January: The Breakdown

 

I debated whether this monthly recap series was even necessary. But the year moves fast, and somehow entire months disappear if you do not pin them down. So even if the wins are small, I want a record that they happened for accountability, perspective, and future me who will absolutely forget.

Prepare yourself for… nothing.

January turned out much quieter than I expected. I was ready for some action, drama, at least a little chaos, but instead I got borderline nothingness.

I’ll break down what went down, what hasn’t yet, and what I couldn’t help but notice.

First things first, book news. Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a book I finally remembered reading… except I remembered so little that if you asked me about the plot today, all I could come up with is “Heathcliff.” Literally. That is it. It’s coming to the big screen on February 13, starring Jacob Elordi and Margot Robbie. Am I excited? Kind of. Will I re-read it like I do with every adaptation I watch? Absolutely not. Not even for research.

Ana Huang re-opened her much-anticipated ARC sign-ups through her new @TeamAnaHuang Instagram, and the commotion it caused in the book community? Wild. Instead of a fixed rotation, the ARCs will now be available for every book of hers, starting with King of Gluttony, releasing April 28. Normally, I’ve stopped chasing ARCs, but Ana Huang is the glorious exception to that rule.

And then there’s The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden, which has been adapted for the big screen. It released at the end of December and is now available for pre-order on Amazon Prime. Personally, this is excellent news because I am absolutely itching for a rewatch.

That’s it for the book news that actually matters to me. Everything else? Not for moi.

And now, the part that makes me sip coffee a little slower – my professional life.

LinkedIn has been interesting. I connected with the candidate who landed the Publicity Assistant role at Headline last August, the one I also applied for, and I was so grateful for a connection like that. She was genuinely kind and shared a ton of useful insight, refreshingly different from the usual recycled advice. Granted, her experience is solid, and mine is a bit more lightly seasoned, but it was still lovely to connect with someone who actually gets it.

I also connected with a bunch of other professionals from various big publishing houses, and all the tips were gold. The two that stuck with me the most? Show your willingness to learn and highlight your transferable admin skills. So, if you are applying anywhere soon, take note, that is your cheat code.

In November, after not getting one of the four internships I wanted, I was frustrated but still determined. So I reached out to the talent acquisition manager at that company, and to my surprise, they actually replied. We set up a meeting. This does not mean I have a job, but it does mean I might, just maybe, have someone internally rooting for me.

Of course, I did not stop there. How could I? Delusion is my middle name. On January 9th, 2026, I decided it would be a brilliant idea to email the CEO of a division I am interested in. And would you look at that, I got a reply the very same night. At first, I was convinced it was a sick joke, but no. The email I sent at almost 2 p.m. on a Friday got a reply just shy of 9 p.m. I am still half-expecting someone to tell me this is a prank, but until then, I am revelling in the thrill of small victories.

Yet here I am, writing this wrap on January 31st with nothing but more waiting. Sure, having connections improves your odds, but that does not mean entry-level publishing jobs suddenly drop on January 1st like confetti. Did that stop me from refreshing every company website a thousand times a day and letting it ruin my mood? Absolutely not. I am not a saint, and apparently, patience is not in my skill set either.

I am joking, of course. If anyone from HR is reading this, it is totally professional behaviour.

On LinkedIn, I saw a candidate I met during Assessment Day 2 at Harper Collins land a role on the Penguin The Scheme 2026. Part of me pinched a little because I wanted that too, yet I was genuinely happy for them. London is not an option for me, not now and not ever, but my heart does what it wants. I have seen so many people land roles at Harper Collins and Penguin Random House, and even though those paths are off the table for me, it still makes me a little green with envy. I am human. I am not a robot. It is nice to see more people who look like me entering the publishing world. Maybe, just maybe, we are slowly getting somewhere.

Even amidst all that, the entry-level publishing jobs anywhere near me might as well have been a myth.

I haven’t read a single new book this month, but I am deep in re-read mode. The Sweetest Oblivion by Danielle Lori is still keeping me company, even though she herself is MIA, and at the same time I am diving back into King of Envy by Ana Huang because I miss New York and the world she built so perfectly. Nothing new has grabbed me yet, but honestly, I’ve loved rediscovering old favourites this January. I am beyond excited for two releases this year, and yes, you can try to guess which ones. Spoiler: your guesses are probably right.

I decided to give my Bookstagram some TLC. Here’s the thing: I love seeing content, but am I great at making the kind that gets reposted and liked? Probably not. I know what I want, but I do not always know how to get there. So when I call myself a content creator, which I do very loosely, what I really mean is that I just like talking about authors and books I love. I do not read every new release; I am selective, picky, and stubbornly loyal to the worlds I enjoy.

That said, January came through with a few wins. My story got reposted by @TeamAnaHuang, Ana Huang herself replied to my story, and her team has liked several of my comments. Not bad, right? I will keep being authentic on Bookstagram and try not to let it consume my brain. It is so easy to post and then obsess over likes and comments, and I am determined not to go there. This month, I am here for the joy of it, not the numbers.

I actually started working out again. Four times a week, weight training circuit style. Do I love it? Absolutely not. Do I love the feeling afterward? Absolutely yes. Sometimes you have to do things you do not particularly enjoy because the results are worth it.

On a much more personal level, I have been revisiting trauma and betrayal from two years ago. You think you have healed, but sometimes you realize you haven’t. And do you know what keeps me going through it? Faith and books — my constant life mantra, the things that remind me I can survive and still find joy.

I hope to look back at this as a little documented chapter in the story of the year, and honestly, I cannot wait to read it again in December, which, let’s be real, will be here before we even realize it.

Thanks for sticking with this live professional diary entry. If it does anything, I hope it reminds you that you are not alone in this chaos. I have wrestled with exhaustion and frustration, teetering between almost having a job and having none, holding onto hope but afraid of having too much. So many of us feel this way, and I get it. We are all talented, hardworking, and deserving. Let us keep pushing. We have got this.

I would love to hear about your January milestones and small wins. Every little step counts, and it is all part of the journey. Don’t forget to check out my Let’s Connect page to find all my socials. Hopefully, February brings some good news… or not. Either way, we will find out together — coffee in hand, books at the ready.

See you between the pages,
Vivian