I am a cancer. Definitely a true cancer at that. I'm moody, I'm sensitive, EVERYTHING HURTS ALL THE TIME. But I didn't want to exclusively try out cancer recommendations or I may end up just being even more sad than my usual cancer self (as all the recommendations are such that they pull on a cancer's dainty heart strings). Therefore, in this experiment I will be reading a recommendation for every star sign to find my true self. Does this make sense? No, but let me have fun.
I am going to start by linking my review for each book and why they were recommended for this particular sign. I will then rank the books from #12 to #1 to see which signs I have the most in common with (book wise). Aries: Dry by Neal Shusterman & Jarrod Shusterman
Here is my review of Dry
I found my recommendation for Aries from rivetedlit. An Aries loves a challenge and tends to be a stand out leader amongst the star signs. They are passionate and motivated; they get frustrated by loitering on small details and tend to be very direct in their approach. Dry is recommended for an Aries as the characters are faced with many challenges - something an Aries is drawn to. The determination of the main characters will be something any true Aires could relate to.
Taurus: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Here is my review of A Little Life
This Taurus recommendation comes from Society19. A Taurus loves stability and finds comfort in consistency. They tend to be set in their ways but will never shy away from hard work.
A Little Life is immersive, in-depth, and drawn-out. The character development and artful plot progression makes it a perfect choice for the warmhearted, level-headed Taurus. The book is over 700 pages and this sign can truly appreciate the mentality of working hard to complete it, to get the payoff at the end to experience a truly wonderful and heartbreaking novel.
Gemini: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Here is my review of Little Women
I found my Gemini pick from LitJoy Crate. Gemini's are adaptable; willing to try anything once and are always eager to go on an adventure. They are outgoing whilst also being unreliable, impulsive, nosy but witty and curious. This mix match of traits is why Little Women is the perfect recommendation. There is something that a Gemini could relate to in every one of the March sisters. Their adaptability no matter where they end up, and their uncanny ability to find the fun whenever they are together, even in the hardest of situations is something any Gemini would appreciate.
Cancer: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Here is my review of The Nightingale
I found my Cancer sign recommendation from LitJoy Crate. Cancer's are considered the most devoted of the signs, they are loyal, protective, caring and incredibly intuitive when to comes to their own decision making and other people's feelings. Their friendships are for life and thrive being around those they care about most. They equally have a tendency to be moody and overly-sensitive to criticism, as they want others to care as much as they do! Set in France during WWII, The Nightingale follows two sisters that have been separated and how their lives have differed, separated by years and experience, by ideals, passion and circumstance, each embarking on her own dangerous path toward survival, love, and freedom. Anything that pulls on one's heartstrings, will hit a cancer even harder.
Leo: Just Kids by Patti Smith
Here is my review of Just Kids
I got my Leo sign recommendation from Society19. Leo's crave success, are incredibly confident and self-assured. Their arrogance can also result in an inability to accept criticism - all that self-confidence has Leo's thinking they don't make mistakes! Just Kids is Patti Smith's memoir, giving her take on the 60s music scene. It perfectly appeals to a Leo's creative and vivacious side. A book like this is exactly what would appeal to this sign, following a musical icon of the era and her immense success and some crazy over-the-top scenes of infamous celebrities.
Virgo: Birthday by Meredith Russo
Here is my review of Birthday
I found my recommendation for Virgo from bookend siblings. Virgos are creative, kind, caring and compassionate. They can also be stubborn, overly critical and over thinkers. Virgos thrive on deep connections and will always be loyal. Usually, they are very subtle in their approach to expressing their feelings and showing their affections. Birthday is a coming of age story for two young kids who were destined to be friends forever, when they were born at the same time, on the same day. We follow their birthday each year and how they begin to change. Eric is fearing for his friendships stability, whilst Morgan is afraid to tell Eric of who he - or she - truly is. A perfect choice for a Virgo as it follows a story of self acceptance and the importance of taking care of yourself in the face of rejection.
