ALL SIGNS POINT TO YES

Thirteen YA authors craft romance stories around the star signs.

Within astrology, each planet plays a different role in our lives: Venus is responsible for our idealization of love and romance. Each entry begins with a list of the characteristics for a particular astrological sign when in Venus. While the settings and characters’ identities influence each story, the respective star sign’s traits shape how the romance unfolds. In Byron Graves’ (Ojibwe) Virgo story “Sometimes in September,” Waabooz is a typical Virgo in his practicality, refusing to act on his crush on Lexi until his stay at the group home for addiction on the rez is completed. This volume celebrates love across the spectrum of sexuality and gender expression. In some stories, the love interest is nonbinary, as in davis’ “ruler and killer” and “Alternative Combustion” by Kiana Nguyen. Familiar romance tropes make an appearance, for example, friends turning into something more in “The Taste of a Kiss” by Roselle Lim and “The South Street Challenge” by Eric Smith, as well as enemies to lovers in “Anchor Point” by Lily Anderson. The supernatural features in stories like “L(Train)inimal” by Karuna Riazi and “The Cure for Heartbreak” by Emery Lee. There is a little something for everyone in this fun, romantic anthology in which a variety of characters, genres, and relationships combine to create a volume that shines.

A unifying theme brings together a delightfully diverse collection of love stories.