“Leverage” by Amran Gowani is a fast-paced, thrilling novel about a hedge fund manager who must risk everything to save his life and reputation. The story follows Al, a Pakistani American working at Prism, a hedge fund in San Francisco. The toxicity of his working environment and co-workers is an understatement. After experiencing a significant financial loss, Al must devise a get-rich-quick scheme to avoid being blamed for insider trading.

This book explores themes of race, power, greed, and ambition while delving into betrayal, backstabbing, and deception. Fans of HBO's "Succession" and "Industry" will likely enjoy this gripping narrative. It is well-plotted and well-written, dark and funny.

In a time marked by extreme greed, exemplified by figures like Elon Musk and Luigi Mangione, this novel resonates with our current desire to examine insatiable greed and its consequences, as well as the need for justice.

I highly recommend this book, but I caution readers about its depiction of suicidal ideation. It’s a good idea to check content warnings before reading. I couldn’t put it down. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

I haven't read very many books with a premise like this so needless to say I was so intrigued. It was definitely one where all the way through I was telling my friends when it comes out so they could buy a copy cause wow.

Al, short for Ali, is an employee at a hedge fund, where a mistake he made has cost the company $300 million dollars. His boss offers Ali a deal: Earn the money back in three months and he won't be framed for insider trading. Gowani brings readers into the amoral world of Wall Street finance, and offers trenchant critiques of capitalism and structural injustice. The story is thrilling as Ali desperately tries to save his life, even though we don't really know whether to root for him given the shady tactics he is forced to employ. We do, though, since plenty of other characters are even worse. And though he is morally ambiguous, Ali offers a witty narration peppered with pop culture and sports references. An eye-opening book and a great read.

This was a such a fantastic debut. It was a rollercoaster with twists and turns navigating the world of Wall Street. It needs to find a way to be made into a movie because I think it was better than Wolf of Wall Street!

I’m completely blown away.

I could not stop thinking about this book in between reading sessions. It consumed me.

This tense thriller has dark humor, wit, tension, the perfect pacing, and characters you want to punch in the face. Seriously, some of the most evil people on the planet.

I need to add this one to my shelf the second I am able to, because this book has left a massive impact on me. It might be a new favorite.

Please know these is a heavy theme of suicidal ideation throughout this book. It is quite dark.

Initially I was getting a horror vibe from this book, but it began to mellow out slightly.

The descriptions are not in gruesome detail, but there are very dangerous, scary scenes that had my palms sweating.

I kept smiling thoroughout this book from the witty insults to the societal callouts to the carefully thought-out words used in every sentence. This book is art in many ways, but the writing style used blew me away.

It is very difficult to do a comprehensive review of this book without giving anything away, and I do not want to spoil anything as this book is so perfectly executed.


This is a book I won’t be able to stop thinking about for a while, and I’m incredibly grateful I was approved for an eARC! I am leaving this honest feedback voluntarily.

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 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!