The Devil Wears Black by L.J. Shen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Maddie is a free-spirited, kind-hearted designer who doesn’t know how to say no. Her ex, Chase Black, is a cheating scoundrel who has no qualms about being a jerk.
So when Chase walks back into her life and demands that Maddie pretends to be his fiance, she takes great joy in refusing him. At first.
But eventually Maddie realizes Chase just wants to act out an engagement in order to please his dying father.
Maddie goes along with Chase’s plan in an attempt to help him and his family. But it isn’t long before she starts to develop genuine feelings for both him and his family.
This was very different from L. J Shen’s usual work however I enjoyed it regardless. This was so much less angsty but still very beautiful and well-written.
Chase Black is an asshole but it is hard not to root for him considering his messed-up past with his bro/cousin. Maddie reminded me of Jess from New Girl but she was adorable and I just wanted to see her get the happy ending she deserved.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance, give this a go.
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Month: March 2021
7 Things You Must Do Before an Interview
categories: Career, Job Hunting Tips
No matter how old you get or how far you are in your career, interviews are an unavoidable part of life. Here are 7 tips to help you minimize your stress on the big day:
- Figure out where you’re going and how long it takes you-This is especially important if you’re going somewhere you haven’t been before or if the venue is situated somewhere out of the way. Take a drive to the interview venue and monitor how long it takes you. It’ll save you from being late on the day of the interview. And if the “did you have trouble finding this place?” pops up in conversation, you can show that you know how to plan ahead. I did this for one of my earlier interviews and while I did not remain in that position, this was something that impressed the hiring manager (who tracked me down a few months later for another job).
- Research the business and if possible the interviewers- check out the company’s website and social media pages to get an idea of their work as well as their values. This helps you to learn more about them as well as see if you fit in with their company culture. If you know who is your interviewer, try to find out more about them too. LinkedIn is great for finding who knows who but you can also try social media such as Twitter and Facebook. Maybe you and your interviewer went to the same university or have similar interests which you can use as a talking point during the interview. However I do recommend confessing to cyber stalking. Remember you are trying to build a connection, not get a restraining order.
- Make sure to get a good night’s sleep- Ensure you’re well rested before an interview. If necessary do something the night before to ease your stress such as a workout or meditation. I have a bedtime ritual of tea, face mask and then colouring that always calms me before an interview.
- Revise your resume and cover letter- Go over your cover letter and resume, paying special attention to what projects or job roles may help you in this interview. Have you demonstrated teamwork? Excellent leadership skills? Figure out how you can tie your past and present experience into this job role. This is also a great time to practice your elevator pitch.
- Pick out a professional outfit- be sure to pick out an outfit that looks professional but is also comfortable. The last thing you want is to be tugging and adjusting your clothes throughout the interview. It’s uncomfortable for you and distracting for the interviewer.
- Promote yourself to yourself- An important part of an interview is to project confidence. Remind yourself of all of your amazing accomplishments both in and out of work. Keep a list of everything you’ve done that you’re proud of. You want to project confidence in your interview so it’s important that you remind yourself why you’re so great.
- Prepare questions and your answers- Do your research and prepare answers to some common interview questions. I like to look for general interview questions and as well as questions specific to the field that you’re applying for a job in. Be sure to also make a list of any questions you might have (and make sure they show your sincere interest in the position).
Interviews may be nerve-wracking but with enough practice, you can train yourself to be calmer as well as more prepared.
Fiction Friday: Book Review- A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer (Cursebreakers #3)
A Vow So Bold and Deadly by Brigid Kemmerer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
IT IS HERE!!! The final Cursebreakers book.
This book has the viewpoint of EVERYONE and I am so here for it.
“A Vow So Bold and Deadly” takes a look at both princes and their attempts at preparing for the war that lies ahead.
Meanwhile, Lia Mara struggles with her people who do not respect her and her wishes for peace. They see her as weak and waste no opportunity to show her that.
What I really liked about this book was that no one was the way they seemed. The unassuming, meek serving girl, the headstrong Princess, the bloodthirsty Prince of Emberfall.
Brigid Kemmerer has a gift for creating rounded characters with real flaws and that really shines out in this book.
I also enjoyed seeing how Rhen and Grey prepared for war, neither of them sure whether they could trust the other or not.
From the very first book, I loved how close these two were and in my heart, I knew this was basically their story. “A Vow So Bold and Deadly” cements that fact.
This was a wonderful read that I enjoyed immensely and I am so sad to be leaving this world behind. Maybe I should go in for a reread?
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Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
So heads up, this book has very little in common with the movie.
So if you’re looking for the exact same plot line, don’t pick this up.
However if you’re looking for a fun read about a toxic boss, I highly recommend this book.
Andy gets a job as an assistant to the demanding (and probably mildly delusional) Miranda Priestly. It’s a job many girls would kill for.
Andy has no interest in fashion and certainly doesn’t fit in with the glamorous, skinny girls at work. But all she has to do is stick it out for a year.
But as time goes on, Miranda’s demands become more and more ridiculous and the job starts to take its toll on Andy’s life outside work.
I really related to the toxic work environment and loved that it was such an accurate portrayal of how a job can affect you mentally.
This book took me back to my first job after uni and surprisingly, it was a trip I really enjoyed
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Luck and Stuff
categories: Welcome to The Real World
I hate talking about my job. Both on this blog and in real life. I know it sounds weird considering I spent months complaining about my lack of success at finding a position in my field. However everytime I’m asked about my job, I get a wide goofy smile on my face and I have to mentally slap myself (“You’re a professional! Act like it dammit”).
This is probably what I looked like waiting for a job in my field
That being said there are several days when I can’t believe my luck at finally getting the job.
And that, my friends, is where the problem starts. I keep telling myself how lucky I was to get the marketing internship especially since our company hasn’t had any internal positions in the entire three years that I’ve been there.
While several marketing internships have administrative tasks only, I get to learn new things everyday while also actively learning about paid media.
So yes, in that case I was really lucky. And I really do appreciate it. Except I forgot a vital part of the story up until I overheard a conversation between my mum and aunt.
My aunt was telling my mother how excited she was for my new job and how I was “so lucky”. My mother agreed and then said I worked hard for it.
At this I was mildly confused. Sure I worked hard at my Customer Care job but it wasn’t a tough job. But then my mother continued, “She was always studying and doing things online. She really wanted that job.”
I felt like she was speaking about someone else. I had forgotten about that. I had spent early mornings, late nights, lunchbreaks at work and even a few leave days working on Digital Marketing courses and assignments. It seemed like in the few months that I had the job, I had forgotten what exactly it took to get me there. The months of saving to pay for those courses (my father had paid for my university degree and I wouldn’t let him pay for more studies since there was no guarantee it would pan out), the times with friends that I sacrificed and even the one week leave I took to ensure I had adequate time to complete assignments.
I felt proud of myself but also a bit disappointed. It wasn’t luck. I worked hard and the right opportunity presented itself to me.
I am still so grateful for my job but the one thing I’m taking out of that conversation between my aunt and mother is that no matter what studying further IS important. You never know when the right opportunity would come your way.
