Twenty-something Jess Bahr is a sweet but determined good girl at heart. A young woman in a big city, she's ready for the challenges of the dynamic and cutthroat corporate world of external recruitment agencies.

Her first assignments are a challenge, to say the least, and then she meets her mentor Verity James, a woman epitomizing the industry's look-but who is also superficial, self-serving, and scheming.

Fortunately, Jess is able to forge other workplace friendships that make her time more bearable, including one with Sebastian, the stereotypical impeccable gay guy.

But as workplace challenges unfold over the following months, she quickly learns the industry can be unscrupulous. Her distress is compounded when another junior recruiter starts copying her every move.

As things go from bad to worse, she questions what drew her to this business in the first place. And when things take a shockingly violent turn, Jess doesn't need any more convincing-and seeks a more permanent escape.

In the vein of Jennifer Weiner, Dina Silver, and Stephanie Haddad, Pawn Traders is a compelling tale about corporate greed and finding the resilience to carve your own path.