song. The tone is truly for the swifties and very tongue in cheek. I loved it.

[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
13 Little Love Stories was a sweet collection of short stories that I ultimately had an okay time reading. As a pretty big Taylor Swift song that knew all of these songs, I was very excited to see them come to life. I loved how some of the authors interpreted the books, and it was nice to just read something short and easy. I got through it very quickly, unlike some other books.
One of the issues I found in this book was that the stories were not consistent at all. Of course, it was written by 13 different authors, so their writing styles aren’t going to be the same, but some were a lot longer than others, and the degree of similarity with the songs the stories were based off of them were huge. The varying lengths aren’t too much of a problem when I think about it now. I just had a few stories I really liked that seemed very cut short, while some stories (a particular one) I disliked a lot, and I was just wondering when it was going to end. Writing down all of their page numbers now, the longest story was 28 pages, written by Elise Bryant, who I also believe is the one hosting this collaboration, and the shortest was 20 pages. It may not seem like a huge difference, but when 10 pages are ⅓ of a story, it is a lot of difference in my opinion. Whether the length of the stories is decided by the authors themselves or the publishing company/Elise Bryant, I really wish some could’ve been expanded on more. Next, the amount of references towards Taylor Swift were close to barely anything in most of the stories, and when an author really tried to follow the song, I just had to hate the story because of how cheesy it was, and it made me kind of sad. Like it’s fine to deviate from the song but if you didn’t tell me which song was which for half of them I wouldn’t have known. Some of the stories were great while others were absolutely horrendous. For a book called 13 Little Love Stories, some weren’t even love stories, which I don’t mind, but for branding purposes that’s pretty bad.

Here’s a compilation of all the short stories, their names, what song they were based on, the author, and the page number, ordered from most liked to least liked according to me. For the page count, this might change because I read the advanced reader's copy, so keep that in mind. My full reviews of each one will be below.

It Happened One Wednesday - Begin Again - Lynn Painter - 25 pages
I think this was my favorite story out of all of them, but This One’s Just For Us is a close runner up. It was a perfect mix of Begin Again and Lynn Painter’s romcom style, it felt like being wrapped in a fuzzy blanket of a new love. The humor is great and so is the fact that they met each other in high school and its kind of a reunion!

This One’s Just For Us - Ours - Jesse Q. Sutanto - 21 pages
I really liked this story and how Sutanto interpreted Ours, I absolutely ate it up, she totally deserved to have more pages in this book. One part of it felt very rushed, and I wonder if it’s because of a possible page limit? Anyways, super sweet and great.

The Cardigan In Question - Cardigan - Julie Murphy - 25 pages
Really liked this story, I liked how the author interpreted the song well enough to include themes from it but change it ever so slightly to show their creativity, which some people did not do (cough cough J. Elle).

We’re Here Now - Hits Different - Katharine McGee - 25 pages
Loved this story honestly, from the tech bros to the friends to lovers, again even though I really enjoyed it and have nothing I would change, I don’t think it relates to Hits Different because she and her lover had never broken up and instead it was a relationship beforehand that the main character had broken up with, yet she never cared about him that much. So why Hits Different? And that song is not happy, this story was very happy, which isn’t a bad thing, the storyline is just entirely different.

Creative Differences - The Tortured Poets Department - Sara Shepard - 23 pages
So a pretty fun and kind of “get over him” story. I do like how the characters show their little quirks and the slight plot twist but it doesn’t go very in depth, nothing really happens, but it was nice!

Brake For It - Getaway Car - Jessica Goodman - 23 pages
This was a really fun story! I liked the break from romance after romance, and played into the actual song very well. 9/10 actually going back to this it is a compilation of love stories so I guess it didn’t follow the theme given very well?

Fool’s Gold - Bejeweled - Laura Sebastian - 20 pages
The worldbuilding was great, but again this wasn’t a love story. There was a lot that I think could’ve been elaborated on, it’s very surface level.

Once Upon A Grad Night - Willow - Crystal Maldonado - 20 pages
This was a sweet story, it didn’t stir anything in me, but I think if Maldonado had more pages to fully flesh out both of the characters it would’ve been better. I see no correlation between this story and the song Willow though, aside from her following him around but that’s not enough for me. Their love is almost instantaneous, it’s only the first day in the story while Willow’s lyrics make it seem like a more long and deep term relationship.

