We figured out your ideal romance novel, based on your zodiac sign

Let the stars lead you to your next read

I have a dating rule. No swiping on water signs. Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are a strict no can do for me. Their emotions are as deep as the Mariana Trench, an impossible depth for an err… occasionally frivolous air sign like me. On the other hand, I can get along like a house on fire with the equally cerebral Aquarius and the fiery Sagittarius.

You can weave astrology into anything — from classifying the zodiac signs as types of flowers or serial killers to Brooklyn Nine-Nine characters. And while we’re at it, how can we forget about books? Especially if you’re a sucker for romantic novels. The deep intuitiveness of a Pisces fits the gradual buildup of a slow-burn flirtation and the indecisiveness of a Gemini mirrors a classic love triangle. An Aries successfully embodies the enemies-to-couple trope while Scorpio’s dark energy will remind you of a Mr Grump-meets-Miss Sunshine plotline.

So in a joint effort with the stars, we’ve attempted to match your zodiac sign with its ideal romantic genre. Time to give your TBR a makeover.

Aries: Enemies to lovers

Red hot and competitive, that’s the Aries experience in a nutshell. The first sign of the zodiac, Aries is associated with the element of fire. They always want to win, whether it’s a competition or not.

That fighting spirit naturally attracts them to the enemies-to-lovers trope, where the protagonists constantly bicker and one-up the other while trying to conceal their true emotions as they slowly fall in love. Here, the true appeal lies in the attraction brewing under the tension and antagonism that eventually explodes with an intensity greater than the Big Bang.

Aries should read

The Hating Game – Lucy and Joshua are executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing firm, and their diametrically opposite attitudes spark instant loathing. Soon enough, they find themselves eyeing the same promotion, but in a bid to take the other down, they find themselves unable to ignore the brewing romantic tension. How their relationship evolves from hating each other’s guts to falling in love forms the rest of the plot.

Red, White and Royal Blue– Prince Henry of England and First Son of the US, Alex Claremont Diaz, have been nemeses for as long as they can remember. But when pictures of their confrontation at the royal wedding leak, they are forced into a pretend friendship and photo ops to fix international relations between the two countries. The friendship soon turns into a secret whirlwind romance that threatens the Prince’s relationship with his family and country and Alex’s mother’s re-election campaign. Will their romance survive the weight of their duties or will the public eye drown their romance entirely?

The Viscount Who Loved Me – The second book in Julia Quinn’s Bridgerton series features a romance between the current Viscount Anthony Bridgerton and Kate Sheffield, the older sister of the woman he has chosen to be his wife. Kate and Anthony cannot stand each other. He gives orders, she refuses to take any. Kate is determined to protect her younger sister from marrying Anthony, a reformed rake. Will they be able to keep their hands off each other or give in to their desires is the question the book consistently makes the reader ask till the very end.

Taurus: Holiday romance

Lounging under palm trees by the pool, sipping on mai tais with a tiramisu on the way— Taurus loves indulging the senses in luxurious experiences. And it is for that very reason, a holiday romance book is their true match.

A holiday romance takes the reader on an armchair vacation with gorgeous views and blush-worthy storylines. Romance brewing on the beaches of France, the streets of Italy or up in the Scottish Highlands, titillating all the human senses, embodies the true Taurean spirit.

Taurus should read

People We Meet on Vacation – Poppy and Alex have been friends since college and vacationed together every year until an awkward misunderstanding alters their relationship. To fix things, Poppy plans one more vacation to Palm Springs. The book goes back and forth between past summers and the current as it pieces together the puzzle of their evolving relationship set in different picturesque locations.

Call Me By Your Name – Set against the Italian Riviera, Call Me by Your Name chronicles the sudden and intense romance that develops between Elio, an adolescent boy and Oliver, his family’s guest for the summer. They first deny their bubbling feelings and attraction to one another but soon find the passion engulfing them deeply, leading to a romance that changes them for a lifetime.

French Holiday – Merry DeLuca is devastated. Her sister married her best friend, the only man she has ever loved and her life is spiralling fast. The only thing she thinks can fix everything is the three-month French holiday she’s offered. What she didn’t plan for was a frenemy showing up to stay at her dreamy French countryside castle, and kicking up a hornet’s nest of emotions inside her.

