At a Glance

  • Annelise Osborne, a capital markets executive, is releasing her debut novel, "Hold On for Dear Life."

  • The novel, published in June 2026, explores the human cost of the 2017 cryptocurrency boom.

  • It features three MIT graduates building a crypto trading platform and facing a market crash and other challenges.

  • Osborne draws on her two decades of experience in finance to provide an authentic portrayal of the TradFi-DeFi world.

Annelise Osborne, a distinguished capital markets executive and Wiley bestselling author, is set to debut her novel, "Hold On for Dear Life," in June 2026 via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. Available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook formats, this literary fiction work delves into the profound human cost of the 2017 cryptocurrency bull run, a defining financial event for the millennial generation. The narrative promises an authentic look at the TradFi-DeFi world, written from the unique perspective of an industry insider.

Authenticity in Financial Storytelling

"Hold On for Dear Life" distinguishes itself by being written by an executive deeply embedded in the financial world it portrays. Annelise Osborne, a former Moody's SVP and Team Leader responsible for $400 billion in rated CMBS securities, brings an unparalleled level of detail to the narrative. Her previous work, "From Hoodies to Suits: Innovating Digital Assets for Traditional Finance," is a trusted institutional resource.

The novel's authenticity extends to its technical and operational details, with accurate treasury mechanics and realistic ICO dynamics. Late-night decision logic within the story is drawn directly from Osborne's extensive professional experience. This factual grounding aims to resonate deeply with readers from the founder and fintech communities, who will recognise the depicted world with precision.

"I spent two decades inside the rooms this novel describes. Fiction can do something non-fiction cannot: it puts you inside the human cost of those moments. The mission that financial systems should serve people, not the other way around, is real. And the story of what it takes to hold on to that belief when everything around you is falling apart is one worth telling."

— Annelise Osborne, Author

Annelise Osborne Debuts Novel on the 2017 Crypto Boom's Human Impact

Narrative Arc and Character Development

The plot of "Hold On for Dear Life" centres on three MIT graduates who establish a peer-to-peer cryptocurrency trading platform. Their initial success sees them raise thirty million dollars in a single night, setting the stage for subsequent challenges. The story progresses through a market crash, a four-million-dollar secret trade, and a kidnapping incident.

These events force the protagonists to confront the true nature of their creation, revealing what they were building beyond its financial implications. The novel also weaves in a slow-burn love story and explores the complexities of friendship under intense pressure. It focuses on four individuals who come to understand their purpose only when extraneous elements are stripped away, providing a poignant exploration of personal conviction amidst financial turmoil.

Author's Background and Industry Recognition

Annelise Osborne's professional background provides a strong foundation for her literary endeavours. In addition to her role as a capital markets executive, she is recognised as a thought leader in structured finance, digital asset securities, and blockchain-native capital markets. Her career spans over 20 years, and she holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Osborne is a 2025 Stevie Award winner for Thought Leadership and has been inducted into the Innovate Finance Women in FinTech Powerlist Hall of Fame in 2025. She is a global speaker at prominent events, including Consensus and Davos, and a guest lecturer at Columbia University, NYU, and William & Mary. Additional information regarding her work and insights can be found at https://anneliseosborne.com/..

Market Positioning and Target Audience

"Hold On for Dear Life" is positioned to appeal to a diverse readership, bridging the gap between specialised financial fiction and broader literary genres. Its classification as both literary fiction and a financial thriller suggests a narrative depth combined with suspenseful elements. The novel aims to attract readers who appreciate well-crafted literary works, alongside those with a keen interest in the financial technology sector.

The inclusion of a character arc for Jack Windsor, described as the novel's "quietly devastating emotional centre," is intended to draw readers of contemporary women's fiction. This multi-faceted approach to target audiences reflects the novel's ambition to tell a story that is both financially accurate and emotionally resonant. More details about Annelise Osborne's professional activities and publications are available via Osborne Capital Partners.

This debut novel from Annelise Osborne is poised to offer a unique perspective on the 2017 crypto boom, combining financial accuracy with literary depth. Its publication in June 2026 marks a significant entry into the literary world for an author deeply embedded in the financial industry. Readers can anticipate a narrative that illuminates the personal stakes within high-finance environments. Further information can be found at https://anneliseosborne.com/.