In this week’s Jen’s Jewels, I had the pleasure of catching up with bestselling author Jessie Rosen to chat about her latest novel, ALL THE SIGNS—a heartfelt and adventurous story that blends travel, astrology, and self-discovery. Inspired by her own global quest to meet her “Star Twins,” Jessie brings readers along on a journey from Los Angeles to Venice, Istanbul, and beyond, all while exploring big questions about identity, destiny, and love. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation—be sure to read on!
Jennifer Vido: Leah’s journey across the globe is both adventurous and deeply personal. What drew you to this story, and why did you choose astrology as a central theme?
Jessie Rosen: This novel actually started as a personal mission to find my own Star Twins in the world during a really challenging time in my life. I was searching for answers about who and how I was supposed to be in the world and had already been curious about how astrology might serve as one type of map (I live in Los Angeles where everyone and their mother has an astrologer). But it’s people’s lived experiences that always compel me most, so I made the somewhat wild decision to see if I could find anyone living my exact same moment. The idea of interviewing my astrological matches felt like such a fun mission. Not only did it work in putting me back on my correct life course (I met 8 matches, and our conversations were truly inspiring!), but part of that path ended up being this fictionalized version of that journey! And yes, I also went to Venice, Italy as part of that globe-trotting mission, just like my main character Leah. Was it all fated? I can’t answer that with scientific certainty, but this entire project changed me as much as the version I wrote for my heroine changes her.
Jen: The settings—Venice, Istanbul, and New Orleans—are incredibly vivid and romantic. How did you select these locations, and what kind of research went into bringing them to life?
Jessie: I write best when I’ve seen a place in person and can tap into all the senses of that direct experience. For this book I was able to carve out time to visit Venice because that city has such a fascinating connection to astrological history (for example, the largest clock tower in town is the Torre dell’Orologio, the Tower of Astrology). Naturally I went there assuming I’d use specific sites I pre-researched to make the most of my time but stumbled upon all the actually correct places to feature by accident (like the Peggy Guggenheim Museum and her very deep connection to the story of my main character and her mother). Time didn’t allow for me to pop around the world to Istanbul or New Orleans, but both of those were locations I’d visited in the past and felt had natural ties to the spirit of what I wanted to happen to Leah on her journey. For me it’s not just what a place looks like and what locations offers plot but the energy inside that contributes to the progression. The other big location for powerful moments in this book is Los Angeles, which I used because it’s the place I was born, just like my heroine!
Jen: Leah, her mother, her father, and the former boy next door all play significant roles in her transformation. Which character was your favorite to write, and why?
Jessie: My favorite character to write was the trickiest to capture at first: David, the former boy-next-door turned love interest that comes back into Leah’s life. Originally this character was named Benny, and he had a completely different personality. I think I was trying to write someone sexy for readers versus considering a. what’s sexy to me and b. what would best serve my heroine. I thought back on two men from my life that had a huge impact on me both romantically and in my personal growth. One was a boy that lived across the creek from my best friend growing up (the very Dawson’s Creek storyline you’ll find in the book), the other was a man I met in my early 20s that helped me see myself more clearly. Both were named David! Once I changed the character name from Benny to David, he became crystal clear for me, and the most fun to write.
Jen: Leah’s skepticism versus her emotional awakening is a central theme. How did you strike the balance between science and spirituality in her arc?
Jessie: I made a commitment early on in my drafting that Leah would not change as a character to the point of abandoning the brilliant science mind and stubborn skepticism core to her personality. My goal for her was to expand, not transform. That meant I had to keep coming back to this sort of litmus test along the way, asking myself is this too much of a change? Or, is this too fast of a shift? Or, would this spiritual belief negate her rational approach to life? I also talked to several doctors that have a strong relationship to their spirituality to understand how they came to those beliefs and where they draw the line. It’s my own belief that we can hold onto both things in life, and I wanted to have Leah help us see that possibility.
Jen: The idea of “Star Twins” is a creative way to explore identity and destiny. How did that concept develop as you wrote the novel?