Libra: Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
Here is my review of Queenie
I found my recommendation for Libra from purewow. Some classic Libra traits include their diplomatic idealism; they are generally non-confrontational and tend to be peacemakers as they love fairness (hence the scales of justice being the symbol of this sign). They are outgoing, social, clever and are suckers for romance, whilst being incredibly indecisive! Queenie is a perfect pick for a Libra, as we follow a young Jamaican woman living in London working at a local newspaper. She makes all the wrong choices when it comes to love but is smart, funny and socially-minded - just like a Libra.
Scorpio: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Here is my review of Lolita
I found my Scorpio recommendation at readers digest. Scorpio's are ambitious, determined and honest. They also have a dark side to them; jealousy, stubbornness and being secretive are not unheard of in a Scorpio as well as being resentful and controlling. Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita shows the dark side of a Scorpio's passion. Being incredibly controversial upon its release (and still now), this book tells the story of a man who falls madly in love with Lolita who is merely a child. The feelings of our male protagonist are explored without judgement, merely an intention to understand the human minds ability to obsess when it comes to love. This makes for a perfect Scorpio read, showing the dark side of passion with a backdrop of an uncomfortable taboo.
Sagittarius: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Here is my review of Brave New World
My Sagittarius recommendation has come from Book Break's YouTube channel. Sagittarius are a mixture of rebellious and conforming. They want to be loved but also want to be free to do whatever they want. They don't lead nor follow, they simply want to be left alone to make their own decisions without an outsiders intrusion.
Brave New World would be the perfect book for a Sagittarius as it's about a dystopian world where people have their rights and freedoms taken away from them. This is something that would hit particularly hard with a Sagittarius as it's what they crave the most and believe everyone should have that right.
Capricorn: With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
Here is my review of With the Fire on High
I found my recommendation for Capricorn from readings. Capricorns are ambitious, logical, focussed and disciplined. They are ready to give up the hours to achieve what they want and are realists through and through. Just like Emoni in With the Fire on High, who juggles being a young mother with finishing high school. When an opportunity presents itself to not only enrol in culinary arts class in her high school, but also to travel to Spain for an immersion program, Emoni has to question how her ambitions to become a professional chef fit in with the rest of her life. A classic Capricorn, putting her work and career goals ahead of anything else!
Aquarius: Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
Here is my review of Blood Water Paint
I found my recommendation for Aquarius from wordwonder blog. Aquarians are progressive visionaries, and have a strong sense of chasing justice. They are intelligent and original which always helps on their quest to make the world a better place. Blood Water Paint is the perfect recommendation for an Aquarius. Artemisia turns to painting after the death of her mother and turns out to be one of the most talented artists in Rome. Following a sexual assault, she fights for justice and revenge no matter the cost on her own life.
Pisces: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
There is no review of One Hundred Years of Solitude (I couldn't finish this one!)
My Pisces recommendation comes from readers digest. Pisces tend to feel all of their emotions at once and are highly emotionally intelligent. They love nostalgia and are always living with their heads in the clouds!
A Pisces is highly creative and due to their tendency to get carried away with their imagination; a book like One Hundred Years of Solitude is a perfect selection. Magical realism is a genre any creative Pisces can appreciate; the novel also delves deep into real world emotions allowing the reader to question the meaning of life with a setting that will truly ignite all the time a Pisces spends daydreaming.
And now onto the ratings!
#12 One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez
#11 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
#10 Blood Water Paint by Joy McCullough
#9 Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
#8 With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
#7 Dry by Neal & Jarrod Shusterman
#6 Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
#5 Birthday Meredith Russo
#4 Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
#3 The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
#2 Just Kids by Patti Smith
#1 A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
So it turns out - reading wise - I have the most in common with a Taurus and the least in common with a Pisces. Who knew! I have no idea what the point of this experiment was, but I certainly enjoyed myself and got to read some great books along the way!