Tips and Tricks for Starting Uni

Hello all, and Happy Weekend!

Today’s blog focuses on a topic that is already at the forefront of many minds: starting university.

As soon as September comes around, academia strikes. Whether you’re going back to school, returning to college or – the big one – heading off to uni, September lends itself to that feeling of post-summer dread, especially if you're making the big move to uni.

If the aforementioned applies to you, you’ve come to the right place. I have experienced first-hand just how daunting this time can be, and I’m here to shed a little light on what can otherwise be a completely overwhelming period. So, without further ado, here are my top tips for starting university. 

Buy a Diary

This is a must. Never again will you cram so many activities into a few weeks, so getting organised is vital in avoiding FOMO, especially during Freshers’. You might never have succumbed to a diary before, choosing instead to note everything down on your phone, but being able to see all of your commitments laid out in front of you is the best way to stay on top of things.

Be Prepared

If you haven’t already, now is the time to start thinking about the things you are going to need once you arrive. Unfortunately, mum’s endless supply of household products can’t come with you, partly because they wouldn’t all fit in the car! Whether you’re moving into halls or shared accommodation, the likelihood is that you’ll need things for the kitchen, bathroom and bedroom, so leaving everything till the last minute is a recipe for disaster. Get packing now and you'll find it much easier come the big move. A few things that are often forgotten but always useful are clothes airers, coat hangers and extension leads. You’re welcome!

Make it Home

As well as all the junk you need to bring to get by in everyday life at uni, it’s important to bring a few home comforts that will make your new home feel like just that: home. Photos of family, fairly lights, snuggly blankets. Anything that reminds you of home will surely help you to settle in, because Ikea-clad box rooms aren’t the most comforting of surroundings, believe me.

Be Yourself

Sorry to repeat the age-old philosophy, but being anything other than yourself when starting uni can only end badly. It can be really easy to put on a front when around new people, and to some extent this is okay, but putting on a façade can be disastrous when trying to make friends. Setting yourself up as someone you’re not will only result in one of two things: either you’ll have to keep up this false persona for a whole three years, which sounds entirely exhausting, or there will come a truly awkward time when you’re true identity reveals itself – leaving your new friends confused as to who you are, and why you felt you had to lie in the first place. So, if you love Harry Potter, wear your Gryffindor slippers with pride. Don’t like clubbing? Don’t go clubbing! Love politics? Join the Politics Society! Following the herd is very 2013 and if there’s anywhere you can be authentically you – it’s uni!

Learn to (batch) cook

I didn’t do this and have regretted it ever since. Around now is a great time to learn the basics of cooking and get a few recipes under your belt before the sad time comes. Yes, I hate to break it to you, but now that you’re an adult, you have to start making your own dinners. Enlist a friend or family member’s help in nailing some basic dishes and get used to the idea of batch cooking. It’s a great way to save time and money, and there’s nothing better than coming home from a long day of lectures knowing that your dinner is only a microwave away!

I could go on and on, and I’ll be writing further blogs on more specific aspects of uni such as Freshers’ and exams, but I hope these tips will make the daunting process of starting uni a little easier for you. Take it from me, these will be the fastest three years of your life, so remember to take a breath every once in a while to remind yourself how lucky you are to be there, even if it doesn’t feel that way when you’re in the library at 1 am!

In any case, I wish you the best of luck and hope you’ll stay tuned for more university tips.

Happy studenting!

E x

Book Club: Jodi Picoult's "The Storyteller"

Hello all, and Happy Sunday!

I hope you’re having a lovely Bank Holiday weekend so far and, if you live in the same part of the country as I do and have, therefore, been forced to take shelter from the elements this weekend, then I hope you’ve enjoyed this rather wet and windy day in the same way as me: tucked up on the sofa with a cup of tea and a great book.

This afternoon, as I snuggled up in my pyjamas with a tea and a home-cooked scone (thanks, Mum!), I was reminded of the promise I made a few weeks ago, to write a Book Club blog post every month, and since this month is almost over, I thought I’d better get a move on!

