These Romance Books Match Your Favorite Sabrina Carpenter Song

Have you ever tried… this one?

Sabrina Carpenter on stage in a royal blue nightie. Edited above her are four romance book covers on display.
camera-iconPhoto Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Sabrina Carpenter isn't just styled in hearts, she's stealing them. Her music has taken pop radio by storm, while her international arena tour was packed and her signature fashion has made headlines.

At this point, we've all already figured out which romance book to read based on our favorite Taylor Swift album—and taken every other online quiz that leads back to which Era we might be (I'm obviously 1989). But while I love to indulge my Swiftie side when I'm big in my feelings about heartbreak and devastation, Sabrina Carpenter is my go-to for sexy confidence, humor-infused vulnerability, and a bold, take-charge attitude.

I love the way Sabrina tackles love—whether it's from the angle of being in it or tumbling violently out of it. She's creatively expressed such unique perspectives in her six, as yet, released albums.

And I'm so excited to hear what she has to say on her newest album, Man's Best Friend, out August 29th.

But while we all wait for her latest masterpiece, I'm here to help you indulge in stories that capture that same honest and ready-for-anything spirit that we love so much.

Here are eight romance books to read based on your favorite Sabrina Carpenter song!

“Manchild”

Ride

Ride

By Roxie Noir

"Manchild
"Why you always come a-running to me?"

“Manchild” is an anthem for anyone who's been through a slog of boyfriends who just can't seem to get their act together. A tongue-in-cheek play at refusing any responsibility for bad taste, this song is a country synth-pop dream.

Roxie Noir's Ride has all the frustration, sass, and twang that “Manchild” embraces, with spice levels Ms. Carpenter would surely approve of.

Photojournalist Mae Guthrie has the professional opportunity of a lifetime: an offer to photograph the World Rodeo Championships.

Upon taking the job, she's warned to stay out of the way and not to get too close to the frisky cowboys. There's no worries of the latter, after all, she knows all too well where that leads.

When she was 18 she had a dumb and drunk tumble with a rodeo star, but she's a professional now. Even if two-time World Rodeo Champion Jackson Cody is back and looking to pick things up exactly where they left off.

All Mae has to do is keep her eye on the prize—this job could set her up for life. But Jackon's cocky charm and filthy mouth aren't going to make it easy.

“Feather”

How to Hack a Heartbreak

How to Hack a Heartbreak

By Kristin Rockaway

image

"I got you blocked, excited to never talk, I
"I'm so sorry for your loss"

Disco pop bop “Feather” is all about slamming the door on toxic relationships. One of the best feminine empowerment songs out there, lovers of this song might enjoy How to Hack a Heartbreak.

Mel Strickland spends her days working the tech help desk for a startup incubator, Hatch. Here she guides supposed geniuses through simple computer fixes.

Mel's nights are consumed with a revolving door of bad dates.  Each nude-peddling jerk has come from the dating app Fluttr.

But her rocky love life has given her an incredible idea: an app that allows users to log harassers and abusers found on dating sites. And JerkAlert turns out to be an overnight sensation.

Unfortunately, Mel's sudden success has her in over her head. And to make matters more complicated, the only decent guy at Hatch, Alex Hernandez, has no idea Mel is the mastermind behind JerkAlert.

Now Mel must make a decision that could topple her career, love life, and friendships.

“Sue Me”

Partner Track

Partner Track

By Cat Wynn

"So sue me for looking too pretty tonight
"Wearing your favorite color under the lights"

“Sue Me” is the song that made me fall in love with Sabrina's music back in 2018. This slept on hit is the first song of hers to truly give a peek at her iconic humor, and it inspires a playful confidence in listeners.

If you're a fan of “Sue Me,” then you might like the enemies-to-lovers romance Partner Track by Cat Wynn.

There are only three things Perdie Stone can't live without: her best friend Lucille, their rescue pug Bananas, and the partnership she's been tirelessly working toward at her law firm.

After she goes toe-to-toe with Ivy League hotshot Carter Leplan on a major case and comes out on top, the partnership position should be a given. She's on top of the world after her win—until a freak storm leaves the two of them stranded in a hotel room…with only one bed.

A one-night stand to celebrate her victory wouldn't be the worst thing. Except afterwards Carter shows up at her firm and snatches up that partnership position right out from under her..

“Espresso”

Wish You Weren't Here

Wish You Weren't Here

By Portia MacIntosh

"Now he's thinkin' 'bout me every night, oh
"Is it that sweet? I guess so"

“Espresso” was 2024's song of the summer for a reason. Flirty, fun, and funky, this radio sensation makes you feel like the hottest girl on the beach, no matter the season.

If this song Mountain Dews it for ya, then you should try reading Portia MacIntosh's Wish You Weren't Here.

Lana's perfect sister is having a perfect Australian wedding—on Lana's 30th birthday, no less. And on top of having her own important day ignored, Lana has been given a list of rules to follow to keep from upstaging the bride.

Unfortunately, Lana doesn't feel much like following any rules. After scoring a drop dead gorgeous dress, all she needs is to find the most inappropriate wedding dare possible.

After swiping through too many boring and sheepish options online, it seems like fate that her handsome ex-boyfriend Ethan has appeared back in her life. He has her swooning so hard she almost forgot why they broke up in the first place—but that kind of chaos is hard to forget.

