5 Books That Give Taylor Swift's The Life Of A Showgirl Energy

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On Wednesday, August 13, Taylor Swift appeared alongside boyfriend Travis Kelce on the "New Heights" podcast to announce the launch of her twelfth album, "The Life of Showgirl." True to form, this announcement marked the dawning of a new aesthetic for the artist. So far, the album has prominently featured the color orange, with mint green and glitter accents — think Vegas cabaret. It seems like classic burlesque provided the inspiration for Swift, according to the early album imagery she shared on Instagram, which features balconette bras, ornate headpieces, and fishnet tights.

The word "showgirl" evokes rhinestone costumes, feathered headdresses, and high kicks, and so far, the vibe of the album is distinctly vintage. "Ooo to those who care i sense an art deco/1920s aesthetic for ts12 ," noted one X post. "This era is pure glamour," stylist Jack Savoie told Yahoo. "The crystals, sweeping feathers, and gorgeous heels. It's a celebration of beauty and craftsmanship." We've already worked out the best romance books to check out basted on your favorite Swift album, but if, like Swift, you want to get lost in the opulence of backstage showgirl life, these books all explore the life behind the sequins.

This historical novel by Fiona Davis is set at Radio City Music Hall in the 1950s. As with "The Life Of A Show Girl," this is a story that features bright lights and glamorous performers. In "The Spectacular," when Marion joins the Rockettes, she rejects marriage and social conventions and instead gets caught up in a dazzling new world. But life in New York City, for all its beauty, has danger lurking behind the curtain.

Readers rated the book 4.08 stars on Goodreads, applauding its historical richness and compelling protagonist. "Davis does a fantastic job capturing the soul of these young performers and how one woman chooses to carve her own path," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "A spectacular, unputdownable tale of glamour and glitz and heartache and healing." With its backstage portrait of the iconic Rockettes, this is a great book for anyone who wants to get lost in the world of professional dancers.

Pamela Anderson's vulnerable 2023 memoir, "Love, Pamela: A Memoir of Prose, Poetry, and Truth," offers a glimpse into the private life of the 1990s pinup icon. Famous for big hair and razor-thin eyebrows, Anderson rose to fame as a "Playboy" model and "Baywatch" star—as well as for a scandalously leaked sex tape. Many readers went in expecting salacious celebrity gossip and were delighted to discover a meditative book that reveals Anderson's depth, proof that there are celebrity memoirs that are actually great, well-written books.

Reviewers awarded it 3.81 stars on Goodreads, citing the power of Anderson's narrative. "Her image and her stories over the year was taken, re-written, stolen and spoken for her by the media and tabloids," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. "This memoir is her turn to reclaim her narrative." For anyone curious about what Anderson's super celebrity life looked like when she was off camera, this book is a poetic, memorable peek. Bonus: Anderson starred in the 2024 film "The Last Showgirl," making the connection to Taylor Swift's twelfth album even stronger.

Pleasant Gehman's wry, ranging 2013 memoir, "Showgirl Confidential: My Life Onstage, Backstage, And On The Road," paints a portrait of the life of a professional dancer. Gehman, who performs under the stage name Princess Farhana, pulls the curtain back on all the sparkle and grit of professional dancing. Readers loved the energetic voice, which carried them along with Gehman from punk clubs in Los Angeles to dressing rooms in Cairo, and gave it 4.41 stars on Goodreads.

"Reading this book is like spending a day hanging out with the most interesting woman in the world," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. Another Goodreads reviewer added, "Writer, actress, musician, tarot reader, alternative healer and bellydancer extraordinaire, this is a woman who has managed to turn all her passions into careers and lead a creative, exciting, adventurous life along the way." It's a great story to dive into if you're interested in the life of a performer on the road.

Stevie Nicks is best known as the front-woman of the blues-rock band Fleetwood Mac. But Simon Morrison's biography is a portrait of the influential singer, illustrated through her songwriting and lesser-known details of her personal life. In "Mirror in the Sky: The Life and Music of Stevie Nicks," Morrison grapples with the burdens that fame placed on Nicks, including notable misogyny. "I appreciate the author pointing out the sexism in reviews that mock Stevie Nicks and other women for being earnest and emotional while calling the same behavior deep and genius in men," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. In particular, reviewers praised the depth of the musical analysis, rating it 3.47 stars on Goodreads.

Taylor Swift has long regarded Nicks as an influence and muse, and the Fleetwood Mac singer is among the iconic women that Swift has referenced in her music, name-checking her in the lyrics to the song "Clara Bow." Fans have theorized she may be among the inspirations and collaborators for "The Life of a Showgirl."

For fans of "The Great Gatsby" who long to spend more time in Jay Gatsby's glittering, Art Deco world, Jillian Cantor's novel, "Beautiful Little Fools," revisits this American classic from the viewpoint of its female characters—Daisy, Myrtle, and Jordan. Aesthetically, it's a perfect tie-in to the gilded burlesque vibes that Taylor Swift appears to be teasing with her promos for "The Life Of A Showgirl." After all, it's safe to bet she's a fan of Fitzgerald's novel since it's one of the books Swift referenced in her lyrics.

The novel earned 4.01 stars on Goodreads, and readers had lots of good things to say about the richness of Cantor's characters. Despite dealing with a well-known story, the author nonetheless found new depth and perspective to tease from the narrative. "What's sad is to think how hardened, cynical and apathetic these women were, despite still being so young," wrote one Goodreads reviewer. This is a great choice for anyone interested in spending more time on the tension between women's public-facing selves and inner truths.