Ali Gets a Clue - The Black Dog - Jennifer Dugan - 23 pages
Only thing related to The Black Dog was the fact that the coffee shop was called that. What happens has nothing to do with what happens in the Black Dog, which is kind of disappointing because the story itself isn’t terrible, and I really wish that Dugan used the song more when creating her story.

Group Project - Style - Krystal Marquis - 20 pages
Sweet, but got absolutely nothing from it. They just argue and make up. I wish there was more to it, honestly.

Five Summers - Cruel Summer - Sloan Harlow - 27 pages
This did not have to be as long as it was. The whole story is just miscommunication after miscommunication which was a bit frustrating, but it wasn’t bad. The Summer idea was repeated a lot in the story but other than that there was nothing that was similar to the actual song.

The Grand Gesture - 15 - Elise Bryant - 28 pages
Nice idea, this just felt very self insert for the main character, I wish it was another short story that started this book off. I feel like Bryant really wanted to make that quirky high school teenager who’s obsessed with Twilight and romance movies. She also turns her nose up at the art deco, lit fic and band player kind of stereotype, if you understand what I mean. Like the people who watch the Dead Poet’s Society and write poems and music in their free time and think they’re better than those who read smut or something. I kind of understood where she was coming from, I’ve met people with that sort of complex, but honestly I think some of those people were really cool and it kind of icked me out to hear her talk to her friend about how much she loves Edward Cullen because like girl you are not better than those people. It’s giving pick me, and gave me bad vibes. Again it just felt like she was a character written right out of a Wattpad fanfic of “One Direction Kidnapped Me” and yeah if you can get that vibe. In no way did it have to be this long, but I guess it’s because Bryant is hosting the collab.

Everything Unspoken - Love Story - J. Elle - 25 pages
Elle tries to play into the fantasy genre for this but everything is just so cheesy like two families own different shops in this town yet their rivalry is bad enough to get someone hanged? It wasn’t realistic at all, it was like she owns a meat shop and he owns a cupcake shop but their families hate each other the same way Romeo and Juliet did? This was the one story I think the author tried a bit too hard to have it relate to the original story. She tried to make the rivalry sound really bad but the reason for it made no sense. If she really wanted them to hate each other she could’ve made it into something in modern high society or they’re academic rivals or something. She wants the best of both worlds yet she gets absolutely nothing out of it. And then she has to include this random thing about reading minds? It just made everything chaotic, and not in a good way. It made me cringe the whole time I was reading. It was so bad. I mean, at least it didn’t have any spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, but that’s its only saving grace. If I was rating this separately it would be a 2 stars. This was also the story I wish was shortened or completely removed or rewritten because some of my favorite stories are 20 pages while this one gets 25. Like what?

This book had a lot of highs and lows, so read if you’re fine with that, but honestly I wouldn’t recommend unless you’re a big Taylor Swift fan. It’s not bad, it just could’ve been a lot better, and I was a bit disappointed.

[astra]

was not expecting that list of authors

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own. I'm going to review each story separately. Some of these authors I've read, some were new to me. I love having short stories that introduce me to new authors.

The Grand Gesture by Elis Bryant
"Fifteen"

This story was cute. I loved the idea of the FMC getting lost in a boy and then coming back to understand friendships are so very important. Harriet learns and grows. I didn't like Oliver for her or how she was with him. But I loved how she was in her friendship with Gaile. High school friendships are so important. And Harriet's mom had an excellent point: your relationships change as you change.

Everything Unspoken by J. Elle
"Love Story"

How can you not like a "Romeo and Juliet" story. I really love the song that inspired this one. The Vales and the Marlos (Montagues and the Capulettes) are like any other love story torn apart by family drama. This story goes just as you would suspect, minus the death. It was cute. I loved the little paranormal twist Elle included.

This One's Just for Us by Jesse Q. Sutanto
"Ours"
This was so cute. I really liked the bonding between Ting and Eric. They had their differences but also so much in common. The touch on bullying was important: both for the racism and ableist aspects. I'm glad neither character let it get to them. While I was hoping for the ending that happened, I was expecting it might not and then it did! This story made me a little teary!

It Happened One Wednesday by Lynn Painter
"Begin Again"
I really like Lynn Painter. This was a nice little story from her. I will continue to read whatever she writes because her stories always just make me happy. She makes her stories so sweet and always has be giddy. I loved that she chose to go with an older couple who had history. That was fun.

Group Project by Krystal Marquis
"Style"
This one was cute but a bit too shot for me. I liked the chemistry between the characters. I'm not sure about the ending, though. It's very open ended but I didn't truly understand the last line.