So, after much deliberation, I decided that August’s Book Club would centre around The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult, a book I recently finished and adored. This novel is, in my humble opinion, criminally underrated. In fact, I’d never even heard of it until a family friend passed it on to Mum who, in turn, passed it on to me. I suppose any book written by an author who has experienced great success from another one of their publications will inevitably be cast into its shadows to follow loyally behind. In this case, Picoult’s most famous novel, My Sister’s Keeper, is the caster of said shadow, having sold thousands of copies and being adapted into a critically acclaimed film.

I would never deny the brilliance of My Sister’s Keeper. I would – however – unapologetically admit that I liked The Storyteller a whole lot more.

That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy the aforementioned title (if a novel about childhood cancer can be enjoyed). But The Storyteller roused emotions within me that had never been achieved by a book before. The term “gripped” is thrown around somewhat carelessly these days, being quoted on the front covers of books from almost every genre, but The Storyteller truly gripped me, so much so that – come the last few chapters – I literally couldn’t put it down.

The book is split between modern day and World War II, and revolves around an introverted character called Sage, who was left both emotionally and physically scarred following an accident in her early childhood. Sage begins to break down the protective walls she has built around herself when she befriends an elderly man called Josef, who she soon begins to confide in and consider a friend.

This, however, doesn’t come without consequence. Having discovered that Sage is from a Jewish family, Josef takes the opportunity he has waited for for many years, revealing to her his sinister past and deepest, darkest secret. Josef was an SS officer during the Holocaust, and has lived his life so consumed by guilt that he now wishes to die, and wants Sage’s help.

This already dizzying notion only gets worse as Sage discovers that her history and Josef’s past may have more to do with each other than it first seemed. As their stories intertwine, Sage faces a personal battle, having to choose between justice and mercy in her quest to uncover what is right and what is true, and whether this is any difference between the two.

There’s not a lot more I can divulge without dishing out some serious spoilers, but I hope I’ve done a decent job in setting the scene for this fantastic book. I’ve always been oddly drawn to books about the tragedy of the Holocaust, having studied both World War II in History at school and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in English. This book manages to authentically portray the unfathomable struggle of Jewish people at that time, while simultaneously creating an utterly absorbing story full of twists and turns that even the most seasoned Picoult reader could never predict. I finished the book with such a mixture of emotions that left me unsure of what to do with myself. I found that I was angry the book had come to end: not because I was unsatisfied with the (admittedly surprising) ending, but because I simply didn’t want to stop reading it.

Whether you’re a fan of Picoult or not, I couldn’t recommend this book highly enough. The juxtaposition of the entirely-relatable Sage with the entirely-unrelatable tragedy of the Holocaust makes for a truly enthralling read, and I’d encourage anyone to make it next on their list.

As ever, if you do take on this recommendation, or if you have any recommendations of your own, please get involved and leave your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to know your thoughts!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

E x

The "First First" Day

I’d usually start my blog with the cheerful, if not rather assumptive, greeting of “Hello, Fellow Job Hunters”, but I shan’t hold back in telling you that a recent development renders me no longer part of the job-hunting crew. That’s right, as of this Monday, I have officially been employed in my first post-university role! I never thought I’d see the day, but the day came and went.

Thankfully, this development suggests that any advice on the graduate job-seeking process that I’ve previously dished out on this blog stands a chance of being at least half decent, which bodes well for any future posts on the matter, of which I’m sure there’ll be many!

So, as one might expect, this new chapter of my life – despite being only five days long – has granted me with a new perspective and, as a result, a brand-new angle to take on my blog. While I’ll still be sharing advice on applications, CVs, interviews and more, I can now substantiate this advice with real, working experience, which I hope goes some in way proving that maybe – just maybe – I did do something right.

With this in mind, what better time to blog about the rather cliché but undeniably seismic event of the famous first day, and not only that, but the “first first” day! Your very first day in the working world after finishing university. Whether you walk in like you own the place or, like me, run around jotting everything down on a notepad to examine and revise later, no one can deny being the least bit nervous on their first day. And that’s completely understandable: walking into the unknown is rarely an entirely un-resounding experience, after all.