Ethan is the perfect fake date, the perfect troublemaker. But it seems he's causing trouble for more than the bride, as it seems he has no interest in things being fake.

“Nonsense”

Fall at Once

Fall at Once

By Nora Everly

"I'll be honest
"Lookin' at you got me thinkin' nonsense"

“Nonsense” was Sabrina's first big step into mainstream popularity, and was so beloved by her fans (in no small part due to her improvised live outros) that she turned it into a previously unplanned music video.

An incredibly danceable self-proclaimed pop hit, this song is about getting so caught off guard by love that it makes you tongue-tied. And if this song makes you jump the octave, you might also like Fall at Once by Nora Everly.

Madi came to Cozy Creek to help her grandmother with her bakery and heal from a broken heart. Falling in love again was the last thing on her mind.

Then her grandma's too hot to handle firefighter neighbor Cole keeps stepping in as her knight in shining armor. First he picks her up from the side of the road, then its an incident with a tree, and then a run in with her ex that ends in her and Cole sharing a smoking kiss in a bar.

When her knight in shining armor finally needs a favor returned, how could she resist? She's a party planner, and thus the perfect person to help him with Cozy Creek Fire Brigade’s Fall Fundraiser.

She's been scorched by love before, but there's no denying these sparks.

Fall at Once comes complete with all out favorite tropes: firefighter romance, hot single dad, fake dating, and spicy content.

“Bed Chem”

Just One Taste

Just One Taste

By Louisa Edwards

"How you talk so sweet when you're doin' bad things
"That's bed chem"

This sultry track spins a tale of mind-blowing sexual chemistry. With every word and chord dripping with desire, this song will really have you feeling yourself.

And you know what else will? Just One Taste by Louisa Edwards.

Chef Wes Murphy is a culinary bad boy who is dreading Food Chemistry 101, a class required of his final semester. But his attitude changes when he meets the new substitute teacher, the gorgeous Dr. Rosemary Wilkins.

Rosemary has a very academic approach to food, so Wes decides it might spice things up to ask for some hands-on advice. Advice on aphrodisiacs, of course.

Whether it's the oysters and strawberries or Wes's devilish flirtations, it seems brainy Rosemary can't deny the irresistible and electric pull between them.

“Can't Blame a Girl for Trying”

Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling

Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling

By Elise Bryant

"'Cause I'm young and I'm dumb
"I do stupid things when it comes to love"

“Can't Blame a Girl for Trying” was Sabrina's debut single back in 2014. I was too old to have heard the song when it originally dropped via the Disney-owned Hollywood Records, but circled back when I discovered her music and found that this song still holds up even when you're not so young and still pretty dumb.

So whether you're a day one fan or someone who can appreciate the pop princess's humble beginning, you may be drawn to this song for its sweet and simple vulnerability. After all, aren't we all a little insecure when it comes to finding love?

You may also enjoy the YA romance Reggie and Delilah's Year of Falling.

Delilah hides her vulnerable, messy heart behind a nonchalant exterior. She goes along with anything that comes her way—which is how she ends up being a singer in her friends' punk band, despite the fact that she'd rather disappear behind the merch table.

Reggie is a proud Blerd (Black nerd) who splits his time between leading D&D quests and critiquing the game with essays written under a pseudonym. He wouldn't want his disapproving family to find out…

While these two seem to have nothing in common, it seems the universe keeps throwing them together. They meet first on New Year's Eve, then again on Valentine's Day, and again on St. Patrick's Day.

Delilah wishes she could be more comfortable and confident in who she is like Reggie. But she doesn't know it's all an act—he's just pretending to be the kind of self-assured guy who could be with a girl like Delilah.

As they keep bouncing into each other's orbit on holidays, they can't help but fall for each other. But what if they discover they've fallen for ideas of people that don't exist?

"Please Please Please"

you had me at hola

You Had Me at Hola

By Alexis Daria

"Heartbreak is one thing, my ego's another
"I beg you, don't embarrass me, m*****f*****"

When you've been through enough clowns, your pride starts to get a little bruised. This absolute bop tackles the complexity of still wanting to be a hopeless romantic while simultaneously bracing for the other shoe to drop.

It's an affectionate warning: eff around and find out. This song has a self-possessed strength and an all too relatable jaded humor.

If you love the internal conflict of yearning versus dignity, then you'll love You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria.

Jasmine Lin Rodriguez is a soap opera darling who finds her picture all over the tabloids after a messy public breakup. After returning to her hometown of New York City to star in a bilingual romcom on the country's top streaming service, she develops the "Leading Lady Plan.”

This plan centers around keeping her face out of the tabloids and keeping people focused on her talent, not her personal life. But that's easier said than done when her costar is telenovela hunk Ashton Suárez.

Ashton thought his career was over after his last telenovela character was killed off. But joining this new project last-minute gives him the chance to showcase his abilities to an American audience—and Hollywood scouts.

All Ashton needs to do to impress viewers is cultivate an explosive chemistry with his co-star. Unfortunately, a terrible first impression douses any flicker of heat between them.

The tension puts both of their careers at risk, so the pair agree to private rehearsals. But it seems behind closed doors their chemistry ignites, and one passionate kiss soon turns into a dramatic behind-the-scenes romance.

Their acting has never been better, but the media attention puts Jasmine's rebrand at risk, while Ashton's deepest secret hangs in the balance.