YA Friday: GUTS

Released last Friday, September 8, 2023, GUTS, is the second album from singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo, following the success of her debut album SOUR, which we matched with YA books when it was released two years ago.

The sophomore album revolves around her experiences and challenges as a nineteen-year-old, capturing a year “filled with lots of confusion, mistakes, awkwardness & good old fashioned teen angst,” which makes it the perfect album to pair with some of our favorite young adult fiction titles.

Check out the songs and books below and comment with your favorite!

1. all-american b***h

The opening track draws inspiration from Joan Didion's book "The White Album" to delve into the contradictions and double standards in American culture, reflecting Rodrigo's sense of misplacement and the pressure to embody an unattainable ideal of the perfect American woman while also asserting her self-confidence, particularly in the bridge where she affirms her perfection.

These Witches Don't Burn by Isabel Sterling

Hannah's a witch, but not the kind you're thinking of. She's the real deal, an Elemental with the power to control fire, earth, water, and air. But even though she lives in Salem, Massachusetts, her magic is a secret she has to keep to herself. If she's ever caught using it in front of a Reg (read: non-witch), she could lose it. For good. So, Hannah spends most of her time avoiding her ex-girlfriend (and fellow Elemental Witch) Veronica, hanging out with her best friend, and working at the Fly By Night Cauldron selling candles and crystals to tourists, goths, and local Wiccans.

But dealing with her ex is the least of Hannah's concerns when a terrifying blood ritual interrupts the end-of-school-year bonfire. Evidence of dark magic begins to appear all over Salem, and Hannah's sure it's the work of a deadly Blood Witch. The issue is, her coven is less than convinced, forcing Hannah to team up with the last person she wants to see: Veronica.

While the pair attempt to smoke out the Blood Witch at a house party, Hannah meets Morgan, a cute new ballerina in town. But trying to date amid a supernatural crisis is easier said than done, and Hannah will have to test the limits of her power if she's going to save her coven and get the girl, especially when the attacks on Salem's witches become deadlier by the day.

2. bad idea right?

The second track and second single of the album is characterized as 'fun and playful.' The punk-pop track narrates Rodrigo lying to her friends about leaving a party to meet her ex-boyfriend, exploring her emotions as she contemplates whether they can reignite their love and decides to find out.

Never Vacation with Your Ex by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka

Seventeen-year-old volleyball star Kaylee Jordan lives a life of player rankings, constant training, and a carefully curated social media full of followers watching to see if she'll go pro out of high school like her famous mom. Her one refuge, and the thing she looks forward to every summer? The vacation her family spends in Malibu with the Freeman-Yus. This year, there’s only one problem: Kaylee and their son, Dean, dated for the past three months, and Kaylee just unceremoniously dumped him.

Hoping to spare them the worst summer ever, Kaylee comes to Dean with her unconventional solution: she’s going to walk him through her rules for getting over an ex. When Dean grudgingly cooperates, Kaylee’s got her work cut out for her. But helping Dean follow her own rules starts becoming difficult when the pressures of Kaylee’s family legacy and perfect life start to feel less like a plan and more like a prison… and amid warm California nights and stolen laughs, Kaylee feels herself falling for Dean for the same reasons and some new ones.

With their trip coming to an end, Kaylee has to make the complicated choice between doing what’s expected and taking a (second) chance on love.

3. vampire

The album's third track and lead single portray a boy who deceived and exploited her, with the title, lyrics, and cover art using the vampire metaphor to depict this person draining the narrator's life and leaving her feeling powerless. The song explores themes of vulnerability, self-discovery, and breaking free from toxic relationship dynamics.

Vampires, Hearts, & Other Dead Things by Margie Fuston

Victoria and her dad have shared a love of the undead since the first vampire revealed his existence on live TV. Public fear soon drove the vampires back into hiding, yet Victoria and her father still dream about finding a vampire together. But when her dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, it’s clear that’s not going to happen. Instead, Victoria vows to find a vampire herself—so that she can become one and then save her father.

Armed with research, speculations, and desperation—and helped by her estranged best friend, Henry—Victoria travels to New Orleans in search of a miracle. There she meets Nicholas, a mysterious young man who might give her what she desires. But first, he needs Victoria to prove she loves life enough to live forever.

She agrees to complete a series of challenges, from scarfing sugar-drenched beignets to singing with a jazz band, all to show she has what it takes to be immortal. But truly living while her father is dying feels like a betrayal. Victoria must figure out how to experience joy and grief at once, trusting all the while that Nicholas will hold up his end of the bargain…because the alternative is too impossible to imagine.

4. lacy

The fourth track explores the blurred boundaries between envy and homoeroticism. She personifies the beauty of women she's intimidated by through the character "Lacy," portraying her own struggles with an inferiority complex. This song reflects Olivia's habit of comparing herself to other women to an extreme degree, bordering on a crippling romantic obsession, similar to themes in "jealousy, jealousy" and "obsessed."