Gemini: Love triangle

Geminis are Chatty Kathys who ponder over the existence of black holes while trying to decide whether to order dumplings or pizza for dinner. These eternally curious air signs are spontaneous, fun and always on the lookout for the next thing that challenges their brain. The one thing that makes them want to dive into the ocean and never resurface is making decisions.

There’s no doubt that the choice-troubled Geminis match perfectly with the love triangle romance book trope. One that will keep them guessing till the end. Way to keep the pages turning, we’d say.

Gemini should read

The Summer I Turned Pretty – This Jenny Han trilogy revolves around Belly Conklin and the Fisher brothers, who’ve spent multiple summers together. Conrad Fisher has been her one true love for years, and this summer, it finally seems like they might have a chance. Except his brother Jeremiah reveals he has feelings for Belly too. As the story goes from one book to the next, we see Belly pursuing relationships with both brothers at different points. Among the two, who will turn out to be Belly’s forever is the question that is answered in the third and final book.

One True Loves – Emma Blair married her high school sweetheart Jesse in her 20s and embarked on a dream life. But on their first wedding anniversary, Jesse goes missing and Emma’s life comes crashing down. Now in her 30s, she runs into an old friend Sam and falls in love with him. Just when they get engaged and everything seems to be falling into place, Jesse is found to be alive. Now she has to decide between what and who she wants- her husband or her fiance.

P.S. I Still Love You (the follow-up to To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before) – Lara Jean and Peter didn’t expect to fall in love. But they did and now they’re together navigating a real relationship instead of a fake one. Just when they’re learning to hold the ropes of their relationship, Lara Jean’s crush from the past returns to her life and so do her feelings. Now she has to decide which boy is the better man for her.

Cancer: Friends to lovers

Cancerians are often subjected to mockery because, well… their sign is called cancer, represented by a crab and the symbol is a horizontal 69. But these ocean babies are as tough as they come on the outside and sensitive on the inside. There’s no trope that they can be other than the classic friends to lovers.

It takes patience, consistency, and boatloads of trust to break through the hard exterior of this water sign. But once their guards are down, there’s no one more nurturing and giving. A friends-to-lovers romance is defined by a long connection, gradual building of trust, natural chemistry and strong emotional foundation, all traits that you’ll find associated with these soft-hearted crustaceans.

Cancer should read

Love, Rosie – Rosie and Alex have been best friends all their lives. Everyone knows they belong together but the timing never seems to be right. Just when they’re about to cross the line from friendship into romance, Alex moves to the US. Rosie is about to follow him when an unexpected pregnancy changes the course of their lives and relationship. With multiple missed opportunities always at play, will Alex and Rosie ever find their way to each other?

The Cheat Sheet – Bree is a ballet dancer and Nathan is a star quarterback. Their lives are dramatically different and yet, they are the best of friends. Both harbour secret feelings for each other but the risk of ruining the friendship keeps them from uttering a single word about their feelings. But a drunk conversation with a reporter and an NDA become unexpected catalysts in pushing Bree and Nathan over the line of friendship and into the territory of romance swiftly. Will they make a smooth transition or will their friendship collapse?

Just Friends – After Hazel’s boyfriend cheats on her, she moves back home to Nashville to piece her life back together. Ready to dive into dating again, Hazel asks her best friend Alex to help her find her soulmate. The only problem? Alex is in love with Hazel and determined to prove to her that he’s the right man for her. With each new date, Hazel’s feelings for Alex become stronger and her dating plan gets fuzzier. The story shapes up to ask one question – will this pair of friends find their happily ever after?

Leo: Royalty/ Billionaire romance

These fire signs love a grand romantic gesture. They’re in it for the drama and red-carpet energy. The only romance trope that can match these enigmatic lions is the royalty or billionaire romance.

Here, one of the two leads is a billionaire or royalty who falls in love with someone from a humble background. Think Fifty Shades of Grey sans the BDSM.

Leo should read

Twisted Lies – Dark and spicy, this romance novel follows the story of Christian Harper, a billionaire tech expert who falls in love with Stella Alonso, the woman who’s been renting the apartment on the floor below his. When a stalker from Stella’s past returns to haunt her, Christian suggests she move into his overly secure apartment till he finds the stalker. The story takes shape as the couple travel the world for Stella’s work with Christian accompanying her simply for protection. A little morally tilted, this book is all things grand, twisted and more fiery than the spiciest chilli in your kitchen.

