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Wolf Hustle: A Black Woman on Wall Street
From the South Bronx projects to the boardroom―at only nineteen years old, Cin Fabré ran with the wolves of Wall Street.
Growing up, Cin Fabré didn’t know anything about the stock market. But she learned how to hustle from her immigrant parents, saving money so that one day she could escape her abusive father and poverty in the Bronx.
Through a tip from a friend, Cin pushed her way into brokerage firm VTR Capital―an offshoot of Stratton Oakmont, the company where the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, had reigned. She was shocked to find an army of young workers, mostly Black and Brown, with no real prospects for promotion sitting at phones doing the drudge work of finding investment leads for white male brokers. But she felt the pull of profit and knew she would do whatever she had to do to be successful.
Pulling back the curtain on the inequities she and so many others faced, Wolf Hustle reveals how Cin worked grueling hours, ascending from cold caller to stockbroker, becoming the only Black woman to do so at her firm. She also discloses the excesses she took part in on 1990s Wall Street―the strip clubs, the Hamptons parties, the Gucci shopping sprees―while reveling in the thrill of making money.
From landing clients worth hundreds of millions to gaining, losing, then gaining back fortunes in seconds, Cin examines her years spent trading frantically and hustling successfully, grappling with what it takes to build a rich life, and, ultimately, beating Wall Street at its own game.
Growing up, Cin Fabré didn’t know anything about the stock market. But she learned how to hustle from her immigrant parents, saving money so that one day she could escape her abusive father and poverty in the Bronx.
Through a tip from a friend, Cin pushed her way into brokerage firm VTR Capital―an offshoot of Stratton Oakmont, the company where the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort, had reigned. She was shocked to find an army of young workers, mostly Black and Brown, with no real prospects for promotion sitting at phones doing the drudge work of finding investment leads for white male brokers. But she felt the pull of profit and knew she would do whatever she had to do to be successful.
Pulling back the curtain on the inequities she and so many others faced, Wolf Hustle reveals how Cin worked grueling hours, ascending from cold caller to stockbroker, becoming the only Black woman to do so at her firm. She also discloses the excesses she took part in on 1990s Wall Street―the strip clubs, the Hamptons parties, the Gucci shopping sprees―while reveling in the thrill of making money.
From landing clients worth hundreds of millions to gaining, losing, then gaining back fortunes in seconds, Cin examines her years spent trading frantically and hustling successfully, grappling with what it takes to build a rich life, and, ultimately, beating Wall Street at its own game.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2022
30 people are currently reading
3265 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
September 21, 2022
I loved Wolf Hustle: A Black Woman on Wall Street by Cin Fabre.
This is a non-fiction Cin wrote about her life. The book starts out describing what growing up in the projects was like for a child of Haitian immigrants. She talks about the abuse received at the hands of her parents.
At nineteen, she starts working for VTR Capital as a cold caller. This was her first taste of working in stocks. Cin takes you through her life as she worked her way from cold caller to a broker. The book describes the good and the bad.
There are some trigger warning and this book will not be for everyone. She gives vivid details of her life and the life of people working on wall street (drug use, sex, etc.).
As someone who works in the financial industry (i mostly do fraud/money laundering investigations for banks), I could relate to Cin Fabre's story and some of the things she mentions about the firms (chop shops) on Wall Street.
This is a non-fiction Cin wrote about her life. The book starts out describing what growing up in the projects was like for a child of Haitian immigrants. She talks about the abuse received at the hands of her parents.
At nineteen, she starts working for VTR Capital as a cold caller. This was her first taste of working in stocks. Cin takes you through her life as she worked her way from cold caller to a broker. The book describes the good and the bad.
There are some trigger warning and this book will not be for everyone. She gives vivid details of her life and the life of people working on wall street (drug use, sex, etc.).
As someone who works in the financial industry (i mostly do fraud/money laundering investigations for banks), I could relate to Cin Fabre's story and some of the things she mentions about the firms (chop shops) on Wall Street.
