Sunday 9 June 2019

Breathe In, Cash Out

Finished June 2
Breathe In, Cash Out by Madeleine Henry

The main character in this book is Allegra Cobb, a young woman driven to succeed. Her mother died when she was young, and her father is her biggest cheerleader, pushing her to be the best at whatever she does. She graduated from Princeton University, going right into an analyst job at Anderson Shaw. During her college years, she had a point where she lost her way a bit and found yoga. With her father's support, she applied for the American Yoga National Competition and won. This didn't change her goal to get a job at Anderson Shaw, but it did change her long-term outlook. Allegra is nearing the end of her second year as an analyst, a point where people normally make a move in some direction. She's been living as leanly as possible, saving as much as possible so she can move into a career as a yoga instructor, something she's pretty sure no one else in her firm is considering.
As the book begins, she is in a yoga class, and another member of the class propositions her. Out of character, Allegra gives in, and the next morning discovers that the man is her new boss.
This puts her in a vulnerable position and she is open to an overture from another young woman who's made a name for herself in the yoga world, and who has reached out to Allegra.
Thus begins a time in which Allegra's life takes a turn for the chaotic. Surviving on a minimum of sleep, working on intense projects, and lacking the focus she should be giving her current project, Allegra makes a few bad calls, and then has to determine how to move forward.
I liked Allegra and her cube mates. and there is lots of good humorous moments here. It has romance, interesting information about both the investment banking world and the yoga world, and a fun plot. I really enjoyed it.
I also found it interesting that the author's life has some of the same elements. Madeleine Henry is a Yale graduate who worked for Goldman Sachs and in investment banking in New York City, and yoga plays a big role in her life.

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