The Exit Strategy

Fresh fun feminist fiction

A powerful, entertaining, and uplifting story of how even the smartest and strongest women fall victim to manipulation, and how, supporting one another, they can fight back, and find friendship.

Winner of 14 book awards including Readers’ Favorite, American Fiction Awards, National Indie Excellence.

A provocative, edgy page-turner. With whip-sharp prose, the characters are ingeniously crafted.
— Wall Street Journal best-selling author Kerry Lonsdale

Tech-exec Carly can’t wait to wed the man of her dreams. Until she meets Ryn, her company’s top investor, and discovers he’s already married!

Carly clawed her way back from being a teenage runaway to become an accomplished scientist, caring single mom, and co-founder of her startup. But she’s blindsided when she discovers her ideal fiancé is not so perfect, after all.

Ryn Brennan is a Silicon Valley investor on the verge of achieving everything she dreamed. She’s succeeded in the sexist venture capital world, has a supportive husband, and is about to close the deal of her career. Everything is going exactly as planned, until she discovers he’s cheating, then faces his mistress across the negotiating table.

A fun, fast-paced read that will leave you cheering for Ryn, Carly, and the strong women in your own life.

* Amazon #1 Best Seller

* Winner of 14 book awards

  • Best of year from Chick Lit Central

“unputdownable”

“fast-paced and satisfying”

Friendship, forgiveness, and moments of heartfelt laughter

 

Book awards:


* 2024 Finalist - Hawthorne Prize for Fiction

* 2021 IAN Book of the Year Award Winner - Outstanding Women’s Fiction

* 2021 American Fiction Awards Winner - women’s fiction

* 2022 Top Shelf Book Awards Winner - women’s fiction

  • 2020 Readers' Favorite Book Awards Gold Winner - women’s fiction

* 2021 Chanticleer Somerset Book Awards First in Category Winner for literary & contemporary fiction

* 2021 IPPY Book Awards - Gold Winner, Adult Fiction (ebooks)

* 2021 National Indie Excellence Awards Winner -women’s fiction

* 2021 Book Excellence Awards Winner - friendship category

  • 2024 Hawthorne Prize shortlist

* Shelf Unbound - 2020 Notable Indie

* 2022 Top Shelf Book Awards Honorable Mention - general fiction

* 2020 Best Book Awards Finalist, American Bookfest - women’s fiction

* The Annie Award (only the best in literature) Finalist 2021- fiction

* Eric Hoffer Book Award Finalist 2021 - fiction

  • International Book Awards Finalist - women’s fiction

 
 
  • Reader Extras - download Ryn’s STD Music playlist, Book Club Questions, Nutella recipes, and a Travel Guide to the Book’s Locations.

Praise from Authors

Every one of the endorsements below is an author Lainey admires. If you’re unfamiliar with their work, click on any photo to learn about their books.

 

“THE EXIT STRATEGY is Cameron's debut, and wow, does she make an entrance. Timely and provocative with ripped from the headline themes, you’ll want to rise up and cheer on Cameron’s witty and ingeniously crafted characters. By the time you finish reading The Exit Strategy, Ryn and Carly will feel like the best friends you never had. A thoroughly satisfying read.”

~Kerry Lonsdale, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

Kerry Lonsdale

Kerry Lonsdale

 

“Fabulous debut for Lainey Cameron as she portrays strong women faced with timely struggles. The Exit Strategy is one of friendship, forgiveness, and moments of heartfelt laughter. You won't forget these courageous characters.”

--Rochelle Weinstein, USA TODAY and Amazon bestselling author

Rochelle Weinstein

Rochelle Weinstein

 

“Fun and heartfelt women’s fiction at its finest, The Exit Strategy delivers one rollicking read complete with lightning-fast pacing, witty prose, lovable characters, and the powerful themes of female empowerment and true friendship. Unputdownable!”

~Samantha Vérant, author of Seven Letters from Paris

Samantha Verant
 

A #metoo story powered by real life, real hope, and an unlikely friendship between two women who find their true strength when they join forces to fight an entire industry steeped in sexism and one man who wronged them both.

With smart prose and the insight of someone who’s been in the trenches, Cameron brings warmth and emotion to this Silicon Valley story of power, ambition, and friendship.”

~Jennifer Klepper, USA Today bestselling author of Unbroken Threads

 

From an intimate story of two women pitted against each other by one determined man’s deception, Cameron creates more than an unlikely friendship—she forges an unshakable female alliance that aims to do what women do best: change the world, one heart at a time. An uplifting tale for turbulent times.

~Kathryn Craft, award-winning author of The Far End of Happy 

Kathryn Craft

Kathryn Craft

The Far End of Happy

The Far End of Happy

The Art of Falling

The Art of Falling

“A fast, dynamic, refreshing, and empowering novel about two brilliant but flawed female protagonists who are so relatable that you will want to finish reading the book over a weekend.”

~Sweta Srivastava Vikram, author of award-winning novel, Louisiana Catch (and great poetry!)

Sweta Vikram

Sweta Vikram

 

“Victims of the same man become unlikely allies in this Silicon Valley tale of bad choices, deceit, sexism, but ultimately, POWER. Specifically, the power of women, who raise their voices, instead of remaining silent. A wonderful debut by Lainey Cameron!”

