Blame My Virgo Moon

Never Trust a Gemini #2

by Freja Nicole Woolf

Shakespeare’s Juliet has it easy compared to zodiac-obsessed Cat as she balances feuding friend groups, a school play, a fledging romance, and her clumsy self in this delightful follow-up to Never Trust a Gemini.

Life should be Gucci gooseberry gorgeous for Cat Phillips now that she’s got the girl: swoon-worthy, green-haired Morgan Delaney. Except Cat’s friends aren’t too keen on Morgan, and Morgan’s friends aren’t quite rolling out the welcome mat for Cat either. When Morgan takes on queen bee Siobhan for the highly contested spot of Head Girl, Cat would rather pluck out her eyelashes than pick a side, which is how she ends up accidentally auditioning for the school production of Romeo and Juliet . . . and landing the starring role opposite Morgan’s new no-good friend, Brooke the Crook. And as if things couldn’t be more of a Marie Antionette Baking Brownies level disaster, Cat’s Sagittarius bestie, Zanna, isn’t talking to her anymore. Merciful Sappho! As Cat trips over herself to keep her relationships intact (and learn her lines), she begins to realize that maybe not all of her problems can be blamed on her Virgo moon in this hilarious, heartfelt comedy of errors told in an uber-unique voice.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Young Adult, LGBT, Young Adult Contemporary, Young Adult Romance, Queer

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2024

About the author

Freja Nicole Woolf is a recent graduate from London College of Fashion who has been writing novels and poetry since elementary school. She wrote Never Trust a Gemini, her debut novel, so that young LGBTQ+ people can see themselves in books that aren’t centered on issue-led trauma. Freja Nicole Woolf lives in the UK.

Reviews

[Rose Eleusis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so ready for this to come out. Cat makes my inner girl-crazy 14 year old so happy. It's so rare that books let queer kids just be kids, and Cat's clumsy attempts at astrology elevated Never Trust a Gemini from fun to delightful.

----

UPDATE: I don't even have words for what a delightful romp through adolescence this is. Cat is just so ridiculous and she brings me so much joy. 5 stars for being laugh-out-loud funny. And it takes a lot to make me laugh over a book.

[staykind · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg this book is lit ( like literary ) you ll understand when you read it. hilarious, creative, just loved it.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This girl is so bonkers and also not here for the Ohio slander. But I still have a soft spot for Kat 🩷

[Deeppy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most hilarious series I've ever read and also the gay panic when growing up is real in this book

[Sini Helminen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Olen pitkään toivonut, että kun Heartstopperin ja vastaavien myötä sateenkaariromantiikka on ollut nousussa, tulisi myös poikarakkauden lisäksi kevyempää kirjallisuutta tyttörakkaudesta. Freja Nicole Woolfin Älä koskaan luota kaksoseen ja sen jatko-osa Syytä aina neitsyttä menevät ehdottomasti kategoriaan sateenkaareva nuortenkirjallisuus lesbopäähenkilöillä ja turhan raskaasta sisällöstäkään sarjaa ei voi syyttää. Kirjojen keskushenkilö Catin päässä ei liiku juuri muuta kuin horoskooppikarttoja ja rom-comien kömpelöiden sankarittarien mittapuulla hän on jo katastrofialttiuden kärkipäässä (jatko-osassa hän sekä sytyttää tukkansa palamaan että tuhoaa yhden keittiön ja yhden kasvihuoneen). Suositun porukan blondi Cat on nyt saanut tyttöystäväkseen tyylikkään kapinallisen Morganin, mutta puheenjohtajakisa suistaa Morganin ja Catin ystävät sotajalalle. Joskus käänteet ovat ihan sympaattisia, mutta aika paljon meno menee enemmän tylsämielisen ilkeilyn ja kohelluksen puolelle.
Toki on hyvä, että sateenkaarevassa nuortenkirjassa voi olla huumoria ja teinihölmöilyä aiempien angstisten nyyhkytarinoiden vastapainoksi, mutta valitettavasti vitsit osuvat melko harvoin maaliin ja enimmäkseen Woolf onnistuu vain ärsyttämään lukijaa. Kaikeksi onneksi Syytä aina neitsyttä -kirjassa ei käytetä Catin lempivoimasanaa “hanhenmarjat” aivan yhtä tiuhaan kuin edellisessä kirjassa, mikä tekee lukukokemuksesta miellyttävämmän. Tiedän myös osalle nuorista lukijoista sarjan toimineen. Itseäni väsytti etenkin “vegaanit syövät vain raakaa parsaa yök” -tason läpät, joita kyllä valitettavasti oli myös muutoin nautittavammassa toisessa uudessa sateenkaarevassa huumoriromanssissa Heartbreak Boys. Sivujuoni, jossa Cat puolivahingossa menee mukaan Romeo ja Julia -näytelmään, oli ihan kiinnostava, joskin tyypillistä, että tällaisissa tarinoissa pääosa aina tuosta vain annetaan teatteriummikolle tulokkaalle. Joku voi pitää virkistävänäkin, että hahmot enimmäkseen eivät opi virheistään yhtään mitään.
Arvio myös blogissa Siniset helmet: https://sinisethelmet.wordpress.com/2...

