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All Signs Point to Yes
a YA anthology of love stories for each of the star signs that will showcase multicultural characters and celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people, featuring 13 bestselling and award-winning multicultural authors.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published May 31, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
August 14, 2022
G. Haron Davis - Ruler and Killer 4/5
The anthology is off to a good start with this contribution. I enjoyed how we're thrown into the story, figuring out the world building as we go. I also loved that this is a competition-based story. I thought the romance and the ending were very rushed though. Ultimately I think this had potential for maybe a novella.
Roselle Lim - The Taste of a Kiss 4/5
This is an author I've read from before - I've read and enjoyed one of her books and have the others on my TBR. This was a very sweet story of a food blogger on the hunt for the best Korean fried chicken and looking to reunite with her childhood best friend who she's always had a crush on. Again, I found the ending a little rushed, but it was a cute story that made me hungry while reading.
Tehlor Kay Mejia - Doublespeak 4/5
YAY, a sapphic story! This is a story about the main character's toxic relationship with her cousin, who was born on the same day, so people have always called them twins. They don't look alike, but they have the same voice, and they've often used that to trick people on the phone. After something tears apart their family, they don't see each other for years, but eventually they reunite and that's where the story takes off. I enjoyed this a lot and I loved the writing, but again I thought the ending was a little rushed.
Karuna Riazi - L(Train)iminal 3/5
Maybe I'm just tired, but I found this a little hard to follow at times. I'll have to reread it at some point because I did find it intriguing!
Kiana Nguyen - Alternative Combustion 3/5
Another 3 star read for me. I liked the romance, between a demisexual girl and a non-binary person, but I feel like this barely had a plot.
Byron Graves - Sometimes in September 4/5
Finally this anthology is picking up for me again. This story is about an Ojibwe boy addicted to drugs, who's about to leave rehab. I thought this was very well-written, and it's the kind of story I would easily read a full novel about.
Mark Oshiro - Fake Scorpio 4/5
This was really funny!
Eric Smith - The South Street Challenge 3/5
My problem with short stories - and this is very much a me problem - is, at times, that I won't actually become immersed in the stories because they're so short. That's what happened to me with this story.
Cam Montgomery - Formation 3/5
This story wasn't entirely my thing. I don't consider myself a very spiritual person and I found it fairly hard to follow. I did love the writing style, though, and it did have a pan main character and a trans love interest, which was nice.
Lily Anderson - Anchor Point 4/5
This was really great - a collection of concisely described scenes set at archery competitions. There's a good amount of rivalry, which made this really fun to read.
Alexandra Villasante - Mucho, Mucho Amor 4/5
Another sapphic story! This was a beautiful coming out story centering a Puerto Rican girl.
Adrianne White - I Come From the Water 3/5
I loved the atmosphere of this story, but I found it slightly underdeveloped. It had a lot of potential, so I would have liked to read something slightly longer about it.
Emery Lee - The Cure For Heartbreak 5/5
This story was the main reason I bought this anthology, and it was my favourite story in it by far. It felt super fleshed out and it was a well-rounded story, but I will admit I'd happily read a fullsize novel about this.
The anthology is off to a good start with this contribution. I enjoyed how we're thrown into the story, figuring out the world building as we go. I also loved that this is a competition-based story. I thought the romance and the ending were very rushed though. Ultimately I think this had potential for maybe a novella.
Roselle Lim - The Taste of a Kiss 4/5
This is an author I've read from before - I've read and enjoyed one of her books and have the others on my TBR. This was a very sweet story of a food blogger on the hunt for the best Korean fried chicken and looking to reunite with her childhood best friend who she's always had a crush on. Again, I found the ending a little rushed, but it was a cute story that made me hungry while reading.
Tehlor Kay Mejia - Doublespeak 4/5
YAY, a sapphic story! This is a story about the main character's toxic relationship with her cousin, who was born on the same day, so people have always called them twins. They don't look alike, but they have the same voice, and they've often used that to trick people on the phone. After something tears apart their family, they don't see each other for years, but eventually they reunite and that's where the story takes off. I enjoyed this a lot and I loved the writing, but again I thought the ending was a little rushed.
Karuna Riazi - L(Train)iminal 3/5
Maybe I'm just tired, but I found this a little hard to follow at times. I'll have to reread it at some point because I did find it intriguing!
Kiana Nguyen - Alternative Combustion 3/5
Another 3 star read for me. I liked the romance, between a demisexual girl and a non-binary person, but I feel like this barely had a plot.
Byron Graves - Sometimes in September 4/5
Finally this anthology is picking up for me again. This story is about an Ojibwe boy addicted to drugs, who's about to leave rehab. I thought this was very well-written, and it's the kind of story I would easily read a full novel about.
Mark Oshiro - Fake Scorpio 4/5
This was really funny!
Eric Smith - The South Street Challenge 3/5
My problem with short stories - and this is very much a me problem - is, at times, that I won't actually become immersed in the stories because they're so short. That's what happened to me with this story.
Cam Montgomery - Formation 3/5
This story wasn't entirely my thing. I don't consider myself a very spiritual person and I found it fairly hard to follow. I did love the writing style, though, and it did have a pan main character and a trans love interest, which was nice.
Lily Anderson - Anchor Point 4/5
This was really great - a collection of concisely described scenes set at archery competitions. There's a good amount of rivalry, which made this really fun to read.
Alexandra Villasante - Mucho, Mucho Amor 4/5
Another sapphic story! This was a beautiful coming out story centering a Puerto Rican girl.
Adrianne White - I Come From the Water 3/5
I loved the atmosphere of this story, but I found it slightly underdeveloped. It had a lot of potential, so I would have liked to read something slightly longer about it.
Emery Lee - The Cure For Heartbreak 5/5
This story was the main reason I bought this anthology, and it was my favourite story in it by far. It felt super fleshed out and it was a well-rounded story, but I will admit I'd happily read a fullsize novel about this.
Want to read
January 5, 2021“Will explore the many facets of love from meet-cutes to the love expressed by aromantic people”? Holy what?!
May 6, 2022
Throughout All Signs Point To Yes, we jump between magic, realism, romance, contemporary and slivers of genres in-between—that was one of my favourite things about it. You never get tired of the setting because, before you know it, you’re whisked into another. Like the strange enchantment-filled sorcery in Aries (my sign) before being pulled into the contemporary setting of reunited childhood best friends in Taurus.
As I continued reading—of blitzing, should I say—through the stories, through the signs, I became more in love with some stories than others, which is a given, page-tabbing my favourite moments from witchy stories, sisterhood, romances, enemies, family bonds and all the space between. I felt a true connection to stories that shared traits from my signs—Aries sun, Aries moon, Cancer rising—even finding solace in some of the placements of where my planets align, which was strangely weird but amazing at the same time? All I know is that it was a whole mood, feeling as if a part of me was connecting with the stories in multiple, fascinating ways.
Overall, All Signs Point To Yes was everything I wanted it to be and more. Like I said, I connected to some stories way more than others, but that’s completely natural, because not every story is for me. My personal favourites were probably Taurus and Cancer, but I do have a soft spot for Aries, too. I also loved that it had many diverse voices/characters/stories throughout, which I absolutely love to see, especially in YA. This was such a whirlwind of celestial stories dedicated to the powerful love of astromancy, written by a star-studded cast of bright, herculean voices. Four, shiny stars!
As I continued reading—of blitzing, should I say—through the stories, through the signs, I became more in love with some stories than others, which is a given, page-tabbing my favourite moments from witchy stories, sisterhood, romances, enemies, family bonds and all the space between. I felt a true connection to stories that shared traits from my signs—Aries sun, Aries moon, Cancer rising—even finding solace in some of the placements of where my planets align, which was strangely weird but amazing at the same time? All I know is that it was a whole mood, feeling as if a part of me was connecting with the stories in multiple, fascinating ways.
Overall, All Signs Point To Yes was everything I wanted it to be and more. Like I said, I connected to some stories way more than others, but that’s completely natural, because not every story is for me. My personal favourites were probably Taurus and Cancer, but I do have a soft spot for Aries, too. I also loved that it had many diverse voices/characters/stories throughout, which I absolutely love to see, especially in YA. This was such a whirlwind of celestial stories dedicated to the powerful love of astromancy, written by a star-studded cast of bright, herculean voices. Four, shiny stars!
August 9, 2022
2,25
Non so se per il periodo o la brevità delle varie storie, ma sono ad apprezzarle solo a tratti.
Non so se per il periodo o la brevità delle varie storie, ma sono ad apprezzarle solo a tratti.
April 14, 2022
DRC provided by Inkyard Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Representation: queer Black protagonists, Korean protagonist, lesbian Latine protagonist, queer Latine protagonists, Ojibwe protagonist, demisexual protagonist, Peruvian protagonist, lesbian Puerto Rican-Uruguayan protagonist, pansexual Black protagonist, Asian secondary character, lesbian Latine secondary character, lesbian white secondary character, pansexual Latine secondary character, bisexual white secondary character of German and Swedish descent, lesbian Black secondary character of colour, lesbian Black secondary character, Colombian secondary character, Puerto Rican secondary character, Senegalese secondary character with vitiligo, trans Afro-Brazilian secondary character, Ojibwe deaf secondary character, gay Ojibwe secondary character, non-binary Black secondary character, bisexual Black secondary character, Korean secondary and tertiary characters, Latine secondary and tertiary characters, Black secondary and tertiary characters, non-binary secondary and tertiary characters, Ojibwe secondary and tertiary characters, Senegalese tertiary character.
Content Warning: death, violence, homophobia, bullying, biphobic comment, anxiety.
All Signs Point to Yes by g. haron davis, Adrianne White and Cam Montgomery is a romantic anthology whose main theme is astrology and the way it influences people’s lives.
I love anthologies. They offer so much in such a short time, but I joylessly need to say that this one did not hit the mark for the biggest part. I always give books more than a chance, especially in the case of anthologies because they collect a spectrum of voices and while I may dislike some, I am bound to find one I enjoy; and that happened, but only partially. I really liked a couple of stories, but as I said before most were not it (except three which had potential, but needed something more to make them feel complete and fully developed), I even had to stop reading some and I rarely do this. I just feel so disappointed.
Aries: ruler and killer by g. haron davis ★★,5
Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim ★
Gemini: Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia ★★★
Cancer: L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi Did not finish.
Leo: Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen ★★
Virgo: Sometimes in September by Byron Graves ★
Libra: Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro ★★★,5
Scorpio: The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith Did not finish.
Ophiuchus: Formation by Cam Montgomery ★★★★,5
Sagittarius: Anchor Point by Lily Anderson Did non finish.
Capricorn: Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alex Villasante ★★★★,5
Aquarius: I Come from the Water by Adrianne White ★★
Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee ★★★★★
Representation: queer Black protagonists, Korean protagonist, lesbian Latine protagonist, queer Latine protagonists, Ojibwe protagonist, demisexual protagonist, Peruvian protagonist, lesbian Puerto Rican-Uruguayan protagonist, pansexual Black protagonist, Asian secondary character, lesbian Latine secondary character, lesbian white secondary character, pansexual Latine secondary character, bisexual white secondary character of German and Swedish descent, lesbian Black secondary character of colour, lesbian Black secondary character, Colombian secondary character, Puerto Rican secondary character, Senegalese secondary character with vitiligo, trans Afro-Brazilian secondary character, Ojibwe deaf secondary character, gay Ojibwe secondary character, non-binary Black secondary character, bisexual Black secondary character, Korean secondary and tertiary characters, Latine secondary and tertiary characters, Black secondary and tertiary characters, non-binary secondary and tertiary characters, Ojibwe secondary and tertiary characters, Senegalese tertiary character.
Content Warning: death, violence, homophobia, bullying, biphobic comment, anxiety.
All Signs Point to Yes by g. haron davis, Adrianne White and Cam Montgomery is a romantic anthology whose main theme is astrology and the way it influences people’s lives.
I love anthologies. They offer so much in such a short time, but I joylessly need to say that this one did not hit the mark for the biggest part. I always give books more than a chance, especially in the case of anthologies because they collect a spectrum of voices and while I may dislike some, I am bound to find one I enjoy; and that happened, but only partially. I really liked a couple of stories, but as I said before most were not it (except three which had potential, but needed something more to make them feel complete and fully developed), I even had to stop reading some and I rarely do this. I just feel so disappointed.
Aries: ruler and killer by g. haron davis ★★,5
Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim ★
Gemini: Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia ★★★
Cancer: L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi Did not finish.
Leo: Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen ★★
Virgo: Sometimes in September by Byron Graves ★
Libra: Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro ★★★,5
Scorpio: The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith Did not finish.
Ophiuchus: Formation by Cam Montgomery ★★★★,5
Sagittarius: Anchor Point by Lily Anderson Did non finish.
Capricorn: Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alex Villasante ★★★★,5
Aquarius: I Come from the Water by Adrianne White ★★
Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee ★★★★★
May 31, 2022
well, the moon is in Gemini and i'm feeling double the excitement over this book and twice as much love. hope you can too. ALL SIGNS releases tomorrow 5.31.22. enjoy! ♡ xx
October 26, 2021
I mean, I think it's pretty cool, personally.
Want to read
May 27, 2022Aromantic rep!
"...celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people"
"...celebrate the myriad facets of love, from meet-cutes to the lesser-explored love expressed by aromantic people"
September 2, 2022
I don’t really like short stories, but I liked the idea behind this anthology. Some of the stories were ok, but others did not even make sense (having a February birthday, the Aquarius was extremely disappointing).
March 13, 2022
This one was super cute! Some stories definitely stood out more than others, but as a whole, it was an enjoyable read!
Aries: 🌟🌟
Ok, that one was just odd. The world was weird, the magic was nonsensical, and the romance was nonexistent. Was it even a romance? It was there for like 5 pages, and there was no connection. I know these are short stories, but jeez, I want more than that
Taurus: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was cute! I loved the childhood best friends to lovers plot line, and the food aspects made me hungry. (Seriously, a horrible book to read when craving food). It was just a cute story overall!
Gemini: 🌟🌟🌟
I'm really not sure how I feel about this one... because sure, it was cute. But at the same time, it frustrated me. And I wasn't a fan of the way our characters acted. It was necessary to the plot, but not my thing
Cancer: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so adorable!!! She was a bookstore witch!! Who was lonely! And found a home with bookstore man! Sure, sure, it wasn't much of a romance, but it was so adorable!! (Plus, it managed to develop a magic system in 50 or so pages, which was AMAZING)
Leo: 🌟🌟
This one was badddd. It was just chaos. And one of the characters was named Princess (which really bothered me). I feel like a heist happened in this one, but honestly, I'm not sure. My brain was too tired to comprehend it, and once I lost interest, that was the end
Virgo: 🌟🌟🌟
This one wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good either. I know these are short stories, bur this one just felt like it moved wayyyy too fast. I didn't connect to either of the characters, and even though the concept was cute, it fell short.
