Listen to this when
Cruel Summer
When it's not official, but your whole summer is about them.
Who it's for
The song catches the specific ache of a secret, undefined relationship: the thrill and the anxiety arriving together, and the way not knowing where you stand makes everything feel more desperate.
Restless, yearning→Released, energised
Feelings it meets
What it is
Track two on Taylor Swift's 2019 album Lover. Swift described it as being about an uncertain summer romance with elements of pain and desperation. Originally an album track, it went viral during the Eras Tour, was released as a single in 2023 and became her tenth Billboard Hot 100 number one.
Where to find it
All major streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music).
Before you start
Heads up: Brief references to drinking.
Age: Not rated (suggested 13+)
You pierce my soul. I am half agony, half hope.Jane Austen, Persuasion, Chapter 23
