Leo Loves Aries (Signs of Love, #1) by Anyta Sunday

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Content/Trigger Warnings: Cheating, toxic relationships, sex

Chandler Ainsley made me do it! Her amazing book recommendations kicked my butt into gear to finally start this series! Wow, just wow. I haven’t flown through a book this fast in a hot minute. I loved everything about this book and it’s a roommates to lovers trope. So yes, I am here for this book!

We follow Theo who’s still hung up on his exgirlfriend and seems to be lacking in the friend department. With his mom spamming horoscope predictions on the daily, Theo feels the ache even more. After Leone challenges him to find her the perfect date for a spring wedding, Theo is dead set on making his ex-economics tutor, Jamie Cooper, his sister’s date. Only things don’t go the way he thought they would. Everyone else can see what’s written in the stars, but will Theo?

“I’ve one hell of a to-do list. Just need someone to do it.”

I loved this book so much! I think the way Theo and Jamie’s personalities collided with one another was fantastic. They couldn’t be more opposite of each other. Jamie is organized and likes to keep a balanced yet passionate life. While Theo is a procrastinator and hasn’t done a load of laundry in ages. And the banter between the two is so good! Out of all of it though, the amount of electricity that flies between this unlikely pair had me living my best reading experience. Plus, I’m a sucker for a good roommates trope.

I also loved the way sexuality was handled and how realistic it felt. Even though we can tell right off the bat Jamie is gay and flirting with Theo from day one, Theo is absolutely oblivious to any of this. It’s so accurate! When I was first discovering my bisexuality, I never realized I would flirt with women until one day someone had to point it out for me. I think that’s why I relate to Theo so much because the way he discovers his feelings for Jamie, it was like staring at a mirror. Even when Jamie confronts Theo about his sexuality and his interest in Theo, Theo reacts in shock and he spends so much time trying to figure out his feelings, his sexuality, and his own obliviousness. And I know there are many people out there who frown upon the whole friends with benefits kind of relationship, but I loved how this book shows that sometimes you need that kind of relationship as a stepping stone when it comes to figuring out your sexuality. I saw a lot of readers who were upset with the way Theo’s sexuality was handled and why many readers have labeled it as bisexual erasure… being bisexual myself and having gone through a similar period in my life, I can understand why. However, there are many people in the lgbtqiap+ community who don’t like to use labels. So, if Theo doesn’t label himself as a bisexual, pansexual, or demisexual then that’s fine and a character/character development shouldn’t be punished for that.

“I thought you didn’t believe in love. With you, I believe in anything.”

We also have visually impaired representation. Leone, Theo’s sister, is blind and doesn’t let it phase her. She’s smart, witty, and is just like, “I’m blind, I know it and accept it, so suck it up and deal with it.” She has such a charismatic personality, she tries to find the positive in everything, and I love her a whole heck a ton. And the bond that Theo and Leone have with one another, how they take care of each other, and it warms my heart so much. Theo really shows his brotherly side when it comes Leone. He doesn’t look down at her, he tries to do what he can to make things a little easier for her, and despite how protective he is, he let’s her be her own person and live her own life.

Overall, if you haven’t heard of this book or this series yet, you need to add this to your tbr. I’m super excited to read the next book in this series and I truly believe these characters are so easy to fall in love with. Besides, I power read this in two days. If that doesn’t tell you something, I don’t know what will!