Look What You Made Me Do

By Kat McKenna

What it’s about?

What does it mean to be a FAN?
If you’re a Swiftie, you know that it takes commitment and dedication to be in a fandom. And there’s nothing more rewarding than sourcing Taylor Swift news and updates, anticipating new music and meeting fellow fans. But fan culture today is more intense than ever, from trolling to stalkers to online warfare.

So how did we get here?

Discover the history of the first fandoms, the many Eras of Taylor Swift, the politics of celebrity and cancel culture, and above why being a fan is so special.

Featuring interview with key Taylor Swift fans and celebrity culture icon DeuxMoi and the founder of Swiftogeddon, this book is the ultimate guide on how to be a fan.

What I think:

As a minor-league Swifie (I listen to the songs and I’m going to the concert but that’s as far as I go), I found this book really interesting.

It’s obviously about Taylor Swift and her fans. It’s both a personal love letter and a social commentary. I learned a lot about fandom, both the positive and negative aspects of its culture and the impact it has on people.

Timed to link in with the UK leg of Eras Tour, it gives a potted history of Taylor Swift’s career, some of the major events of her life both public ally and privately and explores the way she has built her fan base, but also how they have shaped her.

The writer is knowledgeable and has done a lot of research so that the analysis isn’t just limited to Taylor. I found the details out how the celebrity gossip market has changed and its symbiotic relationship with fans absolutely fascinating. As someone who poured over gossip mags in the late 90s/early 00s, it’s interesting to see how much has changed so quickly.

The book covers the break up with Joe Alwyn and Matty Healy, but stops before her Travis Kelce romance.

Taylor land moves on quickly and the release of The Tortured Poets Department anthology and some of the songs add interesting insights into themes explored in the book such as fame, privacy, and criticism of Taylor’s relationships.

Whether you are new to Taylor Swift and looking to catch up so it all makes sense, or a long-time fan, there is something in this book for you.

Visually it is interesting with lots of art and beautiful quotes. The chapters are clearly divided so you can sip in and out. An easy and timely read that will help fill the Eras gap in your life.