What Your First Read of 2026 Should Be

A book recommendation for each of the zodiac signs

Astrology is one of many lenses we can use to examine and analyze our personalities, our motivations, and our activities. Whether you believe it or not, it can be fun to entertain the notion that the date of our birth has some impact on who we are and what we like. Read on to see what your zodiac sign says about you and get our recommendations for your first read of 2026. 

Aries (March 21–April 20)

The first of the zodiac signs, this fire sign is emblematic of new beginnings. As Aries, you're bold, passionate, and independent. You fight for what you love, even if the cards are stacked against you. Books for Aries should reflect this chutzpah, following the path of the hero's journey with stories of soldiers, adventurers, and athletes who surpass what was previously thought possible.

Our pick for you:

The Martian by Andy Weir—Talk about exploring new places! Aries readers will love this wildly entertaining story about Mark, an astronaut fighting for survival after a freak accident leaves him stranded on Mars. Drawing on his ingenuity and experience—plus a dogged refusal to quit—he confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. 

Taurus (April 21–May 20)

The beauty of being a Taurus is that you know your own mind. Loyal, practical, and efficient, you value stability and strength. Your earth sign gives you a rooted, steadfast nature that may manifest as a stubborn streak. You are sensual, drawn to good food and artistic experiences. Taurus readers enjoy rich, chewy reads to get lost in a world outside their comfort zone.

Our pick for you:

The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck—Travel to 1920s China, a time when the last emperor still ruled and the sweeping changes of the twentieth century were distant rumblings. Taureans will appreciate this evocative Pulitzer Prize-winning tale of the hardworking, honest farmer Wang Lung and his selfless, practical wife O-Lan as they struggle to survive amidst physical and emotional upheaval.

Gemini (May 21–June 21)

The first of the air signs, Geminis are always looking for their next big learning opportunity. Curious and charismatic, you love nothing more than honing your craft and fine-tuning your way of engaging with the world. You're adaptable and comfortable in both introverted and extroverted pursuits. Geminis go for eclectic; avant-garde reads that foster meaningful discussions and revelatory insights.

Our pick for you:

Table for Two by Amor Towles—From the author of A Gentleman in Moscow comes this collection of six stories set in New York City around the year of 2000. Also included, a novella set in Hollywood's Golden Age revisits a beloved character from Towles's Rules of Civility. Packed with humor and sophistication, this collection boasts the lively wit and intellect that Geminis crave. 

Cancer (June 22–July 22)

As a Cancer, you may often find yourself putting up a big front. But underneath that tough exterior, there is a nurturing, sensitive soul who is most energized by time spent with loved ones. A water sign, you are ruled by the moon and known to be a bit nostalgic. Your best reads will allow you to find healing and creativity by igniting your senses and giving you all the feels.

Our pick for you:

Maine by J. Courtney Sullivan—For the Kellehers, Maine is a place where children run in packs, showers are taken outdoors, and old Irish songs are sung around a piano. This summer, three generations of Kelleher women arrive at the family's beach house, each shouldering her own set of psychic baggage. Cancer readers, you won't want this exhilarating, emotional story to end.

Leo (July 23–August 23)

As a Leo, you're larger than life. You've got the hustle and the confidence to make things happen. You're at your best when you're taking center stage. A fire sign, Leos can be moody and dramatic, but you are also known to be lion-hearted, generous, and fiercely loyal. Stories about finding trust, friendship, and love in high-octane situations push all your buttons.

Our pick for you:

Trust Exercise by Susan Choi—In an American suburb in the early 1980s, students at a highly competitive performing arts high school struggle and thrive in a rarified bubble, ambitiously pursuing music, movement, Shakespeare, and, particularly, their acting classes. Both captivating and tender, this novel takes big swings and poses potent questions about the line between fiction and truth.

Virgo (August 24–September 23)

As a Virgo, you tend to be the most competent person in the room. It's hard for you to trust anyone else to do the job right. This can get you into trouble as you may have a tendency to take on too much. An earth sign, you are pragmatic, practical, and systematic. You enjoy well-crafted stories that help you relax and tap into your emotional side while also offering learning opportunities.

