I Thought It Was A Sign: A Novella

by Dayna Mason, Dayna Reid

Sometimes the life you’re looking for is already looking for you. After mistaking another red flag for a soulmate, a 54-year-old writer boards a train to Mystic, Connecticut, to outrun the noise in her head. Instead, she lands in a town fluent in curious timing and unearned kindness. As strangers cross her path (some proving life has a sense of humor) and small moments begin to feel oddly fated, she starts to wonder whether life has been trying to get her attention all along—and if maybe the life you’re looking for is already looking for you.


“A fabulous novella—beautifully written and delightfully engaging. I think it’s the best thing Dayna Mason has ever written. I could easily see it adapted for film or television. I especially loved the subtle touch of magic and that the story’s resolution wasn’t another romance.”
– Tracy Contreras, writer and artist, Seattle, WA

“I Thought It Was a Sign will resonate deeply with women who have lost themselves in relationships in order to maintain them. When Anelie finally realizes how many ‘signs’ she has misread, she ends her unfulfilling relationship, determined to change unhealthy patterns. A fresh start in a small town gives her the space to learn that she was more than enough all along—and doesn't need anyone's validation.”
– Ms. Stephanie Larkin, author of A Memoir

“Honest, funny, and so relatable. I couldn’t put it down! Anelie’s struggle to stop living for others and start living authentically felt so real. Her journey in Mystic, and the way unexpected friendships guided her toward self-trust, truly inspired me.”
– Dorothy Ferguson, ARC Reader

Genres: Fiction

144 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 9, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: Also writes as Dayna Reid

Reviews

[Jenn A · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
Thank you GoodReads and Dayna Mason for giving me the opportunity to get lost in this amazing story.

This story found me at the perfect moment. Had I read this two years ago - or even a year ago - it would not have had the impact it had on me today.
Beautifully and simply written. Full of heart. Dayna Mason is an author I look forward to reading more from.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Dayna Mason & GoodReads for the opportunity to go on one writer’s journey to stop struggling to live for others but to finally live for herself. This novella reads like a quiet conversation with yourself on a long train ride—intimate, wry, and unexpectedly hopeful.

[Lisa Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

[Courtney Pityer]

I won this in a giveaway