What to Read This Holiday Season Based on Your Zodiac Sign

To Steal From Thieves

by M. K. Lobb

Aries, I know your social calendar is going to be PACKED during the holidays. Don’t forget to nourish your Aries sense of adventure- you’re being gifted To Steal From Thieves by M. K. Lobb. The high-stakes heist novel will be the perfect wind-down after all your socializing. (And according to Co-star, petty thief is one of your best career options… no judgement here <3)

In this high-stakes heist novel, an alchemologist and a con man team up to steal a rare necklace—but complicated feelings of attraction and deception threaten to destroy everything and everyone they love—for fans of Alexandra Bracken and Judy I. Lin.

Within the dazzling halls of London’s Crystal Palace, the event of the season has arrived: The Great Exhibition. An opportunity for the greatest minds of the century to come together under one roof in an unprecedented display of art and invention. And for two unlikely partners in crime, it’s about to become the score of a lifetime.

Charming con man Kane Durante works alone—or on occasion with his best friend, Fletcher. But when his boss, the infamous Kingpin of London’s magical dark market, gives him the impossible task of stealing a priceless artifact from the Great Exhibition, he knows it’s a job he can’t pull off alone. Enter Zaria Mendoza, daughter of one of London’s greatest alchemologists. Ever since her father’s death, Zaria’s been struggling to keep her underground business afloat, and impatient clients are becoming violent. When the infuriatingly handsome Kane offers her the promise of enough money to get out of debt and leave London entirely, she knows she can’t walk away from this dangerous partnership.

But robbing one of the most public, heavily-guarded buildings in London isn’t going to be easy, especially when love and betrayal threaten to ruin everything they’ve worked so hard for.

The Cruel Prince

by Holly Black

As a Taurus, I always get kind of annoyed when we’re written off as the sign that’s all about food. And relaxation. And lounging. But GUESS WHAT. That’s what the holidays were made for, baby. So, from the comfort of our luxurious homes, I’m giving us a cozy, classic, opulent, adventure of a book. Sorry bout it!

By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

I Was Told There Would Be Romance

by Marie Arnold

My charismatic friend, you’re another one with a busy holiday schedule. From your book club’s holiday charcuterie night, to your soccer team’s “Merry Kick-mas” party, to your best friend’s tacky sweater soiree, just make sure you’re taking time for yourself to do one of your favorite things- laugh. That’s why this is your book.

For fans of Never Have I Ever and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before comes a hilarious and heartfelt novel about a young Haitian girl navigating high school, friendship, and crushes.

Fifteen-year-old Fancy Augustine is a Haitian American girl with simple desires. She’d like to trade in her floppy, oversize boobs for cute, perky ones. She’d love a boyfriend. And she’s desperate for an invite to the biggest event of the school year: Imani Park’s birthday party. When Fancy learns her BFF, Tilly, has received a coveted invite and has a secret boyfriend, she is (understandably) devastated and wholeheartedly determined to do whatever it takes to get her own happily ever after.

So what if she makes a deal with the devil (Imani) that guarantees her an invite—but only if she can bring a boyfriend? And what’s so bad about letting her crush, Rahim, believe that she can create a voodoo potion for him in exchange for him posing as her boyfriend? And, yeah, maybe she’s destroying her friendship with Tilly and falling hopelessly behind in her schoolwork, but Fancy knows it’ll all be worth it in the end. Plus, it’s not like Fancy’s parents would really make good on their threats of sending her back to Haiti…right?

Ash

by Malinda Lo

My sweet Cancers, I hope your holidays are spent surrounded by loved ones, and that you don’t let the craziness get to you TOO much! (Yes, I know seeing your friends and family is fun, but don’t take on more than you can handle!) I’m giving you one of my favorites, a re-telling of a classic- hopefully it feels comforting amidst the holiday fray.

The haunting, romantic lesbian retelling of Cinderella and modern queer classic by award-winning author Malinda Lo–now with an introduction by Holly Black, a letter from the author, a Q&A, and more!

In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed by grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, rereading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Their friendship, as delicate as a new bloom, reawakens Ash’s capacity for love–and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing and empowering, Ash beautifully unfolds the connections between life and love, and solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Heiress Takes All

by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

Big personality? Glitz and glamour? Can’t help but stand out? That’s you, my lovely lions. Yes, holidays are great and all, a time to come together, but let’s be real- it’s not like it’s your birthday. Between the holiday fun, I think you’d enjoy Olivia’s shenanigans in Heiress Takes All. She took her father’s wedding and made it about her (as she should). True Leo style.

“A perfectly delicious tale of greed, family, vengeance, and revenge.” —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and The Agathas

Scorned in more ways than one, a former teen heiress attempts the ultimate revenge heist at her father’s luxury wedding—if only her infuriatingly charming ex-boyfriend would get out of the way—in this funny and fast-paced romantic thriller.

Seventeen-year-old Olivia Owens isn’t thrilled that her dad’s getting remarried … again. She’s especially not thrilled that he cheated on her mom, kicked them out of their Rhode Island home, and cut Olivia out of her rightful inheritance.

But this former heiress has a plan for revenge. While hundreds of guests gather on the grounds of the gorgeous estate where she grew up, everyone will be thinking romance—not robbery. She’ll play the part of dutiful daughter, but in reality she’ll be redistributing millions from her father’s online accounts. She only needs the handwritten pass code he keeps in the estate’s safe.

With the help of an eclectic crew of high school students and one former teacher, Olivia has plotted her mid-nuptial heist down to the second. But she didn’t plan for an obnoxiously nosy wedding guest, an interfering ex-boyfriend intent on winning her back, greedy European cousins with their own agenda, or a vengeful second wife. When everything seems like it’s going wrong, Olivia has to keep her eyes on what really matters: getting rich. And when she’s done, “something borrowed” will be the understatement of the year.

Amidst competing schemes, nonstop twists, and a romance to root for, one high-heeled mastermind must prove to her father—and herself—that she’s more ruthless than anyone expected.

Renegade Girls

by Nora Neus and Julie Robine

Are you good with holidays, Virgo? You know how to relax a little, right? I know you have a million ideas in your head at the same time. And for someone who loves to feel useful, it may be hard to chill. Between planning your ice skating and hot chocolate tastings, I’m giving you a book that’s enjoyable as heck, but DON’T FRET- it’s also full of historical facts, and beautifully illustrated! You may see some of yourself in Nell!

A swoonworthy queer romance set against a riveting story of social change in the 1880s, this historical graphic novel reimagines the life of America’s first stunt girl—a young undercover reporter—and her whirlwind summer of romance and fighting injustice.
Seventeen-year-old Helena “Nell” Cusack came to New York this summer looking for a story—a real story. She dreams of one day writing hard-hitting articles for the New York Chronicle, but so far she’s only managed to land a job as a lowly society reporter. That is, until Alice Austen strolls into her life, an audacious street photographer who encourages Nell to shake up polite society…and maybe also take a chance on love.
 
When her best friend, Lucia, is injured while working in a garment factory, Nell is determined to crack the story wide open. Posing as a seamstress, she reports on the conditions from the inside, making a name for herself as the Chronicle’s first ever stunt girl. But as Nell’s reporting gains momentum, so do the objections of those who oppose her. Will Nell continue to seek justice—even if it hurts her in the end?
 
Based on real-life stunt girl Nell Nelson and photographer Alice Austen, this tenderly drawn narrative is about bringing buried stories to light and the bravery of first love.

The Princess and the Grilled Cheese Sandwich

by Deya Muniz

Libras usually hate to be alone, so you’re probably loving the holidays! Just make sure to keep your holiday expectations realistic- it’s easy to get swept up in the Hallmark fantasy… But it’s oh. So. FUN. That’s why I’m gifting you this aesthetically gorgeous (and cheese-y) graphic novel.

