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icarly's review
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
maple_dove's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
First of all, the amount of diversity in this book really warms my heart and makes me so happy. The LBGTQ+ rep, POC rep, etc. Loved it all.
Second, I love Luis (platonically 💛).
Favorite Quote:
Second, I love Luis (platonically 💛).
Favorite Quote:
"I guess I need a love spell."
"No such thing."
She looked up, anger pulling at her eyebrows. "There must something close, though, right? Like something to make someone fall in infatuation or fixation or--"
[REDACTED] waved a hand at her. "Even if there was, I wouldn't give it to you. Sounds like you're more interested in mind control than love."
And that was the thing that people didn't understand. Love was about finding someone you cared about enough to want them to live freely, happily, not someone you wanted to control.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Murder
Minor: Sexual content, Death of parent, Blood, and Homophobia
valvallie's review
5.0
My favorites were L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi, Formation by Cam Montgomery, and Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen.
gabriele_queerbookdom's review
2.0
DRC provided by Inkyard Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Representation: queer Black protagonists, Korean protagonist, lesbian Latine protagonist, queer Latine protagonists, Ojibwe protagonist, demisexual protagonist, Peruvian protagonist, lesbian Puerto Rican-Uruguayan protagonist, pansexual Black protagonist, Asian secondary character, lesbian Latine secondary character, lesbian white secondary character, pansexual Latine secondary character, bisexual white secondary character of German and Swedish descent, lesbian Black secondary character of colour, lesbian Black secondary character, Colombian secondary character, Puerto Rican secondary character, Senegalese secondary character with vitiligo, trans Afro-Brazilian secondary character, Ojibwe deaf secondary character, gay Ojibwe secondary character, non-binary Black secondary character, bisexual Black secondary character, Korean secondary and tertiary characters, Latine secondary and tertiary characters, Black secondary and tertiary characters, non-binary secondary and tertiary characters, Ojibwe secondary and tertiary characters, Senegalese tertiary character.
Content Warning: death, violence, homophobia, bullying, biphobic comment, anxiety.
All Signs Point to Yes by g. haron davis, Adrianne White and Cam Montgomery is a romantic anthology whose main theme is astrology and the way it influences people’s lives.
I love anthologies. They offer so much in such a short time, but I joylessly need to say that this one did not hit the mark for the biggest part. I always give books more than a chance, especially in the case of anthologies because they collect a spectrum of voices and while I may dislike some, I am bound to find one I enjoy; and that happened, but only partially. I really liked a couple of stories, but as I said before most were not it (except three which had potential, but needed something more to make them feel complete and fully developed), I even had to stop reading some and I rarely do this. I just feel so disappointed.
Aries: ruler and killer by g. haron davis ★★,5
Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim ★
Gemini: Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia ★★★
Cancer: L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi Did not finish.
Leo: Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen ★★
Virgo: Sometimes in September by Byron Graves ★
Libra: Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro ★★★,5
Scorpio: The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith Did not finish.
Ophiuchus: Formation by Cam Montgomery ★★★★,5
Sagittarius: Anchor Point by Lily Anderson Did non finish.
Capricorn: Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alex Villasante ★★★★,5
Aquarius: I Come from the Water by Adrianne White ★★
Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee ★★★★★
Representation: queer Black protagonists, Korean protagonist, lesbian Latine protagonist, queer Latine protagonists, Ojibwe protagonist, demisexual protagonist, Peruvian protagonist, lesbian Puerto Rican-Uruguayan protagonist, pansexual Black protagonist, Asian secondary character, lesbian Latine secondary character, lesbian white secondary character, pansexual Latine secondary character, bisexual white secondary character of German and Swedish descent, lesbian Black secondary character of colour, lesbian Black secondary character, Colombian secondary character, Puerto Rican secondary character, Senegalese secondary character with vitiligo, trans Afro-Brazilian secondary character, Ojibwe deaf secondary character, gay Ojibwe secondary character, non-binary Black secondary character, bisexual Black secondary character, Korean secondary and tertiary characters, Latine secondary and tertiary characters, Black secondary and tertiary characters, non-binary secondary and tertiary characters, Ojibwe secondary and tertiary characters, Senegalese tertiary character.
Content Warning: death, violence, homophobia, bullying, biphobic comment, anxiety.
