Glitter-star confetti exploding out of parcels, “13”s doodled on our hands — Taylor Swift’s got us deep in our showgirl eras, but bestselling author Elizabeth Eulberg is taking us way back to the Fearless days with Love Stories (The Taylors Version #1). It’s a YA gem about four friends, all rocking variations of Taylor’s name, each falling headfirst into first love — because honestly, if anyone’s gonna make love stories feel universal, it’s Taylor Swift. We caught up with Elizabeth to talk all things Taylor-isms— from chapter titles inspired by iconic songs to pages literally formatted like stan group chats (yes, she gets it).
Right from the jump, Maya Marlette (who you describe as your Jack Antonoff), the senior editor at Scholastic, opens her note with “Dear reader,” which, of course, is a track on Midnights (3am Edition). How important was it for you to collaborate with people who were also Taylor fans?
Who isn’t a Taylor fan? But yes! It was so wonderful not only working with Maya, who has been my editor for my last couple of books, but knowing she was a Swiftie. I loved when she got references that I put in. And when the book went through the stages of production, there were various copyedits and production folks at Scholastic who were leaving comments in the manuscripts about Easter Eggs, which made me so happy!
Liz Parkes designed the cover for this book alongside its sister novel, The Taylors by Jen Calonita. Both covers capture moments from The Eras Tour and Taylor’s iconic looks (like the ‘22’ music video outfit and the Fearless tasseled dress). What was it like working with her, and is there a costume you secretly wish had made it onto the cover?
I love Liz’s illustrations. It was so fun—and a little emotional—to see the Taylors grow up in her art. She captured it perfectly and recreated their homecoming looks on my cover better than I could’ve ever imagined. I love the cover of the sequel, Cruel Summer, even more. Now I need to find a reason to get these girls in sequins and feathers for their showgirl era!
Jen Calonita is also one of your best friends, making this the perfect writing duo. Was there a particular night during the process that felt like a “pinch me, can’t believe we’re doing this” moment?
We had so many pinch-me moments: having long FaceTime sessions where we developed the characters, reading each other’s works, brainstorming… But when the books were announced—in People Magazine, no less!!—and seeing the response to this secret we were keeping was definitely a highlight. And now, having the books come out on the heels of a brand-new Taylor album?!?! Never in our wildest dreams!
Jen’s book is geared toward middle graders, while yours leans more YA. What drew you to tell your story for that audience in particular?
Tackling their first loves just lent itself to YA. I love how the readers can grow alongside these characters. I also get to explore the characters a bit more, as Jen’s is through one character’s POV, but in YA I could give them each their moments and voices. Plus, drama and tension are just so high school.
The four friends in the book—Taylor, Tay Tay, TS, and Teffy—are essentially different versions of Taylor. When you hear each of those names, what personality trait or defining characteristic immediately comes to mind?
I love these four girls so much, and while they are BFFs and Swifties for life, they are very different. Teffy is more reserved, Tay is very ENERGETIC!, Taylor is fierce, and TS is focused. But they work so well together. TS can be Teffy’s voice when she’s being shy, Tay can boost anybody’s confidence and make things FUN!, Teffy is who you go to when you need someone to listen to you, and Taylor will always have your back.
Stan Twitter group chats and Discord servers are a huge part of modern fandom, and at various points throughout the book, your characters chat online just like real fans do. Why was it important to weave those details into the story, and is there another scene in the book where that really shines?
I loved writing the group chats before every chapter. They really let their personalities shine (and add some Easter Eggs about the next chapter). Technology is such a big part of life for everybody, but especially teens, so I had to incorporate that. It comes into play more in the second book when one of the girls goes viral…but no spoilers!
Each chapter title borrows from a Taylor song. Is there one pairing you’re especially proud of because the song perfectly mirrors the chapter’s theme?
Yes! I first wrote a rough draft before I did the chapter titles. Then I decided to make my life extra complicated by having the chapter number line up with the track number on the album (for instance ‘the 1’ is chapter one in my book, and the first song on evermore). So when I went to look at the second track on Taylor’s albums, ‘Fifteen’ fit in so perfectly with the chapter I already wrote—including a couple lines that a guy says to one of the Taylors. It was very, VERY eerie!
While the book is light and fun, it also touches on serious topics like standing up for friends, grooming, and cheating. Why do you think placing these conversations in the world of Taylor makes them easier for teens to engage with?
Life is hard, especially for young girls. While I always want people to enjoy reading my books, there’s a responsibility to tackle some difficult subjects. Hopefully, having it in a book makes it easier for people to talk about it as they can relate it to a fictional character. Taylor Swift can make a bop about complicated issues (like online bullying in ‘You Need to Calm Down’) that has people singing along and thinking. It’s a balance that I hope I did half as well as her!
One of the standout elements of the story is how it shows Taylor’s music speaking to every kind of love story—like TS’s crush on her London girl, which flips pronouns in the way fans often do. Is there a Taylor song you think feels especially universal, or that resonates beyond traditional love story boundaries?
Taylor Swift has such an amazing catalog of songs that speak to universal feelings like feeling unseen (‘You Belong with Me’), break-ups (so many, but ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ is a song that I’ve blasted on more than one occasion post break-up), revenge (‘Look What You Made Me Do’), but I think the one song that everybody could use from time to time is ‘Shake it Off’ because the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate…
Teffy’s love story is left open-ended, which feels like a nod to fans who grew up living vicariously through Taylor’s music without having their own fairy-tale romance. How do you hope those fans will connect with this part of the book?
I hope readers will be curious enough to pick up the sequel, Cruel Summer, where we’ll get to see what happens with Teffy and the rest of the Taylors the summer after freshman year—coming January 6th!
Chapter title = banger. Which one hit your heartstrings the hardest? Read Love Stories (The Taylors Version #1) and slide into our comments on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook. 💖🐈
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