What can be particularly hard is having to get used to an entirely new routine: not only are you in new environment but your entire week has been restructured, which usually means earlier alarms, harder commutes and longer days. As well as this, it can be a real adjustment going from being in the oldest year group at uni – where you know your way round, are confident in your abilities and are on a first name basis with your lecturers and peers – to being the new kid on the block once more. All your comforts are stripped away and, no matter how high and mighty you may have been at uni, “first first” days still have the ability to make you feel like a child at a new school: lost, shy and full of doubt.

So, what can be done to make this “first first” day run as smoothly as possible? I’m not saying that it will pass without a hiccup – after all, you’ve got a lot to learn – but there are definitely things that you can do to help yourself out, calm your nerves and create a great impression to your new colleagues…

The 3 Ps: Prepared, Punctual, Professional

This one starts before you even enter your new workplace but can be vitally important in setting you off to the best possible start. I know it’s likely that you will have already completed some research on the company in order to prepare for your interview(s), but doing a bit of reading around the organisation, its purpose and its people is always good practice in the days before starting a new job. You’ll walk in feeling less like a clueless newcomer and more like you know a bit about what you’re doing.

In the same vein, showing up on time (if not a little early) and well-presented is of the utmost importance. You’ll have already gotten a feel for the company’s dress code during your previous visits but, if in doubt, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed! Likewise, arriving promptly (or, I’d say, no more than 10 minutes early) will contribute to your new employer’s first impression of you, which is crucial in setting you off on the right foot.

Make Friends

Not in the kind of pushy way your parents encouraged you to when starting school, but it is a good idea to get chatting to people early on. Show an interest in them and what they’re doing and if you’re lucky enough to be invited to lunch or out for drinks after work, the answer – at least initially – should always be “yes”. These events, however informal, give you a great opportunity to get to know your new colleagues, which will only work in your favour in the long run.

Ask Questions

This one’s a toughie as it’s really easy to shrink into yourself on your first day, especially when you don’t know what you’re supposed to be doing, and sit there trying to look busy and calm when inside alarm bells are ringing and, frankly, you want to go home. As a newbie, it’s natural to feel like a pest when asking existing employees for help, but it’s also natural to need a bit of guidance: you’re brand new, after all! So, don’t be afraid to ask for help, no one is going to judge you for it.

Write Everything Down

Now, this one may not work for everyone but, personally, I have found it to be really useful. Rather than having to ask everyone to repeat instructions several times, take a little more time and write down “How To” notes for yourself. Whether it’s how to complete a task that needs doing daily or even just how to work the coffee machine, writing notes down will allow you get on with things more independently: creating a great impression of you as well as boosting your confidence.

Be Proactive

Again, this one is easier said than done, but showing a level of proactivity and being able to use your initiative is really important during your first week, when you are yet to develop a routine of your own. Never sit there not knowing what to do, always ask if there’s anything you can do to help and, if not, get stuck in to some work of your own: learn your way around the computer system, familiarise yourself with the office layout and learn how to use machinery like printers and scanners. Showing that you’re capable of using your initiative on your first day is super important.

For any of you who have recently accepted a job offer and are yet to start, hopefully these tips will come in handy. First days are never easy and may even require some acting on your part, but as long as you remain calm, polite and diligent, you really can’t go too far wrong.

In any case, whether you’re still applying or awaiting your start, I wish you every bit of luck in your new career! Your future awaits you and, as scary as that may seem, it's also really exciting!

Best of Luck,

E x

The Environment: How to do Your Bit on a Budget!

Hi, Friends!

Today’s blog post is taking a slight swerve away from the usual topics of education and employment and focusing on something that is of equal importance to me: the environment.

That’s right, I have long been a self-confessed tree hugger and try my best on a daily basis to take small courses of action that have a positive impact on the environment. This being said, as an ordinary member of society and a newly-former student, I also know that it can be tough to live cheaply and easily while doing your bit for the planet. If you’re having a post-exam party, for example, it can be all-to-easy to nip to the shops and buy a mass of plastic cups, straws, plates and cutlery to cater for everyonre. If you’re local council has seemingly tedious rules and regulations with regards to what can and can’t be recycled, it can be easy to ignore them all and simply shove the offending item in the bin: sending a perfectly recyclable item straight to landfill.