All Signs Point to Yes by g. haron davis, Adrianne White and Cam Montgomery is a romantic anthology whose main theme is astrology and the way it influences people’s lives.
I love anthologies. They offer so much in such a short time, but I joylessly need to say that this one did not hit the mark for the biggest part. I always give books more than a chance, especially in the case of anthologies because they collect a spectrum of voices and while I may dislike some, I am bound to find one I enjoy; and that happened, but only partially. I really liked a couple of stories, but as I said before most were not it (except three which had potential, but needed something more to make them feel complete and fully developed), I even had to stop reading some and I rarely do this. I just feel so disappointed.
Aries: ruler and killer by g. haron davis ★★,5
Taurus: The Taste of a Kiss by Roselle Lim ★
Gemini: Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia ★★★
Cancer: L(Train)iminal by Karuna Riazi Did not finish.
Leo: Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen ★★
Virgo: Sometimes in September by Byron Graves ★
Libra: Fake Scorpio by Mark Oshiro ★★★,5
Scorpio: The South Street Challenge by Eric Smith Did not finish.
Ophiuchus: Formation by Cam Montgomery ★★★★,5
Sagittarius: Anchor Point by Lily Anderson Did non finish.
Capricorn: Mucho, Mucho Amor by Alex Villasante ★★★★,5
Aquarius: I Come from the Water by Adrianne White ★★
Pisces: The Cure for Heartbreak by Emery Lee ★★★★★
kizzabell's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
hayleyos's review
3.5
This book made me ask myself, why don't I read short story compilations ore often?? All of the stories were very sweet and heartwarming but the bookstore witch one especially resonated with me! I truly cannot emphasize enough how much this book made me love the short story genre. What a great book. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
3 stars, like with any anthology there were some I really enjoyed and some that were just meh. They were all pretty cute though. I would have liked some to be longer and some to be shorter. I'll have to look up some authors for sure! The narrators were all excellent!
mlettus's review
3.0
I don’t really like short stories, but I liked the idea behind this anthology. Some of the stories were ok, but others did not even make sense (having a February birthday, the Aquarius was extremely disappointing).
celadon's review
5.0
All Signs Point to Yes is the best romance anthology I’ve ever read. It gives you LOTS of queer rep, interesting plotlines, and a zodiac twist. I even loved eleven out of the thirteen stories which is pretty unusual for an anthology. Sadly the Sagittarius story–my sign–was one of the few I disliked. It was just too simple and too straight compared to its peers.
We start with an Aries story called Ruler and Killer by G. Haron Davis. We are thrust into a magical medieval world where Chi is trying to win the hand of the Coronet Álava through a competition open to the public. In this slightly murderous story, nothing felt completely defined with maybe even a bit too much room for imagination. Nevertheless, it was enthralling and a great way to kickstart a book. Especially with the Coronet being a nonbinary love interest…
The third story stars a Gemini protagonist. Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia (the author possibly being the reason I obtained an ARC) was simple but exceptional in its simplicity. I feel like Mejia is always very good at writing contemporary fiction but with a subtle twist of fantasy or unease that slowly moves into the spotlight. Similar to Anna Marie-McLemore’s work. In hindsight, I remember this story as both wild and tranquil with the lead slowly coming out of her shell yet carrying it with her as a backup plan. It shows how you can know and not know someone at the same time very well.
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen was an absolute favorite. Yes, I do have an extremely soft spot for nonbinary romances, no my opinion is not biased, and yes you can laugh at that. This story had an atmosphere. I could feel it and envision it. It was soft and light but surrounded you so you feel covered and safe. The sassiness made Princess (the lead) very easy to identify as a Leo along with her other cat-like qualities. Lala, the heartthrob Taurus that Princess likes, is the perfect match. Lala is chill and grounded while Princess is chatty and fiery. Striking a balance in their differences. Add in really good consent and a demisexual lead and you get this story.
I was really surprised to find a story with an Ojibwe character in this book. There is too little representation for indigenous people but Sometimes in September by Byron Graves did this well. Set in a rehab facility for people addicted to different substances, Waabooz is about to leave after staying for a couple of weeks. In general Sometimes in September is about having dreams and being hopeful. It does this without avoiding the harsh realities of living as an indigenous person in a world that stacked the deck against you. It focuses on healing, building yourself back up, and being ready for what comes next.
