The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Samantha Sweeting wants one thing in life- to become partner at her prestigious law firm.
She’s worked overtime, birthdays, given up holidays. The partnership is almost hers..until it isn’t,
She makes a major mistake that costs the company millions. Unable to handle seeing her dreams die, Samantha walks out.
She ends up on a train and then in the middle of nowhere. When she stops to ask for directions, she’s mistaken as an interviewee for a housekeeper position. One thing leads to another and Samantha doesn’t correct the error. Instead, she starts working as a housekeeper.
Samantha has absolutely no domestic skills and this is made clear from the very start.
What interested me about this book is that I felt like I could relate to it. With absolute no domestic skills, the first thing I did when I faced a career setback was start cooking. So it was fun to see someone else go through that strange transition.
Like most of Sophie Kinsella’s books, this was a funny read. It really pulled me in and I couldn’t go to sleep until I had finished this book.
I would give it 10 stars if I could because it was that good.
The characters were lively and entertaining, there’s some small town vibes which I always love and of course a hot love interest.
What more could you want?
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Month: January 2025
Must Read Fairytale Retellings
categories: Books
Title: Alias Hook
Author: Lisa Jensen
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Peter Pan
My Opinion: Before this book I couldn’t care less about Hook. I loved the character in Once Upon a Time but that was about as far as any nice feelings towards him go. But this book sucked me in and now I’m a fan. With great worldbuilding and fully fleshed characters, I was sad to finish this book. Send more Hook stories my way, please. Thanks
“Every child knows how the story ends. The wicked pirate captain is flung overboard, caught in the jaws of the monster crocodile who drags him down to a watery grave. But it was not yet my time to die. It’s my fate to be trapped here forever, in a nightmare of childhood fancy, with that infernal, eternal boy.”
Meet Captain James Benjamin Hook, a witty, educated Restoration-era privateer cursed to play villain to a pack of malicious little boys in a pointless war that never ends. But everything changes when Stella Parrish, a forbidden grown woman, dreams her way to the Neverland in defiance of Pan’s rules. From the glamour of the Fairy Revels, to the secret ceremonies of the First Tribes, to the mysterious underwater temple beneath the Mermaid Lagoon, the magical forces of the Neverland open up for Stella as they never have for Hook. And in the pirate captain himself, she begins to see someone far more complex than the storybook villain.
With Stella’s knowledge of folk and fairy tales, she might be Hook’s last chance for redemption and release if they can break his curse before Pan and his warrior boys hunt her down and drag Hook back to their neverending game. Alias Hook by Lisa Jensen is a beautifully and romantically written adult fairy tale.
Title: The Wrath and the Dawn (The Wrath and the Dawn #1)
Author: Renee Ahdieh
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: One Thousand and One Nights
My Opinion: Even if you haven’t read One Thousand and One Nights (I hadn’t), the premise of this book is too good to pass up.
With lush world-building and intense sizzling chemistry, this is a must-read for fans of fantasy romance or the enemies to lovers trope.
In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad’s dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph’s reign of terror once and for all.
Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she’d imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It’s an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid’s life as retribution for the many lives he’s stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?
Title: A Curse so Dark and Lonely (Cursebreakers #1)
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Beauty and the Beast
My Opinion: This is one of the best Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve ever read (and I would know because I’ve read so many). This book stays very close to the original story with enough of a world built around it that you’re still invested in seeing the series through.
I loved this series. The characters are well-developed and there’s so much going on that you really feel like you’re in another world.
It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.
Nothing has ever been easy for Harper. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.
Break the curse, save the kingdom.
A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.
Title: Hunted
Author: Megan Spooner
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Beauty and the Beast
My Opinion: This is another great Beauty and the Beast retelling.
The character of “Beauty”, Yeva is a skilled huntress which made for a fun twist.
The end had me a bit confused but besides that this was an absolutely incredible book.
Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. After all, her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering its secrets.
So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters out of their comfortable home among the aristocracy and back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman.
But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. The Beast.
Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange creature back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of magical creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin, or salvation.
Title: Cruel Beauty
Author: Rosamund Hodge
Genre: Fantasy
Based On: Beauty and the Beast
My Opinion: Listen…if a book is good, it’s good. IDK what to tell you. Beauty and the Beast retellings just work.
From the second the “Beast” is included here, it’s hard not to fall in love with him. He’s very charming.
The only reason why this book isn’t my favourite retelling is because the castle was magical and very confusing to me (obviously I am not meant for an enchanted castle)
Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom—all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.
With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she’s ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.
But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex’s secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.
On Letting Go of Friendships
categories: Uncategorized
As I draw closer to 30, I’ve been reflecting on the relationships in my life- the ones that have lasted, the ones that have faded, and the ones that, if I’m being honest, I held onto for far too long. And one thing has become clear: you cannot build healthy friendships with people who refuse to heal.
We all go through difficult seasons. We all have struggles. But there’s a difference between working through them and making them everyone else’s problem. Some people expect friendships to carry them through life without ever showing up for others in return. They crave community but don’t want to be part of one. They want support, but when it’s time to give it, they disappear- or worse, they project their pain onto the very people trying to stand by them.