Brake For It by Jessica Goodman
"Getaway Car"
This was a little bit Thelma and Louise, I guess. I definitely thought it was going to go a different way. I did not see the little twist coming.

Five Summers by Sloan Harlow
"Cruel Summer"
This one was a very "When Harry Met Sally" type of story. I enjoyed watching the summers go by. I liked that she chose herself. I didn't love that she so easily fell back into him after what he did but love is love and makes you do stupid stuff.

The Cardigan in Question by Julie Murphy
"Cardigan"
I'm not a huge sapphic fan but this short story was nice. I liked the fact that the differences didn't matter. I enjoyed the two personalities of the characters. And it was nice to see the one change and grow and move on from a tragedy.

Once Upon a Grad Night by Crystal Maldonado
"Willow"

This one was really sweet. Nerdy girl gets her Cinderella story. A girl with no friends, focused totally on academics who has always done what her mother wants takes a chance to get outside her box on graduation night and ends up having first time experiences that change her way of thinking.


We're Here Now by Katharine McGee
"Hits Different"

How very When Harry Met Sally was this story. Very cute. A matter of imperfect timing before realizing what you needed/wanted was right in front of you all along. I would have liked to see a bit more interaction with Carley and Nate in the story to feel that energy. But it was cute, nonetheless.

Fool's Gold by Laura Sebastian
"Bejeweled"

I wasn't expecting a little fantasy to enter into these stories! I enjoyed this one. Not much romance to it but friendship for sure. A found family type of vibe. I would have liked more background about the magic but I do understand that's hard to do with such a short story.

Ali Gets a Clue by Jennifer Dugan
"The Black Dog"

I'm not usually much for sapphic books but I liked this one. Ali finding herself and allowing herself to open up and be vulnerable. It was nice to watch her small growth in this story.

Creative Differences by Sara Shepard
"The Tortured Poets"

This story was sweet. Another nerd who finds something new by stepping outside her box. There's only a bit of romance to this one. It's mostly a little mysterious stuff. There was a big plot hole, though, and I was annoyed by that.

3.5/5 stars rounded to 4.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful collection of short stories! Of course given the nature of it, I loved some more than others, but it was all in all really enjoyable. And I say this as someone who is mostly unfamiliar with most of Taylor Swift's recent songs.

1. The Grand Gesture by Elise Bryant - 5/5
This was such a surprise! I wasn't sure where the story was going but when I realized what it was trying to tell it made me smile so much. I love the main relationship in this and how Harrite figured out what matters most!

2. Everything Unspoken by J. Elle - 3.5/5
This one was quite intense. I found the mind reading and romeo and juliet concepts really interesting. But the pacing for this concept was way too quick and I feel this didn't fit a short story format.

3. This One's Just for Us by Jesse Q. Sutanto - 4/5
A really cute story! Ting and Eric found each other at the exact right time when they needed someone and their connection was so authentic and sweet. The messages were adorable and so was the ending.

4. It Happened One Wednesday by Lynn Painter - 5/5
Swoon! I love Lynn Painter's banter in dialogue. The reunion between Sadie and Jess was so full of sparks and chemistry and it's no wonder they didn't want to end their time together yet. I also loved the group of older men and the cards, how fun!

5. Group Project by Krystal Marquis - 3/5
I loved the angst of this, the conflict of going in different directions and disagreeing about life is compelling, but I also didn't feel that attatched, I don't know why, maybe it's because there wasn't enough time to see these characters interact before caring about their relationship. Plus the ending gave no certain closure.

6. Brake for it by Jessica Goodman - 3/5
I don't really know what to think of this one. I loved the ending because I didn't see it coming, and it was quite a twist. But at the same time, maybe it was too misleading for the reader? Not sure how to put it, but yeah it was fine.

7. Five Summers by Sloan Harlow - 5/5
Oh, I thought this one was so good! And I say this as best friends isn't my usual favourite trope. But the format of showing each summer and then the present was so good, I loved it. And it had some amazing yearning in it. The ending was also super sweet. Love love!!!

8. The Cardigan in Question by Julie Murphy - 4.5/5
Another surprise of a story! Even though the pace was fast I thought it was lovely. At first I wasn't sure about August considering she was a bit forward at first, but it was clear that's what Betty needed. The grief was portrayed well, and I loved Betty and August's talk in the tree. And the ending was sweet with how nervous August was!

