Leo loves Aries. If only Leo’s clueless ass could see it.Theo Wallace—fun, lazy, Leo—needs a friendship that sticks. That thrives. That helps him leave past pains behind and look toward the Bright Future. Mr. Jamie Cooper—level-headed, motivated, Aries—seems to be a possible and convenient match. Real convenient. Like written-in-the-stars, he’s-his-newest-roommate convenient.Things are fun.Things … he’s-his-newest-roommate convenient.
Things are fun.
Things are better than fun.
But what’s with those long looks Jamie keeps giving Theo?
And what’s with the quivery feelings in Theo’s stomach?
Clueless Leo will need a clever Aries to figure it out.
“Leo Loves Aries” is a flirty, slow burn, roommates to lovers MM romance with a heartwarming HEA. This New Adult, college, friends-to-lovers novel is the first book in the Signs of Love series.
The books in the Signs of Love series are standalone romances, and can be read in any order.
LEO LOVES ARIES (bi-awakening, friends to lovers, clueless as fuck)
SCORPIO HATES VIRGO (boy next door, fake-enemies to lovers, mistaken identity)
GEMINI KEEPS CAPRICORN (fake fiancés, friends to lovers, off-limits lover)
PISCES HOOKS TAURUS (marriage of convenience, opposites attract, age-gap)
CANCER SHIPS AQUARIUS (manny, widower, opposites attract)
Rainbow Awards 2017
Runner Up for Best Gay Book
Runner Up for Best Contemporary Gay Romancemore
If you’re looking for a light-hearted beach read as we head into summer, Leo Loves Aries is a great, uplifting romance. I love all of Anyta Sunday’s MM contemporary romance. This series in particular has some fantastic banter between characters with lots of personality. I’ve enjoyed all the sequels to this book, as well, each one bringing something unique but heart-warming to the story.
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2019/12/31/review-leo-loves-aries-by-anyta-sunday/
My plan for this book was to be the first for the year 2020, but my reading got more fluid thanks to my days off and it has become the last of the year 2019. I started this season with an awesome book by Teagan Hunter and I have finished it with an even more awesome book by Anyta Sunday. This reader is pleased!! I love stories full of heart and humor. The first stop in the Signs of Love saga has plenty of both.
In this story we meet Theo, an economics student who is still wounded after a painful break-up with his former girlfriend. That pain is shared with his sister, Leone, because her broyfriend broke up with her to start a relationship with Theo’s ex. When they are invited to the dreadful wedding, both of them decide they don’t want to go alone. So, they promise each other to look for a suitable date to take to the wedding. At the same time, they are looking for a new roommate. There enters Jamie, a former tutor of Theo who is charming and good-looking. In other words: Leone’s future date and a perfect friend in the making. But it is friendship enough for Jamie? Theo is up for a big surprise…
This is my first book by Anyta Sunday and I must admit I have fallen in love with her style. This is the kind of story that makes me feel good. That gives me energy to deal with anything bleak in life and makes me weirdly hopeful. Yeah, during a short period of time life will be splashed with more pink tones than usual thanks to the sweet overdose of good vibes delivered with this book. And all of that awesomeness is produced in a very simple way. Nothing convulated or twisted in the search for so-called originality. It’s an everyday story massively enhanced by the immeasurable hearts of the characters and the neverending banter they exchange. I am hitting my head against a wall for pushing this book for so long!!
I’m not afraid to say that 80% of my love towards this story is due to the characters. Without any shred of doubt, I would put Theo on my Top 5 of favourite characters of this year and he would easily make my Top 10 for favoruite book characters of all time. He is so easy-going and funny that I only needed a couple of chapters to bow before him. Instant book boyfriend! And those are not his only good qualities: he is loyal, sensitive, smart, always ready to help… A total catch that makes me wonder how could anyone break up with him. I know love is complex, but Theo makes so easy to like him. I felt so comfortable besides him the whole story. And Jamie is not far behind. He is the adult of the pair, but that doesn’t mean he is dreadfully serious. Not by a long shot. When Theo gets lippy with him, Jaime is more than capable to counterattack with as much wit as his playful roommate. And that has made my day. My smile couldn’t be bigger if I pulled the corners of my mouth. So, yeah, the former tutor is good-humoured, sexy, hardworking and with the perfect measure of cockiness. Another one that made me sigh as a lovebird. I don’t mind adding him to my book boyfriend list, too.
But those are not he only characters that shine. Leone, Sean, Ben, Kyle, the mothers… All of them have a scene to show how great they are and to put their weight to build the superb story that is Leo loves Aries. For the first time in a very long time, I have zero complaints about the cast. I only wish I could be a candidate for that room that is free now in Theo’s and Leone’s house.
And the romance… that is how is done. At least how it should be done to wow me (which is not the main concern of any author, but let me dream…). I LOVE me a slow dance. This time it has been extra sweet and extra funny thanks to Theo and his charming oblivious ways. I just wanted to grab the guy and throttle him to make him realize the good thing that he was missing, but I must admit the sluggish pace has worked miracles in this story. Faster would have been way more boring. Yes, I have suffered. But it has been good suffering. I wouldn’t mind being assaulted with more of it.
I got this book for free in Amazon a while ago and it was lost in the sea of free books that this obsessive reader has been filling over the years (about 16K free books and growing). I wonder what other treasures I have buried there. Maybe I should make the resolution of reading more free books instead of getting them and forgetting they exist…
Great dialogue and fun interactions make this a lively read. Really enjoyable all round and I’ll certainly be checking out the rest of the series!