Twisted Games – Another book in the Twisted series, this one features Princess Bridget von Ascheberg falling for her stoic and arrogant bodyguard Rhys Larsen who has vowed to never get emotionally close to a client. When her brother abdicates the crown, Bridget has to not only deal with a forced political marriage but also the responsibility of the throne, all while harbouring intense desires for a man she knows she can never have but wants despite everything being at risk.

Her Royal Highness – Millie Quint moves to a Scottish boarding school to get away from her ex back in Houston. She loves everything about the country and her new school. The only issue is her roommate Flora who happens to be the Princess of Scotland. Even though they start off rough, the girls find themselves in a blooming romance shortly after. The story takes shape as their relationship progresses and begs the question, will Millie finally get the fairytale ending of her dreams?

Virgo: Office romance

Organised, hyper-intellectual and critical thinkers, the second earth sign of the zodiac is known for their perfectionism. They bond the best with people who have similar daily habits — a morning shot of espresso, skimming the headlines and never missing their mid-week yoga class.

Virgos would love tales of an office romance, of love blossoming in a fast-paced work environment as two people spend time finishing decks late into the night. The office romance trope usually features two colleagues developing a deeper bond while competing for the same project or a promotion. The workplace nuance is a 100% match for the traits of a Virgo.

Virgo should read

Practice Makes Perfect– Payton and J.D. are fellow lawyers with the same goal — to make partners at their law firm. They’re civil to each other on the outside, tolerating the other’s presence to secure the promotion. But when they’re asked to join forces on a major case, they discover what the other person is truly like. Just when they’re starting to get close, they discover only one of them will make partner. This starts off a battle between the two with tensions burning both on the outside and inside.

Dating You, Hating You– Carter and Evie seem to be perfectly compatible and hit it off after an initially awkward meet at a party. But just when their romance begins to develop, the rival Hollywood agencies they work at as agents announce a merger. Now Carter and Evie are up for the same promotion and their romance comes to a rude halt. Will the competition snatch their chance at true love or will their feelings win over their career aspirations?

Weather Girl – This workplace romance set at a TV news station explores the story of TV meteorologist Ari and sports reporter Russel who team up to fix their divorced bosses’ relationship with each other. As Ari and Russel begin their attempts to unite their bosses, they find themselves increasingly getting wrapped in a budding romance instead.

Libra: Opposites attract

Libras are obsessed with creating balance. They’re the kind of people who will make you move a couch five times to the right and five times to the left before agreeing that it’s finally centred. We think the opposites attract romance trope is the perfect fit for our charming air signs who are always on the lookout for establishing equilibrium.

Libras should read:

It Happened One Summer – Tessa Bailey strikes again with this classic opposites-attract story about a wealthy wild child Piper Bellinger and local fisherman Brendan. Piper’s stepfather ships her off to a small beach town in Washington to run his dive bar and learn responsibility. While there, she bumps into the local sea captain Brendan who’s grumpy, blunt and incredibly hot. He also thinks Piper wouldn’t survive in the town. The story follows Piper as she begins to feel at home in the beach town, falls for Brendan and begins to wonder if she ever wants to go back to her old life in LA.

Beach Read -Emily Henry’s Beach Read follows the lives of two authors Gus and January who arrive in a beach town for the summer. Gus is a serious author who doesn’t believe in true love or happy endings. January is a true romantic and believes life to be like a movie. They have nothing in common- their writing styles, personalities and outlooks on life, everything is different. But as their writer’s block and an approaching deadline to write bestsellers looms at large, Gus and January decide to swap their genres and see who gets published first. In swapping their stories, they develop an electric romance over the course of summer that is every bit emotional and steamy.

Me Before You – This classic opposites-attract story brings together Lou Clarke who lives a purely ordinary life and Will Traynor who’s used to a life of luxuries but is now wheelchair-bound because of an accident. Lou takes up a desperately needed job working for Will only to discover he is extremely moody and bossy. They start off butting heads given that they have nothing in common, but soon find themselves falling deeply in love with one another. When Lou finds out about Will’s secret plans for his own life, she sets out to prove to him why living is worth it.