9. Once Upon A Grad Night by Crystal Maldonado - 5/5
Oh I loved this one too! There's no better night than grad night to do things you've never done before. The chemistry and atmosphere in this book was so good and I loved the vulnerability and the cupcakes. The dance was so picturesque and romantic. Can I also say the fortune tree is a beautiful concept.

10. We're Here Now by Katherine McGee - 2/5
This one.. felt a bit strange to me. The story felt kind of distant and unemotional, and the way the couple got together in the end felt anticlimactic, especially since she'd just broke up to it felt too sudden.

11. Fool's Gold by Laura Sebastian - 3/5
The powers and the settings with the jewels were super cool. I found myself pretty confused with the plot, though the revenge and friendships the MC made were really great.

12. Ali Gets a Clue by Jennifer Dugan - 5/5
So cute! I loved this one! The yearning and hiding of feelings of both of them was such an epitome of pining. I loved the MC's introspection, it was really funny and made me laugh. And the playlist used as a sort of confession? That was PERFECT. The ending was so emotional and just perfection!

13. Creative Differences by Sara Shepard - 4/5
This one was really fun. I loved the dynamic between the two as she stumbled into his room by accident and they started talking. The chemistry was sweet, and I loved how she wrote that essay about her ex. Not the best idea but still amazing! Max the poet is definitely swoony and I love how the story didn't rush anything and left it be for the future!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

[Ashley N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

13 Little Love Stories is a fun anthology of 13 romantic short stories by popular YA authors, each story inspired by a Taylor Swift song. Of course there are 13 stories, right? Disclaimer - I am not a big TS fan. I am not overly familiar with most of the inspiration songs - I googled the lyrics prior to reading each story, and then listened to the song once done. I will say that I think each author pretty much nailed it, with the song inspiring the story. Long review ahead, with my brief thoughts on each story.

Elise Bryant - The Grand Gesture
Playlist: Fifteen
High school setting, a story of feeling like you don't fit in, and how friendship helps. Then, how first love can change a friendship, and ultimately how the friendship holds true when a guy comes and goes. 3⭐️

J. Elle - Everything Unspoken
Playlist: Love Story
Indeterminate fantasy setting, a Romeo and Juliet retelling with a fantasy/supernatural vibe. It felt different and magical. Excellent use of the iconic "Say yes" line from the song (I know this song!), used perfectly at the end. 4⭐️

Jesse Q. Sutanto - This One’s Just For Us
Playlist: Ours
High school setting, with a charming, sweet, optimistic vibe. Timely too - subtly takes on topics of immigrant prejudice, autism, racism, and ableism. Not a good look for Iowa. I loved how the female character valued the things in the male character that made him different. Nice use of "Ours" at the end. 4.5-5⭐️

Lynn Painter - It Happened One Wednesday
Playlist: Begin Again
Late college setting, more of a new adult setup. A second chance encounter, that reflects back to a ninth grade study hall (so really, some high school feel too). The one that got away vibes. The song inspiration really shines in this one. "You should come". 4.5-5⭐️

Krystal Marquis - Group Project
Playlist: Style
High school setting with an on/off relationship between two seniors. I didn't get into this one, it felt incomplete for me, even considering the short story format. It matches up well with the song however. 3⭐️

Jessica Goodman - Brake For It
Playlist: Getaway Car
High school setting, seniors about to graduate. Seemed like it was going to be a love triangle, but then not quite. It surprised me. Did not turn out as I expected. Love the message of girls sticking together. 4⭐️

Sloan Harlow - Five Summers
Playlist: Cruel Summer
College setting, with snippets from past four summers covering college years, then more in the present day, where the relationship implodes. Culminates at graduation, with a maybe second chance. I didn't like the ending on this one, he should have figured it out sooner. 3⭐️

Julie Murphy - The Cardigan In Question
Playlist: Cardigan
College setting, a f/f pairing, which was refreshing after all the m/f prior. Excellent use of the cardigan in driving the story. 3.5⭐️

Crystal Maldonado - Once Upon a Grad Night
Playlist: Willow
High school setting, at a senior party on graduation night. Heavy emphasis on family responsibilities. Nice metaphor with the willow, in that it's ok to bend without breaking. 3⭐️

Katharine McGee - We're Here Now
Playlist: Hits Different
College setting, seniors in college. Friendship that could be more, but we are too scared to make that happen so we fool ourselves with a bad relationship choice that turns out badly. Promise at the end. 3⭐️

