We’re so excited to welcome the wonderfully delightful Serena to our cute little (maybe not so little anymore!) Book Hero team!
Serena brings plenty of sparkle and fun to the office, along with a very genuine love for the things we sell - especially special edition books and puzzles! She pours that enthusiasm into her work, which is great news for us and our customers, because a big part of her role is making sure the products on our website really shine and look their best.
She’s also finding her feet in the bookstore, and we have a feeling our customers are going to love getting to know her just as much as we have.
Thanks for joining us, Serena! We’re so happy to have you on the team ❤️
About Your Role
You’ve joined us as our new Category Assistant Hero! How would you describe what you do to someone who has no idea what a Category Assistant is?
I help with all the little things that keep our categories running smoothly. Need a new product listing? I’ll create it. Something needs updating? I’ll sort it. Product information needs checking or tidying up? I’m on it! I’m here to support our category managers and take on day to day tasks so that they can focus on getting us the coolest stuff for Christmas ;)
Your role touches a little bit of everything - products, the website, backend administration, and even the bookshop. What part are you most excited to get stuck into?
Honestly, the bookshop! You can ask my family and they’ll tell you that one of my dreams as a child was to work in a bookstore, so 10-year-old me would be absolutely thrilled to know that I now get to spend my work day surrounded by books and toys! There’s so much to learn so I’m looking forward to getting stuck in, learning from the team and hopefully becoming a bit of a book, board games, puzzles and toy expert.
You’ll also occasionally escape the office and help downstairs in the bookstore. Are you looking forward to getting to recommend books to customers - or is there a danger you’ll just convince everyone to read the same books you love? 😂
I’m always happy to recommend my favourite books, but in this instance I have a feeling it’s going to be the opposite. Every time a customer comes in, I’ll probably be the one thinking, “Oh, that looks interesting… I want to read it!”
I can already see myself discovering a whole bunch of new favourites while I’m supposed to be helping everyone else find theirs 🫣
Welcome to Book Hero 📚
What were your first impressions of Book Hero when you joined the team?
There’s such a great mix of knowledge, creativity and enthusiasm across the team. Everyone has been so welcoming since I joined, and it’s been really nice coming into a team where people genuinely care about what they do. I’m really looking forward to learning from everyone and getting more involved as I settle into the role!
You’ve joined us at a pretty ridiculous time - a rapidly growing business, a brand-new warehouse and bookstore, and our busiest months of the year just around the corner. How has it been settling in?
It has been a little crazy! My first week was pretty much, “Welcome! We move next week!”
Then week two was, “Moving week! Also, we need you to help label the new racking.” So I got well and truly involved in the move and have probably never seen so many labels in my life (I don’t remember exactly how many locations there were to sticker but lets go with 17,000 cause it absolutely felt like it) it was definitely a good way to get familiar with the new warehouse very quickly.
I’m not exactly blessed in the height department, so most of the labels I did only went up to shelf 5 (sorry warehouse team) 🫣
It’s definitely been a whirlwind, but it’s also been really exciting to join the team at such a big time of change and growth. There’s never been a dull moment, and I’ve already learnt so much in a very short amount of time. I’m looking forward to seeing everything come together and getting stuck into the busy months ahead! (Christmas adding, I’m looking at you 👀)
What has surprised you most about Book Hero now that you’ve seen what happens behind the scenes?
The speed! I knew Book Hero was fast, but I just didn’t realise quite how fast we actually are! There’s so much happening behind the scenes at any given time, and it’s amazing seeing how quickly everyone jumps in and gets things done.
Whether it’s getting new products online, turning around updates, preparing for promotions or responding to what customers are looking for, there’s always something happening. It’s definitely made me appreciate just how much work goes on behind the scenes to keep everything moving
Let's Talk About the Important Stuff: Books
We already know you managed to own the entire Throne of Glass box set for YEARS without actually reading it. Please explain yourself. 😂
Listen, I know it’s not my finest moment, but in my defence, there are just SO many books to read! I did eventually get there in the end… ish. (still a work in progress 😆)
And honestly, the box set hasn’t exactly been sitting there completely untouched, Amelia and Siobhan have both borrowed it, so I’d like to think it’s gotten the attention it deserves! I’m just apparently very good at collecting books faster than I can read them.
You finally started Throne of Glass to get yourself out of a reading slump. What was it about the series that got you excited about reading again?
Rowan The new ACOTAR books. Rowan It really was the final push I needed to finally start Throne of Glass. Rowan Knowing there was a new ACOTAR book coming gave me the motivation to finally dive back into the world of Sarah J. Maas. Definitely not Rowan.🤭
More importantly: where are you up to now, and which book in the series has been your favourite so far?
