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The Closer
2022 Multiple Book Awards
IPPY Award Bronze Medal for Best Fiction Series
Eric Hoffer Award Finalist for Best Fiction Book
Beverly Hills Book Award Finalist (2017)
The decision was irreversible. . .Vivien would become either the most remarkable female executive in the sports industry, or the biggest failure.
Vivien Lee has spent her entire consulting career helping CEOs look good, so when she finally has the chance to go after her dream of running a business, she grabs it. A lifelong athlete, Vivien arrives at the Smart Sports campus in Portland, Oregon and is introduced as the first female president. It's one of the highest-profile jobs in an industry inhospitable to women. Principled but slightly naIve, Vivien believes her male peers will give her a fair shot.
Stumbling early, Vivien makes a series of rookie mistakes. With guidance from the Ceiling Smashers, a secret society of successful professional women, Vivien learns to navigate the treacherous business terrain. A tight-knit group of male sports executives is determined to show that an industry outsider cannot prevail. The challenge is all too clear: will Vivien triumph in the sports industry against impossible odds?
You'll want to stay up all night to find out what happens to Vivien and share her inspiring story with your friends. This is a fresh, riveting tale about a strong woman endeavoring to succeed with smarts, scruples, and style.
IPPY Award Bronze Medal for Best Fiction Series
Eric Hoffer Award Finalist for Best Fiction Book
Beverly Hills Book Award Finalist (2017)
The decision was irreversible. . .Vivien would become either the most remarkable female executive in the sports industry, or the biggest failure.
Vivien Lee has spent her entire consulting career helping CEOs look good, so when she finally has the chance to go after her dream of running a business, she grabs it. A lifelong athlete, Vivien arrives at the Smart Sports campus in Portland, Oregon and is introduced as the first female president. It's one of the highest-profile jobs in an industry inhospitable to women. Principled but slightly naIve, Vivien believes her male peers will give her a fair shot.
Stumbling early, Vivien makes a series of rookie mistakes. With guidance from the Ceiling Smashers, a secret society of successful professional women, Vivien learns to navigate the treacherous business terrain. A tight-knit group of male sports executives is determined to show that an industry outsider cannot prevail. The challenge is all too clear: will Vivien triumph in the sports industry against impossible odds?
You'll want to stay up all night to find out what happens to Vivien and share her inspiring story with your friends. This is a fresh, riveting tale about a strong woman endeavoring to succeed with smarts, scruples, and style.
- GenresFiction
494 pages, Paperback
Published August 23, 2017
About the author
Shaz Kahng
3 books18 followersShaz Kahng is a board director, CEO, and award winning author whose Ceiling Smasher series has won multiple awards. THE CLOSER and SMASHERS SYNCHED offer up a fresh, modern take on women in business.
In her quest to become a CEO, Shaz has been a scientist, a consulting partner, an e-commerce expert, and a brand and marketing strategist. Over the course of her career she has encountered many unique and unbelievable business situations, some of which have their way into her books. She is a graduate of Cornell University and The Wharton School.
Please check out THE CLOSER and SMASHERS SYNCHED and share with you friends. Thanks!
In her quest to become a CEO, Shaz has been a scientist, a consulting partner, an e-commerce expert, and a brand and marketing strategist. Over the course of her career she has encountered many unique and unbelievable business situations, some of which have their way into her books. She is a graduate of Cornell University and The Wharton School.
Please check out THE CLOSER and SMASHERS SYNCHED and share with you friends. Thanks!
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 14, 2024
I LOVED this book! Shaz Kahng's debut novel is smart, fun, inspirational, and so hard to put down! The story follows Vivien Lee, an incredibly successful consultant at a top firm, as she leaves her position there to pursue her dream of running a business. She becomes the first female president at Smart Sports, and faces incredible hurdles as an outsider in the male dominated athletic apparel industry. I learned SO much from Vivien. She's strong, intelligent, kind, original and resilient. The story was quite thrilling! Some of the things she goes through at work in her new role - my jaw was dropping over and over! She also encounters personal tragedy and I really felt for her. It felt like she was my friend. Despite everything she faces, Vivien remains strong, confident in herself, and courageous in pursuit of her goals. I want this for myself, for my daughters, for my friends. Vivien has great friends, and the support of her father, who advises her to "Be great and be good." I love the idea of the Ceiling Smashers, a group of friends who intentionally make time to advise and support each other. I think all women, all people, need a group of friends like the Ceiling Smashers. I can't wait to read Book Two, Smashers Synched, and see what happens next to Vivien and the whole crew! I wholeheartedly recommend this book!
September 27, 2017
I vacillate between 3.5 and 4 stars. This is a first novel for Kahng, and she comes from the science and business world so my only complaint is that she can be a little heavy-handed with the story itself and some of the dialogue. That said, I really, really enjoyed the main character of THE CLOSER, Vivien Lee. She is a tough business woman but with a warm-heart and stalwart sense of integrity. How often do you see that in the fiction world? Vivien transitions from business consulting to heading up her own division at Smart Sports (a Nike nom de plume). The novel describes Vivien's experiences as she navigates this male-dominated world. What was highly interesting is that many of the instances in the book were based on a lot of Kahng's real-life experiences. It was fast-paced and the language could be technical in nature, but not excessively so. I feel like I learned a lot, but it was disguised in a page-turning story of professional and sexual politics. Her "ceiling smasher" friends, all professional women in male-dominated industries, support her and propel her forward when things are not looking up. This book is the first of a trilogy, and I'm looking forward to the next one.
