I wanted to like this. I didn't.
I found the first person dialogue practically babbled incoherently for most of the book.
The story was borderline hard to follow -- when you go - Who is that guy? When did he show up?
And the constant masturbation?
Yeah, this definitely wasn't for me.

This book is not what I typically read, however, when I received the chance to read it as an ARC, it seemed interesting. The storyline did catch my attention and for the most part, held it throughout the book. It was generally fast-paced, but seemed to drag on in a few places.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Amran Gowani for the early read!

Amran Gowani is an excellent author!

Leverage was a fascinating read that kept me hooked at every chapter. When Al finds himself in deep trouble, he stops at nothing to find a way out. With the FBI and his Boss breathing down his neck, time is ticking. Read Leverage to find out just how far Al is willing to go to continue being a free man.

I am calling this a financial fantasy featuring a youngster who is
mistreated by close to everyone, but manages to survive. I thought
there would be a bit more hedge fund insight, and there was, when
all is said and done. And Ali survived ~both the somewhat juvenile
behaviour of his peer group and the threats from the crooks for whom
he was working. The timing of the book was topical, and I liked that.
I might hedge on recommending it to folks who might be put off
by the sexual references, though they are likely spot on as young
men go, and I mention it only because the young people do have
different stressors than older readers.
I recommend the book to people who enjoy tech-finance-AI,
and the like!
My thanks to Atria Books via Net Galley for the download
copy of the book for review purposes.

This book was an interesting read and I had a good time for the most part. There is a lot of talk of suicide in this book which doesn't trigger me but there is a point where the "jokes" get a bit old after a while. Several instances is enough, but this one went on and on with references to dying and committing suicide. The timing of this book could not be more relevant with the state of the economy and the stock market at the moment and I can envision many of these scenarios happening in real life. The book is tense and pretty fast paced and compelling.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I could really feel the veiled racism that immigrants likely feel every day in their interaction with bigots. It is hard enough for any person to continually work in a high-pressure position, but to have to suffer the disrespect that Ali felt every day is daunting. The author did a great job of explaining day trading and insider trading, how the wealthy help each other in their pursuit of success and riches. As informative as this book was, it was also a great suspenseful tale. I was always waiting for something worse to happen or the authorities to appear. I empathized with Ali, always using his intellect to stay afloat or rise above despite continually being backed into a corner. And like another prizefighter, Ali comes out swinging! I have to thank SS Atria Marketing for granting me access to an ARC of this book. It was very well written, and the intrigue draws you in deeper each time the stakes are raised. I enjoyed this book much more than I though I would! The characters are authentic, the stakes are high, and the solution is surprising!

After reading about the main character’s almost constant masturbation, thoughts of suicide and humiliation at being of Indian descent, we are left with a thrilling expose of what it must be like working for a high-power, successful hedge fund as a trader. The writing is extremely interesting and descriptive —- “…custom wingtips which cost more than a semester at Stanford” or “…my face looked like the inside of a rotten nectarine “ or a description of the Wall Street Journal as “…a mediocre newspaper, written by a fifth-grade reading level….” This novel is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in high finance as well as devotees of mystery and thrillers. I thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and review this novel prior to publication and anxiously await Amran Gowani”s next book.

A fast-paced thriller set in the world of high finance. The story is mostly on the expected lines - down on the luck trader, one last chance at redemption, a chance to upstage his greedy boss.

What sets it apart is that the pace never slags and the story never takes itself too seriously. There is plenty of humor thrown in. All in all, a great ride. I would love to read more from the author. A solid 4.5 stars for me.

Never thought I'd be so invested in what can be described as a financial crime thriller, but here I am!

I work in finance - which is not needed to enjoy this book but certainly added to my delight at this fast-paced, debauched, stress-inducing, and totally gripping story. With an insane premise and insane twists, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Al is a fantastic protagonist. Self-effacing, somewhat suicidal, but whip-smart and undeniably funny, I was rooting for him the entire time even if I didn't always agree with his choices. He's a fighter whose run-ins with racism and rejection molded him into the hero (anti hero?) that Wall Street needs.