November 15, 2022
What an amazing memoir! I always love books where the author has an impossibly tough background to overcome and yet somehow does, and Cin Fabré not only has one of the roughest, hardest backgrounds I’ve read about in a while and yet she not only overcomes that but decides to keep going and take on a job cold calling for trades at a Wall Street brokerage and kills it. We all have to know our strengths, and she certainly knows hers, but this is not an easy job, in fact it is not meant for most, and it was a joy to hear how she dealt with learning how Wall Street worked and owned it to become an extremely successful stockbroker.
It was also fascinating to hear how on top of that she dealt with an extremely toxic work environment where women were few and far between, especially black women, and the environments were male locker rooms on steroids to put it mildly, and HR complaints were nonexistent or not even contemplated. I listened to this via audio, the author read it herself, and I devoured this in one sitting, it was absolutely riveting.
I will caveat that working for a bank and having been a consultant for a clearing firm in the past this was especially interesting for me, but given what I mention above this will be captivating for anyone to read and the author explains any trading concepts necessary so it does not get too technical at all. I cannot recommend this one enough, it was incredibly inspiring.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co for the advanced copy to review, this one is available now.
It was also fascinating to hear how on top of that she dealt with an extremely toxic work environment where women were few and far between, especially black women, and the environments were male locker rooms on steroids to put it mildly, and HR complaints were nonexistent or not even contemplated. I listened to this via audio, the author read it herself, and I devoured this in one sitting, it was absolutely riveting.
I will caveat that working for a bank and having been a consultant for a clearing firm in the past this was especially interesting for me, but given what I mention above this will be captivating for anyone to read and the author explains any trading concepts necessary so it does not get too technical at all. I cannot recommend this one enough, it was incredibly inspiring.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co for the advanced copy to review, this one is available now.
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October 12, 2022
Wolf Hustle catalogs the childhood of Cin Fabré, a Haitian-American growing up in New York. After barely getting through high school she finds herself a cold caller for a “Chop Shop” on Wall Street and uses her intelligence and grit to rise within the ranks. In 1990s Wall Street most people don’t look like Cin, yet she is able to dominate even outside of the typical boys group.
Cin’s story is inspirational and honest. She doesn’t mince words about her feelings towards her parents, her behavior in school or the advantages she used to get ahead. She openly admits to drugs being everywhere within Wall Street though she never took them herself and even an abortion. Cin is unapologetic about her life and I applaud her honesty.
I love memoirs and I loved this one. Definitely recommend the read.
Cin’s story is inspirational and honest. She doesn’t mince words about her feelings towards her parents, her behavior in school or the advantages she used to get ahead. She openly admits to drugs being everywhere within Wall Street though she never took them herself and even an abortion. Cin is unapologetic about her life and I applaud her honesty.
I love memoirs and I loved this one. Definitely recommend the read.
November 15, 2022
The determination the writer has throughout the whole book is truly remarkable. It looks like what she endures in the first years of her life and inside her broken home meant to actually prepare her for what comes next, with all the most negatively stereotyped elements and lack of humanity you can imagine inside the financial system. Her stubbornness jointly with the fact she represent the classic underdog makes you wanna root for her and almost transfer to the reader her own willpower.
The writing is definitely direct and informal, even too informal considering the large use of F- words and related expressions the book is full of - nevertheless its speed and concreteness perfectly matches the resolute course of action of the protagonist.
The writing is definitely direct and informal, even too informal considering the large use of F- words and related expressions the book is full of - nevertheless its speed and concreteness perfectly matches the resolute course of action of the protagonist.
September 8, 2022
An absolutely inspiring story on how to take on and completely overcome adversity. Cin’s story and tone can be heard vividly by reading. Anyone who ever complained about being held back needs to read this book as it’s a manual on how to take life by the horns and make it yours!
October 19, 2022
I loved this book! The perspective (a black woman on Wall Street) was very refreshing, and her way with words is very captivating. It felt like Cin Fabré was speaking to me and taking me on a journey of her life. This is definitely a book worth reading and I would recommend it to my friends.
