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Looking for a Sign
A newly single queer woman moves to New Orleans and sets off on a mission to find her most compatible match by going on a date with someone of each astrological sign in this rom-com from the author of Queerly Beloved.
With her twenty-ninth birthday approaching, Gray is determined to meet someone, settle down, and build the loving, accepting family she’s always wanted—and didn’t grow up with. But having just moved to New Orleans for a new job working for a demanding boss, and with her last first date a decade in the past, Gray has no idea how to go about finding her future spouse.
When her best friend Cherry suggests Gray look for answers from Madame Nouvelle Lune, an astrologer, Gray’s skeptical. But she’s also desperate. So when Madame encourages her to look to the stars, she finds herself in Cherry’s kitchen, mapping out a plan: go on a date with someone of each sign before her birthday, when Saturn will make its first return to the same celestial alignment as her birth (a major turning point in every person’s life, she’s learned). As Gray moves through this quintessentially queer dating challenge while juggling her new job, she learns a lot about the Zodiac—and even more about her own needs, desires, and sense of adventure. Even when it begins to threaten everything she thinks she believes, Gray is determined to finish what she started while the planets are still on her side.
With her twenty-ninth birthday approaching, Gray is determined to meet someone, settle down, and build the loving, accepting family she’s always wanted—and didn’t grow up with. But having just moved to New Orleans for a new job working for a demanding boss, and with her last first date a decade in the past, Gray has no idea how to go about finding her future spouse.
When her best friend Cherry suggests Gray look for answers from Madame Nouvelle Lune, an astrologer, Gray’s skeptical. But she’s also desperate. So when Madame encourages her to look to the stars, she finds herself in Cherry’s kitchen, mapping out a plan: go on a date with someone of each sign before her birthday, when Saturn will make its first return to the same celestial alignment as her birth (a major turning point in every person’s life, she’s learned). As Gray moves through this quintessentially queer dating challenge while juggling her new job, she learns a lot about the Zodiac—and even more about her own needs, desires, and sense of adventure. Even when it begins to threaten everything she thinks she believes, Gray is determined to finish what she started while the planets are still on her side.
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2024
About the author
Susie Dumond
2 books189 followersSusie Dumond is a queer writer originally from Little Rock, Arkansas. She is the author of Queerly Beloved and Looking for a Sign. Susie is also a senior contributor at Book Riot and a bookseller at Loyalty Bookstores. Susie lives in Washington, D.C., with her wife, Mary, and her cat, Maple. When she’s not writing or reading, you can find her baking cupcakes or belting karaoke at the nearest gay bar.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 220 reviews
March 1, 2024
★3.5 stars, rounded down
✎𓂃 “To every starry-eyed wanderer who has texted a parent asking for your exact birth time: Keep looking up.”
☆Summary:
Ten-year relationship: over. A new job and a new home in a completely new state. Saturn’s returning. 29-year old Gray’s life is hitting an existential crisis, to say the least. She wants it all: the happy, loving wife, the crazy kids, the white picket fence, essentially the whole picture. The problem is, she hasn’t dated in over ten years and doesn’t know where to begin. Thanks to the help of her lifelong best friend Cherry, a famous astrologer, and the stars themselves, our determined Aries Gray takes on an astrology dating challenge to point her in the direction of “the one.” 12 dates, 12 signs, and only 6 weeks til Saturn returns on her 29th birthday. Surely, the stars will align and show her the answer…right??
☆What You’ll Find:
♈ Sapphic romcom
♈ All the astrology goodness (and some not-so-goodness)
♈ A passionate, yet naïve Aries FMC in a quarter life crisis
♈ Open and closed door smut
♈ Friends to lovers
♈ Kind of a 3rd act breakup?
♈ Third person, told from the FMC’s POV
♈ Happy ending, no epilogue, but super fun goodies at the end!
☆My Thoughts:
I am not the biggest astroslut out there, but omg this was so fun. Learning about each sign through a dating challenge?? I completely geeked out with the signs I’m most familiar with – Aries (obvi we are the best 💁🏻♀️💃🏻), Libra, and Capricorn–as I could see my irl bffs personalities play out in the best ways. I also selfishly loved seeing what signs the Aries FMC was most compatible with, as a single gal myself lol.
Each date was unique in its own right, and after visiting New Orleans last year, it was so cool to see how well the author captured the NOLA vibes. Learned there’s a Tabasco Museum and I have been missing out!!! Gray might not be able to handle spice like me, but after completing the Hot Ones challenge like a CHAMP, I need to go asap!!!! 🌶️🔥
As someone with the same sign, I absolutely related to Gray in many ways: we’re bold, driven, competitive, fiery, passionate, we may make impulsive decisions, but we go all-in courageously. However, for a 29-year old, I found her to be extremely naïve. Gray, girl, independence is an important skill!
☆Would I Recommend:
For all my astro babes out there, yes! There isn’t an epilogue, but there are some fun tidbits at the end that I loved: an astrology newsletter from the famous astrologer Gray visits, a cute “the signs depicted as classic NOLA food & drinks” guide (ayooo I’m a Creole Bloody Mary and I’ve never felt more seen), and a couple recipes from the Aquarius Veronica 🍝🎂
A very special thanks to Random House Publishing Group, Netgalley, and the author for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Quotes used in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy, and as such are subject to change in its final version.
Looking For A Sign is expected to be published on June 11, 2024.
