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A review by eloharay
Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Valley Verified combines fashion and tech with a splash of mystery and a whole lotta drama. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it was a decently quick read for me. Once I got into the story, I didn't want to put it down, despite being in a weird mood at the time.
There was a slight romance element to the story, but it is primarily about Zoe's journey from working in fashion publishing before working as the marketing director for a fashion-based software startup company in Silicon Valley. Without giving too much away, Zoe finds herself not fitting in with her new tech company and feeling isolated because fashion is so important to her. There's a character who you're almost immediately suspicious of, and for good reason. I feel that Kyla Zhao does an incredible job of portraying the inherent misogyny in male dominated industries, and showing how a woman fighting against these systems can feel like there aren't a lot of options for them. I also enjoyed the peek behind the curtain of fashion journalism and absolutely loved the concept of the app portrayed in the book.
Zoe has a good heart, is sometimes too naive for her own good, and really believes fashion should be inclusive. She has incredible ideas and thinks she can truly make a difference. She makes mistakes along the way, but that makes her a well-rounded character IMO.
Valley Verified gets my seal of approval with 4.5. stars (I wish more places would let you choose half-stars). So why not five stars? I'm not sure how much staying power this will have with me, and even a few days after reading it, I had to look up some details and character names. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a female-centric story where any hint of a romance is far down the list of attributes. Sometimes, you just want a feel-good "girl power" story, and this is a realistic version of that.
There was a slight romance element to the story, but it is primarily about Zoe's journey from working in fashion publishing before working as the marketing director for a fashion-based software startup company in Silicon Valley. Without giving too much away, Zoe finds herself not fitting in with her new tech company and feeling isolated because fashion is so important to her. There's a character who you're almost immediately suspicious of, and for good reason. I feel that Kyla Zhao does an incredible job of portraying the inherent misogyny in male dominated industries, and showing how a woman fighting against these systems can feel like there aren't a lot of options for them. I also enjoyed the peek behind the curtain of fashion journalism and absolutely loved the concept of the app portrayed in the book.
Zoe has a good heart, is sometimes too naive for her own good, and really believes fashion should be inclusive. She has incredible ideas and thinks she can truly make a difference. She makes mistakes along the way, but that makes her a well-rounded character IMO.
Valley Verified gets my seal of approval with 4.5. stars (I wish more places would let you choose half-stars). So why not five stars? I'm not sure how much staying power this will have with me, and even a few days after reading it, I had to look up some details and character names. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a female-centric story where any hint of a romance is far down the list of attributes. Sometimes, you just want a feel-good "girl power" story, and this is a realistic version of that.
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual harassment