Super cute. College-age romance with an oblivious main character, adorable snarky interactions, and some seriously misguided matchmaking.
great for today’s loosey-goosey whatevs millennials.
Characters are fun. The straight guy finding out he is not so straight may not be original, but it is a fun journey for Theo after a painful breakup at the beginning. He is a Leo, Jaime is an Aries and his mom declares their horoscopes claim their HEA is pretty much written in the stars.
A lovely story about relationships. The characters are wonderful, and watching their relationships unfold was a lovely adventure. This story has all the comfort of a warm blanket and hot cocoa on a chilly, rainy day.
A scrummy boys kissing 4.75 stars
Leo loves Aries is the most DELIGHTFUL M/M read! A very witty banter friendship that turns into a first time gay experience. Loved it.
I loved every moment spent with Theo and the very suarve and cooly charming Jamie Cooper.
With the added bonus of brilliant secondary cast, especially their parents.
I love this whole series by Anyta Sunday, but I think Leo and Jamie are my favorite couple. The misunderstandings are adorable and believable and make the final reveal that much more satisfying.
The romance is cute, but everyone in this story is overly invested in horoscopes. It makes sense for Theo and Leone, since their mother is super into it, but way too many of the side characters also seem to care a lot about them and it just paints such an odd picture of their community…like, this just isn’t something the majority of the world cares that much about? Lots of people do, to be sure, but it seems very odd that there’s such a concentration of true believers. Attention focuses very tightly on the main characters, to the extent that Theo’s declaration of the mathematical importance of love seems like it would be super awkward for EVERYONE ELSE IN THE CLASSROOM, and it doesn’t even raise a blip on the story’s radar. I also get the feeling that an American editor could have been useful, as there were a number of points of phrasing and diction that did not scan as natural (and again, were spread out over a number of characters, rather than being a quirk of one).
I did a reread of this book because I was looking for a comfort read and the second time through, Leo Loves Aries still doesn’t disappoint. This is a slow and I mean SLOOOOW burn romance so prepare yourself for lots of flirty banter, wittiness and charm. I loved these characters. I loved Theo’s confusion about his feelings for Jamie (even when I wanted to smack him upside the head); and I loved that once he figured it out he didn’t shy away from going after what he wanted. His bi-awakening was like watching someone jump head first into a pool and come up grinning and saying the water is great. I just loved it. I somehow never managed to get to the rest of the series but I’m going to try and rectify that now.
I just don’t want to let the characters go!
I think I have loved everything Anyta Sunday writes, but Leo Loves Aries is absolutely perfect. Theo is cocky and confused, Jamie steady and sure, and their slow burn as Theo struggles to understand why his “friendship” with Jamie leaves him utterly confused is an absolute joy to read.
I’ve had this book in my Kindle library for quite some time and had no idea I hadn’t read it yet! So glad I found it!
M/M Romance. Lots of humor. How oblivious could one man be? Friends to lovers. Medium Steam level!
This is a wonderful friends to lovers story. Heartwarming, slow burn and tons of obliviousness courtesy of Theo.
The whole book is from Theo’s POV and there were millions of times I wanted to hit him on the head because he was just sooo blind. He’s fucking clueless.
I loved Theo and Jamie. Theo’s sister Leone is an amazing character. Their mom who is obsessed with hososcopes is a fun character. Infact I loved all the side characters. Such an amazing story. Loved the friendship and how it developed.
Also I’m a sucker for friends-with-benefits to lovers and this has that too. And that shirt would have killed me if I wasn’t already dead. Highly recommend this one!!
Theo the Leo’s obliviousness was almost physically painful, and at one point I was only reading out of shock at how willfully ignorant he was being. But I liked the characters, and eventually they pulled it together.
This is a great “accidentally falling in love” “friends to lovers” story with great dialogue, witty banter, legitimate confusion.
It almost feels like an Oscar Wilde RomCom with lots of gender neutral names and innocent misunderstandings.
A fun read, and a romance with real chemistry. It refreshing to have to main characters who are emotionally well-adjusted, and come from happy homes.
Theo has a great arc as he recognizes his connection to Jamie, but doesn’t really understand what it means. This was so much fun to read.
A lovable read!
A new person will enter your life in the early year, Leo…
Look past any moments of frustration they might bring and laugh—this could be the start of a thriving friendship…
But watch out, Leo, the stars have a surprise in store…
Such a hot, funny and magical read! Wow – I am so glad I discovered this book on my kindle. I stumbled across it when searching for something to read, and there it was, glaring at me, and I knew I needed to read it! And damn, did that book blow my expectations!
A sweet, slow-burn romance that will set the roof on fire!
So consuming! I sat and read and read. Did not sop till the last word. Then, I was sad it was over! These men will forever remain with me. Their story and journey was beautiful, humorous and amazing.
Full of humour, star signs, attraction, friendships, feelings, discovery, trust, roommates and love.
Perfect for readers of contemporary romance/gay romance.
Audiobook
It was a good and enjoyable listen. Loved hearing the story aloud.
A Good story that leaves you satisfied about the end of the book. Doesn’t stay in its conflict too long and makes you love the banter between the characters. Loved it and strongly recommend reading the series.
A waste of time.