Libra: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was adorable!! I loved the idea, and I loved how it actually kept the astrology idea. (Some of these haven't, they've just had the MC be the sign). The romance was adorable, the friendship was cute. Everything about this one was sweet!
Scorpio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so cute! I'll admit that it did stress me out (as someone who'll be leaving for college in a year, I hated how real it all seemed. Leaving a hometown, leaving all your friends. Scary...) Other than that though, this one was great! I wouldn't exactly consider it a romance, but it was still super sweet.
Opiuchus: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was sweet. It was a tad bit odd with the world and the magic, but it was cute. I think I would've loved this one as a full length novel (it needed time to develop) but it was still a fun read!
Sagittarius: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so cute!! Like, rivals to lovers in an archery tournament?? What could be better?? Especially with that reveal at the end. I loved it so much!!
Capricorn: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kinda disappointed in this one... Because I a Capricorn, so I wanted this one to feel super personal. It didn't, but it was still cute. The mother-son bonr was super sweet, and the hints of romance were fun. Not my favorite, but still a cute story
Aquarius: 🌟🌟
And I thought Capricorn was disappointing... I'm part of a Cap-Aqua duo, so I was really looking forward to this one. Such a disappointment though. I can't even tell you what this one was about, it was that big of a mess. Something about ghosts? And love? I don't know, and I really don't care to
Pisces: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so cute! I loved how witchy it was, and watching the romance develop was so sweet. Both of the characters were adorable, and I loved the connection between them. This was a great note to end the book on!
Aries: 🌟🌟
Ok, that one was just odd. The world was weird, the magic was nonsensical, and the romance was nonexistent. Was it even a romance? It was there for like 5 pages, and there was no connection. I know these are short stories, but jeez, I want more than that
Taurus: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was cute! I loved the childhood best friends to lovers plot line, and the food aspects made me hungry. (Seriously, a horrible book to read when craving food). It was just a cute story overall!
Gemini: 🌟🌟🌟
I'm really not sure how I feel about this one... because sure, it was cute. But at the same time, it frustrated me. And I wasn't a fan of the way our characters acted. It was necessary to the plot, but not my thing
Cancer: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so adorable!!! She was a bookstore witch!! Who was lonely! And found a home with bookstore man! Sure, sure, it wasn't much of a romance, but it was so adorable!! (Plus, it managed to develop a magic system in 50 or so pages, which was AMAZING)
Leo: 🌟🌟
This one was badddd. It was just chaos. And one of the characters was named Princess (which really bothered me). I feel like a heist happened in this one, but honestly, I'm not sure. My brain was too tired to comprehend it, and once I lost interest, that was the end
Virgo: 🌟🌟🌟
This one wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good either. I know these are short stories, bur this one just felt like it moved wayyyy too fast. I didn't connect to either of the characters, and even though the concept was cute, it fell short.
Libra: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was adorable!! I loved the idea, and I loved how it actually kept the astrology idea. (Some of these haven't, they've just had the MC be the sign). The romance was adorable, the friendship was cute. Everything about this one was sweet!
Scorpio: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so cute! I'll admit that it did stress me out (as someone who'll be leaving for college in a year, I hated how real it all seemed. Leaving a hometown, leaving all your friends. Scary...) Other than that though, this one was great! I wouldn't exactly consider it a romance, but it was still super sweet.
Opiuchus: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was sweet. It was a tad bit odd with the world and the magic, but it was cute. I think I would've loved this one as a full length novel (it needed time to develop) but it was still a fun read!
Sagittarius: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so cute!! Like, rivals to lovers in an archery tournament?? What could be better?? Especially with that reveal at the end. I loved it so much!!
Capricorn: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Kinda disappointed in this one... Because I a Capricorn, so I wanted this one to feel super personal. It didn't, but it was still cute. The mother-son bonr was super sweet, and the hints of romance were fun. Not my favorite, but still a cute story
Aquarius: 🌟🌟
And I thought Capricorn was disappointing... I'm part of a Cap-Aqua duo, so I was really looking forward to this one. Such a disappointment though. I can't even tell you what this one was about, it was that big of a mess. Something about ghosts? And love? I don't know, and I really don't care to
Pisces: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This one was so cute! I loved how witchy it was, and watching the romance develop was so sweet. Both of the characters were adorable, and I loved the connection between them. This was a great note to end the book on!
June 10, 2022
Wonderful storytelling. Great book idea. Love the diverse perspectives
December 31, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for providing an eARC of All Signs Point to Yes in exchange for an honest review.
This is such a cool idea. I'm incredibly biased for thinking the Pieces story was the second best one (because you can't put Mark Oshiro in an anthology without that automatically being the best story) but maybe that means it did a really good job by figuring out exactly what kind of story I was looking for? Regardless, this was a really well compiled and varied anthology.
This is such a cool idea. I'm incredibly biased for thinking the Pieces story was the second best one (because you can't put Mark Oshiro in an anthology without that automatically being the best story) but maybe that means it did a really good job by figuring out exactly what kind of story I was looking for? Regardless, this was a really well compiled and varied anthology.
June 2, 2022
I’m not a huge astrology fan. Pretty much every I know comes from random internet articles, but I’m a big fan of anthologies (author speed dating!), so I hopped in hoping for the best. Luckily, each of the thirteen stories has a list of characteristics for that sign before the story starts. Yes, there are thirteen stories, the twelve traditional zodiac signs plus one that my limited googling indicates is controversial.
Aries: “ruler and killer” – g. haron davis – ★★
F/NB. Not a strong start unfortunately. There’s a non-binary vampire queen who’s looking for a consort and they’re holding a championship to determine who’s best fit to rule beside them. Chi is a witch, which are technically forbidden since they tried to overthrow the vampire monarchy… Look, there is way too much that needed explaining for such a short story, and I never felt like the important thing – Chi’s magic – got enough explanation. There wasn’t enough focus on the relationship between Chi and Álava for me either. It’s all vibes no romance.
Taurus: “The Taste of a Kiss” – Roselle Lim – ★★★★
M/F. Look, if you can get through this story without ordering some Korean fried chicken, you’re a better person than me! It’s childhood friends to lovers (one of my favorite tropes!), plus a side of figuring out what to do about Asian parent pressure. Super cute, still a bit light on the romance, but this one worked better for me.
Gemini – “Doublespeak” – Tehlor Kay Meija – ★★★★
F/F. This is a case of “twins” who are cousins born close together and are complete opposites… though they seem to share the same taste in girls. Ana’s pranks have gotten Jessi in trouble in the past, so she’s not completely thrilled that she’s coming to stay with her but resolves to make the best of it. And then Ana starts hitting on Jessi’s crush, and the next thing she knows, somehow Jessi is filling in for Ana on long phone conversations with Ana’s girlfriend. Fun, even if I spent most of the story wanting to smack Ana back to her own house.
Cancer – “L(Train)iminal” – Karuna Riazi – ★★★★★
M/F. I’m a cancer so I was inclined to be partial towards this one – and it’s about a library witch!!! Mia’s a homeless witch who has to gain power by riding the L train. Normally witches gain power from their homes, but without one, she has to make do with the scraps from riding on the train as long as possible, while somehow managing numerous part time jobs and trying to find a full-time one. There’s a tiny bit of romance, but mostly it’s about finding the space you fit in. Would 100% read a full length novel about this!
Leo – “Alternative Combustion” – Kiana Nguyen – ★★★
F/NB. Princess has a crush on Lala, a skate boarding enby hottie, but she’s too afraid to even talk to them. But a late night conversation about astrology may just lead to something more. I liked that Lala shouted out the Girl Scouts, and the amount of crushing Princess was doing over Lala was sublime, but not much else happened.
Virgo – “Sometimes in September” – Byron Graves – ★★★★
M/F. A surprisingly touching story about a boy who’s leaving a treatment program and meets a girl just starting the program. This one hit me hard in the feels.
Libra – “Fake Scorpio” – Mark Oshiro – ★★★★★
M/M. Efren, who makes his spare cash as the high school astrologer, discovers that he’s not exactly who he thought he was. Efren’s the type of OTT queer disaster that I love (err, or identify strongly with). Super cute and funny, and I’m definitely picking up the rest of this author’s work.
Scorpio – “The South Street Challenge” – Eric Smith – ★★★★
M/F. This story is deeply sweet, plus it’s set in my beloved Philly. Miguel’s leaving for college and his parents are moving to California, so he’s spending his last days of summer with his best friends, doing all the cheesy (pun-intended) Philly tourist things with his best friends, including his crush. A little bittersweet, but ultimately hopeful.
Ophiuchus – “Formation” – Cam Montgomery – ★★★★★
M/F (with trans rep!!!). The world-building in this story is phenomenal! Five girls, including Luna, are preparing to make the trek up the mountain to serve as conduits for the Other and, well, New Orleans. There wasn’t quite enough to the romance for me, but I’d totally read a book length work about this. Another author added to my TBR!
Sagittarius – “Anchor Point” – Lily Anderson – ★★★★★
M/F. Nothing like going all in and doing a story about archers for Sagittarius! A story, told over four years and numerous archery competitions, of “Katniss” and “Robin Hood,” two extremely competitive high school archers. I loved this one: the banter, the competition, the ending! Seriously the best romance of the whole anthology!
Capricorn – “Mucho, Mucho Amor” – Alex Villasante – ★★★★
F/F. An adorably sweet story about love and acceptance and the death of a TV astrologer. Definitely made me cry.
Aquarius – “I Come from the Water” – Adrianne White – ★★
I have absolutely no idea what happened in this story. There’s a river? There was a cool ghost, though, so bonus star for that.
Pisces – “The Cure for Heartbreak” – Emery Lee – ★★★★★
M/M. Luis, who works at his parents’ magic shop, reluctantly helps the school jock Al when he comes in asking for a cure for a broken heart. And then keeps coming back. Oblivious grouchy loners are my kryptonite! My second favorite romance, and a great ending to the book!
Overall, while there were definitely some stories that didn’t work for me, I’m going to give the anthology as a whole four stars because several of the stories were excellent! Plus, I’ve got several new authors to check out! If you’re looking for an anthology featuring many diverse queer voices, I’d definitely recommend this!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content notes:
Aries: “ruler and killer” – g. haron davis – ★★
F/NB. Not a strong start unfortunately. There’s a non-binary vampire queen who’s looking for a consort and they’re holding a championship to determine who’s best fit to rule beside them. Chi is a witch, which are technically forbidden since they tried to overthrow the vampire monarchy… Look, there is way too much that needed explaining for such a short story, and I never felt like the important thing – Chi’s magic – got enough explanation. There wasn’t enough focus on the relationship between Chi and Álava for me either. It’s all vibes no romance.
“The two very things I’d always wanted were connected and somehow, for the first time in my life, the food didn’t seem as important as the guy.
Was this what real love tasted like?”
Taurus: “The Taste of a Kiss” – Roselle Lim – ★★★★
M/F. Look, if you can get through this story without ordering some Korean fried chicken, you’re a better person than me! It’s childhood friends to lovers (one of my favorite tropes!), plus a side of figuring out what to do about Asian parent pressure. Super cute, still a bit light on the romance, but this one worked better for me.
Gemini – “Doublespeak” – Tehlor Kay Meija – ★★★★
F/F. This is a case of “twins” who are cousins born close together and are complete opposites… though they seem to share the same taste in girls. Ana’s pranks have gotten Jessi in trouble in the past, so she’s not completely thrilled that she’s coming to stay with her but resolves to make the best of it. And then Ana starts hitting on Jessi’s crush, and the next thing she knows, somehow Jessi is filling in for Ana on long phone conversations with Ana’s girlfriend. Fun, even if I spent most of the story wanting to smack Ana back to her own house.
“Tomorrow, she would be able to keep up the pretense of being a somewhat witch, and try again.”
Cancer – “L(Train)iminal” – Karuna Riazi – ★★★★★
M/F. I’m a cancer so I was inclined to be partial towards this one – and it’s about a library witch!!! Mia’s a homeless witch who has to gain power by riding the L train. Normally witches gain power from their homes, but without one, she has to make do with the scraps from riding on the train as long as possible, while somehow managing numerous part time jobs and trying to find a full-time one. There’s a tiny bit of romance, but mostly it’s about finding the space you fit in. Would 100% read a full length novel about this!
Leo – “Alternative Combustion” – Kiana Nguyen – ★★★
F/NB. Princess has a crush on Lala, a skate boarding enby hottie, but she’s too afraid to even talk to them. But a late night conversation about astrology may just lead to something more. I liked that Lala shouted out the Girl Scouts, and the amount of crushing Princess was doing over Lala was sublime, but not much else happened.
Virgo – “Sometimes in September” – Byron Graves – ★★★★
M/F. A surprisingly touching story about a boy who’s leaving a treatment program and meets a girl just starting the program. This one hit me hard in the feels.
Libra – “Fake Scorpio” – Mark Oshiro – ★★★★★
M/M. Efren, who makes his spare cash as the high school astrologer, discovers that he’s not exactly who he thought he was. Efren’s the type of OTT queer disaster that I love (err, or identify strongly with). Super cute and funny, and I’m definitely picking up the rest of this author’s work.
“Though the idea of not thinking about Kim almost feels ridiculous. She’s an ever-present thought, as much as part of me as Gritty is to Philadelphia, the feelings strange and wonderful. Again, like Gritty.”
Scorpio – “The South Street Challenge” – Eric Smith – ★★★★
M/F. This story is deeply sweet, plus it’s set in my beloved Philly. Miguel’s leaving for college and his parents are moving to California, so he’s spending his last days of summer with his best friends, doing all the cheesy (pun-intended) Philly tourist things with his best friends, including his crush. A little bittersweet, but ultimately hopeful.
“It’s a special thing for a girl to take up space. A more special thing for a queer Black girl to do so.”
Ophiuchus – “Formation” – Cam Montgomery – ★★★★★
M/F (with trans rep!!!). The world-building in this story is phenomenal! Five girls, including Luna, are preparing to make the trek up the mountain to serve as conduits for the Other and, well, New Orleans. There wasn’t quite enough to the romance for me, but I’d totally read a book length work about this. Another author added to my TBR!
Sagittarius – “Anchor Point” – Lily Anderson – ★★★★★
M/F. Nothing like going all in and doing a story about archers for Sagittarius! A story, told over four years and numerous archery competitions, of “Katniss” and “Robin Hood,” two extremely competitive high school archers. I loved this one: the banter, the competition, the ending! Seriously the best romance of the whole anthology!
“But I love you. And that never can change. It also is eterno, you understand?”
Capricorn – “Mucho, Mucho Amor” – Alex Villasante – ★★★★
F/F. An adorably sweet story about love and acceptance and the death of a TV astrologer. Definitely made me cry.
Aquarius – “I Come from the Water” – Adrianne White – ★★
I have absolutely no idea what happened in this story. There’s a river? There was a cool ghost, though, so bonus star for that.
“I think you’re really smart. And funny. And snarky, but like, in a funny and smart kind of way.”
Pisces – “The Cure for Heartbreak” – Emery Lee – ★★★★★
M/M. Luis, who works at his parents’ magic shop, reluctantly helps the school jock Al when he comes in asking for a cure for a broken heart. And then keeps coming back. Oblivious grouchy loners are my kryptonite! My second favorite romance, and a great ending to the book!
Overall, while there were definitely some stories that didn’t work for me, I’m going to give the anthology as a whole four stars because several of the stories were excellent! Plus, I’ve got several new authors to check out! If you’re looking for an anthology featuring many diverse queer voices, I’d definitely recommend this!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Content notes:
October 22, 2022
Intriguing, unique, diverse ✨
This book has the coolest plot concept ever!! And I feel like it was delivered well! The variety of characters, love interests, and writing styles was really neat to read about. The only reason why this book isn’t a full five stars from me is because I didn’t absolutely love any on the stories. They were all good but not amazing in my opinion… 💫
ruler and killer by g. haron davis- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Sometimes in September by Bryon Graves- ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
Formation by Cam Montgomery- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Anchor Point by Lily Anderson- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alexandra Villasante- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
I Come From the Water by Adrianne White- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
The Cure For Heartbreak by Emery Lee- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Super cool anthology 🌚☁️💛
This book has the coolest plot concept ever!! And I feel like it was delivered well! The variety of characters, love interests, and writing styles was really neat to read about. The only reason why this book isn’t a full five stars from me is because I didn’t absolutely love any on the stories. They were all good but not amazing in my opinion… 💫
ruler and killer by g. haron davis- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Sometimes in September by Bryon Graves- ⭐️⭐️ ⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4.5/5
The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
Formation by Cam Montgomery- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Anchor Point by Lily Anderson- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alexandra Villasante- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
I Come From the Water by Adrianne White- ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5
The Cure For Heartbreak by Emery Lee- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
Super cool anthology 🌚☁️💛
March 1, 2022
I won this arc in a goodreads giveaway.
Overall Rating: 3.5
Aries: ruler and killer by g. haron davis- 3/5
Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim- 4/5
Gemeni: Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia- 5/5
Cancer: L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi- 3/5
Leo: Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen- 4/5
Virgo: Sometimes in September by Byron Graves- 4/5
Libra: Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro- 5/5
Scorpio: The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith- 3/5
Ophiuchus: Formation by Cam Montgomery- 3/5
Sagittarius: Anchor Point by Lily Anderson- 3/5
Capricorn: Much, Much Amor by Alexandra Villasante- 3.5/5
Aquarius: I Come From the Water by Adrianne White- 3/5
Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee- 4/5
Overall Rating: 3.5
Aries: ruler and killer by g. haron davis- 3/5
Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim- 4/5
Gemeni: Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia- 5/5
Cancer: L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi- 3/5
Leo: Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen- 4/5
Virgo: Sometimes in September by Byron Graves- 4/5
Libra: Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro- 5/5
Scorpio: The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith- 3/5
Ophiuchus: Formation by Cam Montgomery- 3/5
Sagittarius: Anchor Point by Lily Anderson- 3/5
Capricorn: Much, Much Amor by Alexandra Villasante- 3.5/5
Aquarius: I Come From the Water by Adrianne White- 3/5
Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee- 4/5
July 31, 2022
Overall Average Rating: 3.69/5 stars
Individual Ratings:
ruler and killer by g. haron davis: 4/5 stars
The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim: 3/5 stars
Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia: 4/5 stars
L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi: 4.5/5 stars
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen: 4/5 stars
Sometimes in September by Byron Graves: 3.5/5 stars
Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro: 4.25/5 stars
The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith: 3/5
Formation by Cam Montgomery: 4/5 stars
Anchor Point by Lily Anderson: 4.5/5 stars
Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alexandra Villasante: 2/5 stars
I Come From the Water by Adrianne White: 3/5 stars
The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee: 4.25/5 stars
Individual Ratings:
ruler and killer by g. haron davis: 4/5 stars
The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim: 3/5 stars
Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia: 4/5 stars
L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi: 4.5/5 stars
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen: 4/5 stars
Sometimes in September by Byron Graves: 3.5/5 stars
Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro: 4.25/5 stars
The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith: 3/5
Formation by Cam Montgomery: 4/5 stars
Anchor Point by Lily Anderson: 4.5/5 stars
Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alexandra Villasante: 2/5 stars
I Come From the Water by Adrianne White: 3/5 stars
The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee: 4.25/5 stars
Want to read
May 24, 2022I recieved an arc of this book. I requested it because of the cover. I loved the body diversity on the cover, so I knew I had to read it. Then find out it was short stories anthology of YA love stories that were based on astrology I was all over it. These stories were so diverse and some of them moving some of then heartfelt. I really enjoyed making my way through the stories in this book. Ya short love stories with lots of heart and diversity? Sign me up!
December 19, 2022
I’ve been getting into anthologies lately so when I received an ARC of this one I was super excited.
I love astrology so I loved that each zodiac had their own story.
Some of the stories were really great but others were just okay.
My favorite was definitely Libra, I loved that astrology was actually part of the story.
Overall it was cute and I recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read.
I love astrology so I loved that each zodiac had their own story.
Some of the stories were really great but others were just okay.
My favorite was definitely Libra, I loved that astrology was actually part of the story.
Overall it was cute and I recommend it if you’re looking for a quick read.
February 19, 2023
This was an okay read. Some stories were really cute, some were not my cup of tea, as is often the case with anthologies. If you like a range of genres with a diversity of love representations, you may enjoy it. Some stories were very heavy on the Gen Z vibe and lingo, and maybe I'm just too old now but it was a bit much at times. But I did like the focus on BIPOC love stories and the range of communities stories and characters came from.
April 5, 2022
(Rounded up to 3.5 ) I've really got into short stories recently and All Signs Point To Yes is exactly what it says on the the book. A Love Story for every Star Sign. It's honestly adorable and whilst some stories definitely stood out more than others I enjoyed them all. I loved that different kinds of love were explored from romantic love to familial love.
Representation matters and it was so refreshing to see such a wide range of stories from Trans Rep to Muslim Rep and all body types celebrated. I definitely recommend this collection for anyone who enjoys Ya and short stories or anyone who's just looking for a light hearted read. Super cute and engaging I'm super happy I got to read this gorgeous anthology.
Representation matters and it was so refreshing to see such a wide range of stories from Trans Rep to Muslim Rep and all body types celebrated. I definitely recommend this collection for anyone who enjoys Ya and short stories or anyone who's just looking for a light hearted read. Super cute and engaging I'm super happy I got to read this gorgeous anthology.
June 23, 2022
Final Rating: 4 stars.
Happy Release Day to this one! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of All Signs Point to Yes and I really enjoyed the theme of this anthology, the representation, and diversity of ethnicities and sexualities included. I think my favourite story has to be Taurus - a story about love and Korean fried chicken? I’m sold.
A incredibly fast read with lots of different settings/genres that will keep you hooked. I really need to get into more anthologies!
Thanks again to Harper360YA for sending me an ARC for review.
Happy Release Day to this one! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of All Signs Point to Yes and I really enjoyed the theme of this anthology, the representation, and diversity of ethnicities and sexualities included. I think my favourite story has to be Taurus - a story about love and Korean fried chicken? I’m sold.
A incredibly fast read with lots of different settings/genres that will keep you hooked. I really need to get into more anthologies!
Thanks again to Harper360YA for sending me an ARC for review.
September 26, 2022
3 stars, like with any anthology there were some I really enjoyed and some that were just meh. They were all pretty cute though. I would have liked some to be longer and some to be shorter. I'll have to look up some authors for sure! The narrators were all excellent!
November 10, 2022
Wow- this took way to long to read. Some of the short stories were so sweet and some were meh, but this made me realize I maybe don’t like collections of short stories as much as I previously thought.
August 12, 2022
3.5 stars
A perfectly cute romance anthology, I just feel like it was missing those one or two standout stories. If you like astrology, definitely give it a shot!
A perfectly cute romance anthology, I just feel like it was missing those one or two standout stories. If you like astrology, definitely give it a shot!
March 26, 2023
aries- 4/5
taurus- 4/5
gemini- 5/5
cancer- 3.5/5
leo- 4/5
virgo- 4/5
libra- 4/5
scorpio-3/5
ophiuchus- 3.5/5
sagittarius-5/5
capricorn-4/5
aquarius-2/5
pisces-4/5
taurus- 4/5
gemini- 5/5
cancer- 3.5/5
leo- 4/5
virgo- 4/5
libra- 4/5
scorpio-3/5
ophiuchus- 3.5/5
sagittarius-5/5
capricorn-4/5
aquarius-2/5
pisces-4/5
June 13, 2023
Overall, All Signs Point to Yes was a very enjoyable anthology - to the point that, if I didn't have so many unread books sitting next to my bed and most probably obtaining a fine layer of dust, I would re-read it. It can be difficult to rate anthologies because some stories will always outshine others: do you rate based on the structure of the stories, the best addition, or the average? My process is - somewhat - a combination of the three.
All Signs Point to Yes is an anthology of thirteen short stories, each concerning a different horoscope/zodiac sign, in chronological order from Aries to Pisces. Some revolve around astrology, and some simply have a protagonist with that sign, but all of the writing regards a romance with that sign at one of the central points.
From my perspective, the best parts of this collection are how, primarily, the settings are dynamic and alternate frequently between stories and genres, and, secondarily, each short narrative is relatable based on your zodiac/Sun/Venus sign. Because the accounts are widely resolved, each immersion into a new genre feels, yes, unexpected, but in a thrilling, refreshing way, like when you jump into the pool for the first time and exhilarating chill envelopes your body. There was a whirlwind variety of elements, all of them tantalizing, from contemporary to realism to witchy magic to sorcery to spiritual fantasy to prophecies and so, so much more. I'm both Pisces in Sun and Venus ( a hard - do you mean perpetually fantasizing??? - hitter), and Emery Lee's tale, The Cure For Heartbreak, especially resonated within me.
Even better, there was so much representation - both of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, and just personalities and values themselves - incorporated within these pages, necessary and wonderful to read about. Each narrative not only presented a new character with new values and a new, enthralling setting but also a new cultural background. There are characters whose sexualities vary from straight to sapphic to gay to bi/pansexual, whose genders vary from male to female to trans to non-binary, whose races and ethnicities vary from Black to Korean to Objibwe to Latinx, and this diversity is so refreshingly acknowledged and valued in this book - one of its greatest aspects.
Now, I'll give 13 paragraph-long summaries and explanations (following a rating) per each short story, in chronological order (the same as the anthology), as presented below:
1. Aries: ruler and killer by g. haron davis
Genre: sorcery/witchcraft/magical/fairy fantasy (not contemporary)
RATING: 2 stars (★★)
The first short story in the anthology, ruler and killer follows Chi - a witch in a kingdom of magical people like fairies - who is competing alongside other suitors for a chance at being betrothed to their ruler, Coronet Alava, of whom she feels she has a connection with.
The world-building in this story was certainly fascinating, as we were almost immediately introduced to various magical people, Chi's history and heritage of witchery, information on the witches' rebellion, and other descriptions that, in my opinion, were the best attribute to the story. The details applied to Alava's appearance and personality especially hooked me. I just wish that the plot and romance had enhanced this to truly make this a favorite.
The idea of the contest was interesting, given that it wasn't a Hunger Games 2.0, and each separate event built suspense and anticipation following the natural plot structure of exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, though I wish that g. haron davis had expressed more sincere emotions within both Chi and the romance because it felt slightly detached and disconnected. Additionally, the prospect of a poor girl falling for her ruler (who had already loved her) was a bit of an instant-love Cinderella cliche (kind of); I would have enjoyed it far more if the two had experienced actual chemistry and development because it seemed that Chi was in love with Alava before even knowing them, which I can understand, but it doesn't make for the greatest romantic connection or story. Finally, the ending was certainly a twist - but not an extremely reasonable or predictable one, which I'm still confused about. It felt confounding and unresolved.
2. Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction
Rating: 3 stars (★★★)
The Taste of a Kiss was definitely an improvement and pick-me-up from its prior, and it was a very enjoyable, entertaining (and, admittedly, appetizing) read. This time around, Lauren - a food blogger who yearns to taste her childhood best friend, Eugene's, delicious fried chicken again -does everything she can to get a taste of the renowned food truck - Chikin -'s food... I enjoyed the structure of this story, the compatibility of grounded Lauren and similarly-inspired Eugene, the description, and the romance. Of course, it wasn't exceptional, and instant-love was apparent - some more development and interactions could have helped this -, but I liked it!
3. Gemini: Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction
Rating: 4.5 stars (★★★★.5)
Wow, what a wonderful story! The cousin dynamic was intriguing, the character development believable, and yet so, so significant, the romance adorable, the themes of confidence, self-identity, and coming out evident and enhanced, and the story itself flowed naturally and wonderfully. I won't summarize this beauty, as immersing yourself in the sweet, unexpected bliss of its plot is the reason for my relishing it. Loved it!
4. Cancer: L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi
Genre:: contemporary, fantasy, magic/witchcraft
Rating:: 4 stars (★★★★)
This narrative was also cute, concerning a homeless witch named Mia whose search for an occupation, home, and, therefore, magic, of her own - after hardships, challenges, and refusals - leads her to a magical library and boy named Anthony who need and, finally, desire her and her magic. It was the longest addition to the anthology, being around 50 pages, but I liked it nonetheless. Mia's personality was so resemblant of a Cancer (defensive yet considerate, perceptive, determined, kind) and she was a wonderful protagonist whom I couldn't help but sympathize with and root for like my favorite basketball team. Anthony was also a good love interest; the world-building was compelling in how all "successful" witches need a home coven and how homes correlate directly with magic. It wasn't necessarily a romance-centered story, but a romance (regardless of it being platonic) nonetheless, and although the plot was occasionally hard to follow, I'd re-read it. In conclusion to this segment, the ending was terrific - very resolved, and one of the best in this anthology!
5. Leo: Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction
Rating: 1 star (★)
I don't exactly know the reason behind this opinion, but I didn't enjoy this story as much as any one of its priors. Perhaps it was the fact that the plot revolved around teenage skateboarding antics - nothing that I, a basketball/soccer/team-sport player at heart relate to -, or that so much informal and "skatepark" (dude, man, bro, sick, etc.) language was used? Perhaps it's due to Lala and Princess both being quite bland and underdeveloped, or all of the characters behaving the same and seeming similar? Perhaps it was because romantic compatibility and growth were lacking? Maybe I just didn't relate to the plot? Whatever the justification was, I didn't like this story, nor did I like its characters, nor did I even like its description. Out of its entirety, the first page was the best: it hooked me, yet the remainder of the narrative was disappointing.
6. Virgo: Sometimes in September by Byron Graves
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction
Rating: 2 stars (★★)
Sometimes in September regards Waabooz<, a young man almost finished with his sentence at a sort of mental and emotional health rehabilitation facility meant for teens with recent drug addictions, who falls in love with another Ojibwe native: a girl named Lexi whose humor and love of astrology make him know that she's "his person".
This story was... slightly underwhelming, which is partly my fault because I expected so much. After all, the first page and overall concept seemed to exceed the frame of your average love story - love found through the shared challenges of overcoming addiction would make a heart-warming and invigorating tale, right? But the clearly rushed romance dipped my rating from what could have been 4 stars to 2 because Lexi and Waabooz fell for each other within three days. Lexi was interesting, Waabooz was interesting, they were a compatible couple, and the plot was good enough - but their love was less of "love", and more of an infatuation. They'd had, what, only four or five major conversations throughout the story - TWO before crushing on one another? It's not very realistic, or practical.
7. Libra: Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction, humor (exaggerated events)
Rating: 3.5 stars (★★★.5)
Yes, the anthology is picking up again! Fake Scorpio was somehow hilarious and touching at once, a great accomplishment for most authors, but easily pulled off by Oshiro. Efren, Tracey, and Efren's mom all had entirely amusing senses of humor, and I was laughing and sympathizing when Efren realized that he, well, wasn't a Scorpio but a Libra. The irony of it, with him running his astrology and zodiac-revolved business alongside Tracey, and yearning to be the Scorpio that would win another boy's heart, was such an asset to this well-developed, fitting, and enjoyable story.
8. Scorpio: The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction
Rating: 2.5 stars (★★.5)
Again, the concept was cute, but the execution wasn't significantly of quality or pleasantly surprising to me. The romance was heavily implied but not fully existent, though I can relate to the sorrow and excitement that seem to blend and combine into a wholly new sensation and the regret that comes with leaving beloved people and places, so, even with the story and romance being underwhelming, that feeling - the core of the narrative - will always have a special place within my heart, as do tales that capture it as this one did.
9. Ophiuchus: Formation by Cam Montgomery
Genre: contemporary, fantasy, magic/witches/astrological spells
Rating: 3 stars (★★★)
This one had astonishing world-building and description that I relished as one would savor a professionally made sweet treat, but the romance itself seemed slightly underdeveloped. The story follows Luna, one of the chosen and destined Five (including her four friends) meant to serve a group living high in the mountains - where no one else is allowed - and provide their magical abilities for the benefit of the community and their ruling deity/demigod. Luna herself, an etoile
witch, can control others' astrological birth charts, but she has to change anyone with the Sun sign of Ophiuchus as to prevent anomalies. As it turns out, the demigod of the village, Nox, has that forbidden sign, as well as the celestial knowledge that he and Luna are meant to be together. Therefore, this justifies the sensation of "rushed ness" within their relationship, and it is mainly platonic, which also makes up for this.
10. Saggitarius: Anchor Point by Lily Anderson
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction
Rating: 3 stars (★★★)
This was a very cute short story, but not exceptional in that the romance was fairly easy-going and normal, the protagonist's main values and development weren't described as much as I would have liked, and the plot didn't take the time to regard any other aspects aside from archery and the love between "Katniss" and "Robin Hood"; however, a Saggitarius archer was the perfect depiction and it was certainly far better than multiple stories here.
11. Capricorn: Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alexandra Villasante
Genre: contemporary, realistic-fiction
Rating: 5 stars (★★★★★)
I loved loved loved loved loved this! Meji and Sabina's relationship was so heartfelt and passionate, yet utterly believable and realistic because of the emotional and modern description applied; there was so much heart and clear meaning in every sentence. Not only was this a romance, but a story of family dynamics, coming out, and valuing sincerity and honesty, as shown with Meji's relationship with her mother and her deceased father, and her struggles with coming out to her Latinx and being honest to those who might judge her about how she feels toward Sabina. They had so much chemistry and obvious compatibility, yet this enhanced the other attributes of the story instead of feeling like the only motif. Meji was loveable but imperfect in how she tried to hide her identity, and each unique thing about her and Sabina's relationship - like how Sab would widen her eyes instead of furrowing her eyebrows - was fully immersive for me as a reader. The ending was resolved but open - the kind that could create a stand-alone novel that could be open to sequels -, and the interwoven emotions of grief, shame, pride, and love were, well, incredible. Five stars!
12. Aquarius: I Come From the Water by Adrianne White
Genre: contemporary fantasy/magical realism
Rating: 1 star (★)
I expected so much from this - I was intrigued to see an "Aquarius" take on the typical romance, intrigued to understand how Aquarius Venus signs interact and how they show and absorb love. But this was chaotic, underdeveloped, unrealistic, improbable, random, and arbitrary... none of it made sense aside from the first page. I understood that Shelby's mother's death led to unease surrounding their property and finances, but this issue was never resolved, and we have no background or chemistry whatsoever with Yvonne - how did that romance even occur, to begin with? It was chaos, utter chaos, so confusing that I wanted to stop reading. Perhaps it makes more sense to Aquariuses?
Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee
Genre: magical realism, contemporary
Rating: 5 stars (★★★★★)
From most reviews, this is the best addition to the entirety of this collection, and I couldn't agree any more if I tried. As a Pisces (mind and heart), this was relatable on so many levels, especially the contrast between Luis' introverted enjoyment of solitude and social need to be affirmed and loved, a personal challenge that I, too, have struggled with throughout these years, facing similar self-doubt, escapism, and even condemnation as Luis. He was my favorite character throughout the anthology: snarky to hide his loneliness, empathetic, yearning to help, doubtful, and afraid of being "strange" in the public eye. He and Al were meant for each other, with Al's sincerity, self-awareness, humor, and empathy reflecting and contrasting Luis' personality, and there was just enough drama in comparison to the surplus of sincere and well-written emotion. The plot was interesting and the romance exceptional - the ending was the best yet -, and this will always have a place within my list of "top favorite short stories". Astounding, and I LOVED it.
Short Stories Ranked from Least Favorite to Favorite:
13. (least favorite) Aquarius: I Come from the Water (★)
12. Leo: Alternative Combustion (★)
11. Virgo: Sometimes in September (★★)
10. Aries: ruler and killer (★★)
9. Scorpio: The South Street Challenge (★★.5)
8. Ophiuchus: Formation (★★★)
7. Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss (★★★)
6. Saggitarius: Anchor Point (★★★)
5. Libra: Fake Scorpio (★★★.5)
4. Cancer: L(Train)iminal (★★★★)
3. Gemini: Doublespeak (★★★★.5)
2. Capricorn: Mucho, Mucho Amor (★★★★★)
1. Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak (★★★★★)
With that settled, the average (mean) rating for this anthology is... a whopping 3.03846153846! Which, of course, rounds to an easy 3 for this collection.
July 12, 2022
3.5 stars
August 10, 2022
All Signs Point to Yes is the best romance anthology I’ve ever read. It gives you LOTS of queer rep, interesting plotlines, and a zodiac twist. I even loved eleven out of the thirteen stories which is pretty unusual for an anthology. Sadly the Sagittarius story–my sign–was one of the few I disliked. It was just too simple and too straight compared to its peers.
We start with an Aries story called Ruler and Killer by G. Haron Davis. We are thrust into a magical medieval world where Chi is trying to win the hand of the Coronet Álava through a competition open to the public. In this slightly murderous story, nothing felt completely defined with maybe even a bit too much room for imagination. Nevertheless, it was enthralling and a great way to kickstart a book. Especially with the Coronet being a nonbinary love interest…
The third story stars a Gemini protagonist. Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia (the author possibly being the reason I obtained an ARC) was simple but exceptional in its simplicity. I feel like Mejia is always very good at writing contemporary fiction but with a subtle twist of fantasy or unease that slowly moves into the spotlight. Similar to Anna Marie-McLemore’s work. In hindsight, I remember this story as both wild and tranquil with the lead slowly coming out of her shell yet carrying it with her as a backup plan. It shows how you can know and not know someone at the same time very well.
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen was an absolute favorite. Yes, I do have an extremely soft spot for nonbinary romances, no my opinion is not biased, and yes you can laugh at that. This story had an atmosphere. I could feel it and envision it. It was soft and light but surrounded you so you feel covered and safe. The sassiness made Princess (the lead) very easy to identify as a Leo along with her other cat-like qualities. Lala, the heartthrob Taurus that Princess likes, is the perfect match. Lala is chill and grounded while Princess is chatty and fiery. Striking a balance in their differences. Add in really good consent and a demisexual lead and you get this story.
I was really surprised to find a story with an Ojibwe character in this book. There is too little representation for indigenous people but Sometimes in September by Byron Graves did this well. Set in a rehab facility for people addicted to different substances, Waabooz is about to leave after staying for a couple of weeks. In general Sometimes in September is about having dreams and being hopeful. It does this without avoiding the harsh realities of living as an indigenous person in a world that stacked the deck against you. It focuses on healing, building yourself back up, and being ready for what comes next.
Cam Montgomery’s story Formation was a little underdeveloped in its worldbuilding but utterly amazing despite it. The Five, a group of witches all born on the same day, gather to live on a mountain and help the people who also live there. Luna meets the trans demigod who is there to help complete their divine duties and…he’s cute. I melted from this flirty story with its funny cultural references. Cam Montgomery is an author I would love to see the further works of.
Our Resident Capricorn story was a hit. Mucho Mucho Amor by Alexandrea Villasante is about a girl trying to come out to her mom. It’s a bittersweet story with a lot of heart. Set in the winter, I could feel the sharp pierce of wind and snow when out to run errands or the coziness and comfort to be in one's own home.
Lastly is Emery Lee’s The Cure For Heartbreak. Luis runs his family’s shop for magic. One day a boy from his math class named Alvaro asks for a spell after a breakup. Luis tries to help him and they start to form a bond. For a slow-burn romance, this was well done. Not too fast but also short enough for it to feel not unnecessarily pining.
This is a book I see many reading and loving. Inspiring minds by having a romance you see yourself in.
--Thank You Inkyard Press for Providing This ARC--
We start with an Aries story called Ruler and Killer by G. Haron Davis. We are thrust into a magical medieval world where Chi is trying to win the hand of the Coronet Álava through a competition open to the public. In this slightly murderous story, nothing felt completely defined with maybe even a bit too much room for imagination. Nevertheless, it was enthralling and a great way to kickstart a book. Especially with the Coronet being a nonbinary love interest…
The third story stars a Gemini protagonist. Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia (the author possibly being the reason I obtained an ARC) was simple but exceptional in its simplicity. I feel like Mejia is always very good at writing contemporary fiction but with a subtle twist of fantasy or unease that slowly moves into the spotlight. Similar to Anna Marie-McLemore’s work. In hindsight, I remember this story as both wild and tranquil with the lead slowly coming out of her shell yet carrying it with her as a backup plan. It shows how you can know and not know someone at the same time very well.
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen was an absolute favorite. Yes, I do have an extremely soft spot for nonbinary romances, no my opinion is not biased, and yes you can laugh at that. This story had an atmosphere. I could feel it and envision it. It was soft and light but surrounded you so you feel covered and safe. The sassiness made Princess (the lead) very easy to identify as a Leo along with her other cat-like qualities. Lala, the heartthrob Taurus that Princess likes, is the perfect match. Lala is chill and grounded while Princess is chatty and fiery. Striking a balance in their differences. Add in really good consent and a demisexual lead and you get this story.
I was really surprised to find a story with an Ojibwe character in this book. There is too little representation for indigenous people but Sometimes in September by Byron Graves did this well. Set in a rehab facility for people addicted to different substances, Waabooz is about to leave after staying for a couple of weeks. In general Sometimes in September is about having dreams and being hopeful. It does this without avoiding the harsh realities of living as an indigenous person in a world that stacked the deck against you. It focuses on healing, building yourself back up, and being ready for what comes next.
Cam Montgomery’s story Formation was a little underdeveloped in its worldbuilding but utterly amazing despite it. The Five, a group of witches all born on the same day, gather to live on a mountain and help the people who also live there. Luna meets the trans demigod who is there to help complete their divine duties and…he’s cute. I melted from this flirty story with its funny cultural references. Cam Montgomery is an author I would love to see the further works of.
Our Resident Capricorn story was a hit. Mucho Mucho Amor by Alexandrea Villasante is about a girl trying to come out to her mom. It’s a bittersweet story with a lot of heart. Set in the winter, I could feel the sharp pierce of wind and snow when out to run errands or the coziness and comfort to be in one's own home.
Lastly is Emery Lee’s The Cure For Heartbreak. Luis runs his family’s shop for magic. One day a boy from his math class named Alvaro asks for a spell after a breakup. Luis tries to help him and they start to form a bond. For a slow-burn romance, this was well done. Not too fast but also short enough for it to feel not unnecessarily pining.
This is a book I see many reading and loving. Inspiring minds by having a romance you see yourself in.
--Thank You Inkyard Press for Providing This ARC--
December 1, 2021
This book was so interesting, I've defiantly never read anything like this before!
Rating: 3.75/5
Synopsis:
A haunted Aquarius finds love behind the veil. An ambitious Aries will do anything to stay in the spotlight. A foodie Taurus discovers the best eats in town (with a side of romance). A witchy Cancer stumbles into a curious meet-cute.
Whether it’s romantic, platonic, familial, or something else you can’t quite define, love is the thing that connects us. All Signs Point to Yes will take you on a journey from your own backyard to the world beyond the living as it settles us among the stars for thirteen stories of love and life.
These stories will touch your heart, speak to your soul, and have you reaching for your horoscope forevermore.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
Rating: 3.75/5
Synopsis:
A haunted Aquarius finds love behind the veil. An ambitious Aries will do anything to stay in the spotlight. A foodie Taurus discovers the best eats in town (with a side of romance). A witchy Cancer stumbles into a curious meet-cute.
Whether it’s romantic, platonic, familial, or something else you can’t quite define, love is the thing that connects us. All Signs Point to Yes will take you on a journey from your own backyard to the world beyond the living as it settles us among the stars for thirteen stories of love and life.
These stories will touch your heart, speak to your soul, and have you reaching for your horoscope forevermore.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an ARC!
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