Finance for the People: Getting a Grip on Your Finances

De Leon, founder of the financial firm the Hell Yeah Group, debuts with a zippy guide to “see[ing] your relationship with money in a new light.” De Leon begins with a breakdown of “why we’re weird” about money (classism plus confusion plus “limiting beliefs”), then gets into the basics of personal finance, offering an introduction to saving (aim for 10% of take-home pay), investing (if it’s an intimidating concept, “not feeling like you belong has its perks”), and credit scores (“Yes, kids, just like with social media, we are the product. Surprise!”). She digs into debt and how to get out of it (“spend a long weekend with your student loans,” she suggests), and is at her strongest when explaining how emotionally charged money can be, attributing anxieties around it to “gaps in information” and “inequality,” and assuring readers how empowering it is to have a handle on one’s financial situation. Often-funny drawings help to illustrate the points, and De Leon’s breezy tone marries well with her practical advice. Readers beginning to tackle their personal finances will find a welcome guide in de Leon. Agent: Jenny Stephens, Sterling Lord Literistic. (Feb.)