The Raise

Alexis Ecker has always been the behind-the-scenes sort of type. She stays out of the spotlight, while her co-founder Darcy (their fashion startup Savvy’s CEO) is front and center. When Darcy dies in a freak accident at Burning Man, Alexis must grieve the death of her very best friend but also rescue her company from the brink of bankruptcy. At just 29 years old, she feels lost and isn’t sure who to trust–especially as she finds herself under ruthless pressure to deliver a gigantic new round of VC funding. Everything is fine! It’s fine! No really. As Alexis attempts to woo investors and get her company onto the right track, secrets come out. Did she really know Darcy? Was Darcy keeping secrets from her? Was her death actually an accident? The plot is dark and twisty, reading like a psychological thriller. I couldn’t put it down. It brought me back to my own fashion startup days, gave me empathy for my former bosses (the co-founders), and kept me on my toes. I let out an audible sigh at the end! Highly enjoyable, though very stressful!