I’ve seen how exhausting these friendships can be. The constant defensiveness, the inability to take accountability, the emotional weight of managing someone else’s unresolved issues. And the saddest part? Many of these people don’t even realise they’re pushing others away.
True friendship isn’t about perfection-it’s about growth. The best friendships come from people who are self-aware enough to work on themselves, who take responsibility for their actions and who don’t expect others to fix what they refuse to address.
At this stage in life, I want reciprocal, uplifting friendships built on mutual respect. I want people who show up- not just when they need something, but because they value the connection. You can have empathy for unhealed people but you don’t have to let them drain you. Some people need space to heal and sometimes, that means loving them from a distance.
If a friendship is built on imbalance, resentment or constant emotional labor, it’s okay to walk away. Because at the end of the day, the healthiest relationships don’t just take-they give. And those are the ones worth holding onto.
Book Review: The Last Battle by C.S Lewis
The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I had to brace myself going into this book since it was the last book in my boxset.
The Last Battle opens with a toxic friendship between a not so clever donkey and a very devious monkey.
When the monkey comes across a lion skin, he invents a scheme that changes all of Narnia for the worse.
Aslan summons the Friends of Narnia to help but this time it looks like they might be too late.
This was a great book but it felt like all it did was make me cry and smile and feel all warm in my heart. Over. And over. And over again.
This was a great series that I enjoyed despite my very adult age
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5 Ways to Stay Motivated During the Job Hunt
Job hunting sometimes feels like a job of its own. Whether you’re facing rejection, waiting on responses or feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of applications, keeping your energy up is key to landing the right opportunity. Here are five ways to stay motivated during your job searching:
1. Create a Routine
Treat job hunting like a job- come up with proper hours during which you will conduct your search. Back when I was in uni graduate all I did was look for jobs. No blogging, no living my life, nothing. That desperation led to me taking the first job that came my way and while that decision did work out for me in the end, I still wish I had made the most of the time that I had at home. Set time for scouring job boards, networking and updating your documents. Having a routine helps maintain momentum and prevents procrastination.
2. Set Small, Achievable Goals
Set daily or weekly targets, such as applying to a certain number of positions, networking with a specific number of people, or improving your resume. Hitting these milestones will give you a sense of progress and keep you moving forward.
3. Celebrate Small Wins
Every step forward is worth acknowledging, whether it’s securing an interview, receiving positive feedback, or making a valuable new connection. Recognizing small victories keeps you motivated and reinforces the progress you’re making, even when things move slowly.
4. Stay Connected and Seek Support
The job hunt can be isolating, so lean on your support network. Connect with friends, family, mentors, or online job-seeking groups. Talking to others can provide encouragement, fresh perspectives and even job leads. Surrounding yourself with positive influences can make a huge difference.
5. Keep Learning and Improving
DO NOT LET YOUR SKILLS STAGNANT!!!
Use this time to upskill or expand your knowledge. Take an online course, attend a webinar or work on a personal project that aligns with your career goals. This keeps you busy while also ensuring you look like a stronger candidate when new opportunities arise.
Staying motivated during a job hunt is tough, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can maintain your confidence and keep pushing forward. Set goals, build a routine, celebrate progress, seek support, and continue learning. The right opportunity is out there and you WILL find it! Remember all you need is one yes!
Book Review: The Silver Chair by C.S Lewis
The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I’ve made no secret of my absolute hate for Eustace.
But a mere two seconds into this book and it’s clear that he is a changed person. So when he and Jill are sucked into Narnia and then quickly separated, I was genuinely worried.
Aslan comes in and requests that Jill track down Eustace before the two of them go and locate the lost prince.
At this point, I no longer have any idea what happens in Narnia so it was great being thrown back into a familiar world but with no clue as to what lay ahead. I was also incredibly scared of the witch/creature who kidnapped the prince.
This was my favourite book so far and I cannot wait to see how the series ends.
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Book Review: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Chronicles of Narnia, #3)
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
FINALLY A Narnia book I know very little of.
I remember the painting and the ship and that’s it. So I was excited to dive into this one. Edmund and Lucy are staying with their horrid cousin, Eustace for the holidays. I don’t think I’m the type of person to hurt a kid but gosh, I really wanted to punch Eustace. He annoyed me so so much. Take every adult trait I hate and put it in one snotty kid and that’s Eustace. Know-it-all, snobby and no imagination whatsoever (that last part bugs me because despite his lack of imagination Eustace ends up in Narnia and it’s clear that he and Narnia are NOT a fit!).
When Eustace, Edmund and Lucy end up back in Narnia, they end up on the Dawn Treader, Prince Caspian’s ship.
Prince Caspian is on a journey to find the seven lords- nobleman who supported his father and who his uncle banished. Thing is, it’s been a looong time and these lords could be dead.
(I feel like Caspian just wanted to get out on the sea for fun but okay).
I think this might have been my favourite book in the series. There was always so much happening and it was so entertaining. I couldn’t get through it fast enough.
I’ve reached the stage where it feels like Narnia is my home and it’s really going to hurt me to move on from this series.
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