Today, however, I am the bearer of good news! I’ve taken it upon myself to devise a list of cheap and easy ways that we can all do our bit for the environment: small changes we can make that won’t make any difference to our lives but will make a whole lot of difference to the planet. So, without further ado, get ready to make some changes; it’s all for the greater good!

Watch Your Water!

Living in a first world country, it’s so easy to take our abundance of clean water for granted. After all, all we need do is turn on the tap! However, this luxury is easy to abuse, and many of us are very guilty of using far more water than we need to. Simple acts like cutting your shower down a few minutes, not over-filling the bath and turning off the tap when you brush your teeth are all great ways of reducing the amount of water we waste, all contributing to a less careless way of life.

Recycle

This has been drummed into us all since the late 1900s but, amazingly, some people still haven’t caught up. Recycling is one of the easiest and cheapest ways that we can all do our bit for the environment. Tonnes of information is available from your local council on how they operate in your area and what they require from you. After that, it’s just a matter of putting things in different bins, and that’s hardly a hardship!

Go Public

With modern life the way it is, many of us are guilty of jumping in the car far too often, whether that be to get to work or to the shops five minutes down the road. Switching your car for walking, cycling or taking public transport has many benefits, not just for the environment but for your health and purse strings too! Say goodbye to traffic by getting the train, wave goodbye to staggering petrol costs by boarding the bus, or get a pre-and-post-work workout by walking or cycling: the possibilities – and the benefits – are endless!

Say “No!” to Single-Use Plastics!

Now, this is a biggie! Environmentalists have long been aware of the detrimental – nay, devastating – effects of single use plastics, but the issue was thrust into public attention last year with the broadcast of Blue Planet II. Until then, many of us were simply unaware – blindly naïve – of the impact our everyday use of plastics was having on our oceans and the environment as a whole. Now, I know as well as anyone that it isn’t as easy as simply giving up plastic: many of our everyday necessities rely heavily on plastic products to protect and preserve. But, where we can do our bit is by eliminating as many single-use plastic products as possible. So, instead of buying a new bottle of water every lunch time, invest in a reusable, refillable bottle. When having party or summer BBQ, buy recyclable paper cups and plates instead of plastic ones. Using a sealable sandwich bag every day? That needs to stop! Stock up on reusable Tupperware and you’re good to go! Make changes as small and simple as these and voila! You’re saving money and the environment!

What a Turn Off!

This one is super simple and still ignored by a worrying percent of the public. The rule of thumb is this: if you’re not using it, turn it off! “Standby” and “Off” are not actually the same thing – shocker, I know! – so when it comes to your laptop, computers, TVs and consoles, when you’re not using them turn them off - preferably at the wall. Otherwise, it will chunter away consuming energy until you next deign to use it. Which leads me to phone chargers… Far too many of us drain the energy out of our phones throughout the day before draining the Earth’s energy by charging them up throughout the night. Not only does this waste more electricity then necessary, it has also led to a spate of fires throughout the UK, so it’s not a good idea in anyone’s books. So, say it with me! “If you’re not using it, turn it off!”

I hope you’ll take these few tips on board and start doing your bit for the environment. As you can see, it doesn’t have to take a lot of time, money or effort, but it can make the world of difference to the world.

Let’s save the planet!

E x

How to Make the Most of Your Summer!

Hello and Happy Friday!

How do most 21-year-olds celebrate the long-awaited end of the working week? By going out to clubs and partying with their friends, of course! How do I see in the weekend? By writing a blog post on gaining summer work experience! YAY!

In all seriousness, if five summers spent as a working student have taught me anything, it’s that summer is a time that truly has the power to make or break you, professionally speaking, and what seem to be “breaking you” at the time is probably – actually - propelling you forward. Allow me to explain…

After a year of rigorous academic study, a well-earned three-month break seems like an entirely just reward, and no one could blame you for wanting to make the most of those twelve weeks of freedom before academia strikes all over again. However, in reality, when you eventually reach the end of those three long years of study and embark on the seemingly longer job-hunting process, recruiters aren’t going to be impressed that you spent that valuable time – your summers – mucking around with your friends and going on holiday.