Fame, Fate, and the First Kiss by Kasie West

Lacey Barnes has dreamed of being an actress for as long as she can remember. So when she gets the opportunity to star in a movie alongside one of Hollywood’s hottest actors, she doesn’t hesitate to accept the part.

But Lacey quickly learns that life in the spotlight isn’t as picture perfect as she imagined. She’s having trouble bonding with her costars, her father has hired the definition of a choir boy, Donavan Lake, to tutor her, and somewhere along the way she’s lost her acting mojo. And just when it seems like things couldn’t get any worse, it looks like someone on set is deliberately trying to sabotage her.

As Lacey’s world spins out of control, it feels like the only person she can count on—whether it’s helping her try to unravel the mystery of who is out to get her or snap her out of her acting funk—is Donavan. But what she doesn’t count on is this straight-laced boy becoming another distraction.

With her entire future riding on this movie, Lacey knows she can’t afford to get sidetracked by a crush. But for the first time in her life Lacey wonders if it’s true that the best stories really do happen when you go off script.

5. ballad of a homeschooled girl

The fifth track explores the theme of social anxiety and the challenges of fitting in with her peers. With a garage rock style, the song addresses the stereotype that homeschooled children may struggle socially. Through nostalgic lyrics, Olivia describes her adolescent years, highlighting social fumbles like tripping, stumbling over words and making simple mistakes as she navigated the complexities of social interaction.

Long Story Short by Serena Kaylor

Growing up homeschooled in Berkeley, California, Beatrice Quinn is a statistical genius who has dreamed her whole life of discovering new mathematical challenges at a school like Oxford University. She always thought the hardest part would be getting in, not convincing her parents to let her go. But while math has always made sense to Beatrice, making friends is a problem she hasn’t been able to solve, so her parents are worried about sending her halfway across the world. The compromise: the Connecticut Shakespearean Summer Academy and a detailed list of teenage milestones to check off. She has six weeks to show her parents she can pull off the role of "normal" teenager and won't spend the rest of her life hiding in a library.

Unfortunately, hearts and hormones don't follow any rules, and there is no equation for teenage interactions. When she's adopted by a group of eclectic theater kids, and immediately makes an enemy of the popular—and, annoyingly gorgeous—British son of the camp founders, she realizes that relationships are trickier than calculus. With her future on the line, this girl genius stumbles through illicit parties, double dog dares, and more than your fair share of Shakespeare. But before the final curtain falls, will Beatrice realize that there’s more to life than she can find in the pages of a book?

6. making the bed

In the sixth song, Olivia reflects on her waning satisfaction with fame and her life in general, ultimately attributing her unhappiness to herself. She shared in an interview with Phoebe Bridgers that this was the most challenging song to write on the album, as it delves into the impact of her previous album's success and the struggles that came with it, emphasizing the need to acknowledge and process personal trauma despite the gratitude she feels for her career.

This Time It's Real by Ann Liang

When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine…and a massive secret to keep.

Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?

Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend -- he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.

But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

7. logical

The seventh track is a poignant exploration of the irrational nature of love. The song delves into a tumultuous relationship marred by manipulation and deceit, where Rodrigo grapples with her own vulnerability and self-blame. As the relationship unravels, the lyrics reflect the emotional turmoil and the difficulty of making rational decisions when caught up in intense feelings. The song ultimately serves as a powerful reflection on the irrationality of love and the regret that can accompany such entanglements.

The Museum of Heartbreak by Meg Leder

When seventeen-year-old Eliza Lin’s essay about meeting the love of her life unexpectedly goes viral, her entire life changes overnight. Now she has the approval of her classmates at her new international school in Beijing, a career-launching internship opportunity at her favorite magazine…and a massive secret to keep.

Eliza made her essay up. She’s never been in a relationship before, let alone in love. All good writing is lying, right?

Desperate to hide the truth, Eliza strikes a deal with the famous actor in her class, the charming but aloof Caz Song. She’ll help him write his college applications if he poses as her boyfriend. Caz is a dream boyfriend -- he passes handwritten notes to her in class, makes her little sister laugh, and takes her out on motorcycle rides to the best snack stalls around the city.

But when her relationship with Caz starts feeling a little too convincing, all of Eliza’s carefully laid plans are threatened. Can she still follow her dreams if it means breaking her own heart?

8. get him back!

The eighth track is a pop-rock song that expresses Rodrigo's desire to win back a former boyfriend. She plans to achieve this by using a somewhat sneaky tactic: making him jealous and remorseful. The lyrics reveal Rodrigo's internal conflict as she wavers between wanting to grab his attention and then undo her actions to ultimately win his heart again.

Of Curses and Kisses by Sandhya Menon

Will the princess save the beast?

For Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. When the loathsome Emerson clan steps up their centuries-old feud to target Jaya’s little sister, nothing will keep Jaya from exacting her revenge. Then Jaya finds out she’ll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, and it feels like the opportunity of a lifetime. She knows what she must do: Make Grey fall in love with her and break his heart. But much to Jaya’s annoyance, Grey’s brooding demeanor and lupine blue eyes have drawn her in. There’s simply no way she and her sworn enemy could find their fairy-tale ending…right?

