Thanks to Netgalley and Dial Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Looking for a Sign is the first book that I’ve read by Susie Dumond. I enjoyed reading it very much and am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Likes:

I know nothing about astrology so the concept of Gray going on dates with each of the signs was novel. I can’t say I’m a believer in it as it’s always been a little woo woo for me, but I liked how the author explored the concept.

I also enjoyed the exploration of astrology in that Gray recognized that she used it as a sort of guide to life like she had previously done with religion. I like that she realized she needed to actually figure life out and not expect either to just give her a quest and signs.

I enjoyed reading about Gray’s close relationship with her found sister/best friend, Cherry. I love that Gray has Cherry.

I also respected how Gray and Veronica had a serious conversation at the park after all the events happened at their work and actually communicated with each other like adults and talked about what they actually needed and wanted.

Dislikes:

I didn’t like when Gray lied to her co-worker, Veronica about River being her son, not Cherry and Robbie’s that she was actually babysitting. Lying to a co-worker never ends well. Especially when Gray becomes friends with said co-worker, Veronica, who then discovered Gray’s lies.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to reading more by Susie Dumond in the future.

I was lucky to receive an ARC of Looking for a Sign on NetGalley. I loved reading and learning about character traits associated with each zodiac sign. The author did a great job detailing so much variety between the many dates of the book. It is still not so easy to find queer representation in books and always love supporting and reading it!

At first I thought this would be fun and quirky take on queer dating and relationships. It was obvious on the beginning that the principal was the intended love interest. I hated a lot of things about this book. It felt weird that she kept saying it was weird someone who looked a certain way or dressed a certain way didn’t seem queer. And it was a weird stab at masc women to say she didn’t normally go for them and immediately friendzone that person.

And why would she want to classify herself as a lesbian if she dated all genders. Thats quite literally not the definition of a lesbian and why would she not be ok with being bi or pan?

Seems like there are some overall issues with this that makes it not enjoyable as a lesbian to read

I loved this fun light hearted sapphic romance . I am always interested in astrology so the premise of this book was right up my alley. The characters were ok the FMC was a little much at times but overall I thought this was a fun entertaining read and interesting to see how all the signs were portrayed. Although I feel a little called out being a cancer … I don’t love Disney that much lol. This was my first book from this author but hope to read more in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

ARC provided by Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"...it ain’t a fortune-telling device. It can’t tell us what to do or what will happen. That’s all up to us, the decisions we make, our actions."

I would like to thank Random House, Dial Press and Netgalley for a copy of this eARC. When I read the synopsis, it felt like an inside joke I wanted to be apart of. I feel like we all have stereotypes we throw out about the different signs and loved the idea of them all being juxtaposed to each other.

I feel like the story was so fun and chaotic. I'm a casual astrology fan--I know my big three, but I don't necessarily believe the stars control our lives if that makes sense? I love to look at my information as tools for self awareness and reflection, and I think that's why I loved the quote above so much.

I really loved Grey's story of self discovery and redemption, but did at times find her to be a unlikeable narrator. She wanted too much at all times and I didn't understand her dishonesty in her job. How she could drastically switch from incredibly professional and going above and beyond, to absolute hot mess and lying for no reason gave me whiplash.

Some comments she made regarding her sexuality made me take a step back, and I can see how many may take issue with her, because she at times came off as judgmental towards the LGBTQ+ community as a whole. As someone who identifies as bisexual, her comments made me confused at at how the author could be writing a book with a Lesbian lead and still manage to alienate the audience.

Looking past this, I think that the idea of the story was so unique and enjoyed that some relationships were more surface level, letting Grey explore while also slow burning into the main romance, but at the end of the day, the issues I had with the characters and some minor conflicts for the plot left me only giving it 3-stars.

I think if someone is looking for a cute queer quick read, it was a fun ride that had me laughing, but I don't know If I will necessarily be revisiting it myself.

A tremendous amount of fun!! Susie Dumon presents us with a fully realized bisexual lead and celebrates all the forms that love can take. Full of hilarious observations about dating, astrology, and human foibles. Great!!

I did not request this title. The publisher gave it to me and it's not something I am interested in reading.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity.

Interesting plot and very exciting characters.

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974

I am always excited to read a book where the action happens in New Orleans. I was intrigued by the notion of dating each astrologic sign until you find the one for you. Gray is fresh out of a 10-year relationship and is headed into year 29. Those who are interested in astrology will find the character descriptions on par or a little to the left. The partners are not only lesbians, but also transgender, nonbinary and also bisexuals. This will be a quick read.

4.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

After ending a long-term relationship with her girlfriend, Gray is on a mission to date around the zodiac to find her perfect match. She goes on a series of dates and hits it off with a few, while others don't go so well.

Overall, I loved the LGBTQIA+ representation throughout this book. Gray goes on dates with all kinds of people, from bisexual to trans. I loved all of the effort that the author put into this book to make this book inclusive. This plot was also so unique and I would say that the only downside was how predictable it was. But, I absolutely had a wonderful time reading this book and will be recommending it to all my friends!

Thank you to NetGalley Random House Publishing Group - Random House | Dial Press Trade Paperback for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

Looking for a Sign is a lively, fast-paced rom-com that follows Gray, a queer woman on a quest to date someone from each of the 12 zodiac signs—all before she hits 30. Set against the colorful backdrop of New Orleans, this story is a fun dive into LGBTQIA+ romance with plenty of charm and laughs along the way.

