Bond Girl by Erin Duffy

5 Star

When other little girls were dreaming about becoming doctors or lawyers, Alex Garrett set her sights on conquering the high-powered world of Wall Street. And though she's prepared to fight her way into an elitist boys' club, or duck the occasional errant football, she quickly realizes she's in over her head when she's relegated to a kiddie-size folding chair with her new moniker—Girlie—inscribed in Wite-Out across the back.

No matter. She's determined to make it in bond sales at Cromwell Pierce, one of the Street's most esteemed brokerage firms. Keeping her eyes on the prize, the low Girlie on the totem pole will endure whatever comes her way—whether trekking to the Bronx for a $1,000 wheel of Parmesan cheese; discovering a secretary's secret Friday night slumber/dance party in the conference room; fielding a constant barrage of "friendly" practical jokes; learning the ropes from Chick, her unpredictable, slightly scary, loyalty-demanding boss; babysitting a colleague while he consumes the contents of a vending machine on a $28,000 bet; or eluding the advances of a corporate stalker who's also one of the firm's biggest clients.

Ignoring her friends' pleas to quit, Alex excels (while learning how to roll with the punches and laugh at herself) and soon advances from lowly analyst to slightly-less-lowly associate. Suddenly, she's addressed by her real name, and the impenetrable boys' club has transformed into forty older brothers and one possible boyfriend. Then the apocalypse hits, and Alex is forced to choose between sticking with Cromwell Pierce as it teeters on the brink of disaster or kicking off her Jimmy Choos and running for higher ground.

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Lydia - 5 Star

When Bond Girl popped up in my mailbox I had to read the cover to discover what it was about. Isn’t this cover fabulous!?! I’ve never been a huge shoe fanatic (somehow that’s changing – maybe all this reading about shoes in the last ten years?), but I couldn’t wait to crack this one. A girl who takes on Wall Street? In six inch stiletto’s? Bring it on! 

I loved this book.  Erin Duffy has a fresh, fun voice. She puts a new spin on the New York City girl – even if she’s still wearing Jimmy Choos.  Alex is a bond trader – not something you see every day in chick lit.  She’s smart, sassy and a little insecure when she begins working at Cromwell Pierce, but she’s willing to do what it takes to get ahead, and is pushed to the edge daily to it done.  

This book had some unique situations and I laughed at the trader’s antics and what Alex is forced to endure during her ‘probation’ – more like her hazing. The novel wasn’t bogged down in details about bond trading that would have bored me and what job specific information we were shown, Alex was just as confused about. The inside look at Wall Street – from a female perspective especially – was interesting.  Alex trudges and tiptoes through this still male dominated world amidst leers, sexual innuendo and having her intelligence questioned. There were some surprises in this novel and I was never sure which way it would go, which is always a huge plus.

The crazy routine and lifestyle portrayed in Bond Girl made my head spin.  The insane work hours, the after work socializing for work, the client lunches, dinners and everything in between. Time spent with friends and family lacking and the deficiency of sleep. There is no way on earth I would be capable.  I would have collapsed after a month and appreciated seeing how ragged Alex is run.  Admirable really.

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Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for our review copy! All opinions are our own.