Laura Sebastian - Fool's Gold
Playlist: Bejeweled
Indeterminate fantasy setting. I found this story very intriguing and different. All the characters have jewel/gemstone names, with subtle influence on their character. Hard relationship lesson, with a satisfying revenge. 4.5-5⭐️

Jennifer Dugan - Ali Gets a Clue
Playlist: The Black Dog
High school setting, f/f. Pining over best friend, convinces herself she likes a flaky boy for 3 years, then realizes what a waste. Better late than never. 3.5⭐️

Sara Shepard - Creative Differences
Playlist: The Tortured Poets Department
High school setting with post breakup blues. My vibe for this was the best way to get over someone is to find someone new. 3⭐️

If you enjoy YA/NA romance and Taylor Swift, definitely pick this one up.

ARC received from Penguins' Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

[Elizabeth Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the thirteen stories in this anthology to be quite a mixed bag. There were some I thought were excellent, a few I thought were kind of a mixed bag or forgettable and a few I downright didn't enjoy. Overall I would recommend it if you're a Taylor Swift fan though because most of them do a pretty decent job at catching the essence of each of the songs they're inspired by.

The following is each of the stories and a little bit of what I thought about each one so this doesn't get to be too long.

1. The Grand Gesture - Elise Bryant
I found this one to be super fun, it was probably one of the most directly and closely inspired by a song, Fifteen. Definitely one of the highlights.

2. Everything Unspoken - J. Elle
I felt that this one was trying to do too much within a limited number of pages. I don't think being able to hear each other's thoughts and such was needed. Could've just been a bitter rivalry for getting her brother arrested.

3. This One's Just For Us ~ Jesse Q. Sutanto
This one was really sweet. I liked seeing people from different walks of life that were both bullied coming together and experiencing a deep affection for each other. Cute!

4. It Happened One Wednesday ~ Lynn Painter
I liked this one so much. Loved their banter. Loved that he remembered things about her. Loved that it was a reconnection. Loved his uncle and their fancy uno. So much fun. I think this may have actually been my favorite story in the entire collection.

5. Group Project ~ Krystal Marquis
This one was fine.. It's a much more loose adaptation of the song. It was more like the song happened after the story. It wasn't all that exciting but it wasn't exactly bad either. Sorta middle of the road.

6. Brake For It - Jessica Goodman
I actually didn't think I'd like this one at first but it took a fun female friendship twist and I loved it. Heck yeah. Show the man who's boss and that he can't lie to ruin your reputation. This one ended up being a highlight.

7. Five Summers - Sloan Harlow
This one didn't really work for me. He showed disinterest basically the entire time except for the end and it was almost exhausting to read at points. She deserved better. Definitely not my fave.

8. The Cardigan in Question - Julie Murphy
This one was sorta unexpected. I didn't know what direction it was going to take at first, I wouldn't say I was totally in love with it but I didn't hate it either. It was fairly solid. I liked the connections it made to the song Cardigan.

9. Once Upon A Grad Night - Crystal Maldonado
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. I thought it was super sweet and cute. It didn't feel that connected to the song other than he wrecked her plans I guess. Don't have a lot to say about it.

10. We're Here Now - Katherine McGee
This one I didn't really like at all. It felt poorly paced, it felt like he was just a rebound and I didn't buy their relationship dynamic at all. It sorta followed the song but that's about the only compliment I'm willing to give it. I also found it boring.

11. Fool's Gold - Laura Sebastian
This one was honestly weird. Like it wasn't really a romance. They were stealing gemstones from rich people and her ex was the guy who taught her to steal them. I kinda liked the magical powers and stuff in this one when I didn't in the Love Story inspired one because it felt more natural. But this one was almost odd?

12. Ali Gets A Clue - Jennifer Dugan
I found this one to be pretty cute overall, but it wasn't super memorable. It got the point of the song across but compared to some of the other stories it just wasn't as exciting or interesting.

13. Creative Differences - Sara Shepard
I actually really liked this one a lot and I found it to be a fantastic way to end the anthology. I won't give too much away but I feel like it almost had a small magical element to it? even if it wasn't directly addressed /as/ magic and it made for a fun and intriguing reading experience. I also kept picturing the Fortnight music video so that was fun.

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, GP Putnam's Sons and NetGalley for the ARC to honestly review.

[Cadence Boudreaux · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can’t earnestly review an entire collection so i’ll write my reviews for each story separately!

