Reviews

Valley Verified by Kyla Zhao

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

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funny inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Silicon Valley gets the Devil Wears Prada treatment in this entertaining and relatable glimpse into the elusive world of tech startups, industry wide elitism and male dominated work culture our protagonist, Zoe finds herself faced with. 

I found this a fun and engaging read with a protagonist, whose path to rediscovering herself (and redefining her identity outside of her career) was soo compelling. I loved how strongly Zoe champions diversity (especially as a fashion loving, plus sized reader myself.) And felt her ability to challenge traditional (euro-centric) beauty standards— by fighting for what she believes in, made her such a strong and endearing character that many readers are gonna adore. 

It actually wasn’t until I finished that I found out that author, Kyla Zhao, has a background in fashion herself (previously writing for Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar in Singapore) and now works for a tech company in Silicon Valley— which definitely makes Zoe’s own experiences even more thought provoking. 

Sexism and workplace harassment are two of the main focuses of narrative but I did enjoy the slow-burn romance we see develop between Zoe and love interest Damien. Though I do warn if your only here for the romance then you might be a little disappointed as it does take a back seat to the Zoe’s juggling of her workload, her friends back in New York and  burgeoning friendship with consultant turned stylist Bernadette. If you’re new to romance however, then this is definitely a great starting place. 

The supporting cast weren’t as in depth as I would’ve liked but their interactions were still incredibly engaging and entertaining. Lillian’s portrayal was especially interesting and I did enjoy getting to know her a little better. 

Overall, a fairly quick and fun read that would be perfect for a readalong or Bookclub (especially as the UK edition  contains questions at the back to help get discussions started.) 

Also, a huge thank you to Headline for the PB copy. 
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kaylareadsbooks's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted 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

3.0

I really wish we had more of the relationships. 

bookshelbs's review against another edition

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  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

readalongwithnat's review against another edition

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4.0

This book was honestly so fun!! Definitely enjoyed this more than their first book. I didn’t want it to end! 

alliw153's review against another edition

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1.0

It felt extremely juvenile. 

brancrisp's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

amykwong's review against another edition

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hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

birdwatcher04's review against another edition

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adventurous hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

annie1017's review against another edition

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1.0

Yikes. There is a lot of dialogue and most of it is really really bad

ajacobs590's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

If I had to pick the theme of this book I would say female empowerment! When Zoe leaves the fashion industry for the tech industry she learns how different these worlds are. Throughout this book you see Zoe find her voice and to stand up for what she believes in. 

I really connected with this book as well. Zoe deals with issues that many women deal with in both society and the workplace. She is even told that women are emotionally and their word isn't as strong as a man's. I'm glad that she fights through that and shows what women can do! Coming into her new role and having her coworkers think less of her because she knows fashion and not tech. Then she ends up really showing how she can thrive with her work. 

This book dealt with real issues that happen in the workplace. There is also a trigger warning at the beginning of the book because there is some conversations about sexual harassment in this book. So please be mindful of that when picking up this book. 

I felt like the characters were wonderfully written. I did get frustrated with Cassie and Bjorn. They were so focused on Zoe's raise that they made it seem like nothing else could be wrong in her job. That made Zoe feel isolated and they she couldn't talk about issues she was facing. She was able to find someone to talk about everything but in the meantime she felt alone. 

Overall I enjoyed this book. I think it is worth the read and as a woman it makes you realize you aren't alone with the world wants to make you small and fit into a box. 
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