Taylor Swift has one of the most ardent fanbases in the world. Known as “Swifties”, they hang on every word of the artist like prophecy. This has been perpetuated by Swift herself, who in years, has exercised her proclivity to drop subliminal messages through lyrics, music videos, social media posts, even jewelry, and nail polish.

The book-in-question was originally listed as “4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023”. But for said Swifties, the clues were everywhere:

There was the 13-hour audio component; the estimated number of pages was 544, and not by a stretch, Swift’s favorite number is 13 (5 + 4 + 3 = 13); in addition, a document allegedly from the publishers alluded that the author of the book would be revealed on June 13; and lastly, there was Swift’s “Dear reader” Instagram message when she announced that her “Speak Now” album was being re-recorded.

The hint wasn’t limited to the number 13. The book’s publication on July 9 seem all but concrete evidence when she used the date too in her song, “Last Kiss”.

But alas, Flatiron pulls back the curtains revealing the enigma that is “Beyond the Story: 10-Year Record of BTS”. A memoir by another global phenomenon, BTS. It would be an oral history of the K-pop idol group written by journalist Myeongseok Kang and some of its members, and to be published in South Korea by their label Big Hit Music.

The flurry of speculation shot the then-untitled book to the top of the Barnes & Noble and Amazon best-seller lists, as preorders rolled in. Swifties won’t be getting a refund but for the $45 they forked out, it wouldn’t be such a loss to receive a memoir from a music group that changed the landscape as much as their messiah did.