Story one - fifteen.
BAD! I’d probably give this one star by itself . I understand and see what it was attempting to achieve it obviously didn’t have the proper space to try and do that. I didn’t really establish her friendship as important and so when she lost it i didn’t care as much as she did . Sorry girl. Also jesus , chill on the twilight mentions a bit? also isn’t this a love story collection? and it opens with a story about love sucking because she personally lied in her relationship? not for me .


Story Two - Love story
maybe i was too harsh on story one because this was even worse than the last? Romeo and Juliette has to be one of the easiest stories to retell , especially with the song for a storyboard . And yet? it falls so flat of the emotions and story. Again it doesn’t go with the song really , they’re forbidden lovers yes but they do not run away they end up defying standards . I don’t know i didn’t like this one at all.

Story Three - Ours

Definitely the best so far , it’s not how i interpret the song but it’s much closer to what it’s trying to be and i admire that. I do wish the ending was a bit different! but this was very fun and i liked the chemistry!

Story Four - begin again (LYNN!!!!)
PERFECT!
This is the type of energy i want the entire collection to have . Now i’m biased i admit, I love Lynn painter and her writing , but i can also tell through her story that she gets the song and is adapting it . Calling back to lyrics , banter , laughing . It’s all so fairytale and so taylor swift . This was a perfect novella and such a good adaption of begin again. I wish the entire collection was like this .

Story 5- Style
Please hold your shock when i say i wasn’t a fan of this . It was okay! It had several callbacks to lyrics which was nice but it felt like a weird song choice and storyline for a collection about love stories . It did what it needed not much to say.

Story 6- Getaway Car
this is not a love story again, which means it’s bad for the collection??? but it was such a funny ending i laughed . This one feels like a tumblr imagine that’s like “one direction does this and harry looks at you like this…”

Story 7- Cruel Summer
THISSSSS!!! this is where the collection needs to be. Super good , so cute , yearning !!!! I loved this one .

Story 8- Cardigan
Unlike how some of these are too subtly related to to the songs or taylor this one is OVERLY connected and it doesn’t work well. Peter and wendy mention was so funny , but augustine and betty already have established stories so for me i can’t picture them outside of that. I’m also never a fan of a kiss amidst a sad trauma moment so i didn’t like it .


Story 9- Willow
It’s cute ! very subtle and simple . I liked it i didn’t connect with the characters all that much but it’s good .

Story 10- Hits Different
The idea of writing a love story to hits different sums up my feelings on this story pretty much. Who is PICKING these songs?? I liked the ending but definitely a little bit jumbled the switching between past and present is a bit strange !

Story 11- Bejeweled
by far my least favorite , it’s not a love story AT ALL! and it also just didn’t make much sense

Story 12- The Black Dog
I love this one! I don’t think black dog should’ve been on the playlist to go with it but the story itself was cute! I liked it a lot . The ending was super super cute.

Story 13 - The Tortured Poets department
Not a love story so it doesn’t fit the collection, but it was well written ! i did like it .

Overall this collection was very dissatisfying to me . I went in expecting taylor swift themed love stories and several weren’t even love stories at all! Lynn painter really drove this collection home for me ! Cruel summers story as well.

[sere_s_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

13 Little Love Stories is such a charming collection of romantic short stories, featuring talented authors like Lynn Painter, Elise Bryant, Jennifer Dugan, J. Elle, and many more. While I enjoyed discovering so many different voices and love stories, there was one story that stood out above all the others: Lynn Painter's It Happened One Wednesday.
Lynn Painter once again proves why she is one of my all-time favorite authors. Even in the short story format, she manages to create characters who feel authentic, lovable, and impossible not to root for.

Sadie is reluctantly trying to move forward after the end of a long-term relationship she had invested years of love and energy into. Then there's Jess, the high school bad boy who has secretly always had a soft spot for her. The Rory and Jess (Gilmore Girls) vibes were absolutely immaculate!
I couldn't help but think about Rory and Jess reconnecting in a similar way. Years ago, I read several fanfictions imagining exactly this kind of second chance for them, so from the moment I started this story, my mind immediately went back to Rory and Jess. Don't get me wrong—the ending of Gilmore Girls, with Jess looking at Rory through the window, filled my heart with hope. But I always wished we could have actually seen them find their way back to each other and finally be happy together. This story felt like a little glimpse into that possibility, and I absolutely adored it.
Sadie and Jess's second-chance romance unfolds with so much tenderness and hope. One Wednesday night, after Sadie is stood up yet again by her blind date, Jess unexpectedly re-enters her life and shows her the kind of love she truly deserves: attentive, genuine, and thoughtful. He listens to her, values her opinions, remembers her passions, and even recalls her talent for writing. For the first time in a long while, he makes her feel truly seen. The fact that he had always paid attention to the little things about her completely melted my heart. And the revelation that, as teenagers, he kept wearing his leather jacket even when it was unbearably hot just to impress her was one of the sweetest details ever!

