Your Summer Reading Horoscope for 2025

Summer is the season of mood reading. As I plan out my own personal summer reading challenge, I’m drawn to books that feel like summer—not just in setting, but in the very fiber of the tale. And summer holds multitudes. There are wistful, nostalgia-soaked stories that feel like golden hour. There are beach reads that lean swoony and romantic, and others that veer straight into suspense and chaos. If you’re not quite sure what kind of summer you’re in the mood for, let me offer you a recommendation based on the stars.

I’ve matched each zodiac sign with two summer book recommendations that capture the spirit of that sign. Maybe you’re soaking in fearless Leo heat, chasing dreamy Pisces reflections, or indulging your Virgo need for structure and nuance. Even if you don't take your horoscope too seriously, sometimes matching a vibe can find you a new favorite read.

Get a quick taste of each book’s mood and magic below, along with links to support indie bookstores.

Find your sun sign, or read for your moon and rising if you're feeling extra. Either way: happy summer reading.

Follow the Spark: Summer Reading for Fire Signs

Bold, passionate, adventurous—these signs don’t just want a story. They want stakes.

Aries

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley – A high-drama wedding turns deadly. Messy, moody, and impossible to put down.

• Guillotine by Delilah Dawson – A slashing sci-fi horror that's all guts, glory, and rebellious rage.

Leo

• Rose/House by Arkady Martine – A sentient house, a murder mystery, and a flair for drama. It's very Leo.

• Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor – The women of Gatsby take center stage in this reimagining. Fierce and glittering.

Sagittarius

• Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver – A grounded story about transformation, discovery, and butterflies—literally.

• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang – Epic fantasy with fire, fury, and a heroine who's more Sag than Sagittarius herself.
  

Something to Talk About: Book Recs for Air Signs

Curious, cerebral, and a little chaotic—air signs crave something smart and strange.

Gemini

• The Grace Year by Kim Liggett – Dystopian girlhood, secrets, and a touch of rebellion.

• Wolfpack by Amelia Brunskill – Thrills, loyalty, and more than one twist.

Libra

• An Unkindness of Magicians by Kat Howard – Gorgeous prose, dark glamor, and power plays in a magical NYC.

• The Summer of Broken Rules by K.L. Walther – Romance, family, and a game of love at a summer wedding.

Aquarius

• The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green – Essays that are weird, warm, and wistful.

• Bunny by Mona Awad – Surreal, twisted, and strangely perfect for an Aquarius brain spiral.
  

I Just Wanna Feel Something: Stories for Water Signs

Deep feelers and intuitive souls. These books are all vibes, emotion, and a little mystery.

Cancer

• The Wedding People by Alison Espach – Melancholy meets meet-cute. A book that lingers like a long summer night.

• The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka – Quiet, haunting, and layered with memory and grief.

Scorpio

• The Secret History by Donna Tartt – Academic darkness, obsession, and murder. You know you love it.

• Neverworld Wake by Marisha Pessl – A time-loop thriller that’s equal parts eerie and emotional.

Pisces

• Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi – Dreamy and divine, a novel of identity and mythology.

• The Waves by Virginia Woolf – A poetic chorus of interior lives and tidal time.

I Need a Hero: Summer Reads for Earth Signs

Give them books with substance, style, and just a little sparkle.

Taurus

• Circe by Madeline Miller – Lush and lyrical—goddess energy for days.

• The Sun and Her Flowers by Rupi Kaur – Sensual, grounded poetry for heart-centered signs.

Virgo

• Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid – A fierce, focused comeback story. Virgo gold.

• Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth – Gothic meta-fiction with structure and chaos.

Capricorn

• Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé – Elite school, high stakes, razor-sharp commentary.

• Pain, Parties, Work by Elizabeth Winder – Sylvia Plath at twenty. Discipline, ambition, and a dash of existential dread.

Whichever sign you are—or are feeling like this season—let the stars send you some inspiration this summer. Let me know in the comments what sign you are and what you’re reading.