Absolutely loved this. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I just had a high school seniors ask me if I had any books like the Wall Street movie and this book hits the mark perfectly! I will definitely be purchasing

Leverage is an ambitious, thought-provoking novel that explores themes of power, strategy, and influence in both personal and professional arenas. I appreciated the intelligence behind the narrative and the way it challenges the reader to think critically about ambition and control. While the pacing lagged in a few spots and some characters could have used more depth, the overall concept was strong and engaging. It’s a smart, relevant read that stuck with me after I finished. If you enjoy layered stories that make you reflect on the moves people make to get ahead, Leverage is worth picking up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to preview Leverage by Amran Gowani in exchange for my honest review.
Having encountered numerous positive reviews, I decided to request Leverage, despite it not being in a genre I typically go for.. Having given it a try, I can still confirm that this genre isn't for me. I enjoyed the high stakes twists and turns; however, I had a hard time caring about any of the characters or the financial industry. I will say that if you are into Wall Street and corporate intrigue, there seems to be a lot of knowledge from the author on the subject matter. Just because this book wasn't my cup of tea doesn't mean it won't resonate more strongly with an audience that is into high-finance drama.

Wow, to say this isn’t my typical genre is an understatement but I am glad I had the opportunity to read it! I had the opportunity to read this book after the imprint Atria Books reached out to reviewers that may like it. I’ll be honest, the title is what drew me in as I am a fan of the TV series with the same name. However, while they share a name they are not connected at all!

The plot is very fast-paced and it shows the line between success and sacrifice. It explores greed, corruption and the moral implications of decisions in the financial world of hedge funds. The protagonist is an Indian American man which also was a large reason I wanted to read it as I haven’t had the opportunity to experience this culture in a thriller.

I will say that there is a lot of swearing and it does get a bit preachy and heavy. But it does keep the reader engaged especially with having the characters mental health and its challenges being at the forefront. While the book is fiction, it had a lot of truth on the page.

The book doesn’t come out until August 19th 2025 but get it on your TBR as I have a feeling folks are going to be hearing of this author and this book comes closer to release.


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Atria Books through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

This book was super fast paced, funny, and interesting. It was extremely thrilling and tackled a lot of sensitive subjects, like racism and mental health, in a really real way. This isn’t the style of book I would usually read but I’m glad I did!

Fast-paced, razor-smart, and emotionally charged, Leverage is a high-stakes descent into the morally murky heart of modern finance. Ali “Al” Jafar, once a rising star at the infamous Prism Capital, is teetering on the edge after a catastrophic $300 million loss. But instead of being fired, he’s handed a chilling ultimatum: recover the money—or take the fall for a looming federal investigation.

What follows is a gripping thriller that fuses the adrenaline of Wall Street ambition with the human cost of relentless pressure. Al’s unraveling is portrayed with sharp insight and unsettling realism, making his story as emotionally resonant as it is suspenseful.

At its core, this is more than a finance novel—it’s a story about self-worth, survival, and the actual price of success.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I don't normally read books like this (hedge fund stories written by dudes) but I devoured this book! Gowani's voice is so strong, immediately pulling me in. This book is fast-paced, witty, and insightful to how the Wall Street world works.

Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley!

I really enjoyed this book! It reminded me a little bit of Black Buck but more of a thriller edge to it. The main character Al was not the most sympathetic in certain situations but overall I was rooting for him throughout the novel! Especially to take down Paul and Bradley who were needless to say the worst.

I loved the team work that came together at the end. I think that the author made the topic of race a part of this novel which is important given the world we live in.

I would recommend to any friends!

Oh my gosh this book was amazing! Morally gray characters, plot twists and turns, betrayals, hang on to your hats, wild ride! I enjoyed this book and demolished it quickly. I have a business background, so understanding some of the terms helped, but I can see how the industry language might turn others off.

That is the beauty of reading this on the kindle though! You can define and search terms you don't understand at a blink of an eye. I will be recommending this work to my readers and am excited for the next Gowani work.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview Leverage. This is a financial thriller that is well written and has the mathematical properties to keep you interested.
This book does go into the weeds a bit so you might want to read it more closely to get the full power of the book.
Good characters and a steady plot.
3 stars

I picked up Leverage after seeing a lot of enthusiastic reviews, even though it’s not usually the kind of book I’m drawn to. I was curious to give it a try, but ultimately, it confirmed that this genre just isn’t for me. The world of hedge funds, high-stakes deals, and corporate power games is well-crafted and clearly drawn from deep knowledge. For readers who enjoy intense financial thrillers and morally complex characters, there’s definitely a lot to sink into. But personally, I found the pacing a bit uneven, and at times the story felt slow or hard to connect with. That said, I can appreciate what the author was doing, and it’s easy to see why it works for many others. While Leverage didn’t quite land for me, fans of high-finance drama and psychological tension may find it far more compelling.
Thanks to Netgalley and the author, and the publishing house for giving me the chance to read this book in advance.