November 8, 2022
An absolutely absorbing read that had me laughing at times, crying at others, and totally invested in Cin Fabré’s story from start to finish (a finish I wished would have been postponed by the presence of more chapters). Fabré’s storytelling delivery and written voice in Wolf Hustle had me needing to repeatedly remind myself that what I was reading was a nonfiction memoir and not realistic fiction.
The book was simply hands down that compelling, that intriguing, with scarcely a boredom-inducing moment in sight. (Boring is what I always pessimistically worry works of nonfiction like this one will be; this one quickly obliterated that worry.) An excellent book, to me, has me feeling as I am reading that I am right there in on all of the action getting described, and this memoir thoroughly fulfilled that much-wanted experience for me.
There’s no way I could not give Wolf Hustle a solid 5/5 star rating. Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. for getting a copy of this beautiful, bright green spined book, won in a Goodreads giveaway, onto my bookshelf. And, even more importantly, thank you to Cin Fabré for sharing her incredibly inspiring story.
The book was simply hands down that compelling, that intriguing, with scarcely a boredom-inducing moment in sight. (Boring is what I always pessimistically worry works of nonfiction like this one will be; this one quickly obliterated that worry.) An excellent book, to me, has me feeling as I am reading that I am right there in on all of the action getting described, and this memoir thoroughly fulfilled that much-wanted experience for me.
There’s no way I could not give Wolf Hustle a solid 5/5 star rating. Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. for getting a copy of this beautiful, bright green spined book, won in a Goodreads giveaway, onto my bookshelf. And, even more importantly, thank you to Cin Fabré for sharing her incredibly inspiring story.
October 19, 2022
Cin Fabré writes as brilliantly as she hustles. In this riveting and very funny page-turner of a memoir she brings us along on her incredible journey from gritty (to say the least) childhood in the South Bronx and Queens to her Gucci-clad existence — starting at only 19 years old — as the only Black, female stockbroker at one of the most respected firms on Wall Street. How she gets from one world to another — the former replete with abuse and poverty; the latter with racism, sexism, and plenty of debauchery — and what happens next is a story so intense, moving, and entertaining that I couldn't put this book down.
October 6, 2022
Can't say I enjoyed this audiobook, though I felt it an extremely compelling and very enlightening read. Born in the Bronx and raised in Queens a generation earlier than Cin, Wolf Hustle reinforces my belief the very best stories are read by their authors. Her verbalization revealed to me nuance and life details that are difficult at best to communicate through the written word.
I highly recommend this story to everyone, though I suggest you read the Authors Note first.
I highly recommend this story to everyone, though I suggest you read the Authors Note first.
April 5, 2022
This was a hugely inspirational read and very, very funny too!
September 7, 2022
Typically I don't read many memoirs, but I had to make an exception for Cin Fabre's. I was in financial sales for many years and I can truly appreciate Cin's ability to hustle. From one of the first stories of selling stolen lunch tickets at school, I was hooked. From selling eye glasses to huge investment portfolios, she knew she had the skill and the drive to sell anything to anyone. There are so many laugh out loud moments throughout the book, but Cin Fabre had to deal with sexism, racism and hustle hard to be a player in the boy's club. Her life growing up was interesting and often so heartbreaking. This is a quick and captivating read I recommend. Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. for an early copy. This is my unbiased review.
Pub date: September 20, 2022
Pages: 320
Pub date: September 20, 2022
Pages: 320
August 29, 2022
Immersive, educational, well written. Worth reading!
October 19, 2022
Honest, informative, and very real memoir. The author described her side of the story of Wall Street. I enjoyed the background on her Haitian cultural upbringing. Great book!
November 8, 2022
Could not put this compelling book down. This is a truly unique memoir that there are no similar published books exist. I’m sure the story itself is so relatable to many people though, especially women of color in the work place. Fantastic read
October 19, 2022
A refreshing perspective on Wall Street in the 1990s. I appreciated the authors point of view, and can’t wait for the second book!
