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If you’re ready to take life by the horns, 2021 is your year! Or if you want to call bull on that idea, this is still your year! 2021 brings us to the Year of the Ox, the second out of the 12 zodiac signs.

Legend has it that the Jade Emperor said the order would be decided by a race of all 12 animals. The Ox was positioned to be the first to arrive at the Emperor’s palace, only to be tricked by the Rat when asked for a ride. At the last second, the Rat jumped off and landed in front of Ox. At least second isn’t last?

Whether you’re slow to the palace because you’ve been tricked or because you got caught up in a good book, we can provide some titles for the latter based on your zodiac sign. To find out which one, check out our list below.

Rats are maligned as sneaky plague dispensers who lick subway tracks, but we know they’re really the quick-witted and determined heroes of an underground world, much like the gifted child at the center of Stephen King’s forthcoming crime novel, Later. Jamie Conklin’s mother wants him to lead a normal life, but his supernatural powers attract the attention of an NYPD detective in pursuit of a dead killer. We’re intrigued.

It’s your year! Whether you’re taking that at face value or fully claiming it, we know you’ll be steadfast in your decision. Don’t let the “stick in the mud” stereotype deter you though. Let Beloved Beasts by Michelle Nijhuis inspire your sympathetic and dependent side. This history of the conservation movement is influenced by Aesop’s Fables as each chapter spotlights one person and one species. Beautifully written and thought-provoking, Beloved Beasts is a great read for those new to and well-versed in the conservation movement.

The brave and adventurous Tiger will fall for Nnedi Okorafor’s beautiful sci-fi novella, Remote Control, which follows the Adopted Daughter of Death as she sweeps through the towns of West Africa seeking her origins. A hypnotic blend of rural and robotic, traditional and technocratic, the future Africa Okorafor envisions is tense and surreal, a perfect fit for readers unafraid to march into the unknown.

Rabbits are known to be gentle and noble, albeit a little emotionally unstable. Sayaka Murata’s misfit protagonist Natsuki of Earthlings is the perfect companion for you. This strange dreamlike tale searches for answers about the mysteries of the universe. Wonder away, my gentle friend.

Dragons seek thrills and mystery; Walter Mosley is the unofficial king of thrills and mystery; Dragons, your next book is obvious. In Blood Grove, the 15th book of his Easy Rawlins mystery series (no need to read the first 14, aside from the fact that they’re AMAZING), Easy’s attempts to help a white Vietnam vet lead him into a mess of murders, theft, sex clubs, and the enduring acts and impacts of American racism.

Snakes get a bad rap in the Western canon (looking at you, Garden of Eden). On the contrary, people born in the Year of the Snake are believed to be talented, compassionate, and perceptive. Fellow snake Michelle Zauner perfectly encompasses these traits in her vulnerable debut, Crying in H Mart. A memoir about growing up Korean American as well as a tribute to her mother, Zauner’s writing will simultaneously break your heart and act as a salve.

Despite their restless and outspoken nature, the horse is also perceptive and knows when to quit horsing around. Tap into your sensitive side with White Magic, Elissa Washuta’s essay collection, which explores the colonization of Native spirituality, her own ancestral magic, and the path she took to heal from trauma. Washuta will have you under her spell with her insightful and honest prose.

Bolu Babalola is not sheepish about romance when it comes to Love in Color. For our creative and charming readers born in the Year of the Goat, we recommend this gorgeous story collection, which celebrates love in all its forms through retellings of classic myths, folklore, and tales. In a year with curbed travel plans, Babalola’s delightful stories with take you around the world and fill your heart with hope.

Little Monkey, so curious about everything: Don’t you want to know how to cook easy, healthy comfort food? Put down the bananas and let the dynamic Julia Turshen be your guide with delicious recipes like Triple Carrot Soup, Zucchini-Green Olive Fritters, and Lemon Ricotta Cupcakes. Turshen’s writing is fun and encouraging (like you, Monkey), and her smart solutions for common kitchen issues (What to do with extra egg wash?) make Simply Julia a kitchen must-have.

The charming but validation-seeking Rooster will find their match (and maybe a little free psychoanalysis) in Chang-rae Lee’s riotous picaresque, My Year Abroad. When listless liberal arts student Tiller Bardmon falls under the sway of Pong, a Chinese immigrant, entrepreneur, and confidence man, his passive existence gives way to a strange, dangerous, and life-affirming tour of the underbelly of the global wellness market. Hilarious, tender, and optimistic, this is a novel to crow over.

Unsurprisingly loyal, the dog is also honest and witty, making them a great friend for a laugh and a piece of advice. If you’d like to take a break from being your best friend’s therapist, turn to Adrian Tomine’s The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist. His hilariously self-aware story explores moments from childhood, career highlights, and cringey encounters that will make you shudder, but also leave your heart full. You certainly don’t need to be a cartoonist to have this graphic memoir make you feel less lonely.

Greedy as a pig takes on new meaning in Sanjena Sathian’s magical coming-of-age novel, Gold Diggers. Burdened by his Indian immigrant parents’ and community’s obsession with academic achievement, Neil uses alchemy to siphon and imbibe other people’s success. We think this brilliantly written story will appeal to the action-oriented and gently materialistic Pig, who understands that living the good life takes work.