☆Quotes:
✎𓂃“In this house, we pay artists for their work.” AMEN!!!!! 👏🏼
✎𓂃“I’m usually in denial that Republican lesbians even exist, much less that I’ll find one liking my ballot box.”
✎𓂃“The zodiac can help us understand ourselves and others, figure out what focus and priorities might be shaping their perspectives… It can show us what energies are at play based on the planetary positions. But it ain’t a fortune-telling device. It can’t tell us what to do or what will happen. That’s all up to us, the decisions we make, our actions.”
✎𓂃“God, I’m such an idiot… I’m almost thirty. I should know nothing about life is that simple. Everything is messy and no one has the answers.” You said it, not me girl!!
✎𓂃“You’re brilliant and fierce and compassionate and fascinating, and I’d do anything to be even a footnote in your story.”
------------------
Pre-review:
Took two days off reading thanks to GR bringing me to REESA TEESA and now we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming 🤣
An astrological-themed sapphic romcom??? YES PLEASE! 💜
✎𓂃 “To every starry-eyed wanderer who has texted a parent asking for your exact birth time: Keep looking up.”
☆Summary:
Ten-year relationship: over. A new job and a new home in a completely new state. Saturn’s returning. 29-year old Gray’s life is hitting an existential crisis, to say the least. She wants it all: the happy, loving wife, the crazy kids, the white picket fence, essentially the whole picture. The problem is, she hasn’t dated in over ten years and doesn’t know where to begin. Thanks to the help of her lifelong best friend Cherry, a famous astrologer, and the stars themselves, our determined Aries Gray takes on an astrology dating challenge to point her in the direction of “the one.” 12 dates, 12 signs, and only 6 weeks til Saturn returns on her 29th birthday. Surely, the stars will align and show her the answer…right??
☆What You’ll Find:
♈ Sapphic romcom
♈ All the astrology goodness (and some not-so-goodness)
♈ A passionate, yet naïve Aries FMC in a quarter life crisis
♈ Open and closed door smut
♈ Friends to lovers
♈ Kind of a 3rd act breakup?
♈ Third person, told from the FMC’s POV
♈ Happy ending, no epilogue, but super fun goodies at the end!
☆My Thoughts:
I am not the biggest astroslut out there, but omg this was so fun. Learning about each sign through a dating challenge?? I completely geeked out with the signs I’m most familiar with – Aries (obvi we are the best 💁🏻♀️💃🏻), Libra, and Capricorn–as I could see my irl bffs personalities play out in the best ways. I also selfishly loved seeing what signs the Aries FMC was most compatible with, as a single gal myself lol.
Each date was unique in its own right, and after visiting New Orleans last year, it was so cool to see how well the author captured the NOLA vibes. Learned there’s a Tabasco Museum and I have been missing out!!! Gray might not be able to handle spice like me, but after completing the Hot Ones challenge like a CHAMP, I need to go asap!!!! 🌶️🔥
As someone with the same sign, I absolutely related to Gray in many ways: we’re bold, driven, competitive, fiery, passionate, we may make impulsive decisions, but we go all-in courageously. However, for a 29-year old, I found her to be extremely naïve. Gray, girl, independence is an important skill!
☆Would I Recommend:
For all my astro babes out there, yes! There isn’t an epilogue, but there are some fun tidbits at the end that I loved: an astrology newsletter from the famous astrologer Gray visits, a cute “the signs depicted as classic NOLA food & drinks” guide (ayooo I’m a Creole Bloody Mary and I’ve never felt more seen), and a couple recipes from the Aquarius Veronica 🍝🎂
A very special thanks to Random House Publishing Group, Netgalley, and the author for sharing this advanced copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts. Quotes used in this review have been taken from an advanced reader copy, and as such are subject to change in its final version.
Looking For A Sign is expected to be published on June 11, 2024.
☆Quotes:
✎𓂃“In this house, we pay artists for their work.” AMEN!!!!! 👏🏼
✎𓂃“I’m usually in denial that Republican lesbians even exist, much less that I’ll find one liking my ballot box.”
✎𓂃“The zodiac can help us understand ourselves and others, figure out what focus and priorities might be shaping their perspectives… It can show us what energies are at play based on the planetary positions. But it ain’t a fortune-telling device. It can’t tell us what to do or what will happen. That’s all up to us, the decisions we make, our actions.”
✎𓂃“God, I’m such an idiot… I’m almost thirty. I should know nothing about life is that simple. Everything is messy and no one has the answers.” You said it, not me girl!!
✎𓂃“You’re brilliant and fierce and compassionate and fascinating, and I’d do anything to be even a footnote in your story.”
------------------
Pre-review:
Took two days off reading thanks to GR bringing me to REESA TEESA and now we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming 🤣
An astrological-themed sapphic romcom??? YES PLEASE! 💜
June 2, 2024
1/5 stars
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
i rated this 2 stars at first to be nice then decided i don't have to placate the feelings of a white person so 1 star it is! i have many thoughts on this book and none of them are good. its so clear this was written by a white person who loves to pull the "im oppressed" card just for being queer :/ it was apparent through gray and her approach to just about everything, i am so tired of white girls pulling the "im oppressed too, im queer!" card 😐 tired boring LOSER.
also u can tell when white queer ppl stay in their little white queer bubbles because they think there's a "right" way to look or act to be perceived as queer when white queer people have stolen all of what's perceived as "queer culture" from black and brown people. direct quote from the story: "she wouldn't have guess it from the woman's conservative pantsuit or long blond hair, but gray was definitely getting queer vibes.." we need to abolish that there is a certain way u have to dress to look queer 😐 also GRAY DID IT TO VERONICA??? acting shocked like . you of all people should know queer people exist everywhere and anyone can be queer????? she touts herself as this progressive queer woman but still jumps to assume people's sexualities and perpetuates stereotypes on how queer people should look and act :/
and if you think it can't get worse the idea of bi and pan lesbians was pushed and encouraged in this story. gray says: "i think i can be a lesbian and still date people of all genders" SORRY. but no you can't! bisexual/pansexual lesbians do not exist. lesbians subvert the patriarchy by not centering their worldviews around men. they are not attracted to men! please stop co-opting lesbianism thanks!!
anyways i wouldn't recommend this and yeah it was quick to get through but not worth it at all, it just made me angry.
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
i rated this 2 stars at first to be nice then decided i don't have to placate the feelings of a white person so 1 star it is! i have many thoughts on this book and none of them are good. its so clear this was written by a white person who loves to pull the "im oppressed" card just for being queer :/ it was apparent through gray and her approach to just about everything, i am so tired of white girls pulling the "im oppressed too, im queer!" card 😐 tired boring LOSER.
also u can tell when white queer ppl stay in their little white queer bubbles because they think there's a "right" way to look or act to be perceived as queer when white queer people have stolen all of what's perceived as "queer culture" from black and brown people. direct quote from the story: "she wouldn't have guess it from the woman's conservative pantsuit or long blond hair, but gray was definitely getting queer vibes.." we need to abolish that there is a certain way u have to dress to look queer 😐 also GRAY DID IT TO VERONICA??? acting shocked like . you of all people should know queer people exist everywhere and anyone can be queer????? she touts herself as this progressive queer woman but still jumps to assume people's sexualities and perpetuates stereotypes on how queer people should look and act :/
and if you think it can't get worse the idea of bi and pan lesbians was pushed and encouraged in this story. gray says: "i think i can be a lesbian and still date people of all genders" SORRY. but no you can't! bisexual/pansexual lesbians do not exist. lesbians subvert the patriarchy by not centering their worldviews around men. they are not attracted to men! please stop co-opting lesbianism thanks!!
anyways i wouldn't recommend this and yeah it was quick to get through but not worth it at all, it just made me angry.
June 12, 2024
thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced digital arc.
this book is available now.
--
another dnf from me, sadly.
after the dissolution of a ten year relationship, gray is newly single at 29 and looking for love. her best friend suggests she see an astrologer, madame nouvelle lune, who advises gray that the stars might hold answers. the plan fully formulates: gray will go on a date with a person from every single star sign in an effort to find the one she's meant to settle down with.
set in new orleans, i get what the spirit this book was trying to invoke - campy, esoteric fun in the form of tourist-trappy palm readers, silliness like the pisces that gray finds that turns out to be a disney adult lugging her sister along with her on dates, etc. for whatever reason, i was checked out of this. it could be that i don't like romance. it could be that i don't like stories that include motherhood/kids/etc. of which this book had a bit (seriously, there's nothing that gives me secondhand embarrassment the way adults trying to write dialogue for toddlers does with the exception of audiobook narrators pitching a screech to try to SPEAK that dialogue).
i also fear i checked out pretty early in at gray's proclamation that she could be a lesbian and date people of all genders. j'excuse? especially mentioning trans men as part of this proclamation, it's giving transphobia. the ickiness being followed by her friend saying, "yeah, fuck gender essentialism," felt weird and judgey too.
anyway, not for me.
this book is available now.
--
another dnf from me, sadly.
after the dissolution of a ten year relationship, gray is newly single at 29 and looking for love. her best friend suggests she see an astrologer, madame nouvelle lune, who advises gray that the stars might hold answers. the plan fully formulates: gray will go on a date with a person from every single star sign in an effort to find the one she's meant to settle down with.
set in new orleans, i get what the spirit this book was trying to invoke - campy, esoteric fun in the form of tourist-trappy palm readers, silliness like the pisces that gray finds that turns out to be a disney adult lugging her sister along with her on dates, etc. for whatever reason, i was checked out of this. it could be that i don't like romance. it could be that i don't like stories that include motherhood/kids/etc. of which this book had a bit (seriously, there's nothing that gives me secondhand embarrassment the way adults trying to write dialogue for toddlers does with the exception of audiobook narrators pitching a screech to try to SPEAK that dialogue).
i also fear i checked out pretty early in at gray's proclamation that she could be a lesbian and date people of all genders. j'excuse? especially mentioning trans men as part of this proclamation, it's giving transphobia. the ickiness being followed by her friend saying, "yeah, fuck gender essentialism," felt weird and judgey too.
anyway, not for me.
July 10, 2024
A solid meh. I listened to this book at 2.25 speed bc I didn't want to DNF it. Cute concept but I don't think it was well executed.
February 19, 2024
Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
Genre:
Sapphic romcom
.
Tropes:
Enemies to friends, friends to lovers, found family
.
Main Concepts:
Gray is having a mid life crisis and a whole lot of other crisis. On a mission to completely change her life, Gray moves to New Orleans with her best friend and begins an experiment she dubs as the astrology challenge. 6 weeks until her 29th birthday, Gray sets up to go on a date with one of each of the astrological signs to see which sign is her true match. Lots of twists and turns and love found in unexpected places.
.
Spice level:
2/5 does have spice, just not super detailed or anything wild
.
Overall thoughts:
This book is amazing. I was first attracted by the cover, because I am a moon and star girly but the author blurb just sold it for me.
This book is perfect for those that feel lost in the world, are healing from traumatic/toxic parents, and need help with realizing that life is not perfect and looks are deceiving. Not everything is as it is seen and we should stop trying to find that something perfect and comparing our lives to those around us. Our MC, Gray, feels lost in the world, after a decade long relationship break. She sets out on the crazy mission using astrology to guide her way and comes to some very real realization along the way.
I am honestly absolutely blown away from this book and enjoyed all the astrology tied in. Everything was written so smoothly and well. All of the dates were very interesting and kept me excited to see more.
I could tell for awhile though who Gray was going to end up with. Their connection, friendship and communication was just unparalleled when it came to the other dates/signs.
I also really really love that some of the sign dates actually became friends with Gray. The banter and friendship that was started with those 6 signs is just really sweet.
10/10 recommended everyone to pick up this book.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ebook.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
Genre:
Sapphic romcom
.
Tropes:
Enemies to friends, friends to lovers, found family
.
Main Concepts:
Gray is having a mid life crisis and a whole lot of other crisis. On a mission to completely change her life, Gray moves to New Orleans with her best friend and begins an experiment she dubs as the astrology challenge. 6 weeks until her 29th birthday, Gray sets up to go on a date with one of each of the astrological signs to see which sign is her true match. Lots of twists and turns and love found in unexpected places.
.
Spice level:
2/5 does have spice, just not super detailed or anything wild
.
Overall thoughts:
This book is amazing. I was first attracted by the cover, because I am a moon and star girly but the author blurb just sold it for me.
This book is perfect for those that feel lost in the world, are healing from traumatic/toxic parents, and need help with realizing that life is not perfect and looks are deceiving. Not everything is as it is seen and we should stop trying to find that something perfect and comparing our lives to those around us. Our MC, Gray, feels lost in the world, after a decade long relationship break. She sets out on the crazy mission using astrology to guide her way and comes to some very real realization along the way.
I am honestly absolutely blown away from this book and enjoyed all the astrology tied in. Everything was written so smoothly and well. All of the dates were very interesting and kept me excited to see more.
I could tell for awhile though who Gray was going to end up with. Their connection, friendship and communication was just unparalleled when it came to the other dates/signs.
I also really really love that some of the sign dates actually became friends with Gray. The banter and friendship that was started with those 6 signs is just really sweet.
10/10 recommended everyone to pick up this book.
Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ebook.
June 13, 2024
I read an early version of this book and absolutely loved it. Can't wait to read the finished book!!
April 30, 2024
This book was a really rough start for me, I couldn’t really get into it until around 25%. The first quarter took me 3 months to read, the rest took me half a day! Once I got into it, I was really into it.
I wasn’t really into the idea of a sign being narrowed down to one person, but the individual dates were so fun to read. I really loved all the characters in the book (though I did have some side eye for Gray when she was hating on Disney, but I got past it).
I would have loved a little bit more, like an epilogue. But the ending was cute in its own right. I really ended up enjoying this book a lot!
I received a free ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!
I wasn’t really into the idea of a sign being narrowed down to one person, but the individual dates were so fun to read. I really loved all the characters in the book (though I did have some side eye for Gray when she was hating on Disney, but I got past it).
I would have loved a little bit more, like an epilogue. But the ending was cute in its own right. I really ended up enjoying this book a lot!
I received a free ARC for this book in exchange for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the opportunity to read this book!
February 28, 2024
(3.5 rounding to 4)
firstly i want to thank goodreads and Susie Dumond for an ARC copy, i was so excited to see that i won the giveaway and couldn't wait to start reading!
this was super cute! i already love queer romance and i felt that the idea of the dating the zodiacs was super fun and creative. i know only a handful about zodiac things, so it was fun getting to learn tidbits about the signs and how astrology can play with your life. i felt that the spice was tasteful (and again... fun! that's just what this book was). i found myself laughing at gray's dates as much as i was rooting for her. who she ended up with in the end was quite obvious to me in the beginning so it was fun trying to guess her sign. and as a pisces, EXTREMELY grateful we ended up not being skipped! i loved that the pisces description felt entirely true to who i am too LOL. each of the dates were all so unique and i had so much fun reading about them, their outcomes, and how sometimes dates can turn into friendships. also, cherry, robbie, and river HAVE MY HEART! ALL THREE OF THEM!
i thought the representation of queerness was really awesome; i liked how much gray explored with her dating experience both with sexuality, gender, and race! in addition to the romance and friendships that gray made with the zodiacs, i thought the relationship she had with cherry and robbie was extremely important and heartwarming... and honestly reminded me a lot of my personal life. <3 found family
if you are looking for a super fun sapphic romance, pick this one up when it releases 6/11/24!!!!
firstly i want to thank goodreads and Susie Dumond for an ARC copy, i was so excited to see that i won the giveaway and couldn't wait to start reading!
this was super cute! i already love queer romance and i felt that the idea of the dating the zodiacs was super fun and creative. i know only a handful about zodiac things, so it was fun getting to learn tidbits about the signs and how astrology can play with your life. i felt that the spice was tasteful (and again... fun! that's just what this book was). i found myself laughing at gray's dates as much as i was rooting for her. who she ended up with in the end was quite obvious to me in the beginning so it was fun trying to guess her sign. and as a pisces, EXTREMELY grateful we ended up not being skipped! i loved that the pisces description felt entirely true to who i am too LOL. each of the dates were all so unique and i had so much fun reading about them, their outcomes, and how sometimes dates can turn into friendships. also, cherry, robbie, and river HAVE MY HEART! ALL THREE OF THEM!
i thought the representation of queerness was really awesome; i liked how much gray explored with her dating experience both with sexuality, gender, and race! in addition to the romance and friendships that gray made with the zodiacs, i thought the relationship she had with cherry and robbie was extremely important and heartwarming... and honestly reminded me a lot of my personal life. <3 found family
if you are looking for a super fun sapphic romance, pick this one up when it releases 6/11/24!!!!
Read
July 12, 2024Look. I really wanted to like this. And I did enjoy the storyline of all the different dates with all the star signs (even if the cancer was very insulting! Justice for cancers). Things were looking up!
But the main character was pretty annoying throughout. She mentions her desire to have a wife and kids IMMEDIATELY like every other page, in a way that felt honestly very straight to me. Not that lesbians can’t want those things too, but her urgency to have kids RIGHT NOW felt so strange, especially since there’s so much more that goes into family building for queer couples and families. And I just didn’t believe in the main love interest. I felt like the author just told me they were into each other and on page there was just no chemistry.
Overall I wanted to like it, but by the end I was just glad I finished it.
But the main character was pretty annoying throughout. She mentions her desire to have a wife and kids IMMEDIATELY like every other page, in a way that felt honestly very straight to me. Not that lesbians can’t want those things too, but her urgency to have kids RIGHT NOW felt so strange, especially since there’s so much more that goes into family building for queer couples and families. And I just didn’t believe in the main love interest. I felt like the author just told me they were into each other and on page there was just no chemistry.
Overall I wanted to like it, but by the end I was just glad I finished it.
May 22, 2024
this was really fun! i definitely feel like the premise requires a little suspension of disbelief, but overall i had a blast reading this. if you, like me, are into astrology, i think you’ll like this one. the characters all often feel like the stereotypes of their signs, but in a fun way, if that makes sense? i did feel that the endgame couple lacked some of the chemistry the main character had with other people she dated, but i still was satisfied by the ending.
definitely pick this up if you’re interested in a super gay romance that’s just a whole lot of fun!
thank you to the publisher for sending a digital ARC my way via Netgalley!
definitely pick this up if you’re interested in a super gay romance that’s just a whole lot of fun!
thank you to the publisher for sending a digital ARC my way via Netgalley!
May 31, 2024
I really enjoyed this one. The idea of finding your perfect match based on astrology is intriguing and it was fun to watch Gray go out with people from all twelve signs. I really liked the author's voice and founding myself chuckling often! Some of the dating scenarios were outrageous and yet realistic at the same time. A really fun read.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 8, 2024
This was a fun and light read. A tad unrealistic, but that’s to be expected in a fluffy romance read. 3.5 for Cancer slander 😆
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 22, 2024DNF @ 34%.
y’all i wanted to like this so badly. a steamy sapphic contemporary romance with an astrological subplot sounds DELICIOUS, and while the astrology concepts were well done (in the third of it that i read, at least), the story itself felt like being beaten over the head with the telling stick, without an ounce of showing to be had.
the writing style just wasn’t for me, personally — it reads a bit like a school report, dry and lacking the creative flourish that makes me emotionally invest in a story. but the concept was very cute, and if you’re an astrology person and don’t mind a skewed balance between telling versus showing, this could be a win for you! the cast of characters in this so far (and i only lasted from aries through leo) are fun and dynamic, with a lot of potential — much like the story itself — and perhaps it comes together in the end but i’m not willing to stick it out to see.
i might try to circle back to this eventually (maybe via audiobook?) but for now i’m cutting my losses.
y’all i wanted to like this so badly. a steamy sapphic contemporary romance with an astrological subplot sounds DELICIOUS, and while the astrology concepts were well done (in the third of it that i read, at least), the story itself felt like being beaten over the head with the telling stick, without an ounce of showing to be had.
the writing style just wasn’t for me, personally — it reads a bit like a school report, dry and lacking the creative flourish that makes me emotionally invest in a story. but the concept was very cute, and if you’re an astrology person and don’t mind a skewed balance between telling versus showing, this could be a win for you! the cast of characters in this so far (and i only lasted from aries through leo) are fun and dynamic, with a lot of potential — much like the story itself — and perhaps it comes together in the end but i’m not willing to stick it out to see.
i might try to circle back to this eventually (maybe via audiobook?) but for now i’m cutting my losses.
June 17, 2024
I thought the astrology concept in this book was super fun. Unfortunately the main character gray was just so unlikable the way she treated her best friend almost had me DNF the book.
March 28, 2024
A novel themed around astrology? Sign me up!!
Rating : 4/5 Stars
As a fellow Aries, Gray’s (the main character) decisions, sometimes very impulsive, felt very similar to my own decision making. I loved how self reflective she was as she navigated through her self-made assignment. I absolutely related to her emotions as she had some great moments, and some really not great moments too. Her ability to stay positive and focused really made me love her character!
There were so many fun little tidbits about the different astrology signs. I love reading about different people’s takes on the astrology signs and the author did such an awesome job with incorporating them flawlessly into conversations.
The setting in New Orleans was so immersive, with a lot of different locations that Gray went to on her dates. I have wanted to visit New Orleans for a long time, but this book has pushed it high up on my list of places I want to visit!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book!
Rating : 4/5 Stars
As a fellow Aries, Gray’s (the main character) decisions, sometimes very impulsive, felt very similar to my own decision making. I loved how self reflective she was as she navigated through her self-made assignment. I absolutely related to her emotions as she had some great moments, and some really not great moments too. Her ability to stay positive and focused really made me love her character!
There were so many fun little tidbits about the different astrology signs. I love reading about different people’s takes on the astrology signs and the author did such an awesome job with incorporating them flawlessly into conversations.
The setting in New Orleans was so immersive, with a lot of different locations that Gray went to on her dates. I have wanted to visit New Orleans for a long time, but this book has pushed it high up on my list of places I want to visit!
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of this book!
June 11, 2024
This was a cute LGBTQIAP+ | Romance but I'm going to go ahead and piggyback on what another reviewer wrote and say that the love interest was very unlikeable from the get go and never really redeemed herself in my opinion. I really liked our FMC Gray and I really liked her friend Cherry. The found family that Gray had with Cherry and her family was spot on. Love that for them. I do wish FMC would have ended up with one of her other zodiac dates as I definitely felt more chemistry and attraction there as opposed to the person she ended up with. That being said, this is a fun, rom-com and I still recommend giving it a read. :)
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback and Susie Dumond for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 6/11/24
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Dial Press Trade Paperback and Susie Dumond for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 6/11/24
June 16, 2024
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Random House Publishing and Dial Press.
Reeling from a breakup with her long-term partner, Gray—an optimistic lesbian Aries—relocates to New Orleans for a new job. Gray wants to meet someone, settle down, and build the loving, accepting family she has always wanted, but having been out of the dating scene for a decade, she has no idea where to start. After visiting an iconic astrologer, Gray and her best friend, Cherry, draw up a dramatic scheme: Gray will go on a date with someone of each zodiac sign to test their compatibility and get a jump start on creating the queer family of her dreams—all before her twenty-ninth birthday, when Saturn will usher in a major turning point in her life.
Gray’s got her hands full getting to know her new city, proving herself at her new job, wooing twelve new paramours—cue bathroom hookups, ghosts, getting ghosted, incredible macchiatos, and celesbians—and making some surprising discoveries about her needs and desires. Even when the dating challenge throws a few curveballs that make Gray question what she believes that she is destined for, she is determined to finish what she is started while the planets are still on her side.
I was so excited to read this one after reading the synopsis, but I think there was some problems with the execution. The idea of going on twelve dates of the zodiac to find out your dating goals after getting out of a long term relationship, was promising, but I felt something was missing. I have never really went into learning about the different type of horoscopes, so it was very interesting to learn more about each and the different personality types. Gray was very naive and annoying, and I think she could of developed more as a character. But I did like reading about each of Gray's dates. I also did not see any chemistry between her and the date. The concept and idea of this one was fun and if you like astrology and horoscopes, you may like this one. And I am so happy to see another LGBTQ+ fun romcom hitting shelves.
Reeling from a breakup with her long-term partner, Gray—an optimistic lesbian Aries—relocates to New Orleans for a new job. Gray wants to meet someone, settle down, and build the loving, accepting family she has always wanted, but having been out of the dating scene for a decade, she has no idea where to start. After visiting an iconic astrologer, Gray and her best friend, Cherry, draw up a dramatic scheme: Gray will go on a date with someone of each zodiac sign to test their compatibility and get a jump start on creating the queer family of her dreams—all before her twenty-ninth birthday, when Saturn will usher in a major turning point in her life.
Gray’s got her hands full getting to know her new city, proving herself at her new job, wooing twelve new paramours—cue bathroom hookups, ghosts, getting ghosted, incredible macchiatos, and celesbians—and making some surprising discoveries about her needs and desires. Even when the dating challenge throws a few curveballs that make Gray question what she believes that she is destined for, she is determined to finish what she is started while the planets are still on her side.
I was so excited to read this one after reading the synopsis, but I think there was some problems with the execution. The idea of going on twelve dates of the zodiac to find out your dating goals after getting out of a long term relationship, was promising, but I felt something was missing. I have never really went into learning about the different type of horoscopes, so it was very interesting to learn more about each and the different personality types. Gray was very naive and annoying, and I think she could of developed more as a character. But I did like reading about each of Gray's dates. I also did not see any chemistry between her and the date. The concept and idea of this one was fun and if you like astrology and horoscopes, you may like this one. And I am so happy to see another LGBTQ+ fun romcom hitting shelves.
January 29, 2024
💕 Rom-Com
📱 Online Dating
🫶 Wholesome Friendships
Wanting to find her soulmate before her birthday, Gray’s childhood best friend helps her come up with a plan. Dating her way through each zodiac sign to find her match. Some dates go better than others but in the end maybe love is where she least expects it to be.
I absolutely loved this book. All the dates were so entertaining to read some fun, some spicy, some ending in pasta being dumped over someone’s head, it was all so good.
The plot was entertaining, the characters were well written, and I enjoyed all the queer romance moments. The friendships made through failed dates was something I wasn’t expecting. I loved how this ended and who Gray ended up with, I didn’t see that coming but was pleasantly surprised.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
Release Date: 11, June 2024
POV: Third Person
Rep: Queer (MC), Bisexual (LI), Lesbian (LI), Trans (LI), Queer (LI), BIPOC characters, LGBTQIA+ characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Cursing
Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Biphobia
⚠️ Content Warnings:
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Religious bigotry and Cursing
Minor: Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Pregnancy, Alcohol, and Biphobia
May 15, 2024
Review: Looking for a Sign by Susie Dumond ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a fast-paced, rom-com following Gray, a queer woman who sets out to go on a date with prospective romantic partners from each of the 12 zodiac signs - all before her 30th birthday. Set in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Looking for a Sign is a fun, sexy read with an emphasis on LQBTQIA+ romance.
This book definitely made me want to plan more elaborates dates with my partner 😂. Overall I had a good time reading this story, though at times I felt that the actual time spent with the different zodiac dates was a bit rushed and almost took a backseat to the B plot about Gray’s career. At times, the dates fell victim to surface level astrological stereotypes, which didn’t match the depth and unique personality that Dumond gave to Gray and the other characters in the story. Cherry and Veronica felt like the most realistic characters in the story, and made Gray feel a bit more grounded.
I really loved Gray’s exploration of her own sexuality and her openness and understanding of each of her dates’ sexuality and identity.
Looking for a Sign will be published June 11th 2024!
Thank you to NetGalley and The Dial Press for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is a fast-paced, rom-com following Gray, a queer woman who sets out to go on a date with prospective romantic partners from each of the 12 zodiac signs - all before her 30th birthday. Set in the vibrant city of New Orleans, Looking for a Sign is a fun, sexy read with an emphasis on LQBTQIA+ romance.
This book definitely made me want to plan more elaborates dates with my partner 😂. Overall I had a good time reading this story, though at times I felt that the actual time spent with the different zodiac dates was a bit rushed and almost took a backseat to the B plot about Gray’s career. At times, the dates fell victim to surface level astrological stereotypes, which didn’t match the depth and unique personality that Dumond gave to Gray and the other characters in the story. Cherry and Veronica felt like the most realistic characters in the story, and made Gray feel a bit more grounded.
I really loved Gray’s exploration of her own sexuality and her openness and understanding of each of her dates’ sexuality and identity.
Looking for a Sign will be published June 11th 2024!
June 7, 2024
*I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*
YES! This was such a fun book. The premise has me interested from the get-go, and I stayed engaged because of the characters, hilarious situations, and Gray's determined quest to find love. I really liked how each date was presented as an over-the-top caricature of their zodiac sign. It walked the border between believable and stereotypical so perfectly, and as a result had me cringing, laughing, awe-ing, and generally just fully feeling all of the emotions the author was trying to convey.
Gray's character development was really wonderful as well, she definitely grew as a person throughout the book which is exactly what I wanted to see from her. As she dates each zodiac sign from youngest to oldest, you can actually see her grow and mature as well. While this is a romance book, it doesn't necessarily progress in the way we usually see romance books progress too, so it felt fresh and new.
Overall, a great book I highly recommend!
YES! This was such a fun book. The premise has me interested from the get-go, and I stayed engaged because of the characters, hilarious situations, and Gray's determined quest to find love. I really liked how each date was presented as an over-the-top caricature of their zodiac sign. It walked the border between believable and stereotypical so perfectly, and as a result had me cringing, laughing, awe-ing, and generally just fully feeling all of the emotions the author was trying to convey.
Gray's character development was really wonderful as well, she definitely grew as a person throughout the book which is exactly what I wanted to see from her. As she dates each zodiac sign from youngest to oldest, you can actually see her grow and mature as well. While this is a romance book, it doesn't necessarily progress in the way we usually see romance books progress too, so it felt fresh and new.
Overall, a great book I highly recommend!
February 21, 2024
This book very clearly includes multiple love Interest and dates which makes it hard to get attached to any, which is probably the point. They likely arent the main one but its almost like whiplash.
I truly think this is an amazing conception but I’m not sure about the execution? The chemistry between the love interest and Gray felt downplayed. While I wanted them together there were so many better ways to build there tension. Some of the dates Gray went on had more chemistry in one chapter than these did the whole first half of the book.
I just think maybe it needed more on the end half. The ending happened so fast. There was also no epilogue which i would’ve died to see.
I think Grays development was shown well but couldve been explored more. The side characters and interactions between them add lots of depth to the story.
I truly think this is an amazing conception but I’m not sure about the execution? The chemistry between the love interest and Gray felt downplayed. While I wanted them together there were so many better ways to build there tension. Some of the dates Gray went on had more chemistry in one chapter than these did the whole first half of the book.
I just think maybe it needed more on the end half. The ending happened so fast. There was also no epilogue which i would’ve died to see.
I think Grays development was shown well but couldve been explored more. The side characters and interactions between them add lots of depth to the story.
April 20, 2024
What a ride. When Gray decides to date based on their astrological sign after visiting an iconic astrologer, interesting things happen with each date. Her best friend, Cherry, is there to cheer her on as Gray just has moved to New Orleans to start over after a breakup with a girlfriend of 10 years. The events that unfold are absolutely a joy to read about. Dating each of the signs leads Gray down an interesting path. And she's doing this while working PR at a new job. I loved the realistic approach the author took on each date. Being a fish out of water after the move, it's wonderful to see Gray's arc happen and see the character growth. I highly recommend as this sapphic love story is engaging and fun and it just gets better and better as you go. Very glad I read this and I hope it gives you the same type of smile it gave me!
June 18, 2024
Such a fun book! I love astrology and this was definitely heavily influenced by star signs. Since Gray who is about to turn 29 and just got in a huge breakup visits a famous astrologer and learns she needs to possibly date each sign to find her match.
This imo isn't a bad idea. I really feel there is something to signs since by time and location there are so many other details besides just the sign to read from. All I know is my husband and I are compatible lol..a cancer and an Aquarius, poor guy.
I was happy when Gray met her Aquarius match but that was when the drama happened. Loved her bestie and her besties family. Her besties son River sounded adorable.
This imo isn't a bad idea. I really feel there is something to signs since by time and location there are so many other details besides just the sign to read from. All I know is my husband and I are compatible lol..a cancer and an Aquarius, poor guy.
I was happy when Gray met her Aquarius match but that was when the drama happened. Loved her bestie and her besties family. Her besties son River sounded adorable.
July 26, 2024
Sapphism and astrology PUH LEEZEEEEEEEE gimme more recs like thisssss, make more books like thisssss, i love thisssss. if you like astrology this is not a let down and if you dont its still not a let down. it's is a good balance. tbh at the start i wasn't sure i was gonna like it cause i don't like the protagonist much (this is a personal opinion she is not a bad character) but i very much like the love interest and the multitude of characters we meet throughout the book. they are fun, funny and lovable mostly.
March 23, 2024
If you're looking for a super fun queer romcom, look no further! Gray has just broken up with her first and only girlfriend of ten years and moved to New Orleans to start over. Her best friend, a believer, has sent her to a famous astrologist for help finding her happily ever after. Gray comes away with a mission to go on a date with each of the astrological signs, in order, before her 29th birthday. She's skeptical, but game to try if it will lead her to her partner and a family. What follows is at times fun, steamy, hilarious, and ridiculous. But every bit of it makes for a fantastic read!
June 27, 2024
4.5 stars rounded up
Gray has recently moved to New Orleans for a life change. She recently broke up with her long term girlfriend. They wanted different things. She moved in with her best friend Cherry and her husband and son, River. She has a new job as a PR consultant with a private school in New Orleans. She meets with a famous astrologer. Who tells her she is in Saturn Return and this is a good time to date each of the astrology signs. Gray and Cherry decide that Gray should date each of the astrology signs before her 29th birthday.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun pride read. A book filled with heart and finding one trueself. I don't really believe in astrology but it's fun to read about. This book helped me out of a reading slump.
Gray has recently moved to New Orleans for a life change. She recently broke up with her long term girlfriend. They wanted different things. She moved in with her best friend Cherry and her husband and son, River. She has a new job as a PR consultant with a private school in New Orleans. She meets with a famous astrologer. Who tells her she is in Saturn Return and this is a good time to date each of the astrology signs. Gray and Cherry decide that Gray should date each of the astrology signs before her 29th birthday.
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun pride read. A book filled with heart and finding one trueself. I don't really believe in astrology but it's fun to read about. This book helped me out of a reading slump.
January 24, 2024
As a fellow Aries, I saw a lot of myself within Gray! I'm even on the same journey as her so this couldn't have been a more perfectly timed read. Having a quarter-life crisis and feeling like she's falling behind, Gray looks to the stars and one Madame Nouvelle Lune for help, she finds herself in a dating challenge with each of the zodiac signs to achieve her dream of finding her soulmate and starting a family. With a unique plot such as this, the book introduced a colorful cast of characters that you can't help but love.
I enjoyed Gray and Cherry's relationship. They are the best friends and unconditionally support and love one another. They also weren't afraid to have tough conversations and, in my opinion, this helped Gray to grow.
I also loved the diversity of the characters and dates. Gray's dates range in sexuality, gender, and race. Each character felt fully developed and I found myself agreeing and keeping tabs similar to how Gray was. It is such a breath of fresh air to the romance genre!
Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed Gray and Cherry's relationship. They are the best friends and unconditionally support and love one another. They also weren't afraid to have tough conversations and, in my opinion, this helped Gray to grow.
I also loved the diversity of the characters and dates. Gray's dates range in sexuality, gender, and race. Each character felt fully developed and I found myself agreeing and keeping tabs similar to how Gray was. It is such a breath of fresh air to the romance genre!
Thank you Netgalley & Random House Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
March 5, 2024
A nice palate cleanser of a book. Astrology-rom-com where a chick goes on a date with someone from each sign to find her true love.
It’s super obvious early on who her true love will be. But it was still cute. Fluffy, harmless, and just fine.
Got it early from NetGalley, and I anticipate it’ll show up on a bunch of my ‘recommended for you’ lists once it’s published.
It’s super obvious early on who her true love will be. But it was still cute. Fluffy, harmless, and just fine.
Got it early from NetGalley, and I anticipate it’ll show up on a bunch of my ‘recommended for you’ lists once it’s published.
July 1, 2024
another DNF for me… i tried multiple times to get into this book, but unfortunately it just wasn’t hitting. the premise sounds like a blast, but the dialogue was stuffy and just had terrible pacing. there are some additional issues i had with the book regarding harmful stereotypes, but i feel that the other 1⭐️ reviews do a wonderful job of explaining.
March 19, 2024
I loved this read. It was quick, quirky, fun, and cozy. Albeit, I did find Gray a little too full of herself at times to border cringe, for my taste. Overall though I’d definitely recommend this unique LGBTQ+ read for a fast paced palate cleanser.
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