Author Kyla Zhao Takes Us Behind the Glamour
Tales of corporate drama in elite industries
Today’s post is a guest-authored piece from sophomore novelist Kyla Zhao. Kyla’s first book The Fraud Squad was a buzz pick by Good Morning America, a #1 new release in Asian-American literature on Kindle, and featured by media outlets such as Vogue, Elle, Cosmopolitan, and Buzzfeed. Kyla was also selected by Forbes for its 30 Under 30 list and Tatler as a Leader of Tomorrow. Her second novel Valley Verified was released in January.
I’m so excited to share Kyla’s thoughts today that she wrote only for The Book House Blog. Kyla is providing a peek behind the scenes on the inspiration for her newest book and seven recommendations that pair well with Valley Verified. She is an incredibly impressive young author and I hope you enjoy this post and her books as much as I did.
Valley Verified Summary: Imagine Legally Blonde meets The Devil Wears Prada—but this time Elle Woods is tackling the cutthroat world of Silicon Valley startups. In new release VALLEY VERIFIED, Zoe Zeng is forced to leave her fashion job in New York and join a tech startup in Silicon Valley. Tasked with securing an eight-figure investment that could make or break the company, Zoe must tackle judgmental coworkers, tech billionaires and her own insecurities to prove she’s more than just a fashionista in a land of tech bros. Purchase here: www.linktr.ee/kylazhao
From Kyla:
Valley Verified was partly inspired by personal experience. In 2021, I had just left my fashion job at Vogue to take on a new challenge at a tech company in Silicon Valley. My background was in the creative industry and I studied communications back in college. But suddenly, I was working in a much more technical field, surrounded by data scientists and software engineers who were mostly men and all held STEM degrees. I felt completely out of my depth and that sooner or later, my coworkers would figure out I didn’t deserve to be there.
I had also left my home country of Singapore to live alone in California, where I didn’t have any family and barely any friends. Since I didn’t have anyone around to confide in, I channeled all my fears and anxiety into writing. I was inspired to create a story about a woman who makes a similar switch from the fashion world to the male-dominated tech industry, and who also makes a big geographical move and ends up in a new place where she’s alone.
That story later grew into this novel, Valley Verified. I’m not great at facing up to my emotions, but writing Valley Verified gave me a safe space to come to terms with my own insecurities and imposter syndrome. It also helped me realize that feeling this way is valid and normal, and I shouldn’t beat myself up over all the teething problems of undergoing huge life and career transitions as a young adult.
Book Recommendations from Kyla
Valley Verified is perfect for readers who enjoy the following books that each provide unique insights into the challenges, triumphs, and hidden struggles faced by underdogs navigating high-stakes industries. Whether it's the cutthroat fashion realm or the disruptive landscape of Silicon Valley, these books offer readers an immersive journey into the complexities of corporate survival behind a glamorous facade.
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Description: A fresh college graduate lands a job as the assistant to the formidable editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine. As she navigates the cutthroat world of high fashion, Andy discovers the price of success and the sacrifices required in this job that “a million girls would kill for”.
Why you will enjoy Valley Verified if you like this book: Fans of The Devil Wears Prada will feel right at home in the glitzy yet ruthless world of Valley Verified. Zoe Zeng's journey echoes the challenges of navigating a high-stakes industry as an outsider.
The Intern by Gabrielle Tozer
Description: Josie, an ambitious journalism student, clinches an internship at a fashion magazine in Sydney. Through her humorous and heartfelt experiences, she discovers the realities behind the glossy pages of the fashion world, blending personal growth with professional survival.
Why you will enjoy Valley Verified if you like this book: Just like Valley Verified, this book stars a young woman navigating the ups and downs of a demanding job. Readers who enjoyed Josie's journey will appreciate the similar struggles and triumphs of Zoe Zeng in Valley Verified, where she must use all her wits to survive a high-pressure environment.
Legally Blonde by Amanda Brown
Description: Elle Woods, a fashionable sorority queen, enrolls in Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend. Despite initial skepticism, Elle proves her legal prowess while challenging stereotypes about being a dumb blonde.
Why you will enjoy Valley Verified if you like this book: Both stories blend humor and empowerment, showcasing how underestimated individuals can thrive in an unfamiliar, cutthroat environment—all without giving up their sense of style or suppressing their fashionista selves to fit in.
Super Pumped: The Battle for Uber by Mike Isaac
Description: This book dives into the rise and fall of Uber, exploring the company's controversy-laden growth and revealing the darker side of Silicon Valley.
Why you will enjoy Valley Verified if you like this book: Super Pumped and Valley Verified share a common thread of corporate battles and the struggle to manage public perception. Readers intrigued by the behind-the-scenes drama of Uber's corporate world will find a similar allure in Valley Verified as Zoe Zeng labors to help her new startup succeed in a competitive landscape.
The Knockoff by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza
Description: The editor-in-chief of a fashion magazine struggles to adapt when her workplace nemesis aims to transform the print publication into an app. The clash of traditional and digital media, along with the battle for survival in the fast-paced world of fashion and tech, takes center stage.
Why you will enjoy Valley Verified if you like this book: Both The Knockoff and Valley Verified lie at the intersection of fashion and tech—two seemingly opposite worlds. And in both books, the main character must learn to adapt to a new environment while being surrounded by coworkers who look down on them and doubt their competence.
Anna Wintour by Amy Odell
Description: This biography provides an intimate portrait of Anna Wintour, the influential editor-in-chief of Vogue. It explores how she rose through the fashion world to become the face of this multi-billion-dollar industry, winning over and surpassing the men (and women) who doubted her along the way.
Why you will enjoy Valley Verified if you like this book: In Valley Verified, the main character Zoe initially butts head with Lillian Mariko, the startup’s Chief Operating Officer who is slick and polished in all the ways that Zoe is not. Lillian is a female leader cast in the mold of Anna Wintour—both have to navigate the delicate balance of succeeding in a male-dominated industry without coming across as a “difficult” woman.
Brotopia by Emily Chang
Description: Journalist Emily Chang investigates the male-dominated culture of Silicon Valley in Brotopia, shedding light on the gender disparities and discrimination within the tech industry.
Why you will enjoy Valley Verified if you like this book: Readers intrigued by the exploration of gender dynamics in the tech world in Brotopia will find a resonant theme in Valley Verified. Zoe Zeng's battle against Silicon Valley's elitism, her judgmental coworkers, and eccentric tech billionaires serves as a powerful exploration of breaking past gender stereotypes in the cutthroat tech world.
About Kyla
In addition to writing, Kyla Zhao works in Silicon Valley after graduating from Stanford University in 2021.
Newsletter: kylazhao.substack.com
Instagram: @kylajzhao
TikTok: @kylazingaround
Twitter: @kylazhao_
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