Jessie: This was another tricky element of balance in the book. I went into development with the hook of Star Twins because it was inspired by my own search. That engine gave me structure for the first half of the novel as Leah begins her search. Things got more complicated when it came to who these twins should be and why. All along I wanted to play with the magic of Leah’s twins having enough connections to propel her forward in her curiosity, but each needed to be different enough to serve her development as a character. Instead of focusing on building the twins’ personalities first, I decided to focus on Leah. I asked myself what big questions she needed to be asking and facing in her journey. Then I created her Star Twins to serve the discussion of those questions. Yes, some are also inspired by people in my life that have been those conversation partners for me. Others were inspired by my actual Star Twins!
Jen: What do you hope readers take away from Leah’s journey?
Jessie: I want readers to be inspired to know themselves more deeply after moving through Leah’s journey. And, more importantly, to believe that there will be people that love them unconditionally no matter what choices and changes they need to make in that process. I’d also be totally delighted if some of them booked an astrology reading after finishing. It really is fun!
Jen: Can you give us a sneak peek into what you’re working on next? Will your next novel also include travel and self-discovery?
Jessie: It’s hard for me to imagine writing anything that doesn’t include self-discovery inspired by travel, even if that journey doesn’t include a literal trip around the globe. I am endlessly fascinated by the concept of leaving the comforts of where you are to figure out where you’re supposed to be. So, yes. I am currently working on a third book project that involves both of those elements. And this, too, features a far-off, gorgeous locale that I’m currently trying to figure out when I can visit.
Jen: What’s the best way for readers to stay connected with your latest happenings?
Jessie: I’m most active in two places where readers can come say hi (and I mean it!). On Instagram and on Substack where I’ve been writing personal essays under my favorite topic outside of self-discovery and travel: bravery! That’s BraverybyJessieRosen.substack.com
Jen: What’s currently on your TBR stack? Are there any recent reads that have especially inspired you?
Jessie: I just finally read The Wedding People by Alison Espach which inspired me at every single turn. A gorgeous story stunningly told. Before that I read Hot Air by Marcy Dermasky, and it’s stayed with me since. It was raw and brave in a way I aspire to be as a writer.
Jen: Thank you so much for chatting with me today! Before we wrap up, is there anything else you'd like to share with our readers?
Jessie: I want to share my deep gratitude with your readers. I have been so touched by the kindness and support specific to the book-loving community. Before transitioning to novels, I wrote in the film/TV world where there’s much less direct contact with the audience. It has been a joy to connect with readers directly and see the ways they truly effort to support books they love. So thank you, all. And never hesitate to reach out to me directly. It makes my day every time.
Leah Lockhart is more than her astrology. She'll search the world to prove it.
Leah Lockhart is proudly science-minded and woo-woo averse. But the life she’s carefully curated is knocked suddenly off course, first by a destabilizing case of vertigo, and then by an astrology reading that claims she’s living way out of line with what was written in her stars.
Incensed, Leah sets off on a mission to prove that astrology is bogus by comparing her life to that of her Star Twins around the world—people born under her exact same map of the stars. But her even deeper guides on a whirlwind journey through Venice, Istanbul, New Orleans, and beyond turn out to be three people already in her orbit: the mother she thinks abandoned her, the father she thinks saved her, and the former boy next door whose love could be the path to her truest self.
Women's Fiction Contemporary [G.P. Putnam's Sons, On Sale: May 6, 2025, Paperback / e-Book , ISBN: 9780593716076 / ]
Jessie Rosen got her start with the award-winning blog 20-Nothings and has sold original television projects to ABC, CBS, Warner Bros., and Netflix. Her live storytelling show Sunday Night Sex Talks was featured on The Bachelorette. She lives in Los Angeles.
Jennifer Vido writes sweet romances set in the Lowcountry, earning acclaim as the award-winning author of the Gull Island series. Her debut novel, "Serendipity by the Sea," secured the prestigious Best First Book award from the New Jersey Romance Writers Golden Leaf Contest. In 2024, Vido's talent garnered further accolades, with Baltimore Magazine readers naming her Best Local Author in their annual Best of Baltimore poll, while the Baltimore Sun acknowledged her with an Honorable Mention in their Best of 2024 Author category. When not writing fiction, she interviews authors for her weekly Jen’s Jewels column, leads water exercise classes, and directs a legal nonprofit. Currently residing in Maryland, she and her husband are proud parents to two grown sons and a rescue dog named Fripp.
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