First and foremost, up until “Espresso” and “Please Please Please” summer, I would not have called myself a Sabrina Carpenter fan (#TeamOlivia obvi). But I, like the rest of TikTok and the whole of planet Earth, could not get away from the insidiously catchy lyrics: I’m working late, ’cause I’m a singerrrrr. That led me down an earnest rabbit hole of listening to the pop princess’ entire discography and well, let me say, blondie has some bops. To wet your whistle in anticipation of Sabrina’s sixth studio album, let me present to you some book recs paired with iconic lyrics from the quip queen herself:
“Please Please Please” paired with “Tell Me Lies” by Carola Lovering
“And we could live so happily / If no one knows that you’re with me”
In a fever dream of heterosexual toxicity, I re-eye-guzzled the first season of the adaptation of “Tell Me Lies” on Hulu in anticipation of season 2. There’s just something so feral about watching Grace Van Patten and Jackson White reenact live footage from my most toxic relationship (shout out to my ex, I wish you nothing but the worst!) that immediately made me think of Please Please Please. Like Stephen DeMarco did quite literally nothing BUT embarrass Lucy. But, I get it, girl, sometimes we lose a brain cell or two in pursuit of an ugly-hot man who knows how to lay it down.
“Slim Pickins” paired with “How to Date Men When You Hate Men” by Blythe Roberson
“A boy who’s nice, that breathes / Well, I swear he’s nowhere to be seen”
As a bisexual baddie who spent most of her early 20s chasing after truly ain’t shit men, I certainly could have done with some of the sage advice in Blythe’s book. However, I’m staunchly in my I Don’t Date Men Era and I pray every day that my perfect golden retriever partner never releases me back to the streets because I fear I would suffer. Carpenter teased Slim Pickins a few weeks before release and as soon as I heard it on TikTok I knew that this track would be one of my favs from her newest album.
“Espresso” paired with “Triple Sec” by TJ Alexander
“Say you can’t sleep, / baby, I know That’s that me espresso”
By espresso, she definitely meant an espresso martini, right? This song is cute, flirty, and suuuuper catchy — nothing embodies that more than this swoony-worth polyamorous romance novel from TJ Alexandar. I would consider myself honored, blessed, and fully at peace if I lived to see the day of a queer power pop thruple consisting of Reneé Rapp, Chapell Roan, and Sabrina Carpenter. Probably not in the cards, but a girl can manifest, OKAY.
“Tornado Warnings” paired with “Acts of Desperation” by Megan Nolan
“I’m lying to my therapist / I keep saying things like / I never saw him and we never kissed”
We’ve all been there, right? Completely enthralled by maybe the world’s worst possible match and still hanging on to hope that it could work out!! When I first heard the lyrics to this song I was like oof, girl, I can relate! Because when you’re lying to your therapist about your relationship you know deep down it’s time to kick that situationship to the curb.
“Feather” paired with “Boy Parts” by Eliza Clark
“Your signals are mixed, / you act like a bitch / You fit every stereotype, Send a pic”
“Boy Parts” might not be the exact pairing that you’d think of for Carpenter’s over it anthem “Feather,” but I have my reasons. What are they? Great question, I’d love to tell you. “Boy Parts” follows an unhinged photographer (“send a pic!”) who takes explicit photos of ‘average-looking’ men. This novel is incendiary, shocking, and a bit obsessive and I think that perfectly describes a woman who has to declare, loudly and often: I feel so much lighter like a feather with you off my mind. We’ve all been there, telling people we’re like 100%, definitely, (no seriously, why do you keep asking me?) completely over our ex, right?
“Because I Liked A Boy” paired with “Men Have Called Her Crazy” by Anna Marie Tendler
“I’m a homewrecker, I’m a slut / I got death threats filling up semi-trucks / Tell me who I am, guess I don’t have a choice”
I am a sucker for a good title and this memoir piqued my interest as soon as I saw it floating around social media. It’s no secret that men can have a pervasive, intense, and sometimes dangerous impact on a woman’s life. From Carpenter taking a few strays after the release of Olivia Rodrigo’s debut, Sour, to Anna recounting traumatic events involving men that led to her psychiatric stay — I’m sure this pair of women would have lots to chat about over coffee.
“Vicious” paired with “Bunny” by Mona Awad
“You like a certain type of woman / Who’s smart but neglects intuition / When you’re insecure, could be me, could be her.”
“Bunny” is marketed as “The Secret History” meets Jennifer’s Body and frankly, I cannot fathom a more vicious combination. There’s something poetic about a woman with a score to settle, I mean the saying is “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” “Bunny” is the perfect saccharine companion for Carpenter’s bubbly yet hard-hitting lyrics in “Vicious.”
“Fast Times” paired with “Little Rot” by Akwaeke Emezi
“Fast times and fast nights, yeah / Closed eyes and closed blinds, we couldn’t help it”
Akwaeke Emezi is an author who, in my (always correct and superior) opinion, never misses, and “Little Rot” is no different. The “Fast Times” lyrics are flawlessly in step with the chaotic, steamy, and unsettled nature of “Little Rot.” Emezi calls their latest work “unhinged” and there’s nothing that’s going to get me to slam a pre-order button faster than that. So, this book is paired with Carpenter’s “Fast Times” if nothing else to demonstrate the speed at which I needed to have this book in my hands.
A literary omnivore and influential Bookstagrammer, Layne applies her vivid creativity for every title we promote by deftly coordinating news coverage and events for authors, writing and editing diverse content for social media, and assisting with Books Forward’s social media engagement initiatives.
As a former special education teacher, Layne firmly believes in the importance of literature and accessibility. This unique point of view is an asset in her publicity efforts as she works to reach readers across various platforms and demographics.
Layne received her Bachelors of Arts in Creative Writing and Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and her Masters of Art in Teaching from Relay Graduate School of Education. She lives in New Orleans with her loyal, but sadly illiterate cat, Macaroni.
