book recommendations for your star sign

what to read based on your astrological sign

Throughout my life I’ve generally approached the concept of astrology and star signs with a degree of skepticism. I’ve been wary of the one-size-fits-all approach of horoscopes, which offer such vague generalisations that it’s easy for any person, no matter what your star sign is, to slot yourself in and claim relatability.

But sometimes I read my own horoscope or research my own star sign traits, and it’s so accurate to who I am or my current situation that I have no choice but to believe in it. I am the most stereotypical virgo you will ever meet, so they must have some validity.

Needless to say I’m no astrology buff - but one thing I am is a person who loves categorising things. And one of the best things to categorise is books. So I’ve put together some book recommendations based on star signs.

Whether you are a believer or a skeptic, or somewhere in between depending on the day (like me), this is a fun way to discover books you might find little pieces of yourself in. If you’ve read any of the books listed under your sign (or others), let me know what you thought of them and if you agree!

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ARIES

bold, energetic, and competitive, charges headfirst into challenges.

• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

• Little Fires Everywhere - Celeste Ng

• The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins

• Birnam Wood - Eleanor Catton

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TAURUS

grounded and reliable, values comfort and stability.

• Beautiful World, Where Are You - Sally Rooney

• My Brilliant Friend - Elena Ferrante

• Foster - Claire Keegan

• Little Women - Louisa May Alcott

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GEMINI

curious and quick-witted, thrives on variety and new ideas.

• Greta & Valdin - Rebecca K Reilly

• Boy Parts - Eliza Clark

• Dept. of Speculation - Jenny Offill

• The Coin - Yasmin Zaher

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CANCER

deeply emotional and receptive, values close connection with others.

• Sorrow and Bliss - Meg Mason

• Acts of Desperation - Megan Nolan

• Milk Teeth - Jessica Andrews

• Betty - Tiffany McDaniel

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LEO

confident, brash and charismatic, often thrives in the spotlight.

• Slow Days, Fast Company - Eve Babitz

• Emma - Jane Austen

• Happy Hour - Marlowe Granados

• I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts on Being a Woman - Nora Ephron

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VIRGO

intelligent, analytical and organised, prone to perfectionism.

• The Idiot - Elif Batuman

• The Secret History - Donna Tartt

• Conversations With Friends - Sally Rooney

• The Details - Ia Genberg

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LIBRA

charming and diplomatic, wants things to be aesthetically pleasing.

• The Goldfinch - Donna Tartt

• Sweetbitter - Stephanie Danler

• The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald

• On Beauty - Zadie Smith

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SCORPIO

intense and passionate, driven by a desire for transformation.

• Martyr! - Kaveh Akbar

• Nightbitch - Rachel Yoder

• Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

• My Year of Rest and Relaxation - Ottessa Moshfegh

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SAGITTARIUS

adventurous and optimistic, seeks freedom, truth, and new experiences.

• Everything I Know About Love - Dolly Alderton

• Scaffolding - Lauren Elkin

• Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead - Olga Tokarczuk

• Tom Lake - Ann Patchett

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CAPRICORN

disciplined, patient, and ambitious, working steadily towards their goals.

• Writers & Lovers - Lily King

• Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë

• Stoner - John Williams

• Pachinko - Min Jin Lee

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AQUARIUS

inquisitive and independent, values originality, ideas, and making a difference.

• Slouching Towards Bethlehem - Joan Didion

• Doppelganger - Naomi Klein

• Orbital - Samantha Harvey

• The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

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PISCES

compassionate and imaginative, often lost in their own creativity.

• In The Dream House - Carmen Maria Machado

• All Down Darkness Wide - Seán Hewitt

• Norwegian Wood - Haruki Murakami

• Our Wives Under The Sea - Julia Armfield