Our pick for you:

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes—Born with an unusually low IQ, Charlie has been chosen as the perfect subject for an experimental surgery to increase his intelligence. Winner of both the Hugo and Nebula Awards, this powerful classic science fiction story follows a man who undergoes a risky procedure that turns him into a genius . . . and introduces him to heartache.

Libra (September 24–October 23)

As a Libra, you look for equanimity in all things. This can sometimes make it difficult for you to express your strongest emotions, from rage to euphoria to passion. An air sign, you have high standards when it comes to art and aesthetics. You like well-written dramas that allow you to deviate from your careful balancing act and embrace the roller coaster of human emotion.

Our pick for you:

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón—Barcelona, 1945: A city slowly heals in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War, and Daniel, an antiquarian book dealer's son who mourns the loss of his mother, finds solace in a mysterious book. As he tries to learn more about the book's author, Daniel opens a door into one of Barcelona's darkest secrets.

Scorpio (October 24–Nov. 22)

As a Scorpio, you're a master at reading people and keeping secrets. Your intensity can be overwhelming, but you have a talent for making fierce friends. Like all water signs, you're known for your emotional depth. You are stubborn, ambitious, and rock-steady when it comes to achieving your goals. Your favorite reads are dark, emotional, and packed with hard truths.

Our pick for you:

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro—Written by a fellow Scorpio, this dystopian Nobel Prize-winner delivers a seriously melancholic punch. Kathy, Ruth, and Tommy were students at Hailsham, an exclusive boarding school in the English countryside. Years later the three are reunited. Looking back, they begin to reckon with the shadowy significance of their time there.

Sagittarius (Nov. 23–Dec. 21)

A fire sign, you love fun, adventure, and, of course, good stories. Your spontaneity and drive for freedom makes you a terrific travel companion, but sometimes it also leaves you restless and distracted. You're known for being honest, even blunt, and you have an introspective, serious side that may be obscured by your carefree vibe. You enjoy books that appeal to your boundless nature and curiosity.

Our pick for you:

To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara—This bold novel spans three centuries and explores alternate visions of the American experiment. But above all, it's a work of emotional genius delving into our aching desire to protect those we love and the pain that ensues when we cannot. Sagittarians will come for the far-reaching journey and stay for the emotional depth.  

Capricorn (Dec. 22–Jan. 21)

Tenacious and hardworking, you Capricorns are known to strive for perfection even in the face of adversity. A cardinal earth sign, you are the model of stability and operate with a strong moral compass. You can be cautious and reserved, but you're also highly sensitive. You love the arts and quality literature, but with your strategic mind, you're also drawn to a good mystery.

Our pick for you:

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb—Amidst the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world, Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise. But on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world, a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his beloved violin, a priceless Stradivarius passed down from his great-great-grandfather.

Aquarius (Jan. 22–Feb. 19)

As an Aquarius, you are interested in profound transformation and big philosophical questions. Like the other air signs, you're known to be intellectual and social. You like progressive, original books that challenge you. Staunchly independent, you tend to eschew the buzzy bestsellers for esoteric, unique reads that take you off the beaten path.

Our pick for you:

Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar—A newly sober, orphaned son of Iranian immigrants, guided by the voices of artists, poets, and kings, embarks on a remarkable search for a family secret that leads him to a terminally ill painter living out her final days in the Brooklyn Museum. Aquarius readers will love the unconventional twists and turns of this outsider-hero's journey.

Pisces (Feb. 20–March 20)

Sweet Pisces, we love your dreamy, imaginative nature and your endless quest for freedom and exploration. A water sign, you are sensitive, nurturing, and protective, sometimes ignoring your own needs in service of others. You are deeply compassionate, highly intuitive, and can be empathetic to a fault. The best books for you shed light on the fullness of human experience.

Our pick for you:

Shadow Tag by Louise Erdrich—When Irene discovers that her artist husband Gil has been reading her diary, she launches a counteroffensive designed to manipulate. As they struggle to keep up appearances for their three children, the couple's home becomes a place of increasing violence and secrecy. Pisces will appreciate this book's fearless exploration of the complex nature of love.  

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Read more by Ashly Moore Sheldon