Where else is fate more "written in the stars" than in the world of romance novels? There's no better genre for discussions of perfect matches, soulmates, and destiny. That's why finding the perfect romance novel [1] can sometimes feel a little like dating and looking for your own perfect mate: so many options, so little time! If you're not even sure where to start looking for a romance novel that you'll love [2], or you're looking to add to a growing bookshelf, we've got the perfect answer for you: choose a book based on your zodiac sign.
We've curated the perfect list of 12 romance books, all with different stories, subgenres, and styles, and each perfectly paired with the strengths, weaknesses, and prominent traits of the zodiac signs. If you're ready for your literary soul mate, keep reading until you find your zodiac sign and see if you're ready to swipe right on a new book!
Aries (March 20-April 19): Take a Hint, Dani Brown by Talia Hibbert
If you're a competitive, opinionated Aries, you'll most likely relate to the self-assured and ambitious heroine of Talia Hibbert's Take a Hint, Dani Brown [3]. Dani is an ambitious PhD student with her life all planned out, no time for games, and a strict no-romance policy — only no-strings-attached hookups are allowed! All that goes out the window when her building's hot, reticent security guard, Zafir, "rescues" Dani during a fire drill gone wrong, the video goes viral, and the duo agree to stage a fake relationship for charity publicity. It's the perfect rom-com for an Aries who wants a romance that's full steam ahead (literally).
Taurus (April 19-May 20): To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters
Nothing says Taurus like a stubborn character, and Martha Waters gives us two of them in her Regency rom-com To Have and to Hoax [4]! A misunderstanding early on turned the passionate love match between Violet and James into a cold, formal marriage. After an unfortunate incident angers Violet, the couple begin an escalating war of fake illnesses, pretend affairs, and more — and despite it all, neither of them is willing to be the first to admit they still care. Who knew that a Taurus's most frustrating trait could be such a great vehicle for romantic tension?
Gemini (May 20-June 21): The Duke Who Didn't by Courtney Milan
Courtney Milan is one of the reigning queens of historical romance, and The Duke Who Didn't [5] is a warm and funny novel that a leading man that will win Geminis over. Jeremy Wentworth, the Duke of Lansing, has returned to his childhood village to woo his childhood sweetheart, the strong-willed Jenny Fong. Jeremy is a goofy, quick-witted, and mischievous kind of duke who's not a fan of being serious, with a dynamic love story that combines important Gemini traits: charm, duality, and communication.
Cancer (June 21-July 22): Love at First by Kate Clayborn
Cancers are the perfect audience for romances, with their open and sensitive hearts. Love at First [6], Kate Clayborn's latest romance, is just right for a tenderhearted Cancer. The story revolves around Will, a guarded young doctor who inherits his estranged uncle's apartment, and Nora, one of the quirky residents who lives in the small, tight-knit building. Both Will and Nora have serious fixer complexes, and they both have built up serious walls to keep their sensitive souls from getting hurt — but their rivalry-turned-friendship starts to help them both lower those walls and find comfort and real love together.
Leo (July 22-Aug. 22): Last Tang Standing
Lauren Ho's Last Tang Standing [7] is perfect for Leos who gravitate towards the bold, creative, and flashy — think Crazy Rich Asians with a love-triangle twist! Andrea Tang is as confident and ambitious as any Leo, a 30-something lawyer with a great life, all except for her lack of a love life. That, of course, will not stand with her meddling Chinese-Malaysian family. When she meets a charming, wealthy businessman, it seems like all her problems are over, but her irritating office rival keeps getting in the way. It's a rom-com perfect for a Leo: a story of passionate, ambitious people who find just enough chaos in each other to upend their carefully-laid plans.
Virgo (Aug. 22-Sept. 22): Well Met by Jen DeLuca
Virgos will probably see a lot of themselves in Simon and Emily, the problem-solving leads of Jen DeLuca's rom-com Well Met [8]. Emily leaves her life behind after a bad breakup to care for her injured sister in a small town, where she gets roped into participating in the annual Renaissance Faire. That's where she meets Simon, a persnickety perfectionist English teacher who runs the Faire — and also plays the role of an annoying handsome, flirtatious pirate. Virgos, who often prioritise perfectionism and putting other people first, will definitely relate to Simon and Emily as they struggle to let go of their past baggage to embrace new and exciting possibilities together.
Libra (Sept. 22-Oct. 23): You Had Me at Hola by Alexis Daria
A Libra will feel right at home with the bundle of contradictions that is the leading couple of Alexis Daria's You Had Me at Hola [9]. Ashton, a telenovela superstar, is constantly using his natural charm to woo everyone he meets while trying to conceal a major secret in his private life. When he's cast opposite Jasmine, a soap star trying to rebuild her career after a public breakup, they're both stuck struggling with balancing the needs of their careers with their own personal wants and needs. That balancing act, along with their mutual compassion when their secrets start to come out, makes this a very Libra romance indeed!
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22): Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall
The tumultous emotions of a Scorpio romance are on full display in Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material [10]. Scorpios will relate hard to the inner complexity of Luc, the son of two music stars who has learned the hard way to put on a careless, party-boy facade and avoid relationships with people who will probably betray him. When he gets one last chance to clean up his act — or risk losing the job he actually loves — he finds a mutually beneficial fake relationship with Oliver, a perfectionist barrister who, it turns out, is just as intentional and cautious as Luc. It's a funny and sexy romance that takes the concerns of Scorpios and turns them into fodder for a satisfying story of love and self-discovery.
Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem by Manda Collins
The fearlessness and curiosity of a Sagittarius is the driving spirit of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem [11] by Manda Collins. Katherine, an intrepid newspaper columnist who insists that ladies care about more than domestic matters, accidentally interferes with a murder investigation that then arrests the wrong man. When Andrew, a police detective, arrives at the house party where she's staying to continue the investigation, the pair clash over everything, but their mutual investigative natures lead them to grudgingly work together. For a romance that blends the intellectual and the adventurous, just like a Sagittarius, it's the perfect hybrid!
Capricorn (Dec. 21-Jan. 20): The Marriage Game by Sara Desai
A Capricorn, driven by discipline, responsibility, and a desire to be respected, will definitely relate to the characters in The Marriage Game [12] by Sara Desai. On the one hand, there's Layla, a recruitment consultant who moves home after a series of disasters, only to find that her well-meaning father has put up a profile for her on a Desi dating site. On the other, there's Sam, a corporate downsizer with blunt precision and a drive to care for his family and make up for a past failure. When they both believe they have the right to an office space above Layla's family's restaurant, their bickering soon turns into a bet, which, in turn, becomes a very Capricorn romance: a conflict between what they want and what they feel they should want.
Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Not the Girl You Marry by Andie J. Christopher
Contrarian, individualist Aquarius readers will find an unexpectedly perfect match in Andie J. Christopher's Not the Girl You Marry [13]. The How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days-esque anti-romance romance follows Jack and Hannah, two people who start a fake relationship without intending to tell the other that it's purely for professional gain. The Aquarius instinct for experimentation and seeing "what might happen if . . ." is on full display here as the pair push their boundaries in a game of chicken that may or may not lead them to a happily ever after.
Pisces (Feb. 18-March 20: Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur
For dreamy, romantic Pisces, you can't go wrong with Written in the Stars [14] by Alexandria Bellefleur. Analytical, cynical Darcy and free-spirited, romantic Elle go on one blind date, and it goes about as horribly as you might expect. When they agree to a fake-dating arrangement to navigate their tricky family situations at the holidays, however, they start to realise that they actually have more in common. It's a swoony queer romance with a free-spirited heroine that Pisces readers will see themselves in.