August 13, 2022
Excited to read, already sounds like a movie should come next. An inspirational story with a black female lead, something we need more of!
October 1, 2022
Such an important story. Great writing. Excellent book
December 29, 2022
This book is BANANAS. An abusive Haitian immigrant childhood, coke and booze on Wall Street, and everything in between. It's always shocking to me to read stories of people who are within about 5 years of me age-wise, but who have led incredibly different lives!
July 5, 2022
Amazing book. A must read!
December 3, 2022
I enjoyed reading this memoir for several reasons. One, I continue to be shocked yet not at all surprised, somehow at the same time, about how incredibly corrupted systems can become--whether we're talking racism, sexism, or capitalism. Two, it was nice to read a memoir that was honest about the author's personal shortcomings, aka this memoir wasn't written by a self-important, insecure white man. Third, I loved reading about NYC in the '90s. Takes me back, in the best way :) Hard to read, but a good read. I'd recommend.
October 17, 2022
I really wanted this to be much more interesting. The book's first quarter is about her family's move from Haiti to the US and their fascinating immigrant experience, colored by the trauma of her abusive/neglectful father. Then we get into her early years and school, including her path into sales. Finally, in the back half of the book, we get into the Wall Street part, with plenty about her first job until she gets her 66 and then a rush from achieving her broker license through a quick slice of 9/11 and her decision to leave. I'd love to read to more about that last quarter with broader views on her industry, especially given her perspective as a woman of color and an absolute badass. Maybe a 2nd book?
October 19, 2022
I really enjoyed this memoir. Quick, direct and unapologetic. Highly recommend 5 stars
November 17, 2022
Listened to the audio version, love the narration!
January 9, 2023
I hope this is made into a movie. It’s a much more compelling story than Wolf of Wall Street. What is the cost of the American dream on Wall Street? Especially for BIPOC .
Unlike Jordan Belfort, Cin has courage, self-awareness and most importantly: morals.
This book was written like a new friend is telling you their life story rather than someone trying to paint you a perfect picture.
Unlike Jordan Belfort, Cin has courage, self-awareness and most importantly: morals.
This book was written like a new friend is telling you their life story rather than someone trying to paint you a perfect picture.
November 23, 2022
This book was intense, emotional, about never giving up and being proud of what she achieved. A book worth reading.
September 20, 2022
This book has a great energy to it. Despite her complicated, traumatic childhood, Cin Fabré seems to have bounced through her teens and early twenties with an unbreakable spirit. She appears to have unshakable confidence and belief in herself along with her mother’s rendition of the American dream, but maybe she had to play this role of infinite resilience to stay alive. Working nonstop and with gusto, the author did achieve what most Americans only dream of, but at what cost? The book is the answer to this question.
May 27, 2025
a super blunt and also super vulnerable memoir at the same time. i couldn’t stop turning the pages and was uphauled by the behavior of these stock brokers and their superiors. it made me want to read wolf of wall street next.
i appreciate that cin doesn’t portray herself as this perfect person who broke boundaries and changed the industry for the better. she of course did open the door for people of her background just through her accomplishments alone, but he is honest about the need to sometimes hid the goings on at these firms in order to get ahead. i thought her writing was funny and poignant, and it was one of the books i’ve enjoyed most this year.
i appreciate that cin doesn’t portray herself as this perfect person who broke boundaries and changed the industry for the better. she of course did open the door for people of her background just through her accomplishments alone, but he is honest about the need to sometimes hid the goings on at these firms in order to get ahead. i thought her writing was funny and poignant, and it was one of the books i’ve enjoyed most this year.
October 6, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this book
January 8, 2024
Fast-paced and I love the author’s voice, but it ended rather abruptly. Really interesting insight into the world of Wall Street and the prominent racism and sexism that still thrives. I definitely recommend!
January 8, 2023
You’ll see reviews about this being an inspiring story - and it is - but it’s also a book filled with advice and caution. Read the Author’s Note at the end first. It won’t ruin the ending for you but you will get more from the author’s messages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews