All Signs Point to Yes
Edited by: Adrianne White, Cam Montgomery, and G. Haron Davis. Date: 2022.
ISBN: 9781335418623.
Publisher: Inkyard Press.
Genre: Anthology, romance <3
Reading Level: Grades 9-12.
Trailer: They say some loves are written in the stars, but maybe some of the stars guide how we love. This anthology offers stories based on the Venus placement of each of the zodiac signs.
Love, like the stars, is infinite in nature. There are a million ways to experience it, to share it with the world, to give it to the people you care about. There is romantic love, familial love, love without romance, love so full of romance it can burst. In some people's beliefs, the stars under which a person is born affects the kind of love that they put out into the world. According to these beliefs, a person's love style is based on the alignment of the planet Venus at the time of a person's birth. This anthology provides stories that follow characters who have Venus' aligned with all of the different zodiac sign, plus an additional sign called the Ophiuchus sign. Each story features a diverse and interesting character in a unique love-related situation. Some of the stories do not include romantic love, but other types of love that exists in relationships.
If you don't already know about your astrological signs it can be a pretty cool thing to explore! Check out this site to get your astrological chart. All you need is your birthday, and the time of your birth for the most accurate results.
I created a chart with reading suggestions for each of the zodiac signs, if you're into that sort of here.
Created by:
So, this book is an anthology written by 13 different authors, and then edited by a collection of those authors who created the idea for the book. The authors for each chapter are as follows:
G. Haron Davis (Aries)
Adrianne White (Aquarius)
Cam Montgomery (Ophiuchus)
Tehlor Kay Mejia (Gemini)
Mark Oshiro (Libra)
Eric Smith (Scorpio)
Emery Lee(Pisces)
Byron Graves (Virgo)
Karuna Riazi (Cancer)
Roselle Lim (Taurus)
Alexandra Villasante (Capricorn)
Lily Anderson (Sagittarius)
Kiana Nguyen (Leo). In lieu of providing biographies for all 13 artists I've selected a few to give more details about other works they have produced or contributed to. Author Eric Smith has also produced another YA book based on the Tony and Grammy Award winning musical from Alanis Morissette, Diablo Cody, and Glen Ballard, Jagged Little Pill(Media Kit, n.d). Lily Anderson is another accomplished author who has written a number of stories about young Queer people. including Undead Girl Gang (Undead Girl Gang, n.d). Author Emery Lee produced another lovely love story featuring Queer characters called Cafe Con Lychee (Cafe con lychee, n.d).
Analysis: I was coming at this book with an interest in astrology and let me tell you as soon as I put this book down I was downloading all the apps I could find and researching my little heart out. This book is cool because it delivers 13 hard hitting love stories that not only provide amazing entertainment, but they teach the reader a little bit about the different types of relationship dynamics, AND astrology simultaneously. Though the stories are connected by the themes of astrology and love the stories themselves are very unique from each other. One of the unique elements is the diversity of the characters themselves. Each main character comes from a different background, including fantasy backgrounds based in fiction. Here is a lil' something something about each story and the astrological sign it is attached to. G. Haron davis (Aries) "Ruler and Killer"- Aries are known for being strong willed and fiery, and this story delivers a lot of fire right at the top of the book. It's a fantasy story that throws you right into a narrative without much world building hand holding. I like when a story just gets right to it, especially a short story that doesn't have much time to waste. I give this one 5 out of 5 stars.
Adrianne White (Aquarius) "I Come From the Water"- Aquarius are the creative babies of the zodiac signs. This story is very poetic and plays into the Aquarius element well. This story has a lot of southern charm and almost a gothic feel. Think Sharp Object meets AHS: Coven if you're into dark TV shows like I am. I give this story 4 out of 5 stars.
Cam Montgomery (Ophiuchus) "Formation"- I literally have never heard of this "sign" before so I cannot speak to this but the story was cool. If you enjoy a good flirty fantasy novel AND/OR you believe in a "one true love" type of fated relationship this one is absolutely for you. I really like how this author developed the characters and their backstories in such a short amount of time. Usually fantasy has a lot of world building and can lack in the character development department so this was a pleasant surprise. I give this story 4 out of 5 stars.
Tehlor Kay Mejia (Gemini) "Doublespeak"- Geminis are one of the most misunderstood in the zodiac, a lot of people might have a lot to say about this sign. I think that gemini folks tend to be dynamic but guarded, and that selectiveness can make them come off a little (for lack of another, less catty term) two-faced. This story played perfectly into that trope because it is about a set of cousins who are sort of like twins. This sapphic story was fun but I felt that it was a little underdeveloped. I give it 3 out 5 stars.
Mark Oshiro (Libra) "Fake Scorpio"- Libras are the sweethearts of the zodiac, the people who spend a lot of time looking at their friends (and foes) to figure out exactly who they are. This story was laugh out loud funny to me. I loved that this story dove into the sparking love between two peers and the love that exists between parents and children. Very sweet, and I would say a 5 out of 5 star story.
Eric Smith (Scorpio) "The South Street Challenge"- Scorpios are another misunderstood sign and are often described as mysterious and/or calculating. The Slytherines of the zodiac, one might say. This story was an adorable friends to lovers romance that focuses on a male main character. I think that the story reflected the zodiac sign well, but it was not as captivating as the others for me. And I'm a scorpio (although that is not where my Venus is)! I give this story 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Emery Lee(Pisces) "The Cure For Heartbreak"- Pisces are often called the cry babies of the zodiac. Very compassionate and empathetic folks. This is the last story in the book for a reason. This is beautiful. From the world building to the character development, all of it is well thought out and perfectly delivered. I would read a full novel version of this stor . 5 out of 5 stars.
Byron Graves (Virgo) "Sometimes in September"- Virgos are the list makers of the zodiac, which can be the best thing ever to some and the most annoying thing ever to others. This story follows a few Native American characters who are navigating through a rehab program. I had just read Firekeeper's Daughter and this has very similar vibes. It talks about series things but with the levity and humor of the younger generation. This story felt very cinematic even though it was mainly character driven with little to no world building. I give this story 4 out of 5 stars.
Karuna Riazi (Cancer) "L(Train)iminal" - Cancers can come off as guarded but they are another big softy sign. I. Loved. This. Story. It has everything: librarians, witchcraft, an adorable love story that features a man being so so so sweet (love that), and great use of setting. This story definitely articulates the cozy vibe that cancers cultivate.
Roselle Lim (Taurus) "The Taste of a Kiss"- Taurus' are one of the more laid back of the zodiac, they are hard to rile up but once they are riled up about something it might be a passion for the rest of their life. This was a super cute love story that has big "one true love" vibes. Also, it talks a lot about delicious food so have some snacks handy. The food narrative gives this story an interesting cultural taste (see what I did there) and adds depth not only to the setting but to the characters. I give this story 4 out of 5 stars.
Alexandra Villasante (Capricorn) " Mucho, Mucho Amor"- Capricorns are the strong silent type. I think in the anglo Christian world Jesus is a Capricorn, so. I read this story on the way to work and messed my makeup all the way up with my big happy tears. This is a sapphic story about coming out and coming into a new family dynamic. Very very good, 5 out of 5 stars.
Lily Anderson (Sagittarius) "Anchor Point" - Sagittarius are very practical yet goofy peoples. They tend to see things black and white, but then they come out of left field with purple or some other unexpected color and you're like, "okay??? Go off, Sag". I loved this realistic romance that takes place on an archery field of all places. Not only does it fit the sign well, but it's a good story. A playful romance with a sports backdrop that anyone could find some interest in. I give this story 4 out of 5 stars.
Kiana Nguyen (Leo) "Alternative Combustion"- Leo is one of the most notorious signs, probably because Leos tend to mythologize about themselves a bit. This was an interesting dynamic to explore between an demi sexual person and a non- binary person. This is more of a vignette into a special moment than a plot driven short story. I would give this one 2.5 out of 5 stars.
Potential Issues: I found this book to be practically perfect and I would be surprised if people could find a complaint about it. There are no out right sex scenes, nothing descriptive about sex at all really. If someone took an issue with the way Queer characters are respected in this book they would be loaded into a cannon and fired into the sun. Wait, no. That's not allowed. They would be directed to the collection development policy and treated with distain tinged respect.
In the Library: I would love to put on a seminar or class about astrology for young adults. In the class people could learn how to read their charts, find their life path numbers, and other cool spiritual stuff. Maybe someone could lead a meditation or talk about crystals.
Reason for Inclusion: I wanted to include a romance but for the life of me I cannot sit down and read a full romance or listen to someone breath-ily lusting in my ear through an audiobook so I wanted some short romantic stories. Plus, astrology is super in the zeitgeist right now and I wanted to follow that trend.
Sources:
All signs point to yes. (n.d). Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57803148
Cafe con lychee. (n.d). Emery Lee Books. https://www.emeryleebooks.com/caf%C3%A9-con-lychee
Media kit. (n.d). Eric Smith Rocks. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/57803148
Undead Girl Gang. (n.d). Ms. Lily Anderson. http://mslilyanderson.com/ugg
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