Scorpio: Grumpy X sunshine

Mysterious and secretive, Scorpios are the definition of the grumpy x sunshine romance trope. This one specifically focuses on the personality of the leads — one is grumpy, cynical and guarded, while the other is cheery, optimistic and infectiously positive. The head-butting of these two strikingly contrasting personalities leads to conflict, tension and a crackling chemistry that is as intense as lightning on a stormy night.

Scorpio should read

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe – Aristotle is an angry teen and Dante is a know-it-all with a unique outlook on life. When they first meet, their personalities clash like thunder and lightning. But as they start spending more time with another, they develop an unlikely bond and friendship. Dante seems to be able to penetrate through all the walls Ari has built around himself and soon enough, they start off on a journey of self-discovery, exploration of identity and love.

Written in the Stars – In this quirky queer romance, cheery and free-spirited social media astrologer Elle agrees to a fake relationship with Darcy, an uptight actuary. Elle needs help dealing with her family during the holidays and Darcy wants to save face with her brother. They agree to continue their act till New Year’s Eve but what they don’t expect is that when it’s written in the stars, real feelings can come knocking unexpectedly.

Pride and Prejudice – The definition of grumpy x sunshine, Pride and Prejudice tells the story of the brooding and egotistical Mr Darcy and the sharp-witted Elizabeth Bennet who fall in love despite being at loggerheads initially. Austen captures the sizzling chemistry that eventually develops between the two as they navigate their lives in Regency England while dealing with the demands of the society they live in.

Sagittarius: Fake dating

The last fire sign, our dear Sagittarians love pushing boundaries and seek any and all adventures that fall into their lap. Think hitchhiking in the desert just for fun. It’s their love for exploration and experiencing new ideas and relationships that tells us that a fake dating trope personifies the Sagittarius spirit.

Here, the leads pretend to date for the sake of the world and end up developing real feelings. A Sagittarius is one of the few signs in the zodiac who’d be completely willing to participate or even initiate such tomfoolery just to see where it goes.

Sagittarius should read

The Spanish Love Deception– Catalina needs a date to her sister’s wedding in Spain just so that her family can get off her back about being single. But with only four weeks left and no prospects in sight, she is forced to take up her infuriating colleague Aaron’s offer to be her fake boyfriend. As they travel to Spain, the three days they spend together end up changing their lives forever. A sizzling romance, tons of spice and the ever-boiling chemistry will keep you glued to the book.

The American Roommate Experiment – Elena Armas gives us another electrifying romance in The American Roommate Experiment with romance book writer Rosie and ex-surfer Lucas. When Rosie’s apartment ceiling comes crashing down, she decides to move into her best friend Lina’s apartment temporarily. But she’s surprised to find that Lina has lent her place to her cousin Lucas who also happens to be Rosie’s secret crush. Now Lucas has not only welcomed Rosie to move in with him while her ceiling gets fixed, he also wants to help with her writer’s block by taking her on a series of experimental dates to give her inspiration. As Lucas and Rosie fake date all over New York, their burning attraction to each other comes to a boil.

Boyfriend material – Luc is the child of rock star parents who split when he was young. His father, who he has never met has been in and out of rehab multiple times and is now ready to make a comeback into the spotlight. This means Luc will be in the public eye again and he cannot slip up. In need of a fake date, he bumps into Oliver, a lawyer who has never invited even the S of scandal in his life. Though opposite, they both need fake dates and hence agree to temporarily act as boyfriends. But in a bid to keep it fake, their feelings turn real and soon enough none of them wants to let go.

Capricorn: STEM romance

One of the most ambitious and career-focused signs, these mystical sea goats are persistent, dedicated and know the value of hard work better than anyone. These traits are often mirrored in the leading characters of a STEM romance. Love blooming in academia between two hyper career-focused people trying to make the world a better place, one research paper at a time.

Capricorn should read

The Love Hypothesis – Olive is a third-year Ph.D. candidate who ropes a hotshot but tyrannical professor at their lab, Adam, into a fake dating scheme to prove to her best friend Ahn that she is in a happy relationship. But when an unexpected incident at a science conference jeopardises Olive’s career in academia, she discovers that her little game with Adam could actually be turning into something that feels a lot like love, romance and crackling chemistry.