Gray’s journey is both entertaining and reflective as she navigates romance and explores her own sexuality. While the zodiac dates add a fun astrological twist, the real magic comes from Gray’s growth and the authentic connections she builds with characters like Cherry and Veronica, who bring warmth and balance to the story. Though the individual dates might be quick, Gray’s willingness to embrace her identity and learn from each experience makes this book both insightful and engaging.

For fans of zodiac-inspired romance with a fresh perspective, Looking for a Sign offers a sexy, feel-good read that celebrates love, identity, and the joy of dating in all its forms.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of Looking for a Sign. Unfortunately I was unable to download before the archive date. I look forward to finding it in my local bookstore or library!

Looking for a Sign by Susie Dumond is an entertaining and heartfelt rom-com that combines astrology and modern dating in a fresh and fun way!
Gray, a newly single, optimistic Aries who moves to New Orleans, aiming to reboot her love life by dating one person from each zodiac sign to find her ideal match. It’s a quirky, clever setup that brings plenty of humor and romance while letting Gray explore self-discovery along the way.

Dumond balances humor and horoscope stereotypes.... oh and there are plenty of steamy moments, making for a read that’s both amusing and introspective... and also warmth and tenderness that make the characters relatable and endearing.

If there’s a downside, it’s that at times the premise felt slightly stretched, with certain dates leaning a bit on astrological stereotypes. Still, Dumond makes it work through Gray’s thoughtful development, leading to an ending that’s both satisfying and surprising. It’s a four-star read—playful, thoughtful, and well worth the time, especially if you enjoy a rom-com with a unique twist

This is a super unique rom-com plot following Gray, a queer woman approaching thirty, who moves to New Orleans after a breakup and decides to date someone of each zodiac sign to find her perfect match. While some parts were slow and others were predictable, I appreciated the creativity of the plot and enjoyed the astrology aspect of romantic or friendship connection.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, & Dial Press Trade Paperback for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really wanted to love this book, but the author needs to review a dictionary, especially the meaning of "lesbian". The story was also meh for me, I tried to love it but I just struggled to finish this one.

Representation: Queer MC, many queer supporting cast

Rating: 4/5 This was a cute romp in exploring astrological signs through dating, looking for love via compatibilities. I really liked Gray and her outlook on life, even when she got down on herself. I have only a surface-level knowledge of astrology, so it was an interesting way to learn more about the signs and how they're viewed. I felt like that each person really had their own personality, even if they only showed up briefly, and the dates were fun to read about. Each date was kind of tailored to each sign, so that was cute, and I also learned a bit more about New Orleans, a city I've been to before and would gladly visit again. I also really appreciated the variety of endings to the dates, some were abrupt and never seen again, some simply fizzled out, and some turned into beautiful friendships. Overall, I would recommend this as a fun read, especially if you're into astrology.

This was a pretty adorable premise. It felt quite predictable from the start, but in the perfect romcom kind of way. The character development is just ok here, but the cast of characters is fun and diverse and sexy. The spice here is interesting, it starts strong, but overall felt pretty tame. Definitely a fun little romance, but nothing new here.

This book was a fun read, but not very memorable. Overall, it just wasn't for me, maybe because I think astrology is absolute rubbish.
The writing was good and the characters interesting, so others will def enjoy it.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and Storygraph on October 11th, 2024. Links provided.

Recently single Gray embarks on an adventurous quest to find her perfect match in New Orleans after a long-term relationship ends in this queer rom-com by Susie Dumond. As an optimistic lesbian Aries, Gray is eager to create the loving family she’s always envisioned, but after ten years of being out of the dating scene, she has no idea where to even begin. After visiting a famous local astrologer, she and her best friend Cherry devises a plan: Gray will date someone from each zodiac sign to explore compatibility before her twenty-ninth birthday, which happens to coincide with a significant astrological shift. Amidst the vibrant backdrop of New Orleans, Gray navigates her new job, meets twelve potential partners, and experiences everything from unexpected connections to personal revelations. Despite facing challenges that make her reconsider her goals, Gray is determined to embrace the journey and discover what she truly desires.

All in all, this book was a solid 3.5 stars for me. I thought the storyline was fun and I really appreciated the character growth for both of the female main characters. I am not super into astrology, but I do have an appreciation for different personalities and their compatibility, so it was fun to read about Gray’s experience dating so many different types of people. I thought the slow burn of the real romance was predicable but cute nonetheless. I also felt the conflict was well written and plausible/relatable. There were certain times when I felt the book was a little political and made me roll my eyes occasionally because of it, but overall I mostly enjoyed it. If you love books that really highlight being queer, focus on astrology, and have a cute rom-com vibe, then I would recommend this book.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read to an ARC of Looking for a Sign in return for my honest review.

I read Susie's Dumond first novel, Queerly Beloved, because she was writing about Tulsa, Oklahoma. She captured my hometown and took me back to the days I roamed those streets. So, of course I click yes when Looking for a Sign appeared. This time, her story takes place in New Orleans, which I visited a few months ago for the first time. Dumond writes about love in such a complete way that anyone should be able to connect. She shows some of the struggles that queer folks encounter without making it voyeuristic for people outside that community. I look forward to her next novel coming out next summer!