It’s tough, I know, but it’s the truth. Potential employers see your summer as twelve long weeks in which you are free to gain experience in order to improve your application, so if you choose to fritter those few months away doing nothing, it may have consequences.

I don’t wish to sound condescending, and a job is definitely better than no job, i.e. if, like me, you’ve spent some of the last few summers making cappuccinos and toasting teacakes, this won’t be held entirely against you: the fact that you’re doing something can be good enough. But the fact of the matter is that most sectors that recruit graduates have come to expect a small amount of experience at the very least.

So, how do you go about it? Harking back to my previous post on how to get your “dream” internship, I would definitely recommend interning as a great place to start. It’s not for everybody and, sadly, it usually isn’t paid, but in terms of gaining relevant experience – for me – interning has proved to be invaluable. I’ve been able to gain experience in social media coordination, events marketing, PR and more, purely from internships, and I’m pretty sure that none of the attention I’ve been paid from recruiters lately would be given if I hadn’t interned in the past.

In the same vein, having some volunteering on your CV is only ever going to work in your favour, and even better if you manage to get some in an industry that is relevant to the career path you want to pursue after university. For example, I was able to gain a great voluntary position with Cancer Research UK as an Events Marketing Intern which, now that I’m interested in PR, makes for a great talking point on my job applications. This being said, if your volunteering takes the shape of operating the till in a charity shop or serving soup at a local kitchen, employers will still be impressed to see that you’re an individual who dedicated some of their precious time to helping others.

If, however, your studies really do take up the majority of your time, there are other ways to make some additions to your CV, and your university can be a great starting point. An obvious option would be to join a club or society, which can range from academic groups and topical clubs to sports teams and interest groups. Whichever one, or few, takes your fancy, the fact that you showed willing to get involved in extra-curricular activities will ensure a talking point with future recruiters. Oh, and FYI, if no club or society appeals to you, start one yourself! All it takes is a quick chat with your Student Union, a few mates and voila! You've got the makings of a thriving society.

Beyond this, there are many more activities for students to get involved in, even if it’s a matter of asking to be involved. For example, many universities have student newspapers, magazines or radio stations, most of which will allow students to be involved on an as-and-when basis. For example, if - like me - you love to write but can’t commit to being a weekly columnist, have a chat with someone in charge and see if you can submit pieces around your schedule: they will be grateful for any and all content you can offer them. Your options may not seem obvious at first, but have a think about your uni and the services it offers, because behind them all are a team of people making it happen, and you could join them!

If you're stuck for ideas, I would highly recommend your university or college's Careers Department as a great starting point. The services they offer range from CV advice to interview tips, and you can be sure that they have some great connections! In fact, employers commonly contact local university Careers Advisers with information on upcoming opportunities, so becoming acquainted with them could be a great springboard! 

I hope these tips have proved useful for you. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news: that summers aren't solely for beach days and picnics anymore (let's all cry together). But, if you put in the hard graft now, you'll be rewarded later on when you most need it - trust me! 

Please feel free to get in touch via the comments below with your questions and experiences! 

Have a lovely weekend! 

E x

Tips for CV Success!

Hi, Job Hunters!

Well, I’m assuming you’re a job hunter, since you’ve wound up on a blog post about CV enhancement, but I could be wrong. In any case, whoever you are and however you got here, I hope you’ll stick around!

Being that time of year - and by “that” time of year I mean the time when students are graduating from uni, leaving college or generally just moving onto the next stage of their lives - I thought it might be useful to share what I have found to be some useful hints and tips on how to structure, enhance and generally make the best of your CV.

It can be hard to know what direction to take when it comes to your CV, what with the hoards of conflicting advice from university lecturers, careers departments, recruiters and potential employers. While some tell you to stick to only one side of A4, others stress the importance of including all relevant experience. While some instruct to disregard A Level and GCSE grades in favour of higher education results, others take a “the more the merrier” point of view. All of this results in CVs being added to the long list of “Must-do(-but-don’t-really-know-how-so-will-probably-just-ignore)” tasks, and who can blame you?!

