Thanks to The Dial Press for the free copy of this book.

- LOOKING FOR A SIGN is exactly the kind of romcom I love - a blend of hilarious and heartfelt.
- The idea of going on a date with someone of each astrological sign leads to some excellent hijinks, not to mention a few spicy encounters!
- I don’t want to get too into the details since half the fun of this book is finding out what each sign’s date is like. But the way the HEA built over the course of the book was a delight, and I adored watching the two of them find what they were looking for in themselves and each other.

This is my second novel by Susie Dumond and I think that sealed it for me.
Her previous novel was okay - nothing to write home about, but I had loved the queer community in it. This one was, again, nothing special. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't like it enough to keep trying her books. There's better queer sapphic romances out there.

This was such a cool and unique idea for a book! Loved the characters, loved seeing the various dating mishaps--they're so painful when we experience them, but so funny and real in a book. It was extremely easy to identify with Gray's search for love. Excellent, well-rounded characters and a fun story. Highly recommended.

I couldn’t put this book down! It was such an awesome read! I loved all the characters and especially the location of this novel! Such a unique story.

I really loved the premise of Looking for a Sign, and I got about 15% of the way into the story - but I just could not shake the insecurity and uncertainty of Gray to be able to fully jump into the story. I think the premise was incredible, and maybe at another point in time I'll find Gray charming, but I could not fully get on board with her struggles just because I felt they were immature in a way.

This book was quite the wild ride. I really enjoyed the premise of this book- dating through all the zodiac signs to find true love. I also really enjoyed the friendship between Gray and Cherry and they way the two of them escaped the religious trauma of their youth and be able to live their lives freely. I did have some issues with the pacing and was slightly taken aback by how many hot and steamy scenes there were with people who were essentially strangers to Gray. That being said, I think it was a personal taste difference, and I can see how so many have enjoyed this book.
Anywho if you enjoy fun queer romcoms that center around looking for love after visiting an astrologer and finding new friends that make a mean macchiato, this may be the book for you!

This is a fun lesbian astrology romcom set in New Orleans. While the final coupling was a bit predictable, there's something uncomplicated and enjoyable about a woman just dating her way through all 12 stereotypical embodiments of the zodiac. Sure, it's not treading any unexpected ground, but it was a light, quick read and delivers on what it knows it needs to be – a campy romp. The NOLA setting alone is worth a star.

this is a deeply charming love letter to new orleans, u-hauling, found families, and CERTAIN star signs which is completely understandable even if it fully slandered cancers (it's fine, i am very much a reluctant cancer sun/leo cusp with many more leonine characteristics). i liked the structure, i loved the extended montage of dates, i found the love interest's story not super compelling but the setting and supporting characters more than make up for it!

I really enjoyed the concept of this book and how it was written. While I do not know much about astrology, I could still follow what was being discussed. Regarding Veronica and Grey, the chemistry wasn't too noticeable until the book's last third. I wish there were moments sprinkled in throughout with little moments of possibility or even expanding to a dual POV.

TW: I have seen others talk about this in their reviews and I agree. The main character identifies as lesbian and only dates people who are not cis men. I wish there was more discussion in the book about this part of her identity because some of the phrasing seems to be harmful to transmen.

This book really confused me. I was intrigued by the idea of someone going on a date with a person from each of the astrological signs. I don't know a lot about astrology overall, but I do know a lot about my own sign, which is Pisces. I liked the idea of exploring how each sign is on a date, but this felt like such a generalization. If you go on a bad date with one Virgo, it doesn't mean that you shouldn't ever date another Virgo. It just felt like too much a gimmick to me.

I liked Gray's friendship with her friend, Cherry, and I think it was important that Cherry expressed how selfish Gray was being toward her. I think that it was great for how to speak up, and this interaction made me wish the book was about Cherry.

Gray just came off as so unlikable, and I didn't understand her motivations sometimes. She got out of a 10 year relationship, and she wanted to casually date but also find her lifelong partner?