A nobleman with a secret and a princess on a mission find love—and lots of grilled cheese sandwiches—when they least expect it, in this funny, heartfelt graphic novel rom-com.

Lady Camembert wants to live life on her own terms, without marriage. Well, without marrying a man, that is. But the law of the land is that women cannot inherit. So when her father passes away, she does the only thing she can: She disguises herself as a man and moves to the capital city of the Kingdom of Fromage to start over as Count Camembert.
 
But it’s hard to keep a low profile when the beautiful Princess Brie, with her fierce activism and great sense of fashion, catches her attention. Camembert can’t resist getting to know the princess, but as the two grow closer, will she able to keep her secret?
 
A romantic comedy about mistaken identity, true love, and lots of grilled cheese.

Jackaby

by William Ritter 

Scorpios are known to be fiercely loyal and passionate. Also mysterious. You might be spending your holiday traveling to somewhere obscure and super-cool. You might be baking cookies with your closest friends. Where art thou, Scorpios? Wherever you are, I hope you enjoy this book I picked. Like you, Jackaby has eyes that can look straight into the soul, of beings both natural… and supernatural!

This thrilling novel from the author of the New York Times bestselling paranormal mystery Jackaby series pits R.F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplainable and his new assistant, Abigail Rook, against a supernatural serial killer.

Newly arrived in New Fiddleham, New England, 1892, and in need of a job, Abigail Rook meets R. F. Jackaby, an investigator of the unexplained with a keen eye for the extraordinary–including the ability to see supernatural beings. Abigail has a gift for noticing ordinary but important details, which makes her perfect for the position of Jackaby’s assistant. On her first day, Abigail finds herself in the midst of a thrilling case: A serial killer is on the loose. The police are convinced it’s an ordinary villain, but Jackaby is certain the foul deeds are the work of the kind of creature whose very existence the local police seem adamant to deny.

While Abigail finds herself drawn to Jackaby’s keen intelligence and his sensitivity to phenomena others barely perceive, her feelings are confused by the presence of Charlie, a handsome young policeman willing to help Jackaby and Abigail on the case. But is Charlie’s offer a sincere desire to be of service, or is some darker motive at work?

The Wild Huntress

by Emily Lloyd-Jones

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ARCHERS!!!!! Ye of no indoor voice, no filter, and endless fun! You make the world a brighter place. This holiday season, cozy on up with this new Emily Lloyd-Jones book about a fantastical competition for the prize of a life-changing wish. It will satisfy your need for adventure, you quest-loving queen. This book is such a crowd-pleaser, it will be the talk of all the parties you attend, I’m sure.

From the bestselling author of The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods comes a thrilling fantasy about three unlikely allies bound together in a deadly, magical competition—perfect for fans of Holly Black and Erin A. Craig. 

Every five years, two kingdoms take part in a Wild Hunt. Joining is a bloody risk, and even the most qualified hunters can suffer the deadliest fates. Still, hundreds gamble their lives to participate—all vying for the Hunt’s life-changing prize: a magical wish granted by the Otherking.

BRANWENpossesses a gift no other human has: the ability to see and slay monsters. She’s desperate to cure her mother’s sickness, and the Wild Hunt is her only option.

GWYDION is the least impressive of his magically talented family, but with his ability to control plants and his sleight of hand, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep his cruel older brother from becoming a tyrant. 

PRYDERI is prince-born and monster-raised. Deep down, the royal crown doesn’t interest him—all he wants is to know where he belongs. 

A trickster, a prince, and a wild huntress—all in pursuit of the Champion’s prize. If they band together against the monstrous creatures within the woods, they have a chance to win. But nothing is guaranteed. After all, all are fair game in love and the Hunt.

Set in the same world as The Bone Houses and The Drowned Woods but with a whole new, unforgettable cast of characters—The Wild Huntress will have readers hooked from the very first page.

Everything Glittered

by Robin Talley

CAPS! The holidays were MADE for you, darlings. We all know you are the hardest workers around, but this season gives you and excuse to let that hair down and party—the other signs tend to forget how FUN you are. It’s called work hard, play HARDER! Anyways, the gals in Everything Glittered definitely know about that life. Throw on your sparkliest outfit, and let’s DANCE!