However, the fact of the matter is that having an updated and accurate CV to hand is essential, especially when going through the job hunt or uni application process. I’ve learnt first-hand that employment opportunities can literally crop up at the drop of a hat, so it’s great practice to have a current resume ready and waiting, just in case.

So, where to begin? It can be hard even knowing where to start, but – like an enormous (if slightly boring) cake – it’s not going to eat itself, and the first few bites make all the difference! On that note, I think a great place to start would be with structure…

The great news is that the days of the all-too-common white Word document with black “Times New Roman” centralised font is well and truly over; CVs can now take any and every form imaginable. In fact, some individuals opt for interactive CVs such as PowerPoints and Prezi clips. While I haven’t personally gone this far, I chose to structure my CV using a ready-made template on Word which allows you to re-design the colour, fonts, etc. to suit your personality (mine’s pink, of course, à la Elle Woods!). Using this template has allowed me to fit more on my CV using less space, as well as creating a much more visually appealing document that surely stands out against the mundane, monochrome alternatives, which is key in getting noticed!

Next comes content and, as alluded to, it can be hard to know exactly what needs to go on your CV and what can be omitted. Personally, I take the view that if you’ve worked hard to achieve something, it should be on your CV, especially if it’s relevant to your chosen career path. My CV takes up three sides of A4, and the only person who’s ever told me to cut it down was a Careers Advisor from uni. I did listen, technically, since I made each section more concise and less “waffle-y” (I am the Queen of Waffle, can’t you tell?). Yet my CV remains longer than the average length and I’ve never received criticism for it from interviewers, in fact, I’ve often been congratulated on my chock-a-block resume! The only advice I can really give, therefore, is thus: if it’s relevant to the job you’re applying for or you are particularly proud of it, put it on there! In time, you’ll be able to scrub your student job as a waitress or till operator right off to make way for all your fabulous experience!

Finally comes the slightly more controversial matter of what details to include. Many companies nowadays are striving to employ a more diverse workforce which is undeniably fantastic (if not long overdue), but this doesn’t mean that certain forms of discrimination no longer take place. Some claim to have been discriminated against based on their age or postcode, leading many to leave these details completely off their CV. Others have gone so far as to remove their name from their CV in order to avoid prejudice based on gender or nationality. I can neither confirm nor deny that the above is happening but in order to avoid any possibility of prejudice I have simply chosen to include my name, phone number, email address and link to my LinkedIn page on my CV. Should an employer want to know anything more about me, they’ll have to get in touch to find out and therefore – inadvertently – express an interest in my application. Should they choose to discriminate against me based on my age, gender or location, then I wouldn’t want to work for that company anyway!

All in all, as long as your CV is an accurate and up to date representation of yourself with some personality thrown in, you can't go far wrong! Be honest, concise and polite, and your CV is sure to impress. 

I hope these hints and tips have come in handy and, if you are part-way through the gruelling job hunt process, I wish you every bit of luck and success. If you have any questions, I’m always happy to help and will gladly get back to you via the comments below!

Happy Hunting!

E x

Book Club: Jojo Moyes’ “Me Before You” Trilogy

Hello and Happy Tuesday!

If there is such a thing as a happy Tuesday, that is. I like to think there could be, and I’m trying my best to do my bit in making this particular Tuesday as happy as possible with the launch of my new segment: Book Club!

I know that online Book Clubs are becoming increasingly popular, but I remain the most avid reader I know, so no blog of mine would be complete without taking the time every now and then to pay homage to works of literary genius (and the odd chic-lit!). I’m going to try my best to publish a Book Club post once every month and, I promise, I’ll try and keep them as spoiler-free as possible!

It simply wouldn’t be right to launch my Book Club with anything other than the trilogy that has filled almost all of my free moments this summer: the ever-popular “Me Before You” trilogy by Jojo Moyes. Each time I’ve hopped on a train, taken a lunch break or even just sat down for a five-minute cuppa, these are the books that have been keeping me company.