Cam Montgomery’s story Formation was a little underdeveloped in its worldbuilding but utterly amazing despite it. The Five, a group of witches all born on the same day, gather to live on a mountain and help the people who also live there. Luna meets the trans demigod who is there to help complete their divine duties and…he’s cute. I melted from this flirty story with its funny cultural references. Cam Montgomery is an author I would love to see the further works of.
Our Resident Capricorn story was a hit. Mucho Mucho Amor by Alexandrea Villasante is about a girl trying to come out to her mom. It’s a bittersweet story with a lot of heart. Set in the winter, I could feel the sharp pierce of wind and snow when out to run errands or the coziness and comfort to be in one's own home.
Lastly is Emery Lee’s The Cure For Heartbreak. Luis runs his family’s shop for magic. One day a boy from his math class named Alvaro asks for a spell after a breakup. Luis tries to help him and they start to form a bond. For a slow-burn romance, this was well done. Not too fast but also short enough for it to feel not unnecessarily pining.
This is a book I see many reading and loving. Inspiring minds by having a romance you see yourself in.
--Thank You Inkyard Press for Providing This ARC--
We start with an Aries story called Ruler and Killer by G. Haron Davis. We are thrust into a magical medieval world where Chi is trying to win the hand of the Coronet Álava through a competition open to the public. In this slightly murderous story, nothing felt completely defined with maybe even a bit too much room for imagination. Nevertheless, it was enthralling and a great way to kickstart a book. Especially with the Coronet being a nonbinary love interest…
The third story stars a Gemini protagonist. Doublespeak by Tehlor Kay Mejia (the author possibly being the reason I obtained an ARC) was simple but exceptional in its simplicity. I feel like Mejia is always very good at writing contemporary fiction but with a subtle twist of fantasy or unease that slowly moves into the spotlight. Similar to Anna Marie-McLemore’s work. In hindsight, I remember this story as both wild and tranquil with the lead slowly coming out of her shell yet carrying it with her as a backup plan. It shows how you can know and not know someone at the same time very well.
Alternative Combustion by Kiana Nguyen was an absolute favorite. Yes, I do have an extremely soft spot for nonbinary romances, no my opinion is not biased, and yes you can laugh at that. This story had an atmosphere. I could feel it and envision it. It was soft and light but surrounded you so you feel covered and safe. The sassiness made Princess (the lead) very easy to identify as a Leo along with her other cat-like qualities. Lala, the heartthrob Taurus that Princess likes, is the perfect match. Lala is chill and grounded while Princess is chatty and fiery. Striking a balance in their differences. Add in really good consent and a demisexual lead and you get this story.
I was really surprised to find a story with an Ojibwe character in this book. There is too little representation for indigenous people but Sometimes in September by Byron Graves did this well. Set in a rehab facility for people addicted to different substances, Waabooz is about to leave after staying for a couple of weeks. In general Sometimes in September is about having dreams and being hopeful. It does this without avoiding the harsh realities of living as an indigenous person in a world that stacked the deck against you. It focuses on healing, building yourself back up, and being ready for what comes next.
Cam Montgomery’s story Formation was a little underdeveloped in its worldbuilding but utterly amazing despite it. The Five, a group of witches all born on the same day, gather to live on a mountain and help the people who also live there. Luna meets the trans demigod who is there to help complete their divine duties and…he’s cute. I melted from this flirty story with its funny cultural references. Cam Montgomery is an author I would love to see the further works of.
Our Resident Capricorn story was a hit. Mucho Mucho Amor by Alexandrea Villasante is about a girl trying to come out to her mom. It’s a bittersweet story with a lot of heart. Set in the winter, I could feel the sharp pierce of wind and snow when out to run errands or the coziness and comfort to be in one's own home.
Lastly is Emery Lee’s The Cure For Heartbreak. Luis runs his family’s shop for magic. One day a boy from his math class named Alvaro asks for a spell after a breakup. Luis tries to help him and they start to form a bond. For a slow-burn romance, this was well done. Not too fast but also short enough for it to feel not unnecessarily pining.
This is a book I see many reading and loving. Inspiring minds by having a romance you see yourself in.
--Thank You Inkyard Press for Providing This ARC--