Love on the Brain -Bee and Levi have been appointed to co-lead a neuroengineering project for NASA, a dream job for both. But there’s only one problem, they are sworn archnemeses with history going back to grad school. But when Bee’s lab equipment is stolen and the staff ignores her, she is shocked to see Levi turn into her ally. And not just that, she finds herself hopelessly falling for his antics.

Love, Theoretically – Theoretical physicist Elsie is an adjunct professor by day waiting to land tenure, but turns into a fake girlfriend on other days for clients in need of dates. It’s going well until she crashes into Jack Smith, the older brother of her favourite client and a famous experimental physicist who also happens to be on the hiring committee at MIT, sitting right between Elsie and her dream job. While Elsie prepares for a full-on academic war, she cannot help but notice the longing looks and feelings that seem to be bubbling below the surface when they’re together, pushing them straight into the orbit of love and romance.

Aquarius: Soulmates

The last air sign of the lot comes with the term ‘aqua’ in its name. No wonder Aquarians feel like they don’t belong. These independence-loving signs are always looking for knowledge that can enhance their view of the world. The Soulmates romance book trope is the perfect reflection of these air signs who just want to find someone who feels like a friend, doesn’t judge them and can bond over musings of when the world will end.

Aquarius should read

Twilight series – Who said soulmates have to always be human? Twilight explores the story of Bella and Edward who despite everything going against them, feel drawn to each other by an inexplicable connection. Edward is a vampire who can read minds except Bella’s. She has never felt like she belongs anywhere but suddenly Edward’s vampire world starts to feel like home to her. It’s clear from the beginning throughout the four books that Bella and Edward are meant for each other. And despite the mystical and human forces that keep driving them apart, they always find their way back to each other.

The Time Traveller’s Wife– Henry has a rare condition – his genetic clocks resets and pulls him into the past or future suddenly. He meets his wife Clare when she’s six and he is 36 and they get married when she is 22 and he is 30. With a condition that they have no control over, Henry and Clare attempt to live their lives together as they traverse time and space for their love. It’s giving predestined soulmates vibe, I’d say.

The Fault In Our Stars – John Green’s The Fault In Our Stars took the readers’ world by storm when it released. When you’re through with the book, you’ll know that Hazel and Augustus were meant to come together and create something beautiful even if it was for a short period of time. Heartbreaking and incredibly romantic at the same time, the book tracks the story of Hazel and Augustus who meet at a cancer support group and embark on what will be their one last adventure together but will define the entirety of their lives.

Pisces: Slow burn

The last water sign, Pisces is a highly intuitive and sensitive sign. They are deeply attuned to their emotional sides.

Sounds like Pisceans are the flagbearers of the slow-burn romance book trope, which builds gradually between two people over the course of the book. A classic slow burn prioritises emotional intimacy and vulnerability, which is a lot like how a Pisces lives life.

Pisces should read: The Slow Burn– Toby’s brother and Addie’s sister are in a happy relationship. The problem? Toby and Addie are madly falling in love too but they know the other is off-limits. For the sake of their siblings, they decide to be friends and nothing more. But if there’s one thing that doesn’t go well together — it’s being ‘just friends’ while fighting hard to keep the feelings at bay. As they try to steer clear of one another, everyone knows there’s chemistry and a slow burn that is bound to explode sooner or later.

The Unhoneymooners – After some bad shellfish gives everyone food poisoning at a wedding, the bride’s sister Olive and best man Ethan find that an all-expense paid Hawaiian honeymoon is up for grabs. In need of a vacation, they decide to go on the free trip together and stay clear of one another. But when Olive bumps into her boss, she tells him a little white lie that now needs to be backed up by her pretending she and Ethan are newlyweds. The slow burn between Olive and Ethan takes a turn when they realise they no longer hate this pretend marriage and might actually be happy stepping into the territory of love.

Archer’s Voice – Bree and Archer meet in a small town in Maine, each looking for peace and freedom from their disturbing past. Bree is locked into the memories of a particularly horrifying night while Archer is struggling with a deep wound. What they don’t know is they are the key to each other’s freedom. Archer and Bree’s slow-burn romance doesn’t just make for a beautiful story but also depicts how powerfully transformative love can be.