Monday, November 10, 2025
When Merrick author Jen Calonita released her newest middle-grade novel, “The Taylors,” on Oct. 7, she didn’t expect to be in a release-week rivalry with Taylor Swift herself. Yet there she was, debuting her story about four Swift-loving middle-schoolers just four days after the pop megastar debuted her own album, “The Life of a Showgirl.”
The timing seemed so ironic that some fans assumed that Calonita and Swift had conspired in a clever cross-promotion. But there was no secret collaboration, nor did the Swift camp ever contact Calonita about the release of her book, which was published by Scholastic Inc. It was simply one of those coincidences that could make even the most skeptical reader believe in the power of the Swifties.
“The funny thing is, people really think we planned it that way,” Calonita said, explaining that the book was announced 10 months ago. “We had no clue she’d have an album coming out the same week. It was just this amazing coincidence.”
In a way, though, it couldn’t have been more perfect. “The Taylors” dives straight into the heart of fan culture, following four girls who share a name, a passion and a playlist. Each Taylor — ones nicknamed Teffy, TS and Tay Tay, and Taylor Perez — brings her own personality to the group: the shy one, the athletic one, the imaginative one and the outspoken one. They band together not just to buy Eras Tour tickets, but also to survive the journey that is middle school.
The novel explores themes of friendship, identity and self-discovery. Calonita, 51, describes it as “The Baby-Sitters Club” for Swifties, a story about learning to stand up for oneself and embracing what makes every person unique.
The concept for “The Taylors” grew out of Calonita’s earlier success with “12 to 22,” her 2022 novel about a tween girl who uses a mysterious TikTok filter to jump forward 10 years. Seeing how young readers connected with the character’s admiration for Swift, Scholastic approached Calonita and asked her to expand the idea into a series about girls who share both a name and a passion for their favorite artist.
But there was a twist: Scholastic wanted the book written in just two months. Calonita received the offer in May, and was given an October release date. The two-month writing window was the shortest of her career, but it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.
She spent the summer working at a friend’s home in Garden City, writing during quiet stretches of the day and occasionally taking breaks to swim laps in the pool or listen to Swift’s music for inspiration.
“It felt like a writing retreat,” she said. “I was surrounded by good energy, and I think that came through in the story.”
The project was also a collaboration. Calonita worked alongside London-based author Elizabeth Eulberg, who wrote a companion novel “Love Stories: The Taylors Version #1,” set a few years later, when the same characters are in high school. The two coordinated closely to make sure their portrayals matched, sharing a document outlining each girl’s family, personality and even her appearance.
Each chapter title in “The Taylors” corresponds to a Swift song, which gave Calonita a creative way to structure the story, and the Indianapolis setting was chosen because it was one of the final stops on Swift’s Eras Tour. By the time Calonita was revising, the real-world concerts were underway, allowing her to weave authentic details — including Swift’s surprise songs — into the book.
While the story is full of fan references and lighthearted moments, it also touches on the emotional challenges of friendship. One subplot involves a betrayal among the girls, because Calonita felt it was important to portray real-life problems that develop among fifth-grade friends. She wanted readers to see that it’s possible to argue, make mistakes and still repair relationships.
“I wanted it to feel real,” Calonita said. “In fifth grade, so much happens at the lunch table. It was important to show that friends can have conflict and still figure out how to move forward.”
Calonita grew up in Carle Place and now lives in Merrick, where one of her sons graduated from Sanford H. Calhoun High School two years ago and her younger son is currently a student. Before becoming a full-time author, she was an entertainment journalist for “Teen People” magazine, and interviewed stars like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Lindsay Lohan, Hilary Duff and Britney Spears.
Her first book, “Secrets of My Hollywood Life,” launched a second writing career that has spanned nearly two decades and dozens of titles, including the “Fairy Tale Reform School” series.
Her connection to Swift’s music isn’t purely professional. Calonita attended Swift’s 2023 MetLife Stadium concert after a friend surprised her with a ticket for her birthday amid the infamous Ticketmaster frenzy. That real-life experience — the friendship bracelets, themed outfits and shared excitement — helped shape “The Taylors.”
Even the book’s cover illustration, showing each girl dressed for a different Swift era, came directly from that concert.
The book has already been warmly received. Publishers Weekly praised its realistic portrayal of friendship, and it made an appearance on NBC’s “Today” show, prominently placed beside host Jenna Bush Hager during a segment.
For Calonita, the enthusiastic response from both young readers and parents has been especially rewarding.
“It’s been really nice to see how people connect with it,” she said. “Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, it’s a story about friendship and finding your voice — and that’s something everyone can relate to.”
Calonita hopes to continue expanding the world of the four girls in future books. In the meantime, she is working on “The Curse Breaker,” the sequel to “The Isle of Ever,” which will be released next March.
“I’d love to write more stories about these characters,” she said. “Fifth and sixth grade is such a sweet spot — kids are learning who they are. And if Taylor Swift taught us anything, it’s that everyone deserves to feel seen and celebrated.”