[Emily Tyler · Rating 1 out of 5]

w o w, one of the most-disliked books i've ever read!! 1 star!

the characters are cartoonishly stupid and vapid, learn nothing, take no accountability for their actions (the moon is waxing, so i can't have a mature conversation with my girlfriend!), and are relentlessly mean to each other for no reason, even girls who are "friends." cat is so self-absorbed and thinks she's an amazing friend and partner for doing the bare minimum (ie: listening to your friend's problems when you've been dismissing her for weeks). probably the most delulu narrator i've ever read!
the writing is painful. please point me in the direction of a single teenager who says "wowzer's trousers" or "my freaking squeaking dress" in earnest.
also: "Is this real homophobia? I've never experienced it before! It's quite exciting, actually." hello?? are we calling homophobia exciting in 2024?? what??

i read this because i read an excerpt at work that has haunted me, and i needed to see if it was bad all the way through. it is! we need joyful queer books for teens, but please, not this one.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author’s books, I now follow this author to keep up to date with the newest developments in her books. I have read another in the series.

Siobhan has organised Cat’s yellow themed birthday party for her. Aquarius Cat is excited that it’s her birthday as for once this is a day that’s all about her. Cat has a Gemini girlfriend. All of Cat’s friends have boyfriends. This maybe Cat’s birthday party, but it’s doesn’t quite go to plan in a friendly fashion. Cat’s girlfriend shows up two hours late for her birthday party and then Cat’s girlfriend into a fight, but of course Cat forgave her girlfriend. With one of Cat’s good friends, Zanna who has never had a girlfriend or a boyfriend, doesn’t quite understand why Cat has forgiven her girlfriend. This happens to be my second book that I have read in the star signs of characters, by the author Freja and this one Blame My Virgo Moon is the most laugh out loud book that I have read in the series. If you love the Geek Girl series of books and Jacqueline Wilson, you will totally fall in love with Freja Nicole Woolf hilarious characters that she has invented and written about

[Katie Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so fun. I honestly love this series and all its silly gay references. It took me a little while to get back into the writing style (it’s very silly and pretty cringe even though it is aimed at young teenagers) but I honestly think when you let go of the expectation that this book is some kind of intelligent thinkpiece just because it’s gay, it’s such a nice read. It’s the series I’d have wanted as a kid and I love the way it integrates representation of all kinds so seamlessly. The references to queer pop culture are hilarious and the characters are all so compelling. I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a fun queer read!

[Horizon Littéraire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Après avoir lu le premier livre, je n’ai pas eu le choix de lire celui-ci, sur que je suis scorpion 🦂 🤗
En plus, la couverture est aussi belle que le premier tome. J’aime beaucoup la thématique liée à l’astrologie. La romance LGBTQAI+ est encore présente. Il y a une belle évolution des personnages entre les 2 tomes. On retrouve Cat encore dans des dilemmes entre l’amitié et l’amour. Encore une touche d’humour est au rendez-vous. Cadeau parfait pour Noël qui s’en vient ! 🎄

-Sandrine

[Lara Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED the first book but I think the second is even better!!! I laughed out loud on almost every page! Cat’s shenanigans and inner monologue are genuinely so special to me, her chaotic energy and gay panic and Taylor Swift obsession made my younger self feel very seen!

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down

If you’re into the zodiac, this is a nice, light-hearted story you would enjoy. I enjoyed the unique phrases and the tone. There’s also a lot of LGBTQIA+ representation.

I also feel that you don’t necessarily have to read the first one to know what is going on in this book.

[Thatbrownbookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and adorable

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Christine Engels · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s just so funny and sooooo much fun to read!!!

(and like i said with book 1, idk why this series has so few readers!!! they’re basically the georgia nicolson books but gay!)

[Noha · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5

C’était vraiment cool même si parfois le personnage principal était horrible , mais J’suppose qu’elle finit par évoluer un peu ?

[Evren (Nonbinary Knight Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Deca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ihan lystikäs tämäkin, mutta ensimmäinen osa oli parempi. Kirjailija tuntuu sortuvan "parempi överi kuin vajari"- tyyppiseen ajatteluun.

Aivot narikkaan tyyliseen ratkaisuun tämä sopii hyvin.

[Ringa · Rating 4 out of 5]

lisää erehdysten komediaa! hahmojen kasvua myös, aivan valtavaa kasvua.

[molly ⸆⸉ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ngl i was on the verge of dnf this
1 stars
Main character was fucking insufferable poor zanna
l hate every character expect from zanna
And don’t get me started on oh my GoOsBeRiEs ughhhh this book was giving me second hand embarrassment
also why did they just mention a singer like every page was making me die .
oMg TaYlOr SwIfT iS iN mY KiTcHeN
Trying to make Modern day things relevant doesn’t work when ur not a teenager right now ,

[Mili · Rating 1 out of 5]

Loved it such a romp

[Rwf Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really chaotic and funny, sometimes I had to laugh about the clumsy mistakes Cat makes and how things never end up good or romantic. Sometimes you have mercy for her