Books to Song Lyrics: “You’re On Your Own, Kid”

I’m a huge Taylor Swift fan so it’s not surprising that I’ve been listening to her new album, Midnights, nonstop since it released last week. My favorite song(s) change daily, but one of my favs is “You’re On Your Own, Kid.” Honestly, I feel like I connect to this album so well as a whole. “You’re On Your Own, Kid” definitely is me during college and those very early 20s years. I can relate to “Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve” to a relationship when I was 19 like Taylor sings.

Instead of doing one book recommendation based on my most played Spotify song this month like I’ve been doing for a little while now, I decided to give multiple recommendations based on the bridge of “You’re On Your Own, Kid”.

The lyrics to that part are:

From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes
I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this
I hosted parties and starved my body
Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss

The jokes weren’t funny, I took the money
My friends from home don’t know what to say
I looked around in a blood-soaked gown
And I saw something they can’t take away

‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned
Everything you lose is a step you take
So make the friendship bracelets
Take the moment and taste it
You’ve got no reason to be afraid

You’re on your own, kid
Yeah, you can face this

Scroll down to see why I chose the books I did for the lines. Contains some spoilers!

The breakdown

From sprinkler splashes to fireplace ashes, I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this
We’ll Always Have Summer – This is the last book in the The Summer I Turned Pretty trilogy. It reminds me of Belly and Conrad growing up together at the beach house and then when they were both ended up at the house in the winter after they broke up.
I gave my blood, sweat and tears for this
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo – This reminded me of how Evelyn gave her everything for her career.
I hosted parties and starved my body Like I’d be saved by a perfect kiss
It Happened One Summer – This reminded me of Piper being a socialite, beautiful, rich, and popular but ultimately not happy and searching for love.
The jokes weren’t funny, I took the money My friends from home don’t know what to say
The Dare – This is the last book in the Briar U series. It made me think of Taylor when her sorority sisters like to make fun of her because she’s not stick thin or sexualize her because of her curves. The money part could also go with Conor’s storyline.
I looked around in a blood-soaked gown And I saw something they can’t take away
Crown of Midnight – This is the second book in the Throne of Glass series. This made me think of Celaena finding Nehemia’s body.
‘Cause there were pages turned with the bridges burned
It Ends With Us – This reminded me of Ryle finding and reading Lily’s journals.
Everything you lose is a step you take
The Flatshare – The connection I made here is that Tiffy didn’t realize it at first when she was still coping with her boyfriend leaving her that he was gaslighting her and emotionally manipulating her for years. Living on her own (sort of with Leon) was actually a step in the right direction.
So make the friendship bracelets Take the moment and taste it You’ve got no reason to be afraid
They Both Die At the End – Mateo and Rufus are strangers and opposites, but both have one day left to live, connect with each other and spend the day together doing things they want to do before their time is up.
You’re on your own, kid Yeah, you can face this
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue – Addie made a deal with a devil-type person and lives forever without getting older. She can explore the world and see all of history unfolding, but no one will ever remember her.

What do you think of my picks? I want to do more of these books to song lines for the album, but they’re hard to come up with! Hopefully I can figure out another one soon.