Or, perhaps, it would be more accurate to say that the book’s heroine – Louisa Clark – has been the one keeping me company. I see a lot of myself and my friends in Louisa: her naïve optimism, ambition and occasional klutziness, which is perhaps why I found her to be so easily relatable. She is not – like in many books of similar genres – a city-dwelling marketing professional with a hot-but-cheating boyfriend who dreams of nothing more than breaking into the fashion industry, aided by a mysterious stranger who she, inevitably, later falls in love with. No, Lou is a much more accessible, realistic character who has big dreams and an even bigger heart, but no real clue what to do with them, and as a recent graduate, this struck an all-too-familiar chord!

As many of you probably know, the first book of the trilogy, Me Before You, was made into a major motion picture starring none other than Game of Throne’s Emilia Clarke, and – for this reason – more people than have read the book are familiar with its storyline, so I won’t go into too much detail here. While the film manages to capture the book’s small-town charm and quirky main character, there are certain elements of the plot that were left out for ease of creation, but these add a whole new dimension to the book’s characters which I believe should not be missed. Therefore, I would highly recommend taking the time to read the first instalment, rather than skipping straight to book two based on your knowledge of the film. You’d be missing out if you did!

In an effort to avoid spoilers, I’ll simply go on by saying that book two, the aptly titled After You, takes place after a pretty monumental event in Louisa’s life, which can be felt and empathised with all the more having read its predecessor. As readers, we see where the events of the previous book led Lou, and catch up with the changes in her life that have come about since we last saw her. We witness her trying hard to move away from the events of her past, but – despite her intentions – she has wound up in another dead-end job with no clue what to do next. This monotonous routine of hers makes it all the more flabbergasting when a huge reminder of her past manifests itself, in a way that not even the reader would have thought possible. This presents its own challenges, and quite dramatically imposes on Lou’s life, which does not pass without consequence. Alongside this, after an accident of her own, Lou becomes acquainted with “Ambulance Sam”, a paramedic who bears demons of his own, but whose mutual dysfunction provides Lou with a sense of much needed comfort.

These two new chapters of Lou’s life occur not only simultaneously but at a time when she least expects them (but, perhaps, most needs them), and the repercussions of each new responsibility are both trying and rewarding. Much like the first book, After You concludes with an ending that is every bit as triumphant as it is compelling, leaving us wanting more.

Thankfully, since the third and final instalment is already published, we don’t have to wait for long to satisfy our need to know how Lou is doing. Book three takes off almost exactly where book two finished, making for a smooth reading experience. In my humble opinion, book three – formally known as Still Me – is the most captivating of the lot. Perhaps this was because I knew that it would be my last hurrah with Lou, at least for now (hopefully not forever? Jojo?!), but I simply couldn’t put it down.

Without giving too much away, Louisa – once a waitress at a tiny café in her even tinier town – finds herself living and working halfway around the world as an assistant to the wife of a rich businessman. The new acquaintances from book two, including Ambulance Sam, are still very much parts of her life, and the final story sees her grappling with responsibilities old and new, as each vie to take centre stage in her ever-chaotic life. As always for Lou, nothing is ever easy, and we cringe/laugh/cry along with her as she makes sacrifices big and small to make things work. Come the final few chapters, I couldn’t put the book down, and devoured the remaining pages in a single sitting.

If you couldn’t tell by now, I highly recommend this trilogy, especially as summer reads. They are very easy-reading, and the plot manages to intertwine story-lines both relatable and unimaginable, which is no mean feat. Jojo has long been a favourite of mine, so I could be slightly biased, but I feel that this is justified. She has a way of writing that makes you feel so “at one” with the character, as if they were truly your friend. Even now, I find myself wondering how Lou is, what she might be getting up to, and whether she is still where we left her at the end of Still Me. While the books may not be intellectually stimulating or lexically challenging, they provide you with great company and heart-warming conclusions, which can be every bit as rewarding.

I do hope you take up my recommendation and give these books a go. Even if you don’t read the trilogy successively, like me, each revisit to Lou’s world is as enjoyable as the last, providing the reader with a comforting companion wherever the delve back in.

If you do decide to give Lou a go, or if you already have, please share your opinions in the comments below! I’d love to know what you think of her stories. Until next time!

Happy Reading! 

E x