Jess is genuinely the kind of book boyfriend everyone dreams of finding. This story beautifully reminds us that sincere love exists and that allowing ourselves to take a chance on love again, even after heartbreak, might just be the best decision we can make.
Honestly, this story deserves an entire novel of its own. Lynn, please make it happen! 🥹
I also absolutely loved the concept behind this collection: creating love stories inspired by Taylor Swift songs. It Happened One Wednesday is based on "Begin Again," and I honestly can't think of a more perfect song for Sadie and Jess's story.
I've only been listening to Taylor Swift for a few years, and I have to thank Bookstagram for that, as well as her undeniable popularity among book lovers. Maybe it's because Taylor writes about love in all its countless forms and nuances, making her songs resonate so deeply with so many fictional love stories. That's exactly why I requested this collection on NetGalley, and I'm so glad I did.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read this wonderful collection filled with beautiful stories and unforgettable moments. 💕📚✨

[lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★ ~ five stars

⋆ 𖤓 ⋆˚࿔ I just finished *13 Little Love Stories* and I genuinely cannot remember the last time I flew through a book this fast — I read the entire thing in one sitting. It was one of those “I’ll just read one more story” situations that turned into me finishing the whole collection in one sitting.

⌗ This anthology is basically a lineup of short, romantic meet-cutes, and what surprised me most is how *complete* each story felt despite the length. None of them felt rushed or unfinished — instead, they captured that very specific, magical moment of connection when two people first meet, and then left just enough to the imagination. Some were funny, some were softer and more emotional, and a few leaned into that slightly bittersweet feeling of “what happens after this?” which I actually loved.

⌗ Lynn Painter’s story was easily my favorite. It had that perfect balance of banter, tension, and emotional payoff, and the characters felt so vivid right away. Without getting too vague — the way she builds chemistry in such a short space is honestly kind of insane. It felt like a full rom-com packed into just a few pages, and I would 100% read a full-length novel about those two.

⌗ A few other stories really stood out too — especially the ones that played with unique settings or slightly unexpected twists on the meet-cute trope. There’s one where the connection feels almost accidental but ends up being incredibly meaningful, and another that leans into miscommunication in a way that actually works instead of feeling frustrating. I also appreciated how different each author’s voice was; you can really tell this is a collection of distinct styles rather than everything blending together.

⌗ That said, I do think some stories were stronger than others (which is kind of inevitable with anthologies). A couple didn’t hit me emotionally as much or felt like they ended just a little too abruptly. But even then, none of them felt like a miss — just more like “not my personal favorite.”

⌗ As for the Taylor Swift theme… I have mixed feelings. I love the *idea* of it, and you can definitely see the inspiration in certain stories — whether it’s specific tropes, emotional beats, or vibes that feel very “this could be a song.” But it’s not always super obvious, and if you went in expecting direct references or clear parallels to specific songs, you might not always find that. For me, though, it didn’t take away from the reading experience — it just felt like a loose creative prompt rather than something you needed to track while reading.

⌗ One of my favorite things about this book was actually discovering new authors. I went in mainly excited for Lynn Painter, but I came out with multiple writers I want to check out next, which is honestly the best outcome for an anthology like this.

・❥・ Overall, this was such a fun, cozy, bingeable read. If you love romance — especially those early sparks, awkward first meetings, and “this could be something” moments — this collection absolutely delivers. It’s perfect for when you want something light but still emotionally satisfying, and I would highly recommend it for getting out of a reading slump.

⋆ 𖤓 ⋆˚࿔ Definitely one of the most enjoyable, easy reads I’ve picked up in a while.

xx! Lia 

[Sarah Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

The idea for this anthology of love stories inspired by Taylor Swift songs was so cute! Overall I would give it an average of 3.75 ⭐️ . This is geared towards Young Adult - but some of the stories felt more for middle schoolers while others felt more college aged. But they were quick and cute and feel like each really embodied the song they were inspired by. Further breakdown of each story below. I could totally read more of these and am now requesting an adult version :)

Breakdowns:
The Grand Gesture - “Fifteen” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ cute! Definitely takes you back to being a teen in their first relationship. You think it’s everything and consume yourself in it. But don’t lose sight of yourself or your friendships.