His Lordship Grey Emerson is a misanthrope. Thanks to an ancient curse by a Rao matriarch, Grey knows he’s doomed once he turns eighteen. Sequestered away in the mountains at St. Rosetta’s International Academy, he’s lived an isolated existence—until Jaya Rao bursts into his life, but he can't shake the feeling that she’s hiding something. Something that might just have to do with the rose-shaped ruby pendant around her neck…

As the stars conspire to keep them apart, Jaya and Grey grapple with questions of love, loyalty, and whether it’s possible to write your own happy ending.

9. love is embarrassing

The ninth track is a song that candidly delves into the ups and downs of teenage romantic relationships. It vividly portrays the tumultuous emotional journey and self-discovery that comes with young love. The song captures the awkwardness and stress of navigating feelings, self-worth, and emotions during youth. Additionally, it conveys the feeling of embarrassment that follows when one realizes they placed too much importance on a relationship that ultimately wasn't worth the effort. Olivia Rodrigo expresses this sentiment strongly in the bridge, stating that the person involved is not worth anything and even calling them a loser not worth mentioning.

Borrow My Heart by Kasie West

Wren is used to being called a control freak. She doesn’t care; sticking to the list of rules she created for herself helps her navigate life. But when a cute guy named Asher walks through the door of her neighborhood coffee shop, the rulebook goes out the window.

Asher is cute, charming . . . and being catfished by his online crush. So Wren makes an uncharacteristically impulsive decision—she pretends to be the girl he's waiting for to save him from embarrassment. Suddenly, she’s fake-dating a boy she knows nothing about. And it’s . . . amazing.

It's not long before Asher has her breaking even more of her own rules. But will he forgive her when he finds out she's not who she says she is? Wren's not so sure. . . . After all, rules exist for a reason.

10. the grudge

In the tenth song, Olivia Rodrigo portrays a relationship characterized by manipulation and emotional turmoil. The song conveys Olivia's inner conflict as she grapples with feelings of deceit and mixed emotions. It features slow, melancholic piano melodies that create a poignant atmosphere reminiscent of her previous hit, "drivers license," amplifying the emotional depth of her lyrics.

The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

All Eden wants is to rewind the clock. To live that day again. She would do everything differently. Not laugh at his jokes or ignore the way he was looking at her that night. And she would definitely lock her bedroom door.

But Eden can’t turn back time. So she buries the truth, along with the girl she used to be. She pretends she doesn’t need friends, doesn’t need love, doesn’t need justice. But as her world unravels, one thing becomes clear: the only person who can save Eden … is Eden.

11. pretty isn't pretty

The eleventh song is an emotional track focusing on self-positivity and the pressures of conforming to female physical expectations. The song explores the constantly changing beauty standards and ideals of the present, which are prominently portrayed in various forms of media. Olivia expresses her struggle to keep up with these expectations and feels that she can never attain perfection, no matter how hard she tries. It's a heartfelt reflection on the challenges of societal norms and self-acceptance.

TJ Powar Has Something to Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo

When TJ Powar—a pretty, popular debater—and her cousin Simran become the subject of a meme: with TJ being the “expectation” of dating an Indian girl and her Sikh cousin who does not remove her body hair being the “reality”—TJ decides to take a stand.

She ditches her razors, cancels her waxing appointments, and sets a debate resolution for herself: “This House Believes That TJ Powar can be her hairy self, and still be beautiful.” Only, as she sets about proving her point, she starts to seriously doubt anyone could care about her just the way she is—even when the infuriating boy from a rival debate team seems determined to prove otherwise.

As her carefully crafted sense of self begins to crumble, TJ realizes that winning this debate may cost her far more than the space between her eyebrows. And that the hardest judge to convince of her arguments might just be herself.

12. teenage dream

The final track reflects on the challenges of growing up in the public eye, particularly the immense pressure on musicians to surpass their previous work, especially following the global success of her debut album. The song conveys Olivia's fears of losing the best parts of herself as she matures. It's a heartfelt exploration of the anxieties and difficulties of growing up, featuring Rodrigo's expressive vocals and poignant songwriting.

In an interview, Olivia discussed the song, acknowledging the praise she received for being a precocious young talent and realizing that this wouldn't last forever. She expressed concerns about what she might lose or how she might become less appealing to people as she grows older.

The Year I Stopped Trying by Katie Heaney

Mary is having an existential crisis. She's a good student, she never gets in trouble, and she is searching for the meaning of life. She always thought she'd find it in a perfect score on the SATs. But by junior year, Mary isn't so sure anymore.

The first time, it's an accident. She forgets to do a history assignment. She even crosses history essay off in her pristine planner. And then: Nothing happens. She doesn't burst into flames, the world doesn't end, the teacher doesn't even pull her aside after class.

So she asks herself: Why am I trying so hard? What if I stop?