In this queer historical thriller from a New York Times bestselling author, society girls try to find a murderer in a city filled with secrets and stunted by shame. Perfect for fans of Last Night at the Telegraph Club.

It’s 1927 and the strict laws of prohibition have done little to temper the roaring 20s nightlife, even in the nation’s capitol. Everyone knows the booze has never stopped flowing, especially amongst the rich and powerful, and seventeen-year-old Gertrude and her best friends Clara and Milly are determined to get a taste of freedom and liquor, propriety be damned.
 
But after sneaking out of the Washington Female Seminary to visit a speakeasy, they return to discover that their controversial young headmistress, Mrs. Rose, has been murdered. 
 
Reeling from the death of her beloved mentor, Gertrude enlists her friends in her quest to clear Mrs. Rose’s reputation, while trying to keep her own intact. But in Prohibition Washington, it’s difficult to sidestep grifters, bootleggers, and shady federal agents when investigating a murder. And with all the secrets being uncovered, Gertrude is finding it harder and harder to keep her attraction to her best friends hidden.  
 
A proper, upscale life is all Gertrude has ever known, but murder sure makes a gal wonder: is all that glitters really gold?

Incendiary

by Zoraida Córdova

The holidays may get a bit… predictable… for an Aquarian’s rebellious and innovative personality. Same old movies, same old songs. That’s not to say you don’t enjoy them, but you might need a book or two to get you through. May I present: Incendiary. Rebel spies? Revolution? Made for you!

Set in a lushly drawn world inspired by Inquisition Spain, Zoraida Córdova’s fantasy is an epic tale of love and revenge perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Sarah J. Maas!

As a memory thief– the rarest and most feared of the magical Moria– Renata was used by the crown to carry out the King’s Wrath, a siege that resulted in the deaths of thousands of her own people.

Now Renata is one of the Whispers, rebel spies working against the crown. The Whispers may have rescued Renata years ago, but she cannot escape their mistrust and hatred—or the overpowering memories of the hundreds of souls she drained during her time in the palace.

When Dez, the commander of her unit—and the boy she’s grown to love—is taken captive by the notorious Principe Dorado, Renata must return to Andalucia and complete Dez’s top secret mission herself. But as Renata grows more deeply embedded in the politics of the royal court, she uncovers a secret in her past that could change the fate of the entire kingdom—and end the war that has cost her everything.

Sway With Me

by Syed M. Masood

Pisces, I know you’re out here eyeing the mistletoe, you romantic!!! Or are there visions of sugar plums dancing in your head, per chance?? The holidays speak to your childlike nature that coincides so interestingly next to your age-old wisdom. Kind of like sweet Arsalan and his wise Nana in this book (one of my all time faves): Sway With Me! Arsalan and Beenish’s love story will warm your heart on the COLDEST of winter days!

She’s All That goes desi in this hilarious, affecting, and sweetly romantic comedy by the author of More Than Just a Pretty Face.

Arsalan has learned everything he knows from Nana, his 100-year-old great-grandfather. This includes the fact that when Nana dies, Arsalan will be completely alone in the world, except for his estranged and abusive father. So he turns to Beenish, the step-daughter of a prominent matchmaker, to find him a future life partner. Beenish’s request in return? That Arsalan help her ruin her older sister’s wedding with a spectacular dance she’s been forbidden to perform.

Despite knowing as little about dancing as he does about girls, Arsalan wades into Beenish’s chaotic world to discover friends and family he never expected. And though Arsalan’s old-school manners and Beenish’s take-no-prisoners attitude clash every minute, they find themselves getting closer and closer—literally. All that’s left to realize is that the thing they both really want is each other, if only they can get in step.

At turns laugh-out-loud funny, poignant, and sincerely heartfelt, Sway With Me is a coming-of-age story for anyone trying to find their place in the world.