Everything Unspoken - “Love Story” - ⭐️⭐️ reminding myself this is for teens but it was just a little too cheesy spot on Romeo and Juliet. The magical realism of hearing each others thoughts felt like an odd addition.

This One’s Just for Us - “Ours” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sweet friend to lovers meet cute. Touches on bullying and racism in teens which was

It Happened One Wednesday - “Begin Again” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ second chance romance, I liked getting both of their perspectives. It was believable and super cute.

Group Project - “Style” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️while the couple definitely shouldn’t stay together post graduation, this fit the song and was a classic high school couple that can’t stay away from each other.

Brake for It - “Getaway Car” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ besties > testes

Five Summers - “Cruel Summer” ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ No Notes. Just like the Song. This was probably the most adult story. Set in college, friends to lovers.

The Cardigan in Question - “cardigan” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ the first half of this I didn’t like and then it turns into a more heartfelt story. I just didn’t love how pushy August was even if it got Betty out of her comfort zone.

Once Upon a Grad Night - “Willow” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ felt like a cute teen Freeform movie. Paired nicely with the song.

We’re Here Now - “Hits Different” - ⭐️⭐️ While the story felt believable, think it needed fleshed out more to root for the mfc

Fools Gold - “Bejeweled” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ the idea of this read like a fun Taylor music video. But the names being the same as gems got a little all over the place

Ali Gets a Clue - “The Black Dog” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Liked there being some LGBTQ+ representation in the anthology. But in general the story felt lack luster. Think a duel POV could have amped up the yearning.

Creative Differences - “TTPD” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Think some magical realism could have been cute here. Fit the song but was just okay.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Young Readers Group for this ARC!

[Reading_seas0n · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Penguin Young Readers Group | G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this graphic novel. I am a part of the Penguin Teen Influencer program but I can happily say I will also give my honest opinion and I honestly enjoyed this!

I saw and wanted to reminisce about going to the ERA's tour with my Hard-Core Swiftie BFF. A Swiftie that I think would love this, so this might be a gift for her when it releases now because this was very very sweet and heart-warming.

Ratings for each short story:
>The Grand Gesture 'Fifteen' - 4.5 stars
Relationships come and go but friendships can last forever and you have to remember they nurture you as you nurture them.
>Everything Unspoken 'Love Story' - 4 stars
Ohhhh a little supernatural/mind connect twist with an adorable (happy ending) Romeo & Juliet couple? LOVE!
>This one's just for us 'Ours' - 4 stars
Finding a spot that became 'Ours' a safe place when you are adapting to a new place and finding a person that helps. SWEET!
>It Happened one Wednesday 'Begin Again' - 5 stars
This had me hooked! When your date doesn't show up but the crush you liked more does and it feels like a restart. UGH YES!
>Group Project 'Style' -3.5 stars
Cute! Not what i expected when thinking of the song but Cute.
>Brake for It 'Getaway Car' - 5 stars
YESSSS! GALS BEFORE PALS! Revenge is sweet and asshole men deserve to lie in the beds they make.
>Five Summers 'Cruel Summer' - 4 stars
Boys needs to figure their shit out before they break girls and their own hearts!
>The Cardigan in Question 'Cardigan' - 4 stars
Okay, okay. Now I like that way, they moved the story.
>Once Upon a Grad Night 'Willow' - 4.5 stars
Take the chance because the moment is never perfect and I think that is a great lesson to give.
>We're Here Now 'Hits Different' - 3.5 stars
(My friend is gonna be made cause I couldn't for the life of me remember this Taylor song, So I had to pause and listen and then come back and read this short story)
> Fool's Gold 'Bejeweled' - 4.5 stars
Ohhh a jewel thief, a heist vibe? I like that!
> Ali Gets a Clue 'The Black Dog' - 3 stars
Strangely that one didn't feel believable as I wanted it to be.
>Creative Differences 'The Tortured Poet Society' - 4 stars
We love a potential rivals to lovers.

Some songs were a different choice that I didn't think of when I thought Love story & Taylor Swift. Some a pleasant surprise, some aren't my fave but their story was and some didn't match as much as I wanted them too. But this overall is a great and fun time!