will you continue to work?

best of luck in your new job. Keep in mind also that just because you heard RUMORS that the boss is not nice, doesn't mean it is true. Often times those kinds of stories are started by people who had a run in with the employer over not doing their jobs well, slacking off etc. and instead of taking the blame themselves and admitting that they were maybe not working as hard as they should, they place the blame on the boss and call them rude, mean and hard to work for. Just go in with your best positive attitude and do you required job to the best of your abilities, you just might find you enjoy working there!

You don't say what the company does, or what you do, BUT. It's always hard starting a new job. Unfamiliar place, people and duties for a few weeks. Why is your manager unpopular? Is she insisting on doing things properly? Concentrate on making friends, ok not bosom ones, but friends, especially of the manager, whom I know from personal experience will be feeling attacked and lonely. Smile, search for the positives, you are at least getting closer to your goal.

fruitcakeliz nailed it. Don't let the hearsay and rumors get you down. If this is the direction you want to go in, go for it. If you do your job, than I seriously doubt you will have any problems with the new 'mean' boss. Something tells me only the slackers hate her... and nobody likes a slacker.