It was predictable who she would wind up with, but I wasn't rooting for them. Their relationship was too fast paced for me. I would have liked more of a slow burn, once it was established about their feelings.

When I first heard this book existed, I knew I had to read it since it was queer, romantic, and took place in New Orleans. However, while this book delivered in terms of the setting and the astrological aspect, it suffered from major pacing issues that started on the very first page and continued till the end of the story.

I don't like to start reviews off on a bad note, so I will begin with the positives. The books New Orleans setting was engaging, and both it and the books astrological focus worked together nicely, giving the book character and uniqueness. I am not a believer in astrology or anything like it, but it was entertaining to read about Gray's misadventures in the realm of star signs, rising signs, and planets misaligning. I also liked Gray as a main character. She was snarky and relatable, even if she did get on my nerves towards the ending. Her friendship with Cherry was one of the highlights of the book, and her struggle with starting over at 29 was very well done.

However, this book definitely struggled in places. The writing style was stilted and awkward, and Millennial/Gen Z slang were overused to the point of being annoying. I'm not opposed to characters using slang in dialogue, but when every other sentence of the narration contains some reference to generation-specific pop-culture, it gets old very fast. The plot moved too slow and too fast simultaneously, with events that should have taken pages being crammed into paragraphs instead. There was very little build up that wasn't info-dumpy, which made certain events feel preachy and cheesy as a result. Gray's dates also started to blend together after a while, since they weren't teated as fully-fledged characters, but rather plot devices for the author to move her story along.

Also, despite being a queer book that centered queer themes, the book's handling on queer issues...rubbed me the wrong way. What I mean by this is that there was a lot of stereotyping done by the main character (i.e, when she was completely shocked that Veronica could be queer because she had a child with a man). It's 2024. I thought we were done with profiling people based on whether or not they "seemed queer enough." However, the remarks that irritated me the most was Gray saying that someone could be a lesbian and "still date people of any gender," and that she was attracted to "everyone except cis men." While I was sure the author didn't intend any harm when she wrote these lines, she inadvertently pushed harmful ideas such as the fact that trans men aren't "real men," and that non-binary people were somehow lumped under the "women" umbrella. Not to mention the fact that lines like these unintentionally erase bi/pan people by insisting that people who like more than one gender are just gay and "confused." Considering the erasure that bi/pan people already experience at the hands of our own community, those remarks were very off-color to me, and there were times when I seriously considered quitting this book because they grated on me so much.

Overall, this book had some good things going for it, like the setting and the central conflict, but, ultimately, the execution did not live up to the premise.

Queer? Astrology? Yes please! This book did not disappoint. It was cute and funny and sweet. I highly recommend you pick it up!

Dumond's "Looking for a Sign" is another one of the better sapphic romances I've read recently, and I really enjoyed tearing through it!

After the dissolution of a decade-long relationship, 29 year old Gray is experiencing an early mid-life crisis. She's uprooted her life to NOLA to live with her best friend and her growing family; she hasn't exactly started off on the right foot at her new job; and Saturn is in Mercury! In a desperate attempt to get her life back in order (and on track, as she's itching for marriage and children), Gray embarks on a 6 week, 12 astrological sign dating adventure to find The One astrological match for her.

What I loved most about this book was its celebration of queerness; throughout Gray's dating journey, she explores different sexualities, races and ethnicities with the utmost respect and joy. Each of the dates were unique and fun, and I found myself enjoying the various hijinks that came along with trying to date people based on their astrological signs. Themes of found family, friendships and healing from familial trauma were peppered throughout the story, too, and overall this was a fun, sweet read. Personally, I find it a little out of touch that someone described as Gray was ready for marriage and a family at 29, but different strokes for different folx!

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5

This book is so funny! I’m not a fan of astrology (but I’m not against it either) but I love the way the astrology is described in this novel. The idea is really great and original, the writing is fresh, the banter are ADORABLE! I really love this novel and I love Gray. She’s a fantastic mc.
The only thing that I found not interest convinced is the love story itself. It’s cute but a little off. However, the book is so much fun, so I love it anyway!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!