~Amy Impellizzeri, Award-winning author of The Truth About Thea and Why We Lie

Amy Impellizzeri

Amy Impellizzeri

 

“In the spirit of Katherine Center with Liane Moriarty-style twists, THE EXIT STRATEGY is a rallying call for women to believe in themselves and join together. With a witty voice, Lainey delivers a thoroughly entertaining and gratifying debut.”

~Leah De Cesare, author of Forks, Knives, and Spoons

 
 

“Debut author Lainey Cameron uses her inside knowledge of Silicon Valley to craft a fast-paced and timely novel.

Both women (along with a strong supporting cast of characters) are written with great depth and nuance. Cameron’s sharp prose and quick pacing make this a definite page-turner.

A #MeToo book for the tech industry but also so much more. It is a story about the strength of female friendships and the strength we all have inside. Both of which we sometimes need a little reminder of.”

~Kelly Duran, author of Can’t Take It Back

 

Cameron brings her insider knowledge of the Silicon Valley boys club to life in this impressive debut. THE EXIT STRATEGY is the story of two women who are able to rise above their challenges—including rampant sexism and the same cheating man—to become unlikely allies. It’s about friendship, feminism, standing up for yourself and how much stronger women are when we stick together. A must read.

~Alison Hammer, author of You and Me and Us

 
 

“Cameron does not shy away from exposing the stereotypes and inequalities women encounter in the male-dominated tech industry, while also showing how some negative perceptions are perpetuated by women themselves. A timely story about female empowerment handled with honesty, empathy, wit, and humour.

~Anita Kushwaka, Author of Secret Lives of Mothers & Daughters 

 

Packed with action, emotions, and surprising twists and turns, THE EXIT STRATEGY takes us into the male-dominated venture capital world so that we can meet two women who are about to become each other's worst enemy. Following the stories of Ryn and Carly, we learn about loyalty and love, secrets and betrayals, gender discrimination and the ways these women have to fight to have their professional and personal dreams accomplished. This debut novel of Lainey Cameron is a page-turning and enjoyable read.

~ Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai, poet and author of The Mountain’s Sing

 

“Nothing is more powerful than a group of women with a unified purpose, and THE EXIT STRATEGY proves it with the captivating story of two women fighting discrimination in Silicon Valley. If you’ve ever worked in the business world, you ‘ll cheer for Ryn and Carly as they navigate self-doubts, forge a solid friendship, and fight the status quo in this page-turner.” 

~Rebecca Hodge, author of the award-winning novel Wildland

 
 

“A timely and entertaining story of ruthless ambition and sexism in the venture capital world. You will root for savvy businesswomen Ryn and Carly as they transform their animosity toward one another into a surprising bond that empowers them to fight back against their mutual enemies. I loved this uplifting tale of female friendship and the obstacles it can help us to overcome.

~Regina Buttner, author of Absolution

 

I recommend this book to every woman who's ever worked in business. You're going to cheer for the women who learn to stand up and stand together against abuse and discrimination in the workplace (and outside it).

Cameron's debut is a keeper. I wish for the day that a young woman will ask her mother, 'This stuff didn't really happen to women of your generation, did it?' And the mother can truthfully say, 'Of course not, dear. It's fiction.’”

~ Laura Drake, Award-Winning author of romance and women's fiction

Laura Drake

Laura Drake

 

“If you’ve ever worked for male bosses and felt you weren’t given an equal chance, you’ll be rooting for the two Silicon Valley women executives in this tale, as they start a fight for their careers and their love lives. As underdogs they face nearly insurmountable obstacles—the men who want to keep them down. Ryn and Carly have to find ways to beat the sexism in their male-oriented tech industry. Their challenges will resonate with any woman who has ever entered a workplace unfairly tilted toward men. Exit Strategy is an exhilarating journey of two savvy, fearless women. A smart, page-turning read.

~Rachel Dacus, Author of The Invisibles & The Renaissance Club

 

“This book is the Whisper Network of Silicon Valley, the novel of female empowerment that we all need in today's world. The women are tired of the sexism they face every day and they're going to do something about it!

I wasn't sure how Lainey Cameron was going to have her characters rise from the horrible situation they found themselves in, but she did it! I was pumping my fists in victory by the end.

--Sheila Athens, author of The Truth About Love.

 
 

“Fans of Liane Moriarty’s The Husband’s Secret will dive right into this novel by Lainey Cameron.  Two women, forced by circumstance to collaborate on a corporate venture, must confront a lover who has fooled them both. The experience (and read) is empowering. Anyone with loyal friends should give them this book as an expression of gratitude.

~Sheila Myers, author of Ephemeral Summer

 
 

“An age-old problem that still exists, Cameron addresses sexism in the tech world. This book is for every woman, every daughter, and every man who thought he could get away with it all.”

~Barbara Conrey, author of Nowhere Near Goodbye

2nd Award Winner for Women’s Fiction (2017 Awards)

2nd Award Winner for Women’s Fiction (2017 Awards)

Before publication, The Exit Strategy placed as 2nd award winner in The Rising Star Award, for outstanding new fiction by Women’s Fiction Writer’s Association.