By Zoe Doyle, Lauren Jones, Rowan Jackson, Amy Wright and Ana Matute
For part two of our Zodiac recommendations we've chosen books for those with Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn astrological signs.
Leo: The Capital by Robert Menasse, translated by Jamie Bulloch
Leos are the natural leader of the zodiac and are known for being intelligent and bold. So, what better book to intrigue a Leo than Robert Menasse’s The Capital? The Capital is about the European Commission attempting to improve public opinion through marking its fiftieth anniversary with a special celebration. Beginning with a runaway pig on the loose in the streets of Brussels, Menasse’s novel bridges the boundaries between genres and is a complex and clever hybrid of wit, satire, philosophy, politics and so much more. It’s an incredible book, but does require some concentration!
Virgo: The Secret History by Donna Tartt
In my opinion, dark academia is a sub-genre made for Virgos. As well as being lovers of learning and knowledge, Virgos are highly observant and critical, analysing everything that happens around them and are constantly on a quest to learn more; this is also what draws them into secrets and mystery. The Secret History is swiftly becoming a modern classic, having been the catalyst for the era of dark academia in literature. Its intellectual, mysterious and scholarly atmosphere, along with the complex and somewhat obsessive cast of characters and the underlying sense of unease at not knowing what’s truly going on behind closed doors, fits the Virgo archetype well.
Libra: The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury by Marc Levy
Libra is a sign that pursues love, enjoys flirting and, from time to time, picks a romance novel to fantasise about how their true love is waiting for them. For this reason, The Strange Journey of Alice Pendelbury is a must-read in those times. This story is a classic romance novel about a woman named Alice who, after receiving a prophecy, decides to step out of her routine and make it happen. During this journey, she starts experiencing more of life than she ever had before. It is a self-discovery journey that will make her find what she has wished for all her life. This will be your book, especially if you loved Breakfast at Tiffany's.
Scorpio: The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
Scorpios are known for being mysterious and curious, and they are often great problem-solvers. An engaging, hard-to-put-down murder mystery with lots to unravel would therefore make an ideal read for a Scorpio. The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman is an intriguing story about four pensioners living in Coopers Chase retirement village, who meet weekly to try to solve old unsolved murders. However, the friends soon become involved in a live case right on their doorstep, in more ways than they can imagine. The twists and turns of this novel, its witty humour and the likeable characters make The Thursday Murder Club a fully enjoyable detective story that’ll leave you eager to start the next book in the series.
Sagittarius: Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute by Talia Hibbert
Sagittarius are the travellers of the zodiac – energetic, adventurous and curious. Which is why Talia Hibbert’s newest release would make the perfect read for them. When two ex-best friends have to team up to win a survival course, hilarity and adventures ensue. Bradley Graeme is the model pupil, a star football player and good student all round. Celine Bangura is a conspiracy theorist with a big social media following and Bradley’s academic rival. They wind up participating in a survival competition in the woods and must navigate their history and complex feelings (as well as the woods). Excellent banter, mental health rep and character growth, this book is distilled serotonin.
Capricorn: Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood
Ambitious, hardworking and dedicated, it’s easy to see why Capricorns sometimes earn the reputation of workaholics. Following dedicated neuro-scientist Bee as she embarks on the biggest project of her career yet, Love on the Brain is a classic enemies-to-lovers romance in the world of STEM. The story is fast-paced and ultimately a cheesy, feel-good read. The banter between the main characters was a real highlight, and although largely predictable, there were a few surprises in store! Love on the Brain is a perfect read for hardworking capricorns because it shows that there’s room in life to be passionate and dedicated to your work, but that there’s more to life than work, which is a great thing for everyone to be mindful of.