Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne

Miranda in Retrograde by Lauren Layne | 288 pages | 2024

As the youngest physics professor at her university, practical-minded Miranda Reed plans her life with minute precision. But that’s before she’s denied tenure and the promotion she thought was guaranteed. Suddenly, her tidy life is anything but constant.

Overdue for a sabbatical, Miranda takes some time to look towards the stars—only this time, she’s not looking for black holes. With her faith in science shaken, Miranda turns to a practice she’s long dismissed: astrology.

Determined to figure out why her life has suddenly gone sideways, Miranda commits to a year of letting her horoscope guide her. Put a down payment on a home? Not while Mercury’s in retrograde. Spontaneous dinner party invitation? Sorry, horoscope says Gemini Rising best stay in tonight. And as far as the intriguingly aloof artist living next door? Never. His Aries energy is all wrong. On the other hand, the charming father of her new tutoring pupil is Sagittarian perfection. Made for her...right?

As Miranda navigates life with new a perspective, she slowly discovers neither science nor the stars have all the answers. And that, when it comes to love, you sometimes just have to trust your heart.

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads)

Zero complaints. Just a delightful "enemies to lovers" (but were they ever really enemies?) romance featuring a brainy protagonist trying to find herself. Quick and satisfying. A great recommendation for readers looking for low/no spice in their romance.

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki (translated by Jesse Kirkwood)

The Full Moon Coffee Shop by Mai Mochizuki (translated by Jesse Kirkwood), 228 pages

"The Full Moon Coffee Shop has no fixed location. 

It might appear in the middle of a familiar shopping arcade, by the station at the end of the railway line, or on a quiet riverbank. 

At the Full Moon Coffee Shop, we don't take your order; instead we bring you desserts, meals, and drinks--selected just for you. 

Who knows--maybe it's all a dream." (from the prologue)

This book thoroughly bewitched me. A riot of spiritual color, the story was a web of life and emotion seen through a magical, dreamy lens.  The theme of interconnectedness resonated deeply with them. The end result made me feel simultaneously lost and found. 

Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods

Summer of Supernovas by Darcy Woods -- 340 pages

As the daughter of an expert astrologer, Wilamena Carlisle knows that truth lies within the stars. So when she discovers a planetary alignment that won’t repeat for a decade, she’s forced to tackle her greatest astrological fear: The Fifth House—relationships and love. But Wil must decide whether to trust her heart or her chart when she falls for a sensitive guitar player whose zodiac sign points to cosmic disaster. If Wil’s fate is truly written in the stars, then this summer is about to go supernova . . .

Zodiac by Romina Russell

Zodiac by Romina Russell  319 pages

Rhoma Grace is a 16-year-old student from House Cancer with an unusual way of reading the stars. While her classmates use measurements to make accurate astrological predictions, she looks up at the night sky and makes up stories. When a violent blast strikes the moons of Cancer, sending its ocean planet off-kilter and killing thousands of citizens-including its beloved Guardian-Rho is more surprised than anyone when she is named the House's new leader. Then, when more Houses fall victim to freak weather catastrophes, Rho starts seeing a pattern in the stars. She suspects the exiled 13th Guardian of Zodiac has returned to exact his revenge across the Galaxy. Now Rho must travel through the Zodiac to warn the other Guardians. But who will believe anything this young novice says? Whom can Rho trust in a universe defined by differences? And how can she convince twelve worlds to unite as one Zodiac?