We’re all stuck inside, probably reading now more than ever; so I thought what better time than to sit down and write this blog post.
Blog post ideas like this one flit in and out of my head allll the time. I am constantly thinking about how to combine things I love with astrology in interesting or fun ways. This is one of those ideas, but I owe the push that got me to finally write it to Jordan. It was probably Autumn when, on one of our regular business / friend calls, Jordan said, “Hey, you like astrology and you like books– you should write a blog post about books to read for every sign. I’d read that!”
The concept of this post itself isn’t new, but I haven’t seen it done in a little while, so here we are!
In this post I’m recommending two books per sign for each of the final six signs of the zodiac: Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The first half of recommendations are over on The Sartorial Geek. Linked here and also at the bottom of this blog post.
I feel like it is also worth noting that this list is not exhaustive and I am not a professional astrologer. I love astrology and feel like I know a good amount, but I am always learning and have a longgg way to go until I feel closer to being able to speak more confidently about each sign without reference materials / hints.
That being said, I did a TON of research in the writing of this piece and I feel really good about the recommendations that I’ve made. I also had all together too much fun creating these graphics. There are tons of little sign-related Easter eggs hidden in them. Comment below what you spot! 😘
Also, if you somehow feel like you need MORE recommendations I’m always just an Instagram DM or comment away. Reach out, I’d love to help!
I really hope this blog post gives you something delightful and new to read for your sign (or someone else’s!); and if you happen to resonate with the books I picked for your sign, comment below and let me know!
Happy reading, my little star-gazing Sunshines! ✨
“Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Libras love balance, socializing, and people. They enjoy beautiful things, have exquisite taste, and appreciate balance and harmony. When I read “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” it felt like balance and harmony. When the two titular boys in this story meet at a swimming pool one summer they first think they have nothing in common… but as the introverts begin spending more and more time together they discover they might have more than friendship in common. My favorite read of 2014 and a beautiful slice of honest, sweet, and melancholy humanity.
“Talking as Fast as I Can: From Gilmore Girls to Gilmore Girls, and Everything in Between” by Lauren Graham
“Talking as Fast as I Can” is a series of essays by Lauren Graham about her life, experiences, and the people in her lifelong orbit. She includes photos, celebrates relationships, shares conflicts, and talks a lot about “Gilmore Girls.” As a fan of her appearance as Lorelai Gilmore and beyond I thoroughly enjoyed this book and have a feeling all you Libras out there will too.
“Sex Criminals” by Matt Fraction, Chip Zdarsky (Illustrator)
Scorpios are emotional, sexual, and semi-contradictory. They know what they want and aren’t afraid to play the long game. As one of the more seductive members of the zodiac, and the one who rules the genital area, I thought it only fitting to put “Sex Criminals” on the list. The comic follows Suzie who is just a regular girl– except for the weird gift she has of being able to stop time when she has sex. When she meets a man named Jon who (what are the odds) has the same ability. It takes some time for them to get around to it, but eventually they decide to rob a bank. I’m only on graphic novel three, but I’m obsessed. (Important note: NSFW!)
“We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart
On the other side of a Scorpio is a shadowy, desire for control. “We Were Liars” leans into that, and the relentless, ambitious, and never-showing-your-cards side of your nature. It’s a modern suspense novel written by E. Lockhart about trust, betrayal, and relationships. I love the dark, deep nature of this book and if you have Scorpio in your chart, I think you will too.
“Uprooted” by Naomi Novik
Hi, I’m a Sagittarius. We’re addicted to learning new things, love adventures of ALL kinds (geographical, intellectual, spiritual) and have a witty, no bullshit bluntness about us. (Though I’m more passive than blunt, personally.) “Uprooted” is a novel like folklore and fairytales of old, about a girl called Agnieszka who lives in a quiet town. The whole village is dependent on an old wizard who calls himself “The Dragon”. Every ten years he asks for one young woman in exchange for his favor. When the time comes, The Dragon doesn’t choose her beautiful friend and instead, chooses her. Relatable to Sags on a deep level, Agnieszka resents boundaries and soon finds she’ll need more than her adaptable personality to get by. It was mystical, full of magic, and I ate it up.
“Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration” by Ed Catmull, Amy Wallace
“Creativity Inc.” was a book that fed my soul! Pixar / Apple nerds will get a kick out of it because for the first third of the book or so Catmull recounts the early days of Pixar’s formation. (A formation that Steve Jobs played an integral role in!) The book shifts after that initial, background laying portion to become more of a book on managing creative culture in a successful and healthy way. Sagittarius (and creatives in general!) tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves and I think the inherent need to be storytellers will resonate deeply with Pixar’s. Bonus: the audiobook is narrated by the author, that’s my favorite kind of non-fiction audiobook!
“You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams” by Alan Cumming
Alan Cumming has led such an interesting life. “You Gotta Get Bigger Dreams” is one of a handful of personal essay collections by the actor. In it he recounts a myriad of experiences that Capricorns will find relatable: he was exposed to difficulties at an early age, he is slightly mischievous in all things, he doesn’t let distractions keep him from getting ahead, and he has an unwavering can-do attitude. He shares stories from meeting Elizabeth Taylor, harsh advice he received from Oprah, and endless stories about his friends and family. While the book also includes photos, this was another one I listened to on audiobook because Cumming narrates it and I love listening to him speak.
“Tweet Cute” by Emma Lord
This is the only book on this entire list that I haven’t personally read yet! “Tweet Cute” comes highly recommended by… everyone?! The book follows Pepper and Jack on their journey into a… viral Twitter war spurred by their family’s rival restaurants. The book blurb / reviews mention things like “launching initiatives” and tendencies of the two characters to lean into their work-a-holic natures. What is more Capricorn than that?! A harmless, feel good rom-com that, as soon as I saw the cover, I was sold on. It’s on my TBR and quickly creeping up to the top!
“Bad Feminist” by Roxanne Gay
Aquarius is ruled by Uranus, the planet that governs surprising events among other things, and as such I think y’all will enjoy Roxane Gay’s “Bad Feminist.” This is a funny, perceptive collection of essays on the author’s experiences with culture and feminism through her own experience lens as a woman of color. The essays were poignant, funny, sharp-witted, free-spirited, and full of an Aquarius’ humanitarian heart.
“In Real Life” by Cory Doctorow
“In Real Life” is a graphic novel about a girl who loves playing an online, multi-player role-playing game called Coarsegold Online. (It gave me serious Runescape flashbacks!) In the game Anda meets all sorts of players. The game is simple and fun, that is until she meets and befriends a gold farmer who is a poor, Chinese kid in real life. The other kid’s character illegally collects valuable objects and then tries to sell them to players with money to burn. Anda soon begins to realize that her (and Aquarius’) righteous conviction of what’s “right” and “wrong” is a lot less straightforward when a person’s real life is at stake.
“If I Was Your Girl” by Meredith Russo
A trans #OwnVoices book that gave me so much hope even though it left me in tears more than once. The main character, Amanda, is the new girl in school who just wants to fit in and make friends. She has a secret, and mostly because of the secret, she is determined to not get too close to anyone. Amanda is a gentle, kind person (just like our Pisces friends) and she soon finds herself drawn to Grant — who is an easygoing, sweet person, but she’s worried that once she tells him his secret he won’t truly accept her. The strength Amanda exudes, all while carrying the secret that she used to be Andrew, is incredible. I don’t want to give too much away, but the heart of feeling different while also trying to find yourself and navigate love is something we can all relate to.
“All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr
“All the Light We Cannot See” was my favorite read of 2016. This book feels perfect for Pisces because, as the final sign, they are said to have absorbed every lesson. After reading this book that’s how I felt; that I had unlocked a new level of understanding of humanity and had explored the spiritual depth of people and places I had never seen before. Set in Paris in occupied France, during World War II, Marie-Laure is a twelve year old blind girl whose father works at the Natural History museum. They both flee the country; taking with them the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. The author weaves Marie-Laure’s life in with a boy growing up in a mining town in Germany as he becomes an expert at building things and taking them apart. The author shows his characters throughout the book in their human struggle as they attempt to be kind, gentle, and adaptable as they lean into shared experiences against all odds. This book was truly one of the most poignant books I’ve ever read.
If you enjoyed the second half of “Books to Read Based on your Zodiac Sign” don’t forget to click here to read part one!
