Breathe In, Cash Out

May 1, 2019
An investment banking analyst dreams of becoming a yoga teacher, but that's easier said than done. Allegra hates her job. That's not saying much, since everyone at Anderson Shaw, the most prestigious investment bank on Wall Street, hates their job. It involves pulling constant all-nighters, doing busy work at a moment's notice, and working such long hours that a steady stream of caffeine is the only way to survive. But Allegra has a secret: Unlike her co-workers, she doesn't dream of moving up the banking ladder and making a seven-figure salary. Allegra's passion is yoga, and as soon as she gets her yearly bonus, she plans to quit Anderson Shaw, take a yoga training program, and become a teacher. The only problem is that her job is killing her. After one impulsive night away from the office leads to unknowingly sleeping with her new boss, Allegra's at rock bottom--stressed, unhappy, and in awful physical shape from sitting hunched over a computer all day. That's when she runs into her idol, an Instagram yogi named Skylar Smith. Skylar wants to help Allegra break out of her terrible job and into the world of yoga, but some of Skylar's suggestions (such as fasting for 48 hours) actually create major problems for Allegra at work. Eventually, Allegra starts to realize that she doesn't fully trust Skylar's intentions, and she might just have to take more drastic action to get her life back on track. Debut author Henry has a background in both investment banking and yoga, and she imbues the story with believable and horrific details that perfectly illustrate how cutthroat and all-consuming the world of banking is (employees having seizures after working too long without sleep or passing out after overdosing on caffeine pills). Allegra's work life is an endless stream of misery, but, luckily, on the page it's much more entertaining due to her profane inner monologue that points out the ridiculousness she encounters in both the banking and yoga worlds. A sharp and funny look at an unhappy woman's quest to manifest a better life.

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June 14, 2019

DEBUT Second-year financial analyst Allegra Cobb desperately wants out of her soul-crushing job with inhumane work hours and expectations, but she is determined to stick it out until she receives her year-end bonus. She wants to open a yoga studio despite the real possibility of disappointing her proud but competitive father. Unfortunately, her work life goes from bad to worse after she sleeps with Mark, unaware that he's the new managing director of her work group. She also takes questionable life-improving advice from Skylar, her Instagram yogi idol, that doesn't help her strained relationship with uberdemanding boss Vivienne. Debut novelist Henry, who has firsthand experience in investment management and yoga, delivers an awesomely titled tale that is, without a doubt, an addition to the chick lit oeuvre: imagine Andy from The Devil Wears Prada and Bridget Jones meeting for cocktails. VERDICT While the heavy use of business and yoga jargon slows things down, the wit that pervades Allegra's search for #bliss and the requisite quirky supporting cast make this a fab read for chick lit fans. [See Prepub Alert, 1/7/19.]--Samantha Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY

Copyright 2019 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2019
Allegra Cobb is a year-two investment-banking analyst at a top firm in New York City. Her days consist of aligning text boxes in Power Point and eating just to stay awake to complete all-night tasks. Banking career and Princeton credentials aside, her true love is yoga. Though she is self-taught, she won the American Yoga National Competition. She uses Instagram to secretly pursue other yogis, particularly yoga guru Skylar Smith. But when Skylar isn't who she presents herself to be online, Allegra finds herself stuck between a handstand and a hedge fund. Henry's debut is chock-full of banking jargon, scattered with yoga jargon, creating a story in between the diverse vocabularies. Using her own background in investment banking and yoga, she sheds a light on centering oneself between two worlds. From meditating in a coat closet to fasting for two days in the middle of a megamerger, Allegra is irresistible as she tries to conquer it all. Perfect for fans of fiction about women who ditch the cutthroat to follow their passion.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)