I’m currently up to Empire of Storms! I’ve been a little busier since my last update, so my reading pace has slowed down a bit, but I’m still making my way through it.
So far, Heir of Fire has definitely been my favourite. I really enjoyed that one, and it was probably the book that made me properly invested in the series. I’m excited to see how it all comes together.
You described yourself as an Aries when explaining why your friends repeatedly telling you to read something made you want to read it less. Does this happen with other massively hyped books too?
Yes lol, I’ll get to it when I decide I’m ready hehe Although,we know how this ends and eventually curiosity wins and I end up wondering why I waited so long to read it. (Please see above answers for proof 😛)
You also wrote about going back to comfort reads. What is your ultimate comfort book - the one you could pick up over and over again?
My ultimate comfort reads would have to be the Tiger’s Curse series by Colleen Houck and the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer.
I’ve genuinely lost count of how many times I’ve reread each series, but I never seem to get tired of them. There’s just something about the stories and characters that keeps pulling me back in, and I fall in love with them all over again every time I read them. (Team Edward btw)
What’s one book you recommend so often that your friends are probably sick of hearing about it?
Crave by Tracy Wolff
I’ve been telling my friends for YEARS that they need to read these books, so I now understand exactly how my friends have felt when they have been insisting that I read something.
But finally, this year, one of my friends actually borrowed my books and is making her way through the series! I’m trying very hard not to constantly ask her what she thinks, but I’m just very excited that someone is finally reading them.
The Dangerous Part of Working at Book Hero
Be honest: has working surrounded by books made your TBR problem better or significantly worse?
Hahaha are you kidding? It’s making it so much worse! Everywhere I look there are books, I walk to my desk there are more books, I go to the kitchen, MORE BOOKS. My job is literally adding products to the website, so I get to see all the books and toys we’re getting in, and then once the listing is live, straight onto my wishlist it goes.
How many unread books do you currently own? We promise this is a judgement-free space.
Are we including on Kindle as well? Cause uhh I think it deserves ALOT of Judgement.
749…
But if we’re only counting physical copies, then a much more respectable 15 (although this number is absolutely going to grow due to the previous question).
Are you as Puzzle obsessed as Amelia?
I honestly do not think that is possible, have you seen all her puzzles?! She is puzzle QUEEN 👑
What have you already spotted at Book Hero that you’re tempted to take home?
Other than the entire Reverie puzzle range? Seriously the prettiest puzzles I have seen!
It would probably be easier to just read out my wish list lol
I think working here is going to be very dangerous for my bank account
If we gave you $200 and told you that you HAD to spend it at Book Hero before going home today, what would be coming home with you?
So like…. Can we make this happen lol, I have already seen a dozen books in the bookshop that are just waiting to come home with me.
Ahem …
Can I raise my fictional $200 to like $500? Because I have a feeling $200 isn’t going to cut it...(if you wanna surprise me with any of these that would be GREATLY APPRECIATED).
Serena's $200 500 Wishlist 😍
Getting to Know Serena
When you’re not working or reading, what are we most likely to find you doing?
My best friend lives overseas so it is very likely you will find me on facetime with her chatting about everything and nothing. Also probably playing fortnite with my friends lol
What’s something about you that your new Book Hero teammates - or our customers - would probably never guess?
Probably that I really love ice skating and ballroom dancing! They’re two things you probably wouldn’t guess from me just by meeting me at work, but I absolutely love them.
What does your ideal Sunday look like?
Lately, my ideal Sunday has been spending the day lounging around with my friends, listening to music and yapping for hours, or putting on a movie and settling in for a cosy afternoon.
Nothing too exciting just good vibes and no plans to be productive.
What are you currently obsessed with outside of books - a TV show, movie, game, musician, hobby, food… anything?
Do you know BTS? 😂I wouldn't consider it a current obsession as it's been going on for a while lol but I really love K-pop, especially BTS, Stray Kids and BOYNEXTDOOR.
If you see me with headphones on there is a 110% chance I’m listening to K-pop (or Michael Bublé lmao)
Finally, we’re entering into the happiest time of the year - Christmas! What are you most looking forward to about Christmas at Book Hero?
I am all about christmas, if it were up to me the office would be playing xmas music in October.
Honestly, I’m most looking forward to being able to bring some Christmas joy to our customers. There’s something really special about helping people find the perfect gifts, whether it’s a book, a toy or something they’ve been searching for. I’m excited to be part of that and to experience my first Christmas at Book Hero.