This book is definitely for the astrology girlies. Looking for a Sign follows Gray, who just got out of a long term relationship and is quickly approaching her Saturn return year. After visiting a physic, she gets the idea to try dating someone from each astrological sign to see if she can find her soulmate, all before her 29th birthday. With the help of her best friend Cherry, Gray sets up an online dating profile and gets to work. But of course love doesn't always show up in the place you think it will.

I thought this book was cute with a little bit of steam, but didn't love some of Gray's choices throughout the story. Lying is never a good way to start a friendship or relationship, and while Gray does learn from her mistakes, it was a bit painful to watch her stumble. It also felt like she was taking the dating challenge more seriously than her job or friendships, which I guess did result in some consequence, but it just made the story feel a bit unbalanced. But overall it was still a sweet romance and had the happy ending I had hoped it would.

Thank you so much to Susie, NetGalley, and Dial Press for the ARC of Looking for a Sign! If you’re big into astrology, this book is definitely for you! Looking for a Sign follows recently single Gray as she decides to follow the advice of an astrologer and go on a date with a woman of each zodiac sign before her birthday! Gray has recently moved to New Orleans and is encouraged by her best friend, Cherry, to put herself out there since she’s only dated one woman (and it was very long term) until now! I’m not big into astrology but I had a super fun time with this book (and don’t worry- there’s a happy ending!!). I learned a lot about the zodiac signs and astrology while reading and had a blast following Gray around on her dates all over New Orleans.

This is a new to me author! I have had Queerly Beloved on my TBR for a while so I wanted to see how I liked this author. We love a queer read and I do love astrology so I was intrigued by the concept of dating every sign. It made me want to dig into all the signs even more lol.

I do think this wasn't super romantic. Low key women's fiction and about Gray's journey and figuring out what she wants. The real romance didn't start till well into the book, thought I think it was pretty obvious who was going to be the love interest.

Gray is turning 29 and just had a big life decision. She got out of a ten year relationship and moved to a new city and sort of feels like she's behind in life and not an "adult." I know I can relate to that since I'm 29. I think Gray was a great main character to follow. I've been reading a ton of single POV books and I'm actually loving it.

I am excited to read more from this author. It does deal with some harder topics with Gray's back story so definitely check out some TW before.

I didn't really like this book until near the end. I think it would have been better if it was dual pov. I also wanted to see them spend a bit more time together outside of work. The other major thing is that the book included the narrative that you can be a lesbian and be attracted to all genders which just isn't true.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This. was. so. fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I literally could not put this book down once I started it! Gray has just left a 10-year relationship and is looking to find someone with whom she can settle down, so she embarks on a quest to date 1 person for each sign of the zodiac and compare their compatibility.

A super fast-paced, cozy romance that anyone will enjoy! This was my first Susie Dumond book, but I will definitely be reading her back list after this!

-- 2/5 Stars -- ★★☆☆☆

Trigger Warnings for Looking for a Sign: Family trauma, recent break-up

Looking for a Sign is Susie Dumond's second queer romance novel. In this novel, Gray is not only looking for a sign, but looking for her sign; the sign she will spend the rest of her life with. Gray recently moved to New Orleans with her best friend, Cherry, along with Cherry's husband and son. What caused the sudden move? The end of a decade-long relationship with her now ex.

I was so excited when I first started this book. What a cute way of shaping a dating challenge! And then it went off the rails... FAST. Gray is a lesbian, clearly outlined by Dumond, but them claims that lesbian can date people of all genders...? No, that's pansexual, my personal identity. This wouldn't have hit me as gross if it wasn't for the date being with a trans* FTM individual. This immediately felt to me like Gray was saying her date with this person was basically with a woman... Truly inappropriate the way it was framed.

The rest of the novel was just copy-and-paste of what happened earlier. Find date, have date, move on. Gray is meant to be a stereotypically attractive masc lesbian, but come on it's not THAT easy... Anyhow, this book was 2 stars for me. Mostly because I loved River and Karys' relationship! Thank you to Susie Demond, Netgalley and Random House for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.