February 17, 2019
Overall I think there is an interesting story buried in here, its just buried a little too deep for me to really enjoy. She may not wear a red cape and blue pajamas, but under all the athletic references this is essentially a story about Superwoman. There really isn't any dramatic tension at all to whether or not Vivian will do what she wants. Its more of a question about how long it will take and how many people will shake her hand on the way up.
My understanding is that a lot of the interactions with other characters come from the author's personal experiences and these stories and anecdotes stand out as the high light of the book. One scene in particular (where she is unable to share a drink with her colleagues at the bar due to a "men's only" rule) I thought was very well written and highlighted some of the unappreciated difficulties women in this position face. Unfortunately scenes like this are too far and few between compared to riveting dialog such as:
"What about you, Vivi? You've never had anything but success," Grace said, tilting her head up. "As a matter of fact, in all the years I've known you I can't think of a single time you've failed at something."
My understanding is that a lot of the interactions with other characters come from the author's personal experiences and these stories and anecdotes stand out as the high light of the book. One scene in particular (where she is unable to share a drink with her colleagues at the bar due to a "men's only" rule) I thought was very well written and highlighted some of the unappreciated difficulties women in this position face. Unfortunately scenes like this are too far and few between compared to riveting dialog such as:
"What about you, Vivi? You've never had anything but success," Grace said, tilting her head up. "As a matter of fact, in all the years I've known you I can't think of a single time you've failed at something."
May 18, 2021
Too often, women are overlooked for certain positions in careers because of male-dominated fields. In this book, the author focuses on Vivien, a woman who is full of determination, knowledge, and intelligence. She knows what she wants and what it will take to get there. Unfortunately, there are those who are not willing to help clear her path and she’s faced with the hard truth, not everyone can be trusted. Those whom you think will help you, would rather create a roadblock. It’s her strength and ability to push through that really make her shine above everyone else. It was interesting to me to see such a strong-willed character show vulnerability in this kind of setting. More often than not, professional women are portrayed in books with a more harsh persona. It was good to see a role where the protagonist is relatable and generally heartfelt among her grit and strength. Well written, and something I will read again!
September 22, 2022
I really loved this book and devoured it quickly (on my commute)! It was very cleverly constructed and offered a fresh, unpredictable take on an age-old problem. It is so incredibly satisfying to see a strong woman outsmart people who are not her intellectual equals (or at the very least are not willing to put in the real, hard work it takes to succeed at the top of the org chart). This is a fun, rewarding and inspiring read for women navigating (or preparing to navigate) the many challenges of the professional world. The author is a super star in her own right and is highly respected in the corporate world, so the book feels authentic and will ring true for anyone who has found themselves in a similar position. The book also reminds us how important it is to have strong female allies in your corner - there is nothing women cannot do when they support each other and work together.
July 10, 2017
I loved this debut by Shaz Kahng, a former global director of Nike. Her vast experience in the women's athletic apparel world makes for a realistic and yet still thrilling book that touches on important issues for working women ( Ceiling Smashers) as well as topics that would be of interest to anyone who cares about business, sports, and shark diving! ;)
A fun read with poignant moments for the main character you'll surely be cheering on, and villains you can root against! After reading this I am proud to be a #ceilingsmasher and look forward to more in this series.
A fun read with poignant moments for the main character you'll surely be cheering on, and villains you can root against! After reading this I am proud to be a #ceilingsmasher and look forward to more in this series.
November 8, 2021
I loved reading about Vivien Lee, a strong, intelligent, and accomplished female lead that's so rare in books and movies. I particularly enjoyed the business-oriented plot with the strategic and creative solutions described by the author. I felt the other characters were endearing, especially the antagonist I loved to hate.
My only complaint about this book is the lack of depth of emotions in some tragic and devastating parts of the story. Also, Vivien seemed too perfect with no flaws at all, which I found unrealistic.
However, I recommend everyone to read this book, particularly girls and women who are looking for some girl-power stories.
My only complaint about this book is the lack of depth of emotions in some tragic and devastating parts of the story. Also, Vivien seemed too perfect with no flaws at all, which I found unrealistic.
However, I recommend everyone to read this book, particularly girls and women who are looking for some girl-power stories.
November 16, 2021
A fabulous and fierce read. What the author gives in this book is a powerful contribution to the shared imagination of women in leadership. We need more books like this that revel in the competency and exceptional nature of women to enact change in the world.
September 1, 2017
Loved the book! It's a fantastic blend of fascinating business action and feminism rolled together. Also, if you're an athlete, learning about the athletic apparel industry is really interesting!
February 24, 2019
Exceptional book. Couldn't put it down.
September 18, 2019
A light, silly, entertaining audiobook.
June 14, 2022
Couldn’t even finish this
August 7, 2022
This was really hard to put down. I fell in love with Vivien.
August 25, 2017
The Closer has everything you want and hope for in a great read. The main character was strong and so endearing. You not only want her to thrive, but also want to be her friend. Once you start, you will not be able to put the book down. This is the perfect read for any book club and for anyone who loves a strong female lead. Plus, it gives you some insight into the fitness apparel industry which is a great bonus.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews